very merry merry

Just a quick post to wish all my 'loyal' readers a very merry xmas... i hope you all have a wonderful day with family and friends! This is my first xmas home in 5 years and it's gonna be good spending it with family and friends again... although i'm not to sure about the heat, i'd rather trade it in for a white xmas!

Oh also to let you know... i passed my exams, so i'm now fully embedded into my second year of my BCom... i will finish it one day! :)

Have a great one!
Luv Me

Adventures of an American in SA continued

So where was i... oh yes, on our way to Cape Town! We were up at sparrow's fart to get catch out 7am flight to CT... we flew the ever entertaining kulula.com! Upon arrival we picked up our hired car... a Ford KA, the cutest little car you'd hope to find! :)

So now to put my plan in action... get from the airport to the Cape Peninsula, drive along there to Stellenbosch where we would be spending a couple of nights. Once we found our way to the Peninsula it was plain sailing... and let me say, one of the most beautiful drives you will ever take! Our first of many stops was Camps Bay for brunch... wow, the beaches and buildings are amazing! We arrived there on Sept 1 (first day of spring), our waiter informed us that it was the first time in 7 years it wasn't raining on the first day of spring... of course Steve claimed to have something to do with that! After eating and a walk along the beach it was back into the KA, making our way towards Cape Point... stopping at regular intervals to take photos of the amazing scenery!

Just before we eventually arrived at the Cape Peninsula National Park we stopped the Cape Point Ostrich Farm and an impulsive decision was made to have a look! We were given a tour of the farm... very interesting stuff, baby ostriches are very cute. Then it was time to reach the South-western most tip of Africa... and what a view and feeling standing there looking out to the horizon! The trek up to the look out point was not that much fun tho! We arrived at the park with only 2 hours left til closing time... much to the disappointment of Steve.

Once we had taken in all we could and the sun started to disappear we jumped back into KA and made our way towards Stellenbosch... eventually arriving in the dark... i think i should take up a job as a navigator! :) We checked into our hostel... The Stumble Inn and hit the student town of Stellenbosch for a great dinner and some live music.

Next morning... Wine Tour! :) We joined a group of about 10 people and were driven around the beautiful wine regions, visiting 5 wineries (Simonsig, Fairview and Boschendal are 3 i remember) and sampling large amounts of delicious wines! Steve... who loves his wines fell in love with Simonsig's Tiara... very yummy (not sure that is the correct way to describe an award-winning wine)! It was an amazing day... i honestly couldn't believe how stunning that part of South Africa was... just breathe-taking, something i'll definitely do again! We were dropped off back in Stellenbosch are 5pm... a long day of drinking, so nap time before a night out! We went back to the restaurant we'd eaten at the previous night for another delicious dinner... not before being insulted by a drunken man insisting that he was our bodyguard!!

Sunday morning dawned... time for a yummy breakfast and back in KA to make our way back along the Cape Peninsula to Simon's Town and Boulders Bay! We were treated to a frolicking display by Humpback whales in Kalk Bay on route to Simon's Town! A tour of the South African Navy Museum in Simon's Town was a must since Steve was in the US Navy... i even found it interesting! Next up... a visit to the penguins of Boulders Bay. There are thousands of them going about their daily lives, not really worried about the thousands of people gawking over them... very cool!

On our way back in Cape Town we came across a troop of baboons taking over the road, there were cars everywhere trying to get the perfect photo! Once back in CT we damped our stuff at The Big Blue hostel and made our way down to the V&A Waterfront to meet up with my aunt and cousin for coffee! Once they left Steve and i enjoyed a very romantic dinner and walked around the waterfront to see what we could see. Back at the hostel bar we drank and chatted with fellow travellers... always fun! :)

The final morning of our whirlwind adventure arrived and thankfully it was a perfect day to make our way up Table Mountain! Another breathe-taking experience... 360 degree views of CT and beyond. We decided to do what we thought would be a little trek to one of the highest points of the mountain... turned out to be a 3 hour hike, nothing like getting the blood pumping! We managed to get back to the cable car in one piece and in time to get back to the airport!! I'm not gonna go any further with the details because leaving Steve and returning to Durban is something i never want to repeat!

