Mike's Walkabout

Back in Civilization

2008-02-03T14:28:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone. I'm back from the boonies. I spent the last three weeks on a farm in the middle of nowhere in northern New South Wales. The nearest town had a population of 1000. I had a great time but it's nice to be back in touch with the rest of the world. My current plan is to find work in either Sydney or Melbourne for the next couple of months before I continue around the world.

Off to Surf Camp

2008-01-07T15:46:00.000-08:00

I'm heading up the coast of New South Wales to work at a surf camp for a few weeks. There isn't any Internet available at the camp so I'll be out of touch for a while.

Back in Sydney, Again

2008-01-05T15:41:00.000-08:00

I got into Sydney yesterday hopping that I had avoided the New Years rush. I arrived just in time for Sydney Fest so I still had to do a bit of searching for a place to stay. As far as I could tell Sydney Fest is an after New Years, New Years party. There were free concerts all over the city, including a city square packed with about 100,000 people dancing. The highlight of the night for me was seeing an traditional Irish band accompanied by a didgeridoo.

Duck Island, off Anse Vata

2007-12-26T23:02:00.001-08:00

Duck Island
Originally uploaded by mikekleiber

Tough Tree

2007-12-26T23:01:00.001-08:00

Tough Tree
Originally uploaded by mikekleiber

Tree at Anse Vata

2007-12-26T23:00:00.001-08:00

There's a strong wind at the beach.
Originally uploaded by mikekleiber

Anse Vata has a very consistent wind.

Anse Vata Beach

2007-12-26T22:56:00.001-08:00

Anse Vata Beach
Originally uploaded by mikekleiber

This is the main windsurfing beach in Noumea.

WWII Memorial Plaque

2007-12-26T22:51:00.001-08:00

WWII Memorial Plaque
Originally uploaded by mikekleiber

World War Two Memorial

2007-12-26T22:50:00.001-08:00

World War Two Memorial
Originally uploaded by mikekleiber

I have vague memories of being at the dedication of this memorial back in 1992.

Ils De Pin quiet lagoon

2007-11-11T12:52:00.001-08:00

Ils De Pin quiet lagoon
Originally uploaded by mikekleiber

Ils De Pin 2

2007-11-11T12:50:00.001-08:00

Ils De Pin 2
Originally uploaded by mikekleiber

Ils de Pin

2007-11-11T12:49:00.001-08:00

Ils de Pin
Originally uploaded by mikekleiber

Eleanor and I, along with some others, took a day trip down to Ils de Pin. We spent the entire day lounging around a beautiful lagoon just a short walk from the ferry.

Noumea Sunset

2007-11-11T12:46:00.001-08:00

Noumea Sunset
Originally uploaded by mikekleiber

This picture is from Eleanor's balcony.

Nouvelle Caledonie

2007-11-11T12:35:00.000-08:00

After spending only four days in Sydney (I'll be going back) I flew into New Caledonia. My sister Eleanor is currently living in Noumea, working for the South Pacific Commission, the same organization our Dad worked for when we lived here as toddlers. I've been having a great time here and my french is improving by leaps and bounds. My sister and I were invited to spend the weekend with some of her friends outside of Noumea and I got the chance to surf for the first time in months. It's a new experience to be in a line-up where everyone is speaking french surf jargon.

Fruit Bats

2007-11-11T12:32:00.001-08:00

Fruit Bats
Originally uploaded by mikekleiber

Or maybe Bat Fruit?

Downtown Sydney

2007-11-11T12:28:00.001-08:00

Downtown Sydney
Originally uploaded by mikekleiber

Sydney Harbor

2007-11-11T12:25:00.001-08:00

Sydney Harbor
Originally uploaded by mikekleiber

Sydney's Circular Quay

2007-11-11T12:23:00.001-08:00

Sydney's Circular Quay
Originally uploaded by mikekleiber

Sydney Harbor Bridge

2007-11-11T12:16:00.001-08:00

Sydney Harbor Bridge
Originally uploaded by mikekleiber

I spent my first day in Sydney walking around downtown and through the Botanical Gardens. Most of the following pictures are of the postcard variety. The Sydney Harbor Bridge and the Opera House are so photogenic that it is hard to take a bad looking picture of either icon.

Crossing the Equator and the Meridian

2007-11-11T11:49:00.000-08:00

My arrival in Sydney was fairly non-eventful. Customs in the airport was much smoother, and the people more pleasant, than my experience crossing into the US from Canada. The only thing they wanted to look at was the bag of candy I was carrying to Noumea for Halloween. After breezing through customs I made my way to Cronulla to stay with some family friends I had not seen for fifteen years. The next day I went into the city and took the following pictures.

Mike and Tom

2007-10-22T04:25:00.001-07:00

Photo 2
Originally uploaded by mikekleiber

Us messing about with Tom's new computer.

