Vou te contar...

One more time...

2007-06-17T09:02:00.001-07:00

“Lucky, lucky girl you are…”

My friend Kahung wrote that line in the comment section of this blog. And he is absolutely right…

My travels were thrilling, joyous, uncomfortable, peaceful, highly emotional, slow at times, lighting speed otherwise, and full of big moments. I will NEVER forget…

…snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef, swimming back to the boat, hand in hand with Amber….

…truly living in the present, in trepidation of every turn and step as Jenn and I went black water rafting in the Waitomo Caves and were humbled by Franz Josef…

…the awe-inspiring views as Mike and I hiked along Jinshanling, with the true understanding of why it is called the GREAT Wall of China…

…and the simple pleasures of kaiten sushi, karaoke and onsen hopping in Japan.

I am now back at home, back to work, and back to real life. At first glance, nothing was truly different when I got back…unless you consider me, of course. I am different. How? I am more of myself. Travelers understand what this means.

Mike says that we travel for no one else but ourselves, a profound statement I am only now beginning to understand.

I want to thank all of you who followed my blog entries, wrote comments and emailed. I am overwhelmed by how many people read my entries. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

To Mike, Amber and Jenn, you made my travels rich, and gave me the biggest gift of all: the ability to share these experiences with people I love.

My next adventure will soon come, because traveling is part of who I am. And then, I will re-open this blog and invite all of you to join me again.

“At moments of wonder, it is easy to avoid small thinking, to entertain thoughts that span the universe, that capture both thunder and tinkle, thick and thin, the near and the far.”

And this is all the reason you need to pack your bags and go see something new!

Macau - casinos anyone?

2007-05-24T00:13:00.001-07:00

Back in Hong Kong, we decided to take the ferry to Macau, a former European colony that was handed back to China in 1999. This is part of what makes it so interesting, because you can see the European influence in the architecture and certainly, in the food.

Old meets new in this building

But the shocking part was the number of casinos! My goodness! There were dozens and dozens of casinos, and unfortunately, we are at the end of our trip and the money is running low....maybe we should have gambled and tested our luck!

Shanghai

2007-05-23T17:36:00.000-07:00

Shanghai is totally alive! The bikes, the shops, the food, and of course, the Bund, makes Shanghai a fun city to explore.

The city is exactly that: a true city in every sense of the word. It is polluted, full of people and terrible traffic jams, filled with all the shopping you can handle, and food from around the world. In fact, my impression of Shanghai was that it is fairly westernized, especially when compared to other places that we visited in mainland China. For example, we had to really search for authentic Chinese food, depending on the neighbourhood we were in. And often, I thought there were more foreigners than Chinese people surrounding us!

These are two views from the Bund, which is Shanghai's waterfront. The pictures really don't capture how pretty the skyline is, especially at night.

This is Nanjing Donglu, one of the main pedestrian-only shopping strips in Shanghai. I went crazy buying silk here. Hey, at least it's light to carry!

Mao's presence is felt here too. Every once in awhile, we stumbled upon Mao statues or portraits.

Mike at the People's Park. We had a lovely afternoon here, and ate lunch overlooking a small lake.

The traffic is CRAZY! These bikes will kill you if you're not paying attention. It's like they aim for you!

This cold noodle dish was fantastic! It looks like noodles and broth but it was so much more than that. I've never had anything like it, even the consistency was different. It was delicious!

Bye bye mainland China - we took a 24-hour train back to Hong Kong.

Yangzi River and the Three Gorges

2007-05-22T06:37:00.000-07:00

One of the things I wanted to experience in China was a cruise along the Yangzi River, the third largest river in the world. Along the river, there are 3 incredibly beautiful Gorges: Qutang, Wu and Xiling. Over three days and three nights, you sail through these and enjoy the view, together with other stops for shorter trips.

Sounds nice, doesn't it? Not the way we did it!

We wanted to do this in an authentic manner so we got tickets on a chinese boat. Bad move. I will not go on and on here about how bad this was. All I will say is that I cried, didn't shower for 3 days, and was covered in bug bites by the time we finally left the boat. Instead, I will share the pictures of the best part: the scenery!The three Gorges are beautiful, but more impressive were the Little Three Gorges. We got off our "cruise boat" and went onto a smaller boat to be able to sail through this smaller area, and it was an amazing few hours. The water in this part is much cleaner, and looks green. You get really close to the gorges, and get to see its lushness!

We boarded an even smaller boat to go through the Little Little Three Gorges (no, the names of these sights are not original). Our chinese guide sang throughout the sail, people clapped along, and even though Mike and I had no clue what was being said, we laughed with everyone else and had a great time.

Once we got off the boat (thank God!), we visited the Three Gorges Dam, a controversial project the Chinese government has undertaken to build the largest dam in the world. A million people will be displaced because of the rising of the Yangzi river as the dam is finished, and there are also questions about its safety. Even unfinished, it is quite impressive due to its size.

The Terracota Warriors in Xian

2007-05-22T05:39:00.000-07:00

Xian is a city in the middle of China that became an overnight tourist centre when an army of Terracotta Warriors was discovered in 1974 by farmers digging a well. They were built by a total of 110,000 people over 38 years in 200 BC, ordered by the first Emperor of China who wanted the warriors to protect him in his afterlife.

The pits are still being fully excavated about an hour outside of the city centre. So you have to be driven out there to see the warriors.

One of the MANY tourist scams in China is to take us on a "tour" with an "English speaking guide" (I say this VERY loosely, since I don't believe that saying yes and no, and a couple of other sentences constitutes an English speaker), where you actually get driven to various tourist traps and left for half hour at a time to "shop". I booked the tour through our hostel and asked point blank if it had any 'shopping' and was assured that all it included was a trip to the museum.

You see where I'm going with this: I was lied to! We were taken to:

...a silk factory...

...a farmers' paintings exhibition...

...a terracotta souvenir factory...

...a furniture store...

...and an expensive restaurant for lunch, where we were given no choice about the menu or location. GRRRRR!!!!!!! The scam is blatant and ridiculous. There are "workers" s None of us on the tour bought anything, which angered our guide. His loss!

After 5 hours of this run-around, we finally made it to the warriors:

There are 4,000 of them just in this pit.

Mike taking pictures with his favourite camera.

An overview of the pit. with warriors that have been re-constructed lined up.

Mike and I at the first pit. We hung out here for awhile, admiring the work of so many Chinese workers over 2000 years ago.

Some of them are missing their body parts....it takes days to reconstruct just one.

A close-up of one of the warriors.

All in all, it was worth the experience to see the warriors. But next time, I think I'll take the bus there myself!

I couldn't resist putting in some more food pictures. We found the Islam quarter of Xian and there was a magnificent food market, where we indulged (yes, again) in lots of things we can't name.

This is an overview of part of the market.

Although this looks like potatoes, it's actually a jelly-like substance. After we got used to the texture, it was actually pretty good!

Mike getting ready to attact the dumplings!

The Great Wall of China

2007-05-07T15:57:00.000-07:00

This was without question the best day I have spent in China thus far, and the within the top 3 experiences in my trip overall.

We chose to go to a section of the wall called Jinshanling, where it is far from the crowds of tourists. We drove almost 5 hours from Beijing to get there, and it was magical!

The climb from Jinshanling to Simatai was 10 km long, and some parts were so steep! We loved every moment of it!

My first glimpse of the wall above.

Mike was in his element, running up and down the wall, trying to catch his breath between taking pictures.

You can't believe how massive this wall is!

The views from the wall are breathtaking. We were lucky enough to have a perfectly sunny day with blue skies and a constant gentle breeze.

On the way down from the wall, we had the option of 'zip-lining'. I was terrified but I could see in Mike's eyes that he really wanted to do it, and so......

.....I did it too! It was exhilirating, and when I worked up the courage to open my eyes, I had the most incredible view of the Great Wall.

Summer Palace

2007-05-07T15:43:00.000-07:00

The Summer Palace in Beijing is exquisite. It is the summer home of the Emperors of China, mainly for when they wanted to leave the Forbidden City quarters.

We took an hour-long boat ride to get there...

Even the archways and overbridges were beautiful.

We spent an afternoon walking throughout the paths and visiting different spots around this massive park, but we certainly could have spent the whole day there.

Sorry that this photo isn't upright but I can't figure out how to fix it because the program is in Chinese. I still wanted to include so you could see the background that we're trekking through - gorgeous!

Pandas

2007-05-07T01:23:00.000-07:00

Beijing Zoo....yeah, it's a zoo alright....mostly because we braved it on a major chinese holiday and got MAULED by the crowds!

There are 5 pandas at the zoo, each caged individually (and I do mean caged) - there are 3 cages and 2 park-like, open-air holdings.

The pandas are MAGNIFICENT and as beautiful and majestic as the pictures I had seen.

I enjoyed seeing them, and seeing the joy on kids' faces all around me. But the conditions under which they were kept did make me a bit sad. Maybe that's why we need to be vocal about protecting (and not exploiting) these beautiful creatures.

More from Hong Kong

2007-05-06T19:25:00.000-07:00

A few more pictures for you to follow us throughout China....

WALKING AROUND THE CITY - it is full of people, life, and unfortunately, a lot of pollution. You can see how hazy the days look.

The pictures above are from the harbour, looking at Hong Kong Island.

Above is Kowloon Park, near the guesthouse where we stayed.

FOOD! This is one of the true highlights of this trip - the food NEVER disappoints!

VICTORIA PEAK (Hong Kong):

This is a worthwhile thing to do when you're in Hong Kong. There is a tram (quite steep) that takes you to Victoria Peak, overlooking Hong Kong Island. We went up to watch the sunset and had incredible views during the day and night.

This was taken as the sun was setting.

LANTAU (Hong Kong):

We went to an island a train ride away from Hong Kong to spend the day and see this Buddha.

From the cable car (which was a 25 minute ride) you could see the International Hong Kong Airport below.

