So I've been on the most amazing island for 5 days and it couldn't be better. The food is super cheap and so good and the word is the most amazing blue I have ever seen! Basically been doing nothing for the time I've been here. Biked around the island, went snorkeling yesterday and met up with friend I haven't seen in a while!
One of the coolest things is they have these mini huts on the beach where you can watch any movie you want as long as you buy $3 worth of food or drinks! And they also have a bigger screen where they play newer movies where you can relax. All about relaxing over here!
Sinus infection is gone which is good. If I get sick again I'm coming home!
We have two more nights here then back to Bali for two nights then we fly to Jakarta for one night then to Singapore! A few nights in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur then we're in Thailand! Never thought I'd do this much traveling in my life.
That's about it to update for now.
Here's some links to where we've been just to give you an idea of how amazing it is!
http://www.bountyhotel.com/
http://www.gili-paradise.com/
Miss you all!
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
Bali!
Wow... two weeks have gone by! Not sure if people are still reading my updates but I'm gonna keep writing them!
So much has happened. Went to the Fraser Islands and ended up having amazing weather! Lake Mackenzie was beautiful! It's one of the top 10 beaches in the world and it's a lake! Turqoise blue water and such nice water! Did a lot of 4x4ing the whole weekend. Went to another lake where we had to trek through sand dunes to get there.
Day after we got back we had to make a 10 hr drive to Airlie Beach! No rest! Then the next day we went on our 2 night sailing trip. Unfortunately another cyclone was coming in so we had a huge rainstorm on the first day of sailing. It was crazy. We were all sitting on one side of the boat in wet suits and rain jackets hanging on for dear life! Weather cleared up but still cloudy for the few days there.
Next we went to Townsville and then Cairns where we swam in another Lagoon cus there was no beach!
Started to feel really sick and got my malaria pills for Thailand and some Codene for my headache pain. Turns out I have a sinus infection and we had 3 flights in two days!
Now we are in Bali and I love it!!! First day we got here was their New Years so we weren't allowed to leave their hotel but no worries since we have two pools with swim up bars and cheap drinks! I got a 2.5 hour spa package which included a one hour massage, facial and manicure for only $27!! Best massage of my life.
Today had to go to the doctor to get meds. If I get sick one more time I'm going home! It's costing too much lol Just got back from a 5 hour tour of South Bali. We had our own private tour and went to Dreamland a really nice beach. Perfect for surfing! Then we went to a temple and saw a traditional dance done which was really interesting to watch. No music but 70 guys chanting! Then we went to see this cool statue then had a seafood dinner on the beach! Never done that before.
Tomorrow we are heading to the Gili Islands which are supposed to be amazing. Doing that for 7 nights then coming back to Bali. It all seems to be happening so fast! I definitely love it here more than Australia. I needed a change in culture and definitely got it.
Hope everyone is doing well at home!
So much has happened. Went to the Fraser Islands and ended up having amazing weather! Lake Mackenzie was beautiful! It's one of the top 10 beaches in the world and it's a lake! Turqoise blue water and such nice water! Did a lot of 4x4ing the whole weekend. Went to another lake where we had to trek through sand dunes to get there.
Day after we got back we had to make a 10 hr drive to Airlie Beach! No rest! Then the next day we went on our 2 night sailing trip. Unfortunately another cyclone was coming in so we had a huge rainstorm on the first day of sailing. It was crazy. We were all sitting on one side of the boat in wet suits and rain jackets hanging on for dear life! Weather cleared up but still cloudy for the few days there.
Next we went to Townsville and then Cairns where we swam in another Lagoon cus there was no beach!
Started to feel really sick and got my malaria pills for Thailand and some Codene for my headache pain. Turns out I have a sinus infection and we had 3 flights in two days!
Now we are in Bali and I love it!!! First day we got here was their New Years so we weren't allowed to leave their hotel but no worries since we have two pools with swim up bars and cheap drinks! I got a 2.5 hour spa package which included a one hour massage, facial and manicure for only $27!! Best massage of my life.
