The Tale of Two Girls and a dozen monkies.
Once apon a time Aria and her friend Becky were walking down the streets of Darjeeling from their friends house home. It was a dismal and rainy day and the two girls just finished walking for about 5 hours of it. As they were walking home chatting along the way and avoiding massive puddles, there was a band of monkies ahead of them! Aria takes out her camera (since she has never seen monkies before and has not even been to a zoo) and takes a picture, sees more takes more pictures. Taking one last picture of a baby monkey she felt a tug on her pants.
"OH WOAH!" she yelled and hopped/ran/jumped forward a little bit. Becky started to yell and they both ran a little bit away.
Aria asks her friend "What the heck happened?!" Becky then told Aria that a monkey went behind her and grabbed at her pants. The monkey then barred it's massive fangs and was about to bite her leg! Other monkeys were yelling at this point too! Becky was in total shock when it happened that she couldn't scream at Aria to move until it already grabbed her.
Aria was shocked still and a little shaken up after the incident as well. Oh to her surprise though she took some lovely pictures of a cute baby monkey. But was it worth the fright?
I think not.
DUN DUN DUN
The End.
stop.
in the middle of a battle zone....
well right now I am sitting in an internet cafe thing and all around me there are guys playing some game - counterstrike perhaps? - and they are all yelling at eachother, cheering, getting angry, it's so funny. All in Nepali too so I don't know what they are saying haha. it's quite funny. Oh explosions all around ahhhhhhhh! hahahaa
Reminds me of guild wars a tad eh Miranda?
anyways, the past couple days have been pretty interesting. I have been sick for the past 4 and they have been miserable.
may 30 - we were heading up to a villiage - I felt sick in the begining so I thought I could tough it out... so we were waiting at the jeep stand and I needed to go to the bathroom badly so I ended up using a public squatty.... oi. that was quite nasty, I have heard stories but now I experienced it. I would tell anyone that has a weak stomach should never even attempt.
so we got in the jeep - me by the window and contemplating the best way to puke out the window.. get there! no throw up until we got to someones house :S
there I threw up into something that I didn't know what it was used for.... oops. there is yet another embarassing moment for me.
we start hiking down a mountain and get to someones house and I felt that I really shouldn't go on -- I blacked out, had cold sweats, and was dizzy and stomach sick... so ya, we got a hold of a jeep, hiked to a jeep stand (maybe another 20 min) and get in, they massively raised the price and took us for all we were worth. Kara came back with me, bless.
Jeep ride - was off roading basically with no shocks. sick
get to half way to switch jeeps and oi. another dizzy black out ness. this time we get in the jeep and Kara looks at me funny but I didn't notice. (find out later I was pale and my lips were blueish...) so off we go back to Darjeeling. yay!
jeep ride wasn't bad this time I got to talk to a british girl sitting between Kara and myself most of the way, lovely to take my mind off the nasty ride.
so back to darj and I basically passed out when we got home. 15 hours later waking up and sleeping a tad during the day, oi so much rest the past could days! 13 hours the next, 12 last. OI! I could sleep for everyone on my team!
So presently I am doing alright, hopeing the worst is behind me and looking forward to seeing the rest of my team tomorrow.
Hoping that the meds I got from a chemist work too!
Anywho, I gotta run, but hugs to you all! lol
Aria
Reminds me of guild wars a tad eh Miranda?
anyways, the past couple days have been pretty interesting. I have been sick for the past 4 and they have been miserable.
may 30 - we were heading up to a villiage - I felt sick in the begining so I thought I could tough it out... so we were waiting at the jeep stand and I needed to go to the bathroom badly so I ended up using a public squatty.... oi. that was quite nasty, I have heard stories but now I experienced it. I would tell anyone that has a weak stomach should never even attempt.
so we got in the jeep - me by the window and contemplating the best way to puke out the window.. get there! no throw up until we got to someones house :S
there I threw up into something that I didn't know what it was used for.... oops. there is yet another embarassing moment for me.
we start hiking down a mountain and get to someones house and I felt that I really shouldn't go on -- I blacked out, had cold sweats, and was dizzy and stomach sick... so ya, we got a hold of a jeep, hiked to a jeep stand (maybe another 20 min) and get in, they massively raised the price and took us for all we were worth. Kara came back with me, bless.
Jeep ride - was off roading basically with no shocks. sick
get to half way to switch jeeps and oi. another dizzy black out ness. this time we get in the jeep and Kara looks at me funny but I didn't notice. (find out later I was pale and my lips were blueish...) so off we go back to Darjeeling. yay!
jeep ride wasn't bad this time I got to talk to a british girl sitting between Kara and myself most of the way, lovely to take my mind off the nasty ride.
so back to darj and I basically passed out when we got home. 15 hours later waking up and sleeping a tad during the day, oi so much rest the past could days! 13 hours the next, 12 last. OI! I could sleep for everyone on my team!
So presently I am doing alright, hopeing the worst is behind me and looking forward to seeing the rest of my team tomorrow.
Hoping that the meds I got from a chemist work too!
Anywho, I gotta run, but hugs to you all! lol
Aria
momos and more
well where to start. this week has been a busy one. first we had a week of Nepali lessons in the mornings, afternoons were leading a relationship seminar for the local youth group (they are awesome btw), and nights it shuts down completely here. Nobody goes out past 8-9ish except the tourist drunks. Also went to church in Nepali, english and a youth service -- so cool! I loved it.
Met up with some frieds we met at the seminar and then they taught us how to make a traditional Nepali dish - momos :) They are like meat peroggies/ wereneki. The girls we met took us (Becky and I) to the markets at around 12:30 ish, we got onions (the main ingredient), coriander, hot peppers, tomatoes, some spice stuff, and meat....
