Travel to Gerroa - Lucy Macgillycuddy

 After a Break we return to this fabulous travel blog with video posts!

Cheek out this video I have made showing one of the best coastal town in Australia.

Visited the World!

The past few weeks have been an exhilarating journey through old, new and wild countries and cities out there, which we have had the fortunate pleasure of going on with you, our readers!

We have visited numerous different and unique countries located across the world, starting in the busy and well loved America and ending in beautiful and relaxing Island destinations. Here is a summary of the places we have travelled through ordered by continents;

North America
• USA
• Canada

South America

• Brazil
• Chile

Europe
• France
• Finland

Africa
• South Africa

Asia
• Vietnam
• The Philippines
• Japan

Oceania
• New Zealand

Islands
• Fiji
• St Martins


We ran two polls to establish which countries were you wanted visit the most. I am excited to announce that the final results are in! There was a tie between Canada and the United States of America for first place, followed closely by a tie between Finland and Vietnam for second place. A big thanks goes out to all those who took time out to vote!

I hope you all have enjoyed this experience as much as we have and continue to travel the world whether physically or through other’s tales and photos.

Remember, the world is here to explore and is full of wonderful places to visit and adventures to go on!



~ Michelle F ~

Sunny Side Up - St Martin, Caribbean Islands

This spectacular island beauty is located midway through the chain of islands in the Caribbean.

It is sunny and warm year-round, which means awesome summer glow 24/7! When you are not rocking it out at the beach, you can relax among the many cafes and excellent restaurants.

It is the smallest island in the world ever to have been partitioned between two different nations with the signing of the Treaty of Concordia. St. Martin/St. Maarten has been shared by the French and the Dutch in a spirit of neighbourly cooperation and mutual friendship for almost 350 years. Both sides maintain their rich culture, so the best part of going there is that you can not only walk across the island in a day, but it will be like walking across 2 very different countries.

By day explore the French side, St Martin, which emphasizes comfort and elegance. The beaches are secluded, the luxury resorts provide lavish accommodations, the divine restaurants offer the finest dining experiences and plentiful shops and markets await.

At night join the Dutch sides, St. Maarten, festivities. It is more developed but has an informal feel to daily life and is known as an active centre for trade and tourism. I would definitely suggest trying some of the exotic drinks made with the native rum-based guava berry liquors and trying your luck at the stunning casinos.

It is an ideal island to chillax on!

It’s definitely on the list of top 10 places to go!


~ Michelle F ~

FIGI, the islands to get lost on.

Fiji may be getting a slightly bad rap at the moment, due to the military government. But it has been, and is a bloodless coup-De-tar, and is still regarded safer to travel to than Thailand. So here's a big reminder about how fun / low cost / and adventurous a trip to Fiji can be.  Fiji travel is the most popular of the South Pacific tourist destinations. With 330 islands, there’s no shortage of places to visit. The largest island is Viti"> Levu , home to almost three quarters of the countries 850,000 population.  On the sunny west coast is the tourist centre of Nadi with the international airport and gateway to the islands commercial tourist destination, the Mamanuca Islands and the backpacker hotspot of the Yasawa Islands.

Wailoaloa Beach

Nandi Temple

Denarau - sofitel

Presidential Guard

Shopping in Suva

Suva Creek

Craft Markets

Taveuni is know as the 'Garden Island of Fiji', it is the only place in the world that the flower the "Taveuni Rose" will grow, located in the 'Friendly North" is located 7 kilometres off of Vanua Levu. It is well known for it flora and fauna is a popular destination for many travellers and tourists. The island is approximately 10 kilometers wide and 25 kilometers long and has some of the most fertile land in Fiji. Due to the topography Taveuni offers a great deal of things to do for that active vacation. It is a place where travellers go to spend that special vacation or holiday in Taveuni's lush green rainforests. As you can see from the map another feature of the island is that the international dateline cuts the island, you can jump back to yesterday.

Taveuni Rose

 

Natural Water Slides

This is also the island where they filmed "The Blue Lagoon". Enjoy Fiji it really has something for everyone.

~Tora R~

Outlandish Scenery, Fabulous Festivals, Superb Food and Wine - New Zealand

Breathtaking landscapes, a rich history, unique wildlife and some of the most pristine natural features in the world make this island nation a must-visit travel destination. 

