Thursday, March 31, 2005

Easter, Trail Ride and Surfing

Hey everyone,

So, this might be a long one. I know I went over my update biweekly rule but I think you will survive Streff. So, we flew to Sydney on the 26th and left on the 29th. In Sydney we stayed in a hostel with 3 Brits. They were really nice and we helped them celebrate their last night in Sydney.

Easter - Well, we decided the night before to go to the church right by our hostel. It turned out to be an Anglican Catholic Church. It was over 2 hours long. When I say over 2 hours, I mean we left before communion and that was at the 2-hour mark. There were so many people, you couldn't tell which one was the priest. It was a pretty elaborate mass. After that all we wanted was a good Easter buffet. Well we found a cafe that looked ok on the outside but when we got in, I swear the only words our waitress could say were, 'I don't know.' We did a lot of pointing to the menu too. So, we ditched that place and went to Wollworths for a frozen pizza to make later at the hostel. We played cards til supper time and went to put the pizza in and we couldn't find an oven. Turns out there wasn't one and we had microwave pizza instead...just a little soggy but otherwise good.

We started out trip on Monday and had many disappointments. No wine tasting, no astronomy tour thingy. On Tuesday we did go horse back riding in Bingara. It was soo much fun!! I can't believe I've never been on a horse before. My horse's name was Nicky, michelle's was Eadie and sara's was Stella. Mine was supposed to be a slow one but it liked to pass people and ride real close to them and stick it's head in others' butts and it ran whenever it felt like it and once it kicked another horse. Sara's just went where ever the hell it wanted...including running sara into every tree branch it could find...good thing they made us wear riding helmets. Everytime I saw Michelle, she was galloping by, which wasn't necessarily a good thing. Don't worry, I have pics and will post them when I get home.

Wednesday we prepared for a long day on the bus. Our tour guide (usually the driver but our bus broke down and had to hire a new one with a driver already) is really crazy. Her name if Foggy. She flashed people and woke us up last night because she went skinny dipping at the pool at our hostel at 3 AM...gross!!! She talks way too much and too loud and likes to be called "Fogg-Off" or "Fogg me sideways"...totally weird I know. We waited in Inverell for like 2 hours because the new bus we were on had bad breaks. We were all pretty fed up with everything by then. We got to Byron Bay, where we will be staying til Sunday, at about 6ish. We went out to Cheeky Monkeys for supper. It is a huge backpackers pub. The chicken wraps were sooooo amazing. The chips were the best I've had since I've been here as well. We were home by 11, when everyone started dancing on the tables. There were a lot of games and free pitchers of beer given away to the Oz Experiencers. Ask Michelle how she won a 24 hour surfboard rental...ha ( we have pics to prove it...very funny)

We got up early today (Thursday already...wow) to go SURFING!!! I can't believe we've been here so long and haven't been surfing yet. Now we can finally say we went. At 10 am Michelle, Sara and I went with Marc ( a guy on our bus from Amsterdam who we hang out with all the time) and some other girls from our bus. We took lessons from BlackDog Surfing. Our instructor was a typical Australian...tan, shaggy hair, strong accent and of course a cutie! We got our wetsuits and rashies and headed out to the beach. We were taught the basics like parts of the board and how to stand up and get off and stuff like that. We then went out to give it a go. It was actually easier than I thought. Evan ( the cute one) and Jason were helping us by giving us a push into the wave so I thing that made it easier. We bought pics so I'll post some. I want a board now....good decoration for when I get home. It was like a 3-hour lesson and we are pretty tired now. After surfing we walked around Byron and did some shopping and checked out the town. I am glad we are staying til Sunday. It seems like a great little town. We don't have transportation out on Sunday yet so we'll see what happens. All of the Oz buses are like totally booked and it is really crazy so we will probably have to look into catching a train out of here.

Tomorrow we are going to Nimbin. From what we here, it is an alternative town...with a bunch of hippies. It should be fun. It is like a 3-in-1 adventure tour. Saturday we plan to hire some surfboards and try that again and other than that, its about it. I'll try to update again, as we seem to be heaps busy.

Miss you all lots and luv ya tons.

hilary

and michlle says hi too!

