Aloha From Sunny Honolulu! – Australian Outback + Hawaii

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Jul 262011

Aloha from sunny Honolulu!!

What a glorious 5 days its been! Leaving Sydney on a Friday evening and arriving to Hawaii on Friday morning saved us an entire day by crossing the international date line! The Hilton Hawaiian Village is just perfect! Shops everywhere, waterfalls, little ponds, penguins and flamingo’s just hanging out on the property! Can you feel the relaxation?!

We immediately checked in, threw on our swimsuits and headed to the beach and the pool to cool down and relax from our travel! Jack B. took the first jump in the pool and said the water was absolutely perfect! Cliff and Andrew followed suit right after and had a great afternoon swimming in the pool and lounging on the beach! After a relaxing afternoon, we enjoyed a tasty dinner at the Cheesecake Factory where Zach ordered a chocolate cake that looked like melting chocolate flowing through! 

We began our visit to Honolulu by climbing Diamond Head – an unbelievable volcano that takes you to view the Island from incredible distances! We walked through the middle of the crater all the way to the top! Ally and Lauren did an amazing job at keeping spirits up on this challenging climb! Liza and Lindy got creative with their cameras and snapped a couple of photos in tunnels, and spectacular stairways.

We got to cool down at Wet ‘n Wild Hawaii for the afternoon – a water park that had some refreshing and splashing rides! Noah, Aidan, Jonah and Ron all had a fun time riding The Tornado – A 3-4 person raft ride that drops you into a huge funnel until you splash down into the swimming pool! Peter, Brian and Jack played some cards at the pavilion while Rachel and Lindsey decided to take it on the easier side by relaxing at the pool and laying out catching some sun!

After a full day of climbing and adventure, we headed back to the resort to get ready for Bubba Gumps!  It’s time for a beach and pool day at the Hilton! Jenna and Gabby sat out, while Cameron and Joey swam in the lagoon and ocean, and Max, Adam and Sean walked around the village to explore the shops on the property. By the time dinner came around, everyone had gotten a nice tan and had smaller group dinners – the boys went to a steak house while the girls went for Italian! Everyone came back with big smiles and full stomachs and had a nice leisurely walk back to the hotel!

The evening was spent on the beach in circles laughing about all the memories we have shared thus far. Maegan, Cory, Patrick, Devon and Sam decided to do some beach aerobics!

As we all may know, Pearl Harbor is a must see in Hawaii … Learning about the attacks and hearing the trip members add details to the story shows just how much they cared and what they learned in school about the attacks on December 7th ,1941. Jordyn and Abigail took a picture with one of the veterans and had a great conversation with him! After a short boat ride to visit the USS Arizona memorial, we paid our respects to those that were lost, and watched a short movie about the attacks and the history behind it all.

On our way back, we had some lounging time by the pool, but had to get ready for our authentic Hawaiian Luau! We saw the cultural side of the islanders and partook into their traditions of dance, food, and hula lessons! Patrick and Sam got in full authentic luau gear and danced up on stage for over 1,200 people who were at Paradise Cove! A little later in the evening, Raquel got up on stage with a professional hula dancer and learned a couple of moves of her own! With the music playing in the background, she did an excellent job and got a cheer from all 1,200 people! Back at the hotel, we all went to the beach for closing ceremonies … we shared some stories, shared even more laughs, and reminisced about the last 25 days we spent together!

What an incredible adventure it has been! From the land down under, to the white sand beaches of Hawaii, everyday has contributed to truly making this the summer of a lifetime!

Sincerely,

The Australian Outback + Hawaii Crew

The Westcoast Blogger

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Hello from Sydney! – Australian Outback

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Jul 262011

Hello from Sydney!

We began our Sydney adventures at one of the worlds heritage sights – the Sydney Opera House! After an informative tour of the interior and exterior of the Opera House, we learned about the architect, design, cost and the time it took to build! Initial plans called for a 3 year build costing approximately $3 million. The build actually took 16 years and went for a final cost of $111 million! Alex G. and Daniel A asked why the build took so long and we learned that it was due to lack of funds and people were quitting because there were no salaries being paid to anyone.

