F*ck You, I'M AN ANTEATER!!!!

Saw this amazing street art of an Anteater, and had to reenact my all time favourite meme.  

Sorry Ma and Pa for the language but this guy is the appropriate response to MANY things in life. That is why he is my favourite. 

There was also this guy along the wall who was also pretty tops.

One Month Down!

I write from Rio de Janeiro! 

It is officially one month since I left Perth and one month since my travels began and what a great start to my #Funemployment 

New Zealand 

Although I had been in Auckland the month earlier for a brief visit it was so nice to return on happier terms. Last minute my flatmate Bec from Perth joined me for the start of my time in NZ which was great.  We relaxed at my family's Bach on Waihekeand I got to show her a bit of Auckland. Bec was lucky enough to take a crash course in meeting ALL Grace's friends and family. Faces to the names she had heard so much about in Perth. 

Bec and I on Waiheke

I headed South Island to visit my Grandma, Aunties and Uncles and a few close friends. Which was great. My Grandma in Dunedin is always lovely to see and full of great stories. She also has the best homemade muesli  

Returning to Auckland and comedy festival had started so I went to various shows Thursday, Friday and Saturday night. So great. I really enjoyed seeing Trygve Wakenshaw's Nautilus. A fellow kiwi, Trygve and I became friends when he was in Perth for Fringe World so I took my entire family along to his show fortunately we all have the same sense of humour and loved it. My dear friend Charlotte organised a surprise date day for me for my birthday present (from feb). We kayaked over to Rangitoto Island with Auckland Sea kayaks, which was an amazing. Aside from a little sea sickness on the return trip home - cured by singing 90s classics, a perfect day out! Would highly recommend. 

View from the beach to Rangitoto

A little less organised than I had hoped, after a final few days of catch ups, I left Auckland on May 4th to enter new territories, South America ! 

Chile

Santiago was my first stop. A manageable 11.5 hour flight from Auckland. I was greeted by Pablo a friend of a friend who was the most fabulous generous host !  He taught me so much about Chile. Especially about their tendency for all natural disasters of all forms, volcanoes , earthquakes, floods, fires. We went to the movies on evening and he explained to me in English the warning about what to do in an emergency "there are warnings about evacuations everywhere because an emergency will happen sometime".

I solo adventures to a beautiful seaside town called Valparaiso.  It was here in Valparaiso that I finally relaxed into holiday mode. I enjoyed wandering the street art covered lanes and calming my mind which had been so buzzy with sorting out all life in Perth. 

Valparaiso

I returned to Santiago and Pablo took me and two of his friends to his beach house for the weekend. This was bliss. Another coastal town Pichilemu is a hot spot for surfers. Pablo took us to visit the salt lakes which form when the river meets the sea. It was the most serene and beautiful place. So calm and quiet and a lovely spot for photos - of which we took many. It seemed like a rule when we left the house that all of us were required to be carrying two cameras not including our phones. 

Jetty at the Salt Lakes

Upon return to Santiago I had a couple of days to wander the streets and see a bit more of the big city before heading across the continent to Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. Home for the past two years to my very good friend Olivia. 

Brazil

Liv and I on a hungover mission to a secluded beach.

I have been having the best time in Brazil! Olivia and her boyfriend Rios have also been so good to me. It has been great to see where Liv has lived for the past two years and getting right in to Brazilian culture, including a fabulous glitter filled party. I write from Rio, but I have just returned from Igazu Falls which is on the boarder of both Paraguay and Argentina. I took a day over the boarder into Argentina to see the best view of these breath taking falls. It was a full on couple of days which included a spontaneous sky dive and checking out some Toucans ! 

A few days to relax here in Rio then off to Brasilia with Olivia, Rios and another friend of Livs. Should be great. 

Love Grace xx

South America, Santiago #1

I left Auckland on Monday 4th of May after almost two week of bliss back home in New Zealand to explore new territory, first stop CHILE!

I am lucky enough to have a brilliant Chilean friend, Sebastian who I have known for a number of years. He lives in Sydney. As he is from Santiago he set me up with his friend Pablo.

It was still May the 4th when I arrived. Which was a treat because Pablo is a huge star wars fan!

Welcome feasting of traditional Chilean style hot dogs.

My very poor attempt at a panoramic of the beautiful view from my room. I would like to say this skill improved over my time in Chile...it is obviously an acquired skill. 

Tree incased in crates. I like it. Simple, yet effective.

Our New Zealand Buddy Bear

Buddy Bears are a series of painted, life-size fibreglass bear sculptures originally developed inBerlin, Germany. The first Buddy Bear was created by the German businesspeople Klaus and Eva Herlitz, in cooperation with thesculptor Roman Strobl in 2001.
United Buddy Bears, however, are primarily about their message - a message of peace, international understanding and tolerance among the nations, cultures and religions of this world.

"Peace cannot be kept by force. It can only be achieved by understanding"

True that Albert E. 

A true chilean completos (hotdog) AMAZING. That is covered in delicious avocado.

Pit stop.
Coffee and Chileno treat, with a side of free WIFI.

I walked WAY further than I needed to got lost to the metro, ended up at a further away station...BUT I got to see this cool bridge. So colourful. 

B A N A N A S

Another beautiful sunset against the mountain back drop.

Parks and Recreation is ALL I can think every time I saw these guys!!

This was a wall surrounding a construction site...and someone had added a little peaking head and a larger boys head peering over the top.

It cracked me up every time I walked past.