So, as is probably pretty obvious, the Australia route didn't quite go according to plan but guess what... I wouldn't change it for the world. Right from the beginning, with my moment of mad spontaneity finding me on a plane from Darwin to Melbourne, the plan went out the window. My route has been haphazard and crazy and definitely pricier than budgeted for ever since but it's been a totally amazing time and one I wouldn't swop for the world. It's been a big fat rollercoaster of a 7 months and I'll certainly not deny that there's been plenty of tears to go along with the laughter but I guess that's life and it wouldn't be worth living if it was all lived at an equilibrium!
There's a few things I want to say about my time in Oz.. first and foremost, I love it! I have fallen in love with so many of the places I've visited, and not really the places i expected to either... I'm not sure I could pick a favourite but several have a place in my heart now for many different reasons. I'll miss the place lots, not to mention the people I've met and friends I've made along the way. Most of the people have been mentioned in previous posts when we've gone our seperate ways and I won't repeat all that again so I guess really this is the time to mention those I've met and shared the last 3 months with in Sydney!
When I first got to Sydney I wasn't sure I was going to like it, it took a while to grow on me and it's held it's fair share of tough times but on the whole I have loved living here and I would (almost) not change a thing. It all became very normal to me, working and living like I would at home and it all felt right and natural. I'll miss so many things, from the little things like Milo and the tasty sweet chilli and sour cream crisps that I'm now having withdrawal symptons from, to stopping to watch the waves crash on Coogee beach, seeing the harbour bridge from my office window and by no means least, the fantastic friends I made.
Friends have said to me that when you're travelling the bonds you form with people are intense and sometimes last and sometimes don't. I have no doubt that that's true but I guess that doesn't stop you feeling it when you have to leave those people that you have become close to. T
his isn't the first time I'll have done it and I'm sure it won't be the last, it's the nature of being a traveller - but it gets to me every time.
I've made some fab friends in my time here, from Racheal & Cillian, Lotty, Graham and Tom etc, Martin ('Get you Fancy Pants') and Star (you, my lovely have been an absolute gem to me - I couldn't imagine eBay life without you and look forward to seeing you when you make it to London) to the obvious 2 bods that haven't been mentioned yet, the 2 that i'm most sad about leaving... Luke and Jarrad!
I'll come to Luke in a bit but first... Jarrad, my cheeky (typical! ;-) Aussie chap.... what can i say... it's been, what's the word?... Eventful!?! Fun! and most definetly 'Wicked' - as this Pom would say! We've had our moments but I had fun as 'Felarrad' and am so glad to have shared my time in Sydney with you, you've been a good friend through everything and been there for me when a lot of others wouldn't have. I had so much fun with you and will always smile when I think of you (ok, and cringe a little but hey, I'm female and irrational sometimes.. what can you do!) Thank you for the fun, the bets, the tests of willpower, the banter and all the care you gave me. The 'Goldfish' will miss you lots but remember that whenever you make it to my side of the world, there's a sofa with your name on it (or even a spare bed if i have one!!) and a school disco to be taken to - as promised!! Oh yeah... and I'll have the wax strips ready.. it WILL happen one day!! Ha ha! Now... my 2nd IT Geek.. deflate that head of yours now that it's got so big from me saying nice things... it's p*ss taking and insults from here on in, don't you worry! Be good... and remember, you're only as old as........... ;0) xx
As for Luke... this is where we have to go our seperate ways! Boo! My mate Pucas... I can't believe you're leaving me and not coming to NZ with me! It's been an absolute ball travelling with you, you've been the best friend to me and I hope I've been as good a friend to you. I'll miss you loads, even your silly dancing, musical outbursts and 'not touching, can't get mad...' type antics, and will look forward to catching up again. Although I have to admit.. I think I'll be able to manage without the farting in my face, the jumping on me to wake me up in the morning and oh, your party piece...... lighting your farts!!!!!!!! Haha... now none of my friends will think you're cute anymore!!!!!! Unlucky dude! But seriously, I'm so glad we crossed paths and shared so much of our trip with each other, it won't be quite the same without you there (who'll keep my iPod up to date?!) but I hope you have an amazing time on the rest of your trip and I'll be over to visit you wherever you end up next... once you've made your millions in the IT Geek world and have a posh guest suite waiting for me!! Skanky hostels with 'people' puking and eavesdropping idiots will be a thing of the past for us!!! ;0) Love you loads matey... see you soon xxxx
Anyway, sappy messages over, 
I promised myself when I started this blog that I'd try and record all the things I wanted to remember from my trip. That includes how I feel too and so I have to admit that lately things have been 'challenging' shall we say! There's a few contributing factors but basically I've been feeling very very scared... I'll be honest, over my last few weeks in Oz I've found myself a bit too full of emotions, a guy at work even asked if my sister had got off ok for her flight home and I nearly burst into tears... what on earth?!?! But since I left I've realised that it wasn't so unusual to be so emotional... the thought of leaving and not knowing whether I'll see the places or people I've shared the last 7 months with again, at least perhaps not for a very long time, is enough to make anyone a little emotional methinks! I'm sure that anyone, at times, would rewind and change the odd thing at some point in their lives and that's true for me too but in the end, it was the way it was and it was a wicked ride. I don't regret for a second any of the time I spent in Australia or the friendships and bonds that were formed with people along the way, whether they last or not - which obviously I hope they do - I had a ball with all of you and I'll remember it forever.
After all that little lot I do just have to say, I think a lot of my anxiousness and emotions came from the fear of actually leaving and the change that it signified (especially the fact that going home seems so much more of a reality now, the time is going so quickly and I don't want it to be over!). Someone once taught me that it's the fear of change that is the most scary part. Change itself isn't that scary and if you hang on to the fear it makes it harder. If you just let it happen it's so much easier and far more enjoyable. I can't tell you how true that is. I don't mean that I wasn't truly sad about leaving everything behind but I have to admit that once I'd stepped on that plane to New Zealand it felt like a weight had been lifted. I was still scared, I guess of being on my own again and of not knowing what to expect but the excitement took over and the next phase was in motion. I was on my way again.. that's what this trip was all about!
I will miss so many things about Australia, just like I did in Thailand although in a different way, from start to finish here I have been one very lucky, very spoilt girl here - I can't thank Mat, Gwen and their family for all the unbelievable hospitality they showed me (and the constant use of Gwen's address... I'm such a pain, thanks Gwen!), as well as Carolyn up in Darwin, Vikki and Harvey over in Perth, Brad & Dec, Russ & Toby, Luke, Jarrad, Kev, Lindsay, Mitz & Trish, Tour Guide Luke, Jeff, Nicky and all the other lads in Melbourne along with all the others I've met over the last 7 months.. I hope all of you know how grateful I am and how happy I am to have been able to share all these things with you all. You've all made me smile and helped make my time here so unforgettable. Thank you xx
Phew... well, with all that emotional rubbish over, it's back to the fun... xx
Oh yeah, and one other thing - I can't believe I've jusst made it through 7 months in Oz without ever laying eyes on a Redback or other scary spider... infact, other than the intentional sightings in the rainforest in Cape Trib, the Huntsman in Chris and Peta's house was as close as I came to having to deal with my Spider phobia!! Yay!!! :-)
1 comment:
Awwww - too emotional!
We'll meet again, don't know where, don't know when, but I know we'll meet again some Sunny day! - Well if you come see me in Sydney this Summer (UK Winter!)
Party on!!!
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