But, there are a lot of things I am looking forward to at home...
It's going to be a bit sad leaving here though. x
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Saturday, 28 May 2011
Not long now...
So I have now handed in all my assignments and only have 1 more week of lectures left before exams. All of a sudden we seem to be at the end of my year abroad. In just over a month I will have taken my exams, been to Singapore and finally be back in the UK. It all seems a bit crazy. I've been here so long now that it seems normal. I've even learnt to think in dollars rather than pounds! Only now that I'm going to be leaving soon do I feel like I want to stay a bit longer. I think I will definately be coming back to Australia one day. Perhaps when I don't have such a strict budget. I still want to go to the outback and do some more diving.
But, there are a lot of things I am looking forward to at home...
It's going to be a bit sad leaving here though. x
But, there are a lot of things I am looking forward to at home...
It's going to be a bit sad leaving here though. x
Saturday, 21 May 2011
Travel photos: Part II
A few more photos for you. From Brisbane to Sydney:
Christmas Dinner!
Ryan...not exactly sure where this is...
Pelican Feeding at Lake Entrance
lake Entrance
Silhouettes in the Central Coast
Boats in the Central Coast
Cyril's Daily Specials! I saw this in Sydney and thought I should take a picture for Dad! I wasn't really expecting there to be any Cyril's in Australia!
Sydney Harbour Bridge
Sydney Opera House
Blue mountains
Waterfall in the blue mountains
Me in the blue mountains
Beautiful view in the blue mountains
Bondi Beach
Christmas Dinner!
Ryan...not exactly sure where this is...
Pelican Feeding at Lake Entrance
lake Entrance
Silhouettes in the Central Coast
Boats in the Central Coast
Cyril's Daily Specials! I saw this in Sydney and thought I should take a picture for Dad! I wasn't really expecting there to be any Cyril's in Australia!
Sydney Harbour Bridge
Sydney Opera House
Blue mountains
Waterfall in the blue mountains
Me in the blue mountains
Beautiful view in the blue mountains
Bondi Beach
Thursday, 12 May 2011
Travel Photos- Part I
So, while I was travelling I didn't actually upload any photos. So I thought it might be nice to put a few faves up for you all to have a peek at....
The amazing Great Barrier Reef
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Our new home!
The Boulders, very pretty but the water was so chillie!
Hanging high above the rainforest when we went Jungle Surfing.
A funny little roadside banana stall with what I think must have been the nicest, freshest banana I have ever tasted!
Ryan on the beach, somewhere in North Queensland...
Eaten alive at reef HQ...
Emus -right on the side of the road, not a care in the world.
Capricorn Caverns
It's hard to see but this is actually the platypus we saw in Eungella National Park! He is there, promise.
This cutie of a turtle is laying her eggs on Mon Repos Beach. See here.
Feeding a real, live, wild dolphin in Tin Can Bay
Me and Ryan in Noosa on our koala hunt
The beautiful Noosa
http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
A real life Kanga and Roo at Australia Zoo
Well, that's part I of our trip Cairns to Cape Tribulation. I will upload part II soon(ish) xxxx
The amazing Great Barrier Reef
Our new home!
The Boulders, very pretty but the water was so chillie!
Hanging high above the rainforest when we went Jungle Surfing.
A funny little roadside banana stall with what I think must have been the nicest, freshest banana I have ever tasted!
Ryan on the beach, somewhere in North Queensland...
Eaten alive at reef HQ...
Emus -right on the side of the road, not a care in the world.
Capricorn Caverns
It's hard to see but this is actually the platypus we saw in Eungella National Park! He is there, promise.
This cutie of a turtle is laying her eggs on Mon Repos Beach. See here.
Feeding a real, live, wild dolphin in Tin Can Bay
Me and Ryan in Noosa on our koala hunt
The beautiful Noosa
http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
A real life Kanga and Roo at Australia Zoo
Well, that's part I of our trip Cairns to Cape Tribulation. I will upload part II soon(ish) xxxx
Saturday, 7 May 2011
Let's go Bronco's, Let's go!
So yesterday we went to see the Brisbane Bronco's -they play rugby league (I think that's the right one, I get confused....the less good one in the UK anyway). It was so good, I've never been to a proper live game before but it was so much fun! It turns out I can be quite loud...not quite to Dad's extent though. I don't actually know the rules enough to have a go at the ref yet and I'm not really much of a swearer.
