HERVEY BAY 4X4 ON FRASER ISLAND!!!!

I arrived in Hervey Bay around 1:45pm via Greyhound bus. The trip was only about an hour and a half. It was pouring down rain and I realized that I forgot to call my hostel for pickup before I left Bundaberg....Catherine usually did all that. I am going to have to become more responsible...yikes! Luckily I asked a group of people waiting around if they were staying at Palace Backpackers and they were!!!! HOORAY!!!! It was 3 dutch (2 girls and a boy) and 3 English boys. When we got to the hostel I walked into my room to find 3 German boys asleep in their beds and a Dutch boy sitting in the common room. I was the only girl in a room with what ended up being 5 boys and me...another Dutch boy showed up later that evening. They were all very nice and I enjoyed hanging out with them...they were also going to be on our trip the next day. We were taken by Van to the grocery store and beer store to load up with stuff for our 3 day camping trip.

We had to meet at 6am to watch a safety video and figure out our driving groups.There were 4 cars. I chose to ride with a group of 7 consisting of 3 Dutch people (K.D, Daniel, Carolyn), two English boys (Robin and Lindsey) and a Danish girl (Fiona).


 Lindsey drove first and he was pretty safe(ish). There is definitely something that makes me so nervous about putting complete strangers in charge of my life and safety but our drivers were pretty good!! We had to ride a ferry to get to Frasier Island where we would be camping for the next 2 nights and 3 days. We had a tour guide in the front car and he  would lead us to our camp site. When we got into our car we realized that it didn't have a radio.... Guess I will be in charge of the sing along?!?!


Our first stop was to go on a bush walk. It was cloudy and sprinkling but quite warm. The walk was so peaceful and beautiful.

 I wondered all around just amazed at how lush the scenery was. After, we stopped at a bathroom to change into our swim suits to get ready to swim in a fresh spring. We stood around and played volleyball in the water bc it was way too cold to do anything else. We were entertained for quite a while. It was getting late in the day and we needed to find our campground soon to get settled in. It gets dark in Australia around 6pm everyday because its winter at the moment....weirdly early!!! We arrived at our campsite around 4pm and it was already set up with tents (thankfully). I got grouped with three German guys in a tent...the same ones from the hostel.

  I wasn't bothered being the only girl and figured we wouldn't spend much time in our tents anyway. We got out our Goon and had a drink at the beach. 

One thing they warned us about was the wild Dingos and snakes (7 out of 9 of the DEADLIEST snakes) that were all over the island...so welcoming to our new home away from home! Our tour guide told us to only use the bathroom in pairs or more and you had to take a flash light (they call it a torch), a shovel (to bury toilet paper) and a stick to defend yourself from Dingos.  Dingos look a lot like dogs but are vicious like wolves.

I thought for sure our tour guide was exaggerating...I mean it must be one of those campfire stories..right?!?!

Daniel cooked BBQ  for our group. We had a feast of hamburgers, sausages and potatoes wedges. SO DELISH!!

Daniel is in the Dutch Marines.

Then we sat in a circle in the sand and played kings cup (backpackers favorite drinking game). We Gooned like I have never Gooned in my life....

One german asked if I wanted to go closer to the ocean with him....should have known that wasn't a great idea but it was soo close...Look at the picture above of us sitting safely by the ocean...right?!?! We walked two minutes away from the camp without a Dingo stick or torch and sat by the ocean. It was super beautiful but out of nowhere Dingos were all around. I don't remember how many because I was too scared but we NOT so calmly did the exact OPPOSITE of what we are supposed to do in a dingo situation!! ( you are supposed to stand straight up to look big, cross your arms over your chest and back away slowly). We both jumped up, scream and ran back to the campsite!!

Guess our tour guide WASN'T exaggerating...

 I made a mental note to NEVER TRUST A GERMAN...Turns out loads of people feel the same way..hahah. We all just sat around and drank Goon, talked about our countries and laughed until the early hours of the morning. 

German roomies (the one in the Maroon is the one who almost got me eaten by a DINGO!!!) 

We woke up around 7:30am to the sound of music. Our tour guide wanted to take us to a place called hangover river and by the looks of us we NEEDED it bad. It reminded me of a Texas river but much more shallow. It was supposed to carry us back to the starting point but we kept getting stuck in the sand at the bottom of the river. 

Hangover river!!!

It did cure my hangover kind of...I was having too much fun racing and laughing to think about how bad I felt. We drove for a long bit to our next destination and that is really one of my favorite parts of the trip. We sang songs, learned only the inappropriate words in Dutch and had a great time. I was always fearful that our car was going to roll over because the trails were super bumpy and we kept fishtailing in the sand but we survived. 

We arrived at this natural spring surrounded by sand dunes. I talked one of the Germans to barrel roll down one of the dunes with me....it was so fun!! 

The water was super cold but we swam anyway. You had to RUN down the Dune to dive into the water!!! SOOO FUN!!!!!!

