17th December 2008
Surf Camp 3
Day 71
I was told this morning that last night I shouted out in my sleep, 'it's OK everyone, I'm beginning to feel better now!'. I think all the sea water that I am swallowing whilst trying to surf is helping my throat.
Am feeling better about the Christmas thing too. I checked my emails. Katie and Gemma (who I met in Cairns and was meant to go to Port Douglas with but never did) have invited me to go with them to Bondi Beach for Christmas day :-).
The surfing isn't going too well. Surfing is better when you don't have tonsillitis. I have tonsillitis. Plus sunburn that makes it look like I've dipped my arms in red paint. Not a good look.
Thursday 18 December 2008
Day 70 Surf Camp 2
16th December 2008
Surf Camp 2
Day 70
I stayed in all last night, which was a bit shit. I want to get better fast and all but I'm also scared that I'll be spending Christmas on my own. I don't want to spend Christmas on my own. That's what I'm worrying about.
There's lots of people I met onmy travels who are in Sydney for New Year like Erik (Brisbane ginger ninja), Tim (Fraser Island) and Lisa (Cairns), but they aren't in Sydney for Christmas.
And it's not like I can make any friends here when most of the time I am lying in bed.
Some of the guys I met in Surfer's Paradise are in Sydney for Christmas but I don't want to be like a tag along and invite myself to join them. This is the problem with only spending a few days in each place I visit - it's really hard to make good friends that fast. Maybe I am overthinking the whole thing but if I'm on my own for Christmas I'll be crushed.
Surf Camp 2
Day 70
I stayed in all last night, which was a bit shit. I want to get better fast and all but I'm also scared that I'll be spending Christmas on my own. I don't want to spend Christmas on my own. That's what I'm worrying about.
There's lots of people I met onmy travels who are in Sydney for New Year like Erik (Brisbane ginger ninja), Tim (Fraser Island) and Lisa (Cairns), but they aren't in Sydney for Christmas.
And it's not like I can make any friends here when most of the time I am lying in bed.
Some of the guys I met in Surfer's Paradise are in Sydney for Christmas but I don't want to be like a tag along and invite myself to join them. This is the problem with only spending a few days in each place I visit - it's really hard to make good friends that fast. Maybe I am overthinking the whole thing but if I'm on my own for Christmas I'll be crushed.
Day 69 Surf Camp 1
15th December 2008
Surf Camp 1
Day 69
Feeling slightly better than I did yesterday morning, which is good.
I have started a 5 day surf camp, going from Bryon Bay to Sydney. It's mad that I have Tonsillitis and am going surfing as energy levels are so low. It was cool though - I managed to stand up and surf once at the beginning of the lesson. After that I had no energy to physically swim and jump up on the board again, but it was good fun.
When I got back to the camp, I slept and stayed in bed. I still feel ill. Can't drink either on these Penicillin tablets. Wank.
Surf Camp 1
Day 69
Feeling slightly better than I did yesterday morning, which is good.
I have started a 5 day surf camp, going from Bryon Bay to Sydney. It's mad that I have Tonsillitis and am going surfing as energy levels are so low. It was cool though - I managed to stand up and surf once at the beginning of the lesson. After that I had no energy to physically swim and jump up on the board again, but it was good fun.
When I got back to the camp, I slept and stayed in bed. I still feel ill. Can't drink either on these Penicillin tablets. Wank.
Day 68 Tonsillitis
14th December 2008
Tonsillitis
Day 68
Last night I kept waking up and lay in bed awake for hours freezing cold. I had developed a fever and slept in a jumper. This morning I had hardly any energy and my head was all over the place. The receptionist gave me the phone number to the hospital who had one doctor there so I called a taxi and went to see the doctor.
Turns out I have Tonsillitis. Sexy.
From Byron Bay, most people go to Nimbin and get cannabis and magic mushrooms. I on the other hand went to the hospital and got aspirin and penicillin.
Today I must have been the only person around for miles wearing a cardigan.
Am staying in tonight and trying to recover as much as possible for Surf Camp tomorrow.
Tonsillitis
Day 68
Last night I kept waking up and lay in bed awake for hours freezing cold. I had developed a fever and slept in a jumper. This morning I had hardly any energy and my head was all over the place. The receptionist gave me the phone number to the hospital who had one doctor there so I called a taxi and went to see the doctor.
Turns out I have Tonsillitis. Sexy.
From Byron Bay, most people go to Nimbin and get cannabis and magic mushrooms. I on the other hand went to the hospital and got aspirin and penicillin.
Today I must have been the only person around for miles wearing a cardigan.
Am staying in tonight and trying to recover as much as possible for Surf Camp tomorrow.
Day 66 Byron Bay
12th December 2008
Byron Bay
Day 66
Said bye to everyone. They're staying in Surfer's Paradise a little longer and I'm off to Byron Bay today.
Now it is raining :-(.
I arrived at my hostel 'the Arts Factory' and I must say it looks quite cool and really hippy. When I walked in, the first thing I noticed was the overwhelming smell of weed. Some people were getting high in the common room and the smell came all the way through to reception. The staff didn't seem to mind though.
In the day I slept quite a bit. When I got up I felt so depressed and wish I had extended my stay with eveyone in Surfer's Paradise. Plus I quite fancied Chris, I guy I met there too.
It seems like so much effort to meet different people all the time and getting on really well, only to say bye 2 days later. Depresses the hell out of me so I went back to bed. Then this eccentric Italian guy burst into the room and said, 'I think you sleep too much', as he saw me earlier in bed too. He was quite funny and told me I needed to go outside, so I did and ended up going into town for a drink with some German girls.
When I got back to the hostel there was a girl walking around who looked really confused. Apparently she had had too many magic mushrooms.
Byron Bay
Day 66
Said bye to everyone. They're staying in Surfer's Paradise a little longer and I'm off to Byron Bay today.
Now it is raining :-(.
I arrived at my hostel 'the Arts Factory' and I must say it looks quite cool and really hippy. When I walked in, the first thing I noticed was the overwhelming smell of weed. Some people were getting high in the common room and the smell came all the way through to reception. The staff didn't seem to mind though.
In the day I slept quite a bit. When I got up I felt so depressed and wish I had extended my stay with eveyone in Surfer's Paradise. Plus I quite fancied Chris, I guy I met there too.
It seems like so much effort to meet different people all the time and getting on really well, only to say bye 2 days later. Depresses the hell out of me so I went back to bed. Then this eccentric Italian guy burst into the room and said, 'I think you sleep too much', as he saw me earlier in bed too. He was quite funny and told me I needed to go outside, so I did and ended up going into town for a drink with some German girls.
When I got back to the hostel there was a girl walking around who looked really confused. Apparently she had had too many magic mushrooms.
Friday 12 December 2008
Day 65 Holidays are coming
11th December 2008
Holidays are coming
Day 65
Spent the day at the beach with everyone (the people I went out with last night).
At night we cooked spag bol and chatted at the hostel whilst Christmas songs played on someones ipod - the 1st time I've felt Christmassy.
These guys I am here with are fab! There's Jennie, Natalia, Emily, Chris, Ian, John, Steve and Claire. Most are in Sydney for Christmas and New Year so will hopefully meeting up again.
Holidays are coming
Day 65
Spent the day at the beach with everyone (the people I went out with last night).
At night we cooked spag bol and chatted at the hostel whilst Christmas songs played on someones ipod - the 1st time I've felt Christmassy.
These guys I am here with are fab! There's Jennie, Natalia, Emily, Chris, Ian, John, Steve and Claire. Most are in Sydney for Christmas and New Year so will hopefully meeting up again.
Day 64 Surfer's Paradise
10th December 2008
Surfer's Paradise
Day 64
Woke up in the airport. Had quite a good sleep considering it was in an airport. Got a 2 hour plane to Brisbane, then a train to the city centre, then a Greyhound coach to Surfer's Paradise, then the shuttle bus back to the hostel.
I was knackered.
Was meant to have a quite night in (yeah right). Let's put it this way - I ended being pushed back to the hostel in a shopping trolley in the early hours of the morning.
Surfer's Paradise
Day 64
Woke up in the airport. Had quite a good sleep considering it was in an airport. Got a 2 hour plane to Brisbane, then a train to the city centre, then a Greyhound coach to Surfer's Paradise, then the shuttle bus back to the hostel.
I was knackered.
Was meant to have a quite night in (yeah right). Let's put it this way - I ended being pushed back to the hostel in a shopping trolley in the early hours of the morning.
Day 63 Super cool day!
9th December 2008
The American guys got my note and came to the hostel this morning. 1st we broke into some coconuts and drunk the milk, then we licked some green ants (a better source of vitamin C than oranges, we really did this), then we went to the Mingin swing that Sam won yesterday, but as they had been on it already they let me go on it. It was so cool!
Super cool day!
Day 63
The American guys got my note and came to the hostel this morning. 1st we broke into some coconuts and drunk the milk, then we licked some green ants (a better source of vitamin C than oranges, we really did this), then we went to the Mingin swing that Sam won yesterday, but as they had been on it already they let me go on it. It was so cool!
Then we ate some lychees and went to a place called Crystal Cascades and swam in the pools and went sliding down the waterfalls.
At night they dropped me off at the airport, where I am going to sleep. Getting a flight at 6am then it's off to Surfer's Paradise!
Tuesday 9 December 2008
Day 62 Chilling
8th December 2008
Chilled out all day
Day 62
Yes it was one of those 'I did nothing all day' days again...
In the evening I went to the BBQ at the hostel. The American guys, Sam and Rob went too. The Scottish girls Lisa and Wendy, left today though to go to Airlie Beach. Hopefully we will meet up again in Sydney.
Sam won a digeridoo competition and won a bungy swing ride and the guys said I could go out with them for the day tomorrow as they have a hire car and maybe they felt sorry for me as I did nothing all day today.
Then some of us went into town for a few drinks, but the American guys didn't show up and I didn't want it to be like a few days ago when I missed going out for the day with Gemma and Katie. So I walked to their hostel and left a note on their car windscreen. Hopefully they'll get it and get in touch about tomorrow. I'm in the frame of mind right now that you have to make the effort to get anything back.
Chilled out all day
Day 62
Yes it was one of those 'I did nothing all day' days again...
In the evening I went to the BBQ at the hostel. The American guys, Sam and Rob went too. The Scottish girls Lisa and Wendy, left today though to go to Airlie Beach. Hopefully we will meet up again in Sydney.
Sam won a digeridoo competition and won a bungy swing ride and the guys said I could go out with them for the day tomorrow as they have a hire car and maybe they felt sorry for me as I did nothing all day today.
Then some of us went into town for a few drinks, but the American guys didn't show up and I didn't want it to be like a few days ago when I missed going out for the day with Gemma and Katie. So I walked to their hostel and left a note on their car windscreen. Hopefully they'll get it and get in touch about tomorrow. I'm in the frame of mind right now that you have to make the effort to get anything back.
Day 61 The Cape Tribulation Thing
7th December 2008
Trials and Tribulations in Cape Tribulation
Day 61
I woke up outside as the old man in my room was snoring so loud last night I had to take my pillow and get some sleep on the bench outside my room.
