http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/anaticulae/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from anaticulae en-us Wed, 16 Dec 2009 00:02:45 +0000 Wed, 16 Dec 2009 00:02:45 +0000 We have now officially left Australia and for a change we decided to blog in more or less real time. But once we get a chance wersquoll update you on our last few weeks in OZ including a great week in Cairns with our friends Shaneel and Heing. While we were sad to leave Brisbane we were excited for new adventures in SE Asia. Vietnam and Cambodia here we come First stop Ho Chi Minh City http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/blog-420160.html The Australian Outback conjures up images of a remote wilderness populated only by kangaroos camels and the few real Crocodile Dundees. The main attraction Uluru also known as Ayers Rock is one of the most recognizable icons of Australia although I must confess that I only had a vague knowledge of it until saw some pictures in my Lonely Planet. As I was planning my trip I came to fully app http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Northern-Territory/Uluru/blog-416725.html I fully agree with the old adage ldquoyou are only as old as you feelrdquo on some days you feel like you can easily conquer Everest and on others it is an effort to even get out of bed Siddrsquos maternal grandmother is a testament to this saying and the belief that one should always stay young at heart. At the spry age of 84 Baa travelled from India to Australia to spend some time http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Queensland/Fraser-Island/blog-410947.html With our second wedding anniversary fast approaching at the beginning of May Sidd and I tossed around several ideas on how to make it a memorable occasion. As luck would have it Sidd randomly had a week off of work and I was also able to take a week off from my parttime position. Yes I did work for 2 months in Brisbane but must confess that of those 2 months I was able to take 2 weeks off f http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/blog-408614.html With plans of snorkeling through sparkling coral seas lounging on white silica beaches and generally just enjoying a sunny tropical paradise both Sidd and I were really looking forward to our weeklong getaway in the Whitsundays over the Easter break. The Whitsundays is located midway on the Queensland Coast approximately 1.5 hours north by plane from Brisbane. It is the largest group of island http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Queensland/Whitsundays/blog-403092.html Upon arriving in Brisbane in early January Sidd had a rather lengthy ldquoTo Do Listrdquo to complete before I arrived among them 1 find place to live 2 obtain medical license in order to be able to work 3 set up bank account in order to get paid 4 clean new apartment until sparkling etc. After about one week however he soon found himself with some spare time having duly che http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Queensland/Mooloolah/blog-393076.html Within 2 weeks of Siddrsquos parentsrsquo visit our second visitor Margaret one of my best friends arrived from Washington D.C. to explore our little piece of Australia. This time as we had full week we decided to head down to Sydney home to the famous Opera House Bondi Beach and more importantly lots and lots of tasty restaurantsOriginally we had planned for 12 hours in Brisbane to http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/blog-388843.html It has been awhile since I have motivated myself to write anything but having resided in Australia now for almost 3 months I thought it would be nice to update you on my perspective of life down under and Melissa has been constantly nagging me to write something ever since she arrived here.I guess my biggest hesitation to write something other than my sheer laziness and the fact that I actua http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Byron-Bay/blog-382140.html The grand finale to the 30th birthday celebration took place in the glorious wine regions of McLaren Vale Clare Valley and Barossa Valley. Although neither Sidd nor I consider ourselves to be serious wine connoisseurs we love sampling new wines and learning as much as we can about the different grapes and the winemaking process. Visiting wine regions is an annual adventure for us our honeymoo http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/South-Australia/Clare/blog-380181.html As Part II of the 30th birthday celebration Sidd and I headed to South Australia for a wine tour more on this later and to visit Kangaroo Island the 2nd largest island off of Australia. Why one might question is it named Kangaroo Island Is it because it is shaped like a Kangaroo Or because it is overrun by these bouncy marsupials Well no... itrsquos because the explorers upon discover http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/South-Australia/Kangaroo-Island/blog-376331.html As most of you know Sidd is working at one of the hospitals here in Brisbane. Currently he is working in the ICU and works 1314 hour shifts then promptly comes home and collapses in bed. Given that he works only 46 shifts every 2 weeks this isnrsquot as bad a gig as it sounds especially when compared to his work schedule at home. Whoever thought that it would be beneficial for doctors to http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Queensland/Brisbane/blog-373120.html Sidd has now been in Brisbane for almost 4 weeks and has settled into his routine of working a string of 1214 hour shifts in a row followed by a few days off. He has also signed himself up for a Triathlon and is committed to running or biking every day. I am somewhat amused by his new fitness regimen which incidentally does not coincide with a diet regimen wine and cheese is still a daily occ http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Queensland/Brisbane/blog-368807.html So I have now been in Brisbane for over 24 hours and thus far my impression is that it is a very pretty city with lots of fun little districts to explore. Coffee is bleeding expensive the 1.50 Timrsquos percolated coffee does not exist and the conversion form prices in kilos to pounds will continue to prove a headache. But I can now proudly say that not only can I drive on the wrong side of http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Singapore/blog-367790.html Having been on Canadian soil for almost three weeks now has been both challenging and rewarding. I love the fact that you get reverse culture shock in the place that you call home. However it has been wonderful to catch up with family and friends and very interesting to reexperience certain things that I took for granted before I left. One example is the supermarket the sheer size vast arr http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Tanzania/East/Dar-es-Salaam/blog-21555.html Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro seems to be part of the whole Tanzania tourist experience something that people take on rather lightly with the foremost consideration surrounding the trek being ldquohow muchrdquo But after some deliberation climbing a mountain of 5895 meters in a few days is not your typical relaxing activity while on vacation. Add on fatigue cold and altitude sickness headac http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Tanzania/North/Mount-Kilimanjaro/blog-17020.html Question How many times does one need to go to Zanzibar Wellhelliphellip when you are invited along to attend the official opening of the luxurious Italian resort in Kendwa the answer would be at least three.The troublesome trio of Alex Jessica and myself flew to Zanzibar a few hours before the inauguration to do some shopping in Stonetown. It was Jessicarsquos first time in Zanziba http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Tanzania/Zanzibar/blog-14145.html According to one of Jessicarsquos colleagues you can just show up at Ubungo bus station and hop on any number of buses heading in the Iringa direction easy no problem. Following this advice we made it to the crazy chaos that is Ubungo just after 730am. Now being accosted by the aggressive touts is no fun on any given day but becomes especially unpleasant when they haul you around to the http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Tanzania/Centre/Iringa/blog-13531.html Lovely Lady Luck... This past month has been testament to the unpredictability of life. At any given time one can never really know where you will be what you will be doing with whom or what will befall you during any given event....... The following list is in no particular order1. Biking in BagamoyoThe decision to go to Bagamoyo the original capital of German East Africa was made about http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Tanzania/East/Dar-es-Salaam/blog-10918.html WHAT Hot water Fresh pineapple juice Lounging on the private white sand beach Sailing on the Indian ocean in a laser Walking barefoot A pool right outside my hotel room window Sun salutations on the beach in the morning Lovely pasta at every meal Sugary cookies for breakfast Italian espressoYup thatrsquos right all of the above and then some Just got back from a fantastic l http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Tanzania/Zanzibar/blog-12214.html So after two weeks of vacation I am officially back in Dar es Salaam. The name of the city by the way means Haven of Peace . Alas first impression upon returning is that Dar does not seem to be any more peaceful than upon my departure. At any rate I am back and ready for work on Monday. Well...... I will be ready once I get more settled in my new house going shopping tomorrow at the mar http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Tanzania/East/Dar-es-Salaam/blog-9090.html