1. Clinton has to listen to old school punk music (NOFX, the Vandals etc.) to study

2. Laura asks me to french braid her hair.

3. They listen to me freak out about the world attacking me every day.

4. Right now, Laura is yelling instructions at Clinton on how the beat the Super Nintendo game Donkey Kong.

Laura: “Clinton!  Don’t jump up and get that coin… DoN’T!  ….. I told you… Now you’re dead……..watch out for the fish….!!!!…………………………………..  You’re done……… …………………DON’T JUMP!  yOU moRON!!!!  …….You wouldn’t have done that in Mario….”

Clinton: “Yes I would have”

Laura: “Well, I’m not gonna die.”

Clinton: “Yes you will.”

Laura: “No I won’t… the only reason I died last time is ’cause I wanted you to have a turn for once….”

This continues for about an hour.

“Now save it…. we don’t ever want to beat that world again.”

These guys, are the best.

Music: Where the Wild Things Are soundtrack- Karen O and the Kids

I am blogging because I am trying to write more important things.  So what does one do when they are supposed to be (responsibly) filling out University applications?  Same thing one did when they were supposed to be writting essays in Undergrad days or studying for tomorrows exam… ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING THAT IS UNRELATED!!!

Like: clean, write emails to people you haven’t talked to in ages, take dogs for walks, make three course meals, stretch.. blog!

Actually, it’s been a really good experience trying to write these essays and sum up my experiences into Why I Want to Be a Teacher, and Why They Should Pick Me.  I’ve learnt that my essay writting skills have gone to crap and that I can’t formulate proper paragraphs.  Also that I already hate being in school again, even though I’m not sure if I’m even getting in.  It’s especially awesome that I had to pay $300 to do this.  Oh… AND, I’m reminded that “…at York, 6000 people apply and 600-700 get in…”

I also learnt today that crying is easier than trying.

Sigh… no, I didn’t cry… but I did want to curl up in fetal position and have someone make it all go awaaaay.

So, i made a plan; this week, I am M.I.A.  Since getting back about a month and a week ago, I am everyones lunch/coffee date, I am booked solid every weekend and every minute, and i am sleeping on many different couches (or blowup mattresses that don’t stay blown up).   How does a girl get her essays done?!?!  She doesn’t… that’s why it’s November 9th, and i’ve barely started (everything is due December first… not so bad right?  Wrong… applications were available to start on in September… babooong).

GOOD SIDE TO EVERY STORY.  So, my references are Japanese people, my old Manager and my dear old friend Nami.  I emailed them to remind them to get those letters to me asap.  When i got home from work I had two emails from the new Amity teacher, Mallory Gleason (my replacements, replacement… really awesome girl that contacted me before she started for some Toyama info…) who needed all my info because both Manager and Nami were freaking out and didn’t understand my crazy scattered email.  So here is Mallory, a girl I have never met before, telling me not to worry, that she will proof read everything and make sure everything is done properly, westerner stamp of approval.  HOW GOOD AND NICE ARE PEOPLE?!?!  SOOOO good!

On a last note… perhaps some of you are interested in some things I have found shocking since my return… here it goes!

1. My friends like being bitter.  It is my goal to make them 50% happier.
2. Canadians are so nice and you can strike up a convo with anyone (no matter what my bitter Torontonian friends have to say)
3. Cheeeaaap musssicccc!!!!!  I missed that
4. Tim Hortons now has espresso and different flavours for their iced caps
5. starbucks has creeped its way to almost every block in toronto.  so have sushi restaurants… starting to look like Vancouver, Toronto…!!
6. Canadians are so polite.  Instead of saying hi, we basically apologize to one another.  “I’m sorry!” “I’m sorry!” ‘Me Too!”
7. HALLOWEEN RULESS!!!!  CANADA’S WONDERLAND RULES!!!!!  (don’t forget it!!!!!)
8. The “chip” card.  I was blown away that australia was ahead of us on that…
9. Toronto went So Green!!!!  Yay!!!!
10. Between the ages of 23 and 25, 3/4 of your friends will get engaged, and/or move in with their significant other and/or have a baby (basically do really adult things, while you sleep on their couch).