Went on the Cape Tribulation tour, which was meant to be 2 days and 1 nights accommodation up there - but I am back in Cairns now. When I did the first part of the tour, I was dropped off at the hostel in Cape Trib that I was meant to be staying at. I got to my dorm room and it stunk of mould. It really did stink too and the other people who were put in the same room as me weren't impressed and tried to get the hostel changed. I went to the receptionist and she said she couldn't move me to a different room. I knew there were spare beds at the hostel, but she said no. Then I spoke to the house keeping person, who I think was a woman, and she said there was no chance of me moving and the rooms smell because of the humidity. I said 'do all the rooms smell then?' and she said 'yes'. So apparently I had no choice...
Anyway they basically tried to give me no options and I thought 'I don't have to stay here', so I checked out and ran to the coach that was just about to leave and the guy who was driving the coach let me get on back to Cairns! It was so liberating to just leave, and not be bullied or made to stay somewhere I didn't want to stay.
So it was off to Cairns with no accommodation booked there. I went back to Traveller's Oasis. They were full but I managed to get in a place called Tropic Days, which is the sister hostel of Traveller's Oasis... AND I HAD SUCH A GREAT NIGHT! Straight away I met these two Scottish girls and was given a free meal voucher for a pub in town. I asked if they were going and we all agreed to go. Then just as we were about to get the bus, these 2 American guys came to the hostel reception. We asked if they wanted to come too and they did. So we all went to the Woolshed pub and had some food. Stayed there for a while then went back to the hostel and played cards and (inevitably) drinking games. Then we all had a swim in the pool. It was such a great night, it really was. So glad I left Cape Tribulation. Moral of the story, no one can make someone do something you don't want to.
We are all going for a BBQ tomorrow. Yum.
Trials and Tribulations in Cape Tribulation
Day 61
I woke up outside as the old man in my room was snoring so loud last night I had to take my pillow and get some sleep on the bench outside my room.
Went on the Cape Tribulation tour, which was meant to be 2 days and 1 nights accommodation up there - but I am back in Cairns now. When I did the first part of the tour, I was dropped off at the hostel in Cape Trib that I was meant to be staying at. I got to my dorm room and it stunk of mould. It really did stink too and the other people who were put in the same room as me weren't impressed and tried to get the hostel changed. I went to the receptionist and she said she couldn't move me to a different room. I knew there were spare beds at the hostel, but she said no. Then I spoke to the house keeping person, who I think was a woman, and she said there was no chance of me moving and the rooms smell because of the humidity. I said 'do all the rooms smell then?' and she said 'yes'. So apparently I had no choice...
Anyway they basically tried to give me no options and I thought 'I don't have to stay here', so I checked out and ran to the coach that was just about to leave and the guy who was driving the coach let me get on back to Cairns! It was so liberating to just leave, and not be bullied or made to stay somewhere I didn't want to stay.
So it was off to Cairns with no accommodation booked there. I went back to Traveller's Oasis. They were full but I managed to get in a place called Tropic Days, which is the sister hostel of Traveller's Oasis... AND I HAD SUCH A GREAT NIGHT! Straight away I met these two Scottish girls and was given a free meal voucher for a pub in town. I asked if they were going and we all agreed to go. Then just as we were about to get the bus, these 2 American guys came to the hostel reception. We asked if they wanted to come too and they did. So we all went to the Woolshed pub and had some food. Stayed there for a while then went back to the hostel and played cards and (inevitably) drinking games. Then we all had a swim in the pool. It was such a great night, it really was. So glad I left Cape Tribulation. Moral of the story, no one can make someone do something you don't want to.
We are all going for a BBQ tomorrow. Yum.
Day 60 Cape Tribulation Tomorrow
6th December 2008
Cape Tribulation Tomorrow
Day 60
Booked a tour to go to Cape Tribulation tomorrow. Not bad seeing as I never planned to go North of Brisbane (Cape Tribulation to Brisbane is over 1600km).
Cape Tribulation Tomorrow
Day 60
Booked a tour to go to Cape Tribulation tomorrow. Not bad seeing as I never planned to go North of Brisbane (Cape Tribulation to Brisbane is over 1600km).
Day 59 Walking
5th December 2008
Walking
Day 59
I was meant to be going to a place called Port Douglas today with some girls called Gemma and Katie who I went the night market with last night, but I looked for them and couldn't see them this morning so I guessed they already left. I went walking around the town for the day.
When I got back to the hostel, John the receptionist said they had come looking for me after I had left. Bummer. They left a note anyway and we are meeting up in Sydney around Christmas time.
At night I had another stroll around the town. I saw a man get punched and decided it was time to go back to the hostel.
Walking
Day 59
I was meant to be going to a place called Port Douglas today with some girls called Gemma and Katie who I went the night market with last night, but I looked for them and couldn't see them this morning so I guessed they already left. I went walking around the town for the day.
When I got back to the hostel, John the receptionist said they had come looking for me after I had left. Bummer. They left a note anyway and we are meeting up in Sydney around Christmas time.
At night I had another stroll around the town. I saw a man get punched and decided it was time to go back to the hostel.
Day 58 CAIRNS
4th December 2008
CAIRNS
Day 58
6:05am I arrived in Cairns. Said bye to Whitney and went to my hostel, which is the nicest hostel in the world! It's fab. I like Cairns.
Went the night market tonight with some people from the hostel including Jamie (who I went to Fraser Island with he just happened to be in the same hostel as me).
CAIRNS
Day 58
6:05am I arrived in Cairns. Said bye to Whitney and went to my hostel, which is the nicest hostel in the world! It's fab. I like Cairns.
Went the night market tonight with some people from the hostel including Jamie (who I went to Fraser Island with he just happened to be in the same hostel as me).
Day 57 Leaving Airlie
3rd December 2008
Leaving Airlie
Day 57
Managed to pay the cash into the hostels bank account, thank God.
Chilled out all day with Whitney and Sean. We played cards for hours, even played UNO with a standard pack of cards. It can be done.
My Hreyhound bus was at 8pm. Whitney and I are getting the same bus to Cairns. It's only a 10 hour drive.
Leaving Airlie
Day 57
Managed to pay the cash into the hostels bank account, thank God.
Chilled out all day with Whitney and Sean. We played cards for hours, even played UNO with a standard pack of cards. It can be done.
My Hreyhound bus was at 8pm. Whitney and I are getting the same bus to Cairns. It's only a 10 hour drive.
Day 56 ARGH!
2nd December 2008
ARGH!
Day 56
Oh my God it's so stressful! My booking for the accommodation I'm staying at in Sydney fir Christmas and New Year may have been cancelled. While I was out on the boat, the transaction did not go through properly. I booked it in September but they take the money out on 1st Decemver. There have been a million (about 6) problems today with the whole paying thing. Not going to go into each problem but there were loads! Now I have to take the cash to the National Bank of Australia and pay it into the hostels bank account tomorrow. Hopefully it will all be ok.
ARGH!
Day 56
Oh my God it's so stressful! My booking for the accommodation I'm staying at in Sydney fir Christmas and New Year may have been cancelled. While I was out on the boat, the transaction did not go through properly. I booked it in September but they take the money out on 1st Decemver. There have been a million (about 6) problems today with the whole paying thing. Not going to go into each problem but there were loads! Now I have to take the cash to the National Bank of Australia and pay it into the hostels bank account tomorrow. Hopefully it will all be ok.
Thursday 4 December 2008
Day 55 Sailing on the Whitsundays
1st December 2008
Sailing on the Whitsundays
Day 55
Woke up on the deck of the boat. Went scuba diving today again. I love it!
Tonight I decided on giving sleeping below deck a miss, as did nearly everyone else. Took my sheets to the deck and slept on one of the sails. Laid back and stared at the stars. Every now and again a shooting star would go past. I've never seen a shooting star before. The Canadian guy next to me said that shooting stars are actually debris burning up when entering the Earths atmosphere. Doesn't sound as nice as a 'shooting star'.
Every now and then I would open my eyes - a little confused, see stars, look around and be like 'oh yeah, I'm sleeping on the deck of a boat in the Whitsunday Islands' and fall back asleep.
Sailing on the Whitsundays
Day 55
Woke up on the deck of the boat. Went scuba diving today again. I love it!
Tonight I decided on giving sleeping below deck a miss, as did nearly everyone else. Took my sheets to the deck and slept on one of the sails. Laid back and stared at the stars. Every now and again a shooting star would go past. I've never seen a shooting star before. The Canadian guy next to me said that shooting stars are actually debris burning up when entering the Earths atmosphere. Doesn't sound as nice as a 'shooting star'.
Every now and then I would open my eyes - a little confused, see stars, look around and be like 'oh yeah, I'm sleeping on the deck of a boat in the Whitsunday Islands' and fall back asleep.
Day 54
30th November 2008
Sailing away
Day 54
Off sailing today on a Whitsundays cruise. Spent the morning chilling out with Tom, then off on my boat the Matador.
It was cool. I went scuba diving in the fringe areas of the Great Barrier Reef. When I got in the water, I was shocked by all the coral, colours and fish. Never did I expect it would be this good. Then 2 giant turtles swan past. It was fab!
Spent the evening playing card games with some people on the boat. It was so hot in the sleeping areas though, like an oven. I didn;t last long before taking my pillow and sleeping on the deck.
Sailing away
Day 54
Off sailing today on a Whitsundays cruise. Spent the morning chilling out with Tom, then off on my boat the Matador.
It was cool. I went scuba diving in the fringe areas of the Great Barrier Reef. When I got in the water, I was shocked by all the coral, colours and fish. Never did I expect it would be this good. Then 2 giant turtles swan past. It was fab!
Spent the evening playing card games with some people on the boat. It was so hot in the sleeping areas though, like an oven. I didn;t last long before taking my pillow and sleeping on the deck.
Day 53 Ill
29th November 2008
Ill
Day 53
Not feeling too well today. Everyone went to the lagoon and I stayed in the hostel. God I felt ill. I had drunk some goon last night but only a little - it doesn't matter though as goon is evil. It made me feel ill. Evil, evil goon.
Most people in the room stayed in this evening due to being sick of drinking or early departures in the morning. There's a tv in the room so we watched Jurassic Park and Team America.
Ill
Day 53
Not feeling too well today. Everyone went to the lagoon and I stayed in the hostel. God I felt ill. I had drunk some goon last night but only a little - it doesn't matter though as goon is evil. It made me feel ill. Evil, evil goon.
Most people in the room stayed in this evening due to being sick of drinking or early departures in the morning. There's a tv in the room so we watched Jurassic Park and Team America.
Day 52 Walking around Airlie
28th November 2008
Walking around Airlie
Day 52
Tom and I walked to Coles (a supermarket like Tesco). It took quite a while and was so humid that when we got there, the air conditioning was like a God send. Spent quite a while in there just walking around.
We played the longest game of 'would you rather' on the way back to the hostel with questions like 'would you rather have human size chicken feet or chicken size human feet?'. Obviously it would be human size chicken feet, I think so anyway.
Walking around Airlie
Day 52
Tom and I walked to Coles (a supermarket like Tesco). It took quite a while and was so humid that when we got there, the air conditioning was like a God send. Spent quite a while in there just walking around.
