All ABOARD!

WOW, so Ive just realised that I havent written since Vancouver… but I have a good reason… It is bloody amazing on the cruise. Vancouver was kinda not what I thought it would be, we did a little shopping there. We headed up to Grouse Mountain which is a ski mountain in the winter, we took the skylift upto the top and hung out in this gorgeous chalet at the top and had lunch. It was a little foggy and the view was kinda non existent. We ventured out into the snow fields, it was freezing. We saw some amazing wood carvings and also saw two 8 year old brown bears that were orphaned when they were very young, both there parents had died. Anywho, from there we headed out to The capilano Suspension bridge which was lovely, walked in the canopy and rocked this huge bridge from side to side and scared a lot of the people trying to walk over it.. ha ha was funny at the time watching the peoples faces as they crossed. We spent the rest of the afternoon just cruising around and found this awesome little burrito joint and then chilled in for the night. We were blessed with really really loud Texans at the hotel we were staying at (PS..nothing like the gorgeous Texan I know), we literally didn’t sleep, they stomped around all night, which set the mood for the next day.. Kate and I both had the shits most of the morning. So we shopped hoping a little retail therapy would help.. and it did I suppose.

So now it is about 12.30, we headed back to the hotel to collect our luggage and check out of the hotel, not without complaining of course, not that it was going to help at this stage. Jumped a taxi to Canada Bay Wharf were we would be boarding our Carnival Cruiseship. So waiting in line.. we looked around for signs of people younger then 35 and we were hell out of luck! OMG. Were we going to be the only young peeps on this cruise?! EEK. So we headed in thru ticketing, security and customs and then finally walked the plank on board where lunch in the Lido deck was ready and a waitin! Woo. So we crashed our room and then shot straight up for all you can eat buffet then crashed out for a couple of hours after we left Vancouver. We are sailing!

From this point on wards Id say Kate and I finally got into the swing of things incl jet lag and appetites.. we were so out of sync before boarding the ship. We went and watched some shows including comedy, bingo ha ha – yeah.. big cashola prize yet I didn’t win anything boo.. although Im thinking I need to suss out were the crew is.. they are more our age and Im thinking I need to be hanging with them! We both went to bed early I suppose because we could and totally missed out on our formalish dinner.. but then do you really miss dinner when its 24 hour all you can eat?

So we haven’t really been going nuts with the All you can eat by the way, Im being good.. but not too good.

Next day was our first full day on board.. no stops.. we don’t really have much to report on this day as we chilled on deck in the sun.. the views are AMAZING from our blue and white deck chairs. SO I guess condensed we showered, ate, chilled on deck, ate, sunned, ate, slept, ate and chilled in our room watching movies before crashing. Its great that you can sit up on deck, looking at the beautiful landscape, not really doing much at all and feel like you have been out there and accomplished something sightsee-y for the day. It was beautiful. We saw some whales – two parents and a baby – although they just appeared slightly on the surface and didn’t do much of a show but it was nice to start seeing glimpses of them. We were down on the back deck having dessert when this 18yo guy from Phoenix Arizona came over and took a seat .. I was kinda stoked to just have some additional company… but that all died in the ass when he didn’t have a lot to say and just sit there and stared.. it was uncomfortable and boring.. so we have been dodging him lately… although its always when you dodge you keep seeing them!

NEXT DAY KETCHIKAN! Whooooo, first ground tour for the cruise – Misty Fjords Flightseeing. We were woken nice and early with room service brekkie and got ready for our flight. We headed into town, it small a quaint and built just for tourists.. so much souvenir shopping which I am well over.. so we picked up our token postcards, took some pictures of the cute town and then headed towards our pick up point for the tour at the rain gauge.

