The first day of my glitteriffic adventure had been a long one! It has been alot of traveling, and the way down to Auckland (after only 40min of sleep) started at 7am CET Friday the 27th of January as we drove from home, direction Oslo Airport Gardemoen. After having checked in and sent my neatly packed bag away, it was time to cram some quality time with my parents at the smallest table of the café. Hen it was time to leave to pass through security, an uncountable number of hugs and kisses were exchaned; even a few tears (mostly from my mom's side) were shed. Once through security it was just to follow aircraft schedule after aircraft schedule.
My plane to London was crowded, but I had managed to get a window seat and was more than happy just to be on the way and to FINALLY get some sleep during the 2,5 hour flight. After arriving at Heathrow I was excited and curios to see what this airport was all about after having heard that it was overly crowded and a trip in itself to get from one plane to another. Personally, I think this is a whole lot of BS! It was clearly open and information signs were EVERYWHERE! Never have I been in an airport with that many departure boards!! Altho it took some walking (and an easily found bus from Terminal 1 to Terminal 3) it was easy to find both stores, toilets and gates!
After grabbing an egg w/ tomato & ruccola sandwich I had time to browse the fancy smancy stores before enjoying a short iMessage session with Vesna and my mom :)
Eventually he "Go to Gate" letter appeared and it was time to find the gate.
And there, THERE it was: the pretty, high-tech, awesome crew and time consuming aircraft that was going to take me from London, via Los Angeles, to Auckland NZ, my very first destination!
When I say high-tech I really do mean high-tech. Altho I was not sitting in the fancy ass business class, it was wonderful :D Each seat came equipped with an individual multitasking multimedia screen with its own remote control/ game controller. This thing had everything I could even dream of and the 11 from London to LA and 13hrs from La to Auckland didn't seem bad at all!! With a selection of 70 different movies, 108 different tv-series (each with seasons of episodes), 9 different music genre music videos, 41 youtube videos, (76*9-4) musical tracks, 18 radio stations, 5 audio books, 21 single player games, 4 multi player games, its own kid section, on board menus, all kinds of news from a myriad of channels, weather, and lasty, a flight schedule with 6 different maps. It was amazing :D and I was super happy!!
D
I managed to watch 2 Big Bang Theory episodes, 2 movies (Puss in Boots, How does she do it), an xmas special of My Family, muchos music videos and halfway through season 1 of cougar town.
Before anything else I HAVE to mention the absolutely BEST safetyvideo I have ever seen! I donno if u can youtube it, but if not, let me just tell u it contained: body painted suits, retro workout video, roller blade party on lighted disco floor and a whole bunch of Kiwis singing, dancing and explaining the safety rules. Oh, and cudos to the crew, they are fantasticly nice, alert, funny, observant and what not; 10 thumbs up!!
For my first meal I chose the Tikka Masala accompanied with a glass of white wine (which was refilled 2times!) and it was delicious! For the second meal, well, I fell asleep (read:totally passed out!!) but woke up 55min before landing. When they saw I was awake they fed me with both possible dishes :P Quiche and chicken focaccia :)
Our flight plan was across Iceland, Greenland and coming from North Canada and straight over to LA. As we flew over the icy landscape of Greenland and North Canada I sat staring outside :P it was really pretty, alone and quiet.
As we flew in to LA the lights coming from houses, cars, street lights, etc was absolutely fabulous. Again, I was staring.
So far I have come to LA, and we're boarding the same plane again to continue to Auckland, NZ! As I have internet here, this I am posting this already as I am not sure when my next update will be :)
I am ready for another 13hrs, cuz now I am gonna sleeeep! Skipping a whole day and arriving local time NZ at 7 am in the morning, getting as much sleep seems lie the best idea :)
Ciao for now everyone!!! Hope you enjoyed my first REAL travel blog post!!
<3
January 28, 2012
January 26, 2012
17 hours before take-off!
My stuffed backpacked is laying on the floor, all packed.
The clothes I'll be traveling in are laying next to it, and my shoes and jacket are ready to be put on and tied/zipped up.
All my tickets, vouchers and travel guides are neatly stacked in my hang luggage along with some norwegian snacks (read: CHOCOLATE!!!!) for the 27 hour + plane time I have ahead of me only to arrive at my first location: Auckland, New Zealand!
I have gone through my packing checklist twice, so I am sure I have everything. Obviously the glitter is packed as well! My mission: spread a little love and glitter around in the world <3
The butterflies in my tummy are flying in all different directions, and I am getting increasingly excited by the minute :D It will be a little weird to leave my parents and a home for 6,5 months, but knowing what I have ahead I know it will not be so bad when it's first started. I am guessing time will fly by and before I know it it'll be 7th of August and I'm on my last plane back to Oslo, Norway.
