....the story continues....
Tara and I somehow make it through a couple roundabouts (peculiar British commonwealth street structure). I kept saying "yield to the right! yield to the right!" We spot the bike path and start scooting along the beach. We stopped for coffee at a little cafe overlooking the ocean. After about three miles, we came to the end of the trail, and spotted a Woolworth's (grocery store). So, we decided it would be a good time to go shopping for our usual fanfare (rice cakes, apples, and tim tams). Also, we need some champagne for when we met up with our French friends. The bottle shop guy said if we bought six, we'd get a 10% discount. Being suckers for discounts, no matter if it makes sense or not, Tara and I readily pick out 6 bottles of bubbly! When we retrieved our bikes, we realized what we had done. How were we going to get it all back! I took the bike chain and strapped down the Champagne in the six pack carrying case to the back of my bike. Tara carried our purses. So here were...two girls in helmets, sundresses, sunnies, and a six pack of rattling Champagne bottles all the way back to our hostel. Tara even juggled her kebab in one hand as we rode. It was absurd and completely us. One of our funniest and completey unphotographed moments of the trip.
Itinenary Update:
We left Hervey Bay and went to Airlie Beach. We took an incredible sailing/snorkeling trip out to the Whitsunday Islands. I snorkeled the Great Barrier Reef!!! The fish were so thick around me at one point that I freaked out (wild aminals kind of make me nervous) and swung out my hand. It smacked into one. So I flung out my other arm to get away and it smacked into another fish!!!! But all in all it has been one of the most beautiful sights I have beheld in my life.
Then, we left Airlie Beach for Townsville and met up with our French friends, Vinci and Caro, as well as Abby!!!! Abby and I snorkeled again off of Magnetic Island. Vinci and Caro offered to take us to Cairns. All five of us road tripped in their camper van. We camped out in their extra tent for three nights.
Tara, Abby, and I kissed them goodbye a couple days ago and flew to Sydney, hopped the train immediately to Townsville (there was a crazy crazy guy on our train who kept asking us if we were ok...then he'd flip us off...then he'd ask our names...then he'd say his name was "cannabis"...then he'd ask us if we were ok...then he'd talk to other people and it would start all over...eventful three hours!), where we spent a night.
Then, we headed out for a day to Port Stephens to see the whales and dolphins...but not surprisingly (we always have things not work out on this trip) it was way too windy to see anything so we didn't pay to go out. Instead, we watched a movie with Heath Ledger (the ultimate Aussie...God rest his soul). About half way through the movie, Abby and I look up at the top shelf over our heads and see a tail. We flick on the lights and discover a rat peeping at us!!!!! I will not lie. All three of us freaked. The rat flew out of sight. We continued watching Heath. However, the rat was not to be deterred for long. He kept terrorizing us about every 10 minutes until the movie was done. I was even standing on top of my chair for a good fifteen minutes. Remember, I don't like unpredictable wild animals...Tomorrow we head back to Sydney, where Tara and I will show Abby all the great sights. I'm most excited for the world famous zoo!
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Touring (Tooling) to Discovery
There is so much I want to tell but only 15 minutes to do so! First things first. I must give a shout out to my family and faithful readers of this blog. I've been hearing from various places of random people I didn't know were tuning in and it makes me happy that all the money scammed out of me to get some internet time isn't a waste. To my California cousins...Scott told me you thought it was a funny read and that makes me feel so complimented! Wish I could have been at Nanie's party with you!!
Tara and I left Noosa Heads for Hervey Bay two days ago and spent yesterday touring Fraser Island. It is the biggest sand island in the world and is a world heritage sight (meaning they're trying to preserve it). We saw everything from rainforests to scrubby beach grass to dingos to shipwrecks. We even saw a fern that has been on our planet for over 3 million years!! (well the same kind...obviously those specific ferns aren't that hold...). We dipped our toes and sunbathed next to freshwater perched dune lakes...the ph level is so high in the water that nothing grows in the water so it is crystal clear. Gorgeous. Only 100 exist in the world and 50 of them are on Fraser Island! Tonight we're catching the night bus (8 hours...whew) to Airlie Beach. We are going on a sailing tour of the Whitsundaies for 2 days/2 nights. I'll be snorkeling the Great Barriar Reef!!!! I'm utterly stoked.
