Sydney, Australia

We arrived back in the big city, just in time for Christmas, after a marvoulus week in the blue montains. I met up with my Swedish friend Cornelia who checked in to our hostel during these days. As Kat was meeting up with a friend during the day on Christmas Eve, Livy, Cornelia and I tried to find our way to the beach by walking. It took us a good 1,5 hour but we finally got there. Since I've been in sunny Australia I didn't got that much of an christmas feeling at all. Cornelia bought us some Swedish candy, Julmust and ginger cookies (pepparkakor), which at least taste like Christmas,  and we bought a bottle of wine to create a beach picnic - Swedish style. 

We took the bus back a couple of hours later, to get ready and meeting up with Kat and Stina for a Christmas dinner. We found a libaneise restaurant, which turned out to be super nice with tasty food and cosy atmosphere. We stay'd there for a couple of drinks as well and it was already past 10pm when we finally left. We got back to our hostel to consume a few more drinks before heading out. As we all (exept from Cornelia) been living on a farm in the middle of nowhere the past few months we were super exited for a proper night out. They kicked us out from the hostel, basically because Stina wasn't actually staying there and they wanted to keep the volume down after a certain time. The five of us went to the nearby park for a little while before heading out to the backpacker's party's area kings cross. We went between the bars and clubs around, lost Kat who met up with another friend, met some friends of Cornelia's and was basically drinking and dancing until early morning. A perfect night in every single way.

Me, Stina, Cornelia and Livy together with Cornelia's friends. 

I woke up after 1,5 hour sleep as Cornelia was catching a flight to Thailand. We planned to celebrate Christmas again, since Livy as a British person celebrate it on the 25th. Our plan changed when our hangover, tiredness and the massive almont of rain kept us inside. Me and Livy forced ourself out in the rain in the evening to meet Stina over a drink. Turned out that is wasn't as easy as it sounds. After getting lost a couple of times we finally found Stina in the rainy street and together we walked around for hours, throught the entire city without finding one single place thats open. How're you suppose to celebrate Christmas when there's nowhere to celebrate? We finally found ourselves soak wet in a bar right next to the opera house and Harbour bridge where we happily enjoyd a well deserved drink. 

We had to change hostel at the 26th, also called 'boxing day' and checked into our new hostel in the kings cross centre. This hostel turned out to be way more relaxed than our last one, and Livy could even sneak to spend the night in one of the free beds without paying. 

Me and Livy walked all the way to Glebe that day to hang out with Stina.  We had a coffe, Stina showed us around Glebe, the broadway shopping mall (which was packed with people because of the Boxing Day sale). Glebe is a wonderful, quiet suburb of Sydney, where Stina lived for 7 months before she came to Leeton. She's now staying at a friends place, where we went later to relax at their rooftop pool and to have a BBQ. 

Me, Stina and our delicious barbecue 

We went back to kings cross that night to go out for a few drinks, since it's Boxing Day and aperantly a common day to go out on. Like the 25th would be in Sweden. And it was also the last day with Livy before she was about to go to a friend in Wollongong the next day. We met Kat back at the hostel, and we all had a few drinks together with the people staying there before heading out again. 

The next day we had a really relaxed day at the hostel. The wether wasn't too good, so we ended up spending a few hours organizing pictures from the blue montains. We were also about to meet up with Nikolaj, who was arriving to Sydney from the fruitshack that evening. Liv decided to stay another night as well. On our way to get some food I happened to run in to my second cousin Patrick and he's friend on the street of kings cross. They just arrived to sydney from new Zeeland and about to check in to their hostel, just around the corner from mine. We met Nikolaj and Stina and brought them back to our hostel for a little catch up, and fruitshack gossip. Patrick and his friend came over as well and we all had a few drinks together. We had great fun, to meet up with everyone I haven't seen in a while. Bud I did wake up with the worst hangover in my life, I'm not even joking, and promised myself to never drink goone again. Me, Kat and Livy went down to the beach to meet up with Nikolaj and a welsh friend of his. Patrick was suppose to join as well but they ended up at the wrong beach. As we got back to the hostel we had to say goodbuye to Livy who was now leaving us after such an amazing time together. Stina came in the evening to have a few drinks together with Nikolaj and welsh James. We went to a small bar to meet James's friends and to a bigger one where me met Patrick and his friends as well. 