Alright… enough procrastinating.  If I don’t get in, this here blog post will be evidence of my downfall.

Why I’m amazing….

Music: In For the Kill- Le Roux

Dear blog–

What?

I’m sorry.

Ya, so what.  You get home and suddenly you’re too cool to blog?

Well…

No.  I don’t want to hear it.  Don’t you think that there are people out there that still want to know what you are doing, even if you are back in Canada??

Not really–

Don’t be a fool.  We’ve got a mass following here.

No, I don’t think there is.

There is.

There isn’t.  Now that I’m back home, I can just tell my friends all the random stuff that happens to me to their face… not through you.. blog.

So what.  Is this the end?  What about your friends in Australia?  What about your friends in Japan?  What about those bored out of their skulls intergeeks that stumble on random blogs.  What About Them??

Alright alright… it’s not the end… it’s just less frequent.  I’m busy you know.

With what?

Well, I got a job, like pretty much immediately since returning home.  Full time… that hasn’t happened since Japan!

Fair enough.

And people!  I have to catch up with so many people!  And see them all the time cause I missed everyone like crazy!

Face to face is better than blogging….

I know, right?!

Well… so… what else have you been up too?

When i got home it was Oktoberfest, so I had plans to go to Concordia club lots and hang out with old friends from high school.  I spent a lot of time with Lyndsay Nicholson.   Jess flew back home for her mothers wedding.  I saw January’s baby for the first time.  Definitely spent a lot of time hugging him.

So with all that business in Kitchener, I had to go to Toronto a lot since apparently, Toronto is the new Guelph and that’s where everyone is living these days.

Toronto eh?  No more Guelph?

Still love Guelph, went there to party with Erik, but Toronto is definitely where it’s at for the moment.  Especially since i want to apply to U of T and York U for teachers college for next year.

Teachers college?

Yah, man.

You have grad school applications to work on too?

See!  I AM busy!

Yah… you sound kind of busy… but, too busy for blog?

Nah, i guess not that busy.  I’ll make sure to make a few updates every now and then.

Thanks, man.  I’m glad we could work this out.

Me too.

So, anything you realized you missed about Canada?

Everyone is so nice in Canada.

Really?

Yah, we’re all so super polite.  It’s awesome.   The weather is great too… when it’s sunny.  It’s really nice to see Canadian trees again.

Trees?  You missed the trees?

Yes.

You would.  So where are you living now?

I’m staying with Clinton and Laura in Toronto at their place… till you know, I get sorted out.

Ah!  Clinton and Laura?!  Amazing!

I know!  They are amazing!  I love staying with them.

Where are you working?

haha… You’re gonna laugh.  At the holiday inn!

The Holiday inn???

I know, i know… but I LIKED working for them before.  Plus, you make loads of tips serving, and you and I both know that I definitely need money.

Plus, it leaves my days free to volunteer.  Remember that teacher I met in the rainforest in Australia?  He is hooking me up with a volunteer position at his school.

Sounds like you’re only gonna get busier…

I will.. but I promise to find time for you.

Swear?

Definitely!

Alright… i forgive you…

Thanks!  Gotta go though!  No hard feelings?

naaah….bye!

No one can possibly know how going home in 9 (NINE?!?!?!) days is making me feel.  Nine days after two years, one month and one week of being away from the homeland.  AAAAAAA!!!!!

It’s weird to think that I’ll have more clothing than what is in my backpack… that I don’t have to eat in restaurants anymore for every meal, that I won’t be waking up everyday wondering where I am, what adventure I’m going to go on today and… what’s that smell…?

I’m reeeallly pumped to see everyone though, and believe that I may possibly die of overexcitedness (yes, I know that that is not a word… but, psychologist make up words all the time for the way someone feels, so I can too).

I’m in Bali at the moment, an Island in Indonesia.  We just left Sumatra after hanging out in the jungle and visiting the local Orang Utans.  Seeing the Orang Utans in the wild was absolutely mind blowing.  I’ll never forget my first time seeing beautiful, furry, bright orange, monkey people swinging around the trees with baby orang utans holding on.

