Ohhhh, how the time goes...by...

Last weekend Kat and I explored all over the Whitsundays. What a great sailing trip it was! We left Townsville and headed down south a few hours, by bus, to Airlie Beach to start our weekend. We stayed at the Airlie beach Hotel, which was perfect location. All of our friends gave us the worst impression of Airlie. They told us it was complete trash and that we should only stay one night because the town is so tiny. I mean, I'll give them the small town thing. But, Airlie was just gorgeous! We both love little beach towns and cafes and things so this place was perfect. Who knows, I guess they had a bad impression from a bad hostel or something. Later that night, we dined at a restaurant and bar called Uber. Very interesting place, they had the biggest selection from a drink menu that I've ever seen! We both tried two completely random drinks that were very tasty and rather strong. For dinner, we shared tapas that included kangaroo, crocodile, barramundi and massive prawns. We had the best bruschetta either of us had ever had as well. All around a classy, chill place to dine. We left the next morning to go sailing around the great barrier reef islands. We stayed on the boat for a night, awful sleep... Well, we didn't get much sleep, but totally worth it in my opinion. We got to snorkel and lay out on the boat all weekend. They took us to Whitehaven beach, which is one of the top 5 beaches in the world. Absolutely gorgeous. It was seriously wonderful. This weekend with Kat was my favorite weekend here. I thoroughly enjoyed the trip and her company. Cheers!

Our Whitsunday Adventures!

This week, we all went to Cactus Saloon for the last cheap Tuesday. It was sad, just means the end is near! Besides that, I have been preparing for an exam that I just took yesterday. It was fine, all went well. After finishing, I went over to Maggie for the night with Kat so I could finish my diving certification! I am so happy it's over with! A serious weight has been lifted off my shoulders, I was really stressing about finishing it. Hence why I've waited two months to finish it. Whoops! Ah well, I finished and now am officially certified. It was not nearly as hard as I thought it was going to be which is always a plus. Finishing my diving was the last on my Aussie check list!

As my travels wind down to an end, I can honestly say I have not had one regret here in Australia. I have 11 days left in this country. I have visited everywhere I wanted to go and I'm still not finished. I leave for Melbourne tomorrow for a few nights. I return on Wednesday night and leave Thursday morning for a roadtrip. I am doing all of these journeys by myself! I am actually really excited about that because I could've never imagined going on vacation by myself before I came here. Its made me appreciate the love of my own company. It'll be nice to travel alone. I can do what I want, when I want, how I want... for however long. I really have grown here as a person. Traveling really changed my perspective on the world for the better. I have such a stronger love for the USA now and feel that their truly are endless possibilities. I plan to expand my horizons all over the world. I'm not solely content with just knowing this country and my own. I want to see the world, I can only imagine that it will make me grow more! I would love to see new cultures and take myself outside of my boundaries even more so. I find it intriguing.

I really do miss home. I miss the simple things though, it's not just about the big picture. Perhaps things that I took for granted at home will now be cherished closer to my heart. I miss being able to wake up in my own comfortable bed and going upstairs to have a bagel with philadelphia cream cheese and pulp orange juice with my dog and Ryan and whoever else might be home. It really is true, there is no place like home and I've come to realize that along my travels. There is no place like where you grew up. Nothing will ever be able to replace that. I miss gazing out onto the mountains where I grew up and breathing in the fresh air... Or the land we have to roam! I just really enjoy being outside and I feel that I've taken that for granted at home because it's always been there. I know that when I return to Maryland, I will bring the laid back lifestyle I've become accustomed to over here in Oz. There's just no point in living life so fast like we do in the States. The simple things in life really are what matter and that is a life lesson I've learned to be true over here. I can't wait to see my family and friends. It's been a while, although my friends and home have not changed... I have for the better. And that, will most certainly take time to get adjusted to. A whole new culture that I've forgotten about, I don't know what it's like. It's quite hard to explain. I've just totally adapted to the means of life over here. I remember home how I do in my head, of course I do. However, this is my home now. I will have reverse culture shock, I know this. I just don't know what to expect. I'm sure it will be difficult, but I'll get through it like I always do. Sure, I'll miss this place. I'll miss it a lot. I've created many great friends through my time here. I keep telling myself they're in America. They're not gone forever, although that's what it'll feel like. I met my American best friends in a foreign country... So strange. I will most definitely be keeping in touch with all of them. A little piece of my heart will remain in Aussie forever. I'll be back, my travels aren't completely finished over here. This was my independent time, my five months of exploring and creating myself. It's time to head back to where I call home, I really cannot wait! It's been great, an absolutely indescribable long ass haul, but I know where I belong.