Buddhist ways of life

Hello everyone! We arrived in Noosa and had three days to just relax on the beach, hit the shops and cafe, as well as check out the National Park.  It was a good time for us all to rejuvenate from our packed stay in Fiji.   We then went to Chenrezing Buddhist Institute in Sunshine Coast Australia.  We've been here for a week learning the Buddhist lifestyle.  We attended a… Read More

Fiji Finale

Fiji, What an amazing country. We started out in Nadi, staying at Bamboo Beach. Serving as a baby step by teaching a few cultural traditions and Fijian phrases, Bamboo Beach was lots of fun. Nadi was very chaotic, with the food markets, lots of kava and loads of souvenirs. Free travel begins. We stayed at this beautiful resort called the Beach House. The best way to describe it was 4… Read More

Nasolo Village

Bula Friends and Family, Greetings from Nasolo Village on Vatu Levu Island in Fiji. We have spent the last week immersing ourselves in a Fijian village. We have spent the week constructing sidewalks and a driveway. It was definitely an interesting experience making concrete using sand and rocks and mixing it in a barrel that was cut in half with a hand saw. Our hard work paid off though because… Read More

Student Directed Travel!

Bula friends and family,                 This past week has been our free travel! As a group we found a great local hostel in Coral Coast right on the beach.  The hospitality and smiles of the Fijian people has welcomed us into their lives.  The hostel offered many activities to choose when and what we wanted to do.  We took advantage of the day trip to islands where we got to… Read More

Fiji Fun

Greetings family and friends, After many great experiences in New Zealand it was time to embark on a new journey; Fiji. After a short and much anticipated 3 hour flight, we arrived in Fiji! We started our time at the Bamboo Beach hostel outside of Nadi. Highlighted by kava ceremonies and picking out sulus in the city of Nadi, many group members got a taste of Fijian traditions. After a… Read More

Awhi Farm Experience…

For the past week the group has joined up with Awhi Farm to test our WOOFING skills. We have been a part of a variety of different tasks regarding permaculture and sustainable living. Every day, we help plant, harvest, nurture, and weed the different fruits, veggies, and herbs that are used to feed different Maraes and the Maori community. We also participate in other daily tasks such as gathering eggs… Read More

A week at the Korohe Marae

  After our action packed week of adventure it was time to dive into the cultural side of New Zealand. We arrived at the Korohe Marae on a sunny Monday, ready to live communally within the Marae. The Maori people who live on the marae welcomed us with open arms and a traditional Maori ceremony. The whole group didn't understand what was being said but we are sure it wasn't… Read More

Exiting the Void: an elaborate description of stuff

On Sunday, we arrived at the Blue Mountain Adventure Center; also known as BMAC. We took a day to settle in and hang out, but the next 5 days were fully packed with shenanigans. We started our first activities at 8:30 the following morning with group problem solving and teamwork games out on the lawn. That afternoon, we went caving about a 10 minute drive away. We split into two… Read More

Kia Ora Walkabouters

! Official Countdown: 7 days! Nina & Brian here, writing from Carpe's home – Portland Oregon. We are in the midst of preparing the last details of our journey together & took some time to appreciate what Portlandia has to offer. We also want to take some time to send a few tips to prepare you for our upcoming adventure! Spend Quality Time: take the time to have one last… Read More

One last Bula

One last Bula, Although we are no longer traveling as a pack of 13, the journey is hardly over. Many of us are still discovering the treasures of Australia, soaking up a few last rays and catching one more wave. Some have made the long journey home together, shared hugs and tears, and are relishing in the comforts of home. Fairly soon we will all be on our separate paths… Read More

Under da sea

  After watching a few safety videos, learning how to put on our gear and communicating under water in a pool, we were finally able to take our skills and head out to scuba dive in the Great Barrier Reef! The underwater life there was unforgettably breathtaking, and I’m so glad to have shared it the memories with everyone here who are now all certified scuba divers! After emerging out… Read More

Om…..

We’ve just arrived at the Bohemia Resort in Cairns, after a 22 hour train ride up the coast of Queensland. It was a long journey, but there were movies and blankets so it was all good, and still not as long as our Fiji ferry ride! Our peaceful week at Chenrezig Buddhist Institute brought us mindfulness, new revelations, new friends and amazing food. We all got a lot out of… Read More