Time flies... when youre living the life

Wow! I can not believe it is already May!!! Happy birthday Mum!
I remember this past year SO clearly and vividly. From my 22nd on the 22nd birthday, graduation, Europe, and my final weeks home, the year has flown by!

Dad and ali came and though we had our traveling trio tough times, it was an AMAZING trip! I did things I NEVER thought I would do! They arrived and we had afternoon tea at the Streimers. It was so amazing seeing Jeff and Dad talk and try and piece things together. Then Jeff took us around and gave us an Eastern Suburbs tour. We even went to places I had never seen. (Eastern Suburbs... picturing driving someone around and taking them to the fish pond on Stevenson, then going to greenspring to see the park and get a snowball, followed by a drive through power plant and fells point, back through hunt valley etc... ) haha We took a cocktail cruise in the rain and called it an early night. Had another day in Sydney where I took them to the Opera house and then we did the bride climb. The first time I did it I was like "what moron would do this more than once"...well im the moron;-) It was great though.

The next day we headed to Queenstown NZ. An AMAZING cute fun town!!! We did a tour on the outskirts, a gondola and luge ride AND ali and I did the Nevis bungy jump. 143 meters in the middle of mountains. I NEVER thought I would bungy jump but it was the most amazing thing ever!!! I can still see it in my mind.. Ali and I did a pub crawl where I actually ran into a mate from Pikesville that is studying in Sydney.. small world. I really enjoyed Queenstown and aside from the cold, the 3 of us agreed it was prob the best place.

From Queenstown we headed to Christchurch, NZ. More of a city... we did some tours and saw alot of the area. We went on a gondola and went punting on the Avon river. We left from there to head to Melbourne. We got in pretty late but it was ok because we had an early wake up for our tour of the Yarra Valley. That was so much fun and so beautiful. We went to the Chandon vineyard which was cool for me because Ivy serves that and I knew the label. Though I don't remember much of that point in the tour (wink wink), it was a great time. That night Ali met up with some mates and daddy and I did an evening of around the world eating. Went to Mexico for an entree (which is an appetizer here) and margaritas, then Greece for a salad and dips, then China for our main course. We were going to do Italian gelatos for dessert but our tummys didnt go that far lol.

We had an early wake up cause then we were heading to Hamilton Island. I LOVED Hamilton. It was an island with roads (unlike the fijian islands) but everyone drove golf carts. There was the marina with restaurants, stores, a chemist and pub but other than that, it was just the resort and bungalows. We spent my birthday on Whithaven Beach. Top 10 beaches in the world. The sand was so fine, when you walked, it made a noise hehe. We went out for a REALLY nice dinner and then ali and I had a grand time together celebrating. The next morning we woke up for our day out on the Great Barrier Reef. It was the coolest thing... we took a boat to this place called "reef world". Basically a floating resort on the reef. Well not really a resort but they had places to sleep, a glass bottom boat you could go in, a viewing room that was under water, changing rooms, etc. The three of us went scuba diving and it was beautiful! That was a great day!!!
I REALLY liked hamiliton... its actually where they are filming "The worlds best job" (if you have heard of it). I even looked into working there for winter but I think ill come home for OUR summer instead;-)

From Hamilton, we came back to Sydney where I took them to The Cross and to a Thai restaurant that was recommended by a mate and then I saw it in my Sydney Top 10 book. It was DELICIOUS!:-) I ate and drank VERY well all week... no complaints there. We woke up the next morning and spent the last few hours before daddy had to leave... it was so sad but i was SO happy he was able to come!!! Ali stayed with me for a few days before heading off to Byron.
I was not put back on my work sched (after I told them my last day would be May 13th after my 2 week vacation). A little unprofessional but I am SO happy!!!! It was a GREAT learning and growing experience and now I am enjoying my time!!!

I have been babysitting for a family I adore. Its my friends sister's kids (so, his nephews), and they are great!!! Ive never enjoyed babysitting this much. They are so fun and easy so its been fine!! Eli has been in NYC and is returning tomorrow. Its been lonely but Saturday, my friend Jessica from my study abroad came to visit!! We had a great weekend of movies, catching up, and celebrating Darling Harbor's 21st birthday. She's spending time with Rachel, our TA from the trip, but will be back with me friday.
My old flatty Dave and I have been trying to catch up so last night he mentioned some show Wednesday in the city. In my head im like (ehh dont wanna spend the money on a band i dunno) Well it turns out, MTV is filming an anniversary tour for De La Soul. A hip hop pioneer group. Well his sister, who works for MTV, has tickets to this show!!! MTV is filming a tv show with them and four bands. Free tickets, free alcohol... pretty sweet!!!

Mike arrives next week and I am super excited!! I am having a birthday bash next thursday when he arrives and I look forward to seeing all of my mates and catching up! Miggy comes the following thursday and has a free night in Sydney that shall be a grand time!!
I leave for Thailand at the end of the month where I hope to see Warne (my mate from uni....i mean my friend from college haha-yikes) I also am going to meet up with Josh Titlebaum and some of his mates for the Full moon party. Then Im going to come back for a week to Sydney, head up north and then return for a few final days before heading home to The States... Then who knows where my path will lead. But one thing I know is for sure... NO WORRIES, everything will unfold.

Hope all is well...
CHEERS