We arrived at Seawind aviation tours. They were sooo lovely, and made us feel like one of the family. We boarded our float plane which was docked and ready to rock on the water. We boarded, chucked on our headseats, had the usual safety brief yadda yadda and then before I knew it, we were in the air! It felt so safe and you hardly even felt the take off. This tour was just simply breathtaking! We were flying up and over the most humongous mountains at 3000ft. We saw mountain goats cooling themselves off on snow capped mountains, we saw jumping fish and then we saw and laughed at me, puking in the back seat! Ha ha, yep. We saw three brown bear.. mumma and two kiddies playing at a river inlet and the pilot turned the plane around and the feeling just flipped my tummy. I keep my shit together for the pic then I was all wrong. Kate just looked and laughed… I was as green as my new jumper. So our pilot landed us in a sheltered lake in between some huge mountains and we got to jump out onto the floats of the plane and just hang out in the fresh air, in the middle of nowhere – but it was just beautiful. I got my shit together and then got back in the plane – but in the front this time and I was absolutely fine on the way back. This tour I cant even put into words, at this stage it was amazing and my fav. Id love to do it again! Im so stoked we saw the mumma and baby bears, it was so cute seeing them mum being so pretective of her little cubs. Cubs? Hmm. Anyway you know what I mean.

From there we then went back into town and headed to the Lumberjack show.. HELLO Lumberjacks. Was it the lack of men on the ship that made these lumberjack so much more attractive. LOL, being all manly chopping, chain sawing and climbing lumps of wood! Ha ha ha. Anyhow, it was a really entertaining show.. and was great to have a perve and a laugh. We took a lot of pics… no idea why. Pfft. Im retarded.

So I headed back up on deck and we departed Ketchikan. I met this Canadian guy Shaun on deck as we were both on deck waiting to see some whales and wildlife and wanted to take a prized snap.. we started a talking for a bit - it was just good to finally talk to someone on this damn boat. Then Kate and I met up with him later for a drink and realized he was a complete dick after a few drinks, so rude and obnoxious and it clearly became obvious he just didn’t wanna hang out and talk shit like we wanted.. his later proposition was sternly declined, minutes before he pushed kate after she didn’t want any more drinks and said she was a wanker – plus he is totally blessed with a butt for a face. As if! Anyway… he was waiting around in the lobby today for us.. we dodged him for a while before we bumped into him later on and I think he realized he fucked up last nite.. he wont be hanging with us anymore… dickhead.

Now today, presently, we are up to date with the blog! Yiipppeeeeeeeee.

We arrived in Juneau (Juno) today. We were up early and we headed to Mount Roberts Tramway and waited for our tour bus.. today we were dog sledding and Helicopter tours over 4 glaciers. WOW! The glaciers are freaking huge and a lot dirtier then I thought. I envisaged them to be white but they were kinda brown tinged on the top with cracks that we a beautiful blue. Little pockets of water in between also had a vivid blue tinge to them. It was amazing and again something that has to be seen to be believed – and was especially amazing to see it from the air. We then descended down onto the icefield to see the Dog sledding camp where our helicopter landed. Here we were totally surrounded by glaciers, mountains and snow. Was sensational.

We met our cute sledding instructor and boarded our sled after a brief safety brief and instruction on how to mush a dog sled. Next minute we were off with a scream! It was so much fun and the dogs were crazy for it. It wasn’t until I was out there that I realized these gods were made to to this, pull these sleds… they were busting out with all this energy. These dogs usually race in the winter but stay out on the icefields during summer and train. Kate and I zipped around the snow for about 30 mins.. was great fun. After a while out there it got surprisingly hot and the snow was blinding without sunnys on. We hung around after the dog sledding ride and chatted with the instructor and met the pups pulling our sled.. they were extra cool and friendly. I want one. They are pure bred alaskian huskies - Cousins of the Siberian huskies but bred to be working, pulling sled dogs. The instructors actually live in tents on the ice field.. how crazy is that! They stay for 7 days then head into town for 2 days, before heading back out. I think that would be a great experience to do at least once. How quiet and serine would that be. Apparently all you can hear is the sound of a distant waterfall and all you can see is stars forever.. ahh.

We headed back to the boat, had lunch.. walked around town then had a shower and headed to dinner and now after a 4.5km walk around the boat Im here and this precise moment typing this long long catch up blog J

Its about 1.44am, its dark out my window and all I can see is a distant cruise ship with all its lights on and the glow of the TV to my left showing ‘The Time Machine’ with Guy Pierce. Tomorrow I think we will be doing a train ride into Canada for the day… Im still undecided at the moment as I would like to venture out onto the water.. so I think I will set my alarm for 7am and head out onto the shore and see what all the tour companies can convince me to purchase. I need to see more sealife!

