Thursday August 3rd - London to Dublin

Another long day of travelling with a train and bus ride to Stanstead airport in London to then fly to Dublin. Flight was good because it only took about an hour after spending a few on the train and bus. A cheap flight like virgin blue so no free drinks or food to get through the flight. Once in Dublin it was a taxi ride to a friend of mum's place who lived near the city. Maurice was kind enough to let us stay the night at his place so we got settled in and then went out to a nice restaurant for dinner. Still had to adjust with the sunset at 10pm and the smell of the Guinness factory which was really close to his house. After dinner we ventured down temple bar and saw all the nightlife there was to offer, before heading through the famous trinity college were Oscar Wilde once went.

I'm in London town - Wednesday August 2nd

Wednesday morning we had plans to meet Denise at Victoria station and then head somewhere for the day and grab some lunch. We decided to go to Trafalgar Square and then walk sown to the Thames and see Big Ben, Downing Street and the London Eye. All four sites were amazing but the most amazing thing was the other kilometre after kilometre of old buildings that surrounded everything. Then there were places from the Monopoly board everywhere. Red phone booths everywhere. Pubs everywhere. Everything was everywhere over and over again. We took plenty of photos and then headed into a pub for some cold ales and lunch. After that it was back on the tube to Victoria Station to get a sim card sorted out (+447880791540) and some dinner to cook back at Holly's dorm.

Holly's arrival - Tuesday 1st August

Well it wasn't as hyped up as it was made out to be. Holly rang from the bus and said she would be in around 6pm. So from around 555pm mum and I sat in her lounge room looking out the window for her arrival. Every minute mum got more and more anxious until it got too much and she couldn't bear the wait. We finally got another call just before 7pm and she was coming through the front gates of the school and would be here in 5 minutes. We went downstairs to wait for her and then the cab came through the gates and mum was so excited. As soon as Holly opened the door the tears started o flow, then there was laughter, more tears and hugs and kisses. It was beautiful. Then onto me for my reunion with my little sister who had grown up so fast over the past 8 months away from home and becoming an adult very fast. We sat down together with Holly and 2 of her friends for dinner in their living quarters and heard al lthe stories from her 21 day Contiki tour through Europe. Amsterdam was the main story where her and friend Sally went through the red light district and then to a sex show. Thats right a sex show, not a strip show. They paid €26 euro each to experience a once in a lifetime thing taht they can always look back on and laugh about. But they didn't walk out they stayed for then entire 1 hour and watched it all. Mum was a bit shocked but happy that holly had ket herself go and see the world for the good and bad things that happen.

Flight from KL to London - Monday 31st July

24 hours of travel..... Don't wish it upon anyone. We departed my brothers house in Pantai Hill Park at 8pm (KL time), arrived at airport by 9pm, checked in, ate with them , said our goodbyes and went through customs. We had asked for an aisle seat and to be seated next to each other as there were no exit rows available for leg room.As soon as we got on the plane we were next to each other but with an aisle between us. The next thing I noticed was that there was no screen on the back of the chair in front of me. I had to spend the next 13 hours like this!!!!! We were able to do some swapping of seats so we were at least next to each other. It wasn't all that bad in the end as I watched the in house movie 16 blocks with bruce willis (ok if not average) then took 2 sleeping tablets after a few heinekens (the only reason to fly KLM - their beer is the best on flights) and passed out for a few hours. We landed in Amsterdam for an hour and a half layover before finally arriving at Heathrow in London at 730am local time (1pm KL time so 14 hours later), then it was onto a train to main terminal, 1 hour bus ride to Victoria Station in the city. We stopped there and bought some food and a phone card so I could call my girl. Then another 45 minutes on a train and a 15 minute cab ride to the school. We arrived 24 hours after we left Jas and Zabs house. We were exhausted and am writing this 4 hours after that. Relaxed now and Holly is due to arrive in an hour with some cool beverages to wind down and some wine for her and mum to enjoy. I have the camera by my side and will capture all the tears and upload for everyone to see.