We played the longest game of 'would you rather' on the way back to the hostel with questions like 'would you rather have human size chicken feet or chicken size human feet?'. Obviously it would be human size chicken feet, I think so anyway.
Day 51 Airlie Beach
27th November 2008
Airlie Beach
Day 51
Got to Airlie Beach at 6am. Not able to check into the hostel until 12pm so had a walk around for a while then went back to the hostel and fell asleep on a bench like a tramp.
Chilled out in Airlie and went to some bars with Tom and JD, who are staying in my room.
Left a bar at 1:30am (I'd been on diet cokes after still not being able to drink alcohol since Fraser Island) and went for a swim in the lagoon til 4:30am, which was so cool.
Airlie Beach
Day 51
Got to Airlie Beach at 6am. Not able to check into the hostel until 12pm so had a walk around for a while then went back to the hostel and fell asleep on a bench like a tramp.
Chilled out in Airlie and went to some bars with Tom and JD, who are staying in my room.
Left a bar at 1:30am (I'd been on diet cokes after still not being able to drink alcohol since Fraser Island) and went for a swim in the lagoon til 4:30am, which was so cool.
Day 50 Myella Farmstay 2nd day
26th November 2008
Myella Farmstay
Day 50
We had the chance of riding the horses again this morning. As we were waiting for everyone to get prepared for the horse riding I realised that I wasn't too enthusiastic about it. The Dutch guy wasn't riding today. I asked him why and he said he didn't feel too good riding the horses and felt a bit shakey.
To be honest, yesterday I found sitting on a horse for a few hours trotting around alright, but once is enough. Twice would be boring. The thing was I felt really bad and a little ungrateful. It was like I felt I should do it, but didn't want to. So I decided not to go. I told the farmer man (the one with 2 eyes) and asked what could I do instead. He said anything. The Dutch guy and I said we'd go out on the motorbikes, and as there was two of us we could go around the acres of farm surrounding the main farm.
I told the Dutch guy that I didn't want to go horse riding as I found it a bit boring and he said he didn't want to go for the same reason too but he didn't want to say it. We went speeding off and it was fun. On going around the track, I thought 'I can do this faster' and ended up in the grass.
A group of us left Myella farm and went back to Rockhampton. Then I had a 6.5 hour wait for my Greyhound coach to Airlie Beach. Selena, a girl who was at Myella is getting a coach a little after mine has departed so instead of sitting around doing nothing we went to the cinema to see the film Australia. It was good, Nicole Kidman was so funny in it.
It all worked out with pretty good timing - and now off to Airlie Beach.
Myella Farmstay
Day 50
We had the chance of riding the horses again this morning. As we were waiting for everyone to get prepared for the horse riding I realised that I wasn't too enthusiastic about it. The Dutch guy wasn't riding today. I asked him why and he said he didn't feel too good riding the horses and felt a bit shakey.
To be honest, yesterday I found sitting on a horse for a few hours trotting around alright, but once is enough. Twice would be boring. The thing was I felt really bad and a little ungrateful. It was like I felt I should do it, but didn't want to. So I decided not to go. I told the farmer man (the one with 2 eyes) and asked what could I do instead. He said anything. The Dutch guy and I said we'd go out on the motorbikes, and as there was two of us we could go around the acres of farm surrounding the main farm.
I told the Dutch guy that I didn't want to go horse riding as I found it a bit boring and he said he didn't want to go for the same reason too but he didn't want to say it. We went speeding off and it was fun. On going around the track, I thought 'I can do this faster' and ended up in the grass.
A group of us left Myella farm and went back to Rockhampton. Then I had a 6.5 hour wait for my Greyhound coach to Airlie Beach. Selena, a girl who was at Myella is getting a coach a little after mine has departed so instead of sitting around doing nothing we went to the cinema to see the film Australia. It was good, Nicole Kidman was so funny in it.
It all worked out with pretty good timing - and now off to Airlie Beach.
Day 49 Myella Farm stay
25th November 2008
Myella Farm
Day 49
6:30am - bus to Myella. Myella is a farm stay place that I booked through the jostel last night. Got there in the morning and today I rode a horse called Trigger. Was trotting along but I don't know what I'm doing.
Later that day we got to go on the motorbikes. This is more my thing! There was a speed limit of 35km per hour, but once I passed my little test and deemed good enough to ride around the farm I got it over 60km per hour. Loved it!
Later that day I was about to start driving on my own again but when I started the bike fell on me. Luckily no one saw.
There was a man in charge of the farm. He had one eye. The other eye was missing and his eyelids had folded inwards but were slightly open. When the normal eye blinked, the eyelids of the other blinked a little too.
In the afternoon, I fed some chickens and milked a cow.
At the farm they had 2 parrots too. One they rescued from a fence and it had half a wing on one side. It was a bit manky. The other bird was the most ugly bird I have ever seen in my life. It had beak and feather disease. It couldn't fly but just walked around the dining area and in and out of its cage. Some people said it was cute, they must have been crazy. Look at this-
Day 48 Crocodile Farm
24th November 2008
Rockhampton and Crocodile Farm
Day 48
Had a great nights sleep and have transferred to a girls dorm room for tonight. There were some English girls in the room and we went to a crocodile farm today. At the croc farm they breed the crocodiles and are Gucci's main supplier of croc skin apparently.
The guy who was doing the tour got in the enclosures with the crocodiles and fed them. Crazy man.
Then I went to the Botanical Gardens and Rockhampton Zoo. There wasn't much there to be honest but it was nice. Waited for the last bus back to the centre of Rockhampton but it never turned up so had to get a taxi.
Saturday 29 November 2008
Day 47 Leaving Hervey Bay
23rd November 2008
Leaving Hervey Bay
Day 47
I am on my own again. God I hate when I leave people. When I woke up, most people had gone as they had early morning buses to catch. This morning I had breakfast and washed my underwear then phoned up Greyhound coaches to book a bus pass for the next few weeks. The plan is to go to Cairns.
Looking back I thought it may have been better to fly into Cairns and work my way down to Sydney, but instead I flew into Brisbane and am heading north to Cairns, then getting a flight down to Brisbane when I leave Cairns then heading South to Byron Bay then to Sydney. Even though this seems to be more expensive (extra coach up north and a flight) it has actually worked out cheaper than if I had flown to Cairns straight away. The flight to Brisbane is under 50 quid! The coach from Cairns to Brisbane would have been in the 100's. How crazy is that?
Anyway I booked a coach ticket over the phone and I leave Hervey Bay today to go to Bundaberg. After booking the coach ticket, I went on the internet to book accommodation in Bundaberg, but everywhere was fully booked. DOH! It's strange though because I actually don't care. I'll just turn up and see if anything is available.
Got a bit depressed being at the hostel by myself so got the shuttle bus to the bus stop where the coach will arrive and I'll wait there for a while rather than being at the hostel on my own. I got the shuttle bus to the coach stop, and as I was getting off the shuttle bus I remembered something - I left all my underwear on the washing line back at the hostel! DOH!
Went in the shopping centre near to the coach shop to re-stock on underwear so now I have all new underwear. All I need now is somewhere to stay for the night.
4:30pm I am in Bundaberg. There is no accommodation anywhere in this town. Whoops. I've had to book the next coach out of here to Rockhampton, where one hostel there has a room. Only problem is they only have male dorm rooms left and it will be 11:30pm by the time I get there. The lady at the hostels reception said she will leave a key to the room in an outside safe and gave me the safe code.
It's ok though because Bundaberg looks a but naff anyway. There were 2 Canadian men I got speaking to at the coach station. They did the same as me and turned up with no accommodation booekd so were waiting for a coach to somewhere else.
I thought I learnt my lesson in Japan - don't leave it until the last minute to book accommodation. Obviously not.
Oh well, skipping Bundaberg gives me extra time to spend in other places. Got to keep positive about these things!
I love Australia
Leaving Hervey Bay
Day 47
I am on my own again. God I hate when I leave people. When I woke up, most people had gone as they had early morning buses to catch. This morning I had breakfast and washed my underwear then phoned up Greyhound coaches to book a bus pass for the next few weeks. The plan is to go to Cairns.
Looking back I thought it may have been better to fly into Cairns and work my way down to Sydney, but instead I flew into Brisbane and am heading north to Cairns, then getting a flight down to Brisbane when I leave Cairns then heading South to Byron Bay then to Sydney. Even though this seems to be more expensive (extra coach up north and a flight) it has actually worked out cheaper than if I had flown to Cairns straight away. The flight to Brisbane is under 50 quid! The coach from Cairns to Brisbane would have been in the 100's. How crazy is that?
Anyway I booked a coach ticket over the phone and I leave Hervey Bay today to go to Bundaberg. After booking the coach ticket, I went on the internet to book accommodation in Bundaberg, but everywhere was fully booked. DOH! It's strange though because I actually don't care. I'll just turn up and see if anything is available.
Got a bit depressed being at the hostel by myself so got the shuttle bus to the bus stop where the coach will arrive and I'll wait there for a while rather than being at the hostel on my own. I got the shuttle bus to the coach stop, and as I was getting off the shuttle bus I remembered something - I left all my underwear on the washing line back at the hostel! DOH!
Went in the shopping centre near to the coach shop to re-stock on underwear so now I have all new underwear. All I need now is somewhere to stay for the night.
4:30pm I am in Bundaberg. There is no accommodation anywhere in this town. Whoops. I've had to book the next coach out of here to Rockhampton, where one hostel there has a room. Only problem is they only have male dorm rooms left and it will be 11:30pm by the time I get there. The lady at the hostels reception said she will leave a key to the room in an outside safe and gave me the safe code.
It's ok though because Bundaberg looks a but naff anyway. There were 2 Canadian men I got speaking to at the coach station. They did the same as me and turned up with no accommodation booekd so were waiting for a coach to somewhere else.
I thought I learnt my lesson in Japan - don't leave it until the last minute to book accommodation. Obviously not.
Oh well, skipping Bundaberg gives me extra time to spend in other places. Got to keep positive about these things!
I love Australia
Sunday 23 November 2008
Day 46 Fraser Island last day HUNGOVER
22nd November 2008
Hangover
Day 46
I have never woken up so drunk in my life. Woke up in the tent and felt so ill. Oh it was awful. I'm definately not driving today.
Everyone was so nice though. I slept in the van whilst they had breakfast, made the sandwiches for lunch and put the tents down.
We went to Eli Creek today. It was nice and involved minimal effort. Then we went to Lake Wabby. We had to walk 1.8km to get to Lake Wabby through woods and 1km over sand dunes. I thought I wasn't going to make it. It was awful! The walk that is, not the lake. The lake was cool. Went swimming in it, which helped to sober me up a bit then joined everyone in a run down the hill and jumping into the lake. It was so fun! Then I decided to walk up the hill and roll down horizontally. As I was feeling a little better it seemed like a great idea at the time. I didn't feel too good after I did it.
The walk back was easier but the drive to the ferry off Fraser Island was over all the tree roots and bumpy roads. Not good.
