Life of Caroline

Monday, May 5, 2008

Hike + Aussie Burgers (Day 3)

Wednesday morning we all got up to go on a hike up to the top of the mountain. It was supposed to be an easy 45 minute hike...and after about 20 minutes we realized we weren't actually going up. We had taken a wrong turn and ended up at Muggy Muggy beach (appropriatly named).

So we turned around and I tried to come up with an excuse of why I couldn't continue on the correct path, but to no avail (its hard to hide from 17 other people). This is how Allison and I felt when we got to the "you're almost there" sign. Allison said the view was worth it...

We all love group pictures! The guy taking it happened to be up there too and was slightly confused who we all were and how we all knew each other. People just can't seem to get over the fact that we are all one family...

Obviously the best way to be rewarded for exercise is....FOOD! Aussie Burgers to be exact, delicious hamburgers 3x too big for your mouth. Here is Andrew so nicely showing off his for the camera. (the first and last picture on here were taking on the cell phone!)

This was also the day that we all spent water skiing (see other post for those pictures). It was a great time (another person confused on who we all were). We hung out at the beach the rest of the day and went to dinner and then fell asleep...at 9pm. It is harder than you think to adjust to 1. the time difference (and date for that matter) and 2. actually doing something all day instead of being alone in my apartment!

Dunk Island (Day 2 Part 2)

We landed at Dunk Island just in time for happy hour! How convenient... This is a slew of us sitting by the pool/ocean.

View from the bar looking out. The pool is right on the other side of the building and the ocean is on the other side of that.

The land in the background is Australia.

Dunk Island (Day 2 Part 1)

Tuesday Morning we flew from Sydney to Cairns and then two vans were waiting for us at the airport to take us to another terminal.

This was one of the two planes we flew from Cairnes to Dunk Island. They were 13 seaters.

Dad being excited about the flight while we waited in the "terminal" to board the flight.

This is a picture of the "terminal".

Tim and I excited to be on the plane!

Our luggage "secured" in the back.

View from the plane coming in for landing on Dunk Island

View of Dunk Island from the airplane. Description. Land, get off plane, check in. Just to the left of the airstrip is the chain of rooms and the club house. To the right of the airstrip on the point is where the dock was. We went skiing right out in front of the resort.

Sunday, May 4, 2008

Sydney Harbor Cruise (Day 1 Part 2)

The Sydney Opera House...

We all went on a dinner cruise around the Harbor. It turned out to be an Opera cruise...a few of us wanted to jump overboard...

Here is the bridge at night...

and the Sydney skyline...

Here as how we felt...it was a long day!

Australia: Flight and Bridge (Day 1 Part 1)

Saturday, a lot of members of my family flew from various parts of the US to meet up in LAX for our flight to Sydney. This plane awaited us at the gate. The 14 hour flight wasn't bad because the plane wasn't full and as we left at midnight it was easy to sleep for most of it.

On the flight over, Lisa passed out Grand Valley shirts to everyone so all 17 of us were sporting GVSU shirts as we walked off the plane to greet Allison. We got asked if we were a tour group more than once.. which only proved the point more when we loaded up our bus! As the driver is on the right side of the bus you board on the left....a fact that we noticed after we failed to find a door on the right hand side.

We landed in Syney at 7am, took the bus to our hotel and got ready to climb the bridge! Here is a picture... We climbed up to the flags crossed the top and back down the other side.

....in the rain.

A few of us celebrated our survival by going to a local bar. The bar tenders were a bit confused of who we were and what "GVSU" was...but appreciated the business either way!

Aubrey's Visit

Friday night Aubrey came to visit me and after picking her up (and almost missing my road...that was embarassing) we got out the margaritas in order to celebrate cinco de mayo! We are so close to Mexico we needed to celebrate all weekend with them. Matt brought home Mario Kart Wii which we all instantly got addicted to (note: do not drink and drive).

Saturday Aubrey and I went (after more mario kart) to some state park south of here which is known for their alligator population. I was a little skeptical at first as we got lost inside the park and went into the gift shop to ask for directions. (ie: where are the alligators). The nice old man walked over to the tank and reached in and got out a baby alligator and goes here is one. I thought this didn't count and Aubrey thought it was going to eat her. However he pointed us on our way (back where we passed before) to the alligator walk. There was a swamp/pond/lake with a path around it so we started walking. Aubrey was alligator spotting queen and spotted 7 or 8 of them altogether! I was convinced one was a rubber boot, she claimed it had eyes, so we started talking really loudly about if it was alive or not and a bunch of people came over and alas it went under! I guess it wasn't a rubber boot afterall. One alligator swam really close, it was going for Aubrey's chocolate bar...

Then we came back and went and layed out by the pool. It was 4-5 oclock and still hot so we went in the pool (my first). A tad chilly, but felt good. we came back and grilled and had some corn on the cob and coronas. We played...a lot.... more mario kart and even opened a new level! Aubrey improved from 12th place to 1st when she went with the off road bike...staying on the path is overrated...

Today we went down to the Kemah Boardwalk (after more mario kart). It was the 40th annual blessing of the shrimp boats so there was a parade of boats all decorated. It felt like the 4th of july. We went on the one ride that took you up and gave you a 360 degree view of the boardwalk, houston skyline, very ugly dirty brown ocean/bay/gulf water. It was cool (literally...ac inside). Then we went and had some seafood at Landrys and a margarita (my mexican neighbors should be very proud of our efforts). It was fun being by the water, however dirty it was, and seeing all the decorated shrimp boats. Aubrey and I even got thrown some beads! The only missing part was funnel cake...i tried very hard and just couldn't find it!

Coming back alone is always sad...but the neighbors 8 units away must have thought loud obnoxious blasting of the stereo and screaming would help....so they did for a few hours. I am calling it an early night - a lot of excitment for the weekend. I am looking forward to Matt coming home on Friday woooo finally done and softball on Tuesday. But for now Magic is curled up next to me and we are going to bed. Good night!