31st December – Our travels in a nut shell!!

New Years Eve 2007!!

Here's a quick Year in review.

On the 19th May, I asked Tan if she would like to take my hand in marriage and share the rest of our lives together. She said "Yes!!"
After a call from a mate, Brendo, we took the plunge to move overseas. Tania and I both finished up with our long term employers for a change of scenery in Canada.

We have visited another six new countries (not including Panama) on this years adventures. We have experienced some amazing things and wild weather. We have had a ball and so glad we started this North American adventure (which has now extended into Central America!)

Here is some video highlights!!

Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada - the Maid of the Mist tour at the foot of Niagara Falls. An absolute must!


Cape St Marys, Newfoundland, Canada - the most foggiest place we have visited to date and the wind was so strong!

Points North, Saskatchewan, Canada - first time in a massive helicopter, a Bell 205 or Iriquois (ex-Vietnam chopper) with Jimbo. A fantastic day!!

Points North, Saskatchewan, Canada - Tan got to see her first snow fall. After that we were the only people out in it watching the big fluffy flakes falling from the sky. Oh yeah, we lived at an airport for a while.

Points North, Saskatchewan, Canada - first time driving in a snow storm!

Raven Camp, Saskatchewan, Canada - watching the lakes freeze over from nothing to 5cm thick in three days. I'm in a t-shirt in -8 degrees throwing rocks onto the ice! We lived in a tent by this lake.

Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA - one thing we weren't expecting to see in 2007. Breath taking!

Playa Del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Mexico - I convinced Tan to parasail. It was so tranquil floating 100m in the air over the aqua blue waters of the Carribean.

Volcano Pakaya, Guatemala - standing at the toe of a slow moving, active lava flow watching new crust being made in fromt of my eyes. A geologist's dream!

These are some of our favourite vids of 2007 and we look forward to sharing more adventures in 2008. Happy New Year!!

29th November – Playa Del Carmen, Mexico

It’s tough business this “having a holiday from your holiday”. What shall we do today, laze by the pool or sun ourselves on the beach? We chose the beach and we were glad we did. As we walked down, in the distance, we could see the water looked almost turquoise. It was stunning against the white sand. We lazed on the beach for a while, had lunch and a few drinks and lazed some more. The water was warm and inviting so we snuck some swimming in there too. We were doing it tough lazing on our lounger watching people swimming, kayaking, windsurfing and parasailing. Dan got it in his head that we could not ask for better conditions than today with the sun shining and the water so blue. So, we decided add parasailing to the list of things to experience.

We suited up in our lifejackets and took a quick jet ski ride out to the boat where we watched a couple of girls go before us. We were itching to get up in the air. Before long, we had our harnesses attached and we were sitting on the back of the boat when all of a sudden the boat sped up, the rope was let out and we were away flying higher and higher into the sky. We couldn’t believe how quiet it was up there. We estimated we were about 100 meters in the air. The views of the coastline were fantastic and the beaches looked even bluer if that was possible. The boat took us out towards the deep blue water just beyond the clearly visible submerged barrier reef. We just floated along the sky with our parachute billowing out behind us enjoying the views. The ride was over far too soon and our rope was pulled in and we landed on the boat. A quick jet ski ride back to the shore and we were done and dusted. It was an experience we will never forget.

Later that evening we went to the “Mexicana” restaurant in one of the other Rui Hotels over the road. We had some good traditional Mexican food (a taste of what is to come when we hit the road on Saturday). We had the best seat in the house overlooking the ocean with the sound of the waves crashing in and the breeze blowing in. We’re loving the beautiful Central America weather!