http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/MN-Gal/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from MN Gal en-us Wed, 09 Dec 2009 20:52:42 +0000 Wed, 09 Dec 2009 20:52:42 +0000 Travels in New Zealand... Wow. So it's been a while but we are headed to Fiji today and I wanted to give you the quick version of our remaining time here in New Zealand. Milford Sound. This was one of the best parts of my trip... the beauty of this area in New Zealand is incredible. Wanting to experience the sound in a different way than most... we decided to go kayaking which was just great. http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/blog-381719.html Welcome to the South Island where the New Zealand adventure continues It is so incredibly beautiful I feel that I can't find the appropriate adjectives to explain how incredible the landscape is and how quickly it changes. I will do my best as I start to take you through the southern adventures We started by taking the interislander ferry from Wellington to Picton. Picton is this tiny fish http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/blog-377574.html Hey there... so as you can see I'm having a great time here in New Zealand. We spent the first week on the North Island arriving into Auckland on Feb 11th... and the next day heading to Rotorua which is famous for it's mud pools natural hot springs and thermal activity. We spent a few days in the area taking a day trip to the Waitomo Caves. There we went on a caving adventure which involved a http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/blog-374084.html We arrived in Sydney after a long bus ride from Byron Bay through the night arriving into Sydney around 630 AM. Our hostel was great located near the bus terminal and with free breakfast we dropped of our bags grabbed a bite to eat and were off to see the city Our first stop was Hyde Park and St. Mary's Cathedral located beautifully along the park. It was the first Catholic Church in Australi http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/blog-372575.html Wow It's feels like forever since I have updated you on my travels so let's get caught up On Jan 14 19 we took a road trip along the Great Ocean Road which was spectacular As you came upon the first part of the road you left the Otway Mt Range and saw the beautiful crystal blue water in front of you. This incredible coastline is one that pictures do not do justice for the natural erosion http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Queensland/Noosa/blog-365972.html January 8th 2009After a nine hour flight we arrived in Melbourne around 830 a.m. ... welcome to Australia We were greeted by our friend Paul at the airport and went to his home in Williamstown which is a suburb of Melbourne about 25 minutes from the city center. Williamstown is where the first settlers arrived in 1835 but because there was no fresh water they went further north to where th http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Victoria/Melbourne/blog-363021.html We arrived in Hong Kong on Sunday and took the airport express into Central on Hong Kong Island. The MRT here is so simple easy to read with all sorts of exit info and lots of maps and signage which makes it really easy to read. After getting somewhat settled we made our way down to Victoria Harbor a 15 20 minute walk downhill to grab a bite to eat and take a look at the waterfront. The v http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Hong-Kong/Hong-Kong-Island/blog-358974.html Merry Belated Christmas I hope that everyone enjoyed their holiday I had a very nice Christmas and have lots to catch you up on as far as what Irsquove been up to The last week I have been busy traveling through Malaysia a very interesting country. We started in Georgetown Penang a small island located just off the coast of the country near Thailand. Georgetown has a rich Dutch and Brit http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Hong-Kong/Hong-Kong-Island/blog-358135.html We arrived in the melting pot that is Malaysia today after a long road trip but let me get you up to speed on my last week in Thailand Going south last Sunday we traveled from Bangkok to Surat Thani on overnight train that arrived around 930 AM just in time for a cup of joe eggs toast... and then it was off to Khao Sok National Park in a Songthaew. A pickup truck with two benches and a http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Malaysia/Penang/George-Town/blog-355838.html Well I have spent the last few days in Bangkok seeing all sorts of Wat's or temples and trekking in the jungles of northern Thailand... something that was such an amazing experience. Bangkok is a busy crowded city dirty in places with amazing well kept Wat's... the difference between the two such contrast. The temples are very interesting different sizes of budda's with different meanings http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/North-West-Thailand/Chiang-Mai/blog-353544.html Hi Just thought I would write a little bit to let you all know what I have been up to the last days Well I'm off to Bangkok and in Abu Dhabi on a free internet station here in the airport during my layover. The trip here was fine and I board in a little while. It seems that the airport in Thailand is back up and running and I am very excited for the adventure to begin and to see Kris She ar http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/United-Arab-Emirates/Abu-Dhabi/blog-351684.html Greetings So this last weekend it was off to Amsterdam on Friday which was such a great time I have been to Amsterdam before but this time I spent more time exploring a bit more out of the main city center with Anne Manu Martha Peggy which was really great to see how the people really liveand work in Amsterdam. All of it is so clean well kept and sort of dolllike little homes that put http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Netherlands/North-Holland/Amsterdam/blog-350719.html I hope this all finds you well enjoying a Thanksgiving meal turkey mashed potatoes homemade cranberries pumpkin pie... ahh I'm a little alot jealous The last few days have been a little cold wet but good. I haven't got caught in the rain but haven't seen the sun since I have been here. Ahh the beauty of cloudy cold europe. I have been spending my time going to all sorts of diffe http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Belgium/Antwerp-Province/Antwerp/blog-349099.html Hello all Well I don't have any fun pictures to upload yet but I arrived in Belgium yesterday. My flights were ok my Philadelphia to Brussels was delayed though and I arrived in Antwerp a little later than expected. While walking to my relatives house who I am staying with while I'm here I actually ran into Manu and he let me know he left the keys with the neighbor for me to get in. Pure http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Belgium/Antwerp-Province/Antwerp/blog-348407.html Testing the blog http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Minnesota/blog-346766.html