Australia's East Coast

Hello Hello my happy followers!!!

I'm trying so hard to keep everyone updated on all the stuff that I"m doing, but I feel that it all just gets long and repetitive. Please let me know if that's the case. Plus, I just keep doing so much it's hard for me to even keep up with myself. Crazy travelling!!

So talking about the Whitsunday is going to be hard because I just loved the reef so much up by Cairns that nothing I ever dive in will ever be the same, but the Whitsunday does have it's own highlights. I think I saw the most beautiful beach ever there. Just pure white sand, and the sand was a soft as walking on a beach covered with baking flower. Just perfect. I think I got my new desktop photo from there.

So going through my days, I left you all after I just got back from diving.

Tuesday, July 14

I got off the boat to go back with my buddy Nathan, (he was my dive buddy and we also became really close friends because of that.) to have a place to get a shower. It was the best shower ever. After 8 dives in the ocean, plus getting thrown in as an extra bonus, I was covered in salt water. So was all my clothing, but I knew I was going to be back on a boat soon, so there was no point in washing anything but GREAT SHOWER!!!

All of us were not ready to part so we all got together for some drinks and dinner. I was really nice to get to spend my last bit of time in Cairns with some of the best people I've met. I feel I say that after every tour, but really, when you spend two days in a classroom and then three days on a boat with the same people you learn to either love or hate the people. Well, I loved these people.

As the night went on people started to have more to drink, but I didn't plus, I was going to get on a bus so that would have been miserable. Lucky for me, I had an excuse to duck out. I had a bus to catch at half 12 in the morning. (Oh my, there I go talking like them. Who says half-12??) To be honest, it was really hard for me to part with Nathan. We had just spent the 5 days almost constantly together, and depending on each other to watch the others back. I mean, I don't think I could ever train a buddy like him. He's the only person to remind me right before I get into my wet suit, to go to the toilet. Then he is the first person to help me out after the dive, so I can run to the toilet. You can't get any better than that. (So that's a hint for those of you who are certified back home, if we ever go diving together.)

I got onto the bus and was asleep for the night. I guess an over night bus ride was worth saving on a nights accomodation, plus it saved a day of travel.

Wednesday, July 15

When I got off the bus in Airlie Beach, by first goal was to find a place to leave my stuff. There was no point in bringing everything with me on the sail boat. After I went though that I had to go on a bit of walk to get to the marina so I could check in.

Check in was odd. It seemed to be just two bums who party all the time and the office looked like someone personal office in their home. I guess it was just preparing me for the boat. It was all so odd that one of the guys checking me in even asked me to join him up at the pub for a few drinks. I had a few hours to kill so I did join him wiht the locals. I must say that was quite an experience. I basically walked away with one of them wanting to pick me up in a limo after I got back from the sailing trip. Them crazy Aussies.

I finally got on the Pegasus sail boat, where we all had a very strange orientation. You know to be quite honest nothing really exciting happened. We introduced ourselves then most everyone just sat around drinking. Not really my idea of fun. I think traveling has made me less interested in drinking. But, we did play a fun drinking game that doesn't have to be done with Alcohol. The maid thing I remember from it as was how cold it was, and I did not bring most of my warm cloths. Dumb dumb move.

Thursday, July 16

As we sailed around Whitsundays we stopped at the White Haven Beach. It is the whitest sand ever. It really just looks like snow, it's so white. Also, with the tide going out it looked like a paradise photo. We didn't see much there but a whole lot of crabs, which actually looked pretty cool.

We moved beaches to Hook Island. Here, we got to jump off the boat and go for a fun snorkel where we even heard whales. That was quite a rush, and so amazingling exciting. While the four of us who are diving certified were snokeling the others where getting a short lesson in diving. Finally it was our turn. We, in a very thin stinger suits when for a dive. It wasn't anything like up in Cairns, but we did still see a lot. Unfortunatly it was killed by the freezing weather. We surfaced to get into the little motor boat, but we had to wait till everyone ran out of air. (I"m sure it was done so against PADI regulations) So that meant sitting in this boat as the sun was setting losing feelings in my body. OH man getting to the boat was fantastic so we could get out of our stinger suits and warm up.





