Jamie Hilao

It’s been a week since I returned from my most recent trip abroad… and I’m feeling pretty overwhelmed at my rapidly growing TTD List.

I finally had a few hours to myself this evening to reflect on what I learned from this vacation, which, outside of the adventure itself, I find to be the most important piece.

Through travel I first became aware of the outside
world; it was through travel that I found my own
introspective way into becoming a part of it.

- Eudora Welty

Personal Discoveries

• I am not yet ready to have kids. This has to do with an event that happened the night before my trip (involving Tigger, a can of paint, and me scrubbing the spilled paint off my hardwood floors for 2.5 hours. Goo Gone rocks.). If you’re really interested in the story, ask me.
• I used to only want one child; that is no longer the case. Though I’m not yet ready to be a mom, I definitely want at least two. Again, ask me if you care to know why.
• I went hang gliding in Rio a few years back to face my fear of heights. After being able to climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge and rappel down a cave in Waitomo, New Zealand, I’m beginning to think perhaps my fear isn’t as bad as I thought.
• I can do anything I put my mind to. I did the Climb on a busted knee (an injury from that damn advanced hike I did in late ‘05) and a weak stomach.
• I can now tell the difference between Australian and British accents.
• I get very seasick in choppy water. But, closing my eyes and meditating helps.
• I always like to plan ahead. But when things happen beyond my control, I need to deal with it better. This includes letting it go altogether, and not even sulking quietly to myself. Again, the power of meditation works wonders…
• Living out loud also means learning out loud.
• Speak less. Listen more. Don’t interrupt when people are talking.
• I want to marry someone who will travel the world with me.
• I am well on my way to fully healing from the pain of my last breakup. Time definitely helps…

Australia / New Zealand Fun Facts

• Nothing beats the coffee, bread, and butter in Australia & New Zealand. Yum!
• Australian cops are SERIOUS about DUI’s. They do random checks during rush hour on a weekday. Also, bartenders are required by law to measure the amount of alcohol put into a mixed drink. There is a 2-shot maximum per drink.
• Myth: Toilets flush in the opposite direction below the equator. Fact: In Australia & New Zealand, the water flushes straight down.
• There are a ton of Asians in the bigger cities of Australia & New Zealand. I didn’t know exactly how many until I actually saw them all. Wow.
• Aborigines are to Australia what Maoris are to New Zealand.
• The most beautiful shell on Normanby Island, where I explored the Great Barrier Reef, is also the most deadly. Others shaped exactly like it but with a different, less attractive pattern are harmless.
• Australians are required by law to vote. Ironically, the Liberal Party is actually the more conservative party.
• Cairns is pronounced “Canz”. Melbourne is pronounced “Mel-bihn”.
• Burger King is named Hungry Jack’s in Australia.
• Sites like abc.com, movielink.com, & nbc.com check IP addresses and prevent users outside of the U.S. from downloading TV episodes and movies.
• The Australian version of “The Biggest Loser” is quite popular.
• Koalas only eat eucalyptus leaves.
• Many Australians haven’t even been to New Zealand and vice versa. Apparently, there is some hostility between Kiwis and Aussies. T-shirts in the tourist shops with messages like “I vote for 2 teams: New Zealand, and anyone that plays against Australia” sorta gave it away.
• You are not allowed to take pictures inside the Sydney Opera House. Ooops.
• Hokey Pokey ice cream is yummy and a kiwi favorite.
• Woolworth’s and Gloria Jean’s Coffee, although dead in the States, are all over Australia & New Zealand.
• Glowworms are actually maggots. Don’t let the pretty lights fool you. Also, the glowing is their way of shitting. Seriously.
• Black water rafting is not a different version of white water rafting. It’s tubing in the dark in a cave. Still a ton of fun.

For those of you interested in where Monica & I went, here is a condensed version of our itinerary:

Sydney, Australia

• Beaches: Bondi, Bronte, Manly, Shelley, Tamarama
• Opera House / Opera Bar
• Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb
• Circular Quay / The Rocks
• Darling Harbour / Kings St Wharf
• Paddington Markets
• Balmain / Luna Park

Cairns, Australia

• Pier shopping - night markets
• Great Barrier Reef Tour - Frankland Day Cruise (snorkeling, diving, coral viewing package)
• Skyrail
• Kuranda - rainforest, koala / butterfly / wallabee exhibits

New Zealand Road Trip (North Island)

• Auckland - Sky City Tower, Davenport / North Head, Window Shopping at Chinatown boutiques
• Matamata - Lord of the Rings Hobbiton Tour
• Taupo - Huka Falls / Arriatata Dam, Beautful Harbour
• Waitomo - glow worms viewing / “Rap, Rock & Raft” tour

For those of you extremely interested in the details of our trip, here is the “public” version of my travel journal.

I’ve got a pretty crazy year ahead of me, with weddings, volunteer activities, & other special events, but I’m already thinking ahead to next year’s big vacation.

Anyone up for a getaway to China or South Africa?!

*On Bondi Beach

*The cutest, chubbiest, laziest koala!

*Beautiful view from the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge

*Huka Falls / Arriatata Dam hike in Taupo

*On site at one of the “Lord of the Rings” set locations

*Getting muddy in a Waitomo cave

This entry was posted on Sunday, April 1st, 2007 at 11:43 pm and is filed under Jamie, travel. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.