Panama City Beach- February 26- March 2Panama City Beach was too short of trip. We rented an airbnb on the water, enjoyed slow mornings and busy night life outings. We danced, sang, went to a strip club, ate seafood, walked the beach and sang happy birthday to my dear friend Ryan. I can't wait for the next adventure with you all! Katy's Bachelorette Cruise March 3-6'Last Sail before the Veil'. This was such a fun 4 day cruise. The beach in the Bahamas was the most brilliant blue. Katys sister organized fun activities and it was my first and definitely not my last cruise. I felt a bit sea sick at first but it quickly subsided with ginger pills and margheritas. Cruising with good friends is so much fun, always something to do. Disney World March 6-8Truly the most magical place on earth. One thing missing was my husband to join me. I was in Florida, I couldn't not go to Disney World. I was able to see all 4 parks. Animal Kingdom, EPCOT, Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. My favourite was EPCOT, the Gaurdians of the Galaxy ride was out of this world. All in all, I will most definitely be back for a visit and spend at least a week next time. I was so tired fitting it all in 2 days. Exhausted. So worth it!
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New Zealand trip May 3-8 2022 NZ is like a giant post card. Everywhere you look it is stunning. The time of year was autumn so we got to enjoy the vivid yellows and reds in the trees and bushes alongside the bluest of waters and it was gorgeous. Our trip was in the South Island and started in Christchurch, went down to Queenstown, Milford Sound and then back up again. It was short but we packed a lot in those 6 days 5 nights. Accommodation We rented a 2 berth campervan which had solar panels, diesel heater, gas stove, shower and toilet, and a TV/radio. It was self contained and was the perfect size for me and Chris. Driving was smooth and the fuel cost was $500 for 6 days of travel. It really is the best way to be able to see most of the South Island in such a short amount of time, or any time for that matter. You can 'freedom camp' and go where you like, day or night. Activities New Zealand is the adventure capital of the world and we wanted to experience all the thrills and outdoor adventures we could. The most iconic place for most of these activities is in Queenstown, a beautiful mountain town with Lake Wakatipu at your door step. Because it was Autumn, the ski resorts weren't open and it was too cold to swim in the water but we found some other excellent and daring activities that took our breathe away, and not because it was cold. Bungee Jump I came her with one goal: to bungee jump! 134 meters high and the highest bungee in all of New Zealand! Chris and I walked to the platform together and I suited up and was keeping very calm. I had that knot of suspense and anxiousness in my stomach, and when she got me to the edge and asked if I was ready, I thought for a millisecond 'what the heck am I doing, no way!' But I just waved my arms and said let's do this and I swan dived off and screamed bloody murder, I am talking the scream you have that comes from the pit of you stomach. It was free fall for 8.5 seconds and when you bounce back up you fall again. Such a rush, and if I was asked to do it again. Maybe if someone wanted me to go with them. But I am glad I got that off of my bucket list :) Jet Boat Ride Another activity was the jet boat ride up the Shotover Canyon. Wow, those jetboats and soar through the water and even the shallow parts. I was for sure we were going to hit bottom but the boat just gliding right over the top. The water was so blue and was glacier water, so fresh, cold and clean. Chris ended up standing in afterwards and his feet went all tingly. Milford Sound The highlight for both Chris and I was definitely the Milford Sound Cruise. It was the perfect day to go; blue sky, calm water and little to no wind. It was a small boat so it made for a small group which was nice and the boat was able to get us really close to the rocks and waterfalls which were so lush and green and there were even seals bathing on some of the rocks. The cruise went for 2 hours and we sat outside with our jackets and scarves and gloves on as the temperature was only around 18 (64 F) and with the wind it was a bit chilly. Milford Sound is actually a fjord because it is carved out by glaciers and inundated with sea water, a sound is usually formed by the flooding a river valley. The rising mountains and waterfalls coming down were stunning and if it were a rainy day, we would have seen over a thousand extra waterfalls. Tekapo Springs The last full day of the trip we treated ourselves to the hot pools on Lake Tekapo. There were three pools, all a different temperature and it felt great to soak in them on the cool autumn morning. The coolest pool was 35c (95f) and the hottest was 38c (100f) which I would rather have it at like 106f but it still felt good. I found out these pools are not natural hotsprings but rather from an alpine spring that is drawn from underground 2km away near the Forks river. They also had an ice skating rink on the other side where most of the crowd was. Chris treated me to the sauna and steam room and it had a cold plunge pool. Brrr! Sights/Campsites We drove along some really pretty routes and passed many small towns, rivers, lakes and sheep! I am talking more sheep than humans! Two lakes we stopped at are Lake Tekapo and Lake Pukaki. Both are filled with water from glaciers and they are stunningly blue, especially on a nice clear day. The water was ice cold but so clear that the rocks even looks clean. We bought some fresh salmon from Lake Pukaki and had it for dinner the first night where we set up camp along Lake Wakatipu in Queenstown. We stayed in Milford Sound Lodge the second night which was a beautiful rainforest campground with facilities and a restaurant. The river out behind the camp was at the base of the Milford Sound mountain range, it was peaceful and stunning. The third night we stayed in Queenstown and unfortunately got a ticket for overnight camping in a car park. We are appealing the ticket and hoping a big apology and naivety gets us a pass. The town was pretty quiet with tourists but was great to be able to have a drink and walk back to our van to sleep. We stayed on Lake Pukaki the next night and this was the best one yet because it was free! And the view was amazing. Only a few campers were there and it was right off the side of the road, I would have missed it if it were any darker out. And the last night was of course in Christchurch as we had an early flight to catch, which ended up being delayed until the afternoon, so we cruised around on Lime scooters around town and Chris even had time for a round of golf in the local park! Overall, New Zealand is a place to visit and appreciate nature again. With its fresh mountain air and glacier fresh waterways, the South Island is a nice place to reconnect with mother earth again. I was so glad to travel again and I think I will always have the need in me to see the world. I will definitely go back for a visit. I left Australia to be with my family during an emergency, and in order to get back in during this time of chaos (aka: Coronavirus Pandemic), I am required to quarantine in a hotel for 14 days before I am cleared to move onto to my final destination, which is my house. I will log a daily diary in my isolation for two reasons: 1, because I literally have nothing else better to do. And 2, to look back on this lonely and surreal time in life and know it was only a glimpse of what once was. Day 1, July 17 2020 My plane touched down at 6AM in Sydney. There were only a handful of people on the plane, which was nice to be able to spread out, however we had to wear masks over our nose and mouth the entire flight (23 hours to be exact). We were escorted into a line where we were screened and questioned about health related items. Then we went through customs and then proceeded outside (my final breath of fresh air for 14 days) to board a bus. There were about 7 people on board my designated bus, very quiet and no one knew where we were headed, only that we were headed to a hotel in the city to quarantine. The bus pulled up to Intercontinental Hotel in the CBD of Sydney, near the botanical gardens. We check in one by one and were escorted by army personnel to our designated rooms. I immediately started to cry, with the reality setting in and also not having anyone with me; all alone in a 20x20 box for 2 weeks. All this and not even a good view out of my non opening window. As I settled down emotionally while I talked with my partner Chris, I came to realize this to shall pass, it will pass slowly, but it will pass all the same. So far, everyone that I have been in contact with have been very nice and helpful, and the food has been good. Also the bed was a nice welcome from sleeping across 3 seats on a plane for 14 hours. I write this blog tonight while I wait for my dinner, my third and final meal for today. I have pre packed some snacks, especially chocolate. I am looking forward to tomorrow because Chris will be dropping off a care package of things I have requested from the house and from the shops (one thing I am anticipating