 We piled back in our 4x4 and drove to a shipwreck to take photos. The sand was perfect and the Scottish boys in our group had been bothering me about doing a flip for them to prove my gymnastic/cheerleading skills. (cheerleading is an American thing so they were impressed lol) I gave in and showed off a bit....I can hardly believe my body can still handle tumbling. 

The WHOLE GANG!!!!

We continued down the island to the Pinnacles which are colored sand kinda like clay. The aboriginal women believe that the pinnacles can give them advice and so it's sacred land.  The pinnacle didn't whisper anything to me...lol

The Pinnacle!!

We headed back to the campsite to wind down and make some dinner. Of course round 2 of Goon began soon after. Tonight's games were brought to you by never have I ever and things I never wanted to know about people....turns out backpackers are very open to talking about everything and anything in their lives which made for an interesting night. I don't know that I have ever been so baffled or laughed so much in my entire life....I went to bed pretty early that night....I mean after having a ridiculous amount of fun.

LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO BARRY (MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE PERSON ON FRASER ISLAND)!!!! Yes those are REAL tattoos that say CRAZY, a mustache, and he has a camel on his toe (put that one together)....He was the life of the party and always ready for a good time. I think I spent more time baffled at his lies that he continued to tell throughout the whole trip ie I am a movie star and I am from America. He is from Scotland which has one of the worst accents in the whole world...I mean they speak English but do they really??? I couldn't understand him most of the time and I would just assume it was inappropriate so my answer was always  NO THANK YOU!!!! It became our little joke. Glad I made a good impression on him. He asked me if my parents would like him and if my Dad would approve of him... Of course the answer to that is....ABSOLUTELY NOT!! hahah it was a good try Barry. He then proposed marriage to every other girl in our group. He was the funniest boy I have ever met......

The last day we woke up, cleaned up camp and got packed into our 4x4s to go to the Champagne pools. It is rock pools that are surrounded by the ocean. SO COLD!!! But definitely worth it!! It rained our entire last day!!!!  

only 7 of us got in the water the last day!!!!

We had these really cool ponchos to shield us from the rain!!!

Everyone at the very end!!! SO ATTRACTIVE after not showering for 3 days lol

Camping on the beach is DIRTY...but checkity check for my bucket list!!!

We had to ride a ferry back to Hervey Bay!!! 

So sad to leave the FRASER ISLAND!!!

BEST GROUP EVER!!! LOVED THEM!!!

TOO MUCH FUN!!

LAST DAYS ON THE FARM!!

 I have been in Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia for about a month now and its been a bumpy ride. Working on a farm, living with 5 people in one room, making money and living in a small town have been one crazy little adventure. 

I have had a love/hate relationship with the sweet potato farm that has consumed every part of my being. I have realized that I expect for all people to treat each other how they want to be treated...and sometimes they don't. I feel like Bundaberg has challenged me to be the best part of myself that I can be. I only have control over my OWN actions and I can't take other's mean and hurtful actions personally. I have also learned that I am NOT good at everything...so mark off working on a farm from my life plan list. I DO NOT WANT TO BE A FARMER WHEN I GROW UP!!!!! Even on the worst days, I was surrounded with people who only lift me higher. I was so blessed to work with girls who motivate each other and protect each other. The guys I work with help the days pass by faster by being silly, entertaining and doing random acts of kindness that mean more than they will ever know. At the end of the day, I still believe that EVERY person has good in them even if they have a very difficult time letting that part of them shine. Looking back it is all really humorous...so here are my top favorite things my boss has said to me:

Deb is the one in the center. I told you she looked like a monster.

Top things Deb has yelled:

* you got a raise. You know what that means? WORK FASTER OR  YOU WILL BE REPLACED.

* The next two people who talk NO LONGER HAVE A JOB.

*Are you worried about the time? Guess what? It can be home time and you will never come back.

*You like money? WORK FASTER

* You aren't being payed to talk.

*FOUR POTATOES. You just don't get it. WORK FASTER.

*It's a potato doll.

*See this broken potato? THATS WHAT HAPPEN WHEN YOU THROW POTATOES...DON'T BE SO LAZY.

Suvi and I working together. She is one of my favorite people ever!!

The girls all dressed up!!! We look so different!!!

He ALWAYS takes my rubbish and carries my heaviest potatoes...I tell him I love him about 50 times a day. haha

What would I do without these girls??

We work hard and play harder.

The boys!!!

 Well I only have 3 days left in Bundy. I am going to take a small vacation to Hervey Bay to go camping and then to Noosa for a canoe trip. After my vacation, I am stopping in the Gold Coast to repack my backpack and get stuff ready to head to Melbourne (which is the equivalent to New York City). I will be traveling by myself since Catherine has to stay in Bundy to finish her three months of farm work. I am so excited and terrified to travel on my own but I am comforted in knowing that so many other people are also traveling alone. I don't know what is in store for my future but I have faith in God's greater plan!!!!!!!

