Fresh Start in Melbourne

I had a lovely sleep and never dreamed about missing my flight or anything horrid like that.  I got up, washed my face, and got ready for the big day that now lay ahead of me.

I was perfectly organized and had a lovely breakfast of scrambled eggs, toast and raspberry yogurt.

Wearing my backpack was quite the struggle because I hadn’t had to carry it for almost a month; only time I had to carry it after Sydney was when I brought it in to the hostel.  I made my 15 minute trek to the Brisbane Transit Bus Station, on the way there I passed two guys who offered to help me with my bags, I told them I was headed to the bus station and their reply was “Good luck, we’ll cheer you on from here”.  Not that I needed help anyway, I am a perfectly capable person.

Finally arrived at the train station and I was a bit sweaty.  An old Asian lady started talking to me right away about my travels, what she does and how people should start travelling at a young age.  We talked the whole train ride but I was so exhausted I had to sleep for a bit.

We got off the train and I scanned my transit card to pay, I was $6.60 short but no one was looking so I just kept walking like nothing was wrong.  I made it to the check in and I was so relieved to get rid of my bag.  I felt as light as a feather when I walked away to security.

Going through security was a breeze except for the minor incident of me forgetting to bring my aerosol cans out of my bag, which only resulted in a 7-minute delay.  Thank god for that delay because a security lady walked over with my Dalmatian that had Hari bought me, if I hadn’t got stopped I would have left it behind never to be seen again.  Funny how things like that work out.

I arrived at my terminal and rested for the remaining time I had.

The moment the plain started boarding I was up and ready to sleep in my seat.  For some reason though I had the most restless sleep I have ever had on a plane before.  Time change from Brisbane to Melbourne is about an hour, so when the captain said the plain was landing and I checked my phone and saw the time was 10:06 I thought, ‘oh god, I’m going to have to wait at the airport for an hour before Sharon and Rob show up’.

Luckily, by the time I turned my phone off ‘flight mode’ the time changed to 11 and I felt relived.  I was pretty much the last to get off the plane but the moment I stepped into the airport Sharon and Robin ran up to me and gave me a great big hug!  I was so happy to see a familiar face after so much travelling with people I didn’t know.

I told them about my adventures as we walked to the baggage claim and on the way we passed the café where I had my first beer… it was kind of like I was at the beginning of my trip again.

Rob and Sharon told me about the plan they had for me when I have to come back to Melbourne to catch my flight to Cairns.  Instead of Vince and Lyn (Lyn is Sharon’s sister) driving me to the airport in the morning, Rob and Sharon would put me into a hotel just across the street from the airport so I’m not as rushed in the morning to get ready.

After booking the hotel we jumped into the car and made our way to Vince and Lyn’s house.  I could barely keep my eyes open at the beginning of the drive so it was lights out for me until we reached Fountain Gate shopping mall.

The moment we arrived I woke up and was ready to get some fresh air and stretch my legs.  We stopped for lunch first inside the mall at a café called Twisted Sista and for some reason it reminded me of Devi and me, I can’t wait to see my sister again.  After eating we ventured into the mall to shop for Merve, it is his birthday on Monday and we are going to have tea (dinner) at their house.  We found him a lovely navy shirt that Sharon and I picked out; Robin didn’t know what to look for.  Further into the mall we ventured until we found a kitchen store and an ATM, then is was time to leave and head to where I will be staying for the next few days.  Before we left we bought some absolutely delicious cherries that Robin couldn’t keep his hands off.

We finally made it to Lyn and Vince’s house, I was more than excited to be in a house with family and friends.  I felt welcome the moment my foot went past the door, the only thing I wasn’t expecting was to find Vince holding a 6-month-old baby named Mason and wiping white puke off his shirt.

For the rest of the day Robin and I watched cricket while Sharon played with Mason and Vince read the paper.  Jenna (Vince and Lyn’s daughter) showed up with baby Eve and not long after Fiona or Fee came home from work as well.  By 3:40 I was exhausted and went to bed for a nap that lasted until 5:20.  Right before I went to sleep I got a call from Dad and Devi who were coming home from downtown.  They had just done a bit of shopping but the only thing I could concentrate on was the sound of the rain.  I could hear the wipers whipping backs and forth and the sound of the rain hitting the car. This may sound funny but I am starting to miss Canadian weather, mostly the torrential downpours of rain we get.  I was more than pleased to go to sleep after talking to Dad and Devi.