Here's some story snipets:
1. Tara and I were pulled over by the police this morning....on our push bikes (aussie for bicycles)!!!! We were wobbling our way down the street, forgetting that we needed to be on the left side of the street. So we came to an intersection and we were trying to straighten ourselves out. We looked erratic. The police car pulled up during our chaos and asked us to pull over and talk to him. He proceeded to tell us that we had to wear our helmets. It's the law. The penalty is $100. Our stomachs dropped. But we said he took it from our accents that we weren't from around here (that obvious?). He told us to go to a bike trail and stay off the streets because we looked out of practice. No fine. Sooo Tara and I proceeded to make our way to the bike trail along the coast (gorgeous). Picture this...we were wearing cute sundresses, sunnies, and helments...definitely looked like were 16...and...I'll have to continue the story next time because my internet time is running out!!!!....it only get's better...
Tara and I left Noosa Heads for Hervey Bay two days ago and spent yesterday touring Fraser Island. It is the biggest sand island in the world and is a world heritage sight (meaning they're trying to preserve it). We saw everything from rainforests to scrubby beach grass to dingos to shipwrecks. We even saw a fern that has been on our planet for over 3 million years!! (well the same kind...obviously those specific ferns aren't that hold...). We dipped our toes and sunbathed next to freshwater perched dune lakes...the ph level is so high in the water that nothing grows in the water so it is crystal clear. Gorgeous. Only 100 exist in the world and 50 of them are on Fraser Island! Tonight we're catching the night bus (8 hours...whew) to Airlie Beach. We are going on a sailing tour of the Whitsundaies for 2 days/2 nights. I'll be snorkeling the Great Barriar Reef!!!! I'm utterly stoked.
Here's some story snipets:
1. Tara and I were pulled over by the police this morning....on our push bikes (aussie for bicycles)!!!! We were wobbling our way down the street, forgetting that we needed to be on the left side of the street. So we came to an intersection and we were trying to straighten ourselves out. We looked erratic. The police car pulled up during our chaos and asked us to pull over and talk to him. He proceeded to tell us that we had to wear our helmets. It's the law. The penalty is $100. Our stomachs dropped. But we said he took it from our accents that we weren't from around here (that obvious?). He told us to go to a bike trail and stay off the streets because we looked out of practice. No fine. Sooo Tara and I proceeded to make our way to the bike trail along the coast (gorgeous). Picture this...we were wearing cute sundresses, sunnies, and helments...definitely looked like were 16...and...I'll have to continue the story next time because my internet time is running out!!!!....it only get's better...
Monday, August 10, 2009
Character's Continued
Surfer's Paradise
Katya from Germany...this roommate came in and immediately asked us if she could join us in our plans for the evening. As we all got ready for the evening (most girls agree that the best bonding comes when we're being girly and prepping for a night out), Katja entertained us with how she made it to Australia. She was drinking with her older sister one night when she was 18 and was pretty tipsy when her sister wagered a bet with her. If she lost, Katja had to come to New Zealand with her. Katja lost. The next morning she found her way into a travel agent's office and booked a flight and spent all of her money on it. She ended up loving New Zealand, fought with her sister, and took off hitch hiking the south island. She made up with her sis and she convinced her to go to Australia. Katja then stayed on for the rest of the year, traveling with random people she met. At one point she was in the airport going home, when she saw a sign for a ticket to Alice Springs on a train. She had $250 to her name. She cancelled her plane ticket and left for the Outback. She called her parents two days later when they were on their way to get her at the airport to tell them she was still in Australia. Yeah. She's crazy. But I admire her spunk and zeal for adventure.
Tara Wanbaugh and Joylynn Corum from the States....we accidently put our suitcases in the wrong area under the bus. So, when we arrived in Surfers, they weren't unloaded and had loads of bags on top of them. I apologized to the bus driver and explained what happened. He had no patience for us, looked us up and down with a very displeased and sour expression, and said "well you'll have to get them yourself." I said, Tthat's fine. We can do that." Tara and I began hauling bag after bag out of the under carriage. We soon became the attraction for the bus driver, the line of 30 people waiting to get on the bus, and all people passing by. Here were two cutsy American girls, throwing luggage around, grabbing our too big suitcases, and jigsawing other people's luggage back into place. Nobody said anything. Nobody offered to help. They just stared for 10 minutes as we did this. Probably one of the strangest and most uncomfortable moments we've had on this trip. And we've had plenty.
Brisbane
This morning, an older woman of about 50, with grey hair in a disarray, said to me, "what is she doing here?" in a whisper. I turned to look, as I was the only one in the room I thought. She most decidedly wasn't talking to me but herself as she picked at her fingernails. Strange. Tara said she had been muttering to herself last night too. Later, she asked Tara and I where we were from in the States. We answered Minnesota (easier to say that sometimes). She said quite viciously, "do you follow what goes on in America?" She obviously believed we were ignorant, spoiled, obnoxious Americans. After answering, she said we better watch who we let into our country, sniffed at us, and walked away. As if Tara and I should be sitting down in Arizona or California somewhere, with shot guns, watching the border. Yes. I firmly believe I've met my first real life schizophrenic. We half expect our stuff to be lit on fire by the time we get back to our room. Our accents work against us.