getting is a bottle of wine). I will also get to see his face outside on the sidewalk; this will be the first time we have seen each other since May 27th, when I took a plane home to be with family. Yes, tomorrow will be a better day. Hug whoever you have with you tonight, for me I will hug my pillow. Day 2, July 18 2020 Quote of the day: "Some days there won't be a song in your heart, sing anyway" Of all the times my body wants to wake up early, I end up wide awake at 6:30am this morning! Let me sleep this nightmare away! But today was actually a good day. Chris came by and dropped of a ton of snack foods, clothes, toiletries and more for me to occupy my time. He sat down on the sidewalk and ate some lunch, while we chatted on the phone. I gave the passer-bys some entertainment as I danced and jumped around in the window. I am not going to lie, it was emotional to see Chris, him being only a stone throw away, and I couldn't hug him. He has been my rock through all the hard things my life has thrown at me recently, a big 'I Love you so much' shout out to my baby <3. After Chris left, I made use of all my new equipment; Had a good yoga sesh, enjoyed a cup of coffee from my coffee machine, colored in some inspirational quotes and count down numbers to hang up on the window. I found this 14 day quarantine workout plan and started that after lunch. Man, am I outta shape. I thought this room was cold until I finally started to raise my heart rate a bit. Felt good to sweat. There are quarantine groups on Facebook and I joined one that had a zoom setup for karaoke hour, some awesome singers and I met some new friends. I am glad to see I am not alone in this, I can winge and wine to my homies down the hallway and they will understand. I have made a daily routine sheet to stick to, this will help me get out of bed each morning, like its a job to stay active, both mentally and physically. On that list includes yoga, creative time, calling home, making the bed in the morning, read my book, workout and free time. This should give me a pep in my slow steps over the next two weeks. I thought about it today, and if my dad can sit in a hospital bed for 40 days, I damn well can sit in a cushy hotel for 2 weeks, let's go! Oh, and here's a little fun I had on Tik Tok.... Day 3, July 19 2020 Quote of the day: "Be strong now because things will get better. It might be stormy now, but it can't rain forever." Man, no matter how hard I try to keep my eyes shut, I can't sleep in past 6:30AM. I have the blackout blinds down and it is completely silent in this place, and yet I am wide eyed as soon as the rooster sings. I would rather sleep half the day away to make time pass faster. I did stick to a routine today and had my breakfast, did yoga, called home and did a workout. The food here has been ok, nothing to write home about, but it fills my tummy and I have an abundance of snack food on hand to stay fat and happy. I sit at the window seat watching people down below. I can see the gardens from the corner of the window and watch people walk, bike and run on the path down there. Man, I can't wait to smell fresh air again. There is a lot of construction going on as well, I think Sydney has the most cranes in the world (look it up). I can see 4 from my window alone. The soundproof windows keep the noise at bay. I have been writing inspirational quotes down every day to hang on my window. It helps me stay positive. I was swabbed this morning for COVID19, they took a swab from both nostrils and my mouth; it wasn't pleasant and I don't wish it on anyone. My test results will come back in two days. Then they swab again on the tenth day of quarantine. Chris and I had a dinner date tonight. I dressed up with a dress and makeup and poured myself a glass of wine. We have been doing these facetime dates a few times over the past 2 months, and it helps us stay connected; man I miss him, but he has been such a rock and solid guy through all this. I love him with all my heart. Well the one positive thing waking up early does is it makes me want to go to sleep early. I will be laying down after I write this. Thanks for sticking with me on this weird journey of mine. Day 4, July 20 2020 Quote of the day: "Hey, everything will be OK." I didn't turn the TV on once today. I was able to keep my mind busy elsewhere and one of the ways I did that was to talk to so many people! I loved catching up with my parents, sister, cousin Amanda, my baby Chris and my friend Heather. This is what made not only my day go by faster, but it also literally made my day; It brings joy to me to just have a chat with the one's I love. I can see thru this quarantine that I need people in my life, I need my social time. I also need me time and discovered I am getting pretty good at yoga and my breathing technique. My mind usually is racing while I practice, but lately I really have been able to clear my mind and not have anything to worry about while I am in the moment. I guess you could say I am meditating. It has definitely made time pass faster when I do these little yoga videos, especially the one's I want to fall asleep to. I also purchased a diffuser from a local and have been using that all night to purify the air a little; enjoyed a bit of a spa time taking a bath and enjoying the peace and quiet. My body is getting a solid work out, seriously, my legs, abs and arms are feeling like jello. I found a 14 day quarantine workout that keeps me active but also am quiet enough to not bother the neighbours. That apparently doesn't apply to my upstairs neighbour, who was running laps in his room at 6AM. I heard stomping above me and started to realize it was someone jogging back and fourth, he made like 5 strides to reach the other end, what is the point? Just do crunches and push ups like the rest of us bro. They were part of the reason I woke up so early again; my biological clock has been getting me up at 6:30 every morning. So tonight I am trying to really tire myself out and stay up as late as I can to see if I will sleep in longer. Fingers crossed. Tomorrow is Day 5, meaning I will be down to single digits until I get out of here! These Facebook groups of people in quarantine have all had one thing in common, they struggle at the half way point. So far, so good but I know I will have my down times. I will plan to reach out and talk with someone when I do. I gotta pay dues to the staff that have called me to check on my mental health, including Red Cross volunteers. They have really done a great job keeping in contact and actually care about the needs of people in this situation. I hope one day I can help someone as much as they have helped people struggling in isolation, and providing support to them in hard times. I know I am not alone, and that gives me comfort in dark times. Day 5, July 21 2020 Quote of the day: "It doesn't get easier, you get stronger." I slept in today! I woke up at 9:30 and was so happy to have slept in, knowing that its 3 hours closer to getting out of here! Ha. I have adapted to living in this confined space pretty well. I was thinking that 4 days in a hotel is the longest I think I have ever vacationed in one before. I am working with what I have; I have my workout area set up, and my reading nook in the window. I have my office/dining table area and my prep station that also is my pantry/kitcken. I was my plates and cutlery in the bathroom sink and have my recycling sorted out in a few bags. There is so much much waste from the food delivery, I called to request no plastic cutlery, but sure enough I still got it. And I know they throw out everything, including all items from the mini bar. I made sure to call them and tell them I will not use anything from the mini bar. A bottle of water is like $7 and a pint of wine is $30! It would easily add up to $1000 if I had all the mini bar snacks and drinks, no thank you. With all the support from my friends and family and the groups I have joined on Facebook regarding quarantine, I am in a good head space. In fact, this is a good time to really think things over and set some goals once I get out of here, like where I want to be in life and who I want to be. I don't know if I can see it yet but I think I can grow from this experience. If not just gain pounds from all the chocolate Chris brought me :) I hope to gain a sense of peace and mindfulness. I have been taking extra time to breath and just be quiet; I hope I can take a little bit of that peace home with me. I am looking over at the window where I taped up the numbers of days I am in here for...I will be taking down the number 11 and 10 will be left. This makes me happy and I will be happier once it's at one! I follow this lady on Tik Tok and she had to live in a hospital for 30 days without seeing her family due to COVID19, she was diagnosed with Leukemia. And I look at her and think, I should be grateful to have my health and quarantined only 14 days in hopes to help stop the spread. She is strong, and following her story and seeing her go through life dancing and singing, well she is an inspiration. Who is your inspiration? Day 6, July 22 2020 Quote of the day: "A beautiful day with begins with a beautiful mindset." I couldn't agree with this quote more, just having a positive mindset and seeing 'the glass