Wednesday, January 28, 2004
On February 16th, 2004, I'm scheduled to fly out of LAX on a 747 headed for Auckland, New Zealand!
That will be the start of my trip. After that, I should be in New Zealand for about 5 weeks, flying to Sydney, Australia on March 24th. I'll be backpacking around Australia until May 24th, when I fly to Bangkok, Thailand for a short visit. May 26th, I'll fly to Tokyo, Japan, and then it's back to LA on June 9th.
I'm psyched!
=^_^=
I'll be updating this journal, and unless you let me know you don't want to be on my mailing list, you'll get an e-mail letting you know each time I've posted!
Monday, February 16, 2004
Well folks, this is it.
"All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go..."
My room is clean, my bag is packed, Everything is ready...
I just have to try to force myself to sleep.
I leave the house at 11am, head to the airport, and catch a 2:10 flight to LA. Then I hang out in LA for a few hours, and catch an 8:30pm flight out of the country. I leave LA 8:30pm Feb 16th, and arrive in Auckland 6:05am Feb 18th. 12.5 hr long flight. Now with that information, if you're really smart you can figure out what time zone Auckland is in...
=^_^=
*sigh*
I'm going to miss you all so much!
I'll still have e-mail access pretty much my whole trip, so feel free to write me!
Also, please take a look at my forum (there's a link to it on my homepage), and make a comment! I'd love to hear from you!
Talk to you soon!
~Nikki
Wednesday, February 18, 2004
Well folks! I made it!
I'm at my hostel in Auckland, but I can't check in for another 2-2.5 hours! I'll post a longer entry later today describing my trip so far, but I figured I'd get this out while I was online...
Love to you all, NZ is Beautiful!
~Nikki
Wednesday, February 18, 2004
Whew!
What a day!
I'm realizing that as much as I'd like to keep you all updated on every aspect of my trip, that's just not possible! I think my posts here will have to be rather brief because of all the things going on, and how much it costs to use the internet here... I figured out that even if I go to the internet cafe I'm at now ($2 NZD) if I'm on the internet every day for an hour, that will cost me over $200 for my whole trip. That gets expensive! So I have decided to make brief(er) entries, and keep a written journal that I can type up and share when I get home. Hell, by that time it will practically be a book!
Well, I'm going to head over to the Skytower to watch the sunset with a couple of new friends soon, so I'll make this quick.
The flights down were good, and the dinner was delicious! The 747 from LA to Auckland had a screen on the back of each chair, and you could watch movies, listen to music, watch tv programs, and even play video games!
I have already met some really neat people, and am having tons of fun!
I'll be staying in Auckland for the next few nights, then going up north to 90 mile beach, and seeing some of the Maori stuff, and then winding my way southward.
I've only taken a few pictures so far, but each one has a story behind it, or at least something that made me smile!
I've taken 9085 steps today (not including to and from the bathroom for my shower)! 10,000 is considered good health, so I'd say I'm on my way there!
I'm having a great time, and miss you all!
I'll update more later...
~Nikki
Thursday, February 19, 2004
Well the trip so far is great!
If it weren't for all the smokers, I think I'd like to stay in Auckland for much, much longer. But I have other places to be, things to do, and more people to meet!
I bought new sunglasses today. The ones I had fit and looked good, but I didn't realize just how bloody bright it would be down here!
The bathrooms here are amusing to me as well.
The TP is like thin tracing paper, but still works surprisingly well. The showers don't have knobs to turn on the water... Instead, there is one knob/button thingy that you turn to adjust the temperature, and push in to turn on the water. That's all well and good, but the water automatically shuts off after about 10 seconds.
I worked around that by washing with one hand and keeping the water on with the other. I even used my knee in a pelican-like balancing act while I washed my hair! To rinse my hair, however, I faced away from the water, and had to bump my bum against the knob every 10 seconds or so to keep it turned on while I scrubbed out the suds!
I'm sure I looked like all kinds of a fool doing my funky dance, but at least I'm clean!
Last night my new friend Nic (one of the guys in my room), two of his friends and I all went up in the Skytower. It's very much like the space needle, only smaller around and not as tall. Still has a revolving restaurant tho. We walked around and I took a bunch of pictures, some of which were of my feet while I stood on the 38mm thick glass panels in the floor that allowed you to look down on the city. That's one thing the space needle doesn't have!
Afterwards we played some pool, and went to bed.
Nic and I woke up at about 11am, and were the only ones left in the room. It's quite hot down here... I got out of the shower barely 45 min ago, and my hair has been dry for quite some time now...
"You know it's humid when your deodorant bar sweats almost as much as you do!"
Well, I'm not sure what my plans for the day are yet... Food is in order in the near future tho.
I suppose I'll spend a bit more time here, checking/writing e-mail, then go get something to eat.
Write me and let me know how things back home (or wherever you are) are! I miss you all!
Lots of love!
~Nikki
Saturday, February 21, 2004
Yesterday I booked the Kiwi experience!
That's a tour bus that goes all over New Zealand.
I leave tomorrow at about 8:30am.
I decided to go south before north, so the bus route is...
Auckland-Whitianga-Rotorua
After that I'm not sure about the order, but I'm stopping at Te Kaha, Rangitukia, Gisborne, Napier, Taupo, Waitomo, Tongariro Ntl Park, River Valley, and Wellington.
Then I cross to the south Island and stop at Picton, Nelson, (maybe Kaiteriteri), Westport, Mahinapua, Franz Josef, Wanaka, Queenstown (from Queenstown I'm doing a side trip to Te Anau and Milford sound, which includes a cuise on a riverboat through Milford sound, and I think Doubtful sound too mabye!
Then back to Queenstown, and from there I'll go visit Paul (a friend of my parent's), and then back to Queenstown again, and get back on the Kiwi busses to go to Christchurch.
From Christchurch I'll probably get a ticket from Christchurch to Auckland, see 90 mile beach, then fly from Auckland to Sydney.
Been having much fun!
Nic left yesterday, but I've still been hanging out with Teggs (James) and Tom.
Day before yesterday Nic and Teggs went bungee jumping from the Auckland Bridge, and I went along to watch. Unfortunately, I couldn't take my camera, but it was a neat experience anyways, walking along under the bridge and watching them and several others jump!
Some of them (Nic icluded) got quite wet (by choice) when they jumped. they got dunked in the water!
I met a Kiwi who lives in Canberra (Oz), and he gave me his phone number and offered to meet up with me and maybe show me around.
Well, I think that's pretty much it for now...
Got more e-mails to reply to and all...
Keep writing, I love hearing from you!
~Nikki
Saturday, February 21, 2004
Well folks, I've added a place in my forums for you to reply to my journal entries.
If you join, then look under the "Round The World" forum, you'll see it!
I haven't put all my old entries in there, that would take too long. But if you want to comment on them go ahead. I'll be adding all my new entries there though.
=^_^=
Enjoy, and I hope to hear from you soon!
~Nikki
Wednesday, February 25, 2004
Quick post, I'm tired, sore from an excursion yesterday, but can't wipe the smile off my face!
I'm leaving Waitomo today, and will spend the next couple of nights in Taupo, so hopefully I'll have better net access there!
Miss you all!
Loves,
~Nikki
Wednesday, February 25, 2004
Okay, so...
The reason I'm sore, is because yesterday was one of the most physically challenging days of my life. It may not sound like that much, but hiking through hot New Zealand woods, then abseiling 100 metres (roughly 300 feet) into a limestone cavern, hiking through the cave over rocks and stalagmites, resting a bit to look at gloworms, then climbing up a 30 metre ( about 90 foot) ladder, straight up, then more hiking (much of it on thin ledges over 40 metre holes, attatched to a security line of course!) and the hike back to the van... Yeah, I'm bloody tired.
It was the ladder that did me in...
Ever tried climbing a small metal ladder straight up nearly one hundred feet? It's bloody difficult!
Anywho, I loved it, bought the pictures, and slept very well last night.
In Taupo now...
You can see on the new Zealand map that my dad so kindly posted on my home page, on the North Island, there's a town called Rotorua. Taupo is just south of there. Waitomo, where I was yesterday, is kind of between the two, and a bit to the west. I'm in Taupo for two nights, and I leave Friday morning to do a loop of the upper east coast.