As the sun set we all just sat around watching the gorgous sunset on the water. Once dark hit some people went for a night snorkle. There was no way they were getting me back in the water. This meant that we were the first to get dinner. Yay food!! Oh I need to stop thinking that way because I swear I never stop eating.





Friday, July 17





Everyone must have been up late parting because it took everyone forever to get up. Once we were all up we moved to another sight where those of use going for a dive hopped into the motor boat to a sight. This time we decided we would take things a lot slower and really get to see stuff, because all I really saw last time was the back side of our guide, oh and a lion fish, which was cool. This time we got to see a giant clam. It was massive and a perfect shade of purple. It wasn't like I ever expected it to look, but it looked way better then I could have imagined. I think our guide was getting frustrated that we were going so slow because he kept snapping at us and trying to make us move faster. But really what do you get out of a dive if all you do is swim as fast as you can. If that's all you're going to do then just swim some laps on the surface. You go diving to explore what is on the oceans bottom.





Well, to add to our frustration, when we surfaced they took our BCDs and weight belts and told us to swim to shore. We had not planned on this so we hadn't sent our stuff with anyone, so we had no towel, no dry clothes, no nothing, and we were already frozen. The only way we were able to keep warm was by huddling all together and wait for the boat to come to shore. Oh, it was dreadful.





As soon as we got back to the boat we were going back to Airlie Beach. On our way we saw a Hump Back whale off in the distance. It had a calf with it because it was teaching it tricks. It was amazing to watch. If only it was closer. The best part though, had to have been the waves. The boat was rocking so much that at times you would have thought the boat was going to flip. I was having a blast, but others were not doing so well. Poor things!!





Back on shore I had a few hours to kill. I really had no way to get a shower so I had to accept the fact that I was going to be traveling over night all salty. Enh!! But, two from the boat were just hanging out at the lagoon so I stayed with them till I had to leave, but first they introduced me to "Jacket Potatoes" Yeah all the really is, is a backed potatoe, but have you ever tried it with backed beans?? That was amazing. That's got to be the perfect break-up food item. It's delicious.





That evening I had to get back onto a bus to work my way farther down the coast.





Saturday July 18





I arrived in Rainbow Beach mid-afternoon, and was so ready for a shower, but I couldn't get one yet. I had to sort some things out for my 4 Wheel Drive trip to Fraser Island. Then we had an orientation where we got to meet our group, and learn about the rules on Fraser Island. It was mainly, drive slowly and safe on the beach, and don't feed the Dingos. Yep, that's right, Dingos. This Island has the largest collection of pure bred Dingos. Pretty cool. After that we had to create a shopping list and a few of us went out to get the food keeping it all as cheap as possible. I was a bit concerned about the group because all they talked about was drinking, and being drunk the whole time. I was so not into that idea but I had no choice but to accept it. Then now, finally, Finally finally finally....I got my shower.





Sunday, July 19





We had to start our morning by going though an orientation of the vehicle, and doing a check on the vehicle and our inventory. They lent us tents, and camping gear which we had to of course bring back in good condition. Then the ones who could drive (Over 21 and have a drivers license, which means I qualified, if only I could drive manuel better than I do) had to read over the iteneray. After all the ligistical stuff was done we were on our way....or so we thought. We drove to the ferry... which ended up being the wrong place. Oops, I take that blame. I was navigating and I got us lost right at the start. Who thought it was a good idea to make the directionally challenged one incharge of getting us from place to place. Bad idea.





Finally we were off, for real this time. Frank, who became our main driver got the first leg, and he was driving fabulously on the beach. Our first main stop was at Lake Mackenzie. It was and over cast day with a slight chill and we all ran foulishly into this lake. Oh to be young. It was absolutly freezing. It was fantastic. We all played a little volleyball, then through a frizby around for a few hours. It was an amazingly relaxing day and I was really enjoying my time with all of these people.





Finally we got out to our camp and let me tell you, it's pretty funny to see people who have never camped before to be left to put up their own tent. Who thought that was a good idea I don't know, but finally I jumped in to help them. All the tents were set up, and some of the guys took on the task to cook our pasta dinner.





