sunshinetrekker's TravelStream™ — Recent TravelPod.com entries TravelStream™ news feed for member sunshinetrekker on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/sunshinetrekker en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Mon, 01 Oct 2007 23:09:59 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com Cute Kittens — Auckland, New Zealand http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sunshinetrekker/australia_2007/1191293460/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sunshinetrekker/australia_2007/1191293460/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sunshinetrekker/australia_2007/1191293460/tpod.html Mon, 01 Oct 2007 23:09:59 -0400 Australia, New Zealand and beyond- This is my journey, to go and see the world with hopes of meeting amazing people, and creating wonderful stories to keep life interesting!
Auckland, New Zealand

Ok, so this isn't specifically about my travels, but it IS something I discovere while travelling.  So my lovely co-worker has introduced me to my new favorite website. :) It's called www.Icanhascheezburger.com    You HAVE to look at it.  Everytime I'm at work and have a free moment, I'll just browse through the pictures and crack up!! I suppose it helps if you like cats.. but anyways, I have posted a few of the cute and funny ones here to hopefully tantalize you to go look at the website. Enjoy! :)
]]> Welcome to New Zealand! — Auckland, New Zealand http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sunshinetrekker/australia_2007/1185794580/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sunshinetrekker/australia_2007/1185794580/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sunshinetrekker/australia_2007/1185794580/tpod.html Tue, 18 Sep 2007 20:09:16 -0400 Australia, New Zealand and beyond- This is my journey, to go and see the world with hopes of meeting amazing people, and creating wonderful stories to keep life interesting!
Auckland, New Zealand

So here I am in the chilly, but beautiful city of Auckland!  After  about an 1 1/2 flight delay because the plane was making some not so nice noises, I enjoyed another lovely flight courtesy of Air New Zealand.  Now I must say, I haven't flown on heaps of airlines.. but so far, they are the best!! I was a bit nervous about getting into NZ on the working holiday visa, BUT, I am happy to say that I was able to get through customs (even though I had a pile of australian seashells hidden in my suitcase haha) and I got a nice little work stamp in my passport that allows me to work and stay in New Zealand until July of 2008. Woo hoo!!  My first evening in Auckland was quite pleasant.  I had no sooner made my way from the airport to the house I will be staying at, and I already had 2 phone numbers!!  I must say, Kiwis (New Zealanders) are by far some lovely friendly people!  As you'll notice, the entry is dated the 30th of July (when I entered NZ) but it is actually going into the second week of august already.  I've spent most of my time hunting for a job, spending time with my new flatmate, and getting familiar with the city.  I did hang out with a german bloke I met through HC the other day and by the time I'd left the party at his flat, I had another 2 phone numbers!! haha.. Quite the friendly people here! :)  My flatmate has been wonderful! We went last week to see some hillarious New Zealand comedians perform at a club, and this weekend she took me out with her mates to this cool chinese restaurant! They bring around trays to show you the food, and then you either take it or pass.. By the end of the meal, you've probably eaten 20 different plates of food! Later, I got to watch my first Rugby League game. Woo hoo! Other than that, not much exciting is going on.  It's quite chilly here, and although winter will officially end in September, I had to break down and buy a wool hat and shoes!  Oh, and did I mention that it rains EVERY day??  Apparently, the saying here in Auckland is 'if you don't like the weather.. wait 20 minutes'  And it's true!  I walked down to the dairy (what kiwis call a corner market) to pick up some things, and the sky was clear.  Within about 10 minutes, I had to duck into a bus stop because it was raining so hard!  What would've been a nice 20 minute walk turned into an hour and a half adventure, because just when I thought it was safe to start walking again, I'd have to duck under trees and such just to get out of the rain! It became a bit of a stop and go walk to the dairy.  Anyways, that's it for now!  Hopefully I can find a job soon and start making a bit of kiwi money!! :)
]]> 6 months! — Auckland, New Zealand http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sunshinetrekker/australia_2007/1190217600/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sunshinetrekker/australia_2007/1190217600/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sunshinetrekker/australia_2007/1190217600/tpod.html Tue, 18 Sep 2007 20:05:58 -0400 Australia, New Zealand and beyond- This is my journey, to go and see the world with hopes of meeting amazing people, and creating wonderful stories to keep life interesting!
Auckland, New Zealand