Keep e-mailing! Even if I don't write back, I love hearing from you!
I have to get off of here soon, but I'll write again when I can!
~Nikki - The BirdBus Spelunker
(The ride up to the caves we had pigeons in the minibus. The pigeons carry the memory card from the cave pictures back to base so they can get developed before we drive back.)
Thursday, February 26, 2004
=^_^=
Found a great little novelty yesterday.
This shop is by far the coolest thing I've seen in a while. Well, coolest shop anyways. If you can call it a shop...
It's called Cyber Wash.
You pay $10, and not only do you get the internet for an hour (sound expensive? Keep reading), but they wash your clothes FOR you, wash, dry and fold in fact! Also, I was here last night doing a bone carving! What a great little place!
Anywho, I now have the design of my tattoo (haven't seen it? check out my avatar in the forums) carved in bone by moi (minus the celtic knotwork).
Keep the e-mails coming! I miss being able to just ring my friends, and now e-mail is the only connection I've got with you! Please write and let me know what you've been up to! This goes double for Zee, Jeanelle, Benny, Nick and Sarah!
(Zee, can you please give me Jeanelle's e-mail?)
Well folks, I'm off to do a ropes course soon, so ttyl!
=^_^=
~Nikki
Monday, March 1, 2004
Oh, so much to say, so little time!
Uhm...
This trip rocks?
We've had some pretty nasty weather these past couple of days, but it seems to be clearing up now. A cyclone hit Vanuatu a couple of days ago, and now we're getting the tail end of it.
But this afternoon/evening, it's all been blue skies and sun! Crazy.
Anywho, Left Taupo on Friday morning, went to Te Kaha (first stop on the eastern loop), swam in the ocean (about the same temp as the Puget Sound, maybe a slight bit warmer), went kayaking, sat in the hot tub (seats 12), then had a delicious dinner and dessert, learned 'spinball' from the boys at the place we were staying, and helped a bird with a hurt wing. All in one bloody night! (Gah, I'm starting to adopt the accent as well as the words now... All these bloody people from the UK keep throwing me off tho...)
Anywho, the next day weather started sucking, but we got to watch horse racing/jumping, only Maori style! These horses aren't like the ones in the US. I rode one. Not in a race or anything, but just on the side of the road. Crazy beast! She nearly ran herself into a car (these horses don't like to let you steer), ran just about into the back of another horse (she didn't know the meaning of the word stop, or me pulling on the reins), and went faster than I was ready for, and didn't stop when I wanted her to. Crazy stuff.
Then Monique (the driver of the East As Kiwi Bus, and the lady who I did my first bone carving with) drove out to the beach to show us where we would be riding the next day if the weather cleared up (it didn't), but when she tried to turn around, the bus got stuck in the sand. That was fun. We all got plenty of pictures, and we tried to dig out the tires and put pieces of driftwood under them then push as she tried to drive, but nothing worked.
Finally, some girls (who looked wasted/stoned) drove down to the beach, and we had them go get help. A man came down and pulled us out (got pics of that too). We went back to the farmstay, and had a hangi for dinner. A traditional hangi would have been cooked under ground with hot rocks, but since we had so many people, they cooked it in kegs.
as alright though. I didn't eat the lamb, but the chicken was good. The sweet corn down here is as good as if not better than the sweet corn back home, and I feel lucky we have it at home, because many of the people on this trip hadn't ever had anything so good!
Hrm... What else...
Oh yeah, did another bone carving this morning.
Turned out damn good if I do say so!
I made a Hei Matau (fishhook) for my brother.
The Hei Matau symbolizes prosperity, abundance, fertility (hopefully not too soon!), and strength. They are also good luck charms (particularly for those traveling over water).
But when I thought of him, that was the design that came to mind. And I think it turned out very well!
Tonight we watched Whale Rider.
For anyone who hasn't seen it, I strongly recommend it. It is a great movie about the Maori culture, and I loved it the first three times I saw it before I came here, but now that I'm here, and I've been on the roads that are in that movie, and seen the same ocean... It's so powerful. It gives me a feeling impossible to describe. I love it here... It feels like home.
Don't worry, I'll give you all plenty of warning if I do decide to move here *wink*, but I would love very much to come back.
*yawn*
Time for bed now.
=^_^=
~Nikki
Monday, March 1, 2004
Well, I'm back in Taupo, and the highlight of the day has been the fact that I was finally able to shower!
There weren't very good facilities on the East Coast, and I missed out. You have to be one of the first, or you don't get any water.
Well, I'm hungry as, so I'm gonna go get myself a tuna, cheese, and pineapple sandwich at Mulligan's (a great bar around the corner).
I'm in Taupo tonight and tomorrow night, so I'm sure I'll post again tomorrow.
ttyl!
~Nikki
Monday, March 1, 2004
Quick Note:
In NZ, instead of asking if they can help you, or if you have any questions, people ask, "Are you alright?"
I find that amusing. It's like we look like we have issues. Maybe I do...
NZ is the great land of 'Fush and Chups', 'heery leegs', and a half dozen of 'sex'.
Can't remember the other thing I was gonna write.
Oh well.
~Nikki
Tuesday, March 2, 2004
They have this really cool drink here that I wish I could share with some of you back home (*wink* *wink* Jason). It's called L&P, or Lemon and Paeroa. Apparently, in the small town of Paeroa, there was really nothing to do except get drunk. When the miners came down from the mines on Saturday nights, it was like a religion that they get pissed, but in those days it was a given that you would be in church on Sunday morning. So the miners still showed up, just VERY hung over. One Sunday morning though, one of the miners was stumbling his way to church, and stopped at this small stream for a drink. The stream, as he discovered, was quite bubbly, almost a natural carbonation. By the time he got to church, he was feeling much better, and told all the other miners that the water from that stream was the best cure for hangovers ever! So after that, the miners always stopped at the river before church.
Cute story no?
Sadly, it's World Famous in New Zealand (figure that one out), and they don't sell it anywhere except NZ and a few places in Oz I guess. It was bottled by a private company (they just bottled the water and added a bit of lemon flavoring), then it was recently bought by Coca Cola, so maybe if we're lucky we'll see it in the states sometime in the near future, no?
Anyways, I haven't had a chance to test it out, having not been hungover, but it tastes a bit like Sierra Mist with much less sugar. It's really good!
Well, that's my little bit of enlightenment for you this morning, enjoy!
~Nikki
Tuesday, March 2, 2004
Missing you all...
I kinda wish I could fly home and see everyone for a day, then resume my trip, but I know that's silly. I did print out pictures of some of you before I left, and I took them with me. I pull them out every so often, and smile.
Been having fun here...
Last night I hung out with Tom. We played pool at Mulligan's and danced at the Holy Cow (yeah Dad, Jeez Louise!). Fun times. I'm glad that I've met people who I feel comfortable meeting up with again. Tom's great to hang out with (is your head getting too big yet Tom?)
Well, I made my third bone carving today. It's a dolphin, but I made it in the same shape as my brother's fishhook (kinda), and I'm going to give it to his girlfriend Jessica. I'm so happy that they're together, not only are they both really great people, but they're great together. Luv ya Jess! So anyways, now they will have matching necklaces (kinda).
I'm off to call Kiwi Experience and see if I can get a bus out of here on Thursday morning or so. Taupo's a really neat little place (okay, not so little), and even though I haven't seen a whole lot of it, it's a great town to relax in, and I'm set up pretty well. Two internet cafés and two bars close by as well as a pharmacy about a block away (for all the toiletries and such). I like it here, but I'll be ready to leave after another day of relaxing.
*sigh* Well, nobody's really online, so I guess I'll jump off now, and write more later!
Please e-mail! Even if it's nothing important... Tell me about the neighbor's dog who wouldn't stop barking last night. I miss talking to you all, and this is the next best thing.
Miss you all, but I'm still having a great time!
Oh, yeah, I e-mailed some pics to my dad, and if he has some spare time he can probably
put them up on my site, so keep an eye out!
=^_^=
~Nikki
Wednesday, March 3, 2004
Well, due to the weather, the bus schedules are all screwed up, so it looks like I'll be in Taupo a bit longer.
A link to my home page has been added at the bottom of this page, and others. Thanks Daddy!
Here's an explanation of a couple of the pictures...