The view from the top was beautiful - worth the climb!

This is the closest we got to it. It is the tallest outdoor seated buddha in the world.

TEMPLE ST NIGHT MARKET (Hong Kong): I had a lot of fun in this night market. It's one long street narrowed by the endless stalls selling everything from souvenirs to sunglasses, appliances and clothes too!

We also got some great food that night:

China

2007-05-06T02:48:00.000-07:00

Hello from China!

This is the first time I've had access to the internet and been able to upload some pictures for you to see. It is not a perfect connection, so I'll put one or two pictures of each place and when I get home, I can bore you all with all the photos.

HOT POT in Hong Kong with my roomates from Australia:

SNACK MARKET (Beijing)

Yes, those ARE scorpions. And no, mom, I didn't eat them!

THE FORBIDDEN CITY (Beijing)

The view from the Meridian Gate

TIANANMEN SQUARE (Beijing)

The gate to enter the Forbidden City, still adorned with a portrayed of Mao, is at the north end of Tiananmen Square. visiting the Terracotta Warriors in Xi'an. I'll post more pictures as soon as we get a chance.....

FUGU

2007-04-22T19:47:00.000-07:00

Among the many pieces of advice my mother gave me before I left on my trip was the warning NOT to eat fugu in Japan.

Sorry mom, but I HAD to try it!!!!

FUGU aka blowfish aka globefish, is one of the most notorious and celebrated dishes of Japan.

It is a lethally poisonous fish if prepared incorrectly, and so, only licensed and specially trained chefs in Japan are allowed to serve fugu. You see, if you ingest the poison it paralyzes your muscles and you die by asphyxiation. The worst part is that the poison doesn't affect your brain and you're fully conscious as this happens. The most poisonous parts of the blowfish are its liver and ovaries, and eating these is illegal in Japan. So you can imagine that when Mike and I went in search of fugu the other night, we wanted a chef who knew EXACTLY what he was doing!

This is where we found our much anticipated dinner:

There are many ways to enjoy fugu...

...grilled...

...boiled like shabu shabu...

...and the most popular:
served as sashimi, sliced so thin that you can see the dish it is presented on.

And so came the moment we were waiting for. We proceeded with some caution but ate it all nonetheless!

Two questions that you may be wondering about:

Did we die? obviously not since I'm posting these pictures. Typically, you die from the fugu poison within 4-24 hours of its consumption. It has been a couple of days since our dinner, so I think we're safe now.

What does it taste like? not much. It is actually a rather bland fish, and the accompanying sauces give it some flavour. I suppose that part of what makes this dish so famous is the potential risk (although when it is preparedly properly the risk is minimal) and that if you eat enough of it, or just some of the illegal parts, you do get a prickly/numbing sensation on your lips and tongue.

Still, I was thrilled to try it! We had so much fun in the process and that alone was worth it! Besides, could I really have left Japan without adding this adventure to my experiences here?

Arashiyama

2007-04-20T22:50:00.000-07:00

On Friday Aiko and I spent the day in Arashiyama, on the western outskirts of Kyoto. This is a beautiful area of Japan, where shops and restaurants lie huddled across the Hozu River. There are also zen temples, a bamboo grove and the elegant Mount Arashiyama overlooking it all. We had a lovely day there, and I want to share some pictures here.

Along the Hozu river

My friend Aiko who graciously spent her only day off this week showing me around.

Part of Mount Arashiyama overlooking the river

Lunch!

Around the town...you see as many people in jeans and running shoes
as you see women in kimono.

Even the dolls in the shops bow to welcome us. I wish I could have brought her home!

We sat here, ate ice cream and enjoyed the view of Togetsukyo Bridge

Above are some pictures of the many temples, shrines and small homes that we found on our walk around.

I couldn't resist: these little guys are too cute!

This is a residential area. We were told to walk up this street to find the bamboo groves....

...and look at the beauty we found on the other side!

We took a walk amidst the bamboo groves

There were even small shrines scattered throughout the walk

Then we took a tram (Sagano Torokko Ressha) to tour all the way around Mount Arashiyama. The day was perfect for it!

Above are pictures of our view from the tram ride.

An update from Osaka...

2007-04-16T01:08:00.000-07:00

It has been a little while since my last update and some are wondering what I've been doing in Japan the last few weeks. This is the part of my trip where I try to recover from being on the road so much over the past few months. Mike lives in Osaka, where he works with corporate men and women who want to improve their English skills. And so, staying with him for a few weeks before we move on to China was a perfect interlude and a wonderful opportunity to visit Osaka again.

The first time I came to Japan was May of last year. This was a whirlwind type of trip where in three weeks we visited not only Osaka but also Tokyo, Kyoto, Nikko and Matsuyama in Shikoku. A total attack of the senses!

My second trip to Japan (in January of this year) was a bit more relaxed. We visited nearby towns like Arima, Kobe and Nara, but I mostly "dated" Osaka by hanging out with friends, going out to restaurants to take pleasure in the Japanese cuisine (everything from ramen, shabu shabu, nabe, tacoyaki, udon, okonomyyaki, omusoba, and of course, sushi!), and I went through my first experiences around the city without Mike as my guide and translator.

This third time, well, I feel like I have an established relationship with this city, albeit not an intimate one. I know the stores, the markets, the subway system (ok, that's a lie. I know 1 or 2 lines of the many in Osaka)....but I do navigate my way around fairly well. Yet, my relationship with Osaka is a bit more complicated than I make it seem. You see, comfort is found only in the familiar and panic still ensues when confronted with the language. My attempts to interact in a basic manner are foiled by my inability to understand Japanese. Like when I tried to pay for 3 bottles of juice and the cashier was trying to explain that the limit of purchase for this sale is 2 per person. Or when the lady at the supermarket asks me if I want chopsticks for my sushi - why does she have to talk to me? Can't I just pay for it and be on my way? Or my ambitious attempt to buy a new bra, as I explained that although is looks like I'm a B-cup, I'm really an A-cup since this is all padding....I couldn't explain it, she couldn't understand, so instead I got top notch service by having her come into the changeroom with me until we found a perfect fit via trial and error. Oh boy....

So I have spent these few weeks reading, exploring the city, going out to eat with Mike and his friends, catching up with my family at home and planning my trip to China!

Mike and I out to dinner with his friends Jeremy and Kayo.

Japan is truly an incredible place. For those of you looking for a genuine travel experience, I urge you to consider coming here. It'll give you everything you're looking for: a true culture shock, incredible sights, a deep rooted history rich in traditions and customs, modern city life at its best, all the technology you can handle and a gastronomic paradise of diverse cuisine.

A few days ago, I found a pictorial book of Toronto that Mike uses to show his students where he comes from. Upon my return home, I hope to start to look at things without the apathy that comes with all that is readily accessible and familiar. Maybe it's time to do some exploring in my own backyard...

The flowers of the cherry blossoms are falling and my time in Japan is coming to an end. I'll enjoy these next few days and will write again soon.

Above: fallen flowers from the cherry blossoms now cover the parks. Only a week ago they were in all their glory, full bloom.

Cherry Blossoms in Japan

2007-04-06T16:15:00.000-07:00

There is arguably no better time to visit Japan than during Cherry Blossom season. For one week of the year, these trees bloom with the most delicate flowers and it seems like all of Japan stops to enjoy the view.

It is called Hanami, or cherry blossom viewing. What you do is you put together a picnic, grab a blanket and head to a park where the trees are in bloom. Everyone sits under the blossoms, eating and drinking, and enjoying the spectacular view.

This is in Yoshino-yama, where there are over 30,000 cherry blossom trees that bloom at different times. What you see is incredible because you can hike the mountain and enjoy different views.

In full bloom in Hamadera-koen

Some more pictures for you to get an idea of how pretty this time in Japan really is. Now, do yourself a favour and rent Memoirs of a Geisha, in which there is a beautiful scene amidst the cherry blossoms.

Final Kiwi Stats

2007-03-29T19:54:00.000-07:00

2 friends driving throughout New Zealand...

days in NZ = 21

kilometers traveled = 3,844

liters of gas consumed = 278

timtams eaten = 36

bottles of wine emptied = 14

flatwhites = 44

sheep waved to = all 33 million

road kill count = 106

number of hostels = 13

...potatoes consumed = 18

...mussels = 47

glaciers climbed = 1, and that's enough!

sandfly bites = 52

times we said "This must have been in the Lord of the Rings" = 68

...we reminded each other to drive on the left side of the road = 3 (but only one was a close call)

books read = 7

money spent on internet (Ludmila) = unknown....damn blog!

nights slept in car = 1 (Jenn....long story)

number of photos to bore family and friends with = 637

All Blacks jerseys purchased = 4

number of times we were mistaken for Americans = 9

...missing March in Toronto.....PRICELESS!

How I celebrated my birthday

2007-03-22T23:05:00.000-07:00

My 28th birthday was celebrated in a bit of an unusual way. Last year, I went bowling with my friends, and got my butt kicked by Jenn and Sean. This year, I let one of the three advancing glaciers in the world humble me.

Meet Franz Josef....We took this picture en route to the face of the glacier, which was still 2 km away, eventhough it looks like it's 2 feet away.....indescribable!

Our guide Henry passed right by this, without a second look. This was the point where I started to wonder what Jenn got me into.....

....and also why she wouldn't let me read the disclaimer I signed minutes before.

The hike was an all-day affair, and although they called it a walk, it was a full-out climb. The physical portion is what i was most worried about. But the pounding of my heart wasn't just coming from the struggle of my lungs and muscles, rather from pure fear!

You will not be able to see pictures of the most frightening moments. Jenn and I were not concerned with photo-ops at these points. All you will see are happy still shots, when we're upright, with two feet on the ground. The rest of it, will remain in my memory, so I never agree to do this again.

Yes, it was the coolest way to spend my birthday and the hardest thing I've done on this trip so far. But really, all I could think about was each step ahead of me. I was truly in the present, as I've never been before.

