A Long Trip Home

It was a long trip home but I finally made it back to Sydney! The rest of our spring break was awesome! Also a little tiring and stressful but totally worth it! This trip ended up costing me A LOT of money so I’m most definitely going to be having a much tighter budget from now on. But let me get on with the rest of my Spring Break! Here is a picture of Corona's the hostel we stayed in, not the nicest place in the world but it worked. So after day ATVing and bungee swinging we went to the Great Barrier Reef and it was absolutely amazing! We took a sail boat out to The Green Island, which is surrounded by the reef the morning started out kind of gross, and the weather report said it was supposed to thunderstorm but luckily for us it was beautiful and sunny out by 12! When the sailboat anchored we went snorkeling for a little bit and when we were snorkeling we even saw some blacked tip sharks, they were little, but it was a little scary. It turns out that they are more scared of us then we are of them. 

Then we got to go on an introductory dive!  I have never scuba dove before so I was a little nervous but once we got started it was awesome! We had to hold the instructors hand the hold time but I was secretively happy about that. Haha Unfortunately my underwater camera couldn’t go as deep as we dove so I didn’t get any picturesL but we did get to touch some of the reef and we even saw a big sea turtle it was awesome! We saw some really beautiful fish down there even some Nemo’s. Its really funny actually because every since Finding Nemo all clown fish are Nemo’s not clown fish and the same goes for Dory, pretty crazy how one movie totally changed the fish name ha. But after we went diving we went to the tiny green island it was very beautiful and had a little resort on it! It was an awesome day probably my favorite day of the trip!

The next day we did our white water rafting, which ended up being pretty extreme. Also started out as a rainyish day but it ended up clearing up which was nice! We went rafting on the Tully River through the rainforest and it was beautiful, waterfalls and green everywhere! The only down fall to it were the flies that love to bite. They were a pain but we got over it, luckily they don’t like rain so they weren’t to bad just annoying. Anyways on our trip we ended up flipping! The first time I tried to bring my head up I hit the raft and couldn’t but luckily on the second try I was able. It was really fun after I was okay but for the second I was under water I was terrified. At one point in the trip down the river the guide had me sit at the front of the raft with my legs dangling off and record with my water proof camera down a rapid But for some reason I can not get my videos to upload on here so I will put the link for it on here.http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1838589882205 (Excuse the bit of cussing it was really scary) That ended up being another great but extremely exhausting day!

So that night after our white water rafting we were planning on going to a spa that was an hour inland called The Eden House but we did not know that that day they were celebrating the queens birthday and was a public holiday. This made it impossible for us to get a car that night because all the car rental places were closed on public holidays so we ended up spending anther night at Corona with Martini (sure was so excited to see us coming back haha) It end up being okay though we rented a car early in the morning and I got to drive on the opposite side of the road! It was so weird but I didn’t crash so I was happy about that! It was a beautiful road trip up as you can see!  We ended up making it in time to get our massages and they let us have our villa for the day! The place was amazing and the massages were awesome! I would love to go back and stay some time!

 So we went back to Cairns airport to make our flight that we thought was at 645. We were wrong. It was at 430 and we missed it, it was awful. Had to buy another ticket home and had to get a hotel for the night since no flight were leaving till the morning. We eventually made it back to Sydney thank god. But the whole experience of missing my flight and being so stressed out made me a little home sick. Part of me just wanted to go home, be with my family and sleep in my own bed. I’m better now but I do miss home like crazy L Well I will keep writing have a pretty boring two-weeks coming up though with lots of homework. Thanks for reading!

Xoxox

Carlee Jean

Spring Break 2012 Round 2!

