The End of an Amazing year!

PICTURES: Our last night out drinking in OZ!
Well i dont know if we ever thought it would come, but it has. We are officially on our way back to Canada tomorrow night. All i can say is wow what an amazing year, best year of our lives and the best choice we ever made was to come travelling and spend this year together. We have seen so many things, learned so much about the world and each other. We have had the opportunity to do some pretty cool things! We have gone through the 7 stages of coming home and i think we are finally on Acceptance, but we still aren't overly thrilled by it!! I guess if you weren't sad to leave and come home, the trip wouldn't have been all it could be so it that way we are very happy. We are super excited to see everyone and i guess this will be our last blog from Australia! Over and out! We will see you soon mates!
Love Jen and Glenn
p.s. if we happen to miss our flight it wasn't intentional...... or was it???

Melbourne, Australia

PICTURE: Sunset at the 12 Apostles on the GOR
PICTURE: Glenn at the MCG game
Well we have had an amazing first week in Melbourne. Saturday we got tickets to a AFL game, Kangaroos vs Magpies. We were at the MCG which is there main stadium, it is there largest holding 100,000 people. There was only 52,000 for the game we went to but much more then the saddledome. We had really good seats like 10 rows from the front. Sunday we spent the day at the Victoria Park Markets which consist of over 1000 stalls. Quite overwhelming you dont even know where to start. We also went to a exhibition at the Melbourne center for moving images and saw the history of video games exhibit. It was really big, we wandered around for 2 hrs and Glenn was in heaven seeing all the old systems he used to play with as a kid. Monday and Tuesday we went on a Great Ocean road tour. We went with a small company so there was only 14 of us and it was lots of fun. We stayed in a hostel for the night and got to see all of the Great Ocean Road. Glenn and i got to go on our very first Helicopter ride over the 12 Apostles. It was so cool, we had alot of fun! So we have been pretty busy the weather has been really nice, quite cool at night since they are getting into winter but about 25 during the day. We hope everyone is really good!
Love you tons Jen and Glenn

Perth to Melbourne, Australia:)

PICTURE: Looks like professional surfers to me!
Well we have officially taken our 14th flight of the trip and are safely in Melbourne. We arrived on Wednesday night at 11pm and checked into Base backpackers in St kilda. We only stayed there the one night because we found an apartment that we have been able to rent for the 2 weeks that we are here. We really lucked out because most places will not rent for such a short period of time. It is a small studio fully furnished, so your kitchen, couch, bed and table are all in the same room with a bathroom. Its much cheaper then what we were going to have to pay at base so we are really happy about that.
Back in Perth we were able to do a surf lesson, it was so much fun. I got beaten around pretty good in the waves but had a good time. Glenn got up really easily and he had alot of fun too. I always thought it would be easier with smaller waves but its much better with bigger ones. We spent the rest of the day at Scarborough beach and watched the sunset once again over the Indian ocean. I still can never get sick of that.
We have tried to put up some pics but it is not working so we will have to try another time. We are going to do the markets and the great ocean road here. Tonight we are gonna try and get tickets to a rugby game at the MCG. Hope all is well with everyone, we miss you and will talk to you soon.
Love Jen and Glenn

Sunny Perth, Australia :)

PICTURE: Sunset at Cottlesloe beach
PICTURE: Rottnest island
Well we are still in Perth till the 16th when we fly to Melbourne. The weather has been beautiful here, only a couple days of rain but not to bad. One day we went to the "Art Gallery of Western Australia" which was interesting, i still do not understand alot of art and i can say that there was some pretty weird stuff! We went to "Scarborough" beach one day and enjoyed sitting in the sun, and another day we went to "Kings Park" which reminds me alot of stanley park. Its full of beautiful trees and has a really nice walking view of the city. On Sunday we went to "Fremantle" which is a suburb about 30min by train from the city center. We wandered there weekend markets and shops and sat at bathers beach for awhile. We went to a local brewery they have there called "Little creatures" and enjoyed a pint of there pale ale! Cant beat that on a hot day! Yesterday we went to "Rottnest Island" which is a small island just off the coast. The island does not allow vehicles so there is bike paths all around for people to view the island. We rented bikes for the day and ventured around the island to all the little coves. We found a nice secluded beach to sit in the sun, its nice to get away from the crowds once and awhile. Friday we are going to a shop that gives "Didgeridoo" lessons so Glenn and i will be able to serinade you all when we return. haha! Saturday we are hoping to do a Surf lesson at Scarborough beach and other then that we are enjoying reading and relaxing! Hope everyone is well miss you all and we will chat soon!!
Love Jen and Glenn xoxo

Back to Australia, Sydney-Uluru-Perth!