At the first place we stayed at on the east coast, this bird shakily flew onto the deck with a hurt wing. It freaked out when anyone but me tried to hold it, and we ended up putting it in the shed for the night so the dogs couldn't get it and it could rest. It seemed to be fine in the morning.
This is one of the many boiling mud pools on the north island. They reek. What happens, is the crust is thinner here, and the heat and pressure cause underground water to reach temperatures much higher than boiling point, and small leaks allow the superheated water (still water at that temperature because of the intense pressure) to escape to the surface, creating the mud pools. I happened to catch one of them giving a large 'burp'.
These are my first two bone carvings. The hook is for my brother, and I made a dolphin in a similar shape for his girlfriend yesterday. The other is mine (of course), and shouldn't need an explaination.
This is the group that I travelled with on the East As trip. The guy on the far left was actually a Scottish guy who was staying next door, and the woman in front is the mother of the guy who owns the house, Paul. Monique, the driver has her hands on Fran's (Paul's mom's) shoulders, and Paul is standing in the back.
The little dog is Bruiser, and the big one is Tui (Tui is also a local beer).
There are actually two people securing me on the ground, but one of them is not in the picture. If I had fallen, I wouldn't have gone far, because of the way the pullies and harness work, the belayer (person holding the rope) might have been pulled a bit, but she would have stayed on the ground, and as long as she kept the rope in the 'locked off' position, everything would be fine. It's much safer than it looks...
Yup, that's right. We got stuck in the sand. Mon drove out to show us the beach, and forgot that she had a trailer on, and couldn't turn as tight as normal. Someone came to pull us out, but only after we tried digging, and placing driftwood under the tyres (that's how they spell it here) and such. Quite funny really...
I'll write about the other pictures later...
Thank you to those of you who have been e-mailing, it's great to hear from you!
~Nikki
Thursday, March 4, 2004
Well, I'm booked on a bus leaving Taupo for tomorrow morning...
I'm heading to the South island, and I'll head down the west coast, spend a bit of time in the Queenstown area, then head up to Christchurch, and see if I can fly to Sydney from there. If not, I'll fly from Christchurch to Auckland, and then Auckland to Sydney.
I'm doing my fifth bone carving today!
Here's a picture of the first four...
From left to right...
A Matau that I altered a bit for my friend Patrick, my design for me, Jessica's dolphin, and Steven's Matau.
Today, starting in about 20 mins, I'm going to make a koru for my mom. A koru is a spiral shape that symbolizes a rolled up fern frond. It's meaning is "new beginnings, growth, and harmony". I just thought it was perfect for her.
So, I'd better head over to Mon's shop! I'm becoming a real regular there!
ttyl!
~Nikki
Sunday, March 7, 2004
Got to the South Island today!
Nothing to do here in Nelson.
Everything but the bars are closed, and I don't feel like drinking.
In Wellington last night, I went to see LotR:RotK in the Empire Theatre, where it was first premiered. Nifty place! Great movie too!
As I was leaving, Nic (who I met in Auckland), was waiting in the lobby for me with a friend of his. He'd e-mailed that he was in town, I replied that I was too, and which showing of the movie I was at, et voila! What a cool thing the internet is, n'est-ce pas?
Okay, enough French.
This computer kinda sucks, so I'll have to write later. Heading South again tomorrow, and I'm not sure exactly where, but I'll probably keep going until I reach Wanaka or Queenstown. I hear the area is beautiful down there (not that the rest of NZ hasn't been), and there are a few people/places I want to visit!
So I'll ttyl, and I hope you're all safe and having fun!
Lots of Love,
~Nikki
Monday, March 8, 2004
Today was a(nother) physically exhausting day, but I had so much fun!
I went sea kayaking in the Abel Tasman National park, and had loads of fun! My guide was hilarious (only 19), and he performed the haka while standing on the front of our kayaks in the middle of the water! We did relay races on the beach, and my team won!
Then we got to Westport, and I went horseback riding. I haven't really been riding in many years, so it was really good to get back on a good horse, and get up the confidence after trotting (finally remembered how to post - posting is just an organized way of bouncing up and down during a trot), and I cantered too! Had loads of fun, and even got a few pics! Now I think I'm off to bed, and I'll write more later.
Tomorrow night sounds interesting. We're scheduled to stay in the upper floor of a pub in the middle of nowhere, and part of the scheduled activities are getting dressed up in funky costumes and drinking.... I'm not so sure about that....
Sounds interesting anyways...
Heading down the coast towards Queenstown, and making a stop to visit a friend of my parents who I haven't seen in about 12 years!
Well, I'm knackered, so I'm heading up to my room now. I'll write again in a couple of days!
~N
Wednesday, March 10, 2004
Well it's back to the pouring rain...
I may be staying here three days instead of the scheduled two because one of the roads is closed.
Last night was interesting, what with the costumes... the guys dressed up as prostitutes, and the girls dressed up at either pimps or schoolgirls... I was a schoolgirl. Couldn't find the right clothes for a pimp at the thrift store I was at.
After dinner, I offered to wash the dishes (yes, all of them, for both busses), and was successful at turning away help until the very end when Q, my driver sent in about 3 girls to help dry and put away. I really enjoy doing the dishes when I can just be there by myself, and get into a rhythm...
Kayaking tomorrow. Hopefully it clears up...
NZ is beautiful... I really love it here...
*sigh*
Torn between missing people back home, and bagging the rest of my trip to get a work visa here...
Just kidding, and Steven, will you please get mom and dad a glass of water before they have a heart attack?
*wink*
Well, I guess I'll post this now, and try to book a flight from Christchurch to Auckland. I'm going to have to fly back to Auckland to catch my flight to Sydney. My bus ticket ends in Christchurch, and it would take too long to drive back even if I could find a ride.
So I'll ttyl!
~Nikki
Monday, March 15, 2004
Well, I'm sorry I haven't posted recently, but I've been in the middle of nowhere for the past few days. I like the middle of nowhere.
In this case, it was Makarora, NZ. My dad used to work with this guy Paul, and he helped build our house. I remember him being this really happy, fun guy. The last time I saw Paul was when I was 8 years old. But 4 years ago, he moved down here, and now he and his partner run a lovely little B&B in Makarora. So I jumped off the Kiwi bus, and stayed there for a few days.
It was great! Paul showed me around and introduced me to some of the locals... I helped clean up and make beds and cook, and all that other fun stuff, in exchange for a place to sleep and a few meals.
It was a lot of fun!
I'll post some pictures of their place when I get the chance, it was really beautiful out there.
But I had a great time, and was a bit sad to leave. Thanks so much Paul and Andi!
Now I'm in Wanaka, just north of Queenstown, and I'll be in Queenstown tomorrow. I leave Queenstown for a little trip to Milford Sound on the 19th, and then head up to Christchurch and fly to Auckland on the 22nd. From Auckland I fly to Sydney on the 24th. I have so little time left in New Zealand.
I'll miss it, but I'll be back.
Well, I'm off to get more money from a cash machine, and see if I can't find myself something to do tonight.
ttyl!
~Nikki
Tuesday, March 16, 2004
Well, I made it to Queenstown.
I had thought that my accommodation had been arranged, but it turns out there was a mix up. So I ended up rearranging my schedule a bit, and I'm staying in a pretty nice hostel, though it's a bit far out of town. I'm about to head back into town and walk around a bit, and figure out where stuff is, and just have a look around.
I rescheduled my Milford trip for tomorrow, and I have to be in town at the travel center at 6:50 am. Yech!
Oh well, should be fun!
I think I may be leaving Queenstown and heading to Christchurch on the 18th or 19th. It kind of depends on a few different things. Well, I'm off for now, talk to you all later!
I love getting e-mails, so please don't be discouraged if I don't reply... I do read them, I promise!
=^_^=
~Nikki
Wednesday, March 17, 2004
Well I did the Milford trip today...
Amazing!
I got some beautiful pictures today too!
About 200+ of them!
I'm so tired now though, and I still have to go talk to info and track to schedule a bus out of here before I head back to my hostel.
Just thought I'd let you all know I'm still having fun, and doing well (and getting tan)!
Love to you all!
~Nikki
Thursday, March 18, 2004
Well, Milford Sound was really cool!
It's not technically a sound, it's a fjord.
