http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/chalkgirl/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from chalkgirl en-us Fri, 05 Dec 2008 15:39:36 UTC Fri, 05 Dec 2008 15:39:36 UTC Well what can I say I couldn't fight the urge to write one last entry as this beautiful trip comes to an end. Actually I just forgot about the fact that I had to sleep deprive myself in order to sleep on my long flight back home... so right now I'm really bored in the hostel's lobby trying to stay awake so that tomorrow Louise's longest day EVER will go by smoothly... I have a 150g cho http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/Australia/Queensland/Brisbane/Southbank/blog-305553.html Well this may be my last entry before getting back to good old Vancouver... As I'm leaving tomorrow morning for Brissie and then to Vancouver the next day I will most likely find it too hard to write something more in there. But you never knowYesterday I did my final tourity tour in the Tablelands an area East of Cairns that is surrounded by Rainforests and therefore lush for agriculture. http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/Australia/Queensland/Cairns/Cairns-City/blog-305035.html I flew into Cairns on Wednesday and got into my hostel at around 3pm just in time to check my room book some stuff to see and go out to visit the town. From the moment I stepped off the plance I knew I would love it here. It is absolutely my kind of town. The kind of town that you stop and look at the real estate prices and job postings cause you like it so much. It has been warm enough h http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/Australia/Queensland/Cairns/Cairns-City/blog-304311.html Well still no way of uploading pictures yet... but wanted to keep everyone updated on what I've been up to My first morning in Brisbane I slept in a bit as the guy above had left and was no longer snoring and keeping everyone up. But I missed the hostel's free shuttle because two girls spent way too much time getting ready in our ensuite a MAJOR drawback of having ensuites in hostels not http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/Australia/Queensland/Brisbane/blog-303059.html Well I finally made it out to see the Grampians National Park on Saturday on a tour with three other people. We left bright and early on Saturday morning and headed off NorthWest stopping in Beaufort for morning tea and biscuits I do enjoy this british tradition and then continuing on to Halls Gap the major town in the National Park.In terms of sightseeing we didn't do very much which w http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/Australia/Queensland/Brisbane/Southbank/blog-302239.html Well I think Mrs. Verge would be proud... actually Mr. Sguin would be proud as he knows how much trouble I went through in high school trying to decipher Shakespeare He definitely had to lead me by the hand on all the ones we read... but either way I got the opportunity on Wednesday night to go see Hamlet at the Arts Centre in Melbourne. The production was put together by the Bell Shake http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/Australia/Victoria/Great-Ocean-Road/blog-301376.html So I finally have access to the internet with some photo uploading capabilities... so I'm trying desperately to update everything and have it all photoised for everyone to seeMelbourne has been a bit of an adjustment for me from the getgo. I arrived on Sunday evening at 6pm and it was dark. There's nothing like finding your way around a new city in the dark. I don't recommend it. You do http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/Australia/Victoria/Melbourne/blog-300331.html Well hopefully I will be able to find an internet cafe today and write an actual blog entry with pictures and all... I know it's been a few days but don't despairIn the meantime on the flight from Hobart to Melbourne I had some inspiration and tried to write some poetry... Please keep in mind that this is my first draft but hopefully you all enjoyHere we goadaptation.branches intertwi http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/Australia/Victoria/Melbourne/CBD/blog-300250.html Well my trip to Launceston didn't end up quite as I had planned it... I arrived in early afternoon in Launceston and headed straight to my hostel which was a great little old house on the other side of the bridge. Great place great people I highly recommend it But the penguin people kinda screwed me over so I had no tour to go to... which made me quite angry as this was the only reason w http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/Australia/Victoria/Melbourne/blog-299065.html Let me first say that Tasmania is freaking cold this time of year... I've been wearing my toque and gloves every day as well as my fleece and raincoat to prevent the humid wind from reaching me. My body is not acclimatized to being cold this time of year and apparently won't be cooperating with me on this matter anytime soon. I look so bundled up I think people are laughing at me when I sa http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/Australia/Tasmania/Hobart/blog-298298.html Sunday July 6 was an exciting day especially since I knew I was meeting up with my Lizzy and couldn't wait As planned I headed down to the Rocks for the Aroma Festival which proved to be culturally satisfying as well as delicious... Who can really complain about getting 1 coffees lattes flat whites cappuccinos mocaccinos... chocolate samples and tea I also got the chance to check http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/blog-296977.html I visited the Blue Mountains world heritage area in Katoomba on Saturday July 5th. Having been told previously that Australia doesn't really have mountains at least by Canadian standards and that I wouldn't be much impressed with the area they had been quite downplayed and I wasn't expecting much in terms of views. I think you get spoiled living in Vancouver with the mountain views and prox http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Katoomba/blog-295801.html Thursday July 3rd I decided to visit the most famous Sydney beach of all Bondi Beach. Known around the world it was the first beach to have surf life guards and the building where they are trained still stands. Today Lifeguarding is a recognized profession in Australia and people aspire to become Bondi Beach Lifeguards. If only every job could become professionalized...I started my day http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/blog-295436.html July 1st Canada' Birthday was my first real tourist and vacation day... in the beautiful city of Sydney. I have to admit I was very antsy and anxious to see how I would fare traveling and visiting on my own. Now that the first day has passed I have to say that it does get a little lonely... I'm hoping I can meet some people along the wayFirst destination of course was the Sydney Opera H http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/blog-294313.html Well let me first start by saying that my flight actually went pretty well I know We boarded the plane at almost 10pm on Saturday night... the plane was fully packed with no empty seats... and it was one of those airbus planes with two levels. it was mind blowing actually the size of this airplane it felt like you were walking street blocks to get to your seat after much reflecti http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/blog-293474.html After a 2 hour nap on the night of the 27th I was off to the airport... arrival time 430am. Let me first tell you that 330am should not exist for anyone... especially meMy frazzled brain and overstimulated body were no match for international departures and it was a bit hard for me to figure out what to do... Let's just say that it had been a while since I'd flown internationally a http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/California/Los-Angeles/LAX/blog-293448.html Day 1 Barely... although the prospect of heading across the world by myself for the first time ever has me freaking out quite a bit So why not start here My life is all about drama and excitement anyways so why not let you into my world and entertain you... let's face it you all love to live vicariously through me so jump on board and let me do what I am best at being a quiet mi http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Vancouver/blog-291670.html