tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57233284618543441672024-03-13T03:51:08.054-07:00Where is Stephen?Join me as I document the interesting people, places and things that I encounter as I travel the world.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11210673899170790108noreply@blogger.comBlogger63125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723328461854344167.post-81190600803528136772016-05-17T21:55:00.000-07:002017-08-23T20:02:40.997-07:00Day 61 - A Goanna By Any Other NameWhen I arrived in Australia and saw all the beautiful beaches I knew there was one thing I had to do before I left but up to this point the right opportunity had not presented itself.....until today.<br>
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</div><a href="http://whereissp.blogspot.com/2016/05/day-61-leaving-daintree.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11210673899170790108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723328461854344167.post-17220194857388252392016-05-05T08:08:00.000-07:002017-08-23T20:08:14.243-07:00Day 60 - A Day in the DaintreeAfter a good night's sleep I woke to the sounds of countless birds all around. One thing I have loved about Australia are all the "exotic" (different from the US) birds and their unique sounds and this (as you can imagine) was intensified in the rainforest. I just laid in my bed and listened to the birds for 10-15 minutes.....it was a great way to start the day!<br>
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<a href="http://whereissp.blogspot.com/2016/05/day-60-day-in-daintree.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11210673899170790108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723328461854344167.post-66295383863963023492016-05-03T10:15:00.002-07:002017-08-23T20:08:14.256-07:00Day 59 - Welcome to the JungleOk, I know I've said this several times in other posts but my day today did begin very early....and not just my definition of early. :-)<br>
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<a href="http://whereissp.blogspot.com/2016/05/day-59-welcome-to-jungle.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11210673899170790108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723328461854344167.post-28815067845743243762016-05-01T20:39:00.005-07:002017-08-23T20:08:14.247-07:00Day 58 - Found HimI started my last day at sea with a good breakfast and a cup of coffee on the upper deck looking out over the ocean. I "missed" the 6:30 dive again (darn :-), but was planning to do the other 2 dives before lunch and then heading back to Cairns mid-afternoon.<br>
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</div><a href="http://whereissp.blogspot.com/2016/05/day-58-found-him.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11210673899170790108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723328461854344167.post-44819672316161775862016-04-27T13:51:00.002-07:002017-08-23T20:08:14.251-07:00Day 57 - Where's NemoMy day started early (well, early for me), but not as early as it could have. Breakfast was served at 7:30 so I woke up at 7:27. :-) There was an early morning dive at 6:30 (wake time 5:45) but anyone who knows me well would know...."Homie don't play dat" (ok, who remembers that show?).....<br>
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<a href="http://whereissp.blogspot.com/2016/04/day-57-wheres-nemo.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11210673899170790108noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723328461854344167.post-88844918473452171612016-04-25T21:46:00.002-07:002017-08-23T20:08:14.264-07:00Day 56 - Out to SeaAfter a restless night of sleep I woke early this morning. I packed up, ate breakfast and was out front waiting for the dive bus by 7:30. The bus arrived at 7:45, I climbed aboard and we took off for the dive center.<br>
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</div><a href="http://whereissp.blogspot.com/2016/04/day-56-out-to-sea.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11210673899170790108noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723328461854344167.post-87960018585836057382016-04-23T09:18:00.004-07:002017-08-23T20:08:14.260-07:00Day 55 - CairnsToday was another transition day. After a week of rest and recovery from my marathon trip around New Zealand I traveled to Cairns Australia to dive the Great Barrier Reef and explore the Daintree Rainforest.<br>
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</div><a href="http://whereissp.blogspot.com/2016/04/day-55-cairns.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11210673899170790108noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723328461854344167.post-30359744815673293702016-04-20T15:19:00.003-07:002017-08-23T20:08:41.105-07:00Day 54 - He has RisenToday was Easter Sunday. I woke early, ate breakfast, got ready and headed out....<br>
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<a href="http://whereissp.blogspot.com/2016/04/day-54-he-has-risen.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11210673899170790108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723328461854344167.post-37051297751192739242016-04-12T06:16:00.002-07:002017-08-23T20:08:41.118-07:00Day 53 - ....And More DecisionsIt was another good day in Oz.....much the same as the last two....<br>
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</div><a href="http://whereissp.blogspot.com/2016/04/day-53-and-more-decisions.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11210673899170790108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723328461854344167.post-35974767963819435732016-04-12T05:23:00.002-07:002017-08-23T20:08:41.110-07:00Day 52 - Decisions....Decisions....Today was much the same as yesterday. Alaska and I sat on the deck writing blogs, getting information for next week and bird watching....<br>
