Greg Hennigan

Dual Tub Washing Machines and a Love Tree

2012-01-30T05:54:00.000-07:00

Here in Seville, Spain, I'm hanging out in the hostel I call home and reading about the incredible adventures of my friends Carla and Di. One's in South America, the other is in Africa, both are living it up. Their latest stories are definitely worth a read.

On the ferry to Sudan...
"From 9am when I boarded, to 6:50pm when the boat actually departed, I watched thousands of people carry, cram, drag, pull, push and ram everything you can think of onto this boat." Read more!

www.carlabikesafrica.com

Ciudad Perdida: Lost city found
"As we stood around the ceremonial stone circle and the early morning light crept through the foliage it spotlighted the ancient stone terraces and I felt the hair on the back of my neck stand to attention." Read more!

www.indianajune.com

One Tomato, Please

2012-01-23T03:31:00.000-07:00

One tomato, that's all I needed. I walked up to the fruit & veg guy and said

"Una tomate, por favor"

The other nearby fruit & veg guys started laughing. Were they laughing at me? Did I say it wrong? I met up with my Spanish friend, Celia, and told her the short (and somewhat dull) story. She started laughing, nearly busting a gut.

Greg - What is so funny?! Una tomate, por favor; one tomato, please... what's the problem?
Celia - Tomato is masculine. You should have said "Un" instead of "Una"
Greg - That's funny?!
Celia - Si.

Wow, that was a LAME story but at least you know how to ask for a single tomato, now.

P.S. I won a box of chocolates last night. BOOM.

The United States of America

2012-01-15T19:20:00.000-07:00

One month, three states - Arizona, Nevada and Florida.

Yes, food portions are MASSIVE
A trip to Vegas with your parents will likely not result in marriage to a stripper
Ft. Lauderdale trumps Miami Beach
The Grand Canyon Skywalk looks better from the Webbernet
There are two things to do in Phoenix - shop and / or play golf
Floridians are incredibly nice

From Cairo to Cape Town - Carla Lights the Way

2012-01-01T21:52:00.000-07:00

Recipe for inspirational story:

1 super cool woman
1 bike
10 solar lights
12,000km

Bake in African sun for four months.

Here's the scoop - On January 14, my good friend Carla will begin a 12,000km cycle trip from Cairo, Egypt to Cape Town, South Africa. That, by itself, is pretty cool but there's more to it than that. In typical Carla fashion, she is taking this opportunity to help others. How, you ask? By raising money to fund 10 solar lights to be delivered along her route. I think she's also trying to get her hands on a wind turbine water pump, too!

Check out her site and get in on the action : www.carlabikesafrica.com

Carla with one of her solar lights

Orange Juice? Jeans? Hash?

2011-12-28T00:06:00.000-07:00

After my road trip, I ended up sticking around Marrakesh for a week, which was more than enough time to get my feet wet. Here are a few tips for taking on the old town:

The fight for your tourist dollar is FULL ON and in your face. The orange juice guy, the monkey guy, the djellaba guy, the food stall guy - they all know that persistents pays off. If you're not interested in whatever it is they are selling, that's fine, don't get annoyed, just say "no thanks" and move on.
All the local kids want to show you the way to wherever it is you're going... for a price. This can be very helpful if you're lost so keep some change handy. If you don't need any help or just don't feel like paying, same routine as above - simply say "no thanks" (you may have to repeat this more than once) and keep on walking. If you DO need directions but don't want to pay for it, ask someone older.
Your map is useless. Every street looks the same! Street signs - forget about it.
If you want to take a picture you'll likely have to pay for the privilege. You can pony up a bit of change or, you can just take the picture. Do what's right.
If the narrow lanes and relentless touts of the Medina start to wear on you, try stepping outside the walls for a while. The new town has most of the comforts of Anytown, Europe.
Need to take a taxi? Thinking about buying a souvenir? Learn how to haggle like a champ.

A Tin of Mints for Drink, Cheese and Smiles

2011-12-25T23:04:00.000-07:00

A happy tale for the holidays...

From my hostel I had a great view of the mountains that sat right behind the old town in Kotor, Montenegro. One of them had a path that cut back and forth all the way up to the top - so, one day, I decided to go for a walk.

I made my way out of the old town, across a small stream and began the hike. I hadn't made it more than 20 minutes up the mountain when I ran into a group of... mountain goats. They had set up shop right in the middle of the path and I wasn't sure if casually strolling passed them would be such a good idea. So, I stood there, starring at them, hoping to come up with a solution. As I was planning my next move, I noticed someone further up the mountain watching me struggle. I decided to go around the goats. This meant scaling up some loose rocks which was easier said than done. After several futile attempts, I ended up back where I started. Again, there I stood, starring at the goats. I glanced up to see where the man was. He was looking at me, holding his arms up as if to say "don't pass, just wait a few moments". I took his advice and sat down. Ten minutes later, the goats finished their lunch and began to make there way off the path. I looked back up at the man, hoping for the thumbs up. He waved at me to continue so I jumped to meet feet and started moving. A few minutes later we met. Using his hands, he told me that they were his goats and if I had tried to pass them, they would of rammed me in the guts. I shook his hand, thanked him for the gut-saving advice and continued on my way.

As I neared the top, I came across an old stone house. A dog started barking at me and a middle-aged man came out of the house to give me the once over. I said hello and pointed at the path, looking for permission to continue. He said nothing but gave me a small nod so I passed the dog and kept going. A few seconds later I stopped. I kind of felt like I was trespassing, so I decided to turn around. The dog started barking again and I'm sure the guy was wondering what I was up to.

As I was on my way back down, I could see an older woman and a young girl making their way up the path. As we neared, I said hello and waved. They stopped and I introduced myself. The woman spoke no English and the young girl, who was only seven years old, knew only a few basic words. I pointed to the house at the top of the path and asked them if they lived there; the little girl nodded. From what I could piece together, the little girl went to school in town and they would make this trek everyday. "You walk all that way twice a day?!" - they just smiled having not understood a single word I said.

The older woman began gesturing like she was pouring tea while pointing up towards the house. I wasn't sure exactly what she was trying to say but I had a feeling she was inviting me up for something to drink. For some reason, I didn't go. I tell myself it's because I wasn't clear what she was offering, if anything, and I didn't want to look like a fool. I gave them a smile, said goodbye and continued down the path. I kept stopping to look back up as the older women, slowly but surely, made the long walk up with her granddaughter, who was bouncing along behind her. I just couldn't get over what a commute it was.

The next day I decided it would be nice to bring the little girl a gift. I had a few tins of mints, from the Roots Canada store, that I carried with me for just such an occasion. Who better to give the first tin to than this little girl? I grabbed one and headed up the mountain. As I neared the house, I saw the goat man from the previous day. He recognized me and we both waved. I showed him the mints and tried to explain that they were a gift for the little girl. He smiled and gestured for me to follow him. The little girl came out of the house and I handed her the mints - she smiled from ear-to-ear. I explained to her that they were from Canada, far far away - she just kept smiling. Her older sister came out to join us, along with the goat man, who had gone inside and returned with a couple of small glasses and a clear bottle containing, what I assumed to be, some sort of vodka. He filled our glasses and we clinked. I put mine back in one shot and he nearly fell of his chair laughing. He motioned at me not to drink it so fast and instead, to sip it and enjoy. He quickly poured me another. His wife, the older woman from the previous day, came out with a plate of cheese. Could it get any better?!

As we ate and drank, I tried to explain where I was from and what I was doing. They tried to ask me questions. We may not have spoke the same language but we did our best to make it work. Everyone was smiling and having a good laugh; it was a glorious afternoon!

After a few more drinks, I thanked them for their hospitality and we said our goodbyes. I made my way back down the mountain, albeit a little wobbly, and back to my hostel. It is days like this that are the reason I travel.

*This happened during my visit in 2010.

Tips for Haggling Like a Champ

2011-11-29T06:50:00.001-07:00

Haggling - it's part of the adventure in many countries. From taxi rides to souvineirs and even your bed for the night, there's a good chance you may have to talk your way into a fair price.

So, before you lose your shirt or worse, your cool, check out my tips for haggling like a champ:

Be nice! A positive attitude and a smile will help your cause, big time. Have a little fun with it and remember, it's NOT an argument so don't be an ass.
Get in the know. If you haven't a clue what it costs to get from the city centre to the airport, you'll likely pay more than you should (meters aren't popular). So, ask around, read that Lonely Planet taking up space in your bag, check out the webbernet... educate yourself on what things cost!
If it's an option, look for a guy or gal who seems like a good sport. Go with your gut - do they seem like a person that will meet you halfway or are they more likely to leave you curled up in the fetal position, crying for your mammy?
Set a price in your head - "I want to pay this much and only this much".

If you reach a price you can live with, BUY IT. Don't walk away because you might get it for a buck cheaper somewhere else. This is a no-no in the haggling world - you have wasted their time and a curse will be placed upon you.
If you can't get your price, no worries, move on (this alone may help you get your price). On the flip side - don't expect something for nothing.

A few hard facts

You will, at some point, get ripped-off. Don't piss and moan. Learn from it.
You are a tourist so don't expect to pay "local" prices.
Whatever it is you want to buy, "they" want to sell it to you for as much as possible. You want to pay ~~a good price for it~~ as little as possible. One, prefferably both of you, will have to compromise.

Now get out there and buy some carpets! Happy haggling.

If you've got some mind blowing haggling tips and / or stories, let me know!

Guess Who Was Behind the Wheel?

2011-11-20T13:26:00.001-07:00

Story time!

My buddy Sean - one of the most interesting characters I met during my time in Ireland. He's bawdy, opinionated, and a good laugh. We were out having a few pints when he unloaded this gem on me. I asked him to write it down so I could post it here and he did, sort of. He cleaned it up for mass consumption and I feel it lost some of its edge. So, with Sean's permission, I have tried to edit it so that it captures some of the essence of the irate Irishman I have come to know and love.