Sorry for the lapse in updates everyone!  Can you believe that I've been away from home 6 calendar months already? A lot has been happening, and I am actually typing this entry courtesy of my (relatively) new job here in Auckland!  As many of you know, I've been in New Zealand almost 7 weeks now.  My arrival here was great, and Tamzin, the couch surfer I was originally staying with has been great.  I now 'officially' pay rent and am here as a housemate until one of us decides to move.  My first couple of weeks were just spent job hunting, and I've been lucky enough to find a good paying temp job working through the Auckland City council- libraries division.  It's a great job because it's about a 10 min walk from the city centre, and since the bus takes me straight there, it's quite the relaxing commute every morning and afternoon.  Let's see what else interesting I can tell you about.  I haven't been doing much other than working and saving money in the last few days; however, I suppose getting adjusted to the fact that it rains almost everyday here in Auckland takes quite a bit of getting use to.  It does make you appreciate sunny Arizona!  I cannot seem to get my hair to look nice because of the humidity, my room always seems to be stuffy when I wake up in the mornings, my towel is NEVER really dry and well- now I understand what the problem with mold is.  And let me tell you- mold doesn't EXIST back in Arizona! Ha-ha..Other than that, I've had the insane bus driver from H*$$ a couple of times who probably belongs in NY rather than NZ.  And these past few weeks have probably been the most eventful since I've arrived.It started out with us hosting another couch surfer from Hungary who stayed 2 days (and has since returned to stay a few more).  After he left, we got another csurfer from England who stayed 2 nights.  Dropped him off in the city Sat, only to pick up another girl named Juju from Quebec.  She's been hilarious to have around!  That same day we picked up a different csurfer from England and on our way home, Tamzin crashed her car! No one was hurt, but she is now temporarily stuck without a car! So, that same night we went out for dinner/drinks at a pub in the city. Only to be joined by two Italian couch surfers, 1 new Zealander who would be taking the English guy from us, and his German girlfriend.  So once again, I found myself amidst a Canadian, 2 Kiwis (New Zealanders), 1 British, 1 German, and 2 Italians.  All I can say is that couchsurfing is really such a cool idea!  Anyways, after spending 2 nights nursing himself back to health on our couch (he was sick), our British csurfer headed off and was then replaced with Peter from Hungary who was AGAIN replaced by another returning British bloke.  Things have settled down abit, and although we've had heaps of requests, we've backed off hosting for a bit. I've met lots of other interesting people, but I'll leave all of those stories for another day. So for now, that's all to report- and I guess I'll leave you with this thought.  New Zealand is located on a major fault line, and I was reading recently that GeoNet records more than 15,000 earthquakes a year within the New Zealand region. (Now of course, maybe only 250 or are actually felt within the cities)... AND Auckland (the city I am living in) was built on approx 49 volcanoes! What a place to live!
]]> Return to Sydney! — Sydney, Australia http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sunshinetrekker/australia_2007/1185015060/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sunshinetrekker/australia_2007/1185015060/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sunshinetrekker/australia_2007/1185015060/tpod.html Tue, 18 Sep 2007 05:27:16 -0400 Australia, New Zealand and beyond- This is my journey, to go and see the world with hopes of meeting amazing people, and creating wonderful stories to keep life interesting!
Sydney, Australia

So I've returned to Sydney! The starting point of my journey! This time, I spent more time out in the suburbs than I did in the city and it was lovely!  I spent the first two nights sleeping in a car.. and let me tell you.. I was thankful for the car but even more thankful once I had a real shower!! I've been spending the past week staying with a wonderful couple from hospitality club and have been so blessed by having a bed!! I've spent alot of time in the Parametta shopping mall (the largest in the southern hemisphere).. It has about 6 floors and each one is as big (if not bigger) than the arizona mills mall.. Crazy huh! Well, the blue mountains were amazing! And I got to visit one of the oldest caves in the world (beautiful!) I've also been lucky, Met some very interesting people, but now my time here in Australia is coming to an end.. (temporarily I hope). I'll be heading off next Monday to search out a job in New Zealand.. about $100in hand.. woo hoo! Wish me luck!
]]> Hello Queensland — Brisbane, Australia http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sunshinetrekker/australia_2007/1184599380/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sunshinetrekker/australia_2007/1184599380/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sunshinetrekker/australia_2007/1184599380/tpod.html Tue, 18 Sep 2007 05:14:59 -0400 Australia, New Zealand and beyond- This is my journey, to go and see the world with hopes of meeting amazing people, and creating wonderful stories to keep life interesting!
Brisbane, Australia