half full' is so powerful. It either makes or breaks you. I have always had a strong mind when it comes to controlling my emotions and making quick decisions, I want to say its genetic because my dad is the same way. He is very level headed, I can see a lot of my traits come from him, and I am proud. Especially now when he has had 4 heart attacks, 2 open heart surgeries and spent 41 days in a hospital with little to no contact from family due to COVID19. He was able to walk/wheel out of there with a strong will to keep going, thanks mostly in part to a powerful mindset. That and the encouragement from family, medical staff and everyone who loves him. Once I bust out of this joint I want to see myself slow down a bit and enjoy the peace and quiet a little more. I love to be on the go, always going and doing something. As I get older I really am enjoying relaxing and not worrying so much about going and doing. With my daily routine in place during my quarantine, I am finding happiness in just sitting with a cup of coffee and reading a book, or colouring in one of the inspirational quotes I come across; I find it peaceful to sit in bed and write this blog with no sounds but the heater on. Once you get use to the quiet, you can get use to your own company, which I have always enjoyed 'me time.' The highlights of today would have to be talking to my parents, sister, boyfriend Chris, and best friends Ryan and Sylvia. Honestly, without connection to the outside world, I could see my mindset shift dramatically. I have always been a social butterfly and ever since this pandemic started, it has taken a toll on my enjoyment being a part of community events and just even going to my favourite coffee shop for a cuppa. So to be able to face time and have a lunch date with a friend or a movie night with my boo, it just makes my situation that much more bearable. I hope to never lose contact with the ones I care about. I will always reach out via social media, phone or letters. My grandma use to write me letters and I adored them. Anyway to reach out and say, hey you, I am thinking of you; just that gesture of making the first move is so powerful. Make it a point in your day to give an old friend or family member a shout and say hello, how have you been? They will sure appreciate it. Day 7, July 23 2020 Quote of the day: "Today, I will not stress over things I cannot control" One thing I cannot control is being quarantined, but I can control how I use my time while in here. Today I talked with my friend Amber who is getting married. I love talking about weddings and love stories; just watching the Netflix series 'Say I do" got me all teary eyed. I hope I can make it to Ambers Reception next August in Rhode Island. Chris and I could do an East Coast trip and make it a month long adventure! I am missing all my friends who I gained over the years. I have friends from High School, Jackson Hole, Australia, work and college. The older you get the fewer friends you keep close to you, but that is your crew, the people who know you best. Today I also got news that my Permanent Resident Application for Australia is 'progressing', which is saying a lot considering I haven't received an email or anything in months. This means someone is physically looking at my application and I hope to see some action on the decision soon! I am so ready; there has been so many hoops I have had to jump thru with this residency application, not to mention the costs! To make a long story short, when I went over to the states in May for a family emergency, the Australian Government did not grant me a visa to return back into the country (and no refund for my application fee either)....so I had to search for another option to get in. I was granted a visitor visa (another fee) for a 6 month stay... I work and live here people! This will not do, so once I got in the country I applied for a work visa, and it was granted. Guess what, the work visa starts once my visitor visa is up! That means in 6 months I can work! How did I go from full working rights for 3 years, to none in 2 months?? So this is now what I am dealing with in Iso... On to other news, I am ordering myself a hot breakfast tomorrow from a local cafe to reward myself for staying sane for an entire week! The food has been getting more and more bland tasting here (send salt and pepper!). I will be happy to have eggs and bacon for a change up from my gourmet cereal from a bag and yogurt. When you make your next delicious home cooked meal, can you make it with a little more love and have one big bite for me? Hint: A juicy steak or creamy alfredo?? yummm Day 8, July 24 2020 Quote of the day: "Be a warrior, not a worrier" ------------------------------------------------HALF WAY!--------------------------------------------------------- Today marks halfway and man am I happy about that. I talked with the nurse to confirm the day I can walk free and she said Friday the 31st between 4AM and 10AM. I am thinking I will at least wait for the sun to rise and get a good nights sleep before I depart. I follow people in quarantine groups on Facebook that have been thru the same as me and seeing their 'free' photos makes me so jealous. They are all supportive though, sending encouragement and positive vibes. Now that I have this routine down pat, I hope the time will go by faster. Tomorrow will be a highlight when Chris comes for a visit and brings me some goodies (more wine!). It will be good to see his face, I can't wait to hug him again! I decided to pay it forward as well, and I am having Chris drop off a bottle of wine to another helpless soul in here that could use a 'pick me up'. Cheers to my 'in' mates. I celebrated my half way point today with a big order of Eggs Benedict from a local cafe, plus a hot coffee. It was just what I needed after my neighbour, again, woke me up from his sprinting back and fourth in his room. Can't he wait at least until the birds wake up? This person must be training for a marathon that will never happen, at least not this year. Speaking of delayed events, the Olympics were intended to start today. We would have tuned in all around the world to watch in support as our country walked into the opening ceremony. Chris and I always joke because it goes in alphabetical order so Australia is one of the first to arrive, and then you can turn off the TV. Whereas the U.S. is one of the last, so I say we have to watch until the end, and my what a long wait, am I right? My room is starting to pile up with recycling. I have decided to recycle as much as I can, for all I know everything is just thrown in the garbage, and I don't want to be a part of the problem, even in isolation. I do my part at home, I can do my part in here. In fact, with my recycling, I am also using some items for repurpose. And Chris will see a fantastic sign on the window for him made from non other than the plastic cutlery they have given me every day to eat with, even though I have requested twice now to not get it. That was one of the things Chris brought me was a decent set of cutlery from home. I have been passionate about simplifying my life and making sure to use reusable items in my every day life, living in here is no excuse. And Australia has an excellent recycling program, so I am glad to know my efforts wont go to literal waste. I encourage you to use less one time use plastics in your life, maybe buy a reusable water bottle...or put your produce in a reusable bag, not a plastic one. Just like this COVID19 pandemic, be a part of the solution, not the problem. Day 9, July 25 2020 Quote of the day: "This too shall pass" Guys! I got more wine! Thanks to my baby Chris, coming down here to deliver some necessities. He even bought some wine for one of my neighbours :) I wanted to pay it forward and cheer someone else up in here. I saw that a lady is celebrating her 50th birthday in quarantine. Happy birthday! I told her to just party extra hard next year to make up for it. That is what I will do; I was flying to Sydney on my birthday, woohoo. It was good to see Chris today, we had lunch together and the rain stayed away until after he left. There were a few other people next to him saying hi to their family members, I waved back at the them. I really hope the next 6 days goes by just as fast as the first 8. Now that I am at where I am at, it feels like it came up fast, but that's probably because its in the past now. I have written a routine for every day left in hopes that will keep my mind off time. I am starting to notice reruns of the food service; I got the same meal tonight that I had a few nights ago, and it was still so bland. Luckily Chris packed me in S&P to spice the dishes up. At first I was eating all the food, down to the last piece of pumpkin, but now I find myself eating less of it, due to the fact that it doesn't taste super great. It does the job and gets me full, but I am left unsatisfied. I slammed down a burger and fries today that Chris picked up for me, and what a delight that was. Mmm, I am thinking about it now and I want another one. It has been really nice calling my folks every day and seeing how they are doing. My dad is getting stronger every day and he helps me know that I can stay strong in here too. His driven attitude towards building physical