Firefly - Making My Way Down the Amazon Trail

I am borrowing the Aussie tradition, and going on a 'walk-about', to follow my passion. Stepping out of the 'rat race' for a life sabbatical, i'm chasing my long-time dream of doing conservation work in the amazon. On a whirlwind tour of South America, I will be volunteering with conservation organizations and animal sanctuaries, while seeking out all the sights, sounds and adventures I can stuff into my psyche along the way!

For more about me or my trip, visit my site at:
www.theamazontrail.com

Thank you Bon Jovi for the amazing words of inspiration:

“It’s my life- It’s now or never. I ain’t gonna live forever. I just wanna live while I’m alive”

Walk-About Down Under
August 21st 2009 -» September 6th 2009

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Joined on: October 20th 2005
Last Login: September 10th 2009

Blog Entries: 39
Photos: 1201

TB Code: [blogger=8014]
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by Firefly, order by Date newest first.

By Firefly
September 9th 2009

The end of OZ Oceania » Australia » New South Wales » Sydney

Sydney from the Botanical gardens

Day 15- Sept 5 Headed home So I awoke in my last hostel in Sydney, ready for my last day and headed down to reception to sort out luggage storage, directions and a shuttle to the airport, only to find that the guy manning the desk had gone out drinking the night before and was nowhere to be found. I waited until 9 am. The kitchen (with the free breakfast) was closed, the poor cat was meowing and pawing at her empty bowl. 9:30..... 10:00....At 10:15 I finally gave up and went out. So much for the great hostel. So i [View Full Entry]

By Firefly
September 4th 2009

Byron Bay Oceania » Australia » New South Wales » Byron Bay

Byron Bay

Day 14- Fri Sep 4 Byron Bay So I had gone to bed before any of the other people in the room got in for the evening. On Friday morning, I awoke to find myself in a room with 5 guys and the room smelled like a garlic eating contest had been held in a gym locker. I just about gagged. So I wandered up to reception and told them I wanted to change to the teepee, another one of their "funky abodes". (note- Arts Factory boasts about their "funky abodes", but other than the tepee, the only thing funky about [View Full Entry]

By Firefly
September 3rd 2009

Planes, Trains and Automobiles Oceania » Australia » New South Wales » Byron Bay

Scenic flight over Whitsundays

Day 13- Thu Sep 3 Airlie Beach to Byron Bay via public transport I woke up to pouring rain in the middle of the night. By morning it was still drizzy and dreary. I was crossing my fingers it would clear up because I had booked a VERY expensive scenic flight over the Whitsundays islands. I packed up my stuff and waited at the bus stop to catch a bus to the Whitsunday airport to pick up my flight. The bus arrived complete with another colorful Aussie character at the wheel. What follows is my dialogue with the bus driver: Me: [View Full Entry]

By Firefly
September 2nd 2009

Knuckle(head) Reef Oceania » Australia » Queensland » Airlie Beach

Day 12- Wed Sep 2 Knuckle Reef I feel an obligation to warn other travelers. If someone offers you a tday rip to Knuckle reef in the Whitsundays, run like hell in the other direction. Out of practice in relying on my intuition, I had let the lady at Peter Pans talk me out of a sailboat snorkeling trip where someone had told me "if you don't see at least 200 fish, you don't have your eyes open". In exchange, I booked this all day trip to the outer ribbon reef where a pontoon is mored with a waterslide. Sounded nice [View Full Entry]

By Firefly
September 1st 2009

Airlie Beach Oceania » Australia » Queensland » Airlie Beach

Airlie Beach lagoon

Day 9 - Mon Aug 31 Airlie Beach I arrived at Airlie Beach (Airlie rhymes with Hayley- for some reason Australians must not believe in the letter "R" -LOL!) at 11 am. Whisked up a hill to my hostel where I was shown to my dorm room which smelled distinctly of urine. Gross. I got rearranged to another dorm. The place was ok. I wasn't too thrilled with it. I could tell it was a party pad. So i wandered down the hill into down where I spent several hours picking up brochures and asking for information about day trips. I [View Full Entry]

By Firefly
August 30th 2009

Passions of Paradise Oceania » Australia » Queensland » Cairns

Photo 6

Day 8 - Sun Aug 30 Day 2 on the Reef The second time I went out on the reef, I went with a boat called Passions of Paradise. It was a totally different vibe. Lots more people on the boat, but the snorkeling was infinitely better. Our first spot was Michaelmans' cove- a little island in the middle of the reef with spectacular coral and lots of fish! We were dropped off, via glass bottom boat, on the beach and got to walk into the water. The shallow water had coral growing right up out of the sand! The water [View Full Entry]

By Firefly
August 29th 2009

On the Wallaby Oceania » Australia » Queensland » Cairns

On the Wallaby lodge

Day 7 - Sat Aug 29 On the Wallaby I'm wandering around Cairns tonight and there is a guy with dreads sitting on a stoop playing acoustic guitar. He's singing amazing versions of "Brown Eyed Girl", "Redemption Song", and "you look wonderful tonight". I drop some money in his bag, and he says thank you in his beautiful Aussie accent. I'm sitting outside in shorts, a tank top and flip flops. It's warm with a cool breeze, and I am in heaven. The summer air is like a drug to me- makes me almost manic! It's somehow nostalgic of those long [View Full Entry]

By Firefly
August 28th 2009

Cape Tribulation Oceania » Australia » Queensland » Cape Tribulation

Cape Tribulation

Day 6 - Thur Aug 28 Cape Tribulation Up before the sun for the 3rd day in a row. Good grief! At least my hostel mates are incredibly quiet and mostly in bed by 11 pm. I love this hostel! Today, Cape Tribulation tour. I had debated between 2 companies who both go by an animal sanctuary where you are supposed to be able to hold koalas. Sadly, within the first 5 minutes of the tour, I realized I had made the wrong choice. The tour guide was nice enough, but his main concern was keeping us punctual, not making sure [View Full Entry]

By Firefly
August 27th 2009

Finding Nemo Oceania » Australia » Queensland » Cairns

Nemo

Day 5 - Thur Aug 27 Great Barrier Reef!!! So up at another brutally early hour (6 am) to catch a shuttle to Port Douglas, to pick up a boat to the Great Barrier Reef. I found out later that the drive from Cairns to Port Douglas is listed as 1 of the top 6 scenic drives in Australia. It is GORGEOUS!!!! Beautiful unspoilt, empty beaches hugging rugged coastline. Where are all the people? Got to the office where the most lovely Australian lady whisked me off to the boat, we dropped our shoes off in a basket, to be picked [View Full Entry]

By Firefly
August 26th 2009

Garden of Eden- aka Cairns Oceania » Australia » Queensland » Cairns

Sunrise

Day 4 -Wed Aug 26 Cairns! Got up at 5 to catch my flight to Cairns (pronounced CANS), and now i know I am fully acclimated to the 17 hour time change, because it FEELS like 5 am. I fell in love with Cairns from the window of the plane. Beautiful green lush mountainous coastline met with the most gentle, vibrant turquoise blue ocean fading seemlessly into a blue sky. I was so unbelievably excited for that first rush of warm air, and Cairns did not disappoint! After a cold 7 degrees yesterday in the Blue Mountains, we landed to a [View Full Entry]

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Firefly - Making My Way Down the Amazon Trail

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