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

Days 13&14 - Gold Coast

I've made it to the Gold Coast yay!! I ended up seeing Katie and Keegan at the train station on my way there (what are the chances?!) as they were headed to the Gold Coast as well! It was really nice having some company on the hour or so train ride.

Once we arrived, we parted and I made my way to my hostel. Before booking hostels for this trip, I was always sure to do extensive research to ensure they were decent places to stay. I booked this one in the Gold Coast and didn't do a ton of research because I was short on time, so I just booked it. Such a big mistake 😭 I'm a tiny bit of a princess and can sometimes have too high of standards, but of course when it comes to hostels, I never expect too much, but THIS was way below what I expected - the photos and the actual thing were completely different! Aside from the full garbage can in my room (just roasting in the 40+ heat, leading to a not so nice smell) the room was okay. It didn't resemble the pictures at all, and definitely hadn't been thoroughly cleaned, but it was livable. The bathrooms, however, were terrible. The toilet seat was broken and only half of it remained, the garbage bins looked like they hadn't been taken out in days, there were no shower curtains (in a shared bathroom?) and the mirror on the wall was smashed. I wasn't too impressed, but I said to myself it was all part of the experience and dealt with it.

Just kidding. My friend Shivleen goes to law school at Bond University down in the Gold Coast, and she had offered to house me for the few days I was in town. Initially, I politely declined, not wanting to impose as I know she's in school right now. After arriving at the hostel I connected with her and decided to take her up on her offer and stay with her and her lovely roommate.

I'm glad I made that decision! Shivleen and her friends have adopted me and I've been able to thoroughly enjoy my weekend with them! Once I first arrived, we went to get dinner at a little pub, famous for its cocktails, and I decided to grab the #1 cocktail recommended by the waitress. It was delicious! And they poured it right in front of you out of a bong...interesting but very yummy. That evening Shivleen and her friends took me out to some of the local clubs and we had a blast! 

 

The following day, we went for a yummy hungover breakfast, made our way to the beach, then back home to shower and prepare ourselves for round two that evening. The beach was INCREDIBLE. Bright blue water and white sand, and it was so empty! The food has also been phenomenal. Every place I've been to so far has had amazing presentation and the taste has yet to disappoint.

 

 

I'm feeling so grateful to have Shivleen take me in for a few days, because at this point, I'm feeling incredibly home sick. Being a part of a group and having someone show me around this new area has been great.

 

I'm staying with Shivleen until Tuesday morning, so I'm sure we'll get up to more adventures within the next couple of days!

Until next update,

Shay

Days 10, 11&12 - Brisbane

Days 10&11&12 - Brisbane 

Guys. Yesterday I got to see KOALA BEARS. Because did you even go to Australia if you didn't see koala bears?! There's a sanctuary here called lonepine and it was just incredible. They have Tasmanian devils, platypus, a variety of birds, and kangaroos! I'm not entirely sure what the textbook difference is between a zoo and a sanctuary, but the entire vibe and feel of the place did not replace that of a zoo. The animals were not kept in small cages (in fact, they were often hard to spot in their giant enclosed habitats), and the animals always seemed to come first. For example, there were no outrageous shows that were forcing animals to do tricks or anything, and even when it came to holding the koalas, the tour guide said if they don't want to hold on to a person, they don't, and they're put back on their tree in their enclosure without question. Great! I got to hold a koala, and feed some kangaroos! (Which I was very scared to do at first because I hear they have one mean kick).

 

 

After the koala sanctuary, I had evening plans to see my old coworker Katie - her boyfriend Keegan is going to school at the University of Queensland, so they decided to move out to Brisbane together! They invited me over for dinner and then to an international students welcoming party for the evening. It was so nice having some home cooked food and catching up with Katie over some drinks! ($4 wine!!!! How?!) 

 

Needless to say, the day after was a bit of a lazy one for me, as my hangover headache did not seem to want to leave. But, I still made the best of it!! I was feeling super homesick (probably a side effect of my lovely hangover) and my nails were in tough shape (welcome to backpacking, Shay). So, I stumbled across what looked like an incredible salon and took a chance and got a manicure.