In the mean time others pulled out their "Goon". Now I'm sure that sounds a bit strange to all of you and possible not that appetizing, well let me tell you, it's horrible. It's a really really REALLY cheap "wine" if that's really what you want to call it. It's a type that comes in a box, but most people take it out of the box and just carry around the bag, so it's wine in a bag. It's the ingredients that make it the best. I'm sure that there is some wine in it, but I also know that one of the ingredients is fish oil. That right there makes me now what it. So with it being so disgusting people drink it with the soul purpose of getting drunk. Lucky for me, none of them got really annoying and others were still sober. Until, the liquid laughter happened.....





Three of the guys got really chummy over the night in their drunken state. When we all started to turn in they insisted they had to be in the same tent. There was also another one who was drunk and walking around with the music speakers. My favorite sight of the whole night was Gary standing outside the tent with the three guys holding the speakers to the tent, while you just see the tent swaying back and forth while the guys were getting situated. It was fantastic and will always make me laugh.





It was shortly after that though, that I heard what sounded like a bucket of water splash inside the tent. I knew that couldn't be good. Frank was the only one brave enough and he pulled aside the tent flaps to find Lloyd pressed against the screen of the tent....sick....hence the "liquid laughter"





Monday, July 20



Poor Lloyd cleaned up his mess. In fact, we lost him because he went to a different loo to do his washing and no one knew where he was. When we found him he was cleaning everything 3 times. With body soap, shampoo, and Toothpaste. Yep, toothpaste. I guess he was going for the fresh clean smell. Unfortunately it did no good. It all still smelled foul.



We went back out to the beach to go to the ship wreck that was left on the beach about 30 years ago. After it drove into the land, the Army decided to use it as bombing target. So it's a rusty destoryed massive ship just hanging out on the beach. It really was amazing. We also lucked out my having the most spectacular weather so the photos look fantastic.



We then back tracked a little to go to Eli Creek. We didn't really know what this was but we suited up in our swimmers and checked it out. It was a perfectly clear creek that you just walked along in. We got wet up to about our waist, but in the heat it was really quite refeshing. At the end of the creek some of us just sat/passed out in the sun while others played a little football (soccer).



I woke up realizing how much of the day was just lost. We had not had lunch and we still had a long drive to get up to Indian Head. We decided to stop some place to eat and there we made the decision that we would not make it up in time. So in stead Frank stopped us at the Pinnacles along the beach. He had seen it on the way up and wanted to check it out. He and I saw that there was a path and we were going to go for the walk. All of a sudden everyone liked the idea of going for the walk, so we locked up and left stuff and made this huge preparation. The walk was about 80 meters..... Yeah we felt dumb after that. But the rocks looked really cool.



It was nearly 4:00 and we had to be off the beach by 4:30 so instead of going to the camp we all just played some volleyball to pass the time. It was really a great way to end the evening. Finally we had to move on to the Aboriginal camp site. This was really a fancy way to camp. It had pavilion that we set the tents up in, and there were mattresses to put under our tents. Talk about camping in style. It was also nice because there was a campfire there, and I got the pleasure of teaching everyone how to make S'mores. Oh it was just fantasitic.



That night we got to meet some of the local Dingos. To be honest it scared the crap out of me. Then the owner came around with some tubes so we could learn how to play the Didgerido. I was much better at it this time than the first time I tried, but it was really difficult. It's that whole circular breathing, that is really difficult.



Tuesday, July 21



Our only stop today was Lake Wabby. However, it was a bit of a drive and then a 30 min walk. The walk ended up being longer than that, but the lake was worth getting to. We took the scenic path, so we came up on it from the top of a massive sand dune. We then had the brilliant idea to run down the hill as a group. It was brilliant till we all hit the water. We lasted about 3 seconds till we realized we had to run out because it was so cold.



We spend the rest of the day there till we had to head off to get back to the main land on time. We were way off on our time and got back about an hour late. Oh well. They seemed to like us enough that it wasn't that big of a deal.



We then had to wait to for him to make sure everything was returned. We all of course had the same question going through our head, "Do we tell about the sick tent?" Finally a few of us came to the conclusion that he was going to figure it out when he opened the tent and it would better for him to prepare himself. So, I was the brave one to fess up. I guess I really am a goodie-to-shoes.