Today had to go to the doctor to get meds. If I get sick one more time I'm going home! It's costing too much lol Just got back from a 5 hour tour of South Bali. We had our own private tour and went to Dreamland a really nice beach. Perfect for surfing! Then we went to a temple and saw a traditional dance done which was really interesting to watch. No music but 70 guys chanting! Then we went to see this cool statue then had a seafood dinner on the beach! Never done that before.
Tomorrow we are heading to the Gili Islands which are supposed to be amazing. Doing that for 7 nights then coming back to Bali. It all seems to be happening so fast! I definitely love it here more than Australia. I needed a change in culture and definitely got it.
Hope everyone is doing well at home!
Friday, March 13, 2009
First and Second Week of Road Trip
Wow. I cannot believe it has already been almost a month since I last wrote! So much has happened.
I managed to ship about 75% of my stuff home. Definitely overpacked!! It was a pretty good price for getting it in 3-4 months to home!
So here is a rundown of what I have done in the last 10 days.
ROAD TRIP!
Day 1: Drove to the well known spot of Hunter Valley where all the wineries are and had a wine tasting. Had a few drinks!
Day 2: Continued on to Arawara where we stayed in a cool little cabin right on the beach! Meeting so many Canadians along the way!
Day 3: Drove up to Byron Bay and did a day trip to a town called Nimbin. This town is known for it's drugs for "medicinal purposes" .. of course... and we had a nice bbq and visit to a waterfall before heading to the town of Nimbin. Kinda a sketchy place if you ask me! It's funny how many people you meet along the way that you have already met!
Day 4: This was a fun day! Did some kayaking with dolphins! It was amazing. They swam up to 10 feet away from our kayaks. Did some snorkeling too. Still was in Byron Bay. Stayed at a cool hostel called the Arts Factory which was interesting. Had nice hammocks to lay in and a cool setup.
Day 5: Learned to surf for the first time! I got up after a few tries but was too nervous to go into the bigger waves where all the guy were learning. Definitely will do it again! It's hard getting out there back into the waves once you've surfed to shore.
Day 6: Left for Surfer's Paradise. Wish we could've stayed longer in Byron but we are on a tight schedule! Only had a couple hours in Surfer's. Mat and I went mini golfing which was pretty fun and went to the beach. Beach was sooo nice at night time. Got some nice pictures.
Day 7: Brisbane! Kinda wierd to go from surfer towns to a big city. They have this cool man made beach in the middle of the city that we went to. Weather is getting crappier. Probably due to cyclone hamish! What are the odds. This is supposed to be the nicest part of our trip!
Day 8: The day I have been looking foward to... Wet N Wild!!! We had so much fun. A bit pricey but definitely worth it. They had some crazy rides and I screamed the whole time haha it was pretty hilarious. Did the one where you cross your ankles and shoot straight down... pretty terrifying but definitely and adrenaline rush! We were so tired after we didn't go out.. just passed out in our room.
Day 9: Went to the Steve Irwin zoo. Not usually a huge fan of zoos but this place was incredible! Definitely different than the zoos back home lol We saw elephants, tigers, koalas (got to pet one!), kangaroos (got to feed them!) and so much more. It rained most of the day but we made it through! After we stayed at a friends of Mat's. Went out to the only club in an hour's radius and had my first female cab driver haha
Day 10: Getting a little nervous since we're supposed to be going to Fraser Island ( the biggest sand island in the world!) in a few days and the cyclone is still going on. Headed to Noosa to stay with family friends. Nicest people! Cooked us a nice home made dinner. So nice to not do your own "cooking" and not eating fast food. Definitely relaxing. They made sure we ate our vegetables!
Day 11: Supposed to leave for Rainbow Beach but due to the cyclone we have to stay another night in Noosa. We didn't mind! Had another amazing dinner and went and saw a movie. Trying to book our first few nights in Bali since we get there a day before their New Year when everything shuts down for 24 hours! Good timing again!
