Viewing entries in
travel

1 Comment

Tasmania in 3 Days

In training

I'm 3 days away from leaving for Tasmania in what I believe will be a great life and learning experience. I'm most challenged, not only by the destination, but by the nature of the trip.  This is not an unusual or difficult trip, but quite out of the me ordinary for most of us and the uncertainties and possibilities are thrilling. I think that is part of the major education for any of us. Take a step, a conversation, a social or experiential risk that puts us in a place of the unknown. Forcing us to learn new things and to rely on the support and engagement with others. As a card-carrying introvert (those who have spoken to me, might find that description surprising), I often challenge myself to have that "conversation" and it could be as simple as "hello".  In doing so, opportunities are found and new understanding about myself and others. That is where the growth starts, and moving to the next level is where I'm always orienting my compass.

So here is this damn backpack. I think I have spent more time than I want to admit to anyone in planning it's contents.

1 Comment

1 Comment

Settling in for a Loooong Ride West

A little hung over from last night's party helped me sleep for most of the flight to LAX. Being a Sunday night, crowds weren't that bad and the flight went without a hitch. Other than the fact that I had a fairly large and sadly uncomfortable guy next to me. He did his best to keep to his "space" but it just wasn't possible. Thanks to my great travel agent though, Sandi Karlson, I was in a window seat and squeezed myself into the wall a bit to make room. And then there was that wonderful sleep. Arriving at LAX I was informed that all international flights were in a different building. It reminded me a lot of the Bangkok airport crossed up with a Vegas hotel.

1 Comment

Comment

Arrival in Hobart, AU

Arrival at William Clennett’s place in Sandy Bay, Hobart. What a friggin view! Top floor of a block of “flats” with a 360 degree view of the area. From here I took some early morning pictures of the subdivision of Hobart called Sandy Bay, where I’m staying. It is about 1 1/2 miles from downtown Hobart. An easy walk. Thank you William & Susie for arranging this for me. Click on the images to see an enlarged view.

Comment

Comment

Journey Part 1 : A good beginning

Hobart

Nothing felt better than the blast of humid air that buffeted me as I exited the Quantas jet, descending the on-tarmac ramp to Hobart airport. Coming from single digit, frigid northeastern United States, this change was more than welcome. Welcome also, was the single-counter, double baggage carousel airport of Hobart. Since I was well within the comforting envelope of civilization and Wifi, i have documented most of the important highlights of my stay in Hobart. While there I became attached to this harbor town and it's friendly residents like few new "landings" in my own country. It might have been the newness, but the warm character was pervasive and planted the seed of anticipation to return again. While I'm considering this first leg of my trip, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Katrina Chen and her family (sons Jeremy and Oliver) for making Hobart feel like a second home.

Rocky cliffs along the Derwent river provided some really cool niches for our boat to pull into and get close to this fantastic geology.

I wanted to make a small note about something that I noticed all through this journey. From the planning, funding, equipping and researching each tile slipped into placed when it was needed. Things lined up. Often, the important things lined up without much of my own efforts. Friends, chance meetings with strangers that provided information, serendipitous timing of small events added up to what appeared to almost be a "clearing of the way" to make this happen. When I think back on it, I a bit spooked by this energy flow that I seemed to have been caught up in. I don't know what to call it, but I believe we get back what we put out. There is something more at work, but I don't understand it. It does add an interesting mystique to the whole endeavor though. I look forward to recognizing this "river of purpose" when I am caught up in it again ... maybe it's still happening.

But I want to move on now and play out the highlights of what turned out to be an enlightening and expansive adventure both internally and well, the other way too....

Comment