Awww Australia

G'Day Mates !

and then there was Australia, a favorite of mine for sure... Hmmmmm and a great ending to our trip :)

Went like this...

Melbourne, Victoria - Probably the best 36 hours in Australia, ties w/the Sunshine Coast experience :) Arrived in St. Kilda's square at the doorstep of yet another person we didn't know, Anthony, he was ever so hospitable to let us lay our heads there for the night.... Anthony toured us around town, met up with a large group of his friends at a pub and they later treated us to their traditional Aussie barbie Q (chicken, snags, potatoes, delish!)... made a dozen new friends all of which have these marvelous warm fuzzy personalities & outlooks on life. This great energy carried on throughout the states we visited the following 10 days.... The Aussies really know how to celebrate life, soooo happy and abundant! Enjoyed the ESPY, The Vineyard, The Revolver, South Bank, Chapel Street and all 4 hours of sleep.... they were getting ready for the Melbourne Cup (horse races and a state holiday), would have loved to be there for that..... I didn't want to leave Melbourne, such a charming city.....

Brisbane, Queensland - Flew into Brisbane and took a bus up to the Sunshine Coast, beautiful picturesque coastal ride :) Landed in Coolum Beach/Yandina, stayed 7 miles from the beach on the river in the country with Ralf, Cheryl, Ema and Kong (family of friends of mine here in S.D.) ...... Ralf, Cheryl and Ema operate a Bromeliad Nursery and look after several cows, goats and the occasional roos that grace them with their presence all within their 10 acres of land.... Enjoyed the beauty of the desolate beaches during the day and barbies/fishing river side at night, such great times (Buddy, the family goat hung out with us most the time as well, so cute... pixs to follow) What a family, we loved them.

Headed north to Noosa for more beach time and window shopping.... Noosa was hosting their annual triathlon, 2nd largest in the World..... This made the beaches extra 'pretty'... met some locals, played soccer on the beach, visited the backpackers haven hostel/bar Koala's and had my first experience playing a Didjeridoo. (http://www.ididj.com.au/theDidjeridu/what.html)

Went back to Brisbane for another short 36 hours, stayed with Hamish and Daniel (friend of a friend of Rebecca's) in Bulimba.... They showed us the city nightlife (Story Bridge Hotel, Friday's and Chalk) and during the day Rebecca and I took the river CityCat ferry around town through South Bank and did some exploring of our own.... Once again, the hospitality in this neck of the woods was unreal. Another beautiful city :)

Sydney, New South Whales - Jacques hometown and our final destination: Stayed with Jacques in Cammeray..... Went to the famous Bondi Beach, Darling Harbour, Taronga Zoo (loved observing the wallaby's, crocs, koalas & wombats), suited up in full astronautish gear and climbed the Sydney Harbour Bridge (INCREDIBLE views of the entire city from above http://www.bridgeclimb.com/). We met up with Jacs and Julian (France crew reunited) and the rest of the dressed to the nines city, that had 'shut down' in celebration of the Melbourne Cup, for the big race and spirits at the Opera House Bar. Efficient #6 won the Cup!!! Good Good fun :)

I came into a country so congenial that I'd like to invite all the days spent in OZ back tomorrow and the next day and the next. Big huge THANKS to Zank, Ryan, Derf, Schenka, Harmony and Cory for putting Rebecca and myself in contact with all these welcoming generous fun loving people that provided us our accommodations the entire time in Australia.

These weeks of spontaneous travel were some of the loosest days of my life, running through airports to train stations, buying tickets left and right, flexing my freedom and realizing in the last 2 weeks that I can go wherever I want....Over 28,000 miles on 13 flights operated by 8 different airlines, 7 countries, 6 currencies & languages, 3 continents, slept in 18 different accommodations (beds, huts, floors, couches, cars, airplanes & a movie theatre) and used every form of transportation (plane, car, bus, taxi, tuk tuk, train, legs & animals) all FULLY enjoyed with the absence of my CELL PHONE .... made it back to S.D. safe and sound ! Already planning round 2...

Thanks again for the encouraging notes and words of wisdom received along the way. I had the time of my life, will always cherish this time, all the amazing indescribable memories, the beautiful people I met and the education of learning others traditions and cultures.... I feel very blessed to have been able to do this, truly inexpressible.

Cheers, Sante, Chon Gaew, Selamat Minum, Proost, Salute!!!!

~ShawnaD.