Patrick, Me and Stina in one of the king cross nightclubs 

At Sunday the 29, our 4th day at king cross me and Stina promised eachother not to let the night end the same as the last ones. We felt quite overdone with king cross and it's nightlife by now. 

Me and Kat spend the day down town, at paddy's market and china town. I mainly came with her as company since I promised myself to spend as small almont of money as possible. It's really hard beeing in Sydney thought. We decided to go to a karaoke bar in the centre area that night, to keep us away from kings cross. And because Karhe got over-exited by the idea. Me, Kat and Patrick met Stina in the centre where James and his friend joined us as well. The 6 of us got a room for ourselves where we were trying to sing together for the next 2 hours. None of us turned out to be very good singers, but it was great fun. 

I went to Stina's place in the morning, for a knäckebröd breakfast at the rooftop and ended up spending the whole day laying by the pool. We walked together back to kings cross, which we considered took us about an hour. We spend the evening basically trying to decide how to spend our new year. Either me or Stina did really care, we just wanted to be around our friends. But all of our friends wanted to do different things. In the end we decided that the best plan is to not make any plans. Go for a beer and take it from there. 

Blue Montains, Australia

Together with Liv and Kathe we were about to drive up to the blue montains for a one week trek and camping trip. Since we're all on the travellers budget, and knew that we had to put a lot of money while back in Sydney we all wanted to make this trip as cheap as possible. 

Isabella called me up at 7.30 in the morning as they where heading up to the Blue montains as well for a day trip. Since I couldn't wait to see my best friend I went straight to meet her up in the morning and to go with them up in the montains where I'd meet Kathe and Liv again that same evening. 

Since I haven't seen her in four month that catch up was amazing, and to spend the day with her and her family. We drove with their rented car up in the montains to go to echo point and the three sisters where we got the most breathtaking view over the montains. From there we drove to the other side of the valley to go on this skylifts between the montains and tiny trains down in the valley, the rainforest and spectacular waterfalls. In the end of the day we went to Katoomba, which is a quaint little town nearby. We had a little walk around but since Isabella's brother where feeling sick they decided to head back to Sydney and therefore drop me off to meet up with Kathe and Liv again. 

Even if the sights, views and everything from this day was amazing, the most enjoyable thing was to be around my best friend again. It gave me new travel energi, and I recon that if a could meet someone close from home a little now and then, I could keep traveling for ever. 

             Isabella and I  at echo point with the view over three sisters 

Me, Kathe and Livy drove to one of the free camping spots nearby. The road there was one of the worst I've ever seen, in which we were stuck with for 9 km before we reached this beautiful campspot where we spend the night. We went back to the three sister and echo point the next morning, basically cause Livy and Kat missed it the dy before. Somewhere around there we lost Kathe who thought we all were going down the giant stairway together, while we understand her as she were coming back in a couple of minutes. We found her three hours later full of scars, after basically falling down the stairway and taking the railway back up. She was fine thought, just a bit tired. we drove back to the city of Katoomba for a drink and ended up spending the night there sleeping in the car. 

Our third day we went to explore the area around Katoomba before moving on to the next free campingspot as we worked our way back to Sydney. We went to the famous wenworthfalls where me and liv had a swim, even if the wether wasn't too good. We had a little walk up and down the stairways along the montains over an lovely view. We ended up at a gorgeous cafe with a beautiful montainview where we relaxed for a while before continuing for a afternoon bush walk. The bushwalk took us straight into the jungle along a tiny pathway who took us to four different waterfalls. It was an amazing feeling walking throught the bush, having poisonous snakes blocking you're way, stunning forest with the sun shining throught, and wonderful waterfalls all around. I was in heaven. 

                    Liv and I under the wenworthfalls 

We spend the night at a different campsite and the following day exploring the area around. As Kat didn't feel to good, me and Livy went on our own adventures into the jungle. We followed a pathway,  it kept getting smaller and smaller and ended up with us making our own way throught the bush. We did found our way back to the pathway where we could take another turn which soon enought brought us to a gorgeous lake an the middle of the jungle. amazing. That night a French girl and a group of English people arrived to the campsite, and we ended up having our own little party together, with spotlights, music, fire and way to much wine. As none of us felt to good the next day, we spend most of the day in the next town to get our stuff Charged. I Wasn't well prepared before leaving civilization and ran out of battery on my camera, phone and iPad our very first day in the montains. Also, I forgot my camera charger in Leeton. After a couple of hours in this cosy little town we drove to the next camping spot, and our last one before heading back to Sydney. 

