preview.

well, 2008 is finally here. I didn't think it would ever come. Now we're almost done with the first month and there's so much to look forward to. Mainly, I'm graduating this year and I'm awaiting the opportunity to spread my wings of independence...literally! Four days after graduation I'm leaving for Australia with my amazing friend Amy and we're going to travel the country (and continent!) for 5-6 weeks. I'm anticipating that it's going to be absolutely wonderful.

Now all we have to do is prepare for our adventures.
Ugh, the tedious work of planning flights, accomodations, determining a budget, what gear to pack...it's kinda stressful. I'm not going to worry too much about it though becuase ultimately I know that even if I obsess over planning everything, something will probably go wrong. That's the way life is. You can't control everything, ESPECIALLY when you're traveling. You're in a sense, at the whim of fate. Mr. Almighty or Mother Nature or whatever you want to call it I'm sure enjoys playing with us simpletons. =]

Anyway, I'm facing a dilemma as far as our itinerary goes. Amy and I are planning to fly into Sydney and spend 3-5 days there. Then we're heading West all the way out to Broome. I never imagined that Australia is so gigantic! seriously! "Hopping" from Sydney to Broome is anything but! In fact, it's like flying from Atlanta to San Francisco... crazy! Once we get to Broome however is where the problem exists. I want to head South to see Ningaloo Reef, Coral Bay and Karijini National Park. We'll probably stop off in Port Hedlund along the way. But the thing is, is that I eventually want to go back north to visit the Bungle Bungles. So I'm pretty much heading in the exact opposite direction and then having to back-track. I hate backtracking, but I can't resolve any other method to see everything. Flying into Perth and traveling north along the coast is out of the question because of the amount of time it would take to travel such a distance. And yet, Coral Reef is almost halfway inbetween Perth and Broome, so either way we're going to be spending alot of time on the road. Hmm, I'll have to think on this one a little bit.

After that first segment of the trip is resolved, we'll be heading north towards Darwin (but we aren't going all the way.) We'll probably stop in Kununurra and board a train to take us south to Ayers rock. [I'm not sure how expensive that'll be...I guess I need to find that out.] I want to spend a good 3-4 days at Ayers rock and the surrounding wonders such as Alice Springs. One morning, I want to wake up with the sunrise and go running around the base of Ayers Rock. It'd be a good 6-7 mile run and I'd experience some satisfying spiritual bonding time with the bulbously red formation. tehehe. Also, I want to ride camels and go to the astronomical observatory. Wouldn't it be absolutely incredible to use on of those massive telescopes to see into the depths of space, with a clear Australian outback atmosphere?? heck yes!

After Ayers rock, we'll fly from Uluru to Cairns and begin our beachy lifestyle. We'll head south down the coastline, experiencing the Great Barrier Reef (before its forever lost), some aussie sun and surf and maybe a few cute aussie college boys! wow, nothing like a 4,000 mile long distance relationship! haha. Anyway, Amy and I will then meet up with my parents in the Whitsundy Islands for a week of sailing around heaven, pretty much.

So, let's just say that that's a preview of what's to come! hopefully.

More fun to come. stay tuned.