Kayaking with Dolphins & a Farewell to NZ!!!!

Hello there Loves,
I have left NZ! The photos are of Stuart Island, so beautiful!!! The bird is a NZ Shag!!! The sign tells all, bird crossing!!!!! I love the signs in that country and in OZ for that matter.

Rob and I had a blast and it was just the most amazing place for hiking, nature and well, as one quote said-There is yet another damn gorgeous picture-talking about NZ! Yes it's such a gorgeous place. And the people were extraordinary! So sweet and such great parents. We loved watching them with their kids, so interested and so inclusive and wanting to be a part of their lives. So gorgeous.

So I had to leave Rob as well and that was hard, I really enjoyed traveled with him, having someone to laugh with and play with in nature. But it was good, it was a good period of time, it was nice to have time with him and share the holidays with him. I feel refreshed, relaxed and renewed having someone from home, someone who really knows me to be with me for a month. I am so much more relaxed now and just enjoying the moment.

But I have to say, as relaxed and calm as I was entering OZ wasn't a arms open, love hug. I was more like a hour of harassment. A word to the wise, never try to get in raw nuts or dried fruit into OZ, they don't like it. After at $220.00 because they thought I was trying to hide them, when I had written it write on my card that I had them I got to leave a free woman. They treatened of prison and bigger fines. YIKES! So a lesson learned and move on.

I just wanted to get to Byron where I felt nice and safe sound, like a second home. I got into my Backpackers on the Beach and just unwound, relaxed, walked on the beach. I enjoyed the warm rainy weather as I walked on the beach. It was stunning weather, the rain felt good and it was warm enough to have a singlet top on so I was happy. I just relaxed and didn't do much for that day. I have to say that I ate at 6:30am and just didn't eat again until 5:30pm as I was so tired. Not normal for me! So off to my little Japanese place to eat some great food!

The next day I had a perfect relaxing day of walks on the beach, writing some, hot chocolate, a delicious salad and OH, it was perfect, I went into a book store looking for the book A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini and they of course didn't have it as they sell out of as soon as it gets in. But this guy came up and said he just got rid of it at another shop. I busted a move and I got the book! I'm only 40+ pages into it, I so far highly recommend it though it's not a comedy, but I can recommend his other book The Kite Runner, it's sad but good as well.

I had an interesting experience next night and I only tell this as I want to warn people that things happen and to really take care. I went out with a group for a glass of wine-and yes it's true I've only had a half a drink in a year but I swear something was slipped in it and luckily my gut told me to go home then. I got home and almost got sick. I waited it out and I'm fine now, but especially ladies be careful out there.

So Bryon Bay has been heaven to be in though, it really has. I love my 6:30am walks on the beach, even if it's raining, watching the 20 something kids fix their breakfast in the mornings of coke and M&M's, seeing parents on the beach with their kids and an old lady laying in the surf kicking her legs like a kid with the water came in and getting up to put her cute little pink dress on to wander the streets in little girl clothes made for a big person!!!

But Friday I went to 5 Rhythms Dance!!!! It was my second time and it was so much nicer this time! I danced my butt off for 3 hours. Man that felt good, last time I was sick there and couldn't keep up with myself. I was in heaven to move my body and be with the music and my soul. I had some great connected dances with some really great people! But it did make me miss my own dance community at home!

The next morning I got up and met the first blue sky and white cloud morning and it was hot already at 7am. I said "yes, this is the perfect Kayaking morning". This was the perfect day! It was a great 3 hour journey. We had to push past all the waves in the Kayak, then wait for the others, as I almost got sea sick but it's all worth it. Then we paddled out over huge swells and kept paddling, going around the light house and there, in the distance-DOLPHINS!!!! Yes, playing in the waves, not just a few, but 5 or 10 at first, then we turned the other direction 10-12 more, turn again even more, paddle some more and there they were within a meter of our kayaks. So gorgeous! The babies just swimming, playing, surfing, having a blast with their parents and pals. Their perfect grey color, unmarred and just silky smooth and so light in spirit, getting so close, so trusting! It was gorgeous to see them so close.

