January is over and I’m in Australia

2017 is turning out to be an even more exciting year than 2016, and my 2016 was amazing. I’m going to keep this short as I’m spending my last day in Australia and tomorrow I kick off February by flying to Auckland, New Zealand.

From Auckland, I’ll spend the next week road tripping with friends around the north island, and then I’ll make way to the South Island having to be in Bluff on February 15th in order to hop on the ship to Antarctica with Oceanwide Expeditions.

So what’s happened this month?

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Well, a few things. I started off the new year with a case of strep throat. Who gets strep throat as an adult? It’s been a hot minute since I’ve come down with a case of it.

I announced that I was going to Antarctica on a press trip. I kind of quit one of my jobs in order to do this- I’ll go back to doing temp work when I turn up back home.

Another exciting thing to note about this trip is that it was taking me to my 6th and 7th continents, Australia and Antarctica.

Oh, and I wrote more posts this month than I probably did collectively in the second half of 2016. I also finally got around to hiring a virtual assistant to help take the load off of running this site. That was a lot of the reason that I just had no desire to make posts in 2016- I felt like I was drowning.

On the night of January 7th/early morning the 8th I got to catch a northern lights show up here in Alaska. It’s the first time I’ve gotten to catch one at all this winter seeing that I only got home on December 3rd after a three-month-long crazy trip through the ass-end of the world, and I mean that in a good way.

And now I’m in Australia and soon to head off to New Zealand. The two countries that when my Grandma was alive, and I would announce where I was going next, would get annoyed with me that I hadn’t visited yet (her and my Grandpa did some extensive road tripping in both countries and absolutely loved it.).

So I’m here and I’m having the best time. I remember in particular when I told her I was going to Bali she was just floored that I wasn’t flying to Darwin while I traveling Indonesia as it was ‘just right there’.

Australia has treated me well. My friend Treva who I went through dental hygiene school at the Uni. Of Alaska with who now lives in Sydney took me in and had me come stay with her at her flat in Manley. My first day in Sydney I did the typical iconic Sydney touristing: the Sydney Opera House and walked across the Sydney Harbor Bridge.

Day 2 included me driving on the left side of the road for the first time in my life (it wasn’t as terrifying as I always thought it’d be), and exploring around Ku Ring Gai National Park.

Day 3 was Australia Day which was spent at Fairlight Beach.

Day 4, 5, and 6 were spent heading down south with Treva and a friend to camp at Honeymoon Bay and explore Jervis Bay, Murray Beach, Belmore Falls, Berry, and the Figure 8 Pools. Oddly enough I ended up meeting Jen from Bronze & Briny at Belmore falls and camping together with her the last night. What are the odds? I’ve followed her on Instagram from the beginning!

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My last couple of days were spent lazing on the beach and doing the iconic stroll from Bondi to Coogee Beach

Right now, I’m heading to the airport to catch my flight to Auckland.

Here’s what I’ve written in January 2017:

I’m going to Antarctica!

This is where I made a big trip announcement.

The Ultimate Culebra Travel Guide

Off the beaten path Caribbean. I went to Culebra in February 2016 and finally got around to writing this.. ok partially I just didn’t want to share. It’s a magical little place.

10 reasons to visit Tajikistan

Look, someone had to do it! You probably never thought you’d see a ‘Top 10 post on Tajikistan”, now you’ve officially seen it all. Could you guys tell I’m absolutely in love with the country?

13 photos that will put the Rainbow Mountain on your bucketlist

This place is so visually stimulating it’ll make your eyes hurt.

That’s all I’ve got for you from January!

I hope you all had an exciting kick-off to 2017 and I’ll see you guys in February.

Need Travel Insurance?

Start shopping plans over at battleface, my go-to travel insurance choice, or over at World Nomads.

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