In the end of it all, he said that we were actually the best group he's had. So that was fantastic. (Man I really need to get some new adjectives) So we took the rest of the food we had and made up a huge feast, then ended the day with a movie. Perfect way to end our time together, chill and with no worries. That was our whole trip together.



Wednesday, July 22



Really there was nothing much to my day. I sat on a bus, then transfered to another bus, then sat in a station, then slept on the last bus. Finally around 8:00pm I got into Byron Bay. My hostel ticket said that I would be picked up, so I called to be sure they were still coming since I had no idea where I was going. He said he was 10 mins out making me think that was how far the hostel was. No I was so wrong. The hostel wasn't even in Byron Bay. It was an hour out in Evans Head. The owner of the hostel was Plenko and your very typical surfer. Evans Head became like a home over the next couple days.



Thursday, July 23



The only other person staying at the hostel was Hanna. She was in Australia for nearly 2 weeks and wanted to just get some sun and some surf time, so that was how she ended up here. It was really a good thing she was there. It made my whole experience in the odd little town of Evan's Head so much better.



We started our day with a bike ride. It was Plenko's excuse for going to check out the surf. Before we all hopped in the ocean Hanna and I got into a Kayak and went up the river to the National park. There a made a little blood sucking friend. I have no idea how the leach got on me, seeing as we were not in the water, but out of no where, there was a slimmy thing on the foot. At first I thought it was just some mud but then when it didn't come off I realized what it was. Hanna actually had to work hard to get it off. I was glad to leave that friend behind.



So after a small snack. Hanna was off to the beach and Plenko and I were in the back yard teaching me how to stand up on a surf board. Lucky for us Plenko's back yard was right up against the river which lead out to the beach, so we go in the water and I got my first day of hard working paddling. Once out in the surf Plenko had me stand up then pushed me out into a wave and I rode my first wave in. Then it was my turn to paddle to catch a wave and stand up. I did it on my first try. It was such a great feeling. I was doing that for about 2 hours until I got really tired. So Hanna and I walked our boards back.



Plenko had to go out to his dads so we joined him. His dad works on a sugar cane farm so as a treat for us they let us try sugar cane. They just gave us a stick and told us to chew on it. I don't know if they were just trying to make us look silly, but it was really good. From there Plenko took us to the bowling pub. Hanna and I though he was talking about bowling like with pins, but they mean lawn ball which is where you have a small ball and you have to try to get the bigger balls as close as possible. The highlight there was our little bit of gambling. I don't know why but Plenko was really enthusiastic about us doing this. It was quite amusing.



That evening we stopped at the supermarket to pick up some ice cream, but also some Tim Tams. OH man Tim Tams are the best things ever. They are two chocolate biscuits (cookies) sandwiching chocolate cream call coated in chocolate. I don't know how I'm going to live without once I leave. Because of my love for them Plenko started calling me the Tim Tam Nazi.



Friday, July 24



Hanna and I went back out to the beach to do a little more surfing. It was miserable this time. There were abour 20 people and the waves were only crashing at one point. I spent more time trying to not drown then even on the board none-the-less surfing. So I went back to drop my board off and get a shower, then I went back out just to watch Hanna. Eventually she came into the beach and we just spent the whole afternoon talking.



That night a whole group of guys showed up. They come out there to just get away and fish. So that night Plenko treated them to a BBQ. Since he had grown so fond of us, he treated us too. It was probably the best meal I've had this whole trip. It was a massive steak and tasted so amazing. The steak was seriously bigger than my head, plus a sausage and some salade. Oh I'm drooling just thinking about it.



Saturday, July 25



The three of us went for another bike ride this morning. This time we rode out to the National park where not only did we go to look at the surf but also enjoy some of the wild life. There is so much here it unbelieveable. I mean birds we can't even imagine are normal here. I think people in Australia are just so lucky in all that nature has to offer it.



We decided that the surf looked good at this beach, so Hanna and Plenko suited up. I decided to sit out since I was on the verge of crashing and knew that I had a surf camp of 4 days to come. No point in crashing before that. But, I went out with them anyways and went for a little walk down the beach to the creek, then up the rocks and was able to watch Hanna and Plenko surfing for a totally different angle.