strength helps me focus on my mental strength. Also, writing these motivational quotes down every day makes me smile and have something to ponder. Like todays quote, "this too shall pass", yes it will pass, and I will move on and this will be a small glimpse into what once was. I thought about changing my blog name to "The time I was in mandatory quarantine", or something along those lines. What do you think you would do if you had 14 days in a 20'x20' room with just yourself and belongings to keep you company? This guy below gives a good example on what one day in isolation looked like for him. Day 10, July 26 2020 Quote of the day: "Start your day with a grateful heart" After I wrote this quote down, coloured the paper in bright colours and taped it up on my window, I was able to think of a few things that I am grateful for. One being my parents and who they have helped me become. I am grateful for Chris who has supported me no matter what. I am also grateful that I have only 5 sleeps left before I walk out the front doors and take a big breath of fresh air, it will be oh so nice. The diffuser I bought last week I think helps and its great to add different essential oils in there to keep the room smelling nice. I wonder if an outsider walked into my room if they would think it was lived in for 10 days....probably has acquired an aroma. One of the ways I pass time is to work out and man, I am feeling it in all my muscles like I haven't worked out in months! It feels like someone punched me in the gut and elbowed my hamstrings. Being in quarantine is all the more reason to work on myself, mentally and physically. I have been self pampering and taking things slower than usual to not only take up more time but to really enjoy some 'me time' before I get back out in the every day hustle and bustle of life. Plus, I might as well use all the hot water I can since I am not paying for it :) Tomorrow I will expect the nurses to come around and give me another swab. They test everyone on the 2nd and 10th day of quarantine. Let me tell you, it is not fun. They shove a swab down your throat and up both nostrils, it is super uncomfortable. Other than these tests, the nursing staff have been really nice to call every day and ask about my health. They also have mental health doctors that call or text every so often. The government has done a great job with the services, the one thing lacking would be food. Honestly, if I get another pumpkin and lentil salad, I will smear it all over the walls! Well, not really, but come on, let's get a little more imaginative. If not for my salt and pepper, the food tastes completely bland. And I couldn't eat another crème of caramel for dessert. Chris has offered to cook me a big fat steak with creamy garlic prawn sauce and sautéed asparagus once I get out. My mouth is watering thinking about it. Next time you make a meal, do me a favour, and don't add any pumpkin or lentils...or maybe do so the hotel will be all out of stock! Day 11, July 27 2020 Quote of the day: "I believe in you" It was a rude awakening this morning when the nurses came pounding on my door to get a second swab test. I barely had my eyes open and thoughts in order, when I had to say 'ahhhh' and scrunch my face up as the swab went up both nostrils. I have had this test done 3 times now and I don't wish it on my worst enemy, or at least my second worst enemy. The good news out of all that is I slept in until 10am, so it made the day cruise right on by. It has been rainy outside and the fog is covering most of the city. Chris said there's some major flooding going on over where we live, but it is normal. The road I would take to work has a caution sign when the road floods. I have driven over it and water is splashing up near my rear view mirrors, it's quite the experience. I am looking at my numbers come down off the window; I started with 3 rows of numbers, now I am down to one. I wonder how many new people come into the hotel each day. From what I read, NSW is only allowing 35 travelers a day into the state, but I'm not sure if that's accurate. I don't think we will ever get back to the 'normal' we once knew, this pandemic will definitely be redefining society and our government guidance. I believe if and when we find a vaccine, we should treat this like all other infectious diseases and take regular precaution. Washing hands, staying home if you're sick, just using common sense when you are feeling unwell. And if we are required to wear masks then so be it, think of your neighbour, your community and the people you may be saving from getting infected. If I end up not being able to work once I get out of here, I will be in search of volunteer opportunities and ways to stay connected to the community. That is one thing I miss pre-COVID19, is going to social gatherings and special events. Not only do I work and attend local markets, Chris and I would go out to special dinners and concerts at the pubs. I think its important to support local, and one way I would do that is to attend the local happenings. Plus I get to have some fun memories to hold on to afterwards. What event did you attend right before quarantine? Day 12, July 28 2020 Quote of the day: "The world has slowed so you can rediscover yourself" I am starting to get really intrigued by the outside sounds. Tonight in the hallways of the hotel there are quite a few doors opening and slamming shut. Also, my neighbour above me is frantically walking (or jumping) back and fourth. Maybe with it being so quiet in my room as I get ready for bed, I can hear things more clearly. That or I am getting stir crazy and want to be a part of the outside world going on around me! The news doesn't help, I have literally learned nothing new since being in here as far as news goes. There are no new stories or even bits of educational information, and infomercials do not count. One of the things I do focus my time on is yoga and I can honestly say I am getting pretty good; I can keep up with Adriene and I find a new challenge in each episode of yoga she does. Not to brag, but I can do a proper 'vinyasa' now :) Another productive activity that I have procrastinated until my last few days in here has been the assignment online I am completing for a New Small Business Certificate. I had 4 modules to complete, and I am on my very last one which is compiling all the information I have learned and putting it into a business plan for my future business I plan to own. Now, when I started this venture I was set on owning a cafe; an eco-conscious and buy local kind of vibe. But after completing the financial module, I have been reconsidering my choice. I have been leaning more towards maybe a consignment shop or yoga studio. Not saying those are big money makers, but I have been intrigued about the general concept of running something along those lines. Chris and I plan to move back to the states next year and live near my family. I am really looking forward to it; I want Chris to experience my side of the world, have some fun exploring the places I know so well. Chris has visited twice now with me but it has been in the winter months. I think it will be a real treat to show him all the seasons and the beauty of spring flowers and summer time fun on the river. Chris has acquired a taste to American fast food restaurants, so that will be an added bonus to have outside of our door when we want it, which will be like every day. Once we live in American for a while we can decide to put roots down there or back in Australia. It is nice to have the option. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live? Day 13, July 29 2020 Quote of the day: "This sucks" Did I tell you I tested positive for Coronavirus back when I was in Washington? Ya, I went and got tested on the 4th of July because I had a headache and lost my taste and smell. It worried me because my dad is considered a high risk patient and was scared to get him sick. I isolated myself in my room and when I came out, I wore a mask and gloves when working in the kitchen. Thankfully my parents and loved ones did not get sick. And my opinion on the matter now that I have been infected with it is we don't want to spread it, so wear a mask and take precaution, but let's get back to regular society while living with Coronavirus, another disease added to the list of many. I felt like I was a SARS patient coming down from the room today, everyone wearing person protective equipment and keeping their distance, also judging eyes, I swear. I am feeling extra sensitive to the subject today because after my first test in Sydney came back negative, my second test came back positive! POSITIVE! Like, it has been nearly a month since my onset of symptoms and their test is detecting I still have the infection? So they had me pack my bags and moved me to a 'special health facility' (fancy words for another hotel). So yea, I am in another hotel and even with all my calling around and getting my voice heard about this ridiculous quarantine system, I am looking at another 14 days! I have been crying off and on all day, this is really taking a toll on my positive vibes. Yesterday I was looking forward to getting out Friday morning and be heading to a couples retreat out in the Australian bush with Chris for the