Day 9 - Mount Hutt and my never ending craving for rice

Sooo...

Today was day 1 of my 7 day snowboard excursion of the south island of New Zealand.

KT is on this trip with me and we have also been doing a lot of catching up. It's great to be reminded that there are still awesome people in this world that want to do crazy things like this with me.

Snowboarding.

I even took beginner lessons (because it had been a year and I didn't want to get hurt my first day on the slopes). Interestingly, they moved me up to level three...basically, my instructor watched us ride down the slopes and we followed him. His only feedback to me in particular, "Lisa, you're doing everything right, but you're at a 10...I need you at 2 or 3."

I'm in New Zealand!!!!! I can't contain my excitement dammit.

Listen to "Groove is in the heart - Deeeelite" as you enjoy these pictures

P.S. I did get Asian style rice for dinner...mmmmmm

Day 8 - another travel day

Made it to Christchurch, New Zealand

LE tired

KT is here with me to start this epic part of my journey

:-)

Cue We Will Rock You by Queen...

Day 7 - Springbrook and Cookies n' Cream

Running on 3ish hours of sleep, I woke up early to get ready for a rainforest hike.

Our tour guide, a non-douche and completely chill guy, drove us around and even stopped by a fudge shoppe and cafe so we could refuel before heading into the forest.

Note: Cookies and Cream fudge tastes like frosting out of the plastic tub. Super sweet and dangerously addictive. My teeth and taste buds were screaming at me to go easy and not eat all 100g of what I had purchased. So far, only a quarter of this bar has disappeared.

Today, in easily digestible bullet format:
- glow worms in a man made grotto
- sleeping owls
- tons and tons of rainforest tree and plant life
- hand fed several Crimson Rosellas and a very large Australian king parrot
- make your own wrap for lunch (I'm growing quite fond of Aussie "Sweet Chili Sauce.")
- Aussie turkeys (supposedly not very delicious, like American turkeys...my guide said to prepare it, you first get a rock and boil the bird with it. You can then eat it once the rock gets soft...if you catch my drift.)
- met another awesome person and had another wonderful conversation
- walked behind a few waterfalls and took potential Facebook profile pics accordingly
- saw a double rainbow at rainbow falls...I have proof!

Although this took all day, I felt the day had flown by. I was a bit disappointed that it ended because I was enjoying myself too much. Also, I am happy to report that the bags under my eyes are starting to slowly recede. Rest and relaxation are winning!

Tommorrow, another early morning but worth the early rise. I see KT and I head to New Zealand!

Days 5 & 6 - Fraser Island

Day 5 - Fraser island Pt 1

So after the forced cancellation of my 3 day tour, I found a 2 day option to do almost the same trip. I jumped at the chance to get out of my rut (go big or go home) and get out of the city.

The day started with a 0715 pickup in the strangest and brightest orange tour van. Over 7 tons of 4WD power, this lil'' beast plowed it's way through sand and rocked like a boss. Note to everyone: when the guide says to put on your seatbelt....you put on your seatbelt.

The coolest part of this trip was Indian Head cliff. Part in due to the fact that we got to see the sunset from a really cool vantage point and were also treated to a small show by some humpback whales passing through.

I could literally go on and on about every place that we visited. For instance, I got to drink fresh water out of one of the many streams on the island (that also had a reddish tint to it, an indication of tea tree oil that had been seeping in). I even got to wade in a muddy pool of silica, apparently great for the skin! Seriously...I could go on.

Despite the rush of the day and even meeting a new friend, I spent quite a bit of time just thinking about my life and where I want to go. (A topic best left discussed in person.) But as each day passes, it's becoming more and more clear what direction that is. Finally, I'm starting to gain clarity in my priorities.

Overall, today was refreshing and relaxing.

I only hope day 2 is just as amazing and productive.