Tim and I had a gaytime. My attention was first brought to gaytimes during a TV commercial. Gaytimes are a make of ice cream over here. There catchphrase is 'it's so hard to have a Gaytime on your own'. Seriously.
Hangover
Day 46
I have never woken up so drunk in my life. Woke up in the tent and felt so ill. Oh it was awful. I'm definately not driving today.
Everyone was so nice though. I slept in the van whilst they had breakfast, made the sandwiches for lunch and put the tents down.
We went to Eli Creek today. It was nice and involved minimal effort. Then we went to Lake Wabby. We had to walk 1.8km to get to Lake Wabby through woods and 1km over sand dunes. I thought I wasn't going to make it. It was awful! The walk that is, not the lake. The lake was cool. Went swimming in it, which helped to sober me up a bit then joined everyone in a run down the hill and jumping into the lake. It was so fun! Then I decided to walk up the hill and roll down horizontally. As I was feeling a little better it seemed like a great idea at the time. I didn't feel too good after I did it.
The walk back was easier but the drive to the ferry off Fraser Island was over all the tree roots and bumpy roads. Not good.
Tim and I had a gaytime. My attention was first brought to gaytimes during a TV commercial. Gaytimes are a make of ice cream over here. There catchphrase is 'it's so hard to have a Gaytime on your own'. Seriously.
Day 45 Fraser Island 2nd Day
21st November 2008
Fraser Island 2nd Day
Day 45
Lovely weather today!
We went to a place on Fraser Island called Indian Head. It was the most gorgeous thing I have ever seen. We could see the mantarays in the sea from where we were standing. Took some pics then accidentally trod on my glasses when I left them on the floor. Clever. It was strange though as usually I'd be pissed off when things like that happen, but I really didn't care. I'll find some glue one day and fix them.
We all then went to a place called 'Champagne Pools' and had a swim. The salt water irritated a rash on my neck though and it stung like hell.
All the people I am with are so cool. There is Jamie, Tim, Lucy, Laura, Jess, Anna and Connie. When we got back to the campsite we had lunch and then me Jamie and Tim went to chill on the beach for a bit with some goon (cheap wine). It was fab. There were these huge fies around us though that bite and we had to defend ourselves by swatting them with flip flops whenever they came 
near to us.
near to us.We went back to the campsite for dinner then we all strolled down to the beach again where we were drinking under the stars. We went for a paddle in the sea and all of this plankton were sparkling around our feet! It was surreal.
This guy Tim who is from England too is like my best bud here. He is so funny and I am having the best time here.
Day 44 FRASER ISLAND
20th November 2008Fraser Island Baby!
Day 44
Up nice and early as I'm going to Fraser Island today! A few of payed rock, paper, scissors to see who would be the first driver and I won so got to drive from the rental place to Fraser Island. It was so cool. Got there and visited some beautiful lakes. It was fab.We aimed to be at the campsite for about 5pm ish but we got lost. Driving on the beach for ages we didn't know where the turning was and it was raining and getting dark. Then the thunder and lightning started. The lightening was PINK! We saw a giant turtle too.
After driving on the beach for ages we came to the conclusion that we must have missed the turning so turned around and drove back down the beach and just picked a turning that we found. The car got stuck in the sand so we had to get out and push it in the rain. When the car started and got out of the sand rut we all cheered and jumped in. We drove up this random turning for a while and agreed that even if it was the wrong place we'd stay here anyway. It was dark, wet and we were all getting hungry.
Turned out that it was the right turning! The people at the site weren't too impressed that we were (very) late. It was dark, still thunder and lightning, raining and we had 2 tents to put in. The tents were stupid. Stupid, stupid tents. Some bits were missing and sand kept getting into the poles and they took ages to put up.
We were hungry in the rain trying to put 2 stupid tents up - and it was so much fun! All of it. No one got moody or angry or anything and we all had a laugh. After the tents were finally up we had a BBQ and chilled drinking wine in the slighty wet tents until we fell asleep.
Day 43 Back in a hostel
19th November 2008
Hostel time
Day 43
It's been a while since I have stayed at a hostel after the Couchsurfing and volunteering for the past few weeks. I want my own room back again!
There were people outside the dorm window talking absolute rubbish very loudly and people kept comng in the room and turning the lights on and off.
This morning I have bite marks over my feet where something has had a nibble at me in the night. Nice.
The weather is lovely today though, so fingers crossed for Fraser Island tomorrow.
Met a girl called Jess and a guy called Craig who are going to Fraser Island tomorrow too. We went to the pub and had a few drinks and now I am so excited! AHHH!
Hostel time
Day 43
It's been a while since I have stayed at a hostel after the Couchsurfing and volunteering for the past few weeks. I want my own room back again!
There were people outside the dorm window talking absolute rubbish very loudly and people kept comng in the room and turning the lights on and off.
This morning I have bite marks over my feet where something has had a nibble at me in the night. Nice.
The weather is lovely today though, so fingers crossed for Fraser Island tomorrow.
Met a girl called Jess and a guy called Craig who are going to Fraser Island tomorrow too. We went to the pub and had a few drinks and now I am so excited! AHHH!
Day 42 Helloooo Hervey Bay!
18th November 2008
Helloooo Hervey Bay!
Day 42
Today's weather: rain, rain, rain, no rain, rain, no rain.
Rain gets me down.
I left Bambooland today. Janne has driven me to Hervey Bay and I went on the internet to check out the weather for the next few days to see when it's best for me to go to Fraser Island. I was hoping to go anytime in the next couple of days. The weather forecast is bad and only starts to get better in a week. DOH!
I wasn't too impressed that it'll be raining in my Fraser Island trip. There have been storms all over the East Coast.
Feeling a bit down I have noticed something has been missing out of my life this past 5 weeks I have been travelling, so to cheer myself up I went out and bought a bottle of the stuff today. It has cheered me up as I used to use it all the time back home and all of this volunteering and planting has taken its toll. Now I've got some nail polish I have nice shiny nails again. Yay!
I have got a grip and booked my Fraser Island trip for Thursday.
Helloooo Hervey Bay!
Day 42
Today's weather: rain, rain, rain, no rain, rain, no rain.
Rain gets me down.
I left Bambooland today. Janne has driven me to Hervey Bay and I went on the internet to check out the weather for the next few days to see when it's best for me to go to Fraser Island. I was hoping to go anytime in the next couple of days. The weather forecast is bad and only starts to get better in a week. DOH!
I wasn't too impressed that it'll be raining in my Fraser Island trip. There have been storms all over the East Coast.
Feeling a bit down I have noticed something has been missing out of my life this past 5 weeks I have been travelling, so to cheer myself up I went out and bought a bottle of the stuff today. It has cheered me up as I used to use it all the time back home and all of this volunteering and planting has taken its toll. Now I've got some nail polish I have nice shiny nails again. Yay!
I have got a grip and booked my Fraser Island trip for Thursday.
Day 41 Kangaroo spotting
17th November 2008
Planting and Kangaroo spotting
Day 41
Planted some bamboo today then Mona and I went kangaroo spotting. We saw some wild kangaroos jumping around. You can't get close to them because they see you and jump off. Mona said she thought that my blog was funny and likes it, so that was a relief.
I leave Bambooland tomorrow. It's strange. I was happy to leave Japan, Brisbane and Mooloolaba but I could easily spend a few more weeks here.
There has been some crazy weather here though this past few days. The loudest thunder and brightest lightening I have ever seen! The windows and I were shaking! We only got a little of the storm though. Brisbane got the worst of it so God knows what it was like there.
Planting and Kangaroo spotting
Day 41
Planted some bamboo today then Mona and I went kangaroo spotting. We saw some wild kangaroos jumping around. You can't get close to them because they see you and jump off. Mona said she thought that my blog was funny and likes it, so that was a relief.
I leave Bambooland tomorrow. It's strange. I was happy to leave Japan, Brisbane and Mooloolaba but I could easily spend a few more weeks here.
There has been some crazy weather here though this past few days. The loudest thunder and brightest lightening I have ever seen! The windows and I were shaking! We only got a little of the storm though. Brisbane got the worst of it so God knows what it was like there.
Day 40 ID please
16th November 2008
PUB talk
Day 40
We went around some pubs last night in Hervey Bay. On the last pub we went to though I got asked for ID and I hadn't brought any out with me. Bummer. Janne said there was a side entrance to the pub so I sneaked in and sat in a corner. When it was my round I passed Janne some money and he went to the bar for me.
Janne was driving us home later in the night and on our way back he got pulled over by the police and breathalysed. The policeman said Janne had driven through an orange light and that he could be issued with a fine and get points on his licence! The policeman was such a prick. He was being so argumentative and was a right cocky so and so.
Janne was under the limit though as he didn't have that much to drink and the policeman let us go.
Oh and Janne has read my blog now too so I defo look like a psycho now.
PUB talk
Day 40
We went around some pubs last night in Hervey Bay. On the last pub we went to though I got asked for ID and I hadn't brought any out with me. Bummer. Janne said there was a side entrance to the pub so I sneaked in and sat in a corner. When it was my round I passed Janne some money and he went to the bar for me.
Janne was driving us home later in the night and on our way back he got pulled over by the police and breathalysed. The policeman said Janne had driven through an orange light and that he could be issued with a fine and get points on his licence! The policeman was such a prick. He was being so argumentative and was a right cocky so and so.
Janne was under the limit though as he didn't have that much to drink and the policeman let us go.
Oh and Janne has read my blog now too so I defo look like a psycho now.
Day 39 Wedding
15th November 2008
Raking again
Day 39
I think today was the day I was meant to be graduating from Sheffield Hallam University for doing my PGCert in Asperger syndrome. Cool.
There's a wedding on later today at Bambooland so Silent Mike and I did raking today to make all the grounds look nice and pretty. Ah.
Later we are going to a pub in Hervey Bay for a meal so am looking forward to that.
I have been thinking a lot recently about life and al that jazz and have come to the conclusion to follow my instincts on everything. Plus I've started to research volunteering for UNICEF for next year.
LATER
The wedding that took place today was lovely. Then this evening Mona asked me if I kept a blog. I said yes and she asked me for the address so now I am probably going to look like a right psycho after writing all that stuff about Mike and the canoe.
Raking again
Day 39
I think today was the day I was meant to be graduating from Sheffield Hallam University for doing my PGCert in Asperger syndrome. Cool.
There's a wedding on later today at Bambooland so Silent Mike and I did raking today to make all the grounds look nice and pretty. Ah.
Later we are going to a pub in Hervey Bay for a meal so am looking forward to that.
I have been thinking a lot recently about life and al that jazz and have come to the conclusion to follow my instincts on everything. Plus I've started to research volunteering for UNICEF for next year.
LATER
The wedding that took place today was lovely. Then this evening Mona asked me if I kept a blog. I said yes and she asked me for the address so now I am probably going to look like a right psycho after writing all that stuff about Mike and the canoe.
Day 38 Scooping
14th November 2008
Scooping & Jaws
Day 38
Task for the day: Scooping leaves from the pond.
Went down to a pub in Hervey Bay. Hoping to book my trip to Fraser Island soon, maybe tomorrow.