We're onto Noosa Head next and more beach...I'm going to be tan!!!
Katya from Germany...this roommate came in and immediately asked us if she could join us in our plans for the evening. As we all got ready for the evening (most girls agree that the best bonding comes when we're being girly and prepping for a night out), Katja entertained us with how she made it to Australia. She was drinking with her older sister one night when she was 18 and was pretty tipsy when her sister wagered a bet with her. If she lost, Katja had to come to New Zealand with her. Katja lost. The next morning she found her way into a travel agent's office and booked a flight and spent all of her money on it. She ended up loving New Zealand, fought with her sister, and took off hitch hiking the south island. She made up with her sis and she convinced her to go to Australia. Katja then stayed on for the rest of the year, traveling with random people she met. At one point she was in the airport going home, when she saw a sign for a ticket to Alice Springs on a train. She had $250 to her name. She cancelled her plane ticket and left for the Outback. She called her parents two days later when they were on their way to get her at the airport to tell them she was still in Australia. Yeah. She's crazy. But I admire her spunk and zeal for adventure.
Tara Wanbaugh and Joylynn Corum from the States....we accidently put our suitcases in the wrong area under the bus. So, when we arrived in Surfers, they weren't unloaded and had loads of bags on top of them. I apologized to the bus driver and explained what happened. He had no patience for us, looked us up and down with a very displeased and sour expression, and said "well you'll have to get them yourself." I said, Tthat's fine. We can do that." Tara and I began hauling bag after bag out of the under carriage. We soon became the attraction for the bus driver, the line of 30 people waiting to get on the bus, and all people passing by. Here were two cutsy American girls, throwing luggage around, grabbing our too big suitcases, and jigsawing other people's luggage back into place. Nobody said anything. Nobody offered to help. They just stared for 10 minutes as we did this. Probably one of the strangest and most uncomfortable moments we've had on this trip. And we've had plenty.
Brisbane
This morning, an older woman of about 50, with grey hair in a disarray, said to me, "what is she doing here?" in a whisper. I turned to look, as I was the only one in the room I thought. She most decidedly wasn't talking to me but herself as she picked at her fingernails. Strange. Tara said she had been muttering to herself last night too. Later, she asked Tara and I where we were from in the States. We answered Minnesota (easier to say that sometimes). She said quite viciously, "do you follow what goes on in America?" She obviously believed we were ignorant, spoiled, obnoxious Americans. After answering, she said we better watch who we let into our country, sniffed at us, and walked away. As if Tara and I should be sitting down in Arizona or California somewhere, with shot guns, watching the border. Yes. I firmly believe I've met my first real life schizophrenic. We half expect our stuff to be lit on fire by the time we get back to our room. Our accents work against us.
We're onto Noosa Head next and more beach...I'm going to be tan!!!
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Life's Characters
I was just thinking about how much people shape my experiences and view of place as I travel. Here are some stories I've collected and glorious people we've met in the last couple of weeks...
Port Macquarie
Kyle from Canada...worked at the hostel we stayed at. He was eating a Big Mac and was on his way home to Canada when he was offered a job at the hostel. He used a healthy dose of sarcasm with everything he said and really big words in the morning. He was a gentleman...drove us around...let us play video games...use the Internet for free...gave us gummy worms. However, don't cross him when he's cleaning. I was in the room doing a beauty routine that only burnettes understand when he opened the locked door unannounced vacuuming. I threw the covers over my head and pretended to be sleeping. Tara walked in 30 seconds later, realized what was going on, and said "she's sleeping!!" (like what are you thinking tone of voice). He left. We went to the bathroom where I was doing round two beauty treatment and he knocked on the door and said he was coming in to mop...really Kyle????
Surfer's Paradise
Jill from San Diego...truly our lost sister she walked right in and declared she loved "us." We haven't stopped laughing since and we even stayed in Surfer's and extra night to be with her. We have created many "epic" moments...such as dancing to techno like crazy people and feeling like cougars (we swear 17 year olds snuck into the club). She has a wicked life as a bartender in an Irish pub and lives in a cozy beach town. She hangs out with surfers, boarders, and musicians. Yup we want to live in her house. I'd even take a closet. The three of us own up to the obnoxious loud American stereotype but we just can't help laughing till our guts ache.
More to come when I don't run out of Internet time..ugh...