/////

Day 6 - Fraser Island Part 2

So to recap, yesterday was amazing. The environment was overwhelmingly wonderful and beautiful enough that my mood couldn't be ruined by my highly pretentious tour guide. He brings new terms to the word: douchebag.

Haha. But everytime I get annoyed, I look around at the beautiful landscape and realize I can just put in my headphones and tune him out.

But let's get back to the positive. I was roomed with the most interesting group of young ladies. A Taiwainese college sophomore from Melbourne, a Canadian school teacher from Melbourne and a Mexican young professional who had just finished her Masters in Sports Management. This sounds like the lead in to a really bad joke btw...

We had the most insightful and open conversation that I've ever had with a complete group of strangers...and women. It was nice to feel empathy from another woman, since being in the military, it's hard to get that from uber competitive, must-prove-myself type of girls that typically don the boots and camo.

There are always exceptions!! Wonderful, amazing and live very far away from me, exceptions!

Moving on...

Woke up to watch the sunrise above the horizon. It was simply awe-inspiring. I wanted to punch someone in the face at that moment...I felt THAT good.

Note: Aussie breakfast and lunch are pretty much the same damn thing as an American breakfast and lunch. Just different terms.

After breakfast, we drove into the island and went on a 3.1km walk through the rainforest. For me, it was a 3.1km jog through the rainforest. Something my guide had mentioned earlier about this island being host to 7 out of 10 of the world's deadliest snakes and an army of leeches was enough to convince me that I could use a lil' workout.

Oh and I did that in sandals. Leech and snake free. :-)

Next, went on a wonderfully boring, but informative tour of the trees and an old logging station. Supposedly some of the Satinay trees here are worth over a million dollars. My tour guide encouraged all of us to "hug" a million dollars. I refused. So he hugged me instead......annnnnnd again during another part of the trip when demonstrating how some vines wrap themselves around the trees. Why me! Wasn't it enough that you threw silica mud at me yesterday?

Ew. No more please.

Oh and got to finally step outside while our bus was on the ferry coming back to the mainland. What is another word for awesome???

I will miss you Fraser Island. Too bad I didn't touch that cursed wooden outpost - yes, supposedly all the women who touch this get married soon.

Tomorrow! A walk in the bush and glow worms!

Listen to this while you wait: Jungle Love - Steve Miller Band

Day 4

Slept in. Wandered the city's botanical gardens. Had some good Aussie brew with lunch. Walked the pier and even found a row of Korean restaurants and stores. Now for some reason I feel sick...I have been lying down for a while and can't hold down any food. I feel terrible.

I should have just gone straight home to Virginia. As much as I try to convince myself that this is fun...solo wandering is fun only when you've got someone to go back to at the end of the day so you can share your adventures.

Being sick, alone and in a foreign country sucks ass...

Day 3 - Make or break

Exhausted from the two days of nonstop traveling, I somehow got it in my head that my flight was due to depart Melbourne at 1400...my arrival time to my final Australia destination: Brisbane.

Long story short, I missed the flight and had to book a completely new one with a different airline. It's departure time: 1400.

It's a 2 hour flight.

Song of the day: Under the Bridge - RHCP

Music is a very personal and special part of my life. Amidst the choir practices and hundreds (yes, a fair assessment for 8 years) of piano lessons, I could never imagine a life without it. Freshman year in the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets was especially challenging. The fact that music was deemed a privilege was insulting and inhibiting to my personal growth and values. Despite my frustrations, the experience did teach me a lesson in patience (to an extent) and further deepened my relationship to how much of an impact music has and continues to have on my life.

Through every run, pushup and sit-up...music has been there for me. A familiar voice in my head screaming at me to "don't stop believing" as the beat continues to rock on and on. Every breakup came with its own artist dedicated to play song after song until I was done getting over feeling whatever I was feeling. Therapeutic and in a way, validation for the pain I was feeling, I've always turned to music when I had bad days at work or just when I felt bad, period. Nothing else in the world has been a more consistent source of inspiration, hope and motivation than music has been to me.

