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Sydney FC vs. Melbourne Victory
2008-01-31 07:46:00 I caught a glimpse of the Australia n A-League soccer schedule when I was couchsurfing with Ben in Brisbane. I had noticed Sydney FC had a home game around the time I’d be there so I picked a flight from Cairns that would give me a fighting chance to see it live. After checking into ... More About: Victory , Melbourne
Snorkeling On The Great Barrier Reef
2008-01-30 07:44:00 After saying goodbye to Michael and Ann in Trinity Beach, I was picked up by a shuttle for my 1/2 day snorkeling excursion on the Great Barrier Reef . Michael had suggested Green Island would offer the best conditions based on the prevailing winds so I went with it. The ride out to the island ... More About: Australia
Cairns Tropical Zoo
2008-01-29 06:25:00 I visited the obligatory zoo when I was in Cairns . I missed the Steve Irwin Australia Zoo, which is spoken highly of in The Lonely Planet, so I was overdue. It felt like a small zoo, however given all the animals felt exotic, I easily spent 3 hours there (in the 95 degree ... More About: Tropical
Arriving in Trinity Beach
2008-01-28 07:57:00 I like hostels. My mom didn’t think I’d be tolerant of them like I was when I was 21, however they allow me to travel to fantastic places, and are filled with interesting characters. Still, if I can’t be in my own home, then being in someone else’s is the next best ... More About: Beach , Australia , Trinity
Day 3 (of 3) - Whitehaven Beach and Captain Dave
2008-01-27 07:02:00 We awoke on the third day to glorious sunshine. At least glorious to most on board. When I heard we’d be on Whitehaven Beach for 2.5 hours in the morning, I pictured myself baking alive. And guess what? I was on fire for much of that beach time. I’m ... More About: Australia , Dave , Captain
Day 2 (of 3) - My First SCUBA Dive
2008-01-26 09:03:00 I slept surprisingly well for my first night aboard a sailboat. We had anchored down in a protected area off one of the islands so the water was quite calm. Despite a little rain in the early morning, the overcast skies were a big improvement from the previous day’s torrential rains (seriously, Airlie ... More About: Australia , Dive
Day 1 (of 3) - Sailing Amidst the Whitsunday Islands
2008-01-25 09:00:00 After a rain soaked Fraser Island trip, I was hoping for smooth sailing under blue skies for my 3 day/2 night sail aboard the mighty maxi yacht Apollo (green/yellow 80-foot racing yacht). As you can see in the photo above, it was cloudy and rainy the morning we set sail from Airlie Beach. ... More About: Australia , Sailing , Islands
Officially My Longest Trip (Ever!)
2008-01-24 09:15:00 Alert the presses - it’s official! I’ve now been traveling continuously for more than 7 weeks, thereby surpassing my previous record set 10 years ago in Europe (during my first backpacking trip). It feels right to be traveling on an even bigger adventure a nice round decade after I first discovered my desire for independent ... More About: Australia , Trip , Longest
Dare #3 - Completed(?) - Eight is Enough
2008-01-23 09:05:00 Dare #3 - From Kango Suz: If you can post any pictures of you with more than 6 single women with their hands on your one shoulder I’ll give you $10 per pic! Reward: $10 per pic. __________________________________ I’m going to let Kango decide whether the photo above meets the requirements for the dare. Europe was well ... More About: Dare , Dares
Let?s Go Surfing
2008-01-22 09:33:00 Despite being driven around, I still found the Fraser Island tour to be tiring. I managed to get myself checked out of the hostel on time (10am), and then killed off a few hours eating my way around Hervey Bay as I awaited my bus to Agnes Water and Town of 1770. They’re ... More About: Surfing , Australia
Day 2 (of 2) - Fraser Island 4×4 Safari
2008-01-21 09:17:00 The second day of our tour included inland driving to two freshwater lakes and a rainforest. The last thing I expected to find on the world’s largest island made of sand is a massive rainforest ecosystem, yet I found myself walking for 30 minutes along the banks of a trickling stream in the shade ... More About: Safari , Australia , Island , Fraser Island
Day 2 (of 3) - My First SCUBA Dive
2008-01-21 06:58:00 I slept surprisingly well for my first night aboard a sailboat. We had anchored down in a protected area off one of the islands so the water was quite calm. Despite a little rain in the early morning, the overcast skies were a big improvement from the previous day’s torrential rains (seriously, Airlie Beach made ... More About: Australia , Dive
Day 1 (of 2) - Fraser Island 4×4 Safari
2008-01-20 09:49:00 Touring Fraser Island , the world’s largest sand island, by 4×4 is a VERY popular activity in Australia. The gist of it is to either hire your own 4-wheel drive vehicle and camp out in tents on the island for a few nights, or take a guided tour and let someone else do the ... More About: Safari , Fraser Island
Bus from Brisbane to Hervey Bay
2008-01-19 13:44:00 After a short night’s sleep in Brisbane , I packed up and hit the road on another Greyhound Australia bus. Unlike in America, these buses are well-appointed. They’re clean, include a toilet and tap water, usually filled with backpackers, efficient, and rather comfortable. In terms of the buses I will be utilizing on ...
