Monday, March 4, 2013

Getting excited...

Lately I've been reading a lot of travel blogs. I've entered the three month countdown to Australia now and reading articles and blogs about travel put me in a good mood and make me wonder what my big travel adventure will be like. I like to read about people's travel experiences and look at photographs of far off places I yearn to visit. If a blog contains a 'Travel Tips' section all the better. I've watched countless Youtube videos about packing for long-term/round-the-world trips, they just get me excited. June 14th is the date I fly to the other side of the world for a year. I'm so looking forward to it.
I'm both looking forward to and dreading packing for it though. I'm really going to make an effort to pack sensibly this time. The other day I considered how much tech gear I'll be bringing which is going to lend a fair bit of space and weight to my luggage. I'm bringing my Canon DSLR, lens x2, Macbook Pro laptop, external harddrive, Point & Shoot Canon digital camera.....cables GALORE!
It might be tricky, but worth it I'm sure.
Anyway, anyway, anyway, a little premature to be thinking about packing yet.

Thing is- I'm starting to feel that this 'year' in Australia is not just going to be a year at all. I don't want it to be a year abroad and back to work in Ireland. I want to keep traveling. Why not? There will never be a better time to do as much continuous traveling as I can. Maybe one year in Oz, a year in London. Two years in Oz incorporating plenty of Asia and New Zealand travel. Canada?
The possibilities are endless.

SHIT. JUST. GOT. REAL.


Thursday, February 7, 2013

What the hell I've been up the last couple of months!

Hey there. What's happenin'? How you doing? You look fresh! Ok settle down.

So things have happened in my life. Exciting things. To me at least.
Firstly, everyone at work now knows I'm leaving in June to go to Australia. Which is a relief really, since it was kind of a secret until I told my boss. I can't count how many times I've had the same conversation with people- it goes something like this:

Colleague: I hear you're off to Australia?!
Me: Yep. I'm heading off in June.
Colleague: Oh wow! Whereabouts? Do you have a job to go to?
Me: No job yet. Brisbane first to visit my aunt and then I'm not sure if I'll try to find work there or go to Melbourne or Sydney.
Colleague: You're so right to go. I've been to [insert name of Australian city here] and I absolutely loved it. Best of luck with it all!
Me: AThankya!

A positive thing I note is that every single person I've spoken to about it thinks it's a good move for me. I get a lot of "You're only young once!" and "Why not? You're not tied down!" or "I'm so jealous! I wish I could do that!" One older female colleague in particular is of the strong opinion that I'll meet an Australian lad and be married within the year, never to grace the shores of the Emerald Isle again.
Bananas!
Anyway, anyway, anyway, I like that I can be open about it now. I particularly like that when things are going badly at work re. staff shortages and the sh** we have to put up with as a result, I can just ignore it all, safe in the knowledge that I am only going to have to slog it out for about 4 more months and then I'm off to experience sun, sand and scuba on the other side of the world!

I was home for the weekend and I finally got to open a massive package (oy cheeky!) that had been waiting for me since the start of January. Inside this big package (stop it now!) was the backpack I'd ordered from 53 Degrees North. The Lowe Alpine Travel Trekker II ND60. Am I sad to get excited about a backpack? Well tough titties Turkleton because I don't care. I get giddy just thinking about the great adventures we will have together. Me and the Trekster.... Ok that was a joke. Really! (not really) It's
60L, female fit, pouch at the front for attaching own daypack, shoulder strap, built-in raincover....
Isn't it cool?

 

Ok I'm sick of you now so I'm going to go. Byeeeeeeeeeeeeee!