The Plans

Given earthquakes and oil spills to the South, volcanoes and Norwegian Police to the West, and, uhm, nothing to the North, I've decided to venture East in pursuit of adventures this year. That and I promised some good friends I'd come visit them during their stint in Aussie land and the time had come to fulfill such vows.

I get cranky on a 3 hour car trip though, so the thought of a 20 hour flight overwhelmed me and I thought I could maybe break it up a bit with a stop-over in Japan en route, and another in New Zealand on the way back. That last one doesn't actually make the return trip any shorter, but it at least crosses another country off my to-do list.

Full travel plans are below:


View Greg Ashby's Pacific Rim Trip in a larger map

I just finished packing and have a 40 hour day ahead of me so I best keep this short. Instead of going into detail I'll keep you in suspense, but I will list off my "goals" for this trip because, hey, if you don't write it down, you won't accomplish it right?

Japan
To be honest, I've never been to any Asian country before, so this part of the trip is mostly just about soaking in a different culture:
- eat lots of Japanese food
- see lots of Japanese sights
- learn a bit about Japanese history (I know almost none going in)
- survive a day in Tokyo on my own
- pay my respects in Hiroshima
- hang out with some monks in a mountain monastery (yep, it's on the agenda)
- find out, once and for all, whether or not the Emperor has any clothes

Australia
- scuba dive at the great barrier reef
- soak up some sun on the beach (if that's possible this time of year?)
- see the Outback
- eat a kangaroo
- see a koala, dingo, and duck-billed platypus
- fight a cassowary
- watch a toilet flush backwards
- play a game of knifey-spoonsies
- and of course, try to keep up with the Jones

New Zealand
- drive on the wrong side of the road, preferably with no accidents
- see a kiwi (the bird)
- eat some fresh kiwi (the fruit)
- visit The Shire
- go black-water rafting
- do something crazy... cause that is what New Zealanders are known for, correct?

That should keep me busy for about 4 weeks I figure. See you in June!