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 

The end is here

Well i never thought this day would come, but here it is! Today is 20 June 2006... the day my J1 visa expires, which means i'm officially unemployed!! I can't believe 2 years have gone by!

The family has been away (in Mexcio) since last friday and get back after i've left for Alaska (in 4 days btw) so i've been bumming around the house and Denver for the last couple of days! I have a bedroom to paint tomorrow and my bedroom to pack into 2 suitcases by Friday... should keep me extremely busy!!

The new au pair arrives while i'm in Alaska... should be an interesting time for the family and my little cheeky monkeys!!!

Well i'll be seeing all of you in South Africa soon... miss everyone lots :)

Beautiful Denver sunset over the Rockies 

The slogan of my weekend in Chicago... We drink our share & the rest! 

2 days to go

Well it has come down to the last 2 days of work here in the US... i can't really believe that it's all coming to an end and i'll be unemployed pretty soon!!! Yesterday my tickets home arrived via Fedex and to my surprise my heart sunk and i felt really sad! But on a more joyful point, i am off to Alaska in 9 days... and man am i getting excited, hopefully the mosquitoes won't carry me off! I'll be spending a week at home alone before my trip to Alaska because the family is off to Mexico on Saturday, so by the time i get home i should be well rested!!!

On a quick housekeeping issue... Blogger are still working on the whole photo uploading issue so i apologise for the lack of photographic evidence but you can click on the My Flickr link on the right and check out the fotos i've uploaded so far! :)

Ciao for now... more updates will follow shortly!

What happens in Chicago....

.... stays in Chicago! Ok, so Chicago is no Las Vegas, but it was loads of fun!!!

I arrived late (thanks to trusty Southwest Airlines) on Friday night in a chilly and windy (who would've guessed that in the Windy City) Chicago and made a mad dash to find the hostels i was staying in! Once i had checked in, it was another mad dash for the pub to meet up with the Bootsnall clan and what a great clan they turned out to be!!! After downing 3 beers to catch up with the others, i was on my merry way! I had a most enjoyable evening and it was ended by a visit to Weiner Circle... a famous hotdog stand where you get service with a smile... hehe, oh no you don't! It's a great way to finish an evening... been greeted with, "What you want, bitch!" and they don't give you your order till you tip them... it was actually very funny, cos the customers give them the same attitude back! (Chocolate Shake... you had to be there) We then had a long walk back to the hostel in the pouring rain and what i thought was the end of the night turned out to be just the start with a bottle of After Shock appearing... the rest is history! :)

Saturday morning got off to a very slow start and very eventually made it to breakfast at about midday! Once that was in our bellys we headed into downtown Chicago for a spot of sightseeing. First stop, the Chicago Blues Festival... there was more food being sold than blues being played so we decided on an Irish Pub for lunch! Then was a gentle stroll to Lake Michigan... it's incredible to think it's a lake when you can't see the other side, but it was great to see a large body of water again! We went a little snap happy around the Cloud Gate or The Bean as we like to call it, it's an fascinating structure where you can see everything around it at every angle! That was the sightseeing for the day... time to return to the hostel for a much needed nap before another night on the town!

Refreshed and ready to go, we piled in a taxi and found our way... no thanks to the taxi driver, to the Map Room, a very interesting travellers tavern, where we met up with more BNA members! It was a great evening spent sampling beers from around the world and chatting with other travellers! Once most of us were well saturated in alcohol we headed for a karaoke bar! The hostess has to be bribed to allow you to sing and as a group we sang For The Longest Time by Billy Joel... hehe!!!! It was then time to hit Weiner Circle again for a yummy and well fought for hot dog!

Sunday, we met up for breakfast at our diner and then most of us parted ways... people were heading back to all corners of the states and overseas! I headed back downtown to do a little more walking and geeky touristy stuff... walked around the whole of Navy Pier and then made my way up Sears Tower (the 3rd tallest building in the world) to see what i could see and man i could see loads!!!

All and all, it was a fantastic weekend in Chicago in more ways than one! ;) Chicago is a beautiful city with something always going on and it was great to meet some other members of BNA (www.bootsnall.com)

I have a couple of days of work left and just under 2 weeks to go til my trip to Alaska... woohoo, bring on the holidays! :)

There's the motivation Americans need! :)