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</div><a href="http://whereissp.blogspot.com/2016/04/day-52-decisionsdecisions.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11210673899170790108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723328461854344167.post-86887655076418685102016-04-12T04:32:00.000-07:002017-08-23T20:08:41.140-07:00Day 51 - Mr. MomI woke today with no place I had to go and no place I had to be.....and it was pretty cool. So I took some time to catch up on emails, FB and read some US news...<br>
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</div><a href="http://whereissp.blogspot.com/2016/04/day-51-mr-mom.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11210673899170790108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723328461854344167.post-36954483720244036612016-04-08T22:12:00.002-07:002017-08-23T20:08:41.114-07:00Day 50 - Sharks, Koalas and Gandhi....Gandhi?The first week I arrived in Australia I visited Sydney (Day 8) and purchased a multi-pass that included 5 attractions around the Sydney area. There was so much to see that first day that I only made it to one of the attractions (Sydney Tower) so I planned to return later in my trip. Well, today was that day.....<br>
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<a href="http://whereissp.blogspot.com/2016/04/day-50-sharks-koalas-and-gandhigandhi.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11210673899170790108noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723328461854344167.post-76554936653706949282016-04-07T22:00:00.001-07:002017-08-23T20:08:41.137-07:00Day 49 - Come and Get ItFor most of the day today I picked up right where I left off yesterday.....just chillin'. :-) Alaska and I sat up a little "office" on the deck and (I) began working to try and catch up on my blog posts....<br>
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<a href="http://whereissp.blogspot.com/2016/04/day-49-come-and-get-it.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11210673899170790108noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723328461854344167.post-4837162567622676102016-04-07T21:25:00.001-07:002017-08-23T20:08:41.124-07:00Day 48 - Just Chillin'Today was a get "somewhat" back to "normal" day (my "normal" for Australia). I took care of a few things back in the states during the early morning (before everything closed in the US and everyone went to sleep), ate lunch, did some reading/research for my trip to Cairns next week and took a run.<br>
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<a href="http://whereissp.blogspot.com/2016/04/day-48-just-chillin.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11210673899170790108noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723328461854344167.post-65339451512256011402016-04-07T05:34:00.005-07:002017-08-23T20:08:41.132-07:00Day 47 - A Day of RestIt's Sunday and the only thing I had planned for today was to attend church in the morning and rest and relax around the house in the afternoon. And that's just what I did....<br>
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</div><a href="http://whereissp.blogspot.com/2016/04/day-47-day-of-rest.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11210673899170790108noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723328461854344167.post-52909341794732880822016-04-07T03:42:00.000-07:002017-08-23T20:08:41.128-07:00Day 46 - Where'd Everyone GoWhile I was in New Zealand Rick told me that he and the family would be going out of town the weekend I returned. They were traveling about 6 hours south to attend a birthday celebration for a lifelong friend so I tried not to take it personally that they left the day after I returned :-).....<br>
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</div><a href="http://whereissp.blogspot.com/2016/04/day-46-whered-everyone-go.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11210673899170790108noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723328461854344167.post-638124030841506512016-04-07T01:30:00.004-07:002017-08-23T20:09:28.036-07:00Day 45 - Planes, Trains & AutomobilesToday was a designated travel day. Although it was a very busy day for me, it was a very "blah" day on the "adventure scale". :-)<div>
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</div></div><a href="http://whereissp.blogspot.com/2016/04/day-45-planes-trains-automobiles.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11210673899170790108noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723328461854344167.post-66914361455062919122016-04-06T20:11:00.000-07:002017-08-23T20:09:28.040-07:00Day 44 - Ode to St. PaddyI woke this morning in Taupo wishing I had more time to spend here. Taupo (<a href="https://www.google.com.au/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&rlz=1C1WPZB_enUS669US669&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=taupo" target="_blank">Google</a>, <a href="http://www.newzealand.com/au/taupo/" target="_blank">Web</a>) is a gateway town to many outdoor activities and the volcanic national parks to the south. It sits on the banks of Lake Taupo, a volcanic caldera (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caldera" target="_blank">Wiki</a>). Dave told me the previous evening that the lake is filled with many thermals on the bottom and there is quite a bit of seismic activity in the area.<br>
