My two weeks with Mom.

Mom is packing her stuff tonight because she leaves for home tomorrow afternoon. We started off in Sydney and then went to Wollongong for a night, to stay with Jim and Anne. We then came back to Sydney and did all the touristy things. We took a tour of the Opera House as well as walked over the Sydney Harbour bridge. We spent a day at Darling Harbour, saw the Sydney Aquarium, as well as the Chinese Gardens. We walked threw the botanical gardens as well as the Queen Victoria Markets and Paddy's Market. We wondered around The Rocks and over to Luna Park. We also took a day trip to the Blue Mountains which also included a look at the Olympic site as well as a ferry that went to Darling Harbour then dropped us at Circular Quay. We wanted to go to a performance at the Opera House but the last minute tickets that came up for grabs were a little out of our price range. On Friday we caught a bus to the Pacific Palms resort. Unfortunately the weather wasn't that great so we didn't get to go on either of the boat cruises we were interested in. We also didn't spend that much time at the beach or in the pool since it rained and was cold a few days. We did, however go see a few sights and met a couple from California. The woman, May, gave us a few laughs for the rest of our stay. On the following Friday we caught a bus to Newcastle. Once again the weather was awful so we didn't get a chance to see much of the city. We then caught a train in the morning back to Sydney. After lunch we went back to the markets and mom did all her shopping to take back with her. Then we came back to the room and had a rest before we went out for the evening. We went to Darling Harbour and had our supper on a boat. It was so so good. We got to look out onto the harbour as we ate. Just after we were finished eating, we found a place to sit along the harbour. They had fire works to celebrate the 21st anniversary of Darling Harbour. They were awesome. They had four jet ski's with fireworks attached to the back as well as two boats loaded with fire works in the middle of the harbour. I think they were better than the July 1st fireworks in Brandon. After that we took our time and wondered back to our room. It was really a very nice night. Today we decided to go to the Maritime Museum, which is also on Darling Harbour. We got there around 11am and didn't actually leave until about 3pm. We toured the building as well as three different ships out on the wharf. One was a Navy ship, one was a submarine, and the other was a tall ship. Mom also went up the light house. I didn't go because I had a bad headache and was feeling dizzy. I thought the height might make me sick so I stayed down below. We also ate lunch at a nice little harbour side cafe. Then we wondered threw a few random shops and headed back to our room. We ate our supper here at the hostel and I went to the movie showing in the "cinema" room. Mom is leaving tomorrow so we will catch a shuttle to the airport to say our goodbyes.
Until next time,
Cindy

A little more personal.