I had an absolutely amazing 2 weeks and still remember every detail like it was yesterday! I know Steve loved his time here as well and will definitely return one day! :)

Thanks again to Steve for the use of his fotos... see you in 3 months! :)

The show must go on...

On Friday morning my gran, mom and myself set off for Cape Town to attend my cousin, Cindy's wedding to Ryno! We landed in Cape Town and true to form were almost blown back to Durban... well my gran was anyway! The weather forecast for the next day wasn't looking pretty, which was concerning since the wedding was set to be outside at the Ashanti winery.

My aunt took us off to the V&A Waterfront to meet up with my uncle (mom's brother) and his family... i finally got to meet my youngest cousin who is now 5 and my 2 other cousins i haven't seen in many many years! My aunt then got a text informing her that Ryno (Cindy's husband to be) might have appendicitis... things weren't looking good at all between that and the weather!

Almost the whole of my mom's side of the family... family reunion!

Anyway... saturday morning dawned with blue skies and the news that Ryno would be able to hold out for a few days... the wedding will go ahead! :)

It was an absolutely amazing wedding... everything was beautiful, my cousin looked amazing and the groom looked pretty dapper himself! Many beautiful and thought provoking things were said... it was just an amazing day! A very simple and down to earth kind of day... perfect in my eyes!

Btw... the orginal title was There will be a wedding... this gave a few readers the wrong idea so i changed it! :)

Summer is officially here :)

Well this is my first Durban summer in 5 years and man is it hot... i'd forgotten about the humidity in this place! I am also officially sun burnt for the first time in 5 years... i look like a tomato lobster... ouch! :) well at least i have some colour in me!!!

This month has been pretty crazy, finished exams finally (still waiting for the results) and have been working so much i can't remember the last time i had dinner at home (it reaps rewards tho, got the highest turnover for Nov... bonus)! My shifts for Dec are also insane... think of the money Robyn, every bit counts towards getting me back to the states!!!

I am now off for 4 days tho... jetting off to Cape Town tomorrow... yay! :) Going for my cousin, Cindy's wedding... it's gonna be an awesome weekend, i'm really looking forward to seeing all my family again! :)

Look out for fotos next week and i haven't forgotten about the to be continued story! :)

PS some exciting tourism news... 'Tourism growth in SA double that of the world'

Adventures of an American in SA

Aug 26th... Steve walks through the doors at Durban International, after a very long 6 weeks of anticipation and excitement! All i will say about his arrival is that my heart skipped a number of beats! :)

We spent the first 2 days in Durbs. Landed up at Warwick's (my flatmate) parent's house in Ballito the first night and a fantastic evening was had by all, esp Steve, who was introduced to the great hospitality of a true South African family and a braai... i kicked ass at pool as well! The second day's activities were dominated by a Cessna flight down the south coast to Margate and back piloted by the cousin, Shannon! It was a beautifully clear day and we could see for miles... amazing stuff! :)

Greatest house bar in the world!

On the Monday we picked up our rented car, Super Tazz and made our way up the north coast on the N2 towards Hluhluwe. We stayed at Isinkwe Backpackers Bushcamp... a beautiful setting and location right in the bush! That afternoon was spent at the Emdoneni Cheetah Project up the road from the hostel to watch and participate in the feeding of Cheetahs and a few other wild cats... it was wild!