Day 12: Finally able to go to Rainbow Beach now. Which is where I am now! Unfortunately the Fraser Island just reopened yesterday after the cyclone and when we go for 2 nights tomorrow we can only 4x4 on half of the island! But they said we'll still have a great time. Weather is still crappy which really sucks. Gotta make the best of it though! Learned that alot on this trip! No point in complaning when you can't do anything about it.
After Fraser Island is our Whitsunday trip which I PRAY is sunny because we're sailing for 2 days on the Great Barrier Reef! The part of the trip I've been looking forward to the most.
Booked my flight home for May 31st from Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam but not sure if I will stay that long. As much as I love travelling I do miss home alot and I know I won't be able to travel like this for a while so just trying to weigh my options and see how it goes. Once the weather gets better who knows what will happen!
Long entry but people wanted updates so there you go!
xoxo
Sara
Day 3: Drove up to Byron Bay and did a day trip to a town called Nimbin. This town is known for it's drugs for "medicinal purposes" .. of course... and we had a nice bbq and visit to a waterfall before heading to the town of Nimbin. Kinda a sketchy place if you ask me! It's funny how many people you meet along the way that you have already met!
Day 4: This was a fun day! Did some kayaking with dolphins! It was amazing. They swam up to 10 feet away from our kayaks. Did some snorkeling too. Still was in Byron Bay. Stayed at a cool hostel called the Arts Factory which was interesting. Had nice hammocks to lay in and a cool setup.
Day 5: Learned to surf for the first time! I got up after a few tries but was too nervous to go into the bigger waves where all the guy were learning. Definitely will do it again! It's hard getting out there back into the waves once you've surfed to shore.
Day 6: Left for Surfer's Paradise. Wish we could've stayed longer in Byron but we are on a tight schedule! Only had a couple hours in Surfer's. Mat and I went mini golfing which was pretty fun and went to the beach. Beach was sooo nice at night time. Got some nice pictures.
Day 7: Brisbane! Kinda wierd to go from surfer towns to a big city. They have this cool man made beach in the middle of the city that we went to. Weather is getting crappier. Probably due to cyclone hamish! What are the odds. This is supposed to be the nicest part of our trip!
Day 8: The day I have been looking foward to... Wet N Wild!!! We had so much fun. A bit pricey but definitely worth it. They had some crazy rides and I screamed the whole time haha it was pretty hilarious. Did the one where you cross your ankles and shoot straight down... pretty terrifying but definitely and adrenaline rush! We were so tired after we didn't go out.. just passed out in our room.
Day 9: Went to the Steve Irwin zoo. Not usually a huge fan of zoos but this place was incredible! Definitely different than the zoos back home lol We saw elephants, tigers, koalas (got to pet one!), kangaroos (got to feed them!) and so much more. It rained most of the day but we made it through! After we stayed at a friends of Mat's. Went out to the only club in an hour's radius and had my first female cab driver haha
Day 10: Getting a little nervous since we're supposed to be going to Fraser Island ( the biggest sand island in the world!) in a few days and the cyclone is still going on. Headed to Noosa to stay with family friends. Nicest people! Cooked us a nice home made dinner. So nice to not do your own "cooking" and not eating fast food. Definitely relaxing. They made sure we ate our vegetables!
Day 11: Supposed to leave for Rainbow Beach but due to the cyclone we have to stay another night in Noosa. We didn't mind! Had another amazing dinner and went and saw a movie. Trying to book our first few nights in Bali since we get there a day before their New Year when everything shuts down for 24 hours! Good timing again!
Day 12: Finally able to go to Rainbow Beach now. Which is where I am now! Unfortunately the Fraser Island just reopened yesterday after the cyclone and when we go for 2 nights tomorrow we can only 4x4 on half of the island! But they said we'll still have a great time. Weather is still crappy which really sucks. Gotta make the best of it though! Learned that alot on this trip! No point in complaning when you can't do anything about it.
