Just NB

As lucky as I am to have the vacation time and resources to travel, I have learned a few things on my Sydney vacation. 1. I don't do well in big cities 2. I don't do well with "tourist" type attractions. I'd much prefer to do an every day activity and just observe (or participate if I'm lucky) in the local culture. 3. I should go into new places with the same level of expectations as I when I first arrived in MG - none. Maybe...I already knew #1 and #2, so I guess Sydney was a bit of a weird spot to pick for a vacation. And PLEASE don't get me wrong - I'm not complaining at all. I was able to spend two weeks in one of the most beautiful cities, walking around, eating good food, drinking good wine, having great company (and even luckier to catch up with an old friend that I've kept in contact with for the last eight years...), but Sydney wasn't my thing. I found the people of Sydney (and Manly - the...sort of suburb where I was staying) t...

For some weird reason (maybe because I am....) I was HUGELY into the idea of going to Tasmania. Hadn't heard of anything about it, didn't know anything about it, didn't put two-and-two together and realize that was the home of the Tasmania devil - I just thought it was THE COOLEST place to go on my Australian vacation. I just had one travelling partner with me this time - we had rented a car - he had already been there and kind of knew his way of the land, and I was so excited!! So off we go at 5h30 a.m. to the Sydney airport (am getting so incredibly sick of cabs here. Truly my only complaint against Australia....) and a quick hour later, I arrive in a the teeny little Hobart airport. With the cutest little welcoming dog. Okay...he's not a welcoming dog. He personally sniffs all carry on and checked luggage for flora and fauna. He walks along the luggage belt, climbing over suitcases if he needs to, never getting too far away from his boss, sniffing along. He en...

I’ve been trying to keep track of the days since I’ve arrived in Australia – so that I’d have some funny or interesting blog posts – things that I’m doing, how I’m feeling, where I’m going, who I’m with, people I’m meeting, the beaches I’m loving – but really – since I’ve arrived, my brain has completely SHUT OFF (and thank god...it needed a break after this past rotation)... But...ninety percent of the time, I don’t have a clue what time it is - which has only really sucked once when we went for supper and found out that it was almost 23h00 – and every single kitchen in Manly was closed for the night (but...actually – that wasn’t so bad because we all ended up buying meat pies, a bottle of wine, and drank out of paper cups on the beach). I never know what I’m doing the next day, or maybe the next hour....and I could really care less. I think this is THE true definition of a real vacation. Okay...so I’m not experiencing each and every one of Sydney’s highlights – but what I am ...

I know, I know...I've been here for five days...so I'm a bit behind. But seriously - internet has been hard to find!! In Canada, we seem to have free wireless internet in any cafe. Not here. I've had to look high and low...finally found like this wireless card...I hope that it works... The flight to Sydney was pretty uneventful. I drank um... a bit too much champagne (surprise...its seriously hard to keep track of the glasses when they come around every three seconds and top it up) and...well...again, I was travelling drunk. Great. I thought it was best if I went to get ready for bed, I got out my free travel kit, went to the bathroom to change, but COULD NOT open the toothpaste (it's hard to open sober - never mind after x glasses of champagne...). So I just squeezed down on the tube as hard as I could – and – as you can predict – this resulted in toothpaste EVERYWHERE. So now I'm drunk in a tiny little bathroom trying to clean up the toothpaste – the whole ...

Having a great time in Australia...just can't seem to find internet and a power source at the same time to upload pictures (of which there are many!) Loving the beach (I am swimming in the Pacific Ocean now, which seems weird?), the food (mostly the selection of food!!), the company, the wine, and the outdoors. Have already been swimming in my ginchies and eaten some great seafood. I almost forgot how fun life in a first world country can be (um...except that's pretty much what I do in MG...but here it's cleaner and I have a bazillion choices to pick from). Better post to come as soon as I can find internet!!! (I just have to say - I found a Starbucks AND a slurpee!! Life is great. :))

Since I'm a rotational expat, I'm fortunate and lucky enough to have the opportunity to travel the world…every six weeks or so. I chose to go back to Canada my first rotation…just to make sure I was okay; and my second rotation fell near Christmas,but now….I’m off for a real vacation!!! In honor of Australia Day (um....like Canada Day...but for Australia??), I thought I'd tell you all how I'm spending my next rotation. I hadn't ever expressed an interest in Australia….but any country surrounded by water has to be a great place for me to check out. Coincidentally - the town of Tamatave in being overtaken by what seems like dozens of Aussies in the last few months. If Australia is where all of these (affectionately termed) crazies originate - well - that merits a visit on its own... My First Expatriate Vacation Stop #1: Reunion, France. This tiny island is a two hour flight east of Tamatave and I'm there for one and a half days. Each and every time I’...