***

So, I'm on my way home one afternoon, and as I was driving up my street I noticed a car parked in my driveway. What kind of an idiot parks in someone's driveway?

I stopped behind it and took a good look - It was little red Renault Clio, a chicks car. I didn't recognize it and there was nobody around. My driveway is the only spot, everything else is paid parking. I had no choice but to put my car in paid parking... but didn't pay. Why should I have to pay because some delinquent motorist took my parking spot?

I walked to a few of the local businesses to try and find the offender but no such luck. I went back to my house, wrote a note and stuck it to the windscreen:

“Please move your car immediately, you are taking up my private parking space whilst I am parked in a public paid spot!”

I went back into the house, trembling with rage, and sat in the kitchen. I had a clear view of the driveway so I just sat there, waiting for the arsehole to return. Suddenly I had a genious idea. I walked to the bicycle shop a few doors down and bought a chain link lock for €10. I came back and put the lock through the spoke of the car’s front right wheel. They'd have to ring my bell to get it off which would give me the chance to chastise them.

I went back into the kitchen again, sat down and called my friend Dennis for a chat. I filled him in on the car situation and he strongly warned me NOT to lock up any of the wheels. He said if they failed to notice the lock and started driving away, it could really feck the car up. I was fine with that; they deserved it. While we argued about it, I noticed that the car had started to pull away! I jumped up and I stuck my head out the window and screamed at the driver to stop while waving my arms frantically. The car stopped pulling away after going only a few feet so I ran out the front door.

The driver door opened and GUESS who was behind the wheel?

A fookin' NUN.

A short, middle-aged Catholic nun in full habit complete with crucifix and sensible slip-on shoes. I pointed to the lock and explained that had she backed out much more she would have fooked up her car. She stared at the lock and looked back at me. I took the key and removed the lock as she lamely apologised. I emphasised the utterly anti-social nature of her actions, pointing out that I had incurred public parking fees because of her negligence. Ok, so I didn't actually pay for the parking but I had paid €10 for the lock and wanted to recoup some of that.

Nun: “So you want me to pay for the parking?”
Me: “Yes! This is my space, I park here!” (whining tone)
Nun: “How much?”
Me: “5 Euro”I didn’t charge her the full 10 Euro because the parking would have only cost me around €3, plus I retained the use of the lock should other nuns (or anyone else) pull a stunt like this again.She apologised one more time, backed out of my driveway and went on her way. The incident has coloured my view of nuns.

***Nun or not, Sean has principles.

Sean (left) - Appropriate attire for this story

Morocco - Seven Days with Two Strangers

2011-11-19T09:15:00.001-07:00

Cadiz, Spain - I was sitting in the hostel's kitchen shooting the breeze with some fellow travellers. I don't remember word-for-word how the plan was hatched but it went something like this:

Stranger 1 - "I was planning on going to Morocco"
Stranger 2 - "It would be cool to rent a car and do a road trip"
Me - "I'm in"

Done. That easy. Actually, that would end up being the easiest decision of the whole trip.

The next day, the three of us nailed down a few details and booked a car. We would spend the following week together, starting in Fes and driving through the Atlas mountains to the Sahara Desert and then back through the mountains to Marrakesh. A cool 1241 km.

Who were these two complete strangers I agreed to drive around Morocco with?

Vlad - "The Haggler" was born in Romania but moved to the US (California) when he was 11. He's recently spent time living in S. America and the Spanish he picked up there came in handy. We didn't always see eye-to-eye and I'd be lying if I said he didn't work my nerves on more than one occasion. That said, it was our clash of styles that made for a good laugh. His stories about childhood in Romania and then trying to fit in, in America, are classic.

Damian - "Damo" is calm, cool and collected. I'm sure you could drop this Aussie into any situation and he'd get on just fine. He's travelled loads, lived in London and show's no signs of settling down any time soon. We didn't chat too much about our pasts - we were far too busy giving Vlad a hard time.

The guys have now gone their separate ways and I am re-adjusting to flying solo. I'll bang out a few stories over the coming days.

For now, here are some pics:

Spain - Half Pints and Jamon

2011-11-10T14:45:00.001-07:00

I busted out of Spain, with a couple of strangers, and headed to Morocco. Tomorrow we begin a week-long road trip. Here are some pics from Barcelona, Tossa De Mar, Seville and Cadiz. Stories to come!

Overflowing White Chest Hair

2011-10-31T13:24:00.001-06:00

Story time! This went down a month ago, in Poland, but I just got around to writing it now.

After six days out in the sticks with the Angloville gang, I headed back to Warsaw where I met up with a CouchSurfer named Dora. After grabbing some Vietnamese eats, we headed out for a night on the town. Why I decided to leave my camera at home on this night, I will never understand.

First stop, the infamous "Bajka" (FairyTale) Cafe, one of the oldest cafes in Warsaw still in operation. At first glance, there's nothing special about the place but, as I was about to find out, it is its clientele that makes it so unique.

As we entered, Dora pointed out Rysia, Warsaw's most famous transexual. Ok, no big deal, I've seen transexuals before. Pretty sure I have, anyway. We ordered a few pints from the old ladies behind the bar. They were so sweet - just how'd you imagine two old Polish ladies working behind a bar to be. We took a seat and as Dora began filling me in on all the crazy characters in Warsaw, one decided to sit down in between us. He reminded me of a disheveled, and posibly drunk, Colonel Sanders. He was wearing an ill-fitting suit, had spastic mannerisms and, overflowing white chest hair - he was a character and definitely worth having a chat with.

After kissing Dora's hand, he introduced himself. His name, believe it or not, was Grzegorz... that's Greg in Polish! Once he learned that we shared the same name, his excitement level went through. The. Roof. We were brothers! We're buddies for life! He kissed my head (and nearly tore it off my shoulders).

He would kiss my head several times that night.

With Dora's help translating, we stumbled through a half-baked conversation, peppered with loud outbursts of "We are buddies for life!" immediatly followed by...you guessed it, a kiss on my head. At one point, he took out a pair of sunglasses and put them on me. Dora and I were both under the impression that he wanted me to have them but, as I was thinking what a cool souvenir they were, he snatched them off my face and put them back in his pocket. His "craziness" soon attracted the attention of one of the grandmas. She came over fully prepared to toss Grzegorz out on his ear, but we assured her that he was doing no harm. As a possible thank you for prolonging his stay, he ordered a few pints and offered me one. It was a nice gesture but one that wasn't going to last.

After becoming excited again and slapping my hand, he spilled his own pint all over his shirt and pants. Instead of heading to the bathroom and cleaning up, he took back the pint he had given to me! A real brother wouldn't do that, would they? We took that as our cue to leave.

We said goodbye to Grzegorz, who seemed strangely accepting of our departure, and made a b-line for the door. As we left, Warsaw's most famous transexual gave me a big smile. It was the perfect end to my Bajka Cafe experience.

My next stop was some sort of hipster gallery opening, where I would meet Dora's sis, Ewa, and their friend, Aga. I would end up staying at Aga's (also known as "Milkshake") house the following night and I will tell you this, it was a night I will not forget. Here's a pic of her skates...

Dirty Dancing with Indiana June

2011-10-27T06:11:00.002-06:00

I busted out of Prague and headed for Barcelona to meet up with my friend, Di (aka Indiana June). If you don't know who Indiana June is, that's ok, here's the scoop:

Indiana is cycling the globe and letting anyone and everyone decide where she goes and what she does, via her website - www.indianajune.com. She's using social media for all it's worth and word is spreading quickly. On the road now for three months, she has had some amazing adventures and I was lucky enough to get on board for a few days.

So, Indiana's followers voted that, while in Barcelona, she attend the Dirty Dancing Oktoberfest Part 3 Dance Party at Club Razzmatazz. Since the partying in this town doesn't even start until at least 1:00am, we knew we were in for a long night. We had a bunch of time to kill so picked up tickets to the FC Barcelona Football (soccer) game. The sport is almost a religion here so, even though I'm not a huge fan, I was keen to see a live match.

The stadium is GARGANTUAN. It holds around 100,000 people and is the biggest in Europe. Our seats were next to the ozone layer but the view was still great. If you've ever been to a hockey game in North America, you know there's more to it than just the game - music, mascots, food, drinks, instant replays, the "kiss cam"...etc. This wasn't the case at the FCB game. It was only about the game itself and that is it. 100,000 people and seven hot dog stands. I stood in line for twenty minutes while an ol' timer grilled up meat for the masses. By the time I made it to the front, the meat had run out! So hungry.

The Home team were playing Viktoria Plzen, from the Czech Republic. Even with a couple hundred of their own die-hard fans, performing well orchestrated chants (all in a secure area) the poor Czechs didn't stand a chance. The final score was 2-0 for FCB. Although I'm told I witnessed the "goal of the season from Iniesta" I was left wanting more - more goals, more hooligans, more meat, more "kiss cam".

After the game, we were ready for Kabed (a newly coined term referring to the consumption of a delicious kebab followed by some shuteye) but it was not to be. The people had spoken so it was time to party. On the way to the club, we bumped into some student-types and joined them for few warm up drinks at a nearby American-themed bar. It was a Wednesday night but the place was jammed. Finally, at around 1:30, we rolled to RAZZMATAZZ. It would seem that every teenager in Barcelona was in attendance so Indiana and I attempted to drink ourselves young(er). As we tore up the dance floor, a man dressed as a hot dog (a cruel joke?) and a couple of German beer wenches took to the stage and put on a show. The fact that we had to be out of the hostel by 10:00am didn't seem to matter. I can't say exactly how long we stuck around or how long it took us to get home but when we awoke, we felt 60 years old. We'd both do it again in a blink of an eye... just need a few days rest first.

RAZZ-MA-TAZZ

A Frenchman Saws Logs

2011-10-24T14:03:00.000-06:00

While in Krakow, my French roomie cranked up the volume on his nose trumpet, for the second night in a row. I decided to capture the magic.