After Fraser Island is our Whitsunday trip which I PRAY is sunny because we're sailing for 2 days on the Great Barrier Reef! The part of the trip I've been looking forward to the most.
Booked my flight home for May 31st from Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam but not sure if I will stay that long. As much as I love travelling I do miss home alot and I know I won't be able to travel like this for a while so just trying to weigh my options and see how it goes. Once the weather gets better who knows what will happen!
Long entry but people wanted updates so there you go!
xoxo
Sara
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Coming up to 3 months
Hey!
Can't believe it's almost been a month since I last wrote!
Only one more week left working as a temp at the Ministry of Transport. It's interesting to see the kind of letters people write in and how people write in for the smallest things like a bus that's 5 minutes late! I work across the street from a park called Hyde Park and it's really nice because everyone on their lunch break goes outside and relaxes in the sun! That's one thing I've noticed here is that people work hard to play hard. They actually take the time to go outside and get fresh air on their breaks and only do 35 hour work weeks!
Finally booked our trip up the Coast! Leaving next Monday and booked our car we've rented for 3 weeks. Comes with camping equipment and a stove and all that stuff! Can't wait! Even though I've only worked for 6 weeks it will be nice to have a break and relax. We also booked a trip to the Whitsunday Islands for the end of our Coast trip. Check out the spot: http://www.tourismwhitsundays.com.au/ That's the part I'm looking forward the most for the Coast part of the trip.
We also booked our flight from Jakarta (Indonesia) to Singapore and got a great deal for only $26! Can't wait for the cheap part of my trip!
It's amazing I've already been here for 3 months. I'm excited and nervous for this next part of my trip. I've never been on a road trip and done real backpacker traveling... and I'm going to do it for 3 months... or until my money runs out lol I know alot of people who are over in SE Asia right now so hopefully I'll get the chance to meet up with some of them.
I've learned so much so far on this trip. I didn't know what it was going to be like to live on my own for the first time. I've learned/done several things so far on this trip and may start a list for entertainment!
1. I love to cook! I like trying new things (shockingly!) and trying different recipies
2. I never thought in my life I would ever share a bed with a roommate... and I'm doing it!
3. I like things clean.. yes mom it's true! First thing I did when I moved into my new place was buy cleaning supplies cus I couldn't stand the sand everywhere and the kitchen floor!
4. Not everyone roommate does things you want them to! Toilet paper not replaced on the roll..food goes missing...dvds go missing...
5. I'm learning to be more patient than I have ever had to be!
6. I went to a movie for the first time by myself! Quite enjoyed it
7. I'm more independent then I've ever been. I don't mind doing things on my own.
8. You can only go so long eating junk food and not exercising before it starts to show!
Well that's it for now. Gotta pack in a lot of things before I go. Going to do this beach walk this weekend that I've been meaining to do and going to see Fall Out Boy on Saturday!
Missing everyone back home.
Can't believe it's almost been a month since I last wrote!
Only one more week left working as a temp at the Ministry of Transport. It's interesting to see the kind of letters people write in and how people write in for the smallest things like a bus that's 5 minutes late! I work across the street from a park called Hyde Park and it's really nice because everyone on their lunch break goes outside and relaxes in the sun! That's one thing I've noticed here is that people work hard to play hard. They actually take the time to go outside and get fresh air on their breaks and only do 35 hour work weeks!
Finally booked our trip up the Coast! Leaving next Monday and booked our car we've rented for 3 weeks. Comes with camping equipment and a stove and all that stuff! Can't wait! Even though I've only worked for 6 weeks it will be nice to have a break and relax. We also booked a trip to the Whitsunday Islands for the end of our Coast trip. Check out the spot: http://www.tourismwhitsundays.com.au/ That's the part I'm looking forward the most for the Coast part of the trip.