When I got back to my room at Bambooland I listened to the radio for a while. There's a really good radio station out here and at nights they have an English presenter. They have a topic each night people can call up and talk about, or people can phone up and start their own topic. The thing is that some of the people who ring up are drunk and get confused. It's so funny. The topic recently was 'favourite Australian films'. One woman phoned up the station and ranted on about men who have cheated on her and then this drunk man phoned up and said his favourite Australian movie is 'Jaws'. It was hilarious. The presenter was really nice about it even though he obviously knew that 'Jaws' is not an Australian film and told the man he didn't think it was made in Australia. The man was so confused.
Scooping & Jaws
Day 38
Task for the day: Scooping leaves from the pond.
Went down to a pub in Hervey Bay. Hoping to book my trip to Fraser Island soon, maybe tomorrow.
When I got back to my room at Bambooland I listened to the radio for a while. There's a really good radio station out here and at nights they have an English presenter. They have a topic each night people can call up and talk about, or people can phone up and start their own topic. The thing is that some of the people who ring up are drunk and get confused. It's so funny. The topic recently was 'favourite Australian films'. One woman phoned up the station and ranted on about men who have cheated on her and then this drunk man phoned up and said his favourite Australian movie is 'Jaws'. It was hilarious. The presenter was really nice about it even though he obviously knew that 'Jaws' is not an Australian film and told the man he didn't think it was made in Australia. The man was so confused.
Thursday 13 November 2008
Day 37 Planting and rowing
13th November 2008
Planting and rowing
Day 37
Spent the first part of the day planting bamboo.
Then me and Silent Mike (in the picture above) took the canoe down to the river near to where we are staying. We went rowing along the river. I made occassional observational comments. He didn't say anything.
We were rowing down the river for quite a while, me in the front of the canoe and him in the back, then I started to think, 'what if he pulls a knife out and stabs me in the back? What would I do?'. I thought about it for a while and came to the conclusion that out of the two of us, I'm probably the more unstable one, which made me feel better.
Then it started to rain a lot so there was no time for anyone to do any stabbing and we both started to frantically paddle back. I started to make jokes about bringing an umbrella. The rain got heavier, which was bad as I had put a load of suncream on my face before going out in the canoe and the rain made it run down my face and go into my eyes. It stung like hell. I had to paddle back most of the way with my eyes closed.
By the time we got to where we started it had stopped raining. Silent Mike seemed amused by the mascara running down my face but (obviously) said nothing. If he'd have said anything bad I would have stabbed him... just kidding. I didn't have a knife.
Planting and rowing
Day 37
Spent the first part of the day planting bamboo.
Then me and Silent Mike (in the picture above) took the canoe down to the river near to where we are staying. We went rowing along the river. I made occassional observational comments. He didn't say anything.
We were rowing down the river for quite a while, me in the front of the canoe and him in the back, then I started to think, 'what if he pulls a knife out and stabs me in the back? What would I do?'. I thought about it for a while and came to the conclusion that out of the two of us, I'm probably the more unstable one, which made me feel better.
Then it started to rain a lot so there was no time for anyone to do any stabbing and we both started to frantically paddle back. I started to make jokes about bringing an umbrella. The rain got heavier, which was bad as I had put a load of suncream on my face before going out in the canoe and the rain made it run down my face and go into my eyes. It stung like hell. I had to paddle back most of the way with my eyes closed.
By the time we got to where we started it had stopped raining. Silent Mike seemed amused by the mascara running down my face but (obviously) said nothing. If he'd have said anything bad I would have stabbed him... just kidding. I didn't have a knife.
Day 36 Sweeping
12th November 2008
Sweeping
Day 36
Swept all the leaves from around the plants in the shop. I looked in the visitor's book, where people leave their own comments about the place. One person wrote -
Sweeping
Day 36
Swept all the leaves from around the plants in the shop. I looked in the visitor's book, where people leave their own comments about the place. One person wrote -
'It's BAMBOOtastic!'
It sure is.
Day 35 Mulching
11th November 2008
Mulching
Day 35
Learnt what mulching was (putting dried leaves on ground where stuff is growing). Did it (put dried leaves on ground where stuff was growing).
It may be time to leave here soon. Have saved quite a bit of money by staying here but feeling a good drinking session coming on...
Mulching
Day 35
Learnt what mulching was (putting dried leaves on ground where stuff is growing). Did it (put dried leaves on ground where stuff was growing).
It may be time to leave here soon. Have saved quite a bit of money by staying here but feeling a good drinking session coming on...
Day 34 Weeding
10th November 2008
Weeding
Day 34
Did weeding.
Watched 'Little Miss Sunshine' in the evening with Silent Mike, Janne and Teresa. I picked the film as I remember my sister went to watch it at the cinema a while ago and she said it was good.
I don't know if the others really got into it though, I had a feeling they didn't like it much. When the part with the car horn came on I was laughing so much I tried to hide that I was laughing but it made it all even funnier. God that creased me up.
Weeding
Day 34
Did weeding.
Watched 'Little Miss Sunshine' in the evening with Silent Mike, Janne and Teresa. I picked the film as I remember my sister went to watch it at the cinema a while ago and she said it was good.
I don't know if the others really got into it though, I had a feeling they didn't like it much. When the part with the car horn came on I was laughing so much I tried to hide that I was laughing but it made it all even funnier. God that creased me up.
Day 33 The Pub
9th November 2008
The Pub
Day 33
Mike (the Austrian guy who is also volunteering like me) does not speak. It's so crazy. He just doesn't say anything ever!
And it's not just to me, but with everyone.
I try to speak to him and ask question and he answers with a word or two (usually 'I don't know'), then nothing. Not that it's a problem and he seems a nice guy and all, but it really bothers me for some reason.
It's ok though because I usually talk to Mona, Janne's dads partner. She is cool and really friendly and it's good to have someone I can talk with.
We all went to the pub tonight - me, Mike (now to be known as Silent Mike), Janne, Teresa, Mona and Klas (Janne's dad) and had a meal there. Mona said we were going on a pub crawl through Howard, then I learnt how many pubs there were in Howard... I can now say I have been to every pub here.
There is only one pub in Howard. Janne said there was another one, but it burnt down.
The Pub
Day 33
Mike (the Austrian guy who is also volunteering like me) does not speak. It's so crazy. He just doesn't say anything ever!
And it's not just to me, but with everyone.
I try to speak to him and ask question and he answers with a word or two (usually 'I don't know'), then nothing. Not that it's a problem and he seems a nice guy and all, but it really bothers me for some reason.
It's ok though because I usually talk to Mona, Janne's dads partner. She is cool and really friendly and it's good to have someone I can talk with.
We all went to the pub tonight - me, Mike (now to be known as Silent Mike), Janne, Teresa, Mona and Klas (Janne's dad) and had a meal there. Mona said we were going on a pub crawl through Howard, then I learnt how many pubs there were in Howard... I can now say I have been to every pub here.
There is only one pub in Howard. Janne said there was another one, but it burnt down.
Day 31 Raking
7th November 2008
Raking
Day 31
Today I was raking leaves for what felt like an eternity. Then the wind blew and leaves went everywhere. Oh joy.
Raking
Day 31
Today I was raking leaves for what felt like an eternity. Then the wind blew and leaves went everywhere. Oh joy.
Day 30 Scrubbing
6th November 2008
Scrubber
Day 30
Up at 7:30am. Work at 8am. Scrubbing floors with chlorine, what fun... no seriously, what fun? Then I had to go over all the signs in black marker pen where they had faded (see pics below). Actually I quite liked that bit. I kept looking for rude words in the sentences and words and just filling them in at first. Is that sad? Probably.
Scrubber
Day 30
Up at 7:30am. Work at 8am. Scrubbing floors with chlorine, what fun... no seriously, what fun? Then I had to go over all the signs in black marker pen where they had faded (see pics below). Actually I quite liked that bit. I kept looking for rude words in the sentences and words and just filling them in at first. Is that sad? Probably.
After lunch, Teresa (Janne's girlfriend, Janne who owns Bambooland - the place I'm volunteering at) and I were talking about snakes. I said I hadn't seen one yet but I wanted to. Then it was back to work writing on the signs. Teresa called me over to where she was and there was a snake with a frog in its mouth! It was so cool. I am trying to think of something else I haven't seen before and hopefully that will appear too, only cooler, but life is pretty good right now and I can't think of anything.
Wednesday 5 November 2008
Day 29 Work day 1... oh and my birthday too
5th November 2008
24 years old
Day 29
Hello, my name is Kelly Jackson and I am 24 years old.
Well it's finally here, the big 2-4. I was up at 8am planting bamboo. Not how I usually celebrate my birthday.
Here are the steps to planting bamboo (you need a box)-
1. Get a box
2. Put soil in the box
3. Put bamboo in the box
4. Put more soil in the box
5. Spray water in the box
6. Move the box
7. Repeat
I don't know what I'll be doing tomorrow, although there can't be that much that you can do with bamboo, can there?
Anyway, Janne and his girlfriend bought me a cheesecake! It was fab. Had a candle too. Fab. I love cheesecake, it's the best.
Then had some wine, won a game of Blockus, lost a game of tabletennis. Hey-ho!
The highlight of my day wasn't planting bamboo, believe it or not. It was speaking to my mum and sister on the phone. I have just got a phone and sim card sorted (my number is +61 406 078454) so they phoned up and sung* Happy Birthday to me.
It was so cool.
*term used loosely
24 years old
Day 29
Hello, my name is Kelly Jackson and I am 24 years old.
Well it's finally here, the big 2-4. I was up at 8am planting bamboo. Not how I usually celebrate my birthday.
Here are the steps to planting bamboo (you need a box)-
1. Get a box
2. Put soil in the box
3. Put bamboo in the box
4. Put more soil in the box
5. Spray water in the box
6. Move the box
7. Repeat
I don't know what I'll be doing tomorrow, although there can't be that much that you can do with bamboo, can there?
Anyway, Janne and his girlfriend bought me a cheesecake! It was fab. Had a candle too. Fab. I love cheesecake, it's the best.
Then had some wine, won a game of Blockus, lost a game of tabletennis. Hey-ho!
The highlight of my day wasn't planting bamboo, believe it or not. It was speaking to my mum and sister on the phone. I have just got a phone and sim card sorted (my number is +61 406 078454) so they phoned up and sung* Happy Birthday to me.
It was so cool.
*term used loosely
Day 28 Bambooland
4th November 2008
Hi-ho, hi-ho, it's off to Bambooland I go
Day 28
Seeya Mooloolaba!
Janne, the guy from Bambooland, picked me up from the train station at 3pm and drove me and Mike (an Austrain guy who's volunteering too) to Bambooland... and would you believe it - it's full of bamboo!
No work today though, we start tomorrow. Oh and I have my own room again too! I could get used to this.
Hi-ho, hi-ho, it's off to Bambooland I go
Day 28
Seeya Mooloolaba!
Janne, the guy from Bambooland, picked me up from the train station at 3pm and drove me and Mike (an Austrain guy who's volunteering too) to Bambooland... and would you believe it - it's full of bamboo!
No work today though, we start tomorrow. Oh and I have my own room again too! I could get used to this.
