Ayers Rock

Oh geese We have been on the move none stop since we left Sydney. From Sydney we flew north to Alice Springs (Central Australia). We only stayed one night but Alice Springs is know for having one of if not the highest per ca pita number of art galleries. They were everywhere! The town was small about 30,000 I believe. Nice change of pace from the huge city of Sydney. The next morning we took a 6 hour bus ride to Ayers Rock Resort. The trip was through what you might think of the typical Outback of Australia. We stopped at a camel farm and yes I did ride a camel!
Ayers Rock Resort was pretty interesting because it was a 3.5km circle of all the different resorts... but that was the whole town (if you would call it that) except for the Aboriginals that live in a separate area. The evening we arrived we went to watch the Sunset at a Ayers Rock viewing area. The Rock changes colors as the sun sets.... yellows, oranges, reds, and purples lit up the sky. God is indeed a creative God. During the sunset we were given a choice of bottomless white or red wine to enjoy. While we were waiting for the sun to set we became friend with the cutest sisters. They were in there 80s and had the most interesting life stories to share. One of the sisters, Louise was a retired Nun and her sister has been a school teacher and spent many years in Hong Kong teaching. They were the funniest and sweetest souls and by the end of our stay they had given us their addresses on the Gold Coast and asked us to visit!
Early... and I mean early the next morning we drove to watch the sun rise which was just looked totally different from the day before. The highlight of this tour for me was the two dingos that visited us. They simply came to inspect us humans... found us boring and ran off into the desert. During the day we took a trip to do a short hike at Kata Juta which consists of 44 huge boulders. During all the bus trips I have been reading this long Australia Novel called Jessica. I have found it to be quite sad as its about one girls hard rugged life in the Outback.
The next day we drove about 4 hours to Kings Canyon and again watched the sunset. Early the next morning we took a 3 hr Rim Walk Hike around the Canyon. This was so fun ... it included a water hole, "the Garden of Eden" (all this greenery around a otherwise barren red canyon), and lots of cliffs.
Then back to Ayers Rock Resort and from their we flew to Cairns (Port Douglas)... home of the Great Barrier Reef. It's in the 80's here and I am definately wearing a tank top and shorts today... just lovely (as they would say)! Even though we just arrived today I already know this will be my favorite place.... I have always dreamed of swimming in the Great Barrier Reed and now its only two days away!
With Much Love,
Hannah

Sydney

Sydney is beautiful. I find myself getting up each morning to run around the Sydney Opera House and the Botanical Gardens which are right next each other. On my walk back to the hostel I pass through the beautiful Hyde park. I have found the last two days that Hyde Park is a popular place for couples to picnic or just cuddle. It was cute at first but got old rather quickly. So instead of focusing on the couples I have been sticking my nose in books. I read a whole book in one day which for me is rather odd.
There are also plenty of long course 50 meter pools here which automatically makes my heart smile but just as quickly turns to a frown to find all the outdoor pools seem to be closed down for "the winter" (its in the 60s and 70s during the day... what!). My search hasn't ended yet though as a new friend told me of a nice one that could possibly still be open. If not I will settle for the indoor Olympic sized pool that a short walk from my hostel.
I feel at home in water. It's therapy when I am struggling with something in life. I can just dive in and do what became robotic growing up... swim. And when I start to think too much... I just keep swimming. And then somehow my thoughts seem to do 1 of 2 things: fade away or become more clear. Running has the same effect on my thought life but it is not home... that can only be said of swimming for me.
I sometimes wonder what my life would look like right now if I had been born in Australia. Swimming is such a prized sport here that I could still be racing. About the only swimmer Americans could name would be Phelps and maybe the "Thorpedo"... but here everyone knows the good swimmers. But it doesn't do any good to think that way... its not reality.

A day in the Airport

When I approached the counter this morning at 5:50 am I was told my flight was cancelled.  I'm now stuck in the Auckland Airport until 3.  Could be worse.  Got a good read.  It's Not About the Bike.  Story of Lance Armstrong's life.  Although I am not a huge fan of his in some ways, his story is honest and inspiring.  All for now, Sydney awaits and hopefully a place to sleep as well.  

Much Love,

Hannah 

SOPHIA

I am back in Auckland staying with Travis and Brooke. I thought I would show you their precious little girl Sophia! She loves me. No really she is constantly looking at me. I think I am a foreign body in the house that she hasn't quite figured out yet.
Besides admiring how precious Sophia is... I took a long run in the pouring rain which was refreshing and Needed!
Oh and the other huge update is that my mom is meeting me in Sydney!!! I leave this Sunday and she is meeting me on July 4th! More on this tomorrow!
Much Love,
Hannah

The Cutest Couple

Well I have found that my favorite part of the day is the mornings. While I have been in Paihia (Bay of the Islands) I have been getting up for a morning run. After my run I have been walking along the water to cool down. While doing this I met the cutest couple fishing. We began to talk and for the last three days I have stopped to talk to them for quite a while. They are in their 80's and have been married 53 years!!! At the end of every conversation the cute man makes sure to tell me to be careful traveling alone and not to fall for any kiwi men. I wondered why he kept telling me this and this morning I found out. He told me that one of his daughters went to travel in Scotland when she was 21 and never came home because she fell for a Scotish man(she is now 45)! I told him not to worry and assured him that my favorite people to talk to have been people their age. They have so much life to share.
Anyhow I keep thinking of the most clever interesting things to write on my blog when I am lying in bed on walking along the beach but when I try to sit down and remember those thoughts they are long gone. SO I am sorry my blog has merely been an account of my activities but it will have to do for now:)
Much Love,
Hannah

Nintey Mile Beach/ Cape Regina

My two Aussie friends trying to chew fresh oysters from Ninety Mile Beach! We drove all the way down the beach on the bus!

Tip of New Zealand (Cape Regina)

Two Seas Coming Together

My favorite part of the trip... we Rode down the Sand Dunes on Boards... and I almost fell into the water at the bottom!!!

Trip to the Bay of Islands

I left Auckland this AM and starting my journey North to the Bay of Islands which consists of 144 Islands and is a New Zealand summer hot spot. To the right is a picture of the Hold in the Rock... world famous in NZ! And below it is one of the dolphins that was swimming and playing with our boat... a pod of about 30 dolphins were present but they are just to fast to get good pics of! This was all part of out 3 hr cruise around the Islands.

The tree in the picture is a mere 800 years old. We stopped by on our trip north It is thought that if you hug the tree and press your nose up against it you will have a safe journey... so that is exactly what I did :) Our bus driver let me know that if I was to try and cut this down I would be thrown in jail or beaten by a local... there is only about 100 of these trees left in New Zealand and lets just say they are precious to the land.