Only once before have I been closer then this, on Venice Beach when I swam out with a girlfriend and the dolphins were pacing, I went out far and they came with 2 meters and then one came up right in my face, half an arm length away. I saw his green spots, his eye looking at me. How marvelous to be so close to something so precious!

So I thought that was it, we saw about 50-70 of them all around us in the waves, time to go in, normally you are sad to go, but two things kept me from that feeling of not wanting to leave them-thirsty and we actually surfed the waves in, in our kayaks. If you have never done it I highly recommend it. You are just pushed in by this huge power water surge. We got to do it twice. The second time we were pushed over but even that was a blast! The water being the perfect tempurature for swimming here and just a perfect day!

A quote I love: "Don't save anything for a Special Occasion, Life IS a Special Occasion!"

I am nice and relaxed here, loving my time here. I went to a movie the other day Atonement, though the story is sad the way it was shot was beautifully done. It's worth seeing just for that alone.

The women here wear dresses that barely cover their butts, like baby doll dress sort of but with nothing under them but a g-string. This is the fashion, as well as strapless dresses. It's interesting how they dress, I think I've seen this kind of dress in Miami beach only. Very skimpy. They also walk down the street, off the beach, in only a bathing suit, now I'm not sure about this but I rarely see people do this but here in Byron they do it all the time. I like watching the differences in people.

The other day I watched a whole group of people out for a surf lesson, it was so funny, all these beginners with these huge boards that they could barely hold on to and they were walking down the beach. I'm sure that would be me as well, they look huge! I was going to do a surf lesson for the heck of it, but I've seen too many injuries here so I think I'll skip that.

I'll be heading down to Sydney later this week to finally see Beenie!!!

I'll let you know what's up when I know! I'm very happy to be with my own computer in a cafe and even better with free wi-fi!!!
Ok, much love and many hugs to you. Remember to live for this moment, be happy and be free!!!!

I send you love, Heather

New Zealand Photos!!!!

Enjoy!!!!!

Listening to Nature in NZ!

Dearest Ones

How are you? How is your soul? Have you found time for nature today? Hugged a tree or a rock? Well here in New Zealand it's fun to do all of that!



New Zealand has been incredible. Yes I want more time here and so does Rob and I’ve tried to talk him into staying but honestly I feel like I’ve seen the best of this country and to try to stay without him here seems very strange. So I’ll move on back to OZ and see my friends in Sydney and Tasmania, hook up with some friends in Victoria and Taz as well.



New Zealand has been one big breath taking place. It seems like every where I turn I want to remember this vision, there is another photo to take to remember to feel to see. I’ve never been in such a beautiful place. I can’t say it’s even honestly hit me how gorgeous it is here. We’ve been so busy traveling, hiking, exploring, laughing, recovering from backpacking, healing from this cough that is almost gone, that to stop to really feel it all is pretty powerful. I keep checking in to see if I want to stay. It’s so magical here. But I feel it’s time to let go, release it and allow for more exploration of OZ and for NZ another trip. I really feel we have seen the best of this gorgeous place.



We have hiked around blue glaciers of ice that are so huge it blows your mind. Then there are all the rivers and waterfalls that are unbelievable. It’s shocking there is so much water here, even without raining daily. But the snow is melting so it keeps it going.



We went to Milfred Sound, which by far is the most incredible place we saw here on the South Island! We took a boat ride to explore it closer in depth and what a magical place! It steals your heart and opens your mind to what is nature, how it can touch you and brings out all your feelings of love of all that is natural. STUNNING, is the best word that describes it! We drove out there in the rain and spent the night and when driving back it was clear and gorgeous. But honestly it was more photogenic in the rain! But both were stunning. It was shocking to see how the land absorbs the rain over night or even within hours. As we had a down pour off and on all day but a constant rain all day for sure and by the end of the day around 8pm when the rain stopped within an hour the waterfalls started to dissipate to almost nothing.



Oh something that is incredible here, is it is still light out until at least 10pm. So here it is 8 or 9pm and you are thinking, “oh it’s time for dinner” and you look at the time and it’s almost time to go to bed. As the sun doesn’t go down at any normal time for us here. So we have adjusted accordingly but it’s still odd to be able to start a hike at 5pm and know you have 5 hours of light. But I love it, more time to hike!!!! Though I think I hiked Rob out!



