In the morning, got ready for the day, hopped online and caught up with the folks. Sam took 2nd at Semi-State! He’s wrestling at State this weekend! After doing some stuff online and forgetting my flash drive (yikes! But no worries: someone turned it in and all is well), I had a bran flake bar thing – not sure what it was exactly but really flaky and looked like the bran from Raisin Bran. Despite its tastelessness it filled me up and lasted until 2 when I had Subway (again, haha). At this point I hopped on the courtesy YHA bus to the beach!
Like I said, kind of crappy day for the beach but the strip was littered with cute shops, surf shops, coffee houses, food, you name it. In fact, I made several gift purchases today, bought myself a nice beach towel, some earrings, a cute beachy photo frame, and a Frangipani journal for when my travel journal pages are all used up. By the way, the Frangipani is my favorite Australian flower. It’s right up there, ranking with the lilies… it’s close. Here’s a photo of a Frangipani:
That photo was taken at the Queensland State Library, along a footpath lined with Frangipani trees – really beautiful area and plant. Any way, Frangipanis smell wonderful and there’s a bottle of Frangipani lotion I’ve seen everywhere, but I haven’t been able to justify the $17 for a bottle of it.
After hitting several shops I stopped for some Italian gelato – Kristin, I thought of you because you were the first person to tell me about it and I’d not had it before! I tested the coconut and the banana, ordered a medium cup of the coconut then added a scoop of the banana because I couldn’t help myself. The banana reminded me of the delicious banana cheesecake I had with Adam for Valentine’s Day (we celebrated early), and I must say the coconut was delectable! If you ever get a chance to have gelato, take it!
Leaving the gelato shop I saw an O’Malley’s Irish Pub, which reminded me of Meg O’Malleys and Brad and Andy, and I had to snap a photo for Adam:
Next I hit the post office to buy some AUS → US post card stamps and mail something back to Brisbane. Heading that way took me by an Internet café so I hopped on and caught Adam. It was simply wonderful to catch up with him since we’d been missing one another since Thursday. He’s doing well; keeping busy with school. He’s supposed to be sending me a photo of his latest sketch for his Art & Design (A&D) class. I’m excited to see it!
After the stop online I walked out the door and saw a beacon for Subway; I couldn’t stray so I bought myself a tasty BMT. Sat and ate that on the beach lookout balcony
I really fancied the lookout’s floor – yes, the floor. It was a wooden board floor that was painted a purple-grey color but has faded in areas and so the brown of the wood comes through a bit – I just really liked it because it had the perfect surf house bungalow look to it.
So, any way, I have this thing with beaches where I have to take a photo of my toes in the sand, hehe!
Aside from my toesies in the sand I snapped some photos of the bay,
walked around in the warm water for a few, photographed a seagull,
drew a message in the sand,
and headed somewhere to journal and write a post card. The spot I chose was away from the sand portion of the beach and near some willow-like trees and some neat rocks in the water. It was a peaceful place; a perfect place to use pen and paper and to reflect for a bit.
By the end of my journal session it was time I caught my bus back to the YHA and then another up to Noosa (which is where I’m staying tonight – I’m pre-typing so I can make the most of my $5/hour Internet time, haha). Tomorrow’s agenda comprises of the Noosa National Park and – if I have time and if it’s nice out – Laguna Bay. Bedtime for me! Check back soon!
-Amanda
PS – Here’s a really neat flower that reminds me of one I free-handed in my first sketch ever:
2 comments:
Beautiful! Simply Beautiful! It's really awesome to see you and the pictures you have snapped. It really gives us back home a sense of what you're experiencing there. Keep the photos coming. The journaling is wonderful too. Not only does it give us a window to Australia, it will also be a nice reflection of your experience down under after you come home.
We miss you! Did you color your hair? That first photo makes your hair look really dark and possibly new layers.
Nope, haven't done a thing with my hair. I'd just gotten out of the shower there, so it was just wet. Layers are more apparent when my hair is wet, I guess.
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