China: I'm Going!

Well, I got the letter....

I have been selected as a candidate to travel to China next year on a teaching exchange!

Yay!

Now, I have to learn some Mandarin!

Destination Friday: All the Preparations

We are now only 2 weeks away from departing, and the preparations are well underway.  Every time we go somewhere, I tend to be in one of 2 camps:
1.  The overly packed with too much stuff OR
2.  Leaving everything I need at home

This time, my goal is simple.  Have everything I need, carry no excess, and avoid sunburn.

To this end I have been trying to pack for the last few weeks.  I bought a new suitcase, as my last one was too easy to overpack.... and the airline managed to rip the handle off on the last trip.  It has been needing to be replaced for a while.  Knowing I will have crutches has been a bonus as well, because I have had to really think about how I will journey.  The new bag is a back-pack, with the facility to pull along on wheels.

And I bought a rash-vest.  Yep, I will be soooooooooo untrendy.... but who cares.  I *hopefully* will avoid sunburn, without giving up snorkeling.  The worst part of the last trip was learning that coral reefs can be killed with sunscreen, so you are not supposed to wear it into the water.... which of course leads to major burns, and a lack of fun later on.  So the long sleeved rash vest will be handy.

Also, Tonga has strict laws against the exposure of flesh.  Wearing the vest will totally prevent me from being arrested on the beach!  Traveling with my multi-use skirts and cover-up sarongs will have another hidden benefit.

So, where have you been?

What I love: Stamps... and Postcards

This is corny.

One thing I love about travel is the little things, the bits that you can't get anywhere else.  The things that people can send you, that they have touched and held in their own hands.  The things people share.

I love postcards.  And stamps.

In Cape Reinga, the northern most point of New Zealand, they have a lighthouse stamp that gets postmarked on each postcard sent from there.  I posted a card to myself, to my dogs, and to my husband.  I like to tuck the postcards here into books, so that when I read them, I come across the postcard.

When I travel, I spend way too long and too much money on sending postcards to my friends.  I just really wish I could have them all there.  Or, when I see something, I think of them.

 

Sometimes i leave little pieces behind.  Ellena was meant to be traveling, but ended up missing out, so I left a piece of her there.

 

And the idea that someone could stamp me, that was too good to be true.  I totally recommend any means of transportation that comes with stamps....  

 

My preferred location to write.... only, shortly after we took this picture in a picture, Mum lost her postcards to a Pacific breeze off the side!  But having a polaroid camera is terrific.  I tend to love the one-shot, one-chance approach, but I always end up digitally photographing myself holding pictures, so I really should stop doing it.  But it is cool to post polaroids.... as like one-off moments to share.

And this would be my preferred place to write postcards.... though, maybe not the most coherent place.

In fact, I love postcards SO MUCH, I will send any reader a postcard from my next vacation if they email me their details on beyondislandhopping@hotmail.co.nz

I have only created this email address for this postcard opportunity (at the moment), and I promise not to share your details with anyone else.

The deal on the postcards:

1.  You need to follow me publicly on Beyond Island Hopping
2.  You must email me your address to send the card to (which seems like a no-brainer)
3.  You need to leave a message in the comment box saying why you would love a postcard
4.  And you need to do this by December 15th if you want one from Fiji or Tonga (you can pick the country- just write your choice in the comment)

I guess, if you want a postcard from both Fiji and Tonga, you can have one too..... but because I can, you need to link to a Destination Friday post and put the Destination Friday button on your blog.  The button can be found on the left hand side of the blog.  Mention in the email that you have linked to Destination Friday and that you'd like 2 postcards.  :D

Happy travels.

Destination Friday: Where are you really going?

Welcome to Destination Friday- a linky party where we share our travels.  Feel free to skip to the end of the post to find the linky.

This week I have been thinking about travel insurance.... mainly as it has been a bit of a pain, and a lot more expense, than our travels have been previously.  Partly for the cancer element- this evidently raises the price, while not actually giving any cover for cancer related care.... and partly because I want to travel with so much technology!