I suggest whilst in New Zealand you experience the exotic Maori culture walk through world-heritage listed wilderness, take a dip in a thermal pool, explore glaciers, get up-close with rare native birds or visit the home of bungee jumping. Plus there are cosmopolitan cities to explore, known for mixing sophistication with friendliness. 

There is so much to explore see and do in and so many travel options you can, tour the islands which make up the Bay of Islands on the northern tip of New Zealand 

Experience the diverse landscapes of the North Island, from the remote beaches of Cathedral Cove, to the natural hot pools of Hot Water Beach and the volcanoes of Tongariro National Park, there is something for everyone.

Enjoy awe-inspiring scenery with plunging fiords, majestic glaciers, temperate rainforests and stunning mountain ranges on this amazing trip around the South Island.

And then of course there’s the national obsession – rugby. After yet another dazzling failure at the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France, the All Blacks are desperate to redeem themselves on home soil in 2011. The most successful rugby team in history a 74% winning record! the beloved All Blacks. With the Rugby world cup being held right now in New Zealand now is the perfect time to absorb their passionate rugby mad culture.   

You’ll gain memories of rampaging outdoor activities to world-class food, wine and beer, and chilled-out locals. But your most sparkling recollections will come courtesy of NZ’s natural splendour – there are few countries on earth as diverse, unspoiled and utterly, utterly photogenic as New Zealand. 

~Lucy M~

The World’s Anime & Manga Capital – Tokyo, Japan

Konnichiwa! 

こんにちは!!

Japan or Nihon (日本) which I like to call it is one of the most exiting countries on earth to visit! The country has a long and amazing history, fascinating culture and architecture and breathtaking natural scenery such as the famed Mount Fuji and Cherry Blossoms. The people are friendly, polite and respectful and are always willing to help out. However, if you are travelling to Japan, it is best to know a bit of Japanese as most people do not speak English.

Asakusa Kannon Temple in Tokyo

Bullet Train passing Mount Fuji

Cherry Blossoms in Tokyo

Tokyo Skyline with Mount Fuji

Tokyo Skyline with Rainbow Bridge and Tokyo Tower

I have always been fascinated and interested with the Japanese culture and their way of life in particular, the Japanese popular culture – anime, manga and video games. Whilst there are many places to visit in Japan that I have found amazing, in this blog post I am primarily going to be focussing on my #1 location that I have found amazing in Tokyo, Japan’s capital and largest city. This place is none other than Akihabara, located in central Tokyo!

Akihabara, Tokyo

Akihabara, Tokyo

ARE YOU A DIEHARD ANIME, MANGA, OR VIDEO GAME FAN? Then you must visit Akihabara! It is the place I would definitely recommend out of all of the places in Tokyo for those who love anime, manga, and video games. I have to admit; I myself am an Otaku and have found it amazing, so anyone who is a fan I believe would definitely have a great time shopping for anime goods in this district! It also attracts many people cosplaying their favourite anime, manga and video game characters! You may even see your favourite character that is being cosplayed! So a definite must visit if you would love to see costumes! Where else in the world will you be able to see people cosplaying on the streets?

Merchandise

Maid Cosplayer handing fliers on the streets of Akihabara

American Actress Kirsten Dunst Cosplaying on the Streets of Akihabara

Otaku attractions I would recommend in this district would be the maid cafe. Maid cafes are themed cosplay restaurants where waitresses not only serve food such as tea and cakes, but they engage in conversation and games with their customers with the same respect as if they were serving a master of a house. Wouldn’t it be nice to experience what it feels like to be the master of the house? 

Maid Cafe in Akihabara, Tokyo

More Maid Cafes in Akihabara

More Maid Cafes in Akihabara

It is not only about anime, manga and video games though! The district is widely known for its electronic shops hence it is called the ‘electric town’ as it is the world’s largest electronic goods district. You can buy products ranging from robot pets and toys, gadgets, portable music and many more!

Electronic goods in an Akihabara Store 

So come to Tokyo, Japan and visit the Akihabara district! I guarantee you would definitely have a great time having a look at goods if you are an manga, anime and video game fan! If you are not, just come along and have a look! There is a bit of everything for everyone!

Happy travels and keep travelling the world!

~Stephen T~