Day 27
3rd November 2008
Last day in Mooloolaba
Day 27
2pm
The guy from Bambooland replied to my email. I can go there tomorrow to start volunteering! I work 5 hours a day Mon - Fri in exchange for accommodation and food.
At the moment I am by a rugby pitch with the Englands Womens Rugby team. Nathan had just got the (unpaid) job to drive them around to their practice sessions and matches so I have tagged along for the day.
Last night I talked to Denise (the lady who owns the house I'm staying at) for ages. She's originally from New Zealand so was telling me all the places I should go to, it sounds fab! She is lovely and it's so nice I could stay there for a few days.
LATER
Ok so I spent the evening at Nathan's parents house. They're so nice. I had a proper dinner and watched Australian idol (Nathan was driving the Russian's Women's Rugby team around for the evening). Afterwards I went to Denise's house, but Nathan went really moody with me before he left. I think he saw the 'couchsurfing.org' site as more of a dating site than what it actually is, which is definately not a dating site! He asked if he could stay the night too, and when I said no he said there was something wrong with me and he couldn't understand why I did not find him attractive.
Anyway glad to be going somewhere new and starting some volunteering. Bring on the Bamboo!
Last day in Mooloolaba
Day 27
2pm
The guy from Bambooland replied to my email. I can go there tomorrow to start volunteering! I work 5 hours a day Mon - Fri in exchange for accommodation and food.
At the moment I am by a rugby pitch with the Englands Womens Rugby team. Nathan had just got the (unpaid) job to drive them around to their practice sessions and matches so I have tagged along for the day.
Last night I talked to Denise (the lady who owns the house I'm staying at) for ages. She's originally from New Zealand so was telling me all the places I should go to, it sounds fab! She is lovely and it's so nice I could stay there for a few days.
LATER
Ok so I spent the evening at Nathan's parents house. They're so nice. I had a proper dinner and watched Australian idol (Nathan was driving the Russian's Women's Rugby team around for the evening). Afterwards I went to Denise's house, but Nathan went really moody with me before he left. I think he saw the 'couchsurfing.org' site as more of a dating site than what it actually is, which is definately not a dating site! He asked if he could stay the night too, and when I said no he said there was something wrong with me and he couldn't understand why I did not find him attractive.
Anyway glad to be going somewhere new and starting some volunteering. Bring on the Bamboo!
Saturday 1 November 2008
Day 26 Noosa
2nd November 2008
Noosa
Day 26
In Noosa today. It's gorgeous up here. Have walked around the coast and went whale watching but there were no whales about, so I guess I just went watching.
Noosa
Day 26
In Noosa today. It's gorgeous up here. Have walked around the coast and went whale watching but there were no whales about, so I guess I just went watching.
Day 25 Massages
1st November 2008
3 hours of massages
Day 25
In Coolum today, near to Mooloolaba. Nathan has a massage course this weekend and they need people to massage. I'm here!
Had 3 one hour massages from two women and one (hot) guy. It was fab and I was so chilled out after.
I think I'm going to leave Mooloolaba soon. Nathan is nice and all but he is trying to bit a little too friendly, if you get my drift. Have been emailing a person up near to Maryborough (North of Mooloolaba and near where Fraser Island is). They need people to work on a farm up there, the WWOOFing thing. If I work 5 hours a day I can get accommodation and meals in return so am going to give that a go hopefully. Should be there by Tuesday. Just waiting for an email to say it's all ok then off I go!
It means I will be there for my birthday too! I was gonna try go to this place a little later and spend my birthday in a hostel somewhere with a bit of a party scene, but I am trying to fit it all in - travelling, volunteering, sight seeing, etc so if I have the chance to go to this farm on Tuesday I'll do that. If not, I'll go to a hostel.
3 hours of massages
Day 25
In Coolum today, near to Mooloolaba. Nathan has a massage course this weekend and they need people to massage. I'm here!
Had 3 one hour massages from two women and one (hot) guy. It was fab and I was so chilled out after.
I think I'm going to leave Mooloolaba soon. Nathan is nice and all but he is trying to bit a little too friendly, if you get my drift. Have been emailing a person up near to Maryborough (North of Mooloolaba and near where Fraser Island is). They need people to work on a farm up there, the WWOOFing thing. If I work 5 hours a day I can get accommodation and meals in return so am going to give that a go hopefully. Should be there by Tuesday. Just waiting for an email to say it's all ok then off I go!
It means I will be there for my birthday too! I was gonna try go to this place a little later and spend my birthday in a hostel somewhere with a bit of a party scene, but I am trying to fit it all in - travelling, volunteering, sight seeing, etc so if I have the chance to go to this farm on Tuesday I'll do that. If not, I'll go to a hostel.
Day 24 Happy Halloween Kids!
31st October 2008
Happy Halloween!
Day 24
I am a bumble bee. Nathan and his sister (who is a professional circus performer and got the costumes) are a priest and jester. What a trio!
Happy Halloween!
Day 24
I am a bumble bee. Nathan and his sister (who is a professional circus performer and got the costumes) are a priest and jester. What a trio!
Every year Nathan and his sister Tanya run a kids disco in Mooloolaba. I went along to be the DJ (i.e. pressing pause and play when the games were being played - a very important role).
It's all quite random, what's going on at the moment.
Day 23 Kawana
30th October 2008
Chilling in Kawana
Day 23
Wow it was so good to have a room to myself last night with no Germans chatting/Swedish girl snoring/Korean girl clicking on her laptop all night playing Solitaire (click, click). Denise, the lady who owns the house, is so nice! Her kids are great too. No one was in after 9am so I got up and had breakfast and watched morning tv. It was so good!
Walked to the bus stop. Saw a dead snake on the way. The bus driver seemed amused when I asked where he thought I should go. I have no plans for today. He suggested Kawana Shopping World, so I went there for the day.
It's lovely here.
Chilling in Kawana
Day 23
Wow it was so good to have a room to myself last night with no Germans chatting/Swedish girl snoring/Korean girl clicking on her laptop all night playing Solitaire (click, click). Denise, the lady who owns the house, is so nice! Her kids are great too. No one was in after 9am so I got up and had breakfast and watched morning tv. It was so good!
Walked to the bus stop. Saw a dead snake on the way. The bus driver seemed amused when I asked where he thought I should go. I have no plans for today. He suggested Kawana Shopping World, so I went there for the day.
It's lovely here.
Day 22 Couchsurfing outta here
29th October 2008
Couchsurfing out of Brisbane!
Day 22
That's it - I'm leaving Brisbane! A guy from the Couchsurfing site emailed me. He lives on the Sunshine Coast and has a spare room so I'm going there. It's 2.5 hours away in a place called Mooloolaba. I'm looking forward to having my own room for a few days. The Swedish girl in my room was snoring all night. It did my head in.
Later...
Wow I love it here. Nathan picked me up in his car and we went for fish and chips. He has 3 homes for some reason. I am staying in a house with a lady called Denise and her family. She is lovely, but it's quite bizarre - the whole situation that is.
It's so nice here. Went for a walk along the beach and Nathan told me about how he used to be in a band and worked with Moby, and played guitar on stage with Oasis, and was Steve Urwin's body guard one day, and has kissed an actress called Sophie Monk and Australia Zoo stole his marketing ideas that he used to use for his band. He also mentioned that he used to be a compulsive liar. Hmmm...
Couchsurfing out of Brisbane!
Day 22
That's it - I'm leaving Brisbane! A guy from the Couchsurfing site emailed me. He lives on the Sunshine Coast and has a spare room so I'm going there. It's 2.5 hours away in a place called Mooloolaba. I'm looking forward to having my own room for a few days. The Swedish girl in my room was snoring all night. It did my head in.
Later...
Wow I love it here. Nathan picked me up in his car and we went for fish and chips. He has 3 homes for some reason. I am staying in a house with a lady called Denise and her family. She is lovely, but it's quite bizarre - the whole situation that is.
It's so nice here. Went for a walk along the beach and Nathan told me about how he used to be in a band and worked with Moby, and played guitar on stage with Oasis, and was Steve Urwin's body guard one day, and has kissed an actress called Sophie Monk and Australia Zoo stole his marketing ideas that he used to use for his band. He also mentioned that he used to be a compulsive liar. Hmmm...
Day 21
28th October 2008
Enough of Brisbane
Day 21
I think it's time to leave Brisbane. May book a tour outta here. Don't fancy sticking around and may head up north to the Sunshine Coast. That sounds nice. What will be weird is my birthday. I wonder where I'll be and who I'll be with.
I'm actually doing nothing in Brisbane now. Nothing. I can do nothing in some new place. I have started to email people from the WWOOFing programme. The deal is you work on their farm for 5 hours a day in exchange for accommodation and food. Sounds good to me!
Oh and another thing - I hate subways (the sandwiches), especially the turkey ones. That's all I've been eating recently. If I have to eat another one I swear I'll puke.
Enough of Brisbane
Day 21
I think it's time to leave Brisbane. May book a tour outta here. Don't fancy sticking around and may head up north to the Sunshine Coast. That sounds nice. What will be weird is my birthday. I wonder where I'll be and who I'll be with.
I'm actually doing nothing in Brisbane now. Nothing. I can do nothing in some new place. I have started to email people from the WWOOFing programme. The deal is you work on their farm for 5 hours a day in exchange for accommodation and food. Sounds good to me!
Oh and another thing - I hate subways (the sandwiches), especially the turkey ones. That's all I've been eating recently. If I have to eat another one I swear I'll puke.
Day 20 Quiz night
27th October 2008
Quiz night
Day 20
Here is the main difference between hostels in Japan and hostels in Australia. On arriving at a hostel in Japan there are posters and maps up everywhere advertising tours and showing the local cultural spots like temples and gardens. In Australia there are posters up advertising drinks nights and fancy dress competitions.
Visitors to Japan go for the history and culture, where it seems visitors to Australia come to get battered. Not that that's a bad thing - just a bit expensive with major hangovers.
Went to a quiz tonight at the bar in the hostel with Mitzie (a Swedish girl who's in my room) and Matt (a guy who was sitting at the bar when we walked in and joined our team). Matt seemed quite loud and friendly to start off with, and withing an hour he was so drunk and could hardly speak. He was telling us about how he has bought some old fire engines and he is going to paint the green and wash peoples houses for charity (??). We didn't win the quiz. Or come 2nd. Or 3rd.
When the night was over, Matt was slumped over the bar waiting for his friend to take him home and Mitzie went to bed. I wasn't tired so sat with a group of people that were talking in the common area of the hostel. They were all French. I thought if I sat there for a bit I'd be able to pick up something that they were saying, but unfortunately my High School French lessons with Mrs. Townsend weren't enough for me to understand anything that was being said, so I went to bed.
Quiz night
Day 20
Here is the main difference between hostels in Japan and hostels in Australia. On arriving at a hostel in Japan there are posters and maps up everywhere advertising tours and showing the local cultural spots like temples and gardens. In Australia there are posters up advertising drinks nights and fancy dress competitions.
Visitors to Japan go for the history and culture, where it seems visitors to Australia come to get battered. Not that that's a bad thing - just a bit expensive with major hangovers.
