Affys' Travels

New Zealand South Island so far!

affyharris1 — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 08:54:00 GMT

Hi all Sorry its been so long since my last installment, I have been having such a great time, I arrived in NZ glowing from the fiji sun, not too pink (thank God for factor 50!) and was met by James and Amy Ridapth, amazing people and friends of the lovely Amy Stock. Who picked me up, housed me, fed me, even found me a car to drive around in! i also got to help out with some Youth work, James heads up the Youth Alive Trust and I took some of the youth to rock climbing and the cinema and got to help out making Candy Floss on the family fun day. it was such a great laugh and a great way to meet real NZ-ers. Loved it!! I was there just a week before I headed off on my Magic Bus adventure. On boarding the bus i made my first friend Hannah from the UK and we soon were joined by Matt. We stayed at Kairkorua and went fishing, it was an excellent trip, we saw dolphins, seals, albatross and caught lots of perch and crayfish. We went back to the skippers house where we cooked the crayfish and had a large amount of wine! Great night. We went back to the hostel and the hot tub!! The next night we breaded (wheat free for me) the fish and had it with chips, the NEST fish and chips ever! From there we went onto Nelson, and stayed in the Paradisio and walked to the centre of NZ! We also paid a visit to the world of wearable art! very odd stuff not allowed to take photos boooo! we also did a day walk through the Abel Tasman National Park with a cruise in the middle, lovely views and lunch on a beach! We went from there to Greymouth, not a lot in the town but there is a brewery tour with free tasting yum! i liked their cider! We also stayed int he Noah's Ark hostel with animal themed rooms!! very cool!! Next stop was Franz Josef! Here the glacier stood, it was magnificent and we hiked it!! we had too rather lovely guides Cruddy and Caleb! (swoon) who where our guides, they cut out steps and guided us through crevices and through small holes, SUCH a good time, totally loved it! Our reward was the local hot pools, so good on aching joints! Slept a good 10 hours that night! :) We took a leisurely three days in Wanaka (yes that is how you spell it !) enjoying the sun, hiking up hills and visiting the Magnificent Puzzling World! my photos show the fun we had but the maze was crazy, the balance room made you feel sick and the illusions were so much fun! Next stop Queenstown! I love it here, we did a day trip to Milford sound, which was in a word WET! beautiful, stunning waterfalls but very very wet!! We went luging, see the recent photos! the most amount of fun I've had on 4 wheels!! and really randomly i walked round a corner and bumped into 4 friends from Fiji, who had just bumped into each other, Tom and Sophie and Neish and Rhonda, it was so fab to see them and we went out for drinks last night Will eave it there, needless to say i am having a really great time!! Much love to you all x

Fiji

affyharris1 — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 10:05:00 GMT

Bula!

I arrived at 6am after a 5 hour flight from Melbourne, i did not get a lot of sleep as you might expect!! I had a very nice Fijian grandfather next to me who slept most of the way, at one point i decided rather than wake him i would climb over him! Whoops nearly gave him a heartache when i jumped down!

There was a courtesy bus that picked you up and took you to your hotel/backpackers. There were lots of people from my plane there to start with and then more and more got picked up! an hour later it was just me and one other guy! ek!! Turns out he (Nick) was going to the same place as me and the very friendly ladies at the tour desk rang our hotel and complained for us! We finally got picked up and taken to the Sky lodge. Nick was in my dorm and we met Al, struggling to stay awake we hit the sunshine and dipped into the pool. Lunch time we ventured out to this little high street and had some food, we said goodbye to Al and walked back. It was on entering the pool for the second time that I noticed some parts of me were a little pink! I headed and covered myself with moisturiser before sneaking a quick nap!

I then managed to stay awake till 8.30pm! Before sleeping straight through to the 6.30am alarm call. Nick and I were off to the Yasawa Islands on the Awesome Adventures ferry. It was hot already at 7am!

It took 5 hours to get to my first stop; I chose the furthest island so that I could then make my way back. I met Tom and Sophie also going to Coral View, It was a warm welcome with music and handshakes and lunch! I met some great people there, Paula, Alanna, Laura (Neish), Rhonda and Ewen.

