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Trip of a lifetime
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Trip of a lifetime

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    29. marts 2016
    ctkeefeTrip of a lifetimectkeefe

    Leaving vermont and our itinerary

    29. marts 2016, Forenede Stater ⋅ ⛅ 2 °C

    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 to Thailand via Dubai. 2 nights in Bangkok then onto Koh Lipe, an island on the southwestern edge of Thailand. We're catching up with an old friend, Kiera who has lived there for years and is going to certify us in scuba diving.

    April 7:
    Fly to Sydney, Australia where we'll stay with my brother, Donovan, Judite and gorgeous niece and nephew, Zidan and Vasco for 5 days.

    April 13:
    We drive south along the coast to Melbourne over 7 nights stopping along the way. Our first day we'll drive through Canberra, the town I lived in 1-7 years old.
    Lodging:
    - https://airbnb.com/rooms/6706357?s=8&user_i…
    - https://airbnb.com/rooms/4639504?s=8&user_i…
    - https://airbnb.com/rooms/5909659?s=8&user_i…
    - https://airbnb.com/rooms/2909807?s=8&user_i…

    April 20:
    We meet up with my sister, Shayleen and her partner Nick in Melbourne for 3 nights.
    Lodging: https://airbnb.com/rooms/4424207?s=8&user_i…

    April 23:
    My step-brother James from South Africa and my brother, Raeford and his girlfriend, Hilary then meet us and we're spending 4 nights camping along the Great Ocean Road (west along the coast from Melbourne).

    April 27:
    We all travel north to Brisbane and then drive a little bit south to Mullumbimby where my sister lives. It's near Byron Bay which is a great surfer town known for its laid back lifestyle. We'll be there for 6 days and will likely travel around the area, the Gold Coast.

    May 3:
    From there we head up to Brisbane for 2 nights and will hopefully stay (I need to confirm with her!) with a friend who stayed with me in New York for a few weeks.

    May 5:
    We fly to Cairns for 6 nights. Cairns is the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef where we hope to practice our new scuba skills. No plans yet but thinking of an overnight diving cruise and visit to the nearby rainforest.

    May 11:
    Fly to Christchurch, New Zealand. After a night there we'll drive north up the coast to Marlborough for 2 nights. Being wine country we'll do a wine tour.
    Lodging:
    https://airbnb.com/rooms/11830686?s=8&user_…

    May 14:
    We drive west to Abel Tasman national park, apparently a stunning, magical place.
    Lodging:
    https://airbnb.com/rooms/2891322?s=8&user_i…

    May 15:
    Then we head south along the western coast to the amazing mountains of the South Island for 2 nights and some great hiking.
    Lodging:
    https://airbnb.com/rooms/4086814?s=8&user_i…

    Then a night near the Franz Josef Glacier.
    Lodging:
    https://airbnb.com/rooms/7699477?s=8&user_i…

    May 18:
    Heading to Queenstown where we'll set up for 7 days. Queenstown is known as the gateway to skiing and outdoor adventures. While it is fall and too early for skiing we'll be taking a lot of day trips and do a lot of hiking. Maybe we'll take a day to veg in front of the tv!

    May 25:
    Fly back to Sydney.

    May 26:
    Fly to Dubai and hang in the strangest city in the Middle East for the hell of it!

    May 29:
    Back to New York.

    May 30:
    Back home to Vermont, Brady and our friends. Phew!    Læs mere

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  • ctkeefeTrip of a lifetimectkeefe
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    Made it to Bangkok

    31. marts 2016, Thailand ⋅ 🌙 29 °C

    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.

    That being said the flights on Emirates were the best I've had in decades, seriously and that's saying a lot coming from the airline snob that I am.

    We're in the Khao San area which is lively and just had dinner outside on a bustling street. Now it's off to bed for a good nights rest.    Læs mere

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  • ctkeefeTrip of a lifetimectkeefe

    Bangkok's Chinatown

    1. april 2016, Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 36 °C

    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 tiny alleys with shops sellig the weirdest things.

    After that we went to Wat Traimit, a temple that houses the largest golden Buddha in the world.    Læs mere

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    Grand Palace, Bangkok

    1. april 2016, Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    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 be covered. Fortunately we read about it and came prepared.

    We got covered up and walked around the grounds. The government still works out of this space but certain areas are open to the public. Gorgeous buildings but chose not go into the buildings. The entrance was fairly high and not in our budget.    Læs mere

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    The Reclining Buddha

    1. april 2016, Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    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) degrees fahrenheit so we go back to our neighborhood for lunch and then home for one of the best showers I've had in a long time.