I cant believe I am half way through this trip. During my walk on the top deck today as we were sailing out of Juneau, it was so beautiful, relaxing and amazing.. I was so happy and really relaxed. I really happy and having a great time spending some really great times with my sister ( we haven’t killed eachother yet lol) she has been an awesome wing-woman he he.

Night people, till next time… xx

The Great GC and Beyond!

So writing my last blog at 3am was stoopid, I mean.. I had to get up at 6am to get ready for this Grand Canyon helicopter flight and as if my sleeping patterns arent screwed up as they are LOL. So yep, I woke up freakin tired as all hell to walk out into the 35 degree heat of Vegas in the morning to jump into a limosine bound for McCarren airport. We were both really excited about the helicopter flight. After our instruction DVD we were ready to rock. We met our lovely instructor Landon and our other four german travellers and we were off. As we were settling down into the front seat of the helicopter.. I couldnt breathe... I was having a panic attack.. I felt really claustrophobic!! But once we set off I was sweet, it was an AMAZING feeling and the views were simply amazing. I have seen the GC from the ground, but from the air was just special. After 45 mins flying around we landed inside the canyon to lunch - it was nice and simple although it was HOT and my appetite was pretty non existant - but the meat on our sandwich wasnt, I think I had half a kilo of ham on one roll ha ha. It was an amazing spot to land, the landscape was amazing. Loved it.. then we were off back home with a great aerial fly over the strip on the way back... wicked. Ohh I need to mention, Kate and I got motion sickness.. Katie on the way there (I wondered why she was so quiet) then when I started to pipe down on the way home.. one look at kate and she knew I was in trouble ha ha ha ... and we laughed uncontrollably the we set our minds to control the sickness and hold out till we touched land again.. and we made it with out our barff bag ha ha.

We cruised alot more of the strip later that day, went to the Buffet too but we certainly didnt eat as much as we wanted but there was a huge array of different foods on the menu. I find that everything that I have eaten in the states so far is sweet.. even savoury is sweet. I kinda just want something fresh! I havent had the best appetite since I have been here and I am assuming it is the heat.

Later that night we headed out to see Cirque du Soliel - Mistique... it was amazing!!! The show is just simply breathtaking - the comedy.. hilarious.. the performers - so strong and I found my self OMGodding all the time.. the stage was so so fabulous also.. great transistions between acts.

Today we woke up at about 9am and headed out to do a few things and also went to Madame Tassauds. It was great fun playing around with the wax figures. It was a strange feeling to be in a room with just kate but feel like you had about 20 other people looking at you. The you look around and its just other wax figures. We had a bit of fun with those and then headed back to the room for a chill before we checked out at Midday. We then checked out the Bellagio fountains then met up with Roisin and her sister Mary Frances for drinks before we headed off to the airport for our flight to Vancouver. Roisin and I went to high school together and through Facebook we realised we would be in the same place, so we caught up! Good to see a familar face!

So now, we are in Vancouver.. its dark but from the air it looks gorgeous. Its a refreshing 15 degrees and we have arrived at our victorian older style hotel with free wireless. Ahh, I cant do withour technology for long.

Tomorrow morning we setting out on a tour at 10.30am for Grouse Mountain and Capliano Suspension bridge etc.. looking forward to waking up in a new town full of new adventures!

Mucho Love xxx

VIVA LAS VEGAS!!!!

Hey everyone!!!!

So we have made it to Vegas, but not before enduring the most full on flight over here. Arriving in Brisbane Airport, Kate and I met up and checked in straight away.. only to be seated in different classes.. urgh! So we kinda kicked up a stink and were both put into economy... but scored a bulk head seat so had plenty of room! My chest infection kinda flared up on the trip with the air conditioning and all so was feeling a little worse for wear. We slept but not alot, watched heaps of movies and laughed alot.. I think we were getting slightly delirious! Once we got off the plane in foggy LA, we made our way to the AA checkin and waited in huge lines for ticketing. I was about to faint it was humid and my chest and breathing was all whack. Finally got to our boarding gate sat impatiently at the airport for 3 hours.. and people watched... against our will. Fashion in the USA is so random! You can almost tell where people are going.. specially Hawaii flights. Once we got onto our last flight we passed out instantly.. we were so grumpy and shitty at this stage.. I didnt even know if I would be capable of actually getting off the plane. But I did.. and HOLY B-JESUS it was HOT as shit. The heat, chest infection and the 24 hours of travelling had officially whooped my ass!!! Our initial intention was to get a shuttle to the hotel.. but in the end I insisted a private car would be out best option.. and even that took too long to get to the hotel. BUt we made it.. and the shower was amazing and the bed was BLOODY AMAZING.

