From Alison
Hi Val - I emailed a while ago when you were in melbourne. I have been reading your travels with a great deal of interest...its been nice seeing your adventures. Its been a long time since you've posted anything though...are you ok? Cant help but feel a little concerned :)
Regards Alison
Response: Wow, I feel bad that I've caused concern! I haven't posted mainly because once I returned from my trip I got caught up with my summer job of being an administrator at a summer camp. However, I have been meaning to complete my trip and your interest has actually motivated me to do so. I've also been on a month long road trip recently that I still need to write about AND I've bought tickets for another trip in January. I hope this should assuage any fears and also get you excited for more postings!
From Peta
Hi Val, I have enjoyed reading your inspirational blog... but now i do hope you are ok, nothing has been posted for awhile. I only hope that it because you have been so busy and having fun? Kind Regards Peta
From Betsy
AHHHH!!! I MISS YOU!!! I hope you are having a blast...sure sounds like it!
Response: I definitely am! I miss you too babe! Glad you're enjoying the blog! Hopefully I'll get a chance to talk to live soon!
From Emily
Hey Val! It sounds like you're having a fabulous time! I love reading your blog, it keeps me sane :)
Miss you!
Response: :) Glad you're enjoying it! Miss you!
From John-in-Dubai
Good for you. One of the most-repeated (and probably inaccurate) statistics about Americans is that only 11% have passports - and that shocks and worries us from the 'travelling cultures' you describe in your introduction. One of the great things about travelling (I actually believe it's THE great thing) is that it enables you to understand how other people live and see the world - and to see that the way you know is not the only way, nor even the best way - it's just a way. It expands the mind. You go, girl. I blog here too, btw.
Response: Thanks for your support! I'll be sure to check out your blog soon too! I hope you're enjoying your travels as well!
From Ashley Ack
See you SOON!
Response: CANNOT WAIT!!!!!!
From Jenny
Hi Val ...you don't know me :-) A fellow blogger on this forum. (www.planetranger.com/casjen)
I like the way you broke out of the mould ... LOL . My husband & I are 'grey nomads'... been caravanning around Australia for 2 years so far. OMG It's still fantastic! We're in WA now. Cheers & welcome to Australia ... everywhere is different ...enjoy!
Response: Hi Jenny,
Thanks so much for your support. Your adventure sounds amazing. I will have to check out your blog soon.
If you have any recommendations I'd be happy to hear them!
Take Care!
From loren
yo. just had a quick catch up of the old blog. jelly fish sting sounds BAD. im glad you are still walking about. stay safe. love you loads (trying to convince sari to extend camp...?)
loren xxxx
Response: Haha the sting turned out fine thankfully. I'll do my best to avoid any future encounters, although I'm going to take a SCUBA course so no promises.
Keep working on the extending camp thing. I like the idea. That's basically what I've been doing anyway. I've pretty much spent the last three weeks exclusively with camp people and it's been fabulous! Let's just make a Chippewa commune where people can live all year round if they want! haha.
Love you!
From
Hi Val, well I'm another stranger, gatecrashing your site! :) I just wanted to say that I love your introduction and blog... nice work! I live in Melbourne so its been interesting to read what the city is like from a travellers prospective. If you can get there, please do yourself a favour and hit the Great Ocean Road, to the Twelve Apostles, Apollo Bay, Loch Ard Gorge and Thunder Cave - all around the same area and just simply breath taking - its a trip of a life time. There is plenty to see and do down there and if you can spend a bit of time, there is also the Fly (rain forest lookout) and several terrific waterfall locations (Marriners Falls being one). I do hope you enjoy your trip - keep writing Val, very entertaining. Regards Alison
Response: Hi Alison!
I'm really happy to hear you enjoy the blog. I'm glad I haven't disappointed a Melbourne native with my naivete!
I want to reassure you that I will be going to the Great Ocean Road on Friday. I will take your list of things to see and do my best to hit as many as possible. Since I am only going for a day trip I'm not sure I will be able to do it all, but I will certainly do my best.
I've already fallen in love with Melbourne so there's a strong possibility I will be back and will be able to spend more time at the GOR when I do.
Thanks for the advice and thanks for reading! Take Care!
From Sheri
Hi Val. You don't know me -- I'm #2 on the Planetranger top 5 this month (Hi from Snowy Southport). I can really relate to the intro on your blog. I've been through (?am going through) something similar with my life -- trying to find MY way. Just as an FYI, I found "Finding Your North Star" by Martha Beck to be a lifechanging book. I'm a million times happier than I was even though I'm going against what "everybody" things is a responsible way to life my life. Good luck in your journey. Feel free to email me any time.
Sheri
Response: Hi Sheri! Thank you for your message. It is the first time I realized that people other than my friends may be reading the blog! I'm glad to hear that living off the beaten path is working for you. And thanks for the book recommendation. I will definitely check that out when I get home. Take Care!
From Dadi Suissa
I just finished reading all the diary entries.
Exciting and interesting,
and it is also a good practice for my English :)
I can see u r going to have the best year ever !!!
