Yesterday was a pretty amazing day.
I have been dreading for weeks telling my boss about my plans to travel to the other side of the world for three months. Several times last week, I was on the edge of telling her, even though the original plan was to wait until the last day of the month to tell her so that I would be giving her exactly a month's notice. It really could not have gone any better than it did. Due to some unforeseen errands I was asked to run, I had to tell her earlier in the day than I had planned. After some initial talking down, she insisted that I must take this trip, that it was an opportunity of a lifetime, and that she was absolutely definite on the fact that she wanted me back at work when I returned. So not only did the news go over better than I could have hoped, but I am pretty much guaranteed a job immediately once I return.
Wooo Hooo # 1.
So still flying high on this successful semi-notice-of-resignation, I went to dinner with Matt to plan the last leg of the trip. These plans occurred over pints of beers and dinner at Carolina Brewery. We had planned on meeting Dan later that night to go out. We decided that once Matt gets permission to take the weeks around Thanksgiving off, we will book all the flights and events we need to book for Alice Springs and Cairns. This includes the Stargazing Buffet near Uluru, the hot air balloon flight, and the snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef.
Woooo Hoooo # 2.
We went to R&R, me thinking we would just be meeting Dan for drinks. Needless to say, I was shocked to see about 10 people I recognized sitting with him, staring at me. Dan had put together a surprise party for me. It was totally unexpected. I got to see couple of people I never see, as well as hang out with some of my best friends. It really meant a lot, and it was the perfect way to cap off this fabulous day.
3's a charm.
So now I am trying to nail down my last minute details. Yes, there are still several large purchases to make (notebook, maybe a camera), but it's a huge load off my mind to have cleared the air at work about this trip. I was pretty much giddy on the way home after having made the announcement. It's just a huge, amazing bonus that the news was received as well as it was because I just wanted to get it over with.
Yay!
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Friday, July 16, 2010
Too Early to start a Countdown?? Too Bad! 54 days!!!
I've spent 9 of the last 16 days at the beach. Heaven, you say? Why yes, it was. I actually shed a tear about having to return to work. While at the beach, Australia wasn't far from my mind. I've re-read the Bryson book again (4th time). It seems to get better and I learn new things each time I read it. I find the history of the country so fascinating. Lots of the events that changed the face of Australia (like that fact that it ended up British instead of French) is based on chance and luck and shear timing. And the rich and ancient history of the Aborigines is amazing. I will try to learn as much as I can while I'm down there. I'm sure people around me must be sick of me talking about the book and the trip, but it does consume a large majority of my free thoughts. And if you ask me, THEY'RE JUST JEALOUS!
Reading the Bryson book for the 4th time reminded me once again (as if every television program about the country and person discussing Australia wasn't enough to remind me) that more so than any country in the world, Australia has plenty of natural ways to injure and kill you. Throughout the entire book, Bryson is very vocal about his fears of falling prey to some snake or arachnid or sea creature upon his arrival to every new portion of the country. I think he would get quite a chuckle out of this "accurate" map of Australia I found while mindlessly surfing Google images of "Australia":
Pretty impressive, huh? I know that some of these things are real threats (Steve Irwin? Old map I guess. So no, he's not a threat- not unless it's zombie Steve Irwin... too soon?), but I'm honestly not too concerned. I don't plan on spending a whole lot of unsupervised time out in the wild among the crazy, magnificently evolved wonders of the island because I understand they are real, can kill, and so my instinct for self preservation tells me I'll be ok and even if I did have some sort of death wish or got a sudden urge for adventure, that fact would not venture far from my mind.
And, oh yeah, GOOD NEWS!!!! I will officially have a travel companion for the last leg of my trip! Matt is going to be spending some time with me in Alice Springs and Cairns/Port Douglas the last two weeks of November. Now when I say officially, I mean he's called me and told me the dates and talked to me several times about it and are already planning stuff to do, but he hasn't bought his ticket yet. But he's not going to back out... not if he knows what's good for him. Plus, why would he want to? We've already planned to hot air balloon over the outback at sunrise in Alice Springs, spend the day out on the Great Barrier Reef snorkeling on the coast of Cairns, and we will be making our own Thanksgiving dinner (since it's a specifically American holiday and probably won't be observed by many in Australia.) It's going to be lots of great fun packed into about 10 days (it takes a day to get here and a day to get back, and you lose another day on the way here because of that pesky international dateline.) I'm so excited to have a travel buddy, even if it's just for a couple of weeks.
Even with these things to be excited about, I do find myself stressing a little. The realization that I will be on the other side of the world for 3 months by myself is a little overwhelming. Every decision will be mine to make. Every day will be my own. It's kind of sad to me that I find these things scary. Every time I feel frightened by these ideas, I take a step back and realize that it's freedom, true freedom, that somehow I find suffocating. I can do anything I want, I have to answer to no one. If I don't feel like doing anything one day, I don't have to (even though I think I will feel lazy to waste one day in another country. I like to think I will at least go sit in a park or at the beach and watch people). If I feel like eating lunch at 10am, or 3pm, or never, I can. My rules, all the time. So when I feel myself starting to flip about this trip, I breathe in deeply and and take a moment to realize what a gift this is. It shouldn't be overwhelming to not have structures or deadlines or people to be answering to. The fact that it is my natural reaction to freak when these things are removed from my life shows how long I have lived and been supported by these things; they were a crutch. For these three months, I will be free to do whatever I want, whenever I want. And I need to make sure I live every minute of it.
Reading the Bryson book for the 4th time reminded me once again (as if every television program about the country and person discussing Australia wasn't enough to remind me) that more so than any country in the world, Australia has plenty of natural ways to injure and kill you. Throughout the entire book, Bryson is very vocal about his fears of falling prey to some snake or arachnid or sea creature upon his arrival to every new portion of the country. I think he would get quite a chuckle out of this "accurate" map of Australia I found while mindlessly surfing Google images of "Australia":
Pretty impressive, huh? I know that some of these things are real threats (Steve Irwin? Old map I guess. So no, he's not a threat- not unless it's zombie Steve Irwin... too soon?), but I'm honestly not too concerned. I don't plan on spending a whole lot of unsupervised time out in the wild among the crazy, magnificently evolved wonders of the island because I understand they are real, can kill, and so my instinct for self preservation tells me I'll be ok and even if I did have some sort of death wish or got a sudden urge for adventure, that fact would not venture far from my mind.