*Here's another educational post*
A sound has low hills around it and is fed directly by the ocean. A fjord was created by glaciers, and while it's still fed by the ocean, Milford Sound is also somewhat separated from the ocean, so not much saltwater (besides what's already there), and no big waves enter it.
We got off the bus, and took a boat around Milford Sound. Not too long after we got on, we stopped at an underwater observatory. We walked down some stairs into a room with windows about 5 inches thick, and you could look into the water, and see fish and coral and other sea life in the sound.
One of the things we saw was black coral, which normally only lives in REALLY deep water, but because the hills are so steep, all the rainwater falls from the mountains right into the water, and the freshwater - which has been darkened by tannin - floats on the top of the saltwater (the waves aren't big enough to mix the salt and fresh water). The fresh water layer can be anywhere from 2-8 meters deep! The fresh water creates a dark layer above the saltwater, making it easier for deep water life to live in shallower areas.
The black coral is very rare this shallow, but it was growing on the underwater observatory, and it looked white. Its skeleton is black, but it's covered in white polyps so it looks very nifty! I tried taking some pics of it, but I'm not sure how they'll turn out.
How's that for your lesson of the day?
Sorry about the run-on sentences....
So much to say, so little time and space...
Taking a bus to Christchurch tomorrow, then flying to Auckland, then on to Sydney!
Well, I gotta jet, but I'll ttyl!
~Nikki
=^_^=
Saturday, March 20, 2004
Well, I'm in Christchurch now, and it's hot.
Blue skies, scorching sun, and trees providing blessed shade.
I fly from Christchurch to Auckland on the 22nd, and spend two nights there before flying to Sydney.
Hoping to meet up with Chris (met him kayaking in Franz Josef) in Auckland, because he's flying out a day before me, and it would be really cool to see him again!
I think I'll try to find a park to read in, or water to dip my toes in when I'm done with the internet here... It's too bleedin' hot to do much else...
Well, e-mail me with any interesting news... Or uninteresting news for that matter...
I love hearing from you!
ttyl!
~Nikki
Saturday, March 20, 2004
"You don't cure cancer by killing the cancer patient..."
Those are the words that made me burst into tears in the square outside my hostel about 15 minutes ago.
It's very hot out today (my guess is high 80s), so I was sitting in my hostel reading, then I watched a movie that came on...
I figured I had to get outside, so I left the hostel, book in hand to find a shady spot to read.
I noticed a fairly large gathering of people in the square across the street, and wandered over. I started to notice rainbow colored flags, lots of peace signs, and one large sign made up of a sheet stretched out between two poles. The sheet was covered in red handprints, and said "NO MORE BLOOD FOR OIL". Having caught my attention, I walked closer and noticed a few people wandering around in 'bloody' sheets wearing signs that said "war victim", and a mic set up with a middle eastern man talking. He was talking about how Bush had destroyed a whole country by trying to get rid of a few bad men, and made the above cancer analogy.
I think it was a greenpeace gathering, but I only caught the tail end of it. What I did see made me sick to my stomach though. I was truly ashamed to be an American when I noticed one man holding a sign that said:
"World Peace - F***ED,
End to racism - F***ED,
Bush's morals - F***ED.
Put and end to
USA World Terrorism."
I can't remember the exact words, but that's pretty close. I walked up to the man holding that sign, and wiping tears from my eyes, I told him that I was sorry, that I don't agree with what my government is doing, and that many Americans don't support Bush, and he just hugged me and said "It's not Americans we're mad at hon, it's your government. We like you." and he smiled.
I just nodded and walked away.
I'm still a bit choked up.
It's not the same, me describing it, as actually seeing the people, the signs, and the pictures of victims.
I know that not all of you will enjoy reading this post, but I just had to put my thoughts down in writing, and this was the easiest place for me to do that.
~N
Tuesday, March 23, 2004
I'm really bummed that I'm leaving beautiful New Zealand tomorrow... I've had so much fun here...
But on the other hand, I'll be flying to Australia, and hopefully I'll have just as good a time there...
Last night as I was checking into the hostel, Chris walked up to me, and we ended up hanging out all night.
We ate at a little Japanese restaurant, and I got to educate him about the food...
Then we went to a really 'cool' bar suggested by his friend, called "minus5" They kept this little room five degrees below zero (Celsius), and there were ice carvings, and you drank out of ice cups... everything was ice. They gave you big fluffy coats to wear with gloves, and fuzzy boots (I had been wearing thongs), and so it was actually not that cold, but it was a really neat experience! You're only allowed to stay there for 30 mins, or 3 drinks, whichever comes first. So we had 2 drinks each, then our time was up. It was very cool tho!
This morning we had breakfast in a little café, did some souvenir shopping for his family/friends, and then he caught the shuttle to the airport.
I had a lot of fun, and I'll miss ya Chris!
Anywho, I fly to Sydney tomorrow, and we'll see how it goes from there!
Talk to you all later!
~Nikki
Thursday, March 25, 2004
Well, I got into Sydney last night, picked a random hostel that looked decent on a board at the airport, showed up, checked in, got a free digeridoo lesson, watched "Snatch", then went to bed. Woke up lat this morning, bought some phone cards and tried to make some phone calls with minimal success, and then decided to go for a walk. I walked towards where I knew the beach was, and found this path with lots of up and downs right along the beach, took lots of pictures, and tried not to melt in the sun...
Had a cup of yogurt topped with fresh fruit for lunch, then *gasp* went shopping! Yes, I, Nikki, went shopping. Willingly. And enjoyed it!
I was so proud of myself for the weight that I've lost that I bought myself a bikini!
I brought one pair of cargo pants with me, and they were a little tight in the belly when I got them, but now, even with the belt I bought in Christchurch on the tightest notch, they're a bit loose! Yay me!
Anyways, having fun, it's gorgeous here, HOT and humid, but lovely. It reminds me a little of California, from what I can remember, only a lot cleaner, a lot more laid back, and a bit more tropical.
I'll try to take a picture of myself sometime in the near future, because I've changed a bit since I left...
Well, I'm off for now, but write me, I miss you all!
ttyl!
~Nikki
Saturday, March 27, 2004
Whew! What a hot climate! I'm slowly getting used to it, but still...
I went to the beach with some of the guys in my dorm yesterday, and got thrown around by the waves for a while, then sunbathed and got buried in sand, then got thrown around by the waves for a while, then had a sandfight with one of the guys, and then got tossed around for a while more before going back for a well-earned shower and afternoon of relaxation. *whew*
This morning, I got up, checked out of my hostel, caught two busses and a ferry to Manly beach, and checked into a hostel here. I walked to the nearest payphone to call my neighbor (who is also staying in Manly Beach), and when I turned around, I noticed I was right across the street from his hotel! So he answers, I tell him where I am, and he asks if I'm wearing a hat... He could see me from his balcony! So we went out for lunch, and for a great walk along the coast. It was really cool to be 7700 miles from home, and see your neighbor!
I booked my Oz Experience bus from Sydney to Canberra for Monday morning, so now I have to find out how I'm getting back to the city by 7:15am (the bus leaves at 7:30).
Soooo......
New pics up... My neighbor, Brian e-mailed a couple taken today to my dad and he posted them.
Here they are!
Brian and Me
Me talking to my parents on Brian's cell.
Well, I think that's about it for now!
Write again later!
~Nikki
Sunday, March 28, 2004
Well, it's STILL sunny, and hot and probably 85-90 degrees out... That's Fahrenheit, not Celsius like everyone down here uses, but I still can't quite get the hang of....
Kind of a lazy day...
Was up early (couldn't sleep), and watched the sun rise...
Made several phone calls trying to get my calling cards figured out, and my transportation arranged, and I'm now leaving Sydney for Canberra on April 1st.
Hopefully I'll be meeting up with Nic, James and Tom in Melbourne around the 6th. That would be cool...
Then I head to Adelaide, then fly to Alice Springs and visit Uluru (Ayer's Rock to those of you who don't know it by the aboriginal name). Then I'll fly to Cairns, and spend the rest of my time coming back down the east coast.
*whew* Just thinking about it kinda makes me tired...
My dad has just informed me that there's only 74 days until I come home... He's counting down!
Well, that's my update for now, I'll keep you posted.
=^_^=
~Nikki
Tuesday, March 30, 2004
Well, it's still hot here....
