We are now in location three of our five stop vacation. It has been a lot of nonstop action, and I cannot wait to get to Sydney, where we will do what we want, when we want to do it, without having to worry about waking up early for tours.
Our plane does not leave until 1 pm tomorrow, so we will get to sleep in and get some much needed rest before we leave the red center for the hussle and bussle of the big city.
Our first stop was Cairns, where we did several things. First of all we took a train to the city of Karanda, where we did some shopping and Mike and I got to hold a Koala. We got some great pictures! Then after that, we went to an Aboriginal cultural center, where we learned about a tribe of Aboriginal people. I forget which tribe . . . when I have my paperwork, I will let you know what it was.
Then we went to see the Great Barrier Reef. Mike and I took a snorkel trip that was guided by a marine biologist which was awesome, but a bit of a let down once we got in and the lifeguards informed us that a dolphin had been following us out there and we hadn't noticed! The reefs are beautiful. It is nice to see so much wildlife in the ocean. It is amazing to think that basically everything I saw there was actually alive.
Our second stop was in Alice Springs. Where there is nothing. Literally nothing. Wait, not nothing. There was a mall. That was it. We stayed in our hotel resting and watchign movies, because the next morning we had to check out by 630 and be on a bus that took us to Ayers Rock.
The ride was nice, but I had already seen so much outback countryside on our trip that I slept most of the way. We took a tour around the rock itself, and then we got to watch it at sun down. It was great! For dinner Daddy and I bought some meat (including crocodile!) and cooked it on a barbeque here. Mike just had pizza . . . boring! But he wasn't feeling all that good so I guess I will cut him some slack.
Today we went to another one of the rock formations, and will be having an Aussie barbeque at sunset at the other rock formation. They will be feeding us kangaroo, crocodile, and emu, which should be interesting!
I will try to check back in at least once more before I come home. Once I am home, count on a much more detailed account of our adventures, complete with pictures!
Miss you all! Can't wait to see you in a week! *insert me jumping up and down excitedly*
Friday, June 25, 2010
Sunday, June 20, 2010
O Kate, when you return
Of your travels we will learn
Of how much you were burned
Of whether there were ferns (were there?)
Though we already know much
Because of technology and such
It means more to touch
The kangaroo you're bringing me for example.
And Skype it's so grand!
Seeing people in distant lands.
Pixels smaller than sand,
But still just Pixels, oh man!
When you're back in the States
All your friends will celebrate
You will set up lunch dates
And declare, "My name is Kate!"
KATE is indeed her name.
The woman of towering fame,
Though many are named the same
Only one is true KATE (I exclaim!)
This was a poem written by Carolyn Lusch and sent to me for my birthday. I just thought I would share it with you as I leave Perth for my next adventure. Less than 24 hours before I see my daddy and brother in Cairns.
I don't know if I will be able to con my dad into paying for internet, so you might not be able to hear from me until I am back in the States on July 4th. But I shall try to keep you all updated, and if not, I will post blogs about my final adventures, including from this weekend, which I got to spend with Tyler.
Signing off until we meet again,
Kate
Of your travels we will learn
Of how much you were burned
Of whether there were ferns (were there?)
Though we already know much
Because of technology and such
It means more to touch
The kangaroo you're bringing me for example.
And Skype it's so grand!
Seeing people in distant lands.
Pixels smaller than sand,
But still just Pixels, oh man!
When you're back in the States
All your friends will celebrate
You will set up lunch dates
And declare, "My name is Kate!"
KATE is indeed her name.
The woman of towering fame,
Though many are named the same
Only one is true KATE (I exclaim!)
This was a poem written by Carolyn Lusch and sent to me for my birthday. I just thought I would share it with you as I leave Perth for my next adventure. Less than 24 hours before I see my daddy and brother in Cairns.
I don't know if I will be able to con my dad into paying for internet, so you might not be able to hear from me until I am back in the States on July 4th. But I shall try to keep you all updated, and if not, I will post blogs about my final adventures, including from this weekend, which I got to spend with Tyler.
Signing off until we meet again,
Kate
Saturday, June 12, 2010
I think it's time . . .