Kuala Lumpur - Saturday 29th July - Monday 31st July

We had a great flight from Sydney to KL and took the express train from airport to central station were we had rung jason from the airport to pick my mum and I up but as usual we arrived and there was no one there.... we should have been prepared and when I rang should have said we were at central station ready to be picked up. Was so good to see all the KL relatives and spend time with Jas and Zab. As soon as we arrived at their place I went to the store and bought 4 heinekens to quench my thirst after the heatwave we arrived into as it is so sticky and humid there. They went down well as we stayed up chatting for a few hours. The next day was off to meet the relo's at Zabs parents place in Bangsar and catch up with the other now 3 married children and their loved ones. As usual Zabs mum Zabeda put a feast on for us and filled our stomachs to the brim.

We then sat around and told stories of the past and watched Zachy & Emelias wedding dvd from June. It was a beautiful wedding with the theme colour red and a wonderful event.

Zab, Josh, Izan, Me, Mum & Jason went to a vietnamese restaurant called Sao Nam on Sunday night and it was great. Sat outside drinking Australian wine at ridiculous prices (79RM or $30 AUS for a $4 bottle of hardys) but Heinekens were also there for ony $4. So I was happy with that. Food was great and we had a lot of laughs.
Monday was meant to be a relaxing day by the pool but we ended up spending most of the day shopping, eating, shopping, then eating again. We then decided to try go karting in the afternoon to unwind. Mum and Zab wanted a massage so we decided that mum deserved a massage more than we deserved to go flying around a race track at 60 km/h. We tried to fit both in but in the end we gave mum what she deserved. Then it was the usual rush back home, pack fast, eat on the run and head to airport. Airport ride was great for me as I had a chance to catch up with Gabbi via 20 or so sms messages on jasons phone. Thanks again Jas from Gabbi & I xoxo

When I met Gabbi - Saturday July 22nd - July 29th

I had no idea when I arrived at the Paddington Arms Hotel in Sydney that my life was about to be turned upside down by meeting such an amazing woman. As soon as I walked into Shane & Sarah's engagement party I looked across the room and my eyes came across her. She had this aura around her and I was instantly attracted to her and wanted to get to meet and know everything about her. After mingling with other guests it took me about two and a half hours to finally be by her side and be introduced to each other. Her name was Gabbi. From that moment on we didn't leave each others side. Right from then we had an instant connection that was going to flourish and go beyond our wildest dreams over the next few days. We spent every possible minute we could together and our relationship grew to amazing heights. Sunday morning we spent together and had breakfast in a cafe in Coogee whilst staring into each others eyes blown away with the connection we had found with each other only hours before. I rang Shane that night to ask about her and Sarah's reaction to the two of us. He said earlier on yesterday whilst going through the guest list they came across our names and joked about a possibility of the two of us being a match together. Well the matchmakers did a great job. On Monday night I left my dads house after seeing them off for my overseas trip and headed over to Gabbi's to see her. We spent the next 5 hours talking about what had happened between us over the last two days. On Monday Gabbi was looking into changing her xmas plans to come to Whistler and see me instead of Italy. At the same time I was looking into changing my plans and meeting up with her in Italy then having her come to Whistler and the cold snow. One day I would love to teach her how to ski or snowboard but I couldn't pass on the opportunity to spend a romantic three weeks with her in an amazing country. This all after 48 hours. We both said it was a feeling with each other that couldn't be explained in words and just felt like the right thing to be doing moreso than any other decision in our past. There were ecards going back and forth and later music cd's being made by us at the same time for each other. Thursday she had met my mum when we had dinner with her and then came to watch me play basketball. It was all happening so fast but that was what made it so special and so right. We both knew. I had asked her to come out to the Roxy on Friday night for Eskimoe Joe concert but unfortunately she had other plans with a friend so I was disappointed but understood and hoped she could come out later and meet us. Her plans fell through and I was soooooooooo happy that she would be able to come out and we could spend our last night together before flying out Saturday afternoon. We had a fantastic night with dinner beforehand at the Monkey Drum Thai restaurant in the Roxy courtyard where she met some of my friends and some friends very close by 2 degrees of seperation instead of 6. The concert was a sellout and they put on an excellent show. Afterwards we ventured downstairs to the nightclub and had a good time dancing to some old hits before retiring to our hotel by 2am. There were gifts exchanged and another up late night together as we knew we could always catch up on sleep when we were apart. Saturday was hectic sorting out last minute details before she drove my mum and I to the airport. There she then met my Dad and sister Kristie. It was a somber moment as I knew I still had to get away and take this journey to move on in my life but at the same time I was walking away from the person who made me have feelings I have never experienced and want to share more of them for the rest of my life.