Rainbow Beach

Alright so we figured that since we have changed locations that it might be time that we updated our blog. We are now officially in Rainbow Beach. The town is great and it is the closest that we have felt to being back home since we've been here. It is a small community where everyone knows everyone and the internet at the local library is free. We settled in here on Friday night with the intention of staying a few nights. The hostel is relatively clean and if you get up at ridiculously early hours like myself you get free PANCAKES which are surprisingly a luxury at this point. On Saturday one of our new friends Niki from England convinced us to go on a Camel walk on the beach with her. I will admit that my opinion of the creatures has changed a bit since the zoo experience. In the event that I didn't post that experience the camel at the zoo was giving me shifty eyes and foaming from the mouth... not exactly the kind of animal that you want to take home with you... but the camel ride itself was amazing we got to ride on Aulley (the biggest camel weighing in at 980kg - we assumed that we were given the strongest camel because I was riding it with Amanda - don't tell her but I've got her on a strict no carb diet... lol) After the camel nearly through me off the front we were off at a blistering pace. We have a bunch of pictures and it is definitely something you can't do everyday (which has been our motto thus far). The following day (Sunday) we went sea kayaking which is essentially kayaking out into the middle of the ocean and checking out the marine life... we saw a school of fish and just as the group had lost hope of seeing other life the dolphins appeared and gave us a bit of a show. We paddled back in record time (not that anyone else knew that we were racing them - it's a great workout Justing -- at least that's what I kept trying to convince myself of). For the rest of the day we just chilled out and read... that's right we have both picked up reading since being thrown into this unfortunate isolation. Having already finished a book each we are both engrossed in a second one. It's quite amazing the things you can find to entertain yourself when not surrounded by computers/tvs/cellphones and the lot. Today for those of you who have forgotten (*hint hint) is my birthday (in Australia time so you still have time to send wishes if you are in Canada -- j/j) so I got to choose the activity so we went over to Tin Can Bay and fed the Dolphins (so cool). Which means trying to top this birthday next year might be a bit difficult. A family of three dolphins turn up every morning to be fed... it all started many years ago when the community nursed an injured dolphin back to health and ever since then it's descendants have been turning up for fish. We got to feed two of the three (Patch the mom (who nibbled my hand when she took the fish) and Harmony (the baby), we didn't get to feed the male (Mystique)) which was so amazing to be up close and personal with wild dolphins. I think that is all for now as we are off to continue celebrate today. Hope to get in touch with some of you very soon as we have made some potential plans to stay around Rainbow beach for a while. We talked to the owner of the sea kayaking company and it appears that he hires backpackers to do a few hours of labour at his farm in exchange for accommodations. So we will be living virtually free for the next two weeks, after we return from our 3day/2night safari to Fraser Island (the largest sand island in the world). Until next time, Ryan and Amanda.

Australia Zoo

Well I had the opportunity to head over to the Steve Irwin Zoo the other day. It was insane eventually I will try to get the pictures up on the blog soon... until then you can check them out on my facebook account. To be brief I got to feed an elephant, pet a kangaroo and a koala, watch a tiger paint, see elephants walking in a line holding tails like they do in the Jungle book, and soooo much more. If you ever make it to Australia you need to go to this zoo it is amazing. Aside from that excitement we have just been keeping busy swimming and seeing more of the community. Today we are talking about going kayaking in the ocean... and on Friday we have booked a bus to Rainbow Beach which is where we will call home for the next bit. It gets its name from the colourful cliffs located there... apparently 72 different shades. Other than that not a whole lot of news for us to share. Take care and talk to you all soon.

Ryan and Amanda

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