    After a little rest we go for a drink down the road. We're in the Khoa San area which is crazy and bustling but found a road with vendors and restaurants that wasn't so crazy and had a drink. Killed Tom in backgammon (to his credit his first game in a long time).

    Now off to dinner...    Læs mere

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  • ctkeefeTrip of a lifetimectkeefe
    1

    Last night in Bangkok

    1. april 2016, Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

    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 of heading into the craziness that is Khoa San at night we decided to have dinner there.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjp8cusKfbs

    After dinner though we ventured out into the streets to see if we wanted to stop somewhere for a drink. We were finished. After walking 8 miles in the heat we came home and passed out. Unfortunately I'm writing this post at 3:30am because now we can't sleep. Ah the joys of jetlag.

    Well off to the islands tomorrow! Yay!    Læs mere

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  • ctkeefeTrip of a lifetimectkeefe

    Traveling to the island of Koh Lipe

    2. april 2016, Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    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.

    We got to the beach and stopped into the dive center (right on the beach) to see if our friend, Kiera was there. She was teaching a yoga class but we ended up having a couple beers with the other staff and some clients.

    She arrived after her class and took us to our hotel. We had a swim and a shower and had about ten minutes before we were to meet her for dinner so we lay down. Bad idea! 40 minutes later we wome up!

    No biggie. She was with some of her other clients feom Switzerland and they had started without us. We had a great authentic Thai meal with them, called it a night to rest up for another long day tomorrow on our first day if the open water PADI course.    Læs mere

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    Sunrise and scuba learning

    3. april 2016, Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 32 °C

    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 morning and early afternoon took me back to school days. Hours of videos and tests about diving. I will say the information was super important and made me understand the intracies of submerging yourself deep under the water with only access to oxygen through a tube.

    Then Kiera took us out. A couple of exercises and we were diving. Yes maybe only in a few feet but you got it. Enough to keep you motivated to keep on learning how not to suffocate yourself.

    Had a little problem with one of the exercises, taking my mask off breathing in through the tank with my mouth and out through my nose. Will figure it out. Tomorrow swim tests!    Læs mere

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    Day 2 open water course

    4. april 2016, Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    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 mask thing again but made it through. Did fine with the other things like taking off and putting on weight belt, removing and putting back on BDE, think I got the buoyancy thing down. Oh and the swim test, 200 m swim and 10 minute treading water was so much easier than expected.

    So we finished theorectical and confined space exercises, tomorrow is our first real dive!

    Had lunch right on the beach which was lovely.

    After training back to the room for a drink, down to the beach for a swim and a little practicing. I was also pretty pathetic in breathing out slowly but got it after a few tries. Then to the beach bar for sunset and witnessed a super cool storm cloud offshore.

    Night ended off with a yummy dinner with Kiera and a couple of work buddies and friends visiting.    Læs mere

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    First dive

    5. april 2016, Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

    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. Can't help but want to breath through my nose! Did well with all the other tests though. Tom killed it. He's a natural.

    Being under the water and chilling is amazing. As a kid all i wanted to be was a mermaid and this is pretty darn close. I'm in even if that damn mask thing freaks me out.

    Back at shore, we did our ritual of a drink at home. then we went to Sunset beach for sunset which was anazing. Backto sunrise beach to meet Kiera ( our instructor) for dinner but she was sick.

    Instead met a great couple from Europe and chilled at Happy Vibes bar. Then dinner in Walking Street then home.

    Kiera still sick and Tom had a thing too. Hope it's not serious and only mild food poisoning as i sit here while they sleep it off.    Læs mere

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  • ctkeefeTrip of a lifetimectkeefe
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    We're certified!

    8. april 2016, Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    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. Then we just swam around. Gorgeous and so cool to glide around. Saw some amazing fish. I missed the giant barracuda that Kiera and Tom saw.

    The 2nd dive we had one small task to do so it was basically supposed to be a fun dive. Well. There was a current and a pretty big one. It took all my focus just to keep close to Kiera. Good to know what its like though.

    Took our test and then did the same ritual of a drink at home then head to the beach. Met up with our new friends, Vivian, Georg and Thomas at Happy Vibe bar again. Bad news!

    We hung with them for a while at the beach. Then went to dinner with them and Kiera at the Box, then closed Maya. Went for a swim at the beach and more drinks in their hotel room. Needless to say we over slept, missed our boat ride and of course our flight to Bangkok. We're now about to board the next one and will have 2 hours to make the transfer. Way to leave Thailand with a bang (hopefully)!