Once back at the house Plenko again fed us. I think he enjoyed getting to feed us, then since I was leaving the next day we had to get rid of all the Tim Tams. Now the best way to eat these amazing little biscuits is to bite off both ends then suck hot tea through them. Then they sit there and melt in your fingers and are some delicious. So here we are eatting all these Tim Tams while watching....Dance Your Ass Off. How perfect is that.



Since Hanna and I felt quite fat after all those Tim Tams we decided to go bike some of it off, by going down to the beach. We biked quite a ways along the beach, but I'm so glad we did. It was just perfect, watching the colors on the water as the sun set behind the hill.



Sunday, July 26



I got picked up from Plenko's by the Surfari bus to go to a little place called Crescent Head. The only other people on the bus were Ben from Scotland and Wowa (w are said like v) from Germany. After we arrived we were fed lunch and were right out into the water for our first surf lesson. It was getting dark but we pushed on until it really was dark. It was a great way to get into the surfing mode.



Monday, July 27



In the morning just the 3 of us got to go surfing again. I was improving really fast. My bad experience at Evans Head was just the conditions. Now my confidence was growing which really helped because then I was getting up more and surfing the waves all the way in. We stopped for lunch but were right back in. It was crazy how much we were surfing. I got to the point where I couldn't even push myself up any more so I had to call it a day. It was hard because I knew that the rest of the group who was coming from Sydney was going to be at the hostel when we got back they were going to take them out, but I felt I just didn't have the strength to do any more that day. Well after a hot shower, some stretching and a bit of a rest I had new energy and was ready to go.



The whole group of us went out and the conditions were horendous. The waves were coming from every direction. Just when I would get up on my board I would be knocked down by another wave. I spent all my energy just trying to get out into the waves that I wasn't able to catch a wave. Yep, welcome to surfing.....



That night though, we all really got to get to know each other really fast. One of the girls Anne started playing the guitar and her sister Becky pulled out her harmonica. We all loved the fact that she had a harmonica, that we all had to learn too. So yep, on top of surfing I learned to play the harmonica. We had a little jam session playing the "Ring of fire" then the drinking began. I wasn't too interested so eventually I was off to bed. (Wow typing this I feel like such a fuddy duddy, but the drinking scene just doesn't do it for me)



Tuesday, July 28



We all were back off to where Ben, Wowa and I first surfed our first day "Point Plummet". We were in the water and all socializing while all getting better and better at surfing. I mean you really can't ask for any better situation. We were all cheering eachother on and just having a blast. Eventually we all got out for some lunch then we decided to go for a walk to look for some whales. Rosco (our instructor) was not confident that we would see any but it was worth a try. Lucky us we saw a whale. Not only did we see a whale but it was doing tricks for us for a good 15 mins. When we first saw it, it was just flapping its tail on the surface of the water. Not only did it look unbelievable, but the sounds was just like nothing you would imagine. Then after doing a few leaps and spitting some water, it began flapping it's fin and it looked like it was waving at us. It was just like nothing else. As it swam off it passed about 10 feet from a little fishing boat and spat water out of it's blow hole. It must have been the most terrifying moment for those fishers. Truely a highlight.



After that amazing experience we all got back in the water to surf even more. We spent a good 6 hours in the water working on our surf. It was so exhausting that it was fantastic.



That night Rosco had some friends come over to jam with him. We were all invited to join in and next thing I knew I was rocking out the Kazoo to "Always look on the Bright Side of Life" and let me tell you, I really rocked that kazoo. By the end of the jam session it was a choice of fighting through the exhaustion or going to bed, and I chose the bed option. It was a really long day, and there were only more to come.



Wednesday, July 29



First thing in the morning one of the guys working there, Paul, was doing some yoga. I decided it would be a good idea to join in seeing as I was so stiff and hurt. Before leaving we were going to do a few hours of surfing again. It was hard work this time because of being so tired, but I learned more fighting through that exhaustion. We all lost track of time and those of us leaving had to rush to get out and get some food before heading back to the hostel. We had very little time to shower before we were going to the train station. Yeah, that's how they got us back to Sydney, was by train. It was a very long 8 hour train ride. Lucky for me though, I ran into Hanna, from Evan's Head, on the train, so we were able to exchange numbers so we could meet up in Sydney.