Hello everyone! So we are officially half way through our spring break now so I thought I would give you a little update as to we what has been going on and what we are planning on doing! Oh I guess first I should tell you that it is Kate, Mik (my roommate) and I staying in this four-person hostel. We have a roommate from Germany that we call Martini (not her real name) and I'm not sure how much she likes us. She’s really nice but she is more her on a relaxed trip and I don’t think she really is getting along with our loud and up late way of living. We also have a constant war going on with her because she does not like the air conditioning to be on and we do, mainly because it is very humid here. So every night we turn it on before we go to bed then she wakes up in the middle of the night and turns it off and then as soon as we realize its off we go turn it on again, it’s an on going battle. Other than that she very nice and I'm surprised she can bare to live with us because we are a mess to live with (I will post a pick of our place next posting)

 Anyways on to what we have done so far this week. The first three days her we pretty much just did our own thing which consisted of us walk around the city and mostly ending up at the mall which is awesome here because they actually have clothes that aren’t insanely expensive. Since we didn’t have any tours planned or anything we went out two of the nights, the first night we went out got a little crazy and kinda canceled our plans of going to the beach the next day because we had a bit of a hangover. We did end up going to see Madagascar 3 though and it was really funny and it was kind of nice going to a movie considering haven’t been to one since I was in the states. Today though we finally started going on all our tours. 

We did the Mingin swing today, which is a swing that pulls you up about 70 meters into the air and then drops you and you swing a cross this little lake type thing. It ended up being so much fun that we did it two times! The first time we went was extra scary because I was the one that pulled down on this drop to release us into the fall. What made it even scarier was you had to pull the rope really hard for it to drop you and the first couple of times I couldn’t get it so I never knew when I was going to pull hard enough for us to actually drop. 

Quite thrilling!

The next thing we did was ATVing through the Daintree Rainforest and that was a really good time. It hadn’t rained there in 3 months though so it was very dry and we got super dirty because of all the dust. Kate got lost a couple of times because ATV kept stalling but other than that it was pretty much smooth sailing. It was beautiful though we got some great pictures, I’m really glad we went! We have some really great stuff planned these next couple of days like scuba in the Great Barrier Reef, white water rafting, and a nice spa retreat at the end! I will mostly likely write again when I get home! Thanks for reading

Xoxoxo

Carlee Jean

A Surfers Paradise

So this past week I got to see one of my best friends! Peej! (The one that came to visit me when I first got here) It was a blast and really great to be around someone who actually knows your life back home! I really missed having a good friend around who I am truly comfortable with! I stayed with her and her roommate Hillary (very cool) in there apartment. (that is a picture of Hillary me and Peej above) Any ways she lives on the Gold Coast which was the other place I was debating on living beside Sydney so I was very interested to see what it was like there. It was beautiful! You can see the beach from her apartment and it’s a little bit warmer than Sydney, the downfall it has is that it’s a bit touristy. Apparently it is the #1 tourist spot in Australia, and I can see why. Much more tropical there than here, reminds me of a Florida type atmosphere. It also is not much of a city, well compared to Sydney. It was awesome, but its was nice to go there and know I made the right choice on which place to study abroad, as fun as it was. Anyway we had a great week there, I even ended up staying an extra day cause I liked it so much. We went to the beach with her friends and there little pool hot tub area. The beach was fun but very windy that day so we ended up with a mouth full of sand hah.

We went out Thursday Friday and Saturday and it was a lot of fun. We actually ended up meeting the guy with longest nipple hair in the world; he was in the Guinness world record for it. Very weird and that is a picture of the guy above, sorry it’s not a very good picture but it’s the only one I got. 

We didn’t really end up doing anything to touristy, just kinda hung out and went about her everyday life there, which I liked. I wish I would have gone to hold a baby Koala but I’m going to Cairns on Tuesday and I can just do that there! I did also get my first, much needed pedicure, and it was quite relaxing. On the day before I left Peej and her roommate Hillary had to get certified for scuba diving and were gone pretty much all day. So I got to go to the beach and just relax by myself. It was great I needed a little alone time and the beach is the perfect place to spend it! 