The dorm was beautiful and the food was great, even gluten free options! We played dancing games and Neish won a free drink. It was a real giggle and we all learned the Bula dance!!

The next day I went to the Jenolan Caves, beautiful underwater caves that you had to dive under to enter. The group was spilt in to two for travel, those that had prepaid and those that hadn’t. Tom, Sophie and I were in the later group and as the first lot got into their water taxi we were given life jackets! We then went on the ride of our lives, bashing up and down on massive waves. I held onto my seat (plank of wood!) And my back for dear life!! Our shrieking seemed to have little effect on our driver who neither slowed nor apologised just ploughed on!!

The caves were stunning if a little scary in parts. The diving under on the first caves was worst. It was pitch black so you had to look while then shined a torch then dive and hope you got far enough through for the guy the other side to grab you!! Ek. The way back was a lot easier as you could see the light from the outside and the swim wasn’t as long as you imagined in the dark! I also bought a sarong from the ladies selling on the island and great purchase as I lived in it, it was so hot!

Neish, Rhonda and I moved on to Nabau lodge, the girls double room was not nice as none of the windows shut but I quite liked my door, ants and geckos and all! We had a great bunch of people and we enjoyed the sun and nattering. It was a lot more basic than Coral View, the toilets and showers were outside and the wildlife seemed to get inside!

The food was amazing and the evening entertainment was them performing a dance and then us learning…. Yes you’ve guessed it the Bula dance! We all joined in and even got dragged into basically doing the conga!! Haha such fun!

The electric went out after 10 on this island so we were all tucked up in our mossie nets before then!

The next day we want to go to Blue lagoon a nice more expensive place but it was full so we headed fro Manta Ray, it was incredibly modern and clean, showers and toilets outside still but clean and nicer to use, the food was AMAZING and so much of it, the girls stayed another day but it wasn’t Fijian enough for me so I headed to Way Lai Lai. I met Paula there and we met with Laura, Kaylee, Ben and Ben. I had a one night upgrade with an extra voucher so I made the most of it and got my own room for an evening. It was so nice to turn the light out when I wanted!!

It was so hot there than none of us really wanted to do too much but we did attempt snorkelling I had done it at manta ray but it was so cheap here we thought why not. Unfortunately it was to low a tide, I cut my hand and Laura scrapped up her knees. I took my poorly hand to the snorkelling guy there he looked at it and hooked out a lump of coral!! No worries about hygiene here it was bleeding quite a lot and he wasn’t bothered about getting his hands all over it!! He wanted me to pull of the lump of flesh that I’d cut but I couldn’t do it! I cleaned it thoroughly and it’s healing ok now!

Neish and Rhonda joined me for my last day at way lai lai, I hope to see them in NZ as they will be there the same time as me!

It was such a great week and I met such nice people that it was a real shame to say goodbye! But onward and upward to NZ which in a word is cold!!

I’ve got stuck into some youthwork already with the people I am staying with its great to do it just for fun and I got to go rock climbing!

Sorry this is a long one.

Catch you soon

Afx

Back to Sydney!

affyharris1 — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 09:53:00 GMT

I love Sydney! its offical!!

I've been staying with Liz and Harry Mckensize who have been such lovely hosts! Harry took me and a friend Kate to Hunter Valley to wine taste! I am in love with late picked Verdhela and Frescato from Tulloch! could drink them all the time!!

The next day we went four wheel driving on the sand dunes, terrifying! Even more so when Harry said You're turn Affy!!

I did it but i squealed the whole time! SOOO much fun, we had lunch flew kites, went up and down a few more sand dunes! they are so massive its crazy one guy got stuck and we have to pulled him out of the sand! Excellent day

I've been back in Sydney town to see Andre, and Ali and a few friends I've made here who are lovely, Ali let me stay at hers which was fab. We had cocktails, and Thai and Max Brenner Italian Hot choclate. it was actually like drinking melted hot choc it was fab!!