And, oh yeah, GOOD NEWS!!!! I will officially have a travel companion for the last leg of my trip! Matt is going to be spending some time with me in Alice Springs and Cairns/Port Douglas the last two weeks of November. Now when I say officially, I mean he's called me and told me the dates and talked to me several times about it and are already planning stuff to do, but he hasn't bought his ticket yet. But he's not going to back out... not if he knows what's good for him. Plus, why would he want to? We've already planned to hot air balloon over the outback at sunrise in Alice Springs, spend the day out on the Great Barrier Reef snorkeling on the coast of Cairns, and we will be making our own Thanksgiving dinner (since it's a specifically American holiday and probably won't be observed by many in Australia.) It's going to be lots of great fun packed into about 10 days (it takes a day to get here and a day to get back, and you lose another day on the way here because of that pesky international dateline.) I'm so excited to have a travel buddy, even if it's just for a couple of weeks.
Even with these things to be excited about, I do find myself stressing a little. The realization that I will be on the other side of the world for 3 months by myself is a little overwhelming. Every decision will be mine to make. Every day will be my own. It's kind of sad to me that I find these things scary. Every time I feel frightened by these ideas, I take a step back and realize that it's freedom, true freedom, that somehow I find suffocating. I can do anything I want, I have to answer to no one. If I don't feel like doing anything one day, I don't have to (even though I think I will feel lazy to waste one day in another country. I like to think I will at least go sit in a park or at the beach and watch people). If I feel like eating lunch at 10am, or 3pm, or never, I can. My rules, all the time. So when I feel myself starting to flip about this trip, I breathe in deeply and and take a moment to realize what a gift this is. It shouldn't be overwhelming to not have structures or deadlines or people to be answering to. The fact that it is my natural reaction to freak when these things are removed from my life shows how long I have lived and been supported by these things; they were a crutch. For these three months, I will be free to do whatever I want, whenever I want. And I need to make sure I live every minute of it.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Meat pies, Kangaroo, Veggiemite? Oh, My!
***Before I begin this blog, please take a second to note the fact that my two previous blog titles reference two works of Shakespeare (Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet). I have to say I was impressed when I discovered this, as it was completely unintentional, and I was just naming them the first natural thing that came to mind. By the way this makes me cultured, NOT a dork... Maybe a nerd.***
Now, back to the issue at hand- my mother, who has apparently been following Salley's Zambia blog diligently, asked me today if I had even thought about what kind of food they have in Australia. It had crossed my mind, I will admit, briefly, but I figured if I found it all completely inedible, they will have American chains everywhere. This, mind you, will be an absolute last resort. I feel like some of the excitement and adventure of this trip will be the "when in Rome" aspect, and I will try to become as native as possible (at least as native as one can be carrying around all their belongings on their back.) My mother suggested that maybe they had mainly English food. I shuddered and protested- English food! No way, those freakish, medieval inspired, gray-ish, meat-ish, gravy-ish based dishes with strange consistencies, colors, and odors. I mean, I've never been to England, and admittedly, never eaten real English food, but their reputation for their food is almost as bad as their dentistry. I decided to consult the modern encyclopedia of everything- Wikipedia. Imagine my horror at the first picture on the website:
A MEAT PIE!!!! And not even a remotely appetizing-looking one. But, my trusty Wikipedia assures me that although English and Irish dishes were most prominently eaten in the past, modern Australia cuisine has resulted from globalization. Mediterranean and Asian influences have taken hold, and "Modern Australian" has become an umbrella term for a variety of food available at most restaurants. So yes, meat pie and fish and chips will still be readily available, but it will not be overwhelmingly English dining. I can say I am excited that seafood appears to be widely available and common, which is understandable with the numerous ports and fishing industry.
And tell me this doesn't look absolutely delicious. It's called a Pavlova. It's a traditional and iconic meringue-based dessert named after a dancer. It has hard meringue crust in the bottom, a whipped, creamy custard like center, topped with fruit such as kiwi and berries. It's pretty well known is both Australia and New Zealand. I will make it my mission to search this out and consume it before I return to America.
One of the meals I am most intrigued about consuming is Kangaroo. Some people have said to me "Awww, how can you eat a Kangaroo? They are so cute." But I explain to them that down there, kangaroos are like deer. Very few people here have problems with people eating deer.
Why? Because deer are a nuisance. They are way overpopulated, which can become a problem not only for food sources for their survival, but can also become a dangerous obstacle on highways, especially during mating season. Kangaroo in Australia is not like chicken or beef in it's wide spread use, but it is not uncommon to see kangaroo meat on grocery store aisles. A certain quota of Kangaroos are allowed to be commercially hunted each year to keep populations down, which have been known to grown out of control and encroach on land of farmers. Kangaroo is produced only from free ranging wild animals living on land owned by people and unlike other meats, is not produced by organized farming. The meat is also high in protein and low in fat, making it a healthy alternative to other meats.
And lastly, you can't have Australia without Veggimite!
Yes, this picture is less than appetizing, but I am willing to give it a whirl. I mean, millions of Australians can't be wrong, right? This oddly colored spread is made from yeast extract, or pretty much the leftovers from brewing beer, and some vegetables and spice additives. It is a huge source of pride for Australians. In fact, when Kraft recently tried to change the name, it resulted in wide-spread panicking, riots, and mass confusion. Ok, not riots, but people were very upset, and Kraft quickly reversed their decision. There was even a rumor for a while that Vegemite had been banned from America by George W. Bush and people were being encourage to write the White House in protest. I have to admit that before this Wiki article, my knowledge of Vegemite didn't extend much further that the fact that it existed, and that was only because of my hours of listening to the Men at Work song Down Under. Oh, my 80's mix.
So yes, I will not be going hungry in Australia. I am only more encouraged by this article to try all the things that Australia has to offer, in cuisine and beyond.
