Shanghai... Round one

We left Australia and came to China. We have two days in Shanghai before taking the train to Beijing to start GYLC.

We have not done much in Shanghai... Just kind of resting and relaxing before program starts. I didn't realize how little we slept while in Australia. Up at sunrise most days and stuff. 

I'm doing laundry today so we can be fresh and clean for program. I think I pushed the right buttons on the washing machine... Let's just hope everything still fits when it comes out!

To Beijing tomorrow!

Sydney

We have been back in Sydney for about a day and a half. I did a lot of wondering around. It feels a little weird to be back in civilization and to be around so many people but it's fun. 

We walked down to the harbor last night and they had fireworks over the bridge. Not sure why the fireworks were happening but I'd like to pretend it was for the 4th of July (even though yesterday was the 5th here)

Today I hung out on out rooftop for a bit and walked around by the Navy yard .

Tomorrow we leave for China... Australia, you have been Great! We must meet again. 

Glow worms!

They are there I promise! (Again Scott has better pictures)

In Cairns we went to the National Park information center and got a booklet about all of the parks. Randomly reading that I saw a single line talking about the glow worms in the Gold Coast region. So as we zig zagged our way south we headed back inland to the mountains to see the glow worms!

We went to Springbrook Mountain to see the famous glow worms that are native only to New Zealand and Australia. They are suppose to be more brilliant and thousands more of them in the summer months but there were still a decent amount of them out in the Natural Bridge for us in the winter. 

It was under a really cool waterfall on a very nice trail. I must say, Queenaland totally takes care of their national parks. Toilet paper in every park and really great trails! Well done. 

Later we met a guy who used to be a tour guide in the area of the glow worms and he said they built a fake cave away from the real one we went to... to bring the big tour groups! It was perfect for us because there were only a small handful of annoying Japanese tourists who did not quite understand the concept of turning off your flash when trying to take a picture that won't turn out anyway.  We just waited them out and were able to see some spectacular glowing. 

We camped in an area near the glow worm bridge called Settlers Camp. It was f-ing cold! This was to be the last night we can camp. Too far south now. 

Hostel by the beach next stop in Port Macquarie. 

Lies of a koalas...

I swear it's all lies, they do not really exist. We have been searching for DAYS and nothing! We have gone to national parks that are suppose to be known for them... Nothing! We took a ferry to Magnetic Island (also suppose to be known for them) and nothing! Sure they have "watch for koala crossing" signs on the road. But no real koalas. I have been watching the trees as we drive... Kinda making myself sick. We stopped at a sanctuary in Daisy Hill and finally saw two but that does count!

Three more days in Australia... Here's hoping!

Beach camping!

This was the view from our tent!

At 5:45 when I woke up to see the sunrise. It was spectacular! I was also the only person on the beach so that was pretty awesome too. I did some yoga and just sat. 

We got in late at night so we quickly set up camp and ran out to the beach to see the stars. Pictures would not work really and words can not describe how amazing the night sky is here. We can see the entire Milky Way and such vivid stars. It's awesome. 

After sunrise I went for a walk and saw more of the peninsula. 

I very much like Beach Camping. 

Aboriginal Rock Art

We camped at Blackdown Tableland last night to see the Aboriginal rock art.

On the drive up we saw these guys...

Better pictures on real cameras. 

Then we got up to our campsite 

It's a very good thing my sleeping bag is nice and toasty. It's cold!!

We got up this morning and did the hike to the cliffs with the art. 

On ward back to the coast now.. Since we still can't seem to see koalas we are heading to a sanctuary to help increase out odds.

Platypus park

We camped at Eungella National Park to see the platypuses. It was kinda awesome. They are suppose to be most active at dusk and at dawn. We got there Sunday evening and saw two mid-size guys for a brief glimps. Then when we walked to our camp site to set up the tent we ran into about 5 wallabies just chillin! Pictures did not happen on my phone but maybe on my real camera and Scott's big camera. 

