Before coming to Australia, we had been told numerous times by numerous people that no visit to Sydney was complete without a trip to the north side of the harbour, out to world renowned Manly Beach, so Kevin and I packed our towels and set off. We took the ferry from Sydney harbor, a 30 minute trip across the open water. There were dozens of ships of all shapes and sizes dotting the water. Traffic was busy and it was fun to watch the sailboats make a quick effort to avoid our massive ferry, which has the right of way apparently. Sydney is a nautical enthusiasts dream, if I had a boat I would set sail for these waters immediately. Before long we arrived at Manly Wharf. It's a very picturesque beach town and although our ... read more

Finally! After a year and a half of paying down debt, followed by another 15 months of saving, we are almost on our way to Australia. We got rid of everything we owned, (save for whatever we could fit into two suitcases and a backpack), emptied out our Toronto apartment, said goodbye to our friends and quit our jobs. Locking the door to the house we had happily lived in for seven years, it was surreal to walk out onto our lawn at 5 in the morning, the sun beginning to rise over Lake Ontario, and not knowing when we would be coming back. It was an exciting feeling, but also a bit daunting as well. Flying from Toronto to Edmonton, we are spending a month here, staying with Kevin's parents. Here, we are stocking ... read more