February 1, 2007 Sydney Australia – Eugene, USA

February 1, 2007
Sydney Australia – Eugene, USA

For those that do not already know, I have been forced to go home early (Spizz is coming with me and B is going to try to continue on). The appendicitis combined with the entire van situation drained me physically and financially. The Doctors recommended that I not surf, scuba dive, or physically exert myself for more than a month (all the things I want to do in Australia). Similarly, the van represented both an investment in accommodations and transportation (almost all my money for Australia). As such, I decided to go home and recuperate before ending my trip in Fiji with Jackie…I will have to come back to Australia in the near future and experience it the way I want to.

This morning we woke up to a light knocking on the door (7:45). Kristina entered, said her goodbyes and wished us well. Once again I must explain how grateful we all were/are to have a friend in Sydney and a place to stay…

I then jumped in the shower and prepared for, quite literally, the longest day of my life (we will be crossing the international dateline and living Thursday February 1, 2007 twice!). After ensuring that all our belongings were packed away we chilled out and waited for Millie to stop by and say goodbye. Unfortunately, she never showed up and we were forced to head to the train station without saying goodbye to our dear friend (I later learned we missed her by five minutes…)

The three of us road the train to the airport (B carrying my large bag for me) and began to really feel the trip coming to an end. We made our way to the international terminal and arrived at the Air Pacific desk before they were even open.

At 10:30 (3 hours before the flight) they finally allowed passengers to begin checking in, we were the second people in line. After settling some flight change debt Spizz and I got seats next to one another and even talked the guy into giving us a row of our own for the flights.

When we were done we cruised around some of the airport shops and looked at all of the overpriced tourist products. Eventually we decided to grab some food (Subway and Krispy Kreme) while we reminisced about our good times and tried to forget the recent bad times…

At about 13:00 Spizz and I said our goodbyes to B and went through airport security. The entire experience seemed surreal. The trip was quickly coming to an unplanned close…

We arrived at our gate and had to wait almost half an hour before being let on the plane. I used the time to start my newest book, Next. At 13:55 we left Sydney and started our journey home. I continued reading for most of the three-hour flight to Nadi, Fiji.

Once in Fiji (which from the air resembled Hawaii) we got off the plane and made our way to the gate for our connecting flight to Los Angeles. We had a 4-hour layover and had no idea how to spend the time. After wandering around the airport shops (where some of the sales people tried to haggle with us!) we settled into some seats and watched some Deadwood. At some point we also made a quick trip to a café for a snack.

At around 22:00 we boarded an enormous plane headed for LA. For the first time in my life I sat on the second floor! Once again Spizz and I had an entire row. I spent the first part of the flight watching movies (The Illusionist and Invincible) and the second portion of the flight trying to get some sleep.

During the flight we crossed the international dateline and started Thursday over. We arrived in Los Angeles at 13:00, passed through immigration, and collected our baggage. We then made a long trek across the large airport to the United Airlines domestic flights check-in counter (about a 30 minute walk…). Then it hit us, we were back in the USA!

After finding our gate we made a quick trip to Starbucks and then chilled out and waited for our flight to Portland. At 16:20 we began the final leg of our journey. The time passed quickly as I finished my book.

We arrived in Portland at around 18:40 (several hours before we left Fiji…). As we made our way through the airport the first day of the trip came rushing into my thoughts. It was strange to be back!

As we made our way toward the baggage claim I caught sight of Jackie with a large welcome home sign. I was so excited to see her again. Though my appendix kept me from running, I hurried to her and we had a special moment at the airport.

From there the three of us headed for the baggage claim and got our luggage. As usual, I was not able to carry my big bag and relied on the kindness of Spizz and Jackie to get my things to Jackie’s car. Though I knew that it would not be warm, I was surprised how incredibly cold it was in the Pacific Northwest. Spizz and I were freezing!

Throughout the drive back we discussed the trip and how everything fell apart in the span of just a few days. Once in Albany we dropped Spizz off at his parents house and continued on to Corvallis.

Everyone at home was super excited to see me. We ate cookies, talked about the trip, and jumped in the Jacuzzi. I was amazed at how much taller my brothers were. They had each grow several inches in the last few months.

Exhausted from such a long journey, Jackie and I climbed into bed a little after midnight. The trip was over and I was home!

January 31, 2007 Sydney, Australia

January 31, 2007
Sydney, Australia

This morning at 7:00 B’s alarm went off. The only person it woke up was Spizz, who then woke us up. We quickly prepared for the day and packed up our things. B and I headed to the train station and jumped on a train headed for the legendary Blue Mountains (Spizz stayed behind to take care of some travel arrangements).

The train to the Blue Mountains (about $16) took about 2 hours (110 km). Besides a few other backpackers we were the only people on the locomotive. Not getting much sleep the night before, we both slept for a large portion of the journey.

We arrived in the mountain town of Katoomba at about 10:30. The town was small enough that we were able to walk from the train station to Echo Point (the renowned lookout point). Though it was only 2 km, it was hilly and made the walk feel a little longer in my current physical state (no appendix…).

Once we got to Echo Point it made the whole journey worth it. We stood on a platform looking out over a massive canyon. It was sort of like a squashed version of the Grand Canyon but with a forest eucalyptus within the canyon. It is from these trees that the “mountains” gain their name. Apparently, the oils of the eucalyptus cause a blue haze when viewed from a distance. Still, I have no idea why they call them mountains…


The most spectacular part of the view was a geological formation known as the Three Sisters. Three peaks extended from the sides of the canyon and stood majestically over everything else. They were awesome! After taking a million photos from Echo Point we walked along the edge of the canyon to a platform connected to the first of the sisters.


From there we took a few more photos and then began our journey back. As we walked through the eucalyptus forest and reminisced about our trip, we heard a loud crashing sound in the woods. Startled, we looked to see what had caused the disturbance. I was absolutely thrilled to see that it was a wallaby! We watched the unique creature until it bound out of sight…(The woods kept me from getting a good photo)

A few minutes past noon we made it back to the tourist area and decided to grab some lunch and wander the shops. Though we didn’t purchase anything we did treat ourselves to some free wine tasting before making the trek back to the train station.