The meat story - so we went down to the lower markets and got to this "beef market" and entering in I walked over some bones in the mud, entering in saw meat (some as big as me) on hooks, slabs on tables, organs everywhere hanging too, and so we go over to this one shop part and get a slab of beef - they got it for us, chopped it up -- ended up like ground beef, and wrapped it in news paper and gave it to us. well the girls also needed something else... pointed to a hoof/leg with their umbrellas and talked something in nepali and the butcher grabbed the leg on the table *it was from the knee down* and brought it to his block of wood / stump, and started hacking at it - bits of bone and blood flying/spraying... and put all the chunks in news paper and gave it to us... I was kinda grossed out since he took some of the fur and skin off it and the tip of the hoof... sick.
so we get to the apartment - where we are making the momos and start making stuff.
making the dough out of flour, water, baking powder, and salt and water.
the filling we were chopping like 14 onions and adding the coriander, meat, and salt.
they then made a paste and got out this block of rock, and another rock... put the peppers, tomatoes, salt and coriander on it and smushed it up into a paste.
so we then got the dough rolled it out and filled little dough flat things with it and viola! put them in this weird pot over top this other pot.... and cooked...
later on I found this other pot had the foot in it and that is the soup they served us. oi. so I drank stuff that came out of a foot/leg. oi. oh and one of the guys started knawing on a bone later too with soup...
cleaning up I found out that out, also it looked sooo gross! it looked like toes and skin and bones in the pot >_<
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ok well then, that is the momo experience.
I am heading out to the villiages tomorrow and I need to go prep some stuff for that. I will be there for 6 days and it's going to be a lot of trekking up hills and stuff.
Take care guys :)
Aria
Met up with some frieds we met at the seminar and then they taught us how to make a traditional Nepali dish - momos :) They are like meat peroggies/ wereneki. The girls we met took us (Becky and I) to the markets at around 12:30 ish, we got onions (the main ingredient), coriander, hot peppers, tomatoes, some spice stuff, and meat....
The meat story - so we went down to the lower markets and got to this "beef market" and entering in I walked over some bones in the mud, entering in saw meat (some as big as me) on hooks, slabs on tables, organs everywhere hanging too, and so we go over to this one shop part and get a slab of beef - they got it for us, chopped it up -- ended up like ground beef, and wrapped it in news paper and gave it to us. well the girls also needed something else... pointed to a hoof/leg with their umbrellas and talked something in nepali and the butcher grabbed the leg on the table *it was from the knee down* and brought it to his block of wood / stump, and started hacking at it - bits of bone and blood flying/spraying... and put all the chunks in news paper and gave it to us... I was kinda grossed out since he took some of the fur and skin off it and the tip of the hoof... sick.
so we get to the apartment - where we are making the momos and start making stuff.
making the dough out of flour, water, baking powder, and salt and water.
the filling we were chopping like 14 onions and adding the coriander, meat, and salt.
they then made a paste and got out this block of rock, and another rock... put the peppers, tomatoes, salt and coriander on it and smushed it up into a paste.
so we then got the dough rolled it out and filled little dough flat things with it and viola! put them in this weird pot over top this other pot.... and cooked...
later on I found this other pot had the foot in it and that is the soup they served us. oi. so I drank stuff that came out of a foot/leg. oi. oh and one of the guys started knawing on a bone later too with soup...
cleaning up I found out that out, also it looked sooo gross! it looked like toes and skin and bones in the pot >_<
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ok well then, that is the momo experience.
I am heading out to the villiages tomorrow and I need to go prep some stuff for that. I will be there for 6 days and it's going to be a lot of trekking up hills and stuff.
Take care guys :)
Aria
Yay for Darjeeling!
Well we are in Darjeeling India now, and will be (and around this neck of the woods) for the next 5ish weeks.
We live at the top of the hill/mountain. That means to get anywhere we walk downhill, to get home it's alllll up hill. This is by no means a small hill. It is big. steep. hard to get up with a massive pack. Harsh would be one word to describe my frist trip up hill -- the one time we carry our entire pack to the palce we are staying. Sick -- the word I would to describe how I was at the time
Tired - another word describing our entire team
Cold - we got from 40 degree heat to 15 degree chills + rain.
so all in all first time up the hill = brutal
ah well it's not so bad now. I quite like it now. Lots of excercise. We go up this hill (like an incline 50-70 degrees at most points) every day twice a day I think.
The locals laugh at the top I think because we are usually huffing and puffing (well 3/4 are) But hey, I am getting more in shape and getting less huffy-puffy each time :)
so it's all good :)
Rain -- it is monsoon season. sick. when it does clear up though it is beautiful. we have a view out our back windows of the 3rd tallest mt. in the world, and if we get up tiger mountain when its clear we will be able to see everest. Wow :D
Squatty - Yep I used a squatty hahaha = hole in the ground with foot holds on either side. haha I think I would rather use a squatty sometimes than a tiolet in some of the places I have seen.
Damp = this word describes all of our belongings. I don't think that they will ever dry completely until we leave. Our bedding is always damp, clothes = damp, towels = damp, shoes, purse/bag, Everything is damp.
I entered our room and was like holy crap! I could barely breathe (I think I am allergic to some mold...) and ya everything is damp so possibly mouldy, and cold!
oh well I am getting used to it now. But still every time I enter our room my nose goes "ooook oh here we go again!" haha
ok well that I think will be all for now because I have to run.
Let me know whats up :)
I now have facebook too!
Mom emailed me and said I have 56 days until I am home. So 56 days guys!
Talk to you later :)
Aria
We live at the top of the hill/mountain. That means to get anywhere we walk downhill, to get home it's alllll up hill. This is by no means a small hill. It is big. steep. hard to get up with a massive pack. Harsh would be one word to describe my frist trip up hill -- the one time we carry our entire pack to the palce we are staying. Sick -- the word I would to describe how I was at the time
Tired - another word describing our entire team
Cold - we got from 40 degree heat to 15 degree chills + rain.
so all in all first time up the hill = brutal
ah well it's not so bad now. I quite like it now. Lots of excercise. We go up this hill (like an incline 50-70 degrees at most points) every day twice a day I think.
