The past 6 months have a been a blur filled with: Crying children because we were the first white people they had ever seen, partying too hard with European backpackers, climbing live volcanoes, hanging out with cults, being adopted by a local tribe (of which Brian is the honorary chief), drinking the strongest kava known to man, diving some of the best dive sites in the world, WWII history, thieves, days so damn hot you can't move, and too many fish to count. Thanks to everyone we met along the way, see you next time...
Australia is a huge milestone for Delos. It has been almost 2 years and 10,000 miles since I hopped aboard in Mexico. Originally I was only supposed to be on for a month or so. As you can see that didn't happen at all. The great times have flown by and i'm finding it hard to wrap my head around actually being in Oz. This is where I have wanted to live since I was 7 and now it has seemed to all fall into place. I'm sure it will all sink in when we step ashore on the land of bloomin' onions, Fosters, baby eating dingos, and boxing kangaroos. Below are some of the things we have been talking about the past 6 months that we can't wait to enjoy. I'm sure most of you take these things for granted...
1. Eat at McDonalds and every other greasy, unhealthy fast food joint we can. If only they had a Taco Bell and Papa Johns.
2. Buy and eat an avacado
3. Drink the hell out of REAL juice and REAL Milk. No more of this powder shit, although if you take a spoon full of powder milk and a spoon full of sugar it becomes a hell of a party in your mouth.
4. Speak english with other white people. No thats not a racist comment..
5. Eat the biggest plate of Nachos we can find.
6. Rent a hotel room so we can take 3 hour showers and not worry about running out of water.
7. Go to a supermarket, not to buy things but to wander around and look at the selection.
8. Go to a movie theater and get sick off of cold coke and buttery pop-corn.
9. White women, No thats not racist either...
10. Fast, free, unlimited Wi-Fi....
I can see on the tracker that you are in the middle of the Salomon Sea. Amazing!
ReplyDeleteWhat a voyage you are making! :P
Mamma M
Add one more item: You can call the US and hopefully get better reception.
ReplyDeleteKeep your eyes on the news.
Take care when you get to Australia: The president is expected to announce that the U.S. is expanding its military presence in Australia, positioning U.S. equipment there, increasing access to bases and conducting more joint exercises and training.
The moves would counter an increasingly aggressive China, which claims dominion over vast areas of the Pacific that the U.S. considers international waters and has alarmed smaller Asian neighbors by reigniting old territorial disputes, including confrontations over the South China Sea.
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has said that the goal is to signal that the U.S. and Australia will stick together in face of any threats.
Deputy national-security adviser Ben Rhodes, speaking with reporters on the flight to Australia, said that serving as a counterweight to China's growing influence was just one factor in the ramped-up U.S. military presence in Australia.
Others included being able to respond more quickly to natural disasters in the region, such as the devastating earthquake and tsunami earlier this year in Japan, and fighting terrorism and piracy on the high seas to help keep sea lanes of commerce open.
An increased U.S. presence would help the United States "protect our interests, protect our allies" and help it "play its critical role as an anchor of stability and security in the region," Rhodes said.
Kim Beazley, Australia's ambassador to the U.S., said Obama's mere appearance was "enormously important" to Australians. And for the U.S., Australia's geographic location in the burgeoning Asia-Pacific region makes the longtime ally an increasingly important one as China's might grows.
"It's an area where the United States has got considerable freedom of action, considerable interests, growing interests," Beazley said in an interview. "And Australia is well-located strategically."
Arriving this afternoon, Obama is to meet with Prime Minister Julia Gillard and the two will hold a joint news conference. On Thursday, Obama addresses the Australian Parliament before traveling to Darwin on Australia's remote northern coast.
It's the first time a sitting U.S. president has been to Darwin, where U.S. and Australian forces were killed in a Japanese attack during World War II, and Obama will visit a memorial to the dead.
Obama also will visit a military base in Darwin where he'll speak to Australian troops and U.S. Marines. The visit comes as the U.S. and Australia mark 60 years as defense treaty partners.
In a region of the world where volatility threatens, Obama's visit is in large part about underscoring the tightness and steadiness of the relationship with an ally that has fought alongside the United States in most every conflict since World War I.
We love you-Donna and Dad
Yooo that's good shit bro... I would murder the pope to join you guys for one week.... or year. Guess who's moving to cali in january bro bro?
ReplyDelete