Making Moves

Hello fabulous people of the World Wide Web! I’ve whipped up a blog post to recap the happenings of a (brie) cheesy Bogen in the land of Bogans! I left marvelous Melbourne in a teary state of sleep-deprived delirium and Anna and I found ourselves in beautiful Byron Bay.  After a few blissful days exploring and realizing we weren’t the only ones who wanted to work in paradise, we traveled north to the amusingly tacky Surfer’s Paradise, home to theme park aficionados and people whose hair prefers to stay classy in the front and party in the back (aka a mullet). Anna and I were applying for jobs in other cities online while looking for jobs on the Gold Coast and things kept leading us to Sydney. The adventure continued onto another tarmac and we landed as two Wyoming women on a mission to get employed! But before I became a penny-pinching cheapo, there was a lot of good fun to be had in Melbourne!

Melbourne: Surviving The Great Ocean Road, The Heat Wave and Saying Goodbye

Anna, our friend Dagmar and I hit the road and went on a short trip down the Great Ocean Road (GOR). All claims that I have questionable driving skills at times were shattered by my effortless ability to drive on the other side and not kill anything! The largest challenge: avoiding putting on the windshield wipers instead of the turning signal. The drive was spectacular because the water was so gorgeous and the road was so windy. Any trip, if possible, isn’t complete without a stop to a cheese factory, so we enjoyed what could only be described as good old midwestern fun! We felt like we had teleported to Wisconsin. Another highlight was seeing a graceful pack of cockatoos flying above us. It sure beat the only other wildlife we saw which was a dead kangaroo on the beach that Anna creepily photographed much too enthusiastically haha It was a really great time with the best of company: good girlfriends, good tunes and so much sun!

During a fierce week of high temperatures in Melbourne, I spent a weird amount of time sitting in a puddle of my own sweat and fantasizing about skinny-dipping in the arctic. Melbourne was experiencing a major heat wave and the whole city was freaking out. Trains couldn’t run, little ball kids at the Australian Open were passing out and I was relaying much too greatly on popsicles as a coping mechanism. In our eyes, the only logical way to spend the day was to lie around in a blow up pool we filled in the back patio. I’d never felt such feelings of love for an inanimate, heavily plastic-scented item.

Anna and I had thought about leaving Melbourne to go to a beach town for a while but I never knew how hard it would be to leave. For a bit in the beginning after Anna and I had left I’d even wondered why I’d moved on at all. I missed the quirky little city I’d called home and couldn’t stop thinking of what I’d left behind. I kept hoping things would work out for Anna and I and it would all be worth it. In hindsight it all did but there are still so many things I miss (among millions of other things): hours spent in parks doing random things, beach days in St. Kilda, watching unexpected fireworks, rooftop cider bars, volleyball sessions, sitting in the flower cooler at my job and being surround by coldness and beauty, dodging possums in the park, random Scottish dance parties, conversations in the Nunnery kitchen while drinking tea, moonlight cinema, grooving down the streets to Dutch dance tunes, walking through Federation Square at night, spending time with our adopted Aussie family, alleyway cafes, laughing myself to the point that it was a stomach workout with Team America, holidays at the Nunnery and most importantly meeting so many incredible people who I greatly admired and even loved. It was a really magical couple of months.

The Unemployed Life

Gone were the days of politely refusing to take the last mini Nutella packet at the hostel so someone else could enjoy it. Being unemployed made Anna and I have no shame in being ruthlessly assertive females. We excelled at things such as being overly competitive in backpacker volleyball to get a free beer or giving a menacing stink eye while scoping out something equally appealing to someone else on the free food shelf at the hostel. Although we’ve always been a fan of freebies, we had a new appreciation for anything that we didn’t have to pay for. Take for example people watching. One time, I enjoyed a particularly invigorating 30 minutes watching a wee ginger scare pigeons. Or that other time when the Friday night streets of Surfer’s Paradise turned into a feast for the eyes. We spent a good 2 hours on a bench with an equally amused elderly German couple. The grand daddy of all free events, however, was the Hurley Australian Open of Surfing where I came dangerously close to giving myself whiplash on not one but 229 separate occasions from a new hobby/possible life path I’ve found called “looking for hot surfer guys and making crazy, indiscreet gestures of excitement when I see them”. Anna and I decided that if you’re a surfer it’s also impossible to be an ugly person. The sport doesn’t allow it. And if you’re ugly and you’re surfing you will be eaten by a shark. Sorry but that’s the world we live in. 