Port Macquarie
Kyle from Canada...worked at the hostel we stayed at. He was eating a Big Mac and was on his way home to Canada when he was offered a job at the hostel. He used a healthy dose of sarcasm with everything he said and really big words in the morning. He was a gentleman...drove us around...let us play video games...use the Internet for free...gave us gummy worms. However, don't cross him when he's cleaning. I was in the room doing a beauty routine that only burnettes understand when he opened the locked door unannounced vacuuming. I threw the covers over my head and pretended to be sleeping. Tara walked in 30 seconds later, realized what was going on, and said "she's sleeping!!" (like what are you thinking tone of voice). He left. We went to the bathroom where I was doing round two beauty treatment and he knocked on the door and said he was coming in to mop...really Kyle????
Surfer's Paradise
Jill from San Diego...truly our lost sister she walked right in and declared she loved "us." We haven't stopped laughing since and we even stayed in Surfer's and extra night to be with her. We have created many "epic" moments...such as dancing to techno like crazy people and feeling like cougars (we swear 17 year olds snuck into the club). She has a wicked life as a bartender in an Irish pub and lives in a cozy beach town. She hangs out with surfers, boarders, and musicians. Yup we want to live in her house. I'd even take a closet. The three of us own up to the obnoxious loud American stereotype but we just can't help laughing till our guts ache.
More to come when I don't run out of Internet time..ugh...
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
East Coast
Hi! Quickie update...our greyhound is arriving soon.
We have made it from Sydney to Newcastle to Port Macquarie to Byron Bay to Nimbin and are now on our way to Surfer's Paradise. We are burning up the east coast!!! Our days involve drinking hot drinks (tea, coffee, hot chocolate), looking for free food in the hostels, beach bumming, minimal shopping (come on we're girls), and always planning our next destination. We also do a lot of snuggling in our beds (because it can still be quite cold!) and talking about really important things like which months have 31 days and why we use the expression chit chat. I know rocket science. But we laugh a lot.
Important update: I resigned from my job at Cleveland. It seems the best for all involved. My future is looking ambiguous but I kind of like it. I might even continue to live abroad for a bit. Don't worry Josh I'll be there for your big day =0) Ok. More on that later.
Love for Aussie land!
We have made it from Sydney to Newcastle to Port Macquarie to Byron Bay to Nimbin and are now on our way to Surfer's Paradise. We are burning up the east coast!!! Our days involve drinking hot drinks (tea, coffee, hot chocolate), looking for free food in the hostels, beach bumming, minimal shopping (come on we're girls), and always planning our next destination. We also do a lot of snuggling in our beds (because it can still be quite cold!) and talking about really important things like which months have 31 days and why we use the expression chit chat. I know rocket science. But we laugh a lot.
Important update: I resigned from my job at Cleveland. It seems the best for all involved. My future is looking ambiguous but I kind of like it. I might even continue to live abroad for a bit. Don't worry Josh I'll be there for your big day =0) Ok. More on that later.
Love for Aussie land!
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Aaaahhhh my internet is running out...
Somethings I've done this past month:
1. 3 hour scenic flight in a four seater plane over Lake Eyre. My pilot friend Andrew took me. We saw the Painted Hills too. There is no road to them and you can only see them from the hair. They are rock formations that glow pinky gold. Also, we saw a lone camel lost out in the boggy lake.
2. Multiple bonfires where I share S'mores with the locals. We also did crazy cookies in the the ute (utility veicle..aka truck) in the desert.
3. Goodbye at William Creek with Tara...crazy dancing...hair waving...champagne toast where I managed to break two glasses (prior to any drinking mind you)...also my goodbye a week later with our two French friends. We had a cake made for us with sparklers. Thanks Amelia and Lisa.
4. Gotten my hair cut in Adelaide.
5. Traveled without Tara. Not as fun.
Time's running out....to be continued....
1. 3 hour scenic flight in a four seater plane over Lake Eyre. My pilot friend Andrew took me. We saw the Painted Hills too. There is no road to them and you can only see them from the hair. They are rock formations that glow pinky gold. Also, we saw a lone camel lost out in the boggy lake.
2. Multiple bonfires where I share S'mores with the locals. We also did crazy cookies in the the ute (utility veicle..aka truck) in the desert.
3. Goodbye at William Creek with Tara...crazy dancing...hair waving...champagne toast where I managed to break two glasses (prior to any drinking mind you)...also my goodbye a week later with our two French friends. We had a cake made for us with sparklers. Thanks Amelia and Lisa.
4. Gotten my hair cut in Adelaide.
5. Traveled without Tara. Not as fun.
Time's running out....to be continued....
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