Hiking up Mount Coolum

Last week James, our friend Becca and I drove 30 minutes up to the coast to climb Mount Coolum. It only took about 30 minutes each way but was a pretty uphill climb, I was certainly puffed! I think it's safe to say we looked fairly novice in the climbing stakes as Becca carried her Mulberry, we got overtaken by a couple in flip flops and an old man, and almost passed by a pair of fairly hefty girls!

The view from the top was pretty spectacular though...

Six months and not counting

Last week James and I passed six months of living in Australia. So far we are having the best time. With all changes there have been some adjustments to get used to, but we both feel really comfortable here now.

In fact James is so comfortable that he doesn't want to leave. In his eyes it can't get better than living in Australia! In my mine our plan was to stay in Mooloolaba until October, travel a bit and be home for Xmas. But the past six months have flown by so quickly that we don't think we'll be ready to leave come October.

At first I wasn't too sure if staying on longer was the right thing for me to do. I totally understand that it's great for James' career and we have a great quality of life, but my family and friends mean so much to me that I wasn't sure if staying away longer would make me happy. Also, whilst I really enjoy my two part time jobs, I feel like I haven't really had the chance to find a job that I feel really passionate about.

But then I spoke to my Dad and he always makes me feel better and see things clearly. He reminded me that we're young and an extra few months/year won't make much of a difference, but will allow us to keep enjoying our experience a bit more.

So our new plan (I had to tie James down to discuss it, he hates to plan but I love to plan!) is to come home July 2013. I will also be popping back in September and March to see my family and be a bridesmaid at Nikki and Sam's wedding. I feel so lucky, like I have the best of both worlds, I get to see all the people I love (Including Luca who will be 15 months in September!) and I get to keep loving this time in Australia.

So to all my home friends, keep some time free for me in September! And to all my Australian friends, I'm excited for more fun times ahead!

xoxo

Buderim Falls adventure

Last week James and I drove the 15 minutes to Buderim Falls for an afternoon adventure. It was a beautiful sunny afternoon, perfect for navigating our way to the waterfall. We also stumbled across a photo shoot, from a distance I thought the model was wearing a tight blue jumpsuit but as walked right past her we realised that she was actually totally naked and just painted blue! I am so blind! I didn't get a photo of her as I thought that would be a bit weird. But here we are...

Flash floods on the Sunshine Coast

Last Thursday 400mm of rain pounded the Sunshine Coast with Kawana, Mooloolaba, Alexandra Headland and Maroochydore the worst hit. The video below shows the areas around where we live!

James' 20 minute commute home took over 2 hours and he ended up having to leave the car somewhere high and wade home through the water.

The flood water on our road was up to my waist at the peak and then a few hours later it was all gone... But thank goodness we don't have a ground floor unit!

Sailing in the Whitsundays

We all went on a sailing trip around the Whitsunday Islands for two nights. I was a bit dubious about it at first after being seasick once in Egypt, but as it turned out we had perfect sailing conditions. The boat slept eight people and two crew. Most of the other people were great, but we did have the pleasure of sailing with a very annoying couple, Helen and Ray. Even before we got on the boat we all realised that they were going to be really pedantic, annoying people.We decided that Ray was probably ok once upon a time but any fun in him had been removed by boring Helen.

The first night us four all went to sleep up on the deck, under the stars. When I woke up in the morning it was just me and James left, we later found that Anu had snuck into our unused bed! I don't blame him really, I'm not sure him and Hurrel would have fit into one of those tiny beds. Waking up was really surreal, in the middle of the Islands, the sun rising, it was gorgeous. Oh I should mention what it was that woke me in the morning; it was Helen in the water exclaiming 'Oh the water's salty!' What an idiot. The next morning Hurrell was asleep up on deck and she woke him saying: 'Oh, someone is asleep up here!' Our Skipper Matt did tell her off on the second morning, he said you should never wake a sleeping sailor. She just loved to state the obvious. Other classics included: Helen: 'What happens when two boats are coming towards each other, does one go right and one go left?' Skipper: 'No, because they would crash!' [Stupid bitch]; when dubstep was playing, Helen: 'Is this music, it just sounds like noise. I think it's time for something else'; Helen: 'Beer, no that's bad for you. I'll have a cup of tea'... As I said a real fun sponge. 

We got dropped off at Whitehaven Beach for a morning, which is where the famous silica sand is found. Unfortunately to go into the water you have to wear stinger suits as there are jellyfish everywhere, including the Irukandji jellyfish which is smaller than half a finger nail and deadly. There are plenty of the huge jelly fish around too... swimming around/with them took some getting used to!

We did get to do some snorkeling with tropical fish/mixed in with jellyfish which was really good. Although not as good as the snorkeling with big turtles, that was simply amazing! We had a brilliant trip, I hope I get to go back again, although it wouldn't be the same without the boys!

Stereotypical show off traveller picture

Hamilton Island

We all ate the green bottom on one of these ants... it used to be used in cocktails?!

Reading with Anu and Hurrell

About to see some colourful fish!

Hurrell's perch

Anu sleeping in our cabin!

The three musketeers

So beautiful

Captain Anu

3 men and a Miranda

At the start of March two of James BFFs, Hurrell and Anu came to stay for two weeks. Two weeks isn't really much time when you come all the way to Australia, so James took the same time off and planned a non-stop itinerary for them. They managed to pack in Australia Zoo, kayaking in Mooloolaba, a skydive at Rainbow Beach, camping on Frasier Island, a Queensland Reds Rugby game, sailing in the Whitsunday Islands and a few nights in Sydney. Oh, and Anu also did some diving! I have no idea how they had the energy to keep going! I left them to it for the most part as I had work, plus I had already enjoyed a four hour kayak with James previously... and I'm a bit dubious about camping on Frasier with the Dingos. Anu did say it was one of the worst sleeps of his life. However it turns out Dingos aren't too much of a problem, you need to be more careful of waking up to find drunk half naked (bottom half uncovered...)Frenchmen in your 4x4... (he went for a swim, in the shark infested waters, and lost his way...).

I did join them in the Whitsunday's which was amazing, I'll blog about that separately. I loved having Anu and Hurrell to stay, they are both such great guys and I know James loved having them here. It was very quiet and lonely when they left me to go down to Sydney! Apart from a bit of sun stroke for poor Hurrell, I'm pretty sure they had a good two weeks exploring together. I stole some of James' photos to share...

   

Hello Anu!

Glasshouse Mountains

I loved playing cards with Anu, he gets so angry if he doesn't win!

Sky diving

James landing

Attractive harnesses

I like Anu's socks

BBQing at Frasier

Sydney

 

Anu and a Wombat