5am wake up call the next morning... safariing we shall go! After a very cold 30km ride on the back of an open safari truck we arrived at the entrance of Hluhluwe Game Reserve for a full day of wildlife watching! Within the first hour of the safari we saw Rhino, Zebra, a variety of buck, Wildebeest, Buffalo, Giraffe, Baboons and i'm sure there were many more! Steve was loving all the photographic opportunities as he is a very keen photographer and very good at it i might add! The rest of the day was a bit of a disappointment, all the wildlife seemed to go into hiding and our tour guide (nicknamed potato head by Steve and i) seemed to go to sleep! As the afternoon rolled on, the clouds rolled in and so did the rain! Another cold 30km ride back to the lodge lay ahead of us but this time with a few rain drops. It was a great and tiring day, great photos were taken and every animal except Lion, Leopard and Elephant were seen! We spent the evening enjoying a few drinks, a good meal and a game of darts (which i won... again!)


Wednesday morning dawned, we packed up the Super Tazz again and made our way to St Lucia! I was really looking forward to this part of the trip because i'd never been to St Lucia! We arrived and checked in at Bibs with gale force winds blowing us to all parts (later heard that the Durban Harbour had been closed because of the wind and swells). Because of the winds all 'normal' St Lucia activities had been cancelled so after enjoying a cup of Illy coffee, much to Steve's delight, we took a drive up to Cape Vidal! What a beautiful beach, even with the wind blowing like it was it was amazing! The drive up to Cape Vidal is made through a game reserve, we saw a few buck and a lonely Rhino. On the way back Steve decided to take the now famous 'loop road' which just seemed to be this endless road of nothingness... you had to be there!

Me outside Bibs in St Lucia

Cape Vidal... ain't it beautiful

Our night in St Lucia was spent with the fellow travellers staying at Bibs, we spent the evening drinking beer and whisky, watching the local church group sing a few traditional songs and then made our way in the pouring rain to the local pub, i think it was called the Cheeky Monkey... an awesome evening was had by all, hanging out with fellow travellers rocks! Next morning we awoke to pouring rain and headaches! After another cup of Illy coffee and a delicious breakfast we took a drive down to the estuary and watched a large group of hippos and a couple crocs frolic in the waters... very entertaining! :)


We arrived back in Durbs later that afternoon and Warwick took us out for a good ol Durban curry! It was another early morning the next morning as we made our way to Cape Town! To be continued... :)

Just to end off, I have to apologise for the over use of the word 'and' and thank Steve for all the great photos!

Down to the Hibiscus Coast

I was invited to join Sandy (my god mother), Graham (Sandy's husband), Hayley (my best friend), Jack (my god son and Hayley's son) and a friend of Hayley's down the south coast this weekend in a holiday town called Margate where they have a holiday house! I arrived there on Saturday morning to rain and grey skies! Anyway, not to waste an opportunity to relax we took a drive into the hills to scout out Hayley's wedding venue and then spent the rest of the afternoon around the braai (BBQ for the foreigners) drinking wine and tequila :) I feel asleep pretty early after working a 15 hour shift the day before!

My godson, Jack... just learning to stand on his own!

Sunday dawned and so did the grey skies! Never-the-less, we took a short walk down to the beach and trundled among the rocks and i spent a good 15 minutes watching the waves crashing on the rocks... can't think of many better sights! Later that morning the skies changed to a brighter shade of blue and we made our way to the very famous Waffle House... it's an amazing little restaurant specialising in... you guessed it... waffles, yummy!!!

After filling our tummies full of waffles, we made our way back to Durbs! It was a great weekend... just what i needed to de-stress and relax in the company of great friends. Before returning to my flat we stopped off at a family braai on the bluff which looks right over the sea, only to spend the afternoon watching whales frolicking in the sea... amazing! :)

Well that was my weekend... i have today (Monday) off as well but it's back to the grind stone tomorrow for a 6 day week!

I'm back

Well i've finally fought my way out from under the piles of notes, textbooks and study material i've been hiding under for the last 2 months or so! Wrote my last exam for the year this morning... if the results go my way, i'm now half way! :) So, let life begin again...