I could not imagine a world without it.

///

Arrived in Brisbane and took the train into town. Unfortunately, my trip for tomorrow got cancelled and now I've got a few extra days to find something interesting to do in "Brisvegas." Hopefully, I can get out of my shell and make it count. I didn't travel all this way to do nothing!

P.S. Traveling alone sucks! But it definitely makes you come to grips with enjoying your own company.

It took me two days to get here...worth the journey.

Day 2 - Phuket and the final leg to Australia

Woke up to the sound of thunder. You could hear the rain and wind cut through the island and all I could think was - please do. Give me adventure.

1 hour later, I was dressed and headed to the airport for my journey to the whole point of this: Australia

But first. I have to go back to Kuala Lumpur. Round two and as soon as I get here, I can't wait to leave again. There's just something about this place that doesn't feel welcoming to single travelers.

We're all herded like cattle from one waiting area to another. It feels kinda pointless, but at least I'm getting a decent wireless signal. I should have brought a book!

I do need to give a shout out to a few good friends (you know who you are) that keep me company via the wonders of the web as I go about my travels. Right now, I'm a total advocate of Facebook and Skype.

You know what sucks about aisle seating? Nothing....except when you're right next to the bathroom. It smells like pee...haha. Oh well. Glad I brought the bath and body works hand sanitizer. At least there's no screaming babies. Winning in some aspects.

So I've got time to think. Happens when you've got no one to pass the time with. Hmm.

People and things that annoy you and me:
- The military rivalry. Ok guys. Chair Force. Army strong, not smart. Yut yut...Etc, etc. After the third or fourth time, you become annoying and your unoriginality concerns me due to the lack of value you add to any conversation. Let's move on to something more interesting.
- The game. Let's just call "it" what it is. It's a game. People just don't let people know they are flat out interested any more...and if they do, they are most likely considered creepy.
-The "He's just not that into you" book. Yes. In most cases it makes some very valid points, but it doesn't mean it's not annoying to realize that the reason for rejection can be dumbed down to one sentence.
- People who only dish it out, but can't take it
- People who let their friends (not one friend, but a group) cut in front of a very long line. If our eyes had lasers, these people would be toast.
- Why so many single officers are highly superficial and only want sex? It's a shame that a college degree doesn't lend itself to also providing someone with a great set of morals and established self control to truly want something more than that. What a joke we are sometimes. I've known 18 year olds that conduct themselves with more maturity, self-respect and dignity than that of my fellow peers.
- People who smell bad on an airplane. I wouldn't mind if I could escape. But I'm stuck!
- The fact that I'm running out of hand sanitizer
- Helicopter parents that are quick to point the finger of blame at anyone else except themselves
- America's not-so-amazing education system
- Obesity in America and how my American friends complain about small portion sizes in other countries
- When you make plans with a friend and they bail at the last minute
- How time only seems to go slow when you want it to fly by...and vice versa
- I wish I could see karma in action
- People who aren't humble
- People who think they're perfect
- Selfishness
- Loving yourself doesn't come naturally to everyone and some people struggle to believe in this
- Being yourself comes at the price that you can't please everyone
- One mistake friendships where I make one mistake and there goes the friendship. Some friendship, right?
- The horrid smell in this plane
- Really picky eaters
- Korean Mosquito bites - yes, there is a difference!
- The irony that some of the people who claim to be "cultured" are some of the most closed-minded and judgmental of them all
- People who ask me why I'm still single. Or wait, the people who tell me it's time for me to get married.
- How hot it is in here. No lie, I'm standing in the corner, fanning myself with a hello kitty-shaped fan.

Midnight and I'm finally in Melbourne. Don't know if it's the lack of sleep but the bed I'm lying in meow is just as amazing as the one in Phuket.

Song of the day...Movin' away by My Morning Jacket