I’ll also never forget looking up and seeing one poo on me.  So… if having a bird poo on you is meant to be good luck, who put the gold horse shoe up my ass?  Orang Utan poo?  Luckiest girl alive, aren’t I?   BTW, Orang Utan poo smell reeeeally sticks to the skin.

Before that, the crew and I were in Lake Toba… a beautiful crater lake that used to be a volcano thousands of years ago.  Before that, we were on the looooongest journey ever from Malaka, Malaysia to Indonesia.  Actually, over 24 hours of Indonesian people sized bus travel… waaaah, my knees .

Who is the crew these days?  I’ve got Ashleigh, Stew, Kyle (friend from Japan, who is from California), Wei Wei (English girl we met in Railay, Thailand) and Anna (another Brit that Ash met in Vietnam).

We’re having a great time together… especially last night when we found ourselves on the streets of Kuta, Bali at 12:30 am last night (which is when our twice delayed plane landed) with absolutely NO place to stay and absolutely NO options. Yes, exactly like the Virgin Mary and Joseph.  No room at the inn.

Apparently it’s a huge Ramadhan holiday at the moment, and everything has been booked solid for ages.  We’re on top of things, aren’t we??  Once 3 am rolled around, two shroomed out Aussies rocked up and had a good laugh at our story and our choice of street side accommodations.  They (as Aussies do <3) took us in to their (fully planned and well booked ahead) hostel and literally gave us one of their two rooms for the night.

It made me miss Australia and Aussies so much.  They did this all out of the kindness of their hearts… and maybe a bit out of their drunken state of mind… when we all know we have the best ideas.

We got about 2 hours of sleep and at 8 am spent two painful hours searching for hostels.

No worries!  We found a room for all of us in the end and it’s probably one of the cleanest, nicest rooms I’ve been in in a long time… toilet seat, toilet paper and HOT WATER. Hot Water??!?  I haven’t had hot water since Australia!!!  THAT’s what $4 a night in Bali gets you.  (Seriously, I am genuinely happy when I get toilet paper with my room.  And a bathroom that doesn’t make me wanna vomit).

Alright readers, I’m heading back into the hectic Bali world and will see most of you in just a short while.  Surfs up, bras.

xoxox

Music: We seem to be listening to a lot of Sublime and Hoy Chip.  ‘Laiiiid baaack.’

So, last you heard, i was walking around Melbourne, soaking in Australia.

Things have changed!  I caught a flight to Bangkok to meet Ashleigh and Stewart and Kyle and start a bit more backpacking before heading home. 

We’ve done:

Southern Thailand.  Highlight: Railey, where we met awesome people and swam five days in a row.   (Also, seeing Katrina and Jason in Bangkok again was amazing.)

Malaysia. Highlight: Deciding to leave early and go to Indonesia instead.  I do really like Malacca, which is where I am at the moment.

Tomorrow, we catch a boat to Indonesia to surf our brains out.   We’ve also adopted two English girls who were travelling solo, and now much prefer to be with some awesome Canadians.   We had kidnapped some Californians for a few days, untill they realized they were on their anniversary and ought to get back to that.  We did lose Kyle though, to a meditation retreat, where he cant talk for ten days.  I would fail after five hours, I think.

I can’t seem to find the time to blog properly… so this is all you get!  Just know i’m having fun, and i’ll see Canada in 20 days!!

Music: Little Shadow (Acoustic) – Yeah yeah yeahs

I sadly leave the blue mountains.  I’m terribly excited for Melbourne, though.  There is nothing that can compare to going to a new city, getting on a plane and changing scenery.  I’ve finally even gotten used to taking planes.  Total piece of cake.

I’m excited for Melbourne for a few reasons:
1. EVERYBODY who has either lived in or travelled Australia talks about how amazing Melbourne is; and those who
know me, tell me how much I’ll love Melbs.  Something about the cafe and arts culture….??
2. New Couch Surfing Hosts who like nicknaming people after animals and who enjoy fun facts and people.
3. Road trip with Ben (my new Bff, in case you didn’t know…more about ben in a future post)
4. Coffee
5. Art

Great first signs.