After snapping countless photos in and around the opera house, we went nearby to “The Rocks” for some lunch and jumped on board the ferry to Manly. We enjoyed some souvenir hunting and a great show put on by Peter, Sean, Jack, Brian, Cliff, Zack, Adam and Max. They suited up in Hawaiian shirts and orange winter hats and did a freeze in the middle of the plaza! We concluded our first day from 1,300 feet above the city where we got to see a 360 degree look at Sydney!  Sydney was also home to the 2000 Olympic games! We got an insider look at the stadium and how everything was set up from day one! The highlight for many of the tour members was jumping on the official Gold/Silver/Bronze platform to take some Olympic size pictures! Jenna, Gabby and Jordyn all went on with their matching Australia sweaters! Sam and Patrick  got an official rugby ball and a genuine rugby team winter hat.

Later that day, we went over to Bondi Beach – the real surfers paradise! The beach was amazing and the waves were what surfers wait for all day long! Upon our return to the marina, we divided the group for jet boating – one dry ride, and one wet ride! Josephine, Liza, Raquel  and Jenna were the only girls who embarked on the wet ride – and loved every minute of it! We powered through the harbour, enjoyed some 360 degree spins and splash waves.  Now as you may have noticed from the photos of the Opera house, there was a beautiful giant bridge in the background … well folks, we climbed it! 26 of our tripmembers got all geared up in their suits, radios, harnesses, and fleeces to conquer this two hour climb. The panoramic views were just breathtaking – seeing Sydney from the harbour in a complete unobstructed view was spectacular! Another “must do while in Australia” that we can cross off our list! While some of the tour members were nervous at first, the team work and collaborative efforts to support one another was unbelievable! Rachel, Lindy and Maegan are just a few who took the challenge head on and came back with that feeling of victory at the end of it all! Amazing job guys!

After a great workout that morning climbing the bridge, we headed for a quick lunch and then off to the aquarium!  From dugongs to all kinds of sharks, we saw some pretty amazing things! Raquel, Jordyn, Lauren and Maegan got to feed and pet a baby shark and starfish! Lindsey and Abigail spotted an octopus playing with a puzzle … and almost solved it! Devon, Joey, Cameron, Jonah, Aidan and Noah were amazed by all the different types of sharks, sea turtles and manta rays that were swimming above them while they got the perfect view from the “ocean floor”.

Our last night in Sydney was quite special … not only because we were leaving Australia for Hawaii, but mainly because we had to say goodbye to tour members that had signed on exclusively for the 22 day Australia trip. Liza and Devon gave us a little speech for Josephine, while Cory, Sam and Patrick shared some words for Alex and finally Cliff shared some funny storied about Daniel! It was a great evening filled with many great stories about the trip and we are definitely sad to say goodbye to our friends and to Australia – but we are excited to greet you with a joyous Aloha in just a few days where the beaches will be warm, the sun will be blazing, and all the gear we packed for OZ can safely be tucked away!

I hope you enjoyed following us around the land down under! Stay tuned for one more scribe which will highlight all the Hawaii activities!

Until next time, the Australian Outback + Hawaii Team

The Westcoast Blogger

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Hello From Sunny Cairns! – Australian Outback

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Jul 212011

Hello from sunny Cairns!

The sun is shining, the weather is great and we have an action packed few days here! Before diving in to our first day activity at the great barrier reef, we spent some time learning about the reef and what we should expect while scuba diving and/or snorkeling. The fish were just amazing, the coral was colorful, and the reef in itself is “just the coolest thing ever” according to Liza F! The ninety minute boat ride to the reef was filled with amazing views of the city, mountains and sea life. Once at the reef, the divers got all suited up with their wetsuits, oxygen tanks and masks and were ready to explore what was 20-30 feet underneath the ocean! Brian S and Zach spotted a whole bunch of Nemo’s, while Ally A and Rachel G spotted some blue, purple and yellow rainbow fish! Our snorkelers had just as much to see as well – Joey G, Jenna L, Cory W and Abigail F saw some pretty amazing fish and all said the coral was amazing! Adam M and Jack B were amongst a few who went for a second dive and had a unique opportunity to swim through a cave and said it was one the best experiences of their lives! They saw a ton of giant clams and starfish!

As we boated back to the city, we enjoyed a nice dinner and a movie to conclude our long but amazing day!If you think we were taking a day off from the water, think again! Day 2 was Cable skiing! Some knee boarded while others wake boarded – but one thing was common all around … ear to ear smiles every time they lapped the course without falling! Ron S was particularly excited and overjoyed when he went around the entire course without falling! Way to go Ron! Lindy S was a complete natural on the wake board and showed many how to stay up for the entire ride. Patrick C showed us that he can complete not one, but 3 laps without falling once! Raquel K had no problems showing us her same skills as she lapped the course a couple times as well! Sean S, Jack P, Noah J, Aiden A, Devon K, Jonah E, Andrew G and Alex G went for the most laps as they refused to give up until they lapped the course a few times per ride! 

