Well I haven't posted in a while so I thought I would update everyone on what's been going on. As far as school is concerned, I've had 2 papers due and I have a midterm in 2 weeks...and that's about all that's been going on for that. Now on to the fun stuff. 2 weekends a go I went to Tangalooma resort, which is on Moreton Island, about 2 hours North of Brisbane. We had to be there by 7:00 for a 7:30 launch so we had to get up early. But taking this boat rather than the 10:30 one was definitely worth it. Once we got onto the island, Molly and I went parasailing, which was a blast! Pictures are on facebook. I don't remember how high up we went but you could see part of the reef from up top. No dolphins or anything cool like that but it was like being on a huge swing, it was so relaxing. Then we laid out for a bit, got a little sandy, then it was time for my massage! Ahh I've been needing a massage since before I left the States. Well it was only 45 minutes long, but it was totally worth it! The first thing the lady told me was that her specialty was deep tissue and I almost died! My favorite!! Well once the 45 minutes of heaven were up it felt like I had been massaged and exfoliated, thanks to the sand. Definitely ranks up there with the best massages I have ever gotten. After that Molly and I ate lunch and then walked down the beach to see the ship wrecks. I believe there are 4 different ships that separately were wrecked on the beach, either in a storm or because of mechanical malfunction. It looked pretty suspicious that all four of them were so close together but who knows what happened in the olden days. Once we got back from the walk we just laid out until 4, when it was time to leave. While we were waiting on the dock we saw this big fish jumping out of the water for no reason. Then it happened again but a little farther down the way. Then I realized that there was a school of fish just out in front of the big fish that were swimming FOR THEIR LIVES! But what was funnier was a seagull was flying after the bigger fish trying to get that fish for dinner. Food chain live in person.
Then a whole week went by and it was time for Byron Bay! For those who don't know Byron Bay is about 2 hours past Surfer's Paradise/Gold Coast. Karissa and I went down Friday mid-morning and met up with a few others later on that night. For the rest of Friday we just walked around, looked in the stores and then went to get dinner. That night we went out to the infamous Cheeky Monkeys, Rails, and Woody's. What a night! The next day we got up and went down to the beach and just laid out. The water was so warm and clear! Then at 2:00 we went for our sea kayaking adventure. And boy was it an adventure. To get out to the smoother water you have to get past the breaking point of the waves. We were the second ones to go out in our kayak. The first girls that went out flipped their kayak because they hit a wave sideways, but then they got past the waves and were fine of course. Then it was our turn. With me in the back and Karissa in the front me paddled out to where the breaking waves were and we didn't flip or fall in the water! We just got a bunch of waves dumped on us. But we made it. Finally the instructor and the other guy came out and just as they got past the breaking waves, they flipped their boat...for no apparent reason. We then paddled for the next 3 hours over part of the reef and huge waves! They weren't crashing on us but it was so rocky everyone was a little dizzy by the end of it. Well we didn't see anything! Not a dolphin, sea turtle, or fish! So we paddled back into shore and ate some cookies that the tour guide brought with him. But since we didn't see anything, we get to go back and kayak again for free! So hopefully we'll get to see them! After that the tour guide asked us if we could help him with the kayaks since there were only 2 guides there. So of course we said yes. But our kayak was so heavy we had to ask for help. When the guide tried to lift it he said it was heavy too so he turned it over to let some of the water out...no joke it took 5 minutes to dump all of the water out of the kayak. No wonder it was so hard to paddle!! So after our kayak was finished with its business I cared it the 25 meters to the walkway and then pushed it the rest of the way until we hit the sidewalk. Then Karissa helped me carry just a few more meters to the trailer. After that we got a drive back from one of the guides and we just relaxed and looked in the little weekend markets that they have until dinner. The market had some really cool vendors. One of them had candles that were deliciously scent, which I thought about getting but they were overpriced and what not. Another guy made jewelry out of coins. There was also a guy playing some music on his guitar and other instruments. Once we walked around we came back to listen to him a little more and there was the cutest little girl in a pink too-too stomping her foot and swaying around to the music. Once we was finished she clapped and just looked at him cause I guess she wanted some more music! After dinner we were both so exhausted I went back to the hostel and just fell right to sleep. Today we woke up, went down to the beach for a bit. Then we got on the bus to come home and we both passed out.
So that's what has been going on for the past 2 weeks. The only other thing I can think about is I booked my Easter Break trip to New Zealand for 7 days! I will update you on all of that break once it happens but until then hope everyone in the States is enjoying the winter :)