I am so sad to be getting to the end of my time in Oz, I have truely loved it here, Fiji is a good consolation prize and my last chance at a tan before I head to the cooler climes of New Zealand.

Much love to you all

Melbourne Adventures

affyharris1 — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 12:30:00 GMT

Well as you have seen from the pictures I very much enjoyed my tours, I went to 'pufing Billy' the old steam train ( i love steam trains) before we go there we had an Australain attempt at cream tea (not even close!) and got to feed the king Parrots and other very colourful birds. We then got to go on the train where you actually can travel sitting on the side with your feet over the edge!! myself and my young 6 year friend did this the whole way (much to her mothers terror!) and i tried to take shots as we went along. it was so muh fun and our coach driver was great at making sure I had photo's of me.

I went back to Melbourne for some lunch and chill time beofre heading off to the penguins!!!!!!

Sadly you aren't aloowed to take photos of the penguins. I was gutted it damages their eyes even without flash apprently (have you ever heard that in a zoo!) It was one of the the most amazing experiences of my life, it brought tears to my eyes how close they were and how beautiful. We even eatch a chick call for its parent and eventually find one and get fed. I cannot recommend it enough!

The next day was the neighbours tour! I've not watched it for years but it was still excellent, we saw lassiters, Harolds store and Toadie's office, we also got to go to Ramsay Street and have lots of photos'. it was way way cool. :0)

I spent the weekend with the Wonderful Sharon Givens, who took me out for drinks along south bank and tours around Melbourne and introduced me to Chai Latte and macaroons which are exquiste! It was lovely seeing her again after so many years. She has done a lot to persuade me to return to Oz!

I have been for the rest of the week with Mary and Adrian Reilly, parents of Matt a friend of mine from Fullbrook, they have been so generous with their time! Mary and I attempted to go up the Dandenog Ranges but as you will see form the new photos' there was a lot of fog, instead we went to Chandon Winery and sat with a glass of bubbly wathciung the sun come out! I went into town a coupole of days looking round St Pauls Catherdral, Ian POtter Art FGallery and the Docklands shops! dodging a thunderstorm at one point!!

I was unfortunately not very well and slept a lot towards the end of the week, not sure really they reckon its something viral i just ache a lot everywhere!! On the positive however we went to Angelsea on Friday evening then were up early to go along the Great OCaen Road to the 12 Apostles (thought now there are only about 7) it was a fantastic weekend, the drive was lovely, despite the development of travel sickness by me!

the views were stunning and I wish I'd take more photos' the 12 Apostles were excellent and we just missed the fog which was good timing! that evening we saw Kangaro's and Joeys at the local golf course!! very cool! our return journey included a lovely ferry ride and lucnh on the beach. all in all a wonderful time!!

I'm dashing back to Sydney briefly to visit Harry and Liz, friends of Lynn West's and the Hunter Valley and to go out for a boogie with Andre and friends i met in Sydney before I go to Fiji!

Whoop Whoop!!

Lots of love

Affyx

Sydney - Canberra - Melbourne

affyharris1 — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 17:07:00 GMT

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Hey everyone

I’m now in slightly chilly Melbourne after my epic journey!!

I had a great last few days in Sydney! I went Whale watching with Louise and Mark, my photos were a tad rubbish but Mark had a few good ones so I’ll nab his! We also went to a BBQ and off to a nice beach for gluten free muffins and a cuppa!!

I met up with the Andre, who does look a tad like a blonde (ginger!?) cowboy and as always a lot of fun! We met up with friends of his and went dancing! So much fun, hoping to go back to Sydney before I leave Oz completely to do another Cheese dance night!!

I got to my Greyhound bus nice and early and managed to bag myself a window seat whoop!! After about 3 hours there was a large bang and an expletive from our driver. Uh oh I thought this in not good, it wasn’t. we pulled into a tourist info spot and the driver told us we would be staying here for a while until the mechanic arrived, that was 11.30am.

It was a nice day and lots of tulips, apparently it’s a big thing here! So we made the best of it and sat in the sun. (see pictures)

At 2pm we still had no sign of a mechanic or a replacement bus!!