When I got up I felt well rested and it was just in time for vegetarian lasagna for dinner.  I devoured my first slice and salad, and then went back for seconds.  We watched the news while eating dinner and I learned about a recent murder in Cairns… a mother murdered seven children, six of which were her own.  Things like this don’t really get me excited for the next leg of my adventure.

We watched Mr. & Mrs. Smith before we went to bed, if it weren’t for all the commercials we could have been in bed by 10:30 but instead the movie ended at 11:30.  I was extremely happy to sleep in a bed I could stretch out in and to sleep in in the morning.

Final Night in Brisbane.

This morning I woke up ready to pack but the boys weren’t awake and I didn’t feel like making noise.  Upstairs I went to cook some delicious breakfast, which was my long lost recipe for a breakfast sandwich.  Hannah was in the kitchen cleaning while I was cooking so we chatted away about the drama with everyone else that works at the YHA and all the Italians that so randomly showed up.  Before I ate breakfast I shared a piece of my tart with her and then ate my healthy food.

The moment I finished eating I went back downstairs to type and research new adventures I can have in Australia before I leave.  After a little, I decided a shower was in order, the unfortunate thing about being in a hostel is that you cant sit on the toilet for extended periods of time without feeling judged.  The only reason I was on the toilet for so long (just incase you were wondering) is because I just like sitting there on my phone with my pants off.  I did have a shower eventually but it wasn’t as good as sitting without pants on.

I went upstairs with Will and one of the Germans from my room for a beer and some chitchat.  It didn’t last long before I felt the need to go back down stairs to get organized.

Back to the room for more typing and research, by the time it was 1 o’ clock I felt exhausted and had to lay down on my bed that was covered in clothes and miscellaneous items.  I completely crashed with my music playing; I slept until 3:30 and got then got back to work.  Laundry was on my list next and re-organizing while things were in the wash.  Our aircon keeps leaking water onto the floor and last night my empty backpack was right under the leak and got completely soaked, that had to go into the dryer as well.

It was time for another shower when I put my clothes into the dryer but I had no towel… Will was kind enough to let my borrow his and I also got my loofa back from my old room.  There was another storm raging outside but I could care less cause I was in the giant handicap bathroom blasting music and scrubbing myself clean with my lovely loofa.  I felt so incredibly clean after my shower, cleaner than I have felt in a while for some reason.

Laundry is done and I folded it all up, finished most of my packing and then headed up for my last dinner in Brisbane… how sad.

I had the same dinner as last night; pasta with veggie sausage but this time I shared with Kate my old roommate because there was way to much to eat.  I moved the left over food items in the fridge to the free fridge for people to pick at and take what they wanted.

Back down stairs I did I a little more packing before I went to the games room to watch an intense Wii battle between Will and Hannah.  It was absolutely hilarious watching them get so into a game of baseball and bowling.  Will won every game except for bowling… Hannah whooped his butt in that.

The game is on.

The face of concentration!

We went outside for a little bit but it started raining so I decided to go to bed and get what sleep I could before I had to wake up a 4:20.

Last Day at Lone Pine.

This morning I slept in and the only reason I woke up is because I was having a dream where Devi was annoying so I yelled out “Stop Devi!” and that is what woke me up.  Getting ready was a breeze and I hurried off to my last day volunteering.

Today I am on birds; it is about time too!!!!  For most of the morning it was just I because the bus drove past one of the volunteers.  I cleaned all the bird enclosures before the other girls showed up, her name is Chia and she can just barely speak English.  Her and I did have a fairly good time together though and I collected a bunch of feathers!

The work today was absolutely brutal because of the heat.  We had to rake a bunch of old roots up and throw them away, doesn’t sound bad except for the dry heat and dirt that covered you and turned the inside of your nose brown.  We took an early break that day; thank god!

After that we went to the feed shed and prepared the cassowary food an unloaded all the new fruit and veg.  Chia and I made a good team unloading things, the carrots were the most fun to unload cause we just slashed the bag open, heaved them to chest level and then shook them out; countless fell.

Monster spider eating fly in the feed shed.

After the food had almost been completed Sandy had us drag massive branches to the mulch pile, at one point I thought I might faint and then my body magically became adjusted to the heat.  I was still really hot and tired by the time we got back to the feed shed.

Sandy came back with exciting news for me… she said that I am done working and that I can have the rest of the afternoon to be a tourist.  I practically had a panic attack and wanted to hug her but knew this was a bad idea considering we were both really sweaty.  

So after lunch I became a tourist and walked around the sanctuary taking pictures and cuddling chicks but the most exciting thing was getting my photo taken with a koala named Barnebus.  I was so excited that everyone was laughing at me when I got the koala in my hands.

