Fiji

So I still don't know whether or not I like Fiji or Bali better...but they were both amazing

We got to Fiji pretty late and had a rocky start. STA travel didnt give me a confirmation number for our Hula Loop Tour and they booked accommodation for us for the first and last night, but when we got there the Hula Loop tour company had no idea what we were talking about. Our names were on the list for the tour so that was a relief, but we had to find a hostel for the night. We got a shuttle to the Nadi Bay Resort hostel and arrived pretty late. It wasnt too bad...we shared a room with 5 other people (2 English guys right out of high school and 3 other girls that we didnt even talk to). Anyways, we basically just went to sleep because we were being picked up early the next morning by our tour bus.

Once the tour actually begun we felt a lot better about traveling by ourselves in a third world country, since it was just me and Brittany. The first day we went to Natadola Beach for a picnic lunch of lamb sausages and BBQ chicken. It actually wasnt bad! Then we went to a village where we had to wear a surong and shirt covering our shoulders. This was actually really cool to see how basically everyone in Bali lives. There is a huge open field area in the middle of the village where no one is allowed to play because it is where they make their sacrifices. The chiefs house is the one that is highest off the ground. The dont really have any furniture in their houses, or doors really. After the village we went to the Sigatoka sand dunes, which was cool but I have been sandboarding already. Mango Bay was out hostel for the night, which was better than the first hostel. The actual hostel was really nice, with an AMAZING view we got to watch the sunset). When we got there the hostel had a Kava ceremony for us. Kava is a drink that numbs the body haha. The first bowlful we had made our tongue and throat tingley and numb...it was wierd! But the drink is pretty gross. They crush up a Kava root, put the power in a cloth, and soak it in water. If you have ever wondered what a tree tastes like...this is it! After that we pretty much just had dinner, hung out a bit with the group, and went to bed. 

The second day was by far my favorite! We went on a hike through the Namosi Highlands. It was a really muddy, wet, hot hike but soo worth it. It was actually pretty strenuous, walking through streams, up slippery muddy slopes and through trees with spiders in them! Just before the end of the hike, we came out of the trees looking down on this valley with a huge river at the bottom! It was breathtaking! Our camping crew would have LOVED it! :) (dont worry dad...I took some cool videos just like you :) After the hike, we got to go tubing down the Lavua river! It was soo fun! We stopped at a small waterfall on the way home where we got to swim a little and take pictures. The Uprising Resort hostel is where we stayed that night. Since it was our last night and we didn't have to wake up early the next day, we got a little crazy! The hostel actually put on some games for us to play (there were like 20 of us in the tour) and one of the cross-dressing employees (his/her name was sasha) did a little hula-type dance for us. It was pretty cool haha. I brought my cards out and we played an American drinking came (which is called something else in England but is very similar to our version). We all bonded that night and just hung out by the bonfire at the beach. Being with all of these people really made me want to travel all over the world. There were 3 girls from England traveling together who had already been to Cambodia, Thailand, and many other places. There was one girl from Germany traveling by herself, a guy from Scotland by himself, a girl from Wales by herself, and a whole bunch of guys from England by themselves, but they all became friends throughout there travels. I dont know how they are all traveling by themselves...i could never do that haha. But I really want to get out and see the world!

Fiji was a totally different experience from Bali. Every hostel we stayed in didnt have air conditioning and it was soo hot all the time. Brittany and I were ready to get back to Australia and take a real shower and wash our clothes...but it is definitely an experience I will never forget!

Bali

Im finally done with my papers! yay!...so here is the break down of my trip

When we got to Bali it was pretty late so we didn't really do anything. We got to the Ramada Resort in Benoa Bali and it was beautiful! It had a huge pool right outside our room with cabanas and a pool bar! We got up in the morning for our complimentary breakfast and hung around in the pool (because it was soooo hot) until everyone was awake and ready to go walk around the beach. We walked along the beach for a couple hours, stopping for a quick 10 dollar parasail haha. There were people trying to sell us all sorts of stuff all over the beach...we actually started a fight with 2 parasail guys (oops). On the way back to the hotel we stopped at the Circle K convenience store and bought some Bintang (balinese beer) for the night. When we got back me, Megan, and Shannon got massages...which were amazing! After that it was happy hour at the pool bar, so we hung out there and met some cool people.