The red hand's cave mission

I felt a lot better the next day and was ready to explore more of the Australian nature. We started the day with going to the jellybean pool, or so they called it even if it was more of a tiny lake surrounded by rocks. Liv got to try cliff jumping for her first time which was well exiting. 

as Kat still didn't feel good she went back to the tent while me and Liv headed into the forest on our own adventures again. Let's call it the red hand's cave mission. We had no idea where to go, or where to start so we asked this Australian man down the road. He advices us to go to the red hand's cave, which is this super old aboriginal art cave and off we went. We soon got to the Blue pool, where we continued straight to follow the pathway further into the woods.  The pathway soon turned in to no pathway, which we found quite common by now, but there where colored signs on the threes which hopefully would lead us to the cave. Since there's been bush fires in the area we ended up following burned signs who led us straight upon the hill right into the bush. We soon found ourselves completely lost in the middle of the djungle. As our eyes searched for burned signs it catched the sight of a little house just down the hill and up another. As we had no idea where else to go we hiked there straight away with the hope to find someone to direct our way back. We found a beautiful house, a swimming pool which was well advertising to jump straight into after hiking for hours in Australians worst heat. We found no human life signs. Since we didn't really feel like heading back into the pyramid of woods, we followed the street which hopefully would bring us back to where we started. We found a playground to enjoy ourselves at, but still no people. From walking in a pyramid of woods, we were now walking in a pyramid of empty streets. Finally we managed to find a lovely lady driving out of her parking spot. Since it was quite a good walk back, and one of Australians hottest day, she was nice enought to give us a drive back to where we started. 

So were where back at the parking spot where Kat dropped us off over two hours ago, but still haven't found the cave. We met a nice woman who explained the way and gave us a map this time and we finally managed to find our way there. The cave it selves was cool as well,  and I always wanted to see aboriginal art like this. Even if the hike there was more of an adventure. 

                     Kathe, Me and Livy at the jellybean pool 

So we managed to live super cheap this 8 days in the montains, until the very last day at our camping spot where we got about a 100 dollar fine all together for putting up our tent at the day used area. It was signs everywhere saying 'camping prohibited', but since none of us (not even English Liv) knew the meaning of that word we just assumed it would be allowed. Quite enoying but considered how much money we saved this day by not living in hostel it didn't felt too bad. 

The Lennox bridge mission

Our last day in the montains we went to find Australians oldest bridge, the Lennox bridge. We drove into the parking spot right next to a little bridge thinking 'this can't be it' since we expected a beautiful old one we saw on lonely planets picture. A sign saying Lennox bridge directed us into the forest so off we went. We guessed our way throught the jungle of pathways until we met a nice guy on a bike who could give us more specific directions. We got ourselves to a nice viewpoint, which we forgot to enjoy beeing to obsessed finding this bridge. Lost in the djungle of different pathways again we managed to run into the same guy on a bike who pointed out the way for us. Again. We followed the road until we found a map of the area who to be honest, was more confusing than helpful. We were just about to take off the wrong turn when we for the third time saw the same cyclist coming up the road. He must have thought we were going mad, which to be honest I thought we did. He directed us down the road one last time which brought us to another beautiful viewpoint. With only the bridge in our mind we continued downhill, just as we got told. We were running by excitement and just when we expected it to appear in front of us we saw ourselves standing back at the same carspot as the one we started off from. Beeing well frustrated by this point we asked for new directions by this lovely Australian old couple that just pulled over next to our car. 'You're looking at it' was the response we got. Apparently this beautiful old bridge beeing slightly renovated over the years, but it sure was the one right next to us. 

               Beautiful Blue montains

Our last night up in the montains we spent in a park before sleeping in the car, since there was no camping spots around. But since we was completely mosquito free in the park, for the first time in over a week, Liv and I ended up bringing our sleeping bags out to sleep on the grass. It wasn't a very good sleep but I do love the feeling of sleeping under the sky. 

And there our trip ended and we were about to head back to the big city for Christmas celebration, and New Years celebration. The past week been lovely in every possible way. And I'm definetily sure ill come back, since it know there's so much more to see and explore in the area. 