It seems i have quite a bit of catching up to do, i'm a bad person for leaving it this long... a few trips i've taken, a special visit and general goings on in my life at home are all to come!

Ok, to catch up on the general stuff! I've now been back in good old durbs for 4 months now... wow, time does really fly! It hasn't been the easiest 4 months of my life, lots of adjusting and sole searching has been done and a fair few tears have been shed! Anyhoo, i'm living in an awesome flat with a very good friend of mine... thanks Budg for putting up with me for this long, so from that point of view i'm pretty settled! After job hunting for about 2 months and coming up with nothing that would pay me enough or allow me enough time to get my studying done i finally gave in and got a job at Billy the B.U.M.S ... any of you that live in Durban, i expect a visit! So i'm pretty much back to my student life... study all day and work at night and somewhere in the middle i try get some sleep and see my friends! Now that exams are over i have a little more time to do stuff!

I'd forgotten how much rain we get at this time of the year... the sun has finally come out after 4 straight days of downpours and flooding all over the place. Apparently we had over 80mm of rain in 6 hours yesterday... i'm sure the ducks were delighted! :)



That's enough info for one post... more to come very soon, but just to give you a little taster, i'll leave you with this photo! :)

Oh and one more thing... i'll be adding a few new features, mostly interesting news tidbits and articles about travel and tourism... since it is my 'thing' and line of study and anything i find funny and entertaining so brace yourself! :) there are way to many 'ands' in that sentence!

Here's the first... SA attracted 2.7mil tourists between January and April this year (reflecting a 16% increase from the same period last year), not bad at all! :)

I know, I know...

... I'm crap! :)

I'm still alive, i promise... just been so busy with life and trying to get it back to a normal... if live is ever normal!

Anyway, i'm still in Durban... surprising i know! My life at the mo consists of studying (i have 2 more exams left for the year), working (i'm working as a waitress at Billy the B.U.M.S - great student job) and finding ways of getting out of here again! :)

I had an absolutely awesome 2 week trip around SA (well KZN and Cape Town) last month with Steve which i will post about once the exams are done... just wanted to say hi and assure you that life is still ticking over!

Hope everyone out there is well! :)

3 weeks on

ok, maybe a little over 3 weeks!

Well, i think i'm finally starting to adjust, as i said in my previous post i found things extremely rough at first... but everything is slowly but surely settling down. I've registered for this semester and studying is underway. I'm finally moving into my new flat this weekend, which i think is just the change i need... not that living with mom has been tough, but i need to get out on my own again. The drivers license thing is still a total cock up... i'll get back to you about that next year sometime. I sent my CV into the Suncoast Casino, they got back to me the next day and said i had all the relevent experience, etc but i had to wait for the boss to get back in August before anything could happen... so that's what i've been doing, it's a hurry up and wait situation!!!

The BIG 5 in sand

Other than that, i've been up to a few things. My cousin, Shannon, who has his PPL took me on a flight up to Richard's Bay and back... it was awesome, i'm very proud of him! Then last weekend i went to my first rugby game in about 5 years... the Sharks had to spoil my fun and loose tho! We also enjoyed an awesome day at Durban Botanic gardens, drinking wine, eating cheese and biscuits and listening to Watershed play live... most enjoyable!

So live in Africa goes on! I do have something extremely exciting to look forward to tho... i have a very special someone coming to visit at the end of this month and we are doing a whirlwind tour of Durban and Cape Town... very, very excited!

Til next time
Cheers :)

Durbs by the sea

Here i am... back in Durban! I find it hard to call it home, cos for some reason i walk around here and i just don't feel like i am at home... that'll probably change with time i suppose.

Well nothing much has actually changed since i've been gone... everything is still pretty much where it was, with a few additions here and there! The first couple of days i was back, my head was spinning... i wasn't use to walking around hearing South African accents, i had to keep reminding myself that i as indeed back in SA!

