Some things I've learned in OZ

Im bored here sitting on the plane, so here a list of some random things I've learned in OZ:

1. THERE IS NO DRIP COFFEE. It's all espresso!! So, you order the type of espresso you'd like (light, dark, medium) and then you order your coffee type (long black which is espresso and water, short black is straight espresso, flat white, cappuccino etc you get the drift). So strange. I look like an idiot in coffee shops because I still don't fully understand the lingo.
2. Pedestrians do NOT have right of way. Ever. You'll be standing at crosswalks for ages because no one will want to stop for you.
3. Young Aussie partiers who want to get drunk but who also want to save money (like all of us) opt for "goon" at the liquor store. It's sweet boxed wine that costs about $7. 
4. There is no tax and no tipping!! When you're out at a restaurant and you look at prices, what you see is exactly what you get. SO GREAT. But, the service industry is so different because of the lack of tipping! I feel like in Canada, or any other country that tips, the service industry is a whole culture. Servers are trained for WEEKS in order to perfect their hospitality skills. It's way different in Aus. Once you order your food, your waitress probably wont show her face again, and she'll yell at you if you want to split your bill amongst your group. (Okay so that only happened ONCE but it is true that most places find it to be a giant hassle splitting the bill!)
5. Australian men are massive charmers. Like, can I take five of them home with me please? 
6. Everywhere you go, there will be creepy crawlies. Either a spider the size of your palm, a cockroach, or a tiny caterpillar, they're everywhere. Unavoidable. It's terrible.
7. While there may be a ton of little creatures, besides kangaroos, there are hardly any big animals in Queensland! No lions no tigers no bears (oh my).

Days 15-19 - Gold Coast

Gold Coast

WELL. If you couldn't already tell by my lack of blog posts (or by my daily insta posts...) I had an amazing time in Gold Coast. I met some great people which, combined with the fact that I was there for just over a week, really made it feel like a little home away from home. Also, the fact that I didn't have to stay in a hostel the entire time I was there (I went straight from Shivleen's, to a hotel for a few nights) was also definitely a bonus.

I fell in love with the whole vibe of the city, which is actually a lot bigger than I thought! (About 600,000 people). For some reason I pictured it as being a small beach town, similar to Airlie beach. Boy was I wrong. It reminded me a lot of Vancouver!! If you look one way, you see sandy beaches and the ocean meeting the sky, and if you turn around and look the other way, you'll see beautiful high rises and bright lights. You've got the city, the ocean, and the mountains too! (So many incredible hiking trails!!) It was easy to get around the city (especially when you have a great host who offers to drive you around) and I was able to check off a lot of things on my list, yay!

I booked a couple of tours to do which were really fun. I got to hike through the rainforest at night to a cave inhabited by glow worms (seriously cool - like tiny little bulbs surrounding you!), I was able to hike the same rainforest in the day, swim in some natural pools, climb up a massive tree, and go to a few local wineries for tastings! What more do you need?! Shivleen and her friends were also so kind and accommodating the entire time I was in their city! They were always sure to include me in plans and take me out, which I really appreciated! I feel lucky to have been able to spend time with such fun and outgoing people. 

 

I think I was able to have such a good time here because I was also able to have a lot of "me" time. Sounds ridiculous coming from a solo traveler, right? Seeing as most of my days are spent alone. But when I say "me" time, I mean time to unwind and do nothing but reflect, read, or watch Netflix. When you're out and about all day socializing and doing physical activity, it's hard to come back to wherever you're staying and keep that energy going! 

When I stay in hostels, I feel a constant pressure to socialize. Maybe my dorm mates are going out and I don't want to feel left out, so I join. Maybe I'm alone in my room but I can hear everyone having a great time, so I join them, again to avoid feeling left out. This "fomo" thing is so silly, and it's something I struggle with back home too! So, I'm on my way to my last hostel in Sydney, and my goal is to recognize that anxiety/pressure I feel when it happens, and to just brush it away. Do I want to go out? Or do I need an evening to myself to recalibrate? If I do go out, am I doing so because I WANT to? Or because I don't want to feel left out? A few things I'll ask myself as this is something I really want to work on! I want to make my last six days in Oz amazing, but I also know I'm my happiest when I'm well-rested and centered. So, here's to making the last week or so on my journey count, and keeping myself happy! Wish me luck.

Until next update,

Shay