From a Mongolian nomad's tent to a hedonistic party complete with igloo in a Nepalese
jungle, Libby Southwell has been to some amazing places and seen incredible things. But
these are experiences she would never have had if tragedy hadn't struck her life. Libby was
a
young and successful advertising executive in Sydney when her beloved fiance
died in a mountaineering accident. In horrific circumstances, several other friends died soon
after this happened, and Libby was plunged into a numbing grief so strong that it led her to
run from everything she knew. First she went to Sri Lanka, where she became a chef for a
millionaire Brit. Next she headed off to trek in Nepal and Tibet, then stayed with herdsmen
in
Mongolia and travelled to France for a silent Buddhist retreat. Back in Sri Lanka and working
at a luxury eco-resort, Libby survived dengue fever only to be caught up in the 26 December
2004 tsunami. She survived, but then, in a bizarre turn of events, developed acute
appendicitis the very same day - could there be worse timing? Libby made it through this as
well, as she has done with everything life has thrown at her, and she emerged with her
characteristic good humour and energy intact. She still lives in Sri Lanka and has established
a charity to help rebuild the lives of those devastated by the tsunami. This is her colourful
and astonishing story.