It’s been such a pleasure to have Rob here, someone to share this journey with, laugh with and have experiences with and backpack with. In Milfred Sound we hiked the Kapler Trail, it’s a 3 day trip, 60km, that’s about 12+ miles a day I think with packs on-yikes! I loved it. The first day was good except we didn’t know how far we had gone, we kept going up and up, through limestone cliffs, lots of green, views of the huge lakes around, with lots of trees, fresh air and blue skies. We got up to tree line, came out to the wind, and a blessing-A SIGN!!! Saying 400kms to where we’d be staying!!!! What a lovely sign! The backpacking here isn’t completely roughing it as you stay in huts and you don’t have to take a tent or a stove, but everything else you need. It’s was great to have an indoor place to be with all the wind. I think they provide shelter as to care for the land as well as the wind would probably take everything away.



I loved how they cared for the land, they at times at trails, at times they’d build a wooden track above the land to not wear it down. AND GET THIS, NO GARBAGE! This country is so clean, no one puts their garbage anywhere. You walk to the most touristed areas and there is not litter everywhere. If they can do this here, why not everywhere!!! How brilliant! I love how clean this country is. You can see how much they respect and love their land and country by how they take care of it. They have a lot of recycling which is nice, we have to look for organic and normally we can find it too! We can find some at least in even small towns. The only odd thing they have that seems out of place is a lot of diesel cars and no smog/emission tests to control the pollution in cars, so they are a bit stinky! Time to change that before it gets too bad but they are doing so well with everything else it’s just lovely!



From Milfred Sound we took off to Stewart Island where we mostly relaxed and recovered from the intensity of almost being blown off the mountain in Milfred Sound. Oh, the backpacking, we fixed a nice dinner that night, watched the sun going down over the rivers, lakes and mountains surrounding us. The mountains turned pink and purple around us. I read from The Mastery of Love and it is blowing me away more and more, how simple love can be and how hard with make it. So beautiful! I’d recommend this to everyone it’s so gorgeous.



The next morning we took off into the blustery wind. They said at times it got up to 75-100knots of wind (not sure that’s how you spell it or write knots, nots, kts, who knows). But we were going up this mountain, got to the top and decided not to go to the peak as it almost blew me off. Then we had to go in between two mountains, we were being pushed and blown this way and that way. I was cracking up, it was hilarious, I felt drunk, as I couldn’t walk straight it was so intense. I felt like I had no control of where I walked. I’d push into the wind and then it would stop and I’d almost fall over, I wouldn’t push into it and then it would almost push me over.



The most intense part though was coming down the other side, after hiking about 4 hours on the top of the mountain. They had these stairs to come down, the wind straight at us from the right and at one point I had to sit on the stairs to keep from being blown off the stairs onto the cliffs of the land. Rob almost got blown off if it wasn’t for a rock that saved him that he got to hang on to and get up and go on. So here I was sitting on the steps wanting to scoot down on my butt but the back pack stopped me from doing that. So I had to keep getting up and sitting down until the wind cut down some and I could stand up and walk down the stairs. As the wind kept going, if it came up from our feet it was fine but directly from out left was hard to handle.



We finally got back into the tree line where we could start taking off our clothes to protect us from the elements, the rain/wind coats, the scarves, the layers for warmth. Then came the trees that had fuzzy moss all over them, bright yellow and green. So gorgeous! Lots of photos later. First part of the day I was looking out over lakes, brilliant mountains and taking photos of the valleys around, almost being blown off the mountain, dropping my camera once when the wind blew me down, (Rob had his sunglasses blown from his face and it took him 10 minutes or so to realize it, but luckily someone found them and gave them to us at the next shelter to stop at) but now in the tree line, nice and comfy in protection, green and beautiful. Then it was 2-3 hours down to the next hut, which was a great home! No wind, calm and gorgeous with a waterfall near by, but lots of sand flies so we didn’t stay out too long.