The locals laugh at the top I think because we are usually huffing and puffing (well 3/4 are) But hey, I am getting more in shape and getting less huffy-puffy each time :)
so it's all good :)
Rain -- it is monsoon season. sick. when it does clear up though it is beautiful. we have a view out our back windows of the 3rd tallest mt. in the world, and if we get up tiger mountain when its clear we will be able to see everest. Wow :D
Squatty - Yep I used a squatty hahaha = hole in the ground with foot holds on either side. haha I think I would rather use a squatty sometimes than a tiolet in some of the places I have seen.
Damp = this word describes all of our belongings. I don't think that they will ever dry completely until we leave. Our bedding is always damp, clothes = damp, towels = damp, shoes, purse/bag, Everything is damp.
I entered our room and was like holy crap! I could barely breathe (I think I am allergic to some mold...) and ya everything is damp so possibly mouldy, and cold!
oh well I am getting used to it now. But still every time I enter our room my nose goes "ooook oh here we go again!" haha
ok well that I think will be all for now because I have to run.
Let me know whats up :)
I now have facebook too!
Mom emailed me and said I have 56 days until I am home. So 56 days guys!
Talk to you later :)
Aria
India thus far.
The following is from Monday I think, it's a little glimpse of what's happening.
---------------------------
I just finished lunch at a very dodgy place and it was something I didn't know what it was -- spicy rice with a boiled egg on top with some borwinsh yellowish sauce/paste?? sick eh? I couldn't eat the egg, almost made me gag when I put my spoon in it... it kinda oozed even though it was hard boiled. oooo still creeps me out. I also finished getting tickets for the train to Darjeeling next week, and a day at the Daya Dan house --- a house for orphaned children, the one i worked in was for boys (all under 10) and they were all almost all disabled. it is quite sad to see them, but playing with them and helping them get dressed (after a bath) and sitting with them during mass was nice. Mass was weird. they think that mary never died but she went to heaven and is in heaven with her body etc etc. my first mass so it was weird.
Today we got lost on the way to the mother teresa house. We took a bus (thought it would go to the Daya Dan house) but it didn't. we got off at this place that was pretty dodgy and walked for a bit trying to find a place we knew (we were with some others from the mother teresa house too so it wasnt that scary) but still, scary place in calcutta, ah well it was all good, we got there an hour late I think. Walking in 35+ heat, my last bit of water, pants and a tee, oh my gosh it was sick. and passing the dodgy places smelled nasty too. We ended up finding the place where our bus would have dropped us off. So we took a motor rick shaw and went down a street, more like an alley, to daya den (the name of the specific house we went to). Oh rick shaw rides are fun! we hit the motor cycle in front of us yesterday, almost got squished between a bus and a car (rick shaw is like 1/4 of a car). That was one trip (my first trip), another was a little better, less scary which was good haha.
So far I have taken the subway (and got on in a guys car (they have guys and girls cars! weird eh?) well no worries it was all good though squished (more squished than the one in singapore), we took cabs (those are great, almost hitting people. people dodging out of the way, almost hitting cars and busses and motorcycles, rick shaws etc. they go really fast and even we took one today and zoomed between two busses. So yep, pray for safety on the roads etc.
I went shopping yesterday and bartered! I bought a skirt and a bag for 300 R. Like 10 aud. They wanted 650 I think (different deals though) and it was kinda fun.
oh wow I have been trying to journal so much but there isn't enough time to write down everything. I haven't taken many pictures at all because I am worried I will be swarmed with beggars asking for $$.
I am being a vegetarian while I am here.
Chicken = sketch b/c 1. climate. 2. whats food safe?? 3. I see chickens all on the street (in basket like pens), on bicycles (about 80 perhaps clucking away upside down), below rick shaws (non-motorized ones), raw in the shops... w/ this heat? sick! and it doesnt taste very good and it just looks gross when cooked. Oh and that egg grossed me out completely.
pork = 1. looks gross. 2. it seems like mystery meat. 3. don't see pigs around at all... makes me wonder. and don't see it in the restarunants much either. :P
beef = I am in India need I say more? lol... becky thought it would be sick if mad cow was out here..... lol
fish = seeing them be gutted right in front of you on street corners is pretty dodgy to me... especially since they pee and poo on the same streets.
so veggies is where its at.
Ok well there is a tad of an update on what I am doing...
heres random points
- water here is merky green ish
- we have a toilet in our room!!! no squattie!
- I have met a bunch of backpackers and they are nice to talk to
- men 'hork' and spit every minute down the road... you would be sick
- they pee everywhere
- they are very dirty here. even wearing pants and shoes my legs get dark from dirt.
- there are bars on all our windows
- we have a tv in our room and I watched Heroes, frasier, and i want to see Indian Idol tomorrow night!
- there are bed bugs and I have been bitten a bunch... so annoying.
- 3/4 people in our team are sick... myself included. and the healthy one is getting sick. Pray for health ?
- I got pants that I could fit two of me in and they are the best ever... and ya they are meant to be that big.
-------------------------------------------------
From today!
ok. Last night we went to Pirates of the Caribbean 3. I loved it. The atmosphere of the theater was cool too! People all cheering and clapping at heroic parts, laughing at (random to me) points.
They had an intermission right in the middle of a action part and it was wonky, but fun. Britney Spears and Micheal Jackson tunes played... Kara, Becky, and myself knew the words and lip synked and wow it was fun. The lady behind us then asked where we were from and stuff and she was soo nice. At the end of the movie she even gave us buisness card from her brother in law's hotel in Darjeeling. For a place to stay, even gave us her number on the back. So kind.
Aw I love the people (for the most part)! Even some of the peddlers are halarious and fun to talk to.
Ok so I am going to go now.
Next post is from Darjeeling.
