Cyclone and British Wimp; Australian Adventure; Day 5

I have been away from home for a week today... crazy how time flies!

I was back at the zoo today and this time working with reptiles... NEVER. AGAIN. 

was all up for being brave and trying new things but seriously! I held a snake and dealt with it, I could probably feed a crocodile if I got given an opportunity too but today I had to clean out rats and mice and their poo and dirt and their dead bodies and their babies and if they were ill I had to kill them and OHMYGOODNESS! I think I have found my phobia - rats and mice.
It was disgusting and horrible and the aussie's probably all thought I was a blonde, british wimp because at the end of the day I told them I would not be working in reptiles again but mammals because I can cuddle them. 

Looking back on it I can chuckle but at the time I really wanted to cry. I don't know what it was about them but I just couldn't bring myself to fall in love with that particular job... 

The highlight of the day was getting to help carry a python.. he was too heavy for me too hold alone and he probably could have wrapped himself round my whole body in the space of 30 seconds! Holding a snake felt odd, because every time he wriggled it felt like his skin was breaking in half, it was also a slimy texture. 

I had to wear one of these masks as the rats and mice stunk! With my friends Livvie and Taylah
.

After work I got the bus home and then decided to walk for some of the way... I got a little bit lost and had to ask a local for directions but hey wheres the adventure without getting lost once in a while! 

I also met a friendly kangaroo that I have named Ringo....  Tonight I shall be eating omelette and chilling before another day of work tomorrow. Also a cyclone is meant to be happening tomorrow.. never experienced one of those before! 

Until tomorrow (unless the cyclone or crocs get me) xxxx

LOVE FROM ME AND RINGO XXX

Australian Adventure; Day 4

I can't really put into words how I am feeling right now - I feel like I have this overwhelming sense of peace inside me, and I just feel so happy, so blessed and I don't have any alcohol in my system.

Today was my first day of working at the tropical zoo and it was fabulous! I have never in my life thought of, or really wanted to work with animals - but when the opportunity was given to me I couldn't turn it down. Why not do something completly out of my comfort zone?!

Today I worked with mammals! The first few jobs of the day were not that thrilling and I was dreading that I was going to be stuck doing boring jobs all day... I had to bleach and clean the koala cages and rake leaves... but I kept reminding myself that whatever you do work at it with ALL your heart and anyway I was in the blazing sun!

I then got to feed and clean and cuddle and pet the animals. In Australia it is SO laid back! My first day, no training and they send me off into the kangaroo cages ALONE to feed them. But not just usual food - they like to give the kangaroos "enrichment" activities and so I sprayed peppermint, lemon and sprinkled cinnamon on rocks for the kangaroos (kind of to give them a bit of a high?!) and they came bounding over! It took everything in me not to squeal and run away.

There was a gorgeous animal called a wallaby who decided to crawl up my shorts because he had been raised by humans and was incredibly lovable.
There was also a baby kangaroo who had just been born and a koala that fell off its tree!

I did lots of feeding of animals and more leaf raking and watched a crocodile show. I also made some new gorgeous friends. Once again I can't really put into words how amazing an opportunity this is for me and I just wish I had TV cameras following me so that you could really feel the experience rather than just reading this badly written thing!

Here are a few photos...

Goodnight xxxx

Australian adventure; Day 2 & 3

Happy Sunday! 

This weekend has been a lovely one, full of relaxation, shopping and exploring. 

Palm Cove

Saturday; Today I sang... like properly sang for the first time in forever. It was quite emotional and I realized how much I enjoy it, how much I have missed it, and how complete it makes me feel. The concert is in 6 days time, so I shall be doing a lot of rehearsing for it this week! Then I went to a place called Palm Cove. Palm cove is a 40 minute walk along from the beach where I am staying. Here I ate lunch and went to bar after bar after bar for drinks. Then for dinner a lovely pizza restaurant - I have never had such a good pizza in my life! 

Sunday; This morning I woke up early and went to a monthly town market. I bought 2 beautiful dresses from a boutique called "Love Lucy" (check her out on facebook!) I then went and looked at the Botanical gardens and then on to a beach called "Yorkeys Knob!" (this name did make me giggle!From Yorkeys I then went on to a yot club where I had a drink and then headed to Smithfields, which is a shopping centre and here I picked up some more food for home (including these addictive biscuits called tim tams!) Then I came home and have been relaxing by the pool and have already finished one book!