The next morning we woke up to rain, we were told it was supposed to rain all day. So we accepted that and went off to the pretty flat track all the way out, but it only rained the first hour maybe. So we got blue skies, waterfalls, rainbows in the waterfalls, and lushness all around us for the 7 hour journey out. I have to say I have never backpacked where I have packed everyday for at least 6-7 hours everyday. The first day, since we started late in the day, was hard on me, as I am a morning person. But the second day leaving early was great for me and powerful. Buy the last day it was great, except one toe not being too happy with being in my boots any more. Rob got blisters, but he’s recovering quite nicely!



So Stewart Island was a welcomed restful place to sleep in, take hikes in the late morning and afternoon and evenings. We enjoyed all the nature loving people in the backpackers place we stayed and strolled on some gorgeous beaches that would blow your soul right out of the water to know even on a weekend only 7-10 people where there enjoying them with their family, laughing and playing. So peaceful there.



We found one beach that was very nice, as we walked up it we saw a bird that looked dead but it must have been in shock because as we got closer it jumped up and we could tell it was injured. The poor little thing. He was so beautiful, he is a New Zealand Shag, yes there is such a bird called a Shag, lots of different kinds of shags actually! We tried getting him help in town but since they aren’t endangered they wouldn’t do anything for him.



We were given some gorgeous fish there at the backpackers the first night there, it was caught that day. We almost had Poua with a bunch of people, a local shell fish but we were too late, it was great, everyone would catch fish during the day and there was so much they’d share with everyone at night.



So our last night there was relaxing, we ate, packed and did not a whole lot of anything. This island called for a lot of dreams. Dreamt of my brother a lot and of his wife, very odd dreams, Rob dreamt a lot too. Funny how certain places make you dream. I even dreamt of dance friends at home. NZ has been a great place for putting goals and real dreams of what I want in my life into order. Nature being one of the main things, music, dance, and now that I’m getting my voice back I am starting to sing again. NZ teaches you in small increments to let go of the thoughts and start to see, smell and feel nature. It helps you get in touch with our roots of being one with the earth. The earth has spoken to me and has danced with me. I look forward to more of that.



As for now, we are about to head off to Christchurch and Akoroa, we will be swimming with the dolphins tomorrow and then on Wednesday I fly out to Australia again and he goes home. I will miss him and traveling with him! But I look forward to seeing my friends and going off to Victoria and Taz with friends.



I am off for now. I look forward to hearing from you. I send you lots of love and big hugs. Love, Heather

PHOTOS OF NEW ZEALAND AND CRAZY ME!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM NEW ZEALAND!!!

Dearest Friends and Family,


Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from New Zealand!!!!! I wish you all the love and joy this season has to offer you! May you be surrounded by the best of friends and so much love and joy and may your heart to so happy! This is a time to share with the ones you love. Share from your heart, not so much from your pocket book, but your heart, your love and share the joy you have with you. Open to your truth of who you are and let that being out and turn to your family and friends and say “Hey, I love you, you are and amazing being and I want for you all the happiness and joy there is for you no matter what.” So here I am saying exactly that to you! I love you! I appreciate you and think that world of you-even if I say it in a group email it is to you, individual and as a group, as we are all one anyway! So go be merry, happy and love! Merry Christmas!!


It's been lovely so far here in NZ! The weather the first day was gorgeous, warm, and clear blue skies with white puffy clouds. Rob and I got the car, made our way to Akaroa and the drive there was spectacular!!! All the rolling green hills, trees, blue skies, air so clean, the sounds of the sheep baaahhhing and the birds singing. It was so nice to see someone from home and be traveling with someone! What a beautiful gift!


We got to the top of this hill and was over looking the lake of Akaroa and the hills all around were just breath taking.


We got the house and “OH MY GOSH”!!! This place was gorgeous! Yes a little run down, needing a paint job but honestly who cares. With all it offered! We park at the door, the owners have all the windows and doors open, the man, Lou, calls out to us saying he’ll be right there, full of life and light in his voice. He introduces himself as Lou with such grounded New Zealand Cheer. He showed us the HUGE pool table, and when I say huge I mean huge, meaning it’s the size of almost two pool tables in the US! It had a gargantuan fireplace in the same room and windows filling all of one wall with a couch and vases behind it looking out on the huge grass yard with a large organic veggie garden beyond it-which we eat out of!!! YUMMY!!!


