Leaving vermont and our itinerary

We're off on a trip of a lifetime to Thailand, Australia, New Zealand and Dubai. Here's our crazy itinerary.
March 29:
Leaving Vermont via Amtrak from Albany to New York.
March 30:
Fly toRead more
Albany train station

Dinner with Jeff and Lucas

Met up with Jeff and Lucas to have sushi.
At JFK on our way to Bangkok via Dubai

12h 30m to Dubai, 2h layover and then 6h 15m to Bangkok.
Havent taken off yet but so far Emirates is the best airline I've taken in at least 10 years.
Layover in Dubai on our way to Bangkok

Made it to Bangkok

Staying at the Baan Chart hotel which is very nice. Only problem is our bathroom window backs up to a very loud club. Don't think tonight will be a problem though after our 24hr+ door to door trip.Read more
Bangkok's Chinatown

We walked about an hour to a flower market that had hardly any flowers but a ton of produce. It was a treacherous walk. Bangkok is crazy!
We then took a tuk tuk to the Chinese market which are tinyRead more
Grand Palace, Bangkok

So from Chinatown we went to the Grand Palace, a place I had visited the last time I was here. I had forgotten that when you enter they are very strict about dress code and legs and shoulders must beRead more
The Reclining Buddha

From the Palace we went to Wat Phro, where the awesome Reclining Buddha is. A cool set of buildings and temples and the Buddha was amazing.
At this point we've walked 6 miles in 96 (feels like 103)Read more
Last night in Bangkok

We head down to the bar in the hotel to have a $3 bucket of Red Bull and vodka (or 2). A Thai guy started playing a guitar and some really good classic tunes. He was quite brilliant so instead ofRead more
Traveling to the island of Koh Lipe

An early morning got us up to go to the airport, fly to Hat Yai, drive 2 hours to Pak Bara port, take a 1.5 hour speedboat to Koh Lipe. Koh Lipe is off the west coast near the Malaysian border.
WeRead more
Sunrise and scuba learning

Woke up super early (still got jet lag) and realized this late sleeper could actually catch a sunrise. And I'm a block away from sunrise beach. So that's where i enjoyed early morning.
The morningRead more
After diving

Exhausted after a long day of school work and a little diving, we had a drink on our balcony (https://youtu.be/Y4qqJnUANj0), went to sunrise beach, swam and had a drink.
Home, shower then off to aRead more
Day 2 open water course

The watched the last if the videos, thank goodness. Then went out into the water for some more exercises. A lot of them to deal with emergencies or unusual situations. Had a problem with the maskRead more
First dive

So today was the first dive. Drove out on the boat to our spot. Geared up and went in. This was still a training dive and killed it except for the full mask flush. I freaked out again but recovered.Read more
We're certified!

Last day of training. Kiera luckily felt better. First dive we had to do the damn mask thing again. This time taking the whole thing off then out it back on. Panicked a little but getting better. ThenRead more
First day in Sydney

Dov (my brother) was at the house when we arrived. We head out to Bronte beach just down the road for breakfast. We went just around the corner to an investment property that they've bought.Read more
Sydney tour and AFL game

Took a drive to Watsons bay to see a winderful view of the city and Harbour Bridge. Drove to Parsley Bay, Rose Bay and back through Bondi Beach.
Then we stopped at Tamarama for a coffee and someRead more
Sports day with fam

In the morning we went to Coogee beach to watch Judite do a 1 km swim. Doesnt sound like much but in the ocean it certainly was a feat. We stuck around to watch her best friend's Brendon and Janine doRead more
Day 4

Donovan dropped the kids and us off at Circular Quay in downtown Sydney to take the ferry to Manly beach on the North side of Sydney. The kids went and swam whike Tom and I had lunch at a lovelyRead more
Surprise honeymoon

Our surprise from Dov and Judite was amazing. It was a rental apartment, 4 bedrooms, 2 living rooms, 4 balconies, 2 overlooking probably one of the best views of Sydney that included the HarbourRead more
Luna Park with the kids

The kids got dropped off at our fancy spot then we head to Luna Park. Its a small amusement park right on the water with views of Harbour bridge. I thought the rides would be dinky but it would be funRead more
Canberra, my home of 6 years as a little

Drove through Canberra. We moved there when I wad 18 months and left when I was 7. Strange town. Planned and built simply to be the Capital of Australia. Not very diverse and full of government typeRead more
Rays, dolphins and goannas

Took our coffee down to the lake. We were sitting on a dock and Tom yells to me. I look down and a sting ray swam right below our feet. After a little research we think it was actually a electric ray.Read more
Car damaging dirt roads

From Merimbula we head south to the Pinnacles in Ben Boyd National Park. On our walk back from the coast we bumped into a very active but cute goanna.
We drive through sleepy Pambula Beach and EdenRead more