Down Under Mate

Contiki Tour Group Round two. First one being summer 2008 in Western Europe. I have to say this trip, as like the last, was totally unforgettable. First off, I made a lot of really great friends in less than 3 weeks. It’s as if one day on Contiki is 1 week in real life. You spend so much time with each other, lean on each other, laugh, experience, and are awestruck together all in a short time. Besides, a lot of friends that I made were a lot “like me,” which also helped make the trip not so much of a ‘solo-tour,’ but moreover an instant gateway to travel buddies on the spot.

Leaving a snowy and cold Seoul, Korea, it was a big shock to step off the plane in Cairns (North East) and feel the warm, coastal air. Walking around Cairns for the first day by myself (before the tour started), I felt for the first time a “travel,” that wasn’t at all like the rest that I’ve done in the last 3 years. That’s because it felt strangely like home. Mostly my travels have been to South-East Asia, the Middle East, India, and these places were a temporary adjustment for me. However, being that I left Asia to go a more “Western place,” for once I felt more at home traveling than before. Having said that, I wasn’t bored or disappointed, but rather still embraced the culture that exists, the awesome weather, unique lingo and beaches.

I spent only a few hours exploring Cairns by my lonesome until some other Contiki-ites arrived too. I bunked w/ some girls from California. Julie, Lauren and Lisa. They had their party hats on and we had lots of laughs together over the few weeks. Days 2 and 3 I befriended some Californians living and stationed in Italy, Jesus and Jon. These guys provided some awesome laughs, drunken nights, chilled afternoons and chats over the weeks, but I can’t forget to mention Russell, who joined us a few days in at Whitsundays. He fit right into the crowd, cracking jokes and sharing some laughs over beers with the rest of us.

Sisterhood of the traveling pants was ignited when sweet little Anne, fun-loving J and saucy little Sara because my quad. I love these girls for making things comfortable, fun and relaxing all in the same breath.

First stop in Australia? Nothing other than the magnificent wonder of the world, the Great Barrier Reef. Snorkeling and scuba diving helped me check that right of the bucket list. It was my first time scuba diving, and what better place to “get my feet wet,” than in the Great Barrier? At first I was a bit worried about the breathing deal, deep breaths and slow breaths. But I got used to it in a short while. My Scuba team included Jesus, Jon and Suzie. Fun times had by all, including some sexy pics in our tight scuba gear (and some real and non-real mustache tattoos ha ha). I had purchased an Olympus underwater camera before Aus, and it worked out awesome for snorkeling. If anyone is considering buying an underwater camera, it’s VERY worth it!

After a few get to know you nights, dinners, drinking we were pretty close, and we set the tone for a great 2 weeks together. Our tour manager Jon and driver Ralph were a great asset and very easy to get along with. Props to them! Before heading south we visited an Aboriginal place. I saw place loosely because it was a bit set up; the boomerangs the didgeridoos (hollowed instruments), the get up, the dancing. But it was still somewhat ‘cultural’ so to speak.
Next to Whitsundays, which to be honest I’d never heard of before researching Contiki tours. It’s pretty swanky and was also important for me because it was my first ‘roo sighting. This island (Daydream Island) had a nice hotel, a few restaurants, wedding chapel, forest in the middle and some amazing beach views. It was a good place to stop and refuel, along with some day trips to white sand beaches, some more snorkeling and sun soaking (a bit TOO much for me, damn tricky overcast days)!

After Whitsundays we started to run into some rain, which later led to floods in Brisbane. Lucky for us we just missed the heavy rains, which avoided us having to reroute our trip (unlike the Contiki tours going south to North). Nothing says MERRY CHRISTMAS like Crocodile kebab and soup at a Croc farm. Christmas Eve we visited a croc farm, with an owner who, I wish could have been my grandpa. We tried the croc meat, had some Christmas beer cheers and when it turned dark, took flashlights out to see the crocs in the ponds, with fences separating us. Seeing those red eyes stare back at you, let alone when he called them to ‘shore,’ to feed and seeing how massive their body is, is enough to make you happy you WEREN’T the croc hunter (RIP).
Vicky and Josh, awesome friends I met from Ohio State kept things fun and lively! Between whitewater rafting (FORRWARRD), drinking nights (Passion Pop) and having Vick for Good Morning Christmas wishes (roomies), they were undoubtedly great friends to have met on this journey. Christmas day was unique. Rainy, but warm. Jon and Ralph prepared a Christmas Picnic Lunch, which we enjoyed during the stop off to the picnic grounds, along with a secret Santa gift exchange. Again, a unique Christmas, but memorable because I was able to comfortably wear an “I Love Santa” wife beater AND go swimming in the evening! We finally arrived at our location on Fraser Island, which was set up like cottages in the woods. A rustic location, but close amenities such as swimming pool and restaurant/bar. No Contiki Christmas would be complete without some fun loving and boozing, so one cottage was chosen for a big drinking game and some subsequent laughs into the night.

