Goodbye Australia hello Canada!

I've been out of touch since I've been on the move so much over the last couple months and lacking reliable internet. So this will be a long update in one post.

January 24th-January 31st: We moved out of our house and spent a few days sleeping on Alana's floor and Lindsey and Chris' sofa bed. Thank god for good friends so we weren't homeless for a week. As some of you may have heard there was a heat wave in Victoria that week which later led to massive and tragic bush fires about an hour and half from where we lived. On average it was 43 degrees that week, the hottest it had consistently been in Australia in over 100 years. It was so hot we didn't want to move in fear of creating more body heat! We enjoyed Australia Day on the 26th and spent a lot of time at the beach trying to keep cool.

February 1st-7th: We flew to Sydney with heaps of bags and Tigh's friend Aaron was kind enough to let us spend the night and store our bags their while we drove the coast for 6 days. We picked up our campervan and started out trek up the east coast. Day 1 was pure driving, day 2 Byron Bay home of the most easterly mainland in all of Australia, dolphins, awesome waves and surfers, what a wicked place. (see the pick on the left) Day 3 a stop over in the Gold Coast Surfers Paradise which is like the Niagra Falls of Australia, a scenic view at the Glass House Mountains on Steve Irwin Drive, and then a night in Nossa Heads. Day 4 a ferry trip to Fraser Island, the worlds largest sand island where we discovered you need a 4x4 to navigate but still a cool experience then we drove to Brisbane and enjoyed a night out in the city. Day 5 we drove to Nimbin a crazy new age hippy town where drugs are smoked freely and spent the night in Coffs Harbour and checked out some local bars. Day 6 we made our way back to Sydney to vist with Chad (my friend from Humber) and Dani.









February 7th-11th: We spent several days touring the busy but beautiful city of Sydney and catching up with Chad which was lovely. On the 12th we caught our 15 1/2 hour flight to Vancouver but lucked out because the place had heaps of free seats to stretch out on.

February 12th-15th: We landed in Vancouver without a hitch and made our way to Becky and Frasers (more friends from Humber). We spent our time wandering the gorgeous city and spent our Valentines Day exploring Lynn Canyon which was the best reminder of how beautiful Canada is, oh how I miss snowed, scarves, boots and the smell of Canadian forests. It was the best Valentines Day ever complete with a turkey dinner mmm mmm. We went out that night for some drinks and learned an amazing new drinking game which I will HAVE to share when I get home. Overall it was a wonderful visit with old friends who I missed dearly.



February 15th-now: We were picked up by Tigh's cousin Karyn and hr son Erin and we made our way to Belingham Washington. We made a stop over at White Rocks and wandered the beach and the next day we went to Deception Pass and explored my ocean side beach and parks. We will be hear untill the 26th and then we fly to Calgary to spend tiem with the family I used to nanny for. I am so excited to see them :D

So there is a quick and undetailed update on where on earth (literally) I have been for the past 2 month. I have yet to book my flight HOME but it will be between March 8th-10th. I absolutely loved my time in Australia but it's good to be back and I am so anxious to get home and see everyone who I love and miss.

Love Everyday

Please watch these videos, they may change your view of homelessness.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMqI_if3Z2E&eurl
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ke3kvbtF3c

A friend of mine, Mike Mendes started this organization called Love Everyday. Basically he has designed t-shirts which he sells and in turns uses the proceeds to directly help people who are living on the streets in Toronto. Check out his website for a better description:
http://loveeveryday.org/

I love this new t-shirt and plan on buying a couple and I encourage you to consider doing the same. The message is so positive and the tees are very cute.

Remember to love everyday and be grateful for all that you have. Practice compassion for others and consider helping those who are less fortunate than yourself.

Travels

Since being here in Australia I have managed to visit Cairns and some small towns along the upper coast of Queensland but I have been trying to save money so I can do some more traveling. Below is a map of Australia I am in Melbourne which is circled and the lines show places I have been and will be visiting for sure!

I booked my flights to the Gold Coast the other day and I will be going there from November 30th-December 4th. My friend Jill from Humber (who some of you have met) is living/working there right now so I'll be staying at the backpackers hostel she works at and Dani (my Australian friend who lived in Canada) will be meeting me there. The Gold Coast is in lower Queensland and is known as surfers paradise, it has a 35km golden sand beach! It will be a nice break away from work and routine and a great place to work on my tan :) On the left is an aerial shot of the Gold Coast.