Well I've finally left Western Australia and headed back to the East Coast!  My arrival in Queensland (Brisbane) was exhausting!! About a 5 hour flight (leaving Mon at 11pm) and arriving in Brissy at 5:30am their time (I lost about 2 hours). Anyways, not a bad flight.. and since I'll only be here a short while, I've got lots to do!!  My first day was spent driving out to the Gold Coast, Surfers Paradise, and around the city.  So far- I love Queensland! :)
]]> gold coast — Gold Coast, Australia http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sunshinetrekker/australia_2007/1184668440/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sunshinetrekker/australia_2007/1184668440/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sunshinetrekker/australia_2007/1184668440/tpod.html Sun, 29 Jul 2007 06:35:24 -0400 Australia, New Zealand and beyond- This is my journey, to go and see the world with hopes of meeting amazing people, and creating wonderful stories to keep life interesting!
Gold Coast, Australia

asdf
]]> Return to Perth! — Perth, Australia http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sunshinetrekker/australia_2007/1181654580/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sunshinetrekker/australia_2007/1181654580/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sunshinetrekker/australia_2007/1181654580/tpod.html Sun, 08 Jul 2007 07:12:39 -0400 Australia, New Zealand and beyond- This is my journey, to go and see the world with hopes of meeting amazing people, and creating wonderful stories to keep life interesting!
Perth, Australia

So I have returned to Home sweet Perth and spent quite a few weeks here! :) Most of my time has been spent hanging out, relaxing, going into the CBD and spending time with my host families I've been staying with..  Filippo came back into town and I got to spend some time with him, but like always we had to say our goodbyes and he was off to discover northern WA :) I'll be leaving WA next week and heading out towards the lovely Queensland!  We'll see what happens from there!
]]> AU westcoast — Exmouth, Australia http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sunshinetrekker/australia_2007/1180330620/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sunshinetrekker/australia_2007/1180330620/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sunshinetrekker/australia_2007/1180330620/tpod.html Sun, 08 Jul 2007 06:33:55 -0400 Australia, New Zealand and beyond- This is my journey, to go and see the world with hopes of meeting amazing people, and creating wonderful stories to keep life interesting!
Exmouth, Australia

