Kokoda Challlenge

While in Australia I had the opportunity to create a P.R. campaign for the Kokoda Challenge- talk about a sweet organization and opportunity. Check it out: http://www.kokodachallenge.com/

Ay-Currumbin!

Probably one of my favorite memories of Australia while on the Gold Coast was going to Currubin- a wildlife sanctuary about 20-25 minutes away, depending on your mode of transportation... I went a couple times and loved it each time. Basically, if you ever go to the Gold Coast don't miss this awesome opportunity that is great for all ages!! To learn more, follow this link: http://www.cws.org.au/

Burleigh Heads

One of my favorite spots in Australia that I visited several times a week was Burleigh Heads (beach)... in Surfer's Paradise. It was within walking distance and great for sun bathing, surfing, and just hanging out with friends or a good book. Even better was the fact that my favorite cafe was just across the way where they served the best chicken sandwich and fish I've ever had- plus they were within my budget. If you were willing to walk a bit there were several great shops around the area- boutiques, thrift stores, and touristy joints.. not to mention some fun specialty shops and countless surfer hot spots.

Bondies at last...

Exhausted, we finally arrived at Bond... only to realize that we had to somehow carry our luggage on foot another mile. At this point I didn't know what day it was, let alone the time or season.. My name was a little sketchy and they wanted me to go hiking... yeah right. I just sat down and cried. Eventually they took pity and a van came to transport Kellen and I to our apartment(s) in the sky.

My room was amazing!! I was nervous after seeing my new friend break down after going to her small dorm room. Apparently she already encountered the wildlife of of Australia in her room... I was worried.

To begin, Kellen and I were finally neighbors. What were the chances of that?!! And, I had a GORGEOUS view. The ocean right outside my window.. Yes, I had made the right decision to go to Australia. :)

Here is a link of Bond's campus- it looks even better in real life if you can imagine: http://www.bond.edu.au/index.html

Australia Day

Australia Day- think Forth of July, yet cooler... :) Australia day is celebrated on January 26 every year by Australians. Basically it is a day to celebrate what it means to be Australians and to remember their ancestors struggle. To learn more about this holiday, follow this link: http://www.australiaday.org.au/experience/

Cairns

Our program introduction began in Cairns, Australia- Australearn. We stayed at a resort hostel called Gilligan’s Backpackers in downtown Cairns. The introduction included sessions to help us adapt to Australian culture. We also got to scuba/snorkel on the Great Barrier Reef and go to a rainforest preservation where we held koalas, pet kangaroos, and learned about the Australian Aboriginal culture. The Great Barrier Reef was amazing! It was so pretty and so surreal. Our group took a boat out that took about 2 hours to get to the reef. When we got there we could snorkel and learn to scuba for a “nominal” fee. Unfortunately, I was unable to dive, but I followed the group with my snorkle equipment- yeah for years of swimming and learning to hold my breath. Later, lunch was provided and then we went to the next dive sight. I just snorkeled there because money doesn’t grow on trees! I didn’t matter though because since I didn’t have scuba gear strapped to my back, I kept diving down and holding my breath to get a better look at things. The colors we so amazing, that I forgot I was holding my breath, and when I finally realized it, I was about 15 feet under! Oops. So a couple of
girls and myself went out into town to explore and find a place to have dinner. We stumbled upon this night market that was really interesting. In the front there was kind of like a food court and in the back, there were rows of little shops that sells various things (kind of like the markets in China or the Bahamas.) There was also an area where you could get Chinese massages for really cheap. I was with 2 other girls and after we bargained with them, we all got a 40 minute massage for apx. $13 that included a foot massage, back, shoulders, and head. It was amazing, but at one point it started to hurt. I tried to ignore it, but finally I couldn’t take it anymore. I lifted my head out of the little hole on the table to try to tell him that it hurt~ well, apparently that was lost in translation, because he said something that sounded like, “Hie, Hie!!!”, and shoved my head back into the little hole in the massage table. It is fun experiencing all of the language barriers and cultural differences. Yesterday we went to this place called Rainforestation.
It was muggy and rainy, but so gorgeous. W were taught how to throw a boomerang. Then he showed us how to play this ceremonial instrument called a didgeridoo, where you have to breath in through your mouth and blow out through your nose to play it. After that we got to take pictures of kangaroos and feed them. I think they were drugged or something, because they kept drifting off and were totally out of it. I got a picture with a koala too!! They are soo cute, but not very cuddly.