I'm pining for the moon...

Song: "Nightswimming" by R.E.M.

April 12th

Easter

WAHOO! I got to eat chocolate today. Oh, yes, and it's sacred and all that too. The thought of going to church today did at least pass through my mind, but not enough to make me go.

Our taxi left at 5am this morning, and after I had stayed up until midnight before (to eat that lovely Tim Tam I was craving...) I wasn't too surprised that I overslept my 4:00am-ish alarm. I wanted to shower and make sure I was fully packed, but that didn't happen. Vilde called me early, Becca reminded me to grab my passport and with my giant chocolate egg and a tiny jug of milk in a bag, the girls and I were off to the airport.

It was too early for words. We got some finances straightened out and ate a little food before flying off to the lovely land of Hervey Bay, Queensland.

View from the plane as we took off from Sydney:

From Hervey Bay, Easter Day

We got in early in the morning and checked in to our hostel. We then decided to go to the beach, where I got the worst sunburn that I've had in years. I put on 30 SPF sunblock all over, but Australia has no ozone so you really need 30+ or 50 or something. Regardless, it was a very relaxing Easter on the beach. There was some sort of sailing party going on.

From Hervey Bay, Easter Day

We grabbed some food at an Irish pub. Nachos were involved. Nachos were a big theme of this Easter break, as I'm sure I'll mention later.

After food, we walked around, went to the drive-thru liquor store on foot (I know these exist in the states as well, but don't they sound like they're encouraging the wrong thing?) and walked back to the hostel. We chilled there most all evening, buying the all you can eat pizza and meeting all the different people living in the hostel.

I really enjoyed staying in the hostels when we did. We met people from all over. England, Sweden, Switzerland, etc. This trip just makes me want to travel more. Toward the end of the evening, after a few drinks, we got the bright idea to go back to the beach and go swimming. The moon was gorgeous and the people were entertaining.
I'm on the left, and severely burned. (picture courtesy of Vilde)


When we got back to the hostel, I stayed up a little later and talked with some people who were living in the rooms next to us in the kitchen. Also, I really think that America needs to a) have college/university last only three years and b) needs to encourage a gap year after high school for traveling, soul searching, etc. Some of the people I met had done some wild things in their time off. So who wants to go backpacking with me around Europe? :)

Anyway, I eventually went to sleep. It was quite an evening.