Luckily we arrived at the station just before a train was headed back to Sydney. It was a slow, relaxing ride back to the big city. At 15:30 we arrived at Central station and then made the quick journey over to Kings Cross.

When we got back at Mates Place we reconvened with Spizz, chilled out for a few minutes and then headed over to Kirstina’s house. As usual these days, Spizz was my hero and carried my big bag for me. On the way one of the most random things in recent memory occurred. As the train made one of its usual stops and the doors swung open, there stood Tessa (one of Millie and Kristina’s friends). In a city of more than 4 million we randomly bumped into one of the 4 people we knew…

When we arrived at Kristina’s no one was home. We sat on the porch and watched some Deadwood until her sister showed up and let us in the house. As it turns out, we sat watching the computer screen for about 2-hours before anyone came home (19:30).

Once inside we finished our episode and then headed out to get some dinner. We rode the train a few stops to meet up with Tessa and then she directed us to a local pub for a late dinner (20:45 or so).

Having not yet had an Aussie meal, I decided to try the steak. I was a little disappointed with the meal but I suppose a pub is not the best place to sample the renowned outback beef. In the middle of our dinner Kristina showed up (just off work, and Millie couldn’t come because she was too busy with a boyfriend or something) and joined our little group.

When we were done eating the five of us wandered to 7-Eleven to grab a Golden Gaytime. As always, it was delicious. From there we made our way to the train station and headed back to Kristina’s (on the way saying our goodbyes to Tessa).

By the time we got back to the house we were all quite exhausted. Even so, I managed to gather up my things and pack my bag whilst talking with my companions. We finally got to sleep just before midnight…

January 30, 2007 Townsville – Sydney, Australia

January 30, 2007
Townsville – Sydney, Australia

We woke up this morning sometime around 8:00. After eating the free breakfast (cereal and toast) we packed up our things and checked out of the hostel. At 10:00 a taxi came to the hostel and took us to the airport. We were shocked by the price of the cab. In addition to a $2.50 initial fee the cab cost $1ASD per kilometer (plus a stopping fee)! Though we only traveled 12 kilometers, the ride cost $16.50…

Once at the airport we checked into our flight for Sydney (flying the cheap Virgin Blue) and then chilled out at the airport. We arrived several hours early and spent most of the time making phone calls and trying to figure out our dire situation…

After a short delay, our flight left at 13:45. I was somewhat disappointed that I did not fall asleep for any of the 3-hour flight. My head was filled with too many ideas and trying to figure out the best plan of action.

We finally arrived in Sydney at 17:00 (after losing 1 hour to time zones). We gathered our baggage, climbed onto the subway and headed back to Kings Cross and Mates Place hostel. The entire way my good friend Spizzle Stix carried my baggage to help me deal with my wound.

Eventually we settled into our room and dropped off our things. We immediately headed out to get some food. We settled on eating some cheap pasta and heading back to the hostel.

The remainder of the evening was spent chilling out at the hostel. I used the internet for a long, long time and took care of a lot of little things…

January 29, 2007 Cardwell – Townsville, Australia

January 29, 2007
Cardwell – Townsville, Australia

As has been the case lately we woke up fairly early. I struggled out of bed and slowly packed up my things. Spizz took on the gargantuan task of walking back to Diversity and gathering the rest of our belongings. While he was gone B and I showered and relaxed in the room.

Spizz returned just after 10:00 (checkout time). He gave us our left behind possessions and we headed to the Cardwell bus station (this consisted of a café located next to a gas station…). Once there we purchased some phone cards and began trying to sort out the van mess.

B called Root-1 (our rental company) and explained to them what happened so that we could get our money back or get a new van. They told him to call back in a few minutes and then they could discuss the situation. When B called back they informed us that they would not give us any money back and could not provide an alternate vehicle. They claimed that the breakdown was our fault and that we should pay for repairs!!

Needless to say, we were totally shocked. We has basically poured our transportation and accommodation money for Australia into the vehicle. Furthermore, it is almost impossible that the breakdown was our fault…We began to feel like we had been scammed.

Not knowing what to do, we started calling home for advice and help in formulating a plan. We were forced to cancel credit cards, contact the US embassy, and yell at the Root-1 employee…

We spent nearly the entire day at the bus stop café. At 16:45 we finally boarded a bus for Townsville, the nearest large town. The bus ride was uneventful. We basically sat and watched the rainfall for 2.5 hours…all of us were quite depressed.

When we arrived in town we unloaded our belongings (Spizz was nice and did all of my lifting and bag carrying for me because of my surgery) and found a hostel representative. We loaded into his van and got a courtesy ride to the establishment.

Considering our luck, it is not surprising that it was a horrendous hostel. The room was somewhat expensive and tightly packed. We did not even have room to put all of our bags down. Even so, we were too frustrated to look for anything else.

After eating dinner at a decent seafood restaurant we went in search of the internet. Unfortunately, none of the internet cafés were open in the evening. Instead we returned to our hostel and settled on using their expensive computers ($5 per hour).

In an incredible stroke of luck, B found a piece of paper lying on the counter and was treated to 30-minutes free internet. After showering, I took my computer to the internet area (3 old, rundown computers) and stole one of the Ethernet cables out of the back. Surprisingly, it worked perfectly and I got almost an hour of free internet (at which point the owner came and told me this was illegal).

We all reconvened in the room and settled in to watch some Deadwood. It was nice to relax and take our minds off the days happenings. When we finally settled in to fall asleep, I found that I was no longer tired.

I tried to fall asleep for almost an hour before giving up and deciding to steal some more internet. I took care of some business and then retired to the room. I climbed back into bed just before midnight.

January 28, 2007 Cairns – Cardwell, Australia

January 28, 2007
Cairns – Cardwell, Australia

Everyone is a hospital seems to wake up early. Thus, I was awake at about 7:30. I was surprised to find that my breakfast was waiting for me as I sat up in bed. Not knowing what else to do, I ate my porridge and watched some TV.

At around 9:00 Spizz wandered into my room. He told me how they slept in Diversity and it was as miserable as ever, way to hot and very cramped. A short while later B came by and we all hung out in the hospital and waited for the doctor to come check on me.

