Whitsunday Islands

Favorite trip of all times. 

Early Friday February 26th my friends and I were picked up from Peppers at 4 am to head to the Brisbane Airport. Flying Virgin Australia at 6:25 am we landed into Prosperine 20 minutes early where me and Giselle immediately went to go buy a cappuccino because, life. The airport transfer picked us up and dropped us off at the Wing's Office for us to check into our boat. After a quick check in and anxious excitement to get on the boat we made our way to the Airlie Beach Marina where we would wait for the boat to pick us up. 

All aboard: Wings 3 boat!

This Whitsunday trip included a 2 night 3 day stay upon the Wings 3 Catamaran. Upon getting on the boat we were greeted with pizza and given the low down for the day. After getting our room assignments (I was in a 8 person room on the top bunk) we all hung out on the front of the boat as we sailed through the island to our first snorkel spot. Talk about an unreal experience. Sitting there in the blaring sun we all could not get over what were doing this weekend. Living on a boat sailing the Whitsunday Islands, okay. 

The first spot to snorkel how exciting! We all jumped into the water and snorkeled around looking around for everything and anything moving. Unfortunately it was a little cloudy in this area and we didn't see the best coral however it was a good start and feel to get back into the water! 

After that we got back on the boat and just relaxed and waited for dinner to happen. By waiting for dinner I mean my friends and I were anxiously to shove ANYTHING in our mouths because our stomachs were just starving at this point. Of course they had appetizers out but nothing that seemed of interest to me. Finally around 7:45 pm dinner was served: marinated chicken, corn, cold slaw! The rest of the night was pretty short as all of us just went straight to bed, after 18 hours awake it was needed. 

Wake up call: Breakfast at 7am! I broke lent again here (sorry!!!!). Breakfast was cereals, toasts and fruit. After that were thrown into the dingy to bring us in groups to the moment we had all been waiting for, White Haven Beach. When Googling Whitsunday Island this is the picture that appears. The beautiful sand bars that appear during the fall and rise of the rides, breath taking. We had to walk our way through the wooden path for about 15 minutes until reaching this lookout and it was worth it. 

We than were able to go onto the beach and walked down without wet suits (wild!) and swam in the water. The water was much like Italy as it was completely crystal clear and blue as could be. After tking pictures here and there and messing with the go pro we all headed back to the boat to bring us to South White Haven beach to lay out and swim around. Here, Kat, one of the helpers on board was busy taking pictures of us as optical illusions of jumping out of the Vegemite can, very entertaining. After about an hour we headed back to the boat for lunch. Lunch today was make your own sandwich (with turkey go figure!!). After digesting it was time for snorkeling this time at 2 different sights.

This second day of snorkeling was unreal. We saw a turtle and followed him for quite a long time with everyone trying to get their own selfie with him. The coral was A LOT brighter in these areas and we saw so many different kinds of fish. I was patiently waiting for a octopus or barracuda but I didn't not see either! But the turtle made up for it. 

Snorkeling definitely takes a lot out of you. After taking our allotted 1 minute showers we all headed to the top of the boat and relaxed while being served nachos. Devoured those of course and waited for dinner. Dinner this time was beef stir fry with peppers, carrots and onions, a side of rice, and string beans! Very good I must say. After dinner and sitting on the boat we had our own little dolphin show with different dolphins swimming around the boat, a mother and child, absolutely adorable. Talk about seeing wild life this trip.  

After the show we had a powerpoint presentation of the slides and the intreat for the next day. 

Wake up call was again at 7 am and we were in the water snorkeling by 7:30 due to an early departure time of 8:40 to head back to the Marina. This snorkeling session was just as great as the last one and we even saw another turtle and met a little cute yellow fish who just wouldn't leave us alone. 

And than it was time to arrive back and head to the airport so sad! 

This trip was truly breath taking. I felt truly blessed and fortunate to be able to take this trip. It was recently rated 12/20 on the TripAdvisor's must see beaches, so another one for the bucket list has been checked off. Never been happier and can't wait to see what my next trip on Wednesday brings, Bali here we come! 

Turtle! 

Moreton Island

"Its one night camping trip on an island called Moreton Island."