Prague

2011-10-18T07:36:00.001-06:00

My next few nights in Prague were spent with a brand new CouchSurfer; the one and only, Lizzie! She was born in England, spent two years living / working in Vietnam and now calls Prague home. Her hospitality and personality were tops.

Here's a few highlights from the next 46 hours:

I broke her table. I was trying to open the drapes and, short story even shorter, I busted her table in half. To be fair (to me) it was only a matter of time before some one killed it but, as a guest and virtual stranger, I wish it hadn't of been me. She was very easy going about it, though, and for that I thank her.
We paid a visit to, and took a trip up, the Žižkov Television Tower. It's covered in giant babies. It is my goal in life to see anything and everything covered in giant babies.
Lizzie's kitchen flooded. We were out for a walk when her landlord rang her - something about water leaking into the flat below her. We rushed home to discover the kitchen faucet was still on. Oops.

It was only a short trip but, from what I saw, Prague is a beautiful city and more than just an "old town". Be prepared to share it with loads of other visitors.

Charles Bridge - The Masses!

My First Night in Prague

2011-10-13T15:48:00.000-06:00

I rolled into town, jumped on the metro, asked a few people for directions, used a strangers cell phone and finally checked into my hostel. Before I had a chance to throw my bags down, the hostel owner invited me for a beer. He tells me he plays the upright bass and he's meeting up with some fellow musicians, at a local pub, to play a few songs. Only a fool would say no.

It turns out there were a dozen or so "fellow musicians" playing guitars, flutes, banjos, ukuleles, clarinets, and the drums. They sang songs, chain smoked and drank beer. Each one was a character - it was like a scene out of a movie. I love a good first night.

I kept the camera work low-key:

The Gnomes are Everywhere

2011-10-13T03:52:00.000-06:00

On street lights, mailboxes, windowsills... everywhere! Rumour has it that there's well over 100 of this little guys around Wroclaw. It may sound like a tourist gimmick but there's actually more to it than that. Here's the gist - back in the 80's, gnome graffiti was used by the Orange Alternative as a peaceful means of protest against the government. Is there anything gnomes can't do?

So the next time you're in town, keep your eyes peeled. Here's a few I managed to spot...

Poland

2011-10-12T17:43:00.002-06:00

Poland is the bee's knees. No questions about it. Another country that I knew very little about (there's a lot of them) but was blown away by everything it had to offer.

My main reason for visiting Poland was the Angloville program which was a great intro to the country (here's my official take on it - mom, there's something for you at the end). After the program I stuck around Warsaw for a few days and, with the help of some local friends, had some nutty experiences. Stay tuned for stories about Milkshake and, the man with the bubbling white chest hair.

I paired up with a fellow Angloviller - an Aussie gal, named Glennis, who just can't seem to sit still, and we grabbed a train to Krakow. The minute I set foot outside of the train station I got that feeling that this was my kind of place. Even Polish people will tell you that Krakow is cool. It's medieval square is the largest in Europe and the selection of kebab shops is second to none.

Glennis and I paid a visit to one of Unesco's original world heritage sites - the Wieliczka Salt Mine. It's absolutely massive and yes, I licked the wall. Did you know the origin of the word "salary" is tied to salt? You do now.

Pictures from Warsaw, Krakow and Wroclaw. Off to Prague tomorrow.

Angloville - Idioms, Towel Ball and Vodka

2011-10-12T16:27:00.001-06:00

The banter rolled on for six, glorious days.

I had a great time. The Polish participants were all good sports. I know it couldn't have been easy for them speaking English all day so they certainly gained my respect. As for the native English speakers, they were top notch. Each one brought something different to the table which, hopefully, made the hours of conversation interesting for the Poles.

To shed a little light on Angloville - it's not so much about teaching English. It's more about helping the participants feel confident using the English they already know. If they pick up a few new words along the way and / or fix some bad habits, that's gravy!

Tip - If you're ever in a conversation with a non-native English speaker and they seem to be agreeing with you a lot - saying "yes, yes" and nodding their head, it probably means they don't have a clue what you're talking about. If you think that might be the case, try explaining it in a different way.

So who were all these people?

The Poles:

Iza - Neurologist who put on the best pretend MRI scan I have ever seen.
Peter - Full-time Pharmaceutical Sales and Marketing Manager. Part-time mountain rescuer and, windsurfer.
Magda - Biotechnology student and fanny pack wearer (she pulled it off much better than PIP).
Peter - Life Insurance sales manager, family man, story teller.
Slawomir - Ball Bearing salesman who was far more interesting than his job may lead you to believe. By the end of the week I had him selling blue beer.
Konstanja - Account Manager and vodka connoisseur. She may not have wanted to be there but she ended up having some fun anyway. I take full credit for teaching her the word "lame".

The Natives:

Maxine and Ian - Semi-retired New Zealanders who's current lifestyle I hope to copy one day.
Kevin - Born in the US but a man of the world. A drinker. A wise-ass. My roomie.
Glennis - Aussie gal who's got a serious case of wanderlust. We travelled together after the program and her sense of direction is worse than mine.
Nik and Rachel - He's originally from Russia. She's English. They love frogs.
Heather - An American who wasn't keen on all the soup.

The Program Coordinators:

Conrad - Goofy accent and a pony tail. Naturally we (and by "we" I mean mostly Kevin) took the piss out of him constantly but he took it like a champ. "HOWEVER".
Joanna - Young Polish gal who's all business and as sweet as apple pie.

Here we are:

Angloville - Day 1

2011-09-28T16:24:00.000-06:00

During one of my one-on-one sessions today, I got into a conversation about happiness. I explain to Magda, one of the Polish participants, how I've arrived here in Poland and where I plan on going next (figuratively and literally). I explain to her that I don't know what I'm looking for but it is the search that makes me happy. She says to me "You may spend years chasing something that doesn't exist. You should just be happy with what you have now." Magda is a biotechnology student and smart as a whip but we had to agree to disagree on this one.

I don't know how you become quotable in this life but here's my first entry for consideration:

Settling for second best just isn't good enough and it's definitely not something to set your sights on.

Sharing Stories in Bug River National Park

2011-09-19T06:47:00.000-06:00

In a few days I am headed to Poland to help a group of locals hone their English skills. I'm I qualified to teach English? Technically, no. Can I keep the banter rolling for hours on end with people who can speak only a bit of English? You bet!

So here's the scoop - I came across a link to the Angloville website and gave it a good read. It sounded right up my alley.

"Angloville is an English language immersion programme, enabling language and cultural exchange between native English speakers and Polish participants."

Too good to be true? I scoured the webbernet for anything negative about Angloville but it wasn't to be found. I was sitting in my CouchSurfing Host's flat in Riga wondering if this was the right thing to do. Jana gave me the poke I needed, so I submitted the application and a few days later, received an invite to join the programme.

My ticket to Warsaw is booked and I am looking forward to meeting the Polish participants. If anyone has any tips on conversation topics (I need to fill 12 hours a day), let me know!

Time for a surf.

Surfing Dogs in the Land of Pints

2011-09-18T14:11:00.000-06:00

I had only just boarded the plane and already I heard someone say the word "pints". There is comfort in familiarity. After a month in the Baltics I was headed back to Ireland, for a few weeks, to tie up some loose ends and get my surf on.

Today, in Lahinch, I watched a pug and some of his (her? - didn't get a good look) buddies shred waves. I don't have any pics of the dogs actually on the boards and in the water so the following will have to suffice as proof.

For those of you not into dogs wearing personal floatation devices, here's an up close view of a dude, named Fergal, surfing Lahinch.

The Russian Banya

2011-09-02T04:53:00.000-06:00

There I was, sitting naked next to an Englishman in a dimly lit, boiling hot room no bigger than a closet. Around us, men in funny hats vigorously hit themselves with water-logged birch branches. I was in an old school Russian banya somewhere in the suburbs of Riga.

Banya 101 - A Russian banya is similar to a Finnish sauna except that the temperatures are usually lower and the humidity is much higher. Dress code - nothing. Hats are optional but were very popular, and stylish.

My "guide", Ammon, who is originally from England, has been living in Riga for the past seven months while working on his PhD. From what I can tell, he speaks damn good Russian and Latvian so not a bad guy to have with you on a banya visit. The process goes like this:

Drop towel
Put on hat
Grab board (to sit on) & birch branches
Enter banya
Have a seat and enjoy. You may slap yourself with the birch branches at this point. Do it.
Endure heat for as long as possible (be a man!)
Exit banya
Take off hat and set board / birch branches down
Take a quick shower (some guys skipped this step)
Jump into cold pool
Exit cold pool
Grab towel and head outdoors for - some fresh air, a beer, a fish sandwich, a chat with the gang
Head back in and start at step 1. Repeat for as long as you want.

Moment of panic - After throwing his son into the cold pool, a local man turned and made a move to throw me into the cold pool. He had a good laugh at my expense.

I managed to grab one picture. This is the area between the change room and the banya. Usually there is a middle-aged woman sitting at the desk... keeping an eye on things.

Latvia and Estonia

2011-08-30T04:24:00.005-06:00

From Lithuania, I took a bus across the border to the port town of Liepaja, Latvia. While there, I headed to the Karosta neighbourhood with this Aussie guy named Morgan. Karosta was once a former Russian military base and closed off to the public for many years. Today, it has plenty to keep a visitor busy. The beach is littered with the remnants of bunkers and is definitely worth a look. A little cheesy but all in good fun, is a tour of the Prison. Be sure and volunteer for the bathing/clothes washing/bathroom demonstration. If you're up for it, you can also stay in the prison over night for 8 lats. Cheap as borscht!

Next stop, Riga. Now, I don't normally use CouchSurfing for its main purpose which is staying with locals on their couch. Usually, I just grab a hostel and use CouchSurfing to meet up with the natives for a pint. This time around, I decided to give a couch a go. You might think staying with a complete stranger would be a recipe for disaster but, in this case, you would be wrong; I couldn't have asked for more. Jana, who was born and raised in Riga, is fluent in English, is always wearing a smile and... has speakers in her bathroom! I showered each day to a soundtrack. Yes, to me that is cool. Even more cool - we went flying, took a tour of a secret Soviet cold war bunker and went night-kayaking around Riga's old town (where we were nearly overturned by a beaver, or rat, the size of car). Good times.