Sydney Bound

2007-10-20T00:03:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow afternoon I'm off to Sydney. I'll be staying with one of my oldest friends (we met before either of us had turned one) and his fiance. It seems that one of us might be growing up a little faster than the other. After a few days in Sydney I'll be jetting off to Noumea to stay with my little sister Eleanor. I'm bringing a care package for her consisting entirely of candy only available in the US. My backpack now holds jolly ranchers, jelly beans, various gummy fruits and watermelon bubble gum. I feel like I'm going into sugar-shock just thinking about it.

Yoga Space

2007-10-13T13:16:00.001-07:00

Yoga Space
Originally uploaded by mikekleiber

I have tried to keep exercising during this trip by going swimming, going on hikes and keeping up with my yoga. It helps when this is my yoga space.

Pig Lair

2007-10-13T13:14:00.003-07:00

Pig Lair
Originally uploaded by mikekleiber

Waikiki from Altitude

2007-10-13T13:14:00.001-07:00

Waikiki from Altitude
Originally uploaded by mikekleiber

Wind Swept Ridge

2007-10-13T13:13:00.005-07:00

Wind Swept Ridge
Originally uploaded by mikekleiber

Ocean View

2007-10-13T13:13:00.003-07:00

Ocean View
Originally uploaded by mikekleiber

Natural Arch

2007-10-13T13:13:00.001-07:00

Natural Arch
Originally uploaded by mikekleiber

Natixis Logo

2007-10-13T13:12:00.003-07:00

Natixis Logo
Originally uploaded by mikekleiber

Old Quarry

2007-10-13T13:12:00.001-07:00

Old Quarry
Originally uploaded by mikekleiber

Beautiful Tree

2007-10-13T13:11:00.001-07:00

Beautiful Tree
Originally uploaded by mikekleiber

Here are some pictures I took on a hike above Honolulu.

A Change of Plans

2007-10-13T13:03:00.000-07:00

I would like to apologize to those of you I called on Thursday saying I was leaving for Tahiti today. A couple of events have forced me to change my plans. Instead of flying to Tahiti today, I'll be going to Sydney next Saturday, the 20th of October. I'll have to visit Tahiti at some other point in my life. I would be more disappointed but for the fact that the alternative is Sydney.

Rainbow for Kate

2007-10-13T13:02:00.001-07:00

Rainbow for Kate
Originally uploaded by mikekleiber

Honolulu Sunset

2007-10-02T19:15:00.001-07:00

Honolulu Sunset I
Originally uploaded by mikekleiber

Honolulu Skyline

2007-10-02T19:14:00.003-07:00

Honolulu Skyline
Originally uploaded by mikekleiber

Diamond Head

2007-10-02T19:14:00.001-07:00

Diamond Head
Originally uploaded by mikekleiber

Here are some more views from the top porch. If you get the feeling that the views are fantastic any time of day, you're right.

Aloha from Hawaii

2007-10-01T16:29:00.000-07:00

I got into Honolulu yesterday and am incredibly happy to be here. As you can see I finally uploaded some of the photos I've taken since leaving Chicago. I'll be her for the next two weeks and then I'm off to New Caledonia. There are no direct flights from HNL so I need to go through either Tahiti, Fiji, or Auckland. I love that, that is my biggest problem at the moment.

Morning Rainbow

2007-10-01T14:49:00.001-07:00

Morning Rainbow
Originally uploaded by mikekleiber

Here is the view I had this morning as I woke up and did yoga.

Rose

2007-10-01T14:47:00.005-07:00

Rose
Originally uploaded by mikekleiber

UBC Rose Garden

2007-10-01T14:47:00.003-07:00

UBC Rose Garden
Originally uploaded by mikekleiber

UBC Totem Pole

2007-10-01T14:47:00.001-07:00

UBC Totem Pole
Originally uploaded by mikekleiber

Canadian Flag

2007-10-01T14:42:00.001-07:00

Canadian Flag
Originally uploaded by mikekleiber

Here are some photos I took walking around the campus of the University of British Columbia.

Train to Seattle

2007-10-01T14:39:00.003-07:00

Train to Seattle
Originally uploaded by mikekleiber

Lonley Hut

2007-10-01T14:39:00.001-07:00

Lonley Hut
Originally uploaded by mikekleiber

Lone Tree

2007-10-01T14:38:00.003-07:00

Lone Tree
Originally uploaded by mikekleiber

Red Mound & Yellow Trees

2007-10-01T14:38:00.001-07:00

Red Mound & Yellow Trees
Originally uploaded by mikekleiber

Here are some pictures I took from the window of the train from San Jose to Seattle. They are mostly from just south of the California-Oregon border. I like the color contrast in this picture.