Oh and I am heading there tonight and arriving 6am ish. The night train.... in India. I have heard it's an experience and a half haha. Ah well hope it all goes well.
---------------------------
I just finished lunch at a very dodgy place and it was something I didn't know what it was -- spicy rice
Today we got lost on the way to the mother teresa house. We took a bus (thought it would go to the Daya Dan house) but it didn't. we got off at this place that was pretty dodgy and walked for a bit trying to find a place we knew (we were with some others from the mother teresa house too so it wasnt that scary) but still, scary place in calcutta, ah well it was all good, we got there an hour late I think. Walking in 35+ heat, my last bit of water, pants and a tee, oh my gosh it was sick. and passing the dodgy places smelled nasty too. We ended up finding the place where our bus would have dropped us off. So we took a motor rick shaw and went down a street, more like an alley, to daya den (the name of the specific house we went to). Oh rick shaw rides are fun! we hit the motor cycle in front of us yesterday, almost got squished between a bus and a car (rick shaw is like 1/4 of a car). That was one trip (my first trip), another was a little better, less scary which was good haha.
So far I have taken the subway (and got on in a guys car (they have guys and girls cars! weird eh?) well no worries it was all good though squished (more squished than the one in singapore), we took cabs (those are great, almost hitting people. people dodging out of the way, almost hitting cars and busses and motorcycles, rick shaws etc. they go really fast and even we took one today and zoomed between two busses. So yep, pray for safety on the roads etc.
I went shopping yesterday and bartered! I bought a skirt and a bag for 300 R. Like 10 aud. They wanted 650 I think (different deals though) and it was kinda fun.
oh wow I have been trying to journal so much but there isn't enough time to write down everything. I haven't taken many pictures at all because I am worried I will be swarmed with beggars asking for $$.
I am being a vegetarian while I am here.
Chicken = sketch b/c 1. climate. 2. whats food safe?? 3. I see chickens all on the street (in basket like pens), on bicycles (about 80 perhaps clucking away upside down), below rick shaws (non-motorized ones), raw in the shops... w/ this heat? sick! and it doesnt taste very good and it just looks gross when cooked. Oh and that egg grossed me out completely.
pork = 1. looks gross. 2. it seems like mystery meat. 3. don't see pigs around at all... makes me wonder. and don't see it in the restarunants much either. :P
beef = I am in India need I say more? lol... becky thought it would be sick if mad cow was out here..... lol
fish = seeing them be gutted right in front of you on street corners is pretty dodgy to me... especially since they pee and poo on the same streets.
so veggies is where its at.
Ok well there is a tad of an update on what I am doing...
heres random points
- water here is merky green ish
- we have a toilet in our room!!! no squattie!
- I have met a bunch of backpackers and they are nice to talk to
- men 'hork' and spit every minute down the road... you would be sick
- they pee everywhere
- they are very dirty here. even wearing pants and shoes my legs get dark from dirt.
- there are bars on all our windows
- we have a tv in our room and I watched Heroes, frasier, and i want to see Indian Idol tomorrow night!
- there are bed bugs and I have been bitten a bunch... so annoying.
- 3/4 people in our team are sick... myself included. and the healthy one is getting sick. Pray for health ?
- I got pants that I could fit two of me in and they are the best ever... and ya they are meant to be that big.
-------------------------------------------------
From today!
ok. Last night we went to Pirates of the Caribbean 3. I loved it. The atmosphere of the theater was cool too! People all cheering and clapping at heroic parts, laughing at (random to me) points.
They had an intermission right in the middle of a action part and it was wonky, but fun. Britney Spears and Micheal Jackson tunes played... Kara, Becky, and myself knew the words and lip synked and wow it was fun. The lady behind us then asked where we were from and stuff and she was soo nice. At the end of the movie she even gave us buisness card from her brother in law's hotel in Darjeeling. For a place to stay, even gave us her number on the back. So kind.
Aw I love the people (for the most part)! Even some of the peddlers are halarious and fun to talk to.
Ok so I am going to go now.
Next post is from Darjeeling.
Oh and I am heading there tonight and arriving 6am ish. The night train.... in India. I have heard it's an experience and a half haha. Ah well hope it all goes well.
THE SHARK
Here is the tiger shark eating the sea turtle. It was amazing, check it out, and hopefully you can make it bigger to see it better. Pretty bad quality but hey, it was on a boat, and I just so happened to have my camera in hand.
Have a good one guys!
Have a good one guys!
Airlie Beach (the last week until now)
ya I am too tired to figure out where to move pictures to so here they are clumped. Top are random ones from Airlie Beach, bottom ones from the reef trip
So this week has been a doozey. A 16 hour bus ride, loads of chai, snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef, another 16 hour bus ride, and I am heading to Singapore on the 28th, India the day after. Wow.
Well the bus ride was alright, long but alright. We stopped at this free zoo and botanical gardens on the way and yay! I have now been to a zoo. There were chimpanzees, koalas, iguanas, a huge bird thing (and there was this bird that looked like a very ugly duck haha) and ya, it was pretty cool. The koalas are so cute!
I know a couple people that are koala haters here, they consider the pointless animals that are stoned all their lives, and just sitting and eating and getting stoned 24/7. I still think that they are cute :)
Yep, so lots of sleeping, some pizza eating, and ya. Oh and I saw camels in a circus place on the road. Pretty weird but cool.
The Chai Tent is our outreach thing and it’s cool. We set up this tent right by the beach, it’s a chill place basically. So music goes, we play sports, and give free chai away in the evenings. We stay there till after midnight every day and I am so tired already and hoping I will be well rested before we head out over seas.
There are coconuts all around us here and they are so much fun to husk, crack open, drink and eat. Hard work and I did one all by myself! And mom and Miranda I actually ate it too!!!! I am so proud of myself hahaha.
Yep, so It’s pretty good so far, I am going to go now and finish this later.