I hitched a ride to Tallinn with Jana, who was headed there on business. Spent a couple days looking around the Old Town but didn't get up to much else. It's a well oiled tourist machine but that doesn't mean it should be skipped. Decided to get out of the big city and headed to a small coastal area called Roosta with a quick stop in the quiet little town of Haapsalu.

Now, back in Riga, I am trying to figure out my next step. Perhaps it's time for a little 9-5 action?

Lithuania

2011-08-25T12:58:00.004-06:00

It was my birthday in 36 hours and I wanted to be doing something different so, on my way to the airport outside Rome, I was tossing around a couple of ideas - A. Fly to Spain to surf / relax on the beach or B. Fly to the Baltics and...er... what do people do in the Baltics? By the time I arrived at the airport I had made up my mind. I grabbed a one way ticket to Vilnius. FYI - I didn't get as sweet of a deal as I thought I would buying a last-minute ticket at the airport.

I was flying with the low-budget Wizz Air, which meant seats were first come, first serve. As I boarded, I did what any man would do and took the seat next to two attractive women. It turns out that these two Lithuanian gals had hearts of gold. Not only did Ieva and Sonata give me a ride into town, they spent the next two hours helping me find a place to stay for the night (who knew Vilnius was so popular?). The next day, they joined me for my birthday celebrations which included a row around a lake, some delicious cold, pink soup and a heartfelt rendition of Happy Birthday (in Lithuanian). Lucky.

After Vilnius, I made my way to Šiauliai where I bumped into a couple of CouchSurfing Dutchmen on skateboards. After checking out the very unique Hill of Crosses, we hit the bowling alley. Random? Yes. Good times. Double yes. After that, I headed to the coastal town of Klaipeda and the Curonian Spit for a few days of fresh air.

Next stop - Latvia.

Italy

2011-08-22T09:45:00.004-06:00

My time in Ireland had come to an end and I was without a plan. What to do? Where to do it? My Finnish friend, Jonna, solved the problem. Jonna and I go waaay back and I hadn't seen her since my visit to Finland in 2003 so we were due. We decided to catch up in Italy and hang out for a week.

We met at the Fiumicino Airport outside Rome but didn't stick around long - one quick decision later and we were off to Naples, followed by Sant'Agnello, Formia and then finally back to Rome. There you have it. Just enough time to share some stories, eat my weight (and Jonna's) in mozzarella and see some sights. Jonna is a solid travel partner - I barely had to lift a finger.

After Jonna headed back to Finland, I once again found myself without a plan. At first I thought I would stick around for a month and see / do everything but, after hanging out in the circus that is Rome for a few days, I wanted out. Where to? I didn't know but I headed to the airport, anyway.

Indiana June - Her Epic Pick-A-Path Adventure

2011-08-15T03:47:00.001-06:00

What do you do when a fat-fingered customs official mistypes your name?

Well, if you're my buddy Di Tansey (aka Indiana June), you quit your job, sell all your stuff and set out on your bike for an epic adventure around the world. What makes Di's journey so unique? YOU decide where she goes and what she does. That's right, her fate is in your hands.

You can cast your vote, submit suggestions, follow her path, check out pictures and read the whole story on her site:

indianajune.com

Di is one of the coolest people I know, so have a quick look at her site, cast your vote (it's easy!) and show a little bit of love.

Di "Indiana June" Tansey

Ireland A Hocht

2011-07-18T22:23:00.001-06:00

Roooad triiip! Sophie and I jumped in a rental and ripped up to, and around, Northern Ireland. Made stops in / at Dundalk, Maghera, Portstewart, Portaballintrae, Bushmills (home to the Bushmills Distillery), Dunluce Castle, the Giant's Causeway and Camlough. Tip - if you want to see the Giant's Causeway without the hoards of people, be there at 6:00 am. Here's another one - if you're going to visit N. Ireland, get out of Belfast, rent a car and drive the Causeway Coastal Route.

She may not look like much, but she can MOVE!

World Record Holder

2011-06-27T07:32:00.006-06:00

For all of 24 hours I, along with 3,656 other men, women and children, held the Guinness World Record for the largest gathering of people dressed as Where's Wally ("Waldo" in North America). For 24 hours I had a solid conversation starter. The event organizers made the record-breaking attempt on two different days. I chose day one in the rain. Day two brought sun and another 215 people. So. Close.

You can check out a SUPER high-resolution picture here:
http://tag.huggity.com/SPWC_dublin1/ - Hey! You don't need to sign into Facebook to view it, just hit the "Continue without Facebook" button.

Watch this vid with 10 minutes of blockbuster Wally action:

Some pics:

Ireland A Seacht

2011-06-20T07:43:00.004-06:00

I have returned to Dublin after spending the last month traveling the west and south coasts of Ireland. Along the way I met a few characters, saw a few sights and tried to soak up all the country had to offer.

My first stop was Bundoran, in County Donegal. I picked up a bed at the Bundoran Surf Co Lodge and besides a few hardcore Portuguese surfers, the place was empty. The staff there were great and hooked me up with everything a wannabe surfer could ask for - spankin' new wetsuit, booties, board, lesson, sunshine and rides to the beach and back. After my first day I went to bed thinking I could easily do that everyday. I woke up the next morning to gray skies, pouring rain, wind and 10 degree seas. It was a perfect day for a surf. Why? Because if you wait for good weather in Ireland, you'll never get anything done. The Atlantic ocean worked me over and came close to breaking me but at the end of the day it was Hennigan - 1. Atlantic Ocean - 0.

Two days in quiet Bundoran and it was time to move on. A couple bus rides and I was in the small village of Strandhill, just outside Sligo. Surfing was on the menu again, along with a hike up Knocknarea and a visit to Killaspugbrone Church and Cemetary, where it is said that St. Patrick tripped and lost a tooth. I made the trek up Knocknarea with a German couple - Sonja and Bertram, who were in Strandhill celebrating an anniversary of sorts. It's a very imposing "hill" that , on its summit, is home to a huge cairn (pile of stones), said to conceal a Neolithic passage tomb. A rare blue sky made the walk up even more worth while. As for St. P's tooth, no sign of it but the small graveyard and remains of a church were a sight to see.

From Strandhill I headed for Westport where I checked into an (empty) 18 bed dorm room. Three highlights to note:

Riding a bike out to Croagh Patrick but failing to climb it due to the weather (blaming it on the weather is a weak excuse!).
The live, traditional music, song, story and joke at Matt Molloy's pub. I could listen to an Irish ol' timer tell stories all night long.
Meeting Pip, the "Fanny Trekker". This last one requires an explanation so here it is...

As I walked into my dorm room, I met a guy from California. As he introduced himself I noticed he was traveling light; I could see no backback or suitcase near his bunk. I asked him what the deal was and it was at that point that I was introduced to "Fanny Trekking". That's right, "Pip" was traveling with nothing more than a fanny pack. A FANNY PACK. He wasn't a tree-hugging hippy or some sort of new-age minimalist (if there is such a thing), infact, he was more of a beer-chugging redneck who didn't think he needed much more than the clothes on his back and a toothbrush. I asked him all the questions you are thinking about right now and he had an answer for each and every one. Pip claims a backpack causes you to stand out... unlike a fanny pack and cowboy boots. To each his own! Here's his blog - fannytrekking.blogspot.com

Unsure of where to go next, I jumped on a bus to Galway. Once I arrived, I knew I didn't want to stay but didn't have a plan so, two minutes later, I climbed back onto a different bus headed for Ennis. Although I had been there before and there's really not much going on, I headed to Ennis because of the Rowan Tree hostel. It's the Burj Al Arab of hostels. As I was walking into town from the bus station, an ol' timer outside of a church stopped me, asked me where I was from and gave me a heart-felt "welcome to Ennis, we're happy to have ya, enjoy your time here". Made me think that I need to work on my greeting skills.

While in Ennis, I picked up a book - "Unsung Hero | Tom Crean - Antarctic Survivor". It was quiet on the west coast and I need something to kill time with. I had first seen the face on the cover of this book as a painting, hanging on the wall of Groggans pub in Dublin. After reading only a few pages, I knew I would be paying a visit to Tom's home town of Anascaul. More on this guy later.

Next stop, Lahinch. Lahinch is great for two things - surfing and nightlife. I focused on the first. On one typically poor day (wind and rain), I counted 60+ people, of all ages and abilities, surfing, kite-surfing and kayaking. Hardcore. On one of the nicer days, I decided to walk to the Cliffs of Mohr. You may recognize these cliffs as the "Cliffs of Insanity" from the Princess Bride movie. I passed the "Please do not go beyond this point" sign, and walked the entire length of the cliffs. Some sections of the path were a little wonky (hence the sign) but the views are worth a potential 400 foot fall. By the time I got back to Lahinch, it was time for a pint. Hey, how about a video about surfing AND the Cliffs of Mohr? Check it out:

Back to Ennis! Stuck around for a few more days, did some laundry, finished my book and then set out for the harbor town of Dingle. Dingle just so happens to be located on the Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry. I Rented a bike, packed a lunch and set off for a day of cycling "the ring". Stopped in at Dunberg Fort, Coumeennole Beach, Kilmalkedar Church and a hundred other places that needed to have their picture taken. This area is an absolute must see if you come to Ireland.