Surfer's Paradise

Unemployment also lead to many creative schemes to make money that we unfortunately decided weren’t quite right for us. Such brilliant ideas included: donating eggs (sadly, I posses the short person gene although Anna and I think we can combine both of ours to create the world’s greatest human being), setting up webcams of me eating for people with food fetishes (this flies in Asia but hasn’t quite reached the Aussie market. Man, Asians are always ahead of us in everything!), hurling ourselves in front of public transport to sue the city (sacrificing limbs is not worth it), sugar daddy (still looking. Let us know if you have any leads) and becoming street performers (I can do some cool gymnastics tricks and Anna has some mad flute skills, but we are uncomfortable with eyes burning into us. We don’t care for the stare. Also, we would like to say we have some sweet dance moves but sadly we are Macarena sort of people :/).

The Employed Life

Thankfully I found a job, and a great one at that! This time around I’ll be working full time at the front desk of Sydney Harbour YHA, a really nice hostel right near Circular Quay in The Rocks, one of the most popular tourist areas of Sydney. It’s also an upscale business district so I spend my time commuting with a sea of suited up city folk. Thankfully I have experience working in the hotel industry so I’m not a complete idiot at the desk but there’s still a lot to learn. I love my coworkers. They are patient and funny and the atmosphere is so nice. As an added bonus, my odd dream to speak over a PA system has been granted because I get to advertise hostel events throughout the whole complex with my booming, God-like voice! The occasional manly tones that my pesky vocal chords produce really shine when put on the spot. As well, I’ll be taught to be a barista. I’m looking forward to making wild little milk creatures on top of people’s coffee!

Sydney Harbour YHA

Final Thoughts….

I believe there’s a little nook in my heart especially for keeping the memory of all the incredible people and places I’ve known in this wandering life of mine. Melbourne found its way there, as many have before and many will. I found myself alone swimming in the waves here in Sydney and felt some of the purest joy I’ve know. I couldn’t keep the smile off my face or the giggles from toppling out. The ocean makes me so happy and I’m really excited to be here in Sydney where a beautiful city full of opportunity happens to be fringed by spectacular beaches. I’ll always have the memory of Melbourne and now I’ll have another one of Sydney. Things always seem to have a way of working themselves out. Can life always be like this? I sure hope so because it’s what I live for. Unreal moments that turn into the realest feelings and unexpected circumstances that become instances in which the heart can only expect to be one way: happy :)

Beach walk in Sydney! 

An Australian Life

Nine weeks later, I’m reminiscing over when I first landed on Australian soil and was overwhelmed by everything: finding a place to live, a job, friends and the fear that salted caramel hadn’t yet caught on in this foreign land of bronzed hunks and cuddly creatures in trees. It’s nice to think of how much things have changed since then and how relieved I am that it all worked out. I’ve found a place here and have discovered that strangers can turn into family, some of the most beautiful art in the world can be seen on the walls of undiscovered alleyways and although Australians have found a love for salted caramel (insert sigh of relief) they have something even better: honeycomb. Australians are known to have a really high standard of living and their cities constantly top lists of the best places in the world to live. I’m so thankful to have the experience to confirm that this is not just a claim, it’s true. And the best part is that this is only the beginning…

                                                        Backpacking in Oz: Where it all began

I spent some time backpacking around Australia to decide where I wanted to settle down. I had heard so many different opinions about the largest cities in Australia and wanted to see for myself which would fit me the best. I started in Sydney and was welcomed by impossibly beautiful blue skies and perfect weather. I was so stunned by Sydney! Seriously, what a babe! It really had the best of everything: amazing, clean city beaches, beautiful harbors and an exciting first-class city full of things to do and places to explore. The only word used to describe it was impressive. I spent a few days there and kept thinking to myself “wow, I could really live here!”  I especially loved taking the ferry across the harbor to Manly beach and seeing the skyline. I left Sydney completely understanding what all the hype was about and when I flew to Brisbane I didn’t know how it could top what I had seen.

