Home again, Home again!
Well, the great adventure is over! The Australian part of it at least, Kate and I arrived home, tired and tanned on the morning of the 23rd and have been having a good time catching up with our men, and trying in vain to acclimatize to this disgustingly cold weather!
The trip went really well, I would give it three thumbs up! We had a bit of drama near the end, as the kidney disease that's been plaguing Lizzie caught up with me as well, so I got to see a little more of Australia than intended, staying overnight in a hospital near Perth. But other than that it was smooth sailing, and although I really miss the hot sun and warmth right now, I was sitting watching Adam play hockey last night and really couldn't think of anywhere I'd rather be :)
We'll keep some more posts on here, of what we're up to PT (post-trip)and I'll also throw up a link to our pictures once I get my act together and post them...that's after I edit them down to a more manageable number than 899....gulp!
Here's some to keep you in the meantime!
Mandurah
We're now in a place called Mandurah. Just south of Perth. Madeleine & I are going insane. We're tired of beaches and there really isn't anything else to do in oz. So today we went on a boat ride - with 60 year olds. It was surprisingly fun and very relaxing, but mostly it was a nice change.
We're going to drop Borat off tomorrow. I feel like apart of us is going to be ripped from our souls. Poor Borat, back to the market for him. But enough emotion. We're then heading to Rottnest Island to bike around and maybe do another dive for me. Speaking of which, the dives on Ningaloo Reef were amazing. Just as fabulous as the Great Barrier. The reef is smaller but somehow there's more colour and way more marine life. Such as sharks and 3 meter long shovelnose rays... just alittle freaky. Espeically when the dive master gets a kick from scaring the crap out of me. He pointed out a cute nudibranch (colourful underwater slug) and as I was swimming toward it, this little triggerfish tried to head-but me! He laughed so hard his mask filled with water! Very cute... didn't really want to fall for that one when there's obviously a 3m long creature lurking behind him!
I'm so excited to see every one soon.
- Katelyn
Jurien Bay
Well Katelyn and I left Exmouth yesterday, and with it the unbearable 40 degree heat that had been plaguing us! I've never sweat so much in my life...little rivers running down my chest and did anyone know that your calves can sweat while you're just standing there? Yeah...hott.
We drove for ten hours yesterday, quite the marathon, and I did seven of them! It was an expensive day, as gas here is $1.50/L at some stations! Gulp...
I also got a fabulous neck burn, probably my best so far. It's really attractive and I can't wait to get back to Perth to show it off.
Borat doesn't have a cd player so we splurged and spent $10 on a Michael Jackson tape, probably the best purchase I've made this whole trip!
We haven't hit any wildlife yet, but our carcass count far outnumbers our live animal count..which is sort of sad.
We're off to see the Pinnacles today, which are huge towers of rock in the middle of the desert... this is what counts as a tourist attraction in WA!
Lots of love to you guys
xoxo
Madi
I put the 's' in pictures....
Katelyn as Ned Kelly
Madi as...um...drunk?
a SHARK! OMG!
The Canadian Embassy in Cottesloe
Our Christmas pinata with presents for our men and Cedric on top!
Pictures!
This was our Christmas Eve! More pics later
xoxo
Madi
Surprise!
So, kate and I are indeed alive...sorry about the lack of updates lately but there's been some top-secret things going on! But now that it's all sorted, we can share - our new arrival day back to Canada is Jan 23!
The change was prompted by a few things, but mostly came out of several heart to heart's that Kate and I had, talking about why we came here in the first place and we both felt that we had accomplished the things we set out to and we really really wanted to be back with the people we love most!
Also, it was getting to the point where we were losing money by staying here, and although going into debt does go hand in hand with travelling, we really weren't having the best time working here. SO, we decided that rather than spend a month and a half working at jobs we didn't really like here then going home, we'd quit and spend three weeks travelling some more (since that's really what we're here to do) then go home a few weeks early!
So we worked our last shift at the bar on new years day, rented a 1998 Ford station wagon and a tent and have spent the last five days driving up the west coast to Exmouth!
It's been a great time so far, we've nicknamed our beast "Borat" for all his little quirks, and he's doing a great job getting us around. Driving in Oz is a little weird, Kate and I are both having trouble remembering that there's a car on the left side of us and other cars coming at us on our right! Also, there tends to be a lot of goats and roos wandering about the roads here! It's getting progressively more hot as we head north, I think it's hovering around 40 today...it's disgusting, we have to apply sunscreen before driving!!
We stopped along the way in Geraldton and Monkey Mia, spent a night in Coral Bay and arrived in Exmouth today. There are Emu's everywhere! Coming to the internet cafe, I got coralled by two of them and literally had to run the last block! Scarrry...
Anyway, that's what we're up to. I think Kate is going to ty and find a dive here to do, I am more preoccupied with finding shade..then to Karajini national park, then home to Cottesloe Beach...then to Sydney and then REALLY home, to Canada, and all of you!
xoxox
Madi
p.s. Mum, we're staying with Peter and Jennie Buckham in Sydney!
The first day of 2007
This was a very trying day. We worked the new years day shift (which is also the Perth Cup - horse racing), and the only reason why we did it is because they paid us double. But let me tell you, it was not fun. I felt aweful the entire time. Madeleine was just a little slow in the mind, but otherwise fine... ugh.. you think her turning 23 would finally set in the hangovers, but no, she's a lucky one. Hopefully the rest of you Somervilles have the same luck!
So we might be renting a stationwagon to travel up to Exmouth! It's going to be really funny. We'll re-inact National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation! "Odoile Rules!" There's this company that rents out the stationwagon with an icebox, chairs, a table, cookery and a little bbq. Just perfect. I think it's going to be a nice change from hostelling all over the place. And it should be cheaper with more sightseeing opportunities. We'll see I guess. I'm just exciting to start planning on getting out of here. I'm not very good at staying in one place.
Miss everybody back home, and I hope you all had great new years parties. Let us know what you did and what your resolutions are. (madeleine and my resolutions are to never work in a bar again! Especially on major events...)
- Katelyn
The first day of 2007
This was a very trying day. We worked the new years day shift (which is also the Perth Cup - horse racing), and the only reason why we did it is because they paid us double. But let me tell you, it was not fun. I felt aweful the entire time. Madeleine was just a little slow in the mind, but otherwise fine... ugh.. you think her turning 23 would finally set in the hangovers, but no, she's a lucky one. Hopefully the rest of you Somervilles have the same luck!
So we might be renting a stationwagon to travel up to Exmouth! It's going to be really funny. We'll re-inact National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation! "Odoile Rules!" There's this company that rents out the stationwagon with an icebox, chairs, a table, cookery and a little bbq. Just perfect. I think it's going to be a nice change from hostelling all over the place. And it should be cheaper with more sightseeing opportunities. We'll see I guess. I'm just exciting to start planning on getting out of here. I'm not very good at staying in one place.
Miss everybody back home, and I hope you all had great new years parties. Let us know what you did and what your resolutions are. (madeleine and my resolutions are to never work in a bar again! Especially on major events...)
- Katelyn