Note: spending two months on beaches in Australia is not good training for New Zealand.

A small crevasse....they got so much bigger than this. The largest we had to hurdle across was about 3 feet, adn you couldn't see the bottom. I was in disbelief that they were asking me to do this. I had to propel my body forward and hope to God I made it to the other side.

Some of the ice....

Our guide got us lost for about an hour amidst the ice. Seriously! But what were we to do? He was the one with the axe!

Smooth sailing....

...getting a little steeper

This picture is not upright. He is our guide, adn he is actually carving steps up for us so we could pull ourselves up on the rope. Turn this picture 90 degrees and you'll have a small idea of what we were being asked to do.

This is Jenn at our highest point in the glacier. We froze our bums off having lunch here....but we were thankful to be in one piece. Next problem: coming down!

Almost half way down, on a break. I was so scared here. The way down was quite steep, and muscle control was at a minimum. For the physios out there, Jenn and I apparently have more knee hyperextension than we thought! Lock 'hem up!

This is an ice cave. No, we didn't fit through this. Would have been nice though to get out of there in a nice little tunnel.

Lastly, I have to thank my friend Jenn. Without her, I would never have done this. She has pushed me to do things out of my comfort zone throughout this trip, and it has both humbled me and surprised me at every turn. You rock Jenny P., even if you got a little, ok a lot, scared yourself!

Hiking and Kayaking the Abel Tasman

2007-03-19T01:50:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Abel Tasman.....the best two days on our trip so far....

We spent two days hiking and kayaking our way through the Abel Tasman, a national Park in the south island of New Zealand. The weather was perfect, and the views were magnificent.

We took a water taxi to Anchorage Bay and then hiked our way back to Marahau.

These rocks were HUGE! I wish the picture was able to portray how grand this was....

A coastal view...

All I could think of was, "Pinch me! Am I really here?"

This is the view from the hike.....there were many beaches along the way. The next day when we were kayaking these beaches weren't there anymore. Why? The tide rises and falls 4.5 metres a day here in New Zealand, more than anywhere else in the world. It was incredible to see the difference between morning and afternoon in the coastline.

Yes, the scenery was this stunning ALL of the time.

There was a part of the hike that was mostly uphill, so I was glad to stop every few minutes for these picture opportunities....

A little out of breath but still smiling....this was taken by another hiker we found along the way.

Amidst the rocks towards the very end of our hike

And now for the kayaking......truly, one of my favourite days in my entire adventure. We kayaked for about 4 or 5 hours in total, and although I couldn't raise my arms at the end of the day, it was so much fun!

My favourite part was a stretch between the coast and an island that we encircled. It took about an hour to do it and all I could hear were the sounds of my paddle in the water, and I could feel the sunshine on my arms......

Another of our sexy outfits!

Can you pick out the seals sun bathing?

Wine, food and sunshine.....

2007-03-19T01:32:00.000-07:00

Oh, the good life....

On our second day on the south island we did, what else? A WINE TOUR of the Marlborough region. Priorities, priorities....

This is the largest wine producing region in New Zealand, and arguably produces the very best Savignton Blanc in the world. We joined a local tour and visited 10, yes 10, wineries in one afternoon! Our palates were so confused by the end, not to mention our sense of direction!Don't worry mom, we weren't driving that day.

Our favourite bottle was found at a winery called Bladen. KaHung, like what I found in Australia and you in Argentina, it seems that Canada does not get much of the best of NZ - it has to do with the taxation of the wine, as before. When we get home, we'll give you our compelte list of the good, the better, and the best!

So many wineries, so little time

Now, I MUST mention the seafood we've been enjoying here. The town we stayed in is famous for their mussels. In fact, the day we arrived was the annual Mussel Festival. Truly, it's as good as it looks!

This is a local mussel restaurant in Havelock. Take a look at what's on the roof!

Ooohh baby!

The Queen Charlotte Drive

2007-03-19T01:15:00.000-07:00

From the moment we crossed to the south island, we fell in love with it. Amber, you were totally right about the south island. Nothing we have seen in the north compares to the picturesque scenery that is overwhelming our senses here.

There is a very tortuous road between Picton and Havelock, named the Queen Charlotte Scenic Drive. Even in terribly cloudy and dark weather, the drive lived up to its name.

This is the ferry that brought us and Frank (that's the name of our car) to the south island of NZ.

The town of Picton in the background.

At the start of the drive the weather still looked all right....

But the clouds started to come in the further we got. Peter Jackson got it right when he decided to film the LOR trilogy here.....Ominous!

"Jenn, do you think it's gonna rain?"

North Island Adventures

2007-03-15T23:49:00.000-07:00

.....aka flying by the seat of our pants....

Jenn and I met up in Auckland, New Zealand, almost a week ago. We had plans stemming from the summer of 2006, when we first started to plan this adventure. We have 2 Lonely Planets, a Rough Guide, and a typed (yes, typed) itinerary of our travels in our possession. Yet, we are humbled at every turn, having to modify/delete/create our plans as we go along. Apparently, in all the planning that we did we forgot to learn how to control the weather.

Let me tell you about our North Island adventures so far.....

We were a bit disappointed with Auckland. It's small, quite industrial, and everything closes very early. So instead of hanging out in the hostel, we hit the road and drove to the west coast.

This is Waitakere Ranges, west of Auckland. It was a very windy drive to get there, but once we arrived, we had a picnic lunch all by ourselves in what seemed like the most remote place in the world. This is when it dawned on me that I was in New Zealand, about as far from home as I have ever been.

Still in the Waitakere Ranges, this is KareKare beach. We hiked to this spot where we found the blackest sand I've ever seen. The picture certainly doesn't show the darkness of the sand.....

Jenn climbing one of these magnificent trees in KareKare forest.

While we were exploring Waitakere, a local pulled over her car and told us to walk up the road, go around the bend, and take a 10 minute walk down the hill......that's where we found this hidden waterfall.

This was taken on the road as we made our way to Piha, also west of Auckland.

Piha beach - a favourite with local surfers

The next day, we started the drive to the northeast region of the north island, looking for the hot water beaches we had heard so much about. You get to dig a hole in the sand during low tide, and then enjoy a natural hot spring spa when the tide comes in. Unfortunately, the beach was closed. The currents have gotten so strong that someone drowned and it's just not safe to dig at this time. Grrrr! So this is when we went to Waitomo instead (check out my Black Water rafting entry from before).

This picture is dedicated to my friend KaHung, who commented in my last blog entry about how sexy Jenn and I look in our wet suits......how d'you like them apples?

Next in our plans was the Tongariro Crossing, arguably the world's most beautiful one day hike. This is the place that is described as "Mordor" in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy (just to give you an idea of how magnificent this place really is). We drove to Taupo, a nearby town, and upon checking into our hostel, we got the bad news: the Tongariro Crossing is closed until further notice due to weather conditions. We couldn't believe it. We stayed in Taupo for two days waiting for the mountain officials to let us through. No such luck.

This is a view of Tongariro National Park from the motorway. Note the clouds, snow, and apparently hail that prevented us from doing the hike.

Instead, we busied ourselves with side excursions. Take a look at the pictures below. They were taken at a place called Craters of the Moon, a geothermal area full of mud pools and steam vents. We took the 45-minute hike around the craters and were marvelled at the noise they made and the heat they gave off.

Two small craters...

One huge crater!!!! I'm the little yellow dot in the right upper corner......the weather was so crazy! We were in winter jacquets in a geothermal area!

So what do you do when the signs say: "Danger! Keep to path"?

You go to the Hot Springs Spa!!!!

A nice warm dip as the weather blew up outside...

One of the most rewarding parts of our trip thus far, has been the scenery during our drives. You can't really pull over very often to take pictures, but whenever it's safe to do so, we get out of the car and grab our cameras.

This is Waipunga Falls in the distance. Just one of the incredibly beautiful sights we've been enjoying on our drives.

Jenn trying to make some new friends.....

Another little detour: wineries!!!!!

Hawke's bay - this is the second biggest wine region in New Zealand.

Just a little tasting.....for you, Amber, of course!

Two 'happy' girls at a winery in Hawke's bay

Wish I could bring the whole thing home!

We are now in Wellington, patiently awaiting the moment when we embark on the ferry for the South island. Here's wishing the weather gods will be on our side!!!!

Zoom Zoom Zoom in New Zealand

2007-03-15T23:43:00.000-07:00

.............by guest author Jennifer Powell

Welcome to the driver’s guide for new drivers in New Zealand. I hope to demystify driving in a foreign country for those of you who have not had the opportunity but also reveal some of my ignorance to those who have.

For starters, most people would think the most difficult adjustment would be learning to drive on the left side of the road. Not quite. At first my biggest trouble was looking for the rear view mirror in the appropriate spot (I was consistently looking out my right window). However my most lasting difficulty would be my chronic use of the wipers when I intend to signal. Fortunately it has rained quite a bit, which creates the illusion of knowing what I’m doing.

Mila and I have a lovely little Mazda Familia. I did not realize that similar makes of cars would have different models. For example, the Honda Ascot is quite common. There are also quite a number of cars that are this new “electric green” colour.

Road signs are also quite intriguing. Here are a couple of signs we have seen thus far:
- Drink, drive- you’re a loser
- Merge like a zip (which was posted on the on-ramp to the motorway)
- The slippery when wet sign has the same picture of the swerving car but the caption reads “when frosty”

The roads we are driving on are generally two-lane undivided highways with a speed limit of 100km/h. The roads are very well kept and we have come across some construction. There is generally very little forewarning and the speed limit drops abruptly to 30 km/h. Another interesting note about speed limits are the yellow caution speeds- they always end in 5 (ie- 25 km/h, 35, etc…).

Passing is also slightly different. The roads have wide shoulders in most areas so that when people pull out to pass you, you move over toward the shoulder. They have the same dotted lines in passing zones as at home. However these zones are around corners and up hills! No wonder a lot of the areas are marked “High Crash” areas.