Unfortunately, the doctor never came. I was expecting to be looked at and then checked out but nothing of the sort happened. At around 11:30 B got the nurse for me and I talked her into letting me out of the hospital (a day or two early) so we could continue our journey. Everything seemed quite unorganized and I left feeling as though I may not have been given all of the necessary information…

After leaving the hospital we found a street café and discussed the future of our trip. Spizz spoke of how miserable the van was. I told the boys how I didn’t know what to do because everything I wanted to do in Australia involved the ocean (which I am not supposed to go in for a while). We had no idea what to do…

Unsure of our future we decided to look up some stuff on the internet. I have never wanted to go home so badly. I was in pain, hungry, and desperately wanted someone to take care of me. Still, in the end I decided (after several calls home) that I would continue on for a few days and see how things go.

At around 14:00 we got back in the van and began heading south. I fell asleep almost immediately. When I woke up we were at our destination for the day, Mission Beach. The beach was incredibly beautiful. The rainforest came all the way down to the sand and the beach was long and empty (much like Thailand). Unfortunately, it was raining unrelentingly. We took a quick walk on the beach, snapped a few photos, and then got back in the van and decided to continue heading south.

After driving for about 25 minutes the oil light came on and the car started making a buzzing sound. B (who was driving) immediately pulled over and we immediately noticed that the engine (located in the back of the vehicle) was creating a cloud of smoke. We quickly got out of the vehicle and waited for things to cool down. None of us know much about cars so we felt somewhat helpless.

We waited 45 minutes and then drove 2 kilometers to the nearest rest stop and asked for help. Fortunately, there was a nice couple that let us use their cell phone and call roadside assistance. After making the call there was not much to do except sit and wait (and try to avoid being eaten alive by mossies).

About an hour later a rickety old truck pulled up and informed us that he was sent to help us out. He took one look at the engine and declared that it was “cooked”, that the vehicle would not be driving again. He gave us a tow (which consisted of a rope tying the two vehicles together) into the nearest town, Caldwell (pop. 1,420). We dropped the van off at his shop and then he gave us a ride to a nearby motel.

The motel was surprisingly nice. We had a large room with three beds, a kitchen, TV, AC, and hot water. It was well worth $25 ASD each. To top it all off, there was a spectacular tree-frog just outside our room.

Once we finished checking in the lady working the front desk gave us a ride into town so we could grab a quick dinner. We quickly consumed some hamburgers and walked back to the motel. We settled into our room, took showers, and then watched some Deadwood.

We all fell asleep a few minutes before 23:00.

NOTE: It seems that nothing can go right here in Australia. After 5 months with almost no problems I guess luck is catching up with the trip. As we sat sitting on the side of the road for most of the day, I wished that I had stayed in my hospital bed. Speaking of which, most people were surprised to hear that I was released from the hospital so quickly and everyone has been quite friendly regarding the matter.

January 27, 2007 Cairns, Australia

January 27, 2007
Cairns, Australia

I woke up this morning at around 7:30. I was surprised to find breakfast waiting for me at the side of my hospital bed. I devoured the porridge and bread as I watched some TV and the nurses checked my vitals.

Most of the morning passed without event. I did a crossword puzzle and a sudoku as I relaxed in bed. The head surgeon came to check on me and said that I was doing quite well and that I could leave the hospital tomorrow.

At around 10:30 Spizz and B came to say hello. The told me of their night out on the town celebrating Australia Day and showed me some pictures. They were able to snag me a free hat, which I enthusiastically put on. Even better, they brought me my computer and some DVD’s so that I would have some entertainment for the day

The boys left at around 11:30 and I spent most of the early afternoon playing on my computer and having some lunch. I also attempted to make some phone calls as I watched the women’s final of the Australian Open. Unfortunately, international calls are not permitted from my phone.

Instead, I headed downstairs and used my phone card to call Jackie. We chatted for a bit and then I returned to my bed and played around on my computer for a while (with no internet…). Throughout the rest of the afternoon I chilled out in my bed. I talked to some family members and watched the TV.

Sometime around 15:00 Spizz came and hung out with me. We talked about future plans for the trip and watched some more TV. A short while later B also came by. I decided to take a shower and then we settled down to watch a few DVD’s. Just before we started Dumb and Dumber Jackie called to say goodnight. I talked with her and she made me feel better and then we started the movie.

Once the movie was over we decided to watch another one. We looked through B’s movie library and selected The Incredibles. When the movie was over (around 21:30) the boys took off and I was left alone in the hospital.

I couldn’t find much to watch on TV and instead played around on my computer for a few hours.

January 26, 2007 Cairns, Australia

January 26, 2007
Cairns, Australia

Happy Australia Day!

Last night we visited the Serpent hostel and used their plugs to charge my computer and watch a few episodes of Deadwood while charging iPods. We then returned to our van and headed back to the parking lot to fall asleep (22:30).

At around 4:00 I woke up with a sharp pain in my side. I left the van, took a pee, and decided to try to go back to sleep. The pain was so bad that this was impossible. Initially I thought it was a gas bubble. I sat up waiting for the pain to pass. It did not go anywhere.

Sometime around 7:00 I woke up Spizz and confirmed that the appendix is on the right side. At this point I decided I needed to go to the hospital and get things checked out. I woke up B and we drove to the Cairns Base Hospital. I went straight to the emergency room.

Once in the Emergency room I had to wait almost half an hour before I was let in. Still in severe pain, I was forced to fill out a number of forms and wait for the medical staff to change shits. Needless to say, I was not very happy about this.

Eventually I got into a hospital bed and then waited to see a doctor (I told the other boys they could take off and check back later). When the doctor finally came, he poked my belly and had me jump up and down a bit. Shortly thereafter he concluded that I had appendicitis.

I spent the next several hours waiting for the diagnosis to be confirmed by the surgical staff. Through all the waiting the nursing staff was quite nice and gave me painkillers (morphine) as needed. At around 11:00 a surgeon confirmed that I had appendicitis.