Well the bus ride was alright, long but alright. We stopped at this free zoo and botanical gardens on the way and yay! I have now been to a zoo. There were chimpanzees, koalas, iguanas, a huge bird thing (and there was this bird that looked like a very ugly duck haha) and ya, it was pretty cool. The koalas are so cute!
I know a couple people that are koala haters here, they consider the pointless animals that are stoned all their lives, and just sitting and eating and getting stoned 24/7. I still think that they are cute :)
Yep, so lots of sleeping, some pizza eating, and ya. Oh and I saw camels in a circus place on the road. Pretty weird but cool.
The Chai Tent is our outreach thing and it’s cool. We set up this tent right by the beach, it’s a chill place basically. So music goes, we play sports, and give free chai away in the evenings. We stay there till after midnight every day and I am so tired already and hoping I will be well rested before we head out over seas.
There are coconuts all around us here and they are so much fun to husk, crack open, drink and eat. Hard work and I did one all by myself! And mom and Miranda I actually ate it too!!!! I am so proud of myself hahaha.
Yep, so It’s pretty good so far, I am going to go now and finish this later.
So later on.....
I went to the Great Barrier Reef and snorkeled – it was amazing. I have never seen anything that amazing in my life. It was just a little bit of God’s creation. It was so intricate, so beautiful, so awe inspiring. There were so many different colours and fish. WOW the fish were neon colours, vibrant polka dots, striped, fuscha pink, flashing different colours, it was just like the movies. The coral was all different types, all different colours and all different sizes – from tiny to massive amounts. The water was a beautiful crystal turquoise. Anemones swaying with the waves, didn’t see any sea weed either, just coral and anemones. It was so beautiful I can’t compare it with words. It was just like out of Finding Nemo – the edge of the reef was there, the colours of all the corals, types, all the different schools of fish – medium and small, I even saw Nemo!!
I went to the Great Barrier Reef and snorkeled – it was amazing. I have never seen anything that amazing in my life. It was just a little bit of God’s creation. It was so intricate, so beautiful, so awe inspiring. There were so many different colours and fish. WOW the fish were neon colours, vibrant polka dots, striped, fuscha pink, flashing different colours, it was just like the movies. The coral was all different types, all different colours and all different sizes – from tiny to massive amounts. The water was a beautiful crystal turquoise. Anemones swaying with the waves, didn’t see any sea weed either, just coral and anemones. It was so beautiful I can’t compare it with words. It was just like out of Finding Nemo – the edge of the reef was there, the colours of all the corals, types, all the different schools of fish – medium and small, I even saw Nemo!!
I EVEN SAW A SHARK!!!! But that wasn’t when we were snorkeling. We saw a tiger shark taking down a sea turtle. Wow! I got a bit of video which was cool. I saw one of the top 10 beaches in the world, it was breathtaking. It seemed like miles of pure white sand and clear clear water.
Ok well those I wrote a while ago, here is one from now :)
Tomorrow I leave Australia and head to Singapore. A day there, and then we go to Calcutta India ! ! ! ! ! ! ! WOW! A week there, and we head up to Darjeeling (right close to the Himalayan mountains) I am crazily excited and it seems unreal.
Tomorrow I leave Australia and head to Singapore. A day there, and then we go to Calcutta India ! ! ! ! ! ! ! WOW! A week there, and we head up to Darjeeling (right close to the Himalayan mountains) I am crazily excited and it seems unreal.
Thank you guys for reading! I will try to post in India, but I have to figure out stuff so it might be a little while. If you need to know stuff, look at Miranda's blog perhaps or ask my mom :) lol
Later guys!
oh and I didn't reall read it after I wrote it so yep, sorry if it's random and screwy haha.
Update time!
I made this update for people through email... but some can't get to it so here! :D
Page 1:http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p244/random-nonsense/update1.jpg
Page 2:http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p244/random-nonsense/update2.jpg
I tried to make is pretty and new
love you guys!
Page 1:http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p244/random-nonsense/update1.jpg
Page 2:http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p244/random-nonsense/update2.jpg
I tried to make is pretty and new
love you guys!
Chinchila and other junk.
Chinchilla is flat.... 
Oh Look! A TREE!
well this last weekend was in Chinchilla... about 5 hours away and it was very flat. Kara said it was flatter than Manitoba. wow. Well we were there for a youth camp and this conference that was going on. It was pretty cool. It was about a town of 3000 max. and had 1 main road with some shops on it. On the way there I was noticing how bad this drought really is. Also, the outback is pretty desolate. Yep, that's right! I went into the outback! Well, the earth is red, the trees are broken, uprooted, spiney, and dying. The flies were everywhere, the dust was bad, and it was hot. haha it was pretty good though.
One night we went with all the youth to this "bush dance" - basically a ho-down, square-dance, thing. It was a blast! There were all these aussie cowboys - the hats, jeans, belts, and boots to top it all off. There was plenty of dancing, fresh home-made doughnuts, and it was pretty fun.
We did this one dance, I think called a drungo or something. It was where you have your partner, 8 people, each making a square, and one guy in the middle. Well you do some dancing in the middle, out, around, and then the guys get together, the girls run away, and the boys chase after them. The guy that can’t get the girl is the drungo (? Means idiot in nice terms) haha and it goes on and on. I was with Becky, Marietta, Pauline and we were partners with the hardcore cowboys HAHAHA they knew all the dances, had the stedsons and everything. Makes me laugh just thinking about it.
Ah it was a really good night. That day our group was also divided in two, half did work, half got to play with the youth groups…. I was in group two! Group one had to do this relay race (I wish I could have done it though) they had to catch and carry sheep around, pull a truck (with their entire team) and do lots of outback stuff in the scorching heat. And the dog peed on the water tank they were drinking from…. Haha sick.
Our team got the hang out day.. lots of sports (footy, volleyball, lacross for losers, and stuff) one guy had a bull whip and was flicking that everywhere too haha it was creepy. They also dug out this pond, filled it, and with the dirt made a slide, put a tarp on, and flew into the “dam” as they called it. It was really cool.