Brisbane was a pleasant city with a really different vibe and it was nice to be able to compare Sydney to somewhere else. I was able to see one of my friends that I met when I was working in Greece and she showed me around the city. It was so nice catching up and we even met some good lookin’ new friends :)

Melbourne: Finding Home

My last stop was Melbourne. Interestingly the majority of people I had talked to told me that was where they would live so I was really intrigued. I arrived and my first thought was that I was cold! What the heck?! I never imagined I would feel that way in Australia because of the image we all have of sun, sand and surf. And no jackets in sight. And god forbid a scarf! It was a dreary, drizzly day and my first impression wasn’t as I’d thought. From there, though, I ended up falling for Melbourne a little more each day, creating the best kind of love. I found myself extending my stay a few days at a time until I realized I just didn’t want to leave. Unlike Sydney where everything amazing is right in your face, Melbourne you really have to dig into. And if you do, you end up finding so many amazing treasures and you realize why it is so spectacular. Melbourne is home to amazing street art, music, food, café culture and coffee. It’s very European-esque and I think it has a lot of hints of California. There are tons of cool neighborhoods, from the hippest hipster to the swankiest business district to funky St. Kilda with its beach. People call it the cultural capital of Australia for a reason. The only downside is the weather, which to be frank, is totally whack. Lonely Planet says it well: “If you’ve ever experienced Melbourne’s inclination to plummet from searing heat to drizzling rain in the space of an hour, you’ll understand that this must be the true definition of unconditional love”. Amen.

A big reason why I found myself loving Melbourne so much was because I met so many awesome people right in the beginning and we all know people make the place. I stayed at a hostel with a mix of travelers and people on the working holiday visa and it reminded me of being in a college dorm again. A dangerous amount of fun! There was always something going on, from bbqs to pub crawls to endless park sessions and it was so nice to have new people always around to do something and familiar faces to come home to. I still consider most of the people I met there my closest friends here and I’m so thankful for that. I also hadn’t ever stayed at a hostel where I felt so at home. I’ll always remember it and smile and I miss the hostel living a lot (not the career snorers though. I don’t miss them at all. Nope.)

I got a job working at a flower shop in a northern suburb, which is a world away from Melbourne. I have found it really interesting because working in a commercial shop is so different than what I’m used to. I’d never even wired flowers before and now I’m a pro! I spend most of my time with giant piles of flowers making as many bouquets as I can (sometimes over 100!) and running the front counter. I really love flowers and am learning a ton. Australians also have really high wages so I have no complaints about the money! The only bummer is that it’s only part time, but it has left me with lots of time to explore this awesome city. I’ve also fallen in love with an 81 year-old man named Ernie who works a few days a week for a couple of hours. He calls me darlin and brings me muffins while I’m working :)  What more could a girl ask for?

Anna and I were also really lucky to meet a kind, generous and fun family here in Melbourne. They have been so incredibly nice and helpful and we have found ourselves with a little adopted family, which is beyond awesome. They are some of the nicest people I’ve ever met traveling and a true testament to Australian hospitality. We’ve learned a lot about Australian life by staying with them, which is a really cool experience not all backpackers are lucky enough to have. They also love Jackson, which automatically makes them amazing! Anna and I can’t thank them enough.

Tasty Treats

Aussies know how to create some food addictions. Here are some that top the list (I’d like to take this moment to send out a special shout out to the Brits for throwing all your prisoners over here. You left some good food traditions with them!):

Tim Tams

Addicting little chocolate covered cookies that come in a variety of flavors and make eating the whole box in one sitting ridiculously easy and guilt- inducing

Pies

If I were famous, I would do everything in my power to become sponsored by Pie Face. I would become the Face of Pie Face. I would proudly represent flaky pastry with delicious fillings and mashed potatoes and gravy on top.

Pavlova

A meringue crust layered with heaps of whipped cream and fresh fruit that melds into a soft, delicious treat #winning

Crumpets

The irresistible love child of an English muffin and a pancake. Hallelujah!

Cider

Come on USA. Get with it. Cider is the best beverage in the whole world. Why would you not have any?! For a special treat on rare occasions, I buy the $12 passion fruit flavor :)

Kangaroo

I accidently ate a kangaroo burger without knowing it at a barbie. I thought it tasted a little odd and when it was confirmed that what I ate was not beef and in fact a cute marsupial, I still found I had pleasantly enjoyed it and continued on to have kangaroo on other occasions. While in Australia do as the Australians do, right?!

 Bats, Possums and Goon*, oh my!

The bats of Melbourne constantly fascinate me. Every night when the sun goes down, they start roaming the skies and are GIANT! These are no Wyoming bats. The whole sky has them all over and it’s so cool to me because I’d never seen anything like that before. If you find yourself inspired by the bats and are feeling particularly zoologist-like you can go through any of the parks and examine possums in their natural habitat. If you are really lucky, you can even see a backpacker or ten wasted off of goon too! How fun is Oz?!