*Credit given to Wikipedia's "Australian Cuisine" article for the pictures and information.*
Now, back to the issue at hand- my mother, who has apparently been following Salley's Zambia blog diligently, asked me today if I had even thought about what kind of food they have in Australia. It had crossed my mind, I will admit, briefly, but I figured if I found it all completely inedible, they will have American chains everywhere. This, mind you, will be an absolute last resort. I feel like some of the excitement and adventure of this trip will be the "when in Rome" aspect, and I will try to become as native as possible (at least as native as one can be carrying around all their belongings on their back.) My mother suggested that maybe they had mainly English food. I shuddered and protested- English food! No way, those freakish, medieval inspired, gray-ish, meat-ish, gravy-ish based dishes with strange consistencies, colors, and odors. I mean, I've never been to England, and admittedly, never eaten real English food, but their reputation for their food is almost as bad as their dentistry. I decided to consult the modern encyclopedia of everything- Wikipedia. Imagine my horror at the first picture on the website:
A MEAT PIE!!!! And not even a remotely appetizing-looking one. But, my trusty Wikipedia assures me that although English and Irish dishes were most prominently eaten in the past, modern Australia cuisine has resulted from globalization. Mediterranean and Asian influences have taken hold, and "Modern Australian" has become an umbrella term for a variety of food available at most restaurants. So yes, meat pie and fish and chips will still be readily available, but it will not be overwhelmingly English dining. I can say I am excited that seafood appears to be widely available and common, which is understandable with the numerous ports and fishing industry.
And tell me this doesn't look absolutely delicious. It's called a Pavlova. It's a traditional and iconic meringue-based dessert named after a dancer. It has hard meringue crust in the bottom, a whipped, creamy custard like center, topped with fruit such as kiwi and berries. It's pretty well known is both Australia and New Zealand. I will make it my mission to search this out and consume it before I return to America.One of the meals I am most intrigued about consuming is Kangaroo. Some people have said to me "Awww, how can you eat a Kangaroo? They are so cute." But I explain to them that down there, kangaroos are like deer. Very few people here have problems with people eating deer.
Why? Because deer are a nuisance. They are way overpopulated, which can become a problem not only for food sources for their survival, but can also become a dangerous obstacle on highways, especially during mating season. Kangaroo in Australia is not like chicken or beef in it's wide spread use, but it is not uncommon to see kangaroo meat on grocery store aisles. A certain quota of Kangaroos are allowed to be commercially hunted each year to keep populations down, which have been known to grown out of control and encroach on land of farmers. Kangaroo is produced only from free ranging wild animals living on land owned by people and unlike other meats, is not produced by organized farming. The meat is also high in protein and low in fat, making it a healthy alternative to other meats.And lastly, you can't have Australia without Veggimite!
Yes, this picture is less than appetizing, but I am willing to give it a whirl. I mean, millions of Australians can't be wrong, right? This oddly colored spread is made from yeast extract, or pretty much the leftovers from brewing beer, and some vegetables and spice additives. It is a huge source of pride for Australians. In fact, when Kraft recently tried to change the name, it resulted in wide-spread panicking, riots, and mass confusion. Ok, not riots, but people were very upset, and Kraft quickly reversed their decision. There was even a rumor for a while that Vegemite had been banned from America by George W. Bush and people were being encourage to write the White House in protest. I have to admit that before this Wiki article, my knowledge of Vegemite didn't extend much further that the fact that it existed, and that was only because of my hours of listening to the Men at Work song Down Under. Oh, my 80's mix.
So yes, I will not be going hungry in Australia. I am only more encouraged by this article to try all the things that Australia has to offer, in cuisine and beyond.
*Credit given to Wikipedia's "Australian Cuisine" article for the pictures and information.*
Sunday, June 13, 2010
What's in a (Blog) Name?
I've finally been questioned about the grammatical correctness and meaning of the name of my blog. I have been meaning to write this entry for a while, the beginning would have probably been a more suitable time, but this is as good as any.
The name "In a Sunburnt Country" is a nod to the Bill Bryson book that was given to me by my friend Matt Jarvis as a graduation present after college. I had been saying over the course of that year that I wanted to move to Australia, live in Australia, be in Australia whenever something wasn't going my way. He took me seriously and gave me the Bryson travel book called "In a Sunburned Country" (so yes, he can be held partially responsible for my wild ideas of traveling on the other side of the world.) I have read the Bryson book cover to cover thrice since I was gifted it in May 2008. I plan to read it once more before I arrive in Sydney. It's given me a lot of inspiration and ideas for the trip. It's also written with humour, which sets it apart from other dry travel books and gave it more of a novel-read. Though Bryson was rather apprehensive in his travels and frightened of the natural fauna (yes, they do have quite an intimidating list of poisonous and deadly creatures on their attendance role), I can't say it has deterred me. I mean, Bryson himself confessed in his book to not knowing what boogie boarding was or being successful in doing it, something I have been doing every summer in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of North Carolina since I could walk, so some of his squeamishness about the country doesn't hold up much for me. I also know it's not like I am going to be exploring the outback alone, or going places where these poisonous and deadly animals will be looking to make a statistic out of me. I'm going to watch some penguins, eat kangaroo, and cuddle many koalas. You can leave the spiders, snakes, and sea creatures out of it.
Bryson's book title was also a nod to something: a poem written by Dorothea Mackellar. Mackellar is one of Australia's best loved poets. The poem "My Country" was written by Mackellar when she was 19 and homesick in England (in 1911.) "My Country" is a well-loved poem in Australia for it's patriotic and iconic message. I have to admit, reading it myself as an American, despite our "spacious skies," "purple mountains majesty," and "shining seas," I would really enjoy experiencing the excitement of "beauty and terror" of the "wide brown land," "sapphire-misted mountains," and "opal heart."
The love of field and coppice,
Of green and shaded lanes.
Of ordered woods and gardens
Is running in your veins,
Strong love of grey-blue distance
Brown streams and soft dim skies
I know but cannot share it,
My love is otherwise.
I love a sunburnt country,
A land of sweeping plains,
Of ragged mountain ranges,
Of droughts and flooding rains.
I love her far horizons,
I love her jewel-sea,
Her beauty and her terror -
The wide brown land for me!
A stark white ring-barked forest
All tragic to the moon,
The sapphire-misted mountains,
The hot gold hush of noon.
Green tangle of the brushes,
Where lithe lianas coil,
And orchids deck the tree-tops
And ferns the warm dark soil.
Core of my heart, my country!
Her pitiless blue sky,
When sick at heart, around us,
We see the cattle die-
But then the grey clouds gather,
And we can bless again
The drumming of an army,
The steady, soaking rain.
Core of my heart, my country!
Land of the Rainbow Gold,
For flood and fire and famine,
She pays us back threefold-
Over the thirsty paddocks,
Watch, after many days,
The filmy veil of greenness
That thickens as we gaze.
