Tasmania

 Tasmania is a beautiful place to live. I've been here now for a month and a half, and I've been able to get out of the city. Not too far outside yet, I'm still saving money at the moment, but I've seen enough to know that I'm very lucky to be here. It's the perfect time of year for Tasmania, all the farm work is coming up, it's not too cold... It feels like Canada here, for temperature anyways.

I took a bus up to the top of Mount Wellington. It's 10 degrees colder on the top of the mountain than in Hobar, but from up here you can see a spectacular view over the city and the river/ocean.

Amazing. Chantal left for a little while to work on a farm, and when she came back for the holidays we beached it pretty hard. Even got to try out a jet ski.

We do a lot of just hanging out.

Meeting people and partying, especially when it's their last drinks. <3

Christmas was lovely, very laid back, and easy going.

I read about a wildlife park that has Tasmanian Devil. It is called Bonorong National Park. It's one of those important places that helps animals. The Tasmanian Devil is at risk because of a tumor they can develop, and about 80% of them have it. Here there is a sanctuary for Devils.

Big Western Grey Male (I could not get over his chest muscles, what a guy)

Baby Wombat

Serious Koala

A Devil : )

I've been practising Kangaroo Origami.

My favourite place to go in Tasmania so far, down by the river, with some music, a few friends, and mary j. I spent my birthday like this, and every time I go back I make sure it's at sundown when the bridge lights up. 

Beautiful. I need to tour around this island soon.

Under Down Under

Tasmania, it has some of the cleanest air in the world. The sun is deceitful, it bites you when you're not expecting. The wind may be cold, but secretly, you're getting a deadly sunburn from very high UV rays, Dangerous, and beautiful. An amazing combination. I arrived here on my own about two weeks ago. It was an experience.

In Melbourne I had very bad luck to the point where, when I arrived in Hobart, I just wanted to sleep in my hostel to avoid coming into more misfortune. I had gotten robbed once, and then jumped and robbed of my wallet and money at a night club. Leaving me with a pretty sore face, and no cards in a foreign country. Nevertheless, I have my best friend with me, and she sent me to Tasmania with cash in my pocket. I left for Tasmania, and she took the train to Sydney. 

My first week in Tasmania was full of depression, I slept through most of it. I did manage to meet some great people in that time, though. People who helped me work my issues out before Chan arrived, and helped to show me how generous people can be. I was stressing about what little money I had before I got robbed, for the first time. After the second time, I felt like I was being taught a number of lessons. 1) Stop being so petty, stop worrying so much about how much money you have. (Because I had NONE) 2) People are generally good, don't give too much trust, but stay open to possibilities. 3) I have an amazing friend, who really cares about me. This put a lot of minor issues to rest.

Although I appreciate the bad experiences as a learning opportunity (and it was), I'll skip to when we reunite.

Time to come out of my shell, leave the hostel, y'know? Go back to being an explorer. I lost it for a minute. It's a scary thought, knowing that you can change so quickly due to an outsiders actions.

Our friend Michael took us sailing on his boat, he's from Perth, Australia. When he bought the boat he had no idea how to sail, and he ended up teaching himself with the help of few others. The boat is a project, and it was a successful one. I really enjoyed this day. It was a great way to spend Chan's first day in Tasmania.

Then I saw my first Tasmanian Sunset

Everything is back to normal

Yesterday we went for a 4 hour hike up Mt Nelson

I went dreadfully unprepared, but once we made it to the top it was quite a view.

My first real look over Hobart.

Nate, Michael, Chantal, Michaelle, Me and Monique

Shoeless : )

When we got back to the hostel we were part of a birthday celebration for our mate Millin, It was very nice to be apart of this. I am very happy to settle in Hobart for the next little while, it's everything I want in a place, small, quiet and intimate. I can't wait to get outside of the city, to experience wild Tasmania, and have something to really write about!