It was the BEST manicure I've ever gotten! The place is called "Brooklyn Beauty Bar" and they describe themselves as a "gentlewomen's club." They're 50% bar and 50% salon, their vibe is 1940's NYC, and they specialize in gin cocktails (if you know me well, you're already exploding, because I LOVE old school NYC and I LOVE gin). I died a little inside and made my appointment, knowing a little splurge was on it's way. The ladies were lovely and not only did I get an amazing cocktail and atmosphere, but the service was great too! I bite my nails and pick at my cuticles, so manicurists often have a hard time with my short brittle nails - but this one lady was amazing!

 

  

 

That evening, I purchased cheap student tickets to a local play and kept myself busy with that for the evening! It was actually an incredible play, called "The Flick" that chronicled the complicated lives of three individuals who all worked at a movie theatre together. 

Today, I went into the city and bought myself a cheap Australian straightener and an Australian phone charger (since my converters have chosen to HATE ME and have stopped working). After that I relaxed by the hostel's pool for a little while, then bussed back to my family's place for the evening! I was given good food, amazing drinks and great company - I'm very thankful. Tomorrow, I'm catching a train out to the Gold Coast and will be meeting up with a friend who goes to school there! I'm so excited 🤗

A quick note on my thoughts this evening before calling it a night though - I have had SO many people message me saying things like "I'm so jealous of you!" "Your photos are amazing!" "I wish I was living your life, you look like you're having an amazing time!" "Your life is perfect!" And I have to laugh. Because, yes, I am very thankful to be here and I am having an amazing time! But man, social media can be misleading! We don't post photos of our bad days, we don't post photos of things that don't look amazing, so our lives on social media look perfect. Well, I can tell you that mine is very far from perfect, and while I'm extremely grateful to be on this journey, it has been HARD. For me, at least. My anxiety creeps in quite often, and makes me feel incapable of doing almost anything some days. This is the first time I've traveled alone and have been solely responsible for myself. The first time that I don't have a concrete "plan," and the first time that I don't have my parents a few hours away to help me out if I need it. Yes, I'm so thankful for this opportunity and yes, I'm doing my best to make the most of it and live in the moment, but damn, it's been hard, and no one sees that on social media! So please, the next time you see someone on social media and you wish to "trade lives" with them - remind yourself that they are going through struggles you have no idea about - we all are!

Until next update,

Shay

Days 7&8 - Brisbane

Days 7&8 - Brisbane

I'm back again!! The last few days have been pretty low key, but I think that's exactly what I've been needing since I have caught a little but of a cold, and because my allergies are going nuts over here. The flight over from Airlie was quick but great! If you ever have a chance to fly Virgin airlines, do it!! It was only an hour flight and they gave us two snacks - a sandwich and a mini wrap. Like okay, I'll take five please.

I was starting to feel pretty sick on the plane - headache, runny nose, all that fun stuff. So, when I got to the Brisbane hostel, I was in the mood to just find food and go to bed. 

I'm staying at the YHA and Brisbane and it's so great! It's incredibly clean and the staff are all so friendly. I also stayed at a YHA in Airlie and while it was still great, it was a lot smaller and didn't have a lot to offer. This Yha has a rooftop pool, daily/nightly activities to get people engaged, and 24 hour reception. I was very pleased when I checked in.

Once I was settled, I explored the area. I found a grocery store and got some breakfast food for the mornings, then sat down at a bar and got a glass of wine while I waited for some take-out pizza. I went back to my hostel, ate, and knocked out. And bam, that's day 1 in Brisbane!

Today was great. I signed up for a walking tour of Brisbane and ended up meeting to lovely girls from the Netherlands. We spent the day together and ended up getting groceries and wine and made dinner together! Which was then followed by a few more drinks and some great conversation. One of the two girls just recently moved to Sydney, so I'm hoping I'll be able to reconnect with her when I make my way down there.