On Saturday February 13th my friends and I awoke at 5 am to catch the 5:30 bus to Bond University. We boarded the Coach bus and were enroute to the Brisbane Ferry stop! After an hour and a half ride we arrived in Brisbane and boarded the ferry. *Note 1: Upon booking the trip we were told the ferry was 40 minutes, wrong, it was an hour and a half.*

When we dock on the shore (quite literally the boat parked itself on the sand) we were welcomed with massive rain clouds and the opening of the sky. Typical we have been in and out of Gold Coast's wet season making certain encounters and trips very unfortunate. So we get off the boat and are shuffled into a 4WD truck to take us to our living accommodations, lol. We get to the camp site and all i see are tents set up and a "kitchen area."

*Thoughts currently running through my mind at this time: help*

Standing underneath the tent with the 40 other visitors we are all trying to dodge the rain. This was definitely not the Valentine's weekend any of us had in mind! As the skies are pouring down on us the instructors of the tour tell us that we are going snorkeling at the Ship Wreck back near where we came in, great! We all change into our bath suits and run to the truck, already soaked. Upon getting to the water I am shivering (I mean no surprise I am cold in 80 degree weather but this is differentt). The water is warmer once you are inside of it so we decide to ditch the kayaking and just go snorkeling. We bribed the instructor for a wet suit to help keep us warm. The one I was given could have fit another one of me inside but hey anything is better than nothing! We went out to to the ship wreck and saw a bunch of fish but nothing too too special certainly cool though. After about an hour in the water we were sent back to the camp grounds where lunch was served.

Lunch consisted of Ham and Salad Rolls and fruits that were out. Not exactly my cup of tea, this is why I always pack my own stuff! After lunch the sky decided to work in our favor and we headed to a hike called Mount Tempest. We were driven in the 4WD truck to get to the hike. The "roads" are all sand and are paths that are enclosed within two rock walls and not smooth paths either. Talk about a near death experience when going 50 mph in a narrow, up and down, path. Going to the hike I was in the back of the car staring at a girl who kept claiming she was not going to be good (great) but we made it safe and sound.  It was worth the climb as we were brought to a stunning lookout of the island from up above. After coming back down and calling Shot Gun in the car we made our way back to the camp ground where we had free time before dinner. This consisted of us going to the beach to sit and relax and just enjoy the sunset with some corn chips.

Dinner that night consisted of burgers, sausages, salad and with a side of a million mosquitos. After dinner I was wrapped up so tightly in my clothes to make sure not a single inch of my skin was exposed. It is safe to say mosquitos do not care about insect repellent because I am pretty certain I had more bites than a deer has ticks. A happy camper, I think not. I huddled around the fire for a while to ward off the bugs but it didn't seem to help! At that point we decided to wrap it up for the night while other people were wasted (definitely not the scene I could deal with). Going to bed was me Christina and Marisol in a tent nestled and douched in bug spray. I lasted a good 2 hours where I was awoken by my body over heating and itchy beyond belief. After tossing and turning me and marissa decided we needed to move to the beach.

Well, this might have been the greatest experience of my life. Marissa and I walked to the beach (while holding our nose past the bathroom) and set up our sleeping bags. Talk about sleeping under the stars, omg. Was unsure if I was on the set of a movie or in real life. I have never in my life, not even in the US Virgin Islands seen stars this big and so close. It was a another peaceful 3 hours of sleep on the beach and than it was time for breakfast at 6 am. I broke lent for the first time here but in desperate measures I needed food (forgive me Jesus).

This day we had a jammed packed day. In the beginning we were trucked out to the Westerly part of the island to one of their beaches and champagne pools. We than made it to the Blue Lagoon, a lagoon where the water is drinkable and swimmable at the same time (definitely was not down to drink that). However after that were brough back to camp for some lunch which consisted of wraps and salads and fruit and than it was time to Sand Board. We drove to a place called the Desert. And Let me tell you that was exactly what it was. Hills of sand I thought I was Mary walking through Jerusalem. Sweating and thinking I could go down at any point I decided to watch instead of engaging in the activity. My friends went sand boarding, much like sledding, down the hills. After girls enduring burns we made it to the beach to relax and wait for the ferry to take us back to brisbane.

After all our modes of transportation we had finally made it home to Peppers and I have never been so happy. Who knew 1 night and 2 days could feel so incredibly long.

Was I happy I went, yes. Did I have fun, yes. Would I go back, I don't think so! Unless it was nicer conditions but I am not one to camp! But I can cross "camping in australia" off my bucket list and many people are not able to do that so I am blessed.

Little things!

So being on the Gold Coast there is so much to see in this area! So far me and a few friends have decided to take advantage of these close wonders and have ventured out a little. We have seen Broadbeach (we live on it), Burleigh Heights and even out to Brisbane!