PICTURE: Us on the ridge walk at Bondi Beach
Hello,
Well we are back in beautiful Australia after a wonderful month in New Zealand! We flew from Auckland to Sydney and stayed in Bondi Beach for a couple days. Bondi is very beautiful they have a really nice path around the coast that was not to hard on the eyes! Then we got on a plane and flew to Ayers rock, it was very cool flying in we had a very nice arrial view of the rock. We stayed at a place called Pioneer outback lodge in a dorm room with another couple from Oregon, they were really nice and we had a good time with them. We could see the Olgas and Uluru from our hostel. We were able to see 2 sunsets and a sunrise at Uluru and we did a walk at the Olgas. It was not to hot, about 32 but its so dry you drink soo.. much water. The most annoying part was the flys!! Because its so dry they are trying to find water so they climb on your face and literally attack you, lets just say we had enough attention from the flys by the end!! We had a really nice couple of days and we are both glad that we got to see it. Next we got on yet another flight and flew to Sunny Perth. We stayed at Cottelsloe beach for a couple days right on the water, and now we are staying in an area called Northbridge. We are spending a couple weeks here out an about enjoying the beach! We have decided that we are not going to make it up the coast to the reef, it is alot farther away then we thought and will cost way to much for the 2 of us. So we are going to do some winery tours and a surf lesson. But everything is good we are enjoying sunny Perth and relaxing while we are here. Thats all for now, miss everyone and we will chat soon,
Love Jen and Glenn

Pahia, Bay of Islands NZ

Well our last final days in beautiful New Zealand are upon us. We are currently in Pahia in the Bay of Islands. It is really beautiful! The bay of islands consists of 144 islands so there is lots to see. We just finished a day trip that took us on a tour through the islands and the famous hole in the rock. The weather turned out to be ok, we were lucky and did not get really rained on. We are staying at captain bobs beachhouse here in Pahia tonight and then we are back on the bus tomorrow for our last bus ride back to Auckland. We fly out thursday back to Sydney and are going to spend a couple days in Bondi beach and then saturday we fly to Ayers Rock. We cant believe how fast our time in NZ has gone but we have seen alot of stuff and done lots of cool stuff as well. Goodbye New Zealand!!!! Hope all is well with everyone and you all had a wonderful easter and we will chat once we are back in Australia!!! Talk to you soon,
Love Jen and Glenn

Glenns 24th Birthday, Roturua-Waitomo, NZ

Well, Glenn is officially 24! We are in Waitomo and yesterday we went Black Water rafting for his birthday and we both had a blast! We didn't quite know what to expect, we geared up in wetsuits, booties, helmet with light and rubber boots. We then drove out to a cave and went under ground. You carry a black inner tube with you and you weave through the caves over the rocks under very low cliffs and jump backwards, yes backwards off water falls in the pitch black. The only light is the light on your helmet and the glow worms above. We were 65m under ground and it was so cool. We even saw eels! ewwwww!
In Roturua we went to Thermal wonderland, which is hot spots and pools, geisers and mud pools. Lets just say Roturua will never win any contests for best smelling town. It stank!!! Its hard to believe that we actually paid $50 dollars a person to look at stink tanks!! It was well worth it though we had fun. At night we went to a place called the Polynisian spa. It is a natural hot spring area with beautiful lookouts over the lake from 27 different pools that range from 35 to 42 degrees!! I can honestly say it was quite relaxing.
Today we are leaving Waitomo to Auckland and then after Auckland we are headed up to the Bay of Islands for a Sailing trip before we fly out of Auckland on the 27th. We can definitly say we have seen and done lots of new things on this trip. I cant believe the month is almost over. We are well and hope everyone has a wonderful Easter. Love you all,
Love Jen and Glenn

