A Little Australian Road Adventure

Oh, the freedom of an open road--two hands on the steering wheel, your favorite tunes blaring through the speakers, and singing at the top of your lungs. There's just nothing like a road trip.

When my friends told me that they were hiring a car to drive to their skydive in Goulburn, I jumped at the opportunity to tag along for the ride. Unfortunately, we woke up to nonstop rain on Saturday morning, but we packed our bags with hopes of clearer skies ahead. Up before the sun, we caught two buses to the airport and picked up the car around 8 am. The girls were meant to jump from a plane at 10 am, so they called when we were on the road to let the flight center know we were going to be a little late. It was only at 9:30, that they decided to cancel the skydives for the rest of the day. Disappointed, but determined to not let the weather spoil our day of fun, we decided to continue down the highway to Canberra, the capital of Australia. 

Just as the rain began to let up, we came to a fork in the road. We could either continue down the highway for a straight shot to Canberra or take an unpaved scenic route that would take twice as long. The decision seemed like an obvious one and I beamed with joy as Andy turned the wheel toward an empty country road.

We cruised along, listening to the Beatles. The rain had subsided, so I rolled down my window to enjoy the cool air. I breathed in the sweet smell of the eucalyptus trees, so happy to be away from the traffic and noise of the city. My four friends chatted away, but something outside my window distracted me from their conversation. I saw something move. It was grey and furry. "Holy s***! Stop the car, And!" The car came to a gravel-throwing halt. Before I could explain myself, my seat belt was unbuckled and I was already outside the car. "K-ka-kangaroos!" There were four or five of them along the fence line by the road. My friends scrambled in the car to find shoes, phones and cameras and by the time they reached me, the kangaroos were hopping up a hill. They were wild, timid and frightened, either by the sudden stop of the car, the slamming doors, or probably my shouting. Seeing a handful of them bouncing around an open field was so much better than the time I saw dozens lying around in the zoo. It was definitely one of those magical, "I'm actually in Australia" moments. I'll never forget it.

Eventually our gravel road met the highway and we made it to our destination. Canberra is probably the least impressive capital city I've ever visited. I'm embarrassed to admit that I didn't even know it was the capital until two weeks before I moved to Australia; I always assumed it was Sydney. The city lies within its own state called ACT (Australian Capital Territory), similar to Washington DC. The capital was constructed in this rural area in 1908 as a means to settle the competitive rivalry between Sydney and Melbourne. Today the population is only 368,000 and I'm convinced that more than half of that number works in a government-related field.

My friends and I only had a couple of hours to kill before we needed to head back to Sydney and return the car. We snapped a few silly pictures in front of the Parliament house, sat down for a lunch, and then we were on the road again. After we realized there wasn't much to do in Canberra, we were glad we took the road less traveled to get there. Thanks for the advice, Robert Frost. And even if I looked at a map, I'm not sure I could tell you how we got there. Like every good road trip, we got a little lost along the way. But as my friends and I like to say, "you can't get lost if you don't know where you are going." Sometimes, the journey is more important than the destination.

{we pulled over in the rain to say hello to this giant sheep in Goulburn}

 {outback mailboxes}

 {getting lost}

In My Backpack: Beauty Products

When I decided to go backpacking, I knew I wouldn't be able to bring along the entire assortment of beauty products and hair appliances that usually clutter my bathroom counter and drawers. My 60 L backpack would not accommodate my nail polish or lipstick collections. However, I don't think any girl should have to give up her femininity just because she's living out of a backpack. So I've decided to share with you a few travel-sized and multipurpose beauty products that I never leave home without.

1. Smith's Rosebud Salve- The classic floral-scented salve now comes in a travel-friendly tube. It works wonders on chapped lips, dry skin and minor burns.
2. Adara Coconut Virgin Oil- This organic coconut oil is the ultimate multitasker. I use it as a skin moisturizer, a deep conditioning hair mask and to tame my split ends. The green tea fragrance is so nice that when I use it, people often ask what perfume I'm wearing. And I never have to worry about the oil leaking during a flight, because it naturally crystallizes in cooler temperatures. All you have to do is run the bottle under a warm tap before you want to use it.
3. Violight Slim Sonic Portable Toothbrush- This toothbrush is probably the best thing I've ever bought for traveling. It brushes at 22,000 strokes per minute and the single AAA battery it came with lasted for four months. Portable, stylish, and it comes with a bonus replacement head.
4. Batiste Dry Shampoo- Because you don't always have the time or resources to wash your hair when you're on the road, this dry shampoo is a life saver. Plus, it comes in the cutest travel size packaging.
5. Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm- This happy yellow lip balm made with beeswax and coconut, sunflower, & peppermint oils is my all-time favorite.
6. Lucas' Papaw Ointment- I only discovered this little gem once I arrived in Australia, but I will definitely be taking it on all my future trips. It's made with Australian papaya and can be used to treat sunburn, scalds, cuts, minor open wounds and burns, chafing, insect bites, and splinters.
7. Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap- This concentrated castille soap, whether in liquid or bar form, is legendary among backpackers. Uses include face and body soap, household cleaner, laundry detergent, shampoo and more daring ones such as toothpaste and pest control. The soaps are organic, fair trade, 100% biodegradable and lots of other feel-good adjectives. I've been using the classic peppermint version, though I'd be curious to try some of the newer scents. It's almost worth buying just to read the crazy label on the bottle.

What's in your travel bag? Are there any products you regularly travel with?