An opal-hearted country,
A wilful, lavish land-
All you who have not loved her,
You will not understand-
Though earth holds many splendours,
Wherever I may die,
I know to what brown country
My homing thoughts will fly.
The name "In a Sunburnt Country" is a nod to the Bill Bryson book that was given to me by my friend Matt Jarvis as a graduation present after college. I had been saying over the course of that year that I wanted to move to Australia, live in Australia, be in Australia whenever something wasn't going my way. He took me seriously and gave me the Bryson travel book called "In a Sunburned Country" (so yes, he can be held partially responsible for my wild ideas of traveling on the other side of the world.) I have read the Bryson book cover to cover thrice since I was gifted it in May 2008. I plan to read it once more before I arrive in Sydney. It's given me a lot of inspiration and ideas for the trip. It's also written with humour, which sets it apart from other dry travel books and gave it more of a novel-read. Though Bryson was rather apprehensive in his travels and frightened of the natural fauna (yes, they do have quite an intimidating list of poisonous and deadly creatures on their attendance role), I can't say it has deterred me. I mean, Bryson himself confessed in his book to not knowing what boogie boarding was or being successful in doing it, something I have been doing every summer in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of North Carolina since I could walk, so some of his squeamishness about the country doesn't hold up much for me. I also know it's not like I am going to be exploring the outback alone, or going places where these poisonous and deadly animals will be looking to make a statistic out of me. I'm going to watch some penguins, eat kangaroo, and cuddle many koalas. You can leave the spiders, snakes, and sea creatures out of it.
Bryson's book title was also a nod to something: a poem written by Dorothea Mackellar. Mackellar is one of Australia's best loved poets. The poem "My Country" was written by Mackellar when she was 19 and homesick in England (in 1911.) "My Country" is a well-loved poem in Australia for it's patriotic and iconic message. I have to admit, reading it myself as an American, despite our "spacious skies," "purple mountains majesty," and "shining seas," I would really enjoy experiencing the excitement of "beauty and terror" of the "wide brown land," "sapphire-misted mountains," and "opal heart."
The love of field and coppice,
Of green and shaded lanes.
Of ordered woods and gardens
Is running in your veins,
Strong love of grey-blue distance
Brown streams and soft dim skies
I know but cannot share it,
My love is otherwise.
I love a sunburnt country,
A land of sweeping plains,
Of ragged mountain ranges,
Of droughts and flooding rains.
I love her far horizons,
I love her jewel-sea,
Her beauty and her terror -
The wide brown land for me!
A stark white ring-barked forest
All tragic to the moon,
The sapphire-misted mountains,
The hot gold hush of noon.
Green tangle of the brushes,
Where lithe lianas coil,
And orchids deck the tree-tops
And ferns the warm dark soil.
Core of my heart, my country!
Her pitiless blue sky,
When sick at heart, around us,
We see the cattle die-
But then the grey clouds gather,
And we can bless again
The drumming of an army,
The steady, soaking rain.
Core of my heart, my country!
Land of the Rainbow Gold,
For flood and fire and famine,
She pays us back threefold-
Over the thirsty paddocks,
Watch, after many days,
The filmy veil of greenness
That thickens as we gaze.
An opal-hearted country,
A wilful, lavish land-
All you who have not loved her,
You will not understand-
Though earth holds many splendours,
Wherever I may die,
I know to what brown country
My homing thoughts will fly.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
What (Down Under) Dreams May Come...
First off, I am updating this in the small amount of time I have between waking up and showing up at work. I had to write now, while it was fresh in my head. But first, let me show you some stuff that has changed since we last talked.
I got my pack and my boots! They are both great. The pack is just one inch bigger than what delta allows for carry-on (bribe time? my uncle Charlie would be so proud!), but it comes with a special feature that allows you to zip a cover around the straps so they are not caught on anything or otherwise messed up during transit in checking the bag. The most awesome feature is the mini pack that unzips from the front of the pack. It's for carrying stuff around daily, which is great, if your hostel has lockers with locks that you can leave the majority of your stuff behind with. I don't anticipate there being a problem carrying this around Australia. I feel like some of my backpacks in high school and college where about as big, and they had huge text books as opposed to clothes!
My boots (yes, they are lovely aren't they?) are the BEST feeling shoes I have ever purchased. Once I return, I might only purchase shoes like this, meaning I will have to find employment in some outdoors venture, either that or resign myself to being the "eccentric" weirdo at work who wears boots when most of the women wear heels. I don't care, these are amazing and I'm not going back. It's like the shoe, once I put it on, says to my foot, "Oh, no. What have you been wearing? This is the shape you are supposed to have." and then supports my foot in the exact places that the foot has been waiting for all it's life! ...Ok, this is starting to sound like a romance novel of something. The point is- my shoes rock. My feet love them and look forward to spending 3 months in them in a foreign country (ok, that still has a romantic tone).
Ok, now for the real reason I had to write immediately, this morning. I had a very vivid dream last night. This dream was the first leg of my trip. There were admittedly a lot of inaccuracies, which I am already aware of, not even setting step one on the trip yet. The most real and potentially accurate part of the dream was the feelings I had in the country. I am going to try my best to capture them on page, but it's hard to describe to people who, well, aren't me.
