Jul 31, 2013

Fiji & Hawaii

Bula! Fijians are very nice and accommodating, though ridiculously slow at getting anything done (Fiji time, you have been warned). Having come from Australia wanting to occupy my mind, I went just a little crazy when I arrived and got greeted with "Bula! Welcome, it's Fiji time. Relax and do absolutely nothing!" And it is so true. In Fiji you do nothing but taking your time, spreading out your chores and sit in a hippie circle playing guitar and drink the traditional root drink, kava, at night. After spending many days sick in bed while the rain poured down outside, I was nurtured back to health by my little international clique and we shared some relaxing days eating, napping, doing laundry, sitting, reading, eating some more and sleeping. Which with ongoing, great banter isn't all bad! Doing nothing got more and more alright with this beautiful bunch!







When I felt well enough, I jumped on a boat to gorgeous Mana Island, where I met some fun backpackers, and a lot of beautiful dogs.There is tremendous beauty as well as ugliness wherever you go in this world, unfortunately this time I came across some of the ugly.  It's with a heavy heart I mention that I witnessed a lot of severe animal cruelty inflicted by the local men, and I interfered. I can hardly bare to talk about it, so my stay at this picturesque island was far from perfect. On a brighter note I spent about 40% of my time on the island socializing with some great people and 60% living with a pack of wild dogs on the sandy white beaches. True story. I made my way into the pack and moved up in ranks. After a couple of days I would at all times have a pack of at least six dogs with me wherever I went. Running through the woods, picking ticks off the puppies, and lazing on the beach together. Now that's my therapy. I looked wild and I loved it!








My next stop was Hawaii. I only had four days in Honolulu, Oahu, but I loved it. It was a busy and loud city around the clock, which I really enjoyed after Fiji. It goes without saying that Hawaii has a far more tropical feel to it than mainland USA, but you know you're back in the States when you have to ask if they put real fruit in your fruit smoothie. FYI, the answer is always no. Lack of fresh fruit aside, I enjoyed some wonderful days playing ball and tanning at infamous Waikiki beach, and playing Russian card games while having a laugh at the hostel at night. I finally felt relaxed. My last day I spent driving around on the island, hiking in Waimanalo, and chilling out on some incredible white beaches on the East coast, where I, to top it off, got to swim with some friendly turtles. Hawaii was exactly what I needed. It's good to be back in the States! Aloha.










Lots of Love,

Merete // Mellie

  

Jul 30, 2013

Australia

G'day mate! After I touched down in the land down under I let myself into my good friend Phoebe's apartment in Melbourne, where I would stay with her brothers. It was the coldest place on my trip so far, and I did certainly not have the appropriate clothing (read: WOOL!) in my backpack. It's always a good icebreaker when you meet someone for the first time and you're sat in their apartment looking blue, wrapped in their clothes (Ta, Nick). From then on out we were friends. A few days later brother number two came limping along on his crutches, and so I just never left the fantastic Livingston brothers. They're great.






The following month consisted of delicious homemade meals, lots of new friends and good laughs, visits to Ballarat, good ole' parties and pokies, wildlife park with really cool Aussie animals, fun and boozy Australian footy games and driving the beautiful Great Ocean Road with Hame. I am in love with Melbourne. Hidden cafes and bars, lots of culture and style, close to the ocean... A very happening place with heaps of awesome people. I haven't met a traveler who hasn't loved this city. I could easily live there. 






I did make my way up to Sydney for a couple of days, but it was monsoon rain and I lived in a skanky hostel between 'The Pleasure Den' and 'Happy Hookers', where lovely Nikki informed me she would break my fingers if I so much as touched her food, so I quickly made my way back down to Melbourne. And so life was immediately great again. 







One week later I flew to Adelaide to catch up with my fellow feisty Rotary friend, Sara Hondy-roo. It was so exciting to see her again, what a cutie she is. We went around to different wineries all weekend for tastings, never spilling a drop of wine, like the classy broads we are. Catching up over delicious food and wine ain't too shabby for Mellie! Great times.




I had such a fantastic time in Australia with all the people I met. It always sucks to leave, and I might have shed an extra tear leaving this place. Until next time Aussie beauties, hooroo!



Lots of Love,
Merete// Mellie











Jul 28, 2013

Japan

I embarked upon my two week long Japanese journey in Osaka and continued to beautiful Kyoto. Apart from the odd European here and there, I could tell that with it's european prices and distance from SE Asia mainland it with wasn't a backpacker hotspot. I spent my days in Kyoto walking around in historical Geisha areas, testing Japanese foods in the massive Nishiki food market and kicking back in my yukata (summer kimono) with some good ol' sushi.





After Kyoto I took a day trip to Nara, a really peaceful and green city with 1200 free deer casually roaming around as they are spiritual creatures and deemed holy in the city. They look so majestic, and I could get so close to them, so it goes without saying I sat in the forest all day long amongst a flock of deer. It was fantastic! 




One high tech bullet train ride later I was in Tokyo! Finally I was going to meet up with my Japanese friends from my year in the states, Mayu and Saeko, but before we could find each other a lot of hassle and stress went down and I was listed missing person number 1690 in Tokyo. When my search party, police officers and two hysterical and crying friends, found me I got a lot of anime tokens from the police station as a "glad we found you" present. Oh, the Japanese! 




It was so great seeing my girlies again, and the following days we were catching up, walking around the massive city, eating delicious Japanese food and shopping... a lot! Fashion in Tokyo is so much fun. People love being stylish and go all out. People watching was one of my favourite past times. 





After a good time with Mayu and Saeko I finally caught up with my good friend, Anton San, a fellow Georgia student. We went to phenomenal restaurants, Swedish parties, ate kanelbullar och hallon sylt and went to a traditional onsen. An onsen is a Japanese public bath, where you emerge your naked self in hot water with your fellow Japanese women, then you put on a yukata and drink beer and eat good food in the common areas. It's great! 







There's so much to say about Japan. The culture is so fascinating and is so very different from other Asian countries I've visited. Organised chaos. Strict rules, politeness and free spirits, all in one. The mind boggles. I'm excited for my next visit!

Lots of love from the travelling road,  

Merete // Mellie 






Merete//Mellie