At this point there was a lot of waiting as some of the staff wanted to transfer me to a private hospital and some wanted to keep me where I was (something to do with my insurance policy – which was in our van). Once the boys got back I had them get the policy and handed it over to the staff. A nurse by the name of Ben was very helpful and informed me that I would not have to transfer anywhere.

As I sat in the hospital bed waiting to go into surgery I tried to make some phone calls to the USA. For some reason the lady running the switchboard had the wrong extension for America and none of the calls went through. Eventually (after lots of arguing), B was able to explain to her what she needed to do. I finally got connected to my mom.

Just minutes before I was wheeled to the surgery room I got a phone call from Jackie and said goodbye to the boys. For the first time in my life I was going to have surgery. While somewhat nerve-racking, I also found it kind of exciting.

Interestingly, my entire surgical staff was from New Zealand. They tried to get me to pee into a bottle on the bed but I could not do it. Instead I hobbled to the bathroom and relieved myself before the surgery.

Almost as soon as they put the mask on me I fell asleep. It was just as I imagined it. There was a bright light shinning on my face and several doctors standing over me…

When I woke up I was in a different room and felt as tired as I have in my entire life. Still, the nurse asked me to stay awake so that I could control my breathing. It was quite difficult and my throat hurt like crazy!

Once everything was under control I was wheeled into a room with some other patients and promptly fell asleep. I woke up several hours later (sometime between 16:00-17:00) and had to pee really badly. But, for some reason, I could not get anything to come out.

I informed the nurse and she told me this is not entirely uncommon. Apparently the anesthetics were making me retain urine. She said she would give me until 22:30 to pass urine before putting a catheter inside me (I was then highly motivated to get some urine out).

A few minutes later the boys showed up and I ate my dinner. They made sure that I was ok and headed out to enjoy the Australia day celebrations. I got a few more phone calls (from my dad and Jackie).

I then decided to try to pee again. Nothing would come out. I tried everything. I had a hot shower, sat and read (gossip) magazines, turned on the water faucet, and jumped up and down a bit. None of it worked. I began to fear that I would have to have a catheter put in.

Though I was extremely uncomfortable (because of my inflated bladder) I fell asleep for a few minutes. When I woke up it was 22:00 and I gave it one last effort to pee. With a lot of concentration I managed to urinate! I have never been so excited to take a pee in my entire life. From now on I will be grateful every time I go to the bathroom…

The rest of the evening was much more relaxed. I watched some of the Australian open on TV and then watched Predator as I fell asleep…

NOTE: Though I was initially very frustrated with the medical staff here they were great once everything got figured out. They did a wonderful job of taking care of me. And, it just so happened that my appendicitis occurred on casual Fridays so all the doctors were wearing Hawaiian shirts and other fun clothing…

January 25, 2007 Cairns, Australia

January 25, 2007
Cairns, Australia

It took quite a while to get to sleep last night. As it turns out, the street we parked on was one of the main walkways for people to take on their way home from the bars. Thus, we heard a great number of drunk people stumble by. Furthermore, it was ridiculously hot inside the van. We slept with all the doors and windows open to try to cool things down. Still, we passed some of the time watching the large fruit bats fly overhead. Some had a wingspan of almost a meter (3ft)!

We woke up this morning at 7:00 to the sound of B’s alarm. Even so, we were so tired that we fell back asleep. Luckily, I woke back up just after 7:30 and we hurried off to the pier to catch board our boat headed for the Great Barrier Reef. We were, however, also quite worried because it was raining…

Nonetheless, B and I decided to go (Spizz stayed behind with the van and chill out in town for the day). At 9:00 our boat left the Cairns dock. About an hour an a half later we reached the outer reef.

Because there were not many certified diver aboard, another individual was added to our twosome. We put on all our gear, went through the necessary safety checks and debriefings, and hopped in the water.

As we descended our new dive buddy experienced problems with his mask. All three of us returned to the surface. A short time later he fixed his problem and descended once again. We only got a few meters down before he experienced another problem and we all returned to the surface. The crew told B and I to go off on our own and they would take care of the helpless individual.

B and I completed the rest of our dive without a problem. It was an incredibly dive. The water was unbelievably clear and warm. As soon as we descended a large (about 1.5 meters), friendly Napoleon Maori Cod greeted us. It was so friendly that it let us grab him and touch him. As we continued around the reef we saw thousands of smaller colorful fish.

Half an hour later we were back on the surface and ready for more. We unloaded our scuba gear and did some snorkeling. We saw some very, very large Buffalo Parrotfish and a White-tip Reef Shark. We did not return to the boat until lunch was ready (some time around 13:00).

After eating the boat moved to a new location and we were given the option of doing another dive. Though it was $46, we could not resist. We suited up and got in the water. Thankfully, the crew did not add anyone to our twosome this time.

This turned out to be the best dive I have ever done. Though B experienced some problems with his ears at the outset, everything else was phenomenal. Almost immediately we ran into a large sea turtle grazing on the coral. We followed him across the reef for almost 10 minutes. Sea turtles are awe-inspiring and have to be the most graceful creatures on earth. Eventually, we decided that we should leave the turtle alone and we continued exploring the reef. During our 40-minute dive we also saw 2 stingrays, 2 more sharks, and a very large fish that looked like a rock with very large teeth.

We returned to the boat extremely excited about everything that had happened. We dropped off our gear and settled in for the long ride back to the pier.

We made it back to Cairns at around 16:30. We wandered around a small mall next to the pier for half an hour as we waited for Spizz. As we waited in the parking lot we noticed our van parked in a far off corner of the lot. Though Spizz was not inside, we knew that he would not be far away. We found him chilling at the park…

After moving the van to a more desirable parking spot, B and I used the parks public showers and then headed out to use the internet.

The plan for the rest of the night is to hang out at the park and cook up some dinner. We will probably head to sleep fairly early because we are both exhausted from a long day in the water!

NOTE: I really wish I had an underwater camera for today. It was absolutely beautiful and I am sorry that I cannot share any photos…

January 24, 2007 Cairns, Australia

January 24, 2007
Cairns, Australia

The Serpent Resort had a checkout time of 10:00. Thus, we were forced to get up at around 8:30 in order to leave on time. After packing and showering we made our way downstairs and left our bags at the hotel.

