Heaps, heaps and heaps!
Hey hey hey!!!!!!!
I am back! For three weeks straight I've seen so much, done so much and met some many people. Life's good! I've decided to write my web log from now one in English because the readers are getting international as well so if your English isn't too good, this is the time for a speed course.
Okay, were to start is now the big problem. About three and a half weeks ago it was Christmas. It was really good to have an Australian Christmas for one year with more pleasant temperatures then what I am used to in NL. I got heaps of pressies; 4 DVD’s 1 book, 5 t-shirts, board shorts, watch, cd and a computer game. I was really happy with all of them and the Hudsons seem happy with mine as well.
Wednesday the 28th of December I took the Spirit of Tasmania to Sydney to see Sydney and spend new year's eve there with Kevin, Rens and Marcella. We stayed at Kevin's place who lives about a hour of the centre by train and we had a good time. We've seen the opera house, Harbour Bridge, Bondi beach (you do need heaps of sunscreen there) and the Sydney cricket ground (I went with Rens to the third day of the third test between South-Africa and Australia). With New Year’s Eve we stood on the best spot ever, exactly between the opera house and the harbour bridge and the fireworks was truly spectacular. For about 8 minutes long the sky was filled with light, smoke and air pollution. Everyone should go once in a lifetime to Sydney to fireworks, it was an amazing experience and it was worth it.
On the 6th of January our safari started at central station Sydney. There were about 20 students from all over the world. We had people from Denmark, Greenland, Sweden, Belgium, France, Austria, Czech republic, Brazil, Columbia, Thailand and offcourse our Dutch delegation. The group was really good and I made friends with almost everyone. I am going to miss them, together we made the best of the safari and there are some really cool people who I just have to visit sometime.
The afternoon of the sixth we spend in Sydney with a river cruise followed up by a dinner. Then on the seventh we started our full and sleepless schedule. Every morning a 6 o'clock wake up call and most of the nights you started sleeping around 11 or 12. By everyone's surprise (and especially mine) I didn't have many difficulties with this 'army' schedule. Throughout the whole safari I stayed pretty sharp and awake with only a few minor moments of feeling sleepy. Offcourse i am not going to say that I am willing to wake up this early again but at least I proved I can do it.
The seventh and the morning of the eight we spend driving in the coach, all the way up to the sunshine/gold coast and surfer's paradise. There I spend the afternoon with Sofia walking around and playing the tourist. Sofia just changed host families before she came on safari and she has an excellent time now with her new host family. I already felt tropical until it started to rain in the late afternoon. Can you possibly believe it? I am going to one of the most tropical regions in Australia and half of the time it is raining! I get the feeling that the rain is following me all around the globe.
The third day of the safari Sofia, Eliska, Carol, Tuei, Heidi and I spend the day in Dreamworld, the 'biggest' theme park in Australia. It was about the size of Slagharen but then with a few extreme rides. I had a pretty good day when around four we decided to split up and I went to some kind of quickly turning around thing. After that I decided that I wanted to go in another attraction when I saw a stand with information about helicopter flights. I was just checking it out when the owner suddenly gives me this special offer for the last 5 minute flight of the day. Then a relative of the other passengers also payed half of my flight because she wasn't going and they needed a fourth person. Bingo offcourse so for 3 keer niks I went up in the air and I flew over Dreamworld and surroundings. Wow I felt extremely lucky, never ever something like that happens to me and suddenly there it was, a golden opportunity!
Well over the next few days we had pretty much this schedule of one day driving and one day an activity. We've been to Fraser island (awesome place, by the way they have got a beach there which is a highway, the great sandy highway!), Great Keppel island and the Whitsunday islands. I really enjoyed the Whitsunday islands because we went ocean rafting. Basically that means that you go in this high power speedboat and that you jump from wave to wave. Really fast and pretty spectacular. In the afternoon we went snorkelling at one of the island when Stef (girl from Austria) and I saw a turtle about 10 meters from the boat. As silent and quick as we good we followed the turtle for about 40 meters. It was so amazing, I swam with a wildlife turtle for about 40 meters and I could get as close as 2.5-3 meters away. It swam right under me!!! This is something I will never forget.
And then on the morning of the 12th we ended our safari at Brisbane airport. Sofia, Marcella and I went into Brisbane for the day to do some shopping (I bought this awesome shirt of Gant) and then Sofia and I took the plane back to Hobart at night. I am really really glad I've been on this trip. It was worth every penny, everything was just right. It was just like a dream, I can't think of anything what could have been better (offcourse I can but I don't feel like complaining about all those small things right now).
I really want to thank everyone who made this trip possible, my parents and family in the Netherlands, my host family and all the people on safari. I also want to thank Kostas and Samuel who wrote the most awesome pieces on my web log while I was away. Thanks and see you!
posted by Wesley @ 6:32 am
10 Comments:
great stories man,something to be jealous of.Probably you w'not have turtlessoup anymore!.
