Thanksgiving Down Under

Setting up for the Thanksgiving feast

So Di and I had discussed doing a Thanksgiving meal a couple of weeks ago and she was kind enough to share her birthday dinner with Thanksgiving! Once the plans were set, she asked what ingredients were necessary for a traditional Thanksgiving meal. I listed off turkey, mashed sweet potatoes with marshmallows and pumpkin pie as the big ticket items! Additionally, I wanted to make my famous key lime pie. It turns out that some of these ingredients are difficult to find in Australia! First off, Di apparently had to call around in order to find a butcher that actually had some turkey! Then, I explained the canned pumpkin mix we use for the pie and was shocked that one of the department stores actually carried it! Our biggest battle though was pie crusts. I love how American manufacturers recognize that we are lazy and would prefer the option of pre-made pie crusts. This is not the case in Australia! So, when Di reported back that there were no pie crusts, as well as no graham crackers in Australia for my key lime pie crust, we had to be innovative in order to make it all work out. In the end, it all did turn out delicious. The one thing though that I found hilarious was watching everyones faces as I explained to them that we actually ate sweet potatoes with marshmallows for Thanksgiving. I kept telling everyone not to knock it until they tried it, and in the end, I think it got the Australian seal of approval!

Di's incredible turkey

I would say that Thanksgiving Down Under 2009 was a success! The turkey was incredible, all of the side dishes were visibly enjoyed, and everyone got a taste of some American pumpkin and key lime pie. It made me feel so fortunate that despite being on the other side of the world, I was still able to share this special holiday with family and friends. In the end, I think having this meal also introduced some Australians to the meaning of Thanksgiving and why it is so important to Americans. Hopefully, all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving back home. Enjoy the rest of your long weekend!

The Great Barrier Reef and beyond

It has only been 4 days since I finished my liveaboard dive trip and I must say that I am already hooked on diving! Upon returning from the Great Barrier Reef, I reflected on the trip and was beyond impressed with my first experience in certified diving. The visibility was incredible, the dive sites were full of aquatic life and corals, and the Pro Dive boat provided us with plenty of delicious food! It is difficult to express in words how liberating it feels to breath underwater and live among the fish, but it is something you must all experience for yourselves!

On my very first unguided dive, my brain kind of shut off. As I began descending below the surface, I started to panic because I realized that I couldn't breath. It turned out that I failed toremember to take out my snorkel and begin using my regulator while underwater! Needless to say, my first dive was slightly messy, but it was no big deal because I had 10 dives left! On my three day, two night liveaboard trip I managed to see several turtles, reef sharks, sting rays, eels, giant clams, triggerfish, crabs, and in case you were wondering, I found Nemo! Since I had an underwater camera housing, I always had my camera ready just in case something really exciting was spotted. On the few occasions were I found a shark or a turtle, I immediately would get a burst of energy and chase after them as if I were a predator. Now that I think back on it, I realized that it may not be the wisest idea to chase sharks!

Although we were doing three dives a day and one night dive, I was surprised at how much energy I had throughout the day. It definitely helped that after every dive there was always some kind of food waiting for us, with my favorite being the warm, fresh baked cakes. The top deck was also great for relaxing. By noon, nearly half of the boat was taking a nap, while the rest, including myself, were absorbing the tranquility of our surroundings. I just remember looking out at the ocean and not seeing a single thing in any direction. I think that this setting makes it nearly impossible for anyone to stress out (not that I have anything not stress out about!). It felt remarkable to be so far away from reality! I could have definitely stayed on that boat for a few more days.

So, to sum it up, my very first dive trip was amazing and unforgettable! Luckily, I have lots of photos to remember the trip. If you have facebook, you can check out the rest of my photos by using this link:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2468464&id=10220156&saved#/album.php?aid=2468464&id=10220156

I still have a lot more to catch you all up on so expect more posts within the week! Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Return to Oz

Well to say the least it feels amazing to be back in Sydney, truly my second home. From the moment that I stepped off of the plane it was pure bliss. Although it has been nearly two years since I left Sydney, it truly felt like it was just yesterday when I departed from my six month study abroad experience. It took a few days to get back to normal, but as soon as I bought my surfboard (referred to as my baby boy), I found myself back to my daily routine at Bondi Beach. My absolute favorite day ever is quite simple: wake up at 6:30, eat some brekkie (as they call it in Australia), take a walk along the stunning coastal beach path, then surf until I have no energy left.  Afterwards, I am content to just relax at the beach with a book or roam around the city. Although I haven't managed to do this every single morning, it is what I aim for!

Seeing a typical Bondi Beach sunset will quickly make you realize how easy it is to be a beach bum

Apart from my beach routine, I have just been enjoying re-familiarizing myself with the city. It only took a few days to master the bus and train system again and I managed to see most classic Sydney sites within the first week. Recently, I have really been enjoying time with my Australian family and taking advantage of everything the city has to offer. What I love about Sydney is that if you are a beach person, like myself, you can still access the heart of the city with a 10-15 minute drive. Since I visited nearly every place I wanted to see last time I was here, it is nice to have this time to feel like a Sydney local.

Returning on the ferry after a lovely day at Manly Beach

The Opera House at sunset

Additionally, I managed to take a quick break from the city by going on a surf trip up north with a company called Mojo Surf.  We went to a mellow, private beach location about four hours from Sydney and stayed at their surfside accommodation.  It was definitely a nice change of pace to have an uncrowded, peaceful beach with plenty of waves for everyone!

The wonderfully vibrant mojo bus

Nice, empty beach!

Well, lets hope that now I can get used to doing blog updates more frequently. I am aiming for updates at least twice a month.  Next up: diving in the great barrier reef

Lots of love to all! Stay well

Am I really leaving?

So the time has come.  The time where I begin freaking out and realize that I am not just making up some whimsical journey around the world from my imagination.  Preparing for my nine month trip has taken more time than I could ever imagine.  From choosing a custom base route through STA Travel to planning out destinations in between each stop, it is safe to say that I have been occupied with my itinerary for the past few months!  Luckily, since my sister will be traveling with me throughout Asia and East Africa, it has been nice having us both look into all of the possibilities for each destination.

Here's my route and some details of the big trip:

Denver--> Los Angeles--> Sydney-->Bangkok-->New Dehli-->Mumbai-->Nairobi-->Accra-->Cairo-->New York-->Denver 

* 7 weeks in Australia to chill by the beach and do some surfing while making time to get scuba certified and head up to the Great Barrier Reef for a liveaboard dive trip

* 8 weeks of beach and culture in southeast Asia (Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam).

* 4 weeks in India to explore its famous sites and all that it has to offer.

* 5 1/2 weeks in East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Rwanda) for a massive serving of adventure

*6-7 weeks in Ghana to live with a local host family and volunteer at an school and explore West Africa

*4 weeks in Egypt to explore this fascinating ancient culture and indulge in some beachside locations