The next day I was keen on heading to Annascaul, home to the legendary Antarctic explorer, Tom Crean. Instead of waiting for a bus, I gave hitchhiking a shot for the first time in my life. I'm not the type to just sit in one spot and wait for a ride so I started the 18 km trek on foot. After hoofin' it for an hour along the narrow, shoulder-less N86, I set down my backpack to have a drink of water. A car pulled over. At first I wasn't sure if they had pulled over for me or for some other reason so I went up to the window to find out. Bingo, I had a ride. I told him I was headed to Annascaul to have a pint in the the South Pole Inn. Turns out the man behind the wheel was born in Ireland, lived the majority of his life in the US and returned to Annascaul to (semi) retire. Before dropping me off at the pub, he took me up to the cemetery where Crean, and his family, are buried. Here's a very brief overview of the man:

Tom Crean was born 20 July 1877, in the farming area of Gurtuchrane near the town of Annascaul in County Kerry. He spent more than half of his life in the British Navy and played a vital part in several expeditions to the Antarctic under both Scott and Shackleton. After retiring from the naval service, Crean returned to his home town to set up what is now the "South Pole Inn". From what I can tell, he was the type of guy who just got the job done - no complaining, pulled his own weight (and more) and put the well being of others before himself. More info.

A had a few hot whiskeys at the Inn before setting off for Inch Strand. After my initial hitchhiking success, I thought I would try it again. I started walking out of town and throwing out the "thumb" but wasn't getting any takers. I stopped at a small grocery story to make sure I was heading the right direction; I was not. In a very thick Irish accent, she told me to follow the dirt road that ran behind her store and up through the hills. "Go straight down the dirt road and when you think you should turn right, don't, keep going straight." That was it. Who was I to question her knowledge of the area? I reluctantly started walking up the dirt road until I came to a spot where the dirt road went off to the right and a muddy old footpath continued strait on. I thought to myself that I should definitely follow the road off to the right so I wouldn't get lost but then I remembered my instructions. This must have been the point the lady was referring to. I went straight up the foot path which slowly turned into little more than an overgrown escape route for rain coming down the hills. As a came around a bend, the path opened up and there was an ol' timer fixing a stone wall. I was the last person he expected to see there. I asked him if I was getting close to Inch and he said "keep walking, when you hit a road, turn left". Done! It was now starting to rain so I picked up the pace. It wasn't long before I hit the road and could see down the other side of the hills to what had to be Inch. There, I put in a day of surfing before heading back to Annascaul to catch a bus to Kinsale.

Kinsale is another picturesque little Harbor town. After walking in circles for a while, I found my sign-less hostel. "Hostel" may be the wrong word. It was more like some dude's house and he decided to let strangers stay over now and then. No complaints though, it had a bed and hot water. As is the norm, I rented a bike and spent a day checking out the town and surrounding area. The town itself is built for postcards and there are obviously a few well-to-do types who call it home. I stuck around for a few days and then headed for Cork where I decided on my next stop.

I made my way to Cobh on the recommendation of another traveler. Cobh is famous for being the last port of call of the Titanic, which anchored at the mouth of the harbor on April 11th 1912. There were no hostels in town so I popped for a hotel room. The only good thing about a hotel room is I can come out of the shower naked. I am struggling to write anything more about my time in Cobh. To be honest, I couldn't wait to leave, which I did, first thing in the morning. I killed a few hours in Cork while I waited for my buss to Kilkenny.

The 400 year old castle town of Kilkenny ended up being the final stop on my trip. I timed it right as The Cat Laughs 2011 Comedy Festival was on and the sun was out (more sun then I had ever seen before in Ireland). Highlight of the weekend - seeing the one and only Rubberbandits, live. They are a true gift to the Irish music scene. Met some cool people while I was there, including a Canadian guy that ended up giving me a lift back to Dublin. Good kid.

I had started my travels thinking I would work on the west coast but I didn't want to stay in one place long enough to make it happen. Near the end, I was actually starting to miss Dublin. So, I signed up for another month at Storm and moved back in with Rachael. It's almost like I had never left.

Portugal

2011-05-06T09:06:00.001-06:00

It was time for some warm weather! After flying back from Canada, I spent a day in Dublin before heading to Portugal to meet up with Sophie. We spent the first few days in Lisboa taking in the sights and riding the old school trams. If you go, book a bed in the Alfama Patio Hostel.

Next stop, Peniche, where we took some surf lessons and enjoyed the beach. Try the gang at Peniche Kite and Surf Center. Good bang for your buck when you travel outside of high season but don't expect much of a night life there.

After Peniche was the very cool little town of Obidos. Tiny houses and cobbled lanes surrounded by a huge wall (that you can climb and walk around). We spent a few days there but you probably don't need more than an afternoon to see it all.

We headed back to the coast and stayed in the town of Ericeira. It has a great mix of old town / new town and plenty of places to work on your surf skills. If you like staying in rooms with an ocean view, try the Blue Buddha New Hostel. Lucia and her husband will set you up.

Random - Got stuck in a windowless bathroom the size of a shoe box for over an hour at our hostel in Lisboa. Thanks to Sophie for getting help and keeping me company while I was extracted.

One Year Ago Today

2011-04-02T17:37:00.002-06:00

On April 2nd of last year, I was scrambling to pack my bag and set out on what was supposed to be a year spent travelling around Europe (with a brief stop in Ireland to pull a few pints). One year later, I call Ireland Home. So how'd I get here and what's up next? I'll try to condense it...

365 days ago, my best buddy Jeff and I flew to London to get the trip started. Soon after we jumped over to Amsterdam. A must see city. Jeff said goodbye and Anne said hello. Thanks to Anne, I had an amazing time in Holland and I doubt I will every be able to repay her.

Met up with my Kiwi friends again (saw them in Amsterdam) and took a train to Brussels. From there I went solo to Ghent and had a chance to see / spend time with Els, the first CouchSurfer to ever sleep on my couch back in Calgary. She is one cool lady. After stopping in for a look around Bruges, I headed back to Amsterdam for the big Queen's Day party. The canals are where the party's at.

Come May, I was ready to try something a little different, so I booked a ticket to Turkey. It was exactly what I was looking for and I was rewarded with many great experiences. On the flip side, it was also the only place I had a case of missing my own bed.

Keeping to some sort of timeline, I skipped past Greece and went to Albania. Hooooooooonk. I would have liked to see more of the country but plans changed. Had some of the best sleeps of the year at the Tirana Backpacker Hostel. A few buses later and I was in Montenegro. While in Kotor, I traded a small tin of mints for drink, cheese and ear-to-ear smiles. All because I wasn't sure if passing the mountain goats was a good idea.

In Sarajevo, I met cool people from every corner and one interesting fish. "I am the fish that is made of gold, what is your wish?" In Mostar it was the same story, except for the fish. If you're in town, stay at Hostel Majdas. You will be treated better than any backpacker ever should be.

Picked up some travelling partners and headed to Croatia. After Edi and the bunker, my group was down to two. Maria and I made our way to Split and, while enjoying the peace and quiet, had a random adventure with "Uncle". I really need to get that guy's name.

It was late June now and we were headed to Slovenia. A quick stop in Ljubljana and then it was off to the lakeside town of Bled. Great place to relax and row a boat. When was the last time you rowed a boat? I was on my own again and made my way to Maribor. Home to the world's oldest grapevine - yes, it's the only fact I can remember from Maribor.

In 2009, I met Sophie in Fiji. Fourteen months later, I stopped into Graz, Austria, to say "hello". Lucky for me, Sophie remembered who I was and decided to show me around. I couldn't have asked for more. Spent time in Vienna, Salzburg, Graz and the Carinthia Region. A truly beautiful country that gave birth to Red Bull, Mozart and the Governator.

After Austria, I made a short stop in Munich before catching a flight to Dublin where I was planning to unpack my bag for a few months. By the time August was over, I had found a home and a job (it turns out they do have cubicles in Ireland). I consider myself very lucky to have found both.

The next three and a half months flew by. I met some great people, had a few pints of G and even managed to see a bit of Ireland. I found my rhythm and had a nice little life in Ireland. By the time the holidays hit, I took a break from work. First stop, the United States of America, where I spent Christmas with my parents and uncle. Second stop, Austria, where I rang in the New Year with Sophie. Third stop, Hungary, where I took a long, warm bath outdoors.

By the end of January I was back earning my keep. I had already been in Ireland longer than I had anticipated so was trying to figure out what I was going to do next. Plans changed daily. I decided to work for February and March and then, starting in April... I would not work (just finished up two days ago). It was time for a visit home. I leave in two days. What's up after that? Well, a trip to Portugal with Sophie is booked and then, maybe a move to the west coast of Ireland? We'll see.

Fame and Fortune...

2011-03-22T14:52:00.002-06:00

... can only be around the corner after this performance:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAWNhNFqpXQ (Skip to 2:40)

I was on TV last night, albeit for only a short time, giving viewers a look at the St Patrick's Festival through the "Greg Cam". It's fair to say my lack of time in front of a camera is apparent; I don't normally use the word "psyched". Maybe Sile just made me nervous? Anyway, it was five days of good times and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

If you'd like the Greg Cam at your festival, just get in touch. My backpack is ready to go at all times.

We are all Irish today

2011-03-17T11:02:00.003-06:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Here's the story - the folks at the St.Patrick's festival asked me if I would film the festivities from "my perspective". I said sure, so they hooked me up with a video camera and told me to go have some fun. Sounds easy enough?

Last night I started with a few pints at the Dame Tavern with my buddy Sean and his gang. It was shoulder-to-shoulder and a good bit of craic. This morning I went down to the Liffey and watched the Gannon Cup University Boat Race and then headed over to the parade route. This year's parade was based on the short story, "Brilliant" by Roddy Doyle (give it a read). Marching bands, singers, dancers... it had it all. Great energy in this town right now with so many people from all over the world enjoying the party.

Just came home to charge up the camera before I head back out. Perhaps for a pint or two? Here are a few videos...

Temple Bar

Parade action

Inflatable Hammers

Sing-along

Sunflower Farmer

2011-03-03T15:50:00.004-07:00

sunflowerfarmer.blogspot.com

Each day, good or bad, one picture.

Ireland A Sé

2011-02-04T06:19:00.014-07:00

End of Jan and Feb? Checked out the live music at TradFest, celebrated Robbert Burns' birthday (haggis and all), changed a flat and ate the world's best club in the town of Dalkey, placed a few bets (and lost) on the horses in Leopardstown and filled the rest of the cracks with work.

