Welcome to OZ

In the movie Wizard of Oz, Dorothy clicks her heels three times and says "There's no place like home. There's no place like home." and poof!!... she finds her self in a better place and surrounded by her family. With only a backpack and no room for my glittery red heels I was going to have to find a different way of getting through the aftermath of a Tornado that just rocked Chey and my world. No need to panic...it wasn't a real Tornado, but if I had some magical red shoes right about now I might give them a little click.

You see, Cheyenne and I got into Sydney, Australia a couple weeks ago. Cheyenne's freshman collage roommate, Marrissa…who you will soon know well after I get though with this adventure, hooked us up with a friend who lives in the charming district of Surry Hills. Our new friends Katy, Stephen, and Alex housed us, partied with us, introduced us to the game of Rugby…oh, and Cricket (but apparently we don't have a week to learn about that sport.) We explored the many famous sights this city has to offer. The Sydney Opera House, the beautiful botanical gardens, the harbor and the Zoo kept us busy for the first leg of our Aussie trip which originally ten days.

Giraffes always have the best view

Mama Kuala and here Baby...adorable.

Me, Marissa, Chey and the Tuna Can

Yet I'm still here…I will get to why. But first, Chey and I hopped on a flight up north to Brisbane to meet the infamous Marissa and the Tuna Can (which is her van in case you were wondering.) Surprisingly, three girls living in a van for eight days is quite cozy. It's like a cross between and sleep-over with your best girlfriends and camping in the outback all at once…but smaller. There was a lot of rearranging and shifting, but with a full kitchen, a bed and lots of pillows the Tuna Can rocked it out. Byron Bay is where Marissa has landed after uprooting her fabulous San Francisco self. After only being there for about three months, she has managed to create a network of friends that stretch throughout the Gold Coast and back again. This is part of the reason why Cheyenne and I were promptly invited to an Aussie wedding upon arrival. I should mention that this was a Rock Star wedding that made three Vagabonders want to fall in love! Not only did a double decker hippie bus take everyone from the best man's mansion in Lennox to mystical Tea Tree lake, but it was BOYB and everyone gathered around a humble blanket near the healing water for the ceremony. I loved every minute of it. Including the bride's champagne long sleeve mini dress! Anyway, to make a long night of rocking out with the rock stars seem short and not reveal too many details, I'll say this…It was epic fun and a night I will never forget, or will try to remember.

 If Marissa didn't already deliver on showing us a grand time she was about to win the greatest friend award twice over. She took a few days off work so we could road trip in the Tuna Can. Best idea ever! Byron bay was a ball, but it was time to explore a part of the outback us Cali girls didn't know existed…the rainforest. We ventured out to Minyon Falls and Protesters Falls was absolutely magical. Chey describes this place as Fern Gully and rightfully so…this gorgeous place was named in leiu of the tree hugging hippies that stopped it from being bulldozed to the grown back in the 70's. 

 

 

Marissa almost to the top of Mt. Warning

The leach that sucked on Marissa's toe for about an hour after out hike. Gross!

It was the next morning that put a huge wrench in our road trip and landed us at the local police station. We woke up early to get a head start on our climb up Mt. Warning. Without thinking twice about how ironic the name actually was we strapped on our hiking shoes and began our 9k hike. We successfully finished in 3 and a half hours! Considering the last leg of the mountain required chains to get to the top, I thought that was pretty good. Until of course we got back to the car.

Some no-good-tweeker-bizznatches broke into the Tuna Can and took everything…and im not exaggerating when I say everything. Day packs, purses, money, books, journals, swimsuits, money, passports…you name it. The only thing they didn’t take is what we took on this hike…our cameras (and all our vagabonding memories at that…fewww.)

After a few minor break downs and some tears, Thank god Cheyenne and I have the best Moms in the whole wide world! We had closed bank accounts, new bank cards, and a new journal in the mail and in hand within a day and a half. Rockstars! What would we do without you? I know…we wouldn’t be alive today and certainly wouldn’t be able to survive without you. Thanks mom!

So that brings me back to the reason why we ended up in Sydney for 6 days longer than anticipated. With no other choice…Cheyenne and I were on the next bus down to Sydney, and yes, I said bus. With no means of identifications we braved te 14 hour bus ride down to the only U.S. Embassy for new passports. Sp, back to Katy, Stephen and Alex’s house and soon to Ann’s where we were able to crash.

As you can see our friends here in OZ (Australia per the Aussie's) and our moms at home have deemed more than the Tin man, Cowardly Lion and the Scare Crow. They have taken us in, helped us through the storm and shown the kind of generosity you only see in the Hollywood flicks.

Next stop…Bali.

(Ps. I’m posting this blog a little late. Chey and I are in Bali and are having a blast!)