So we both kicked back for a couple of hours and then later that night we headed out for dinner and a night walk along the strip. It was boiling, at least mid 30s. It was crowded, and the strip STINKS.. like dry reach stink.. lol. We just walked around in a complete daze checking it all out... Kate just said it just seemed so surreal.. she couldnt believe it. The music here seems to be a little behind the times.. like we have heard alot of 90s dance music, which he he is kinda fun.. but kinda strange to hear everywhere when there has been so much great dance tunes after then but ahh well.

Today is 4th July, HAPPY HOLIDAYSSSS..... we hit the strip at 7am.. as we were ready to go.. the strip was empty which was great so we saw alot with out bumping into a bazillion people. We got burnt today too.. it was scorching! I couldnt even imagine sun baking in this.. ridiculous - its thick and hard to breath. We had a great lunch at Margaritaville where Amanda works.. and we sat and caught up on what been happening! We sat and laughed about this 26 foot motorhome we hired for Alaska.. and both questioned our abilities to drive it.. so that should be VERY interesting an humerous (top insurance we feel is essential!). We then headed for a snooze, the food made us very tired again.. so we watched a couple of movies in the room. Later in the evening we watched the Siren Pirate show - which was all TACK ha ha and then did more casino browsing. We have had flutters within most hotels.. but havent really hit it big.. yet! We seriously cant believe what people wear here.. the girls hardly wear anything.. Boobs just in and you can see everything.. specially up an escalator... ewe ha ha ha.. and people carrying young babies around as they gamble at 1am in the morning.. I just say Oh MY God alot and laugh..

So anywho.. its 2am or something now. Our Limo is picking us up at 8.30am to head to the Helicopter for the Grand Canyon tour.. so I should get some kipper. OMG I cant believe we have our first helicopter ride in the morning. Looking fwd to it big time.

Anywho.. We are having a fabulous time!!!

Much love always xx

42 Hours to go...

Many many days have gone past, many landmarks have been crossed and travel partners changed and now Mule & Nag are on the home straight, counting in hours .. a final 42 hours to go! WE ARE REALLY EXCITED!

We seriously cannot wait to finally be on that plane so we can finally let go of the stresses of the last couple of weeks (Katie has been winding up at work with end of year appraisals with all her team and I have been fighting a respiratory infection since the 30 May), wind down into holiday mode and let it ALL GO!! Ahh I love that feeling.

So tonight is my last night at home, sleeping in my own bed... and bring on the final pack tonight! And if I dont have it, I dont need it or I can get it while I am away. No matter what Ill leave forgetting something... or just be plagued by the idea lol.

We are able to take 32kg check in luggage - I was concerned I was a little close to that.. so I put the bag on my head, stepped onto the scales, got the total weight and then minused my weight from the total to realise I only had packed 20kg! Yoink! So its great cause I can take those extra few luxuries and also be cool with knowing Ill be cool with buying things over there to bring back with me.

Tomorrow night Im staying at Gaby's as she will be driving me to Melbourne airport at 4.30am on friday morning. Kate is flying from Sydney and we will both be meeting up at Brisbane airport at around 8.30am, then onto our international flight which leaves for LA at 11am. Just looked at our itinerary to realise we have a ridiculous 4h 55 min wait at LA for our Las Vegas flight.. crap that sucks and I cant believe I have only just realised!! A total of 24hours of flying and transit time ... Ahh the joys of travelling.

Yesterday, you would be glad to hear that my application and deposit on my Cert IV in Massage Therapy practice has now been accepted and I start in the 28th July. I also found out that I am eligible for a study grant from the government which will cover 75% of my fees! So I am super super stoked about that added bonus!


Hey, and I just wanted to thank everyone for their well wishes by phone, text, email, dinners - been great that you have been sharing the excitement with me over the last year and a half. And I am gonna miss hanging out of 3.5 weeks and not speaking on the damn phone that I am sooo addicted too! Ill have skype while we are away - more likely to catch us on the cruise - jodietaranto is my skype name.. look me up!

