Monday, April 5, 2010

wwoofin' it

When I was 16 or 17, I was a camp counselor at PAL of TX Youth Ranch, a camp for “at risk youth.” I was the art instructor and the wilderness instructor. As an art instructor I helped the kids paint pictures, make collages, and scrapbook. As the wilderness instructor I took the kids for nature walks, tried to catch lizards and bugs, and taught them about the local plants and animals. It was a fun summer job. I mention it not because I spent my days there surrounded by nature, but because once a week we would watch the movie Ferntree Gully, and every time it rained we would watch it again. During one summer, I watched this movie like 20 times. It’s a cute movie, but it started losing it’s appeal after time number 4 I suppose. This week I actually went to a town named Ferntree Gully. So in a way, I’ve gone on this pilgrimage to the other side of the world to see this place without even realizing it.



I spent the day there going on trails in the forest. The first of these was the 1000 step trail. It’s called that because, you guessed it, it has 1000 steps up the side of a mountain. Awesome trail and an even better workout. The 1000 step trail was a 1000 times better than a Stairmaster.


No person should come to Australia without taking a trip into the forest. It is absolutely breathtaking. The beaches are spectacular but the forest is enchanting and ever-changing. The best part of it all though was when a wild kangaroo hopped across the trail not 3 yards in front of me. Strike that 3 meters. I’m still not used to the metric system. I’ve seen my share of wild animals, but this was awesome!!


We went to a stone grill restaurant. You cook your own meat on this plate sized stone. Kind of strange to go to a restaurant to eat and have to cook it for yourself, but it was very good. After, we went for a night of dancing and fun.
check out Jen's steak:

For the Easter weekend I went on a big camping trip on the Murray River with Jen, my roommate, and her friends. The Murray is on the boarder of Victoria and NSW, and we went a few hours inland so I got to see some different terrain. I’ve always loved camping so it was fun. It was a little cool though so we didn’t spend much time in the river. And the birds! I hate the birds here! Waking up to the birds chirping while camping over here is VERY different from camping in Texas. In Texas it's lovely. The sun rises, and you wake to the sweet melody of chirping birds. Here, the birds sound like a rooster crossed with an orangutan. My camera was dead so no pics of the river trip. :(


I’ve signed up to be a WWOOFer (willing worker on organic farms). Basically you go to a host’s home and work 4-6 hrs a day in exchange for accommodation and food. It seems like a pretty cool set up. I’ll get to learn a bit about organic farming, meet and live with Australian families, and see more rural areas in between my trips to the big cities. My first commitment is a week on Kangaroo Island in South Australia. I’m excited to go! I fly to Adelaide on Wednesday and then to KI on Thursday. I’m sad to move away from Melbourne and all the new friends I’ve made, but I want to see the country. I’ll return to Melb before I head to New Zealand though for one last hurrah with the roommates.



“To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.”

- Oscar Wilde

6 comments:

  1. Awe, fun, you went to a live version of fern gully. Did you help save the rainforest against the mean humans? (tell me you got the movie reference). So, are you for sure doing organic farming??? Miss you and hoping to see you soon! lovies, L

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  2. you know...you're probably the only other person I know who can actually quote that movie. :)
    birds of a feather, aye

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  3. I love Fern Gully! Almost had to bust it out reading your blog! Let me know how the farming goes! I am interested to hear about it! Miss you!! We should skype soon!

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  4. My beautiful explorer! I hope you will keep this in your heart forever, and I also hope your next adventures are closer to your own backyard! Just teasing and just being your mama! LOVE YOU!

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  5. Linds - we should skype when I get back to Adelaide sometime next week!

    Mom - love and miss you! I promise I'll come back to TX...eventually

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  6. totally! let me know when! I'm usually signed on automatically anyway when i'm on my computer Find me by my email! grneyes_24@yahoo.com

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