Lately my posts have been really impersonal. I haven't written about how things have made me feel or what I've even enjoyed. It has felt more like an obligation than a privilege to tell everyone about my journey. The last few weeks I've been completely lost. I sometimes find myself hard to be around. I believe that things happen for a reason. That there are people we meet at certain times because they have something to say that we need to hear. I believe that there are actually road signs telling us "yes, your on the right path." I have also seen the ones that say "wrong way, go back." I even believe that when you put your money into the candy bar machine and the bar gets stuck its God's way of saying, it's not meant to be. I even wonder if that 30 seconds or minute we sit and ponder what to do or ignore the signs and find more change to put in actually saves us. I mean that minute could have been the difference between a life and death car accident or running into someone you don't want to see. Or maybe none of it has anything to do with any of it. Who knows, I don't think I will know until I sit with God and he tells me the purpose of his plans. Now back to me being lost. The last few years have been really off for me. I almost feel like God has stop sending me signs. I am desperate to see them, yet I am in a fog. Now as I was just saying that things happen for a reason, God threw me a sign. Well actually a book. I have been carrying this book around since Bobbi left. I found it at the house we were staying in. I took it because I briefly read the back and thought it was a murder mystery. I carried it with me to the farm, and down the east coast, but didn't start reading it. I guess I wasn't ready. Lately I have been wondering what I should be doing with my life. Again, feeling like God isn't sending me the signs I need to help me get where I want to go. The book is "The Shack" by William P. Young. It is about a man who goes threw "the great sadness" and gets to spend a weekend with God. It is a true story, at least the author claims his friend experienced it. I believe it is true. Of course, I was to read it to get a message about my own life. It talks about relationships a lot. About how your relationships with God, people, and everything else around you is all that matters. Building on those relationships is what is important. The three words I would use to describe what I got from the book are trust, love and faith. I am sure that if you were to read the book there would be a totally different message for you to see. So I need to work on my relationships. Well I've known this for awhile. Like I said I have been awful to be around lately. I am finding it really hard to be nice. I know, isn't that stupid. I'm find myself getting my back up over anything anyone says. I find myself not wanting to get to know people for fear I might like them and have to build a friendship with them. I find it hard to just say "good morning" or "thank you." I find myself feeling very alone but not wanting to let anyone in anyway. I don't know why this is, never mind trying to change it. I have been given advice by plenty about things like "the secret" and such. But I keep feeling that I am not even at a place where I know what I want. How can I think positive when I can't even say "good morning" without faking it? So basically I am feeling very lost. I thought coming to Australia would show me a few new signs. It has been a wonderful experience so far. I have needed every single day, yet worry I haven't even come close to finding my way. In fact I feel even more confused than I did eight months ago. And going home, its terrifying. I keep telling myself to let future Cindy thinking about it. I worry I haven't grown as much as I want to. Maybe I haven't even changed. Will I go home and settle back into the life I was so miserable in, because it is comfortable? Or will I just know what I am supposed to do with my life? If there is one thing I need to remember about this book it is about the future. I need to stop worrying about it. I need to live today instead of trying to imagine a future that hasn't happened yet. I mean it would be stupid and naive to not think about the future, like how will I feed and shelter myself. But I need to realise that God will take care of me. I need to trust that he will provide what I need to survive. I need to trust that he will keep me and my family and friends safe. Trust that he will lead me to all the right signs and people I need to see and meet. Trust that I am loved. I have complete faith in my God and I trust and love that he will take care of me. Okay okay I know it sounds strange to hear me talk about God this way. Honestly I have always thought about him. Plus I really don't care what you think of God, that is for you to figure out.
This post is about me trying to read the signs. It is a really selfish post since I think I've used "I" in every single sentence. I just want to say that I am really trying to figure out what path I am on or should be on and I am sorry for those who have not gotten the best of me.
Until next time,
Cindy

Mothers Day in Sydney

Mom arrived on Saturday morning safe and sound. I met her at the airport early in the morning. Thank goodness her flights were all late because I was late getting to the airport. I had booked a shuttle to take me to the airport at 5:30am but it didn't show up. Finally it showed up just before 6am, but mom's flight was scheduled to arrive at 6:10, and the shuttle was supposed to take 30-45 min. Luckily the shuttle didn't take to long and I arrived about 6:15. Mom didn't arrive until closer to 7am so she wasn't standing there waiting for me. We then caught the train back to central station and walked to our hostel. We went down to the kitchen and had breakfast and checked out the lonely planet about what we wanted to do. Mom was a bit tired so she laid down for a nap. After about an hour she felt better so we went to Darling harbour, to the Sydney Aquarium. We spent the rest of the morning there and then found a place to have lunch on the harbour. We also stopped in for a visit at the Lindt Chocolate Cafe. Mom did a bit of shopping. We were going to the opera house but mom wanted to go back to the room and put her bags there. Once we got there she was tired and decided to have a nap. I hung out in the room for awhile but then decided to take my computer and go sit in the lounge area of the hostel. I let her sleep about 3 hours and then got her up so we could go for supper. We walked around for about 20 minutes and decided on Subway. I know as if that is what you want to eat when you come to Australia, but mom was still a bit tired and not that hungry. After supper we came back to the room and I was showing mom some of my pictures of the trip when she decided she was ready for bed. I went back to the lounge room and hung out for another few hours. I did go to bed early as well since I was up around 5am.

On mothers day mom was awake fairly early. We had our breakfast and checked out of the hostel. We caught the 10:30am train to Wollongong to go and stay with Anne and Jim. When we arrived we ate lunch and then went for a tour of the city. Mom, Jim and Anne seemed to hit it off well. We stayed up that night drinking Bailey's and playing dice. I could tell that mom was exhausted so I said I was going to bed so she wouldn't feel bad for following me.