Next, we called our van rental agency and inquired as to whether or not our vehicle was ready for us to pick up. Unfortunately, the van was not going to be ready until 14:00. Not expecting this, we did not know what to do with the day.

We decided to head to downtown and check out the city. After finding some breakfast (a $5.00 fruit bowl) we decided to spend some time on the internet. A little after noon we pulled ourselves away from the computers and continued wandering town.

We made stops at a bookstore, pawnshop, and grocery store (where we grabbed some food). Sometime around 13:00 we decided to try to find the place where our vehicle was being held. After asking a few locals for directions we found the street.

As we walked down the road each of us began to feel the heat. We were drenched in sweat and could not find the address. We were forced to stop at a store and ask to use the phone. A few minutes later we headed back outside more confident in our destination.

Eventually we arrived at the address. To our surprise it was an apartment complex with a silver VW van parked in the front yard. We found the guy we were supposed to talk to (Ian) and made the proper arrangements. After paying the fee (about $666 ASD each) we thought we were good to go.

Just as we were ready to pull off the grass Ian got a phone call from his boss. Apparently, B’s credit card would not accept the payment. We had no idea what to do. Eventually Ian suggested that we head down the road to an internet café and have B call his mom.

Sadly, B did not have a phone card. The only phone card within our group was mine. Even so, I did not have the appropriate number for Australia. I used my last 50 cents to get on the internet and look up the number. A few minutes later we were standing at a phone booth listening to B beg his mom for her credit card number.

Incredibly, everything got sorted out. Shortly after 15:00 we left the apartment complex in an old, silver, VW van. I suggested that we name our new vehicle and tossed out the name Diversity (an anchorman reference). The other boys agreed and we began referring to our van as Diversity…

Our first stop was the Serpent Resort to pick up our big bags. We stopped a little longer than we intended and even decided to sneak into the shower and wash off the sweat from our long hike across town.

After booking an activity for tomorrow we jumped back in Diversity and headed for the supermarket. Each of us stocked up on food for the next week. Knowing that restaurants are incredibly expensive here, we tried to account for each meal.

About an hour later we hoped back in the van and made our way to a waterfront park. Once parked, we organized our van and then explored the park. Extraordinarily, the park was equipped with a pool, free BBQ area, and showers. For us, it was heaven.

B and I took a quick dip and then the three of us decided to handle a little more business on the internet. On our way back to our vehicle we stopped again at the supermarket and grabbed some hotdogs for dinner. We used the BBQ and hung out at the park for a few more hours. We even jumped in the van and decided to watch a DVD. This, however, was a brutal process. It was ridiculously hot inside Diversity. By the time the Deadwood episode was over we were all covered in a thick layer of sweat.

Before leaving Spizz and I decided to utilize the shower facilities while B went in search of desert. A little later we met back up and drove our van to a less crowded part of town. We stopped in a secluded parking lot and converted the van into sleeping mode (basically folding out a mattress).

At 22:30 we settled in and tried to get to sleep.

NOTE: Having the van is going to be an experience. We are going to be hot, sweaty, and in very close proximity to one another. It should make for some interesting stories to say the least…

January 23, 2007 Sydney – Cairns, Australia

January 23, 2007
Sydney – Cairns, Australia

We woke up this morning at around 10:00. I threw the rest of my stuff in my bag and headed out of the room. After a quick breakfast I jumped on the internet to check my financial situation. A few minutes later the boys came out and we hung out in the common room for a few minutes.

At 11:00 we checked out of our hostel. Still, we left our things there for another hour. I then made a quick trip to STA Travel to change a date on my ticket. I returned to the hostel to find the boys playing on the internet.

A few minutes after noon we headed out with our things. We paid $8.40 ASD and rode a few trains to the Airport. After checking-in we went through security and we found our gate, where we chilled out until our flight took off (15:05). As we waited for our plane I munched on some leftover pizza from last night (which I brought to the airport in a plastic bag).

The flight was pretty basic. I finished my Bill Bryson Book Down Under and took a short nap. We arrived in Cairns (very North East Australia) at 17:00 (after losing an hour in flight). Once we collected our bags we went outside and waited for a free pickup from our hostel, the Serpent Resort.

The Serpent Resort was a super nice hostel! It was quite large and had a fun atmosphere. We settled into our room (a 6 person dorm that was empty except for us) and then B and I decided to jump into the pool. Shortly thereafter we jumped in line for some free BBQ food.

After eating we attempted to use the internet but decided that it was far too expensive ($8 ASD per hour) and instead retired to our room. As we settled in to watch a DVD the fire alarm went off. We filed outside with all the other patrons and waited for the fire department to come and shutoff the alarm.

Instead of immediately returning to our room we went for a walk around town. Unfortunately, the hostel is located in a remote part of town. The only thing of interest was a gas station. The boys purchased some desert and I enjoyed the warm tropical evening.

From there we returned to our room. We made ourselves comfortable and started watching a Deadwood DVD’s. After a few episodes it was time to get to sleep.

January 22, 2007 Sydney, Australia

January 22, 2007
Sydney, Australia

We woke up this morning at around 8:30. As we attempted to wake up we wondered into the common room and checked to see if the NFL Playoffs were on TV. They weren’t. We were forced to make our way to a sports bar down the street.

We settled into some seats and watched the second half of the Bears-Saints game. Next, we watched the entirety of the Colts-Patriots game. It was the first football I have seen in about a year. Sadly, both teams I was cheering for lost. Still, we had a good time hanging out with some fellow Americans.

There were more Americans at the bar than I have seen in one place since leaving home. We met several ex-pats now living in Sydney and a few fellow travelers. Most interesting of all, we met an OSU Engineering alum. We discovered that we had a few mutual friends. Incredibly, he got a phone call from his best friend, Mike Hass, as the Bears were playing…

By the time we left the bar it was a few minutes past 13:00. We returned to our hostel and grabbed some lunch. After eating and getting ready for the day we went out on a long walk.