So overall we’ve adjusted reasonably well to the changes in driving styles. I only pray that my return to Toronto driving will be as painless!

Black Water Rafting in New Zealand

2007-03-14T15:50:00.000-07:00

Jenny P is in the house!

New Zealand is proving to be a fantastic adventure so far. When I have more time, and better access to the internet, I will post an entry about our travels, including the madness of driving on the left side of the road, the craziest weather patterns I have ever seen and the incredible views at every turn.

For now, I want you to check out our pictures from the Waitomo caves, where we went black water rafting (you float on an inner tube, sort of like a tire, in the underground waters of these caves) to see the glow worms. It was AWESOME!!!! We had so much fun and I almost crapped my pants in fear a few times, especially when we had to jump off of waterfalls underground!

This is Lucas, our guide, showing us what NOT to do by jumping into that hole.

This is the group we were with...look how dry and giddy we are BEFORE the cave.

Mom, that's me in the cave! It doesn't capture how I'm hanging on the wall for dear life!

Jenn and I on the tubes......this is after the second waterfall jump, and we're just thrilled we survived!!!!

This is called the "eel formation". It's the only way you can keep track of everyone once the pitch dark blackness of the caves hit.

"Amber Pretty Pops"

2007-03-10T13:39:00.000-08:00

AKA: APPs...
Before coming on this trip, Amber and I joked about how the only times we were ever apart was during sleeping and showering. Well, hostel living sure changed that!

The pictures I've posted don't do justice to how much fun we've had in Australia. There has been a lot of laughing, tonnes of exploring, and maybe a glass or two of wine.

I've also learned some new things about my little Amber. She is content with only 5 things:

1. Chocolate. She loved those Tim Tams as much as I did.

2. Cheese. Follow that up with some crackers and the girl is happy.

3. Grooming! The kid takes at least 2 showers a day!

4. Wine...not that I didn't join her in this indulgence.

5. The beach - from the sun to the waves, she loved it all! You should see the smile on her face when she falls asleep on the sand.

My trip to Australia wouldn't have been the same without Amber. I got to re-live a lot of the wonder of Australia with her, and discover so many new ones along the way. The worse part was having to say goodbye both to Amber and to Australia. I'd love to come back someday....

Amber, it's difficult to thank you for such an incredible adventure, but our memories will live with me forever. I adore you! See you soon!

Surfer's Paradise

2007-03-10T13:25:00.000-08:00

We couldn't come all the way to Australia and not visit a place called Surfer's Paradise. Most of the aussies we met on our travels told us to stay away from there: "the sun goes down at noon there with all those high rises", "the beach is too crowded", "only tourists go there"....

Still, we had to check it out for ourselves. We are tourists after all!

It's true, Surfer's lacks the small town charm of Byron Bay, which is still untouched by the McDonald's and Starbucks conglomerates. The beach is surrounded by high rises and there is no lack of tourist shops and restaurants. Even so, we had a great time loving the sun...

Now for the real question: did we surf at Surfer's Paradise? Unfortunately, the answer is no. This cyclone Odette is still plaguing us wherever we go, and the ocean has been ferrocious. We watched some surfers the other day attempt to ride the waves and it seems like if they're having a hard time, we had no prayer. Maybe next time!

Australia Zoo

2007-03-10T12:52:00.000-08:00

Amber and I went to arguably one of the most famous zoos in the world: Steve Irwin's Australia Zoo. It is a privately owned zoo that is completely interactive! We cuddled koalas, hand fed kangaroos and were glad that the "interaction" stopped with the crocs!

The koalas are everywhere you turn...there's even one named Oprah!

Those little claws are sharp! Amber has the scratches to prove it.

The best part of the zoo for us was the area that held the kangaroos. You go through two sets of fences into a huge open area where the kangaroos are free to hop and play, but mostly, they were like my sister's dog May Ling: they liked to nap!

No, I had no food for him.....

Big boy!

I just want to stay on this side of the fence! No interaction, please!!!!!!

Welcome to Byron Bay

2007-03-05T21:37:00.000-08:00

We were searching for white sands, hot sunshine and the roar of the ocean......well, welcome to Byron Bay!!!!

Amber and I flew down to Brisbane, then took a three and a half hour bus to Byron Bay. We certainly haven't regretted it! The beach is phenomenal, probably the most beautiful beach I've seen in Australia. We were only supposed to stay here a couple of days but we're planning on almost a week now.

The only trouble is that there's a cyclone on this coast named Odette. The surfers are all chasing it, and today, you should have seen how many surfers were on the beach, hoping for the cyclone to come our way. I hope they're disappointed!

Out on the town.....we went to Beach hotel for a few drinks and some dancing.....there was the strangest band playing some "funky" music. We had a good time anyway!

Around town....

Amber was anxious for me to "take the picture already"...she wanted to jump in the water

Main Beach in Byron Bay...this is where we spend most of our time....can you tell why?

Here's hoping that cyclone Odette stays far off the shore....

More Great Barrier Reef pictures

2007-03-05T21:26:00.000-08:00

I've had some requests for more reef pictures.....Ashley, we didn't get any pictures of a stingray or an octupus but I hope the turtles and some more "nemo" pictures do the trick! Auntie Amber and I are going to the Australia Zoo soon and then we'll be able to post pictures of koalas, kangaroos and wombats! Enjoy!

Crocs, sharks and stingers

2007-03-02T03:04:00.000-08:00

Cairns.....what an amazing 4 days!

Amber and I arrived in this humidity, somehow surprised that it rains so much in a place with a rainforest that is 130 million years old!

The time we spent here has been phenomenal, and surpassed any expectation I had. You can tell I'm having a fantastic time due to the lack of blog entries: there's no time!

Still, I am deeply disappointed that the pictures can't possibly do any justice to the beauty our eyes enjoyed, and the thrills our hearts experienced while here. I can't tape record our laughter, or Amber's serial attempts at an Australian accent. But here are a few pictures that will envitably never live up to our memories.

This is 4-mile beach in Port Douglas.....can't see a beach? Neither could we.....it's submerged!!!! That's how much rain they've been getting the last few days....

Here we are taking a walk along a gorge....our hair is crazy because of the humidity....

I convinced Amber to take a cruise down the Daintree River wihtout mentioning that we'd be surrounded by crocs.....here's a little one that we saw and were able to capture on film. He's 6 years old....

We had grilled barramundi for lunch with a fantastic salad. Barramundi is a popular dish here in Australia.

We went swimming in this little cove during our lunch break....afterwards, we noticed a sign, about 500m away, warning people to stay out of the water: crocodile danger. OOPS!

We spent a day in Cape Tribulation, one of the oldest rainforests in the world and a World Heritage Site. We saw this cassawary during our walk through the forest. It was so dark in there! I'm surprised the picture turned out at all.

Cooling down in the heat....we were sitting on a patio, along one of the main strips in Cairns.

Relaxing on the bow during the 2-hour boat ride to the Great Barrier Reef

While looking overboard in the boat, we spotted this little shark....little or not, I'm not getting in the water with this!

Likely one of the top ten moments of my life: snorkelling in the Great Barrier Reef. It's more beautiful than I ever imagined, and has made the entire trip worth it. At one point, Amber and I held hands and swam back to the boat, enjoying the reef underneath us (ok, maybe I was hanging on to her because I was scared of the sharks and stingers! but whatever! it was romantic!)

We found Nemo!

We have loads more pictures from our underwater camera......can't wait to share them all with you guys!

Next stop: Byron's Bay!

My boyfriend's back!

2007-02-25T05:01:00.000-08:00

Amber has arrived!!!!!
The poor thing endured a 22-hour flight, a missed connection in L.A., and then arrived to find that her luggage was lost by the airline, only to be delivered 2 days later. Yet, we're having the time of our lives!!!!

Amber and I couldn't stop interrupting each other with stories from the last 2 months that we've been apart. We started walking towards the Circular Quay as we blabbed, and before we knew it, we stumbled upon the most magnificent sight: the Sydney Opera House. This sent us running towards it like little girls after the ice cream man on a summer's day.

The Opera House is indescribable.....enormous and magnificent, it demands your attention and awe like few other structures I've seen. We walked all around it and took a million pictures from every possible angle. We sat in one of the surrounding cafes and enjoyed a glass of white wine while we caught up on each others' lives.

Afterwards, we headed to the Rocks, a trendy spot lined with eateries, an outdoor market, music, and tonnes of people. We shopped, laughed, ate a lovely lunch, and generally eased ourselves into these new surroundings.

Next was the Sydney Harbour Bridge. We hiked across and I was fascinated by, what else, the view!
We explored the shopping district of the city as well. The hotel we stayed in was in a VERY upscale little area, where names liek Gucci, Armani, and Tiffani were all around us. No, we didn't break the bank, but we walked so much that Amber's poor little feet were blistered and bleeding by the time we headed home.

The night brought us to Chinatown, where we still had plenty of conversation to catch up on over noodles and fried rice.

We are intoxicated with the city life Sydney offers. Your eyes are always focusing on something new, be it the architecture in the business district, the couture in the shopping areas or the breathtaking sights of the Circular Quay.

Unfortunately, the weather on the second day was not our friend. We woke up to rain, clouds and still no luggage. Do you think that kept us from hitting the beach? Hell no!

Manly here we come!

We took the 30-minute ferry across to Manly, and seeing the harbour from the water is priceless.

(interruption: excuse me, I realize that all the adjectives above are meaningless in the context that they are used. I have truly ran out of words that could do justice to what I feel, see and experience. I hope the pictures do a better job than the narration in telling the story of this trip).
Manly was bustling with action, even on a rainy, ugly day. There were people learning to surf, others actually getting up on the board, some swimming and a bunch who seemed to come for the food, drinks and view, like us!