Having a bit of a freak out.

Slowly calming down...

Levels of calm increasing.

And picture ready.

Goodbye chickies!!

Somehow I managed to take the wrong bus home, it took me to the city but I had to walk quite the ways back to the hostel which kind of pissed me off a bit.  I got back to the hostel sweaty and tired… Will had to do some convincing to get me to take a shower cause I smelled a little bad, only a little though.

After my shower Will and I decided to go grocery shopping for dinner tonight.  It was only 4 but I was so extremely hungry.  I picked up some veggie sausages, beer and a pecan walnut tart to celebrate my last few days here. 

The moment we got back I had two slices of tart and opened my beer, I was obviously cooking my food as well.  For dinner I had spinach and ricotta pasta with tomato sauce that contained mushrooms, spinach, onion, cheese and sausage.  It was an absolute masterpiece but I made too much and had to force Will to eat the rest… I had another slice of tart too.

The moment we got back to the room it was time for a food coma and a really good one if I might mention.  My bed was so cold I couldn’t leave it for a long time.  Dave has left for London and Jolie has gone to Byron until Saturday so its just Will, the Germans and I in the room for a while.  The Germans always seem to be high and sleeping, which I find super funny.

As soon as the food coma had passed we went for round two in the kitchen, Katie brought back French pastries from work and we all devoured them in seconds.  I had a passion fruit tart that tasted so good; you could say it tickled my taste buds. 

We hung out on the roof drinking beer and talking about ridiculous drinking stories we all have… of course I don’t have any, I’m much to young to be doing any of that.  By 11 o’ clock I was finished and had to call it a night, it was so nice to think that I don’t have work tomorrow.

Dinner with Carl.

Yay!!!!! Today I am working in the mammal’s section, which is pretty much the best one to be working in because you get to stay in the feed shed the whole time with the aircon.

Forgot to mention that today there a bunch of kids here today to be a keeper for the day… we also got forgotten at the bus stop by the keeper that comes to get us in the morning.  So naturally we were almost 45 minutes late starting our chores.

Alannah (a university volunteer) and I were paired together; we started with cleaning the dingo enclosure like always.  The dingoes have to be in a separate enclosure while we clean for safety purposes… they might lick us to death.

We headed to the feed shed expecting to cut up food but Rebecca the keeper had a different idea, we grabbed a serrated knife and cut grass… for the wombats.  Almost one of the most silly jobs to be given here but we did it without sass or complaint.  It was so hot that just standing there made us sweat like animals, so extremely gross.

So after cutting grass we went to cut up veggies but then Rebecca wanted us to clean out Daisy’s enclosure before we did anything.  So we cleaned out her enclosure but didn’t re-mulch because we had to wait until the ground was somewhat dry.  Back to the feed shed we went!

Right before we started cutting fruit Rebecca popped her head through the door and said she needed us for one more thing… feeding the platypus!!!!!!!  I was so excited to finally feed them but as soon as we walked through the locked doors we saw the kid zookeepers already feeding them… dammed kids taking the fun jobs!

So this time we actually got to go to the feed shed and cut fruit for the bats.  Not even halfway through the job Rebecca came back and said we should do the mulch in Daisy’s enclosure before it gets to hot to do anything.  Back outside we went.

It seemed that Alannah had it out for me today because there was always one accident after the other.  First she spilled water on me, then raked me, sprayed me with mulch and just continued throughout the day to harass me.  We liked each other instantly though so this was all good fun.

Finally we got to go to the feed shed and stay there till it was lunchtime.

Lunch time selfies with Claire.

After lunch we cut up a few more veggies and then headed out to feed all the animals.  Dingoes were first of course and we got to spend time playing with them before we were off to feed the wombats.  Phil was being super stubborn today, which made or job much harder; he wouldn’t leave his burrow so we could put the food in and when we did he would scare us by coming to close to the door and attempting to get us.  Phil is a scary wombat.

Daisy is so soft!

Finally after feeding the sugar gliders it was time to pack it up and go home, Jess left early because she was feeling sick so instead of taking the bus home, Alannah offered to give me a ride!  I was so excited to drive in a car and get home earlier than normal.  Alannah is my new favorite.

First ride home!!

Carl is coming back from his trip of the Whitsundays today and we are going to make a great meal!!  I got home showered and chilled out.  Will was making a sex fort when I got back into the room and Dave, Jolie and Hanna were just laughing at him.  I have to admit he put a lot of effort into it, it consisted of one blanket that covered the openings of the bunk and he could open and close it by pulling on a shoelace and carabineer system.  Jolie and I said we’d meet him in it later and give everyone massages.  