Canberra, Australia

A four hours hangover drive took us to Canberra, the capital of Australia. It is quite tiny to be a capital and there isn't really anything to do or to see there. We went to Livys friend Nick who she met while he was traveling Europe. He lives with his family in Canberra and welcomed us into their house. They spoiled us with queen sized beds, clean blankets, big fresh towels, nice shower in this gorgeous house with they view over the golf area where we saw lots of kangaroos hopping around. Definitely an upgrade from the fruitshack. 

We went over to Nicks friends place for BBQ and drinks that evening, and a swim in their pool and hot tub. Amazing. Since we all still recovered from yesterday, and looked forward to sleeping in a real bed we found ourselves back at Nick's before midnight. 

After what might have been the best sleep any of us have had for months we woke up to the smell of fresh cooked scones that Nicks mother maked us. After a lovely breakfast Nick took us to the cheapest shop in town so we could get some shopping done. We said goodbye to Nick and couldn't thank him enought for letting us stay and setted of for Sydney. 

During my childhood I learned never to put stuff on the top of the car. I wished someone told Liv so as she put her wallet on the roof while having a coffe at a service station. She realized that when we got to Sydney a couple of hours later. We dropped Stina off at her friend and me, Livy and Kat tried to find our way to Kat's friend from home who's currently staying in Sydney. It was not easy in a big city like this and it took us hours to find the right way. Reminds me of when we were driving in Italy a couple of years ago and just couldn't figure out to get back into the city. 

My plan for the day was to meet up with Isabella, my best friend from home who's now traveling Australia with her family. Allthought I had a hard time getting in touch with her since they didn't had any wifi, I never got her Australian number and she wasn't expecting me until the day after. Insteead we spend the evening at Kat's friends place and went back to sleep in the car. 

Leeton, Australia

my last week at fruitshack felt like it would never end since we were so exited about leaving by this point. 

Last Thursday we had our - so far- rainiest day which brought us all to a day off (except from Stina who workes in a indoor cafe). Me and Liv went for a coffee as usual together with Paulo and Nikolaj to showed them around Leeton town as well. As Leeton isn't too big we soon found ourselves back at the shack playing games with Sam and Marc. Games soon turned out to drinking games, which (as soon as the rain stopped) turned into outdoor games. We had great fun and really enjoyed our day off, especially Nikolaj and Paolo who had such bad working days. 

That Saturday night all of us went to the roxy theatre in town to watch a local movie about Leeton and the people living here, part filmed at the fruitshack and with Michael as a part of it. It wasn't more than half an hour long, and to be honest not very interesting for non Australians to watch as it was about people living their whole life in Leeton, talking with a very strong accent. Afterwards we went down to the bar for a few beers, where Michael and his wife joined in as well. 

Sunday night the boss of Stina's had a Christmasparty for his employers, which he invided me and Nikki to since we worked at his farm one day packing Lemons. Livy got an invite as well cause we've been at the cafe so much and got a ride back to the shack from him a couple of times. He's a lovely person. We had a great time there even if it probably was more enjoyable for Stina who actually knew the people there. 

Livy, me, Stina and Nikki. And a guy in the backround who really wanted to be in the picture. 

I did my last day of desuckering on Tuesday, and continued the day beeing in the best mood ever. Me and Livy went into town for (what might be) our last coffee at Stina's and for a last roadie back to the shack. The next day I was working with Marc and Sam doing the weirdest work ever, something I could never imagine myself doing. We were basically castrating goats where my job was to inject them with a vaccine while the guys where carrying them up on the board. It was definetily a different experience .. We did finish quite early thought, and so did Liv who we met back at the shack. So the four of us drove down to the river for a couple of hours. That night we had movienight back at the shack, where Michael put up a projector to create this outdoor cinema for us. Me and Stina made some Swedish mudcake for everyone as well which was well appreciated. Thursday and Friday was working sorting garlic with Nikki. And the farmer had lots of puppies who he let us cuddle with, and his son got a python snake who I got to hold all around me. How cool is that?

 Thursday night it was the 'Light up Leeton', which is basically about people putting Christmaslights around their houses for other people to watch. So Michael took us on a tour around Leeton to watch all this decoration, and people really go mental with their houses. At some point you see yourselves standing there, watching all this decorating while thinking 'where the fuck is the house?'. There's all kind of lights you can imagines chrismastrees, Santa in all different kind of positions, music, stars crazy shit just for decoration.

