THE WORD Blogs

Let the journey begin!

By Bobbi-Jo // 18 February 2010 // Comments: 5 // Related Categories: Best Backpacker Job, sydney, Traveller blog

Almost 5PM on Wednesday, February 17, 2010. San Francisco time.

In Australia? It’s already the weekend. (What? Thursday counts.)

And I’m on my way!

To the home of The Great Barrier Reef, what I hear is some life-changing barbecue and, soon? Me.

Over the next three months I will be blogging, YouTubing, tweeting, Facebooking and sending up all types of high-tech smoke signals that will link you to all of the amazing activities and scenery along the East Coast of Australia.

Since winning the Best Backpaker Job (via YouTube competition and judging panel) I’ve been daydreaming (and mentally preparing myself) for all of the exciting things I will be doing on behalf of THE WORD and quite frankly being pretty honored that they’ve trusted me with the job of showing you Australia through my eyes.

So to that end, I will try to keep them open while I skydive (eep!) and laser focused on treating you to a perspective you might not have seen before.

And you know that saying, “It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey”? Well, I haven’t gotten down under yet, so for my first official blog post, I’ll tell you a little about my journey so far.

I spent the last week in Miami prepping for the trip. Getting a backpack (something I haven’t carried since oh, I was 8), burning all of my winter clothes (huzzah!), and kissing friends and family adieu for the next few months. I learned that not only is it possible to fit your life into a backpack, it feels pretty awesome (even if challenging) to have only what you really need and a big giant unknown world ahead of you to explore.

Today was an early start with a 6am flight out of Miami International, followed by a heavily delayed flight out of Chicago to where I’m sitting now: San Francisco. Even with the mini (read: 2 hour) travel hiccup and the 9,000 screaming children on the plane, I don’t think anything could possibly ruin this day.

I’m getting the chance of a lifetime to go on the trip of a lifetime, and the best part? I get to share it with all of you.

I’ll be arriving in Sydney Friday morning and updating you soon! (Jetlag is no match for this travel ninja).

So sit tight, stay tuned, and wish me luck!

Australia: I’m coming for you!

[Drop me a line in the comments! Let me know your best Australia memory or why you’d want to go there or even any travel tips you might have! You can even dare me (or triple dog dare me) to do something. Who knows? I might just take you up on it and feature it in a video blog!]