It was so exciting though, I even got to stand up and cheer. Unfortunately we didn't win, which was most disappointing as it was the first game of the season we've lost. Apparently half the National team is made up of Bronco's though, so all our best players had played the night before against NZ and weren't playing. Quite a disadvantage it seems. I was happy anyway though as I'd been wanting to stand up and cheer. And there were cheerleaders and of all things a horse that galloped around the pitch every time we got a try! And fireworks! I would like to be a cheerleader.
In a couple of weeks we're going to see the Brisbane Lions, who play aussie football. They are at the bottom of the league but hopefully it'll be a fun game anyway. I need to figure out what aussie footie actually is first though. I know they play in an oval with about a million players but that's about it. And that might not even be true.
In other news, I had my midsemester exam for pharmacology yesterday. I think it was okay. I'm not at all keen on Saturday exams though! I've got my end of semester exam timetable now. It's not looking good though -I have exams on the last 2 days that I could possibly have them. And I'd been hoping that I might finish early. I guess at least it's extra revision time. What's crazy though is everyone at home has nearly finished already. I've just had a midsemester and they're having finals!
Hope you're all well xxxx
It was so exciting though, I even got to stand up and cheer. Unfortunately we didn't win, which was most disappointing as it was the first game of the season we've lost. Apparently half the National team is made up of Bronco's though, so all our best players had played the night before against NZ and weren't playing. Quite a disadvantage it seems. I was happy anyway though as I'd been wanting to stand up and cheer. And there were cheerleaders and of all things a horse that galloped around the pitch every time we got a try! And fireworks! I would like to be a cheerleader.
In a couple of weeks we're going to see the Brisbane Lions, who play aussie football. They are at the bottom of the league but hopefully it'll be a fun game anyway. I need to figure out what aussie footie actually is first though. I know they play in an oval with about a million players but that's about it. And that might not even be true.
In other news, I had my midsemester exam for pharmacology yesterday. I think it was okay. I'm not at all keen on Saturday exams though! I've got my end of semester exam timetable now. It's not looking good though -I have exams on the last 2 days that I could possibly have them. And I'd been hoping that I might finish early. I guess at least it's extra revision time. What's crazy though is everyone at home has nearly finished already. I've just had a midsemester and they're having finals!
Hope you're all well xxxx
Monday, 2 May 2011
What to do?
"Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today."
Me and Ryan have been watching a lot of Doctor Who lately and Martha said this in one of the episodes. It seems particularly relevant to a year abroad as pretty much if I don't do everything now, I don't know when or if I will be able to. Who knows when I will be back in Australia? It's getting closer and closer to home time so I'm starting to feel like I should be putting extra effort into living in Australia. It's difficult to know what to do though.
Last night we went to fireworks at South Bank to celebrate Buddah's birthday. They were actually pretty amazing. There was only 1 boat in the river setting fireworks off but they went on for so long and there were even fireworks which bounced off the water. Something which surely should not be possible! Apart from the lack of a burning bridge and fireworks coming off the top of buildings I would see that the fireworks were just as good as Riverfire, if not better. But this may just have been because it was so much quieter and I could actually see everything that was going on. I absolutely love fireworks. I am very excited for bonfire night when I come home -it did feel a little odd not to be cold as I watched the sky explode. Edinburgh is definitely going to make up for that though...
It's started getting chillie in the nights here...but really it should not be at all. It is making me scared for winter at home or ULTIMATE WINTER as me and Ryan have come to call it. I'm feeling a bit nervous. I am looking forward to winter clothing though. I went shopping yesterday and tried on the nicest red duffle coat. Obviously it wouldn't be suitable for winter at home but it started to make me a little excited about jumpers and coats and wooly tights! Which is strange as everyone at home is looking forward to summer but I think summer at home is going to be more like winter for me....
Love
C xx
Me and Ryan have been watching a lot of Doctor Who lately and Martha said this in one of the episodes. It seems particularly relevant to a year abroad as pretty much if I don't do everything now, I don't know when or if I will be able to. Who knows when I will be back in Australia? It's getting closer and closer to home time so I'm starting to feel like I should be putting extra effort into living in Australia. It's difficult to know what to do though.