 Marc, Nikolaj, Nikki, Kat, Linda, Kristina, Sam, Me, Livy and Paulo outside one of the mentally decorated houses. 

Friday night we were drinking to celebrate our last day at the shack.  Kat went to bed early cause she was about to drive us all in the morning so in the end there was Me, Liv and Stina together with Paulo,  Nikolaj, Marc and Sam having our last night at the shack. Stina's boss come by for a while together with he's son, and one of our other farmer as well. We had a brilliant time, perfect last night.  

Me, Sam, Nikolaj, one of our farmers, Stina, Marc, Paulo and Livy 

It was with tears in our eyes we left the shack the next morning, I'm not even joking. We got our papers signed, we turned our kee back, we herd Michals bad jokes for the last time, we wrote in the book and worst of all, we had to say good buy to our friends. Before we left we drove to the cafe for a last cappucino, and for Stina to say goodbuy to her colleagues. Paulo and Nikolaj joined us there as well as they had a day off but then we sadly enought had to say goodbye to them as well.

Even if I'm exited for a new Australian chapter and new adventures I'm really greatful for the time at the shack. It's been giving me strength, wisdoms, money, experiences, friends and 47 of the 88 farmdays I have to do to apply for my second year visa.  And as I wrote in michaels book: 'Before I got here, I got told that I wouldn't get rich coming to the fruitshack. I might not have earned much money, but I definetily got rich of experiences and friendship and I wold never change that for anything in the world' 

Leeton, australia

We got 3 new guys arriving. German Paulo, Danish Nikolaj and An Italian guy who managed to stay two nights before Michael kicked him out. Those two just couldn't handle eachother. 

The german, danish guys didn't get a very good start here as they got put at the worst job ever, where they after their first full day of work earned about 15 dollars, which isn't even enought to pay the rent for the day.  We all felt a bit sorry for them, but told them that it would getting better and that they shouldn't do the job perfectly good since they obviously aren't pay'd to do so. I was doing weeds that week, hacking and spraying them away. I finished early Wednesday and walked to town to meet Sam1, Sam2 and Livy at the pool where they got dropped off after finishing their work. We spent a couple of hours there, working at our tans, swimming, sliding and chatting before leaving to the bar for a good cold drink during their happy hour. We met the new guys, Paulo and Nikolaj in town who gave the Sam's a lift back home as me and Livy was catching a lift with Stinas. 

I finished early the next day as well so me and Livy, who had a day off, walked into town to get a coffee from Stinas and going for a BBQ in the park. We met Nikki and English Sam (1) at the park as well as they're driving the bikes there. Katharina joined in after finishing work as well and we all had a nice time  together. Me and Livy took the bikes back to the shack as the others where staying later and going back with Kat's car. It been a while since we been on a bike thought, so it turned out to be a little adventure including falling over in the middle of the street .. 

Nikki, Kat and English Sam (1) 

That night we had a goodbye party for Sam 1, the English Sam who's leaving the shack for Sydney the next day, before going back to England. Lots of fun and a good way to include the new guys in our little group as well. Since I was drinking goone that night (Australian cheap cheap wine) instead of beer my hangover the next day was one of the worst. Luckily I only had a half day of work so I spend the rest of the day with Livy feeling sorry for eachother. We spend the evening in the common area watching 'how I met your mother' together before having a tearful goodbye to our dear friend Sam who's catching the night train to Sydney. 

Stina was housesitting that weekend, watching out for someone's house when they was away, so she wasn't around the shack. Saturday night me, Livy, Belguim Sam, German Paulo and Danish Nikolaj drove over to her house to have a nice dinner together, cooked in a clean kitchen, drinking wine from real wine glasses and just enjoying beeing around a nice, clean house. How you appreciate this small things after beeing in the shack for a while. We had an amazing evening thought, and we were all so facinated by the cleaness, the couches comfort and the proximity between all the rooms. 

Me and Livy where put back on desuckering that weekend, and after work on Sunday we drove together with Paulo, Nikolaj and Sam to this nearby river everyone told us about. It should be around a 20 minutes drive there, but as it wasn't really easy to find we drove around in circles for over an hour before finding the right way. It did was amazing, with a beach along the sideway. And the sun shining on it's way down.  Allthought, the currency was really strong, in which I got stuck in once so the guys had to pull me out as I was swimming for my life but got nowhere.

