Dearest Friends and Family, I would like to talk about one thing today -- FEAR. Yesterday I experienced this powerful sensation in its truest, rawest form. Nothing compared to this. Not public speaking or thinking a dark thief is breaking into my apartment or finals come close. Not even the dreaded piano recitals of my youth hope to touch this sort of fear. I went for a canyon swing. The "Shotover Canyon Swing" in Queenstown, adventure capital of the world, perhaps. A swing? you think. That's kid's stuff! That's what they do at the Hilton on the "Ultimate Rush." Weeee! [View Full Entry]

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Dear friends and family, Destination from Nelson: Franz Joseph Glacier Ahoy ya'll! New Zealand truly is a land of contrasts and variety. The day after leaving the sunny land of Nelson/Marlborough, I found myself climbing ICE! Yes, I hopped on the Magic Bus and headed down the West Coast, more of God's country. The Southern Alps run down the backbone of the South Island defining and isolating the West Coast. It's a narrow, rugged strip of land barely more than 20 miles wide all the way down, filled with wild rivers, lush temperate rainforest and crystal lakes. It's enough to [View Full Entry]

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Dear all, I've finally added pictures to my journal entries. To see them all, go to the old entries and click on the "travel Journal" link to display the full entry along with the pics. If there are any problems, just e-mail me. Diana [View Full Entry]

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P.S. Little interesting things: -- I do my laundry in a sink and hang my clothes on tree branches to dry. -- I get to run around barefoot without being arrested! -- According to Kiwis, the Dutch explorers who "discovered" New Zealand were drug addicts. -- Got a nasty sunburn three days ago and am now peeling like an ugly lizard. -- Showers are a rare luxury. -- Fruit tastes organic and delicious. Kiwis consume lots of dairy products. -- Kiwi money is rainbow colored! -- My bus driver yesterday has a beard and ponytail, shuns baths and calls himself [View Full Entry]

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I have survived Hell! There is a god. Nelson -- the sunniest place in New Zealand!! North part of the South Island, home to beautiful sounds and wine regions. But what really draws the visitors here is Abel Tasman National Park, a place that leaves you open-mouthed at the sheer wondrous beauty of earth that was splashed on this corner of the globe. Abel Tasman is on the northern coast (I'll be putting pictures up soon) and looks like the beaches in Thailand. The sands are golden, the hills are amazing shades green speckled with weird giant ferns, and the [View Full Entry]

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Dear lovlies, So this is what I get for being lazy and not putting in entries as often as I should. There's too much to talk about! Just the highlights, please... After I left warm, humid Sydney (which is a beautiful city and I intend to spend a few more days there when I come back)I landed in Christchurch, the capital of New Zealand's South Island, around midnight. Unfortunately, I found a nasty surprise waiting for me at the small airport. Dozens of sleeping bodies scattered on the floor of the lounge area. Sleeping bags, backpacks, shoeless feet all over [View Full Entry]

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Dear All, Okay, I finally made it to Sydney Australia; Upon arriving at my hostel, a quaint, out-of-the-way brick "cottage" in the Sydney suburbs, I was greeted by what could have been a washer lady from England during its Industrial Age. She was all ruddy-faced and foul-mouthed. She waddled like an angry penguin. Her bulging forearms scared me. Still, she was an inviting personality, generously sprinkling her talk using the word "love." Some Aussie peculiarities: there is no "exit," just a "way out." Bathrooms for "men" and "women." Not! Just "male" and "female" with a [View Full Entry]

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Dear all, If anyone has tried adding a comment on travelblog and has had problems, this is how it works; Go ahead and type it in, but I have to read them and "approve" of them before they're posted on travelblog. It's kinda retarded, but I think it's so people don't get a bunch of nasty, dirty things on the comment board. However, I'll post anything, no matter how questionable they may be! P.S. Still in San Francisco waiting on standby. I never wanna see this airport again!!!! [View Full Entry]

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Dearest friends, I'm sad to be leaving! Last night, that debacherous eve, at the farewell gettogether, it smacked me full in the face to see how lucky I am to know so many wonderful people in Reno. (Believe me, they're there, lurking in the dark corners of the biggest little city.) The foreigners are pretty sweet too *wink wink*. A few words of acknowledgment; To my girls Emily, Windy, Erika, Veronika, Eva and Daniela, many thanks for your fun girly gifts and male-loving/bashing support. You're all the best and I'm in looove with you.:-) To my brother Rob and my [View Full Entry]

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