weekend, and now I'm sitting in another hotel room by myself and the heater doesn't even warm up to give me a little bit of comfort. I don't like complaining, I don't like being negative. I think today I can have a hall pass to be pissed off, mad, sad, angry, sick and tired, exhausted, deflated; whatever you want to call it, it is not a great feeling. This new hotel room has a few perks, one being a balcony to the outside! Oh, the fresh air was a welcomed feeling in all my dread. So I have a balcony, and a washer and dryer. Those couldn't have come at a better time, since my clothes need a good wash. I do have a mini kitchen and full fridge as well as two tvs and way better food so far. I can't fault the staff for my unsatisfaction, most everyone is nice and helpful. I couldn't bring all my luggage with me because I was transported in an ambulance style vehicle, so apparently there wasn't 'enough room'. So I am currently waiting for 4 bags to arrive. Do you just feel that Murphy's Law takes affect and once one thing goes wrong, everything can and will go wrong? That is the feeling I am in right now; it has been hard to see any certainty in the near future. I don't know when I'll get out, when I will get tested again, when I will see Chris again, when I will get to go to work again, and when I can travel again. So many whens. Chris has been a big support through it all and I can't even be there with him when the family has suffered loss. I see posts of others in quarantine and people have lost loved ones and they couldn't be there in the final days of their life. That would be so hard, and who can you blame? No one. These are uncertain time and it is really messing up my plans. This year sucks. Day 14, July 30 2020 Quote of the day: “Worrying will never change the outcome” Remember when I started this blog and was like ‘in 14 days i’ll be a free woman!’? Yea, well that isn’t happening. Since I moved into my new location, I have yet to find out what day I will be released. I have heard two stories; if I test negative to two back to back tests, and if I test negative on my day 10 swab….I really hope I just get two swabs in two days. I got one today because I believe that the swab I had on Monday was inaccurate. I know this virus is new to our bodies so I don’t know if it becomes an antibody and stays in our systems but is not contagious, or it comes in and goes out like a cold. I guess I will see once I get my test result back in 2 days. Until then I plan to get back to my routine of yoga, writing quotes, calling home and exercising. There’s a lot more space to move around in here and it’s a blessing to have a balcony to enjoy some fresh air and the sunshine on my face is revitalizing. I am finding little things to be grateful for at this point in the journey. My baby Chris came for a visit today and spoiled me by bringing me in a care package consisting of my requests from home as well as fruits, greek yogurt and steak and eggs. We were so close to each other today, I am on the 4th level and he was on the foot path. My room faces a highway so it is extremely loud so we used headphones. Oddly, the security guard that paces the perimeter was harassing him and told him he only had 10 minutes, even though he wasn’t breaking any quarantine rules and he travelled an hour and a half for a visit. I will follow this up tomorrow to get the details, but there should be no reason he couldn’t stand on a public path. I really did want to pull a rapunzel and let down my tied together sheets so he could climb up, how romantic. I had to do something terribly hard to day and resigned my position as activities officer at the nursing home I work at. I had no choice, I have lost my working rights in Australia for 6 months and it all began because I was refused a travel visa to go to the states to be with my dad who was literally on his death bed at the time. I know there are humans behind these screens of applications, but they weren’t human when they made their decisions. I am currently waiting the decision for my permanent residency and right now am on a visitor visa (because that was the only visa available to get in Australia at this time) until I get a decision . With the visitor visa I am not eligible to work or study. I told my employer my situation and was so sad to resign, but of course her being the gracious and awesome boss she is, she offered to get someone in under a short term contract and then have me come back to work once I get my work visa. I couldn’t believe how generous that offer was, I was speechless. So I plan to volunteer there a few days a week while they put a replacement in and in 6 months we will revisit the option of joining the team again. I have been blessed with such a caring and generous employer to work for. I am deciding to do my next blog once it my last day. I have written about my journey up to the point of when I was thinking I was getting out....so now I will save my final entry for the night before my departure. Cheers and thank you for all the support and kind wishes. -----------------------------Deleted Scenes- What was meant to happen-------------------------------------- Release Day, July 31, 2020 Quote of the day: “Free at last, free at last, thank God almighty I’m free at last” ‘Knock knock- are you all ready in there?”’ I wake up with butterflies in my stomach and a grin from ear to ear, the day has finally arrived. I have completed my 14 days of quarantine! I packed up all my luggage including 3 bags of recycling (keep it untrashy) and all the free toiletries I could carry; toilet paper is quite the commodity nowadays. As we get into the hallway I am required to wear a mask and keep my distance, but I don’t mind because the nurses have been very helpful. I wave goodbye to the hotel staff and thank them for their crappy food and crappy service. As I round the corner of the reception area I see the sunlight glaring through the front doors. Because of the room location, I haven’t seen the sun since I came in and man was that a sight for sore eyes. I pushed the big heavy doors open and felt the first breeze of fresh air on my face. I knew my prince was waiting outside for me. I take in the scene of getting back outdoors and see a handsome smiling man just ahead of me. I jump into Chris’ arms and we stand their embracing for what feels like hours. It has been 2 months since we have been able to touch each other, it felt like I was finally home again. Before Chris and I started driving I wanted to walk around the Sydney gardens to not only take in the fresh morning air, but also to reconnect with Chris and walk side by side together. It was also good to get steps in again rather than just walking back and forth in the room. Of course I needed a delicious coffee and yummy muffin to top this moment off, it was a great start to a very special day. Chris and I decided to take a 2 day retreat down south in Woollongong at this lovely property bordering a national park. It was lined with bushland and looked so peaceful, this is just what Chris and I needed to get away and be together before getting back into the everyday hustle of life. Half the fun was definitely getting there, I haven’t ventured down past Sydney before so we had some fun stopping at beaches and having lunch at a local restaurant. It was really nice to slow down and enjoy each other's company and share some laughs and snuggles. I now know that I am for sure a people person, I love to be around people and stay active in my community. That also goes along with the love of the outdoors, it gives me natural energy and grounds me. Even though I do really enjoy it, I think I have had enough ‘me time’ for a while, time to reconnect with my surroundings. The feeling I had leaving from my confined space could only be described at ‘ahhhhh’, like a big exhale. Me practicing yoga every day has paid off. Walking towards those doors was like a kid walking downstairs on Christmas morning; I was overjoyed and overwhelmed with emotion. This will be a feeling I will never forget. And if I had to say something to the next person who goes through this I would say don’t worry, it goes by faster than you think. Some things that helped me cope easier in these trying times:
I want to give a special thanks to a few people who helped me pass the time with good chat. You listened and talked with me and kept my spirits boosted, so thank you.
It is almost like I just stood on stage to accept an award and thanked everyone who made it possible. Haha. In a way it is like that because we all go through challenges and stressful times in our lives. At the end it is about who helps us get through it, to support us and become the best version of ourselves. For that I thank you, you helped me come out the other end with a strong, grateful and happy heart. Free at last! Literally a winter wonderland, Banff is the iconic mountain town. As soon as you walk out the front door of any hotel or restaurant on main st. you are surrounded by mountain peaks; it is like Jackson but if the Tetons were on top of the town of Jackson, like only a couple miles away. Chris braved the coldest weather he has ever experienced and me getting a thinner skin of living in Australia for the past 3 years, I was adapting back slowly with more layers than usual.
