30. Visit 5 countries other than the US and Australia (4/5) - Honduras

Earlier this month the hubby and I jumped on a plane and made our way, as fast as we could, out of hot and stinky Houston, to the gorgeously white shore and turquoise bays of Central America - or more specifically Roatan, Honduras - for seven glorious days of diving, lazing on the beach, exploring and just good old recharge, relaxation time!!

We've arrived... and already found the Cerveza Fria (that's cold beer to you know Spanish speakers)

So what was Honduras like? Well, what can I say since all we really ended up doing was a whole heap of scuba diving and drinking (what an oxy-moron!!). Well I guess I could talk about the diving since Roatan lies on the edge of the second largest barrier reef in the world (second only to the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland), the same barrier reef that you dive when in Cozumel and Belize!! However, since a previous post pretty much covered that.... I guess all I have to talk about is lots of drinking, eating and general all around relaxing...

Ahh... Cold Beer, Sunset, Beach, Caribbean... what else do you need?? 

The trip was a wonderful success... and as I think I may of mentioned before, we've finally managed to visit somewhere and feel, by the end of the trip, that we covered more or less everything there is to see (of course, having said that I'd still like to visit mainland Honduras at some point so I guess we're not quite finished).. Our accommodation was excellent, the food was delicious, the diving, nothing more than first class, and the drinks were plentiful.. what more can you ask for on a vacation?? (oooo when did I turn into an American?!?!? with my vacation this, vacation that...)

Just two little fishes... swimming in Roatan

Roatan was a fantastic holiday, but would I recommend it to anyone other than divers... Probably not.. there seriously isn't anything else to do.. unless you like doing nothing more than sticking your toes in the sand with a cocktail in one hand and a book in the other for an entire week... hmmm actually now that I mention it that way I think could be convinced into that.... Occasionally!! 

91. Read and Review 100 Books (21/100) The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets Nest - Stieg Larsson

'The exhilarating conclusion to bestseller Larsson's Millennium trilogy (after The Girl Who Played with Fire) finds Lisbeth Salander, the brilliant computer hacker who was shot in the head in the final pages of Fire, alive, though still the prime suspect in three murders in Stockholm. While she convalesces under armed guard, journalist Mikael Blomkvist works to unravel the decades-old coverup surrounding the man who shot Salander: her father, Alexander Zalachenko, a Soviet intelligence defector and longtime secret asset to Säpo, Sweden's security police. Estranged throughout Fire, Blomkvist and Salander communicate primarily online, but their lack of physical interaction in no way diminishes the intensity of their unconventional relationship. Though Larsson (1954–2004) tends toward narrative excess, his was an undeniably powerful voice in crime fiction that will be sorely missed.'

Excellent conclusion to the spellbinding, page turning, and yes sometimes disturbing trilogy! The final novel in the series concluded the story in a very fulfilling manner.. it successfully closed out each of the individual story lines... and although it kinda felt that the murder of the two journalists was nothing more than an excuse to move the reader in a certain direction at times it was still well addressed by the end of the book... I agree... Stieg Larsson will be sorely missed.

20. Scuba dive at 5 different locations around the world (3/5) - Roatan, Honduras

Diving in Roatan, Honduras provided a lot of 'first experiences' - my first night dive, my first wreck dive, my first multi-day dive experience, my first REAL current dive... While on the island I completed 13 dives (Paul completed one more than I did, 14, as I had some ear issues on one of our days and could only complete the first dive) as there really wasn't much else to do!! But then who really wants to do something else when the diving is so darn good?!?! 30 degree water, fantastic visibility, lots of marine life.. the perfect diving experience!! 

Paul teasing the Grouper

We dove Key Hole Reef, Blue Channel (super super cool with lots and lots of tight swim throughs), Hole in the Wall (anther super super cool dive, more tight swim throughs and I saw a massive massive pinchy crab), Overheat Reef (where I ended up floating right above a turtle for 5 minutes who was just hanging out munching on some seaweed), Turtle Crossing, Spooky Channel (awesome light effects in a cavern), Pablos Place (swimming against the current with a HUGE school of fishies), Infinity Bay Shore Dive (our night dive), El Aguila Wreck (where I ended up narc'ed), The Cave, Bear Den (more caves) and West End Wall... *PHEW* In fact about the only dive we didn't complete on the Island, is the one it is best known for, Mary's Place... but we can't complain!! 

Diving El Aguila Wreck

And finally for the first time in what feels like forever, we've finally spent enough time in a location that we can safely say that we can cross it off our list of places we need to visit... I think Paul's going to have a very hard time getting me back into that frigid Perth water after all of these glorious Caribbean experiences!!

Paul's crazy flippers

91. Read and Review 100 Books (22/100) Mockingjay - Suzanne Collins

'Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has survived the Hunger Games twice. But now that she's made it out of the bloody arena alive, she's still not safe. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge. Who do they think should pay for the unrest? Katniss. And what's worse, President Snow has made it clear that no one else is safe either. Not Katniss's family, not her friends, not the people of District 12. Powerful and haunting, this thrilling final installment of Suzanne Collins's groundbreaking The Hunger Games trilogy promises to be one of the most talked about books of the year.'

Yay! I've been waiting for the final chapter in the Hunger Games ever since I first started reading this trillogy! Yes, its easy reading, yes, you'll finish the book in about 4 hours, and yes, its yet another young adults novel but, darn it, its just sooo good!! A brilliant conclusion to the series.. my only regret? There wont be any more (boo!) 

36. Watch 26 movies I've never seen starting with each letter of the alphabet G = Grand Torino

Racist, politically incorrect, alcoholic who is insanely likeable in the end and whom you become attached to quickly. Eastwood is simply amazing, easily treading the line between offensive and, seriously, just loveable... I really don't know why its taken me so darn long to sit down and watch this movie?!?!?! One of the few movies out there that actually made me cry in the end... I became so completely invested in 'Walt Kowalski's' life... Brilliant film.. If you haven't seen it... get your butt to a Red Box or a Blockbuster ASAP and rent this!!

91. Read and Review 100 Books (20/100) The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake - Aimee Bender

'Rose Edelstein has just discovered that she can taste people’s emotions in the food she eats. She is nine when this first occurs, and it profoundly changes her life.

Rose can tell if a cook is happy, sad, rushed or passionate about the food he or she is making. She can place fruit and veggies to the region where they were grown, and discern if they are organic or not. And she can describe the factory that creates her potato chips and other processed food without the complications of human touch.'

What a super interesting premise - the concept behind the novel is truly unique however I didn't really feel it was well executed. I found the novel a little confusing in places, especially at its conclusion and a number of the characters just weren't likable.. all in all though it was a good read and the main protagonist, Rose's struggle to come to terms with and finally accept her 'gift' keeps you turning the pages.. 

86. Send a birthday card snail mail to every member of my immediate family for a year (8/11)

I kinda thought this card was pretty cool... its my type of off centre humour and I thought my brothers wife (otherwise known as my sister-in-law) Tash would appreciate it as well and so Happy Birthday Natasha! Hope that household of yours full of all your boys celebrates your special day in style and there is at least a couple of beam cans in the fridge with your name all over them!!