Climbing Mt Warning

Last night we left camp in a bus to Mt Warning cabins. We all slept in cabins for a few hours before we woke up at 3:30AM to begin hiking up Mt Warning for the sunrise. We had to start out on the road that was basically an uphill incline, it was a rough way to start the morning! After an a little over an hour of walking up the road we finally reached the pathway, consisting of some sidewalk, mud, and rock boulders. The hike was intense but really glad we got to do it! The last portion of the hike was by hanging on to a chain while pulling yourself up boulders. We rested at the top and took a ton of pictures of the view. The way down was a ton easier & took a lot of pictures of misc things! For not being a huge outdoors girl- I did really good! I even lead a good portion of the way back down the mountain/volcano! Our feet hurt pretty bad once we got to the bottom making the walk down the steep road very difficult! The hike up the mountain was 9 kilometers and the walk on the road was 3 kilometers, approximately. This was about 7.5 miles all together! Quite the work out & I will def feel to tomorrow. I already hate the 3 stairs into my cottage! Just relaxing/homework

for the rest of the weekend!

2-17-11

Wednesday, I don't have class and most people do, so I had a nice long day to myself to work on homework.
Today, we went to the grocery at 8:15 and got back around 10:40ish. Then World Lit at 11. Today's class a was a bit better than last week. Quick lunch & nap before Events Management. In Events we talked about some of the places that we are going to be going or volunteering at. We are going to the Dog Races and a football (AU soccer) and then volunteering at a rugby tournament local event. Then our class plans a End of the Term event for our study abroad group, so we were coming up with ideas on what kind of event we would like to do! Interesting class!
Now, getting ready to leave to go to Mount Warning- volcano! We will get up at 3/4ish tomorrow morning and hike up the volcano! We heard that it was a pretty intense hike, parts you have to pull yourself up by rope. It will be interesting for me! I'm sure I will not be able to move by the time we get back! Will share & post pics when we get back later tomorrow!!

It's been a while!

By the end of the day, when I usually do my blogging, I'm exhausted and dozing off at my computer!. Let's see, the last time I wrote in, I had just completed my first 2 dives in the Open water at Julian Rocks, just about 10 minutes out of Byron Bay.
Sunday, we did the last 2 of our 4 dives to complete for certification. This time I got to see an octopus. Our Instructor could see the legs/arms (?), stuck his fingers down by it and a leg wrapped around him. Josh, the instructor tried pulling him out but he only came out a little until quickly going back in! I got to see a good part of him though! It was awesome! We dove about 18 meters, which Jake found out was about 45 feet! We completed our skills, taking our mask off underwater and putting it back on, practicing an emergency recovery, and other little things. SunDive brought us back to Lennox because the buses had stopped running by the time we were done. When we returned we ate dinner and went to bed! Today was also our professor/director's birthday.
Monday we had our lecture portion of the Australian life & culture course, focusing on the Aborigines in Australia. We learned how when the Europeans arrived in Australia they took over and pushed away the Aborignies. Build and cleared over sacred places and began slaughtering and killing Aborigines, sometimes for no reason at all. After lecture & lunch we took off on our 2nd field trip. We first went to a site right in Lennox that was a sacred place for aboriginal ceremonies. It is no longer used, but in respect is prefered that no on walks on it. Because this site was behind a neighborhood, I noticed a mailman. He was riding a little motorized scooter through yards dropping off mail. We must get a LOT more mail then Australians because he somehow had it all in his jacket or scooter.
After the site we went to the Naval and Maritime Museum. It had part of ships, and aboriginal boat, along with records of each war- documenting how many Australians were in listed , injured and killed. It was really neat to see everything in there. Then we went to a Tea Tree Oil Plantation called the Thursday Plantation. It was business that started in a trailer making tea tree oil and has grown into a big business making a variety of products and shipping to over 32 countries. This is really cool because we have a tea tree lake where we stay that feels amazing and makes our skin feel super soft. So these products were all really good!
After the plantation we went to the Byron Bay Lighthouse. It was really pretty since it so high up on the rocks! Looking down we could see sting rays and sharks swimming around, some even saw sea turtles and dolphins. We took some amazing pictures that I will post!
After the lighthouse we went back to Lennox and we have a group that makes dinner for everyone. So we made breaky- french toast, canadian bacon, apple sauce, and muffins (thanks to Mrs Avila). I made the french toast on the flat top grill outside & didn't even burn them!!
Tuesday, wasn't a very busy day. I had marketing class from 9-12 then worked a little around the cabin, went to the beach, then had a group meeting reviewing the up and coming weekend trips then out to dinner with Jake for a late Valentine's day dinner. We had dinner at Quattro, again the food was amazing! Then got ice cream & did a little grocery shopping before heading back to camp!
Today/Wednesday, is a catch up day. Most everyone but a few of us are in Marine Biology. They have lecture & fiels trips, so I get a few hours to catch up on things here and have some time to myself!