There is so much that i need to do and it has me all a little stressed at the mo... job hunting, studying, moving flat, trying to organise a drivers license (which is a total cock up) and just trying to keep focused... it's all a little much at the mo, but one step at a time!

Anyway, thought i'd just update everyone on my where abouts and yes i know i haven't finished my recap on Alaska... will get there with time!
Hope you are all well :)
Robyn

The gang... all 14 of use! :) 

Last Alaskan sunset over the ring of fire!

(Day 6 and 7) Last night in paradise

We arrived at our campsite late afternoon (altho it looked like mid morning) and man was it windy! It was quite a challenge getting the campsite set up, everyone had to chip in! Once that was sorted we all huddled up the pebbled shore with beer in hand and discussed our week long adventure amongst other things! As usual Marla (the Irish gal) had us in stitches! Whilst we were all chillaxing, Mike our trusty guide was cooking up a storm.... fresh Halibut (caught by some of the people on your trek in Homer), potatoes and salad... it was a great last meal and we worked out had cost $900 (9 people went fishing and $100 a head)! :)

The rest of the evening was spent around the bonfire, drinking, chatting, laughing... get way to end a very long, tiring but absolutely amazing week! At about 2am, the frisbee made an appearance (bear in mind it's still light at this time), so the lot of us stumbled around the camp catching and throwing this frisbee whilst trying not to make to much noise... hehe (didn't succeed very well)! Most of us were in bed by 3am!

The final morning dawned and we all packed up our tents for the last time, most of us with heavy hearts... i was very sad at the thought of leaving this beautiful part of the world! Everyone loaded into the van and made our way North toward Anchorage (a 4 hour drive). We stopped at Portage Glacier for lunch (sandwiches again). Glaciers are amazing things... they are so big. We then made a quick stop in a small ski resort called Alyeska, which was dead due to the fact it was summer!

On our final stretch towards Anchorage, a damn State Trooper spoils our fun and pulls the van over! Mike was going 11 miles over the speed limit and he got a fine... that put a dampener on the day!!! Once we arrived back in Anchorage, everyone dispersed to their hotels or hostels and no doubt the first item on the agenda was SHOWER! I think in those 7 days i showered 3 times... up to the nose, smells like a rose! We then all met up in downtown Anchorage for a final dinner... most people had King crab, not me... ribs all the way! :)

After a few goodbyes, a few of us headed to a local pub and we spent the night drinking, laughing and playing darts! It was a fantastic way to end the tour and i want to thank all the people in the group for contributing to an amazing experience and of course to Alaska for being so damn amazing!

Photos are now available on my Flickr page, so check them out! :)

BTW, got my exam results... i kick arse!!!!!

Me eating Halibut and chips and drinking Alaskan Summer Ale out a jar... yummy! :) 

Humpback whale's tail! 

(Day 4 to 6) Where the land ends

On the road again and heading way south to a town called Homer and the long, thin stretch of land that expends into the sea known as Homer Spit! It is a fantastic place to camp because you are surrounded by sea and mountains.... absolutely amazing!

The camp ground was pretty windy and chilly but nothing a bonfire (started by myself) and an excellent bowl of chilly (thanks Mike) couldn't fix! Once we were all settled in, a few of us who weren't getting up at 5am to go Halibut fishing went across the street to the local... Salty Dawg Saloon! Very cool and interesting place, it had thousands of $1 bills stuck to the walls that people had signed and left... so of course i followed suit! Myself and an Irish girl, Marla were the last 2 standing and after a few good beers and come interesting conversation with drunken fishermen made our way back to camp at about 330am... and for the first time in 5 days i saw Alaskan darkness... it was very weird!

