Bula! Well, it's my last day in Fiji. Flying out tonight (Thursday, March 19) at 10:00pm. Will arrive back in Chicago around 11:30pm the same day, which will be strange. The weather did get much better so my 'tanorexia' is under control.

Two Aussie families adopted me here so it's been nice to have dinner partners and a group to hang with. They also have children with them so that gave me an excuse to act like a kid in the pool and on the beach. Had a really good time.

Have met so many nice people along the way and have made friends around the world.

Thanks for following along with my travels. Looking forward to seeing and talking to everyone back in the USA.

Bula from Fiji and Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Unfortunately, my 'weather luck' has run out and Fiji is very rainy. As you can imagine my 'tanorexia' anxiety is in full force. There's not a lot to do here except sun and water sports so trying hard to stay busy. Not much to report.

Will be flying home on Thursday evening.

Been a fun filled few days. Left Dunedin on Wednesday and travelled to Queenstown, The Adventure Capital of NZ, via train and coach. Could not get me to bungee jump, but watched quite a few which was scary enough for me. It was invented in Queenstown by AJ Hackett. Kept imagining how he chose to make that first jump. I've learned that New Zealanders love their heights and jumping off of them. Went to Milford Sound via coach and then boat. Chose the flight option back, which was amazing. The weather was perfect for flying and had a ton of fun. Left Queenstown on Friday and travelled to Christchurch. Spent last night and today here. Had an absolute blast today in the Waipara Valley Winery country. Thanks to my new American friends, Dave and Annemaire as well as my Christchurch girls in the picture below. Thanks for making my last day in NZ such a fun and memorable one!

Off to Fiji tomorrow for some sun and relaxation.

I'll miss my Chicago friends celebrating St. Patrick's Day tomorrow. Toss one back at Celtic Crossing and kiss some NYC firemen at Dugan's for me!

Winery Girls - Lisa, Sarah, Nikki, Andrea, Alice, Shelly and Marg

Mt. Cook / Aoraki - Cloud Piercer

View of Queenstown from Gondola

View from Plane - Milford Sound to Queenstown

Milford Sound

Road from Queenstown to Milford Sound

Otago Peninsula - Yellowed-Eyed Penguin

Otago Peninsula - Me and Hooker Sea Lion

Had a fun day yesterday in Dunedin. Did not go sea kayaking because the weather was very windy and cold with rain throughout. Did have the opportunity to go out to the Otago Peninsula and observe some wildlife. Went to the only mainland breeding colony of Royal Albatross in the world at Taiaroa Head outside Dunedin and was lucky enough to see them flying. The wind was approximately 120 kilometers (75 MPH) when we first got there and it was too windy for even the albatross. The wind did ease up a little and did witness them flying. I've never been a bird watcher or admirer, but these animals are truly amazing. The chicks were hatched about a month ago and they will start to fly later this fall. Once they leave their birthplace, they will fly for six years without landing on land........only the sea to rest and eat. They will meet a mate and court for four years and eventually come back to NZ to mate in 10 years.

Also saw Yellow Eyed Penguins and Hooker Sea Lions, which are only found in NZ. Got a special treat and saw a female, which is rare since there are only 20 left on the island due to being hunted by the indigenous Maori people. They are now protected. Also saw NZ Fur Seals and Blue Penguins, the smallest penguin in the world.

Leaving later this afternoon on the Taieri Gorge Railway for Queenstown and taking a trip to Milford Sound tomorrow. Only four days left in NZ and then off to Fiji. I'm so spoiled and am looking forward to warm weather again.

Hope all is well where you are.

Kia Ora (hello in the indigenous Maori language) from Dunedin.

Spent last night in Christchurch and found a fun little pub to hang out in with live music. There was a cricket match on (NZ v. India) and some locals were giving me a lesson. I think I've got the basics, but what a funny sport that is. Only the British would come up with a game that could last 5 days and the players break for tea and crumpets. I'm not kidding! Can you imagine if during the 7th inning stretch our players took a break for afternoon tea? Hilarious. Whole new meaning to last call in the middle of the 7th.