I meet a Kiwi on the bus.
He takes me towards the direction I need to go.
I get lost.
I get new directions.
I get on a tram
I avoid paying because i’m a foreigner.
I meet Panda, one of my three hosts.
I meet Walrus, a Floridian (??) also couch surfing.  I then meet Turtle and Giraffe, two English also couch surfing.
In walks Seal.  These hosts really like hosting.  Good.
I am Sea Horse.  Is it clear why?  Wolf Cub, who has never even met me, except through what he can imagine from
texts and emails has pinned me Sea to the Horse.
There are remains all over the house of other surfers: funny hats, stolen signs advertising sausage rolls and soft drinks, remains of previously nicknamed surfers by their animals frozen in plastic positions, random signs with unintentionally provacotive messages, christmas lights and items to place on mantels.   I got the warmest sleeping bag on an 80’s vynil couch in the dining room.

Sunday morning: MELBOURNE!!!!

Breath in the sights (it’s cold!), walk along the Yarra river waterfront, gaze at the unique architecture and monster size bees on buildings. Visit art museums with exhibitions on Dali, Len Lye, Pompeii, and Space.  Eat street sushi and walk down the upbeat and funky Brunswick st, Chapel St, Toorak St and really, every other street in Melbourne.

Sunday, Monday and Tuesday were three days, spent on foot, discovering the hidden alleys of Melbourne and trying a new little cafe’s coffee every day while staring at the colourful grafitti; I walked through numerous parks, I looked at new architecture and old architecture and took photos of both.  I ate at small little vegetarian Hare Krishna places, I stared out at the ocean from the boardwalk.  I met awesome and motivational new people and chatted with them over cups of tea on comfy couches and schooners of beer in bars with great atmospheres.

My besty from Brisbane, Ed, came to see me for my last weekend in Melbourne.  He is more into ballin’ it in hotel rooms, so I got the glories of sleeping on a King size bed and heating.  I had a good time showing him what i knew of Melbourne and catching up and sadly saying a second goodbye.  Bye lil’ Ed.

The minute Ed left, I had a phone call from another Brissy mate, Matt.  He was down in the south visiting family and invited me over for a big family dinner.  His Uncle had lived in Canada and was happy to treat a Canadian to dinner.  (I LOVE PEOPLE!!!!)

I met Matts family and died of happiness!  They reminded me of how, even though within a family we can all be
so different, at the end of the day, you’re a family and that’s all that matters.  They were loud and happy and I had plenty of people to talk to and meet.  Matt even had some cute older cousins haha.  Matts uncle made me poached eggs on toast in the morning… how could a day start any better??

I <3 Melbourne.

music: Swagga like us- ft. Kanye West, Jay Z, lil wayne) T.I

I’d gotten what i could out of Canberra (read: drank all the wine the city could offer), so I decided to catch a ride with
Vanessa to Sydney as it was a free lift out of Canberra.  Since I’d been to Sydney a few times already and wasn’t too interested in throwing my money at their clubs and shops, I decided to spend a few days in the yet unvisited by me
Blue Mountains.  I made this decision last minute, so the night before we left (Wednesday) I quickly booked a flight on the Saturday night from Sydney to Melbourne and emailed a fellow couch surfer to see if his couch was free to be surfed upon.

It was; he called me Thursday afternoon to say that he could indeed host me and show me the best spots to hike around  the Blue Mountains.

(Couch Surfing?   To answer your questions, it’s a facebook-like website, where travellers around the world offer places for people to crash a few nights, to meet up for a drink, or a bite to eat.  It’s a good way to get to see a different side to the place you are visiting and meet locals, rather than backpackers.  Backpackers are cool, but they know just as much as you do about the local area.  Furthermore, with couch surfing, you are less likely to fall into the expensive tourist traps…)

(Blue Mountains?  This is a national park a few hours out of Sydney, with some of the most beautiful mountains filled with great hikes, great sights and a chance to be out in nature).

(Why was Vanessa going to Sydney?  You might not care… but the answer is funny!  To see a live performance with her mother of… wait for it…wait for it… DR. PHIL!!!  Heeheehee.)

