Feb 2007

so after a few days of rain the sun has finally come out again and I couldn't be happier! Right now we're in a town called Noosa ... it's basically a beachside yuppy-vil, like where really rich people go to show off just how rich they are. Regardless, it's beautiful and there seems to be a lot to do so we're pretty content. We got here yesterday and came across an irish pub which we welcomed with open arms considering how hard it was pouring rain and then later on went out to eat and ordered a huge seafood platter with everything fish you could want. It was awsome, made me feel a little bit at home . We woke up this morning to sun and decided to go for a looooong walk in the National Park here which was also amazing. We followed the ocean all the way up the side of a mountain to a point called Hell's Kitchen and saw some koalas along the way which was pretty cool. Anyway, we walked like 7k in total staring at the untouchable ocean the whole time so afterwards we clearly needed a little beach time. The water here is so nice but pretty scary at the same time. The waves get pretty big and the rips are insane, a lot different than at home and and i worry sometimes about getting carried away but then I look around at the 5 year old kids swimming like fish and get a little embarassed . Seriously the kids here swim better than most people I know at home, luckily though we're starting to look like we fit in. I've finally got a bit of a tan and am not so white and Aaron's getting pretty good at the body board ... that said there is at least one awkward moment a day when i get caught in a wave and end up feet in the air with my bum hanging out of my swimsuit. Ahh well, I'll never see these people again.

Anyway so that's basically the past 2 days but we've been pretty busy in general. We spent a few days in Brisbon with Aaron's friend Zev and his sister Eve who we randomly ran into. It was a pretty sweet few days, Eve's going to school there and has a sweet apartment and we got to sleep in her carpark ... which by the way is what Australians call parking lots and was like a treat for us after sleeping on the sides of roads for a few days. Brisban was really nice too, definitely busy and just like any city anywhere. We had a few too many drinks one night as anybody should when in a foreign city and I danced it up. I know, who knew I danced. Anyway so after those few days we headed inland to a couple places, saw some fantastic scenery and a few dead kangaroos and decided we wanted to see some alive ones so off the the zoo we went. No just any zoo though, the Australia Zoo aka. the Crocodile Hunter zoo. We spent a full day there and saw everything, including real live jumping kangaroos, so really cute koalas, tazmanian devils which i didn't know were real and some seroiusly scary and deadly snakes, which of course all live here. Good to know.
We had an awsome time there, then spent a couple days in Caloundra which was another lazy beach town, which I've decided I love and then we moved onto Noosa where we are now!

So that's just a little update of our lives and what's going on allll the way over here. I'm sure a lot has happened at home and I want to know about it so send me some emails! I mean since we've been gone Anna Nicole Smith has died and Britney Spears is bald so I can only imagine the stuff that has gone down in Halifax. Ha . I miss everyone a lot and really do hope everything is great! I was just told this cafe is closing so I'm saying bye!

Lotsa love from down under,
Jessi and Aaron _________________________________________________________________ Explore the seven wonders of the world
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Well... we registered our vehicle, and everything checkout out alright... meaning we're free to drive anywhere in this entire country...

Here are some details on Keikle.. that is what we named our van.

1987 Toyota Tarago Van
4 cylinder
bed in the back
crazy towbars on each side
netting over the windows
camping gear, butane stove (amazing gadget)
pillows, mosquito netting, sun shield

everything we really need... our drive up the coast was about 800 kms, not toooo far, but long enough, the first couple of days with the van was tough, took some adjusting because they drive on the other side of the road (not cool), and have stupid roundabouts, meaning you go around in a circle until you find you exit... like the rotary, but everywhere.. every town, city...really annoying. So now we are in brisbane, looking at doing some day trips from here, a national park, then maybe check out the biggest sand island on a 4 wheel drive truck... don't really know yet. we'll keep you posted with more pics and stuff... enjoy valentines day, Jess and I's was good yesterday, dressed up, went out to a nice restaurant, had some wine. The best part is that you can bring your own bottle of wine to any restaurant and have it there.. BYO... they only charge a small corking fee.. 2$.. makes a meal way cheaper.

Anyways.. sending my love to everyone.

AG _________________________________________________________________ Live Search: New search found
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Hey hey,

I don't know how well this is going to work. This is really Aaron's job, I just take the pictures . Hopefully though you can see the van and our hme away from home for the next few months. So far we love it, everything we need and more.

Currently we're in Byron Bay, enjoying beach life everywhere we go and still headed North .... which in Australia means towards more sun, not away from it . We couldn't be happier and are really living the life.

Anyway, we'll update some more soon. My time is finished on this computer.

love jessi

Hey hey,

So I figured it was about time I added something here so you all know it's not just Aaron down here but me as well. I'm gonna make it short and sweet though, I swear I just found a piece of random bodily hair from down under on this key board ... and by down under I don't mean Australia. So it's officially been a week since we left the cold, and I have to say that part of leaving was easy. The long flights and even longer layover in LA were brutal though, I can safely say no one can ever beat Aaron and I at crazy 8 countdown again though. Not only did we play it at every airport and on every plane, but also roughly 4 times a day, everyday in Fiji... in between beach walks, swims in oceans as warm and bath water, swings on hammocks and bus rides to tiny little villages... oh and crosswords, lots and lots of crosswords. Zatz, I might even be able to do a crossword faster than you now.

We definitely met a few cool people, mostly people from the UK and all headed to New Zealand. In total we spoke to 4 Canadians, including this random crazy chick we met at the airport today who was born in Fiji, lived in BC and then married a guy from New Zealand. Really, she was nuts.

Anyway, so now were in Sydney and so happy to be staying in a hotel. Not that the hostels weren't great but just to know we have a space to ourselves for a couple nights is great. I miss home a little bit every day ... but not enough to not want to be here. Seriously ... it's warm here and cold there, enough said. Really though, I wish you could all be here as well. If there really are all those snakes and poisonous things here Sunny I'm sure I'll trip and fall on half of them so I'll let you know . Oh and Happy Birthday ... Aaron thinks you'd love Fiji because it's yellow fever central.

Maurizz ... keep checking this like Facebook, really I know that if I can count on one thing each day it's knowing that at some point you've checked to see if we've posted something new. Zatz, I'm wearing my sunscreen and reapplying like no other.

Anyway ... pictures will come soon, promise. And if by any chance you guys feel like calling across the world to speak to us our number here is 044-860-4505 . There's a country code you have to put in from of that but I don't know what it is. Email is probably easier anyway, and 10 times cheaper/free .

Love you all,
jessi




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