Tigh and I will also be going to Lorne December 23rd-27th. We are renting an ocean view beach house with a bunch of friends from Canada, we all figured if we are away from the snow for Christmas we might as well be on the beach haha. Below right is a pic of the view we will have from the beach house. Lorne is along Great Ocean Rd. which is south of Melbourne and runs along the coast of Victoria. The Great Ocean Road is supposed to be gorgeous and also known for surfing, so while we are there Tigh and I will rent a car and drive along the coast to see some of the beautiful beaches and views (Appolo Bay, Torquay etc.) Below are pictures of The Great Ocean Road and the Twelve Apostles rock formations which I really want to see


So those are the main trips to look forward to. In February we fly home out of Sydney so we will spend at least 1 week there, and we are currently saving money so we can either go back up the coast of Queensland, go to Darwin in the Northern Territory or to New Zealand. I'll keep you posted on when those plans are sorted out and I'll be sure to take heaps of pictures. xoxo

Mantra

Even if Lara can't slide her handy little Louise Hay wisdom book across the table when I need inspiration she can still type me mantras :)

We trust that our next breath is there, lets begin to trust that other things will be there for us also.

The world is a work of art and so am I. For me to contribute postively to this ongoing creation it is necessary that I trust the process of life. If things get difficult, I confidently go within and anchor my thoughts in truth and love. I ask for the guidance of the universe as I make my way safely through the stormy seas and calm, blissful weather. My job is staying in the present moment and to choose clear, simple, positive thoughts and words. I know it isn't necessary or even possible to have a reason for everything. I do know that I was born a beautiful and trusting soul. I take a moment now to treausre the mysterious and invisible process of life that I am.

I miss my girls

I miss these girls.
I miss...
Starbucks dates.
Chatting till the wee hours of the morning.
Lunch dates in Ilderton.
Jack Asstors.
Trips to PA.
Yoga classes.
Laughing at Heather's ridiculous sayings.
Sun tanning.
Gossip.
Dinner parties.
Martini parties.
Going to the beach.
Demetre's desserts.
Cowboys and BX dances.
Wine.
Photo shoots.

I miss the security of having such amazing friends around me. I love you all xoxo

Weird and wacky Australia

The birds here are very loud with funny calls, although I don't know if I find that to be true because they are different than the birds at home, or if I just tune out the birds at home because I have heard them for 24 years. Either way I always notice the birds here!

If you want ketchup (or tomato sauce as they call it) you have to pay for it at restaurants and same with mayo and sour cream and all those fun toppings. Whenever I tell aussies it's free at home they are just shocked. You also have to pay to pack up your leftovers at restaurants and sometimes they don't even let you take it home. They also say "take away" instead of "to go."

Australians love to eat meat pies and sausage rolls and I think it's safe to say it's their national food haha. They call cookies biscuits or bickies so I'm not sure what they actually call biscuits (as in the pastry), and they call candy lollies, red peppers are capsicums, shrimp are prawns, raisins are sultanas and squash is pumpkin. Chocolate bars cost $2.00+, butter tarts are non existant, and I couldn't find a premade pie crust or a good old fashioned apple pie for the life of me at a grocery store here.

When I go "down town" they would say I am "in the city"and instead of "thank you" they say "ta." They wouldn't ask "how are you?" instead they would ask "how you going?" and instead of saying "lots", or "I imagine" and so on they would say "heaps" and I reckon." They also call the garbage can a rubbish bin, so when I tell the kids to put their toys in the bin they get upset because they think I am asking them to put it in the rubbish lol. They also call diapers nappies, strollers prams, soothers dummies and cribs cotts.

Men in Australia are referred to as blokes and you can often see blokes sporting mullets, fohawks, rat tails and very strange partially shaved heads. Florescents or (fluros as they call them) are all the rage, women wear dresses all the time, flip flops are called thongs, sunglasses are sunnies, bathing suits are bathers, and tanktops are called singlets. But, I must say their womens fashion is pretty nice and apparently trends are ahead here so I will have one up on all you ladies when I get back haha.

I am sure there are heaps more of weird things about Australia but I will save some for a future post :) xo

How did it get so late so soon?

"How did it get so late so soon? Its night before its afternoon. December is here before its June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?" -Dr. Seuss

It's been 4 months and I have been a lazy blogger so here is an update...

I have been keeping socially busy with fellow canucks, a few aussies and our token tassy Zarina. We recently got a bbq which is a must have in Australia, so we have been cookin' shrimp on the barbie and enjoying the sun...summer is around the corner here so it's getting HOT! :D

I am working lots so I can save money to do a bit of travelling. I finish up my courses Oct.31st and start my LAST 4 a couple weeks later! I am now working as a Nanny a few days a week and taking care of an adorable 4 month old boy named Shayden, and I got a seasonal job at The Body Shop so I am very excited to start that and meet some more people.

I often find that I forget I am even in another Country I have grown so accustomed to things here, athough I don't find it all that much different from home. I actually heard some live commentary of a hockey game back home and our Canadian accents really stood out to me since I am now so used to the Australian accent lol.

For Christmas a group of us are renting this amazing beach house along great ocean rd. http://www.greatoceanrd.org.au/ which is South of us and is supposed to be gorgeous. I will be sure to post pics and a link to the house we will be staying at, it is right on the beach and has an amazing view.

The rest of my travel plans will fall into place in the new year when I can evaluate my funds. Missing all of you at home and especially missing fall since it's such a beautiful season. xoxo much love