The next day we hired a driver named Putu (which was also the name of the bar tender haha) to take us on a tour of Bali. First he took us by a jewelry shop and then to an art shop where we hard core bargained and got some good deals. Then we went to a buffet lunch at the Mt. Batur Volcanoe. It was a bummer because it was cloudy and rainy so we couldn't see the volcanoe that well, but the Indonesian buffet was really good! After that we headed to this place where we got taste a whole bunch of different kinds of coffee and tea. I bought some really yummy coffee called Ginseng. We ended the night with a Kecak fire dance. I was really excited about watching the Balinese dancing...it is crazy how they move their hands haha.

The next day we called Putu again to take us around some other parts of Bali. We started with another Borono and Kris Dance, which was cool but not as cool as the first one. Then we went to this place called Ibu Oka and ate suckling pig for lunch! It was actually really good...my favorite part was the intestines haha (but seriously...they were really good). We ate sitting on the floor with our shoes off and everything! Then we got to go to a monkey forest! These monkeys were really friendly and crawled all over us (I wasnt a huge fan but i had to let at least one monkey climb on me for a picture haha). They were all picking each others butts and eating each others bugs...it was gross. The one that climbed on my head was looking for bugs in my hair haha (i hope he didnt find any...or else he probably left some in there). After this Putu took us to the markets in Ubud, where the best bargaining happened. Although me and Megan lost the group for a little while and found out we really suck at bargaining haha. Last but not lease we went to Tanah Lot Temple, which is out in the water, and we got to watch the sunset there. It was gorgeous!! All the girls got matching henna tattoos :) Putu took us to our next accomodation, which was an amazing Villa! We had a private pool, 3 bedrooms, kitchen, outside TV/lounging area, and a dining area! And it had air conditioning! It was sooo nice! We ended up with Bintang and Ramen noodles for dinner, cuz thats all we had haha.

We slept in the next day...enjoying our Villa experience. Spent most of the time at Kuta beach, and then had a sunset dinner in Jimbaron bay. The dinner was actually really good....we shared a whole bunch of sea food and were totally stuffed!

The next day was my, Brittany, and Megans last day in Bali. It had a slow, relaxing start, and then we called Putu for one final half day tour. He took us to the Uluwatu cliffs to watch the sunset. It was totally amazing! We watched the sunset from the top of a huge cliff, looking sideways at a temple in the short distance, and we were surrounded by monkeys playing haha. It was magnificent. Then Putu took us to the airport and we hopped on the red-eye back home just to race to the apartments to switch clothes, race back to the airport, and get a plane to Fiji. Indonesia is a beautiful place, and I would definitely go back there.

Papers

So my papers are slowly coming along. I am so anxious to tell you all about my travel to Bali and Fiji and post pictures!! But I have to concentrate on these papers haha....as much fun as that sounds :) My last paper is due Wednesday, so after that I will post everything.

One and a half down, one and a half to go!!

Bali and Fiji (short version)

Hey everyone! I am finally back!

I had the most amazing time in Bali and Fiji! Met a lot of cool people and saw a lot of cool things! It was so different from what I am used to and I am so lucky to have an opportunity like that. I will go into further detail later because im totally swamped in schoolwork right now, but I can't wait to tell you my stories! Love you!

Cairns

I just got back from Cairns and I have 24 hours until I leave for Bali so I thought I would post a message before I leave.

Cairns was so fun! I was afraid that it was gonna be kinda boring since I have already been there but it TOTALLY wasn't boring!! 

So Laurie, did you go to the Great Barrier Reef? YES! and I got to Scuba dive this time...twice! It was so amazing! I want to get certified now.