I talked to Brett (my host) and he owns a few shops, one of them being in Katoomba, the town I was staying in.  When
I got to Katoomba, after a beautiful train ride, that slowly went up too 3000 feet above sea level (Australia gets cold up here!!!!) with a beautiful view of the red cliffs that are the blue mountains (they’re blue from far away… true story), I dropped my stuff off at his shop and headed out right away to get the most out of the day.

There was a short (but beautiful) hike where I got to see the epic Three Sisters, and a look into the valley, where about two weeks ago, a British boy was found after 12 days of being lost in the forest.  Note to self: don’t wander off the track and bring cell phone.  The bushes were dence and huge… not the type of place you wanna play hide and go seek with yourself.

I met Brett later that night, after he was finished work.  He picked me up and we headed to his beautiful place on top of hill.  We got to know each other over a few drinks (go figure) and then, him and his mates took me to a Korean
place for dinner where we shared a couple bottle of wines over some kimchee.  AFterwards we headed to a local pub for some (…many) drinks.

I woke up the next morning, after a night of numerous bottles of wine and numerous shots of tequila.  I was super keen to go on my previously planned 7 hour hike, through the National park.  I wanted to hit up the sights and struggles of the Wentworth trail and the National Pass.  I’m pretty sure Brett was amazed at my stamina… he kept reassuring that I was ok.  Pfftt… wine and tequila?  Nothing Lindzy can’t handle (I will need a double espresso of course).

I spent the day hiking and loving it.  Guys, It was absolutely beautiful.  The pictures don’t do it justice (unless I had a camera like Ben Vellas… Ben!!!!  I’m not right next to you!!!)

Before I had even reached the Wentworth trail, I was already pretty tired from the National Pass hike, and going around in circles for a good hour, untill a friendly jogger pointed me in the right direction for the Wentworth trail.

“Experienced walkers only.”  The sign read… Now, what is that supposed to mean?  I’ve been walking for about 24 years now… does that count?  Sounds like a dare to me!  (always keeping the britsh backpacker in mind…)

I set out on a steep walk down through gorgeous waterfalls and rocks and rivers, which brought me to a thick, but
still decently marked trail.  The deeper I went in, the more the idea of snakes (and how Australia has all of deadliest, RIGHT HERE!!) kept crossing my mind.  Somehow that 4 hour bit took me 2 hours… fear makes you faster i guess!

That was untill I got to the “Slack Stairs”.  Just cause something says ’slack’ doesn’t mean it’s easy.  I have never climbed so many stairs in my life. I had to stop a couple of times for a little tea break.  Again, the sights were beautiful, but if i ever see 2000 stairs in a row again… *shake fist*.

The day was  a success (note: when rereading this post to edit and I saw this statement, I laughed to myself and
thought: “Pffft, my LIFE is a success.”  True story.)  ESPECIALLY when my host brought home his hilarious roomate
and friend, and a huge order of curry takeout that they insisted I eat some of.

I finished the night off with some hilarious Australian television programming: Summer Heights High.  A  mockumentary and possibly the funniest show i’ve ever seen. Next stop: Melbourne!!!

(Note: I did talk to Brett after my 7 hour hike, and apparently he couldn’t keep up with this (moi) master drinker.
AFter one hour of having his shop open, he had to put a “Be Back at 11:30″ sign on his door, so that he could
take a nap in the back and sleep off the tequila… weeeaaaak).

Music: I got a feelin’- Black Eyed Peas.

Next stop on the list: Canberra.  Now normally people backpacking through Australia skip Canberra… it’s kind of this random city in a valley sandwhiched between Melbourne and Sydney.

It’s also the nations capitol.

I know, i know, you’re surprised.  So are Australians when i tell them that Canada’s capitol is not Toronto… or Vancouver… or Montreal… or Seattle…(It’s Ottawa in case you forgot…)

To be fair, I assumed Sydney was Australias capital.  Why in heavens would it be Canberra?  I’ll tell you why.  Back in the day, Melbourne and Sydney were fighting over who was better than the other, and who deserved to be the Capitol (soooo Australian…), so they decided just to find a place in between the two to settle the argument.  Seriously.