Sex fort in the making.

I went upstairs to the kitchen briefly and just I was about to leave Carl shows up!  I hardly recognized him because he is so tan.  We left the hostel and went food shopping right away!  

I made stir-fry again tonight but this time it had tofu in it and rice!  It tasted so freaking good I wish I had made more and saved it for later but no matter.  Robin called and I talked with him for a bit confirming my plans when I arrive in Melbourne and what is going to happen.  After the call, Carl cleaned the dishes like a good house wife and then we all piled onto one couch and watched the Avengers… forgot to mention Jess had dinner with us too but didn’t actually eat.

No rice...

With rice.

We didn’t stay up that late because I was so tired and I said my final goodbye to Jess… she leaves for Noosa tomorrow; she only decided today she would leave.

I fell asleep pretty quickly but was woken up by Dave and Will at 1 o’ clock when they came back to the room after celebrating Dave’s last night in Australia.   

Late Night Movie.

This morning I was early getting to Jess, which is a surprise, so we sat around for a bit and talked before heading off.

Today I am on floater, I feel like everyday on floater is different.  Sara was the keeper I worked with today and she was so much fun, we got along so well with each other.  We started off by doing a little bit of work in the bird section; nothing difficult, just helping clean and stuff like that.

Then it was off to the feed shed to prepare food for all the different animals.  Farm animals were first and I have become a pro at chopping up fruit and vegetables if I might add.  We spent quite some time in here because, not to your surprise, there are a lot of animals that eat food.

Then it was off to our relaxing morning break that lasts 20 minutes.

After tea it was time to feed the reptiles, which I got to touch and scrub the koala enclosures.  Not sure why but every time you enter a koala enclosure you spray the bottom of your soles… but the handlers don’t have to wash their hands when getting another koala for photos.  Some things here are a bit flawed. 

I had to clean and scrub the water pots, which isn’t actually an easy job; they are always filled with soggy koala poo and then after dumping it out you have to stick your hand inside and scrub.  I tried to do it faster by taking two clean pots back to the enclosure but ended up dropping one and it splashed all over my face and clothes.  I just stood there feeling like a fool while everyone else thought the same thing; nothing broke though.

After all this dirty work we got to go for lunch.  I devoured my pasta from the other night and sat in the aircon feeling content.

Work was short after lunch, all we had to do was go into three separate koala enclosures multiple times and change the eucalypt branches.  You can’t let the leaf part tough the ground though or you have to wash them… I had to wash on three separate occasions.  There was one koala that kept coming down to the ground and the coming towards me… I thought my legs were going to be attacked and I’d have to jump over the wall.  I had my escape route all planned out; luckily I didn’t have to use it.

Sara and I loaded up the branches into the back of some bins and then put them on the small truck I call a John Deer and off to the mulch pile we went!  I love driving around in the John Deer, it is so much fun for some reason.

Only watering the eucalyptus pots was left and that took no time at all and then I got to go home with Jess!

For dinner I had one giant salad in a pasta pot and hung out with Jolie and Will on the rooftop.  They invited me to go see Nightcrawler with them… I said yes no doubt.

Five of us went to go see it and I looked like the biggest bum out of all of them.  I wore sweat pants, a volunteer shirt from Hanson Bay and no shoes… I like to think I still looked like a babe.  The seats in the movie theatre are so freaking comfy!  It is like sitting in a bed with a giant screen in front of you. 

The movie was good and I recommend you see it but it was creepy as hell!  Jake Gillinghawl is suppose to be hot… he looked like such a weirdo in this film.

By the time the movie ended it was close to 12 and I knew I was going to have a hard time getting up in the morning… oh well, what will happen will happen.

Sunday

Today was an absolutely do nothing day!  I didn’t even bother to get out of bed till 1 and it was only to get food and watch TV.  I took a very much needed nap and woke up feeling revived, not revived enough to go do something though.  This is probably going to be one of my more boring posts so I’ll tell you about one of my crazy dreams.

It all started in Harrison back at home that just so happens to be on Kangaroo Island.  I was searching in the platypus river for piranha eggs that are fist sized and amber colored.  I didn’t have any luck and got scared about being kidnapped by a Sasquatch so I hopped in my sky blue convertible Cadillac and drove down funny streets that are super narrow.  Some how Devi and her friend Kealy made it in the car and I took them for a drive around to show them places.  They have this thing when I drive them where they cat call boys on the sidewalk, so in my dream they were doing this and I stopped the car and let the boys pass us and to embarrass the girls.  The car made hot chocolate and dispensed Tim Horton doughnuts, mmmmm best car ever!  We got into a bit of a tussle with another driver and I hid the car in a cave full of Pokémon.  Soon I dropped of Devi and Kealy somewhere and said goodbye.  I checked my phone and noticed Kealy had changed my work alarm for 8:30 instead of 6:10 and this is when I actually woke up thinking it had been changed. 