At night, we were treated to an authentic Australian meal. Amber's mom has friends who live in a suburb outside of Sydney. Their son picked us up and took us to Bondi beach, where w had drinks overlooking the water and walked along the rocks. The beach is famous for good reason. Soft sand, fantastic waves, and lots of good looking people. Our dinner hosts, Anita and John, were incredibly gracious. They taught us about local customs and foods, and served us an incredible meal: wine, lamb with mint jelly, roasted potatoes, mushrooms, onions, greens with avocado and kangaroo! Animal lovers beware: it was delicious!

Apart from the meal and the friendly conversation, we were treated to a night tour of Sydney, going to different parts of the city to see the Opera House and Harbour Bridge from different angles. We were marvelled at every turn.....there are so many ways to see a city....

On our last day in Sydney, the weather was still not cooperating. The cloudy skies did not prevent us from getting on a bus to Bondi beach early in the morning. Coffee in hand, bathing suit on, and sunscreen in our bags, we hit Bondi, hoping for sunshine. No such luck. It was spitting rain on and off....we distracted ourselves by visiting the surf shops and enjoying breakfast overlooking the ocean. Still, the skies never opened up and we came home disappointed.
We're making the best of the city life though! Just tonight, we've been to a pub, two restaurants, and a wine bar. Thank goodness for the lively nature of the city, eventhough the weather has been less than perfect.

Tomorrow morning we fly to Cairns: Great Barrier Reef here we come!!!!!!

This is St. Kilda

2007-02-21T23:34:00.000-08:00

South of Melbourne, there is a neighbourhood called St. Kilda, where a strip of sand and a relatively calm beach can be found.

My view as I arrived on the beach...

I walked about an hour to get there today (of course I have time to walk....what else do I have to do?), and slept on the sand while my achy feet rested. The day was slightly cloudy, but I welcomed the cool breeze.

It reached the low 30s in St Kilda today, and I slapped on the SPF70 like you wouldn't believe!

This is a life I think any of us could get used to....

High highs and low lows in Melbourne

2007-02-21T15:55:00.000-08:00

Melbourne...

As my week in Melbourne comes to a close, I can't help it but to reflect back on the high highs and low lows that I experienced while here, and to contemplate the influence that these experiences have had on my view of this city.

The Melbourne skyline at night

If you've been reading along on my blog, you'll remember the dingy hostel that epidemizes the phrase, "you get what you pay for"; the schizophrenic Melbourne weather that is in the 40s and humid one day, and in the low 20s and wet the next, sending me to the Salvation Army in a little back town for a $5 sweater; and my lowest point, when I received news that my grandmother had passed away.

The highs on the other hand, have been incredible: napping on the beach while listening to the roar of the ocean, seeing my first koala in the wild, walking amidst the imposing architecture of the city centre, reading by the Yarra river, taking a helicopter ride above the Twelve Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge, and sipping wine while enjoying the symphony outdoors.

The streets in the city centre are lined with lush trees and greenery, always looking beautiful.

I have always loved big cities. I was born in one of the largest and most populated in the world, and maybe that has something to do with it. But it's more than that. Even when I'm alone, I never feel lonely in the city. There's so much to do, so much to see, and I wanna be in the middle of it all, even if it's just sipping a "flat white" and watching the people go by.

These pictures are from the Queen Victoria Market, the largest open air market in the world. It was close to my hostel so I checked it out.....the food was delicious, and I certainly could have had many good meals there. In fact, seeing all that fresh fruit and veggies makes you wanna cook!

A short love affair with Melbourne.....I've had my ups and downs with this city, but I hope to return again someday, and do it all again!

Out for a walk along the river

Reading by the Yarra river was one of my favourite things here in Melbourne. It's quite, sunny and you can just hear the rush of the water.

This is the other side of the river. Most of these buildings are residential. Imagine living here? Too good to be true? I wonder....

One of my roommates from the hostel, Christina from Calgary

Free outdoor concert put on by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra - sipping wine, listening to Mozart, Beethoven, Mendelssohn and more.....

Fireworks illuminated the Melbourne sky after the concert. Spectacular! Aussies love fireworks. This is the 5th time I've seen fireworks since being in Australia.

Tuta

2007-02-20T15:45:00.000-08:00

Ontem eu recebi a noticia que a Tuta faleceu. Immediatamente meus olhos encheram de agua e as lagrimas comecaram a cair.

Eu estou muito longe de casa e ainda mais longe do Brasil. Nao tem nada a fazer sem ser rezar e refletir.

A Tuta foi uma mulher maravilhosa. Um exemplo pra toda familia de garra, coragem e amor. Minhas memorias da minha vo sao todas boas. Sempre fui tratada com carinho. Ela sempre me lembrou do meu valor e de quanto eu fui amada por ela.

Eu lembro de tudo: quando eu era pequena, eu, a Ingrid e a Judith escondiamos o oculos da Tuta. Quando "achavamos", ela nos dava um dinheirinho pra ir comprar "chuvete". Lembro dos palitos de sorvete, das caixas de bombom em baixo da cama dela, da alegria que ela sentia quando eu contava que estava indo bem na escola. Lembro de brincar na neve quando ela foi pro Canada, de comer galinha com batata frita (so ela e eu) no Swiss Chalet, onde ela me contou coisas intimas sobre ela e o Nelson, e sobre a vida que levou. Lembro da felicidade nos olhos dela quando a Ingrid se casou, e lembro de como ela dancava, sempre sorrindo...

Mais de tudo, eu sinto o amor que ela sempre me deu. Ela me encinou a amar profundamente, e a perdoar tudo que nos machuca. Agora mesmo eu consigo ouvir ela me chamar de "Rainhona"...

Muitas pessoas nao sabem que a Tuta sempre escrevia pra nos no Canada. Nunca nos ultimos 17 anos passou um mes sem chegar uma cartinha dela, uma folhinha cheia de elogios, amor e carinho. As cartas nao diziam nada na verdade. So o quanto ela nos amava.

Falei com a mamae ontem. Ela estava arrazada, claro, e sem a familia por perto pra repartir a dor. Meu pai e a Ingrid estao com ela, mas sinto nao poder estar junto tambem. Minha mae estava preocupada com as minhas lagrimas, e a minha tristeza, e disse, "Nao deixa esta noticia mudar a sua viagem". Mas e impossivel que perder a Tuta nao mude minha viagem. Eu nao consigo controllar o aperto que eu sinto no meu peito. Mas eu consigo controllar o que faco com esses sentimentos. Deixa eu esplicar:

A Tuta amava a vida. Eu nao conheco ninguem neste mundo que gostava de tanta festa, alegria, diversao e felicidade. Ela amava a familia mais do que tudo. Ela vibrava com meus passeios pelo mundo e pedia pra mim contar todos os detalhes das minhas aventuras. Entao, minha viagem vai mudar sim. Em memoria da minha Tutinha eu vou sorrir maior, vou vibrar com mais alegria, vou dancar ate meus pes doer, vou amar mais forte, vou cantar mais alto, vou tomar mais sorvete e vou viver como ela viveu: com humor, alegria, amor e fe em Deus. Tenho certeza absoluta que e isso que ela espera de mim.

Para minha familia no Brasil, estou pensando em voces e rezando pra Deus que lhes de forca nesta hora tao triste e dificil.

Tchau Tuta....voce mora no meu coracao...sempre. Eu te amo....Ludmila

The Great Ocean Road

2007-02-19T02:53:00.000-08:00

...and yes, it deserves its name as Great!

I left my shady hostel at 7:20am and embarked on one of the most beautiful drives I've ever experienced. You drive down the curvy but spectacular coast known as the Great Ocean Drive, with long strecthes beaches, stunning cliffs and natural formations. I got a tip from an older gentleman before getting on the bus: sit on the left side. He was absolutely right!

The weather was terrible. How can this be? 39 degrees one day, and a high of 24 the next. The visibility of the sites I visited could have been a lot better. But it wasn't just the cloudy weather, but also, there are several bush fires around Melbourne right now. The smoke blows down, and you can smell it quite distinctly.

So here's where I've been:

Torquay: Australia's surfing capital. We stopped for our "morning tea" there and then went to Bells Beach, featured in Point Break (remember Keanu Reeves?). But there were no waves that day at all - is this really a surfing reserve?

The best part of the trip was Otway National Park, and seeing the Twelve Apostles: tall rock stacks in the middle of the ocean. They can be seen because of mainland erosion. Only 7 of the stacks can be seen from the tourist viewpoints, unless....

YOU TAKE A HELICOPTER RIDE!

Hey mom! I'm in a helicopter!!!! This was by far the best part of the day....it was a thrill and my eyes couldn't believe the views!

Twelve Apostles

From the air....

Lord Ard Gorge

The Gorge view from the helicopter - one of the most most ship wrecks in Australia's history happened here...I'll tell the story in person

I wish the pictures captured how stunning this really was.....but I guess that's why people travel thousands of kilometers to see it for themselves.

London Bridge - another rock formation which collapsed (part of it as you see it above) in 1990. Two people were stranded on the other side and had to be rescued by helicopter. When reporters tried to interview them, they were camera shy. Turns out they were married...to other people!!!

Melbourne

2007-02-19T02:20:00.000-08:00

I arrived in Melbourne at 6am on Sunday morning, having flown in from Perth overnight. I was tired, groggy, and had to wait till 8am for the bus to take me to my hostel. When I finally got there, I had my my first experience with "doubt": I doubted whether I could really do this for the next 3 months.

Here's why: my hostel is terrible. Dirty, full of drunken hulligans, and so hot I could fry an egg! What did I expect? It's a hostel for $27 a night. What was I thinking? Can I really do this? I had a moment of weakness, ran out of the room and into the city as fast as I could, and then I realized something: this city is awesome! And the reason I'm here is the city, not the hostel. The stupid hostel is just a place to store my stuff and sleep at night. I felt better instantly! Now don't get me wrong, I still have moments of panic everytime I walk in there. But let's focus on why I'm really here.....