Two months...All the loves of my little life...so far

Wow...I can’t believe its been two months! Time is flying by so quick! I am so in love with traveling and so happy to be amongst so many other people who share my passion! I have learned so much and made so many friends that I fell in love with!!!!!! Here are a couple of people and stories to go along with it....

MONIKA:

Catherine and Monika!!

This is Monika and her super attractive Aussie boyfriend!!! I met her in Cairns at Dreamtime (where she works)....I am pretty OBSESSED with her and her life. She is from Germany and on her WAY to Australia she met her Aussie boyfriend in the airport. Seriously?!?!?! Why didn’t that happen to me? So now, she now she is dating and dressing like her precious boyfriend and living in Australia forever. What a cute little love story. She texts me every once in a while telling me about jobs in Cairns so I can go back and live there.... I would do it in a heart beat!!!! I loved Cairns!

This is Laura and James!!!

Laura!!! (James is in this one too...)

I met them on board the Avatar. I fell in love with them instantly. They are both from England and are best friends and (used to be roommates). Laura is a school teacher in Dubai (where I will visit her) and traveling around Australia on a long holiday (vacation). She is obsessed with America and loves my stereotypical American life. She makes me laugh with all the things she asked me about normal life. i.e. did you ride a yellow bus to school? She is going to visit me in Texas and I am going to find her an American husband. James is a civil engineer living in Melbourne, Australia with his girlfriend. I feel like we spent all our time together and he shares my love for being a complete disaster all the time. He is the one who fell on the boat and threw his spaghetti on the floor and immediately ate it off the floor with a fork. I have never laughed so much in my life!!! After getting off the Avatar, (Catherine and I were homeless until midnight because we were catching the midnight bus) they let us use their shower and entertained us until we went to the bar that night. They are such sweet friends! I can’t wait until we meet again.

The Italian Gang:

I met them all at our hostel in Bundaberg. They are trying to get their second year visa by doing farm work and I fell in love with them for their sense of humor and silliness.

He actually has long dirty blonde hair and looks like a male model. This picture doesn't do him justice.

Walter:

He is my FAVORITE Italian! He tells the best stories and has the most bubbly personality! He also plays the guitar, cooks delicious food and drinks Goon like a champ. My favorite story of Walter is when he got pulled over by the police for drinking and driving in Australia. He said they put him in a cage in the back of the cop car and when they asked where they should drop him off he told them central BAR!! (I mean how much worse could your night get?) He had to go to court and came back with a community service job that pays 20 dollars an hour....His life is so interesting!!! He makes every opportunity to make life fun. I could learn a thing or two from him...

Ricardo:

don't mind me. I RUIN all good pictures by closing my eyes.

So maybe Ricardo is my favorite...He is silly and fun and always teaching me things. He made me read a book about world war II out loud in Italian and translated what I was reading to English....its my new hobby! (I am kind of learning Italian....I now know the word Camel, monument and Dune...haha) Also, he showed me how to play a short song on the guitar. He spent 4 years in the Dominican Republic learning spanish and working before coming to Australia to improve his English. Our conversations are very basic and I often have to repeat myself several times before we understand each other but we both don’t mind it....its a sweet little friendship. <3 

Manuel: 

 He is a quiet and serious Italian. I see him every morning because we both go to work at 6:00am. He isn’t as silly as the other Italian boys but he is sweet and kind of mysterious. We have really serious conversations about psychology and what we are going to be when we grow up....He is a nice boy and he gets my jokes which is a nice. He is super charming and the kind of Italian you can't help but love.

Stefano:

He is the silliest of all the boys. He doesn’t speak as much English as the other boys so our conversations are brief and usually end up in confusion. He is the BEST cook ever!!!! He is always telling jokes in Italian....but I obvi don’t understand them yet. Sorry for the lack of pictures of him. Imagine a pretty attractive fair skinned Italian. 

Lee:

He is quite the ladies man.

Lee isn’t Italian....but he hangs out with them sometimes. He is from England. For the first two days I was at the hostel I thought he was mute. He is super funny and also tells pretty good stories (when he decides to talk). He is Walter’s sidekick and they usually are getting into some sort of trouble. Lee once got kissed by an Aboriginal woman on the lips....

Julia:

Julia is from England and is a primary teacher. She is super funny and inappropriate...and I love everything about her! She is my work BFF!!! I think I would have quit and/or been fired already if it weren't for her!! We sing songs, tell stories, play games and laugh all day long!! She makes my job fun...even when I get yelled at all day. I don't want her to leave Bundy but I know that we will have to meet up again in Melbourne!!! Friends FOOOREVER!!!!!!!

I am so lucky to have met so many wonderful people and done some pretty sweet things. One thing I really love about backpacking is how simple life is. I am learning to enjoy those simple things in life again. Reading a book, wearing the same clothes (and still feeling beautiful), not worrying about makeup,  having conversations instead of watching tv, learning new things (ie Italian and playing the guitar)...these are the things I will remember most! I am so happy I could burst. I miss my family and friends from home but I love the people that have become my family during my travels...I couldn't be more blessed! <3