Since I know all of you have missed me this semester, I have good news...I will be back in the States on June 18! I am flying into LAX on the 18th, spending the day in LA, and then taking a red eye home that night to NJ. I'll be in NJ from the 19th to the 27th, and then back to LA!
It seems only a few weeks ago, not four months, that I got here to Australia and it's really weird to say that I have just about over month left here. During that next month, I have 2 weeks of class left, 2 papers, and 2 finals along with a trip to Brisbane/Gold Coast, sailing/snorkeling trip in the Whitsundays and a week-long visit by my friend Felicia from SC!
I have truly loved my semester in Australia - All the people I've met and friends I've made, all the places I've traveled to, and all the crazy things I've done have definitely been a once in a lifetime visit. I am 100% glad I came abroad this semester and recommend it to anyone.
However, with that said, I'm at the point where I'm ready to go home (well at least after my travels). Along with missing my friends and family (and doggies), it's the smaller things that make me miss America. I can't wait to have a normal iced coffee (from DD of course), Mexican food, cheap alcohol, and free Internet (so sick of this pay buy the GB crap). I'm ready to not almost get run over every time I cross the street because I always look the wrong way.
Seriously, how could I not miss him...
and her too?
Plus, I have good things to look forward to upon getting back. First, I am 21 now, which means I can actually go out. NYC (and possibly Atlantic City) will be taken by storm when I'm in NJ, along with my first Vegas trip as soon as I get back to LA! Secondly, I am stoked for my internship this summer. I am interning at Full Picture PR and Management this summer (and potentially have another internship at PartyEarth, LLC). Full Picture reps the Victoria Secret Models and produces the fashion show along with all of Heidi Klum's shows, and they also have other big clients like Vitamin Water. Thus, it's going to be awesome. Thirdly, the amount of people at SC/in LA this summer is awesome. Larry, Gabe, LRowe, Gieselle, Malyn, JBro, KatG, etc etc....shit's bound to hit the fan with all of us being 21 and these people are probably the craziest partiers I know!
(This is my obligatory comment bitching about Melbourne's weather. It's summer in the States. I miss shorts, flipflops, and brotanks. I miss seeing the sun EVERYDAY and it being 90 degrees when I wake up. I definitely went to SC to avoid fall and winter. It was so cold and dreary here that I was listening to Christmas music because it literally felt like LA right before I got home for break in December.)
Phillip Island: So Many Furry Critters!
This past Saturday, Mike, Micah and I decided to go to Phillip Island to see the Penguin Parade. We found an awesome tour that took us all over the Island, and it only cost $90 per person, which isn't bad at all.
After leaving Melbourne around 11am, we made several stops along the way as the penguin parade would not be til sunset. Our first stop (the least exciting one) was to stop for sandwiches for lunch. They were pretty bad, but at least it was included in the tour. After that stop, we ended up at Maru Animal Park, where we got to feed kangaroos and wallabies as well as see Tasmanian Devils, wombats, koalas, and dingoes. It was awesome!
Tasmanian Devil - of course, he runs away as soon as I get there
and then he ran back...
Koala 1
Koala 2
One of the several wallabies
Kookaburra
Cockatoo...he kept sticking his head through the cage
Dingo...ate my baby?
This horse loved me...he followed me the entire time
In the kangaroo area...they had over 30 of them
Running over to us to get fed
Baby kangaroo...he was so small...i wanted to steal him
Head in pouch?
Albino kangaroo...my favorite one
This one got a tad aggressive trying to get the food container out of my hand
Wombat
From there, we made our way to Phillip Island, and we stopped at Cape Woolamai, a beach where part of the Billabong Surf contest is held each year. The weather had been iffy all day - rain, sun, rain, sun - and when we got here, it was cloudy and drizzling. As we exited the bus and walked toward the beach, the wind was insane. Sand blowing everywhere and it was a mess. After snapping a picture, it was back to the bus for us.
The tour then took us to the Nobbies. To me, it seemed like something that you would find in Ireland. Our tour guide said this was a spot where we could potentially see penguins and actually take pictures (since at the Parade, you can take pictures).
After some time exploring there, we drove through the National Park and ended up at the Penguin Parade. It was around 4:45 at this point but it was freezing cold out. I was wearing a sweatshirt and jacket but was not equipped for how cold it was.
Around 5:20 we went to the stands and got seats. We waited about a half-hour and then the first penguin came out. These are the Little Penguins (previously known as Fairy Penguins) and are only about a foot tall. Seeing the first one come out of the water was the funniest sight ever, as the penguins were so small! He was pushed onto the beach by the wave, he got up and looked around, and then ran back into the water. This happened 3 or 4 times (apparently, he was checking to make sure the beach was clear of predators) and then he finally started waddling up the beach toward his burrow.
Within a few minutes, groups known as rafts consisting of about 15-30 penguins came ashore and went through the same process as the first one. After watching a few groups came out, we left the stands and went to the boardwalk, where the penguins were walking next to on their way to their burrows. It was such an awesome sight, seeing hundreds of penguins all over. For such little guys, it was impressive how far they walk (plus up steep hills) to their burrows.
After being at the Parade for about an hour - 1.5 hours, our tour took us to get pizza and then we made our way back to Melbourne. Overall, this is DEFINITELY something that needs to be seen when in Melbourne!
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