I burned another set of pics to cd and e-mailed a few home, but the connection here sucks right now, so there aren't too many. The new ones are up on my travel pics page, but since I'm nice, I'll put them here for easy viewing!
Here's a pic of Chris and I kayaking.
And one of us right after we left Franz Josef (the busses stopped for a morning tea/snack/walk stop).
And here's one of me being cute on the webcam...
Well, I leave Manly for downtown Sydney tomorrow, and then I head to Canberra on the 1st.
I'll keep you posted, and enjoy the pics!
(I miss you Chris!)
=^_^=
~Nikki
Thursday, April 1, 2004
Got on the bus again today. Started my Oz Experience. My bus driver Vicky is pretty cool, she listens to good music!
Got to Canberra today, and it's nice...
It's Oz's capitol, so it's a bit different from other cities. We drove by many monuments and the parliament building and such, and then when everyone got dropped off at the hostel, I called Justin, who kindly offered to put me up for the night. We went out for a bite to eat, and then came back to his place and watched some of the Clerks cartoons. He's quite nice really!
Justin went back to work for a few hours, and I am going to bed, but I just thought I'd post that I'm still fine, and enjoying Oz so far!
I was going to post some sort of April Fool's joke, but I couldn't come up with anything that wouldn't freak out my parents/grandparents and make them worry... Oh well...
=^_^=
I'll be in Gelantipy tomorrow, then Melbourne on the 3rd. Should be meeting up with Nic, and maybe Tom and James as well.
I'll keep you posted!
Love to you all!
~Nikki
Saturday, April 3, 2004
Well, I made it to Melbourne.
Last night we stayed in Gelantipy, a small mountain town. I did horseback (trail) riding (much fun, and a good horse too!), and wall climbing, and played some guitar...
I wrote a song my last night in Sydney, and was itching to practice it a bit more, so Vicky (my driver) found me a guitar so I could satisfy my itch before going on a night safari.
We saw wallabies, kangaroos, rabbits, bats, and even a wombat (from a distance).
It was a pretty good day.
Nic, Tom and James should all be getting here in the next few days, so hopefully I'll have some entertainment, and things to do, people to hang out with... All that good stuff.
I'm knackered right now though, so I'm probably going to head to bed before too too long.
Hope everything's good with all of you, and I'm sorry I haven't written as often as some of you would like.
Love to you all, and I'll do my best to write again soon!
~Nikki
Monday, April 5, 2004
Well, it's hot.
About 27 degrees Celsius right now...
Don't ask me to do the conversions, because I wouldn't get it right...
Haven't done too much here yet...
Met people, hung out, listened to comedy shows...
It's too hot to do much else...
Humid too....
But I think both James and Tom are in Melbourne now, and Nic should be here tomorrow, so hopefully I'll get to hang out with them a bit...
I'll keep you posted if anything interesting happens...
~Nikki
Tuesday, April 6, 2004
Well, I did karaoke last night, which is always interesting... Sang about 6 or 7 songs, one of which was a duet with the DJ, a Grease medley.
I also sang....
"Manic Monday" - The Bangles
"Can't Fight the Moonlight" - from Coyote Ugly
"What's Up" - Four Non Blondes
"Something to Talk About" - Bonnie Raitt
"Foolish Games" by Jewel
And one more which I can't remember at the moment...
This morning, I was heading to the net cafe, and saw Nic in the lobby of the hostel, so we chatted for a couple of minutes, and he went to find the boys, and I went to catch up on e-mail. We'll all meet up later today I'm guessing.
Hot day again.
Probably about 85 Fahrenheit, I haven't heard the temp reports yet.
I'll post again soon...
ttyl!
~Nikki
Thursday, April 8, 2004
Well, I've made the descision to stay in Melbourne for another week. I'm going to wait another day or two for my heels to stop bleeding (they cracked a few days ago), then do some exploring of the city.
Met up with Tom, James and Nic last night. It was good to see them all again. I felt kind of bad because I was really tired, so headed to bed somewhat early-ish. But they'll be here in Melbourne for a while I think, and I'll be here another week, so I'm sure I'll see them again. Tonight possibly, there's a comedy show we were thinking of going to.
I talked to Kevin (a Canadian form Nova Scotia I met on a trip up to BC before I left on this trip) on MSN today, he got a webcam recently, so it was good to see his face again.
What else....
Uhm...
I guess that's about it for now!
I love getting e-mails from you, so if you've got a chance, drop me a line please!
ttyl!
~Nikki
Saturday, April 10, 2004
Sometimes it's great to just start typing, and let your fingers forget that they need the brain to supply them with words. Just type.
Here's my most recent episode of 'fingerflight' as I like to call it.
The quality of your life is percieved by you however you wish. If you insist on convincing yourself that your life is better with or without a certain thing/person/or other, that is completely up to you, and nobody but yourself can change that. If, however, you choose to take an outlook on life that makes the best of every situation, no matter who or what it does or does not involve, then you can choose to be happy in any situation.
A wonderful man once told me that "It's not whether the cup is half full or half empty, but what a cool cup!" Granted, my father tends to see only the best in me most of the time, but he had a good point. That has been my outlook on life (more so in the past several months), and it has provided me the most happiness in my entire life span that memory provides.
So make of life what you will, but remember, you choose your own levels of happiness.
On that note...
Been enjoying Melbourne, and hanging out with the guys. Saw a great comedy show last night!
If you ever thought that the US (or wherever you're from) had too many closed shops on holidays, then banish the thought. Here in Australia, some shops close for the whole 4 day weekend, Starting with Good Friday, and ending the Monday after Easter. Minus not being able to make certain purchases (unless they're at the 7-11, which has remained open), it's nice to have the city a bit more quiet and peaceful.
Well, I'm off to see if I can't find some food.
Enjoy your day, and smile! It's one of my favorite contagious things.
=^_^=
~Nikki
Sunday, April 11, 2004
If I didn't know better, I'd say I was on drugs. Lots of them. It's virtually impossible for me to find anything to be unhappy about (except maybe smokers)...
I was jogging down the street looking for an open bookstore so that I could find and buy a copy of "The Da Vinci Code" by Dan Brown, because my mother has been strongly recommending it. Despite how hot it is, I was just singing any song that I could think of about sun. "Blue Skies", "Sunshine came softly through my, my window today...", even "You are my Sunshine" sweating my arse off the whole time.
But I'm taking it as a good sign that I am now able to jog and sing at the same time, and not be winded. Anywho, I passed a poster for "Scared Weird Little Guys", this Australian duo of comedy, and funny songs that I'd wanted to see while they (and I) are in Melbourne. So I memorized the website by making a song out of it and kept jogging. I had to laugh at myself... I'm just in an impossibly good mood. It's really strange. This morning, I was actually searching for something to be unhappy about and failed miserably. Everything I came up with I immediately found something good about it (even my cracked heels - they're getting better, and it reminded me to take care of my feet too, not just the rest of me).
Okay, back to the story. I found an open bookstore that was even displaying a poster for "The Da Vinci Code", and walked in to grab a copy. As I walked up to the register, I saw something that normally I probably would have smiled about, but I actually laughed out loud, and tears appeared at the corners of my eyes.
Mom, Dad, you'll love this. They had a whole stand of the Mr. _____ books. You know, Mr. Chatterbox, Mr. Clumsy, Mr. Clever... I remember reading a bunch of those books when I was a kid, and loving them. So I spun the display around, closed my eyes, and touched it. I grabbed the book my hand landed on when the display stopped spinning, and opened my eyes. What was it? Mr. Happy. No Joke.
I read the book, decided I loved it, and bought it (as well as the Dan Brown book).
I know this is going to be a lot of reading, so don't feel obligated, but I feel the need to type out the story for you. If you don't feel like reading it, have a great day, and catch my next post. For those of you who would like to hear the story, settle down, grab a cozy blanket, and read on.
"Mr. Happy" - by Roger Hargreaves
On the other side of the world, where the sun shines hotter than here, and where trees are a hundred feet tall, there is a country called Happyland.
As you might very well expect everybody who lives in Happyland is as happy as the day is long. Wherever you go you see smiling faces all round. It's such a happy place that even the flowers seem to smile in Happyland.
And, as well as all the people being happy, all the animals in Happyland are happy as well.
