Ascending the Summit

I’m am writing this from base camp. Tomorrow I make the final push to the summit of Mount Kosciuszko, the highest peak on the Australian continent. Unlike Everest base camp, you don’t see as many tents and oxygen bottles here. Also, there are no sherpas. To climb Kosy, you have to carry your own gear. …

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Say YES! to Napier!

I’m writing this in Napier, NZ. A very nice town, with I’m guessing a very strict policy on new construction, and a very destructive past. The city center is pretty much all art deco architecture. The reason is, back in the 1930’s, the town got hit by and earthquake, so when they rebuilt, everything had …

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Disaster Strikes

All the effort I went through to back up my photos may have been for naught. I took everything to a FedEx/Kinkos store in Sydney to send it back to the US. So far, the package hasn’t been entered into the FedEx system to track packages, and there hasn’t been a charge to my credit …

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Kicking it in the .ws

I’m in Samoa. My priority right now is going to see a doctor about these sores. I haven’t had access to a mirror in a week and my right underarm is really bad. Some sort of boil is appearing on my hands and arms and I might have one on my leg. Why this appeared …

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The Road to Saipan

I’m off to Saipan in the Commonwealth of the Northern Marinas Islands in a few hours. I have my flights booked through to October 3, so the month of September is locked up. Here is my schedule: August 31: Saipan, CNMI Sept. 3: Chuuk, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) Sept. 5: Pohnpei, FSM Sept. 7: …

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Going Outback

Tomorrow morning I leave for three days in the bush. I’ll be sleeping outside under the stars. This three day trip was cheaper than a two day trip, so I figured “why not?” I get back on Friday and I hope to be in Singapore by Monday. As far as I can tell, flights to …

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Boy, Is My Face Red

Well, I survived the summit, or to be more accurate, the hike on a paved path up a hill. However, I got a good dose of sun while I was out walking. I probably walked about 8 miles (15 km) yesterday. The only reason my sunburn isn’t worse is that I was pretty tanned before …

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Rarotonga!

Just a quick update. I’m in the Cook Islands on the island of Rarotonga. Slight problem with hotel, but shouldn’t be an issue. The place looks lovely.

ACCESS DENIED!!

Yesterday, I was refused entry into the nation of Kiribati. You read that right. They wouldn’t let me into the country. The reason is one for the ages…..the ink used by the pen of the official in the Kiribati Embassy bled off the visa stamp (which was visible), so I was denied entry. THE INK …

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