The trip started out with me and Salley (first inaccuracy, she will indeed be a world traveler at the time, but will be on the opposite side of the world, helping people in Africa while I play) and we had somehow boarded a plane without going through security (inaccuracy number two) and somehow had an instantaneous flight (big whopper of inaccurate for number three). We arrived in Australia and we were trying to check in to the hostel. I commented on how cold it was (inaccuracy number four), and said I hadn't expected it, it must be due to our elevation (there was a mountain range around us- inaccuracy number five, at least for Sydney when I will be arriving). I was preoccupied with trying to plan out my month on a ridiculously large wall calendar (more symbolic of me than inaccurate) when some guys keep trying to talk to me and ask me about Australia. They were Americans, because they had no accent, so I instantly had no interest in talking with them. They were Jory's ugly American description too, they were loud frat boys there on daddy's cash (they didn't tell me, but it's my dream, so I know, ok?) There was a third guy near them though, and he asked me when we got in, and he had an accent. I asked if he was a traveler, he said no, he worked in the hostel, and could show us our room. We went upstairs to a large, open room with two levels and only 3 beds (inaccuracy number six). Our stranger roomie had claimed the first on the lower level, so Salley and I went to the second level and got each cot under each window. I suddenly realized I had no pillow or sheets, and commented to Salley. "You didn't bring a pillow?" she kinda laughed at me. "I didn't think they would let me bring one on the plane?" I said, which doesn't make sense, number one, but also, I am not planning on bringing a pillow anyway. Who wants to carry a pillow all over Australia? I began to wonder what the Australia slang word for sheets was so I could ask someone where to buy some when Salley informed me she would be departing to see the Louvre (yes, in France- she was leaving the country.) "I thought you'd at least stay a couple of days before you went off." I said. "Nope," she said, and walked back down the stairs. Then I felt my first feeling. It was a painful feeling, deep in my stomach. I was in a country, on the other side of the world, alone, and wanted to call home and tell them I got there but I didn't know how to get in contact with them (a detail I haven't worked out yet, which I guess bleeds through to my dreams.) The feeling didn't last more than a moment, when I had another feeling of jubilation. The only feeling I can describe it being close to was freshman year when I stood in the Dean Dome and closed my eyes and listened to the cheers immediately after our championship win. It was firecrackers in my stomach. I wanted to shriek and jump and explode because I was finally in Australia! BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP- my alarm ruins my journey, but I turn it off and keep my eyes closed to hold onto the feeling and the message of my dream. The conflicts I ran into in my dream are things I still need to sort out. I still need to figure out what phone plan I need, and how I will carry some sort of sheets and towels (yes, small details, but important. This dream is like dreams when I am at school in class in a test I hadn't studied for- it's not going to happen, but it's something dumb I stress about.) I think Salley was there because maybe she will be going through some of the stuff I will at the same time. She will be in another part of the world, far from home and people that she knows. Though she will be doing important work while I am just sightseeing, we will both be alone. But the biggest thing I got from the dream is that both the vivid feelings I experienced will happen to me. I will get lonely. I might feel that stabbing, sharp, hot feeling of being utterly alone so far from home that there is nothing I can do to see people if I need to. But that feeling will be short-lived, and will be replaced by the excitement and enthusiasm I feel for taking this trip, something I have been anticipating for so long.
I got my pack and my boots! They are both great. The pack is just one inch bigger than what delta allows for carry-on (bribe time? my uncle Charlie would be so proud!), but it comes with a special feature that allows you to zip a cover around the straps so they are not caught on anything or otherwise messed up during transit in checking the bag. The most awesome feature is the mini pack that unzips from the front of the pack. It's for carrying stuff around daily, which is great, if your hostel has lockers with locks that you can leave the majority of your stuff behind with. I don't anticipate there being a problem carrying this around Australia. I feel like some of my backpacks in high school and college where about as big, and they had huge text books as opposed to clothes!
My boots (yes, they are lovely aren't they?) are the BEST feeling shoes I have ever purchased. Once I return, I might only purchase shoes like this, meaning I will have to find employment in some outdoors venture, either that or resign myself to being the "eccentric" weirdo at work who wears boots when most of the women wear heels. I don't care, these are amazing and I'm not going back. It's like the shoe, once I put it on, says to my foot, "Oh, no. What have you been wearing? This is the shape you are supposed to have." and then supports my foot in the exact places that the foot has been waiting for all it's life! ...Ok, this is starting to sound like a romance novel of something. The point is- my shoes rock. My feet love them and look forward to spending 3 months in them in a foreign country (ok, that still has a romantic tone).
Ok, now for the real reason I had to write immediately, this morning. I had a very vivid dream last night. This dream was the first leg of my trip. There were admittedly a lot of inaccuracies, which I am already aware of, not even setting step one on the trip yet. The most real and potentially accurate part of the dream was the feelings I had in the country. I am going to try my best to capture them on page, but it's hard to describe to people who, well, aren't me.
The trip started out with me and Salley (first inaccuracy, she will indeed be a world traveler at the time, but will be on the opposite side of the world, helping people in Africa while I play) and we had somehow boarded a plane without going through security (inaccuracy number two) and somehow had an instantaneous flight (big whopper of inaccurate for number three). We arrived in Australia and we were trying to check in to the hostel. I commented on how cold it was (inaccuracy number four), and said I hadn't expected it, it must be due to our elevation (there was a mountain range around us- inaccuracy number five, at least for Sydney when I will be arriving). I was preoccupied with trying to plan out my month on a ridiculously large wall calendar (more symbolic of me than inaccurate) when some guys keep trying to talk to me and ask me about Australia. They were Americans, because they had no accent, so I instantly had no interest in talking with them. They were Jory's ugly American description too, they were loud frat boys there on daddy's cash (they didn't tell me, but it's my dream, so I know, ok?) There was a third guy near them though, and he asked me when we got in, and he had an accent. I asked if he was a traveler, he said no, he worked in the hostel, and could show us our room. We went upstairs to a large, open room with two levels and only 3 beds (inaccuracy number six). Our stranger roomie had claimed the first on the lower level, so Salley and I went to the second level and got each cot under each window. I suddenly realized I had no pillow or sheets, and commented to Salley. "You didn't bring a pillow?" she kinda laughed at me. "I didn't think they would let me bring one on the plane?" I said, which doesn't make sense, number one, but also, I am not planning on bringing a pillow anyway. Who wants to carry a pillow all over Australia? I began to wonder what the Australia slang word for sheets was so I could ask someone where to buy some when Salley informed me she would be departing to see the Louvre (yes, in France- she was leaving the country.) "I thought you'd at least stay a couple of days before you went off." I said. "Nope," she said, and walked back down the stairs. Then I felt my first feeling. It was a painful feeling, deep in my stomach. I was in a country, on the other side of the world, alone, and wanted to call home and tell them I got there but I didn't know how to get in contact with them (a detail I haven't worked out yet, which I guess bleeds through to my dreams.) The feeling didn't last more than a moment, when I had another feeling of jubilation. The only feeling I can describe it being close to was freshman year when I stood in the Dean Dome and closed my eyes and listened to the cheers immediately after our championship win. It was firecrackers in my stomach. I wanted to shriek and jump and explode because I was finally in Australia! BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP- my alarm ruins my journey, but I turn it off and keep my eyes closed to hold onto the feeling and the message of my dream. The conflicts I ran into in my dream are things I still need to sort out. I still need to figure out what phone plan I need, and how I will carry some sort of sheets and towels (yes, small details, but important. This dream is like dreams when I am at school in class in a test I hadn't studied for- it's not going to happen, but it's something dumb I stress about.) I think Salley was there because maybe she will be going through some of the stuff I will at the same time. She will be in another part of the world, far from home and people that she knows. Though she will be doing important work while I am just sightseeing, we will both be alone. But the biggest thing I got from the dream is that both the vivid feelings I experienced will happen to me. I will get lonely. I might feel that stabbing, sharp, hot feeling of being utterly alone so far from home that there is nothing I can do to see people if I need to. But that feeling will be short-lived, and will be replaced by the excitement and enthusiasm I feel for taking this trip, something I have been anticipating for so long.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Click! No going back now...