Went to a quiz tonight at the bar in the hostel with Mitzie (a Swedish girl who's in my room) and Matt (a guy who was sitting at the bar when we walked in and joined our team). Matt seemed quite loud and friendly to start off with, and withing an hour he was so drunk and could hardly speak. He was telling us about how he has bought some old fire engines and he is going to paint the green and wash peoples houses for charity (??). We didn't win the quiz. Or come 2nd. Or 3rd.
When the night was over, Matt was slumped over the bar waiting for his friend to take him home and Mitzie went to bed. I wasn't tired so sat with a group of people that were talking in the common area of the hostel. They were all French. I thought if I sat there for a bit I'd be able to pick up something that they were saying, but unfortunately my High School French lessons with Mrs. Townsend weren't enough for me to understand anything that was being said, so I went to bed.
Tuesday 28 October 2008
Day 19
26th October 2008
Recovering
Day 19
Slept for nearly 12 hours last night, recovering from the past 2 nights (random kareoke night and the Slipknot gig). Feeling a little better today but still stiff and achy. Maybe I have fractured a rib or something.
Saw Erik today (my Ginger Ninja kareoke partner). He is off to Fraser Island today. We swapped email addresses so when he sends me the pics from that night I'll put them on here.
I emailed some people from couchsurfing today so hopefully can start that (you stay on someones couch for free while travelling for a few days, saves money and get to meet people).
Ok gotta go they're shutting the internet off.
Ciao x x x
Recovering
Day 19
Slept for nearly 12 hours last night, recovering from the past 2 nights (random kareoke night and the Slipknot gig). Feeling a little better today but still stiff and achy. Maybe I have fractured a rib or something.
Saw Erik today (my Ginger Ninja kareoke partner). He is off to Fraser Island today. We swapped email addresses so when he sends me the pics from that night I'll put them on here.
I emailed some people from couchsurfing today so hopefully can start that (you stay on someones couch for free while travelling for a few days, saves money and get to meet people).
Ok gotta go they're shutting the internet off.
Ciao x x x
Day 18 The day after the Slipknot gig
25th October
Feeling rough in Surfers Paradise
Day 18
I am hunover again.
The Slipknot concert was MENTAL! Dan (the guy I went with) wanted to go near to the front, so we did. We were 3 people from the front. It wasn't too bad at first. Very crushed. I kept making jokes to all the people around me about how close we all were. They didn't seem too impressed though. Oh and this one hard core guy in front of me had long black hair and it was in my face but it
smelled lovely, so I told him he had lovely smelling hair and he said thanks. Then he turned around and told me he uses L'Oreal. It was quite bizarre as we were at a Slipknot gig.
As time went on I eventually couldn't move my arms as it was that crushed. This was a problem when crowd surfers came over head and I couldn't put my arms up to hold them up/protect my head so I kept ducking and hoping for the best. Dan had one hand free and took a video clip. I'll try to put it on here. (The URL for it is
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=44902567628&subj=672026396 so I don't know if clicking on that will work. Let me know!) The bouncers at the front of the barriers kept pouring water into everyones mouths. It was so mad. No one could free their arms and just stood there with their mouths open wide and all water went over my hair, in my eyes and over my clothes. I went in with straight hair and left looking like I'd had a perm. It was crazy.
Then a load of guys fell on top of me. Most of them got up but 2 of them were laid across my legs and everyone was jumping and pushing and I couldn't get up because of these 2 guys and they couldn't get up and I couldn't put my hands on the floor to push myself up as everyone was jumping about. I looked around and saw all these legs and some random shoes that people had lost and thought 'how on earth am I gonna get up?'. This guy grabbed me from behind and dragged me from underneath the two guys that were on me.
After this it was really squashed again and no one could move. Then I felt something warm and wet behind me. I think a guy that was pushed up against me took a piss when he was standing there as it got very warm, very quickly in that area. I shouted to Dan 'I think the guy behind me just had a piss', then we decided to go a bit further back and fight our was out of the crowds.
We eventually got further back and it was cool, but we were soaking from the water/sweat/etc (ew). When it had finished, we walked back towards our hostels and saw this guy who was wearing odd shoes. He said he lost one, but found another so he was walking around with one black shoe and one white shoe.
Anyway, today I went to a place called Surfers Paradise feeling pretty rough and bruised. Surfers Paradise is the actual name of the town! It was cool and hopefully I'll go there on my way down to Sydney.
Feeling rough in Surfers Paradise
Day 18
I am hunover again.
The Slipknot concert was MENTAL! Dan (the guy I went with) wanted to go near to the front, so we did. We were 3 people from the front. It wasn't too bad at first. Very crushed. I kept making jokes to all the people around me about how close we all were. They didn't seem too impressed though. Oh and this one hard core guy in front of me had long black hair and it was in my face but it
smelled lovely, so I told him he had lovely smelling hair and he said thanks. Then he turned around and told me he uses L'Oreal. It was quite bizarre as we were at a Slipknot gig.As time went on I eventually couldn't move my arms as it was that crushed. This was a problem when crowd surfers came over head and I couldn't put my arms up to hold them up/protect my head so I kept ducking and hoping for the best. Dan had one hand free and took a video clip. I'll try to put it on here. (The URL for it is
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=44902567628&subj=672026396 so I don't know if clicking on that will work. Let me know!) The bouncers at the front of the barriers kept pouring water into everyones mouths. It was so mad. No one could free their arms and just stood there with their mouths open wide and all water went over my hair, in my eyes and over my clothes. I went in with straight hair and left looking like I'd had a perm. It was crazy.Then a load of guys fell on top of me. Most of them got up but 2 of them were laid across my legs and everyone was jumping and pushing and I couldn't get up because of these 2 guys and they couldn't get up and I couldn't put my hands on the floor to push myself up as everyone was jumping about. I looked around and saw all these legs and some random shoes that people had lost and thought 'how on earth am I gonna get up?'. This guy grabbed me from behind and dragged me from underneath the two guys that were on me.
After this it was really squashed again and no one could move. Then I felt something warm and wet behind me. I think a guy that was pushed up against me took a piss when he was standing there as it got very warm, very quickly in that area. I shouted to Dan 'I think the guy behind me just had a piss', then we decided to go a bit further back and fight our was out of the crowds.
We eventually got further back and it was cool, but we were soaking from the water/sweat/etc (ew). When it had finished, we walked back towards our hostels and saw this guy who was wearing odd shoes. He said he lost one, but found another so he was walking around with one black shoe and one white shoe.
Anyway, today I went to a place called Surfers Paradise feeling pretty rough and bruised. Surfers Paradise is the actual name of the town! It was cool and hopefully I'll go there on my way down to Sydney.
Thursday 23 October 2008
Day 17 Ginger Ninja's Karaoke
24th October 2008
Hungover
Day 17
I am hungover.
Last night at the bar there was a 'killer pool' competition going on and as I had noting else to do I entered for $2... AND WON $25! The last girl in the competition and the overall winner both get $25 each. WINNER! I only planned on going to the bar for a little while (yeah right) but as I was the pool champion I decided to stay a bit longer.
A Dutch man, French Canadian man and a German man walk into a bar... no joke - these were who I was speaking to. I overlapped the $20 and $5 note I'd won so it read $205 and showed them that I'd won $205. At the time I thought it was hilarious. No one else did.
When the bar shut some of us went to another place where there was karaoke going on. Ended up singing 'Summer of '69' and 'Wonderwall' with the Dutch guy, who was
also ginger so we introduced ourselves as the 'Ginger Ninjas' and planned on going on X Factor. Lots of people said we'd defo get on the show, well the first show anyway.
Hungover
Day 17
I am hungover.
Last night at the bar there was a 'killer pool' competition going on and as I had noting else to do I entered for $2... AND WON $25! The last girl in the competition and the overall winner both get $25 each. WINNER! I only planned on going to the bar for a little while (yeah right) but as I was the pool champion I decided to stay a bit longer.
A Dutch man, French Canadian man and a German man walk into a bar... no joke - these were who I was speaking to. I overlapped the $20 and $5 note I'd won so it read $205 and showed them that I'd won $205. At the time I thought it was hilarious. No one else did.
When the bar shut some of us went to another place where there was karaoke going on. Ended up singing 'Summer of '69' and 'Wonderwall' with the Dutch guy, who was
also ginger so we introduced ourselves as the 'Ginger Ninjas' and planned on going on X Factor. Lots of people said we'd defo get on the show, well the first show anyway. 
Oh and the Taiwanese girl from my room didn't end up coming out.
It's the Slipknot gig tonight. I'm going with a guy I met on the http://www.couchsurfing.org/ site, so that should be fun, but probably scary. Gonna feel even rougher by tomorrow. Can't wait.
I'm a bit worried though as the girl at the reception at my hostel said that she heard that Slipknot urinate on the crowds and spit blood on people. I hope not.
Day 16 Hello Australia!
23rd October 2008
G'day mate
Day 16
I am in Australia. Got 3 months here. Going to a Slipknot gig tomorrow, well tomorrow or the day after - must check. Picked up a WWOOFing pack today, which is sort of a volunteer programme. Hoping to get some volunteering done around Brisbane. The deal is if for about 5 hours of work a day, you get accommodation and food. The places are mostly farms and they work seems to be gardening, painting, looking after farm animals, etc.
Well I am here on my own so decided to get speaking to some people. Got chatting to a German girl who is also travelling on her own. She was meant to be in Australia for 9 months and working here as well, but it turns out she doesn't like it so is getting a flight back home! Good start.
The dorm room I'm in is shared with 5 other girls including a Taiwanese girl who is really worried about her english speaking skills and wants to practice talking to people. I told her she should come to the bar tonight as she's alone and doesn't know anyone, like me. Not sure if she'll come though. It's 'ladies night' at the bar tonight. Cheap wine here I come!
G'day mate
Day 16
I am in Australia. Got 3 months here. Going to a Slipknot gig tomorrow, well tomorrow or the day after - must check. Picked up a WWOOFing pack today, which is sort of a volunteer programme. Hoping to get some volunteering done around Brisbane. The deal is if for about 5 hours of work a day, you get accommodation and food. The places are mostly farms and they work seems to be gardening, painting, looking after farm animals, etc.
Well I am here on my own so decided to get speaking to some people. Got chatting to a German girl who is also travelling on her own. She was meant to be in Australia for 9 months and working here as well, but it turns out she doesn't like it so is getting a flight back home! Good start.
The dorm room I'm in is shared with 5 other girls including a Taiwanese girl who is really worried about her english speaking skills and wants to practice talking to people. I told her she should come to the bar tonight as she's alone and doesn't know anyone, like me. Not sure if she'll come though. It's 'ladies night' at the bar tonight. Cheap wine here I come!
Wednesday 22 October 2008
Day 15 Bye bye Japan
22nd October 2008
Bye bye Japan!
Day 15
Leaving Japan, don't feel too bad. Had a Japanese curry mmm...
Am just sitting at Narita airport now using the free internet service here. It actually is fast! Can't upload pictures though so that will have to wait until I get to my hostel in AUSTRALIA!
Woo Hoo!
Bye bye Japan!
