Merry Christmas...Check out my tan!

Christmas Eve and Christmas day was spent with sand, water, and warm weather this year. For Christmas Eve we spent the day in Southbank where many Christmas activities and games were set up for everyone to enjoy. We took part in a few of these games such as giant Jenga.

We were apparently entertaining to watch because we drew in a crowd. There were also a really cool Australian holiday themed sandcastle on display.

The detail was incredible. The area itself was beautiful like a little paradise right in the middle of the city. There was a beachy sand area with a pool right by the river and tree that were flowering left and right.

We then spent Christmas day at Noosa beach. Which was very nice and fairly crowded. But if there is one thing that I have learned from the mistakes of others it's that sand and cameras are a really bad combination. So the faithful camera stayed in the car for this trip. But here's a little shot taken with a phone.

So a very Merry Christmas indeed.

Crikey!

Writing in my down time. This is what the trip has come to. But that's not so much a bad thing. Downtown Melbourne was bustling and exciting as any city I have been too. Meeting up with mom was difficult because we had no idea where we were and got completely lost. If you put a positive spin on it: we took the long scenic route. Most of this time spent wandering around was spent trying to figure out where we were going so not many pictures were being taken. Once we found mom and her office area we shared a few drinks with her very friendly and amazing co-workers who were all very welcoming to new comers.Here's one in her office (which was very nice).

Then on the way back to mom's apartment we took this picture with a bag piper in a penguin suit.

Then the next day we headed down to the Market which was a lot like the Flea Market at home but much nicer and a lot cooler! Here's what we had for breakfast there:

Mmmmm Mini Pancakes. So a day of shopping later and then we were on another plane. This time to Brisbane. Only a 2 hour flight this time so not terrible. We arrive and head to a co-workers apartment there which is very nice. Then the next day we head off to the Australia Zoo. It was an amazing time. I took so many pictures of animals but here were my favorites.

The otters were my favorite animal but I really enjoyed being able to hold the koala bear! Not sure what the plan is tomorrow but whatever we do it we be great.

Time. Time. Time.

Time is kicking my ass. One 12 hour flight later and we made it to Melbourne. For me there was a quick burst of adrenaline and excitement when we could finally see land from the plane about an hour before landing. Then the excitement carried forward as we made our way through the Melbourne airport (which is very nice) and through customs. Then the whole long journey became worth it when we walked out and saw our mom waiting for us. Many hugs and kisses later we jumped in a cab and headed to mom's apartment and that was when the travels caught up to me. I've never slept well in moving vehicles so although I had hoped I could sleep through the plane ride I only got about an hour of sleep total. So by the time we ate and had a movie going, I curled up and passed out hard at about 8ish. Then the next day was spent cat napping throughout the day and watching movies while mom was at work. A recovery day if you will to rest our aching bodies and prepare for the long trip ahead. Mom's apartment is little but perfect. It's cute, cozy, and homey to help ward off that home sickness.

My favorite place to relax is on the balcony where I can read and stare out at the neighborhood street.

Much here remains to be seen but there is still time to go out and explore things. Today we shall go hop on the train and check out the downtown area of Melbourne and meet up with mom to go to the bar. And tomorrow we head for Brisbane. Oh and happy end of the world everyone. ;)

So it begins.

I never expect any journey or trip to go completely smoothly. There's always gonna be that one or two things that provide you with a nice little speed bump. But I've never had this bad of a hiccup before I have even left home... Attempting to pack for a month long trip is a feat in of itself but then when your washer AND dryer decided to up and break while your clothes are soaking wet because your washers spin cycle decided to go on vacation long before you could. So needless to say clothes took over my room and made a lot of puddles.

Case and point. But to look at it in a positive view I was just preparing for the humidity of the tropics by imitating that in my basement apartment. So there was that. Then came the goodbyes. Now let me tell you. I was that kid who didn't cry in Old Yeller. It took a lot to get me to cry. Then puberty happened and hormones went crazy and now I cry at the flippin drop of a pin. So goodbyes were rough because it was such a long trip to be away. But many tears and goodbyes later we hit the road...and hit snow. I guess it was foolish to think I could get through Colorado in December scott free but driving through the pass in snow always sucks. Then there's the boring flight to LAX in which I thought the guy next to me was going to loose his breakfast the entire flight (nervous flyer much?) and the long flight to Hawaii which is where I currently sit in my Dad's quaint little apartment, doing laundry, waiting for dinner and resting before the impending 12 hour flight to Australia tomorrow morning at 7 AM. Much is going on and happening at this is just the beginning.

Almost there.

Ten days. Just ten more days til I am on a jet plane. First stop Hawaii to visit the father. Then on to Australia to visit the mother. I can say I am lucky and blessed to have traveled as much as I have already (Mexico three times and Costa Rica). And now I have a chance to fulfill a childhood dream of visiting Australia (I blame Steve Irwin for this dream). I am sooooo lucky for this opportunity that I would not be able to afford on my own! So thank you Mom for paying my way to checking something off my bucket list. Best Christmas present EVER. Just 10 more days.

New beginnings.

Hello all, My decision to create this blog all started with and idea. I wanted to log all my adventures and traveling into something so I can keep it and look back on it later and reminisce. So I thought...this is where technology would make life much easier for me! So here it is, my life and travels in one place that will hopefully be easier to find and upkeep than a written journal.