On the long road back to Adelaide, which was admittedly much less interesting than the road up, mostly owing to the fact that I couldn't hear the music (no speakers in the front) and reading and sleeping were front seat faux pas. On the last day Julia and Veronika invited me to join them on the Great Ocean Road, after a serious and sytematic hinting campaign on my part. It was an effective campaign and I have many people to thank, but most of all I have to thank Jesus. He makes all things possible. Praise Jesus. Fortunately for me it [View Full Entry]

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After 10 Days in Adelaide with very gracious hosts, I decided it was time to move on. It was a good personal decision, but perhaps not the wisest one in terms of my finances, which are okay at the moment, but have to see me through New Zealand, which may or may not happen - don't worry it'll happen. I'm good at living on next to nothing. I did it for the last five years after all. I booked a tour with a company called Groovy Grape because they were offering a great package that would get me not only up [View Full Entry]

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When I called Kat up before I arrived to clarify a few logistical points, Kat wanted to clarify something with me: "Let me ask you a question," she said. "For Christmas eve would you rather go to the pub or go to church?" There was silence on my end for a moment as I considered: Is this a trick question? Then shyly said: "Um the pub." I was much relieved when she told me that the pub was what she had had in mind herself. Wheeww! I had my introduction to cricket. Honestly, it's more of a re-introduction, as my childhood [View Full Entry]

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Hobart: Part 1 After convincing Melanie to join me on my trip to Tasmania, we had only to follow through to do it, which we did, to quote my favorite book, with grace and aplomb, yes, grace and aplomb. Our trip was full of synchronicity, felicity, and a general sense of good times! Tasmania's one of those places that on a map looks like a good fun-filled week. But in reality, you need a good long month to do it justice. When we arrived in Hobart around midnight, we had planned to head out in the morning so [View Full Entry]

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Melbourne: My New Home? Ah Melbourne: Smokey from bush fires, home of the weirdest turning lane rules in the world, and a city whose weather changes more quickly and dramatically than any other to which I've ever been - and I'm from Calgary! Arriving in Melbourne, I was psyched. I had a job interview the next day and was hopeful that I’d find accommodations very quickly in order to settle down for a while in this happening city. I had planned a travel move to hit New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga in January, but with pro-democracy crowds burning down 80% of [View Full Entry]

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Canberra is known for the trivial distinction of being Capital of Australia. Or at least that's the case in Trivial Pursuits. People casually and confidently declare "Pffft. Sydney's the capital of Australia, duh." Only to have the "Sorry, the card says Canberra" thrown in their faces. Is it wrong of them? Is it another Moops answer? Nay, sorry. Canberra is indeed the capital of Oz, and not just the Federal Capital, it is also the Porn Capital of Australia. The [View Full Entry]

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On the flight over from Bangkok, I got a window seat. I generally prefer to have the aisle seat under me, but having a windo seat to lean against while I slept was fine. I sat beside this rather obnoxious German woman, or perhaps just noxious. I kept getting this wiff of stinking feet smell. I was pretty sure it wasn't mine, but I'm a little self conscious about my smelling, be it my breath or my b/o, so I was a bit concerned, enough to do a smell check. As I bent over to grab my sandals, I noticed with [View Full Entry]

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Chiang Mai Chiang Mai is a great place, period. (Is the period after saying period redundant?) There's tons to do there, but it's one of those places, like Granada in Spain, where you don't feel guilty if you just sit around getting massages all day. I struck an informal compromise with myself - I'd lay around until I got bored, then I'd do stuff until I got tired of doing stuff, then I'd la around 'til I got bored. It was really ingenius, organic even how it came about. Nevertheless, it was a conscious decision to do what comes natural to [View Full Entry]

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Getting To Koh Tao I left Denmark in the snow and sleet, the first meteorolgical day of winter for the Danes. I figure I escaped just in time: Good enough for government work, as Grant would say. It was a long journey, with a long layover in London. The waiting kills me frankly. It's funny, I can get on a train and ride for 5 hours. That doesn't even make me flinch anymore; it's a day trip really. But a 4 hour wait at the airport? God, strangle me with a rope made of my own body hair (Damn, that would [View Full Entry]

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This is in fact two updates in one. The first, one of the udual suspects is my last report from Europe, and the latter being a little summary of the various goodies during the course of my travels. Factoids if you will, which I must admit have been dulled by memory. With so much information packed into so little time, I'm bound to remember something later on which totally rearranges or nullifies some of my answers. I've added a month by month series of travel maps to give you a rough idea of my route. Not every marker is indicative of [View Full Entry]

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