I spent the day in the city, walking around and checking out the sites. I'll let the pictures do the talking.

Federation Square - one of the most controversial man-made structures. Why? I don't know, but when I set my eyes on it (and it's huge!) the first thing I thought of was how ugly it is!

Melbourne's skyline from the Yarra river

I had lunch overlooking the Yarra river, enjoying a cold beer on a very hot afternoon. The heat here is definitely more humid than Perth....my hair tells the tale as it gets bigger and bigger!

Flinders Station

Just words....

2007-02-14T00:53:00.000-08:00

In a previous blog entry I mentioned to you how many different countries are represented in the students in my class. This makes it for a very interesting mix, and although we are all speaking English, I am learning some new phrases. Here’s a taste from the Aussies:

“grouse” – cool
“cobber” or “mate” – friend
“daks” – pants
“dunny” – bathroom
“grog” – alcohol
“whipper snapper” – young person
“cossie” – bathing suit

And from my Irish friends:

“a few Bob” – a few dollars
“brolley” – umbrella
“dear” – expensive
“spend a penny” – go to the washroom
“Bob’s your uncle” – everything’s ok
“that’s gas” – that’s funny
“she’s a gas ticket” – she’s funny“to give out” – to complain about

Now that's an education!!!!

South Beach

2007-02-14T00:38:00.000-08:00

On Sunday, I convinced myself that studying on the beach was possible.

My friends and I headed to South Beach, about an hour by bus from where we’re staying. The day was absolutely beautiful, low 30s (yes, Canadians, positive degrees Celsius) with a cool breeze.

South beach is gorgeous, made up of a small strip of white sand behind a dune, with calm, clear waters. We drank lemonade and swam in the ocean to cool down. I tempted the sun gods with a lower SPF and got burned. My upper back is so sore and then, I was punished further with thoracic manips all day Monday. Ouch!

Still, as I dowse lotion on my back and shoulders, I wince and say, “It’s all worth it!”

My friends looking for a good spot to "study"

Sizzling in the sun, and loving every minute of it!

My view of the ocean from the sand

I took this picture from the window at the cafe where I had lunch

Week of BREAKING NEWS!

2007-02-09T19:01:00.000-08:00

The ‘happenings’ are not coming from me….news from home are stealing the headlines: Ingrid and Cam are expecting their first baby, and Amber has decided to fly down under and meet up with me in Sydney in a couple of weeks. YAHOO!

The week was on the down-lo: classes take up all of my time during the week, and since there’s only one more week till the final exam, this weekend is going to be spent studying as well. I’ve been spending a lot of time with my classmates, learning about their part of the world and making plans to visit some day.

But I did manage to squeeze a few laughs here and there, starting with a wine and cheese hosted by our instructors. I learned this terrible game (yes, Anna, worse than some of the camping games Sean and Mike put us through) called, “Sing, sing, or show us your ring”. I’ll let you guys decide first, what this means, and second, why I was so ‘bummed’ that I lost……

Some of my classmates.....

The gentleman in the middle is Kim Robinson, one of my instructors. Note the beer in hand...

This is my other instructor: Toby Hall, and one of my classmates, Lotte

Having a drink after class...but still in the class!

I'm gonna be an aunt!!!!!!!!

2007-02-06T02:22:00.000-08:00

God bless the man who fermented grapes

2007-02-03T19:17:00.000-08:00

The day after the rugby match was one of the best days I’ve had in Australia so far:

2-hour cruise along the Swan River
3 award winning wineries in Swan Valley
More than 40 bottles of wine tasted
Outdoor lunch in a vineyard
Beer brewery
Margaret River Truffle Chocolate Factory
Temperature: reached 45.5 degrees Celsius

It was soooooooooo hot

Now, if you’re worried about the heat, rest assured, I drank plenty of water and had a sunscreen with SPF 70 (thanks Kathleen!). Still, by the time I got home, my ankles were so swollen.

The day was incredible….

We started off on a cruise along the Swan River, heading towards the valley. We sat on the bow, enjoying the sun, the heat, and yes, the wine tasting started at 10:30am on the boat. We sampled 4 wines from the region as we enjoyed our individual cheese platters. And we learned the 5 S’s: Stem, Sight, Swivel, Smell, and Sip. Now that’s some learning I can get used to!

Enjoying the cruise...especially the wind on such a hot day

It took about 2 hours for us to reach the Swan Valley by boat, and once we got there, the real deal started. We visited 3 wineries, tasting over 40 bottles, including some incredible bottles of Shiraz, which this region is famous for around the world.

Windy Creek Estate

Sitella

Chesters

Here is something I learned. It looks like the Aussies save their best and export their worse. Consider this: as I was sampling these incredible wines, I naturally found a few bottles I was particularly fond of and wanted to buy them. As I contemplated dragging half a dozen bottles of shiraz with me throughout the next 3 months of my trip, I realized that maybe the wine was taking effect, and maybe I should ask about their exports, and whether I could find any of these at the local LCBO. Answer: NO! Apparently, Canada taxes foreign wines at 85%! When exported to Canada, a $20-bottle of Western Australian wine costs another $17 in taxes, plus shipping and handling. It becomes a $50 bottle of wine, something the average consumer does not buy often. Therefore, to make it cost effective for the wineries here, they have to export their cheapest wine, in the largest quantity possible, in order to be competitive in the Canadian consumer market.

Now, it’s a little more complicated than this simple explanation one of the wine makers gave me. But you get the idea. Besides, this system protects local wine makers (e.g., in the Okanagan and Niagara regions). And so, only because I can’t enjoy these bottles at home (heeheehee), I tasted and bought to my heart’s content!

Lunch on the Sitella winery

Line 'hem up, boys!

At the brewery.....a little mixing never hurt anyone....at least not today!

Disclaimer: this next section of photos is dangerous for chocoholics. They were taken at the Margaret River Chocolate Factory, which we visited after the brewery. Proceed at your own risk….Anna, naturally, this is dedicated to you…..wish you were here!

Truffles, truffles truffles!

Dig in: it's free!

WESTERN FORCE

2007-02-03T19:05:00.000-08:00

Bring on the rugby!

Western force fans

Friday night, some of us from school organized an outing to the season opening game of Western Force, Perth’s very own rugby team. The match was in Subiaco, which gave us the perfect opportunity to visit this young and hip spot that neighbours Perth city.

Reaching up for the ball....can you see him?

Me and the girls at the game

Now, let me start this off by admitting that I know absolutely nothing about rugby. There is a ball that resembles the one used in the CFL, some of the players wear these very strange hats to protect their ears, and they all push on each other a lot. I went for the experience, and since the whole town seemed to be into the opening game, I was too.

We had a blast! Beer in hand and chatting with the Aussie crowd proved to be a lot of fun. The home team lost 8-7 to the New Zealand Highlanders, in case any of you are enthusiasts.
Afterwards we headed out in Subiaco for a late dinner and some drinks. Here’s the problem: none of us are used to drinking alcohol when it’s this hot out (it reached 40 degrees Celsius the day of the match). So we all end up ordering more water than beer, and so the night goes. But boy did we make up for it the next day…

You can see the stadium...and us!

COTTESLOE

2007-02-03T18:43:00.000-08:00

I am sorry I haven’t updated my blog in awhile. School is very busy these days. I leave my apartment at 7am and sometimes I don’t get home till 8pm. Since I don’t have access to the net at home or at school, I only have the opportunity to come to the internet café on the weekends.
School has been a bit intense, and some days are quite long. But I am still enjoying being back in the student life. Plus, I am learning sooooo much! I have accumulated so many new assessment skills and treatment techniques, not to mention the concepts that are now much clearer to me. The best parts are these: everything I learn stimulates me to learn more, and the second best part are the friends I am making. We have so many laughs in between lectures…..

Gathered around to use EMG unit to isolate lower trapezius activity (as best as we can, of course). The one with the tie is Kim Robinson.

So why don’t I pick up where I left off? Last Sunday I went to Freemantle again. My loyal readers will remember that I went there the first day I was in Australia, but this time, I brought my camera with me! Check out some of the pictures around the town:

Grilled fish for lunch on the pier

Overlooking the marina

After lunch, we took the train to Cottesloe beach. This was heaven!!!! It was only a 5 minute train ride away, and when I got there, I was in pure joy: the sun on my face, the sand beneath me, and the sounds of the ocean. Who could ask for more? The beach is pristine, so clean and full of young Australians soaking up some rays. It’s unique in the way that there’s a pavilion ON THE BEACH! It’s called Indianna Tea Room and it’s completely different from anything you’d expect to see on the sand:

Needless to say, I had a wonderful time. I lay on the sand, listening to some tunes on my IPod (thanks Gerry!) and I think it was one of those times when you are truly in the moment.

Aussie lifeguards: the epidemy of sun protection!

This is the view from the women's bathroom!

42 degrees Celsius

2007-01-25T23:12:00.000-08:00

Let me tell you what 42 degrees Celsius feels like: HOT!

It has been a scorcher around here for the past few days and I must admit that I am loving every second of it! The sun is bright, there is always a lovely breeze, and the heat has been browning my skin. Life is fantastic down under….

I am having the time of my life. It is easy to love Australia. In many ways, it’s much like home: big houses, cheesy TV shows, people love a coffee break, and most things are pretty expensive. The differences, well, refer to paragraph 1. But that’s not all. The aussie attitude isn’t just laid back, it’s easy-going. Their humour isn’t forced, and there isn’t that politically correct conscience all of the time. Yesterday, I read the bumper sticker of a construction company that said, “Our business is erections!”. Get it?

School is ‘brilliant’, like my new Irish friend Emily always says. The course is fulfilling my expectations and surprising me in many ways. Yes, I am learning some new techniques, which I crave so badly. But more than that, I am beginning to have an appreciation for the theory behind it, and a MUCH clearer understanding of the anatomy that underlies it all. We learned the simplest concept today, which I have been previously taught in both my undergraduate training and in some of my post-graduate courses. But I admit that I have never understood it as I did after our session today. I wish I could turn back the clock and go back to some of my old patients…..so many future ones will benefit from this…and isn’t that enough reason to attend this course?