Obligatory Pint of Guinness Picture

Hungary, Austria and England

2011-01-26T07:49:00.049-07:00

On my last night in Budapest, I came across an artist, wearing a captain's hat, who was selling his work near the Mátyás Church. He reminded my of Edi, the loud-talking, fast-moving, bunker-renter from Dubrovnik, so I stopped to have a look. He went by the name of "Kovacs-Z" and whether he was crazy or a genius or both, I felt compelled to make a purchase. I am now the proud owner of a signed Kovacs-Z original (not the one in the picture below. I'm not sure why he chose to hold up that picture?)

I headed back to Graz, Austria, for the weekend. Sophie and I jumped in the car and made our way to the "out of a fairy tale" Riegersburg Castle. So far, Austria has the market cornered on Castles. Afterwards, we made a dash for the Zotter Chocolate Factory. Chocolate fountains, chocolate bars, chocolate drinks... it was a chocolaty paradise!

Before I flew back to Dublin, I stopped over in London for a few days (because I can't get enough of that little town). What did I see? One million individually sculpted and painted porcelain sunflower seeds, classic paintings from van Gogh, da Vinci and Monet (amongst others), the international meridian and, the home of the Crown Jewels.

Back to Dublin. Back to work.

Austria and Hungary

2011-01-25T06:53:00.011-07:00

While in Austria, I took a quick trip over to Hungary to hang out in Budapest for a few days. Booked a bed in a great place called Home Made Hostel - sort of like staying at your grandma's cosy little apartment, minus the cats. After a huge bowl of goulash, I wandered through the Castle District with my guide, Anna, took a soak in the outdoor baths of Szechenyi and visited the communist statues of Memento Park.

The New Year

2011-01-21T15:52:00.048-07:00

Spent New Year's Eve and the days following on the hills in Semmering and Bad Gastein, Austria.

A quick note about skiing / snowboarding in Austria - when lining up to get on a chairlift there are NO RULES. It's Thunderdome! Do what you have to do to get on.

Jaysus, it's almost February!

2011-01-21T15:12:00.007-07:00

I'm back in Dublin now after taking a month off of work to visit a few people and do a little traveling. Here's a quick update on what happened over the holidays...

First stop was Phoenix, Arizona to surprise my parents for Christmas. It had been a year since I last saw them and that was just too damn long! I arrived late at night so the folks were already in bed. After my Uncle Don (who was also visiting and in on my plan) let me into the house, I knocked on my parents bedroom door. Surprise success! We spent our time catching up, playing a few rounds of golf and enjoying the desert heat. Merry Christmas!

I flew back to Dublin, did a load of laundry and then got back on a plane to ring in the New Year in Austria with Sophie. We spent a good portion of our time in the Alps snowboarding where I experienced a "first" that I could have done without - falling off a chairlift. I was trying to sit down and as I reached back to grab the seat, the seat flipped up exposing the metal frame. As I was cursing I lost my balance and the chair pushed me over, all the while Sophie was getting dragged along the ground until the lifty finally hit the kill switch. I always used to wonder how the hell anyone could fall off the chairlift while trying to get on. Now I know.

Sophie headed back to work so I jumped on a train to Budapest. Spent a week there taking in the sights. It's a beautiful city full of truly kind people. If you visit, be sure and hit the baths for a good, long soak. Before heading home to Dublin, I stopped into London for a few days. Pictures and words to come!

One of my resolutions for 2011 is to take a picture every day for the next year. Check them out here - sunflowerfarmer.blogspot.com

Uncle Don (ee-i-ee-i-o), Me, Mom and Dad

Ireland A Ceathair

2010-11-27T10:58:00.001-07:00

Today I woke up to Dublin's first snow. Brisk.

In Pictures

2010-11-20T12:40:00.001-07:00

A picture for each country from the past eight months:

Ireland A Trí

2010-09-30T02:54:00.040-06:00

Where does the time go?

My roomie, Rachael, took me on a siteseeing tour that included the Hill of Slane, Trim Castle and, Newgrange - a neolithic temple that pre-dates Stonehenge and the Great Pyramid of Giza.

Jeff flew over from Canada for a visit. Great to have an ol' friend around, if only for a short time. We checked out the Rock of Cashel, took a tour of the Guinness Storehouse and did our best to sample a pint in nearly every pub south of the Liffey.

Took a little break from work and dropped into London for a few days. My friend, Sarah, showed me around town for the first half of my stay and even put me up for a night. For the rest of my trip, I bunked in a hostel across from the British Museum (a must see). London is one of the world's great cities that requires more than one visit.

During a visit to Rachael's sister's home in the country, I was able to scratch "cut absolutely massive lawn using a riding-mower" off my To Do list. I was well fed for my efforts.

Today, my friend Di and I took advantage of the blue skies and went for a bike ride out of Dublin. Unfortunately, less than two hours in, disaster struck! Di dropped like a sack of potatoes after re-injuring her ankle. Unable to walk, let alone peddle, we sought the help of a nearby good samaritan named Ed. Ed gave our bikes and us a lift to the nearest pub, Johnnie Fox's, which just happens to be Ireland's "highest" pub. The rest of our day was spent eating and drinking until Di's pal, Sue, picked us up and drove us home.

Here are the pics:

Ireland A Dó

2010-08-24T06:55:00.023-06:00

I have been in Ireland now for 48 days. My tan is a distant memory and I now own an umbrella. Poor weather aside, the city of Dublin has a new fan.

Here's what's happened over the last month:

I found a cool apartment that came with an equally cool roommate. I do miss the "hostel life" and being surrounded by other travelers but enjoy having a full size bath towel. It's a trade off.

My friend, Els, on one of her solo adventures, dropped in for a visit while touring around Ireland and the UK on her scooter. You want some inspiration? Talk to her.

I joined some locals to watch a Hurling match at Croke Park. The game is fast and the fans are nuts. Have a look. FYI - If you set up on Hill 16, you will hear language that would sicken a trucker. Don't worry, it's normal.

Sophie flew to the Dub to see what all the fuss was about. We visited the Leprauchan Musuem and sat in a really big chair. The little bastards screwed me out of 10 Euro.

I. Got. A. Job.

Ireland A haon

2010-08-11T04:54:00.029-06:00

I got into Dublin after dark and, with map in hand, began the search for my hostel. After some confusion, mainly due to the fact that I couldn't remember the hostel's name, I found my home for the night and went to bed. The next morning I got my first good look at Dublin... it appeared to be a little rough around the edges and I wasn't immediately sold on the place. Where was the green grass and beautiful red-headed women? I spent my first week getting settled, adjusting to grey sky's and lads in tracksuits.

Enough "settling". I jumped on a bus with some other like-minded travelers and set out to find the "real" Ireland. We hit Killarney, Ennis, Galway, Inis More, Derry and Belfast. In between, I soaked up the Dingle Peninsula, peered over the Cliffs of Moher, gave the Blarney Stone a big smooch, walked along the Giant's Causeway, learned about the troubles in Northern Ireland from the locals and had some fecking grand craic all along the way.

By the time I got back I was almost 33. Some of the gang from the bus tour were still around and threw me a kick-ass little party - cake and all. They even managed to get a table full of drunken Englishmen to sing happy birthday to me. Well done. The rest of the night was spot on. Exactly how a birthday should be in Dublin.

I am now putting some real effort into landing a job... at least until something distracts me.

Austria

2010-07-22T07:01:00.031-06:00

I left Maribor, Slovenia and headed to Graz where I met up with my friend, Sophie. Not only did she (and her kick ass roommates) give me a place to stay, she also did an amazing job of ensuring I never sat still. It was a nice balance between showing me around town and schooling me at the wakeboard park.

I left Graz for a quick trip to Vienna. It has an endless supply of history, unique architecture and enough museums to keep you busy for a week. I took a good look through the Albertina museum and its huge collection of works from Monet, Renoir, Picasso, Signac...etc. Very impressive, even for a regular joe like me.

I headed back to Graz and then to the Carinthia region. Sophie grew up there and still has family living in the area. They treated me like royalty! Note: Not only can Austrians grill an incredible steak but they are also as nice as Canadians. Well, almost. From there, I went to Salzburg. It´s home to Mozart, the Sound of Music and the mother of all "castles on a hill". While there, I took in nearly every noteworthy site... except for a sound of music tour. I tried catching the daily showing of the movie at my hostel but after two minutes, I couldn't take any more.

My next stop is Munich where I will spend a few days before catching a flight to Dublin, Ireland. There, I will do a little traveling while attempting to settle down and pretend to be a working man for a few months. They don´t have cubicles in Ireland, do they?

Slovenia

2010-07-15T07:30:00.022-06:00

After an overnight train ride from Split, Maria and I pulled into the capital of Slovenia, Ljubljana. Ljubljana has its fair share of historical sights, including all of the usual suspects - an old town, a castle sitting at the top of a hill, a 250 year old fountain... etc. We stuck around long enough to have a look, enjoy some eats and check out a world cup game.

The next morning we headed for the small town of Bled. Bled couldn´t get more picturesque if it tried - it sits right on an emerald-green lake which has a small island in the middle that´s home to a church and, a castle perched on a cliff above keeping an eye on it all. It wasn´t all peace and quiet though - I was lucky enough to go canyoning with a sergeant in the Slovenian military. Fun first, safety second. That´s the spirit!

Maria had enough of my bad jokes and headed for Belgium. I stuck around Bled for a few more days before heading to Maribor. Maribor doesn´t see a whole bunch of tourists, especially from Canada, but it was definitely a worthwhile stop. I bet you didn´t know it´s home to the world´s oldest grapevine? Impress your friends with that fact the next time you open a bottle.

Time for Austria.