Yes it is official!
The round-trip plane ticket has been purchased (departure Sept 8, return Dec 8), and frankly, it's both exhilarating and horrifying. I mean, I'm so excited, this makes it real, official, permanent, imminent. But to see $1010 dollars disappear instantly from your checking account with the click of a mouse, well, that is a little troubling. (Yes, I said $1010, and I know, that IS a fantastic rate for round trip tickets to the other side of the world!) Not that I'm having buyer's remorse or anything, but like the title of the blog says, there's no going back now.
Along with my plane tickets, I have also bought insurance, both emergency health and travel cancellation, well worth the $200 bucks if I have to back out of that $1000 ticket last minute or get stung by a "bluey" while snorkeling in the GBR.
I also booked the hostel in Sydney that I will be staying in when I first arrive, so that in my jet-lagged, sleep-deprived, tourist-newbie state, I won't have to use many critical thinking skills to locate a place to lay my bag and head.
I chose to book Base Sydney, which sounds pretty swanky, at least when reading comparisons to other hostels in the area. It's centrally located in Sydney, walking distance of the Opera House and Darling Harbour (yea, I'm spelling "harbour" with the -our now. Crikey, I'm just practicing, deal with it!)
Female guests receive free Aveda cosmetics (threw that in for Salley) plus free champagne at our Scary Canary bar (yes, the hostel has it's own bar, apparently lots do, major plus!). All beds have individual luggage lockers (another major plus!). It also has an internet café, a travel desk, laundry, a TV room, a guest kitchen and various chill-out areas. The hostel bar offers interactive entertainments, drinks offers and weekly themed party nights. Guests received a welcome drink at check-in. And they have free airport pick-ups for guests staying for 3 nights or more. So that's my free advertising for Base Sydney (discount?).
I'm now trying to plot out approximately when I will be in certain cities. I am trying to do so because I want to book some of the attractions that warned to book early, but in order to do so, I have to figure out when I'm going to be in that area. I am actually picturing tossing out my plans when I get down there (a truly horrifying thought at the moment, considering the hours I have already spent in these early stages carefully researching and deciding where to go and how.) I see me traveling randomly, around in zig-zags, squiggles, loops- not in the ordering circle around the country as planned. Then realizing I have to be in Alice Springs tomorrow for the event I booked 4 months in advance, I bid adieu to my travel companions and catch a hefty flight to the outback for my star-gazing session and local fare buffet... I am going to play most things by ear. Yes, I do have a plan, and general idea of when I will be in each of my 11 cities, if I follow the path I made. but I have left plenty of things open for changes in plans, feelings, etc.
Like I've said before, there is so much to wrap my head around. At least I've got the getting-there out of the way AND paid for!
The round-trip plane ticket has been purchased (departure Sept 8, return Dec 8), and frankly, it's both exhilarating and horrifying. I mean, I'm so excited, this makes it real, official, permanent, imminent. But to see $1010 dollars disappear instantly from your checking account with the click of a mouse, well, that is a little troubling. (Yes, I said $1010, and I know, that IS a fantastic rate for round trip tickets to the other side of the world!) Not that I'm having buyer's remorse or anything, but like the title of the blog says, there's no going back now.
Along with my plane tickets, I have also bought insurance, both emergency health and travel cancellation, well worth the $200 bucks if I have to back out of that $1000 ticket last minute or get stung by a "bluey" while snorkeling in the GBR.
I also booked the hostel in Sydney that I will be staying in when I first arrive, so that in my jet-lagged, sleep-deprived, tourist-newbie state, I won't have to use many critical thinking skills to locate a place to lay my bag and head.
I chose to book Base Sydney, which sounds pretty swanky, at least when reading comparisons to other hostels in the area. It's centrally located in Sydney, walking distance of the Opera House and Darling Harbour (yea, I'm spelling "harbour" with the -our now. Crikey, I'm just practicing, deal with it!)
Female guests receive free Aveda cosmetics (threw that in for Salley) plus free champagne at our Scary Canary bar (yes, the hostel has it's own bar, apparently lots do, major plus!). All beds have individual luggage lockers (another major plus!). It also has an internet café, a travel desk, laundry, a TV room, a guest kitchen and various chill-out areas. The hostel bar offers interactive entertainments, drinks offers and weekly themed party nights. Guests received a welcome drink at check-in. And they have free airport pick-ups for guests staying for 3 nights or more. So that's my free advertising for Base Sydney (discount?).I'm now trying to plot out approximately when I will be in certain cities. I am trying to do so because I want to book some of the attractions that warned to book early, but in order to do so, I have to figure out when I'm going to be in that area. I am actually picturing tossing out my plans when I get down there (a truly horrifying thought at the moment, considering the hours I have already spent in these early stages carefully researching and deciding where to go and how.) I see me traveling randomly, around in zig-zags, squiggles, loops- not in the ordering circle around the country as planned. Then realizing I have to be in Alice Springs tomorrow for the event I booked 4 months in advance, I bid adieu to my travel companions and catch a hefty flight to the outback for my star-gazing session and local fare buffet... I am going to play most things by ear. Yes, I do have a plan, and general idea of when I will be in each of my 11 cities, if I follow the path I made. but I have left plenty of things open for changes in plans, feelings, etc.
Like I've said before, there is so much to wrap my head around. At least I've got the getting-there out of the way AND paid for!
Saturday, April 3, 2010
The Year of the Kangaroo.
I ate dinner by myself last night. That in and of itself is nothing new, but I ate it alone in a sit-down restaurant. And not like an internet cafe type of place where everyone else there is alone too and playing on their laptops. It was a restaurant with cloth napkins and families and appetizers that are brought to the table when you arrive. I was reluctant to do this at first; I considered ordering what I wanted as take out and eating it in my car before a concert I was going to. But then I said to myself, "If you can't do this right now by yourself in Chapel Hill, how the hell are you going to do this for 3 months on the other side of the world?" I instantly decided there was no choice; it was time to experience the table for one.