Then on the final night I was there we did watch two little puppies for the night! They were soooo cute, as you can see. They have a pet store by them that lets you take home there puppies for the night for $1 so that the puppies get used to being around people and so they don’t sleep in a cage every night. We named them Jack and Spike, and they were a blast. I really needed some puppy loving; I miss all my dogs back home so much! The pups did poop and pee everywhere but I think it was worth it, especially since it wasn’t my place ;) haha Anyways I’m going to go because I am going to go do the 2.5 mile walk from Coogee to Bondi beach that I hear is beautiful! I will post pictures of that soon! Also I have to get ready for my trip to Cairns! I will keep you posted on happens over my break! Thanks for reading

Xoxox

Carlee Jean

Traveling All Over Sydney

So this past week was pretty eventful! I was doing lots all week and going lots of different places! To start it off on Thursday we went to Vogues Fashion Night Out! It was fun but I don’t think we researched enough on the right places to go. The night was saved though when we saw Mariana Kerr Victoria secret model and wife to Orlando Bloom. She looked stunning of course! It was funny because one of the girls I was with had actually tweeted before she left for Australia that her trip would be complete if she saw her! So I guess her wish came true.


Then on Saturday we decided to go on a horse back riding trip in one of the small towns outside of Sydney. This would have gone perfectly if we would have know that the train ride out there was an hour and half, when we had planned on it only  being 45min. So long story short we ended up getting there a little bit over an hour late, luckily they felt bad for us so they still gave us a little hour tour. It was so beautiful out there. It was nice to be out of the city a little bit and go somewhere new for the day.


After the horse back riding we went a hotel restaurant and even though is shouldn’t have, I got that delicious burger in the picture. I got it full Aussie style with the pineapple and egg. It was soo good I wasn’t able to finish it but I really like how the put pineapple on there burgers here! The good that did come out of this trip is that we realize that we have to plan more when we wanting do something, so next it will hopefully go more smoothly

Then finally on Monday I went to Manly beach for the first time! We had to take 30 min fairy there but it had the most amazing views along the way, here is a picture of it! You could see the entire city and we also got to see some of the amazing coast line where there are some amazing houses over looking the water.


Then finally on Monday I went to Manly beach for the first time! We had to take 30 min fairy there but it had the most amazing views along the way, here is a picture of it! You could see the entire city and we also got to see some of the amazing coast line where there are some amazing houses over looking the water.

I also got to lay out on the beach, which was nice because it hasn’t really been warm enough here yet to that. Here is a picture of me laying out on the beach with my two favorite bracelets on! They are very special to because the Tiffany and Co. one my Nana and Papa gave to me, so its nice to have a piece of them with me. The other one with the little red hearts on it my wonderful boyfriend Bob got me before I left to study abroad so that one is also extremely important to me. It’s a nice little reminder of what waiting for me back home :) Anyways I wont be posting most likely till Sunday because I am heading off to the Gold Coast to visit Peej for the week (friend from back home) and I am so excited!! I’m not sure exactly what we are planning on doing but I'm sure it will be a great time! Unfortunately her dog cookie just got put down this passed week so I’m going to do my best to cheer her up! Thanks for reading!

xoxox

Carlee Jean

How Time Flys

Hello strangers! Sorry I know I have not posted in ages! I promise I will try not to let two weeks go by again with out giving a little update of what is going on in my life! It is just so crazy how time is flying here, I can’t believe have already been here for two months it’s so bizarre. This week past week went by especially fast just because I had so much homework and stuff to do!  Luckily that is over with I can have some free time again. It hasn’t been all work and no play though, the past two weekends have been so much fun!

