Kia Ora NZ!

The Vanua-Fire boys who are my new favourite!

Well folks, I'm back on kiwi soil - and I love it!

I'm spending my days catching up with friends, thinking back on a year of memories and thinking about how these experiences will change what i do. Life is a beautiful thing - I feel like I have been really blessed this year with the people I have met, the safety while biking and travelling alone, not ever getting really sick, not losing any baggage or having any plane mishaps, not getting anything stolen....people i didn't even know have looked after me time and time again and I am super grateful!

Thanks for supporting me y'all - can't wait to see you and say hi in person!
Arohanui,
Miri xxoo

Sista blong mi hemi nambawan!

 This is Paula. And Me. In Vanuatu. Oh, yea!

It was very exciting heading off to the airport to pick Paula up.....I may have got there ridiculously early.....and since then we have been checking out the Vila sights. Smolbag boys fire dancing on the beach, snorkelling, sailing, diving, eating....and enjoying the hot weather. (well, I am. Secertly Paula does also....she just hasn't admitted it yet...) I have enjoyed getting back into speaking Bislama and Paula is fast picking it up.

 A visit to the underwater post office is on the list of must do things....

 Friendly fish - enjoying eating coral and flippers.

 Mele waterfalls - you can't see it in the picture but there are beautiful clear pools, smaller waterfalls and general good stuff. Nice jungle walk to get there...sweet deal that we passed a whole bunch of people leaving as we arrived so had the place to ourselves for a while....before a few more tourists came along.

And the challenge activity for the week - off for a scuba dive. Paula touched Nemo - several times! Woop Woop. Shes also glad she didn't die. I turned around to see her holding the instructors hand at one stage....he looked stoked!!

Hanging with some turtles tomorrow. Have been able to also get out to Smolbag where I used to work and say hi to people there - Paula tested her Pottery skills which proved to be quite good....and we have been promised more island dresses to take home with us on our departure....lol

Great to be here hanging out together!

Aussie Adventures!

 Leaving Kapuna was sad! In the last 2 weeks I have often found myself singing Kapuna songs, flicking back through my photos and remembering parts of life there. Very fond memories! I spent a week in port Moresby which was interesting. Good to have a wee look round and slowly get back into the idea of 'developed' world living! It was still a shock landing in Sydney, navigating my way into town on the train and then across to manly - everyone walks fast, talks fast and looks busy! No more of the slow way of life!

 Despite this, nice to be back in a place where I can see the sea and go swimming!! Love it.

These are my 'Aussie' cultural moments over the last few weeks....
1. Seeing kangaroos jumping round the garden and dead on the road
2. Sleeping in a real Aussie swag
3. Watching a NRL final, with Aussies
4. Seeing the golden guitar in Tamworth, the country music capital of Australia. Woop woop
5. Spending a week in Byron Bay pretending to be a hippie (see photos below)
6. Driving down "Steve Urwin Way"
7. Getting hassed for my accent.

 Me enjoyinng the swimming and sunshine at Byron Bay.

 Drum lesson! My backpackers also had juggling lessons, bush walks, talent show, open mic, Quiz night and crochet lessons. Sometimes it was hard to leave.

And I've finished my time being in brisbane - which I have loved (really nice city) and today shot up the Sunshine coast for another swim at another beach. Note the LACK of sunshine......hmmmmm

Vanuatu tomorrow!