25 and I'm still alive

Hey guys!

As most of you know, I've just had my quarter of a century celebration. Lucky for me, we arrived from Delhi to Goa on my birthday! Goa is not like any other part of India we have visited so far and is known for it's great beaches. We're staying in a little hut right on the beach. There are plenty of beach side restaurants and yes.... there's even alcohol here (not very common in the rest of India)! It's also quite touristy so we have lots of opportunity for socializing and we can take a break from getting stared at for being the only white people in sight.

I only have about 1 week left in India. It's crazy how fast it all went by... and it has been one heck of a ride! I haven't been very detailed in my posts while in India. There's just so much to say that a blog posting wouldn't do it justice! But I promise to share my many experiences when I get home.

Here's a few more pictures to tide you over. I'm thinking of all of you in Canada freezing your butts off while I'm laying on the beach! LOL... just couldn't resist :P




The ghats in Varanasi



Sunrise boat ride in Varanasi



Rituals and bathing along the ghats in Varanasi in the Ganga river.



Laundry along the ghats. All the beautifully colored saris layed out.


Elephant ride in Corbett National Park. This park is known to have the highest concentration of tigers in the world.


Silhouette of our elephant ride


I saw a tiger!!! Check out my post back at camp.


Posing in our jeep. On our first day we went on an elephant trek and the next day, we returned for an all day jeep safari. This is the day I spotted a tiger.


View from our beach hut in Goa. Happy birthday to ME!


Lagoon in Goa

India Pictures

Two weeks into my India trip and still going strong! We're in Agra right now (location of Taj Mahal) and heading to Varanasi tonight by train. Here are a few pics from the trip so far...











The family car



Sunset in Udaipur




Palace view in Udaipur

Camel fair in Pushkar

snake charmers

Sportin' the bhindi

The Taj Mahal. Looking a bit dark, is it? That's because the sun isn't up yet! A buncha keeners we are...

She's A OK in India

Hi guys!
Not much time for a long entry, but just wanted to let you all know that I arrived safe and sound in Mumbai, India on the 6th. Met up with two friends in Mumbai and now we are in Udaipur. I like Udaipur much more. It is a smaller city and has a slower pace so we can really take in the sights. The food is great so far! And surprisingly not that spicy. We're getting to know the names of different dishes by trial. We are staying in hotels which is nice. The toilets are interesting.... The people are friendly and very helpful. Always a big smile. The kids think we're a novelty and point and wave and want to say hi!
That's all for now. Hopefully I'll have more time for stories and pictures next time.
Just wanted to let you know everything's going great so far! Can't wait to see more of this great country!

Here's the Greece: Corfu, Athens, Naxos, Santorini and Olympia

Calimera!



We've been in Greece for almost 3 weeks now.... What a trip! Here are the highlights:







First stop: Corfu! We took an overnight ferry from the East of Italy to Corfu. We actually stayed in a small town near Corfu called Pelekas. This place was great! Isolated little hostel run by a family. They served us breakfast AND dinner, which is rare with hostels. So every day, we would wake up late, have a late breakfast then head to the beach. After our afternoon siesta, we would head to the common room to have a traditional Greek dinner and drinks. What more could you ask for??





Pelekas




Next stop, the big city of Athens. Big change of pace compared to our isolated paradise in Pelekas!

Acropolis, Athens

After Athens, hop on a ferry to go to the island of Naxos. Now this is more like it! Back into the relaxed pace of life.

Naxos

Naxos

Naxos

After Naxos, we took a ferry to the next island; Santorini. This is a beautiful island perched on top of a mountain with dramatic cliffs. We took a boat trip one day to go to a volcano (see picture above) and swam in hot springs right next to it.

A very scenic (big!) beer in Santorini

Sittin' pretty in Santorini

Santorini

Sunset in Santorini

After Santorini, back on the boat for a long haul trip back to Athens then a bus to Olympia

Olympia

Well, that's it for now... unfortunately I don't have much time for stories right now, just pictures. We head back to Italy tomorrow. We both have flights to catch in Rome in the next few days. Mama goes back home and I got to India!! Woah, still seems sureal...

I'll keep you posted on the Indian adventures!

Pictures... It's about time! I know, I know...

Just before I added these pictures, I went back to see which pictures I posted last. Budapest! Wow, I guess it was about time I got some more pictures up!







View from my hostel room in Split, Croatia




Island of Hvar, Croatia






View of the sunset from the ferry on the way back to Split, Croatia





The artistic shot in Dubrovnik, Croatia

Trooper in Dubrovnik, Croatia

The sun is setting in Dubrovnik, Croatia.

Having a very scenic drink in Dubrovnik, Croatia with an Aussie I met at the hostel.

Ljubljana, Slovenia (remember, that's pronounced Loo-blee-ana)

Bled, Slovenia

Me and my Canadian friend Brianne at Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany

Brianne with some festive Germans at Oktoberfest.

Me and Mélanie in Nice, France

Look at my pretty basket!! I was so happy with it.

Me with mia Mama in Roma

Pompei, Itlay

Me and mama in Pompei

On the island of Capri, Italy

The travels with mama are great so far. I'm eating very well and enjoying my break from bunk beds! So far we've been to Rome and Naples (day trips to Pompei and Capri). Lots of sight seeing! Heading to Greece soon and looking forward to buming around on the beach for a few days.

Ciao, ciao!