Croatia

2010-06-29T05:09:00.018-06:00

I headed to the Croatian coast with some fellow travellers - A Swiss dude and two Finnish gals. The drive there was worthy of a postcard so we were all looking forward to see Dubrovnik. We jumped off the bus and were immediatly scooped up by "Edi". Edi is one of the guys that offers up a place to stay to tourists jumping off the bus. Normally I just keep moving but I had a good feeling about Edi; he talked loud, moved fast and looked like Robert De Niro. We hooked up with two Canadian girls, who were also looking for a place, and followed Edi to his "bunker". One look and we were sold.

Did Dubrovnik live up to the hype? Well, it definitely has a monster old town that's worth a visit but if I had to pick, I'd head back to Kotor in Montenegro.

All but two of us parted ways. Maria (one of the Finnish gals) and I headed up the coast to Split. Once we got there we decided to head to the Island of Vis. Maria has a friend who's uncle lives on Vis, so we set up a meet and greet. "Uncle" met up with us and drove us to the other side of the island where his house was. Not a bad view would be a huge understatement. He loaded us up with booze, cheese and all the siteseeing we could handle.

We chilled in Vis for a few days, then back to Split before leaving for Slovenia.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

2010-06-29T05:03:00.018-06:00

There is no way to overlook the fact that BiH was devastated by war only fifteen years ago. It was certainly a dominating theme throughout my visit. That said, it is by no means a depressing place to travel. Cities have, for the most part, been rebuilt and the people are very easy going. I spent time in the capital of Sarajevo and in Mostar. If in Sarajevo, do yourself a favor and drink some water from the Sebilj Fountain.

The much-hyped Croatia is next up.

Montenegro

2010-06-10T06:44:00.035-06:00

Montenegro will blow your mind. Big time scenery, great people and just enough history to satisfy the most worldly of travelers. Pictures do not do it justice. Next up, Bosnia & Herzegovina.

Albania

2010-06-01T08:45:00.021-06:00

I only spent a short time in Albania, all of it in the capital city of Tirana. It was different but different is good. Albania has only busted out of its communist shell in the last 20 years so there are still pieces of that 'era' kicking around.

A few things to note about Albania - Their flag kicks ass. Everyone drives a Benz and uses the horn relentlessly! The country is littered with small, mushroom shaped bunkers.

After Tirana, the "plan of the minute" was to bus it to Shkoder and then figure out how to get to the remote northern area of Theth. I made it to Shkoder ok but wasn't sure what my next move was so I sat down at a pub for a beer. As luck would have it, one of the guys inside spoke English. After buying me a round, he informed me that Theth was under snow and required many kilomoters of hiking to reach. Was it true? I don't know for sure but I wasn't quite ready to trade in my flip-flops for snow so I headed for Montenegro.

Western Turkey

2010-05-28T02:03:00.018-06:00

I finished up my tour of Cappadocia and jumped on the overnight bus to Pamukkale. Arriving at 5:30am and with no place to stay (I was only going to be in town for nine hours), I wasn't expecting a hot shower or a change of clothes anytime soon. Wrong. The folks at the Artemis Yoruk Hotel hooked me up with a swim, sauna, place to change and a great breakfast. Fresh clothes, so good.

I spent my time in Pamukkale walking through the ancient Greek city of Hierapolis, taking an extended swim in Cleopatra's Pool (sounds "Vegas" but rumor has it that Cleopatra actually swam there) and making my way down the hot spring-fueled terraces of the "Cotton Castle" - one of the most interesting areas I have ever set foot on.

Before my camera had a chance to cool down, I was on a bus headed to the coastal town of Kusadasi. Got in late, went to bed. Got up early and went to Ephesus - a huge ancient city that can go up against anything Greece has to offer. I then visited the home where the Virgin Mary was thought to have spent her final days. The last stop was to one of the seven ancient wonders of the world - a single remaining column from the Temple of Artemis.

After spending a few more days in Kusadasi, I grabbed my pack and... took another overnight bus back to Istanbul. There, I decided on my next stop - Albania.

Istanbul and Cappadocia

2010-05-18T10:31:00.019-06:00

A train, plane, two busess, a little luck on foot and I threw my backpack down in my hostel in Sultanahmet (Old Town Istanbul). It was late but I headed out for some street-meat and a little site seeing. The next morning, I kicked off my week in Istanbul with a Turkish bath. Killer. From that point on I checked out the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Grand Bazaar, Hippodrome and the Egyptian Obelisk. I Jumped on a boat to the Island of Buyakada where I spent the day lounging, took a cruise up the Bosporus, soaked up the local nighlife in Taksim Square and ate more than my fair share of kebabs. Great city, worth a second visit.

After Istanbul, I headed to the Cappadocia region in central Turkey. Who doesn't love a 12 hour night-bus? It was worth it. I set up shop in Goreme, a small town of 2000 people. My bed was inside a cave - as are most in the area. This morning I got up at the crack of dawn and took a balloon ride over the fairy chimneys - never seen anything else like it. This afternoon I took a tour of the southern end of the region. Tomorrow, I'll check out the nothern piece before I leave for Pamukkale on another long bus ride.

Back to Holland

2010-05-09T12:27:00.015-06:00

I hopped on a train from Bruges and made my way back to Amsterdam for Koninginnedag (Queen's Day). We stayed with Anne's friends, Anke and Joris, who took us out to a Queen's Night party to get us warmed up for the next day. Rumor has it that the city nearly doubles in size for Queen's Day; I'd buy that. It's all the orange, music, dancing, games and drinking you can handle. Here's a tip - avoid the trains out of Amsterdam on Queen's Day if you are claustrophobic.

Back in the "Nij" the weather was lame. I took this downtime to catch up on administrative tasks and plan out my next move. Yesterday, Anne and I drove to Ootmarsum, in eastern Holland, to visit her family. Very cool little town. Today, the whole crew took a road trip into Germany and hung out in the town of Bad Bentheim. After a day of fresh air, schnitzels, beer and icecream, I need a nap.

Time for a change of pace. Tomorrow morning I leave for Istanbul, Turkey.

Did you know? - Anne's mom, Riet, makes the best meatballs in the WORLD! Dankjewel!

Belgium

2010-05-01T11:02:00.025-06:00

I met up with Tara and Paula again in Nijmegen and we set off for Belgium. Spent a couple of days in Brussels eating waffles and chocolate, drinking beer and snapping way too many pictures of a small bronze sculpture of a boy peeing in a fountain.

After Brussels, I headed to Ghent. As a rule, I don't do much (if any) planning ahead. I like to roll into a new town and sniff out a nice place to stay and, more often than not, there's no problem. In Ghent, there was a problem. Not a bed to be had. Thankfully I met Youri, the owner of Hostel 47. He didn't have a bed for me but he did let me chill at his hostel and use his computer to hunt down a place to stay. The options were few - last minute CouchSurfing, pony up a 100+ Euro for a hotel room, or call my friend, Els, and hope she could put me up for the night. I borrowed Youri's cell and gave Els a shout. She was already hosting a CouchSurfer from Red Deer and was three hours away on a roadtrip BUT said she would come get me anyway. At 11:00pm, infront of St. Jacobs church, my life saver pulled up. I ended up spending the next three days at Els' place in Melle, a small town just outside of Ghent. She showed me around and even invited me along to her parent's home for dinner in Oostende; they were celebrating their 37th wedding anniversary.

After Ghent, I headed to Bruges. Bruges is as old-school as it gets in Belgium and definitely worth a visit.

Nijmegen, Utrecht, Delft...

2010-04-20T02:55:00.036-06:00

The gang parted ways in Amsterdam. Jeff was headed home, Tara and Paula went to Huizen and I was on my way to Nijmegen with my girlfriend, Anne, who had joined us in Amsterdam the night before.

Over the past 12 days, we've been able to do a little travelling within Holland - took a quick trip to the small town of Grave, met friends for dinner in Utrecht, went on a road trip with stops in Delft and Domburg and did a whole lot of bicycling around the Zeeland Province. Off to Belgium.

Did you know? - Nijmegen is considered to be the oldest city in the Netherlands.

Amsterdam

2010-04-14T06:17:00.024-06:00

A quick flight, a short train ride, and we were in Amsterdam. Jeff and I met up with my friends from New Zealand, Tara and Paula, who showed us the way to our hostel. On the agenda for the week - the Heineken factory, Anne Frank's house, the red light district, the sex museum, a live sex show (it was different but not as exciting as you might think), Keukenhof Gardens and as many pubs as we could squeeze in. Amsterdam is a cool place. Lots of bikes, canals and complicated shoes.

Did you know? - There are more bikes in Amsterdam than people.

And So It Begins

2010-04-14T05:36:00.010-06:00

How great is it to have a best friend who works for Air Canada? “Executive First Class” great! Jeff worked his magic and flew us across the Atlantic in style. See below for a pic of my “little hotel room in the air”.

After landing at Heathrow Airport in London, we jumped on the tube and made our way to the Royal Garden Hotel on Hyde Park (I certainly was not living the life of a “backpacker” so far). With only a couple days in the biggest city in Europe, our plan was simple - check out the sights, drink a few pints and then head to Amsterdam to really get the show started.

P.S. I'll be hitting Londontown again.

It All Came Together

2010-04-13T02:53:00.028-06:00

Of course it did, it had to. Sure, it was a mad dash to get everything done before leaving, but that’s all part of the fun.

Lucky for me, I had a little help from my friends. Carla was kind enough to put a roof over my head while I was without a place of my own. My buddy, Jeff, offered up his basement to store most of my belongings and lent me his car during my final week in Calgary. I owe them both, BIG TIME.

On the way to the airport it finally started to sink in. I have no idea what's in store for me but I'm sure looking forward to it.

Goodbye cube.

It's Official Now

2010-03-15T21:35:00.003-06:00

Today I received the thumbs up from Ireland - a one year working holiday visa. Nice! I also scratched "rent out condo" off my To Do list. With only two weeks left, it's all coming together.

Here's a pic of my NOT wallet-sized visa:

One Year Ago Today

2010-03-01T22:33:00.000-07:00

Exactly one year ago today I left Calgary for a four month trip around the S Pacific and SE Asia. One month from now I will leave again, this time for Europe.