From Kirsten
Hey you! OMG you were only here for a short time and I miss you so much!!! I am so proud of you and so happy for you! And you don't need to thank me I wish I could of helped you more and gone with you to the airport...Next time hey!? Have fun with my girls... tell them I miss them and to come visit! Give them all a hug and make sure Sarah and Gita take you to that Thai place - its amazing!!! thinking of you k! xoxox Kirst
Response: Thanks Kurst! I miss you too! I gave Sarah that hug for you and we talked about how much we both wished you were here with us. I'll be sure to tell everyone you say hi at the reunion tomorrow. Love ya!
From Sammie
Hey Sweetpea :-)
Glad you got to Australia safe and sound. Enjoy everything, and take pics gosh darn it haha i want to see everything ;-)
ps: you must see the koalas and take pics... if you can ...sneak one back in your suitcase for me:-)
pps: the pick of movies on your flight was a descent lot... :-)
xoxo
Response: I'll do my best on the koala front my dear! I think I'm going to see some (and possibly hold one) when I'm in Brisbane! Cannot wait!
Glad you approve of the films!
From Dadi Suissa
I only read the travel page till now, (and I'm going to read all the diary enties) and I must say u r totally right.
It is one on the best expiriances u will ever have.
Here in Israel u r different if u doesn't take a break and go to travel for few months after the army. At least once.
I traveled in South America for 8 months and I will remember it forever as the best thing I ever done. You feel total freedom, you learn so much, and you feel like God built the world only for you.
Keep having fun and have a safe trip,
Love from Israel
Response: Thank you Dadi! I love to hear about other people's experiences because it gives me so much excitement and hope for this trip.
Miss you guys! Lots of Love!
From Lauren Kurstin
Can't wait to hear about your adventures in Australia!!!
From Emily Dindial
Val! I am so proud of you! Have an amazing time and keep updating. Give all the chippies my love!
From Shelly
Happy New Year little sister. I see you're starting this year out very well. We all send you our love.
Response: Hey Shelly!
Sorry I'm delayed in replying to this. I just figured out how to check my messages on here. I hope you guys had a nice New Years! I miss you all. Lots of love!
From Alix
Just read your blog Val. It's sssooo true, I love it. You are an amazing writer, like I am there with you!
See you in, oooh 7 hours!!
xx
From Lian
Hi honey! I just saw this via facebook. I am so excited for you...this sounds amazing! Can't believe you're in London :)
Congratulations on taking such a big step and good luck!!!
xxx
Response: Hey Lian,
I'm glad you found the blog. Hope you find time to read it every once in a while.
London was great to see again. It was FREEZING though. Have you been back since we were there?
Take care!
From arielle
Val! I'm stoked for your travels! I am immensely proud of you! I loved reading all your notes and I hope you will send them to me! I loved visiting with you in London and I'm quite jealous (in the happiest way for you!) that you'll be traveling Australia, because I hope to travel there in the future! I fully agree with you about the way Americans are raised, it's crazy! And it's difficult. I wasn't ready for undergraduate study and was shoved into it, not by my parents, but by the society in which we are raised. Studying Chemistry, Biology, thinking of med school, not getting anything out of Physics, changing to Anthropology, graduating and spending a year restoring the deserts of California for AmeriCorp? I definitely think it's the outside experiences (outside of schooling, that is) that teaches people what they're passionate about. I hope you find what you're looking for, because you are such an amazing person!!! Love you tons! Good luck!
Response: Hey Arielle,
I'm glad this whole thing resonated with you so much. I hope you figure out what you want someday too. I hope we all do.
I hope you're well and had a great holiday! I hope you keep reading the blog!
From Samantha Ordonez
Hey sweetpea! I hope you are having an amaazing flight already! ;-) loves ya. talk to you soon
From Nick (Moore)
Hey missy,
Just read your big spiel above and its really great you have realised what you want/need to do before you got stuck in the rat race (which I am currently in). Your going to have such a fantastic time and meet all sorts of strange people on the way.. mainly good... but some weird - but no matter how good or bad an experience you have along the way... remember - every experience is a useful one no matter what happens....
Have a great time and good luck...
Let me know how you get on.....
Nick
P.S I am going to the Ukraine tomorrow.... I am still not sure why but should be fun.... Will be lacing my stomach with pure ethonol... will have a drink for you
Response: Hey Nick!
I just figured out how to read these messages! I can't believe I didn't get this before I made it to London. It sounds like you may have been in the Ukraine the whole time I was there, but it would have been nice to see if we could meet up. Either way I hope you had a great New Years.
I'm really glad you liked the blog intro. I hope I figure my stuff out. But either way I suppose I'll end up with a good experience.
Are you still working at the same place you were when I saw you a couple years ago? How's that going?
Keep in touch!
From Rochelle
All the best Val,
Leave no rock unturned, live like there is no tomorrow and most of all when its all over be sure you have no regrets!
If you make it to New Zealand, be sure to let me know,I may be able to help you out with a bed, a job or even just recomending a good place to eat or see.
Safe travels,
xxx.
Response: Hey Rochelle,
I just figured out how to read my messages on this thing! Sorry for taking so long to reply.
I definitely am going to NZ so hit me with your recommendations! I hope you're having a blast in New England! Miss you!