Ok, I realize I am boring you with all my physio gushing. Here’s some of the other great stuff I keep smiling about:

The apartment where I’m staying is an 8-minute walk from Swan River. If you look on a map of Perth, you can’t miss it. After school, some of the girls and I often walk down to the shore, lie in the sand and let the sun kiss our skin. I was so relaxed the other day, as I listened to the sound of the waves, that I fell asleep! Oh, and what a nap it was!

The beach on Swan River

This is the view from the bridge I cross to get to the beach

Swan River near my apartment at sunset

Catching some sun

On Australia Day, we went out for dinner:
Australian beer named Hahn and fish-n-chips, what else!

This is me in town....SHOPPING!

Back to school

2007-01-23T03:07:00.000-08:00

My stomach did a flip when I got my first glimpse of the university campus!

The view from my class....

Curtin is absolutely beautiful, the campus is spacious and so green! After a bit of confusion we found the physiotherapy building and met our instructors: Toby Hall and Kim Robinson. Besides their impressive resume and ‘physio fame’, I was thrilled to see their relaxed attitude, friendly demeanor and a sense of humour that comes easily, not forced.

There are people from all over the world: Cyprus, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, Ireland, New Zealand, UK, India, Germany, Denmark, Canada (2 guys from Vancouver and me, of course), and a couple of Aussies too. Everyone seems open and friendly, ready to learn and make new friends.

Here are some of my classmates and I on campus.

The curriculum is heavy, but already on the first day, I can say I learned new things! The anatomy review was so clinically based, and the assessment tools we learned today are so easily incorporated into my daily practice! The upcoming lecturers are incredible! I want to bore you all with all the details, but really, only other physios will care. So for my physio family, look out for an email with more details on my program…..

Time to get to work and hit the books. The weekends will present opportunities for some fun so I’ll post some better pictures soon…..

Down Under!

2007-01-23T03:00:00.000-08:00

I arrived in Perth at 3 am, paid almost $4 for a bottle of water and made my way to my apartment by taxi, where I woke up my roommates who kindly let me in. After washing my face, I crashed!!! My flights here were amazing. I have never flown a better airline than Singapore Airlines – the leg room, the food, the entertainment choice….I was actually comfortable!

The next day I met my roommates, three physios from Hong Kong. They are incredibly sweet and welcoming, and I was relieved….after all, it’s been a long time since I’ve done this roommate thing….

So we wasted no time and headed to Freemantle, Western Australia’s principle port, located at the foot of Swan River, on the shores of the Indian Ocean.

Disclaimer: the batteries for my camera weren’t charged so I didn’t take my camera with me. So sorry there aren’t any pictures….

The weather here is incredible, and I relished the sun on my face and bare arms as we strolled along the pier and visited the local markets. We had lunch overlooking the river, and I ordered the traditional fish-n-chips I’ve heard so much about…..it didn’t disappoint! The portion was HUGE and I’m from the Western part of this world, so imagine how big this was if I was impressed! Honestly, this was the perfect way for me to spend my first day in Perth.

Here are some first impressions:

- Everything is insanely expensive! But their money is colourful and beautiful
- The neighbourhoods look just like those in Canada
- The pace is so relaxed, unhurried, cheerful. The stores close at 5:30 everyday! Apparently, people here like having a life and enjoying the wonderful weather….go figure!

It’ll be easy to fall in love with Australia!

ARIMA Hot Springs aka I love Onsens!

2007-01-17T17:34:00.000-08:00

One of my very favourite things to do in Japan is visit an onsen. No, this is not something for tourists to write home about but rather a true Japanese experience, and I must say, to me, this is second only to eating in Japan.

An onsen is a hot spring bath that men and women frequent in Japan. I visited two last year and fell in love with them, so this year, Mike and I traveled a couple of hours by train to Arima, a town located up in the mountains, where you will find the oldest hot spring area in Japan.

We stayed at a Ryokan (hotel) named Gekkoen Yugetsusanso (http://www.gekkoen.co.jp/yuugetu/index.html), in a traditional Japanese room with tatami flooring and futons. We were served tea and sweets by a young woman dressed in a beautiful kimono. All the traditions and customs were preserved, where they bow, gesture gently, and close the sliding doors using the appropriate hand at each stage.

Our room had a separate sitting area where you overlooked a flowing river. You could open the sliding door and find yourself in a beautiful Japanese garden.

Then we changed into our yukatas, which are traditional wear for frequenting onsens in Japan, and geta, slippers worn with socks. This was truly my ‘Japan moment’ when I felt the most connected and the farthest from my daily routine. I could have twirled in that yukata for hours….

The onsens were incredible. There were three of them, including an outdoor one. Men and women go separately, of course, and I knew the protocol from my last visit so I enjoyed every minute of soaking in the hot springs…..Sorry folks, not allowed to take pictures in these areas for obvious reasons!

Dinner afterwards was fantastic. We enjoyed some of the best sashimi I have ever had, and the delicacies kept on coming.

I had four onsens/baths during my stay and if severe dehydration wasn’t a threat I would have had many more! The Japanese say that there is a double benefit when one enjoys an onsen (spa):

Tenchi Koka – location-change effect, where just by changing your environment and everyday routine you will benefit from the hot spring experience
Yakuri Koka – pharmacological effect, where one benefits from the minerals and other properties in the spa.

Combined, these effects help the body improve its natural ability to cure itself. Regardless, it was pure bliss and relaxation…I highly recommend that everyone visit a Japanese onsen in their lifetime.

Mike is just a little too tall for the room...

Happy bathing everyone!

Alo Brasil!!!

2007-01-17T00:43:00.000-08:00

Fiquei sabendo que muitos de voces estao acompanhando minhas aventuras pelo mundo atravez deste blog. Fico feliz em poder repartir algums momentos com voces, mesmo estando tao longe.

Estou tentando colocar bastante fotos, assim, mesmo que eu nao tenha muito tempo de escrever, voces podem ver onde eu estou e o que estou fazendo.

Eu adoro commentarios! Por favor, sempre que voces vierem ver umas fotos e ler um pouquinho, deixe um bilhetinho pra mim. A melhor coisa do mundo e poder ter um pedacinho da nossa familia junto de nos quando estamos tao longe.

Beijos e saudades…….

Mais uma coisa, pros primos e primas: sei que muitos de voces entendem o ingles escrito (Judith, Alexandra, Luana, Cal, Carolina)….entao, continue lendo e bota um bilhetinho pra mim no final, ta bom? Tchau Tchau

Kobe

2007-01-16T03:02:00.000-08:00

Kobe is a hillside community that overlooks Osaka. Some of you may remember that Kobe had an earthquake in 1995 that leveled entire neighbourhoods and killed more than 6000 people. But you would never know it when you see it. As soon as you get off the train, you see this incredible metropolitan city with mountains in the background. It’s definitely a place to stay, and not just visit.

The city shops are incredible. Every designer store you can think of from Louis Vuitton to Marc Jacobs, all nestled between smaller traditional Japanese shops. The moment you start walking along the streets and shops, you get soooooo hungry! The sweet smell of fresh pastries is EVERYWHERE, and the presentation of the goodies doesn’t disappoint either.

Our destination in Kobe was a little out of the ordinary. When I asked what Japanese people do when visiting Kobe, I was told they go to Chinatown. Yes, Chinatown. So guess where I wanted to go?

Mike and I on the path of self destruction as we proceeded to try just about everything the vendors had to offer...

Hope you enjoyed our brief stay in Kobe. Next on the hit list: ARIMA! aka "spa town"...

Japanese English

2007-01-15T17:58:00.000-08:00

Some of you loyal readers may remember my previous comments on the

Japan

’s garbage problem and how I think the rest of the world should be a little concerned with the lack of the 3 R’s here, especially Mr. Gore. Well, I was wrong. I did find the 3 R’s in

Japan

, except, I think they have it a little differently than us:

RELATION

REFRESH

REDUCE

1 out of 3 isn’t bad

This translation atrocity is part of a phenomenon called, Japanese English, where the translations can be so bad, that even a native English speaker can’t understand the meaning. Foreigners here take every opportunity to point these out, and even buy t-shirts with this so-called Japanese English.

Here are some of the other examples I have found along the way:

Even the pictures that accompany these two are funny. But I really don't know what it's supposed to mean (?)

This was on a garbage can in a park. CLEAN!

Lastly, I wanna see some comments people. I love that you’re reading the blog but I want to log on and get your perspectives as well. SO COMMENT!

Observations...

2007-01-10T18:07:00.000-08:00

When I was 18, I went to

France

and was dragged to a half dozen castles, all of which looked the same after the third day. After that, I swore I would think twice before seeking out another castle. But Himeji is something else. It’s acclaimed as the most splendid castle in

Japan

, and after seeing it first hand, I have to agree.

We took a train to Himeji, and on the way, saw the world’s longest suspension bridge: Akashi Kaikyo. I thought of my friend Sean, who as an engineer, would certainly have wanted to stop to inspect the bridge. Once we arrived, you could see the castle from the train station. A 10-minute walk later and we were there…..

So instead of going on and on about how elegant the castle was (which is true), I will tell you what I was really thinking as we strolled throughout the gardens and took the tour inside of the castle.

I was intrigued, as I have been at every tourist destination in Japan, at the proportion of Japanese people visiting these sites. This is purely a guess but I would say that the Japanese outnumber the foreigners by 9 to 1. Now, I know what you’re thinking. “You’re in Japan, dumbass, of course there’s more Japanese people than foreigners”. My surprise lies in the sheer number of nationals who spend their time and money on these tourist sites. I often think we don’t know our own backyard. It took me almost 15 years before I went up the CN Tower, and even then, it was only because I had company from out of town! Still, this doesn’t seem to be the Japanese way. They tour around their country and take pleasure in the sites even more than foreign tourists do.