10 Hours in Surfer?s Paradise
2008-01-18 13:25:00 A few days prior to my arrival in Surfer ’s Paradise , a beach town between Byron Bay and Brisbane, I had received a “Come on down mate” from a couchsurfing host. He had included his address and phone number in the response so I was excited to have a free night’s accommodation. I ... More About: Australia , Hours
Beautiful Balmy Byron Bay
2008-01-14 08:38:00 I arrived in Byron Bay after about a 4 hour rainy bus ride south of Brisbane. Byron Bay is known for being a hippie enclave. It’s filled with cafes, incense-filled gift shops, places to get massages and alternative (homeopathic) therapies, and of course, surf shops. In fact, board shorts and surfers are everywhere. ... More About: Australia , Beautiful
Couchsurfing Brisbane
2008-01-13 02:08:00 I rang Ben up from the Auchenflower train station, and he walked over bare foot a few minutes later to greet me. Turns out his apartment was only two blocks away - super convenient for all the couchsurfers he hosted. Ben is a Couchsurfing city ambassador for Brisbane , which means he tends to host a ... More About: Australia
G?day Mate and Welcome to Australia
2008-01-11 09:46:00 I couldn’t/didn’t sleep but an hour the night before my flight to Brisbane, Australia . No doubt it was because I had to wake up at 3am for the earliest shuttle to the airport to ensure I made the Jetstar check-in (which closes 60 minutes before international flight departures) for my 6:15am flight. I passed ... More About: Mate
Final Thoughts: New Zealand
2008-01-11 02:03:00 New Zealand surpassed my expectations, and while at times tiring and fast-paced, I would not trade my experiences for the world! Highlights - canyoning outside Auckland haka dance in Maketu volcanic mud bathing in Rotorua Tongariro Crossing trivia night in Wellington bone carving in Barrytown heli-hiking Franz Joseph glacier cinema at Lake Wanaka Christmas Eve dinner in Queenstown jetboating canyong swing New Years Eve celebration in ... More About: New Zealand , Thoughts , Final
Poll: How Long Should I Spend in Bali?
2008-01-07 09:06:00 Help me decide how long to spend in Bali , Indonesia ! I have to decide soon so I can book my onward travel. Factors to consider include the fact that I will have been on the road for 2 months, not having spent more than 5 nights in any one place. The first 3 countries I ... More About: Poll , Long
Top Song: Snow (Hey Oh) by RHCP
2008-01-06 09:38:00 Thanks to everyone for voting on which song was my most played after 3 weeks on the road. I was surprised to see Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds” come from behind recently to list as #1 with 12 votes, thus overtaking “Free” by Phish. Of course neither came close to “Snow ” by the Red Hot Chili ... More About: New Zealand , Song
Rest and Recovery in Christchurch
2008-01-05 01:31:00 After a month of travel, and 3 weeks of trying to keep up with the STRAY backpacker bus schedule, I was ready to settle in Christchurch for the remaining 5 nights of my stay in New Zealand, and to celebrate New Year’s Eve. Christchurch is the second largest city in the country after Auckland, however with ... More About: Recovery , Rest
Fear Factor: Riding the World?s Highest Swing
2008-01-02 08:13:00 Date: Thursday, December 27, 2007 Mission: Shotover Canyon Swing Statistics: 360 feet high (109 meters), 200-foot freefall (60 meters), 650-foot arc (200 meters), 93 mph (150 kph) 6 am - Unintentionally awoken by departing dormmates 9:15 am - Evacuate bladder 9:18 am - Shower 9:50 am - Evacuate bowels 10 am - Eat light breakfast - toast ... More About: World , New Zealand , The World , Fear
Happy New Year
2008-01-01 08:08:00 The photo isn’t from my New Year ’s celebration (in Christchurch), however it fits the holiday well enough. I celebrated Stephanie’s birthday in Franz Joseph along with a bunch of other STRAY bus backpackers. Cheers to 2008! Sponsored By: World Nomads - Online travel insurance affiliated with Lonely Planet and BootsnAll. New Zealand , partyingShare This More About: Happy , Happy New Year
Scenic Views of Queenstown
2007-12-31 07:45:00 Life in Queenstown returned to normal the day after Christmas. Unlike probably any other town in the world, this meant a zillion tour operators began shuffling people to face their fears jumping the 130+ meter Nevis bungy (world’s 2nd highest), skydiving from 15,000 feet, riding the world’s highest swing (109 meters), and a variety ... More About: Views , New Zealand
The Southern Alps, Lake Wanaka, and A Movie
2007-12-31 02:19:00 Upon leaving Franz Joseph, we took in a scenic view of New Zealand’s Southern Alps from Lake Mattheson. On a good day, you’re suppose to be able to see a great reflection of the mountains (including Mt. Cook) because the lake is well protected. Unfortunately it was overcast when we were there. Another scenic ... More About: Movie
Heli-Hiking Franz Joseph Glacier
2007-12-29 08:05:00 Spending a full day (6 hours ice time) hiking on the Franz Joseph Glacier on the west coast of New Zealand ’s South Island was something I’d been looking forward to for months. It was fully my intent to do the full day hike, however… About 3 days after I had completed the Tongariro Crossing ... More About: Hiking
Sailing South and Bone Carving
2007-12-28 07:29:00 I paid for the good times in Wellington on my travel day to the South Island. I was up around 6am, took a 7am shuttle to the quay, and set sail aboard the 8:30am ferry to New Zealand’s South Island. The ferry ride was rather uneventful, and I spent a few minutes lounging in a ... More About: Sailing , Bone
6 Reasons To Pack Light
2007-12-27 07:56:00 It’s one thing to say you’ll pack light, and another to actually manage it once traveling. Just in case you need a few reminders why it pays to pack lighter…. 1. Ease of movement - less physical/mental stress when you’re on the move. 2. Less stuff means you’re better able to account for what you do have ... More About: Planning , Light , Reasons , Pack
Merry Christmas from Queenstown!
More articles from this author:2007-12-25 02:40:00 I’m going to skip ahead for today so I can share some photos from my Christmas Eve in Queenstown . I spent it getting to know Nadia (Switz), Vivian (Holland), and Vanessa (Germany). For dinner, we picked Chico’s, an old, low key, candlelit restaurant. Plus a guy outside had offered us a coupon ... More About: Merry Christmas , Merry 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
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