Next room over is the dining room with a Baby Grand Piano in it with the view of the mountains, fresh rolling green hills. Upstairs is where the real delicious part was. Our room……imagine a room with a Queen size bed, a dining table in the corner with windows looking in all directions in the corner, a fireplace next to the bed and then walking out on the extra large porch with a deep old looking tub OUTSIDE, with a bed with a four poled mosquito net hanging above it and a sun shelter pull down to guard from sun or rain or wind. So you can sleep inside or out! The view of the hills and the ocean from the other porch was just outstanding! So staying here by day of exploring Christchurch and looking around the place as well as just staying in laying in front of the fireplace sharing and cuddling as well as me getting well took up our days there. It was the most incredible, magical and best place I’ve ever stayed in my life and very romantical!


It was just incredible to take an outdoor bath with the stars above and the light cool breeze coming in from the ocean and mountains and take in the sounds of the cows mooing and sheep baaaing in the back ground. All the animal sounds came alive at night it seems. So gorgeous! The bathtub was so deep you could fit your whole body into it and possibly even put your whole head under without scrunching into it! Beautiful! Plus when you put on the hot water it is immediate hot water, almost scalding, so you have to be careful, but there was plenty to fill it and then some!!! So you can be warm, warm, warm!


And the food……it was……divine! We couldn’t have asked for more blessed food-Salmon cooked with the most glorious spices, asparagus, piles of veggies, salad, one night, other nights lamb, potatoes, more veggies and salads, and beef with lots of healthy things like steamed beets from the garden, served fresh to us each night. With breakfast being a HUGE bowl of cut fruit with all kinds of colors of Strawberries, kiwis, apricots, apples and many more, with toast, tea and ginger with lemon and honey for me!

It was so nice to be spoiled for those few days there. Moving on was hard but it was time after a few games of pool and a few delicious nights sleep there-us being the only people there.


Every where we went we found friendly people, so down to earth, authentically friendly, laughing, full of life and light. It was a delight to be around these people. To watch how they raised their children was even more of a delight. As they included them, they wanted them around, talked to them as people. It wasn’t as if they wanted them away, or they were too loud, or pestering them. They wanted to be a part of their lives, thoughts, ideas. They wanted to be a part of their lives inside and out. The children seemed so confident, so well rounded, so appreciated and appreciative. I’ve never seen anything like this in the west. It was such a breath of fresh air, I breathed a sigh of relief to have such love, laughter, joy, inclusion around at the next dinner table over or at the beach of a lake of everyone talking, playing, listening to music, working out problems and communication. This is how children should be raised, it’s just lovely to see a culture doing this and seeing how together they seem as adults.


We drove through the mountains and stopped at a resort for a dip in the hot springs but ended up staying over for a massage, dinner, a dip as well as a great night sleep, a lovely breakfast and then a very filling breakfast.


Driving through the vastness of the green valleys, the turns and twists, the clouds hanging just over the tops of the mountain tops and then breaking through to the blue sky at the beach, watching the ocean pound onto the pebbled grey beaches was just titillating to all the senses.


So driving south on the west side to all the jutting lush mountains coming out of the land, next to the sea was just a sight to be had for our longing eyes for nature. Here I was, “stop here”, “now here”, “oh, oh, stop here”. That was me, I couldn’t get enough. So many photos in so short of time. I’ve almost already taken my 1200 photos on my camera in the past week, of course that includes a few videos as well!!!! Much to share once I am back.


Now we are at France Joseph Glacier, near Mt Cook and it rocks the most so far! It seems like each place gets better and better. The blue glacier the moves a foot a year, maybe it’s a month, but I think it’s a foot a year, is powerful in its stature. It stands strong, powerful, unmovable yet feels like it’s moving all at the same time. The tall green mountains surrounding it are just stunning, whether in sun or in cloudy weather, it’s just miraculously amazing!


