You Gotta Start Somewhere....

This first entry seemed daunting... uninviting, and lengthy. I think the same thing can be said for anything in life; the first time you try it, it's scary, and intimidating, and seems like you can't do it. But that's why you have great friends to lead you down the path that ends with you ultimately jumping head-first into the unknown, so you can figure it out, and grow as a person. Either that.. or they say "Count to 3" and push you out at "2".

I've got one such person who I'm going to tell you a little bit about. I've known this girl for 4.5 years now, which at merely 23 years of age is still a pretty significant time considering I don't ever seem to stay many places over a year these days. Her name is Krysta Larson. I met her while we were both living in the MacEwan Residence Building while attending College during our first years. She was taking the Travel Program (already had stuff figured out), and I was enrolled in a Bachelor of Arts Degree (another convo.. for another day). Quickly I realized, not only does she have this unbelievable network of Friends and Family from Red Deer, but she's been nothing short of an inspiration for me that you should never settle for anything less than your dream. I've been reading her blog recently (http://krystaslittleworld.blogspot.com/) and the last entry is from today, and talks about the realization of that dream. As her 3rd flight of this new career dipped through the rare clouds over Dubai, and started it's descent just as the sun was rising, with Bryan Adams "On a Day Like Today" playing in the background of the intro "welcome to Dubai Video" the passengers are shown on the plane, I got a few tears of excitement in my eyes, feeling her joy vicariously through the text and characters on the screen in front of me.

She's the first, second AND THIRD reason for many of Adventures these past few years. I would never have even fathomed how AMAZING Australia could have been. It was through her inisistance, and my crazy New Years Resolution on January 1st 2008 "to do something Wild & Unexpected"... In less than 4 weeks.. (the most unorganized person you will EVER meet...had booked his QANTAS Plane Ticket, found an Aussie Travel shop in Edmonton (http://www.downundertravelexperts.com/), applied to get his Working Holiday VISA(with 3 days to spare before my flight), bought a BackPack..., Hostel Membership, and Packed... for a "3 Month trip"... that turned into almost a year.

I don't have enough words to thank her for the Trip of a Lifetime. I could never have even CONSIDERED the thought of NOT sleeping in the luxury of a hotel... (spoiled brat.. i know)...But here's some of the BEST STUFF:
She taught me STARBUCKS.. and how to love it...on every block in Brisbane while we wrote postcards for HOURS back home to CANADA! It was a little taste of "home"



How to pet a KANGAROO.. and NOT get scratched ;)

and the art of HOLDING A KOALA! (1 of the Best Days EVER!)



She's the ONLY reason i even CONISDERED singing KARAOKE in CAIRNS, Queensland, in this fantastic little place she was working called APRES BEACH BAR... I've tossed in a picture below as to how this event happened. the song of choice "grease MEGA MIX" = HILARIOUS. (somehow we thought we would know the lyrics to this combo effort... FAIL!!!)




Once my 'stage-fright' was cured...she even gave me the courage to JUMP 14,000 FEET .. OUT OF A PERFECTLY GOOD AIRPLANE February 23rd, for our good new friend from some hick town in ALberta, Bradford Post's 21st bday
- here's a link to this album! Insanity.. i know!
(http://www.facebook.com/album.phpaid=27943&id=503919464&l=90e6f9a550)


I had always loved seeing new places, but had never really been on a trip that allowed me to Discover the Burning Desire to TRAVEL THE WORLD... I now have some of the BEST FRIENDS a guy could ever ask for, in countries as far reaching as Australia/New Zealand, as random as Sweden & Finland, simply across the pond in England, and as fun as Amsterdam/the Netherlands (you know who you are!) None of these things would have been possible without that "push out of the plane" from Krysta.

Even though you are on the other side of the world, in Dubai flying for Emirates Airlines, it still feels like no matter where you are, or where you're going, I'm never far behind.



Here's to someone who's offered me nothing but Support, Inspiration, and Courage. Krysta Larson... at 326am, after chatting to you on Facebook in the wee hours of MY morning again, I raise this.. the proverbial Pint of Toohey's New...(in my head of course cuz that's too expensive to get imported to Canada!).... and say "CHEERS MATE!" =) ..... I owe it all to you.


Thank you for always being there, answering my ENDLESS questions, and for ultimately leading the way!

Some Day it'll be my turn to Realize my Dream, and Live it too... The Endless Sunsets, The Beach, The Palms, The Surf.... await....But for now, I'll survive living vicariously through your Blog of Adventures, and with this being my VERY FIRST BLOG..... I dedicate it to you. One of the Best Friends anyone could ever want. I love you like a sister Krysta! <3



-Jakey