From Russia with Love...

Last New Years we decided to spend it in Russia. Eight of us caught the Trans-Mongolian from Beijing and spent the next six days on the train until we arrived in Moscow. The train ride was SO much fun, many questioned our sanity when we said we were doing it straight through.... but by the time you got up.... got all of your layers on to go outside for each stop (it was freezing!!! The lowest was -28 C). and went to the food, which changed from China (boring but free food as we were in first class and cheap 'Great Wall' wine!)to Mongola (so beautiful... carved wood and decorated with silver tinsel for xmas) to Russia (Olga and Tatiana - the cooks, became our great friends.... we celebrated NYE with them in Siberia - Trying to teach games when we don't speak the same languaged caused for lots of laughs!!) time flew by!

We also had the added bonus of getting to celebrate Christmas twice...YES twice!! Once with our families in Australia (and Hot) then in St Petersburg we got to have an Orthodox Christmas (in the SNOW)!

On the way home I stopped in Greece, Morocco and then caught up with the others for a day stopover in Bali.

A day in Bali.... We got in at 8am and left around 10pm at night, so we hired a car with a driver and pretty much saw what most do in a week! We went shopping in Kuta, had dinner in Jim Byron Bay, when and saw the rice terraces, the temples and the monkey park. I also had a fish pedicure..... weirdest experience of my life! haha
This was truly one of those once in a lifetime trips ;)

Dubai and Eastern Europe

This past winter we went to Europe and had a stopover in Dubai. Word of Caution: If flying Emirates and you have a stopover don't expect to have a seat on the next flight!!! What you say?? Yeah I know, I thought if you had booked and paid for a flight the seat was yours. Turns out they over book all their flights, so we got to the airport 2hrs before only to be told that the plane was full!!! After lots of talking and searching the guy managed to get us on a flight to Prague (we were going to Rome), but we only had 15 mins to make it to the gate...oh this is where the fun begins! Again I was reminded that whilst uggs are the most comfortable thing to wear on long plane flights, they are not quite your best of option for running through airports in! Haha, We did make our flight though phew!

Whilst in here we did the Dune safari tour including dinner in the desert. We got henna tatoos. Us being dorks taking a photo of us in the lift at the 7 star resort (the only way you could see the hotel was to make a booking, the cheapest thing was afteroon tea - so $120 afternoon tea we had!). Us staying at the Atlantis hotel, ordering breakfast.... you know you are somewhere fancy when the cheapest meal is room service haha

Dubai was fantastic! I call it the "Rich Man's Thailand", as it has the fancy hotels, shopping and attractions... but at a MUCH higher price than Thailand/ Bali/ Vietnam etc.

After this I then went off to travel Scandanavia whilst my friends went to Croatia. Denmark and Sweden were both really nice. Here I am taking a cruise to visit Hamlet's House and whilst others go to Prague for the castles.... I go for the mirror maze!! ;) (and the castles!!)

On the way home I had a stopover in Melbourne and went Air walking with the sharks... this was Amazing!! I thought I would have been more nervous, but when you in the water there is too much to look at to be freaked out!

Back to America!

As I have mentioned before I love America, and generally considered it my second home! Last year I got to go back and travel with some of my roommates from college over there... we had a LOT of fun! Including getting one of the few tickets for The Hills Wrap Party at the Roosevelt Hotel :-)Here I am playing on 'The Big Piano' (probably obvious considering the photo..haha). You don't understand how much i HAD to do this, ever since I was about ten and watched the movie I dreamed of being able to run up and down this piano, and then i found out you could -in NYC! We were there on the 4th of July, so we got to see the sky painted Red, White and Blue... so pretty! We also went to the Nathan Hot dog eating, What's more American than a hot dog eating competition?? ;) Your newest Broadway Star!! Haha

Sightseeing in LA the 'cool' (It was over 100 degrees that day we needed the wind) way!

Take me to the ball game!
We also went to Vegas and Disneyland... Space mountain is ALWAYS worth the wait!!!!

This was in 2010, and you guessed it I have just booked my ticket to go back again this June. This time I will be going to Myrtle Beach (you can do a safari with baby lions and monkeys... how cute!), then a few days in LA, and up to San Fran so I can see Yosemite, Napa Valley and I want to go Hang Gliding over the bay..... needless to say I CAN'T WAIT!!!