Jeff makes sad, long journey home from trip down under
Home sweet home, but it came too soon! While my trip down under was the trip of my lifetime, I could very easily see myself going back, maybe even moving for a short-term gig? Time will tell :)

It's now 11:00am on 3/08 in Sydney, Australia (4:00PM on 3/07 in San Diego). Time to board the looooooooong flight to Los Angeles. Will be glad when it's over!


It's 5:15am on 3/08 in Cairns, Australia (11:15am on 3/07 in San Diego). I can't believe my trip down under is coming to an end. I've never been sadder to return home from vacation. The only silver lining is I've learned about the amazing world in New Zealand and Australia and reckon I'll be returning in the future.
Cheers to all my new Kiwi and Aussie mates! I'm really going to miss you guys!
Time to catch the first leg of journey home - Cairns to Sydney.

Jeff abseils, jumps, climbs, rafts and dives down under
Ever since I started SCUBA diving in 2004, I've had the dream of traveling down under and diving The Great Barrier Reef. In September 2008, I decided 2009 would be the year I fulfill this dream.

I came to the conclusion very quickly that I can't go all the way down to Australia without also doing some sightseeing in New Zealand. The more I researched about New Zealand and Australia, the longer I realized I could keep myself busy down there. Since I've yet to land a job that will compensate me to travel the world on my watch, I came up with a reasonable vacation timeline - 3 1/2 weeks - that would enable me to embark on some of the greatest adventures these two countries offer.

As I come across WIFI hot spots on my trip down under, I'll be posting a blog of my travel experiences, and hopefully a few photos, too.

Here's a snapshot of my itinerary:

Day 1 (2/12/09): Flew from San Diego to Auckland, New Zealand (via LAX and Fiji) to LAX. Spent the night in Los Angeles after having to return to LAX for an emergency landing!

Day 2 (2/13/09): Stranded in Los Angeles. Air Pacific was unable to get me re-confirmed on a flight to Fiji with a connection to Auckland for at least another day. I took the airline up on a refund offer and applied it toward a non-stop Air New Zealand flight, in business class! This flight wasn't without its own hiccup - we had a security threat just before departure.

Day 3 (2/15/09): Arrived in Auckland and immediately tested my driving skills (on the right side of the car on the left side of the road) with a 200 km drive to Waitomo, home of New Zealands famous Glow Worm Caves. Embarked on the "Lost World" adventure in the Waitomo Caves. The adventure included a 100-meter abseil (aka rapelling for Americans) down a rainforest and into a cave where we then had to climb our way back out.

Day 4 (2/16/09): Black Water Rafting in the Waitomo Glow Worm Caves. After the day-long rafting trip, I'll drive back to Auckland where I'll board the Volendam, a Holland America Cruise ship, and meet up with my parents.

Day 5 (2/17/09): First full day at sea for some R&R. White Island sightseeing cruise.

Day 6 (2/18/09): Tauranga (Rotorua), New Zealand
White water rafting in Rotorua - locals say it's the best New Zealand has to offer! I also went Zorbing, Swinging and Bungy Jumping! It was one adventurous day...

Day 7 (2/19/09): Napier, New Zealand
Strawberry Fields, Farm Visit and Tuki tuki Valley

Day 8 (2/20/09): Wellington, New Zealand
Heritage Walk, First Rugby Match

Day 9 (2/21/09): Picton, New Zealand
Kayaking the Queen Charlotte Sound

Day 10 (2/22/09): Christchurch, New Zealand
Hamner Hot Springs, Jet Boating, Wine Tasting

Day 11 (2/23/09): Dunedin, New Zealand
City Tour, Speight's Brewery Tour

Day 12 (2/24/09): Sea tour of Fjordland National Park (west coast of New Zealand)

Days 13 & 14 (2/25-26/09): Full days at sea (time for more R&R)

Day 15 (2/27/09): Burnie, Tasmania, Australia
Cradle Mountain National Park & Dove Lake

Day 16 (2/28/09): Melbourne, Australia
Old Prison/Gaol, In the Wild! with Kangaroos & Koalas

Day 17 (3/01/09): Full day at sea/pack for SCUBA liveaboard

Day 18 (3/02/09): Arrive in Sydney, Australia and disembark the cruise ship.
Sydney sightseeing to include the Bridge Climb, Minus 5 Ice Bar and the Opera House.
I'll depart Sydney in the evening for Cairns, Australia.

Day 19 (3/03/09): Fly by helicopter to SCUBA liveaboard on the Great Barrier Reef. First dives in the Reef!

Days 20/21 (3/04-05/09): Continue diving. Check out some of my Great Barrier Reef diving photos.

Day 22 (3/06/09): Final dives on the Reef. Fly by helicopter back to Cairns. Evacuated from Reef by boat due to cyclone warning.

Day 23 (3/07/09): White water rafting in the Cairns Rainforest. Check out some of my Tully River rafting photos.

Day 24 (3/08/09): Sadly, I flew from Cairns to San Diego (via Sydney and LAX).

Day 24 (3/08/09): Yes, "Day 24" repeats itself since you gain a full day travelling back across the international date line. I'll need the extra day to re-learn what time and day it is before returning to work the next day.

Day 25: (3/09/09): Back to reality as I return to work. Time to plan another vacation!