Did you go white water rafting? Yup! and we all got to go swimming and then we went "surfing" and almost everyone fell out of the raft! haha...Jon lost a shoe (but its ok cuz they were rented), Brittany almost got eaten by another raft when it sucked her under, and I lost my paddle, along with everyone else except for Dave, Liz, and Shanna falling out

Did you see a super cool Cassawary bird that is really rare to find! Ya....it was so cool! huge bird with colorful feathers and this horn-looking thing on the top of its head.

Did you get to see dolphins swimming in the ocean? You bet...and we were just standing on the beach hanging out.

Did you get to go SKYDIVING? Heck ya I did! haha it was so awesome!!! I was gonna wait to tell everyone until I posted my video for you all to watch but I just couldn't help myself. And I had to jump out of the plane first...it was terrifying! But so fun haha...I will post pictures as soon as I get them.

It was a super awesome weekend and there is much more fun to come!

Easter Break

I am packing and getting ready for Cairns, Bali, and Fiji! I am so excited! I can't wait to tell you all about it! I bought an extra memory card for my camera because I am such a picture junky haha. I don't get back until the 26th so there won't be another post for a while but as soon as I have time when I get back I will fill you in. Happy Easter everyone! Love and miss you!

Total visit breakdown

Fun times in the Zoo

Meat Pies!

We look exactly the same in this picture...and it caused us to miss the bus haha

Bridge Climb

So here is what me and Melissa were up to this week...

When she got here at 6:30am Sunday, we went straight to The Rocks Markets, which is kinda like a flea market, and walked around; shopped a little. Then we went home and got ready to go to dinner with my Australian friend Anthony and his friend. Dinner was nice, we went to a place in Manly beach, basically right on the water.

Monday I went to class in the morning and we went to the pool for a little bit. Then we were supposed to go to a small rugby game, missed the first bus by like 2 minutes and decided to try and make it anyways. We got completely lost on the way there and once we finally made it we stepped out into the pouring rain and the game was already halfway over so we decided to go back home. It took us forever to find a bus that went home because I had never been in this part of town before so I didnt know how to get home, still raining by the way. There was this crazy lady that was on every bus we were on, even on the way home. It kinda creeped us out and we thought she was following us, because she would walk away in one direction and show up walking from the other direction haha.

Tuesday was the bridge climb! It was amazing! We walked around the city during the day before the climb and it was raining so we were soaked. We wanted to take a tour of the Opera House, but we couldn't even go inside without paying for a tour so we opted out of that and just looked at it from the outside. The climb was at night so we got to see the city lights and all the cars going by under the bridge. It was beautiful! It was actually raining while we were up there but you couldnt even tell because of all the lights. When we got home after the climb it was already 930pm so we made microwave chicken nuggets for dinner :)

Wednesday we went to feed the Kangaroos and the aquarium. It was pretty cool...the kangaroo feed was kinda lame but im glad mel got a chance to do it. Wednesday night we were a cute married couple and made dinner for each other. It was so funny! But very yummy. We went out in Epping that night which was fun and laid back...not too late of a night.

Thursday I had class all day so Melissa bummed around my apartment until we went to Darling Harbour for a nice dinner at this place called Adria, where Melissa could legally buy a drink :) Then the girls met up with us and we had a girls night out at Cargo Bar, but since it wasn't a busy night we just had a couple drinks and headed home before midnight.

Friday was finally sunny! so we got to go to the beach, where melissa turned into a lobster haha. We went to Manly with my friend Megan and hung out for a while, walked around the shops and took the ferry home. Friday night we went out in Coogee at this place called the Palace with my driector Dave. We was excited to meet Melissa and, since he has already met mom, wants us to come back when the weather is actually nice haha. Friday was a late night but super fun! The whole group came out with us and got to hang out with Melissa.

Saturday we made a big married couple breakfast of ghetto-looking waffles, eggs, and toast. Then I took Melissa to the airport and came back home to do homework. It was a super fun week! but pretty exhausting. Now Im back into my normal routine until Cairns, Bali, and Fiji for break this weekend!