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</div></div><a href="http://whereissp.blogspot.com/2016/04/day-44-ode-to-st-paddy.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11210673899170790108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723328461854344167.post-8734342929608875652016-04-06T07:16:00.002-07:002017-08-23T20:09:28.060-07:00Day 43 - Mount DoomI woke this morning in Owhango New Zealand.....about 10 miles from nowhere NZ. :-) The area is remote with only several national parks and forests surrounding it. Although I was in the middle of nowhere, I was precisely where I meant to be for today's journey.....<br>
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<a href="http://whereissp.blogspot.com/2016/04/day-43-mount-doom.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11210673899170790108noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723328461854344167.post-75742054716409380022016-03-27T07:03:00.002-07:002017-08-23T20:06:07.994-07:00Day 42 - A Good Day in The ShireAfter a good sleep I woke to an empty house (not uncommon at Airbnb). I had made reservations for 11:45 before going to sleep and only had a 45 minute drive, so I leisurely made breakfast, sat on their amazing deck with a great view of Hamilton and ate and took a shower, said goodbye to Rocco (their sweet little dog) and hit the road. I sooo wish I would have had more time to spend with Sue and Garry. They were such great people and I thoroughly enjoyed being around them. I truly hope I have the opportunity to meet with them again someday.<br>
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</div><a href="http://whereissp.blogspot.com/2016/03/day-42-in-hole-in-ground-there-lived.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11210673899170790108noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723328461854344167.post-10381043410227184322016-03-27T00:29:00.000-07:002017-08-23T20:09:27.988-07:00Day 41 - The Land of Rohan I woke this morning with a mission and a very strict timeline. My mission, drive to and hike Mt. Sunday...the mountain used in LOTR as Edoras, the capital of Rohan. The strict timeline....be on a plane at Christchurch airport this afternoon at 4:55 to travel to Auckland. So the clock was ticking and I was focused.....<br>
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</div><a href="http://whereissp.blogspot.com/2016/03/day-41-land-of-rohan.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11210673899170790108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723328461854344167.post-13318036369820229992016-03-26T00:38:00.003-07:002017-08-23T20:09:27.998-07:00Day 40 - The Southern CrossI woke early this morning and looked out my window just before the sun came up over the ocean in Timaru. I was planning for another long day/night as I planned to drive 2:30 hours to the Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, do some hiking and then return to the Tekapo area to do some star gazing (more on that later). So I was probably looking at another midnight (or later) return...<br>
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<a href="http://whereissp.blogspot.com/2016/03/day-40-southern-cross.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11210673899170790108noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723328461854344167.post-43035819953928168122016-03-26T00:02:00.000-07:002017-08-23T20:09:28.024-07:00Day 39 - Big Birds and Big MenI woke this morning ready for a good day. After the past 2.5 days of dealing with the wheel issue I was excited to have a day free from car worries. I had another good chat with my host Morgan while making breakfast and said goodbye to Josh (the black lab) and the foster puppy who they are thinking of calling Pixel (I like that).....<br>
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</div><a href="http://whereissp.blogspot.com/2016/03/day-39-big-birds-and-big-men.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11210673899170790108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723328461854344167.post-47057142261856225332016-03-25T19:25:00.001-07:002017-08-23T20:09:28.028-07:00Day 38 - On a Wing and a PrayerToday I had one primary objective....make it to Invercargill (safely) and get the rim replaced. Phil at Parts World had told me that the rim should arrive by 10 AM so I woke at 8, made/ate breakfast and had a nice chat with my host Morgan who I did not meet the night before. Morgan was a very interesting young woman. She is a French teacher and very interested in the French culture and France in general.....<div>
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</div><a href="http://whereissp.blogspot.com/2016/03/day-38-on-wing-and-prayer.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11210673899170790108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723328461854344167.post-7855025432622512902016-03-25T06:27:00.001-07:002017-08-23T20:09:28.051-07:00Day 37 - The Best Laid PlansMy day began exactly where it left off with my the quest for a wheel. I got up, made/ate breakfast, checked out and drove back to the garage. David, the guy I had been working with the day before was out on a call and they said he should be back in 10-15 minutes. While I waited I received a call from the guy at Nissan. He told me they could not get the wheel from Auckland before Monday....strike 2....<br>
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<a href="http://whereissp.blogspot.com/2016/03/day-37-best-laid-plans.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11210673899170790108noreply@blogger.com0