Road tripping with my cousin Amanda is and will always be a highlight of my life's journeys. Good times laughing, joking and playing around, wherever we are together, we have a blast. Unfortunately for us, Lake Louise, the iconic blue lake, was froze over and not even enough to skate on! It was still beautiful just not the expectation we had. We made the most of our off-season visit and went to Banff Hot springs for a couple soaks. (side note; they frown upon guests bringing in their own alcohol...) We checked out the 'castle on the hill' which was the Fairmont Hotel in Banff, what a massive place! But such a winter wonderland fairytale fortress. No skiing at Lake Louise this trip, but now knowing it was only a 6 hour drive from Spokane, I can say we will definitely go back there. The biggest anticipated trip of the year for Chris and I, to travel to America and see my family and friends. Wow, was I so happy to see everyone. It's almost like I never left. These are my places, those are my people; it just felt like I was back in my skin, back with my kind. And Chris was over the moon excited for our entire adventure. He was looking at things for the first time ever, with this being his first trip to the states and all. And I gotta say, it was fun playing tour guide. I mean, I really had to break everything down; "and here is a freeway that we drive on the right side of the road. Oh and over there is Walmart!" He said his trip highlights were the size of our fast food meals (twice the size of Australian meals), and Jackson Hole (second time ever seeing falling snow). Here is a break down of our 4000 mile road trip :) LAX--------->Oakland--------------> San Francisco "I hopped off the plane at LAX, with my dreams and my cardigan..." No? Miley Cyrus? Well that was Chris' anthem the entire time. "It's a party in the U.S.A!" We only had 30 minutes in L.A. which was a bummer since this was the one spot Chris talked about non-stop. In Australia everyone knows America from the movies and TV shows they watch. And Chris being a sports fan, he wanted to hang out and see where all the action was taking place that he grew up seeing. We'll get back to L.A. at the end of the road trip. We drove straight through to Oakland, where we stayed at an Airbnb (see dog licking my face below). Oh and to fill you in on the drive from the airport, I was delusional; so tired and jet lagged after a 14 hour flight. I honestly should not have been driving. Nevertheless we arrived. And the next morning we toured San Francisco. Had to have some tasty donuts for breakfast and street food for lunch. We wanted to do a night tour of Alcatraz but it was sold out for the next two months. I also wanted to surprise Chris with a tour of the Oracle Arena (Golden State Warriors play there, basketball in case you don't know who they are), but they were also sold out. So we settled with the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz from the mainland and a fun drive down Lombard street. So this part of the trip, I was thinking Ok, we are making great time, going to get home to the parents a day early and surprise them. Hey look, we even have extra time to take the scenic Highway 1......little did we know that HWY 1 is like another country in itself. We basically didn't move for 8 hours of driving and I think we ended up In the same zip code as San Francisco! The 1 is a gorgeous coastline drive that takes you over hills all while seeing the stunning California coast, but my God, if you are trying to stick to a schedule of getting out of California in a day, don't drive it! Plus, there was like one gas station the entire way. By night fall we had to find a place to stay over so luckily we found a small town along the way (small as in one INN and one grocery store and a couple restaurants). It's funny because the only room this little old lady in her moo moo had was an ocean view room, but we checked in at dark and left at dark, so we didn't even get to enjoy the view, but still paid the premium price! In my mind after 8 hours driving, we should have about 6 hours left to Portland Oregon. Thanks to the beautiful HWY 1 with its endless coastline views, we still had 11 hours to Portland!! Did we go back in time? Did we enter another dimension?? It was 11 hours away when we left San Francisco and after all day driving you're telling me we gained time?!! Ok, ok....that was a little rant. I wasn't happy. But we made it work out that we could spend two days in Portland with my homie Ryan to make up for arriving so late. Portland with Ry Ry Oh to see my brother from another mother again. It was a sweet homecoming and it couldn't have started off any better then to hang with Ryan. He was our tour guide around town. We had some fun on some city scooters, had some street food, and went to this arcade bar to play some old school arcade games. As you know (well, if you're a stoner), Oregon is a legal state for weed, so we couldn't not have any with Ryan. Oh man, some good laughs were had and I think at one point I was trying to sell a street light that looked like a tree to Chris. "This, sir, is a tree! A beautiful tree with a light on it!" Haha. Since Chris couldn't watch his favourite basketball team in San Franciso play, we settled to go watch Portland Trail Blazers at their arena in Portland. That was my first as well as Chris' first NBA game! It was fun and loud and we had a whole pizza to split among us. Good times. Bye bye Ryan, come visit me in Australia! And get a real bed man! Spokane Bound-Family! 11 days to stay with my parents...ahhh, the smell of home. For me it is the smell of a warm fire, tomatoes stewing on the stove, and fresh linen from the laundry room. I love home, and my parents company. It was so good to see them. Full disclosure, I cried like a baby when I pulled the car in; couldn't contain myself at all. Sis welcomed us with mimosas and Bentley boy was carrying his ball over for Chris to throw and eventually become his best friend. Over the course of about two weeks, we dressed up for Halloween and toured Coeur 'D' Alene and I got to show Chris all my childhood hangouts and where I went to school. We also did a drive up to the river property where the fall colours were in full bloom. It was stunning, and I got to pay tribute to my brother Shane and Grandmas memorial sites. We were able to hang out with all my nieces which was amazing and with my cousin Amanda and Jenny. We spent the night over at my sisters and had dinner at Jenny's house with her family. Overall, Chris enjoyed himself and I was loving being home, like I never left honestly. The day we left my parents, my sis and niece Marie packed up and we headed to Jerry Johnson Hot springs, again a first for Chris to experience. Not sure how he'd like it considering, he sleeps with a sheet and turns the fan on high and has the water run cold for his showers...but he loved it! We hiked in with the rain coming down so it was a very wet trip. We sat in a nice dug out pool the first day and the next day we found only a trickling waterfall hot spring because the river washed out the pools. It was cozy staying in the fireplace warmed cabin with our beds. Chris was definitely experiencing the 'roughing' it lifestyle. We're Going to Jackson! Since I lived in Jackson Hole for the 6 years of my life in the states, I had to go back to show Chris why I ended up there. And lucky for him it was snowing! He has only seen snow one other time and that time really didn't count; I am pretty sure it was the dust from the man made snow flying around on the hills of Australia, but don't tell him that. We were lucky enough to hang out with River Boy, Amanda's Golden Retriever, the entire time we were there. We visited family in Wilson and drove up to Grand Teton National Park and the Elk refuge. Guess what was missing the entire 3 days we were there? The Tetons! The Wildlife! We didn't see the mountains due to the low cloud cover and there wasn't a single elk/moose/deer/bear around! Chris will just have to believe me when I tell him these things exist. We did get to experience the nightlife of Jackson Hole. Cowboy Bar and good ol' two steppin' cowboy country music. I also got to show him the town front and the quaint little shops, we even bought our first Christmas ornament! Chris really wants to snowboard in Jackson so the plan is to go back next year! ---------------Side Note---------------- I wanted Chris to try all the restaurants I grew up getting fat on, so here is the list of places we went. None of these are in Australia...God help us. * Taco Bell * American McDonalds (Ok, so they have McDonalds but everything is like 3 times the size in the states!) * Olive Garden\ * White Castle * In & Out Burger * Taco Time * DQ * Zips (Spokane Favourite) * Seasons (Coeur 'D' Alene) * Arbys * Kings Chinese Restaurant (Spokane) * D.O.G. (Jackson) * Eleaven (Jackson) * Pinky G's Pizza (Jackson) * Gather (Jackson) What Happens in Vegas... Ok, honestly the most anticipated part of the