Got through my first and hardest exam this morning, Vertebrate Zoology Theory. I felt like it went pretty well, but we'll have to wait and see. Now coming up I have Wildlife Conservation on Friday and my Zoology practical next Thursday. But I just had lunch and don't feel like studying just now, and it's raining out, so instead I'm blogging.
Less than two weeks to go now for my time in Perth and I'm a little sad about it. I've made a ton of friends - Currie Hall has really been great - and I would love to have more time to meet people and do things around the city and around Western Australia, particularly down in the Southwestern part which I didn't really get to except for the brief excursion down to Margaret River back in August.
But on the other hand...I do have a pretty awesome six weeks ahead of me. My plans are pretty much finalized at this point, and it's going to be pretty epic. Since I don't know how often I'll be able to upload pictures or have internet access during my voyages, I'll try to lay out where I'll be when so at least you can have a general idea.
Nov 21st - Nov 24: Brisbane.
I fly out early morning on the 21st and in Brisbane I'll be meeting up with Morgan (she has a blog too! snarkandblather.blogspot.com) and seeing the sights of the fine city of Brisbane for a few days. Hopefully will also be meeting up with my friends Billy and Alison.
(photo: blog.statravel.com)
Nov 24th-28th: Cairns.
The biggest city in tropical/northern Australia, and the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef! We get in late on the 24th, then on the 25th and 26th have a two-day cruise that includes unlimited snorkeling and intorductory diving lessons. Very pumped for that. Then the 27th we go on the SkyRail, which is a train/cableway trip through the rainforest and claims to be "Australia's Best Attraction". Read about it: http://www.skyrail.com.au/
(photo: static.howstuffworks.com)
Nov 28th - Dec 4th: Adelaide/Melbourne.
We fly into Adelaide early on the 28th and will pick up a car. Planning on seeing Adelaide Zoo (only pandas in Australia!) and then the next day heading out for Melbourne along the coast. This is supposed to be one of the best drives in the world, especially nearer to Melbourne when you go along the Great Ocean Road. We get into Melbourne on the 1st and will hopefully be shown around a fair bit by Matt, who's a native Melburnian. Theoretically also meeting up with Alyssa and Sindre.
(photo: http://www.cyf.vic.gov.au/)
Dec 4th - Dec 13th: New Zealand.
This is the part of the trip I'm most looking forward to, not least of which because I'll be able to see actual mountains again! We fly into Christchurch, on New Zealand's South Island. We have a couple days there in which we plan on checking out the International Antarctic Centre and Willowbank Wildlife Reserve. Then we head off the Queenstown, in the interior of the South Island, for a three-day spin that will include jet boating, a helicopter ride, a gondola (all one package tour), a canyon swing, and kayaking or mountain biking (or both!). We get back to Christchurch the 11th, hopefully meet my friend Sam, and have one more full day which will be devoted to a Lord ot the Rings Tour, which seems a little touristy (especially if you watch the promo video they have) but should nonetheless be awesome.
(photo: http://www.wayfaring.info/)
Dec 13th - Dec 19th: Sydney.
The last leg of our journey is Sydney, home of the Harbour Bridge, Opera House and Taronga Zoo, whch we will most definitely be visiting. The rest of our visit isn't too well planned out, but may or may not include botanical gardens, the Sydney aquarium, a harbour bridge climb, Bondi Beach, and a trip to the Blue Mountains.
(photo: travel.nationalgeographic.com)
Eventually all good things must come to an end, and Morgan leaves to fly out of Brisbane on December 18th, leaving me a day to peruse and ponder the end of my Australian voyage before I fly home on the 19th. And I will be most definitely looking forward to coming home for Christmas and seeing everyone back home again. Now back to my damn exams...
(one last note: this is my 50th post. woohoo?)
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