The driver getting more frustrated by the second told us that they hadn’t even left Canberra yet, which was a two hour drive away!

Thankfully for those of us going to Canberra another bus following a similar route picked us up. Sadly the rest of the bus had to wait a further 2 hours for their bus! Ek!

I found the YHA hostel nice and easily and went for a wander having dinner at a little Chinese place (see pictures) and took a very brief dip in the pool at the YHA, which was freezing!

The next day I had a short amount of time in Canberra, I made it over to the Floriade (see pictures) a big flower event and then onto old parliament house and new parliament house. There were amazing buildings, I think I prefer the old building as it had a real sense of history about it, plus I got to see round it and the democracy exhibit and a tour so it was easier to love!

At 2pm I headed off to Melbourne, not arriving til 11pm!! It was long but beautiful green sights out of the window. The lovely Sharon Givens was there to meet me and take me back to her place, which is so central and lovely!!

I went off today on the tourist express shuttle round the sights and on the tourist tram, really cool a lot of fun and I did a bit of wandering through the shops!

I’m booked onto a couple of tours over the next few days and yes the neighbours tour in on the list!

Mini updat

affyharris1 — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 16:38:00 GMT

Hi all

Hope you are well,

I've had a lovely week with the Singletons in Kellyville ridge, we had ride for refugees on Saturday and they raised $26 thousand! excellent fun,

I've been very blessed to be abl to use Mark Hallings car the past few days too, he works a 5 min drive form the Singletons house! How fortunate!!

I've been up to the Blue mountains which were AMAZING so beautiful, I went to scenic world and down the worlds steepest railway and up the cable car, I saw lush rain forest and beautiful views! such a good day, I've had days of chilling with the family, photos to follow, the children are gorgeous, Joel has asked to come with me to Melbourne! very tempted to take him with me, must remember child stealing is not good!!

I've been to a hillsong conference while I"ve been here that has been amazing, real experts in their field talking about emotional and relational healing, it was fascinating both for me and any future job I may do! totally loved it, also heard Mike Pilavachi and the Powerhouse Hillsong event, after Soul Survivor it felt quite a small venue!

I'm back off to Sydney and Saturday I am going whale spotting with Louise and Mark, whoop can't wait and possibly meet Andre on Sat night.

Then it will be time to head off to Melbourne, i think I'm going to aim to go Monday/Tuesday.

I have on hilarious story to leave you with, Melanie, a room mate of mine and I went out for a cocktail on the harbour by our backpackers, we returned and thought we'd have a quick drink, it was ladies night at our local bar and there was free champagne for a little while after we go there so we had one or two of those, I moved onto water a short while after and we played pool and danced etc, it was 2am before we knew it, I sat down for a breather and Melanie carried on dancing. A big burly bouncer beckoned me over, so i went to talk to him

"how much have you had to drink"

Me: err some champagne earlier, why?

B: I think you've had enough, you need to leave

Me Pardon?

B: the boss wants you to leave

Me: (knowing I can't argue or I'll look drunk) er ok then!!

I left after convincing Melanie that I wasn't joking and was actually being asked to leave for being drunk, while considerably sober

Oh what fun!

Sydney 2

affyharris1 — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 13:05:00 GMT

Greetings readers!!

The base Sydney is a lot nicer than Great Aussie Backpackers! whoop whoop! I had a great time going to 'Powerhouse' the Hillsongs event and I got invited to Connect, their small group meeting. Met some amazing people and Tash has been amazing and as is always the way with these things God has brought someone into my life who has a similar story! such a joy to chat with her.

Thursday I headed off to Kellyville to Stay with Sarah and Rueben and their 4 children, it was lovely to have my own room and shower and to be part of a family. We went to historic Windsor, which is humorous as its at most 200 years old, but its as about as historic as Oz gets!We had fish and chips by the sea and ice cream, lovely!! I got to visit Hillsongs Hills campus on Sat evening as they have a service then, its a lot different to Vineyard in some respects and I think thats good for me at the mo.