 I’ll start with last weekend. The first night I went out was with a group of girls and we ended up meeting up with our friend who got bottle service for everyone, so awesome. We got free drinks all night and even had a waitress sitting there mixing them for us! Then, some how, we ended up in the DJ booth at the club, which was pretty amazing too. Saturday was even better than Friday, my friend Nehal got us tickets to the Whitney Port Fashion Show (she is from The City a show that was on MTV) it was unreal. We got a backstage tour, free drinks and appetizers, and then a free gift bag it was pretty awesome. After the show you could down to ‘The Hub’ and that is where a bunch of free little stations were set up! There was a hair station, a make up station, and so on, at each of them we got free pictures.  That is where the mustache picture came from the other picture is obviously of the show!

After all of that we went out and had our own little girls night! We went to this restaurant and got wine and ended up spending 3 and half hours there! It was great to just have night of girl talk, wine and dessert! The dessert I got was delicious, as you can see in the picture!

So that was pretty much all of last weekend and nothing really happened during the week except I did by an awesome pair of flats from Vinnie’s. The main reason I decided I had to get them, beside the fact that they were only $7 was that they are a pair of shoes my Nana would have loved! I like to think they were a little gift from her, especially since they fit me perfectly! I haven’t got the chance to wear them yet but I will let you know when I do! 

Oh and I also finished my first project in print making class! Here is a picture of my piece that I turned in, it is called ‘Embedded Curves.’ I really like the way that it turned out, if I do say so myself.

So this weekend was also so much fun! I only went out Friday but it was a blast! We went on a booze cruise of Sydney Harbor again this time was better though because it was an all whit party and there was free drinks! The views that night were breathe taking as you can see. After that we went to the casino/ bar, luckily for me I did gamble and pretty much stayed on the club side of the place! It was a great time though, probably one of the most fun nights I have had here! I know this post is kind of long and has lots of pictures but I'm just trying to make up for the two weeks I missed! Hopefully I will be writing on here soon again! Thanks for reading!

Xoxox

Carlee Jean

21

Heyy everyone so here’s the cake I made!! I thought it would be a cute idea since it's here 21st birthday and yes the Barbie is throwing up rainbow sprinkles! Hah I also made the cake rainbow inside as you can see! It was super easy; I just separated them into different containers then colored them each a different color. After that just poured them in one at a time and made it look flowerish by dragging a straw from each corner to the middle! It turned out pretty well as you can see! Since we have no oven in my apartment we cooked this bad boy in the toaster oven and totally worked! Anyways so that is my cake that I wanted to show you guys but I still have a lot to do tonight before I go to bed so I'm going to go! Thanks for reading!

xoxoxo

Carlee Jean

Wallabies vs. All Blacks

Hello everyone! So I’ll get straight to the point with my post today! On Saturday we went to the Wallabies vs. All Blacks rugby game and it was so awesome. In this picture the All Blacks are doing their famous Hakka War dance that they do before every game ( I tried to upload a video of this but it didn’t work but I’m putting it on my Facebook wall if you want to check it out!). The game was a blast too I went with Kate, my roommate Mik, and their friend Claire. We basically pigged out on hotdogs, fries, and beers the whole time hah. The All Blacks ended up winning 27 to 19, so it was a pretty good game. The fans were pretty wild but there was probably an even number of people routing for each team, which was pretty cool. We were planning on going out after the game but after all the food, beer and a 30 min train ride home we decided to call it a night. Since we didn’t make it out Saturday we are going out tonight! Its Kate’s 21^st birthday at midnight so we are going to go out and celebrate even though we did throw a party for her birthday at my place Friday too! We are going to give it another go because the party we had for her on Friday was ended by security because it was too loud, totally worth it though. So now I have to get ready for tonights birthday celebration, that is why I am going to make this post fairly short because I have a ton to get done today. I have to do my readings for class, finish my print for printmaking, and then we are making Kate a cake for her birthday! Really excited to do because I have a great theme for it and rather than telling you what it is, I’ll take a picture of it tonight and then post it hopefully tomorrow! Anyways I’m going to get going because I have a lot to get done! Have a good night! I will hopefully be posting a little something tomorrow!

XOXOX

Carlee Jean