Im so thankful that I got a chance to meet these women and spend some time with them. I've realized that it's not necessarily the loneliness that's been bringing me down the last few days, but rather, the unknown. I'm never sure each day whether or not I'll be meeting people, or whether or not I'll be spending the day alone. I've always been such a big planner - so much so that I often even "plan" my mindset for the next day the night before. I like knowing what my day is going to look like before I live it, so that I can mentally prepare myself beforehand. I'm totally fine with/often prefer being alone, however, I like being able to know if I'm going to be alone or not a certain day so I can prep my mindset. I KNOW how silly that sounds, trust me, but that's just always been how I've operated! So that's definitely been tough on my mind, but this is what makes us grow! This trip is honestly just as much about self growth as it is about having fun. Not every day is going to be amazing, but every day I'm still challenging myself and growing.

Anyways, that whole rant came from me wanting to say how thankful I was for the two lovely Netherland ladies who took me in for the day! That evening we had some really great, stimulating conversation which I've been craving. It's so interesting talking to people from other counties and learning about different customs and norms. I've been spending a lot of time on my own, so being able to be an active contributor of conversation that goes deeper than small talk was just what I was needing!

The last couple of days have been so low key that I don't even have any PHOTOS. Who am I?!

I'm sleepy sleepy sleeeeepy.

Until next update,

Shay

Days 5&6 - Airlie Beach

Days 5&6 - Airlie Beach

The whole reason I came to Airlie beach was because I wanted to see the Whitsunday islands - I specifically wanted to see Whitehaven beach. So, I signed up for a boat tour yesterday and it was AMAZING!

I instantly clicked with another Canadian man (from Alberta) on the tour who was also solo traveling, as well as another solo man from Norway. The three of us stuck together during he tour and it was fantastic! 

 

The boat ride was great - it was a super fast boat so we were at the first beach under an hour. Whitehaven beach is INCREDIBLE. I'm so convinced that someone just took loads and loads of flour and dumped it on this island - that's how fine and white the sand is. 

We got to spend a couple hours there, so our little trio did some island exploring. The water at this beach is filled with stingrays, which actually reminded me of dogs! They come up to you and wade around you and are super friendly! They only sting you if they're threatened. Along with the stingrays I also saw two giant spiders the size of my palm today (this time they were NOT hair balls) and wow those things are nasty. 

 

 

 

After Whitehaven we moved on to Mantaray bay and did some snorkeling! This was my first time snorkeling and I was pretty scared. Fish scare me and being underwater scares me and that's all snorkeling is so...yeah. But it turned out to be great fun! The fish were like confetti all around you, and then there were some massive guys. There was one they called "George" who was about 2/3 my height in length - SO SCARY. But very friendly! He apparently loves human interaction - explains why he kept nudging the other snorkelers and I. I am super sad I didn't get a photo of him though, every time he got close to me I screamed and surfaced. Ah well.

 

 

The water and the sun were exhausting, so when we got back to Airlie, the Canadian and I grabbed some drinks and a burger and called it a day.

Today, I didn't have much going on until the evening, so I decided so sunbathe for a few hours. BIG MISTAKE. I have never in my life ever, not once, burned - until today. The sun here is some crazy ball of fire just out to get everyone!! I am red and sore and wow I have never felt any sensation like this before. How do people deal with it?!

 

After some aloe and a cold shower I felt a little better. This evening I had plans to meet up with one of my first year RA's, Trent, who's living and working in Airlie beach! He took me for some food and drinks in some of the coolest places in Airlie that I didn't even know existed! It was SO great to see a friendly face - especially after having a couple down days and feeling a lil lonely. I am so thankful he was able to make time to meet up with me!

After catching up at a couple cool, quiet bars, we decided to hit the pubs and meet people! After unsuccessfully attempting to make friends with a solo girl at the bar, we moved on and found a cute pair of girls at a table and sat down with them. They were awesome!! They both worked on Hamilton Island and one of them was celebrating her birthday, so  they went down to Airlie for the night. We were having such a great evening that when it came time for Trent to catch his bus home, the girls encouraged me to come out with them. So, they adopted me for the evening and took me to one of the local clubs. I had such a fun evening with them and I still can't get over how sweet, welcoming, and inclusive with me they were the entire night!!