Wednesday, March 23, 2005

Yeah Vacations!

Hey people,

What is up? I am officially done with school until April 5th! Isn't that exciting? We leave Saturday for Sydney. We will be there for Easter. Our plan is to dye Easter eggs in the hostel we are staying at...which reminds me to book a hostel so we have a place to stay. We were unable to start our bus trip on Sunday but luckily Monday was open. So, Monday start and Monday finish, hopefully. We are really looking forward to it. I miss living out of a bag that I had no idea what it contained. This time will be better hopefully.

It was sooo hot today. I almost died walking to the library. A good swim will feel really nice later. Tonight we are celebrating a few of our friends' birthdays so we feel obligated to go out...dang it.

Not too much new. I should be writing to my mom. Thanks for all the comments mom by the way. At least I know you are reading it!

I think we might get a printer! That's about as exciting as I can get right now. Well, I'm outta here. Time to play!

Hope everyone is great. miss ya. love ya.

hilary

Tuesday, March 22, 2005

Yo Yo Yo

Hey everybody,

What is up? I haven't heard from some of you in awhile. It must be spring break. I hope everyone had a great time. Over here it is just intra-semester break because frankly, it isn't spring here. Weird, huh? Let me know how your break went and I'd love to hear a few stories.

Nothing much new here. Michelle, Travis, Bryan and I went to Noosa last Saturday. It is a pretty touristy town. They have a really nice beach too that we have to make it back to. I still have to write a paper due tomorrow but knowing me I'll save it for tomorrow.

The days are still really warm but the nights are starting to get cooler. Good thing I brought some pants.

It is wednesday and we are getting excited to get out of here. It is a little weird thinking we are going on holiday when we are actually already on one. A holiday within a holiday I guess.

I am already paying over for internet this month so I'll wait until next to post more pictures....I'll have more after the break as well.

Better go...I've been at the library way too long!

Hope everyone is great!

Love, hilary

Monday, March 21, 2005

Communication mix up

Hey everyone,

Due to the overhelming amount of comments about the time we got home last thursay I am wrtiting to clear some things up. We weren't so drunk on St. Patrick's Day that we didn't know what time it was, it was more of a matter of not looking at the clock when getting home. Yes, we were drinking a little, it was st. patrick's day in all, but don't worry...we know when to stop. Hopefully that clears it up for everyone who was wondering.

Well, I better get going. Will write more later.

Love, Hilary

Friday, March 18, 2005

HAPPY ST. PATTY'S DAY!

Hello Everyone!! This is Michelle...I got really amitious this morning and actually beat Hilary to writing this. Don't get used to it, it won't happen often.

Well yesterday was St. Patrick's Day, and we celebrated. We headed to the bus stop at 5 and while Hilary was buying a bus ticket our friend Matt pointed out to me that a bird had pooped on her shoulder. Obviously I started laughing, Hilary did not laugh though. She sat there screaming at us to whip it off, mad that I wouldn't use my fingers to whip it off. Well good ole Matt eventually whipped it off and ended that drama. We got to the bar a little late though. Everyone there had already gotten all the free stuff....cool hats, tattoos, shirts, glow sticks, we were left to look for unused tattoos on the floor....which as you can see I found!

We had a good time, as it was St. Patrick's Day I made Hilary get the obgligatory Guiness....which wasn't bad at first, but ugh by the time you got to the second half, it was more than you wanted. We met a grumpy leprachan, he said he was grumpy because everyone was trying to steal his gold...we couldn't find it. The bar did have a cover band who played Irish music though, which was neat, but rather hard to dance too. We were back here by around 1130 we've been told, back to enjoy the candy that Brenda sent us, thank you! (for the cute decorations too:))

We don't have much plans for the weekend a lot of our friends are going to Fraser Island, might be a good weekend to relax and actually get some homework done. It's not a very nice day here today, overcast and not too warm; which is a good thing since we can't go to the beach.

I hope you all have a fantastic St. Patrick's Day! Hopefully one of you will find the leprachan with the gold:)

Hugs and Kisses,
Michelle and Hilary

(oh and by the way Hilary says that 'no' she did not finish the honey nut cheerios yet!--but was very excited to get them yesterday, a nice St. Patrick's Day Surprise!)