Our first stop was the botanical gardens at the center of a large park in the city. As we wandered through the trees we were surprised to see large bats hanging from the trees. They were the largest bats I have ever seen (we later saw a sign that informed us that they were fox bats and are among the largest bats in the world and can have a wing span up to 1.5 meters!). For the remainder of our walk through the gardens we had our heads looking to the sky, watching the marvelous creatures.

Eventually we made our way to the steps of the Sydney Opera House. To our surprise there was a jumbotron showing the Australian Open. We sat on the steps of the SOH and watched James Blake (an American) give up during his match and lose miserably.

We then entered the SOH and looked around for a few minutes. Unfortunately, most of the structure is closed and people are not allowed to wander about. Instead, we went back outside and did a lap around the building.

From there we began our journey home. On the way we stopped at a few scenic points and took a bunch of photos of the Australia’s most famous structures (the harbor bridge and the opera house).

At about 18:00 we arrived back at Mates Place. We were overjoyed to find that it was free pizza night at the hostel. The owner ordered 35 pizzas from Pizza Hut and everyone got really full, for free!

Totally full, B and I sat down and used the internet. I spent a long time chatting with Jackie and doing some more research on cool places to go in Australia.

The plan for the remainder of the night is to pack up our bags and then maybe wander the crazy streets of Kings Cross for a while.

January 21, 2007 Sydney, Australia

January 21, 2007
Sydney, Australia

Once again we slept in this morning (10:00ish). Once everyone was awake we headed out to get some breakfast. After finding that McDonalds was no longer serving breakfast we made our way to the supermarket and grabbed some breakfast items.

We returned to our hostel and had a quick breakfast in the common room. The remainder of the morning we chilled out in the hostel, talked to some fellow travelers, and played on the internet.

At around 13:00 we ventured out for some lunch. After a quick bite we jumped on the train and made our way to Bondai Junction. From there we grabbed a bus and traveled to Bondai Beach.

As it was a very hot day (about 41°C), the beach was packed! We had to search to find a spot on the sand where the three of us could chill out. After liberally applying sunscreen we relaxed in the sand and did some reading. A few minutes later we were all sweating. B and I decided to make a dash for the water.

Once again the water temperature shocked me. It was absolutely freezing! Even though it incredibly hot outside, the water was colder than anything I have felt in Southern California (lower 60°F’s). It was surprising, to say the least.

A few hours later we left the beach (around 16:00). Spizz returned to the hostel while B and I explored some of the surf shops at a nearby mall. Everything was quite expensive (way too expensive!) and we returned home without making any purchases.

Upon getting back to the hostel I jumped on the internet and did some catching up on emails. Though it took forever to get the connection to work, once I got on I spent a long time playing on my computer.

It is currently 20:00 and I am about to head out for some dinner. The rest of the evening we will probably take it easy. We are all tired from another day in the sun…

January 20, 2007 Sydney, Australia

January 20, 2007
Sydney, Australia

Once again we slept in. The three of us boys got out of bed (or off the floor/couch-bed) at around 11:30. We slowly began packing our things and snacking one some breakfast items. A few minutes after 13:00 we finally left the house with all of our things.

Kristina guided us to the train station and into town. We got off in at Kings Cross Station (in the middle of town) and started checking out the hostels. We settled on Mates Place (20 ASD per night) and then decided to do some planning for the rest of our time here in Australia. We visited several travel agents and ended up booking a few tours and securing a van for most of our journey.

Most of the day was gone by the time we finished taking care of business. Having spent more money than I was planning to in Australia I spent the next several hours on the internet sorting out some finances and catching up on my blog.

I met back up with the boys and we hung out in the room for a bit. All of us took showers and cleaned ourselves up. We then wandered out for some dinner. We returned to the hostel around 20:00 and hung out for a while.

At around 21:30 Kristina, Millie, and friends showed up at our place and we explored the hostel for a few minutes. After a few drinks we headed out into Kings Cross. It turns out we are staying in the craziest part of town. It is the red light district, the gay district, and the drug district rolled into one. Needless to say, it was intense.

Not wanting to pay a cover, we searched for a bar with a free entry. Eventually we found one and a place to sit. Still, we didn’t spend long there because drinks were expensive and it was super crowded.

Our little crew wandered around for a while before deciding to grab an ice cream (by the name of Gay Time) and head back to the hostel. We chilled out in the common room for a while before calling it a night. We said our goodbye to our Sydney friends and then retired to our room and fell asleep.

January 19, 2007 Sydney, Australia

January 19, 2007
Sydney, Australia

We all slept until almost noon! It was the latest I can remember sleeping in so far on the trip. Still, it was well worth it because our bodies were hurting from the long night in Bangkok and no sleep on the plane.

After getting up we puttered around Kristina’s house for a while and then decided to visit Manly Beach. On the way we stopped at a grocery store for some lunch supplies. I have never been so excited to go food shopping. For the first time in ages we could get food from home and pick out anything we wanted! This enthusiasm was quelled when we got to the checkout counter and realized that we could feed ourselves for several days on the amount we spent on lunch…

We then got back in Milly’s car and continued on our way to the beach. Fifteen minutes later we lying on our towels and enjoying the sunshine. After a quick bite to eat B and I sprinted for the ocean (this time with waves!). We ran as fast as we could until we hit the water and then realized it was much, much colder than the Thailand water…Even so, we swam out and jumped around in the waves. We were surprised to find that swimming was only allowed in a 20-foot stretch of water. If you tried to swim outside this area the lifeguards would yell at you and chase you away with a jet ski…

We remained at the beach until almost 16:00. I took a nice nap and then read a little of my book. When we had had enough sun we returned to Kristina’s house and cleaned ourselves up. She invited some friends over and we watched Wolf Creek, a scary movie about backpackers driving around Australia…

After the movie B headed to sleep. Spizz and I were not very tired. Millie and Kristina offered to take us on a walk across the harbor bridge. It was an amazing stroll. We got to see some awesome views of the city at night and took a million photos of the majestic Opera House.