Noosa, Brisbane, Surfer’s Paradise, Byron’s Bay, Coffs Harbour and Port Stevens were all stops we made along the way. Australia is one of a kind, with various “feels and vibes” as you travel along the coast. From hippy, to surfing, to ritzy, to relaxed, to city atmosphere…the sky is the limit. I can say without a doubt, if I lived somewhere that I could surf often … I would. It’s so exhilarating! It wakes you up, it’s fun, challenging, rewarding and makes you feel on top of the world. A definite must do again.

Heading down the coast towards Sydney made me realize the vast differences between Aus and Canada. Although maybe people compare the people to each other, I can agree, the way of life and the “island” patience is much different from home. The beachy/coastal small towns are nothing like the small towns where I’m from. Of course landscape aside, the people are more relaxed, care free and have the beach to wipe their worries away, or so it seems. Even comparing Sydney to Toronto, the people always have the chance for a late day swim, run along the coast (yearly) or just the option of being outdoors at anytime of the year, even with just a light jacket in the “winter.” Being able to enjoy the outdoors all of the time is a general stress reliever for most.

I have only great things to say about Sydney. The awesome Opera House aside, there are so many nooks and crannies, or parts of the city that have their own vibe. The Contiki Tour ended on NYE, so we rang in 2011 with an incredible fireworks show near the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It was a great way to cap of an outstanding trip, life changing year and new beginnings of 2011. I spent the next few days with friends who also stayed later; enjoyed Bondi Beach (Thanks J for offering I stay at your friend Pete’s! Moreover, thanks Pete for the hospitality!) Bondi was a rocking place on New Year’s Day. Sun, sand and friends totally beat snow and a hangover, haha. The following day rocked my world, as I jumped out of an airplane! Holla at skydiving! Now, you wouldn’t catch me dead (or alive) bungee jumping because the free fall makes my knees go into my throat; but falling with the knowledge that you’ll be caught by a parachute moments later is breathtaking (literally I lost my breath from the fall). Russell, Julie, Lauren, Jon, Ali and I took the plunge. If I may be honest, it wasn’t that scary. I was tandem with a dude who looked like he’d done it a million times, so I wasn’t worried about anything and I knew it would be an experience of a lifetime. The one time I did feel pretty worried was when I saw Julie get sucked down out of the plane so quickly, but I only had about 20 more seconds to go before it was my time, so I didn’t have a lot of time to worry. Plus I was strapped to someone like a baby monkey, so I had no choice in the matter of when I even moved lol. The free fall was exhilarating and I really did feel like a bird. Nothing around me but, well the guy on my back, and the wind at my hair. The free fall was about 1 minute I believe, and then the parachute landing gave me a chance to check out my surroundings. It was uber relaxing, believe it or not.
That afternoon I hit up Manely Beach with the girls via a ferry and did a bit more sunning (in January let’s not forget to mention). That evening was stellar too. 10 of us met at the Sydney Opera House bar. It rained like crazy, which made for an awesome sky, but the bar was semi inside/outside. Surprisingly the drinks weren’t too expensive, but it made you feel expensive and rich :) Later on we scored an entire private room with a HUGE, long dinner table to enjoy the final meal with many of our friends. The next day, Sara and I took a journey Westbound to the Blue Mountain. The scenery was a bit jaded for us because of the massive fog clouds, but the experience was great nonetheless. A few more goodbyes that evening and I spent the following day walking around; exploring different parts of the city, taking pictures and basking in the beauty. Sydney is a VERY livable place for a foreigner, although the one downfall I would say is the cost of living, or cost of general grocery store items, which was a bit over priced in my opinion. A final farewell dinner to my 3 guy friends, Jesus, Jon and Russell over some Thai food and ice-cream. Goodbye after goodbye, but we’ve all kept in touch since. A lot of laughs, sites, sounds and new experiences left me with a smile on the plane home. Australia, Good on ya Mate.