That is one dream and probably not coolest but I can never remember the awesome ones.

While writing my dream down I got to pick out earwax from my ear… but I picked too hard and made myself bleed.  Just thought you should know.

Went up stairs and cooked myself lots of pasta so I have lunch for tomorrow.  The pasta sauce had onions, mushrooms, salsa, cheese chunks, spinach and sour cream in it… sounds random but I suggest you make it at home cause it is delicious!  I sat with my roommates for dinner; I finally don’t have to eat alone now.  They seem to know almost everyone here because people just kept coming and sitting down with us and talking like good friends, I love it!

After dinner we all played a few rounds of Uno and I met lots of new people; Hannah from England, François from France, some guy from turkey and Chris from Canada!  Chris wasn’t as excited as me when we learned we were both Canadians… but Francois and I are already best friends, even when he makes me pick up six cards when we play Uno.

I had the loveliest shower and this time I had the water hot, I usually have it cold but I thought I would switch it up tonight.  Now I am in bed and almost mentally ready for work tomorrow.

The Perfect Dress!

I felt more energized to do things today but first I had to pack my things and do laundry before I started anything.  I am moving rooms today so everything has to be packed up and moved downstairs to the lobby, I just left it in my room, much too lazy to carry it downstairs.  I checked out, put my laundry in the dryer and then headed to Southbank to do yoga with Kate.  I walked the whole way there in bare feet while wearing my rainbow sarong; today I didn’t care what I looked like.

I was so proud of myself for remembering the yoga moves Hari had taught me and even more so that I was able to do 20 of them with Kate.  It was a struggle for both of us but we managed to do it perfectly and then ran up the grassy hill a few times.  We felt so invigorated we decided to walk my running track backwards.

Upon arrival at the hostel I got to check into my new room, which is on the bottom floor.  My roommates are really nice though; there are two German guys that never talk so I don’t know them or think I ever will and then there is Jolie, David and someone else… they all met in Australia and are now travelling together.  I liked them instantly! 

After unpacking Kate and I went to Queen Street because I really wanted to find a new dress for my last night out in Brisbane.  We searched for so long and I couldn’t find anything the was more than $30, I just about gave up until I saw a sale sign in the back of a forgotten path.  This is where I found my awesome dress that was only $10!  I mean honestly, where are you going to find a party dress for $10?!?!?!?!?!?!?!  With my mission complete we headed for sushi; I was starving by this point.

Each roll cost $3 and I spent $18 and gorged myself!  I didn’t realize how much I missed sushi… reminded me of going out with my family for sushi and then going to see a movie.  Jess showed up for some as well but I was the only one who pigged out.

My old roommate Kate!

All those plates are mine...

We went to Coles next door so I could pick up toiletries and so everyone else could get food.  Then we walked back home and went our separate ways.

I chilled out with my roommates and finished my laundry until it was time to shower.  I was excited about showering because I could do it in the handicap shower but unfortunately it was locked.  To the normal showers I went and blasted my music for good measure.

When I got back to my room I collapsed on the bed and didn’t leave it until Jess called to beckon me from my peaceful rest.  I put that dress on and felt like the sexiest babe ever, no one was going to look better than me tonight!  I strutted out of my hostel and down to hers feeling like a boss!

In Jess’s room they had a bottle of vodka and orange juice that was being drunken the moment I stepped in.  Between the four of us (Leah, Jess and their friend Roxanne) we couldn’t finish it and didn’t even bother trying.

Jess loves to look hot for the camera.

We grabbed a taxi and headed to the Valley for a great time.

We never stayed long at any bar or club, we only wanted to see how many stamps we could get on our arms.  After a bit we headed to Birdees and danced the rest of the night away there.  Gareth and his buddies showed up and oh my goodness were they funny.  Gareth and one of his buddies kept dancing with each other like they were a couple; grinding on one another and getting really close.  I was beside myself with laughter on the dance floor.

Leah, Jess and Roxanne; all in order.

Chilling on club couches

By about 2 in the morning the girls and I parted ways with the boys and headed home for some well deserved sleep… I was the hottest girl at the club if anyone cares to know…