My second observation is more of a concern. Japan is the land of the rising sun, of women dressed in kimono standing beside harajuku girls on their cell phones, the land of sushi and sake…..but it is also the land of over-packaging. Everything you buy comes in an exquisite little package, which in turn is wrapped in colourful paper and tied with a bow, then placed in a box so you don’t damage its beauty, followed by a carrying bag and, sometimes, a second bag so the first doesn’t get wet on your way home. No one likes pretty packaged stuff more than women…but let’s put aside for one moment that it’s gorgeous….the Japanese don’t seem to recycle anything! Plastic bottles, paper, boxes, aluminum cans: all garbage! How can a country that is so advanced in so many other aspects not recycle? And think about it folks, Japan is a small country with 130 million people. If Toronto can’t find a place for its garbage, I am sure Japan is burning it all! REUSE REDUCE RECYCLE!!!!!!!!!!

Aside from this global warming concern (someone call Al Gore!), I love so many little things here…like when you walk into a restaurant and all the staff greet you. Yes, all of them, including the kitchen staff, and they do it again when you leave!

This is Ramen, a huge bowl of noodles served with egg, sliced pork, and bean sprouts. In Japan, it is considered good manners to slurp the noodles , to show appreciation to the chef. This was DELICIOUS!!!!!

Lastly, I am learning to pay attention….to the bikes so they don’t run me over, to the sites so I don’t get lost, to the customs so I don’t embarrass myself in a restaurant...

Here are some more random pictures to enjoy:

This is one of the places where Mike works, right beside the river. It's truly beautiful at night.

These were taken at the Ebisu Festival, around the corner from Mike's house. The fun at these festivals is eating vendor food like tacoyaki, pastries filled with custard and over-priced hot sake. The festival lasted three days.

Fascinations....

2007-01-09T01:29:00.000-08:00

I have been in

Japan

for a week now, and I am still starry-eyed about many things, even though I have been here before. I think one of the things I appreciate the most is how accessible everything is. Almost every day Mike takes me on a day trip. We hop onto the train and a couple of hours later arrive at towns filled with shrines, castles, and temples. I find myself thinking of the VIA train back home. Is it as accessible for someone to do a day trip to Ottawa or Kingston, as it is for us here to visit Kyoto or Kobe? Accessing the city and beyond through trains, the subway and a little known mode of transportation known as walking, is the opposite of suburbia, where my car is my lifeline….

I am also enthralled with the shotengai, blocks and blocks of enclosed shopping, filled with every type of store, bar and restaurants you can imagine. The colourful lights are blinding, and if you hate crowds, this is not the place to be. It is a fine balance between strolling along while looking at the shop windows and simultaneously ensuring that your head is up so you don’t get mulled. I LOVE IT! It is this crazy city life that I am craving…..Japan is indulging me.

Another fascination I have here is with the food. Everything from the presentation to the flavours is pleasant. The other night, Mike took me to all-you-can-eat Kaiten sushi, where the sushi is presented on conveyor belts and you reach and take whatever intrigues your senses. I was in gastronomic heaven….

The following day, I was invited to a Nabe party by a friend of Mike’s named Aiko. Gatherings with friends are much like at home, and centre around food. Nabe consists of an array of vegetables, seafood, tofu, chicken and much more, cooked in broth in a pot situated in the middle of the table. We dug in with our chopsticks and enjoyed the food accompanied by rice and beer. I loved the intimacy of this meal, and felt privileged to be in someone’s home, enjoying something truly authentic. One more thing I want to say about this meal, was how courteous and welcoming my new Japanese friends were. They went through every trouble to give me a true experience, and made me feel like the guest of honour without the constraints and discomfort that usually accompany this position.

This is not even half of all the fixings...

You dig in right from the pot to your own little bowl....

The next day, Mike’s friends Aiko and Jun took me to Nara Park, where amidst the temples, gates and ponds you’ll find hundreds of deer. Yes, deer. These will literally trample you in search for a rice cracker. Apparently, in pre-Buddhist times, they were considered to be messengers of the gods. To me they’re scary ass little creatures.

Mike getting assaulted by the deer

The park is beautiful....

This is a five-storey pagoda on the park grounds. I am the little dot at the bottom.

Forgive me, I couldn't resist....we went to an okonomiyaki restaurant where you sit around an iron hotplate , chopsticks and spatulae in hand, and eat meat/vegetables/soba noodles in a cabbage and vegetable batter.......we drank hot sake with it and life was good....

Must go digest now.....

Konichiwa from Japan

2007-01-04T16:12:00.001-08:00

I arrived in the land of the rising sun without incident. I had a short layover in Chicago where I was greeted with the usual American charm as they yell at service workers and bark as you ask simple questions. I honestly believe that everyone who comes to Japan should fly through the US to experience the sharp contrast between the extreme Japanese politeness and formality with the abrasiveness of the land of the free.

Osaka is just as I remember it from my last visit: full, colourful, hectic, with all the fixings of a large city and the charm of Japan. Food is everywhere, and you can easily spend most of your day trying different dishes and wondering why there is mayonnaise in everything.

I am reminded too of how dependent I am on Mike while here. There is little to no English anywhere, and the Kanji is completely indiscernible to me. I can't imagine doing what he did: moving here with the clothing on your back, without any formal training in the language.....Two years ago when he visited Canada I asked what the best and worse parts of living in Japan were...the worse being how much of a struggle doing simple things was, like buying cough syrup when you can't tell the difference between bottles and even when you get it home, you're still not quite sure of what you bought. As I watch him now, effortlessly navigate through train changes, conversations with store clerks and reading through menus, I notice he takes this ease for granted, and is reminded of the difficulties as he sees how lost I am....

We have spent the first few days in Osaka, visiting the local market (which is underground...imagine the hustle and bustle of a market underground!), shopping in the shotengai (arcades of shops throughout the streets) and eating upon around the corner.　The jet lag hasn't been too bad this time around, so yesterday I had the energy to visit Kyoto, a city about an hour and a half away from Osaka. Mike took me there last year, but you could never cover all the sites and experiences in a day, and so, we ventured there again. My Lonely Planet says that Kyoto, more than any other city in the country, "offers what a great many Westerners long for in Japan: raked pebble gardens, the sensuous contours of a temple roof, the tripping step of a latter day Geisha in pursuit of a taxi".....this is all so true! Instead of writing about it, I'll let some of my pictures do the talking for me....

This is a river cutting through Kyoto named Kamo...just 1 minute away from the hustle and bustle of the streets, you find locals fishing and enjoying the sun.

Anyone who's seen the famous movie Memoirs of a Geisha may recognize these streets in Gion. I spent the morning wondering through them, hoping to see some real life Geisha when out of nowhere....

Maiko, who are young girls training to be geisha, were walking the streets of Gion....a friend is seen adjusting the kimono. The contrast between the traditional make-up, formal dress and the friend's blue jeans is a small example of the dichotomies present in modern day Japan.

Choin Shrine

This is a traditional Japanese garden....

Walking through the streets you get these wonderful surprises when you look up and see a stunning Pagoda in the background. This one is Iasaka Pagoda.

These streets were lined with shops, a true dream for someone like me, who loves to look at trinkets and eat sweets. Mike and I ate so many free samples that dinner had to be postponed for a few hours. This climb up to Kiyomizudera is steep and a bit long, but the shops along the way distract you from it, and before you know it, you're before a World Heritage Site....

Kiyomizudera

This is Ryozen Kwannon, a large Buddha in commemoration of Japanese soldiers from WWII and for the establishment of a peaceful Japan. This is for Cam, a true WWII buff.

More pictures soon to come....Sayounara!

On the brink of adventure....

2006-12-31T09:21:00.000-08:00

Before anything else, welcome to my blog! (the first non-brasilian to guess where the title of this blog came from will receive my first postcard from down under!)

The blog will be a way for me to keep in touch with my family, my friends and co-workers during this adventure I'm about to embark on. As many of you already know, tomorrow morning (yes, I bought a ticket for 8 a.m., new year's day) I leave on a trip to Asia and the south Pacific for 5 months!!! I have been planning this for a few months now, and the metamorphosis of many dreams is developing into this:

A second trip to Japan...to explore and experience Japan through Mike's adoring eyes...

Perth, Australia to complete my certificate in Orthopaedic Manual Therapy at one of the best universities down under...

A month exploring Melbourne, Sydney, Cairns and Brisbane, taking in the sun and the magnificent ocean....

Another month in New Zealand, where Jenn and I are attempting to drive on the wrong side of the road while distracted by the breath-taking scenery the movies boast about...

Back to Japan, where Mike and I will embark on a ferry (literally) to China, a place I have dreamed of visiting for the culture shock my system craves, the food I will eat until I'm physically sick, and the experiences I will write to my mom and sister about (Ingrid, I swear I will see a Panda bear and as many Chow Chows as I can find!)....

As you can see, I am truly on the brink of this adventure, and as I sit in the comfort of my room, I am excited, nervous, thrilled and pensive. I am thinking about 2006, and what an amazing year it was for me: my family is happy, healthy and together, I gained a lifelong friend in Amber, my professional life exploded with the success of the clinic and our award of excellence, my personal life revealed Michael, and my existing friendships continued to bless me. I read books, drank wine, travelled to Japan, treated hundreds of patients, exercised, fought and laughed with loved ones, learned from my mentor Kathleen, including my mistakes and successes, and received more generosity and kindness than you can imagine!

And so, it is with much gratitude and excitement that I begin this blog. This will be a place for me to post my pictures along the way with captions on my whereabouts and ventures. I will post as often as I can, and hope that you enjoy visiting this site every once in awhile to catch up.

For now, I wish you all a wonderful 2007, full of happiness, health, success, joy and adventure...let's toast this new year and embrace all it has in store!