Jules182

I've dragged myself to write today's blog, and yesterdays blog for what I can remember of it - well most of it was spent in the office so not much to say! I think there will be more periods where i'm just unable to write a blog every night, mainly due to being too tired or just too busy. So I might do it every other day or so. Yesterday (19/08/11) consisted of waking up at 6am again (naturally) packing my bags, having breakfast in my room, sorting out a few things with important things in safe pockets/distance from me and so on. I then checked out from the over priced hotel, 7,500 vatu per night. Which comes to something like £40-50 per night! Really isn't as cheap as i expected it to be at all. ... read more

Well where to start.. maybe waking up at 4:30am? My own fault really, going to sleep at 7pm. I can never sleep long these days for some reason, shows i'm ageing I suppose! I snacked out on a few things on waking up and went back to bed, I then had a really deep sleep and awoke to my alarm at 6. I wanted to make a good impression being right on the dot for work for when the geohazard office opens, which is 7am. I loathed around for a bit and then went to the office at 6:55am, the office is literally a block away from where I am staying so no need to leave too early. I got there for 7.. which I was expecting it to be open as usually you do get ... read more

So today I touched down in Vanuatu (17th Aug) it's some time in the evening here... must remember to change time on my phone. I feel like i've been travelling for years. It was so good to finally have a shower and brush my teeth after finally putting my bags down. Flight from London to Dubai went fine. Dubai to Brisbane was fine, I just didn't remember how long it took.. it went on forever.. was at least 12 hours flying.. the good thing was that it wasn't fully booked and i managed to secure 3 seats to myself next to a window... so yeah I was able to lie down and get a fair amount of sleep. Might go off on a rant now but I hate Australian customs, it's the most fuss in the ... read more

After much panicking I am now relaxed as I found out last night my accommodation and lift from the airport has all been sorted for me! wow! soso lucky. Apparently they've put me up at the place most of the geologists/volcanologists stay at whilst visiting the meteorological department - so I feel the part! haha. I met with my mothers colleague last night who is ni-vanuatu (a native of vanuatu), he's a consultant of acute medicine, so a very intelligent guy! But also very friendly, my mother and I both agreed there are not many people we have met in the world like him. Very warming to talk on and so fourth. I guess this is why Vanuatu was voted the happiest place on earth many times. Just from talking with him excited me further more ... read more

So this is my first blog, and hopefully not the last! The main reason I've decided on creating this blog is so when I grow old, I can look back on this amazing experience and hopefully live it over in my future frail brain, because I know this amazingly ridiculous opportunity won't come round again (thanks so much mum!). It also gives me something to keep me occupied. In addition to that I can share my day to day experiences for when I am abroad with family and friends. I once tried writing a travel diary once, but after a few days I just didn't keep at it. I think the generation now being the 'computer' or 'internet' generation, I am much more adapt to this (as sad as that sounds). I know that I will ... read more