Morning arrived far to quickly and it was time to pack up again and make our way across Kachemak Bay on a water taxi... it was a very bumpy but very enjoyable ride, to a small group B&B called Across the Bay for a chillaxing day and night in "luxury" accommodation! It was a stunning little place... absolutely amazing scenery and very relaxing! After 5 days of really roughing it most of us were really excited just to have a pillow for the night... hehe! We spent the afternoon and early evening drinking beer and playing horse shoes. Tony, the owner cooked us a mighty fine salmon dish for dinner with salmon freshly caught that afternoon and i even tried rhubarb pie... getting a little adventurous in my old age!

After a comfy sleep in a bed we were fed and then it was sea kayaking time! After a quick sea kayaking 101 lesson it was all systems go. I was in a single kayak because there weren't enough doubles and i'm not scared of a little adventure... i kicked arse btw!!! :) We paddled for about 2 hours stopping to watch sea otters and harbour porpoises... they are so cute! Once we got to where we were going, there was a quick picnic lunch and back out again. There was also a very cute harbour seal following our boats... apparently it had been rescued and released in the bay and it loves to follow the boats around!

On the way back i got chatting to our kayak guide, Katie and she was telling me about the native people and the problems they are having, it's pretty sad really. All they do now is drink and gamble! I also learnt something very interesting... in Alaska the men out number the women 7 to 1, and there is a saying in Alaska... the odds are good but the goods are odd... hehe!

Anyhoo, the kayak was a wonderful experience, def something i'd like to do again! Once we returned it was pack up and go time again... back in a water taxi (altho some in the group took a float plane) and back to Homer! Once we got back on dry land, it was back in the bus and a 45 minute drive North to another small town called Ninilchik for our last night in the Alaskan wilderness!

(Day 3 and 4) We found Hope in Alaska

So we packed up the camp (which will become a pain in the ass as the trip goes on) and headed towards the forgotten town of Hope, Alaska (a one horse town that never had a horse)! Main St consists of 4 buildings, one being a house, another the local store, then there is the Seaview restaurant where we took over the place for dinner... i had Halibut & chips and an Alaska Summer Ale in a jar... very yummy! The last building (if you can call it that) it this very very rustic cabin, held together but spider webs and that was home for the night! We all opted to pitch out tents and camp in the garden instead!

Before i left for Alaska i was warned about the mosquitoes and how they would carry me away (they are the size of dragonflies). Having been eaten alive back home i decided to stock up on Deet but to my surprise and absolute joy they don't like me! The mosquitoes in Hope were deadly.... hehe!

Day 2 in Hope arrived and a couple of us decided to go for a 10 mile hike whilst the others went white water rafting (i didn't go cos of cash and the fact it was grade 5 and i've never been before). The hike was stunning and the views over Turnagain Arms at the end were worth every step i took... absolutely beautiful!!!

Everyone was finished by mid afternoon and it was pack up and move along time again! Next stop Homer and the Homer Spit campground!!!

BTW, i'll post all the pics on my Flickr account as soon as i return to Denver! :)

(Day 1 to 3) Seward, Alaska

So we finally got under way after sitting around for a couple of hours! Our guide Mike is very entertaining and full of beans. The group is multinational and everyone seems to get on very well (i'll report back on that one by the end of the week)! First stop Fred Meyer... Grocery shopping and then a 3 hour drive to Seward with a few stops on the way for photographic opportunities! I still can't really get over how beautiful this place is... it's breathtaking and def the Last Frontier!

Seward is a pretty small coastal town on the shores of Recurrection Bay, we were camping almost right on the shore line and i don't think you could've dreamed for a better view from a tent (fotos later)! We were surround by water and snow capped mountains! The weather on the first 2 days on Seward wasn't the best, it rained on and off and the wind is very chilly but otherwise not to bad!

First day in Seward was basically set up camp (thanks Mike for our Tent 101 lecture), get to know our fellow trekkers, make dinner (Mike's world famous burgers) and then off to the bar... Hobo Jim (an Alaskan Legend) was singing, so naturally we couldn't pass up the chance to see Hobo Jim live! It was quite an experience, i think the whole community of 100 people had come out to soak it up!! I tried the local brew... Alaskan Summer Ale, very tasty! I was ready for bed by about midnight but the sun wasn't... it only goes down around 2am and only for between 3 and 4 hours, freaky!