I have awesome cameras.  I love them, a lot.  Not taking them would destroy me.  Actually, I tend to be rather rough on my cameras, as I am now on Waterproof and Indestructible camera #3.... But my DSLR is brilliant.  I bought it to photograph weddings, but love it for everything else.   And I know I am traveling with my iPad- we are inseparable!  So I choose to list everything I take, pay more, and know I am covered. 

I know there are others that feel comfortable traveling by the seat of their pants.  Me, not so much.

So I was also thinking about security, and pretty much thinking about comfort zones.

And the last time I was really scared abroad.

I was totally scared in Vanuatu.  Not because of the people, but what I had decided to do.  I have never done any SCUBA diving, ever, but there is this awesome Underwater Walk in Port Vila.  Basically you wear weights, breath in a respirator and walk through a coral plantation.

But the whole thing scared me.  I didn't want to put my head under the water.  I kept wanting to rip the respirator out of my mouth and breathe in the water.  It was a constant reminder going through my head, just breathe, just breathe, just breathe.  And I was freaking out, big time.  There was a guide, who kept giving me the motions about going up to the surface.  I really wanted to give up, and go back on land.

Then I saw the fishies.

 

This guy was first.  And I was transfixed.  It was this completely magical kingdom underwater, just below the surface, right on the beach.

 

Then there were like millions of fish!  I couldn't believe it.  They swam up and touched me.  I fed them.  It was just surreal.  I forgot about the fears I had, and how I wanted to quit, and how I wanted to rip out the respirator in panic.... and I was calm.

 

Here was my hero, the one who didn't let me quit.  Strangely, my husband stayed on shore, unable to drop beneath the surface.  This was the first time I saw myself as stronger than him.  And I felt unstoppable.

Well, unstoppable, but insured. ;)

Anywho, time for the linky.

Wordless Wednesday: Horseback

Oh the Excitement!

Well, I have returned from an interview....

And one that I hope like crazy will prove productive and highly successful... though I am sure that I'll get really nervous if that happens.

What for?  Well, a one month teaching exchange to China!  Yes, China!  If selected I'll get to teach English and Drama to school and university students in China, and to spend time in Beijing!  I know that is a lot of !!! marks!!!

But it is worth it.  Really.

Do I want this?  Yes!  It's China!  I cannot even stop to say how exciting even the opportunity is, because I am such a fan of Chinese Architecture... yes, that is the building nerd seeping out again.  And I read "Cradle to Cradle"... that is awesome.  Included are the ideas around building cities so that they have no negative carbon footprint.  And I want to see the Yellow River and the 3 Gorges Dam and the Terracotta Army and the Great Wall and to do Tai Chi in the park.... so many things!

But, we shall see how this goes.  I should know in a few days time.... which is nerve wracking in itself.

Caving: Deep Seated Fears Underground

I'm starting this by admitting fully that I have problems with small spaces.  I hate and loathe feeling trapped.  I always need to know the exits, and where the air is coming from.  Odd.  Back at primary school we went caving, and the guide terrified us by talking about cave weta attacks...

So when I had the chance to go caving in Lifou, I was pretty hesitant to say the least.  But, I wanted to do it.  I went off and bought myself a water-proof, shock proof torch to take with me... even though I wasn't told to. 

I was freaking out as we descended.  The air was cooler there, but only just.  It was a tight fit, and heading into the dark was scary.  But, trusty torch in hand, it was okay.

The actual cave system was small, but filled with ancient markings.  It was like burnt hand prints in relief.  However nice the cave turned out to be, I still couldn't wait to get out and go for a swim.  The ocean is a much better size for me....

Descending into the cave system.... not cool... but the air was cooler there.

Stalactites, sadly broken by souvenir hunters

Sweaty and unhappy with the cave.  Dreadlocks looking good though...

Ancient hand print markings, they were awesome

It was stupidly hot, with no sea breeze.... just total humidity.  ARGH!  Tropical weather does not always agree with me.  Most of my photos look glossy... for lack of a better phrase!  But, the caving ended up being great.  Next time I get the chance, I will do it again...