Half-way around the World and back again () http://snooboo.com/half-way/ en-GB This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/ Tom Edwards Long live your dreams http://snooboo.com/half-way/travelogue/entry/50 the final post, from London When I left I couldn't believe I was going. I had a small book of tickets and some money. I had no idea what to expect or what to think, other than to go with the flow and see where I end up.

I can't believe I'm home now. Everything is as it was when I left, little has changed. I don't really know why I'm surprised by that. Driving along the M25 today with one of my friends, I found the hills and farms all so novel. There's nowhere else in the world like Britain; it's glorious.

]]> 2006-01-14 New York, New York http://snooboo.com/half-way/travelogue/entry/49 Posted from my bedroom, at home in London This edition of the travelouge is written by my father, Viv. My collected thoughts will follow soon.

The travelogue moves from sunny nanny Sydney to cold wintry New York. What could be more different? Tom arrives at JFK with the heaviest luggage anyone has ever seen. Soon we are enclosed within the Pennsylvania Hotel and four days to spend in the city that never sleeps. We catch up a bit and then find John’s Pizzeria on 42nd street where the pizzas are oven baked and the bruschetta are freshly prepared. We wander round the streets of New York enjoying the courtesy of the locals. We chat like extras in a Woody Allen movie.

]]> 2006-01-14 Sydney http://snooboo.com/half-way/travelogue/entry/48 posted from Sydney Andy and I walked through the quiet streets of Sydney towards the bridge. It was misty, damp and peaceful. We arrived at the Bridge Climb and joined a few other very tired (or mad) people who decided to get up that early. After getting kitted up with all the gear required, we set off up the bridge. There's a lot of steps and quite a lot of rather nervous areas where you just don't want to look down unless you fancy looking at the sea 50 metres below you, or a passing car on the road deck. The whole time you're attached to a cable that goes up the side of the pathway, so you're well attached.

]]> 2006-01-07 Climbing for Dawn http://snooboo.com/half-way/travelogue/entry/47 posted from Sydney If you saw me now, you'd question a few things.

First, you'd be slightly surprised that I'm awake at 2 am, on a Thursday morning. Secondly, you'd notice that I was drinking Red Bull and had a half-full box of Shreddies next to me. Thirdly, you'd query to why I was wearing trekking trousers and walking boots when I'm in the middle of Sydney and it is so early in the morning.

]]> 2006-01-04 Photos from Sydney http://snooboo.com/half-way/travelogue/entry/46 posted from Sydney We arrived in Sydney late in the afternoon. After getting our way into the city, we made for the habour that evening.

Opera House and Habour Bridge

]]> 2005-12-29 The Land of the Long White Cloud http://snooboo.com/half-way/travelogue/entry/45 posted from Christchurch Aotearoa, it's original Maori name, renamed New Zealand by the Dutch, is a remarkable country. After three months here, while doing a lot, I still feel like there's a lot left to come back for. I've done somethings I never thought I'd have the privilege to do, like sailing an America's Cup racing yacht in Auckland, I've done some things I've wanted to do, like sky diving, and I've done some things I wasn't going to do but did anyway because I couldn't think of a reason not to do them while I'm here, like bungee jumping.

]]> 2005-12-27 Christmas http://snooboo.com/half-way/travelogue/entry/43 posted from Christchurch It's very easy to forget it's Christmas. When Matt handed me some Christmas pudding last night while we were watching Lord of the Rings (Christmas TV in New Zealand, naturally...) I thought he'd gone insane - but it was still Christmas day.

Merry Christmas

On Christmas Eve we went out to dinner with a friend we had met in a national park near Christchurch. We had a hearty meal (I had local lamb!) then went out for drinks. Most DJs seemed to ignore that it was Christmas - but we had Fairytale of New York in the early hours.

]]> 2005-12-26 Jumping high, jumping higher http://snooboo.com/half-way/travelogue/entry/41 posted from Christchurch We arrived at the Nevis base, a small hut in the middle of nowhere. The 45-minute journey to the bungee jump was long enough for you to really think about what you're about to do. I really wasn't up for it when I arrived in New Zealand, it's never anything I've ever considered doing and I've never fancied it, but don't knock it until you've tried it. Besides, what is there to fear? The bungee is safe. If the people running it are prepared to jump themselves (and one occasion with their 7-year old daughter) then it's safe enough for me. You fall until the bungee reaches its maximum length - in this case, 134 metres.

]]> 2005-12-15 My birthday http://snooboo.com/half-way/travelogue/entry/40 posted from Queenstown I awoke to my alarm at 8.30, ready to leave to go sky diving at 9.30. After all the days of beautiful sunshine, wearing sunglasses and t-shirts, I was hoping for a glorious day of fun and sun. As I woke and looked at the gap in the curtains, I could see the rain dripping down and the smell of rain had got into the room. My phone bleeped again with a text message from Andy: “seen the weather?” The plan was for some sky diving in the morning, with some luging in the afternoon.

]]> 2005-12-07 North to South http://snooboo.com/half-way/travelogue/entry/38 posted from Queenstown You can do a lot in two weeks. For the last entry I was in the wonderful city of Wellington, after collecting Matt from the airport. Today, I am a long way from there, in Queenstown, adventure capital of the world. We've been here, there and everywhere on the way.

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