It wasn't so bad. Once I got over the slight embarrassment of the hostess having to clear the other three settings off the table and the feeling that everyone in the restaurant was staring at me, the freak who can't scare up a dining mate, I didn't really notice anything unusual. The main difference was that the time spent waiting for your food, which usually seems insignificant due to conversation with others at your table, seemed more pronounced. It gave me time to think about how I might spend the rest of my life eating alone and living alone, which is not things that people typically like to ponder, especially before enjoying a meal. I did decide that letting my mind wander while feeling sorry for myself and about my table for one wasn't the best idea. So I survived the first experience, and I think it won't be so bewildering in the future. I know it seems like something small, but some people these days cannot stand to be by themselves at all. I know people who call other people on cell phones just because they have to drive or walk somewhere and don't want to be alone. And I realized my issue wasn't eating alone; it was worrying about what everyone else thinks. I love being alone. It is often time for reflection and meditation. I don't have a problem being alone, and many times, I prefer it. I suppose this is a good thing, considering I might only have a travel companion for a couple of weeks. If people can't stand being with themselves, how can they expect anyone else to stand them?
I'm very excited about this trip, and although I probably sound like a broken record to those around me right now, it's really all I want to talk about. It consumes a lot of my energy and planning and thoughts. It's a goal I have to work toward, which keeps me going. I know up until just recently, a lot of people didn't really take me seriously about going. But I think now that the passport has come in and I have a visa to get into Australia, they realize this is really going to happen. I spent a couple of hours on REI's website the other night, and it just made me all that more enthusiastic about the trip. Not only do they have tons of fun stuff like backpacks and boots and sock liners (which I didn't even know existed until that night), but they have a lot of articles on traveling, including checklists on what to pack and tips on traveling alone. The article on solo travelers was very empowering and just gave me that much more encouragement that I was doing the right thing. It made the point that I had been making that yes, I would be alone in another country and something awful could happen to me, but it is just as likely (and if you are judging by crime stats alone, actually MORE likely) that something awful could happen to me in my home country. And I think people underestimate how vigilant I am and will be. I am very aware of my surroundings, and will be even more vigilant since I will be somewhere less familiar.
My mantra this year has been simple: Australia. It's truly just that one word. I find that I say it to myself anytime I am doing something that is less than desirable, but in working toward that ultimate goal in September. I repeat it to myself over and over again when I want to give up. I often have that 9 letter word as my facebook status. It's what's on my mind now all the time. It's become an driving force and a necessary life sustaining element, like water, air, and food. It more than that though, it's soul inducing. It gives me a purpose and a meaning.
It's simple and pure and says it all: Australia!
It wasn't so bad. Once I got over the slight embarrassment of the hostess having to clear the other three settings off the table and the feeling that everyone in the restaurant was staring at me, the freak who can't scare up a dining mate, I didn't really notice anything unusual. The main difference was that the time spent waiting for your food, which usually seems insignificant due to conversation with others at your table, seemed more pronounced. It gave me time to think about how I might spend the rest of my life eating alone and living alone, which is not things that people typically like to ponder, especially before enjoying a meal. I did decide that letting my mind wander while feeling sorry for myself and about my table for one wasn't the best idea. So I survived the first experience, and I think it won't be so bewildering in the future. I know it seems like something small, but some people these days cannot stand to be by themselves at all. I know people who call other people on cell phones just because they have to drive or walk somewhere and don't want to be alone. And I realized my issue wasn't eating alone; it was worrying about what everyone else thinks. I love being alone. It is often time for reflection and meditation. I don't have a problem being alone, and many times, I prefer it. I suppose this is a good thing, considering I might only have a travel companion for a couple of weeks. If people can't stand being with themselves, how can they expect anyone else to stand them?
I'm very excited about this trip, and although I probably sound like a broken record to those around me right now, it's really all I want to talk about. It consumes a lot of my energy and planning and thoughts. It's a goal I have to work toward, which keeps me going. I know up until just recently, a lot of people didn't really take me seriously about going. But I think now that the passport has come in and I have a visa to get into Australia, they realize this is really going to happen. I spent a couple of hours on REI's website the other night, and it just made me all that more enthusiastic about the trip. Not only do they have tons of fun stuff like backpacks and boots and sock liners (which I didn't even know existed until that night), but they have a lot of articles on traveling, including checklists on what to pack and tips on traveling alone. The article on solo travelers was very empowering and just gave me that much more encouragement that I was doing the right thing. It made the point that I had been making that yes, I would be alone in another country and something awful could happen to me, but it is just as likely (and if you are judging by crime stats alone, actually MORE likely) that something awful could happen to me in my home country. And I think people underestimate how vigilant I am and will be. I am very aware of my surroundings, and will be even more vigilant since I will be somewhere less familiar.
My mantra this year has been simple: Australia. It's truly just that one word. I find that I say it to myself anytime I am doing something that is less than desirable, but in working toward that ultimate goal in September. I repeat it to myself over and over again when I want to give up. I often have that 9 letter word as my facebook status. It's what's on my mind now all the time. It's become an driving force and a necessary life sustaining element, like water, air, and food. It more than that though, it's soul inducing. It gives me a purpose and a meaning.
It's simple and pure and says it all: Australia!
Monday, March 29, 2010
Taking the first steps...
I decided several months ago that I was going to keep a promise I made to myself to visit/travel/live in Australia. I've tried to go about it from a couple of different angles, and I have decided to go on an extended trip (several months) rather than an extended stay (several years), for financial, logistical, and family-begging-me-not-to-go-at-all reasons. I found a 3 month visa that Australia offers, called an ETA. I'm not allowed to be employed during the stay, and apparently if I stay a day over 3 months, they are allowed to come and kick me out of the country. The timing is ideal, because I have been working for about a year and have been saving the majority of the money I've earned for the trip. The planning is really not an issue; I actually enjoy planning things, it's kind of a hobby. I'm getting more and more excited about the prospect of a 3 month trip around Australia.
After going looking at this from several different angles, I decided the best way to go, as far as seeing the country and paying a little as possible for lodging, would be to stay at hostels throughout the country. I will be traveling alone, with the exception of the couple weeks that Matt will be vacationing with me. Below is the planning I have so far:
Step 1: Passport.
I received my passport about a week ago.
Step 2: ETA.
