Update from Down Under
Trip Start
Oct 08, 2007
1
55
110
Trip End
Dec 16, 2008
Sydney, Australia
Sunday, March 9, 2008
I am in Sydney. I've been here for a week, after a so-so week in Tasmania and a month of driving through spectacular scenery in New Zealand. I am off to Canberra today, and then to the Outback. The developed world has been easy to navigate, but largely unexciting. I can't wait to dive back into Asia.
For now, my plan is to come back to Sydney in a month, right before flying to Hanoi. Mel, the Australian chicca I met in India, is organizing a fund raiser for my appeal 100 Girls Back to School in Sydney, so I will come back to help her with the final touches and tell about my visit in Nepal, etc. Come to think of it, we should do the same in New York. Any volunteers in New York?
The question I get asked the most is ARE YOU ON BUDGET? YES, annoyingly so, smack on the budget. I was going well behind budget, but New Zealand and especially Australia are bloody expensive. I'm cutting it a bit short in Australia, so I can spend more time in Asia - a lot better value-for-money proposition.
The second most asked question I get is: ARE YOU NOT TIRED? ARE YOU REALLY STILL ENJOYING IT? Look, I'm gonna ask you this: Are you working hard? Are there 100 things on your I-wish-I-had-time-to-do-it list? Do you need a vacation? Well, I AM on vacation. There hasn't been a single morning that I'd wake up and say to myself - I wish I had to do a spread sheet, I feel like reading an annual report, I really miss those 10 hour days in the office.
I have actually been busy. I have been publishing a story a week in LIGHT since January and I'm really enjoying writing. I also very much appreciate and enjoy the feedback from the readers. The best part is - I am being paid for my stories, which allowed me to contribute $900 to 100 Girls Back to School already. The way things are going, while writing, I should be able to raise enough money to sponsor the complete $2,500 education of at least one child. At the end of the day, you've got to put your money where your mouth is.
I'm still in deep contemplation of the third most asked question: WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO AFTER? I have no idea, but I still have lots of time to think about it.
That's all, Mates. Hope you are happy.
xoxo
Vik
***
WORLD CHANGE STARTS WITH EDUCATED CHILDREN! Give a girl the life long gift of education! Support my appeal 100 GIRLS BACK TO SCHOOL! Donate at: www.justgiving.com/100GirlsBackToSchool
Your money goes directly to ROOM TO READ (www.roomtoread.org)!
Hugs & Kisses, Vik
Comments
Cool Trip
You sure know how to travel, and you seem to like a variety of places, city/outback,etc. I was suprised you just said Tasmania was so so. Was it raining? When I went there it was beautiful I even went swimming in the crystal clear waters of 'The Bay of Fires'. I'll add a link to your blog at www.sydneyfriends.tv/sydneysights.phtml.