Mooloolaba

So we are still here and enjoying ourselves. We have booked in for another week here at the hostel and it is working out good. They will take you surfing if you want, they plan activities and most nights they serve us supper for a reduced price. We have gone surfing the last two mornings... and on the second day I managed to stand up a few times for brief moments. Last night there was an activity called Goon Pong which we participated in... a lot of fun and not to toot my own horn but The Comeback Kids (my team) defeated team Jamanda (Amanda's team) in the final. Today has been a pretty relaxed day just seeing more of the city that we are staying in.

Mooloolaba

A quick little post here to update everyone on where we are. We got into Brisbane in the early afternoon and quickly found a hostel with a restaurant and bar in the basement, plus it was close to the bus station. We checked in and an hour later we had to change rooms because our original room had to be cleaned of BED BUGS. Easily the dirtiest place we have stayed so far. We did however, get a chance to meet some people from Ireland and one of them was even talking about making a trip to Canada eventually. The next morning we hopped on a bus and arrived in Maroochydore, but all the hostels were full so we got a place in Mooloolaba which is about a five minute city bus drive from Maroochydore. Yesterday Amanda and I went for a jog and a fitness routine... I was sweating pretty heavy. Then last night we just chilled out at the hostel and met a ton of people from all over (Denmark, England, Australia, and a bunch of Canadians suprisingly it has been the most dominant country represented)... introduced them to a few of our card games and then walked aimlessly around town. We are thinking that we may go and try to surf down at the beach today... the hostel lends out body boards and surfboards so we figured it would be the best time to start our amature careers. Megan if you are reading this I am excited to read the first letter today. Hope all is well wherever you are... and thanks for the posts... you have now idea how great it is to hear from people back home.

Take care, Ryan and Amanda

Sydney

So we have been harrassed into making another post. Since I arrived we had been staying at the AMG motel & apartments in Ryde (which I believe is a subdivision of Sydney). Not a whole lot has happened hence why the delay in posting. We have discovered some more comforts from home as we enjoyed a classy dinner prepared for us by the chefs at the local Pizza Hut. Justin has since landed back in Canada so now Amanda is stuck with me (an upgrade if I do say so myself). The other evening as we strolled through Ryde looking for their tenpin bowling alley (which turned out to be the site of the most recent demolition center) we heard some loud cheering coming from a nearby park. We checked it out and discovered that it was a real LIVE cricket game. The fans were insane as the shouted in an attempt to gain an edge on the opposition. As much as we like to believe that it was the passion speaking it is highly likely that it was the numerous empty beer bottles... either way it was the most exciting match of cricket either of us had ever seen... granted it was the first game for both of us and we spent most of it trying to understand the rules. Aside from that not much is new. We toured around downtown Sydney yesterday... and right now we are sitting in the Sydney airport waiting to catch a flight to Brisbane (which has recently been hit with a cyclone-like storm). Once we land there the plan is to hop on a bus to Maroochydore... however, the final destination has changed several times in the past few days and could change again later today. Hope all is well... let us know when you are all barried in snow.

Sydney

So we have been harrassed into making another post. Since I arrived we had been staying at the AMG motel & apartments in Ryde (which I believe is a subdivision of Sydney). Not a whole lot has happened hence why the delay in posting. We have discovered some more comforts from home as we enjoyed a classy dinner prepared for us by the chefs at the local Pizza Hut. Justin has since landed back in Canada so now Amanda is stuck with me (an upgrade if I do say so myself). The other evening as we strolled through Ryde looking for their tenpin bowling alley (which turned out to be the site of the most recent demolition center) we heard some loud cheering coming from a nearby park. We checked it out and discovered that it was a real LIVE cricket game. The fans were insane as the shouted in an attempt to gain an edge on the opposition. As much as we like to believe that it was the passion speaking it is highly likely that it was the numerous empty beer bottles... either way it was the most exciting match of cricket either of us had ever seen... granted it was the first game for both of us and we spent most of it trying to understand the rules. Aside from that not much is new. We toured around downtown Sydney yesterday... and right now we are sitting in the Sydney airport waiting to catch a flight to Brisbane (which has recently been hit with a cyclone-like storm). Once we land there the plan is to hop on a bus to Maroochydore... however, the final destination has changed several times in the past few days and could change again later today. Hope all is well... let us know when you are all barried in snow.

AUSTRALIA

So I have finally made it here... the flights went smoothly although I don't recommend sitting between two guys on a cram-packed 13 hour flight over the ocean. The most exciting part of my vacation thus far was trying to track down Justin and Amanda once I arrived in Sydney. Needless to say I got off about twenty bus stops early, teaching me what it is like to haul a freaking heavy backpack down a main drag. Yesterday we went to Manly Beach and caught some gigantic waves... Amanda was cleaning sand out of her swimsuits long into the evening. I also had my first & second Krispie Kream donuts... funny how you come half way around the world to try something like that. So mom this is an unofficial reminder that I am safe so you can cancel the flight and the search party. Talk to you all soon... not too sure when as we will be moving around in the next little bit.

Ryan, Amanda & Justin

Esterhazy, SK

Alright it is Ryan again. Today is the day... in fact in twenty minutes I will be on my way to the airport so that I can eventually arrive in Australia. And while I am not bringing a voice with me I do have a closet and a half worth of clothes (I knew I could make it all fit). Anyways the next time that you hear from me I will be relaxed and on a beach somewhere. So enjoy the winter (I am really crushed that I miss that) and I'll see you all again in six months (assuming that I can keep track of the days)

Ryan

Caloudra

For the last 5 or 6 days we have been staying in this little city called Caloundra about 100km North of Brisbane. Justin has been using his points to buy us free hotel rooms. So, we have been soaking up the hotel life for the last bit.
Tomorrow we will be heading south via our rental car and we will be going back to sleeping in our car. We are planning to take about 4 days to drive down to Sydney and make a few stops at Byron Bay, Surfers paradise and The Blue Mountains. We went to the Steve Irwin Zoo a few days ago and boxed some Kangaroos and touched some Koala's. We spent the entire day at the zoo and saw lots of neat animals. We will try to put some pics up on the blog sooner than later.
Take Care,
Justin and Amanda