Blogs from Oceania - page 7246

Since my return from our amazing journey, one thing I have become exceedingly good at is dreaming. I visited my mother shortly after arriving back in Melbourne, as I was really missing her company, and on the 14-hour drive up to Armidale, I had so much thinking space, that I managed to dream up an entire array of crazy but wonderful ideas. The reason I decided to write just one more blog, as you are probably questioning its appearance in your inbox, is that so many of my friends and family, some with whom I have had little contact since school, have gone out of their way to find out what is happening now that I am back. So, I thought it only suitable to 'keep writing!' in order to update you all. Firstly, I would ... read more

Finally all my travel plans seem to be coming otgether. Honestly, it's taken nearly 3 hours of planning, booking, re-planning, re-booking to get things in order. I'd seriously underestimated the travel times needed to get around this ginormous country and I'm only doing the coast! The whole trip has depended on the Cairns-Darwin Safari, since it only leaves twice a month and I'd originally wanted to catch the 18th May departure, but everything has stretched, as usual, and I've had to put it back to June 1st, giving me another 14 days to play with, and, more worryingly, to fund. Still, it's only money and why rush a once-in-a-lifetime trip? The really good news is that on re-arranging my 2 day Whitsunday's Sailing Trip, the lovely, superstar, Lesley said that they were booked full for the ... read more

Well, to explain the lack of blog for a while- I've been travelling incognito as I went around the (Australian) countryside surprising friends and family who had no idea I was home. Lex at first thought I was a recording of a ukulele, both Struth and Luce didn't seem to register that I was back for a good 5 minutes, Dad looked at me funny then went a bit teary and Mum asked me who I was sitting on her verandah! :) I just arrived at Mum's today, but have spend the last few days at Dad's chilling among the trees dreaming up plans for an earth house I want to build up in the back of his block. It was most peaceful, and I've pretty much been doing the same thing as Alaya did when ... read more

The big day. We awoke early to Trevors cry of "That was the worst night's sleep EVER. GET ME OUT OF HERE!!!", a sentiment that was echoed by a lot of our group. We breakfasted, and the set off up stream at 08:30. Unfortunately we were two boats down - Esther had developed a bad back, and Esther being the good friend that she was went back to the ranger station with her. Chris and Helen also headed back as they were only booked on the one night adventure. Gemma and I, "Team Manchester" decided to keep at the front of "Team Canada" as the undisturbed water to the bow gave a mirror-like reflection of the imposing treas and picturesque blue sky. We paddled for 6Km passing only 3 other boats, a small and timid turtle ... read more

So it's been about two weeks since I stopped working, and what an action packed two weeks it's been. I know I said this in the last blog, but it's good to be on the road again. New people, new places, new experiences...what a great time I'm having. Actually today is four months since I left NY, it's funny but it seems like both a long time and a short time all at once, if that's even possible. Well back to business. We left Motueka, heading south along the west coast of the south island. This entire coast is a World Heritage Site, and a well deserved one at that. The area is broken down into four national parks, Paparoa, Westlands, Mount Aspiring, and Fiordland The scenery has been spectacular, sometimes I almost feel like I'm ... read more