Last night we went to fireworks at South Bank to celebrate Buddah's birthday. They were actually pretty amazing. There was only 1 boat in the river setting fireworks off but they went on for so long and there were even fireworks which bounced off the water. Something which surely should not be possible! Apart from the lack of a burning bridge and fireworks coming off the top of buildings I would see that the fireworks were just as good as Riverfire, if not better. But this may just have been because it was so much quieter and I could actually see everything that was going on. I absolutely love fireworks. I am very excited for bonfire night when I come home -it did feel a little odd not to be cold as I watched the sky explode. Edinburgh is definitely going to make up for that though...
It's started getting chillie in the nights here...but really it should not be at all. It is making me scared for winter at home or ULTIMATE WINTER as me and Ryan have come to call it. I'm feeling a bit nervous. I am looking forward to winter clothing though. I went shopping yesterday and tried on the nicest red duffle coat. Obviously it wouldn't be suitable for winter at home but it started to make me a little excited about jumpers and coats and wooly tights! Which is strange as everyone at home is looking forward to summer but I think summer at home is going to be more like winter for me....
Love
C xx
Wednesday, 20 April 2011
Birthday and Camping
So I am now 21 and a proper adult (sort of).
I had such a lovely birthday. Me and Ryan want out to an amazing indian restaurant in West End the night before. It was so delicious. And so exciting to be in a proper restaurant, it's been so long! So that was a nice pre-birthday evening. Then on my birthday I woke up to cards and presents. I had a little cake and some champagne with gold in it from my parents, some lovely jewels from Tess, a bumble bee toothbrush holder from Ryan's parents and a volcano making kit, Mr Topsy Turvey book and AMAZING SWAROVSKI JEWELLERY from Ryan. He bought me an earings and necklace set with little pink gems inside hearts. I love them! :D.
For lunch me and Ryan went to Nando's before meeting Hwaran and Sayo at the modern art museum (GOMA). We made a birthday cake out of lego, played in a room full of balloons and went down the slide. I really think that everyone should get the chance to play in a room full of balloons on their birthday, if not every day. I think life would be better with a balloon room.
Anyways, after GOMA we went to Max Brenner's an amazing chocolate shop in South Bank where we met Lizzie. We had to cue for half an hour but it was so deelicious! I had a banana chocolate milkshake and it was so good. Hwaran and Sayo even got chocolate pizza which they gave me a slice of. It had chocolate sauce with marshmellow, white chocolate and crunchy yummy things as topping. It was so sickly! I couldn't even manage to finish my 1 slice. I don't know how Hwaran and Sayo managed to eat the rest of the pizza! We then headed back, I skyped my family again as now it was my Dad's birthday as well (yes, we have the same birthday). Then people started to arrive for predrinks. We all got a little squiffy before heading out to the valley. We went to a club called The Met where me, Sayo and Katia managed to cue jump and get in for free because it was my birthday. Unfortunately not everyone could get in due to flipflops/ID that wasn't accepted. It was a good night though, Sayo and Katia introduced me to Tequila Sunrise which was so good and so unexpected as I never thought I liked tequila. We ended up staying out all night until the first train in the morning and got home around 4.30am.
It was a wonderful 21st. So far I like being 21, and am not at all keen on getting any older than this!
So, last weekend I went camping to Girraween National Park with QUEST. It was so much fun. The park is inland, up in the mountains and was stunning. It's in the granite belt and there are absolutely huge rocks everywhere. When we arrived we had a talk from a park ranger, set up our tents and then headed out for a wander. We went to granite arch where 1 huge rock is balanced upon 2 other huge rocks and then were heading back when for some reason we decided to go up the pyramid. The path went up 100s of steps before finishing where the huge rock ascent started. We had to scramble up a ridiculously steep rock to get to the top of it. I was literally going up on all fours it was so steep. The view was pretty amazing though and I was glad I made the effort to get right to the top. I was so scared to go back down though. I hadn't expected to be going on such a trek so only had daps on with next to no grip. Going down was scary! I did make it though :)
That evening we ate BBQ chicken, roasted marshmellows and drank a lot of goon. Everyone was so friendly and it didn't matter at all that I hadn't known anyone going. That is one of the things I love about QUEST. Everyone is an international student and wanting to make friends. So everyone talks to each other and it doesn't matter if you don't know anyone already.
