TravelStream™ news feed for member lou82 on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/lou82 en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Sun, 01 Feb 2009 08:42:15 -0500 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lou82/5/1233495120/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lou82/5/1233495120/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lou82/5/1233495120/tpod.html Sun, 01 Feb 2009 08:42:15 -0500 Career Break 2008

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Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom

Hey guys,

I've received acouple of private mails from Travelpodders about the lymph node on the right side of my neck. Thankyou very much for the emails! If you followed this blog from the start you'll know about my health before I took the career break. When I got back I went straight to the doctor who referred me back to my ENT surgeon. I had an ultrasound scan again in December and I got the all clear :o)

I did find out some more detail about the lymph node he took out in April though. It was in the pre cancerous stages which makes it even more important for anyone who has similar symptoms to go and get it checked out asap!! Mine was so hard and immobile it was fixed to the jugular artery!

I'm not usually so public with these kinds of personal information but I'm putting it here incase it helps someone reading at any stage. If you think something is wrong and your GP keeps firing antibiotics at you which don't work then be firm with them. You know your own body better than anyone else!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lou82/5/1256601240/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lou82/5/1256601240/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lou82/5/1256601240/tpod.html Sun, 01 Feb 2009 08:26:39 -0500 Career Break 2008

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Picton, South Island, New Zealand

I'm finally updating this with some of the funnier stories of my adventures! For this entry I guess I needed abit more time to pass before talking about this one as I don't think my parents would find it quite as funny as the other stories!! In fact, it's really only on reflection I can laugh about it!

So, the Inter Island boat was a very rough ride lasting about 3 times as long as it normally does. While seated for most of it I was chatting the odd time to a guy next to me (for the life of me I cant remember his name right now!) Anyway, we were chatting about what I was doing, where I was going etc etc. I found out he was from Wanaka on the South Island. He had been up to Auckland to see his cousin and then he hired a rental car,drove down to Wellington to get the ferry and was renting a car at Picton to drive to Christchurch (all in 1 day!!) So he seemed fine, pretty ok guy.

When we got off the ferry at Picton it was dark and around 8pm or so. I knew I had missed the free chocolate cake which the hostel dishes out after dinner time (damn it!) But this guy was getting his rental car from Avis and offered me a lift to the hostel. Not exactly hitch hiking you say but it's as close as I'll ever get to it again! So I weighed up the option of walking into town alone, in the dark with my backpack or taking a lift off a guy who I didn't know, but seemed ok from my internal 'freak monitor'.. I took the lift.

I did however play it slightly safer by spotting 2 other female backpackers loitering about looking at a map for their hostel. So I wandered over and introduced myself and told them that this guy was offering me a lift to town and did they want to join? They said yes.. only their hostel turned out to be literally across the street!! So that was a very short ride for them! My hostel was further into Picton. So just me and my non-freak friend...

Anyway, we got to the hostel and I thanked him and joked about him not driving off into the night and digging a mass grave for me and the others when he suddenly decided he was also coming into the hostel. "Ok" I thought, it has been a long journey.. So we rock into reception and the girl behind the desk informs me that they've been worried I hadn't turned up by 6pm checkin but I hadn't missed the chocolate cake (sweet!) Then the guy I took the lift from asks if there are any double rooms left. I thought nothing of this as I just thought he was going to stay the night and continue his drive the next day..

He turned to me and said "Double room ok?" From what I remember I think I stood alittle shell shocked for a couple of seconds before explaining to him that I had already put a deposit down on a dorm room before arrival. I thought I'd got out of this tricky situation when the girl behind the counter said "that's ok, you can use the deposit against the double room if you want." Not wanting to seem like a prude, but also clearly not wanting to be physical in any way with this complete stranger I stood with my eyes SCREAMING at the receptionist whom I hoped would pick up on my widened eyes.