While we slept we could hear all the wallabies outside our tent. I think they were having a town meeting to figure out who we were (no one else is camping these days.. It's mid week and winter) at least I had to tell myself it was the wallabies that we could hear ?!?!

At dawn we got up to go platypus watch again. 

This time we saw two different little guys bobbing and diving looking for food and fun! 

I'm sure Scott got better pictures with his super camera but these are the ones I can share now.

They were super cute!

The drive back down the mountain was also very cool 

Aussie Adventures

This is not going to be very detailed because it is midnight and I'm sleepy but our adventures through Australia have already been amazing!

We landed in Sydney and had a bit of a layover. So we caught the train and went to see the opera house and harbor. We will be back there in a few days. 

Then we flew up to Cairns and picked up the rental car to start our drive south along the east coast. 

We stopped in Townsville and went to Magnetic island and tried to see some kolas...and now are in Bowen where we will go to Horseshoe Bay tomorrow and then go search for some platypus.

The thing I have seen was 3 kangaroos hopping along side the road today that was awesome! It makes me feel sorry for eating that Kangaroo burger that first night we were here. 

So far it's been a great trip. More later. G'night mates!

Not with a whimper but with a BANG!

This is the way the summer begins.... not with a whimper but with a bang!!

We went to the FIREFLY FESTIVAL this past weekend and it was AMAZING!!  Way back in January when it was still snowing and we had off from school every other day, Andrea and Kurt and I decided we needed something to look forward to and FIREFLY was going to be it!

Andrea is not much of a camper but she was a great sport this weekend and an awesome Grill Master!

Friday night we saw FooFighters, GirlTalk and CashCash. Saturday was Grouplove, Imagine Dragons and OutKast (I'm sure I am forgetting some awesome acts but I am still exhausted!)

 Sunday was Lumineers, WEEZER and JACK Johnson!  VERY MUCH MY HAPPY DAYS!!!

We had a really fun group of friends and everything worked out really well. Most certainly a FANTASTIC way to kick off the summer with a BANG!!

A great almost-summer weekend!

 We spent this past weekend doing awesome fun drinking things! On Saturday we celebrated Lori's upcoming move by going to Port City Brewing Company. It was AWESOME! I want to live there. (Well maybe at least work there part time.) As soon as we walked in the manager asked us if we were elementary school teachers. I'm not really sure what gave us away? We were not wearing our Apple Earrings or anything like that, but somehow he knew. He then went on to explain that he too is a teacher and works there on the weekends.... my new dream job!

We did the tour and learned all about the beer making process. They are sneaky though... they gave us two beers before we even started... I think that is how they make sure you can't steal their methods.

We got to taste the beer in mid process...before it was fully fermented. I liked it! It was almost like a cider consistency. After the tour we got to hang out and use all of our tickets to try each of the beers. We played on their parade float and sampled all of the awesome beers! The Monumental IPA was one of my favs! 

Then on Sunday we went to SugarLoaf Mountain Vineyard for some awesome wine! We should have brought more snacks but it was fun!. Sitting outside in the beautiful weather, drinking good wine and listening to live music. It was a great Sunday afternoon!

And Sunday night we went to see Andrew Bird at the Lincoln Theater. It was great. He plays most of his music alone, by laying down a track and then adding more to it with another instrument. He was awesome. Also I think he is a World Class Whistler! For real.

It was a great weekend!

Summer Fun Has Begun!

The weather has been AMAZING! and we have 15 days left of school!

 So we have been trying to take advantage of the sunshine while we can...(before it gets stupid hot)

 On Saturday, we went out to Shenandoah National Park and hiked the Dickey Ridge trail. It was beautiful! It was Ben's first time in a National Park... It got me thinking, how many National Parks have I visited? Something I will try to sit down and figure out one of these days :)

 On Sunday, we got up early and went kayaking on the Potomac. It was an amazing morning and only $15!!  Can't beat that.

 We did an easy little loop up the river a bit.... then around Teddy Roosevelt's island and back to the dock. We had a great time with great friends.

This was the best group selfie I could get...I was scared to drop my phone.

SO READY FOR SUMMER!!!