So here I am.  Even after every Australian outside of Canberra told me I was crazy to go, that it was cold, boring and an embarrassement to Australia.

Well, it’s not that bad.  It’s actually really nice and beautiful.  Plus, my friend Vanessa (who came to Guelph on exchange in first year) lives here.  Nothing better than a classic Guelph reunion!

After the 30 degree weather of the Daintree rainforest, I was a little shocked to walk around 10 degree weather.  It was nice though, crisp, clean, refreshing, and the trees were actually losing their leaves… something I haven’t seen in more than a year.

Much to everyones surprise, I have had a blast in Canberra.  Vanessa and I have had a great time catching up, sightseeing (there is so much to see in the city: museums, wineries, Parliament…), drinking heaps of delicious wine (Canberra is known for its Shiraz), footy games and meeting V’s friends.  Also, a friend from Japan lives here, Seiji, and even though he had swine flu the whole time, I did finally get to meet up for lunch and meet his super cute and sweet girlfriend Steph.

Canberra=Success

Still a happy traveller.

So, remember the movie FernGully: The Last Rainforest?  Cute animated movie from the early 90’s?

Yah, that’s pretty much where I was for a month.

Yes, I saw magical fairies.

Nat and I (for old times sake… and it being cheaper) took a two day train from Brisbane to Cairns early one morning.  It was a loooong train ride.  I was excited at first… a chance to see beautiful Aussie scenery and make brief stops in tiny towns on the way up, just to be able to say i’d been.  (Step out of the train, “Wooo!!  I’ve been to Bundaberg!”  Three hours later…. “Woo!!  I’ve been to Tully!!… anywho, you get the point.)

For two days, heading north, the scenery doesn’t change much.  Just in case you were wondering.  Dry land with brown grass and lonely skinny trees for hours, then sugar cane fields for hours (with that terrible mollases smell…).

Anyway, we finally got to Cairns, and I’m really excited to stretch my legs and walk around.

“How long is the drive from Cairns to the Daintree?” Me, excited to finally be out of a 3 by 10 cell.

“About two hours.”

Waah wah waaaaaaaaaaaah.

So two hours later, a ferry ride across a croc ridden river and a extremely windy drive through the middle of a forest we finally made it to… the pub.

Yes the pub.  The meeting place of Cow Bay.  Where everyone knows your name… and everything else about everyone else.  It’s where all the locals go and drink bad Australian beer and smoke hand rolled cigarettes after a long (actually …short…they don’t have much work ethic up here) day of work.

Natalie and I stayed with Nats dad, Chris, his partner Kerry and her son Cody, in Kerry’s extremely beautiful balinese style house at the end of a dirt road, surrounded by the beautiful trees of the rainforest.

The Place

Once you pass the river (that yes, does have crocodiles in it…one kid has been eaten… beware!) you are in the rainforest.  Unfortunately (for the animals and the soil) there is a long (recently) paved road that runs through it, beginning at Cow Bay and finishing at Cape Tribulation. Unfortunate for nature, but lucky for us tourists.  After the ferry, you come to Cow Bay first.  I like to think that the heart of Cow Bay is the tea farm.  It’s the only organic tea farm in Australia and it’s a family run business.   The fields of deep green tea surround a hill.  At the top of the hill is a beautiful house where my favourite residents of Cow Bay live.

My first full day there, I went to the top of the hill to meet Babe.  That’s not her real name, but once you meet her, you’re just like, yah!  Babe!  She is this fabulous, bubbly, positive, upbeat woman who is so encouraging and insists that everyone “Rock on!”  (This one time, I went to the school to pick up her little ones with her, and as soon as she stepped foot on the school playground, kids started surrounding her and hugging her “Hey Babe!  Hi Babe!”  Once we’d collected Ben and Eva and were walking out the gate, the school children all shouted, as we left “Rock On Babe!!!”  hahahah!).

Anyways, if you keep heading north from the tea farm, you pass a few restaurants (one of which I worked at, serving tourists their burgers and milkshakes and kangaroo and teaching Americans where Toronto is and meeting Australians who know where Kitchener is and meeting Canadians that had job offers for me for when i get back ) and come to the road where Kerry lives.