Wellington-Taupo, NZ

PICTURE: Mt Doom Volcano (From Lord of the rings) in Taupo
PICTURE: Spa thermal park, in Taupo
Well we left Wellington and made our way up the North island to a place called Taupo. Taupo is the begginning of the volcanic ranges in NZ. We settled in to our hostel which is super nice and clean. We even got our own bathroom for only $62 a night. We contemplated doing a hike called the Tongariro crossing which is 18km up and down Mt Tongariro. Because the volcanic range is quite high they have severe weather changes in an instant so they want you to be prepared for anything. We decided that we did not have the right equiptment and will maybe do it next time we make our way to NZ. Instead we had a quieter morning and then took a hike to the natural thermal pools. Taupo is really pretty, it surrounds Lake Taupo and the sun has been shining since we arrived. Today we are off to Rotorua to the geisers and thermal pools. Shall be fun! All is well hope things are good back home. Talk to you all soon, HAPPY ST PATRICKS DAY!!
Love Jen and Glenn XOXO

Nelson/Abel Tasman National Park

PICTURE: Glenn in his skirt ready to go!
PICTURE: Abel Tasman National park
Well we are the real deal outdoors men now! We took the bus from Franz Josef to Nelson, it was a very long bus ride but we got to stop at the Punikaki pancake rocks on the way, very cool! When we arrived in Nelson we spent the first day organizing our lives for the next week and booking accomodation etc. At night we went to a local brewery and trialled 10 beers for 10 dollars, good deal! The next day we were up at 5:45am and we went on a day trip to the Abel Tasman National park. Our day consisted of a 3 hr Kayak along the coast line and a 3 hr hike up over the park to the other side where we caught a water taxi back. The park was so beautiful and we met a really nice couple from Scotland that we spent the day with. We even took a dipp in the icy water of Cleopatras pool which had a natural water slide cut out of the rocks.
Yesterday we took a bus to Picton from Nelson and then the Interislander ferry to Wellington. On our way we saw a pod of atleast 100 dolphins (no exageration!) jumping through the waves, sooo... cool. Glenns camera battery decided to break so we didn't get it on video but we bought a new battery today so that does not happen again! Last night we were able to meet up with Brenda a client from back home and we went out for malaysian food, suprisingly good and glenn even enjoyed it too! We are in Wellington till tomorrow and then we head to Taupo to do another hike in Tongariro National park to see Volcanos! Should be fun, we are having a blast and will let you know whats happenning next very soon!!!
Love Jen and Glenn XOXO

Franz Josef Glacier, NZ

PICTURE: Glenn and Jen the mountaineers!
Well we did it! We hiked up, down, around, under, over any way you can think of we hiked for 8hrs up Franz Josef glacier! We did the full day tour that left the office at 9:15am and we then proceeded to the parking lot of the glacier. We then walked along the river up ladders through streams tot he base of the glacier. At the base of the ice, we put on our crampon spikes to the bottom of our hiking boots and proceeded up ice stairs that our guide chiped into the ice as we went. Lets just say it was the most amazing, fufilling accomplishment and our bodys are sure feeling it! They always say the best places in the world are the hardest to get to, but well worth every moment. In total, we hiked over rugged terrain for 8hrs with only a couple minute stops here and there. Any ways it was a blast and we got some really good pics.
We are in Nelson now, and are headed out on a Kayaking/hiking trip tomorrow in the Abel Tasman National Park which we are both really looking forward too. All in all we are busy busy busy and will keep you updated as we go, Miss you tons
Love Jen and Glenn

Te Anua and Millford Sound, NZ

PICTURE: Mirror lakes, fiordland national park
Well we have spent many hours on buses but have seen some of the most beautiful scenery i have ever seen! We left Queenstown and went to a town called Te Anau. It is a very small town but is situated right on a lake with many tramping trails around. Glenn and i did a lake trek and ended up at a bird sanctuary where we saw some native new zealand birds. The weather was quite cool and windy when we got there but cleared up and was actually quite pleasant. The next day we went to Millford sound which is a outlet into the tasman sea. The mountains have been formed all around right out of the ocean and they have enough minerals that trees grow right out of them with no soil. We really lucked out there though, we ended up with a beautiful sunny day and the skipper told us that the sound averages 3 out of 4 rainy days, so we were really lucky, and we also saw dolphins and seals! We are now in Franz Josef and we are off on a Glacier hike tomorrow morning. Should be lots of fun, we have both never done anything like that before! All is well, we are go go go and enjoying every moment. Miss you all talk to you soon,
Love Jen and Glenn

