Jan 31- Cricket at MCG

After work, we hit up the last few hours of the Victoria Bushrangers vs. South Australia Redbacks cricket match. It was a one-day interstate match so the entirety lasts ~7.5 hours vs. internationals which last 4 days! Anyhoo, it took us a while understand what was going on. Slow game.

Jan 29- The Royal Melbourne Hospital

So this is where we will be spending the next month. Here in Australia, hematology and oncology are separate, so I'm just doing solid tumors. The hospital is a bit like the VA in that it's a public hospital in a public health care system. The hours are great here too. The typical medicine resident works 8-5pm.

Jan 28- The Great Ocean Road

The view was simply breathtaking. Beach after beach of crystal blue waters and ideallic cliffs. We only made it to Lorne and it's waterfalls, saving the rest for another weekend, but wow.

Jan 27- Surfing at Torquay

After my first taste of surfing in Hawaii, I was all ready for the waves in Torquay, Australia's Surf Capital. It was rough going though with the cold wind and drizzle all weekend. I got up a few times, but my style points were definitely lacking.

Jan 26- Australia Day, Melbourne

It was a matter of luck that we were in Melbourne for Australia Day (the Australian equivalent of the 4th of July). It was a fun day with fireworks and a free show at Federation Square at night.

Jan 25- The Australian Open- Semifinals

I was so excited for the grand slam, I was giddy really. This is my 3rd of 4 tennis grand slams (Wimbledon, French down, US to go). The tennis was really good today too. We had tickets in Rod Laver Arena which was great because we got to see a men's doubles semifinal with Bjorkman/Mirnyi vs. Hanley/Ullyet. and both women's semifinals matches. Serena Williams v. Nicole Vaidisova and Maria Sharapova v. Kim Clijsters. Even though we didn't have night tickets, we still got to see Federer vs. Roddick on the big screen out on the lawn. It was an awesome day.

Jan 24- Lions, tigers, and bears...Oh my!

The Taronga Zoo is set on top a hillside facing Sydney Harbour. It's designed so that a cable car, the Sky Safari, takes you up to the top and the paths to the exhibits wind back down to the zoo wharf. Inside, there's everything from kangaroos and koalas to platypus and zebras. All those spectacular animals that you associate with Australia and everywhere else at that.

Jan 24- Sydney Harbour

Casey and I woke up early to catch a ferry and explore the harbours of Sydney. Sydney is very much a water-oriented city with beaches and harbours everywhere. We took photos of famous sites such as the Opera House and Harbour Bridge before strolling around Darling Harbour.

Jan 22- Sea Cave Canoeing in Phang Nga Bay, Phuket

The outcropping mountains emerging from the sea were a spectacular sight in Phang Nga Bay. We got to see them up close and even go in their caves in our canoes. At some points, the tide was so high in the narrow caves that we had to lie down flat in the inflatable canoes and even let air out to sink some. It was a truly breathtaking experience, though the bat cave was more breath-holding. I shudder thinking about it.

Jan 21- Relaxing at Surin Beach

Upon our early afternoon arrival in Phuket, we decided to rest up a little in the warm sun and cool waves of Surin Beach. After our siesta, we got hour long Thai massages on the beach for $9. Wow...I wish we were there longer. Anyhoo, for the night we lapped in luxury as we stayed at the Surin Beach Resort (a welcome retreat from our previous hostel stays).

Jan 20- Villages, Waterfalls, and Bamboo Rafting

Along the way, we got to visit a couple villages-- one a Hmong village in the dry hilltops and the other a white short neck village. Lastly, we rounded out our Chiang Mai voyage with a frolick in a waterfall and a peaceful drift along the river on a bamboo raft.

Jan 20- Riding elephants in Chiang Mai

This was an awesome experience. The ride was a little bumpy, but well worth it. I was really excited because I got to ride on the elephant's neck instead of in a bench seat on its back. Much to my surprise, elephant skin is tough and prickly. Elda and I's particular elephant was a bit willful so we took some alternate paths, but it's probably because we didn't have anything to feed it. Oops.

Jan 20- Chiang Mai Swinging bridge

Here we are in Chiang Mai in the Mae Wang area trekking across a swinging bridge spanning a narrow gorge and contructed of a random mix of woods including bamboo. It was great because before the trip, it's the one thing Elda said she refused to do.

Jan 19- The Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew

The Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew (Emerald Temple) were blindingly ornate as every surface was covered with either gold leaf or gems of some sort. This is just one of the mythical guardians that surround the Royal Pantheon.

Jan 19- Floating market

Floating market on the Chao Phraya river running through Bangkok. We downed some great tiny bananas and yogurt drinks.

Jan 19- Traditional Thai dance

Here we are at a traditional Thai house doing a not-so-traditional rendition of Thai dance. Be mindful that we'd just been given a shot of Thai whiskey.

Jan 19- Long boat voyage on the Chao Phraya River

On our first day in Thailand, we started out with a long boat ride on the Chao Phraya River. It was breezy and relaxing in the oppressive humidity of Bangkok. We stopped off at an orchid farm, bought some bananas off a floating market vendor, and saw the multitude of houses precariously supported on stilts along the river.

Jan 18- The Washiki, "squat" toilet

In Tokyo we experienced our first Washiki, or squat toilet. Quite a surprise in my travel-weary stupor when I first walked in the stall.

Jan 18- Tokyo Narita Airport

Our 4 hour layover in the Tokyo Narita airport was a good break. It was probaby the cleanest airport I've ever been to.

Jan 17- 2 days travel

So we left Wichita on Tuesday, Jan 16th and arrived in Bangkok on Thursday at midnight. Luckily on our 2nd and longest leg of the flight, we got exit row seats and were able to stretch our legs. I slept like log, though I don't think Sara was as lucky. Needless to say, we were dirty and tired when we finally arrived.

The Globetrotting Four

So here we are, the whole travelling crew, at last year's 80's party. From the left- Casey, Elda, Sara and I. Don't worry...we didn't pack the outfits.