Day 15
Leaving Japan, don't feel too bad. Had a Japanese curry mmm...
Am just sitting at Narita airport now using the free internet service here. It actually is fast! Can't upload pictures though so that will have to wait until I get to my hostel in AUSTRALIA!
Woo Hoo!
Day 14
21st October 2008
Last full day in Japan
Day 14
I think the girls in the dorm room next to mine were smoking cannabis this morning. Anyway, I decided to go to Tokyo Imperial Palace grounds today and not do a lot.
It has been a good day and I'm feeling a lot happier than I have been recently. Started to read 'The Cathcher in the Rye' on some grass by the Imperial Palace. It was such a nice day and so peaceful that I fell asleep for a little while. It was getting a little chilly towards the end of the day so I went back to the hostel.
On my way back I decided to visit Sensoji temple again, one of the first places I visited when I came to Japan. It was nice to finish the trip where I started about 2 weeks ago. Not that I had intended to go there, just I recognised the gates when walking around the area by my hostel so went to have a little wander around. It was nice to see the temple and pagoda all lit up in the night time. 
This is my last full day in Japan, and what did I do next? Went back to the hostel and watched the movie Miami Vice (how cultural).
Well I leave tomorrow. Am looking forward to going and seeing English signs in places, maybe I wont get lost as much (yeah right). Japan has been fab! And I am gonna miss t-shirt spotting though!
Last full day in Japan
Day 14
I think the girls in the dorm room next to mine were smoking cannabis this morning. Anyway, I decided to go to Tokyo Imperial Palace grounds today and not do a lot.
It has been a good day and I'm feeling a lot happier than I have been recently. Started to read 'The Cathcher in the Rye' on some grass by the Imperial Palace. It was such a nice day and so peaceful that I fell asleep for a little while. It was getting a little chilly towards the end of the day so I went back to the hostel.On my way back I decided to visit Sensoji temple again, one of the first places I visited when I came to Japan. It was nice to finish the trip where I started about 2 weeks ago. Not that I had intended to go there, just I recognised the gates when walking around the area by my hostel so went to have a little wander around. It was nice to see the temple and pagoda all lit up in the night time. 
This is my last full day in Japan, and what did I do next? Went back to the hostel and watched the movie Miami Vice (how cultural).Well I leave tomorrow. Am looking forward to going and seeing English signs in places, maybe I wont get lost as much (yeah right). Japan has been fab! And I am gonna miss t-shirt spotting though!
Day 13 Harajuku
20th October 2008
All alone in Harajuku
Day 13
Went to Harajuku today. Got lost on the way. Had to transfer between a subway and train line and ended up in a department store. Don't ask.
Strolled down the famous Takeshita street and visited an art gallery that I had had a leaflet for for a few days. I got talking to the guy who owns the gallery as he was English too and from the Channel Islands I think. Anyway he asked me if he could interview me for the gallery's website! How random! My interview and picture are on there now, click here and scroll down http://www.designfesta.com/02_en/blog/.
Went to Yoyogi Park after, but not feeling too well today. Feel a bit down actually. Apparently it's normal when adjusting to the whole travelling thing.
Back to Ueno (got lost again, surprise, surprise) and saw 3 geishas walking through the street.
The internet is so crap and slow back at the hostel. It really is the worst. When I finally got to check my emails Eli and Kayono had emailed me and I was well chuffed. They have cheered me up so much and made my stay in Japan really something. Don't know what I would have done if I wouldn't have met them!
All alone in Harajuku
Day 13
Went to Harajuku today. Got lost on the way. Had to transfer between a subway and train line and ended up in a department store. Don't ask.Strolled down the famous Takeshita street and visited an art gallery that I had had a leaflet for for a few days. I got talking to the guy who owns the gallery as he was English too and from the Channel Islands I think. Anyway he asked me if he could interview me for the gallery's website! How random! My interview and picture are on there now, click here and scroll down http://www.designfesta.com/02_en/blog/.
Went to Yoyogi Park after, but not feeling too well today. Feel a bit down actually. Apparently it's normal when adjusting to the whole travelling thing.
Back to Ueno (got lost again, surprise, surprise) and saw 3 geishas walking through the street.
The internet is so crap and slow back at the hostel. It really is the worst. When I finally got to check my emails Eli and Kayono had emailed me and I was well chuffed. They have cheered me up so much and made my stay in Japan really something. Don't know what I would have done if I wouldn't have met them!
Day 12, Tokyo
19th October 2008
Day out with Kayono and friends
Day 12
Got to Shinjuku station (Tokyo) this morning still half asleep and very tired. In one of the service stations on the way here though I saw this picture in one of the toilets (see right)-
Got lost (don't ask).
Found my way to my hostel that I am going to be at for the rest of my stay in Japan. It's in Ueno and quite nice.
Remember me saying about the Japanese lady I met in a cafe in Shinjuku the night I was getting the night bus to Osaka? Well we had been emailing each other and I met up with her and her friends today! We went on the water bus down the river in Tokyo, which was cool.
Then we went for some lunch. One thing I haven't already written about is my encounter with chopsticks especially when I first got to Japan. I thought I was using them right, but people in the restaurants would always bring me over a fork or spoon when they saw me using them. Thing is you see is that I've never used chopsticks before, and, well, I didn't know you were supposed to break them. So when they come stuck together at the top what is meant to happen is the person breaks them and uses them as 2 separate chopsticks. I did not know this. The day I found out was when Eli and I went for some food and he broke his chopsticks then I had a moment of realisation. That was why they brought me over forks and spoons in the restaurants, and I thought they were staring because I stood out a bit. Turns out I stand out a hell of a lot.
I decided to tell Eli about this when I saw him break his chopsticks and he thought this was hilarious and even had me demonstrate how to (try to) eat using this method. He said I should tell this story to every Japanese person I meet.
So anyway, Kayono, her friend and I are all sitting around about to have lunch and I decide to tell them. They were in hysterics for ages. Seriously they couldn't stop laughing and even had me demonstrate my little unknown method of using chopsticks that are joined together. Even when I thought they'd stopped, they burst out in hysterics again. My cheeks hurt so much from all the laughing.
When we'd all calmed down and had lunch we went to Harajuku. One of the first things I saw when I got off the train was this-
Day out with Kayono and friends
Day 12
Got to Shinjuku station (Tokyo) this morning still half asleep and very tired. In one of the service stations on the way here though I saw this picture in one of the toilets (see right)-
Got lost (don't ask).
Found my way to my hostel that I am going to be at for the rest of my stay in Japan. It's in Ueno and quite nice.
Remember me saying about the Japanese lady I met in a cafe in Shinjuku the night I was getting the night bus to Osaka? Well we had been emailing each other and I met up with her and her friends today! We went on the water bus down the river in Tokyo, which was cool.Then we went for some lunch. One thing I haven't already written about is my encounter with chopsticks especially when I first got to Japan. I thought I was using them right, but people in the restaurants would always bring me over a fork or spoon when they saw me using them. Thing is you see is that I've never used chopsticks before, and, well, I didn't know you were supposed to break them. So when they come stuck together at the top what is meant to happen is the person breaks them and uses them as 2 separate chopsticks. I did not know this. The day I found out was when Eli and I went for some food and he broke his chopsticks then I had a moment of realisation. That was why they brought me over forks and spoons in the restaurants, and I thought they were staring because I stood out a bit. Turns out I stand out a hell of a lot.
I decided to tell Eli about this when I saw him break his chopsticks and he thought this was hilarious and even had me demonstrate how to (try to) eat using this method. He said I should tell this story to every Japanese person I meet.
So anyway, Kayono, her friend and I are all sitting around about to have lunch and I decide to tell them. They were in hysterics for ages. Seriously they couldn't stop laughing and even had me demonstrate my little unknown method of using chopsticks that are joined together. Even when I thought they'd stopped, they burst out in hysterics again. My cheeks hurt so much from all the laughing.
When we'd all calmed down and had lunch we went to Harajuku. One of the first things I saw when I got off the train was this-
See the earrings? They are real live goldfish, just swimming around. Two in each bowl. Crazy man!
Went to a shrine near by and saw a lady about to get married. She was wearing a lovely white kimono. Kayono's friend left and her other friend Yuki arrived. We went for Sushi in Shibuya and it was cool.
I ate some raw fish and it was ok, though I knew it was raw fish before I put it into my mouth (not like that octopus incident). Even had a desert (not sushi). It was so much fun in the sushi place and although I didn't go near the hard stuff (squid/fish eggs/livers) I managed quite a respectable bit.
We went to an English pub after. It charged 6 quid a pint! Kayono, Yuki and I chatted about all sorts like different countries we'd been to and all sorts. It was quite sad when we said bye. They walked me to the train station and off I went.
Day 11
18th October 2008
Cycling around Kyoto day 2
Day 11
Hired a bike again. Went to the Silver Pavilion today, but it is under reconstruction. It isn't silver either. The only bit that's a bit silver looking was the scaffolding around the 
whole thing, see right. The gardens around it though were gorgeous and really peaceful. I cycled up a path called the Philosophers Path to get to it. Didn't feel that enlightened though after I rode it.
Went to Kyoto Municipal Art Museum too and the lady on the front desk let me in for free! Nice lady. There was a huge orange and black gate there too, which looked pretty fantastic!
I ate 3 ice creams today and felt a bit sick afterwards.
Also got talking to the worlds most boring man. Well I don't mean to be rude but he just randomly started talking to me about some English girl traveller who was killed by a Japanese man and now do all English people think Japan is full of killers so they don't visit anymore. What do you answer to that? He asked me if English people think bad of Japanese people and all these weird questions so I tried to answer but in the end said I had to get my bike back, which I did and with my track record of getting lost it was better to go sooner rather than later.
Anyway, off on the night bus again tonight. Only I got lost trying to find the boarding place and had to phone up the bus company, but it just turned out I was there that early that even the bus staff weren't there yet and that's why I couldn't see them.
Bye Kyoto!
Cycling around Kyoto day 2
Day 11
Hired a bike again. Went to the Silver Pavilion today, but it is under reconstruction. It isn't silver either. The only bit that's a bit silver looking was the scaffolding around the 
whole thing, see right. The gardens around it though were gorgeous and really peaceful. I cycled up a path called the Philosophers Path to get to it. Didn't feel that enlightened though after I rode it.
Went to Kyoto Municipal Art Museum too and the lady on the front desk let me in for free! Nice lady. There was a huge orange and black gate there too, which looked pretty fantastic!I ate 3 ice creams today and felt a bit sick afterwards.
Also got talking to the worlds most boring man. Well I don't mean to be rude but he just randomly started talking to me about some English girl traveller who was killed by a Japanese man and now do all English people think Japan is full of killers so they don't visit anymore. What do you answer to that? He asked me if English people think bad of Japanese people and all these weird questions so I tried to answer but in the end said I had to get my bike back, which I did and with my track record of getting lost it was better to go sooner rather than later.
Anyway, off on the night bus again tonight. Only I got lost trying to find the boarding place and had to phone up the bus company, but it just turned out I was there that early that even the bus staff weren't there yet and that's why I couldn't see them.
Bye Kyoto!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