Something must have twigged as she then said that I was in the girls only dorm. Thank goodness for that! So as my little car fiend took off for his double room alone I recalled the events of the last 5 excruciatingly painful minutes with the receptionist! Something was familiar about her which I couldn't place.. something I hadn't heard for several weeks.. she dropped the 'neutral' tone of her accent and suddenly there it was - a Northern Irish accent! From Larne she had moved to NZ 2 years before and lost alot of her accent until I turned up!

We laughed about 'that freaky guy' for a while and she had honestly thought we knew eachother and there was nothing dodgy going on until my eyes screamed silently at her! Ha ha, still makes me laugh thinking about it.. but I don't think I'll hitch hike again in any shape or form.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lou82/5/1224941760/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lou82/5/1224941760/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lou82/5/1224941760/tpod.html Fri, 02 Jan 2009 21:22:34 -0500 Career Break 2008

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Wellington, North Island, New Zealand

I took a full day tour of Palliser Bay, Lord of the Rings sights and Martinborough Wine tour. I'll update this with more when I've more time! Though I was the only person on the tour so I got to personalise it!

I got up for the 8am tour and met my guide, Lew, in the lobby of the hostel to find out that I was the only one on the tour today! Sweet! So the general plan and structure of the tour remained the same -Wellington, Palliser Bay and Martinborough Wine vineyards but I took out some of the Lord of the Rings stuff in order to concentrate on a more realistic tour and view of what it's like to live in Wellington. I made a good friend in Lew my guide and we hit it off pretty well. I know I spent money on the tour to learn alot about the land and all that stuff but me being me just generally turns things on their heads and I (once again) learned the ins and outs of my guide life and also told him alot of truths about my life I wouldn't normally tell even my closest friends. This trip has been alot about discovering who I am, how I tick and the realisation that my zest for life and thirst for getting to know people of different backgrounds is unquenchable.

All in all I had a great day sightseeing out the side of the car.. until it broke down! Yes, we broke down pretty near the start of the tour which left us stranded by the side of the road for about an hour until someone from lewis' company came out to give us another car.. but aside from that (and let's face it, that made it more memorable)

When Lew left me off at the hostel around 5pm I felt like I was saying goodbye to an old friend. Someone who's hopes and dreams I have listened to, shared and explored just as he had sat and listened to mine (though let's face it he was getting paid for it!) But in seriousness, he has 2 daughters and one of them is currently working to fund a trip overto Europe in the next couple of years so I've extended the invitation to stay with me and as a local guide.

I was shattered from the day trip but I have run out of noodles and any fresh food I had been carrying so I went to the New Worldright across the road from the hostel.. I waswalking up the ramp tothe main entrance when I hear my name being called from behind me. Not completely convinced it was me the person was shouting at -who do I know in Wellington? - I kept walking. Another shout from behind and the sound of footsteps getting louder as they pound the concrete behind me.. I turn round.. it's Amandeep! I shared a dorm with Amandeep in Rotorua on my last night there and travelleddown to Taupo on the bus with her before we went our separate ways to different hostels we'd already booked. Well here she was in Wellington!! Turns out we're in the same dorm again here, and what are the chances as there's over 600 dorms in Wellington YHA!?

But it's awesometo see her again and we head in to dosome food shopping before going back tothe hostel. I went upstairs to the dorm to get a shower while Amandeep gother dinner. By the time Amandeep came up I still hadn't showered as when I went in there was a new girl, Claire, in the dorm and typical me I was too busy talk, talk, talking to get ready to go out! Claire'salso from England and is following the same rough backpacker route we all seem to be doing! Excellent!

We swap mobile numbers as Amandeep and myself head to a local bar to watch a rugby match and Claire goes in search to find a jazz club. After such a long day and afew beers later I fade some time after 10.30pm and let Amandeep goon to a drum and bass club while I head back for much needed sleep.

