http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/SimonandLauren/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from SimonandLauren en-us Fri, 05 Dec 2008 06:51:41 UTC Fri, 05 Dec 2008 06:51:41 UTC After the crazy flight from Chiang Mai to Miami Simon and Lauren were not only tired but unable to sleep because of the 11 hour time difference...The United States threw a giant fireworks party for Lauren and Simon as they arrived on July 4th back to Lauren's home for the last four years where she had departed from to begin the epic journey to New Zealand many months ago. Sleep was the order of http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/Florida/Miami/blog-317404.html 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 d http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/Florida/Keys/John-Pennekamp-Coral-Reef-State-Park/blog-311316.html 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 a http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Thailand/North/Chiang-Mai/blog-293944.html 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 CrossingGoogle 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 http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Cambodia/North/Siem-Reap/blog-293091.html Simon and Lauren graced Manila for a total of one night three times. As a transit point between BrisbanePalau PalauCebu and CebuBangkok it was a necessity and they figured they should write something about the place as it was so...unique. Disembarking the flight from Australia the oppressiveness of the heat and humidity hit Simon like a train. Lauren from Miami was well accustomed to thi http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Philippines/Manila/Mall-of-Asia/blog-291556.html 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 http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Philippines/Malapascua-Island/blog-291540.html 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 http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/Bondi-Beach/blog-287909.html 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 arrive http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/Palau/Koror/blog-287600.html 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 http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/Australia/Queensland/Great-Barrier-Reef/blog-287597.html 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 http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/Manly/blog-283131.html 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 12 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 rela http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Bay-of-Islands/Russell/blog-283125.html 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 subtropical coast while Lauren Flies to Townsville to dive the awesome Great Barrier Reef with warm water Minke Whales amazin http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Philippines/Palawan/Coron/blog-274103.html Simon's a diver and general ocean lover who pretends to work as a product development engineer for the medical device manufacturer Fisher Paykel Healthcare during the week not for long. He currently lives in New Zealand where there are more than 50 sheep for every person and words like capsicum togs and jandals are used frequently. Simon intends to travel to the big 'ol USA where he wants http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Auckland/Albany/blog-272437.html