Seeing MJ in action!

Seeing Michael Jordan play basketball still remains as one of my ALL time favourite memories. And to think it was just a coincidence that it happened. 'Z' and i planned our trip to Washington DC to see the capital, but when we were there we found out there was a home game playing. We didn't even have a computer where we stayed so we went to the library to print out the tickets. Sure we were up high in bleeches (almost nose bleed level haha), and no i didn't get to high five him. But i did get to see him slam dunk and play a great game!! Watching the world's best at somthing is truly inspiring..

Hey Z, was this also the night when we caught the train home.. and we had to get off at another stop because i was busting to go to the restroom? Remember how we found that janitor and he took us through the shady tunnels... we thought we were going to die! But i said i didn't care as long as i had an empty bladder haha, What a bizzare spot to have a toilet!!!!

Kenya

I'm not sure how i got the idea to go to Kenya in the first place... I was there just under a month... now i am the first to admit i did NOT cope well! I am by no means a luxury or needy person, but this was out of my comfort level. I stayed in a slum about an hour out of Nairobi and i lived with a family there. This family was so unbelievably KIND and beautiful, they went out of their way to look after me. Things like using some heating tool to heat up a bucket of boiling water for me, so i wouldn't have to have a cold shower (every 3rd day we could shower), showing me how to use the toilet (hole in the ground), and ensured i was picked up by a local kid to be walked to the orphanage each day (as i was the only white person in the community of 4 million they wanted me to feel safe).

The things that made this trip really hard for me was the food and health concerns. In the orphanage the only toilet for everyone to use had no plumbing attached... there was maggots and flies swarming the room, there was sewage in the streets. And for meals it was a lot of ugali (a cornstarch mix with spinach and bananas mushed in) and other things i was unsure even how to describe. I ended up rashening myself one square of choc for breakfast, lunch and dinner, from the chocolate bar i had bought at the airport. The family knew i wasn't eating well so said they would have a special treat of chicken... i sooo excited! The kids in the family then came in with bloody hands proud that they had killed the chickens ( i was so hungry i was o.k to over look this), then when dinner came.. my chicken breast meat was nowhere to be seen.... oh no apparently they sell the good meat down the street to the butcher with no refrigeration... our 'special treat' was chicken wing tips and necks - yes, what we would feed our dogs.

On the other hand the safari's i went on in Africa were very westernised and spectacular. We got to see the big 5, stay in the massive pre-set up tents with wooden floors and met some masi warriors. This trip was a lot of fun... just be warned cars in Kenya break down ALL the time... we had to get out and push start our van on several occassions - once near the lions arrrh!

Thailand

As i am holidays and am bored i thought i would put up photos from past holidays. These ones are from my best friend's wedding. She decided to have it in Koh Samui. I never wanted to go to Thailand for years, because i watched 'Broken Down Palace' in my teens and i was freaked out that it could happen to me!! I am so glad i went though as it is an incredible place. Her wedding was picture perfect and so beautiful...

I had wanted to go elephent trekking for sooo long, so this was a truely cool experience!

No rain or heat was going to 'rain on our parade' haha. As it poured during the night we were driven in golf carts to the area, and then we decided to jump in the pool after the photos to cool down from the heat :)

M-Bro - Nicknames

I find nicknames really funny as my parents chose names for my brother and i that really couldn't be shortened and never were as kids... maybe they just thought saying my full name had more of a powerful effect when I was in trouble, haha.

However throughtout school i barely ever got called by my name. It was always 'Brods', 'Brodie', 'MB' - (joy of having more than 1 michelle in your year level), 'Brodstar' or by my closer friends 'Shelz', 'Mish' or 'M'.

On the NZ trip i got given the nickname 'M-bro', which i would have to say is the funniest as it makes me sound like a rapper...something i could never be!!! haha. With this name though, we felt it needed a signature move/symbol. So here it is.... :)

S & M.... At it again :)

Were we ever serious??? (I guess when it counted we were.. otherwise no!!). Remember our 'Dharma & Greg' supermarket trips, with the nervous twitch, accents and limping leg. Favourite all time quote by you "Look he is playing our game"!! It still has me in stitches, and the fact that the person we were with didn't find it funny at all... made us laugh even more! Austmany WILL be the best country in the world one day and we will be royalty :). Princesses forever hehe xoxo

NYE in New Zealand!

Well this year South Island, New Zealand became our destination of choice. All i can say is AMAAZZZING!! I had an absolutely fantastic time and still can't get over the beautiful scenery!! I think as NZ is so close for us, too often we over look it and what it offers. Here are some photos from the trip ;)

Milford Sound Trip

Walking on water - Lake Wanaka

Slippery when wet! ......PURE water........ In for a soft landing :)

The Franz Josef glacier was incredible. The half day trek had you walking through ice caves and near the top of the mountain, the helicopiter ride provided awe inspiring scenery!

NYE - Queenstown style


Where did you have dinner on NYE?... Oh in Hell! (Hell's Pizza Place that is ;)

Secret Glee Club!! Shhhhhhhh. I can neither confirm or deny that we did a mash up of the Glee soundtrack out the front of the bar. And the fact we just HAPPENED to know the words to 'Don't stop believin' when it came on... well i will leave that for you to decide! DJ - I'm onto you (if you want to join our club there is room) ;)


Teapot cocktails - cheers! .......with 'The Vet'..... My new sunnies??

Coyotee Ugly style. The Bouncer we did like until he didn't let us have our Ferg Burgers inside!


New Years Day.... Let the Luge Begin! Joint Luge champion ;)... RIP Brown Handbag/ sacrifices needed to be made!

Some bungy jumping time! Feeling a little sheepish :)

Welcome to the start of 2010 -the ski shot .... let the fun times begin! We heart Obama

Last, but apparently no means least.... the damn loopy lupins!!! haha

Thanks to 'the gang' (you know who you are!) for SOOO much fun, I had such a great time!!! So where to next year?hmm

Now i just have to wait 6 months for the US.... seems far to far away :(. I can't wait to meet you in NYC and fly across the country with you Kim!! And in honour of team Aus-Merica reuniting I thought i would leave you with a photo of our dorm room from the good old days! I promise you i have become neater.... well at least a bit haha