2-12-11 Open Water diving (dives 1 & 2)

While Scuba Diving: got stung by 2 jelly fish and saw schools of fish, beautiful coral, eels, giant sea turtle eat, tons of sting rays & touched a leopard shark!! Awesome day & no freak out moments while diving! So excited! Another day of the same thing tomorrow!!

2-11-11 Day 2 of Diving Certification

I really surprised myself today- I did good actually scuba diving! The 2nd half of the certification group did their pool session today from 8-3. 6 of us woke at 6 to get to Byron Bay by 8 to scuba for about 7 hours! It was a long but exciting day! We worked and practiced many drills having to do with our gear, masks, equalizing ourselves, helping others in need, etc. It was really cool. I was anxious because I get worked up when I can't see, breath or move. I was thinking that those things would be struggles to get used to but I did fine! THe biggest & most helpful advice I have been given was to relax and take long/slow breaths!
After diving, we shopped around at local shops until our bus came. The clothes are very expensive here. We walked into shops where clothes were on SALE for anywhere from $30-$150. I also noticed that not every person is on their phones talking or texting! Of all the people I see walking or driving, I saw ONE person talking on their phone!
Yet again tonight, I plan on doing homework and going to be early. Tomorrow we do our first 2 Open water dives in the ocean. We don't have to be there as early but it will probably be even more exhausting!

Rainy Day Pictures

Dog running with beach wood, lizard (?) on cottage at night, postage stamp, and sky views..

Busy Day & Busy Weekend 2-10

This morning we went to the grocery store at 8:10. Instead of Coles, we went to Alde's, which has slim selections but basics and pretty cheap. There were still little things that we needed from larger grocery stores, so went to Coles & Kmart right after. I don't remember if i mentioned this but in Australia you are charged for plastic bags and there are no paper bags when you shop. THey charge 10 cents or so and sometimes even charge for shopping carts. Note to self & anyone else, always bring "green" bags with you! After the grocery, I went to World Literature, which I feel is going to be a rough class. We spend the class finding out the incredible amount of reading expected- cause we don't have any other classes or things to do, and explaining our grading system versus the Australian grading system. Last semester, all the World Lit students received a final grade of a C, which is not good for us. The Australian grading system is a HD (highly distinguished 85%+), D (Distinguished 75-84%), C (Credit 65-74%), P (Pass 50-64%), and F(same as Am.). Have to admit that I am less than excited for that.. But on the bright side, Events Management was great! The teacher is extremely sarcastic and fun, her gets his stuff done and will take us to different sporting events. We will set up a intramural sports events for our group and a end of the semester dinner and will be able to volunteer at rugby tournaments. It should be a really exciting class! The rest of the day we hung out, cleaned our cabin, ate and worked on homework!

Tomorrow 6 of us leave for Byron Bay to work on our pool course of the Open Water Diving Certification. We should arrive in Byron by 7:30 and be done with our course at 3:30ish. It should be a long day and know that I will be exhausted! Saturday & Sunday we will complete our scuba certification/Open Water course in the ocean. The next three days will drain me but will be really exciting too!!