They played footy (football … rugby) until Justus kicked the football… someone missed and broke someone’s windshield. Yowza.
The mound of dirt/slide and part of their "dam"...
who knows what game this was.....
Anywho, now I am back at the base, and the countdown is on. Next Thursday we start outreach. One week in Airley Beach, and then 8 weeks in India. Wow it is coming quick.
I still have a bunch of stuff to get ready and hopefully it all gets done in time!
Well, I gotta run, more new pics are on my photobucket, check it out :)
Later guys!
Oh and thanks for reading I like telling people what's up but I like hearing about whats up back there too! so give a shout!
Hope these pictures post alright ... I am trying something new :)
Oh and I will post a video I think?
Laters
Oh Look! A TREE!well this last weekend was in Chinchilla... about 5 hours away and it was very flat. Kara said it was flatter than Manitoba. wow. Well we were there for a youth camp and this conference that was going on. It was pretty cool. It was about a town of 3000 max. and had 1 main road with some shops on it. On the way there I was noticing how bad this drought really is. Also, the outback is pretty desolate. Yep, that's right! I went into the outback! Well, the earth is red, the trees are broken, uprooted, spiney, and dying. The flies were everywhere, the dust was bad, and it was hot. haha it was pretty good though.
One night we went with all the youth to this "bush dance" - basically a ho-down, square-dance, thing. It was a blast! There were all these aussie cowboys - the hats, jeans, belts, and boots to top it all off. There was plenty of dancing, fresh home-made doughnuts, and it was pretty fun.
We did this one dance, I think called a drungo or something. It was where you have your partner, 8 people, each making a square, and one guy in the middle. Well you do some dancing in the middle, out, around, and then the guys get together, the girls run away, and the boys chase after them. The guy that can’t get the girl is the drungo (? Means idiot in nice terms) haha and it goes on and on. I was with Becky, Marietta, Pauline and we were partners with the hardcore cowboys HAHAHA they knew all the dances, had the stedsons and everything. Makes me laugh just thinking about it.
Ah it was a really good night. That day our group was also divided in two, half did work, half got to play with the youth groups…. I was in group two! Group one had to do this relay race (I wish I could have done it though) they had to catch and carry sheep around, pull a truck (with their entire team) and do lots of outback stuff in the scorching heat. And the dog peed on the water tank they were drinking from…. Haha sick.
Our team got the hang out day.. lots of sports (footy, volleyball, lacross for losers, and stuff) one guy had a bull whip and was flicking that everywhere too haha it was creepy. They also dug out this pond, filled it, and with the dirt made a slide, put a tarp on, and flew into the “dam” as they called it. It was really cool.
They played footy (football … rugby) until Justus kicked the football… someone missed and broke someone’s windshield. Yowza.
The mound of dirt/slide and part of their "dam"...who knows what game this was.....
Anywho, now I am back at the base, and the countdown is on. Next Thursday we start outreach. One week in Airley Beach, and then 8 weeks in India. Wow it is coming quick.
I still have a bunch of stuff to get ready and hopefully it all gets done in time!
Well, I gotta run, more new pics are on my photobucket, check it out :)
Later guys!
Oh and thanks for reading I like telling people what's up but I like hearing about whats up back there too! so give a shout!
Hope these pictures post alright ... I am trying something new :)
Oh and I will post a video I think?
Laters
A Day on the town
The last weekend has been pretty cool. I went swing dancing, swimming in the rain, to the city beach (not the store :P), watched prison break.... very good show! went to this new church, more swimming!, the art gallery, museum, boat rides across and down the river, to the Brisbane Botanical Gardens (the aussie equavelent to Stanley Park), train rides, prison break, pool, ah it was busy but really good. I am getting better at pool too! yay! I really don't have much for a sense of direction - thank God for people I hang around that know where they are going! haha
This weekend we go up to this palce called Chinchilla ( a long long bus ride for this youth camp up there)
anywho, here are some pics from the weekend :) Enjoy. Oh and you can look at them ALL on my photobucket : http://s130.photobucket.com/albums/p244/random-nonsense/Aussie/
This weekend we go up to this palce called Chinchilla ( a long long bus ride for this youth camp up there)
anywho, here are some pics from the weekend :) Enjoy. Oh and you can look at them ALL on my photobucket : http://s130.photobucket.com/albums/p244/random-nonsense/Aussie/
top three pics are from the gardens :)
these are the tallest palms I have ever seen. This was in the Brisbane Gardens :)
Enjoying the boat ride across the river :) beautiful day! Below is the night time picture going across the river.
Anywho, have a good one, I have to go to a team meeting and then get shots :(
Bye
And the park I went to :)
We went to this national park a ways down the road from where we were at :)
The Roos I saw!
So I was kinda lazy and didn't really commentary, so here ya go, the people in the background were talking about Beau getting kicked by a kangaroo.... well anyways, enjoy! :)
I SAW I HOPPED I ATE KANGA
Lovely isn't it? It's on the way to Stanthrope.
Well this last week we were in the middle of no where called Stanthorpe and it is on the border of Queensland and New South Wales. Lovely place really. We went to a National Park when we were there. It was pretty cool and reminded me of family trips so much! It was good fun. I knew that dad would be taking soo many pictures. And on the way there I miss stopping and taking pictures but I have to get used to it because they won't stop for pictures lol. 
Roos and Roo Poo!
Well this last week we were in the middle of no where called Stanthorpe and it is on the border of Queensland and New South Wales. Lovely place really. We went to a National Park when we were there. It was pretty cool and reminded me of family trips so much! It was good fun. I knew that dad would be taking soo many pictures. And on the way there I miss stopping and taking pictures but I have to get used to it because they won't stop for pictures lol. this picture is of the lake right beside the place we stayed at, the bottom one is from the national park a little jont away.