Yot Club

Yorkeys Knob

Whilst at home on the friday I noticed a street on google maps called "Pease Street" so I was determined to find it and I did! 

Tonight will be a relaxing night at home, eating a home made curry as I start work at the zoo tomorow! I apologise that this entry has been a bit of a child's "what I did over the weekend" piece of homework; I'm too relaxed too enter into creative writing mode!

Have a good weekend xxxx

Day 1; Australian Adventure

Good afternoon from the other side of the World!
It is a stunning 30degrees here and I have already fallen in love with the tiny bit of Australia that I have seen. The beach is just a few minutes walk away...

The journey here went well apart from the fact that they lost my luggage! It should be here this afternoon... but how typical that as soon as I arrive the first thing I have to do is shop! There were two little mishaps on my journey. The first was when I landed in Dubai - I followed everyone else to the flight to Sydney, only to find out at the gate that I wasn't on the flight and so I had to run and then catch a TRAIN to my depature gate. That will teach me to follow the crowd!

The second mishap happened in Sydney. I didn't have a boarding pass to get on the plane as at Gatwick I was told I could get one from the Qantas desk at Sydney airport. At the Qantas desk they told me "no we don't do that you need to go to transfers" so off I went to the transfers desk. Transfers told me "No we don't issue boarding passes for the plane you are flying with" "What do I do then?" I asked, on the verge of tears now as I was incredibly tierd and felt disgusting from being in a tube in the air for 25 hours. "We don't know" they replied. I walked away praying that an angel would appear to show me how to get this flipping boarding pass! And sure enough a man asked if I was okay, I told him my problem and he told me all I needed to do was find my depature gate and they would give me my pass there. (Thank you God!)

So not a bad journey and if anyone is wanting to go to Australia but is being put off by the journey it really isin't as bad as it sounds.. endless food, endless movies... and endless sleep if you can sleep on a plane!

Today I have had a lazy day, been food shopping and reading by the pool... then tonight I'm having my first aussie BBQ and hopefully unpacking if my luggage arrives.
Saturday and Sunday will probably be more sight seeing of the town and beach, and then Monday I start working at the zoo which I am so excited about!

Write soon... let me know if you like this little blogs informing you of my time away!
Bethany xxxxx

Bon Voyage

This post is abit of a life update! 
This is it! I am off to Australia tomorow eeep! I have packed my suitcase and it only weighs 16kg! Woohoo!

 I am both excited and nervous and thats ok...
I'm nervous about saying goodbye to my family (goodbyes make my throat hurt) and I'm a little nervous about the 27 hour flight alone - however, I tend to fall asleep at the drop of the hat so I'm hoping all will be well and I shall sit next to some lovely stranger who won't mind if I rest my head on their shoulder and dribble a little.

But mainly I am SO EXCITED. I have wanted to go to Australia since I was little, and now I have been so blessed with the opportunity to go - it really is the best thing that has happened to me in my gap year.

It is only for 5 weeks, so it is like a long holiday but I really believe that sometimes you just need some time away to clear you head and think about things. And recently things have been a lot clearer for me and I believe that's because I'm stepping out of my comfort zone; I'm starting to push doors that I hadn't really thought about before, and I encourage you, if you are currently stuck in a rut to do just that.

There are many opportunities waiting ahead for me in Australia - I'm working in a zoo (which is something I would have never thought of doing before) and I will also be getting to do a lot of singing which makes me incredibly happy!

In the song posted above there is a verse that says "I tried control but I didn't know where I was going, I went down MY road, but my road just left me broken" And this is so true - I was living for myself, and at the end of the day we can make all the plans we want for ourselves but God knows what's best for us and his plans will always over power ours. How exciting that part of his plan for me was to go to Australia!

Last night at my youth group we had a talk on "disappointment, stress and failure" and the lady leading the talk said that her mum used to pray "may God's plans be 10 feet tall in front of you" I know so many people are praying for me that whilst I'm out in Oz everything will become much clearer and I am so grateful for that.

Thats all I want too say - I hope you are all having a great Monday, and I'll write to you all next from the other side of the World!
xxx