Nice travelstories but pleased that you are back "home" in Hobart sound and safe.
Greetings Dad
hey
great 2 hear your back save at home in Hobart.
Everything is going its way in Holland
btw are you going to the Australian Open ??
greetings Dion
Hee Wes,
Ja, ik doe het lekker in het nl gaat me iets beter af, Tjonge wat een belevenissen, dat heb je maar mooi meegemaakt allemaal! Geweldig, we zijn een beetje jaloers op je, nee hoor, we zijn blij voor je!!
Vooral de helicoptervlucht en het zwemmen met de schildpad, geweldig!!
Nu is je vakantie weer bijna voorbij, lekker weer naar school;-)
Groetjes van marjan
heeej wes,
mooie avonturen heb je gemaakt daar in Australie.
We zijn blij dat je het zo leuk heb gehad.
groetjes mitchy.
ps: hoeveel chikys heb je daar nu al.
Hey Wesley,
It seems like you want to type the story faster than your brain allows you to XD. So many stories, man I wish you were here so I would be able to listen to it in full glory. By the way, I believe that in tropical regions a big rainy storm now and then is normal. So don't be afraid, there is no curse on you or something ^^
Hehe, I can see that the sun did it's work. A little bit more sun and you would be black like a shadow. Ok, maybe that's not true but that detail shouldn't stay unnoticed.
You know, I can't believe how much your English has improved! Maybe even though you did not pay too much attention during English writing, you still picked something up. And ofcourse the fact that you have to speak the language helps a lot too. Congratz, next school year you will find your previously hardest subject a piece of cake!
Well.. although I have to admit I'm a bit jealous, I'm ofcourse still very happy that you had a good time :)
Keep us up to date!
Kostas
Hee Wes!
Ik hou het ook maar in het NL if you don't mind!Geweldig verhaal zeg! Kan me voorstellen dat het een blijvende indruk bij je heeft achtergelaten en ben stiekum best jaloers op je! Leuk dat je vrienden ook zo'n leuk verhaal over/voor je hebben geschreven.
Succes weer op school en Ik kijk uit naar je volgende berichten en foto's!
Groetjes, Big
Wesley, as always we enjoy reading your blog. You have a gift for writing and also for photography. Your thoughtfulness in sharing your experiences in such a detailed and lively way, so regularly, is greatly appreciated.
I am intrigued about your decision to write in English in this second half of your stay in Australia. I see your point, that now you have made many friends who do not speak Dutch, and so by writing in English you are welcoming them into your life and valuing their relationships with you, but if any of Wesley's friends in the Netherlands are concerned, I can say your Dutch ambassador is still fiercely loyal but becoming a very competent diplomat. Well done and keep entertaining us all. Thank you.
Hey!
I know exactly how u feel mate ;) After my safari I was so happy and it was worth all the money... And the friends u make, its amazing how close u can get to people u hardly know. And now u can travel all around the world visiting all those friends, i reckon its just great. Unfortunately, my friends all have gone home now and Im the only exchange student in T'ville now. In 2 weeks there are new students coming.
I went to Dreamworld aswell, its really 'big' isnt it hahahaha. Did u go into the big brother house? And did u go in the rollercoaster where u have to line up in a tower? That was the most horrible thing that ever happened to me, got a major headache when i got out :S
Oh well, tomorrow im going back to school! new class.. (i did year 12 last year, now again)
Too bad I couldnt make it to Sydney when u guys were there.. My new years eve was a bit strange, lol.
Have heaps of fun in Hobart!
C ya!
Lindewieke
Hello Wesley!
I’ll stick to English too! Sounds like you’re having a great time out there! Most comments already say how I think about it. But you’ve made one big mistake my friend! Never take a girl out shopping!!! Especially not two of them! Just kidding!:P
Must have been very cool to swim next to a turtle. I’ve already heard some things from your mother! Being in Australlia must be awesome!
Dreamworld wasn’t a very big theme park if it was as big as Slagharen. Not to mention the shame that it is their biggest themepark. But I’m sure the attractions there are more thrilling than they are here.
Almost forgot! I don’t know if it is an idea, but perhaps you can make a two-language web-log. One English version, and one Dutch version. I’d like to take care of the Dutch version. Just give me a sign! And enjoy your further stay in Australia!
I hope to see you back soon! We’re missing our potential president here!
Greetings from a friend: Samuël
Hey Wesley,
I am really impressed by your english vocabulary. This is definitely the best way to learn a foreign language and this experience will be usefull for all your nextcoming activities in the rest of your life. I met your parents today at the world wide famous soccer club Kolping Boys and they told me about this blog. I read a few stories(not all) and I will let you know that i am realy proud at me 'little cousin' (or nephew?). You showed us and your schoolmates to have 'balls'.
As an enthusiastic Golf Player I can tell you that you need 'balls' to play Golf. Try to play some courses Down Under.It will also be a great experience. Wesley Good Luck!!!
Nico Engel
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