Since Cairns is the warmest city we stay in Australia, we must take advantage of the water (as we’ve demonstrated thus far). Day 3 was no exception as we were fortunate enough to white water raft the Tully river! Many of our tour members had muscles grown that day as we paddled and paddled through some of the most exciting rapids! We went down slides, paddled through tough rapids and cruised along some spots of the river. Josephine G, Lindsey G, Lauren A and Jordyn B showed us just how hard they can paddle by keeping the momentum going through each rapid! Amazing! The boys were exceptional as well – Peter S, Sam R and Max R kept their raft going as well as they never gave up and paddled through every time they were needed! It was a long and wet day at the rapids, but we sure did get a workout! Amazing job everyone! 

Well folks, our last day in Cairns was just as wet as the first 3 … but not as intense! We enjoyed a beautiful sunny day on Green Island – just a short 45 minute boat ride out of Cairns to enjoy some snorkeling, beach time, and a glass bottom boat ride! While Rachel G showed us her skills on the volleyball court, Gabby M and Maegan T chose to relax on the beach and soak in some sun. Daniel A snorkeled while Cameron went to explore some more reef fish on the glass bottom boat ride! Jack P, Cliff G, Alex G and Andrew G cracked open coconuts with their bare hands!

After feeling rejuvenated and relaxed, we boated back to the city, had some down time, had dinner in smaller groups and enjoyed a restful night as we had to wave goodbye to Sunny Cairns and gear up for Sydney!  As we approach our last city in the land down under, we will be sure to inform you of all our adventures in the great city!

Sincerely,
Michael, Matt, Leanne & Dawn

The Westcoast Blogger

Posted by wcc360summer at 4:33 PM Tagged with: , , , ,

G’day from the Wallaby Lodge! – Australian Outback

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Jul 172011

 G’day mates!

Our adventures from the Wallaby Lodge are some of the most unique we will experience here in Oz! After a short flight from Brisbane to Cairns, we got picked up by Paul, also known as tall Paul and Not So Small Paul! The one hour bus ride though the curvy mountains (600 turns according to Paul!) was full of beautiful scenery. After a quick pit stop at Gallo Cheese and Chocolate, we headed to the lodge and got settled in. We were immediately greeted by Jedd (Paul’s dog) who was extremely happy to see so many new faces! Andrew G and Jenna L were immediately attached to Jedd and spent tons of time playing with him! We dropped off our bags and headed to the lake for some platypus spotting. Sam R, Brian S, Gabby M and Maegan T were amongst the first to spot the sneaky little fellow! After being really quiet for a few minutes, it popped its head out again, and the rest of the group had the chance to see it swim across its habitat.

After enjoying a nice home cooked meal, half the group went night canoeing at the lake. Daniel A, Sean S, were the best at spotting the tree kangaroos with their flashlights while Adam M and Lindsay G spotted some Flying Foxes and Azure King Fisher birds!

Day one at the lodge was a real treat – we spent the day with the aboriginals! We learned about their culture, how to strip, carve, and soften the didgeridoos for use, and then went out to the open field to learn the proper way to throw a boomerang (Aidan A, Jack B and Jonah E all got it on the first throw!). Cameron F and Devon K immediately got to work by hollowing the tree bark, while Jack P, Max R, Cliff G, Peter S and Rachel G started stripping the bark from the outside. The rest of the group went to go sit down with one of the aboriginals where each tour member learned about their spirit animal, and what color represents them best. Some got butterflies, crocodiles, eagles, koalas and kangaroos with shades of yellow, green, purple, blue, white, red and black.

After all the groups rotated from one station to the next, all tour members had the chance to take part in the didgeridoo making process. Gabby M, Andrew G, Sam R, Lindy S and Patrick C all got a mini didgeridoo by the owner himself by playing the didgeridoo so well throughout the day and Lauren A for a special painted tree bark as well with her spirit animal and colours. Way to go guys!! Our day concluded with the most interesting way one can prepare a meal! The aboriginals cooked their food deep in the ground surrounded by hot stones to lock in the heat, big leaves to seal in the moisture, and aluminium foil to make sure nothing gets in there! It smelled so good! We sat by the fire, heard the professional play the didgeridoo, and headed back to the lodge for some down time.