From the train station I had the wonderful adventure to find the hostel I was booked at. The guy, when I called, told me a park would be on my right and the church on my left and just go down the hill and the hostel would be across the street from the car park. Yeah if only it were that simple. I couldn't find the hill he was talking about so when looking at the church I had no idea where to go. Then I saw the car park, but no hostel. I decided I would walk around the car park just in case. Still no hostel. Finally I saw a sign (that was not lit) that said hotel. I was going to go in there just to ask, when I realized, that was the hostel. I was so excited to find it that I pretty much crashed, the moment I got in.



Thursday, July 30



I took a walk down the park out to the water to see the Sydney Opera House. It has to be one of the best moments of my life. I can't express how unbelievable it was to see the Opera House in person so close. I walked around the basin to go up the stairs to the Opera House and there I got a ticket to go on a tour.



The tour, honestly was a bit of a let down. I learned a lot about the hall and it's purposes, but she dumbed everything down, and half the information I knew and knew better than her. She looked at me like I had 3 heads when I asked if the symphony ever had to use an orchestra shell. Yeah, see what I mean.

Remember Hanna, well she met me at the hall and we went for a walk around the warf and through town. We eventually made our way over to Darling Harbour which is actually the famous harbour in Sydney, not where the Opera House is. I learned something knew. There we went to the IMAX theater to watch Harry Potter. I know, dorky but I'll take it.

It was late went the movie got out so it was straight to bed for the both of us.

Friday, July 31

The beginning of my day consisted of me making up a package to send home. Really not all that exciting. Later though I made it out to the Olympic Park. So that is the location of the 2000 Sydney Olympics. I guess since I made it to the one in Munich it only made sense to go to this one also. Maybe I'll see if they have anything in London already and stop there too. So but back to the Olympic park. I got to see the main stadium where the cerimonies happened. I also walked around both inside and out of the Aquatic Center. Yay, Swimming!!! But I just had a nice walk down the main road. It wasn't very fancy but there is enough talking about it being the location of the Olympics that made it cool enough. Interesting fact, is that all of the buildings built for the Olympics are still used today. That's pretty good. There's also a whole park apart of it that I was unable to get to because of time. It wasn't exactly close to town.

Saturday, August 1

Wow, here we are already in August.....

This morning I ran in Wowa from the surf camp. We decided to go for a walk into town together, to find him some food. In the meantime I picked up my very own Harmonica. Blues Brothers... Here I come....

We found ourselves back in Darling Harbour. Wow it was crowded. It was also a Saturday and they had a boat show going on. Don't ask how they even got all the boats in. I couldn't even make a guess. But I can say, there were a whole heck of a lot of boats in that one wee little harbour. Our main purpose for going to the harbour though was to get some pancakes. Hanna told me about this place called Pancakes on the Rocks and they had pancakes made up any way you can imagin. Oh it was amazing.

After enjoying the entertainment around the harbour we both headed back to the hostel. That evening I spent with some of the people who had been staying in this hostel for who knows how long. When they went out, I went to bed. Early morning of doing touristy things.

Sunday, August 2

Last day in Australia... Well I spent it by going to the Blue Mountains. These are neither blue, nor mountains. They appear blue due to the Eucaliptic oil and they are about as good as you are going to get to mountains in Australia.

So our first stop was the Olympic Park. At least we didn't spend long there seeing as I had already gone there. Then we went to a wildlife park. Lucky for me I had talked to Robin just last night. She told me it didn't matter if Koalas had clamidiya because it doesn't pass to humans in that way so I should have no excuse for not holding a Koala. I didn't get to hold one, but I got to pet 3 in fact and one was a baby. Don't worry I have photos of all of this. I also got to see Dingo Pups, a Tazmanian, more Kangaroos, Wambats, and a Croc. Basically it was all Australia in one park.

So from there we got to learn about the Aboriginal story of the three sisters and the rock formation. We took a walk down 1000 stairs into the Blue Mountians then we took a tram that was really fast right back up the mountain.

To end my last day in Australia I am going to sit and watch a movie. Then tomorrow I'm heading into town to watch the sunrise on the Sydney Opera House.

I'm really going to miss Australia, but I guess that is just more reason to come back again.

I miss each and every one of you. Talk to you all in England!!!