If you've never seen a mouse smile, or a cat, or a dog, or even a worm - go to Happyland!
This is a story about someone who lived there who happened to be called Mr Happy.
Mr Happy was fat and round, and happy!
He lived in a small cottage beside a lake at the foot of a mountain and close to a wood in Happyland.
One day, while Mr Happy was out walking through the tall trees in those woods near his home, he cane across something which was really rather extraordinary.
There in the trunk of one of the very tall trees was a door.
Not a very large door, but nevertheless a door. Certainly a door. A small, narrow, yellow door.
Definately a door!
"I wonder who lives here?" thought Mr Happy to himself, and he turned the handle of that small, narrow, yellow door.
The door wasn't locked and it swung open quite easily.
Just inside the small, narrow, yellow door was a small, narrow, winding staircase, leading downwards.
Mr Happy squeezed his rather large body through the rather thin doorway and began to walk down the stairs.
The stairs went round and round and down and down and round and down and down and round.
Eventually, after a long time, Mr Happy reached the bottom of the staircase.
He looked around and saw, there in front of him, another small, narrow door. But this one was red.
Mr Happy knocked at the door.
"Who's there?" said a voice. A sad, squeaky sort of voice. "Who's there?"
Mr Happy pushed open the red door slowly, and there, sitting on a stool, was somebody who looed exactly like Mr Happy, except that he didn't look happy at all.
In fact he looked downright miserable.
"Hello," said Mr Happy. "I'm Mr Happy."
"Oh, are you indeed," sniffed the person who looked like Mr Happy but wasn't. "Well, my name is Mr Miserable, and I'm the most miserable person in the world."
"Why are you so miserable?" asked Mr Happy.
"Because I am." replied Mr Miserable.
"How would you like to be happy like me?" asked Mr Happy.
"I'd give anything to be happy," said Mr Miserable. "But I'm so miserable I don't think I could ever be happy," he added miserably.
Mr Happy made up his mind quickly. "Follow me," he said.
"Where to?" asked Mr Miserable.
"Don't argue," said Mr Happy, and he went out through the small, narrow, red door.
Mr Miserable hesitated, and then followed.
Up and up the winding staircase they went. Up and up and round and round and up and round and round and up until they came out into the wood.
"Follow me," said Mr Happy again, and they both set off through the wood back to Mr Happy's cottage.
Mr Miserable stayed in Mr Happy's cottage for quite some time. And during that time the most remarkable thing happened.
Because he was living in Happyland Mr Miserable ever so slowly stopped being miserable and started to be happy.
His mouth stopped turning down at the corners.
And ever so slowly it started turning up at the corners.
And eventually Mr Miserable did something that he'd never done in his whole life.
He smiled!
And then he chuckled, which turned into a giggle, which became a laugh. A big booming hearty huge giant enormous laugh.
And Mr Happy was so surprised that he started to laugh as well. And both of them laughed and laughed.
They laughed until their sides hurt and their eyes watered.
Mr Miserable and Mr Happy laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed.
They went outside and still they laughed.
And because they were laughing so much everybody who saw them started laughing as well. Even the birds in the trees started to laugh at the thought of somebody called Mr Miserable who just couldn't stop laughing.
And that's really the end of the story except to say that if you ever feel as miserable as Mr Miserable used to you know exactly what to do, don't you?
Just turn your mouth up at the corners.
Go on!
Great little book.
=^_^=
Hope you enjoyed it!
There's so much I could say about it, but this post is plenty long enough.
Love to you all!
~Nikki
Wednesday, April 14, 2004
Well I stayed up most of that night, and finished reading "The Da Vinci Code" the next morning. Great book!
I bought another book by Dan Brown today, "Angels and Demons".
The way things worked out, I am leaving Melbourne tomorrow morning and heading for Adelaide. I should be there on the 17th. There are two overnight stops in between, but I can't remember the names of the cities right now. However, I'll be travelling along the Great Ocean Road, and it's supposed to be very beautiful.
I'll update when I can, but don't be worried if you don't hear from me for a few days!
*sigh*
I think my eyelids are sweating right now. It seems so much hotter than it has been... But the board in the lobby of the hostel says 22 degrees. I think maybe they didn't update it since yesterday, it feels more like 28 (or 86, I'm getting the hang of these conversions)....
Well, I'm off for now, gotta go make a business call soon... My dad made me Director of Marketing for his company, and I'm going to see if I can find some distributors for his product in Australia.... Then tonight I'm going to a comedy show. "Scared Weird Little Guys: a 30 minute comedy hour" (which is about 90 mins long....???)
=^_^=
ttyl!
~Nikki
Saturday, April 17, 2004
So.... tired....
The great ocean road was, well, great, and oceany, and of course it was a road....
Nah, it really was nifty, and I took a short helicopter ride around the 12 apostles (which there are actually between 9 and 16 of depending on the tide).
Today we did a big hike up these huge rocks, and it was really spectacular (I got LOADS of pictures), you felt like you were on top of the world, only I knew I was on the bottom, but still...
Met some really cool people on this bus, and I'll be sad to leave most of them in Adelaide tomorrow... But yeah...
The trip is good, my driver (Mr. Puddles) is pretty cool, and I'm having fun!
Love you all, gotta go!
~Nikki
Sunday, April 18, 2004
Well, I made it to Adelaide, and was sad to say goodbye to some of the people from the bus...
I think that was the best group of people I've traveled with yet. Minus one girl. But it was a lot of fun, and I hope to see some of them again on my travels. It would be nice to ride with Mr. Puddles (my last driver) again too...
=^_^=
Well, I should be meeting up with Nick today (a guy who lives in Adelaide), and I might be able to stay at his place, rent-free.
I also just booked my flight from Adelaide to Alice Springs. I fly on this Thursday, the 22nd.
What else....?
Oh, I bought and started reading "Angels and Demons" by Dan Brown, the prequel to "The Da Vinci Code". It's pretty good so far!
Well, I think that's about it for now...
Thanks for the e-mails guys! I love hearing your thoughts on and responses to my travels!
ttyl!
~Nikki
Wednesday, April 21, 2004
Well Dan Brown is my new favorite author. One of them at least. I finished "Angels and Demons", and loved it!
I was walking around the shops down by the beach yesterday and saw one of his other books, "Deception Point" on sale, so I bought it and am about a third of the way through. It's great to be able to sit on the beach with a good book, in the sun, listening to the crash of the waves and kids laughing as you sip on a cool fruit drink.
This is the life.
Well, I fly to Alice Springs tomorrow, so I should go do some laundry now, and I'll write more when I get there I'm assuming...
ttyl!
~Nikki
=^_^=
Thursday, April 22, 2004
*pant, pant*
Okay, air conditioned building...
That's better...
But still, so dry....
*gulp, gulp, gulp*
Aaahhhh...... water.....
Okay, here's my day in Fortunately/Unfortunately style (for you dad!)...
Unfortunately - my alarm didn't go off this morning
Fortunately - I was already awake
U - the car was having trouble starting this morning
F - I got to the airport with plenty of time to spare
U - the plane was late taking off
F - I had a safe flight to Alice Springs
U - it's hot and dry
F - the guide says it's a cool day for the area (about 31/92 degrees)
U - they're expecting about 45/120!!!!! degree weather.
F - it's dry heat, so it's not as bad as if it was humid.
U - every time I open my mouth, I can feel the moisture being sucked out.
F - I have water with me at all times
U - I have to pee a lot.
F - They have a pool here *wink*
NO you sickos, I was not talking about peeing in the pool!
Well, I guess I should probably go book my trip to Ayers Rock, and try to figure out when I'm going to Cairns and how I'm getting there!
ttyl!
~Nikki
Saturday, April 24, 2004
Went on a 'day' trip to Uluru and a couple of other sites yesterday. Left at about 6:30 am and got back about midnight.
Fun trip though!
I even got to brush up on my French! There was a mother and daughter, and another adult traveling together, and the girl (13 years old) was learning English, but not fluent, and she was really happy to have someone to talk to, even if we didn't understand that much of each other. It was really cool!
The sunset was great, and I got pictures. Didn't climb the rock. Even if it had been open (closed due to high winds), I wouldn't have. They have a quote from one of the Aboriginal leaders saying that they have put the chains up to make it safer in case you want to climb, but they'd prefer you didn't because it's a sacred site. The words were simple, but the feeling I got from reading them brought tears to my eyes. It was like you could feel their sadness that people think of their sacred spot as purely an adventurous tourism site.
