Alot can happen in a week...

On the Whitsundays

G'day there!

So...alot happens in a week doesn't it??

I'll tell you whats happening right now, then i'll fill you in on the rest. Ok, so sit back and relax.

Today, I had to make my escape from Magnetic Island, as there is a cyclone coming today - and I didn't want to be stranded on the island, as I have a very busy week ahead. Funnily, all 50 other backpackers had the same idea, as the ferrie were going to stop in the afternoon, so we amazingly, all squeezed onto the bus to catch one of the last ferries going out. Phew! 

And I met up with Reggy - a girl I met on the Whitsundays trip, so now we are in Townsville, killing time before the cyclone hits today. And theres another one hitting on Thursday as well. Fantastic! (and don't tell mum and dad this - they will just worry!). So hopefully it won't stop my flight to Bali on Friday, as I'm trying to escape the crazy Oz weather...hmmm....

So anyways, before all this craziness, I was in the beautiful Gold Coast - and NOT at Surfers Paradise, I hasten to add. Me and Matt (my Aussie Cousin) walked around there and it's a weird place. Not my kinda thing. So I was lucky enough to stay with Matt and his family in Robina, which is a beautiful little place - and I was once again, well looked after, and had the special Matt guided tour!

And on the friday night, I got picked up by the lovely Dave, who I met in Peru - got taken out for dinner, drinks, dancing and a casino. Needless to say, it was a great night, with a bit of a heachache in the morning! And I got treated by Dave to allsorts of Australian type things, like pies, lamington and Tim Tams - oh my god, they are MUCH better than penguins - I have been sold!!

 And my plans changed over the weekend so I was able to stay for The Big Day Out! This is a one day music festival in Oz, and I have always wanted to go - it was soooo much fun!! Highlights were Plan B, the giant inflatable Owl, lots of Gin, seeing lots of cool Aussie bands and of course, hanging out with Dave.

AMAZING DAY.

So, I was sad to leave the Gold Coast, and meeting friends and family has now made me fall in love with Australia, after all my moaning about it and sad about leaving South America, I am finally sold. Too bad that I'm leaving next week then.

Guess I'll just have to come back :)

Muchos love, always and forever xxxx

Happy Australia Day!!

a listy and lizardy one...

just wanted to say, that as i am writing this, just saw a MASSIVE lizard roam the streets outside.. crazy.

anyways, just a quick one:

i am very jealous of all the boys backpacks. they are small and compact. and jealous of people with wheels...oh my god, such a great idea. i will never take a backpack again.

Things i miss from south america:

alfajoras
dulche de leche
empanadas
fried street food from bolivia
bon o bons!! (my absolute fave!)

Things i miss from home:

marmite
good cheese (particularly goats cheese)
beans - although i finally had beans on toast!! its been 4 months...
mums lasagne
dads curry
reading festival - even though its not on yet, I CAN'T WAIT!!

and i miss everyone!!

ok so im off to visit matthew and his family on the gold coast, so sleep well and i'll speak to you all soon.

muchos love xxx

One for the ladies...

Girls of mine, I am very sorry to declare that the mission has been abandoned. It's just no good out here.

For those who are uninformed of said mission - a few friends of mine decided (pretty much for me!) that I was to come back from Australia with an Australian husband (or suitor) and to already be carrying his child.

I was always a little sceptical of this plan - it just didn't sound like a great idea. But I can now announce that it's definately NOT happening, for the sad truth is ladies, we have been deceived.

The Australian men are not all golden, buff with sunkissed locks. They wear vests, board shorts and even if they are good looking, they know it. Thats not an attractive quality.

But, surprisingly, the nicest guys I have met on my travels so far, happen to be English. Would you believe?!? You come all this way to meet nice English guys. Typical.

So for the ladies at home, there is hope. I think all the nice English guys are just travelling, that explains alot huh? But they will come back to the UK and all will be good again.

Also, more travel tips from a girls perspective...

You just can't wear make up out here - its too hot, it just melts right off your face. I recommend a mineral powder based foundation - nice, light and a life saver!! So it's possible to look a little less sweaty in this insane heat!!

