Spring Break In Cairns

Mid-Semester Break was a fabulous time not having school and being able to do whatever you want without having to worry about going to lectures or doing however.  Most people here go home for the break so University College was very quiet.  We left for Cairns on the Thursday of Easter Break along with the rest of the Americans at UC and on my program.  Apparently, the Spring Break stop was Cairns this year.  Cairns is located in the northeast part of Australia in the state of Queensland.  We got into Cairns late so that night we just grabbed dinner and walked about the nice little beach town.

The next day we explored all around Cairns.  We walked into all the little shops and different cafés and enjoyed the warm weather.  Although it was nice and warm it rained every day.  This was annoying at first but when we all got past this we just embraced the fact that we were going to get wet. 

The next day we took a trip out to the Great Barrier Reef!  The weather wasn’t that great so it was a bumpy ride out to the reef.  We tried to scuba dive but doing it is much harder than it looks.  The experience was great but it was weird being able to breathe under water.  In in the afternoon I was able to snorkel.  It was amazing being so close to the reef you were literally surrounded by fish and coral.  The reef was colorful and we had such an amazing time.

The next day we rented a car and went north of Cairns to the Daintree Rainforest.  We hiked all around the rainforest and on many different trails.  We also went to Cape Tribulation, which is where the rainforest meets the Great Barrier Reef.  With all the hiking we did, we had to stop and get ice cream at a local plantation where they grow all the fruit they use they use on site.  Each day they have five different flavors.  When we went we had Strawberry, Pineapple, Mango, Woddleseed, and Coffee.   That night we made dinner at the hostel and explored the nightlife in Cairns.

The last day we were there we went to a wildlife park to see crocodiles.  We got to witness crocs being feed and took a trip around a lagoon with a lot of crocs in the water.  After the wildlife park we went to a coffee farm and had coffee out on the balcony.  The weather had cleared up and it was a nice end to the perfect vacation.

Since we have been back in Melbourne we have seen a lot of the sites the city has to offer.  Yesterday we went to botanical gardens and the Crown Casino.  And today we went to St. Kilda Arts Market and Luna Amusement Park and my first AFL game.  AFL stands for Aussie Rules Football and it is the Australian version of our football.  The game was quite exciting because the team I was routing for won!!!

I cannot believe that I only have two months here left!! Time is flying by way to fast!       

~MAI~

Travel, Travel, Travel

Well the traveling is still continuing with a trip to Tasmania!!!  We were in Tasmania for three days total.  The first day we got straight off the plane at 8am and onto a tour taking us all around Hobart.  The first stop was to the top of Mt. Wellington.  There were beautiful lookouts however it was very cold since it had snowing that morning!!  The next stop on the tour was the Hobart Botanical Gardens.  We got to walk around the whole area and smell all the beautiful flowers.  After that we went to Canterbury Chocolate Factory.  We took a tour of how they make the chocolate and got a lot of free samples, which were so good!!  The last stop on the tour was Bonorong Animal Park.  We got to feed the kangaroos and see Tasmanian devils. 

The second day we spent most of the day at Salamanca Market in Hobart.  It is just a market place for a bunch of local vendors to sell want they make or grow.  The market was about four or five blocks long, and everything was really nice.  That night we all made a really nice pasta dinner at the hostel.

The last day in Hobart, we rented a car and drove to Mt. Field National Park.  We hiked all around and saw amazing waterfalls.  We packed lunch and hiked all throughout the national park.  The best part was that I was the driver so I have official driven on the wrong side of the road and car in Australia.  The night we went to the harbor and had amazing fish and chips for dinner. 

I am getting involved in many different activities at University College, where I live.  Last Friday we had swimming intramurals between all the different colleges.  I swam the 50m butterfly and the 200m butterfly leg of the medley relay.  This was especially interesting considered I have never swam competitively in my life.  Although I came in last it was not by very much though and it was a fun night.  I have also joined the soccer team.  We have started practices but games do not start until after Easter Break.

Today we went to Queen Victoria Market and Williamstown.  Queen Vic Markets is a big market space in Melbourne where you can find everything you could possibly need.  I was fun walking around all the different shop.  We also went to Williamstown, which is a little port town with quaint shops and restaurants.    

 

My time here is flying by and I cannot believe that I have already been here for two months.  I am just glad we are on Easter (Spring) Break here because I could use the break from school.

Other differences that I have notice between things in the U.S. and Australia are:

·         Crumpets instead of English Muffins

~MAI~