We also booked our flight from Jakarta (Indonesia) to Singapore and got a great deal for only $26! Can't wait for the cheap part of my trip!
It's amazing I've already been here for 3 months. I'm excited and nervous for this next part of my trip. I've never been on a road trip and done real backpacker traveling... and I'm going to do it for 3 months... or until my money runs out lol I know alot of people who are over in SE Asia right now so hopefully I'll get the chance to meet up with some of them.
I've learned so much so far on this trip. I didn't know what it was going to be like to live on my own for the first time. I've learned/done several things so far on this trip and may start a list for entertainment!
1. I love to cook! I like trying new things (shockingly!) and trying different recipies
2. I never thought in my life I would ever share a bed with a roommate... and I'm doing it!
3. I like things clean.. yes mom it's true! First thing I did when I moved into my new place was buy cleaning supplies cus I couldn't stand the sand everywhere and the kitchen floor!
4. Not everyone roommate does things you want them to! Toilet paper not replaced on the roll..food goes missing...dvds go missing...
5. I'm learning to be more patient than I have ever had to be!
6. I went to a movie for the first time by myself! Quite enjoyed it
7. I'm more independent then I've ever been. I don't mind doing things on my own.
8. You can only go so long eating junk food and not exercising before it starts to show!
Well that's it for now. Gotta pack in a lot of things before I go. Going to do this beach walk this weekend that I've been meaining to do and going to see Fall Out Boy on Saturday!
Missing everyone back home.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Working Hard!
Well I have had quite the last 10 days since I last wrote. Finally finished the 5 day street promotion job I had then jumped right into working for the Ministry of Transport. It has been quite an interesting job! Usually I'm not a writing type of person but I'm forced to be with this job! People write to the Minister of Transport about questions and concerns with the transport system and I have to write back to them on behalf of the Minister of Transport or the Parliamentary Secretary! It's kinda cool! Here they have only 35 hour work weeks and since I'm working for the Government I don't have to take a 1hr lunch break so I can work 830 - 4 and be outta there!
I also joined a gym here! There's only so much holiday eating you can do before things start to change lol It's an amazing gym. You can take unlimited yoga, dance, cardio classes and they have choreographers from So You Think You Can Dance Australia which is great! All of their running/cycling equipment have tv screens on them which doesn't make it so boring to exercise! lol
Still can't believe I only have 5 more weeks here in Sydney and then I travel up the Coast for 3 weeks and then head over to Bali!
Yesterday was Australia Day and everyone got dressed up in Australia gear and went over to a friend's place for a FEW drinks of course. It was kinda cool because on the big radio station here they do a countdown of the top 100 or so songs of the year on Australia Day. Kind of what we do back home on New Year's!
Hope everyone is doing well back home and I will update you again soon! I keep hearing I need to go see Slumdog Millionaire so probably going to do that this week!
Ciao for now.
I also joined a gym here! There's only so much holiday eating you can do before things start to change lol It's an amazing gym. You can take unlimited yoga, dance, cardio classes and they have choreographers from So You Think You Can Dance Australia which is great! All of their running/cycling equipment have tv screens on them which doesn't make it so boring to exercise! lol
Still can't believe I only have 5 more weeks here in Sydney and then I travel up the Coast for 3 weeks and then head over to Bali!
Yesterday was Australia Day and everyone got dressed up in Australia gear and went over to a friend's place for a FEW drinks of course. It was kinda cool because on the big radio station here they do a countdown of the top 100 or so songs of the year on Australia Day. Kind of what we do back home on New Year's!
Hope everyone is doing well back home and I will update you again soon! I keep hearing I need to go see Slumdog Millionaire so probably going to do that this week!
Ciao for now.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Big Update!
Hello hello! Didn't realise until now that I haven't done an entry in 2 weeks and a lot has happened!