I was sharing a room with just one other girl and we headed off to the Police and Justice Museum, it was scary how many people got killed off for speaking out against corruption in the 80's. Sadly as we came to leave it had started to rain!

Melanie and I were not impressed, esp as I was in flip flips and she was in shorts, but we made the journey home. It seems Oz is not really equipped for the rain as the pavement becomes very slippy as I discovered to my detriment, stepping off a curb i fell flat on my ass! covering it in wet dirty water.

To make matters worse, the kind person who stopped to help me up from my rather embarrassing fall was the most gorgeous guy I have seen in a while, with a stunning smile! Seriously do these people wait til I make an ass of myself and them appear!!

We made it home to dry off and decided the only option was to hit the movies, we saw Inception, which was the weirdest thing I'd seen in a while! We have a bar attached to our hostel so we went for dinner and a drink, I got free champagne with my room, some girls only offer, so we drank that happily.

After a short while Michael and Hammer join us, brothers who have had a little to drink and bought us some! They sit down to chat and ask the obvious, where are you from, how old are you etc. Michael on finding out that I was 28 launched into a flattery tirade! Apparently I look very good for my age etc etc! Which also involved stroking my arm a Lot! I was laughing so hard by the end, they were both funny and good to chat to and remained even thought we both made it clear we were not sleeping with either of them (apparently that was not why they had come to talk to us, they wanted pleasant conversation!! hmmm)Michael was also a pro surfer or so he said, not that Melanie or I were particularly convinced!

Michael however was dropped in it by his brother when he went outside for a cigarette, rather than being 23, (which i had figured was not unbearable young) he was in fact 19!! ah. I worked with young people who are now older than him hahahah!! We had a lot of fun but bid them goodnight!! Outside was a storm, literally so we were glad of the access door back to our hostel. Melanie and I giggled our way ro sleep they were really very funny lads and who doesn't like a bit of flattery!

I'm hoping to get to do a harbour tour and the Sydney tour as soon as the weather is clear!

I will keep you updated with my adventures!

Much love to you all!

Dolphins!!

affyharris1 — Tue, 7 Sep 2010 08:54:00 GMT

Hi all

Before I left the sunny climes of Brisbane I got to go Dolphin spotting, it was the best day! We left from Redcliffe over to Moreton bay, the 3rd largest Sand island in the world. on the way we saw 4 dolphins. They turned the boat around to be nearer them and got the dolphins to 'surf' they swim just in front of the boat, almost under it. it was AMAZING so much better to see these animals in the wild! after that we saw 3 or 4 more and because the water is so clear you could see scratches on them etc.I took a film of them which is breathtaking!

We came into Moretod bay to look for Dungongs - weird looking animals, sea cows I think they are also call and turtles. We didn't see any dugongs but we saw at least 20 turtles, and again so clearly seen through the water, plus one or two came to the surface. We also saw lots of starfish on the bottom of the sea. just gorgeous. We had an hour on Moreton bay and it took about that long to get to the top of this MASSIVE sand hill. the view was amazing and after I had a well deserved dip in the sea!

Back on the boat we went snorkelling around the wrecks. it was stunning, we got to feed them and one fish nearly had my finger!!! so many colours and shapes, one with bright pink fins and others that looked v scary! so so good! I was such a great time!!

Before I left I also got to hang out with Amanda from NFA and her sister Katie, we went to see genuine rainforest, it was incredible how tall and wide these trees were and we saw a pademelon (its amazing how many names the Australians have for what is basically a kangaroon just big or small)

We saw the amazing glass mountains and had lunch overlooking the view and visited a little village and the curiosity shops!

I arrived at the airport about 4 hours before I flew as I could get a lift, my Mun would have been proud! I was able to drop my bags at 3, (2 hours before flying) and discovered my flight was delayed for 1 1/2 hrs!! Doh. Following Jo and Kev's advice i skipped off to the local outlet store on the courtesy bus and shopped for a bit. I couldn't buy much but got a few lovely little bits!