The next morning mom was awake early because of the time difference. We didn't do a lot in the morning and after lunch we caught the train back into Sydney. It is about a hour and a half train ride, so we have lots of time to catch up. Once we got checked into our room we went down to the grocery store to grab a few things for breakfast the next morning. We also decided while walking around that we would go to see a movie, but plans changed. When I got back to the room I checked my email to find I was invited out to diner with a friend. Mom and I had picked up a few things for supper so had an early meal. I had a snack since I wasn't meeting my friend until 8pm. By the time I left the room mom was just reading a book and planning on checking her emails before bed. I caught a train to Circular Quay, which is where the opera house is located. I met up with my friend Dean who I met on Fraser Island. We walked around Circular Quay to get some good photos of the opera house as well as the Sydney harbour bridge. Dean had spent the afternoon climbing the bridge, so I was excited to hear all about it. We went for a quick bite and a few drinks at a pub and then spend the rest of the night walking around. Dean then walked me back to Sydney Central even though he was staying in Kings Cross. What a gentleman! I felt a bit bad that he had so far to walk and it was almost midnight, but he didn't seem one bit discouraged. He claims he loves to walk threw cities.

This morning was an early morning. We took a tour to the Blue Mountains and it left at 7:30am. We were up and ate breakfast and waiting outside by 7:15am. I was a bit tired since I didn't get home until 11:30pm the night before. I also felt bad since Dean was taking a tour of the Blue Mountains as well and his started at 7am and he got back to his hostel after me. Our first stop was an animal sanctuary. Mom was delighted to see kangaroos, koalas and all sorts of different animals. (Wombats are by far the cutest.) We then went out to the mountains where we stopped at a lookout for some nice photos. We then had our lunch at a little hotel with a restaurant. Our next stop was a small hike to see the wentworth falls. I was really hoping to write something about how the falls were almost as beautiful as Wentworth Miller but I would be lying if I said they were even that nice. It was about 200 steps down to the lookout and it felt like 2000 coming back up. From there we went to check out the "three sisters" and we lucky to have a clear day to see them so well. After that we went to the scenic railway which is the steepest railway in the world. It felt like a roller coaster ride that only lasted a minute. Then we hiked around the bottom for about 30 min and took the sky cable back up. This was not fun for me and I didn't look out at the view even once. Thank goodness it only took about 3 min, unlike the one coming back from Kurranda. We then got back onto the bus and came back to Sydney. We stopped to have a look at the Olympic stadium. We then boarded a fairy that took us to either Darling Harbour or Circular Quay. We decided to get off at Circular Quay so we could see the bridge and opera house from the water. Although Darling Harbour is closer to our accommodation it was still worth the walk. Since it was just after 6pm we walked threw the city back to our room. It was a nice walk except for mom questioning my navigating skills. We didn't have a map so she didn't believe I actually knew where I was going. We made it back just fine and are now both knackered from our long day. Mom is already asleep and I will be shortly after I post this.
Until next time,
Cindy

Back to Wollongong

I took a bus from Brisbane to Sydney on Monday night. I didn't arrive in Sydney until noon on Tuesday and then had to wait at the train station for a train to Wollongong where I have been staying the last few days. I didn't arrive in Wollongong until 5pm, so I was exhausted by the time I got here. I am staying with Anne and Jim. Anne is mother of the girls I lived with in Melbourne. They have taken me in and spoiled me rotten, as all my Aussie moms have done.
On Wednesday we went and had a picnic at a local waterfall and then went for a tree top talk. That evening we went to a rotary meeting and I met plenty of their friends. On Thursday we went into the Royal national park and had a picnic at a beautiful beach and waterfall spot. It was a very nice afternoon. We spent the afternoon driving around the park. We then ended up in Sydney because Jim had to go to the dentist. We didn't get back to Wollongong till close to 7pm. We just had a quick meal and then watched a bit of TV and played a few games. I had a great time, but was exhausted once midnight hit. Today I am packing my stuff and catching the train back into Sydney. Mom arrives early tomorrow morning, so I am getting a room so that she can sleep if she needs to once she arrives. We haven't got official plans of what all we will do while she is here, but we defiantly want to see all the sights of Sydney. I can't wait till she arrives so she can experience what I have been doing this last 7 months. I will update you on all the fun we are having once she gets here.
Until next time,
Cindy

Fraser Island, The Australian zoo and now Brisbane.