First off I have finally moved into a place in Bondi. It's at a perfect location a 1 minute walk to the beach and has Internet, washing machine/dryer and pretty spacious, why says alot about the places I have looked at! Can't believe I'm only in Sydney for just over 6 more weeks.
Second of all I finally have a job! This week I have been doing promotions work in Darling Harbour. What's involved is six of us walk around handing out newspapers promoting iiNet, an Internet/Phone company in Australia! It is so tiring as we are working in 25-35 degree weather and work split shifts so don't get home until late! But it's good pay! This week I was worried I wouldn't find a job for next week but I receieved a call from a Temp agency and I have an office job for 4-6 weeks starting on Monday! I'm told I'll be doing grammar work, drafting letters and checking for errors, so not very exciting but it pays very well! So pretty excited to start that.
My friends and I have started planning our trip up the coast and over to Southeast Asia. We booked our flight to Bali from Brisbane for March 25th so we will be traveling up the coast from around March 2nd until the 25th! Pretty excited for that part of the trip. It will definitely be an eye opening experience.
I am really enjoying myself and feel like it's just going to get better from here! I of course miss everyone from home and can't wait to see everyone again! Hopefully the snow has melted for you guys already.
I'll let you know how the new job goes!
First off I have finally moved into a place in Bondi. It's at a perfect location a 1 minute walk to the beach and has Internet, washing machine/dryer and pretty spacious, why says alot about the places I have looked at! Can't believe I'm only in Sydney for just over 6 more weeks.
Second of all I finally have a job! This week I have been doing promotions work in Darling Harbour. What's involved is six of us walk around handing out newspapers promoting iiNet, an Internet/Phone company in Australia! It is so tiring as we are working in 25-35 degree weather and work split shifts so don't get home until late! But it's good pay! This week I was worried I wouldn't find a job for next week but I receieved a call from a Temp agency and I have an office job for 4-6 weeks starting on Monday! I'm told I'll be doing grammar work, drafting letters and checking for errors, so not very exciting but it pays very well! So pretty excited to start that.
My friends and I have started planning our trip up the coast and over to Southeast Asia. We booked our flight to Bali from Brisbane for March 25th so we will be traveling up the coast from around March 2nd until the 25th! Pretty excited for that part of the trip. It will definitely be an eye opening experience.
I am really enjoying myself and feel like it's just going to get better from here! I of course miss everyone from home and can't wait to see everyone again! Hopefully the snow has melted for you guys already.
I'll let you know how the new job goes!
Thursday, January 1, 2009
New Years in Sydney!
To say New Years in Sydney is different from Vancouver is an understatement! I was lucky enough to watch the fireworks from a roof top apartment overlooking all of Sydney. It was pretty crazy! Their were fireworks going off at different parts of town at the same time and the fireworks going off of the Harbour Bridge were incredible! It was a New Years I will never forget.
So I finally got a job and it definitely wasn't what I was hoping to do. It actually was a one off event at Field Day, this huge music festival in Sydney. Some friends and I sold Calipo ice creams from carts! The good thing is we got $20 an hour and make commission on whatever we sold! I'm almost positive I sold almost 900! After working for 7 hours we were so tired and almost left until we realised we were at a sold out event for free! We danced for a couple hours with thousands of other people and had a great time! They definitely so music festivals better over here!
Well next week the offices are open in the city and I am going to find a job no matter what it takes! Also gotta find a place in Bondi! Just want to get it over with!
So I finally got a job and it definitely wasn't what I was hoping to do. It actually was a one off event at Field Day, this huge music festival in Sydney. Some friends and I sold Calipo ice creams from carts! The good thing is we got $20 an hour and make commission on whatever we sold! I'm almost positive I sold almost 900! After working for 7 hours we were so tired and almost left until we realised we were at a sold out event for free! We danced for a couple hours with thousands of other people and had a great time! They definitely so music festivals better over here!
Well next week the offices are open in the city and I am going to find a job no matter what it takes! Also gotta find a place in Bondi! Just want to get it over with!
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