trip...for both of us. I was so happy that Amanda, Amrita, Virginia, Jenny, and my Aunt Pat could make it! So fun. Chris had 3 things to do in Vegas: Buffet, Hard Rock Hotel, and Topgolf. We got to do all three and more! Topgolf was fun with the gang, and you will see below that Chris killed it! We walked the strip and checked out all the hotels (Chris loving Caesars and Bellagio) and loved the water show and volcano eruption at the mirage. Freemont Experience was a great time; so many performers out there and the lights of the old strip are so vibrant. We stayed at the Linq Hotel, right in the heart of the strip and were lucky enough to get rooms on the same floor as everyone. So fun to get all dressed up and go out with the gals ( sorry babe, you were the only guy). Memories were made and sadly with time not on our side or money for that matter, we made the journey home. Back to LAX Before we boarded the plane (11pm flight), we had to at least see Hollywood Blvd. Chris and I walked over to see the Chinese Theater and find the Hollywood Stars of his most favourite people in the world, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson and Slash. I think after that he felt more complete. We bought a few souvenirs to take back with us ( I couldn't take much considering I loaded up three extra suitcases of my belongings from my parents house to take back with me to Australia) and left to catch our plane. This trip was much needed for me personally. I was feeling lost, I knew I was missing my family after I was in AUS for a year. I mean, that is when I intended to go home. But I kept my heart open and found love instead. Now, with my family loving him as well, Chris and I will figure out where we want to go next. He is interested in moving to the states and I am interested in starting my own business somewhere. For now, we will live in Australia and travel as much as our funds allow us. Thank you to everyone who made my trip home bitter sweet. So happy to have been there, but sad to go. Picture time! In case you didn't know where Bali was ( I didn't), it is in Indonesia. I wanted to describe Bali with four letters: B-A-L-I. July 17-23, 2018 Balinese people. The locals were so very helpful, especially when you went to buy something. They will pull you into their shops and show you 'the very best items' and ask for goodluck, which meant that you give them good money for their items. They are always smiling and saying hello or good morning. Granted we were in the tourist hot spots, the locals were friendly even if we asked for directions. They were wanting to cater to our needs, even on the beach. Now sometimes they were pushy but I think I would rather have all the attention than no help at all. Our tour guide on our excursion to Ubud and the monkey forest was so fun and filled with happiness. He was always asking us "are you happy?" And he loved when we would smile. The Balinese live simple lifestyles and aren't really ever in a rush, even though their traffic looked different, so crazy! Lots of honking and cutting off, but no one was ever mad or upset, just friendly nods and waves. Overall, customer service at all shops, hotels and restaurants were excellent.
Architecture. I loved that each building looked older and more historic then the one before it. I felt like we were living among old ruins of kingdoms. With tall towers and details of carved out Bali art on the walls. There was moss growing on some and vines wrapping around others. In the city, modern mall shops still had a historic Asian culture feel, and once you left the tourist spots more villages popped up with grass roofs and bamboo wrapped walls. It was pretty neat. Again, the Balinese people live simple lives, you didn't see sky scrapers other than the hotels around. And it felt very religious with their offerings to the Gods each morning outside their doors, and robes hanging from their sculptures to identify sacred statues. Just beautiful. Landscapes. We did a whitewater trip down the Ayung River near Ubud. With waterfalls and splash worthy waves, this was a great way to get out and see the wild side of Bali. There were little huts on the shores where the Balinese packed in and out beverages for tourists. This was no easy task, it was about a 400 stair decent into the forest to get to the water, so I could only imagine carrying coolers full of beer and soda down! It was dry season when we were there, so the water was a bit more calm and the waterfalls weren't too big. The water felt so good on a hot humid day. Another landscape we toured was rice fields. These can be found almost everywhere in Bali, and the people have depended on this type of agriculture for almost 2000 years. I have learned that the rice fields are terraced and were carved by hand and some modern day tools. The rice is harvested when the plants turn yellow, kind of like wheat. And the fields are such a lush green color. I of course had to have a bowl of rice when we visited one of the rice fields. Another part of the landscape was the Monkey Forest. It is just that! Bali Longtailed Monkeys live in this preserved area near Ubud, about 600 of them to be exact. They are use to people walking around in their habitat, so we could get up close and personal with them. One even played with my sarong! They were fun to watch interact with each other and see the baby ones learning to jump from tree to tree. Overall, Bali with its humidity and tropical like weather, everything is very green and lush. Loved it. In Love. I have been so lucky to travel with my boyfriend Chris. With the warm weather, cozy cushions to sit on at bars and restaurants, walks on the beach and luxury hotel stays, our travel together has been romantic and sweet. Chris experienced his first whitewater trip with me, and he wants to go again! He has also been to Bali about 6 times, so I have my own personal tour guide. Almost every day we had massages, had to take advantage of that because of how cheap it was. I love having Chris to travel with, it is more fun with someone to enjoy the sights, sounds and eats with. This is our 3rd country together (I included Australia), and the next trip will be to the states. He is beyond excited and I am too; can't wait to show him off to my family and friends. I encourage anyone to go to Bali. A must do would be the monkey forest and whitewater rafting! Phuket: March 1-8, 2018
Top 10 Highlights 10. Thai People The Thai people were really friendly and always wanted your business. They all smiled and waved and if there wasn't such a language barrier, I am sure we would have had great conversation. We did however take a taxi and ended up in a "Gem Scam". This is where the taxi man stops mid way at a jewelry store and walks you into the store, where employees try and sell you there jewels. I assume the taxi drivers get a cut of the profit?? Anyway, we weren't having it and as soon as we walked in a realized this was not our stop, we said no thank you and walked out and waited for our taxi man to let us get back in the car. I said "no more stops Aman, we want to go to Patong Beach now". He was nice, but we weren't going to be those nieve tourists. 9. Sunsets When that sun went down is when the streets came alive, and understandably. It was so hot during the days. The sunsets were beautiful, over the water and deep oranges and yellows. It reflected on the calm water out in the bay. Just stunning. 8. Weather Most days were in the high 90's and the humidity had to be over 50%. It was an uncomfortable heat, so we stayed in the A/C or by the pool. Once you got on a boat or in a car, the breeze was refreshing. And like I said up above, once the sun went down the streets came alive with night vendors and walkers. Warm summer nights are my favourite. 7. Having a great travel partner Having our first international travel together, we learned a lot about each other. We work well together in planning the trip and wanting to see the same attractions. I was able to warm him to the idea of using Airbnb which worked out great and saved us money. He made me live more in the moment, rather than plan ahead on our next move, which made the trip more relaxing. We got Thai Massages together, which were something we wanted to do every day. So cheap! And the ladies really work into you. Overall, I can't wait to travel with him again :) 6. Our Apartment in Cape Panwa We stayed at an Airbnb Flat that was owned by a Thai lady who had excellent taste. She was an artist so there were murals and paintings on all the walls. Tasteful decorations and A/C was great. Also, a balcony with a view of the water and the Naval Base. The plus side of the location was quiet, minus the rooster out back. It wasn't over populated with tourists, and it had an amazing pool that we took full advantage of. The downside was how far it was from all attractions we wanted to see. The shortest distance we traveled by taxi was Phuket Town which was around 25 minutes. I think the longest was an hour and a half, to get to the pier for our James Bond Island Tour. Overall, with this being one of the cheapest places we could have stayed, I wouldn't have changed a thing. 