Interesting thing about the rainforest, if you live there, your house has to be green or brown and can’t be seen from the road.  This is the same for the resorts that run along the road further up; so that when you drive along the road, all you see is trees to your right and left and trees growing up above the road, creating a beautiful green tunnel.

This place is absolutely beautiful.  Second day: Beach.  Oh my god.  The beaches.  They are absolutely breathtaking.  This is where I meet Shorty.  Cow Bay’s favourite grandpa.  He’s an older man, a Vietnam vet, who has retired to the rainforest, and spends everyday (actually, EVERYDAY) on the beach, drinking VBs.  Only VB.  From when the sun gets up to when it goes to sleep, Shorty is drinking VB, working on his tan and taking walks along the beach.  (If it’s raining, he goes to the pub).

The rainforest is a whole other world.  The people that live there, live in a certain isolation.  The only connection is Telstra (I’m Virginmobile, so i had no reception for over a month) and the only good internet is at a few of the backpackers (first time i used the internet i had to walk 2 hours and pay $10 an hour).  Even the residents admit that you have to be pretty unique to live up there.  I spent time with some of them, Babe, Will, Adam, Ed and Simon, and they were all definitely unique.

The People

Will was a young guy in his early 20’s and I was shocked that he chose to live up there.  After asking if he gets lonely (there are about 5 people in their 20’s in cowbay…if that…), he replied that he enjoys solitude and has his two dogs for company.  Will had this huge property full of gardens and trees and an open house… the only covering was the mosquito net on his bed.   There was a funny outdoor toilet and shower, and from the house you could hear the waves from the sea. He enjoyed good coffee, card games and smoking his bush pot, so we got along well.

Simon was cool, and i met him on the beach one afternoon, when we were all sitting around a campfire, drinking and smoking funny bush pot (i might as well warn you now, there was a lot of ‘funny bush pot’ up here).  His kids, Oscar and Tilly, were the cutest kids of all and Simon was super friendly.  We hung out a few times, and he would make me fresh salads from the stuff we would pull from his gardens and give me bowls of ice cream with fresh passion fruit on it.

Ed was a quiet guy with a boat.  We also got along well.  He would often find me sleeping on the beach or walking towards the beach, and then would take me out on his boat.  His house was full of aboriginal arts and crafts and he always made me drink too many strongbows.  He loved having me around, cause I’m a really good fisher.  I don’t want to be, but I just am.  I guess fish know that I’m not there to harm them or their home.  (I did eat one of the fish i caught, and ended up being sick that night… then i took another chance, tried the fish again a few days later, and was sick again… i get the point, Universe, and I’m sorry!).  He took Nat and me out on his boat for a two day trip to the reef, it was amazing and nauseating.  For a few days after I could hardly walk straight.

Adam was a guy in his 30s who had a job helping his friends run their resort/restaurant.  He is originally from Melbourne, but moved up to help out his buddies.  Adam would pick me up in the mornings and take me for walks along the beach with his dogs, where we would go crocodile hunting (we really did see crocodiles).  He drove me into Cairns a few times.  He goes their often because his partner lives there.

The Atmosphere

Everyone here loves a little solitude.  They all live on their lonesome on these huge properties and the only way to get power is to run generators.  I could go on and on, talking about the craziness of this place, but my word count is already ridiculous.

The Daintree is quiet, and I got to do a lot of thinking, writing, reading, walking and time on my own.  It’s nice to be in a place where you are constantly surrounded by beauty.  I enjoyed my job a lot; it gave me a chance to converse with people and keep myself from going crazy.  The people that owned the restaurant were awesome too.  If it got too busy, they gave me a XXXX (beer) and the chef made me delicious meals everyday.

I could seriously keep telling stories about my time up North.  I feel like I have barely said anything.  If you’re interested, we’ll sit down and chat about it, cause I’ll be home in TWO MONTHS!!!!

Music: Ben- Michael Jackson (RIP)

I checked the ol’ blog, and I was definitely surprised that the last time I wrote was at the beginning of June!  Holy Crow!  I’m getting bad at these updates.  I’m even getting bad at updating my own personal “for my eyes only” diary.  Things probably won’t improve when i hit the road again.