Well I have been one very busy girl the last week or so. We arrived in Rainbow beach for our meeting and briefing about our Fraser Island tour. Basically they put 11 people from the hostel in one group and then we rent a 4x4 with camping equipment and food (they supply it all). Our group consisted of Ruairi and Ruadhan (the Irish guys) and Marco (the German) as well as Sabine, Johanna, and Valarie (French girls), Skippy (Swedish), Taylor (USA), Scott (Canadian), and Leo (Italian) as well as myself. So that day we ordered our drinks for the trip as well has rented any sleeping bags and stuff we needed. I was a bit nervous about this trip. It is a self guided tour and about 10 days before that one of the self guided tours had an accident and 2 people died. The Scottish guy I met on the farm was friends with one of them. The next morning we had to be up early for breakfast and get our vehicle ready for the trip. We had to count all the equipment and load the vehicle as well as check it over. We didn't actually get on to the fairy for Fraser Island until 11am. We then went to Lake Mackenzie right away and had lunch. We spent most of the afternoon there, then headed up the beach and found the rest of the vehicles that had left with our group. We all camped in the same spot for the night. It was like one big party in the sand. We were camped not too far off the beach. Since the beach is the road, we had to go behind the sand dunes and camp, also this way our tents and vehicles wouldn't get washed away in high tide. There are not really good roads on the island. You can drive along the beach, but you have to be careful because the sand is always changing, it can be too loose or too wet and slippery. When you are inland the roads are also sand and they are usually up and down hills. They are very rough, and a bit scary.
The next morning we had to get up at sunrise because we couldn't drive after 7am because of the high tide. We drove as far up the island that we could because some of the roads were washed out. We parked and walked up the beach a bit. Some of the other groups walked the 10km to the ship wreck, but our group got about half way and decided we had had enough. We then headed inland to another lake. We went for a quick swim, had lunch and then went for a hike in the trees. We hiked for about and hour and half threw the bush. We then headed back to the camp and settled for the night. The nights were so cold and it was hard to get comfortable in the tents. There was also sand everywhere which was so annoying. The whole time we are on the island we are keeping an eye open for dingos. That night while the guys were playing a game of rugby we had a visitor. A lone dingo was walking threw our camp looking for food. You can be fined for feeding a dingo, so we basically just scared it off. But at night, since there are no toilets you have to pee in the bush and pray you don't come across a dingo. We could see them wandering around the outsides of the camp. So you always had a pee buddy.
The next morning I was awaken by the howling dingos out on the beach. We got up around 6am and got our camp packed up. I had heard from some other campers that someone in our group of 55 fell asleep on the beach and was bitten by a dingo on the leg. I don't understand why this stuff happens, likely because people drink too much and don't listen. We then headed to lake Mackenzie again where we had breakfast and spent the day. After lunch we headed out to make our way back to the fairy. Apparently we took the longest route possible since we were an hour and a half late getting back to the shop to turn in our vehicle. I was very glad to be done the trip. I was tired of being in that vehicle with the loud music and drunk people. I was also excited to get a good nights sleep.
The next morning we left for Noosa. We got there just after lunch, to find out there were no hostels available. We then found a place that was like an apartment. It was cheap for the four of us and we had our own space, including living room and kitchen. We were all still tired so we just spent the day relaxing.
We got up early the next morning to hit the road. We went to the Australian (Steve Irwin) Zoo. We got there about 9:30am and stayed until 3pm. It was a very beautiful zoo and all the animals had very nice living areas that were very large. We watched a crocodile feeding and a bird show. We also got to feed the elephants. But the best part of the zoo was the tigers. We watched a show where the trainers played with the tigers. They would jump in the water with them and give them toys to play with. There were 6 tigers at one point trying to play with a big barrel in the water. The trainer had fun trying to get it away from one of the tigers. After the zoo we drove straight to Brisbane. We arrived just before 6pm. Seems to be a difficult city to drive in, luckily I didn't have to drive. We got settled and then went for a slice of pizza. We got a few drinks and then came back to the room. A few of the other guys were off to watch a rugby game in a pub so we followed. I couldn't afford to drink much so I only had one drink and went back to the hostel about 11:30pm. I guess the guys had a good time since they are all feeling awful this morning. Today I have just been booking my bus ticket and getting some things organized for when I arrive in Sydney. The only thing I am not looking forward to is the weather. It is cool in Brisbane and I know Sydney will be even cooler. It is a huge shock from Cairns, where you sweat just sitting still. Guess I shouldn't complain.
Until next time,
Cindy