Now to finish uploading music to my iPod, make room for more movies and pictures on my iPhone's and to fully charge both phones, iPod, iPad and camera!
If possible, I will update you all as soon as possible so you know I'm doing alright :)
Until then: HAVE A GREAT EVENING and hope to read some comments soon :)
<3 Annette
The clothes I'll be traveling in are laying next to it, and my shoes and jacket are ready to be put on and tied/zipped up.
All my tickets, vouchers and travel guides are neatly stacked in my hang luggage along with some norwegian snacks (read: CHOCOLATE!!!!) for the 27 hour + plane time I have ahead of me only to arrive at my first location: Auckland, New Zealand!
I have gone through my packing checklist twice, so I am sure I have everything. Obviously the glitter is packed as well! My mission: spread a little love and glitter around in the world <3
The butterflies in my tummy are flying in all different directions, and I am getting increasingly excited by the minute :D It will be a little weird to leave my parents and a home for 6,5 months, but knowing what I have ahead I know it will not be so bad when it's first started. I am guessing time will fly by and before I know it it'll be 7th of August and I'm on my last plane back to Oslo, Norway.
Now to finish uploading music to my iPod, make room for more movies and pictures on my iPhone's and to fully charge both phones, iPod, iPad and camera!
If possible, I will update you all as soon as possible so you know I'm doing alright :)
Until then: HAVE A GREAT EVENING and hope to read some comments soon :)
<3 Annette
January 13, 2012
ONLY 2 MORE WEEKS !!
Guys, I am leaving in 2 weeks. Actually it's less than 2 weeks since my plane leaves at 10.40 in the morning!
And I am excited and I am starting to lay awake at night thinking about what I am gonna see and smell and touch and feel and taste and experience and all that's more.
Since last time I have gotten my plane ticket from Sydney to Perth, the only ticket I needed to get myself :P
I have also made sleeping accommodation reservations in New Zealand (Auckland, Christchurch and Greymouth), Australia (Sydney only) and Cape Town. I already have accommodation in Johannesburg, so no worries ^^
I have also made sleeping accommodation reservations in New Zealand (Auckland, Christchurch and Greymouth), Australia (Sydney only) and Cape Town. I already have accommodation in Johannesburg, so no worries ^^
Now only to plan for Cairns area, Perth area and South East Asia!! Challenge accepted :D
But it's all coming along together, one piece at a time!
But for now, this is all I have to say :)
I will probably come with a small update on flight plans and such when I have it all in front of me.
Think about it: ONLY 2 MORE WEEKS !!!
I AM SUPERDUPER EXCITED :D
October 21, 2011
Short update on South East Asia + links
HELLO AGAIN !!!
There has been a slight change of plans as my parents trip to Borneo was freaking expensive when it was all added up to a total sum of $afreakloadofmoney!
So, instead of meeting them in Borneo I will now be traveling alone in that part of Malaysia as well, which will be fine as I will still visit the most spectacular parts of the Borneo Island which came highly recommended by Kilroy: the Orangutang sanction, Mt. Kinabalku and Turtle Island.Instead, my parents will come meet in in the US as a first thing when I arrive there, from 16th of July and staying past my dad's birthday (Aug. 2nd) which we will most likely celebrate in Las Vegas.
The offer of meeting me somewhere along this amazing trip still stands :D
I have had a couple of people tell me they might wanna join for this and that long in different places, which ofc is pretty awsome to know!!
Further on I have found some of the links to the trips I will be making in the different places so that those who want to know more about what I am gonna see and take part of (or you want to join in with) in the different places.
Enjoy :)
There has been a slight change of plans as my parents trip to Borneo was freaking expensive when it was all added up to a total sum of $afreakloadofmoney!
So, instead of meeting them in Borneo I will now be traveling alone in that part of Malaysia as well, which will be fine as I will still visit the most spectacular parts of the Borneo Island which came highly recommended by Kilroy: the Orangutang sanction, Mt. Kinabalku and Turtle Island.Instead, my parents will come meet in in the US as a first thing when I arrive there, from 16th of July and staying past my dad's birthday (Aug. 2nd) which we will most likely celebrate in Las Vegas.
The offer of meeting me somewhere along this amazing trip still stands :D
I have had a couple of people tell me they might wanna join for this and that long in different places, which ofc is pretty awsome to know!!
Further on I have found some of the links to the trips I will be making in the different places so that those who want to know more about what I am gonna see and take part of (or you want to join in with) in the different places.