 

All in all, the last couple days in Airlie have been highly eventful! I'm exhausted and I'm off to Brisbane again tomorrow to do some more exploring on my own! I cannot wait. But I doubt the hungover flight will be fun...wish me luck!

Until next update, 

Shay

Days 3&4 - Brisbane and Airlie beach

The past few days have been crazy I don't even know where to begin! Yesterday I began the day in Brisbane with my family before catching my flight out to Airlie beach. My two uncles took me to the Brisbane botanical gardens, and then we drove up mount coot-tha - a giant mountain that offers a 360 degree view of Brisbane. It was absolutely stunning. We decided to have brunch up at the top as well and I was quickly reminded that saying "no" to having a drink with lunch while out with this family is not an option. An hour later I was happily stuffed with eggs, toast, sausages and beer, and I was definitely feeling more relaxed about leaving my fam and going to my first hostel. This family treats me way too good! They're incredible. 

 

The flight to Airlie beach was quick and easy. My hostel was about a half hour drive from the airport, so I decided to hop on a shuttle. The driver's name was Scott and (just like a friend of mine, my angel up above) he was big, tall, talkative and so friendly with the kindest heart. He gave me clear directions and some tips and tricks for the area, and gave me a kind farewell as he dropped me off at my hostel.

 

I definitely did not prepare myself for the hostel life. I expected to meet people easily and right away, however, that was not the case with this hostel. It's quite small and relatively quiet - people tend to keep to themselves, which is not ideal as a solo traveler. After a few sad attempts at making friends with some of the girls in the dorm, I gave up and decided to take on the day in my own - which turned out to be great! I explored the beach, got some groceries, and found a little pub to sit myself at for some dinner.

I also should mention - when I arrived to my hostel room, I immediately searched behind curtains and under the bed for any unfriendly creatures (that museum in Brisbane really freaked me out lol). As I looked under the bed, my worst fear came to life - a spider the size of my palm (called a huntsman spider) was under my bed. I calmly went to the reception desk and asked her how dangerous they are/what I should do, but right away she saw me shaking and knew she'd have to deal with it. She looked at it and grabbed a broom and a box to sweep it in - she told me even she was scared! She quickly swept in into the box and took a look at it - and lo and behold, it wasn't a spider, but just a giant hairball with equal resemblance. Needless to say, it was obvious that I was a first time backpacker. I've never felt like more of a princess!! Very embarrassing but ah well, what can ya do. Back to my first solo day in Airlie Beach -

On my way back to the hostel I told myself to just be outgoing and tontry once again to connect with some other backpackers. I found a table with two friendly looking guys, so I approached them and just said "hi, do you mind if I join you?" and they happily offered me a seat and a drink! It ended up being a fantastic evening. We shared some wine, had great conversations and were up until 2am down at the beach. Our group grew throughout he evening and I met some great people! It's really amazing what happens when you just put yourself out of your comfort zone and tell yourself to be outgoing!

 

Day 4 (today) was a little bit more difficult. The friends I had made the previous night were off to their new destination, so I was back to square one with connecting with people. As outgoing as I told myself to be, I just couldn't quite find any other people to connect with. There was also a massive thunderstorm today - which, being in a small town where the only thing to do is either drink or go to the beach, was a big buzz kill. It was even harder to talk to people today since most everybody holed themselves up in their dorms. I was feeling quite lonely, but these are the struggles that I expected to happen during my solo trip! I sucked it up and told myself to take advantage of the day, rain or shine, company or no company. I went out to the local pool and swam in the rain, went to a cafe to do some journaling and grab coffee, I sat outside with my favourite book, and had another really yummy solo dinner.

 

Tomorrow at 8am I'm off on a boat to Whitehaven beach! So, I'm okay with a low key evening of blogging tonight. This trip is going to be full of ups and downs, and today was a learning experience. As hard as it is for me, I'm loving learning to to just be with myself, and to get rid of the feeling of needing to be with a group. It only gets easier from here!

Until next update, 

Shay