That’s right kiddies, tomorrow morning I head north on a train with my partner in crime, Natalie.  Wee!

But first, an update.

June.

June was AWESOME.  The beginning was Nats birthday.  Her birthday is june 4th, which, in Australia, is the beginning of “winter”.  I went up to the Sunshine Coast to surprise her with champagne and birthday hats, and we showed those uni students how to party.  The next day, we lounged on the beach and went to a local fish and chips shop for lunch.  Some might say it was perfect.  Well, at least i do.  Whenever i’m on the coasts of Queensland, it just blows my mind how lucky aussies are.  Every day, no matter what time of the year it is, unless it’s raining, you can head out and take a gorgeous stroll on the beach and even go swimming.  Totally paradise.

We drove back down to Brisbane that day to find out that our old mates, Tom and Rich (of Thailand and of Sydney) were travelling up the coast and would be reaching Brissy that Sunday for a classic Aussie Sunday session.  It was great seeing the guys again.  I love when people bring up memories of our travelling days in Asia, and its always nice to do it over a *coughcough* few drinks.

We took the guys out and about in Brisbane.  It’s a pretty nice city to walk around for the day, especially taking the boats along the river and walking through the parks and the waterfront.

We also went to the famous Steve Irwin zoo.  GREAT zoo, people.   Absolutely gorgeous!  Such a great, animal friendly zoo.  Little emotional seeing pictures of Steve Irwin, but at least his wife and children are carrying on his legacy.   We even caught a glimps of Bob Irwin (the little one).  The day at the zoo with the animals is probably one of my top ten days in Australia.

This time it was a REAL goodbye with Tom and Rich.  I have no plans of bumping into them in the next few months.. and definitely no money to go to England.  One day boys.. one day.

Last week was Tamara, Hayley and my super awesome two days in Sydney.   We went down for the State of Origin on a plane early wednesday morning from the Gold Coast.  We celebrated with Champagne on the plane and as soon as we dropped our stuff off at the backpackers, we headed into the beautiful city of Sydney.  Or more specifically, Tams favourite pub, The Lowenbrau.  Only eleven am, and i was already drinking down a litre of beer.

We ended up chatting with the only other people in the pub… four older males who took a liking to us, and invited us over to their penthouse.

Their penthouse suite… 18th floor of the Mantra, downtown Sydney.

Heck yes!

So we did.  We partied in a penthouse suite before the game, where the boys supplied us with all the drinks and foods we could ever want, and invited us over after the game.  The game itself was awesome.  Such a good atmosphere being in a huge sold out stadium of 80 000, surrounded by people drinking, high fiving, yelling and having a good ol time.  Partying all night in the penthouse wasn’t shabby either.

We spent the next day in Sydney, walking around the beautiful city, touching the opera house, taking a boat ride around the city and laughing about how lucky our night was.

Now it’s the end of June, and i’ve just had my last weekend in Brisbane.  I obviously partied with Tamara and Ed, my two besties here in Brisbane and had a delightful goodbye with Narelle (my coworker) and her family as well as the rest of my coworkers on my last shift.  Natalie was able to make it down for the weekend too, so saturday night was mayhem.

I’m really excited to leave and start travelling again, but really sad to leave Brisbane.  Its been a good home for the last 4-5 months and I’m going to be sad to leave my adopted brother Lachlan, sister Kaitlyn, mom and dad, Sharon and Laurie.  I can’t imagine not spending a day at Tam and Ed’s house, or seeing my coworkers again. . booo.

Today i got some good news though…. Tamara is coming to Canada!!!!!!  She bought her one way ticket yesterday and I will be picking her up in the Toronto airport on December 17th!!!!  (Oh, btw, mom… there will be an extra head for Christmas.)  I’m really excited for Tam to come and join me in Canada, and super keen to get into all the winter sports, since it will be like, her second time seeing snow!  Woo!

So now I’m off to the North, to visit Nat’s dad in a place called Cape Tribulation.  No power, no cell phone connection, no city.  So long city life!  Catch up with you all in a little less than a month! xoxoxo