Cairns

The weekend after we went out, Lindsay's and Jordan's team played in a game for the playoffs.  Sad to say but they both lost and that would mean that their season would be over.  However this was the first time the girls have ever made the playoffs so this was an awesome achievement all together.  So that Monday after I had already booked my holiday to Cairns, Australia so off I went on an adventure.  I left here in Hobart around 1:00 and didn't arrive in Cairns till 7:30.  It is surprising to me that you think you can get anywhere within Australia pretty fast, but the land is HUGE!  So once I arrived I got a bus into the city and went to my hotel.  After getting settled in I went to grab some dinner and then headed back to the hotel for bed.  I had an early morning to go out to the Great Barrier Reef for snorkeling!

I walked from my hotel to the ship that was going to take my out to the Great Barrier Reef.  The morning was looking as if it was going to be a nice day.  Here are a few pictures of the harbor.

I went on my boat and got settled in.  They served tea and coffee and coffee I needed!  Soon we were on our way.  Here are a few pictures of the Harbor and Cairns looking from the ocean.

The weather started to turn and it started to rain.  I was a bit bummed because I was hoping for a really sunny day to work on my tan and so that the water looked bright for when I was going to take pictures. We finally arrived after about 2 hours to Michaelmas Cay Island.  I headed out on the first boat to shore that I could get on.  I couldn't wait to dive in and start seeing the coral.  A lot of people got wetsuits on the ship but I decided against it.  I'm from Wisconsin for god sakes!  I can endure a little cold water.  So once arriving on the beach I put my fins, mask and snorkel on and off I went.  The water wasn't even cold!  I had an underwater camera and when I get back to the states and get it developed I will put those pictures up here too.

Despite the fact that it wasn't sunny the reef was still amazing.  I was able to see tons of fish and marine life.  I even got to see one of my favorite sea animals and that is the green turtle.  I followed it for a bit but then another snorkeler scared it off.  Some people just don't know!  But I went on my way to search for other marine life.  I really wanted to see a seahorse and a Nemo but never got the chance.  Next time.  After about an hour and a half I headed back to the boat to dry off and get some lunch.  Here are a few pictures of the Island and the water.

There was also this "submarine" that we got in so here are a few shots from inside that.  You can get a sense of what the coral looked like.

We headed back around 3 and on the journey back I got to talking to some Americans.   There was a 12 year old and her uncle.  It was her birthday and coming to the GBR was her birthday present!  Must be nice to be able to choose anywhere in the world and the uncle just takes you!  But they were very kind and were heading back down to Sydney in a few days so I gave them some tips on what to do.  After 2 hours we made it back and I went back to shower and then go grab some food.

I walked around for a bit and then grabbed some sushi and a beer, headed back to the hotel and sat on the balcony and just enjoyed the weather and scenery.  Went to bed early again because the next day I had to be up at 6:00 to catch my bus to go white water rafting!

The rafting experience was AMAZING!!!! I would do it over and over again.  We went down the Tully river which is about 2 hours outside of Cairns in the rainforest.  I was put in a raft with 6 other people.  There was 2 people from France, 2 from China, a guy named James from an Island in between  England and Ireland and then our guide Leon.  No experience was required and that worried me a bit but once you go on your way it is like you are a pro.  The water was a bit chilly but nothing that I couldn't handle.  The ride down was just incredible.  We endured rapids from grade 2-6 and some of them were pretty dangerous, but that is what made it more fun.

At one point they capsized us so we got to swim in the river, which I would like to point out has crocs and eels in it, but thankfully none around me.  I also got to do a cliff jump which was really cool too.  We were not allowed to bring out cameras on the raft for obvious reasons but there was someone taking pictures along the side of the river.  I didn't purchase any thought because they wanted $100 dollars for 40 pics and I just thought that was ridiculous since I just spent $200 for the trip.  So the images will forever live in my memory but just believe me when I say it was AMAZING!

After the rafting we headed to a pub for a beer and then headed back down to Cairns.  I was quite exhausted that night and just went out for dinner on the Esplanade and then returned to my hotel.  These long days and all the activity was really taking it out of me.

The next day I had to do whatever I wanted and finally it was a SUNNY day!  I walked around town and did some shopping and then went to the lagoon.  There is no beach in Cairns but they have a local lagoon that is just a really big but not very deep swimming pool.  I laid out and wasn't even upset that I was being kissed my the sun.  Here it was...my one and only day of summer that I would have this year and I loved every moment of it.  I enjoyed watching everyone and read a book.  It was a great relaxing day.  Here are some pictures of Cairns.