So in the maranara sauce the other day there was Kangaroo!!! AHAHAHA I ate kangaroo. I saw them the day after and hopped with them too :) I didn't even know I was eating Kangaroo when I was. Crazy eh??
Roos and Roo Poo!Ah well, the week was pretty awesome. Lectures were probably the best yet, and the food was even good!
ya well I am going to go now but add pictures first! :D yeee heee!
Here's an update
(basically what I sent via email -- Coda this is for you! haha p.s. macs are gross)
Weather Wise--- It’s been getting a tad chilly out here. It goes down to about 22ish degrees and that makes me go for my “jumpa”. We were camping in a place called Toowoomba (it’s a fun name to say) last weekend and it was so cold it made me break out my toque! Yes, that’s right! I wore a toque in Australia. I am going to be messed up when I get out to India. We are flying into Calcutta which will be around 40 degrees, then we take the train (for about 12 hours) into Darjeeling. And yowza! That’s going to be a shocker! It will get down to maybe 10-15 degrees I think, and from 40-10? I sure hope it doesn’t shock my system too much! Well, as for the weather now, enjoy your cold weather for me J I am missing it! Can you imagine it? I actually miss rain. This part of Australia has been affected by drought for the last 7 years, and right now it is at it’s all time low and danger point. That is one thing that you could pray for – RAIN!
School Stuff --- well right now we are into week 8 in lectures. I have learned so much so far it’s amazing! We have covered: Father Heart of God, Bible Study, Evangelism, Intercession, Character and Nature of God, Hearing the Voice of God, Holy Spirit, Spiritual Warfare, and Stewardship. Wow thinking back it’s amazing to see how much we have done so far! And it’s even crazier to think that in less than 5 weeks I will be in India!!!
Right now there is a lot more than one DTS on base so things are a little more cramped than usual (about 60 extra people in a small place adds up). It’s pretty cool though, they have some really nice people in their DTS and loads of Canadians! There is even a guy here from Chilliwack! I don’t know him but the fact that he is here from Chilliwack still shocks me! Anyways, enough about them, the people in my DTS are wonderful. The leaders and students alike are really neat people. I am so happy that I could meet them and start friendships with them.
Myself --- As for me, I am learning a lot. I really feel that God has changed me a lot so far. I have been emotionally physically and spiritually drained but I have grown so much through that. I can’t wait for outreach! Presently I am sick: stomach and head sick at the same time. It’s pretty nasty. A few other people are feeling a bit “under the weather” too. If you could pray for health that would be really appreciated. I am getting worried about India, thinking that if I am sick here what it’s going to be like in India :S
Prayer Requests:
Team India - to have a real heart for the people that we are going to be witnessing to, also for our team to not have a bad cultural shock when we head get there.
Health – for us to be and stay healthy out in Australia, and especially when we are in India
Finances – not for me (I have all my finances together, thank-you!) but for the other teams. There is one person on our team that needs financial support, as well as a few from the other teams. We have to have our flight funds in for next week and some people don’t have it. So if you could pray that would be wonderful.
That God would continue to work in me and make me into the woman of God that He wants me to be.
Protection – I know I am not even there yet, but the fact that India now has nuclear capabilities is a little scary, and just pray that things don’t get worse.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Oh and on the last weekend we went to a music festival called AGMF. It was awesome. I got to see superchick, barlow girl, and other bands there :) right close and center! sweet eh? anywho here are some pics to lighten it up!
There were cool dancers.. I have video somewhere.
We were camping too, it was a very nice sunset too :)
There were so many stages in tents and outdoors, it was cool. So many people too like 20 000 I think?
YWAM set up a tent where we made chai tea for donation. It was sooo good! Best chai ever! but ya, it was packed all the time and it was the best place to hang out. Just nice music, chai, and it was nice and relaxing.
Cowboy Party!
The other day we had a cowboy birthday party for Philip :D It was a blast and I made a complete fool of myself when I played a game but oh well. haha
here are some pictures!
Nate killed me.
Nate killed me.Here are the cowboys ..... (for those wondering what the blob in the middle is it's Justice... he was a marshmallow on a stick)
Becky and myself.
The Cowgirls
Here's Micah, Kim, JJ, and Philip.
It was one halarious night!
Randomness
There is guy on a different dts (same base) from Chilliwack.
I was definately weirded out. Never really met him before but he is from Sardis. He's on the MAD (Music Art and Drama) DTS and he went to India on his outreach. haha can you say weird?! from a hick town to across the world at the same YWAM base in Brisbane Australia, overlapping a little time in the same base. Creepy.
Random Stuff:
I love going round and round in traffic circles for fun
I am used to driving on the wrong side though when I see drivers in the wrong spot it's weird.
There are geckos in the bathroom
Coffee is good, though instant coffee is what I am living on
In our DTS : 10 countries are represented
Green Ants are evil
Cross walk signs are green and make funny ticking/whirling noises
I like to go everywhere barefoot.
I have been to Wolly's (Woolsworth's) and McDonalds barefoot hahaha gross eh?
My friend had a sun glasses tan and that was pretty funny
I have tried vegemite, tim tams, and fried bananas ? those are some weird things
Tim Tam Slams are my favorite dessert ( I think)
Caremel tim tams rock my socks
pedestrian signs are little legs walking on the picture
Spiders dont scare me much anymore -- I had one (little one) crawl on me yesterday and I didn't freak
I don't think I have seen a snake -- only big lizzard/geckos
McDonalds sells 50cent ice cream cones
the stars are so much clearer here
Salad is weird here
Main Lunch = wraps or sandwiches :( got old really fast
People can live off toast here, and when we go on the road we miss "the bread bin"
There is no "no shirt no shoes no service" here. Or else nobody would shop.
late night ice creams at maccers (Mack-ers) (McD's) rock
ya there is more random stuff but I have to get to class
I was definately weirded out. Never really met him before but he is from Sardis. He's on the MAD (Music Art and Drama) DTS and he went to India on his outreach. haha can you say weird?! from a hick town to across the world at the same YWAM base in Brisbane Australia, overlapping a little time in the same base. Creepy.
