TravelBlog » Lisa J Allen

Lisa J Allen - Elizabeth Allen

Having no idea of what I wanted to do after graduating I decided to head out and see the world, or a least another part of it. I started this blog mainly to keep my friends and family updated on what I am up to while I’m away. I’ll try to write as often as I can and I hope you all enjoy.

I have always been interested in the world around me. Both natural and manmade features never cease to amaze me, and I find cultures fascinating. When I began college at Oregon State University in the fall of 2001 I had already been to Mexico, Italy, France, most of the western United States (including Hawaii), and parts of the Eastern US. I have added England, Scotland, Ireland, and Germany to this list and I am by no means stopping there. This spring I graduated OSU with a major in anthropology/archaeology and I am headed to New Zealand for a year.

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Joined on: October 4th 2005
Last Login: February 7th 2008

Blog Entries: 24
Photos: 0

TB Code: [blogger=7482]
Status: BLOGGER

Blogs & Travel Journals

by Lisa J Allen, order by Date newest first.

By Lisa J Allen
March 9th 2006

it's icing . . . North America » United States » Oregon

Well, I hate to say it, but this will probably be my last travel blog for a while. Seeing as I will not be traveling anytime soon I find it somewhat pointless to continue writing. So I am back in Oregon, living at the beach with my parents for the time being. I arrived here last night after a very long day (my Wednesday was 48 hours, how long was yours?) and a much needed burger at McMinneman's. I was very happy when I arrived at the airport in San Francisco to see the names of familiar eateries, including a Peet's [View Full Entry]

By Lisa J Allen
March 7th 2006

City of 1000 Sails Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Auckland

Well, it has been quite a while since I wrote my last blog and a lot has happened since then, we will start with the day after the Kepler . . . Janet and I woke up the morning of the 23rd to snow on the mountains we had been hiking on several days before. Seems a cold front had moved in, we were just glad we had finished our hike the day before. Nursing our sandfly bites we headed to Dunedin. When we arrived in Dunedin we had yet to book accommodation, a big mistake, it took us a while [View Full Entry]

By Lisa J Allen
February 22nd 2006

Death to all Sandflies » New Zealand » South Island » Fiordland National Park » Te Anau

Janet and I survived the Kepler Track and I my first backpacking adventure. We returned to Te Anau today at about one o'clock after an easy 4.5 hour hike through forest. The tramp was excellent, a wonderful experience and a lot of fun. Day one was an uphill hike through forest, which took us about 5 hours to complete. This was our one day of beautiful weather and it was definately nice since the views from our first hut were incredible. Because of weather warnings we decided to get an early start on day two--an alpine hike famous for being trecherous [View Full Entry]

By Lisa J Allen
February 18th 2006

Glacial Rubble » New Zealand » South Island » Fiordland National Park » Te Anau

I thought I would write just a quick note before I leave on the Kepler Track. Yesterday Janet and I went to Milford Sound (which is actually a Fiord, discoverers named it incorrectly) a truely beautiful place--except for the sandflies. Departing Te Anau early we were able to see the mountains of the area with the reflection of the rising sun and morning mist . . . amazing. We went on a two hour cruise around the Sound and saw DOLPHINS!!! I've never seen wild dolphins before, so it was the highlight of the cruise. On the way back to Te [View Full Entry]

By Lisa J Allen
February 16th 2006

Mountains to the left, to the right--everywhere!!! » New Zealand » South Island » Fiordland National Park » Te Anau

After spending two days in Arrowtown Janet and I have moved on to Te Anau. When we left Wanaka there were clouds looming in the sky and sure enough by the time we arrived in Arrowtown it had started to rain. We went to lunch at a restaurant called Saffron, which we had heard was one of the best restaurants in the world. One of the best steaks I've ever had . . . We then wandered around town for a bit trying to find a Lord of the Rings filming location that was close to the city center. On our [View Full Entry]

By Lisa J Allen
February 13th 2006

Back in Wanaka Oceania

Hello from Wanaka! Janet and I have done quite a bit since I last wrote. Being on the South Island is good fun, although the weather hasn't been cooperating lately . . . We left Wellington on Wednesday via ferry. Usually the views accross the Cook Strait are beautiful, but it was raining so we played cards for the duration of the ride rather than taking advantage of the viewing decks. After the ferry docked in Picton we got back in Bill (our car) and headed to Nelson. It was pouring the entire way, so much for Nelson being New Zealand's [View Full Entry]

By Lisa J Allen
February 7th 2006

Windy Welly Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Wellington

Janet and I have been in Wellington since the night of the 5th. Upon our arrival we saw the aftermath of the International Rugby Sevens Tournament that had taken place on Friday and Saturday, which is more of a party (at least for the fans) then it is a tournament. On Sunday we wandered around looking for a place to eat and decided to dine at a restaurant called Strawberry Fare--good dinner, excellent dessert. Yesterday was Waitangi day which is a day to celebrate the signing of the treaty of Waitangi a treaty that offically made New Zealand a part of [View Full Entry]

By Lisa J Allen
February 5th 2006

On the road again . . . Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Central Plateau

My travels with my aunt Janet have begun! I know I've been a bit lax on the blog writing, but fear not, I will try to write more frequently while I am traveling. I left Base on the 22nd of January and spent a week staying at my friend Allison's in Riccarton (a suburb of Christchurch). We spent the week making smoothies and watching Scrubs :) It felt so good to leave Base and spend a week not having to make beds and clean bathrooms, but I missed my fellow roommates. I have no desire to ever enter a Base Backpackers [View Full Entry]

By Lisa J Allen
January 7th 2006

Happy New Year!!! Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Christchurch

Okay, so I'm a little late on my New Year's saluation, but better late then never. Things in New Zealand are going well. I celebrated my New Year's Eve by . . . WORKING, yep, the fun never stops folks. After I got off work at 2am I went to some bars with some friends and ended up getting home around 5.30 in the morning. However impressive this may seem, to many Kiwis a night that lasts till 5.30am is weak, many people stay out that late or later almost every night. On other news, my aunt Janet is coming to [View Full Entry]

By Lisa J Allen
December 24th 2005

Christmas time is here Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Christchurch

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM NEW ZEALAND!!! I hope everyone is having a brilliant December. I have not written in a long while because I have been busy working----trust me, this is a very good thing. I am liking my job at Element, there is the usual gossip that comes with all jobs and some co-workers get on my nerves, but overall I have a good time at work and get free beer at the end of each shift :) It is strange to me that it is Christmas because I have not been bombarded by all of the usual commericalism that surrounds [View Full Entry]

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Lisa J Allen - Elizabeth Allen

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