Farewell

Hard to believe that eleven weeks ago I landed in Barcelona, Spain to commence an experience of a life time.  And so it has been.   Since I've kept this blog there's not much more to add other than I can't believe it's over.

To wrap it all up, I'll add to a few of the FAQs I posted to start this blog.

FAQ #3: Do you have a plan?

• To this I had answered "no" and have subsequently learned that as much as I'd like to be a "fly by the seat of my pants" type of girl, I'm not.  This isn't to say that I need to plan out every second of every day but it does mean that I can handle a percentage (not 100%) of uncertainty. Bali was a wonderful country but it requires a plan, otherwise the trip will consist of walking 45 minutes (up hill, both ways) to see the same sights over and over and over again.  And with just a week there, it results in missing a lot.   

FAQ # 5: Is this your version of "Under the Tuscan Sun" or "Eat, Pray, Love"

• My original response was no but that you may have already drawn your own conclusion.  Post travel I can tell you that those movies represent an unlikely probability of events coupled with Hollywood magic.  Life follows you wherever you go and you don't get to "vacate" it just because you're on foreign soil.  Things admittedly doesn't effect you as much if you can't understand what others are saying to you (i.e. Spain) but eventually you start to understand and realize that people can be great or annoying everywhere. 
• Also, from what I've seen and done it's really not about where you go but what you do.  Your adventure could be your hometown; the experience is taking the time to get to know your surroundings and your place in this world.    
• What I will say I have in common with these movies are the stories and memories of the people I got to know;  those I met while away who kept me from being bored and those back home who kept me company when I was bored. 

FAQ #6: Craziest or smartest decision of my life?

• Original response: I guess we're about to find out......
• Updated response: ABSA-FREAKIN-LUTELY smartest, greatest experience of my life!  Yea the pictures are great and the stories were fun to share, but unequivocally this was the best decision of my life because I learned so much (including about myself) without the pressures and obligations of everyday life.

So now this experience has passed and with it comes the next one.  I have enjoyed sharing all of my stories with you and your contribution to my postings - it's something I'll undoubtably enjoy for years to come. 

 

Goodbye world (for now); Hello New York..... maybe  

The Gong and beyond

Some pictures from a day around Wollongong, just walking around taking in the sites.  Not a big town by any means but you can walk along the beach for miles and then explore the little markets (on Fridays).   

Walking along a bike path you can see this little area of water and then just past the white sand is the ocean. 

St. Michael's Church in Wollengong - which was built in 1858.

Off in the distance you can see two lighthouses.

The Wollongong Courthouse.

The main reason I actually went to Wollongong was to take a yoga class.  It was almost exactly like the classes I take in the US except for the fact that the teacher sounded like Olivia Newton John.  Kind of hard to concentrate when you have musical scenes from Grease running through your head.

This is interesting, to me at least, that a fountain is dedicated, celebrating a referendum granting citizenship to Aboriginal people (granted in 1967).  THEY'RE NATIVES OF AUSTRALIA!  How can you grant them citizenship to a land you conquered and filled with convicts over 300 years ago?   They lived here for like 60,000 years prior to that (per wikipedia).  I know the US has it's own history with Native Americans - but in either situation I think "granting" them citizenship to their land it just insulting.

Wollongong market on Friday afternoon.  

Kiama

Kiama is approximately 45 minutes south of Wollongong, a small town know for the lava rock formation which during certain weather conditions turns into a blowhole.  Unfortunately the weather was too nice the day I went; you need to go during storms to see the rough sea push into land and up through the rocks.  

Besides the blowhole, the area is very nice to walk around and to grab a bite to eat either at a number of cute cafes or to picnic.     

Off in the distance the lighthouse appears.

Lava rocks forming the blowhole.

The lighthouse.

Killalea State Park close to where I've been staying.   This sight is great if you want to surf and the beaches are secluded.

Catchin' some waves.  They make it look so easy!

I was really at the beach in Killalea even though oddly it appears as if I was photo shopped in.

A sign headed toward Wollongong from Shell Harbor.  I'm not sure what's in the Blackbutt Forest but it's so funny to me that I laugh every time we pass it.