Our wonderful trip to Fraser Island began at 5:30am when we had to get up and be ready for pickup by Bushwacker Ecotours at 6:30am in front of the medical center on campus. He got lost along the way so did not arrive until 7:00am. What pulled up was rather humorous: a white, 4WD LandCruiser with two bench seats (facing one another) and a ceiling that was ripping apart. One of the rips reminded us of a jesus fish. Haha. Three other girls came in our group as well, besides Lindsey, Kyra, Pat, Justin and me. Three of us faced one way, three the other, and two girls in the front with Andy, our tour guide. There was a luggage rack ontop of the vehicle that he put all our bags in and tied it down. Right from the beginning I knew this trip was going to be funny/awesome. I was unaware of the length of the trip, so finding out that it was about 4 hours on mainland and an additional hour once on the island threw me for a serious loop. Commence the constant throwing around of bodies. We apologized to each other in the beginning so every time we slammed knees or fell on one another there was no need to say sorry. It was a lot. Kyra and I were consistently hitting shoulders, and I occasionally slid onto Katie. Hilarious, yet headache inducing. It was nice watching the landscape change, from Robina to Brisbane to farmland (whereever we were). Four hours went by and we arrived at Rainbow Beach- a small shopping/eating complex area with a lookout and boardwalk area that lead to the ocean. We stopped here for lunch of cold cut sandwiches and playing in the sand (and with dead frogs, we aren't children or anything, haha). After lunch and mischief, we had to trekk over to Inskip point where the ferry picked us up. We were able to get out of the car and Andy said if we looked hard enough we would be able to see dolphins, but no luck for us. I really hope I see a few before we leave here. It's so different seeing animals in zoos and their natural habitat. The way Australians live and honestly care about their surroundings has taught me to care and appreciate them too.

Once on the island, after a short 10 minute ferry ride, we started our beach driving adventures. You have to be extremely careful when 4WDing on sand because it is easy to tip the car, flip, and get stuck in very wet, soft sand. Andy made sure that we were driving in previously made tracks and staying away from the tide. At one point though, we were blocked by large pieces of driftwood trees and branches, the tide was too high, and we had to back track and take THE bumpiest gravel/sand road I have ever experienced in my life. I am pretty sure I can still feel the rattle in my bones on occasion. Once the car was shut off, the island was the quiestest, most serene place I have ever been in my life. You could only hear cicadas, the waves and your breathing. Eurong Resort was more like a hostel/backpackers hotel, but we didn't pay thousands for a 5 star hotel, so I wasn't complaining. Our room had a kitchen with minifridge, orange 70s style carpeting, and 2 sets of bunk beds with our own bathroom. While the beds felt like they were going to collapse and the shower overflowed, it was still our temporary home and I made the best of the situation. As soon as we changed into our bathing suits, we journeyed north on the island (75 mile beach, it is called) to Lake Wabby. Now let me just tell you. Our guide liked to tell us that everything was a "short walk" and could be "completed in flip flops/thongs" so it seemed to sedate my nerves about hiking. WELL LET ME TELL YOU. Haha. We journeyed through some forest for about 2/3km and then had to walk...across a sandblow for 1km. For those of you who do not know what a sandblow is- it is basically desert. Straight up desert. All sand. All dunes. Up and down in 90 degree weather. For what seems eternity. My calves have never been so worked out in my life and at one point I considered being dramatic and falling to my knees. I have no idea how Bear Grylls does it. That man is sicknasty. Ugh. Making things look easy. Anywho, after the painful walk 1km to the lake I noticed I had to walk almost 90 degrees DOWN a sand dune to get to the lake and swim. At this I thought "holy good lord I have to walk back UP???" We swam for a while to relax our legs and cool down. Saw some gigantic catfish and turtles far away AHHH! Then. Andy "Alright guys lets go!" Commence my crying. For every one step UP the hill, it was 3 back. Needless to say I was quite behind. Kyra, Lindsey and I all ended up being left slightly behind. Yeah, Andy, we do this on a regular basis, please abandon us. Haha. It was definitely the adventure and I feel very accomplished for completing such a task with very few complaints. How many people walk 1km of desert? Ya know? Sigh. We got back to the resort, showered and relaxed before dinner. My ankles cried to me the entire evening. Oh! I forgot! On the way back to the resort there were two dingoes playing around in the sand. Andy pulled over and we got out to see them up close (not recommended....haha) and one of them came within 1ft of us! It was the coolest thing ever. Andy clapped at her and showed dominance- she galloped away. They are beautiful dogs and I can definitely see how little children could get into a lot of trouble.