Turns out Claire didn't find the jazz club she was looking for and has also ended up back in the dorm so stayed up chatting toher for awhile before Amandeep came in, armed with the end of night greasy food we all so love after afew drinkies.. fun times.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lou82/5/1225648800/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lou82/5/1225648800/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lou82/5/1225648800/tpod.html Fri, 28 Nov 2008 08:15:22 -0500 Career Break 2008

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Wanaka, South Island, New Zealand

So, I know I haven't had much free time to be on the net and telling you all about the glaciers and stuff but today (this morning at 9.30am) I launched myself out of a plane at 15,000 ft over Wanaka! Oh my god it was such an amazing feeling I'm so glad I did it! I'll be on a total high now for the next few days!

I started to seriously panic when we got up to 12,000 ft and one of the girls was jumping and my face was a picture, all captured on dvd of course! Then a climb of another 3,000 ft before my turn! I was last of three to jump so that didn't make my nerves any calmer! I had a whole minute of freefall which is quite a long time when you're doing it!

The second I put my feet out the door and realised how strong the wind is I really wasn't sure but I didn't exactly have much time to think before I was tumbling through the air. All I remember is seeing the ground, the plane, the ground, the air as we tumbled several times. Think my legs went all over the place as the first 10 seconds it was like 'crap where's the ground, how do I stop!'

I feel amazing now though, I can take on anything! I'll update more about this when I have more time on my hands, I gotta go catch a bus to Queenstown now. Here's a nice pic of the event.. big grins all round then!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lou82/5/1226595600/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lou82/5/1226595600/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lou82/5/1226595600/tpod.html Thu, 13 Nov 2008 08:06:47 -0500 Career Break 2008

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Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom

Now I'm home and have time to reflect on the whole experience and endless time to spend on the net without running out of credit I can finally fill you in on some thoughts I had along the way and what I'm thinking now that's it's over (boo.) I can only write properly when I'm stood still long enough to absorb all that's going on.

I have to remind myself that I'm very lucky that I got to New Zealand (and South Africa again) after all that had happened in the last year with my health. I've been back now for 48 hours and already NZ feels like a distant, but very happy, memory. It all ended so quickly, time flies when you're having fun. For those reading this about to embark on a solo trip for the first time - don't worry about getting lonely, you are never alone, unless you want to be of course. I don't recall any time to myself at all apart from an afternoon in Te Anau which I was still doing something (walking along the Fiordland National Park) but also trying to get my racing head in some sort of thought order after several weeks of constant travel and meeting people. This time was not entirely unwelcome, however I love meeting new people so my trip was perfect. I met too many people in the last month to count and will do my best to keep in contact with those I got email addresses off.

Not only did I meet people once in a hostel, but some people I met again and again in other places on the way round! When you're traveling on your own and this happens it's like bumping into an old friend you haven't seen for ages. The travellers you meet are like a replacement family while you're away. It's not that you rely on them as if you were travelling together, more that you know you can go out with them to do something if you both want, or not if you want to fly solo for abit. It's a hard thing to describe, a weird kind of kinship and understanding.

I think the biggest lesson I have learnt over recent months actually has nothing to do with the travelling aspect of things.. It's actually more a life lesson which perhaps seems quite deep and philosophical but one which I will share regardless as it helped me live in the moment throughout my trip in NZ. I have realised even at my age that no matter how bad things can get or seem, they can always get worse. I was one of those people who always thought that the universe could only deal so much crap before it realised it was time to move on and thus balance the amount of crap dished to one person. Many of us say that things happen in threes to simplify this thought...

But to think that things only happen in threes (or multiples of) would be to think that we actually had control over these rotten things that happen when in actual fact we don't have any control whatsoever. The difference is how we deal with them. The more common reaction of 'on top of everything' only gives us a doomsday outlook like we have landed at rock bottom and there is no way out.. only for something else just as nasty to be cast upon us and sink us even further. Except that when you realise that you have no control and to just look at what you have now, today, and be grateful for them no matter what the circumstances were for you to acquire them, that is when you look at things from a positive perspective. Then you really are 'on top of everything.'

