After 60 some hours of travel from Bangkok, Simon and Lauren wound up in Miami and spent a weekend in the Florida Keys, diving on a reef and shallow wreck the first day, and doing a double dip on the USS Spiegel Grove the second. Lauren was pleased to be back home, and enjoyed showing Simon around the Keys and Miami. They witnessed the colorful sunset festival in Key West and vibrant fireworks displays in Miami, but the Spiegel stood out as the highlight of the weekend for both. Splashing in Florida is much more refreshing and less brisk than some [View Full Entry]

---

---

Chiang Mai, Thailand's northern capital, was a place that couldn't be missed according to Lonely Planet. Thus, Simon and Lauren found themselves walking around Chiang Mai town early one morning, having taken the flight there from Bangkok (train would have been better, but time wasn't on their side). Day 1: Doi Inthanon National Park Doi Inthanon is Thailand's highest peak, covered in rainforest and much cooler than the towns on the plains, although even that was better than the sweltering heat of Bangkok. Simon and Lauren boarded the local bus to the town nearest to the park an [View Full Entry]

---

---

Cambodia - the name stirs images of remote jungle, of landmines and war. But like much of Asia, our preconceptions are proving to be wildly inaccurate... The Border Crossing Google "Bangkok to Siem Reap" and you'll find a plethora of websites and blogs filled with livid stories of the scams and "hidden costs" associated with bus rides from Khao San Road (Bangkok's tourist centre) to Siem Reap. With these in mind, Simon and Lauren opted for a public bus and arrived at the border on the same day as departure (it's really only four hours, but scam buses take double the [View Full Entry]

---

---

Malapascua Island was purportedly an idyllic tropical paradise, an unknown little island tucked away just north of the big island of Cebu. Until thresher sharks were discovered on the nearby shoals, Malapascua was simply an island of villages. Since then, a diving boom has created a string of resorts and dive shops along the white sand beach, traditional thatch huts and a tiki bar with a thatch and bamboo roof, and views over the tropical turquoise sea. Simon and Lauren called ahead to confirm that the threshers were around, and upon the dive shop confirming that they were spotted about [View Full Entry]

---

---

Simon and Lauren reunited in Sydney after her trip to the Great Barrier Reef. Ecstatic to see each other again, they ran across the airport to hug, only bowling over a few little old ladies. Lauren was wiped from her early flight out of Townsville and GBR liveaboard, but anxious to experience Sydney. They spent a day exploring the city before jetting off to Manila the following morning, and had a trip to the Sydney Wildlife Park. Here Lauren finally saw koalas, kangaroos, and wallabes; convincing her that she was actually in the fabled land down under. Australia houses the most [View Full Entry]

---

---

During a conversation with Simon the Frenchman (Ed's flatmate), we talked about where to dive in asia. Simon had been an instructor in the area for several years. Philippines? ok. Thailand? very touristy. I mentioned our plans to fly to Palau and Simon's response was "don't quit diving after Palau, eh? You'll never think diving is good elsewhere again!!" With this in mind Lauren and Simon arrived at 1:30am on Saturday morning to a stifling hot airport (at least it didnt smell like vomit as in Manila) and were taken to a transfer hotel where t [View Full Entry]

---

---

While Simon was exploring deep, dark wrecks near Sydney, Lauren flew north to Townsville where she met her friend Sabrina (who is studying there this semester). The dynamic duo (of MSC 201 and University of Miami Science Diving) reunited with a bang and had a night out on the town, then got up at 5am to catch a bus to Cairns. Cairns is much more Australian feeling than Sydney, with a relaxed and beachy flair evident even through the rampant tourist industry. From Cairns, Lauren and Sabrina boarded the MV Taka and set out for a long weekend of diving on [View Full Entry]

---

---

While Lauren's away diving the GBR with her friend Sabrina, Simon squeezed in a tech dive in on the tugboat 'Himma' that lies in the open ocean at at 52m, just outside Sydney harbour. The Wreck of the 'Himma' lies alongside several other wrecks sunk as part of an artificial reef in an effort to bolster the declining quantity of fish life near Sydney. Although relatively unsuccessful as a reef, the 'Himma' and other nearby wrecks have become a great attraction for advanced and technical divers. The following is a brief description of the 'Himma' from [url=http://http://www.michaelmcfadyens [View Full Entry]

---

---

After months of planning and a grueling 40 hours of traveling, Lauren arrives in New Zealand only to be diverted to Christchurch because for the first time in 2 1/2 years Auckland International is closed due to fog!! Four hours later she's back in Auckland and reunites with Simon (who had been waiting at the airport the whole day..) They hadn't seen each other since January and since their relationship had developed somewhat between then and now a polite handshake and trivial conversation about the weather was in order. They set a course north to the Cowshed Backpackers in the [View Full Entry]

---

---

Simon & Lauren's Travel Plans begin with Lauren Flying to Auckland Via LA and Nadi (Fiji). After diving the Alderman Islands with the awesome Taranui, they then travel to Sydney, Australia. Simon will dive in frigid cold water looking for wrecks in the deep dark off the sub-tropical coast while Lauren Flies to Townsville to dive the awesome Great Barrier Reef with warm water, Minke Whales, amazing coral life, great onboard facilities and no wetsuit. No prizes for guessing which trip most people would choose... Lauren reunites with Simon after that in Sydney and they fly to Manila in [View Full Entry]

---

---