The First Month

August. My first full month in Australia. Spent in Cairns, Queensland. I got a job in a Turkish Restaurant called Ala Turka, located on the Cairns Esplanade. I work with two lovely ladies called Nelli (German) and Satomi (Japanese). I love it here, the work is fun, the people are lovely and the food was delicious.

I also visited  Palm Cove, It's one of a stretch of beaches about 20 minutes outside of Cairns. All of the beaches are beautiful, but palm cove is perhaps the most touristy one - lots of cute shops and cafes.

Paronella Park which is a Spanish-style Castle that was built in the 20th century but fell to ruin after the original owner died. The current owners are revitalising it for a new generation and it was the cutest place ever.

and Mission Beach in this month.

Obviously I went out drinking and dancing a lot too, since that is almost obligatory in Cairns life!

The Great Barrier Reef

I have a list of 75 Things to Do Before I Die. It sounds a little morbid when you say it like that, but it's just goals that I want to achieve in my lifetime and writing them down makes me feel like they're actually attainable. They're mostly travel related such as visiting the Pyramids or seeing Machu Picchu, some are related to bettering myself, for example learning an instrument, or another language.

Before I came to Australia, I had succeeded in 3 goals: travelling in Venice on a gondola, white water rafting and getting a tattoo. Now I get to cross off seeing the Great Barrier Reef, which is amazing to me. Even now, a few months later (with pictures to prove it) I still can't believe that I actually went snorkelling at the the real, actual reef. The one I'd written about seeing years ago! I went with a friend and we took an underwater camera and here are some of my favourite pictures:

My first few weeks in Australia.

Been in Australia for 3 weeks now! I went over with Ultimate Oz, a travel company that specialises in group travel to Australia. They set you up with your essentials and some activities in your first week, such as a Sydney tour on the Monday:

  A harbour cruise on Tuesday:

Port Stephen for 3 days from the Wednesday to Friday (photos from the UltimateOz Facebook):

 I think I disappointed people back home when most of my own pictures were of me inside bars rather than of the actual Sydney scenery...

The company also provides you with bank details, a sim card, a skills course of your choice and job help for the 12 months you're in Australia. After I'd spent two weeks in Sydney I decided to go up to Cairns, to see an old friend and try to find work.

And I'm still here (and unemployed) a week later. As much as I love it, I am starting to get a little worried about funds! I've been offered a job in SW Queensland but it's very out of the way and I like Cairns too much. I think I may give it another fortnight here before I have to move on in search of work.

I'm a terrible backpacker though - while I've been here I think I've read 6 books and seen 3 movies (Batman - meh, Ted - funny, Magic Mike - good) and spent the rest of the time on Skype to my sister. It's getting to the point that I may just try to save up to bring her over here myself! (If only).

Right, back to Gumtree....

Travel Update

Currently sitting in a Starbucks.

IN MALAYSIA!

Half way to Australia now. I have another 8 hour flight and I'll be in Sydney!

I'm excited - but also really homesick already! It's going to be a tough year!

It begins.

No more am I someone who only talks of travelling! I've actually booked my first two weeks in Australia and started the process for a working holiday visa. I'm really excited but very nervous at the same time. I mean, right now I still live at home, and I've decided the first time I leave it will be to go and live on the other side of the world!? Am I crazy? Possibly. But then again, I won't be leaving until July so I have a good 7 months or so to get myself organised.

The main issue of course is going to be money; the two weeks and holiday visa cost me £900, and I've still got the flight to book, plus I have to save up money to support myself for a bit while I'm over there. Not only that, but I'm hoping to do an Intro to Improv class in the new year that'll cost me £80, (not to mention travel costs, since it's in Glasgow), and also a TEFL course, so after Australia I can hopefully travel a bit more while teaching English to support myself; and that'll cost me another £150! But it'll be worth it, I think, as far as I can remember, all I've ever wanted to do was travel.

Of course then I imagined myself as some sort of intrepid adventurer, drawing maps of where I'd go, thinking of the scrapes I was sure to get myself into (in delightfully non-dangerous ways, obviously). I've had so many spreadsheets of hostel costs, travel costs etc. that it's ridiculous, and my bucket list of 75 items have at least 50 which relate to some travel aspect (hike the trail at Machu Picchu, visit New Orleans during Mardi Gras, dive the Great Barrier Reef...) but now it's real. I haven't just looked up flight costs on Expedia, it's actually happening.

And I can't wait.