Now that i've experienced backpacking, i wonder why people don't travel more. it's so easy! navigating our way up and down the gold coast in australia was definitely a learning experience for danielle and i. but honestly, i feel like it restored my faith in humanity a little bit. people were so helpful, so welcoming, just friendly. well, except for those random drugged up guys on the bus that give you a business card with a naked picture of them on it. but that's besides the point.
needless to say, we met a lot of interesting people in the gold coast, but definitely people we will remember and laugh at for years to come :)
because the weather decided not to participate with us, the usually sunny beaches were slightly overcast for the five days we were there. but of course, that didn't stop us. we went all over, starting in the middle in coolangatta, then down to byron bay, then up to surfer's paradise.
we took a couple day trips since the beach didn't look as welcoming as we had hoped. they both ended up being extremely fun and unique in their own ways.
our first day trip was to nimbin, australia's infamous little hippie town. everyone there is very open and friendly, if not a little dodgy at times. i'll just say they're very..free-spirited. but hey i can't say i disagree.
here are some of my favorite pictures.
lovely drive..but couldn't tell you where we were.
we're still baffled.
loved the paintings all over the buildings
thought it was powerful
hahahah gets me every time
hahaha classy bag
when you live out of a backpack,
you gotta do what you gotta do
future kollin?
Our next day trip shipped out from surfer's paradise, and took us to the cutest town called mount tamborine. it got to go on a tour of the mountain, which included a skywalk, glowworm caves (they only exist in australia and new zealand!), wine and cheese tasting, and more. we felt so grown up we loved it :)
skywalk in the rainforest
in the display case..
not in the display case..alkjdshf
the only picture we could get inside the glow worm caves..no light inside or else they die!
hehe
hand-painted bottles at the distillery
"None of us really changes over time. We only become more fully what we are."
Anne Rice
"Who said nights were for sleep?"
Our next stop was Bali, which i've already mentioned and probably will continue to mention forever because it was that amazing. what we didn't capture on film included surfing (true story!) in the ocean and biking up and down the coast for about 5 hours. i swear we didn't get lost..
and we may have done some shopping..but don't worry mom, i'm a great bargainer these days.
we made lots of new friends, had our ethnicity guessed every day (no, i'm not from holland, amsterdam, or australia. yes california's governor is the terminator. no, thanks, i don't want a boyfriend, etc),
but i loved how friendly every one was, and always so willing to help.
i'm currently shedding all my skin from a little too much sun exposure, but i promise it was worth every second.
i wish pictures could actually portray how beautiful it was there. dani and i literally pinched ourselves every other second because we couldn't believe how lucky we were. we lived like queens for 5 days. what a break.
i guess no one understands the name danielle.
so we were mr. and mrs. bowler for a week
hotel pool..so amazing. we're spoiled.
"My tastes are simple: I am easily satisfied with the best."
everywhere you go, people offer you "transport."
even when you're already riding a bike..but maybe that's just us
so tempting to take the little critters home :(
everyone just chills on the beach, all day, every day.
hmm rough life
we may have got lost in the middle of the city,
but at least we had some cool scenery!
jimbaran beach..all the restaurants have tables on the beach.
you get to pick your dinner, then eat it on the sand.
soooo amazing.
me and our elephant guide..every time he took a picture he said either:
"one, two, hundred!"
or
"one, two, sexy!"
so obviously when he asked to be my boyfriend, i agreed ;)
soooo scary..even baby monkey knows it's a bad idea to hold a scorpion.
but hey, you only live once.
to whoever knows what this necklace means,
this picture says enough.
i left my heart in the jungle.
he was trying to make a move on me..
or the food he thought i had.
we'd ditch our bags on the beach to "cool off for a second,"
and end up playing in the water and sand for hours.
but really..how could we not?
"How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard."
"It's all make believe, isn't it?"