Sydney was interesting from the out start, the hostel wasn't sure they could pick me up due to the delay and i got the last shuttle bus, that was so full one guy was on the floor! had some Japanese tourist take my photo on the bus (!)and got to the backpackers which to put no finer point on it was a DIVE!! the girls in my dorm were lovely but i could have cried! I had a great day Sunday, went for a tour of the opera house and round the botanical gardens, then went to church with Louise and Mark Halling (from Southampton Uni days) Yesterday I hit the tourist info shop and have a huge list of things to do! I started with the powerhouse museum.

I got back to my digs and settled into my room for the nite feeling a little wobbly and down about the place I'd booked to stay! when one room mate mentioned these 'religious' types that come in every Monday and serve sausage sandwhiches! hmm i thought and popped down to ask where they were from, Hillsong Church they said! ah ah! I spent the next 2 hours chatting to them about why I was here, what I was hoping to get out of it and I'm going for coffee with one of the girls Tash on Wed and going to an event of theirs on Wed. It turns out this is the only backpackers they visit in Sydney! what are the chances!!

Today i move to a better backpackers, more central and hygienic! and get to hang out with Louise and go up the coast!!

G'day!

affyharris1 — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 10:49:00 GMT

Hi all

I've been in Australia for a few days now and done so much its mind boggling! Liz and I went to Sydney Harbour, saw the bridge and the opera house, we then flew to Brisbane and met up with Jo and Kev for dinner on Southbank. Australia are more up with the wheat-freak thing than the Uk and I had a lovely gluten free pizza! The next day we headed off to Lone pine koala sanctuary, it was amazing, I even managed to be part of the birds of prey show and had an owl land on my hand!

We also went down to Surfers Paradise and played in the sea- not too deep (sharks!!) and had ice cream. I bed Liz farewell for her rather long flight back and the next day Jo and Kev took me out to Noosa and for a walk along the headlands, we saw this amazing rainbow and two wild koalas! no dolphins this time but I'm keeping an eye out. I've a flight booked to go to Sydney on the 4th. Jo and Kev are very kindly allowing me to stay with them long and I'm off up the sunshine coast tomorrow!

Today I'm in Brisbane, getting sorted on the internet and mooching about the museums and south bank! :)

My only major error was not checking that my card reader for my camera actually worked with my SD card! it doesn't quite fit and I don't want to force it! doh!! So I hope to get pictures up asap!

Catch you soon

Hong Kong Adventures

affyharris1 — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 20:08:00 GMT

My second day here I went on a tour to Hong Kong Island, we went up to Victoria peak, which has fab views (pics to follow) and there I met a couple from my Church on their way to bali!! What are the chances!!!

We went round Aberdeen bay and to Stanley market and the beach it was great to see so much of Hong Kong with a guide and learn lots, sadly as with most tours there is one know it all that knows better than the guide and she was a little tiresome, but Natalie was a great guide and taught me some faltering Cantonese,

Very excitingly Ali was at my hotel on my return and we went for lunch and caught up on all her travels. That night we went out for dinner with her Mum and to the night market which was excellent, so much stuff to buy! At one point feeling confident I took us down another street of market stalls only to discover this one was full of sex toy stalls! I have no idea what some of those things did, I found this hilarious but I'm not Ali agreed with her Mum there!!!

Today Ali and I went to the giant Budda on Lantau Island, we took the ferry over and a bus, then came back by cable car and tube. I felt very popular when the two chinese girls in our cable car wanted to have their photo taken with us!! :) they were very cute and could say 'what is your name' in english and squealed everytime we went high (which was a lot in a cable car!) I'm trying to convince Ali that stealing small chinese children is ok but she won't budge on the idea!

I'm looking forward to the light show at Hong Kong Harbour this evening and sad to be leaving tomorrow night. Its been a lot of fun as a first stop and I've packed a lot in!

Thank you for your comments! Will update again soon \xx

Thank the Lord for air con

affyharris1 — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 19:13:00 GMT

Well I'm here in vvvvv humid Hong Kong, slight error in not reading my info clearly enough left me wandering around Hong Kong airport looking for someone to take me to my hotel but eventually I found them!