The next day we went on a huge hike. First we went to the sphinx and the turtle. Rocks that supposedly look like their namesakes but I couldn't see it at all. Then we went to Castle Rock on the way back. The view was so amazing from up their. You could even see the sphinx and turtle where we had been earlier. They actually looked a lot further than I thought. It's so crazy that most of these walks are even allowed though. You literally are on a stupidly steep rock with no barrier and a sheer drop off the edge. In the UK I think they would definitely have something to say about it. Health and Safety and all that. I guess Aussies are credited enough to be trusted not to fall off a rock though.
The evening brought more goon and barbequed food. Somehow I managed to lose my bowl and cutlery although managed to find the cutlery in the grass in the morning! There is supposed to be a bird that steals blue things so I think perhaps that he may have made off with my bowl. We had to pack up our tents in the morning and head back to civilisation. We stopped for a walk in the rainforest en route. We somehow managed to pick a one way walk though and ended up walking a couple of k back along the highway. We must have been so funny to see, we even ran part of the way. Anyone passing would have just seen a huge line of people jogging along the side of the highway in the middle of nowhere. Rather amusing I imagine.
I was pretty sad to head back, especially as I had an assignment due monday that I had hardly started. That at least is handed in now, and I have no more classes until the 3rd May. Camping was so good, if a little cold at night. The first night I hardly slept at all because I couldn't warm up. It was nice to have a warm shower and a cosy bed when I got home.
Now it is midsemester so I am mostly doing nothing, but trying to get at least a little work done. It is a nice change from these last few weeks which have been crazily busy!
I tried to put some photos in but it didn't seem to like it. There's plenty on fb though if you did want a peek.
Hope you are all well,
love Claire xxx
I had such a lovely birthday. Me and Ryan want out to an amazing indian restaurant in West End the night before. It was so delicious. And so exciting to be in a proper restaurant, it's been so long! So that was a nice pre-birthday evening. Then on my birthday I woke up to cards and presents. I had a little cake and some champagne with gold in it from my parents, some lovely jewels from Tess, a bumble bee toothbrush holder from Ryan's parents and a volcano making kit, Mr Topsy Turvey book and AMAZING SWAROVSKI JEWELLERY from Ryan. He bought me an earings and necklace set with little pink gems inside hearts. I love them! :D.
For lunch me and Ryan went to Nando's before meeting Hwaran and Sayo at the modern art museum (GOMA). We made a birthday cake out of lego, played in a room full of balloons and went down the slide. I really think that everyone should get the chance to play in a room full of balloons on their birthday, if not every day. I think life would be better with a balloon room.
Anyways, after GOMA we went to Max Brenner's an amazing chocolate shop in South Bank where we met Lizzie. We had to cue for half an hour but it was so deelicious! I had a banana chocolate milkshake and it was so good. Hwaran and Sayo even got chocolate pizza which they gave me a slice of. It had chocolate sauce with marshmellow, white chocolate and crunchy yummy things as topping. It was so sickly! I couldn't even manage to finish my 1 slice. I don't know how Hwaran and Sayo managed to eat the rest of the pizza! We then headed back, I skyped my family again as now it was my Dad's birthday as well (yes, we have the same birthday). Then people started to arrive for predrinks. We all got a little squiffy before heading out to the valley. We went to a club called The Met where me, Sayo and Katia managed to cue jump and get in for free because it was my birthday. Unfortunately not everyone could get in due to flipflops/ID that wasn't accepted. It was a good night though, Sayo and Katia introduced me to Tequila Sunrise which was so good and so unexpected as I never thought I liked tequila. We ended up staying out all night until the first train in the morning and got home around 4.30am.
It was a wonderful 21st. So far I like being 21, and am not at all keen on getting any older than this!