Random Stuff:
I love going round and round in traffic circles for fun
I am used to driving on the wrong side though when I see drivers in the wrong spot it's weird.
There are geckos in the bathroom
Coffee is good, though instant coffee is what I am living on
In our DTS : 10 countries are represented
Green Ants are evil
Cross walk signs are green and make funny ticking/whirling noises
I like to go everywhere barefoot.
I have been to Wolly's (Woolsworth's) and McDonalds barefoot hahaha gross eh?
My friend had a sun glasses tan and that was pretty funny
I have tried vegemite, tim tams, and fried bananas ? those are some weird things
Tim Tam Slams are my favorite dessert ( I think)
Caremel tim tams rock my socks
pedestrian signs are little legs walking on the picture
Spiders dont scare me much anymore -- I had one (little one) crawl on me yesterday and I didn't freak
I don't think I have seen a snake -- only big lizzard/geckos
McDonalds sells 50cent ice cream cones
the stars are so much clearer here
Salad is weird here
Main Lunch = wraps or sandwiches :( got old really fast
People can live off toast here, and when we go on the road we miss "the bread bin"
There is no "no shirt no shoes no service" here. Or else nobody would shop.
late night ice creams at maccers (Mack-ers) (McD's) rock
ya there is more random stuff but I have to get to class
Ta keep y'all in da loop
ok here is a pic to grab your attention! hahaha sunrise at byron -- we got up really early, drove a little ways, went to the lighthouse, and saw the sun rise on the most easterly point of Australia. It was so amazing.
I am back from a long week at Byron Bay -- An amazing place. there are no fast food/ chain resturaunts there (not allowed), it's small, yet I think it was 2 million backpackers go through there yearly? It is a hippy town, and there is a lot of hippy stuff going on there too -- like witch craft stuff too. But it is still a really cool place. The YWAM base there was pretty cool, the beach was about a 15-20 min drive away, and the beach was awesome.
front and back of the house :)
It is shallow for a while and then there is a place where it's shallow and big waves hit -- that was intense and so much fun. This time I didn't have my head smucked on the sand for a while, just bashed my knees a whole lot and got sand burn? haha oh well it was still amazing.
The Gals and the Guys.... the guys were "doing eachothers backs" hahaha
One night we did a free "sausage sizzle". It was a place where people could come and eat, hear a little about God, and have some awesome music playing in the background -- ie: from my IPod -- Damien Rice and Coldplay! yay!
Another night we went to basicaly a soup kitchen. We helped serve and clean up and set up a bit. I got to serve and it reminided me of camp! I miss camp!
We also had lectures at a church there the entire week -- this week = Spirutal Warfare and Identity in Christ. It was pretty intense all week, for me it was pretty hard emotionally. It just shows that you really do need to equip that spiritual armour every day. I have been since I learned about it, but before I was just getting knocked down over and over again and it was pretty difficult. By mid week I felt completely drained - physically spiritually, and emotionally.
But then I went for a walk along the beach at night and just prayed and cried out to God. That was pretty intense too. After, I felt a whole lot better, and I know that there was a whole lot of warfare going on around me. (pic of that night's sunset at the beach)
Anywho, the rest of the week was pretty good, I got even closer to some people on my team, and I am so happy to be back home. Yep, I now call this place home - for now at least. I really do love it here :D
We also saw the sunrise at Byron Bay and it was amazing. Here is one pic of a zillion I got from friends (since my camera is dead :'( )Well yet another intense thing happened again with my friend. Her brother is not responding to chemotherapy anymore and the cancer is inoperable. Right now she is having a pretty hard time so please pray for her, I know that she and her family can use all the prayer they can get right now :)
Well, today has been pretty good, though I think this procrastinating will bite me this week. I have a whole heck of a lot to do now so I will add some pics and be off.
Later guys!
Island Party!!!!
Well, my camera descided to pack it in, push up daisies, die, suiscide it, and take me with it!!!!!! well I guess I didn't die but it still sucks :( My camera died and I need it! It died a day before we had Pauline's Birthday Party -- which was so awesome because everyone dressed like Islanders since she is from Vanuatu. I now have to rely on other people's pictures and videos for my own. This is until I get a new camera or get this one fixed. Here are some of their pictures:
The Sistas minus Pauline since she was getting ready and going to be surprised. Pualine -- A full out true Islander did our makeup and arm thingeys and put flowers in our hair! She is so awesome.
Well, the guys on the other hand.... they didn't know how to dress islander so they came up with some random stuff..... They all had skirts of some sort on too... UG I WANT MY CAMERA!
And this is out group - minus Beau who was taking the picture. Birthday girl Pauline is in the middle and she has a traditional Vanuatuan dress on.
Well I am off to Byron Bay for a week so I won't post for a while. Have a good one guys!
Just an update I guess.
Well I haven't done this in a bit so here I go:
we went to this missions fest place and it was pretty good, we were camping and that was interesting.... the food tasted like fire, and every morning we had oatmeal--- looked like snot and has the same consistency -- tasted like fire.... we had sandwiches every lunchtime.... didnt taste like fire but we're ok, supper -- depending on what night... tasted like fire... and I really do wonder about food safe there. Since it didn't seem like we had any. Ah well, nobody I know is sick so hey! It's all good. This is a picture of the tent city we had going.. loads of one man tents, and like 6 - 8 person tents or something like that
Yep. So we went to the beach on the weekend too and that was super awesome. we went to Surfer's Paradise, and had loads of fun... post pics later....
and lately I have been doing lots of book work and not getting around to doing blog or emailing or whatever else. Ah well :P hahaha I have a goofy smile and I look funny but you get the point... It is school after all!
well I have to get going, it's gardening time!
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