Christchurch-Queenstown NZ

PICTURE: Glenn in Christchurch
Well we arrived safe and sound in New Zealand. It was a little bit of a shock to our system with the temperature only about 15 degrees we had to break out our sweaters which hasn't been done in a long time! We spent a couple of days in Christchurch at a hostel called base backpackers. The room was nice and big and they supplied towels which is always a bonus. In Christchurch we went to the canterbury museum, botanical gardens and wandered through the beautiful cathedral in cathedral square. We bought a bus pass to travel both the south and north islands and planned some of our tour. Saturday we hopped on a bus and travelled to Queenstown. On our way we stopped at lake Tekapo, Mt Cook, Omaramar and then to Queenstown. Mt cook is the tallest mountain in the southern alps of New Zealand. We arrived in Queenstown and our staying at a hostel called bungi backpackers. Its small and friendly and the people that run it are super nice. Queenstown is really beautiful it reminds us alot of banff except it has a lake right in the middle. We are leaving tomorrow to a place called Te anua and then to Millford sound. In Millford we are doing a lake cruise which should be really nice. We then come back to Queenstown before we head up the coast to Franz Josef glacier where we will be doing a hike on the glacier. All in all things are good, there is so much to do and see here that everyone of our days will be filled with something new. We will keep you updated as our New Zealand travels continue, hope all is well.
Love Jen and Glenn

Beautiful Sydney, Australia!

PICTURE: At Taronga zoo over looking the harbour
PICTURE: Out front of the Opera house
PICTURE: Jen, Yvonne and Glenn @ Circular Quay
Well it has been 5 amazing days in Sydney, and today we are off to New Zealand. Saturday we took the ferry from Manly over to down town Sydney. We met up with Glenns mom and spent the day wandering around @ Circular Quay. At night we went to a club called the basement and listened to live music. It was a compulation of Eric Clapton songs, actually very entertaining. Sunday we walked through Darling Harbour and went to the Sydney Aquarium. Very cool! Monday night Glenns mom treated us to a theatre play @ the Opera house, it was shakespear called "as you like it," the acting was very good. Yesterday Glenn and i went to the Taronga zoo, the view from the zoo was worth the trip, we were looking right over the harbour. At night we went to a english pub for dinner in an area called the rocks. The buildings have so much history and character. We have all really liked Sydney, Glenns mom heads back to Calgary today and we are off to Christ church. We have had a really great visit with Yvonne walked miles... and miles... and definitly have some great new experiences and storys to tell of our adventures when we get home. All in all things are great, hope everyone is doing well and we shall chat soon:)
Love Jen and Glenn

Sydney/Manly

PICTURES: Manly beach
Well we are in Sydney Australia. All i can say is what a beautiful city! We arrived here monday morning after an overnight bus trip from Byron Bay. Surprisingly the bus ride went by pretty fast. When we arrived i called the hostel we were supposed to stay at and the guy informed me that our room was no longer avaliable do to un forseen circumstances, what? So Glenn and i being organized as we are had no place to stay. We called around and luckily found a place called boardriders in Manly. We took the fairy from circular quay to manly wharf. What a beautiful ferry ride, it cost only $6 and we went out past the Oprah house and the harbour bridge. We did a harbour tour on our way to Manly. Manly is super cute the beach is really beautiful and the corso is full of tons of shops and cafes. We stayed at the boardrider for 2 nights but decided to move to a new hostel because it was to expensive for what it was. And did i mention cochroaches!! ewwwww! We are now staying at manly bunkhouse and we have our own tv and fridge and no coakroaches, what more could a girl ask for? We are here till tomorrow morning and then we are staying down town Sydney till Wednesday with Glenns mom. We fly out Wednesday to Christ church NZ. Things are great enjoying our retired life and all the new scenery. Hope all is well thats all for now, Chat with you soon,
Love Jen and Glenn

Goodbye Paradise hello Byron!