So what a journey it has been! It's now been 2 weeks and 1 day since we left Perth to travel up the west coast to Exmouth!  Nadja, my german travel friend and I set out with her Holden Jackaroo 4x4 and all the camping equipment I think we could ever possibly need  (thanks to our more than gracious hosts in back in Perth who lent us all the stuff for the trip!) Since leaving, we camped out at different beaches, stopped in Kalbarri, Denham (Shark Bay), Monkey Mia, and now Exmouth.  Let's see- we've seen Emus galore (usually sniffin around the campsites looking for free food), a few echidnas (they look like a cross between a porcupine/miniature anteater), a chain of catapillars crossing the road, more kangaroos than I could count, parrots everywhere, a few eagles, and the best was the wild dolphins!Let's see.. interesting stories- well, we almost got stuck in sand trying to find our first campsite on the beach. We did manage to get our tires (which were halfway covered in sand) out of it by swerving back and forth a bit.  The first night Nadja and I tried setting up camp, she hooked up the propane tank to the stove and I had the task of lighting it. Well, I did- and the whole thing burst into flames! Nadja flew back about 5 feet, and I'm convinced I burnt off some hairs!  Apparently, the hose wasn't tightened on enough, so flames were coming out of both the stove and the hose connection!  Somehow I managed to turn it off (took me a few tried since its a bit backward), and well.. we were a bit hesistant to light it again after that! We did manage to cook some noodles and tea before the night was over :)Flies are a BIG problem going up the west coast, so half of the lovely views we saw were plagued with hundreds (no exaggeration) of flies swarming around us. Let's just say, the mosquito headnets we have, have been put to great use!Monkey Mia was probably the highlight of the trip though! I was able to go into the water where wild dolphins come up and feed one! I was also a bit sneaky and waited for the ranger to leave after the last feeding and when the dolphins came back, I was able to wade in the water with them abit (till I got in trouble).. lol.. It's really controlled just for the protection of the dolphins.. but what an experience! There is so much more to the story, but this entry will be heaps long if I give you all the details now!Now for the people, we met some nice Irish fellows at one campsite/caravan park, a nice aussie couple, and in Monkey Mia we ended up playing cards one night with a 3 guys. One was from Chile, England, and the last was from France. It just so happens, that offering your leftover sausages to some hungry boy backpackers may just be the start of a beautiful friendship!! It was great though, we went out to Cape Peron, a beautiful Natl park in Shark Bay and did some 4wheel driving, we THINK we saw a shark, and of course battled the flies a bit. Anyways, it was quite an experience having 5 different nationalities in a car at one time!  That night back at the camp we met 2 girls from the UK.  We all said goodbye the next day, but lo and behold, 2 days later, we all met up in Coral Bay.  We went snorkeling, Matt (the british fellow) saw a reefshark and just about scared the crap out of all of us!.. But it was some amazing snorkeling.  Then the me, nadja, the boys, and the 2 british girls all spent the next 2 days in Exmouth. We went to the beach again, and watched the sunset out at cape range national park.  Sadly though, we also killed our first kangaroo :(  It wasn't intentional, but Chris (the Chilean) was driving their caravan, followed by the english girls, then our 4wd.  Well, the sun had set and there are always heaps of kangaroos on the side of the road at this time.  Apparently one jumped in front of his car and all we know is that we saw them swerve, by the time our car came up to it, I knew that a roo had been hit.  I made Nadja stop (you always have to make sure there isnt a joey in the pouch if its a female) and luckily there wasn't, but sadly the roo wasn't dead.  Of course, I broke into tears (it was obviously in pain!).  Anyways, none of us were sure what to do, and most of them just assumed leave it.. Naturally, I wouldn't leave it, so Chris and I used my jumper to carry it to the side of the road (its legs were broke).  At that point, I was still crying, and I had 4 different nationalilities trying to pry me away from the roo.  Anyways, lucky for us we were able to flag some passing aussies down, and they put it out of its misery for us (I didnt think I was physically strong enough to do it and no one else wanted to) .  It definitely put a damper on the night, but it was another lesson learned!  And since then, I found out that we did the right thing by not leaving it there to suffer (and also a better technique for ending its suffering).As for now, the boys have already left for Darwin and now our little campsite is much lonelier! But Nadja is out swimming with the whalesharks (I couldn't afford it), and I'm just hangin out in the town killing time till we head back to Perth tomorrow! And even though the boys left, theres never a shortage of people to meet. Last night we chatted with a young guy from switzerland whos actually French and had a nice cup of tea! Anyways, that's the update for now!
]]> Ex mouth — Ex Mouth, Australia http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sunshinetrekker/australia_2007/1180169940/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sunshinetrekker/australia_2007/1180169940/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sunshinetrekker/australia_2007/1180169940/tpod.html Sat, 26 May 2007 04:59:37 -0400 Australia, New Zealand and beyond- This is my journey, to go and see the world with hopes of meeting amazing people, and creating wonderful stories to keep life interesting!
Ex Mouth, Australia

third stop
]]> Monkey mia — Denham, Australia http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sunshinetrekker/australia_2007/1180169820/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sunshinetrekker/australia_2007/1180169820/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sunshinetrekker/australia_2007/1180169820/tpod.html Sat, 26 May 2007 04:57:32 -0400 Australia, New Zealand and beyond- This is my journey, to go and see the world with hopes of meeting amazing people, and creating wonderful stories to keep life interesting!
Denham, Australia

denham
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