Anna Banana!

I’d like to add a special shout out to my friend Anna who came to Melbourne a few weeks after I’d arrived. It’s been so amazing having one of my closest friends here and we have had so much fun cooking, laughing, high-fiving, playing volleyball, enjoying hours of Game of Thrones, having spontaneous dance parties in random locations, being basically hilarious in textual form, eating tasty cheese and heaps of other things. I’m so glad to have her here. If you don’t know her, get to know her because she’s way cooler than me.

                                                                          Future plans

I hope to master the art of looking the right way before crossing the street and to perfect an Aussie accent. Ask anyone, I’m really close. Like scarily close. (Only kidding. Every time I try, somehow it creepily morphs into a southern American accent and I don’t even know how it happens). On a more serious note, Anna and I plan to head to the east coast to work, hopefully in a small surf town. It will be so hard to leave this beautiful city but we are in search of the Aussie cliché. I’m thinking half-naked men on the beach smothering vegemite on themselves surround by koalas riding kangaroos while Men at Work’s “Down Under” plays in the background. We will see if it happens, there is a small chance I’m setting my hopes too high.

*Goon is “wine packaged as a bag-in-a-box. Most people in Australia know it and most backpackers drink it almost daily. On one side it is a cheap alcoholic drink that ice-cold or mixed can taste pretty good. On the other side, it can be disgusting and might contain remains of fish and eggs. Some optimistic mates say: ‘well then it’s like a whole meal’.”

Japan and Seoul!

Unfortunately I vowed to myself that I would keep up with my blog better than in the past but look at me now! Finally getting to it after quite some time. In all honesty though, I consider myself a pretty lucky lady to be too busy with life instead of finding myself with too much downtime to blog all the time. How great it is to be young and free…

 I’m going to mention a few highlights of Japan and my brief stop in Seoul! I had a downright rockin’ time in both places and was again reminded why Asia is such a fascinating part of the world.

 Japan (Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka)

The people!

I was so impressed by the friendliness of the people I met. Almost every time I was lost (and people, let’s take in how often this happens with me) someone would come up to me and not only show me where to go, but walk with me there! Every hostel I stayed at I made friends with the girls at the reception because they were so incredibly friendly and nice. They were always giving me treats (they caught on to my love affair with sugar. Best news ever or worst news ever? Haha) or compliments and when I left one place they even had a hand written card for me. 

One time on the bullet train, an adorable little woman kept making origami for me. She was so enthusiastic about my traveling alone in Japan that she created a little penguin that I could put in my pocket (logically called a “pocket penguin”) so I would always have a friend :) 

People dressed as characters were also something I loved. You can find an adorable little smiling character in any place at any time! 

Also, Japanese people are really respectful, which has created an incredibly safe country. Get this: they don’t even lock their bikes up in the streets! I couldn’t believe it!! I felt so welcome everywhere I went and it was a huge reason why I ended up loving Japan so much. I can honestly say they are some of the nicest people I’ve met traveling by far.

The technology!

Japan really has it going on in a lot of aspects, especially transportation. The bullet trains (shinkansen) were one of my favorite experiences. The trains go up to 200 mph and are so smooth! I compared it to being on an airplane when you’re taking off or landing. Everything is going so quickly out your window! The $130, 2.5 hour ride was completely worth it.

Ever heard of a country famous for its toilets? Welcome to Japan! Their toilets are out of control. They have music, multiple heat setting for the seats and all sorts of things I couldn’t even really understand haha

There were also parts of the cities I went to that epitomized the image I had in my head for Japan- neon lights, huge buildings, anime everywhere and utter craziness. Akihabara, in Tokyo, and Dotombori in Osaka were two places where you really saw how high-tech culture is imbedded in all aspects of Japanese society.

The culture!

Japanese culture is incredibly impressive, especially the temples. They were so beautiful and each one was unique. And there are literally thousands of temples and shrines! You could spend sooo much time looking at all of them. These were my favorites:

Kiyomizu: I saw this complex as the sun was setting and everything was glittering gold. It was my first introduction to Kyoto and it was so beautiful it made me dizzy!

Golden Pavilion: I also saw this one at sunset, which was pretty magical. Along with the setting, I couldn’t imagine a more picturesque temple.

Fushimi Inari: There are literally thousands of gates winding up a mountain!

Osaka Castle: What an impressive castle! I was also set in the middle of a gorgeous park area surround by a moat and mini food trucks. Culture and cuteness! I dug it.