PICTURE: The Happy couple
PICTURE: Cape Byron, view from the Lighthouse
Hello,
Well we are officially homeless and on the road again. We arrived in Byron Bay yesterday afternoon, it was a nice short bus ride to ease us in to our travels. Byron bay is a super cute hippy town, the beach is really nice and the waves are a lot calmer then in Surfers. We are staying at aquarius backpackers, the rooms are small but clean and there is a pub right in the hostel, so nice and easy to meet people. Funny enough the people we have met so far have all been from Canada! It seems that everyone in Byron right now is a Canadian! ayyyyy! Today we took a hike up to Light house point and the most easterly point of Australia, the view was so beautiful and we even saw a few pods of Dolphins. We had a beautiful swim in the ocean, you can wade out in shallow water for a long ways. Tomorrow is a beach day and then at 8:55pm we catch the long bus ride to Sydney! All in all we are on the road again excited for new adventures and some new scenery but we will definitly miss Surfers Paradise and the imfamous Willy Qua. Surfers was good to us and we met some really great people! Hope everyone is staying warm, miss you all and we will chat with you soon!!
Love Jen and Glenn

A Peters down under!!

PICTURES: Tangalooma beach resort in Moreton Bay
PICTURES: Jen and her Mother in law to be @ Sea World
Well, iam officially done my work at Sea World! Hooray! Not that im happy or anything, (haha). Glenns last day is tomorrow so we are on are way to officially start travelling again.
Glenns mom Yvonne arrived last wednesday and we have spent the past 5 days with her. On saturday i took her to sea world for the day, it was a nice day with just the two of us. Sunday I worked my last shift and Glenn and Yvonne went up to O'reilleys and Mt Tamborine for a day in the rain forest. It rained most of the day but they still had a really nice time. Yesterday the 3 of us went on a day trip to Tangalooma in Moreton bay. Glenn and i snorkelled at some ship wrecks and Yvonne went wandering around the island. It was pooring when we left the gold coast but we lucked out and actually had a beautiful sunny day after all! We had a really nice visit with Yvonne, funny enough we actually ordered pizza and drank beer while watching the super bowl last night. How weird is that? Yvonne left this morning to tour Australia but we are meeting up with her again in Sydney.
We are staying here on the Gold Coast till the 15th to tie up loose ends and hopefully if it doesn't rain too much enjoy some days at our pool and the beach. I hope everyone is staying reasonably warm back home, as i have heard there is a cold spell going through! We love you all and miss you even more. Thats all for now,
Love Jen and Glenn

Gold Class!!

PICTURE: Jen and glenn at gold class cinema
Hello one and all! It has been awhile since our last blog, we have been busy finishing up work and planning the next leg of our trip. The weather has been kind of rainy and gloomy but hot since xmas, but today i actually got a nice day in the sun after a couple of weeks. I finish up my last day of work February 3rd and Glenn finishes up on the 6th. We are leaving Surfers on the 15th to Byron Bay for a couple of days and then to Sydney and Manly till the 27th and then we fly to Christ Church New Zealand. We have booked our tickets to New Zealand and will be there for 30days, we return to Australia on the 27th of March. And that is as far as we have gotten so far! We are both super excited to get travelling again and see some more of this beautiful country.
Last Wednesday Glenn and i had the day off together so we went to the "Gold class cinemas".(Complements of greg and shannons christmas present to us) It was awesome, even my dad who goes to one movie a year would maybe sneak in a couple more! We sat in Lazy boys, drank beer and were served by a waitress while we watched american gangster, doesn't get much better then that.
January 28th Glenns mom is coming to visit so we are excited to see her. She is here for a week and then we are going to meet up with her in Sydney on the 23rd of February and do a little bit of touring around with her too.
Well i think that is a little up date for now, hope all is well back home with everyone. We miss you all, cant believe were on the last leg of our trip already man time flys.
Love you and chat with you soon.
Jen and Glenn