- New Zealand - Top Deck Grand Kiwi http://www.topdeck.travel/new-zealand-trips/kiwi-explorer-adventure-jnz19/19-day-grand-kiwi
- Australia - Island Suntanner Reverse http://www.topdeck.travel/australia-trips/qld-jql14r/island-suntanner-reverse
- South Africa - Drifters Adventure Cape Town via Vic. Falls to Johannesburg http://www.drifters.co.za/displayCustomLink.aspx?name=TourVictoriaFalls
- South East Asia - G.A.P. Adeventure Indochina Discovery http://www.gadventures.com/trips/indochina-discovery/ATID/2012/
Enjoy :)
October 5, 2011
the WHERE and WHEN
Here comes the long, yet awsomly exploratory itinerary of my trip!
It's all organized with the Killroy travel agency where plane tickets and individual adventure trips from different cities/countries have been planned; transport, food, accomodation and a variety of fees in parks and whar not are included in most places. Still, I will have a few extra days in most of the cities I either begin or end my adventure trips!
Now, let the jelaousy begin :P
27.01.2012: It all begins! Oslo - Heathrow - Auckland ( New Zealand )
31.01: Auckland to Christchurch trip (Topdeck Grand Kiwi)
18.02: Arrive in Christchurch
26.02: Christchurch - Brisbane - Cairns (Australia)
10.03: Cairns to Sydney trip (Topdeck Island Suntanner Reverse)
when arriving in Sydney I will spend a few days there before taking a plane to Perth where I will spend another few more days before continuing on to South Africa; plane tickets are yet to be ordered
03.04: Perth - Johannesburg - Cape Town (South Africa)
07.04: Cape Town to Johannesburg trip via Namibia, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe(Drifters Advendure Cape Town via Victoria Falls)
30.04: Arrive in Johannesburg
01.05: Johannesburg - Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)
during this month I get to travel wherever I wish in this part of Malaysia; this will include going down to Singapore as well :)
28.05: Kuala Lumpur - Kota Kinabalu (Malaysia: Borneo Island) --> Meeting my parents for their part of this exploratory adveture !!
02.06: Kota Kinabalu trip
11.06: Kota Kinabalu - Kuala Lumpur - Bangkok (Thailand)
15.06: Bangkok to Bangkok trip via Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos (G.A.P. Adventure Indochina Discovery which consists of 3 individual trips put together)
14.07: Arrive in Bangkok
15.07: Bangkok - Seoul - Los Angeles
When arriving in the states I do not know exactly where to go from there in terms of when, where and how. However, I would love for as many of my friends to come and join me as the plan is to rent a camper van and drive around. This part of the trip is not planned yet, so donno where I am going to be when.
Have any good ideas for me (and my friends) please comment !!
It's all organized with the Killroy travel agency where plane tickets and individual adventure trips from different cities/countries have been planned; transport, food, accomodation and a variety of fees in parks and whar not are included in most places. Still, I will have a few extra days in most of the cities I either begin or end my adventure trips!
Now, let the jelaousy begin :P
27.01.2012: It all begins! Oslo - Heathrow - Auckland ( New Zealand )
31.01: Auckland to Christchurch trip (Topdeck Grand Kiwi)
18.02: Arrive in Christchurch
26.02: Christchurch - Brisbane - Cairns (Australia)
10.03: Cairns to Sydney trip (Topdeck Island Suntanner Reverse)
when arriving in Sydney I will spend a few days there before taking a plane to Perth where I will spend another few more days before continuing on to South Africa; plane tickets are yet to be ordered
03.04: Perth - Johannesburg - Cape Town (South Africa)
07.04: Cape Town to Johannesburg trip via Namibia, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe(Drifters Advendure Cape Town via Victoria Falls)
30.04: Arrive in Johannesburg
01.05: Johannesburg - Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)
during this month I get to travel wherever I wish in this part of Malaysia; this will include going down to Singapore as well :)
28.05: Kuala Lumpur - Kota Kinabalu (Malaysia: Borneo Island) --> Meeting my parents for their part of this exploratory adveture !!
02.06: Kota Kinabalu trip
11.06: Kota Kinabalu - Kuala Lumpur - Bangkok (Thailand)
15.06: Bangkok to Bangkok trip via Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos (G.A.P. Adventure Indochina Discovery which consists of 3 individual trips put together)
14.07: Arrive in Bangkok
15.07: Bangkok - Seoul - Los Angeles
When arriving in the states I do not know exactly where to go from there in terms of when, where and how. However, I would love for as many of my friends to come and join me as the plan is to rent a camper van and drive around. This part of the trip is not planned yet, so donno where I am going to be when.
Have any good ideas for me (and my friends) please comment !!
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