Thursday, March 17, 2005


Michelle, a grumpy leprachan and Hilary outside of O'Malleys. Posted by Hello

Wednesday, March 16, 2005

TGIW

Hey everyone,

It is me and Michelle again. Today is Wednesday and we just spent the last 2 hours taking my 10 point bio quiz...yeah fun!

It is a really nice day today, laying by the pool weather that is.

A few added comments from yesterday:

The beach trip turned violent on Friday. We were peacefully enjoying the beach while criticising Brian and Travis' sand turtle and Travis flipped and started whipping sand and me and themn Michelle dove in on the action after Travis started getting her. She retaliated and they were in a war. Michelle got a good scratch on him and he chucked sand so hard it gave her a fat lip...haha.

Thanks Michelle's parents for sending the Easter basket. Everyone (me and michelle) enjoyed that huge bag of robins eggs. It was very good and didn't last as long as it should've. Thanks again!

Michelle can hardly wait until tomorrow...St. Patrick's Day....she is going to go to bed in a few minutes here ( it is now 11:35 am) just she doesn't have to wait as long to start drinking green beer. We are planning to go to O'Malleys. It is one of our favorites. I have a St. Patrick's Day shirt I'll be wearing and Michelle wants to borrow my socks.

I hope everyone has a great St. Patrick's Day!!!!

I hope everyone enjoyed Potato Chip Day, it was on Monday.

Today ( wed) is Curlew Day!!!!

ps. if anyone knows what the hell that means please let us know so we can celebrate it too!

We miss everyone!

Happy Birthday Nick! Happy Belated Birthday Haley!

Love, hilary and Michelle

Tuesday, March 15, 2005


Hilary and Michelle on the 16 hour ferry ride to Manly Beach in Sydney. Michelle wanted to walk instead of paying $10. Good thing we took a ferry!  Posted by Hello

$2 Tuesday

Hey everyone,

How are you? I am pretty good. I had a pretty uneventful weekend. Friday I went to the beach with Michelle, Rebecca, Nicole, Travis, Maxim and Bryan. We went to Alexandra Headlands, which is the first time I've been to that beach so it was a good time.

On Saturday, Michelle, Brad and I went to Brisbane. In the morning we went to a St. Patrick's Day Parade. It was fun...they had a lot of bagpipers! After that we just walked around a little and of course shopped a little. Oh!! I almost forgot. While we were there we saw Delta Goodrem. She is a famous singer here in Australia. She is also in a new movie. Michelle and Brad weren't as excited as me about seeing her...oh well!

The weather hasn't been the greatest lately...it rained on and off yesterday and looks like it might today too. I just got done with my only class of the day and now I have to get started on 2 papers that are due next week.

I hope everyone is having a great spring break. I can't wait for ours. We will be flying down to Sydney and taking a bus trip back up to Mooloolaba. I look forward to traveling with Sara and Michelle again. I'll try to put a few more pics when I get home. I hear it is warming up in ND...but I bet not as warm as it is here...(I'm such a brat).

Speaking of Easter...there is a Cadbury factory in Tazmania so they have tons and tons of Cadbury candy here and it is sooo good. So in case you were wondering, we aren't getting stiffed on any good Easter candy...thanks mom for sending me some that they don't have here though...they didn't last very long. The candy bars are good here. I already told you about caramel kit kats and they are still the best.

Well I better get going...this is my second time in the library today. Thanks for all the comments, I love to hear from everybody.

Have a great spring break! I miss you all!

hilary

Wednesday, March 09, 2005


Glacial river in NZ. The bright turquoise color is caused by the rock particles that were crushed by the glacier. The water was v. v. cold! Posted by Hello

Saturday, March 05, 2005


Me feeding a wallaby at the Australia Zoo. Posted by Hello

Michelle, Adam and Sara at Manly beach in Sydney having a sand turtle contest. Adam won! Posted by Hello

Michelle, Steph and Lindsay at O'Malley's pub in Mooloolaba. Posted by Hello

Heather, Steph, Travis, Nicole, Rebecca, Rachel and Nick, Scotty and JP in the back at the kegger drinking xxxx at our complex.  Posted by Hello

Frogs and bee stings

Hey everyone,

How are you? I'm good. It is cloudy today and about mid 70s, which is cold here. It is probably a good thing because yesterday I was at the pool all day and didn't reapply sunscreen and got lets just say a little burnt. Don't worry, Michelle got a picture.

