Goodbye to the Land Down Under!

Wow! I'm finally settled in back home and have recovered from the holidays! I realized that I didn't conclude my trip to Australia properly, because I left out my trip to Sydney. I left the Wilkens' family (it was very hard... I was impressed that all of them came to see me off, even at 5:00am!) I flew into Sydney on Saturday the 11th of December and arrived around 7:30am. As soon as I stepped foot off of the plane, I looked behind me hoping to see my travel buddy nearby! As much to my surprise, Andrea wasn't there, she had already made it back to the USA! So, I was set out to see Sydney all on my lonesome. I handled not having a travel buddy pretty well though, made sure I got my maps and had everything that I needed for my day adventure in Sydney! I sure did miss Andrea though, I would walk the city and think about how much fun we would have had touring this beautiful place together!

My day started with arriving at my hotel and storing my luggage while I went out on the town! I walked to the train station and took the train into the city. My first stop was Paddy's Market. Wanting to get my final lot of sunshine in before I returned home to the snow, I walked ALL DAY long outside (and yes Carol, I forgot my sunscreen!) :) After the markets and shopping around for a bit, I wandered in the city stopping at anything and everything I wanted to see. I made my way to see churches, parks, botanical gardens, and much much more. Around 3pm, I made my way to the harbour and walked around there for awhile admiring the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. I had a cruise planned and boarded the boat that took me on a hour long ride around the Harbour! It was such a beautiful scenic tour and I enjoyed every minute of it, because it was my last time to see Australia that way!

After my day in downtown Sydney and the Harbour, I stopped off to grab tea (dinner) and of course at Woolworth's to grab my last few items that I can't buy in America. Which of course were: 1. Creamed honey 2. Tim Tams (which now you can buy them here!) 3. Fruit tingles and 4. the infamous Lollies! I made it safely back to the hotel where I relaxed and finishing loading up my luggage for my flight back home!

I was nervous for the airport the next morning because I was yet again attempting to fly standby (what a fiasco that was the last time) however it all worked out perfectly. It couldn't have been better actually. Unfortunately, I had to wait until about when the flight was boarding to see if I could even enter through security and once I received my confirmed seat I had to RUN... no SPRINT to and through customs and security, then through the airport to make it to my gate so that I didn't miss the final boarding. The best part to the end of my trip was knowing that I had a confirmed seat back to the States and I WAS FLYING FIRST CLASS!!!!!!! It was amazing, I had the nice lay-back-into-a-bed seat with a down pillow and blanket, all the movies and drinks I could ask for. What more could a girl want!

I finally arrived to Los Angeles around 6am that morning, but the next morning in Australia (I leave Sydney on Sunday the 13th and arrive in LAX on the 13th of December!) A nice and easy 13 hour flight back to the States. I had to sit in LA for a little bit, but I just sat and played on the computer and listened to my new CD's from Blanche and Claire! Then it was time, to board my last and final plan FOR A VERY LONG TIME! I left LAX around 11:30am and arrived back to Kentucky where my momma, daddy, Nana, and my EDWARD were waiting for me! I was so excited to see everyone, I couldn't believe how fast my time went by but as soon as I saw them, it felt like forever had went by. Needless to say, my trip to Australia was beyond words. I am so thankful to my family and friends who supported me along the way and helped me get through the 2months of being away. I am forever thankful to my family and friends in the land down under for taking me in, making me feel right at home, and giving me the most amazing two months of my life! Australia is a beautiful country and I cannot wait to return back one day and hopefully bring Matt along next time to meet everyone there! I can't believe I'm already back home.... I'm already starting to save for my next trip down under! Cheers!