Jordan

2007-10-01T14:36:00.001-07:00

Jordan
Originally uploaded by mikekleiber

This sculpure is in front of the SD sports museum. I took this picture because it looks like the sculptor gave MJ birthing hips and he's apparently being defended by a robot.

Balboa Park Museum of Man

2007-10-01T14:32:00.001-07:00

Balboa Park Museum of Man
Originally uploaded by mikekleiber

Balboa Park Arch

2007-10-01T14:31:00.003-07:00

Balboa Park Arch
Originally uploaded by mikekleiber

A garden in Balboa Park.

Balboa Park Prado

2007-10-01T14:31:00.001-07:00

Balboa Park Prado
Originally uploaded by mikekleiber

The back of the theater.

Balboa Park Theater

2007-10-01T14:30:00.001-07:00

Balboa Park Theater
Originally uploaded by mikekleiber

The San Diego Junior Theater.

I am Spartacus

2007-10-01T14:29:00.001-07:00

I am Spartacus
Originally uploaded by mikekleiber

A kitten without fear. Thankfully he hadn't yet figured out how to use his claws properly.

A Bigfatdog

2007-10-01T14:27:00.001-07:00

A Bigfatdog
Originally uploaded by mikekleiber

My roommate in St. Joseph, MO

On to Vancouver

2007-09-26T15:49:00.000-07:00

I've had a great time seeing friend and family in California. I started in LA with drinking and good Mexican food. Then I took the train down to San Diego. I highly recommend the Surfliner, watching the sun set over the Pacific from the train was beautiful. In San Diego there was more eating and drinking with friends. I also spent a day wandering around Balboa Park. I used to spend a fair amount of time there growing up so it was fun to visit that part of my childhood. I took a lot of pictures there and I'll try to post them as soon as possible. Tonight I board the train for Seattle then get on a bus for Vancouver to see my sister Danika. I won't get to Vancouver until 12:30am on Friday.

California

2007-09-19T12:25:00.000-07:00

I've made it to LA and I'm feeling good about being back in southern California.

Off to Kansas City

2007-09-13T10:09:00.000-07:00

I'm looking forward to some bar-b-q and beer. But I first have to tackle the eight hour train ride.

In Chicago

2007-09-10T11:49:00.000-07:00

I've been in Chicago since Saturday and am staying with college friends (Malcolm, Micah and their daughter Anabel, for those of you who know them) in Skokie at the moment. It should be fairly obvious that I finally managed to upload some more photos.

Jefferson & Me

2007-09-10T11:48:00.001-07:00

Jefferson & Me
Originally uploaded by mikekleiber

Here's the last photo I'll post from the DC trip.

Totem

2007-09-10T11:47:00.001-07:00

Totem
Originally uploaded by mikekleiber

Northwest Coast Indian Totem pole.

Stuffed Lion

2007-09-10T11:43:00.001-07:00

Stuffed Lion
Originally uploaded by mikekleiber

This is the first animal I saw going into the Hall of Mammals.

Elephant

2007-09-10T11:42:00.001-07:00

Hefelump
Originally uploaded by mikekleiber

The stuffed elephant at the NHM.

BigBird

2007-09-10T11:41:00.001-07:00

BigBird
Originally uploaded by mikekleiber

Another skeleton from the NHM

Triceratops Head

2007-09-10T11:40:00.001-07:00

Tri1
Originally uploaded by mikekleiber

I took a lot of pictures at the Natural History Museum.

Lincoln & Me

2007-09-10T11:38:00.001-07:00

Lincoln&Me
Originally uploaded by mikekleiber

Here are some photos from my visit in DC. I spent most of the time walking up and down the Mall.

Chicago Bound

2007-09-07T05:19:00.000-07:00

I'm getting ready for a 24 hour train ride to Chicago. Urgh.

Underway

2007-09-05T06:04:00.000-07:00

I left Boston on Sunday morning, taking the train down to NY for a one night stay. Currently I'm in DC imposing on the good natures of some friends from Grinnell.

Radio Silence

2007-08-27T12:18:00.000-07:00

Sorry about the infrequent posting. I no longer have internet access at home. Hopefully I'll blog more regularly when I'm on the road.

August 2007, Boston Public Garden

2007-08-25T11:05:00.001-07:00

August 2007, Boston Public Garden
Originally uploaded by mikekleiber

Here's a more recent picture of me from about two weeks before the leaving date.

Goofy Grin

2007-08-22T11:23:00.001-07:00

Goofy Grin
Originally uploaded by mikekleiber

Testing photo upload.

Beginnings and Endings

2007-08-22T10:18:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,

Welcome to my blog. I intend to use it as an online journal and photo album of my trip. I hope you will come and check out my adventures as I make my way around the world.

I'm currently in Boston cleaning out my apartment and trying to pack some things for storage or for the trip and get rid of others. My room is a bit of a mess since I've been in the same place for the last five years.