I'm ready. I've had my fun, I've met a lot of fun people, but I'm ready to come home. I'm ready to have McDonald's breakfast again. I'm ready to sleep in my own room (though I got a new bed while I was gone). I'm ready to hug my father goodnight every night. I'm ready to have movie dates with Andi. I'm ready to celebrate Kathryn and Jeff's engagement. I'm ready to celebrate Matt and Sara's marriage, though I missed the wedding. I'm ready to give my nieces and nephews huge hugs and shower them with the presents I bought while I was away.
I feel like I've missed so much since I left. It's weird because subconsciously you almost expect a pause button to be pushed when you leave for a long period of time. You expect that everything will be the same as you left it when you return.
You don't expect to look at pictures of your cousin's children on Facebook to discover that the baby you left at home is no longer a baby. You don't expect your best friend to get engaged while you are gone. You don't expect your family to still get together for holidays without you.
It is going to be an adjustment coming home. I realize that while it still seems strange to me now to have them there, it is going to be strange to not have grocery stores in malls. It is going to be strange to drive on the right hand side of the road. It is going to be strange to be able to go shopping after 5 and on Sundays. It is going to be strange to have everyone I've come to love on the other side of the world instead of just a stone's throw away.
People have begun to leave, and it is a strange feeling because I know that I will not see most of these people again for as long as I live. I hope to return to Australia, and if I do, I'm sure I will see some of them. But what of those who live in Sweden, or Norway? Will I actually make it to France, as Tyler and I have planned, or will I never see my French friends again? I suppose only time will tell.
One thing is for sure. There IS one friend I am going to see again. And I will see him soon. Tyler is coming down from Karratha on Thursday and staying with me until I leave.
And it doesn't end there. Since he had to drop out of uni, he has managed to work several jobs that have allowed him to save enough money to come and visit America in December. He'll see large amounts of snow for the first time, and I'll be reminded of the awesome semester I had.
The semester I wouldn't trade for the world, even if I am ready to return to the good old U S of A.
I feel like I've missed so much since I left. It's weird because subconsciously you almost expect a pause button to be pushed when you leave for a long period of time. You expect that everything will be the same as you left it when you return.
You don't expect to look at pictures of your cousin's children on Facebook to discover that the baby you left at home is no longer a baby. You don't expect your best friend to get engaged while you are gone. You don't expect your family to still get together for holidays without you.
It is going to be an adjustment coming home. I realize that while it still seems strange to me now to have them there, it is going to be strange to not have grocery stores in malls. It is going to be strange to drive on the right hand side of the road. It is going to be strange to be able to go shopping after 5 and on Sundays. It is going to be strange to have everyone I've come to love on the other side of the world instead of just a stone's throw away.
People have begun to leave, and it is a strange feeling because I know that I will not see most of these people again for as long as I live. I hope to return to Australia, and if I do, I'm sure I will see some of them. But what of those who live in Sweden, or Norway? Will I actually make it to France, as Tyler and I have planned, or will I never see my French friends again? I suppose only time will tell.
One thing is for sure. There IS one friend I am going to see again. And I will see him soon. Tyler is coming down from Karratha on Thursday and staying with me until I leave.
And it doesn't end there. Since he had to drop out of uni, he has managed to work several jobs that have allowed him to save enough money to come and visit America in December. He'll see large amounts of snow for the first time, and I'll be reminded of the awesome semester I had.
The semester I wouldn't trade for the world, even if I am ready to return to the good old U S of A.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Where are the monkeys????
After a bit of driving, and a bit of rain, we landed at the last stop on our trip. Monkey Mia. Now please don't ask me why it is named as such. I have no idea. There were no monkeys anywhere. But one thing was certain. It was gorgeous.
Beaches made it fun. However, the fact that we got to set up the tent on grass made it amazing. They had kitchens that we got to cook our food in, and running water. We took the first real showers we had had all week, and got to go to the grocery store. I got my fix of Thai Sweet Chili chips, and we truly felt like we had reentered civilization.
There was a fridge to cool off the beer, which made some of us happier than others (I don't drink beer . . .), and there were a lot of activities.
First and foremost, the dolphins!!!!
While they are wild dolphins, the park rangers still fed them three times a day. Actually, Becca got to feed them, since it was her birthday when we were there.
Speaking of Becca's birthday, we decided to make her work for her present. We sent her on a scavenger hunt all over the resort, until she finally ended up in the bar, where we were waiting for her with drinks in hand. Well, they were waiting. She needed me to help her work out the last few clues.
