Well after a restful time in Fiji I arrived back in Auckland to some gorgeous autumn weather than seemed so much like a Canadian Indian summer day...it was lovely. I now had about 2 weeks left in NZ and was going to go back to see the things I had missed with Aunty Betty. I hired a car for a few days to make travel easier and more convienient (figured at this point was already in the red so why not just add to the debt!). Besides I think that my Visa was feeling left out because Mastercard was getting all [View Full Entry]

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Well after Aunty Betty left I found myself on a plane several hours later bound for the Islands of Fiji. I had booked a vacation type package and was quite excited to have a week of rest and relaxation before I headed home to regular life. Traveling for a year may sound quite glamorous; however there is a down and dirty side to backpacking that leaves one exhausted at times. Always thinking about where to go, where to stay, how to get there, how to save money doing it, what's worth seeing and what's worth skipping...this year has felt so much [View Full Entry]

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Well after my blisters slowly began to heal (although I didn't wear closed toed shoes for almost 2 weeks) I made my way up to Auckland and my Aunty Betty's arrival on Feb 27. She arrived safely (albeit early...5:30am...ahem) and we took off on foot around Auckland for the day, walking our hinnie's off visiting the museum including a Maori (indigenous people) show which was good. We walked all over the city and were quite pooped, especially AB since she had been flying the days before. Although I didn't feel TOO sorry for her...I mean, she flew business class where she [View Full Entry]

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Well in the time since my parents left I have filled my time with more great memories and now am waiting for my Aunty Betty arrive tomorrow morning. I hung out in Christchurch for about a week after they left because I was absolutely knackered and needed some down time. I enjoyed it a lot and met a great girl Dawn from the US who I hung out with for a few days, saw a few movies, went to a free concert on Waitangi Day (a Canada Day equivalent) which was great including an amazing fireworks display. I booked a bus [View Full Entry]

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So we left off at my parents arrival in Australia. I met up with them in Sydney on the 11th of January. It was a bit emotional of a reunion and they were half asleep as I arrived after 11pm. But we of course stayed up chatting and catching up which was so great. I found it hard to believe that they were actually there sitting in front of me!! We finally got to sleep and the next day we were off and walked through the Botanic Gardens, through St. Mary's Cathedral, the Opera house and harbour. Then we caught a [View Full Entry]

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Well here we are in 2009 and I am just a few day away from my parents arrival. After Ryan left I spent about a week longer in Cairns mostly in the internet cafe planning my parents trip down under; buying tours, plane tickets, etc. Soon the heat and humidity were too much and I soon booked a flight to WA (western Australia) to Perth. I left Cairns sweating in a tank top and shorts, and froze my hinnie off when I arrived in Perth. It was still spring here and my warm clothes once again made an appearance. I couldn't [View Full Entry]

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Well how much have I seen and done in the last month! Here we are at the middle of november and merely 6 weeks till Christmas...yet it couldn't feel less like Christmas to me as I sit in the tropical north of Australia. Yet the Christmas decorations are coming out and it all seems rather strange. However Ryan's visit here continued my immense love of this country as we travelled north from Melbourne up the eastern coast. When Ryan arrived in mid-oct we first headed down to visit Jan and Andre who I had gone wwoofing with in early sept and [View Full Entry]

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Well Dez and I took on the Aussies with flair and style and had an absolute blast during her 12 day visit. She arrived on Sept 30 and once she finally cleared customs we spent about 4 hours chatting and cackling like hens catching up before we caught our flight to Tasmania. We flew on a regional airline into a small airport that is mostly used by commuters and business people so the pilot was stoked to have some tourists on board (he saw us coming a mile away with our huge packs and camera around Dez' neck). He smiled and [View Full Entry]

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Well the last month has been great here in the land down under. After my last entry I realized that I didn't put the most important thing I learned in Asia...and that is to expect nothing, that way you won't be disappointed. That goes for tours booked, guesthouse bookings, etc. It makes everything that you do get a bonus!! Well I arrived in Melbourne Australia just about 4 weeks ago and for the first few days I stayed with Marijana Rados and her family. I met MJ in Europe on my Contiki tour 2 years ago and we have stayed in [View Full Entry]

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What I Learned in Asia... I have now been out of asia for about a week or so and am Wwoofing (willing workers on organic farms) about an hour outside of Melbourne, Australia on an organic vineyard and winery with an absoluetly lovely couple who keep me laughing, feed me ridiculously great food, and made superb wine which helps me sleep like a baby! If you want to see where I have been check out their website (www.cloudscapewines.com.au) Truly my first week in Australia has been great, i even have a cell again (or rather a mobile as they say here), [View Full Entry]

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