78 days until Sydney!

The ticket for LA isn't booked, but I have no choice: if I'm going to catch my flight from LAX to Sydney, I have to get my booty to the City of Angels by June 9. The plan is to leave Raleigh on June 6, have a few days to eat In 'n' Out and Mexican food nonstop chill in So Cal, then spend 5 nights in Sydney, 2 nights in Cairns (Great Barrier Reef), and 5 nights in New Zealand. Every time I think of it I have to pinch myself because I can't believe I'm going! I've had a thing for Australia since 6th grade, when I did a report on the country and also saw the Facts of Life movie where Blair, Jo, Tootie, and Natalie visit the land down under (note to self: check Netflix, would be awesome to watch movie again before going). The only things keeping me away were 1) the cost--tickets are regularly over $1500, and b) the length of the flight necessitates at least a 2-week stay to make it worthwhile. Well, 1) I found an aMAZing deal on Air New Zealand, and 2) I have enough PTO banked and Nicole has the summer off, so...no more excuses!

I have never planned an overseas trip with this little advance notice; I realize it's over 2 months away still, but with London, I planned for a whole year, and even with Paris I had 4 months. I mean, hard core planning only takes a couple weeks, but part of the fun is the anticipation, just browsing online and exploring all the beautiful and fun things we will get to see and do. Of course, the benefit of it being so close, though, is that I don't have to wait so long!!