I've had several moments laughing to myself, like when i panicked that maybe eatnig in public was illegal in China as a policeman came towards me as I was eating a roll and when I though 'best not to get my map out i'll look like a tourist' HELLO you're the only white blonde female for a 50 mile radius and you're carrying a back pack!!

I got to the hotel and tried in vain to stay awake, I ended up setting an alarm and sleeping for an hour and ahalf, it was 2am for me and I unsurprisingly did not sleep on the plane!!

When I got up I went out to find the hotel I am getting picked up from tomorrow, and after wandering about for a while i concluded that chinese maps are crap!! I did have some lunch, and it wasn't pizza hut or Mc D's though I have seen them! it wasn't too adventurous though, sweet and sour chicken and a 'lucky dip' drink which I have no idea what it was!

I keep stopping and thinking, hang on I'm in HONG KONG it hasn't got old yet. I could easily buy my weight in clothes sadly I have no room but they are gorgeous!

I hope to meet Ali tomorrow as soon as she is settled, be so nice to see her, I feel totally happy walking about here its so packed though! and i've seen 6 other non-chinese people so far!

I'll write again soon

much love

Itinerary

affyharris1 — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 22:01:00 GMT

Hi all

Below are the details of roughly when I am where!!

Fly from heathrow 21st Aug 2010 12.20pm

Arrive Hong Kong 22nd Aug 7.10am!

Staying at Metropark Hotel Monkok 22nd- 25th Aug, meeting up with Ali Bruce and her Mum.

land in Sydney 26th Aug, meet Liz Burrows and fly to Brisbane! stay with Liz and her Cousin til the 29th.

I am then planning to meet up with Amamnda Conradie from the 2nd Sept at the coast of brisbane so have time to chill til then.

Then I am travelling down to North Sydney going via byron bay. staying with Sarah and Reuben Singleton and travelling into Sydney and hopefully meeting Louise Halling (nee Bouise) for some whale watching!

I then have a greyhound bus booked to go to Melbourne via Canberra, which takes 10 -14 days.

I will then hopefully stay with friends in Mekbourne Sharon Givens and Matt Reilly's Mum and Dad. I have instructions to kiss the ground and tell her that Vijay Henderson loves her! so will make sure I do that out of eyeshot of the security!!

On 13th oct i fly into fiji, I spend a week on a Bula pass going round the islands

and then on the 21st Oct I fly to Auckland and transfer to Christchurch New Zealand I have from then til the 3rd Dec to get back to Auckland, a few contacts in both those places and a few random ones in between if i can get to them.

on the 3rd Dec I fly to LA to stay with Shellie (nee Secor) and her new hubby! and then on the 10th dec I fly to New york. No contacts there yet so if anyone has someone they know there let me know!!!

I appreciate all your prayers and best wishes!!

much love

Affy x

In the beginning...

affyharris1 — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 06:18:00 GMT

Well before I even board a plane there has been so much to learn and do! Learning how to blog is one thing I thought I'd try now! I'm still not convinced I have remembered everything.

Sarah and Tom Ansell have been amazing lending me books and rucksacs etc as well as giving me loads and loads of their time, wisdom and telling me all the thing I should really know!! I would be boarding a plan with a wheely suitcase and suntan lotion if it weren't for them!!

I still have some organising to do, booking a flight to Brisbane, getting my Oz visa and buying a decent day rucksac!

I've got a lovely camera and several books to keep me going, I've tried packing once already but will get Sarah to help me do it right!!

I want to try to say goodbye to everyone, managed St Hilda's Drama lot today with no tears, not sure i'll manage the rest of them dry eyed! (hey I used to cry at neighbours!) With moving house, leaving job, 2 summer camps and soul survivor my August is pretty busy, I hope to see you all before I go.

For those of you inclined to please pray that the crazy month of August goes well and that I can amongst all that is happening concentrate on the last minute planning I still need to!

Much love

xxx