An ETA stands for electronic travel authority. It's a temporary visa, allowing you to travel in Australia for up to 3 months at a time. It also allows you to return as many times as you want for up to 3 months each time, for a year. But you are not allowed to be employed within the country. And you have to leave after 3 months or they can arrest/detain you in Australia.
So now I have approval from both countries to go on the trip. I could leave anytime and go to Australia- it's such a liberating feeling! But I am planning on going on this trip between September and December this year. It will be their Spring (which means I will experience 2 springs this year, but no fall), and I will be back in time for Christmas (a must to get my family on board). Plus, by September, I will have nearly double the money I have now, so I will have plenty of money to fund the entire trip, as well as a nice nest egg for when I return.
3. The Plans.
I have decided I will be making a circle clockwise throughout the country and I have picked 11 prominent cities to visit. I will be starting in Sydney, then the train to Melbourne, taking a ferry over to Tasmania, next a train to Adelaide, a ferry down to Kangaroo Island, then a Greyhound bus to Coober Pedy, a flight to Perth, up to Darwin, next to Alice Springs, a flight to Cairns, last to Brisbane, and a train ride back to Sydney to return home.
Sydney- I will be starting and ending here, probably about 2 weeks total time. I will see the classic touristy stuff (the Opera House), but I am also considering ending the trip with a nice lunch cruise in the Sydney Harbour. In addition to the stuff in the city, there is a mountain range called the Blue Mountains where there is a famous rock formation called the "3 sisters."
Melbourne- I will stay here about a week and explore the city. There is a wildlife phenomenon know as the Phillip Island penguin parade that occurs nightly when the penguins return to the sea each night.
Tasmania-I will be taking a ferry overnight to go there and comeback, spending about 5 days there.
Adelaide-I will stay here around 6 days, I will tour the Barossa Valley vineyards.
Kangaroo Island- I will be staying here 5ish days, and will most likely be staying in the wildlife sanctuary.
Coober Pedy- This is the Opal capital of the world, and is definitely considered "Outback." The buildings in this town are built into the rock to save themselves from the intense desert heat. Depending on lodging, I might only be able to stay here a couple of days. Hostel looks booked up already, and hotel is pretty pricey.
Perth- Main city on west coast, home of the coastal wind phenomenon know as the Fremantle Doctor. They have good beaches, and I plan on staying 10ish days, depending on lodging.
Darwin-The main city in North, know for lots of Aboriginal History and wildlife. One attraction I will be visiting is Kakadu National Park.
Alice Springs- This is classic Outback. I am planning on going hot-air ballooning over the outback and attending a dinner of local fare (including kangaroo!), followed by a star-gazing session.
Cairns- This is another city known for the beaches, I plan on staying 10ish days. I will snorkel the Great Barrier Reef!
Brisbane- I will spend about a week touring the city before returning to Sydney and spending a couple more days there before my departure back to the US.
There are so many little details I have to keep in mind when planning this trip, such as power converters, travelers health insurance, and currency. But I am getting more and more excited about the trip and will continue to update this blog throughout the planning process and throughout the 3 month trip.
After going looking at this from several different angles, I decided the best way to go, as far as seeing the country and paying a little as possible for lodging, would be to stay at hostels throughout the country. I will be traveling alone, with the exception of the couple weeks that Matt will be vacationing with me. Below is the planning I have so far:
Step 1: Passport.
I received my passport about a week ago.
Step 2: ETA.
An ETA stands for electronic travel authority. It's a temporary visa, allowing you to travel in Australia for up to 3 months at a time. It also allows you to return as many times as you want for up to 3 months each time, for a year. But you are not allowed to be employed within the country. And you have to leave after 3 months or they can arrest/detain you in Australia.
So now I have approval from both countries to go on the trip. I could leave anytime and go to Australia- it's such a liberating feeling! But I am planning on going on this trip between September and December this year. It will be their Spring (which means I will experience 2 springs this year, but no fall), and I will be back in time for Christmas (a must to get my family on board). Plus, by September, I will have nearly double the money I have now, so I will have plenty of money to fund the entire trip, as well as a nice nest egg for when I return.
3. The Plans.
I have decided I will be making a circle clockwise throughout the country and I have picked 11 prominent cities to visit. I will be starting in Sydney, then the train to Melbourne, taking a ferry over to Tasmania, next a train to Adelaide, a ferry down to Kangaroo Island, then a Greyhound bus to Coober Pedy, a flight to Perth, up to Darwin, next to Alice Springs, a flight to Cairns, last to Brisbane, and a train ride back to Sydney to return home.
Sydney- I will be starting and ending here, probably about 2 weeks total time. I will see the classic touristy stuff (the Opera House), but I am also considering ending the trip with a nice lunch cruise in the Sydney Harbour. In addition to the stuff in the city, there is a mountain range called the Blue Mountains where there is a famous rock formation called the "3 sisters."
Melbourne- I will stay here about a week and explore the city. There is a wildlife phenomenon know as the Phillip Island penguin parade that occurs nightly when the penguins return to the sea each night.
Tasmania-I will be taking a ferry overnight to go there and comeback, spending about 5 days there.
Adelaide-I will stay here around 6 days, I will tour the Barossa Valley vineyards.
Kangaroo Island- I will be staying here 5ish days, and will most likely be staying in the wildlife sanctuary.
Coober Pedy- This is the Opal capital of the world, and is definitely considered "Outback." The buildings in this town are built into the rock to save themselves from the intense desert heat. Depending on lodging, I might only be able to stay here a couple of days. Hostel looks booked up already, and hotel is pretty pricey.
Perth- Main city on west coast, home of the coastal wind phenomenon know as the Fremantle Doctor. They have good beaches, and I plan on staying 10ish days, depending on lodging.
Darwin-The main city in North, know for lots of Aboriginal History and wildlife. One attraction I will be visiting is Kakadu National Park.
Alice Springs- This is classic Outback. I am planning on going hot-air ballooning over the outback and attending a dinner of local fare (including kangaroo!), followed by a star-gazing session.
Cairns- This is another city known for the beaches, I plan on staying 10ish days. I will snorkel the Great Barrier Reef!
Brisbane- I will spend about a week touring the city before returning to Sydney and spending a couple more days there before my departure back to the US.
There are so many little details I have to keep in mind when planning this trip, such as power converters, travelers health insurance, and currency. But I am getting more and more excited about the trip and will continue to update this blog throughout the planning process and throughout the 3 month trip.
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