Since Sydney and oh what a journey!!!!

So on Monday the 12th Rainey and I went on a day tour of the Blue mountains... Beautiful!! They are blue from far away because the eucalyptus trees release a gas that acts as a absorption layer absorbing all the other colors' wavelengths except the blue (like the ocean). But not very mountainous I guess Rainey and I are a little spoiled from the Rockies but meh. We saw Kookaburra's and that was cool our guide was full of awesome stories and jokes, we saw a rock formation called the three sisters and he gathered us all up (yep like kids) and had good old fashioned story time it was hilarious. We also met two of the funnest people yet their names are Joost and Savigna but we called them Holland and Germany and they called us Team Canada it was awesome!!! We totally sang silly songs and struck poses and cracked jokes the entire tour, but I feel that we were the favorites of the group as disruptive as we were, the guide even sat with us for lunch. We took a train that pulled us at a 80 degree angle up the rock cliff face backwards it was awesome one of the girls screamed the whole time and I admit my knees were a little shaky when I got off the ride, there wasn't even a strap belt they used to use it to transport coal up the mountain to the road so I guess passenger comfort wasn't considered but made it all the better as a result. We found out that the eucalyptus trees shed their bark (Bare trees that's right they look cool and feel cooler) and that some of the spiders hide under the bark shreds, the guide (simon was his name) was actually LOOKING for them, on purpose can you imagine??? We had a blast even though we didn't see any kangaroos, apparentley they are a pretty common occurance in the blue mountains national park.

Tuesday we left Sydney permanently for Surf Camp, we were at the station bright and early (6am) but the bus was broken down with a dead battery so we never actually even departed until about 8:30am but still in good spirits thanks to the two Bailey's and Coffee that Rainey and I indulged in while waiting:D We stopped in several places along the food for grub and walk breaks, we saw a giant banana in coffs harbour... not very giant but if I was a japanese tourist let me tell you I would have been thrilled I'm sure. Our bus driver's name was Hayley and she was awesome she played games with us and gave away prizes like vouchers for tours and wine lol it was awesome!!! When we got to surf camp they fed us an amazing meal and then we sat around playing drinking games and visiting (Hayley too), I only brought the one bottle of wine but some how through the charity of others I did end up praying to the porcelin god. I still made it to my surf lessons in the morining though because I woulda killed myself if I missed it, I had a bottle of Redbull in my backpack thank god and I was smiling in most of the pictures, so alls well that ends well. So during lessons I found out that I'm goofy footed which means that I surf with my dominant foot in front, which is apparently uncommon although my instructor says some of the best surfers are goofy footers (obviously not the case with me lol). I managed to stand up about 3-4 times for about 5 seconds if that but I think I'm gonna love it and had so much fun, even though it's now been two days later and I'm still finding random war wounds (bruises) and my shoulders are obviously weak and girly, there's a good reason that surfers are built so nicely. After the lesson was over and I was showered and clean I walked back to the bay and there was a pod of dolphins playing out in the waves, they were pretty far away but I was totally mesmerized, they were amazing!!! We got on the bus and started heading north again stopping to see the Giant Prawn in Ballina where we were all told to "Japaneso if we wanted" by Hayley, I love that girl!!! She dropped us off at our hostel once we got to Byron bay and told us to have fun and play safe (and name any concieved children after her, but if we get an STD don't bitch to the driver that told them to play safe). She had arranged to reserve us a table at Cheeky monkey's which is supposed to be a super awesome place to party, we were told there would be free beer on our table which was super exciting but alas no free beer and when we tried to find out about it we got turbo cold shouldered it was like pulling teeth. We were just confused and some of the staff were mildly rude, so we've decided not to go back but the food was ok gotta give them that and I prolly woulda had fun if they had just been like "sorry bout that here's a pitcher of beer and an appetizer for you guys to share". We were traveling with a bunch of British girls (and one guy) and we bought a poutine... Funniest thing in the world was introducing the group to poutine they thought it was gross when I told them what it was but when Rainey brought it to the table OMG one girl thought she had died and gone to heaven, it was so hilarious!

Our hostel's pretty nice, the dorms are mixed so there's a boy in our room but he's a nice guy I won't hold his gender against him ;) There's a pool but I haven't swam in it yet we've been so busy, although yesterday we just laid on the beach.... It was fantastic there was even this dirty old man (harmless) who came over and chatted us up telling us jokes and such he was pretty funny even though he was a perv. We've been cooking alot and saving money like mad, which is good cause I'm a cheap bastard, as we all know. Today though we went on a hike up to the lighthouse here at Cape Byron it was a nice walk and my bum is gonna be sore tomorrow, but I got to see more dolphins and a little wallaby (I think he was a rock wallaby he was tiny and so cute), then we shared a box of cornetto's with the two girls we were walking with because I'm too cheap to pay 3.50 a cone for ice cream on the beach. We found a park where they were setting up live music and found a space to eat our ice cream and then a guy came over and told us that it was a free barbeque. So there we go free music and free food, so what do we do we eat and listen it was fabulous, apparently the youth/community group do it every friday I love Australia!!! So my frugal side is sated what do I do but go into a local travel place and buy every single package that I may want to do.... yep spent a small fortune but I feel that I'm investing in my vacation, they are giving me pretty wicked deals (did my research and best deals yet, also the closer I get the more expensive it will be for me I fear) and here's the cincher--> Open Dates good for 12 months!!! So pre paid it wont matter later if i can't afford it I've already paid for it, I win!!! Having said that I've emailed the Australia Zoo my resume to see if they need a Vet Nurse so everyone keep your fingers crossed for me I'm gonna start working on my "Crikey" LMAO
Love you all and Toodles
~Jessalyn