Im a Poor Planner

   

The other day I went with the guys to watch them surf and take pictures. Unfortunately it is school holidays here and so the beaches are very crowded. So crowded in fact that it was extremely difficult to keep track of who was who in the crowd. I also am not very good a photography and thus didn't get a single decent picture out of hundreds. 
     On the way back from surfing the guys have a tradition of stoping at 7/11 for coffee. Me not being a coffee drinker I got a doughnut. Well I tried to get a doughnut. A couple of days into the trip and my credit card company randomly decided to shut my card down so it got declined and that was plenty embarrassing because I knew that I had plenty of credit left on it. Thankfully it was a quick fix and all that I had to do was hit a button on an email they sent me. Would have been nice if Capital One had paid attention to the travel notice I gave them ahead of time. 
     Australian Rugby league is big here and that night we watched the Broncos vs Roosters. I think it was a lot more exciting than American football. It was actually kind of fun to watch, unlike football lol.

"A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving" -Lao Tzu
I do have a few fixed plans and I am intent on getting there (or I will let my hosts down) and I am by no means a good traveler but I hope to become one some day.

DI

Double Island

     The other morning I went with Geoff, Jake, Nemo's girlfriend and another friend to Double Island point to try and catch some surf and avoid the Holliday tourists that hang out in Noosa. The way out there you have to take a ferry then drive in a 4x4 through deep sand along the shore. along the way we saw a huge turtle had washed ashore and we tried to save it. Unfortunately we think it was sick and couldn't swim back and/or we got to it too late and it was just too tired. We continued on as a lifeguard truck pulled up. 

     

Trying to help out the turtle.

 As we arrived to our destination tide was coming in and we set up a spot to enjoy the view and make some food. The boys went out to try and surf (turned out not much to surf on). Meanwhile Jake's GF and I got bored and hungry and decided to try and make some food. We ended up with ramen noodles in a chicken and creamed corn soup; wasn't too bad. A bit later as the boys headed back in Geoff started making food for everyone and some tea. (the amount of tea and coffee everyone here drinks is astounding) 

     As camping there is NOT allowed we did not go camping. We stayed on the beach late into the night and just happened to be there as the sun rose as well. I "napped"/slept in a swag for the first time. I had never even hear of one before. It is like an awesome mix of sleeping bag, tent, and camping mattress rolled into one! 

     In the morning we drove around to find a nice place to try and surf to no avail. Instead we pulled up and made a sandy breakfast in the wind of poorly cut bacon, eggs, bread and more sand. (caution punny joke ahead ->)   It was a Sandywich. lol  

    We then went on a walk to a place they call Spooky's for its notoriety as being sharky. yikes! But it was a truly beautiful spot. After that it was home we went. 

Spooky's

Lots of fun,

     Sami

"Don't worry about the world ending today, it's already tomorrow in Australia" - Charles M. Schulz

Well then, what about those of us in Australia Mr. Schulz? 

A Surfing First!

   

Geoff  and Raff took me out to go surfing at Granite, well they surfed and I got to attempt it. 

     The first thing I learned was that the boards are very light for how large they are. 

     The second thing I learned is that the boards are actually quite heavy. It may be light as a feather at first but carrying that board ~5k uphill in bare feet then climbing down the side of a cliff the board seems to just get heavier and heavier as you go. Carrying it back it was even heavier.

     Then Geoff taught me how to use the leg leash and off we went! (I am right handed but board left foot back, apparently this is strange) Paddling out wasn't too hard one you get past the breaking waves. Out there I got to practice sitting up and paddling around trying to stay out of everyone's way. As I got better at that, Geoff said I should try and catch a wave just laying on the board. That attempt sort of failed as will happen with beginners. I totally ate wave and flipped end over end than got ran over at least by my board and maybe Raff. All the joys of learning to surf. I then paddled back out to wait another try. Getting board paddling around and sitting watching the guys I started watching for fish and turtles. There was even some dolphins in the distance.  If you get sea sick I don't recommend doing watching the sea-life and getting distracted. Sad to say I am the first anyone at this house has heard of getting sea sick on a board. I was good enough not to fall off and roll with the waves but I AM lame enough to get sea sick. It was cool watching the fish trying to eat the jellyfish though!  So feeling a bit nauseous I went back to shore to watch the guys finish their surf and back home we went after the obligatory 7/11 run for coffee.

"I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read in the train" -Oscar Wilde

Australia day 2

Got Lucky!!

     Monday I was getting morning chores out of the way when I overheard Margaret on the phone talking to someone about passport and cards. This got my hopes up. When she hung up Margaret told me the great news: someone found my lost purse!! It had been turned into Woolworth's. On the way back from picking up my purse Geoff let me try and drive his 4x4 on the (left side) road for the first time. It was so discombobulating. 

