The Past Year and Taiwan

Well what can I say, its time for me to return to Canada after a year of traveling the world. It seems so unreal like I'm in a dream or something. I always knew that I would be going back but it just seems like yesterday I was boarding the plan in Halifax to start an entirely new life in the Philippines. I have mixed feelings right now about returning, I'm happy to be going back to see family and friends but sad because I have grown to love meeting new people, experiencing new thing and having a life not knowing what the next day will bring. Now it seems like I'm being hit with all these life choices I have to decide on like do I go back to school or do I get a job in Canada and work for a few years or do I say fuck it and save some money and take off traveling again. It's like I'm torn between my heart and my mind. My heart tells me to go experience the world and travel as much as you can and then my mind say be responsible some people your age already have a house and family. I know its something that I'll have to decide and soon but for now I'm going to enjoy the rest of my time left I have aboard.

I am currently in Taiwan but I'm leaving for NYC tomorrow where I'll be meeting up with my parents and brother for the first time in a year and I think its been a year and a half since I've seen my brother. I'm pretty excited about it but also really scared ... mixed emotions again. I have enjoyed my freedom and life aboard and know going back to my old home will not be the same and now that I think about it I might have some problems readjusting. We will see how the re-integration process goes when I start to get back into the swing of things in Canada.

The past five to six weeks have been complete chaos and fun. I have traveled most of NZ (the major parts) but I still have so much to see. For those who have seen my pictures on Facebook you will know that I had the time of my life and I was really sad to have to leave. People always say that they know or have heard of someone that went to NZ for a short period of time and then end up staying the rest of their life ... well I think I could have been one of those people if things would have worked out better. I fell in love with New Zealand and I hope someday I have the chance to go back and live there again. There is so much to do sky diving, bungy jumping, water rafting, jet boating, sledging, etc. You name and you can do it in NZ and that only half of it. What I liked most about NZ is there lifestyle and how they really have a balanced life. I was only there for four months I know but they have an entirely different outlook on life and there balance between work and life is amazing ... a real precise thing to have in life.

After I left NZ I spent six hours in the Singapore airport reading and drinking coffee which wasn't that great. Than I made a short trip to Manila and was able to catch up with some friends from before and had a great night catching up ... now that I look back it would have been nicer to stay a few more days I really missed my friends there. I made my way to Taiwan and spent the first night in Taipei at a nice little hostel and got caught up on some necessary sleep. Then I got up early and made my way to Fulong beach which is about one and half hours outside Taipei. I most say that this place is beautiful but it must be so gorgeous in the summer. I had the unfortunate pleasure of having four straight days of rain why I was in Taiwan and I'm guess tomorrow will be the same. Even though it rained I did make it out for a hike, enjoyed some local food and had time to read almost two books which is pretty awesome since it usually takes me a year to finish one. I'm glad I have had this time to myself in Taiwan to relax, reflect and prepare myself for my return to Canada because I have a feeling that its not going to be easy.

I guess thats pretty much it for now. I'll write more when I make it back to Canada and give you all an update on whats going on and how I'm fitting back into my old life.

Cheers from Taiwan

Amy

The Past Three Months in New Zealand

So my apologies for being very slack the past couple of months with keeping my blog up to date. Mostly I have just being working at The Warehouse and saving my money for the traveling I'm currently in the middle of doing. Some of the stuff I have accomplished over the last little bit include driving a standard vehicle, learning to cook proper meals, and running (a lot).

I have enjoyed my time in Auckland working and learning more about there culture but I really wasn't amazed by the country until I traveled the south island which I completed yesterday. I have heard many people say that they weren't so sure about NZ and if they were really going to stay but once they went out and traveled the country they fell in love with it and I completely understand them now. I don't really know what it is about NZ but I do know that this country is beautiful and I have feel in love with it.

I mentioned that I have just finished the south island, I went to Nelson, Westport, Greymouth, Wanaka, Queenstown, Milford Sounds, Christchurch, and back to Nelson with a few stop along the way. My trip was jammed pack with exciting and scary activities. Some include bungy jumping, ski diving, jet boating, glacier hiking and many more. There was always something to do in the south island which was great but was touch on the pocket book but came out to with what I expected. Every town or city we stopped into had some kind of difference to it and the west coast of the south island has to be one of the most gorgeous place I have ever since in my entire life. Even though I got to see so much and do a lot of stuff I still missed out on a lot. There are a few great hikes in the south, I didn't visit a winery, I didn't do any water rafting which I hope to do in the north island and many other activities I had miss out of due to time restrictions.

Tomorrow I had into Auckland city and catch the bus for the northern round about which should take me approximately 10 days. Right now I'm tired but I know that I'm super excited I just hope I get a really good bus team like I did for the south island cause that really makes a lo of difference.

Unfortunately, that is all I'm going to be able to write right now since I'm starting to fall asleep but I will be right more once I get back into Auckland and when I have more time. I do want to elaborate more on my trips and tell everything but right now sleep. If you guys have any questions then send me a comments and I'll get back to you as soon as possible :)

Cheers and Have a great night!!!!!!!