Well, I may buy a guitar today, I've been ITCHING to get one for a while, and I found one for a 'reasonable' price that has a great sound to it. Yeah, it would be one more thing to carry, but I think it will be worth it. I could even sit on the sidewalk or beach and play for money! It's pretty common here... Besides, I wrote a song recently that I want to keep playing so I don't forget it, and I'd like to write more if so inspired. *deep breath* yay! I think I'll get it today.
Now I just have to figure out how to get to Cairns. I think I'll try to do that now.
ttyl!
Luvs!
~Nikki
Tuesday, April 27, 2004
Well, I'm leaving Alice Springs tomorrow (yay)!
I'm heading to Cairns on a greyhound-like bus going pretty much straight through (boo)...
It was about the same price as a plane ticket, but because I didn't book in advance, to get that price on a plane ticket, I'd have to wait another week. Otherwise it'd be a couple hundred more expensive. So I guess I'll just re-read Dan's books and sleep or something...
The bus leaves at about 3pm, and gets to Cairns at about 11pm the next day.
I didn't buy the guitar (yet) because they don't have any soft cases. I could buy a hard case, but they're like $100, and that's a little expensive in my opinion. So hopefully they'll get one in tomorrow morning before I leave. If not, it wasn't meant to be I guess. If I do get the guitar, maybe that could keep me occupied on the bus... As long as people don't get ticked off... Usually though, people are more like "Ooh, you have a guitar! Can you play?" or "Oh, can I play a song or two?"
Well, I think that's about it.
Write me and let me know what's going on with you! I love hearing from people back home (and my new friends I've met along the way).
ttyl!
~Nikki
=^_^=
Sunday, May 2, 2004
Well, I've been having fun up in Cairns, it's such a relief to be in a humid climate after Alice Springs. It took me 35 hours on a greyhound to get to Cairns from AS because I didn't book a flight in time, so the price went up. Oh well.
Cairns is nice so far, and I've met a lot of cool people here. I've had about an hour of half-sleep in the past.... 29 hours. I was up taking care of drunk people last night, and not having had any alcohol myself, I got to drive to go get food and drinks. It was a really interesting experience driving on the wrong side of the road in an Aussie car.... I didn't do too bad! Kept hitting the windshield wipers instead of the blinkers though.
Well, I'm getting kicked off the computer, but I'll write more when I get a chance. Should be diving soon, so I'll write about that!
Love you all!
~Nikki
Friday, May 7, 2004
Okay guys, I'm sorry, I know I haven't written much, but I've been kind of not in an internety/journaling mood. Not a whole lot has been going on, I loved Cairns, and would have loved to stay longer. Met some lovely people at the Asylum Backpackers, and will really miss one of them, a wonderful Welsh guy who looks a bit like Jerry O'Connell (an actor). He reminded me of you Zee, just the way that you and I are such good friends, and can really get along. Anywho, Wednesday I did the Cape Tribulation trip, which was wonderful! Amazing scenery (felt like I was back in NZ), great guide, a really fun day! I was planning on going diving on Thursday, but it ended up not working out, and I think it's all for the better. The weather has been kinda iffy, so I heard the visibility wouldn't have been great, and I have been talking to people who did go, and they all got stung by little jellyfish, and didn't have that good of a time. So I'm planning on finding somehwere in the Whitsundays to go diving.
I left Cairns this morning, after a late night staying up chatting with my new friends, and playing guitar in front of the hostel (my calluses are back! YAY!). My driver, Foggy, is pretty cool, and she and I went swimming by some falls today at one of our stops. We also stopped by a croc farm, and got to watch the 'feedings' and hold snakes and baby crocs. Much fun! This one snake - a water python - kept crawling in my shirt and through my hair, it got stuck once and I had to take my ponytail out to get it free. I love snakes!
Don't worry mom and dad, it wasn't poisonous, and I didn't get bitten.)
Well, I think that's about it for now. I need to go find some dinner and maybe do a bit of laundry.
Hope you're all enjoying yourselves!
Luvs!
~Nikki
Sunday, May 9, 2004
Gotta make this short because I'm running out of time on the net, but I'm going sailing today in an America's Cup type race, and tomorrow I'm going sailing to Blue Pearl Bay, and going diving as well. Should be a lot of fun, and I hear the Whitsundays are one of the best places in the world to sail!
Well, I love you all, miss you, and hope you're all safe and happy! Please keep me up to date on how life is back home, or wherever you may be!
ttyl!
~Nikki
=^_^=
Monday, May 10, 2004
Just give me a grinder and call me speedy!
Sailing yesterday in the Americas Cup Race was unbelievable! For anyone who knows about sailing, you know how sore I must be for grinding for about 2 hours straight. For anyone who doesn't have a clue, I basically moved my arms around in circles really fast to hoist sails and move them around. I'm so sore today!
But at least my boat won both the races! Yay us! Then we came back to a bar in town for a celebration drink, and it was like an open jam session, so I got to play a few songs on stage with a guitar! After that, I headed up to Morocco's, the bar near my hostel for a karaoke competition, and I ended up doing about 5 songs, and winning a $25 bar tab! I'm going to see if I can use it for dinner tonight.
Then today I got up early and went out on another sailboat, and we cruised around the Whitsundays, and I got to go diving in Blue Pearl Bay - beautiful area!!!!!! LOTS of great fish, some really big ones too! And nifty coral! Then after the dive, I went snorkelling for about an hour, then it was back to the boat for lunch, and a ride back to Airlie. I bought a few pictures that the professional photographer took. Yeah they were kinda pricey, but they're good pictures, and they are even better memories!
*sigh*
Well, I'm knackered right now, so I'm going to go see if I can get some dinner, and meet up with a couple of friends before going to bed early so that I can get up and head off to Dingo tomorrow morning.
Having a great time, hope you all are too!
Luvs!
~Nikki
Thursday, May 13, 2004
Well Dingo was interesting...
Lots of Cowboys there. I got to crack a stockwhip, throw a boomerang, play a didgeridoo, and watch some clothes get shot with a shotgun. There were some games played at night between the two busses (northbound and southbound), and my bus (southbound) won both of them!
Then last night we stopped at a resort in Bargara (near Bundaberg, where they make a very popular rum), and I played guitar and twirled poi. Today, I got into Hervey Bay and booked a Fraser Island trip for tomorrow.
I didn't sleep too well last night, so I think I'll probably go take a nap and wait for it to cool off a bit before walking around the shops.
I'll miss a few people from my last bus, including my driver, Princess (a guy).
Hope everything's good with all of you, and I'd love to hear from you all!
~Nikki
Friday, May 21, 2004
Croikey, it's been a while since I last wrote. Sorry about that guys. Haven't been around computers with net access in a while.
Well, I've come full circle, I'm back in Sydney.
Last time I wrote, I was in Hervey Bay, where I did a day tour of Fraser Island. Much fun indeed, but my camera stopped working halfway through. :-(
Had a great time though, and got on Simon "The Freak"'s bus from Hervey Bay to Mooloolaba. He was pretty cool, I even helped him wash the bus! Then it was back on with Princess the next day, and we stopped at a Zoo where I got a few pictures of me cuddling a koala (my camera started working again), and on to Brisbane. From Brisbane, I did a trip to the Australia Zoo, yes, that's right, home of Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter! It was actually a pretty good day (except that my camera was acting up again, and I didn't get a picture of the albino kangaroo)...
What else...
From Brisbane, I got back on Freak's bus, and stayed with him until we arrived in Sydney today.
Last night at Seal rocks, we had this really cool campfire, and a barbie that Freak put on. Good food, good fire, good people.... I'll miss this group. But I'm rooming with a few of them tonight, and we're all going to meet up a bit later and chill.
I fly to Bangkok on Monday the 24th, where my wonderful parents have arranged for me to stay in an actual hotel! A room to myself! Oh happy days! I'm only in Bangkok for a couple of days, and then it's off to Japan for 2 weeks before I head home. It's really getting close to over! On the one hand, I'm thrilled to be coming home, and to be able to see people that I miss, and have a room to myself, and my own computer with music, and eat real cheese, and drink real milk, and shower in a real shower, or, heavens forbid, take a BATH!!!!!