5. Overall Food in Phuket Mmmmmm....that is how I sum up the food in Thailand. Of course I instantly tried Pad Thai. So good! It was fresh made noodles and they wrapped it in like an egg crepe. Everything was served with a salad on the side. We had a lot of street food which consisted of different meats and seafood on a stick for like $.20 each. That was the cheap way to eat. They would spice it up for you too, if you wanted. We ate breakfast every morning at the Condo we stayed at; they offered a buffet breakfast for guests at $7 a person. It consisted of noodles, noodles and more noodles! Also, beignets(fried dough), eggs and little hot dogs. We always over ate at breakfast. Lunch was usually pizza, pad thai, or food from the day tours. Dinner was fried rice and I had local mussels one night, with butter and garlic. Yum! Always had a cocktail as well :). One of the best meals I had was Tom Kha Kai; it was coconut milk soup with chicken and vegetables and tastes of bay leaf and ginger in there. It was so fresh and home made. I loved every bite! I indulge a little too much because the last day of our trip I felt like I stretched my stomach liner; I mean I was so uncomfortable, it felt like I was coming down with the flu. I couldn't help but try everything...more than once. 4. Night Market in Old Phuket Town This night market (Naka Market, to the locals) was huge! We got there late, so we only had a little over an hour to browse, but I could have spent an entire day there, bartering with all the vendors on their swag. Wow, I couldn't believe how cheap things were going for. I mean brands like Nike, Bose Speakers, Ray Bans and more, were like counterfeit cheap....that is because it was all counterfeit. But I couldn't help myself, I wanted to shop. And bartering in Thailand is like a sport, so I learned. They type a number on the calculator, then you counter offer, and you go back and fourth until one cracks and says OK. For example, Chris wanted a MLB baseball cap. The guy typed 500 baht (Thai currency, roughly $25 AUS) on the calculator. Chris came back with 180, then 400, then 210....I think they finally settled on 220 baht. So he essentially paid like $8 for a nice hat! And for me, well I am not that great at bartering. I saw some Birkenstock sandals and was like ok, I will not go any higher than 800 baht, thinking they would surely be like 1000 baht. Well, the guy typed in his offer....650 baht. I was so off! Chris took over and talked him down to 450 baht. I got Birkenstock sandals for under $25!! Like I said before, I could have walked around that market all day! And there were like 100 food vendors to keep our tummys happy. We got like 12 sticks of meat for around $3, we were in heaven. 3. Phi Phi Islands Day Tour This was an exciting trip by speed boat. We were lucky to get right up front. Unfortunately Chris was sea sick and didn't enjoy the ride as much. But once we stopped off at the islands he got better. These islands had sandy beaches and blue waters. They were small islands filled with palm trees and jungle like landscape. It was so busy with tour boats that it took away from the experience, but it was still beautiful. Phi Phi Don is one of the islands and there are monkeys on the beach we stopped at. They were lounging on the beach, some were babies. They were so use to humans that they just looked at us like we were the monkeys. I got a few good shots with them. The water along each island we visited was so warm. A lot of little tiger fish (striped fish the size of your palm). We scored a great deal off Groupon for this trip, and it included a yummy buffet lunch on one of the islands. Great day, but man does that sun wear you out. We ended up staying in the shade most of the following day. 2. James Bond Island Day Tour This tour was complete opposite to Phi Phi Islands tour, in that the water was more of a green color and we toured by ferry. Now, I ranked this one better because it was a little more relaxed. We had fun on the boat with music playing and food being served. We toured more slowly on the water so we could enjoy ourselves and the views. The guide was exceptional; funny and informative. Again, the islands we toured were way over populated with other tour boats, but once we got on to each, the views were different than anything I've ever seen. They call it James Bond Island because they filmed part of the James Bond, "Golden Gun" there, so everyone was wanting a picture with the iconic island. Of course I got one :). We also got to take kayaks out to some caves and through some narrow channels of the islands. We had a guide paddle for us. Did you know, Thailand is the largest producer of Limestone in the world? Well, we got to see quite a lot of it on this trip. 1. Patong and Bangla Road Patong is like the Las Vegas of the states. I mean it is the glitz and glamour....the sin city of Phuket. Lots of Tourists on the beach with every thing for sale, from jet skis to umbrellas to I believe I saw someone charging money to apply sunscreen on people....just kidding. But really, Patong Beach and the surrounding area is the hub of Phuket. We took a Tuk Tuk (little 6 seater open air bus) up to the resort Chris stayed in last time he was there. It was easy to just walk into the pool...or should I say pools. This place was amazing! There was a huge kid pool, a huge lounge pool with a swim up bar, and a wellness pool with a waterfall and like 3 jet tubs. We chilled there for a couple hours, ended up chatting with a couple from Vancouver Washington! Small world....After that, we came down from the resort and walked the alley ways of the town where all the market vendors and hole in the wall restaurant, bars and massage parlors were. Once that sun set, the lights came on in the streets and we new where to head next; Bangla Road. Oh my, it was like the Vegas Strip but a little more dirty and no casinos. It was all open air bars and music venues. Everyone wanted your business. If you even smiled at a person holding a sign saying two for one beers, they would pull your arm into the bar and sit you down. We did that very thing and we were completely happy we did. It was a live band playing all the hits from Journey, to Guns N Roses, to Maroon 5. They had such a range in sound, they knew it all! We must've stayed there for like 3 hours. I finished a bucket of beers and danced with an English woman and I think a Thai lady. It was a great time. After that, dinner at an Italian Restaurant and the best 4 cheese pizza I think I have ever had. At the end of the night, I got to dance my heart out on the dance floor at The White Club. We had a coupon for free entry, so that's where we ended up. Oh, did I mention earlier in the night on Bangla Road, Chris dared me to take 7 shots of tequila?? Ya, I only could do 3, and gave 3 away to friends of bar....Chris did one for me too. I can say, that got the night started with a little too much of a bang. Haha. This was my top one because it was a completely different experience and so much fun! July 17-27, 2017 Highlights of Fiji * Bula! Bula is the Aloha of Hawaii, used as hello, goodbye, you're welcome, pretty much everything *Driving the crazy roads of Liti Levu * My sisters face every day with her first ever experiences (ocean, coconuts, untreated water) * Staying at Vee and Shai's house in Suva * Going to different islands * Taking a tiny tin boat across the ocean to an island * Making friends and hanging with them in an alley way and feeling a bit nervous * Having a Kava Ceremony at a locals house * Swimming in the bluest waters * The weather and how warm it was My sister and I had such a wonderful time together. Fiji surprised me with its third world country poverty; feral dogs, small huts, lots of homeless, dirty streets, etc. Once we got to the resort side of things, I was stunned how 'cleaned up' it was. I would have rather stayed in the local communities and supported them rather than resorts. Once you left the mainland of Viti Levu, the water got clearer and the the sand was whiter. The islands of Fiji are breath taking and the snorkeling was out of this world; the most colorful fish and glittery coral reefs I couldn't have imagined were real. My sister and I plan to go back, but do more of a backpacker style, where we hop island to island, camping. To see her face when she saw the ocean for the first time, I mean it was like Christmas morning every day with her. She reminds me of how much traveling opens your eyes; opens your mind to different sights, smells, cultures. It just gets me so excited to know I have only seen just the tip of the iceberg, so many more wonderful places to visit! |
The Journeys Made...
* New Zealand *28 Days in Q *Banff *Home Sweet Home *Bali *Tails4You *Thailand *Fiji *Florida Up Next... East Coast America Royal Caribbean Cruise Everest Base Camp Africa |