Guess where we're headed?

We are certainly trying to make the most of living DOWN down under. So far we've been to the Riverland (a given!), along the Coorong to Kingston, Robe and across the border, the Barossa Valley, The Adelaide Hills, Victor Harbor, Murray Bridge, and the Clare Valley. And last night we booked tickets for MELBOURNE for our Anniversary! Woohoo! (For those of you with an impeccable memory, our anniversary is the 11th of June - the Queen's Birthday weekend. CRAZY that it's almost a year ago, huh?).

Neither of us have ever been to Melbourne so we're very excited about checking it out. We've heard lots about a buzzing nightlife, beautiful colonial buildings and unique shops, cafes and restaurants - sounds like Adelaide on happy pills!

We're also very excited about seeing Miss.Renee and Mr.Matthias in their natural habitat :D!!! We will also try to catch up with my uncle and his girlfriend for lunch.

AND...we're going to go see MISS SAIGON! I've been wanting to see this ever since we studied parts of the score in high school music. My teacher told me we would never get to see it in Australia as you cannot video it and it's never been here, but here it is! Just too much excitement for one day... As always, we'll post after we've been. :)

one year.

This morning Jordan greeted me with the exciting, 'Guess what?!' phrase. The 'what' is that one year ago today I returned from overseas.
I responded with, 'It's good to be home' *cuddle* followed by 'I wanna go again...'
I guess this is the 'bug' everyone talks about. Does it ever go away?
If I never get to travel again I will never forget:

• The manic atmosphere of the Grand Bazaar with its intricate jewellery, quilts and clothing.
• Eating sweet rice out of a bamboo stick.
• Climbing my first 10b at Planet Rock, Ann Arbor, without being 'on the rope'.
• The exceptional and breathtaking view from my aeroplane as we flew over the Alps.
• Wandering through the humid, cramped markets of Thailand with my Mum, Dad and sister.
• That quiet, quaint street of Paris littered with a pile of personal photographs.
• Floating beside giant monoliths in an 80m deep dam in Thailand.
• Awaking one Saturday morning to a winter wonderland outside my window in Ann Arbor.
• Drinking red wine out of plastic cups in our dirty hostel on my birthday eve in London.
• Wandering through the University of Florida in my first days in the US whilst listening to Stanley Climbfall on my (then) new iPod.
• The magic of Venice.
• The joy of a small girl in Detroit learning the difference between a 'b' and a 'd'.
• The stunning, surreal Le Mont St. Michel in Normandy, France.
• Cheese and Wine night in the attic of a friend's apartment with snow falling softly outside in Ann Arbor.
• The steep stairs winding up to the Sacre Cour.
• Seeing the sunset over the Gulf of Mexico.
• Walking across a frozen lake in Germany.
• Salzburg. :) xox
• Seeing Les Miserables in London. Thanks Danny.
• The Gospel Choir in Manhattan.
• Christmas carols with the Melches family beside their real Christmas tree with real candles.
• 'Craps' at bizarre times of night with Libby, Andy, Paige and Melissa.
• Visiting Lisa, Niagara on the lake and the Jackson Triggs winery.
• Driving from Florida to Michigan in the middle of Summer a cramped rental with broken air conditioning.
• New York cheesecake in New York.
• Being scared out of my mind about walking across the iced over bridge at Neuschwanstein.
• Sitting at the base of die Zugspitze (Germany's tallest peak) with Neish and Martha, eating our sandwiches.
• Laughing at my Mum and her incredible bartering skills in Bangkok!
• Our 'shut in' days in Istanbul with my ridiculously sick sister...:( But somewhat fun?!
• Dad taking me rock climbing in Thailand.
• The buzzing lights of Broadway.
• Cheering and taking photos of our speedo as we hit 200kms/hr on the Autobahn in Germany.
• Summer in June/July.
• Wandering through Berlin with Jordan over a cracked frozen river, past the Berlin wall, through graffitied neighbourhoods.
• The laughing, smiling faces of children in the Compassion compound (the 'happily' poor).
• Riding an elephant, feeling its skin under my bare feet and swaying from side to side under the impact of its giant steps.
• The beautiful people of Gainesville, Ann Arbor, Germany and Krabi, who looked after me.
• Sharing the joy of travelling with my sister, parents and husband.
• Arriving at Brisbane airport to my fiance, beautiful friend and my first ever surprise party...one year ago today.

For everyone who was a part of this amazing trip and helped to make it possible. Thank you. God: thank you for such a beautiful, diverse world...when can I go again???