If you have never been here, you must come if you love nature. The sound of the birds, cows, lambs baaaing every where and so delightful to listen too. I can’t imagine eating the deer they have here for meals but they have lots of deer farms.


It’s to nice to hike by day see glaciers, nature, smell the freshest air I’ve smelled in a long time. As well as finding lots of organic foods and fallen back in love with nuts and dried fruits, YUMMMYYYY! They don’t have lots of organic and they aren’t much into health, but it is getting bigger over here and it’s very nice to see and taste when we can find it. Oh and driving opposed to busing it, this is like heaven. To go when you want to go, do what you want to do, I am really loving it. Plus listening to music in the car, windows down, fresh air in your face, feet sticking out the window, when it’s not too cold.


Some days are so gorgeous here, but other days I have 3+ layers on and a rain coat. But I have to say, it’s so far a lot warmer then expected and the landscape makes up for the chilliness!


It’s funny this place seems western but it feels like it’s about 40 years behind with it’s small towns, laid back attitude, things closing at 5pm, and when they say that Greymouth is the largest city on the west coast, well if you say a town with two main streets in it a large city, well, hummm…..that’s pretty amazing! So it feels a bit small and backwards but it feels absolutely amazing here!!! I am delighting in this place, enjoying all the hikes and nature.


The other day nature took me by the hand and started talking to me, showing me things, teaching me lessons. It was a beautiful lesson. It gave me a lot but I’ll share with you 3 words it shared with me: Love, Believe and Trust. These are some powerful words. The message was to be as the stone-strong and powerful within yourself, be as the tree-bend with life, allow for change of direction and acceptance, be like the river flowing around things, ever changing, going through and around things, being absorbed yet being part of. It told much more but nature has much to say and it asked to be listened to more and more. So to be silent with her, it is the best! Listen me, hear what life and the ones around you have to say. This is the important thing of the now. Who you put around you and what you put around you is what is important so take a look around, who and what is around you? Do you like listening to them? Do you want to hear more? Do you listen to it/them? Do you enjoy them?

My lesson is to listen more, enjoy life as a gift everyday and every human that crosses my path. Thanks for being someone that has crossed my path and that is in my life today. I send you love, Merry Christmas and have a very safe and Happy New Year!

Remember someone out here is thinking of you, no matter how far away I am, I am here, I feel you and love you. Love, Heather

Many hugs to you!!!!!

OFF TO NEW ZEALAND TOMORROW!!!

Hello there,
Yep that's right!! And I'm so excited! I get on the plane the first thing in the morning and then land down at 2:05pm!!!!
OZ has been great here in Bryon Bay! I've loved it. So many artists, fashions, the beach is stunning and gorgeous. Everyone is cooking themselves in the sun!!! I am getting well, cough has gone away by huge percentages!!!!
I send you hugs and kisses from OZ! I'll talk to you in NZ very soon! Have a blast in all you do! I am excited to get onto some of those mountains! Time to do some serious hiking!
Love and hugs, Heather

Driving on the OTHER SIDE of the Road!!!

Hey there lovelies,
Wow Australia is brilliant! In fact I really have to acknowledge that it's nothing really of what I thought it would be like-well except great beaches and green. But I thought it would be more mountainous, but it brings me new surprises everyday!

For example, everyone told me Nimbin-don't go there, too many drugs, hasseled all the time for weed, others said it's beautiful. Well luckily I went with my gut. I went, it is stunning, so laid back, yes lots of weed but I was only approached once on the next to the last day there. It had rocks jutting out from the rolling green mountains, rivers and water every where, the people were just lovely and it was so much cheaper then other places-fruits and veggies-YUMMMY! Oh and it had the best bookstore I have been in for a long time.

Oh, one of the books is "Who can you trust. Your health at risk" by Toni Jefferys. He talked about women who wear bras, did you know if you wear a bra for 12+ hours you increase your chances of cancer by 19 times more. Or even worse the ones that do 24 hours increases their chances by 113 fold for cancer! He also talks about plasics, cell phones, and all kinds of things.