Once across the bridge we were all a little hungry. We wandered past the bar district and made our way to a late night pancake restaurant. I treated myself to some strawberry pancakes. Not wanting to walk back we jumped in a cab and returned home. By the time we got to bed it was almost 3:00 in the morning…

January 18, 2007 Bangkok – Sydney, Australia

January 18, 2007
Bangkok – Sydney, Australia

It took turning the light on, an alarm, and some yelling to get me out of bed this morning (at 5:00). We were all exhausted and not feeling so well from the night before. After gathering the last of our things we checked out and jumped in a cab. We had some trouble fitting all of our baggage (mostly B’s) into the vehicle. Still, we crammed it in and took off.

I fell asleep for most of the ride to the airport. After paying for our ride we hurried off to the airline counter to check-in. It was a very long line and we were all feeling quite miserable by the time we were done. Sadly, we were kind of late and were not able to sit together.

Totally exhausted we made our way through the airport to our gate. We reached the gate only a few minutes before boarding. As soon as we got on the plane I fell asleep. Luckily, I woke up just before breakfast was served.

For the rest of the flight I drifted in and out of consciousness. I watched part of Gridiron Gang and Material Girls. Both movies were less than amazing…

We finally arrived in Sydney (after 9 hours in the air) at 21:00 local time. We cleared customs, gathered our bags, and headed out to grab a cab. Incredibly, as we walked out of the airport we saw a sign greeting us to Australia! The girls we met in Europe (Milly and Christina) had gotten word of our arrival and come to meet us at the airport. It was totally unexpected and a very nice gesture.

Even cooler, we were invited to stay the night at Christina’s house. The five of us piled into Milly’s car and began the journey into town. On the wy we caught a glimpse of the Opera House and the Harbor Bridge. The city was awesomely pretty…

We got to Christina’s house, tossed down our bags, and headed to get some food. Our first choice, McDonald’s, was closed so we went to a local café and grabbed some desert. As soon as we got back to the house we opened up the bed on the couch and fell asleep.

NOTE: It is strange to be out of a developing country. For the last 3.5 months we have been traveling the third world. Everything seems so clean. On the other hand, everything seems ridiculously expensive. I think that I will not be able to buy anything here!

January 17, 2006 Bangkok, Thailand

January 17, 2006
Bangkok, Thailand

Our lat day in Southeast Asia!

I cant believe we are leaving the continent. Though we have done so much, it is strange to be leaving. It means our trip is in its final stages…

This morning we woke up around 8:00. B and I grabbed some breakfast and then back up with Spizz. Together, we used the internet for a large part of the morning. I did a lot of research on Australia and started trying to plan part of our trip there.

At around noon Spizz and I headed for Khao San Road (B remained on the computers). We attempted to go to Tom Yun Kung restaurant but they were not serving food until 14:00. Instead, Spizz and I did some shopping before deciding to eat at The Secret Garden. As always, the food was delicious.

When we returned to Baan Sabai we met back up with B and decided to get together and talk about our plans to Australia. We had a lengthy discussion before coming to a solution that would make everyone happy.

Once we had that figured out we began packing up our things. It was a lengthy process and the number of things that I acquired surprised me. When everything was put away we cleaned ourselves up and then headed out to met up with my cousin Ben (17:30ish).

We jumped in a cab and asked to be taken to All Seasons Place on Wireless Road. Even though the cab driver initially said he knew where to go, after a few minutes he pulled over and asked the address over and over. We spent a long time trying to figure it out before giving up. The next cab was no better, he took us part way and then decided he did not know where to go. Eventually we ended up at a park near Bens work. From there we called him and established a new meeting point.

We met under the Ferris wheel at the Night Bazaar. We then all grabbed a table and went around to some of the food booths getting our last Thai meal. I chose to have satay (complete with peanut sauce) and phad thai. We washed everything down with a bunch of beers.

When we were done at our table we did some shopping and I got read of all my extra baht. I ended up purchasing more than I anticipated. We then jumped in a cab and headed out to a local farang bar.

Ben purchased us some drinks and we hung out for a while. Spizz and I got in an argument over rap music while Ben and B argued over something less important. When we finished our discussions we got in another cab and decided to head toward Bens apartment.

We got out of the cab around 1:30 in the morning and then decided to get one last massage. Though it was very late and we had a few too many drinks, it was a fun massage. We were all in the same room and everyone was joking around (B even fell asleep during his massage).

An hour later we left the massage parlor (which turned out to be the one where we got our first massage in Thailand…) and thanked Ben for an awesome night. As it turns out, Ben paid for almost everything throughout the night, from drinks to massages. We said our goodbyes and jumped in a cab and headed for Khao San Road.

We walked down the road and made our way to Baan Sabai. By the time we got there it was past 3:00 in the morning and we planned to get up at 4:30 and head for the airport. B and I went to our room for a quick nap and Spizz decided to stay up.

January 16, 2007 Bangkok, Thailand

January 16, 2007
Bangkok, Thailand

We all got up this morning around 8:00. B headed downstairs to read while Spizz and I made a trip to 7-Eleven for some breakfast. Though I was in search for mango and sticky rice, I had to settle for some delicious pineapple.

After eating and getting ready for the day I used the internet and spent a long time catching up on world events and talking with my girlfriend. When I was finally finished I found the boys and read my book for a few minutes.

A little before noon we headed out to wander the shops and get some lunch. We used the Secret Garden shortcut and quickly arrived at Koa San Road. For the next several hours we did some shopping. Though I did not purchase anything I had a good time looking over all the souvenirs. I also was happy to get some great street food (mango with sticky rice and a serving of Phad Thai).

Somehow we all got separated while shopping. Still, we met back up in the room at around 14:30. We were all ready for a long rest and decided to watch You, Me and Dupree.

When the movie was over I decided to go exploring. The boys were still tired so I headed out on my own. I made my way to the Baiyoke Sky Tower, the tallest hotel in the world (and tallest building in Thailand). By the time I got there (16:30) I was hungry again so I purchased a sandwich before heading to the top (for 200 baht).

The top of the hotel (84th floor) was a revolving deck with a magnificent view of the city. I did a complete circle before retreating a few floors to the Top View Bar. I was pleasantly surprised to find that my ticket was good for a free cocktail. I sat at the bar sipping my cocktail and watched the sunset.