That night I walked around again and just took it all in but headed back again early because I had to get up at 3:30 the next morning to catch the bus back to the airport.  It was a lovely trip and it went by way to fast.  I didn't want to leave the warm weather but had to go back to see Lindsay one more time before she left and to then prepare myself for my next holiday which would be in New Zealand!

Last time out in Hobart

There was one weekend left that we felt we could go out on the town and that is just what we did.  We decided to finish up the booze/beer that was left in our house.  Sounded like a wonderful idea at the time and that it was.  We were able to finish off a decent amount of our stuff and out we went.  It was an awesome time out and I am glad that we got one more time to party out in Hobart.  Here are pictures from throughout the night.  Until next time Hobart but thanks for all these wonderful memories from going out!

Saying goodbye to Joe/Italian Pantry

While working at the Italian Pantry I became pretty close to my co-worker Joe.  Him and I worked pretty much everyday together so needless to say he found out a lot about me and became my bestie down here. 

Joe was leaving for Turkey and Germany for a 6 week holiday so on a Sunday we went out for some drinks and had a farewell day.   Here are a few pictures of Joe and I.

Now a few weeks later it was my last week of working at the Italian Pantry.  I worked here for about 4 months and I loved it.  The people here were incredibly kind and generous and I will miss working in such a great environment.  I hated saying goodbye to them but I know that I will make it back down here someday and visit them. And hopefully they will get the chance to come visit me.  Here is a picture of Sara and I and then a picture of a few other people that work there.  Thanks for everything guys! You are all amazing and I can’t thank you enough for everything you all did for me!

For those of you that live here or those who want to see where I worked, please check out their website.  They are starting to do some really cool things like cooking classes and every Friday night they put on this AMAZING dinner that I have been to and the food is incredible.  Website: www.italianpantry.com.au

Girls last regular season game/Cousins day

So the first weekend of August the girls had their last regular season game.  They needed to win this game in order to make it to playoffs and they were playing Frankston.  Walking in the girls felt good about it and were pretty sure that they were going to win.  And win they did.  Here are a few photos of the star Lindsay playing. 

By the way if you haven’t heard, Lindsay is going on to play for the Logan Thunder up in Brisbane for a season and then just signed a contract to play with Hobart again.  She had an AMAZING season and is moving forward with her basketball career.  Very proud of her!  Here we are after her game. 

The boys played next and they also needed to win in order to go into playoffs.  They did end up beating Frankston too but this wasn’t their last game and had to win the following weekend and wait for other teams in the conference to play before they found out if they made it or not.  Thankfully they did, but here are a few pictures Jordan before and after the game.

This is Cherie, Lindsay and I.  Cherie has been a wonderful person and has become another mother to us. 

The next day Lindsay and I decided to have a cousin day because it had been awhile and we weren’t sure if we were going have another chance before she left.  We started our day off in Salamanca to do some shopping for us and presents for those we love at home.  But after that got down to business and went wine tasting in Richmond which is a few towns over from Hobart.

We started at Puddleduck and were able to try about 7 different wines.  We didn’t buy anything but got to talking to the owner about where we were from and such and he told us that he was restoring a car from the states.  Anyone guess what it was??…..well if you were on the same mind track as me it was a ’67 Mustang convertible.  How he acquired it is a awesome story but to keep it short he got it from a gentleman that kept it in his garage who originally bought it from and American general.  When I get home I will tell the story to anyone who asks but it gets a bit complicated to write on here.  Here are a few images of Puddleduck.

We went to Moorilla winery next that gave us about 15 tastings.  We enjoyed those but mainly enjoyed the men we were talking to.  There were four of them from Melbourne and were having a weekend down in Hobart.  They wanted us to come to Flamingos with them that night which is the gay bar that is here in Hobart.  We never made it but I wish we did because one of them was meant to be my friend’s future husband.  But I think if it’s meant to be it’s meant to be.  Here are a few pictures of their vines.

Since we didn’t have enough drinking yet we went to get a pitcher of beer and then went to get dinner.  Look at us!

After dinner we went back to our house and took a nap, just because we were up early not because we spent an afternoon drinking.  Ha!  Now we did plan on going out that night but instead had a girl’s night in with some of the basketball players and watched the Olympics instead.  It was a wonderful day and I am glad that I got one last cousin day in!