Day two at the lodge was the complete opposite – away from dry land and into water – 4 waterfalls to be exact! The water was not warm, but the experience was unforgettable! Tall Paul gave us all a challenge – whoever jumps in to all 4 waterfalls would get a prize. Not very many did it, but the few that did, must be recognized – Alex G, Andrew G, Sam R, Patrick C and Jordyn B – Great job! The majority of the group went into Millaa Millaa falls – home of the famous herbal essences commercial! The views were amazing, the water was fresh, and we all left energized and refreshed for the rest of our journey.

Our last stop was at the lake where we all jumped into the lake (which was warmer than the falls) to enjoy some swim time and relax, soak up some sun and dry off before we headed back to the wallaby lodge. We had a great dinner, played battle of the sexes, and caught some shut eye for the evening.

 The morning began with a great 6 mile bike ride through the town – Josephine G, Noah J, Zach K, Cory W, Raquel K, Jack P and Brian S did an amazing job biking up and down the hills while some of the other tour members went on a shorter 1.5 mile bike ride through the town! We are sad to say goodbye to the Wallaby Lodge and Paul, but it’s time we drive on north to Cairns – Stay tuned as you will hear amazing stories about the great barrier reef, cable skiing, wake boarding and snorkeling!

 Warm Regards,

The Westcoast Blogger

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Enjoying Surfer’s Paradise! – Australian Outback

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Jul 142011

G’day mates! 

We have arrived to the gnarliest place in Australia – Surfer’s Paradise! Home of sand, beaches and surfboards! But before we hit the waves, we walked down Surfer’s Boulevard to Skypoint, the tallest residential building in the world with some of the most breathtaking views of the city – 77 stories in an astonishing 45 second elevator ride! Max R. and Adam M attempted to go up the stairs but came back down after climbing the first flight! As great as the views were, we had to depart to feed our bellies at Montezuma’s. Alex G definitely enjoyed the Mexican meal – his favorite!!

Before we headed back to the hotel, we ventured to the Infinity Light Show where every single one of the trip members was hysterical with the mirrored mazes, flashing lights and fantastic special effects.  Next up, Dreamworld! While this amusement park has all sorts of cool rides, just like Disneyland, you also spend time petting kangaroos and huggin koalas, making for a VERY different and interesting experience than your typical theme park!  Daniel A., Jack B., Jack P., Cliff G., and Cameron F. all took the leap forward and rode the Giant Drop – a vertical roller coaster that climbs and drops hundreds of feet at an amazing speed! SO MUCH FUN!!! Aiden A., Peter S. and Jonah E rode the Big Claw that twists and turns and even flips upside down a couple times – they were all laughing on the way out of the ride! Before leaving, we attempted a “Freeze” – Andrew G., Patrick C., Lindsey G., Cory W., Abigail F., Lindy S and Rachel K walked around and then completely froze on spot for over 3 minutes while the rest of the amusement park patrons looked on! We attracted quite a crowd, but then walked away as if nothing happened. We ended the evening with some bowling where we all got in on the friendly competition!

 The next morning, we woke up excited for the chance to surf in the famous Coolangatta surf area! While there were many first time surfers out there, the guides were more than surprised to see how many got up on their surf board after a short lesson and a couple tries out on the water! Noah J., Ally A., Brian S., Liza F., Devon K. and Zach K all got up within minutes and rode the 4-foot waves to shore! We had a great day on the beach playing soccer, football and Frisbee while soaking up the sun and tearing up some waves!  

Our last activity in Surfer’s was Zorbing where tour members had the opportunity to ride down a mountain in a giant inflatable ball. The choices were a dry ride down or a wet ride down! Ron S. and Joey G. enjoyed the bounciest ride down while Lauren A., and Lindy S enjoyed one of the fastest rides down the mountain! All the trip members had such a great time that they each did a dry and wet ride!

After relaxing at the hotel, we had a great dinner at Hard Rock Cafe where Peter S. gave a one week trip anniversary speech. Surfer’s Paradise ended with a fun filled night at the arcades where we drove bumper cars, raced on arcades, played some basketball, and enjoyed wonderful chair massages to relieve all the knots from surfing and zorbing!  

Well folks, you heard it here first! These action packed days at Surfer’s Paradise have been followed by a short flight to Cairns where we are spending three days at the Wallaby lodge, before checking out the city sites! Stay tuned for news of the next exciting adventures as we continue our outback journey! 

  Catch ya later!

The Westcoast Blogger

Posted by wcc360summer at 12:22 PM Tagged with: , , , , , ,
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