Oh, I went to this most incredible art gallery, not having any idea what I'd find. But it's the best art I've seen in a long time of people. One art piece was of this man who is a doctor. Did you know there is a vaccination in OZ for Cerivical Cancer. Yep, I saw it on TV and what thinking "yeah right" but then I saw this painting, his name is: Ian Frazer, he believes cervical cancer can be wiped out within one generation, this is his lifes work! How beautiful is that!!! So ladies if you want to help you and your friends, this maybe the way to go. I'm going to see if I can get him on the phone for a chat.

Anyway, after meeting some lovely friends in Nimbin I went on to Mulwillembah-say that three times fast!!! I didn't connect at first but man oh man, it's a place I could stay for a bit longer. Rivers, ocean near by-from what they said, cute little shop, a salon that on it's sign said "you don't leave until you "love it". How great is that! And a cafe that said "a place to meet and eat". I want to own a place that says that. LA needs a place to meet people and eating is a good thing too! I met a French woman there that was great fun, we instantly connected. We may meet up in January to go trek around Tazmania together and maybe drive a car across to Perth, we'll see! She fixed us some fabulous chocolate cake and let me tell you, it was lovely! And her salad for herself was as if it was for a customer in a restaurant!

Oh, I forgot, I have learned how to drive on the OTHER side of the road!!!! Yep that's right, I do the turn abouts and everything now thanks to Dougs lovely instructions and trust of me driving his van! How great and such lovely freedom. That will get me ready to drive in my next country, yep that's right my next country is coming up in less then a week! Can't believe 2 months has passed so quickly here in OZ.

I'm off to NEW ZEALAND!!!!! Rob is coming over and we are going to have a blast trekking around and exploring AND having Christmas and New Years there together! So nice to have someone from home here with me, I'm completely THRILLED!!!!! OH and guess what, New Zealand will be my 31ST COUNTRY I've traveled in in my life! I'm so excited! I do come back to OZ so I'm not done here, thank goodness as it feels like I've barely even touched OZ.

This place is so huge I just can't see seeing it in even a year. I mean you can see the highlight possibly but not close to everything it has to offer. Just taking the bus 1 hour here today back to Byron Bay, if I was driving I would have stopped at least 2 time to check things out! It's definately a place a car is a good thing!

Oh, but the sand is so clean it squeaks when you walk on it, so white and soft too! I went to the Sanassin celebration with all the Osho people! It was very simple, nothing like I've seen before but it was nice to be in the energy of Osho peeps!

The place I stayed in Nimbin was just exquisite as it was right on the river so I went swimming in the river, read in the grassy field, walked through the farms through such lushness you could hardly believe a place exists. I love the weather here, it rains a bit and sometimes hard at times, but normally not all day, it just gets it on and over and then it's warm. Sometimes hot. But mostly it stays a lovely short sleeve whether from day break to night fall when you may put a long sleeve shirt on. It's gorgeous weather! Perfect for me anyway. When it does get hot, like it did this weekend the sun feels like it is going to scorch your skin. I luckily haven't gotten a lick of sun here-too scared of it really!

This is funny, I'm finally, after 2.5 months of being out of India, just now finally starting to show my arms and wear my spagetti strap tops without a top over it. Once in a habit it's hard to change it. Last time in India it took me years to wear shorts! Funny what you take with you of those things.

So I have got something that I never have gotten-I got the Whooping cough, yep that's right. Some have called it the 100 day cough but I found the most amazing herbalist today that gave me quite the concoction that just about kills me with the taste- so I'm sure it will kill this thing, with some pure vitamin C and she says I should be well by Saturday! I'm experiencing all kinds of things on this trip. If you haven't had this peticular cough I say to you "you don't want to experience it". Unless you want to cough so hard you think you are going puke or die as you can only breathe through your nose and not your mouth. But other then spitting up things you feel fine, unless you talk that is. That's the worst offense that makes you cough! : )

It's all new experiences. This is the first time in my life I've gotten ill 3 times in a year-The Universe is talking to me, telling me to slow down every step of the way, and now with the sore thought it's saying "stop talking". Ok, so I will. So I'm here at my friend Dougs relaxing, helping him out a little and just catching up on little things.