We spent the last night of our trip in style, taking many pictures and making memories.
Here are some of the pictures:
I feel kind of bad for Terry . . .
Yay for two girls from Michigan State!
And finally, Terry and I recreating the dramatic rescue in the gorge. We can laugh about it now. You know, since I didn't die.
The next morning, we left again at 5 in the morning, and came back to Perth. We were back here by late afternoon, and cleaned the car and aired out the tent.
I knew my life here wouldn't be the same. First of all, there was no Tyler anymore, since he had to move back to Karratha. But mostly, it was because I changed over that trip. The stars didn't seem as bright, but I appreciated everything around me more.
Despite some drama and disagreements along the way, I wouldn't change a thing about the trip. It was perfect.
Beaches made it fun. However, the fact that we got to set up the tent on grass made it amazing. They had kitchens that we got to cook our food in, and running water. We took the first real showers we had had all week, and got to go to the grocery store. I got my fix of Thai Sweet Chili chips, and we truly felt like we had reentered civilization.
There was a fridge to cool off the beer, which made some of us happier than others (I don't drink beer . . .), and there were a lot of activities.
First and foremost, the dolphins!!!!
While they are wild dolphins, the park rangers still fed them three times a day. Actually, Becca got to feed them, since it was her birthday when we were there.
Speaking of Becca's birthday, we decided to make her work for her present. We sent her on a scavenger hunt all over the resort, until she finally ended up in the bar, where we were waiting for her with drinks in hand. Well, they were waiting. She needed me to help her work out the last few clues.
We spent the last night of our trip in style, taking many pictures and making memories.
Here are some of the pictures:
I feel kind of bad for Terry . . .
Yay for two girls from Michigan State!
And finally, Terry and I recreating the dramatic rescue in the gorge. We can laugh about it now. You know, since I didn't die.
The next morning, we left again at 5 in the morning, and came back to Perth. We were back here by late afternoon, and cleaned the car and aired out the tent.
I knew my life here wouldn't be the same. First of all, there was no Tyler anymore, since he had to move back to Karratha. But mostly, it was because I changed over that trip. The stars didn't seem as bright, but I appreciated everything around me more.
Despite some drama and disagreements along the way, I wouldn't change a thing about the trip. It was perfect.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Away from the Red, onto the Blue
We got up super early once more and drove for the entire morning. Our destination? Coral Bay. This was our second to last stop on our journey. The weather was gorgeous and the prospects of the ocean and beach made it less bittersweet to leave the national park. It was definitely easier to unpack the tent than it was to pack it up, so packing the "boot" of the car was interesting. But we successfully got on the road before the sun was up. The traveling went well, except for a slight b ump in the road that took the form of a speed radar that caught us in the middle of no where going 40 km over the speed limit. On a holiday weekend (which Easter Monday still counts as here in Oz), that resulted in a 700 dollar fine. I'm incredibly thankful that I was not the one driving.
We arrived to cloudless skies and perfect weather at about 1 pm. We sun bathed, read, snorkeled, and ate fresh fruit that we purchased.
We debated between camping there or finding somewhere on the way to our next stop, and decided to camp on the way. We drove for a couple of more hours, and found a side of the road campsite. It was the first place we found where we were allowed to have a campfire, which was nice. The only problem was that we had no wood. So Mallory and I went about finding some kindling, and Terry and Elizabeth went in search of stuff that would burn for a long period of time. Between the four of us, we managed to get a decent campfire built, and were able to cook our pasta over the fire.
Instead of wrestling with the tent again, we slept out under the stars, looking forward to the next day and the promise of dolphins at Monkey Mia.
We arrived to cloudless skies and perfect weather at about 1 pm. We sun bathed, read, snorkeled, and ate fresh fruit that we purchased.
We debated between camping there or finding somewhere on the way to our next stop, and decided to camp on the way. We drove for a couple of more hours, and found a side of the road campsite. It was the first place we found where we were allowed to have a campfire, which was nice. The only problem was that we had no wood. So Mallory and I went about finding some kindling, and Terry and Elizabeth went in search of stuff that would burn for a long period of time. Between the four of us, we managed to get a decent campfire built, and were able to cook our pasta over the fire.
Instead of wrestling with the tent again, we slept out under the stars, looking forward to the next day and the promise of dolphins at Monkey Mia.
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