Christmas.

It's December 23.
And I went to the beach today.

Australia, australia, australia...oh you...you and your 30+C temperatures, your soft, squeeky sand, bright blue water, perfect flat white lattes, tender kangaroo steak, and noisey birds...
This is my first Christmas outside of Canada.
Ever.
Now that the obligatory bragging is out of the way...
I'm not going to lie...I do NOT miss the cold. I don't know if I'll ever learn how to miss the cold...
But I will tell you this; I DO miss YOU.
I've been battling a bout of homesickness lately...probably as a result of the holiday, and a lack of solid planning as far as my traveling is concerned.
Should I have looked into what i wanted to do before I came here...? Yeah. That would have been smart. This country is so damned huge (and I realize Canada isn't exactly small either...), and there's so much to see, that my head spins trying to decide where I should go, and what I should do next.
Not that there haven't been interesting stories along the way...

Since leaving Alice Springs, I've spent the last few weeks in Brisbane and around the Gold Coast.
Brisbane made me feel as if I were in limbo. I went there in anticipation of a possible job interview, as well as a volunteer position with the Woodford Folk Festival. I was basically waiting.
The job interview turned into a one-day gig, shooting a Tahiti dance recital. Pretty easy...cash in hand. And the Woodford folks called me to offer a position during the festival, so I'm pumped for that. I'll be an 'extra', doing whatever job needs to get done that day. I only work for 5hr/day, and then have the rest of my time to check out the hundreds of performers, artists, dancers, etc., who will be a the fest. Even a few Canadian acts to check out (Hey Rosetta! is a favorite).

After a few days wandering Brissy (checking out the inspirational GOMA-Gallery Of Modern Art, the South Bank lagoon and market, and Queen Street shopping, I went down to Main beach (just north of Surfer's Paradise), to hang out with Eric, Mike, and Mandy for a few days. We did 'Dreamworld', this combination water/amusement park, where we screamed on the tubes to mock the little kids. We also did a hike into the Green Mountains, which is crazy rainforest complete with a half-dozen waterfalls, ontop of an insanely steep mountain. We also managed to get lost in the rainforest, and hiked about 2km in the wrong direction...by the time we got out, it was almost pitch black, and it was absolutely POURING rain. I also tripped and managed to turn my left butt cheek purple. Heyo!


For my birthday (that's 24 years kids!), Eric bought me a cake and a pirate themed party bag. We did it up right, complete with eye patches, party hats, and rape whistles.
Unfortunately, the security at the Surfer's Paradise Casino didn't take too kindly to our sense of humor...or our sense of direction.




While in Alice Springs, I met a Vancouverite ('Krista Canada') who was staying at a friends place in Brisbane, and offered me a room for a few days in Fortitude Valley. I swear, everything strange that happens in Brisbane must happen in the Valley.
We had a run-in with some creeps from Ireland who thought it was their mission in life to annoy the hell out of Krista and I. This involved pant-dropping, hat-stealing, and all the other things that 8yr olds find funny.

Something that wasn't so funny, was my friend Christine (also from Canada: Ontario) getting mauled by a taxi that jumped the curb as we walked down the sidewalk.
Krista, Christine, and I were headed to pick up groceries for a nice evening in, when a taxi driver drove onto the sidewalk, completely wiping out Christine and a 70yr old Korean lady. Krista and I were on the outside of the sidewalk and were able to jump out of the way as the car shot past, but Christine suffered a broken pelvis, and the Korean woman sustained minor head injuries...
I wasn't expecting an ambulance ride in a foreign country.
Christine is doing really well though...she's on crutches and out of the hospital.
it was pretty scary though...the cab didn't even slow down, it just stopped once it hit the wall on the other side of the sidewalk.


Other happenings: met up with Dave (random Malaysian friend), Jemma (Fraser trip friend), made the most amazing dinner (of Kangaroo Steak, mashed potatoes and fresh corn!!), went out for my birthday with Krista and Chrissy (two great girls from Vancouver), and general 'hanging out'.




I now find myself in Byron Bay.
I've been sea kayaking, and I've fallen for the sport completely. It's such great excersize, and I find myself liking the idea of being ABOVE the water, instead of IN it.

I also took a surf lesson, and actually STOOD UP on the surf board!!
It was great...just a taste of what surfing actually feels like.
The ocean here is beautiful...I can't really describe it, and the pictures don't do it justice, but it's all I have to give you right now...

What I really want to do, is wish you a Very, Merry Christmas.
I'm thinking of everyone back home, and even though it is cold back there...it would be nice to just pop in for a few hours, eat some roast and pie, drink some spiced rum and egg nog, play some random family board game, have our Chinese gift exchange, and go ski-dooing.

Merry Christmas.

I Love You.


-Amanda