We live on Broadbeach so it is not much a of a trek to get to, just a short 1000 steps! I like to going to the beach after class or on Monday's when I have no class (hehe!). What is nice about Broadbeach is that there aren't many people on it ever so it is definitely a nice place for a relaxing afternoon.

Burleigh Heights: a beautiful little small hike get away with an incredible view. A few friends and I decided to come out to Burleigh Heads which is only about 20 minutes away from our home. After climbing up a paved path it leads you at to a beautiful view! If you're daring you can slide under the fence and take a cute picture on the rock down below!

Brisbane: Hannah, Jackie, Marisol and I decided to take advantage of the train and wen tout to Brisbane one afternoon. Here we rented the City Cycle bikes and biked all around town. We biked over a bridge which was probably one of the more terrifying experiences of my life (good luck to me bunging jumping)! Than we took an uber out to the Lone Pine Koala Sanutary! Here I not only paid $18 to hold a koala (no doubt the best 18 I've spent) BUT also was able to feed a kangaroo and get a great picture with him (unlike Featherdale Zoo)! After spending time at the Zoo and being interrupted by Asians who kept cutting lines we decided to head back to the train station. We had a long uber tide back with a driver who was from Tasmania and for some reason he would not stop talking. He finally dropped us off and we had a nice (expensive) lunch on the water before heading home!



 

Another week down

Well, keeping up with a blog was a lot harder than I thought it was going to be! I keep getting too distracted and too busy to fill in each journal post (which I guess is a good thing).

So.. let's fill in some time

Right now I just started Week 4 of classes (mind blogging and nauseating to think about- time is flying). Over the past few weeks of school I have really adjusted to the Australian life style and officially am comfortable with all my surroundings, as if that was hard to accustom to. Classes are so interesting so far I really have to say I enjoy them, granted I am only taking three of them. My favorite so far is definitely Buddhist Philosophy! In class we have begun to learn all about buddhism, but more in the lifestyle aspect not in a religious aspect which I truly enjoy. We have been mediating in class which is definitely a lot harder than it seems.

Last weekend we took our first trip to Byron Bay, a good start to the semester! The transportation for our trip was in the "Magic Bus." Yes as you are probably thinking it was a very hippie, psyadelic bus ride which made sense for our first destination, Nimbin. Nimbin is a small town on the Gold Coast known for its "herbs" and "medicines" that help people, in other words a HUGE weed town. Think of anything and everything that could possibly have weed in it and you will find it in Nimbin.. along with some other very interesting people. Me and Hannah were exploring the town and walked past an old women selling her paintings in front of the Art Gallery. I turned my attention to her and as she was saying "unique paintings, authentic paintings" she flashed me a notecard that said, cookies. And passing other older men on the street they would ask you, "do you need anything?" in reference to any drug under the sun. Needless to say not my ideal place but not a place to miss either.
     We than got back into the bus and started to make our way to Byron Bay while enduring a miserable rainy ride! Naturally I was sitting next to the window that drenched me but definitely worth the experience. We finally made it to Byron where we stayed in the Backpacker Inn Hostel. The first night included dinner and a night out at the Cheeky Monkey! The next day, unfortunately my kayaking with dolphins was cancelled so I instead went on the Lighthouse Walk tour while my friends went sky diving. A "leisurely walk" turned into a hell of a hike that had my ass sore for the following week, and sunburn although it was extremely cloudy (go figure- typical Australia with random UV of 11)! However, it was cool because the hike brought us to the Most Easterly part of Australia-- I can check that off my bucket list! That night we had a Hostel sponsored BBQ and than it was off to Woody's, another local bar-- where me and Marisa managed to score a few free drinks and successfully learned how to order a strong drink at the bar (Australia doesn't do shots so ask for a lot of ice and little soda when ordering your vodka sodas- you won't be disappointed!). On Sunday it was time to go home but we had the whole day to ourselves to explore. Hannah and I decided to hit the beach for about 2 hours until the continuous sand storm was simply unbearable after a while. The two of us than ventured throughout town, got lunch at the cutest restaurant and laid out on the grass near the water until Hannah was bite by a green ant, apparently they're a problem here in Aus.
    The bus ride back to Bond University felt like half a second after the initial 9 hour bus ride it took to get there! Plus me and Hannah got snagged the good seats on the bus again (girl with long legs must be accommodated in small conditions).