Once it was dark I returned to the revolving deck and watched the lights of the city come on. The city was much more beautiful at night…

I returned to ground level not yet ready to go home. Instead, I walked around and found my way to the skytrain. I rode the public transport over to my cousin Ben’s apartment and attempted to visit him. Unfortunately, he was not home. As an alternative, I decided to walk down Soi Cowboy (a street famous for debauchery). The street was surprisingly tame (especially after visiting Pattaya) and small.

I then made one more attempt to visit Ben (he was not home) before heading back to my guesthouse. By the time I got back I was extremely tired and fell asleep almost immediately (22:00ish).

January 15, 2007 Railay – Bangkok, Thailand

January 15, 2007
Railay – Bangkok, Thailand

A little before 6:00 this morning Lisa, Matt, Paul, and Karly (swiss girl) came to my room to say goodbye. It was difficult to get up because we all stayed out at the bar until late last night. I don’t think anyone was feeling very well when we said our goodbyes. It was sad to see them go. I had a great time experiencing southern Thailand with them and I enjoyed meeting everyone.

After they left, I did not go back to sleep. I did not manage to pack my things up last night (as I planned) and had to organize my bag. It took quite a while. When I was done I took a cold shower (the only kind available) and felt much better.

I then headed out in search of some food (7:30ish). Sadly, nothing was open when I began my search. I settled for a bottle of water and returned to my room and read for a few minutes. At 8:20 I grabbed my things and made my way to the travel agent where I had purchased my ticket.

After a few minutes of waiting someone escorted me to a small boat to ferry me over to Krabitown. I found it quite amusing that I had to wade out into the water with my baggage and load it into a (almost moving) boat.

Fifteen minutes later we reached the Krabitown docks and I was handed off to a cab driver. He then drove me to the airport (about 30 minutes). I arrived at the airport almost three hours before my flight. The airline desk was not even open.

I killed time by grabbing a bite to eat and reading some more of Down Under. Eventually I got tired of sitting and felt the need to wander the small airport. I was excited when I found a big party in the main lobby. Apparently, Nok airlines was having their first flight ever to Krabi and were marking the occasion with a large ceremony. I helped myself to some free food, listened to excited people speak in thai, and was confused by the presence of hula dancers (one of whom was a lady boy…).

Once I had my fill of free soda and snacks I decided that it was about time to board my flight. I went through security and to my gate. I was surprised to find that I was one of four people at the gate (and our flight was leaving in 20 minutes). We were all quite confused and grew very worried. Eventually an airline employee told us the flight had been delayed and escorted us to the passenger lounge.

Half an hour later the flight was further delayed. My 12:25 flight was now not going to leave until 14:30 (an hour after I was supposed to arrive). I passed the time by kicking around some balloons from the party and attempting to read my book.

The only thing that occurred once I got onto the plane is that I fell asleep. I did not wake up until we were back in Bangkok. After an extremely long wait at the baggage claim I headed to line for metered cabs. While waiting I met a lad from England going the same way as me. We split the cab.

As it turns out, he was looking for a place to stay and I guided him to my home away from home, the Baan Sabai Guesthouse. After a quick check of the internet my new mate and I sat down for some dinner while I waited for B and Spizz. My boys showed up just as I was finishing dinner and a few minutes after the Englishmen had left.

We then shared some stories of our time apart and headed up to our rooms. Coincidently, B and I are sharing the same room that Jackie and I stayed in more than a month ago (room 420).

The first thing I did upon getting into the room was chuck down my baggage and gather up my dirty cloths (which is all of my cloths). I also grabbed my collection of patches and my backpacking pack. I was excited when B showed me the way to a local establishment that specializes in laundry and patch sowing!

Next B and I grabbed a massage while Spizz borrowed my computer and sorted through his photos from our time apart. While my massage was phenomenal, B reports that he felt violated by his gay masseuse.

We returned to the room at about 21:00 and decided to take it easy for the remainder of the evening. I did some blogging while the other boys played on the internet.

January 14, 2007 Railay, Thailand

January 14, 2007
Railay, Thailand

I woke up around 8:00 this morning and lunged in bed for a bit. I started reading my now book, Down Under in preparation for my trip to Australia. After an hour or so of reading I made my way down to the restaurant for some breakfast. I met up with Paul and his Swiss lady and we all had a nice meal (though the service was incredibly slow).

Once I was done eating I took care of some business at the travel agent and jumped on the internet for a few minutes. At about 11:15 I ran into Lisa and Matt. We made a plan to go kayaking in the afternoon.

Lisa and I then attempted to call Jackie and say hello. Sadly, she did not pick up. Instead we grabbed some cookies and milk from the store. However, as always, the milk was super weird. It had the flavor of yogurt and I did not find it very good at all. Why is it so hard to find normal milk in Thailand?

We then met back up with everyone and made our way to the beach to rent kayaks. On our way there we ran into a large troop of monkeys and watched them play in the treetops for a while. Shortly thereafter we made it to the beach. Unfortunately, the first beach we visited did not have any kayak rentals.

We were forced to backtrack and visit a different beach to get the kayaks. At about 1:20 we finally got in the water. Paul and I shared a boat (Lisa and Matt shared a boat) and we set out into the sea.

First we circled around several of the islands and examined some of the awesome stalactites hanging from the island. We then ventured into some of the sea caves. It was quite awesome! After our examination of the island we decided to stop in one of the inlets and go for a swim (expect Paul, who is afraid of swimming). We swam around part of the island and into a tiny opening. Incredibly, it opened up into much large cave. Had I had a headlamp on me I would have explored deeper into the cave.

Once we were done swimming we headed for the mainland and paddled around some large rocks in the water. From there, we began the journey home. We got out of the water a little before 3:30 (Lisa and Matt stayed in a bit longer). Paul then headed back to his room and I went for a quick swim.

I returned to my room and was sad to find that I had a mosquito infestation. For some reason there were tons of them in my bathroom. I went to war with them and tried to kill every single one. It was a difficult task and they managed to bite me a few times as I was waging war on them…

The plan for the rest of the day is to pack up my things and then grab some food. Everyone is tired from a day of paddling in the sun. I imagine that it will be an early night tonight because we all have to get up early tomorrow.