Another one of my favorite experiences was the Gion district in Kyoto. There were tons of antique houses turned into trendy shops or restaurants. I also saw some beautiful young geishas there. Thanks to my mad zoom, I could creepily take photos of them without looking creepy! Thanks Canon!

The food!

Sushi train: Where do I begin… I was so pumped to find myself at a sushi train restaurant! A hostel friend and I just went for it and got anything that looked weird, wacky and delicious! Each plate color represents a different price and when you’re full they scan all the plates and voila- the price appears on the machine! So high tech and awesome! We saw the sushi chef actually catching fish out of a tank and then chopping them up. I don’t think it can get any fresher than that. I really enjoyed every one I had except the one pictured below. It tasted a little like something I used to feed my gold fish. And it had eyes. And it tasted hairy? :/

Crème puffs: They are one of the last things I thought I would eat all the time in Japan, but Japanese people love their crème puffs with serious passion and sugar stamina! I particularly enjoyed the cinnamon one with lemon cream.

Okonomiyaki: as many of you know, if the word “pancake” is used to describe any sort of food, there is no stopping me. I will eat it. Okonomiyaki are savory pancakes that come in all different kinds of shapes, sizes, styles and flavors. I enjoyed three different types. This zebra clad number was my favorite!

Takoyaki: Octopus balls! Mine had mayo squirt on top. Don’t know if that’s the traditional way…? Whatever! When in Japan.

Maple: as a child, my mother confirmed the lingering suspicions of a sugar addiction by finding me sneakily chugging out of the maple syrup bottle. Let’s just say, I LOVE MAPLE. And so does Japan! Especially since it was fall, I had so many lovely maple treats.

Seoul

Here are some of my highlights:

Bulgogi: The owner of the hostel was nice enough to take my Italian friend and I out for bulgogi, which is thin beef mixed with a sweet, soy-based sauce. It was also my first time trying kimchi (fermented vegetables). I love how Asian cultures often use so many plates!

Galbi with the girls: I met two lovely Korean girls that took me out for galbi, which is Korean pork bbq. It was amazingly delicious and they were some of the nicest girls I’ve met on all my travels! We ended the night with shochu, a traditional Korean alcohol.

Fall leaves and street art: The fall colors were more brilliant in Korea than Japan because it’s a little colder there. I really enjoyed strolling in the parks! 

Back in the game!

Well, I’ve decided to sweep the dust off my little old blog and give her another go. I decided to write a post to give a little catch up of what I’ve been doing and what I plan on doing! Enjoy homies!

Present: I’ve been in the states since mid-April (jeez, no wonder I’m getting antsy) and have been a flower girl with Heide’s Flowers and a nanny to her two kids, Tai and Taz, which I’ve done for a few summers now. I love the flowers and the kids equally and am thankful to have such a unique job that is never monotonous and always keeps me interested. I’ve actually found myself dreaming of owning a flower shop some day. I love the creative energy used to pair and arrange the flowers and simply put, they make me smile. People love arrangements and I love making them. 

Here's a link to a wedding we did flowers for:

http://www.katygray.com/2013/07/15/elise-nick-jackson-hole-wedding-photography/

Tai and Taz are bright, curious and well behaved. I enjoy spending time with them and seeing them grow and learn. I also value their openness to the world and their insightful view on life. Sometimes I find myself wishing I were a 4 or 6 year old again, which is why I believe I love to travel. Everything you see is new, everything you learn has a big impression on you and the world is full of rainbows and sunshine.  

This summer, I went for it and bought a dslr camera, which I’ve dreamt about for a long time. I have taken my interest in photography and turned it into a new hobby. There is a lot to learn but I’m really excited to be opening my eyes to a whole new world. I can’t wait to take it on all my travels, I’m sure it will become a really important part of my life.

I’ve been lucky to have a lot of friends here this summer, including one who is having a baby in October! I’ve been reminded how important it is to have good relationships in my life. I’m really blessed to have all these amazing chicas around me!

Past: I had always dreamt of backpacking Southeast Asia ever since I went to Cambodia in high school and was forever impacted by the impressive array of emotions that left with me and continued to stay. Now that I am in the most liberating, free-spirited phase of my life, I have the opportunity to see the places I had only witnessed before in endless daydreams and Google image searches. I took the chance last winter to strap on the backpack, pull out the passport and hop on a plane to Southeast Asia. I know I could go on for days and days about all that I experienced so I decided to just mention the highlights.

