My Travel Journal
Before leaving on the trip, I attended group meetings with
my fellow P2P Student Ambassadors. We had to learn many things before
beginning our trip. Things such as packing, etiquette, airport
check-in and security, passports and customs along with learning about the
culture, ways, and economy of Australia. One of the most important
things I learned, was how to write a travel journal. I've shared my travel
journal below and hope you all enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing
it!
June 25th 2004
Today was the big day .I checked over everything
to make sure I wasn’t forgetting anything and finally it was time to leave.
We took the L to the airport and we went to meet up with my delegation.
After going over all the final details it was time to get on the plane.
After a 4 hour flight we finally got to LA.
June 26th
We lost a day as we crossed the International
Date Line on our flight to Australia. We spent a long time on the plane from
our flight from LA to Brisbane.
June 27th & 28th
Day 1-Zoo+Hotel
Day 2-Animal Sanctuary-Aquarium
During the last two days we arrived in Australia we
have gone to Steve Erwin’s Australian Zoo. An Animal Sanctuary and the
Aquarium. At the zoo we actually saw Steve Erwin! But He was riding his bike
so I didn’t get a picture of him L.
The next day at the animal sanctuary we all had a chance to hold a koala but
we had to pay $8.50 to hold them. So I didn’t get to hold one ‘cause I
didn’t want to spend that much to hold a koala. After that we walked around
the sanctuary and saw wombats, kangaroos, deer and emus. We got to feed the
kangaroos and deer oh and the emus too. When I tried to feed the emus they
pecked my hand so all the food fell to the ground!!! We also got to pet the
kangaroos. They’re really soft. We then got back on the coach and went to
the Aquarium. We saw a whole bunch there! Like sharks, seals, otters, sea
cucumbers, frogs and a lot of fish!!!!
June 29th
Today we had a very long coach ride. We were
heading to the farm stay. I got car sick-_-;
We watched a movie called Man From Snowy River
then we watched some episodes from the Simpsons. We stopped at a BP gas
station after 2 hours to get some snacks. After we got back on the bus and
after another hour of driving we reached a dairy ‘museum'. We played
football there and ate lunch. In a little shed they had a CUTE calf. It was
was soooo adorable!!!! Finally when we arrived at the farm we ate dinner. We
then went to a camp fire. There we told stories and ate toasted
marshmallows. We then went to bed.
June 30th
Today we went horseback riding. It was a lot of
fun. I got a white horse called Lucy. Emily got Lucy’s horse friend Diamond.
After a nice long hot walk we got back. I played basket ball with a boy
named Chris. Allison and I won 4 to 1!! We then went for a bush walk were we
learned how to milk a cow how to whip a cow whip and throw a boomerang. We
also climbed an extinct volcano. When we got back and after we ate dinner we
went to one of the larger cabins and we learned how to bush dance!!!!
July 1st Long Island
We have just arrived at the hotel. Tyler,
Charlene and I are planning to go swimming later.
LATER….
Didn’t go swimming till after dinner. While the 3
of us where walking around we saw some wild wallabies!!!!! Actually we saw
them 3 times. We then saw a mama and a baby wallaby together on our way back
from dinner! Then the three of us went swimming. Here at the hotel they have
2 pools. Well that’s it!!!!
July 2nd
Today I got to swim for a long time. It was
awesome!!!! First we swam in the pool with volleyball net then we went to
the lap pool. At the deepest end of the lap pool it was like 12 feet!!!!Then
Tyler, Charlene and me went to the beach were we rented canoes. After that
we went to lunch. It was hamburgers and fries. The whole group then went to
the beach to play volleyball. It was low tide then and the beach seemed a
lot bigger. My team won the volleyball game. We then went on a bush walk
through the forest preserve by the resort. When we got to one of the shores
it was low tide also so we looked through the rocks. The boys found this
big blue and red crab. We also found hundreds of baby crabs hiding in the
rocks. We also found 5 other grown crabs. When we got back we toad raced.
hats it!!!
July 3rd
Today we went snorkeling. I didn’t go snorkeling for
very long because salty water kept getting in my eyes and mouth. When it got
in my eyes it stung!!!! So I got out and went back on the boat. Emily went
with me. They still had food out so I ate some more. I really only stayed in
the water for like 15 minutes. When we got back to the resort we watched
Finding Nemo.
July 4th
We had a long bus drive today. When we finally
got to the hotel we had a party because it was the 4th of July.
The other delegation from California and Utah was there too. During the
party we had karaoke it was cool. After that we went upstairs and went to
bed.
July 5th
Today we went to a place called the Dream Time
Cultural Center. It was interesting. We learned how to throw boomerangs and
heard a story. We also learned about the aborigines and their weapons and
other things they used to survive. We then went to an auditorium were we saw
some aboriginal dances. Its was cool. After we left there we went to the
Capricorn Caves. We saw a fruit bat when we got there. After we arrived we
had lunch and went to the gift shop. While I was eating I saw some wild
turkeys. After lunch we went into the caves. One cave we went into was
called the Cathedral Cave. They actually used to hold weddings in that cave.
After we explored the caves we all went to different activities. I did one
were we had to climb through a tunnel. After that we got back no the bus and
went back to the hotel.
July 6th
We drove to Brisbane today. It took forever. We
stopped at the tropic of Capricorn on the way. I slept most of the time.
When we got to the hotel we took all our stuff up to our rooms then went to
dinner. It was a really fancy dinner tonight. After that we all went back to
our rooms and went to sleep.
July 7th
Today when we arrived in Sydney we went to the
Sydney Opera House. When we where their we looked around. After we looked
around we went outside. I learned that the tiles on the roof of the Opera
house are actually super glued on. We then left the Opera House and went to
a place called The Rocks. This was the place were the convicts that settled
in Australia first came. We had to put on costumes and walk around like
that. We stopped at this one place were a guy was hung. After that we drove
back to the hotel.
July 8th
Today we went to Manly Beach. We went boogie
boarding. Well it was sort of like that. We got onto these form boards and
laid there on them. One time when a wave was coming up behind me it knocked
me off and I got salt water in my mouth. After we got done swimming we did
some beach games. Later on we went to this mall were an Opal Store was. We
got to see how they shaped and shined opals, how they mined them and an
opalized skeleton that they had on display! I got my mom a nice opal
necklace there. After that we had some free time so we roamed around the
mall. Charlene, Tyler, Emily, Jaylan and I were in a group together. We got
ice-cream and went to a whole bunch of stores. Then the whole group went
back on the bus and we went back to the hotel.
July 9th
Today we went on a breakfast cruise around Sydney
Harbor. After that we drive to a park were we saw the chair of Lady
Elizabeth Macquarie (wife of a famous governor). We then went to get our
picture taken in front of the Sydney Opera house After that we went to a
mall were a spent a lot of money. I did the rest of my shopping there. After
that we got back on the bus and drove to the Olympic Park. First we saw
Stadium Australia. Then after a tour of the field we walked over to the
Aquatic c4enter.After that we went to Hard Rock Café for dinner.
July 10th Our Final
Day……. L
After we packed our stuff we made sure we had
everything in our carry-on. We then went to the airport went through
security and all that other stuff and got on board to fly home.