Coastal Walking

I still remember the first time I did the Eastern Suburbs Coastal Walk from Bondi to Coogee. It was one of my first sunny days in Sydney, and the blue skies and even bluer ocean created the perfect scenery for a long stroll. Seeing the turquoise waves kiss the shore and crash against the rocks, I felt truly at peace for the first time in weeks; I was at peace with having no direction and only knowing that I was where I wanted and needed to be, near the sea and in the sunshine.

The Coastal Walk is one of my favorite things to do in Sydney and it should not be missed by any visitor. The walk hugs 6 km of coastline and encompasses some of the most popular beach spots: Bondi, Tamarama, Bronte, Clovelly, Gordon's Bay, and Coogee. It takes anywhere from 1-2 hours to complete at a steady pace. However, there are breathtaking lookout points, cafes and kiosks, and swimming holes along the way, which when stopped at, could turn the walk into an all-day affair.  

 {Gordon's Bay is the perfect spot for snorkeling or a shore dive}

 {or sunbathing on the rocks}

{or playing fetch with your dog}

{the Waverley Cemetery}

{Coogee Beach}

Whether running the trail for a workout or crawling along at a snail's pace, be sure to absorb the sights, inhale the salty breeze and listen to the waves crashing against the cliff sides. The first time I did the Coastal Walk was the moment I fell in love with Sydney, and if you stop to appreciate the beauty of your surroundings, you just might feel the same way too.

The Blue Mountains

As much as I love living in a city, sometimes I just need to escape it--to see wide open skies and breathe fresh air. So this weekend, I hopped on a train at Central Station with two girlfriends for the two hour journey to the Blue Mountains. When we arrived, we couldn't believe that it was cold enough to see our breath, so we quickly changed from our summer sandals to hiking shoes.

We stayed in a hostel called No.14 in Katoomba, which I highly recommend.  This small guesthouse was cozy and quaint and felt more like a bed & breakfast than your typical hostel. Emily, Meisha and I shared a room with a window and door that opened onto the veranda for $25 each. Coffee, tea and breakfast cereals were complimentary, as was WiFi. Gingersnap cookies and DVDs were available for 30 cents and $1 respectively, with all proceeds benefiting a charity in Lima, Peru. We chatted with some of the other house guests in the common room and traced hiking routes on maps while we warmed our shoes and socks by the fireplace. I loved that there were no televisions in the house, meaning I was able to enjoy the quiet pleasures of reading a book, writing in my journal, and sleeping peacefully through the night.

The hiking trails in the Blue Mountains National Park were really well-designed and offered spectacular lookouts. On Saturday, we hiked to Katoomba Falls, beginning at Echo Point where there's a great view of the Three Sisters rock formation. The next day, we did a three hour hike to Wentworth Falls, walking over moss-covered stones and crossing over and underneath waterfalls; it was one of the best trails I've ever hiked.

Wentworth Falls and Katoomba are both sleepy little towns nestled in the mountains. There was a Roaring Twenties festival going on so the jazz music on the street and the trolleys, as well as the couples dresses in flapper dresses and zoot suits, made me feel like I had stepped back in time. There's not much to do in these towns and all the bottle shops close before 8:00 pm even on a Saturday night, but there's lot of great cafes and places to eat. We dined at three places, all of which had a delicious & unique menu: Blue Hour, Station Bar and Il Positono Cafe. I also got lost in the basement of an antique shop called Mr. Pickwick's, with over 60,000 secondhand books. I left with a small handful of vintage travel books that I can't wait to display on a bookcase one day.

My weekend trip to the Blue Mountains was so relaxing and surprisingly inexpensive. I hope to return before leaving Sydney, so that I can explore new towns and hiking trails.

The Funny Thing About Plans

It's hard to believe I've been in Australia for five months now. When I arrived in Sydney on September 8 with just a backpack, I had no plans except a few ideas in my head about where I wanted to go. Not realizing how huge and expensive this country is, I foolishly believed I would have seen most of it by now--Melbourne, Cairns, Uluru, Darwin and the Sunshine Coast. I never planned on being in Sydney this long or signing a four month apartment lease with two people that I just met. But sometimes it's the unexpected surprises that turn into the best memories. We don't meet people by chance, and I'm so grateful for all the friends I've made and to be able to call this amazing city home.

Now that my apartment lease is up and my third job contract has ended, I've received lots of inquiries about my plans. Where are you going to live? What are you doing for money? When are you coming home? Two weeks ago, I knew the answers to these questions. I fully intended to take a train to Melbourne and spend a week getting to know the area. Then I planned to travel to Bali on the money from my apartment bond and spend a month on the island volunteering, before flying back home to Houston in mid-March. But the day before I was meant to book my airfare, I got an email about a job opportunity in Sydney--one which is related to my degree and would challenge me intellectually, unlike the hospitality & retail jobs I've been doing lately. So now I'm staying with some of my friends, living out of a backpack again and checking my email hourly, hoping for good news about this job.

I never could have anticipated this happening. But that's the funny thing about plans--you can create the most simple or elaborate ones, and as soon as you think you have everything figured out, life throws a curve ball your way. Maybe this job will fall through, and I'll have to fly home penniless. But I've been praying about it a lot, and I'm confident that things will work out the way they're supposed to. And in the meantime, I vow to make the most of this period of waiting and uncertainty--enjoying the days I get to spend with the girls who were nice enough to share their home with me.

"Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails."  Proverbs 19:21