So, last weekend I went camping to Girraween National Park with QUEST. It was so much fun. The park is inland, up in the mountains and was stunning. It's in the granite belt and there are absolutely huge rocks everywhere. When we arrived we had a talk from a park ranger, set up our tents and then headed out for a wander. We went to granite arch where 1 huge rock is balanced upon 2 other huge rocks and then were heading back when for some reason we decided to go up the pyramid. The path went up 100s of steps before finishing where the huge rock ascent started. We had to scramble up a ridiculously steep rock to get to the top of it. I was literally going up on all fours it was so steep. The view was pretty amazing though and I was glad I made the effort to get right to the top. I was so scared to go back down though. I hadn't expected to be going on such a trek so only had daps on with next to no grip. Going down was scary! I did make it though :)
That evening we ate BBQ chicken, roasted marshmellows and drank a lot of goon. Everyone was so friendly and it didn't matter at all that I hadn't known anyone going. That is one of the things I love about QUEST. Everyone is an international student and wanting to make friends. So everyone talks to each other and it doesn't matter if you don't know anyone already.
The next day we went on a huge hike. First we went to the sphinx and the turtle. Rocks that supposedly look like their namesakes but I couldn't see it at all. Then we went to Castle Rock on the way back. The view was so amazing from up their. You could even see the sphinx and turtle where we had been earlier. They actually looked a lot further than I thought. It's so crazy that most of these walks are even allowed though. You literally are on a stupidly steep rock with no barrier and a sheer drop off the edge. In the UK I think they would definitely have something to say about it. Health and Safety and all that. I guess Aussies are credited enough to be trusted not to fall off a rock though.
The evening brought more goon and barbequed food. Somehow I managed to lose my bowl and cutlery although managed to find the cutlery in the grass in the morning! There is supposed to be a bird that steals blue things so I think perhaps that he may have made off with my bowl. We had to pack up our tents in the morning and head back to civilisation. We stopped for a walk in the rainforest en route. We somehow managed to pick a one way walk though and ended up walking a couple of k back along the highway. We must have been so funny to see, we even ran part of the way. Anyone passing would have just seen a huge line of people jogging along the side of the highway in the middle of nowhere. Rather amusing I imagine.
I was pretty sad to head back, especially as I had an assignment due monday that I had hardly started. That at least is handed in now, and I have no more classes until the 3rd May. Camping was so good, if a little cold at night. The first night I hardly slept at all because I couldn't warm up. It was nice to have a warm shower and a cosy bed when I got home.
Now it is midsemester so I am mostly doing nothing, but trying to get at least a little work done. It is a nice change from these last few weeks which have been crazily busy!
I tried to put some photos in but it didn't seem to like it. There's plenty on fb though if you did want a peek.
Hope you are all well,
love Claire xxx
Wednesday, 6 April 2011
2 Days
This week has been the most stressful week. I've been at uni all day for the last 3 days, had 3 pracs, a massive report to do and now today I have an oral presentation but have woken up with a sore throat :s. I can not wait for it to be saturday!
But at the weekend I did go to Byron Bay which was lovely as always. We stayed at the same campsite we were in for christmas which felt kind of strange. It felt like we were going travelling again. I really liked being back sleeping in the van. I hope I don't have to wait too long before I get the chance to go travelling again. When my student loan comes through I'm going to book a trip to Ayre's rock. I think it's going to be the last place I go before coming home. Which is now less than 3 months away. So I will be seeing you all quite soon :)
It seems strange that everyone at home is breaking up for easter though. If I was in Edinburgh I would only have exams left to do but here I havn't even got to midsemester and feel like I only just started back. I think it was definately worth it for the 3 month summer holiday though :)
Missing you all lots. It'll be very strange to be having my birthday without you all!
xxxxx
But at the weekend I did go to Byron Bay which was lovely as always. We stayed at the same campsite we were in for christmas which felt kind of strange. It felt like we were going travelling again. I really liked being back sleeping in the van. I hope I don't have to wait too long before I get the chance to go travelling again. When my student loan comes through I'm going to book a trip to Ayre's rock. I think it's going to be the last place I go before coming home. Which is now less than 3 months away. So I will be seeing you all quite soon :)
It seems strange that everyone at home is breaking up for easter though. If I was in Edinburgh I would only have exams left to do but here I havn't even got to midsemester and feel like I only just started back. I think it was definately worth it for the 3 month summer holiday though :)
Missing you all lots. It'll be very strange to be having my birthday without you all!
xxxxx
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