If you're only reading this one entry and thinking 'what the heck is she on about' then you may need to skip back to the first entry. Otherwise I sound like a lemon.

I carried on with my New Zealand plans despite all that has happened, and I realise that things could have been alot worse. That is why I lived as I should have out there, in the moment, and also hopefully bring that same understanding to life at home. It's hard to live in the present when you're either thinking ahead to how something will be/feel or looking behind you. I'm done with looking behind me in this entry, but I also said right from the start that I would tell you the thoughts of a solo traveller/myself. I like to keep my word on these things. On that note I'd also like to tell you that the purple penguin biscuit made it all the way round NZ and back home again in one piece!

Now it's time for me to go back to life how it was before the career break, back to work and back to the life put on hold. Only this time with a new attitude. Things have changed me. Experiences, places, people and time. I felt abit hemmed in before I took this break, stuck in a rut. Now I feel like I can make positive changes in my life and I feel very strong emotionally.

Before I left I had an entry about the lymph node on the right of my neck doing something similar to what the one on the left did before it was removed for biopsy. Well that situation hasn't changed, it has got larger in the last month and I will get it looked at. There really is no point worrying about these things, that's why I carried on regardless. I only mention it as I now look at the other entry and think, oops I just kind of left that one hanging!

Let me leave on this thought after travelling solo to the other side of the world, touring and coming home. I recently read a fictional book which had the following story in it which should be a direct message for us all to live by..

A school teacher held a funeral for her class of pupils. This was not a sad event, it was the happiest funeral ever. She got them to write down a list of as many 'I can'ts' as they could in 15 minutes. Some wrote an A4 page, others wrote many A4 pages, and when they were done they put them in a box on the teachers desk. They all packed all their 'I can'ts' into the box, went out to the school yard, dug a hole, buried the box and said a prayer to the death of 'I can't.' From that moment on the words 'I can't' were never allowed in that teachers classroom again.

We can all do the things we desire when we finally get over our own negative thoughts which, ultimately, are the very things holding us back.

That's my career break blog finished for now.. I hope it hasn't been too dull or philosophical for you reading. I'm guessing it won't be long before the next blog!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lou82/5/1226341380/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lou82/5/1226341380/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lou82/5/1226341380/tpod.html Wed, 12 Nov 2008 13:26:25 -0500 Career Break 2008

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Bandar Seri Bagawan, Brunei

I had a full day in Brunei so I took a tour of the local area including the Kampong Ayer (water village) and the wildlife. The only place in the world to see Probocis monkeys in the wild.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lou82/5/1226202900/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lou82/5/1226202900/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lou82/5/1226202900/tpod.html Thu, 06 Nov 2008 22:56:34 -0500 Career Break 2008

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Auckland, North Island, New Zealand

I got to Auckland airport around 5 in the evening and got a shuttle to Stamford Plaza hotel! Oh yes! A hotel! And not only that, but a 5 star hotel for my last night in NZ! I got it at half price through an internet deal before I left, I paid £35 for it! I had my own King bed, bathroom, tv and peace and quiet!! After the last few weeks of dorms and early starts I was kind of getting travel fatigued so this was due.

I had a really nice meal in a restaurant called The Grove round the corner and retreated back to the hotel room early instead of staying out late.. after all, I'm a newbie to hotels and this was a treat! I took along uninterrupted bath before trying to stay awake for a late rugby match.. Needless to say I fell asleep at half time as all the travel had finally caught up with me!

I had a late checkout at 12 noon so I made the most of that before hitting the harbour for breakfast and wandering around bits of Auckland I hadn't seen before. I walked up to an outdoor market to the east of the city. I got back to the hotel around dinner time to pick up my backpack before making my way to the airport.