On the other hand, I know that the travel bug is going to hitch a ride home with me, and will probably bite me for the rest of my life.
No matter where I go, or what I do, travel will always be on my mind. I have had some of the absolute best experiences of my life on this trip, and met some people who I relate to, and who relate to me better than many people I've met throughout my lifetime. I have truly changed on this trip, and I think it's all for the better. My mind and eyes have never been opened wider. I've met people from so many different cultures and backgrounds, and have seen so many things...
I will miss Australia, as I miss New Zealand, and Mexico, and Canada, and pretty much every other place I've been...
But it will be good to be home...
Write me please! Especially all of you new friends who I've just met. I think it would be a shame to lose contact!
ttfn!
~Nikki
=^_^=
Saturday, May 22, 2004
Waaaaaahhhhhh......!
I'm going to miss Australia, and all of the cool people I met here.
Well, I forgot to mention yesterday that I went on a boat (yesterday), and saw a whole bunch of dolphins! They were swimming right off the bow, just ahead of the boat, and jumping out of the water right in front of us! It was so cool! Unfortunately, my camera was acting up again, so I didn't get any pictures. I'm trying to get ahold of an Irish guy who was also on the boat, because I know he got some good pics...
*sigh*
I think I'll have to take her into the camera doctor's tomorrow to see if I can fix her....
Today I went to a museum with a couple of people that I met on Oz Experience, and there were some really cool paintings and sculptures! I got the girl I was with to take a couple of pictures for me, and she said that she'd e-mail them, so *crosses fingers* ...
What else...
Oh yeah, I saw a book by Simon Cox called "Cracking the Da Vinci Code" which explains a lot of the stuff in "The Da Vinci Code" by Dan Brown. I haven't read it yet, I just flipped through, but it looks really cool!
*sigh*
Okay, I'm going to go make myself some dinner now (peanut butter and banana sandwiches!!!!), but I'll probably be back on tomorrow.
Love you all!
~Nikki
Thursday, May 27, 2004
Well, I had a long post typed out, but for some reason when I tried to post, it said I wasn't logged in, and I lost the whole thing. So I'll type this quick summary before I spend all the yen in my pocket on internet.
(BTW, Zee, Jeanelle, or Ed, or anyone who knows, how much are the coins with the hole in them and no numbers worth? I can't read the Japanese symbols to know if they're numbers...)
Oh well, I'll figure it out.
Okay, so the short and sweet of it is:
I miss Oz, I met a lot of cool people there, and my last day was hectic (spent a lot of money - new camera, guitar case, and shipped stuff home).
Bangkok didn't go how I expected, no tour, but I got a free dinner, and the room was nice.
Now I'm in Japan, and everyone here is really nice, and a lot of people speak English. I'm staying in a tiny hotel in a residential area, and my room is so small that I can almost touch all four walls standing up, but it's my own room, which is cool. I will most likely be going to Kyoto sometime soon, and will have to update later.
CAPS LOCK TO ATTRACT YOUR ATTENTION!!!
Party at my place on Saturday, June 12th, and I hope that most of you can make it! Friends, family, neighbors... please RSVP with either me or my parents, and let me know whether morning or afternoon would be better for you... I was thinking if it would work better, family and neighbors could come in the morning/afternoon, and friends could come later at night since you nuts are more night owls....
Well, I gotta go, PLEASE let me know what works for you!!!
~Nikki
=^_^=
Saturday, May 29, 2004
Well I had a great day yesterday!
I met some truly wonderful people who showed me around a bit of Tokyo, and we went out for dinner to a great little restaurant. Lauren (an Australian), Matt (an American), Toby (a Swede), and Shiori (a Japanese girl) all go to school together here in Tokyo, and they were very kind and helpful yesterday. It was DEFINITELY my best day since leaving Oz. I am probably going to meet up with Matt tonight, and maybe bring my guitar (he plays too), and they have invited me to join them on Sunday for karaoke!!!!!
How could I possibly refuse!
YAY!!!
I am enjoying Tokyo, and finding my way around pretty well. I've pretty much figured out the subway system, so it's not too hard for me to get where I want to go. I've had a few funny experiences though... A couple of days ago, I got on the subway, and there wasn't a single person on my car who was taller than my shoulders! A little old lady got on, and glanced at me, then she looked up at me with this surprised look on her face and goes "ooohhhh......" and looks back down. It was really funny! Then last night, when making my way home from hanging out with my new friends, I was waiting for the subway again, and it pulls up, and people pile out, then I step on, and people keep pushing on, more and more, and the conductor had to literally shove people inside to get the doors to close! There were so many people packed in that I felt like one of those fish in the breeding ponds... When the doors opened, everyone just kind of fell out...
Interesting experiences.
Well, that's it for now folks....
Talk to you all soon!
Luvs!
~Nikki
Monday, May 31, 2004
Okay, this keyboard is NOT a normal American keyboard, so if there's a few funky characters in the wrong spot, I'm sorry. The most common one is the apostrophe. In its place is a colon.
Sorry I haven:t (see, there it is!) been writing much while in Tokyo, it's 10 Yen per minute here, and that works out to be able a buck every 10 minutes.
:-P
I'm having a great time though, and meeting some really cool people. I went out for Karaoke last night with Shiori and Tobi (a couple of new friends), and Sean and Patrick (a couple of Tobi:s friends). We went to an arcade after, and I played my favorite crocodile bashing game - you know, the one where the crocs come out of their holes, and you hit them with the mallet - and it took me a few tries, but I finally played a couple rounds where I didn:t miss any of them!
I'm still not sure whether I'm going to Kyoto or not, but I'm looking into it! I can now count the days on both of my hands until I get home! I'm really looking forward to seeing my family and friends again...
Well, I'm off for now, before I spend all of my yen on the 'net...
Luv you all!
~Nikki
Thursday, June 3, 2004
Well, I've decided not to go to Kyoto this trip, but I definitely plan on coming back to Japan, hopefully in about 5 years...
I get home in 1 week!
I can't wait to see people, and eat things, and do stuff... There's so much that I miss...
Tokyo is cool though, I've been walking around a LOT, and having a great time!
I'll tell you all about it when I get back, and have my own computer again, so that I can post pictures, and write longer posts (although my journaling will probably die off quite a bit after I get home)...
But for those of you who I have met along the way, I have greatly enjoyed the time that we spent together, and will remember you always! Please keep in touch, and I will do my best to write you as well!
To those of you at home, I will see you soon, and I have many stories to share!
Lots of love!
~Nikki
Saturday, June 5, 2004
Holy moly!!!
So much exercise! I've been walking all over Tokyo, and every time I come to a sky bridge (footpath over a street), I make myself jog up the stairs, and I jog up the subway stairs when it's not too crowded, and more walking, and more walking... And it's really hot and humid here too...
But I'm having loads of fun, and I even got to stay at a Japanese house last night!
Lauren's host mom took us out to a movie ( Troy - great film!), and then invited me to stay over. they have a really cool house, and it was interesting to see the different facilities... They even had a heated toilet seat!
Hrm.... what else....
Going out to a club tonight with Lauren, her host sister, and hopefully Matt. I'm so glad that I met Lauren and her friends, because they have really made my stay in Tokyo wonderful.
Well, I guess I'm going to just post this and stop blabbering, but it looks like the 12th is going to be party day at my house! So please let me know if you can make it, because I'd like to have lotsa people there!
Luv you all!
~Nikki
=^_^=
Tuesday, June 8, 2004
Gah! I go home tomorrow!!!!
I'm packing and it's like OMG..... my trip is over! This is my last day....
So strange.
But I'm really looking forward to getting home and seeing people again.
So yeah...
Let me know if you can't make it on the 12th, and want to arrange another time to meet up. My schedule is getting busier by the day!
Well, I'm off to do a little last minute shopping, then meet up with Lauren later...
I think if you feel like giving me a call when I get home, and I don't get ahold of you first, try me on the 10th. I should be at home pretty much all day, and would love to hear from you!
Luvs!
ttyl!
~Nikki
That's it!
I hope you enjoyed reading my journal, and feel free to e-mail me with any questions and/or comments if you'd like!
Thanks for reading!
~N