The To Do List

Starting a new adventure requires a lot of prep work. Renewing documents, booking flights, making living arrangements; it takes more time and effort then I ever realized now that I am doing it on my own. The first thing I did, renewed my passport because there is nothing worse then not being allowed into a foreign country because your passport is 6 months away from expiring. However, I couldn't just renew my passport, no, I had to apply for entire new one since my last one was issued before I turned 16, so that was even more work then anticipated. Travel tip #1: when applying for a new passport always go with the 10 year, it'll cost less in the long run and you won't have to worry about expiration dates while you're away.

I got my new passport a week ago, so for anyone wondering that was approximately 4 weeks. As soon as I got my passport I applied for my Working Holiday Visa for Australia. I applied online using the website http://www.immi.gov.au/Pages/Welcome.aspx. It was very easy and it only took 30 minutes to apply. An hour after I had submitted my application I received an email telling me that my application had been accepted!!! Such an easy process Leave it to the Australians to make life easier :D

Last thursday my mom and I went to Barrie so I could get a backpack. We went to MEC "Mountain Equipment Co-op", it is an excellent store with lots of options and the staff are very knowledgable and friendly! Shout out to Matt who helped me pick out my new 65L MEC Travel Backpack!

So now the only thing really left to do is save up my money :D I have bought by ticket, I will be flying out of T.O on August 23 and after a layover in LA and Auckland I will arrive in Brisbane on August 25! I have booked a bus to pick me up at the airport and take me to my friend Sarah's apartment whom Ill be staying with for the beginning of my adventure!

After every post I would like to end with an inspirational traveller quote. Todays post will end with one of my favourites, I'm not sure who said it but he or she was dead on!

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."

Cheers,
AJ