The other night our friend Anton came over and made us try some vegemite. If you don't know what that is it is concentrated yeast extract. You just toast cheese and vegemite on a piece of bread. That is what he made us, you can eat it other ways too. If you don't smell it or ever eat it plain, it isn't that bad.

About 12 of us went to the movie Hitch on Friday night. It cost $10.50 with our student ids...kinda spendy. It was a really good movie though, I definitely recommend it.

So, you are probably are wondering about the title. So about the frog. Michelle was peacefully about to make a salad. She got everything out and went for her romaine lettuce. She was alarmed to find a little frog just hiding among the leaves. So we basically had a frog in our fridge for about a week. Didn't know you could get frogs at grocery stores did you?

As for the bee. It isn't really that good of a story but I'll tell it anyway. Last night (sat) after we got back from dancing a bunch of us were hanging out on a friends porch. All of a sudden I felt something on my finger and then on my butt. I guess it was a bee and I didn't even notice. So some friends helped me out and got the stinger out and gave me some ice for my butt. So, yeah, the same bee stung me twice. It is only the 2nd and 3rd time I've ever been stung and I'm really afraid of them too. Yeah so that was really boring...sorry.

Not much else is new. Monday is cereal day so Michelle and I are eating only cereal all day tomorrow. Everyone is encouraged to do so as well.

Hey, do they have carmel kit kats in the States? They do here and they are sooo good. Some of you know how much I like kit kats and the carmel ones are like heaven. Just let me know if you want one sent to you :) I'd only ask for a box of honey nut cheerios in return. They also have mint ones and cappuccino but I haven't tried them yet.

Bye everyone...I guess I am now going to update 'bi-weekly' just for Sarah.

Happy Birthday Calli!

Hope everyone is great. Take Care!

Luv, hilary

Michelle says hi:) She named her frog Roman. Sadly our friend Tennessee Travis was babysitting and Roman ran away. He is probably trying to find our apartment at this very moment. Michelle went rollerblading this morning and much to everyones surprise, she biffed it...hard core. Her lame excuse was that she doesn't have brakes. I know, lame. She has a nice scrape on her upper thigh. Always good for the beach. Michelle never updates her blog so she just uses mine. She says hi to all and wishes them all a good night.

Last night we went to an Irish pub which had a live band. We had a great time dancing until our Norweigen friend got us kicked out for humping a bride-to-be at her bachelorette party.

Tuesday, March 01, 2005

School

Hey everyone,

How are you going? I'm great. I'm actually starting classes now. I only have class 3 days a week so it still doesn't seem like school. Having more days off than not is hard to get used to. I am taking Psychology, Biology and a popular culture class in which I have to act....ahahah! At least Sara and Matt are in my tutorial...which might be a bad thing though.

Did I mention I like comments...thanks mom for commenting. It is kinda lame to get them all from your mom though...

I feel like I live at the library so if you email me, I will email back. The beach is still great. We have the bus schedules down to the beach and the shopping center....both necessities. The liquor store is close too, but of course I don't go there mom. Sara lives really close so we are over there once in awhile. We still have to repay her for letting us stay while we had cockroaches running all around our place.

I haven't checked the toilets...to see which way they go...but I will and get back to you. Speaking of toilets...they have 2 buttons on them...one for #1 and one for #2....I can't believe I am writing this.

Driving on the left side of the road isn't that weird anymore. Sometimes I still don't know which way to look when crossing but I am getting the round-a-bouts down. They have them everywhere.

I saw some more kangaroos on my way to class today. Oh, and Michelle and I saw two yesterday and one had a joey in its pouch...so cute!

Well, Sarah, thanks for keeping me on the ball... I wrote this just for you! I'll try to remember to put some more pics up when I get home...I can't do it from the library. I'm hungry too! Hope everyone is doing great. Did I mention to feel free to comment!?!

I miss you guys!

love, hilary