My flight wasn't until the early hours of the morning but I didn't want to spend money on a hostel room when I wasn't going to make full use of it and have to get up at 1am anyway so I went to the airport and hung out for about 9 hours!! That wasn't too nice I can tell you.. perhaps on hindsight I should've just got a hostel room.. There was other backpackers with the same idea as me but they were in groups and didn't seem as friendly as normal.. some had made makeshift tents among the seating areas and were doing theer best to sleep (yeah right.)

I had just nodded off lieing on the chairs with my backpack as a pillow when a guy doing the same thing near me started snoring loudly.. so I spent the next couple of hours wandering around the semi dark airport praying for sleep!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lou82/5/1226097780/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lou82/5/1226097780/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lou82/5/1226097780/tpod.html Thu, 06 Nov 2008 22:54:56 -0500 Career Break 2008

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Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand

The Speights tour yesterday started at 2pm and I managed to keep on drinking thereafter.. had a big break in the middle but I continued on until midnight with acouple of the guys from the hostel in Dunedin. One of which I had shared a dorm with in Wanaka. It's funny how I keep bumping into the same people on 'the circuit' of NZ.

Also, while watching a dvd in the Dunedin hostel someone walked in and said 'is that Love Actually.. I was thinking of putting it on myself..' to which I reckonised the voice instantly and swung round grinning.. it was another girl I'd met and shared a dorm with in Wellington! Good times, it's such a small world.

Anyway, not much happening here in Christchurch apart form the giant game of chess I sat and watched out by the Cathedral. I'm rather skint so I'm not doing the gondola or punting down the River Avon (considering I walked the same route on foot what would be the point?)

So tomorrow I get on a plane around lunchtime, though this time I don't hurl myself out at 15,000 foot and I stay in it until I get to Auckland. Tomorrow night (Saturday) I stay in a hotel, a treat to myself on my last night and I will love having a room to myself, no zips zipping, plastic bags rustling, people shouting etc etc.. not to mention having a bath/bathroom to myself! I have already bought some nice bath bombs for the time there, perhaps I won't leave my hotel room.

Sunday will be a long day where I have until after midnight to amuse myself before my flights back home and I'll have a full day in Brunei to enjoy on Monday.

So I guess this marks the end of my travel blogging (though not really as I have notes jotted down where I've to go back and edit massively as I haven't had time/money to sit on the net everyday telling you lot everything : P)

Off to my dorm now, where I've bought myself a little treat of chocolate fish. In NZ if you do something right you don't 'get a pat on the back' you say that you deserve a chocolate fish! I prefer their version, means I get chocolate! Until next time.. sweet as!

ps. I will get alot of photos up once I'm home and able to, alot of places wouldn't let me plug in my usb camera connector.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lou82/5/1225917240/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lou82/5/1225917240/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lou82/5/1225917240/tpod.html Tue, 04 Nov 2008 20:42:02 -0500 Career Break 2008

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Dunedin, South Island, New Zealand

I was up early again today, oh my I have had enough of constant 6am starts! Call this a holiday!

ANyway, got a bus from Queenstown to Dunedin this morning and arrived at lunchtime. I've just been on the internet and now about to go off to Cadbury World :o)

I would enjoy it much more if my stomach weren't feeling vomitous today but that's how it goes.. my world doesn't stop spinning or moving when I finally get off transport/stop walking delete as appropriate.

I have been weighed recently to do the skydive, I forgot to mention, and it appears I've lost just over half a stone in weight.. hmm, not sure what that's about as I'm eating ok. Could be the constant exercise of running about with the backpack.

Anyway, today the chocolate factory to stuff my face regardless of wanting to vomit.. tomorrow is the Speights brewery tour.. BEER!! I like Speights.. I also like Tui but that's on the north island..


]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lou82/5/1225851540/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lou82/5/1225851540/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lou82/5/1225851540/tpod.html Sun, 02 Nov 2008 21:20:03 -0500 Career Break 2008

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Queenstown, South Island, New Zealand

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