Yesterday, was great, yet it's the thing that took me to getting well to worse. I hiked Mt Warning!!!!! Have you ever seen the movie/cartoon Fern Gully? If not, see it! It's one of my favorites and it's based near Mt Warning. It's about fairies of the forest and how humans come and cuts the trees, leaves garbage, doesn't care for the earth and one of my favorite parts is when a human carves their initials in a tree and she takes his hands and asks him "can't you feel it's pain". The trees feel and talk and people well.....we have our own ideas...It's a gorgeous tale and the fairies are sweet and sexy!!!! Just in case the story line didn't take you in! ; )

Mt Warning, most people get up it in 2 hours and down in 2 hours. Well, even ill and forcing myself to slow down I got up in 1 hour and 25 minutes. I guess you can say I miss hiking, I miss nature, I MISS BEING PHYSICAL AND WORKING OUT! But I got it yesterday. And the great thing is the clouds parted right as I got there for 30 minutes and the view of all the green hills below was stunning. Actually the hills around it are hills from a crater. Mulwillumbah sits in the middle of an old crater and all the hills around it is just the crater edges! Stunning! I saw this one tree so huge around it would take 6 or 10 human to hug it and touch fingers, and so tall, well I have no clue how tall it is. With all the vines on it, making it even bigger around and green leaves and root every where. Huge bolders here and there, so large, it makes you feel like a midget.

It was lush out there, it sprinkled a little, showed me great views and OH, the frogs croak in different notes and thought "my friend Scott would love to be recording these little critters". I imagined recording all of the notes they sang and put them to music or on a piano to make them croak per key-How fun is that!!! Nature at it's best out there!

So you can say I'm loving OZ, though it feels like I've seen little of it. But hope to see more once I am back. Everyone keeps asking when I'm coming home. I wish I knew an exact address, but I'm sure I will by January know when. But right now I can say this between Feb and April unless I find work-more than likely March or April though!

I think the laid back spirit of the people is wearing off on me, thank goodness, how great! I'm not stressing over things I normally would. Like today, I didn't book my bus in advance as I didn't know I was supposed to so I called them and they said to go pay at the station. I went down and they said they couldn't accept payment unless I wanted to take a chance of the bus not stopping for me and me losing my money. So there I was on the side of the road with my bags, my two friends helping in the sun waving down the bus! It stopped, the driver told me it was illegal to give me a ticket but did it anyway and I was on my way to Byron! YES! NO stress, NO worries! Love it! They do like their rules here though, I'll say that but I was happy he was willing to bend them for me!

I loved seeing all the towns on the way down as I listened to my ipod playing Alison Krause, I love her voice! I love Oh Atlanta, but don't have a clue what her lyrics are for the chorus, pretty funny, I've listened so closely but I can't seem to get it.

So I'm going to pass this on, it's by Richard Bach, he says this "the opposite of loneliness is not togetherness, it's intimacy", thanks for sharing that with me Edgar! It's lovely! A good thing to meditate on and really feel!

I have met some great people the past week or so of my trip here and I am grateful, some I may see again, some we shared some lovely experiences and conversations. The owner of the hostel in Mulwullumbah was just beautiful, great spirit, fun, gave us ice cream every night at 9pm for free, played games with us until 11 or 12am! He made my stay there and he was sad to see me, the French girl-Steph and Adriane leave! It's like we all bonded in those 3 days! I love it!

Out there they have something called Water Dragons, they are huge lizards! And I think they are vegetarian! Tassie, the owner of the hostel in Mulwillumbah, showed me how to feed them grapes! I'd hold them a certain way, move it around a little to give it a challenge or maybe it eats bugs and makes it seem like a bug, but then it gets it in it's mouth, slowly, very slowly holds it and starts to squash it. It has very small teeth so it eats slowly. Good for digestion, smart bugger! I love the nature here, and there was more then just him, a whole family of them under the porch. I've seen them every where. Today I saw one in the hostel visiting, until it saw me and wobbled out on all fours!!!

Ok, I'm off. I love you, I wish you all the happiness in the world and if you want to come out and play I'd love to see you! Can you believe it's almost Christmas and a New Year-this year ZOOMED by! Love and hugs to you, Heather