WOOOOOOOW. It's been a LONG week. So many amazing and not so amazing things have happened. I'm starting to realize that my family and friends are a half a world away and also realizing just how important they all are to me. Australia is beautiful and the people are so amazing, however this trip has not gone without it's faults. Instead of writing three pages on the details of all that's gone wrong I'll just make a "short" list of the obstacles that I have managed to overcome so far.
Thursday: NO STUDENT VISA WHATTTT?!?!?! Cancelled flight, rouge taxi, missed flight, broken purse.
Saturday: Landing in Cairns with two broken pieces of luggage.
Sunday: It's time for new medicine! Guess what... Target does have flaws! Mix up with a prescription leads to a wild goose chase for insulin... unsuccessful. I'm not convinced I will die in Australia.
Thursday: Broken backpack (now every bag I brought has been broken.) $700 camera.... oh yeah cracked screen. OF COURSE!!!
Friday: HOLY MESSSSSSS, the hinge on my laptop finally snapped!!! WHOOOOOOO! We're going for a record on broken items in one week here. I think my leg may be next....maybe a toe or a finger at the least. You know. The world is going my way.
Well that is enough whining. In spite of the hardships I have been faced with throughout my journey so far I have managed to see the light in everything I've done. I have seen some of the most beautiful places in the world and I am more knowing than ever that my God is so, so good.
On our first day in Cairns we visited the Rainforestation. This is such a beautiful oasis of Australian wildlife and aboriginal culture. I got to hold a koala, pet a kangaroo, hold a NASTY snake, successfully throw a boomerang, and see an authentic didgeridoo being played. This day was a great start to the adventure that will be OZ.
The next day, Valentines day, was the trip to the Great Barrier Reef. We spend the day on a large sailboat called the Passions of Paradise cruising the Coral Sea. It was truly the most beautiful day. We were so thrilled to snorkel one of the seven wonders of the world... However, the locals are always there to burst your bubble here. We were soon informed of the dangers of the bluebox jellies and other jelly fish that reside in the areas we'd be diving. Our best option? A STING SUITE. Yes. What is a sting suite you may ask? Well let me just tell you it is the closest thing any of us will ever come to being a member of the blue man group.
Cute, right? I know. Well I took some photos with an underwater disposable camera and I cannot wait to see how they turned out. I also had the GREAT pleasure of meet an extremely handsome Aussie scuba instructor, I think I"m in love.! ;) hahahaha
Tuesday was community day. This day brought me so close to home. We spent the morning potting plants on a large property. It smelled so much like home (of course there were cows there) I began to miss NC during this time but enjoyed myself while I remembered that I was potting plants that would one day house the endangered tree kangaroos of North Queensland. What a beautiful thing to be a part of. Tuesday night we went out and FINALLY celebrated Samantha's Birthday and a great Italian restaurant on the Esplanade.
Wednesday was our free day. Alex, Samantha, and I decided to spend the day and the public pool on the beach. This is the neatest establishment I've ever seen. 100% free and right on the ocean, it's gorgeous. We also explore the shopping center in Cairns and replaced those broken pieces of luggage with ones that have a three year warranty. I now take NO chances.
Thursday we were off on a plane to our "final destination", Gold Coast. We arrived at our apartment and soon realized that we're used to a lot of space. I'm choosing to look at our stark and white little place as a modern home away from home and a chance to live in a way that I never have and (hopefully) never will again. We're loving it here. Thursday night was our first night in Surfer's Paradise which meant a lot of fun for everyone. It was ladies night so we managed to get out with only spending $10 on cab fair. Sweet! We had an amazing time with our new room mate from Finland and some new friends from the Village.
As of today we're loving where we are. It may be hard sometimes to miss the ones that we love but I believe that it is experiences such as these that show us who is truly important through who we hold onto and who we let go. This trip will be life shaping and life changing, a one of a kind experience that I know I will never regret. Happy, tanning, and loving the Australian version of February down undaaaaaa!!!! Love you all back home. I'll write again soon.
This is the beautiful property we planted on.
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