I've sold my vehicle, put my condo up for rent and let the gang at work know that March 31 will be my last day. Right now, my working holiday visa for Ireland is sitting on someone's desk waiting to be approved. If all goes as planned, I will be travelling / working in Europe for a year.

This morning's view...

How Was It?

2009-07-27T20:59:00.001-06:00

It was exactly how you think it would be! By far the best choice I have ever made in my life. Been back now for one month. In that time, I have retuned to my normal ways with surprising ease. Four months wasn't long enough to really shake things up. It was a good start though.

Some numbers...

116 Days traveling
9 Countries
26 Flights
55 ATM withdrawls
7 Pairs of undies (more than enough)
2 Bungy Jumps
9.25 - Weight (in kg's) of my backpack upon leaving Calgary
12 - Weight (in kg's) of my backpack upon returning to Calgary

Some things I learned...

For most of us, there is never a good time or enough money to travel for an extended period. You can't let that stop you.
You have to put yourself out there
We got it good in Calgary
The world can be very small at times
Birthday cake is important

I will be at work in 11 hours. If I turn around I can see the building.

The Last Leg

2009-06-29T08:18:00.000-06:00

Ended up sticking around Phi Phi Island for almost a week. While there I gave rock climbing and scuba diving a shot. From Phi Phi it was off to Krabi where I met up with some friends for a day. We rented scooters and checked out Wat Tum Sua (Tiger Cave Temple). After the relative calmness of Krabi, I flew to Bangkok. This was it. The people, the smell, the noise - it was full on.

Thailand

2009-06-16T05:49:00.000-06:00

I'm on Phi Phi Island right now where it is raining. I know what you're thinking and yes, it is still better than being at work. I spent my first couple of days in Phuket on Patong Beach. It was more in-your-face than any other place in SE Asia ("You want massage?" is a phrase that will forever be stuck in my head). While there, I took in a kickboxing match, watched lady-boys perform for the masses and tried out another bungy (not nearly as scary as the first one). Thinking about spending the rest of my time on Phi Phi. Maybe. Here are some pictures...

Vietnam

2009-06-08T09:14:00.001-06:00

The Path - Ho Chi Minh City > Danang > Hoi An. Will spend the next couple of days in Hoi An (enjoying the slow pace) before flying back to HCMC and then to Thailand.
HCMC is Nuts. So many people, so much going on. Spent a couple of days just soaking it all in. Flew to Danang where it is much quieter. Met up with a local (She was born and raised in the Philippines but now works in Danang) who joined me for typical Vietnamese dinner. The next morning, she and her friend took me out for a typical Vietnamese breakfast. Both were anything but typical as far as what I am used to. Danang also has Amazing beaches and there wasn't a single person in sight. Probably because it's 35 degrees. Hoi An is awesome. Small, quiet, comfortable and stuffed full of custom tailors (who's services I have enlisted). Played a mean game of soccer with some local kids this afternoon - our team dominated.

Pictures From Cambodia

2009-06-06T02:38:00.001-06:00

Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville and Siem Reap...

Cambodia to Vietnam

2009-06-04T04:51:00.000-06:00

Finished up Cambodia with a visit to Siem Reap. Great place with lots going on and there are a few temples kicking around that are worth seeing. Got up early in the am to ride out to Angkor Wat on a bicycle to catch the sunrise. Spent all day peddling around to a bunch of the temples in the scorching heat / pouring rain. Well worth the early rising. FYI on cost - Cambodia is the most inexpensive place I have ever been. Shared room (with my traveling buddies - English girl and two Swedish guys), eating and a few bottles of water came to about $10 a day. Nice break after wallet-busting Singapore.
Next came a 12 hour bus ride to Ho Chi Minh City. Only been here a full day really. Spent half of it saying "No thanks" to moto rides (Met one driver who claimed to be Matt Damon) and the other half at the War Remnants Museum. Very different to see the war through Vietnam's eyes.
The uploading of pictures here is taking way too long and I'm hungry so here are three from the Temples of Angkor.

Back Into the Chaos

2009-05-30T06:50:00.000-06:00

The Webernet is sluggish here. Short and sweet with no pictures...

Been in Cambodia for 6 days now. Spent three in Phnom Penh and three in Sihanoukville. Taking a 10 hour bus ride to Siem Reap tomorrow so I can check out the mother of all temples.

Phnom Penh, and Cambodia as a whole, has seen some rough times. I visited the Tuol Sleng prison and the killing fields - if you don't know what I am talking about, this and this are worth reading. Sad.

Sihanoukville is a beach town so...I've just been realxing and enjoying the odd 25 cent beer.

Singapore

2009-05-22T22:49:00.000-06:00

"They" run a tight ship here in Singapore! People are great, it's clean, efficient and virtually crime free. Other travellers I've met said "you only need two days TOPS in Singapore" but I'd disagree. I'm on day four and will probably spend a couple more days here. So far I've taken a spin on the Singapore Flyer, toured around China Town and little India (big India must be nuts), checked out Sentosa Island, eaten stingray and frog, watched Japan pound Singapore in a rugby game and, to wash it all down, drank an original Singapore Sling at the 120 year old Raffles Hotel (for a cool $23).

The Malaysia (Short) Story

2009-05-22T21:39:00.000-06:00

Spent a few days in Kuala Lumpur checking out the sites, such as the Petronas Twin Towers, KL Tower and the bird sanctuary. Next stop - Kecil, part of the Perhantian Islands. This place can go toe-to-toe with any island in the Carribbean or Fiji. Snorkelling was amazing - sharks, turtles, coral and a whole bunch of cool fish. Less writing, more pictures...

Malaysia - Day 2

2009-05-14T06:54:00.000-06:00

Quick update before I head out to the Perhentian Islands where the Interweb is non-existant (from what I've heard).

Got into the capital city of Kuala Lumpur yesterday morning and found a place to stay in Chinatown. So far, Malaysia is great. The chaos here is more organized.

I have one picture to share...

Indonesia

2009-05-13T21:15:00.000-06:00

So... Indonesia... we flew into Denpasar (Bali) from Sydney and made our way to Legian Beach. Spent a few days there surfing and checking out the surrounding area before heading inland to a small town called Ubud. Got a better view into true Indonesian culture there. After that, we made our way back to the beaches in Kuta - surfed and surfed some more. Flew to the capital city of Jarkarta to spend our last two days in Indonesia. More people, scooters and food carts then I have ever seen before.

Some pics...

The Blue Mountains, OZ

2009-05-13T20:52:00.000-06:00

Like normal mountains... but blue? Took a tour of the mountains and then spent the night / next day in Katoomba. Who couldn't use a few more landscape / waterfall pictures?

Next up...

2009-04-29T00:58:00.000-06:00

After Fiji, I flew back to Auckland and squeezed in a reverse bungy. Got up early the next morning and met up with Jeff in Sydney. We are headed to the Blue Mountains for a couple days before we fly to Indonesia.

Just got my hands on the "BIG CATCH" photo from my day of fishing in Kaikoura NZ. (That shark was vicious and A LOT bigger in person... I swear.)

7 days in Fiji

2009-04-29T00:34:00.000-06:00

Not a bad way to spend a week.

Spent a couple nights in Nadi, a couple nights on Mana Island and three nights on Robinson Crusoe Island. Days consisted of volleyball, snorkeling, fishing, laying in a hammock and balancing out my farmers tan... standard tropical island activities.

Off to Fiji

2009-04-19T21:46:00.000-06:00

That's it for New Zealand. I'm spent.

In Auckland right now (where it is chucking rain) and leaving for Fiji tomorrow morning. In typical fashion, all I have at this point is a plane ticket. Where I am staying and what I am doing is still up for grabs. Thinking about hoping around the Mamanuca / Yasawa Islands.

Final picture from NZ:

Sunset at Lake Taupo

NZ - South and North Island

2009-04-14T18:58:00.000-06:00

The Path - Queenstown > Christchurch > Auckland > Mercury Bay > Rotorua > Waitomo > Taupo > River Valley > Wellington. Staying in Wellington for 5 days then hopping a bus back up to Auckland before heading to Fiji.

Highlights from the past week - Zorbing, hiking the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, caving.

P.S. I have finally broken down and joined the rest of the world on Facebook. All the kids are doing it.

Nevis Bungy - Queenstown, New Zealand

2009-04-03T18:33:00.000-06:00

134 meters up. No problem. By "no problem" I mean I was shaking like a leaf.

AJ Hacket Nevis Bungy Jump

Random Pictures

2009-04-01T00:59:00.001-06:00

A few random pics from OZ and NZ...

Australia to New Zealand

2009-03-30T00:18:00.001-06:00

The path: Melbourne > Wilsons Promontory National Park > Lakes Entrance > Barry Way > Jindabyne > Canberra > Sydney > NEW ZEALAND > Christchurch > Kaikoura > Nelson > Westport > Lake Mahinapua > Franze Josef > Wanaka.

After spending a day in the Sydney airport, due to visa problems, I made it into Christchurch, New Zealand @ 1:00 in the morning. Got up at 6:00am and made my way to Kaikoura where I did some fishing, saw some seals and drank some wine at the fishing tour owner's house (I'm not much of a wine guy but he was pouring it like there was no tomorrow). Took a jet boat ride in Westport, sky dived yesterday and went on a glacial heli hike today in Franz Josef. Tomorrow I am off to Queenstown where I am working up the nerve to bungee jump from the 440 foot Nevis Bungee.

Here are some pictures from the last few weeks:

Just Over Two Weeks In

2009-03-16T20:02:00.000-06:00

Quick update:So far - Sydney > Alice Springs > Yulara > Uluru > Kata Tjuta > Watarkka > Adelaide > Horsham > Grampians > Halls Gap > Warrnambool > Port Campbell > Princetown > Otway Fly > Apollo Bay > Lorne > Bells Beach / Torquay > Melbourne. I'll be making my way back up to Sydney and then heading to New Zealand in the next couple weeks.