Thailand

Completing (and might I add, surviving) the incredibly informative CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults) certification course in Chiang Mai where we taught local Thais ages 14-65 and spent an estimated 322 hours stressing over lesson plans.

Most of the CELTA trainees :)

Watching in amazement as the world lit on fire with lanterns, candles in the river and fireworks during Loi Krathong.

A picture by Emily

Being humbled at the Elephant Nature Park by the amazing work of the foundation and the heartbreaking stories of the elephants there.

Finding myself in an out of this world realm of obsession-forming karst mountains, turquoise waters, bleach-white sand and insane, techno-pumping beach parties where I found myself jumping (literally) on the fire jump rope band wagon.

Laos
Meeting new friends by being hilariously packed in the storage area and trying to avoid the fumes on the slow boat from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang.

Slow boat

Spending a tropical Christmas biking in Luang Prabang where I had never tasted a croissant so amazing.

Lying in hammocks while taking in the jaw-dropping scenery of the spectacular river cities Nong Khiaw and Muang Ngoi Neua.

Sri Lanka

Riding the most beautiful trains through the most beautiful tea country.

Single handedly saving the night by stealthily massacring a giant man-spider on the wall.

Surfing for the first time in some blissful, warm Weligama waves.

Don't judge the claw hand, please

Trying on a sari!

Being invited to have dinner at a Sri Lankan’s house and experiencing the famed Sri Lankan hospitality.

Singapore

THE FOOD. Endless options, temptations and opportunities to spend a ridiculous amount of money.

Dim sum! Mmmmm!

Witnessing one of the most impressive, futuristic skylines in the world.

Philippines

Spending time in Batad, a small rice terrace village where the only way to access it is to hike in. I spent hours contemplating how truly incredible and awe inspiring our world is.

Seeing magenta colored sunsets, binging on mochi balls, scuba diving for the first time and being stunned by the endless tourism in Boracay.

Spending the night in a pigsty (no joke) where later, a pig was killed and butchered below us at 4:30 am.

Vietnam

Falling in love with the beautifully chaotic streets and amazing bbq of Hanoi.

Meeting amazing people and laughing until I couldn’t breathe on a cruise in Ha Long Bay.

Getting cheap, custom made clothing and being surround by some of the cutest, most beautiful buildings ever in Hoi An.

Nearly dislocating my jaw from screaming so much at the water park at the delightfully tacky Vinpearl Island.

Indonesia

Seeing Mt. Bromo at sunrise and feeling like being on the moon. One of the most astounding places I’ve ever seen, and probably will ever see, in my life.

Learning why Bali is one of the most amazing places on earth by spending time at the Tegalalong rice terraces, watching pro surfers in Uluwatu, lounging on first-class beaches and marveling at stunning temples and evidence of a beautiful culture on every block.

Malaysia

Seeing the Petronas Towers, one of the tallest buildings in the world.

Drinking tea while visiting a tea plantation!

No words are needed to describe why this little gem was a highlight:

Hong Kong

Eating indescribable food (literally, I could not describe what I was eating).

Going up the tram and seeing a once in a lifetime city view.

I'd also like to do a special shout out to Maddie, who I traveled with a majority of the time in Southeast Asia. She is an amazing person and I was so lucky to have had such an awesome travel mate. We had some incredible times together and I'll always connect them to her when my mind wanders to that unforgettable winter.

I'd also like to give a shout out to Brant, who has been one of my best friends for a long time. We met up and were able to travel quite a bit in Thailand, Laos, Indonesia and Malaysia. It's great to be able to adventure with someone you trust and get along with so well. He's a really awesome guy and someone I'd like to be more like.

Future:

I met quite a few people traveling Southeast Asia who had either worked in Australia to fund their trip or were broke and needed to get a job there to make it by. I always thought, wow that sounds fun! You guys are awesome! And then it occurred to me, why don’t I do it? So here I am, two months out from moving to Australia. I don’t know where I’ll live or get a job yet but I plan on traveling around a bit to figure it all out. Very exciting, but nerve racking at the same time. But hey, what’s an adventure without those two feelings?! I’m going to do a one week trip to Japan visiting Tokyo, Mt. Fuji and Kyoto (another Boracay-esque mochi ball binge will occur) and then spending a couple of days in Seoul before I’m in Australia. Can’t get enough of those Asian cities! I’m so excited to get on the road again. This is what I live for and I feel so alive :) Cheers to more posts ahead!

xo