Katoomba in the Blue Mountains!

Training for the special olympics...

In the heart of the Blue Mountains
Creek coming out of Katoomba Falls
Top part of Katoomba Falls we hiked to!

The Three Sisters (The 3 tall rock peaks)
Inside a sandstone cave by the 3 Sisters

Mapping out our 10 mile hike!
Getting on our first train over to the Blue Mountains!!
Night before we left for Katoomba... eating free soup from the hostel... no wonder it was free

Some pics from the last few days!

Some random snacks at the grocery store...they're really weird here!! The milk bottle candy is by far the grossest we've seen. (Don't worry, we didn't actually buy/try these)

So we were laughing really hard saying how immature we were because we saw these and thought they looked like balls, and then it turned out they really were. "Hey guys, anyone have a bottle opener?" "Yea here's my kangaroo scrotum."

:( Trying to figure out our stupid calling cards so we can call home, but we can't get them to work for the life of us! :( We're working on it!

Last night there was a beach party at the Scary Canary (the bar at our hostel.) Yes, Ashley is wearing seashells...and we didn't even win the prize for best costume (which was a $100 bar tab...it was a probably a good thing we didn't win.)

A cool waterfall in the back of a random cafe in the middle of the city...

After the disappointing apartment search, Holly and I went and bought squisheys (stuffed sharks) to comfort us. It was a long and strenuous selection process of which Sharkeys to buy, but we think we made the right choice. We love them :) No names yet, but we'll keep you posted. We're also open to suggestions.


So the first video is self-explanatory. The second one on the other hand is not. Ashley isn't really drinking a random water bottle, we promise! Ash had just set it down there to take a picture, then walked away. So we were laughing really hard that we had to go back and pick it up...people were looking at us funny. Then we happened to run into Creeper McGee, some Brazilian guy who actually got kicked out of our hostel for peeing in the hallway...HA!

We're officially nomads :)

SURPRISE! So the apartment search didn't really turn out so well...places here are ridiculously expensive and the only ones we can afford are TINY one-bedroom studios in the ghetto (and those are even $1400 a month!) The place we went to see in Newtown (that we were really excited about) was AWFUL! It was in the worst part of town, had broken windows and graffiti all over it, and had a hot plate and mini-fridge for the "kitchen." Did we mention the mattress took up the entire room (and the place was only one room?) Oh and there was a stabbing in front of the place the night before..HA! So yea, we felt like we would be throwing our money away to rent an apartment and have decided to just backpack around the country for now and stay in hostels along the way :) Not what we planned on...but we're super excited! We're heading over to the Blue Mountains tomorrow for the weekend to hike, then hopping on a train Monday and heading up to Byron Bay (a really cool beach town.)

Our new home

Today we learned the MAC store here in Sydney offers free internet on their computers (for people to "try out" macs...  So we've literally spent the last 4 1/2 hours on their computers doing research/emailing/etc.  The store employees caught on, but were actually suuper friendly about it and even moved us upstairs to their "training area" so we could have seats and not be bothered...HA!  We are going to upload a video later and let you all know our new plans...they have changed slightly...

Beginning of Spring in Sydney!

Hi everyone! Today we had an unexpected downpour. We started the morning out in skirts and tanktops, headed to Mickey D's for breakfast, and it was pouring by the time we left! Luckily the hostel was close so we ran back and got our matching raincoats :) (Thanks Bro!) We are going to look at a one-bedroom studio apartment at 11 in Newtown, so we are keeping our fingers crossed that we like it and it works out! Last night was our first official "night out" and we had a lot of fun! We also made our first friends--YAY! Their names are Batman, Brazil, Holland, Ireland, Denmark, London, Joe, and Kevin and Benni (our bunkmates.) 

Ash and Ireland dueling it out playing oldschool Street Fighters!!  Ireland won :(
Our first girl friend, Toni!! She is from Mercer Island and is living with her Aunt and Uncle in Manly Beach. (Jaclyn knew Toni and introduced us via facebook--thanks Jac!) :) This is in Darling Harbor.
So we didn't really order 2 giant beers each, but the girl at the bar was just really nice and gave us each an extra--no joke!! Everyone here is so friendly!!
Double-click on this and read the first paragraph--pretty funny! All of their newspapers here are about America and our economy/politics.

Mmmmmm Starbucks :)

Outside Paddy Maguires, an Irish Pub we went to that Holly had actually gone to before with Broderick when they were here!! (...remember this B?!)
Holly lounging in our luxurious hostel!! I sleep above her--the bunks squeak like no other. Everytime I roll over I fear the bunk will collapse and crush Holly!
We forgot to post this one the other day...we were looking at these weird looking "birds" in the park, and when we got closer realized it was hundreds of BATS!! We found out they are friendly fruit bats, aka "flying foxes." We like them :)


Funny little video...running back from McDonalds breakfast attempting to take a picture, not realizing it was on record...Laughing hysterically in the rain :)

G'Day :)

Hi Hi :) We went out for drinks last night with our italian flatmate to an irish pub (a pub that I had been to two years ago with B actually!). We'll post pics later. This morning we made it "home" (aka Starbucks) for what might have possibly been the best vanilla latte ever made! Now we are at an internet cafe looking for apartments, which is proving to be much more difficult than expected. The banks here don't open until like 9:30 am or so, super weird, but we are waiting to get to the bank to open checking accounts. Back to the flat search for now! xoxoxo

We've arrived!

Hi everyone! We arrived safely in Sydney and are just trying to adjust to a normal sleeping schedule...we're 17 hours ahead here!! We are staying in a 4-person room at the Base Hostel--our bunkmates are really nice!! It still feels a little like home with a Subway and 7-11 across the street! We woke up at 5:30 this morning after sleeping 14 hours and walked down to the Opera House and Sydney Harbor Bridge. Then we walked for about two hours through the Sydney Gardens which are absolutely beautiful!! Take a look at a few of our first pictures :) We are at an internet cafe right now, then plan on heading over to Darling Harbor to explore some more and get a Toohey's (their most popular beer here.) We miss you all!! xoxo