     I was just starting to get used to the feel of driving on the other side of the road when Geoff started yelling at me to pull over. I was seriousely concerned that I had commited some seriouse offence. So I pulled over and hopped out when Geoff said "follow me, I wanna show you something" *in australian accent*. So we walked a ways down the road when we see a HUGE (3m?) carpet snake slowly crossing the road. Geoff was brave, grabbed it by the tail and pulled it off the road so it wouldn't get run over. 

       

     Later helping out with dinner, Margaret pointed out this beautiful turkey with a bright yellow and red head. turns out latter that they  are everywhere. I don't feel so bad now not getting a picture of it.

Lots of fun,

     Sami

"The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page" St. Augustine

Day 1 fail

Day one in Australia and Ive already messed up.

     So before I left I set up a Homestay* near Noosa Heads. I was very nervous as I had never met these people before and I was to wait for them to show up where the bus had dropped me off.   Thankfully after stalking them on Facebook throughly I recognized them pull up minutes after arriving at the bus drop off. Unfortunately in my nervousness I left my small purse on the bench (had my passport and credit cards in it). I realized my mistake as soon as we got to their house and felt like a true nincompoop. What a great way to make a first impression!! Geoff and Margaret were extremely kind and understanding and Geoff gave me a ride back and helped me search everywhere to no avail. Needless to say I was stressing. Geoff helped me make a police report but as this was a Sunday it was likely that if someone picked up my purse to turn it he/she would wait till Monday. So. no use worrying till Tuesday if I couldn't find it till then. 

"Take only memories, leave only footprints." -Chief Seattle and my mom

I chose this quote to remind the reader that leaving anything but footprints may be harmful to the environment.   Just kidding. Don't leave your passport and/or wallet. I found mine and am so glad I do not have to go through the hassle to get new copies of it all when out of the country.

*stay at a person/s home in exchange for work set up through sites such as Helpx.net 

Catching ZZZ's

Fiji

After an exhausting day in Hawaii I headed to the airport with two carry-ons in my bikini and coverup. I was expecting to get through check in no problem then, go into the restroom and clean up and change and rearrange my luggage. Well...    my duffle (carry-on according to Alaska Air) was too big and I had to check it in. thus I had to speedily change all I could to my backpack and such while everyone wanted to get the line moving again. Needless to say I forgot some stuff (like underwear). 

Making it through the line I headed for the bathroom and changed best as I could out of my swimwear. Then I headed for the sink and mirror to clean up from the beach best as I could.  If mirrors cracked from ugly sights like the kids joke this mirror would have been in millions of pieces. I had to double take my hair was such a mess! After cleaning up I headed to the gate to wait. Plane came at 2am finally and it was a long flight but not too bad. 

I made it to the Hotel in Fiji about 10:30 am and slept from there. Everyone in Fiji is so incredibly nice and it is such a beautiful country that I am sad to say that I slept most of the day except for meals. 

Next morning I left the hotel at 5am for my flight so unfortunately no pictures were taken the whole time I was there. If I could fire myself I would. 

Plane flight to Brisbane was alright, made nicer by a women traveling like me but coming from Alaska and meeting up with friends.

"Oh the places you'll go" -Dr. Seuss

Hawaii

   

The Inn I stayed at was a lot more sketchy than this picture makes it look. Filters can do amazing things!

  I'm sitting at the airport waiting. Waiting means lots of thinking and facebooking and there are all sorts of things I would like to post; I highly dislike it when people constantly post, especially on vacation.  So in order to remedy this I have decided to create a blog! Just so the reader (probably just my family) knows this is day two. If I were smart (wish I was) I would have started yesterday on this. I would have also remembered that as a solo traveler I can't sunscreen my back.

Wild Chickens!

Rooster wants to ride the waves.

After making it to the other side of Diamondhead rd. there was a pretty rainbow. 

Should have known the clouds and rainbow meant the next minute I had to run for cover it was pouring and I got drenched

   That last sentence is what led me to all this really. The bliss of taking my backpack off of my sunburn that had the knot of my swimsuit rubbing into my sunburned back after walking the Diamond head rd. and back was wonderful.  And thank goodness for buses even IF they are very confusing to a public transit beginner. 

    O'ahu is beautiful, Waikiki is beautiful, the whole beach and area out of the CBD is beautiful, the birds and wildlife are gorgeous even the wild chickens.  I wish I had gone to the Pearl Harbor Memorial but hey, one more reason to come back! After just over 24 hrs I got lots of pretty pictures and when I come back I hope someone/s will be there to share in the fun and maybe sunscreen my back.

Lots of fun,
     Sami

 
“The gladdest moment in human life, me thinks, is a departure into unknown lands.” – Sir Richard Burton

Ps. Mom should be proud I used my hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen everywhere I could reach. I'm making progress already!