    Update: we made the connection with 5 minutes to spare. Now in Sydney waiting for the kids to get back from school!    Læs mere

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  • ctkeefeTrip of a lifetimectkeefe

    First day in Sydney

    8. april 2016, Australien ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    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. Absolutely amazing views of the beach. Then back to the house to get settled and clean up.

    Vasco came home from school and we head back to Bronte to meet up with Zidan and Dov. Had a couple glassrs of wine while Vasco surfed.

    Once Judite came home from work we head out to dinner at the Coogee Hotel and had an amazing steak. A joy after all the Asian food in Thailand.    Læs mere

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  • ctkeefeTrip of a lifetimectkeefe
    1

    Sydney tour and AFL game

    9. april 2016, Australien ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    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 some typical Oz banana bread.

    Went to an AFL (Australian football) game, big competition between the Swans from Sydney East and the Giantsfrim Sydney West. Super fun!    Læs mere

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    Sports day with fam

    10. april 2016, Australien ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    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 do theor 2.4km swim. Crazy!

    Then we head to Vasco's AFL game. He did well, cool to see him play after seeing a professional game the night before.

    Then it was off to snorkel at Clovelly. So nice to check out the fish without remembering to breath or worrying about your emergency procedures 12m below the surface. Water is quite a bit colder here though.

    Then it was off to watch Zidan play soccer. 2 goals and assist by her!

    Phew. Day in the life...

    Late afternoon Brendon and Janine came over for a bbq. Excellent steak, boerwors anf some great salads. Oh and some sparkling wine to celebrate Judite's accomplishment swimming her first 1k swim!    Læs mere

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    Day 4

    11. april 2016, Australien ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    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 lovely Mexican restaurant on the beach.

    Then we all went to Shelly Beach and snorkeled. A little cold but super fun.

    Then back to Central Sydney and a short walk through the Rocks and over the bridge to Sydney North. Judite met us at a pizza place and then took us to a surprise.    Læs mere

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    Surprise honeymoon

    11. april 2016, Australien ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    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 Harbour bridge, downtown and the Opera House. After a drink with Judite, they left us to our own. Some wine, some pizza, a jet tub bath and finally Alladin the movie. We had an amazing night.Læs mere

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    Luna Park with the kids

    12. april 2016, Australien ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    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 fun to hang with kids. To my amazement I quite enjoyed almost all of the rides and had an absolute blast with them.

    We head out and had some lunch then came home. Tom and I went to get groceries fir dinner and cook some tacos for the family. Great evening and what a great time with Dov and the family. Wish we lived closer!    Læs mere

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    Canberra, my home of 6 years as a little

    13. april 2016, Australien ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    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 type people and diplomats.

    But a beautiful city with lots of museums, parks and centered around a large lake. Oh and apparently 340,000+ kangaroos.

    Went passed my elementary school and old home. Weird and cool to see where I learnt how to walk, talk, read and write, among other things!

    From there we made our way to Merimbula but unfortunately got there after dark. We came down a pretty long mountain and I'm sure it was beautiful.

    Got to the Airbnb which was nice but it was full on holiday flat. No supplies at all. So we cooked our gluten free pasta sans oil, added canned tomato sauce and frozen green beans sans salt and pepper. Thank goodness I took some snacks from the plane that included peri peri and red pepper spreads that I added for some flavor. Slumming it we were! Ended the night with drinks and cards. Not bad at all.    Læs mere

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    Rays, dolphins and goannas

    14. april 2016, Australien ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    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.

    From there head to a suggestion by the owner of our place, Shore Beach in Merimbula. She told us to walk over the grassy area to the rocks. We did. It was gorgeous. We set up our picnic breakfast and as we were eating a school of dolphins decided to grace us with their presence.

    We bumped into a guy walking his dog. Traveling on his own with his dog. Made us miss Brady. :-(    Læs mere

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    Car damaging dirt roads

    14. april 2016, Australien ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    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 Eden that apparently has the second deepest harbour in the world.

    Then we took a fairly long dirt road to Green Cape Light station. They were grating the road and had left dirt in the middle. Freaking drove over it and at one point hit a large hidden rock! Now something is rattling under the car! Urgh, I have no luck.

    Anywho, the long drive was worth an amazing view and another lovely picnic.

    Finally we made our way to Mallacoota, our next stop. On our way we encountered a kangaroo hopping in front of us down the road. Zigzagging strangely. Cool though.

    Mallacoota is a small beach town 20km off the main highway on a wide inlet. Our place was absolutely gorgeous. Our deck overlooked the bay. Great way to end an amazing day with a g and t, beautiful view and finally a delicious steak dinner.    Læs mere

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