FARM WORK IN EMERALD

So, for the past 2 days Brendon and I have been waking up at 4am (yes the stars are still in the sky at 4am) to go and make money by helping out on a local watermelon farm. We were pulling plastic off of rows and rows and rows and rows and rows of dirt (where the watermelons were growing). It was really tough work, especially in the heat, but it was good to be making a little bit of money. Check out how dirty we got!! We have had to wash our clothes 3 times and some are STILL dirty!

CHIRSTMAS IN EMERALD

We arrived in Emerald on Monday, Dec. 19 where Michelle and Charles are now living. We spent the day lounging out on the grass in the backyard drinking lemonade. Then we decorated the Christmas tree...as well as oursleves for a little fun. It is extremely disorienting to hear Christmas carols and be preparing for Christmas when we are wearing shorts and tank tops everyday. It will definitely be a different experience celebrating during the summer time!

We both wish everyone a Merry Christmas!!!

As the Aussies like to say: "Have a good Chrissie"!!

GOLD COAST AND SURFER'S PARADISE

On the first weekend in Australia, we had the pleasure of staying with my friend Sarah from Korea (who I met while teaching there in August). We spent Sunday on the Gold Coast with Sarah, her sharemate Kira and Brandon (Kira's boyfriend, not to be confused with Brendon). We spent the day swimming in the ocean and cooking up a barby (aka BBQ). At around 6pm we stopped to take some pictures of Surfer's Paradise and decided to take another swim. The width of this beach was maybe 400 m (from the road to the water) and it was just pure white sand. Paradise!

This is the view of Surfer's Paradise from the Main Beach on the Gold Coast where we stopped first to swim.

LONE PINE KOALA SANCTUARY

On Friday Dec. 16, Brendon and I went out to the Koala Sanctuary (aka. mini zoo of Australian animals). They had koalas everywhere, most were sleeping up in the branches but we were lucky enough to watch one jump from one branch to the next and then climb up and down the tree and run around its pen. Koalas sleep for about 20 hours a day, so it was pretty interesting to see so much action!!! We both got to "cuddle" a koala and pet a kangaroo!

STREETS BEACH

While in Brisbane, Brendon and I found the best place to hang out and cool off....STREETS BEACH. This is a man-made beach with pool that looks over the Brisbane River to the Central Business District. If you look very closely in the second photo you can see Brendon (he is the first body in the water slightly left of centre).

BRIZZY-CLOUD 9

After 36 hours in transit (through Toronto, Germany and Singapore) we made it to Brisbane (aka. Brizzy) on the evening of Wednesday, Dec. 14. We were both exhausted but also excited to have finally arrived to the tropical temperatures (it was probably about 28 degress C). We had a hostel already booked for this night and hopped into a cab which took us right to the front door of Cloud 9 Backpackers.
We totally lucked out and were given a 4 bed room, with air-con and an ensuite bathroom (we ended up staying in this luxurious room for 3 nights).