IT'S a long way from a Victorian semi in Worcester to a mud hut in the mountains of Peru and an even greater distance in cultural terms but if you're young and have a thirst for adventure then you just take it all in your stride.

After all, there's always the added bonus of swimming with dolphins, coping with scorpions in your bedroom or perhaps enjoying other memorable diversions such as going on an anaconda hunt.

The scorpion may not have bitten Sarah Kelly, but the travel bug has certainly given the 24-year-old Hill Avenue resident a bit of a nip. For she's just returned to Worcester after three months in the South American country and what an experience it's been.

For not only has she observed different facets of life in Peru, but she's also participated in vital conservation work during this expedition of a lifetime.

"I just don't know what it was exactly, I suppose it was instinctual. I just wanted to explore that area," said Sarah.

"The cultural side appealed to me - I didn't just want to go as a tourist, I wanted to see everyday life. I've always been fascinated by the colours and food in South America."

Sarah was based near Huarez, a town that lies north of Lima, the capital. She was engaged in a community-based project that involved working with local people and a number of ex-pats who have settled in Peru.

"People still live as they have done for hundreds of years. For four days I lived with farmers in what was little more than a mud hut in the mountains. This was the land of the legendary Incas.

"These people exist by selling their produce and I really experienced peasant culture. We did all our washing in a nearby stream and the food was basic but really filling and healthy.

"We had soup with lots of potatoes and then a huge plate of rice with perhaps a little meat in it. There were guinea pigs running around the kitchen - these are bred for food. I helped the locals plant herbs and other crops.

"These people exist like we did in this country hundreds of years ago. I washed in the stream - there was no shower. You could boil water up in a bowl, but that was about it.

"It made me realise that I could live like that. We take so much for granted, although I do enjoy life in the West."

Sarah was educated at Cherry Orchard and Nunnery Wood schools in Worcester, going on to the Barbourne Tech and then Loughborough University.

She became interested in making jewellery and is now a Worcester-based freelance fashion accessories designer. This was another reason that made her visit Peru.

Nevertheless, there was still plenty of hard work that had to be done and this mainly took the form of helping the locals in replanting trees.

Vast quantities of wood are used for everything, from building to cooking and heating, and this has started to create environmental problems. However, the people are slowly beginning to realise the need to replace vital resources.

"Until recently, they had no need to replant," said Sarah.

"They just couldn't see the long-term benefits. But they can see it now and I think that there is real hope for this part of the world."

The weather in Peru follows a similar pattern most days. It tends to be warm in the mornings, rainy most afternoons, and very cold at night. But the locals wear the same amount of layers nearly all he time. Sarah also travelled to Bolivia and briefly visited Chile, countries which have a different pace of life to Peru.

"I have so much respect for the people I stayed with, even if I am glad to be back home.

"My trip has really opened my eyes - I've learnt that you can survive with very little. I swam with dolphins, went on an anaconda hunt, and one night, I even had a scorpion in my room! One of the main things I learnt is not to be worried by deadlines. I've redefined my life. I'm so glad I made this trip."

Sarah's next adventure will be a bit closer to home - she's off to Amsterdam soon, working for a design company. And another project may also soon bear fruit, for she's waiting to see if a film titled A Mighty Heart will feature some of her jewellery work. Produced by Brad Pitt, the story is based on the murder of a journalist by al Qaida terrorists in Pakistan and stars Angeline Jolie.

So from the Hill Avenue to a mud hut in Peru, from Worcester to the chance to work on a Brad Pitt movie, Sarah Kelly is certainly a woman who has crammed a lot into her young life.

For information about Sarah's Peruvian photographs, contact sarah29183@hotmail.com