On our second day in Seward we all went on a 8 hour cruise out to Holgate Glacier and back... def worth the price! It was incredible and the wildlife we saw was amazing! I was pretty determined i wanted to see whales and Alaska delivered. We saw 3 Humpback Whales... what an experience, they are so huge and beautiful and that noise as they blow air out their blow holes is incredible! The Puffins were amusing... there was a feeding frenzy going on and the Puffins had obviously eaten way to much because they were trying to take off and couldn't get off the water... we were all willing them on! We also saw Sea Otters... very cute; Steller sea lions... who were doing what seals do best, sleeping; Coastal Mountain Goats... they were very fasinating because they were feeding on a sheer rock face, how do they do it; Dall's porpoises... they were swimming with the boat, very cool and they look like mini Orcas; and then as an extra treat we spotted a Black Bear on the shore so the captain got us in really close... it was just pottering around on the shore looking for food! I think that's all the wildlife we saw, the Park Ranger on board said that our cruise is one of the luckiest this season with regards to wildlife viewing! :) We enjoyed a buffet of prime rib, salmon and all you can eat dessert on the boat... yummy in my tummy!! Oh yes, i almost forgot about Holgate Glacier... one big block of ice! It was amazing to just watch it and listening to the ice cracking off and falling into the water.... calving they call it!

Third day started with a small hike to Exit Glacier, were i actually got it touch it and see for myself how big of a block of ice it actually is... massive btw! The rest of the day was spent at leisure, i walked around downtown Seward (which i think is a little over touristy, every shop sells tourist crap... but hey, they have to make a living i suppose) and then parked off on the shore and watched the world go by for a couple of hours! Got to see a Bald Eagle swoop down and pluck a fish from the water, settle on the shore to eat it's catch and fly off again... amazing! All and all, a very good day... it's been a long time since i've been able to just sit and soak everything up! We then packed up the camp and hit the road to Hope (that's the name of the one horse town), more of that later! :)

Mindblowing (Day 1)

So i arrived in Anchorage at 1058pm... to sunshine and blue skies, it felt like midday... incredible! I was so tired by the time i got to my hostel but there was so much to take in and the fact that it was so light meant i got about 3 hours sleep last night (on my second cup of very strong coffee)!

The flight in was amazing, seeing all the mountains covered in snow and the water and, and, and...!!! I really can't wait to set off on our tour... it's gonna be incredible!

I am currently sitting around waiting for the rest of our group to meet up with us... so far we have 1 guy from Boston, 2 Irish girls, an english couple on their honeymoon, a girl from Equador and a kiwi girl (who was very excited when i asked where abouts in NZ she came from... apparently i'm the first to not call her an Aussie)!

We are going on a cruise tomorrow to see what we can see, i wasn't gonna do it but i thought what the hell... lets blow the savings! :)

More details and fotos as soon as i can!
Bye for now :)

Alaska, watch out... here comes trouble!

I can't really believe June 24th 2006 has arrived... i booked this trip months ago and never thought i'd get there!

Well i got to DIA (Denver International Airport) the traditional 2 hours early for the first leg of my flight to Anchourage, only to be told that my flight to San Francisco had been cancelled... nice one United! After a little bit of a panic, i was rebooked on a flight to Seattle and then onto Anchorage... so here i sit at Seattle International Airport for a very long 6 hours... thank goodness for wireless internet! :) I now get into Anchorage 3 hours later... but better later than never hey. I'll probably be able to squeeze in about 5 hours sleep before i'm off on my little 7 day camping trek!

I'll keep you updated as best as i can whilst in Alaska! Bye for now! :)

Cloud Gate... $26million bean 

Cloud Gate (aka The Bean)... me taking a foto of me