The next morning we woke up and got ready for 7am breakfast and head out by 8am. 4 Wheeled all the way to the northern tip of the island called Indian Head. Once again Andy told us that the walk could be completed in flip flops (for some reason calming me even though I should know that he is a big liar, haha). We ended up walking straight up gigantic black/brown, slippery rocks, hiking up over trees and more flattened rocks to get to the very top of the cliff. The view, of course, was absolutely breath taking and I took about 60 pictures of the water and trees (which will most certainly bore anyone who wasn't personally there to witness it). He said that at certain times during the day you can watch the sharks. Once we *magically* arrived back at the bottom of the cliff (I almost sort of slipped just a little, YAY) we drove around and hopped into that shark infested water. Hells yeah. I still can't get used to seeing my feet when I swim in the ocean. I just stare, like a toddler. The rocks to the side reminded us of the Little Mermaid so we scurried over there to sit on them and roast. Saw TONS of little jellyfish that had washed up with the tide. It's very strange how their bodies are so tiny (maybe an inch in side) and their tentacles can go on for about 12inches. Scary, yet intriguing. From there we explored more of the island, since Andy had never been up that way. Went to some look outs, lakes, sandblows (no walking over them, don't fret!) Lake Allom is a freshwater lake that is most popular for its population of turtles. Yes, I said it. Turtles. We walked down a few steps and were able to get right up to the water level. I counted at least 10 turtles with their heads poking up, looking at us. My brain was mush, leaking out of my ears. I was whispering so softly as to not scare them. I could have easily stayed there for hours, just watching them do their thing. The Maheno shipwreck was hardcore Titanic style. The boat was being towed to Japan for repairs or something, and a winter cyclone (the only one recorded in Australia's entire history) pulled it ashore. It is in the most intense stages of deterioration and slowly sinking in the sank. After more sightseeing, we were allowed to nap/relax by our beach resort and await dinner.

Day 3! Up again for 7am breakfast and out of the resort, all packed and settled, by 8:30am. Our main attraction today is 1) Rainforest 2) Lake Birabeen. The rainforest hike was pretty easy and only about 2km long. Frightening: at LEAST 2 inch body length spider, really pissed off that we were walking near it. Pat almost stepped on it and then freaked out. The spider was so enraged that it's front legs were clearly in attack position. We didn't know what kind of spider or how dangerous it was...all we knew was that I was about to pee my pants and curl into the fetal position because it was the biggest spider I have ever seen with my own two eyes. Eventually we all were able to run around/hop over it and they made fun of me because I couldn't look at it so I just ran and hoped for the best. Oh me. Lindsey even has it on video. AHHH. I will be the first to be extinguished if there is a spider attack on this island. Lake Birabeen is the purest lake in all of Australia, you can drink it and use the sand to clean your jewelry. The sand was pure white and the consistency of flour- or as Justin liked to say "It's like pure COCAINE!"

Overall the trip was about relaxation. Just another addition to our lovely 4 month vacation.

I am setting up a shutterfly account so that everyone can see my pictures, I only post a few here because the system is really slow. I put everything on facebook, but I know people who read this may not be friends with me there. Once I have all the pictures set up I will post the link.

Back to a week of school. Sigh!

Update again soon =)