Ciaoooooo xxx

A day in time we will never forget!

You know when someone always says to you, where were you on a day something huge happened that shook the world - like the death of Princess Diana - I was sitting on a couch hungover at my friends house in Narrabeen and the night of September 11 when I was sleeping at my ex's house and wondering why my cousin Lloyd was calling me so late at night with such unimaginable stories.. I sat there is a daze.. so, this .. well I wanted to document this shocking moment today - here - that will never be forgotten.

R.I.P MICHAEL JACKSON

Im watching MJ on TV tonight.. it is giving me goosebumps.. I think I was in shock all day, reading all the posts about him.. it has hit me tonight.. Im truely saddened.. what a truely amazing, complicated and misunderstood man.. but what an amazing life of music he offered the world to treasure forever. How one person could rock the world the way he has.. is just absolutely mind boggling. R.I.P Michael. Thank you for the music xx

'The undeniable and untouchable KING OF POP. You will be sorely missed but NEVER forgotten because your music will carry your legacy forever - You'll always be known as the GREATEST entertainer to EVER moonwalk the earth!'

Show me to Money!

So only a week till the trip and days from pay day and what happens my friends ... the Aussie dollar drops to like 0.76 when it has been trading at over 0.80 for weeks... so people, send your good vibes to the currency exchange man upstairs for this weekend - when Kate and I are due to exchange - this could mean life or death when it comes to the purchasing of that awesome dress we want to buy in LA or that awesome show we want to see in Vegas LOL .... see people... this is serious.

SHOW ME THE MONEY!!!

Actually talking of shows in Vegas, I spied today that you can go to the filming of 'Thhhee Priiicee isssssssss Rigggghhhhtttt!!!' $50 a ticket, could be an option?! and as you know, if your in the audience - you have a chance to be a contestant! Come on Dowwwwwnnn!!! The days & nights will be long, hot and full of fun, so why not enjoy it in all its corniness!! We are definately going to go see one of the 5 Cirque Du Soliel shows while we are there .. but steering clear of those manpower and the boobie shows etc LOL.




Again I encountered another painful night of staring at my suitcase which I basically just reorganised what I already had in there, and then got distracted by the TV, my Beanbag, doona and Darrell Lea Soft licorice. Yumm, My favourite!!




Ooo, received an email from Nicki yesterday who has reported direct from Alaska - I love having on the ground reporters LOL, that there is an uncommonly high number of whales and porpoises being spotted in Alaska!! Yessssssssss, that the kinda stuff I like. I am really looking forward to seeing my first whale in the wild.. gonna be amazing!

Ta ta

xx

OOoo Yeah, Single Digits.. Bring on next week!

So, finally party people, the single digit milestone of 9 days has made an appearance. And it feels sooo good to say we are heading out on a jet plane NEXT WEEK. Yeeeoooowww!!

Ive been taking it really easy lately as unbelievably, I have almost been sick for the entire month of June with 2 bouts of a viral chest infection and a cold sore. But staying positive about it, I mean at least it is happening before I leave right!? I think the sun and heat should help alot!

Vegas is now hitting into temps of early 40s, although when we head out to the Grand Canyon we can expect temps of 50 degrees.. eek.. that should be enough to scare off any winter lurgy!

So, I headed out on the weekend the see the movie 'The Hangover' as its set in Vegas, it was bloody hilarious, see it! Quote 'It's on the corner of 'get a map' and 'f*** off' he he he, classic - I wanna use that. Although our trip wont be anything like this, BELIEVE ME LOL, it was great to see the strip lit up at night, the bellagio fountains and get excited about the sights we are going to see - even our hotel - TI - Treasure Island looked awesoooomo!

Ooo, talking accommodations, Good news came in too about our accommodation in Los Angeles, we scored an upgrade from just a double bedded room to a 2 bedroom suite with Kitchen! All for the same price.. so we are definately stoked with that score. I hope we get some more of that good news along the way!

Some people know, I did some research a couple of weeks back on the mosquitoes in Alaska, as I heard a rumour that they are quite bad...... BAD is clearly an understatement! Not only do they swarm in huge groups, they look like they are on Steroids.. they are known as the state BIRD!! I am clearly concerned about this leg of the journey. Lets see if I can find a pics..