Ran into a great couple I met in Sydney, Greg and Paola, in Christchurch and had dinner with them last night. Thanks again guys! It was great to see you.

Traveled today from Christchurch to Dunedin, which was the first settlement on the south island made by the Scottish. I'm sure I can find a good pub tonight. Dunedin is the Gaelic word for Edinburgh. Here two nights and have a tour and sea kayaking trip planned for tomorrow if the weather is okay. It is sunny, but windy and cold.

Will update again soon.

Fun day in Rotorua. Flying tomorrow to Christchurch, which is on the south island.

Kaituna White Water Rafting - Highest Commerically Rafted Waterfall in the World (7m or 22 feet). I'm the one in the very front.

Successful Landing - Swallowed some water!

Te Puia Thermal Reserve - Geyser

Te Puia Thermal Reserve / Maori Indigenous Land - Mudpool (200+ degrees F)

Hi from Rotorua, New Zealand. Spent the last couple of nights in Auckland, but not a whole lot to report. Didn't climb or jump off of anything and not planning to either. NZ is definitely a place for adventure seekers. Activities include bunging jumping, white water rafting, kayaking, and sky diving to mention a few. The weather is rainy, but the predictions look promising. I've been so spoiled since I left the states with nothing but sunny skies and warm weather that 70 degrees feels cold. I'll have a shocker when I return to Chicago. I can see why so many Irish and Scottish settled here whether is was their own choice or after serving a sentence imposed by the British. The landscape looks so much like Ireland except not as beautiful.......of course, I'm bias. Lots of green fields minus the rock walls. The fields are dotted with either cattle or sheep. Took a coach from Auckland to Rotorua stopping along the way at a couple sites and small towns. One stop was the Waitomo Caves filled with glowworms. Sounds strange, but really cool. We took a boat through the cave. Arrived in Rotorua earlier this afternoon. The entire area consists of geothermal mineral hot springs and mud pools. Going out tomorrow to see some of the sights and have booked a white water rafting trip for the afternoon.

Stay tuned.

Flew to Auckland, New Zealand this morning. My last day in Sydney was very memorable. Spent all day on a trip to the Blue Mountains where I finally saw kangaroos in the wild. Nothing like waiting for my last day in Australia! Went to the rain forest and hiked to some lookouts to Three Sisters Rock and Wentworth Falls. It was very beautiful.

Last night didn't do the smartest thing I've ever done. Thought I would challenge my newly acquired fear of heights. It comes and goes so wasn't sure how I would react, but it's official I am afraid of heights. I climbed the Sydney Harbor Bridge along with the over 1.2 million people a year! Athletically it wasn't difficult, but the fear of plumping into the harbor or worse the traffic below was overwhelming. I was connected to the bridge and knew intellectually I couldn't fall, but the fear was still there. With all that said, I'm proud I did it. I wouldn't do it again, but glad I did.

See Mom, and you were afraid I'd get in the water with sharks.

Will update again later.

The Bridge Climb - Sydney Harbor Bridge

Wallaby

Three Sisters Rock - Blue Mountains, Australia

Sydney Harbor Bridge

Sydney Opera House / Harbor Bridge

Sydney Opera House - Sunset

G'day Mate from Sydney. Arrived yesterday afternoon and went out last night in an area called The Rocks.......tons of fun pubs and restaurants. Found a great little joint with some live music entertainment and hung out there most of the evening. Very fun crowd.

Going out today on a luncheon cruise in Sydney Harbor and tooling around the city. It's very beautiful and cosmopolitan here. However, I won't be going to the beaches. Not sure it is hitting the national news, but there has been a rash of shark attacks here in Sydney which is very unusual. There have been three in just the past three weeks and around a dozen in the past few months. One was just yesterday morning. I heard about it live on the news in Cairns as I was leaving for the airport. It was a young surfer.....I think around 15. He's in critical condition, but they are reporting he will recover.

I'll upload some pictures later from last night and today.