sand dunes, whale tail, and wine...lots of wine..

The CAPA International Program here in Sydney has various organized trips offered over the course of the semester. Since I opted out of the surf trip last minute, the port stephens trip is the only one I decided to go on. I'm not one for jampacked itineraries and schedules, I like to decide where I want to go, when, and for how long. The only thing that made this trip in particular the one I would go on was, the price, and the wide spectrum of activities we'd be doing. Not sure I enjoyed much of the trip, but it was definitely an experience of a lifetime, something I can say I've done and never feel the need to do again lol.

First stop: Shark and Stingray Feeding

Eyes on the Top, mouth on the bottom it felt like I was feeding its belly.

Let me start by tell you how ridiculous it feels to be in a wet suit. It's like trying to squeeze into a sticky jumpsuit that's ten sizes too small. I felt like my circulation was being cut off by the hems. It was interesting trying to feed the little stingrays and sharks because there mouths are so far under that you feel like you're shoving food right to their bellys.  I spose I knew this from finding nemo but it still caught me by surprise. Interesting the things you learn from Disney cartoons lol, gotta love that!We were provided with little portions of squid, being the little viet girl I am, I wanted to toast it up and eat with with hoison sauce....mmmm. I've been deprived of real vietnamese food for far too long. You can't see, but I was dry and I was the only dry member of the group. As comfortable as I thought I had become around animals, I didn't have the gull to stand in a tank with little stingrays. I got in the water up to my knees and ran back out cussing when a shark was swiveling in my direction. I'm getting used to animals, but I'm not trying to move mountains, sharks and stingrays were not going to touch me. Right before I left, my roommate convinced me to climb in a tank with a bigger shark, he wasn't swimming too fast so I felt a bit more comfortable. Honestly, I only did it for the picture. I enjoyed feeding them from the dock just as well, I don't feel like I was cheated out of the experience. I mean I still fed them, that's legit.


Sand Dune Boarding : Anna Bay

 

The only other sand dunes I'd been around were the ones in Vietnam, this was very reminiscent of that experience except for the fact that it poured right before we made it out there. Just before we were able to slide down the sandy slopes, we were draped with rain all nice and damp. Every grain of sand caught onto my face, hands, feet, clothes, I was covered. I wasn't too happy about it, but I spose it was a detail that made my experience a little bit more interesting. The pictures aren't as cool without the sand stuck like another skin layer. It was fun, I loved the rush down, but it balanced with the dreadful walk back up. The slopes were very vertical and as you can imagine, going up was just the same. No stairs, nothing steady just a ton of determination and sweat that went into that journey

Whale Watching

   

I can't speak for anyone else, but my whale watching experience was similar to staring into the night sky in hopes of finding a shooting star. Except, I've seen more shooting stars than I have seen whales. 3 hours it was that we were at sea, in the rain and the challenging waves. All for a few puffs from a whale's blow hole and the tail of one, just ONE. I'm not sure if it made since, but I expected to see a school of them, splashing on our boat, coming in and out of the water. It was hardly as glamorous. Once the rain stopped (as you can see in this picture) I was drenched by a wave. I was the ONLY person to get this wet on the boat, which the man in the tan thought was very funny. I was a good sport on the outside, but I was very bitter on the inside, very bitter indeed. So, one would think, oh it's raining out on the deck, why not go inside? Well, the inside of the boat was where all the sea sick passengers gathered and vomitted. I'm not good around vomit, the smell and the sounds are enough to set me off, even if I'm feeling just fine... It was cool to be out in open water, feeling the waves (after a little while you feel a bit woozy, even for a little swimmer such as myself), and seeing a bit of the whale's tail. Again something I can say that I did, I can't tell you enough how happy I was to being on solid ground.

Wine Tasting: Four different wineries

Wine tasting felt too extensive to me, I'm positive it's because I don't fancy it much. I learned a lot though; I didn't find that I enjoyed much of these experiences but I take it that not many get the privelege to as well as the fact that there's so much I can learn from all these experiences ( especially since I wouldn't typically like them). Australia is famous for their wines and beers, Australians know it, and they love it. So many wineries, so many different types and beers as well. I was able to taste, compare and really learn what wine is like, how it's paired with different foods, and many other things. I'm glad I went although most of the time I poured the contents of my little glass to my friends.

It was a tiring weekend, but I feel like it's all a part of being here in Australia so I wouldn't take any of it back.

As I get nestled into routine, and gradually more and more comfortable I'm enjoying my life here a ton. I'm no longer overwhelmed with differences, I am able to look on the brighter side of things, and finally be myself. I've come to realize that although I'm very resistant to change, if given the time I'm really able to adapt well and eventually the change becomes my regular and I return to happy ann again.

I find that my classes here are jokes. Literally, but in between the time wasting and incomplete syllabus I'm learning a lot about the country. I've already acquired so much from these last few weeks, I can't imagine what it'll be like come a few more. Being one who learns from experience, I've gained heaps of knowledge, I should have invested my tuition money into travels. Think of what I'd be like after living in a few different countries...I could be a very good cultural studies teacher.

Another thing, I used to complain about my lack of internet access, but since I've gotten here, I haven't been glued to youtube, facebook, or any other sites. It's refreshing, I honestly can't remember the last time my laptop was so neglected. It's sad to think about all the time I spent online. I'm afraid that once I am back in my old contexts that I'll go back to my old habits. I don't want to, so I'll make an effort to keep off my computer screen and actually live.

I finally called my mom the other day, it was a really good talk. I was so homesick initally that I couldn't stop crying as I dialed, so I never made a call. About a month in I've regained my bearings and I'm finally able to talk to my parents, I think they were feeling neglected but I feel like I needed to wait till I wasn't a mess. Instead of bawling and complaining I'm able to tell them about my life. whooot.

Well that's it, I'll be flying out to Perth which is the opposite side of Australia. It's exciting that I'll be all over Australia before I leave, I'm seeing the entire country first =) I'm not a fan of flying another 5 hours to get there, but if I do the time I'm sure I'll get a lot out of it.

Until next time,
Good day