OMG! Can you believe that?! I cant believe that mole is smiling?! Id be 'chucking a freakin psycho!' .. oo ..ha ha and please note that is a man hand! Eeeek! Ooo yeah then I read.. 'There are "safe" times in Alaska if you just don't want to fight the mosquitos. That's before about the 20th of June and after the end of July. They really "bloom" then but that's the only bad time.' FABULOUS! We are there between the 8th July and the 22nd July. The only way to deter these buggers is with high levels of DEET (95%), none of our stuff will work there.. so yeah looking forward to covering ourselves in chemicals. Yuck. Well, watch this space I guess.... for us to find out for ourselves.

I just also wanted to do some introductions of our American friends that will be a big part of this trip, Nicki and Amanda. I met these two girls in Barcelona, Spain in 2005 and have been in contact ever since. First pic is of Nicki and Kai (candid shot!) - who are getting married while we are in Alaska on the 18th July in the beautiful Chugach Mountains. Nicki is one of the main reasons I choose Alaska, her many emails telling me how amazing it was.. clearly worked! And Miss Amanda, she lives in Las Vegas , I stayed with her on my last travels through the states and had an AMAZING time. We will be hanging out with her for 4th July celebrations in Las Vegas and then she will be joining us later on with the Motorhome adventure through Alaska and the wedding!


I thinks that it for todays instalment.. but stay tuned and have an amazing week ahead!

xx

PS - I got a US Sim card today and will be contactable by mobile while we are gone. +17812620368.

PPS - I just wanted to post this pic of our cruise ship in Alaska.. one of the most exciting things I am looking forward too!

13 days till we rock the USA!

YAAAAAAYYYY!!!

Firstly welcome to our blog!

So the initial countdown to this trip started at around 450 days, so you can totally understand why Im having a freakin aneurysm when I finally see 13 days left on the calendar! LOL. Till then Ill try and keep the excitement under wraps by singing at the top of my lungs in the car and air guitaring around the house pretending Im a rockstar.. pppffft .. ha ha!


I am really stoked that my sister Katie will be joining me on this amazing trip AND what is really awesome is that it is her first international adventure ever!! Let the travel bug begin I say ---------->> Thats us in the pic above for those who havent met her!!

Two single girls on the loose! Watch out! Looking forward to many many many funny times he he. (Im just saying that Dad, we will be good! Promise?!)

So we are going to try and do our very best a blogging our way through the trip, never been much of a blogger - but pretty good at talking awhole bunch. Anywho, the USA is great for having Wireless internet everywhere and Ill have my laptop with me also, so that should make it a little easier.

So this is the whirlwind itinerary :

• Depart Oz and arrive Las Vegas - 3rd July
• Depart Las Vegas and arrive Vancouver - 6th July
• Depart Vancouver on Carnival Spirit cruise for Alaska - 8th July until 15th July
• Cruising Alaska in Motorhome - 15th July until 22nd July.
• Depart Alaska and arrive in Los Angeles - 22nd July
• Depart Los Angeles for Oz - 23 July. ( Noooooooo!!! )

If you know me by now you can imagine my itinerary - its fully comprehensive, printed, binded and ready to rock! Ive started pre-packing things already and contemplating our wardrobes ... as we will need formalwear, camping gear, summer wear and everything in between... two weeks should be enough time to be realistic about what I really need to take.. as to what I want to take .. ie. My whole wardrobe! he he. But, Guaranteed .. I will need lots of room for all my new shopping.. Whoooott yeah!! Im looking forward to growing my converse collection.

OoooOooo and be sure to shoot me your mailing address so we can also scoot you a postcard to rub it in also! he he he, I know I am nasty ey! Oh and also we have just secured a US mobile phone number - so if you want it, please let me know and Ill send it to you.

13 days till SUMMER lovin...... Whoooo who! Man do we need an amazing tan :-) he he. Nice to see 32 Degrees in Las Vegas today.

Ok, well thats it for now, but Ill be checkin in soon with another update.. till then feel free to leave any comments below and on the left hand side of this blog, you also have the option to subscribe to our updates, yeah - do it! :-) Later doodles.

Ciao Ciao xx