And you just miss wearing heels - so bring a small, compactable pair that go with everything. I miss that - you try and dress up out here, but your always in sandals..not as glam as it could be...

And you will get beach girl envy. Inevitable. You just hope that these surfer style girls, with tiny bikinis and super slim bodies are just holding it all in as they swan down the beach. We can hope.

And take some tips from my lovely Racheroo - bring lots of pedicure type instruments - you will not regret it!! Especially Nivea cream - where would I be without it now? An actual life-saver for my feet.

So an actual update on what I'm up to at the moment... leaving Byron Bay tomorrow to go to Surfers Paradise and stay with some family for the next few days. Hoping to catch up with Dave, who I met in Peru, in Brisbane, but have to see how that goes as they've still got serious flood issues over there. Sunday I fly out to Airlie Beach to do the Whitsundays - on a pirate ship!!! Tres excited about that!! Then magnetic island for a few days and Cairns - where this will be the last stop on my Oz trip. I'll just have to come back with a bag of money and when the weather is better.

So literally just been on the beach and swimming in the pool the last few days. Went out to Cheeky Monkies on Saturday night, where the goon was a flowing, and the tunes were a pumping, and come sunday, the hangover was definately hanging in there! But we still managed to walk around the Byron Bay market - which is a major hippie fest (always reminds me of macca!!). But nice to be in a place where there's no judgement and everyone is so chilled out.

Just what I needed.

So hope you're all well and all that!

Keep you updated soon.

muchos love xxx

Tassie Tales and Fears of the Flood

So, my current location is Byron Bay, Australia, which is a cute and chilled hippie town. Where people wear rainbow dresses and walk around with no shoes. Where there are actually golden blonde Australians who can surf. Its a cool little place.

Anyways, so I really enjoyed Tassie - was amazing to meet Gemma, her partner Fluffy and the kids Joshua and Jacob, they are the sweetest boys - they remind me of our Max and Jack! And Gemma reminds me of a very Australian version of my  mum! They really must meet one day.

So I was very well looked after - being wined, dined and champagned pretty much everyday! Went to Port Arthur for the day to see where all the convicts from the UK were sent. This was really interesting as its a part of our history that we don't learn about, I guess because England wasn't very proud of what they actually did. They basically used to send all the convicts that they didn't want in the UK, over to Australia where they lived in prisons and were made to build ships, builing etc - kind of like slave labor. Except for a lot of people, their crime was petty - like stealing a loaf of bread to feed your family. That kind of stuff.

I also went to a couple of exhibiton openings, hence my face in the paper: 

Tassie News Pic

NOT - my face literally stuck to the paper whilst out drunk, like some people thought...tut tut! Seriously guys, what do you think I'm doing out here?!?  ;)

So yes, now in Byron Bay, deciding what and how I'm acutally going to manage my trip - as Queensland (the north east state) has had major floods - some places up to 9 metres and lots of people have died. So that's quite scary and that is supposed to be where I'm heading - even Brisbane has been flooded now (good thing you got out Jo!). So my new plan is to whizz up super quick in the next few weeks, have a few stopovers and do the Whitsundays - as I was told that I HAVE to do it by a few people - so I'm going to do it on a pirate ship!! Awesome!!

So now I have moved my flight out of Oz to the 4th Feb to go to Bali - save myself a few weeks and an absolute fortune! Will do as much of east indonesia as possible, before meeting Jess (yay!!) to do Bali and the Gillis, and then Sarah and Maccas wedding - super exciting!!

So lots to look forward to, which is good, as I wasn't sure on Australia when I first got here. It reminded me too much of home, which then made me miss everyone, especially as I was sad to leave south america and all the friends I made there. I guess I'm just looking for something very different, interesting and challenging, which isn't Australia, as it so easy to travel.

I also feel old here. Everyone travelling here is super young.

So thats the plan, hopefully the rain will stop so the floods will go away and we can spend some more time on the beaches.

Thats all for now, as I realise I have used the word 'so' to start my paragraphs 6 times in this blog - I won't bore you anymore.

So goodbye for now!! ;) muchos love, as ever xxxx