Me and Liv in the car with a (glass)bottle of wine

Me and Liv got Monday off, as there's still not much work going on. We did some cleaning before walking into town for cappucino, a couple of hours at the pool and ended up at the bar waiting for the rest of the shack arriving for shopping - Monday's supermarket run. 

As Kat got really, seriously sick that night (probably by yesterday's food) she wasn't able to drive to work as we was suppose to work together. Which means that I, by myself this time, got another day off.  I did some skypeing and more serious cleaning in the morning before realizing that I left my bag, with my kee, in the kitchen who someone locked before getting to work. So I couldn't really do much around here before finding Michael at mid day asking him to open for me. By that time Liv arrived back from work and Kat woke up from sleep so we all started at this 1000 pieces puzzle me and Liv bought yesterday to keep us busy at the shack. I planned to go to the gym as well, but half way there I realized  that what I'm doing at the gym is always exercises with my own bodyweight, which I can do for free in the park. And today was the perfect cloudy wether for outdoor exercises as well so I ended up spending a couple of hours there. 

Leeton, Australia

That next day we returned from work to the sound of silence. At least that what it felt like when Tom and Sarah wasn't to be around. the two new German girls left just the day after as well, which brought it to be only 10 of us left at the shack. I was gardening that weekend, together with Nikki and English Marc, back at the farmer me and Nikki worked for my first week here. We finished around lunchtime on Sunday thought so I spend the rest of the day with Stina cleaning the kitchen. A massive major cleaning. Just the stove (which hasn't been cleaned for years) took us a good 2-3 hours to do. When Michael found out he gave us one bottled beer each. He's way to price us. And everyone is well happy for a bottled beer. 

The next week started off with rain. Only in the night thought, but it was still to muddy for us to work in the field the day after. As I got that Monday off, I spent the entire day at the gym. Such a great feeling even if I found it hard to move my body the next couple of days. As we got Tuesday off as well (wether is the boss), we decided to have a BBQ in the park. Myself, Nikki, Katharina, English Sam and Belgium Sam (who just arrived to the shack). The Sam's are going under names such as Sam1 and sam2, sailor Sam and Simon, English Sam and Belgium Sam or old Sam and new Sam to separate them from each other. 

We brought some good speakers, buyed food and bottled German beer along our walk to town and headed for the park where they got BBQ supplies for public use. We ended up chatting the hours away, enjoying out bottled beer, going crazy at the playground before returning back to the shack. Such a lovely day. 

 Me, New Belgium Sam2, old English Sam1 and German Katharina 

I was put back at desuckering the next couple of days as well until the weekend arrived. Nikki and Kat decided to have a party with the theme 'fancy at the fruitshack'. I recon it was just for them to get a reason to dress up and put make up on but it did ending up beeing quite enjoyable for everyone. The night started, continued and ended just as all the other party nights at the shack. Drinking, playing games, chatting and laughing before everyone drops of to bed one by one. It's always really good fun, and something we all looking forward to throughout the week. Even the smallest things shall be appreciated.  

That next Saturday I was put on a orange picking job together with German Kat, Belgium Sam and English Livy, who's been a part of the shack for only a few days. We had great fun together, chatting, singing, getting our armes scratched while filling bins up with oranges. Our hangover caught us by the afternoon after a late night and a long day in the field and we felt a bit miserable under our trees when it by then started to rain. We kept shouting to each other 'think of the experience', to keep our mood on top. And since it was one of the less paid work as well thinking about the money wasn't really helping. We finished the job by the end of the day thought, which gave us another day off that Sunday. Sam1 and 2 was the only ones working, so the rest of us drived in to town for another BBQ in the park before going to the pool where the sam's joined in as well.

 Sam, Livy, Kat and myself with all the bins of oranges we manage to pick that day. 

     The week continued as usual, with desuckering. We had to finish quite early every day thought since the heat was killing us. It's not much to do at the shack in the afternoon, so I went back to the gym one day which was as good as always. Trying to make it there at least once a week. Me and Livy went for a walk to town after work that Thursday, mainly for the amazing soya cappuccino Stina makes us at her cafe. Grabbed another roadie on our way back to make our walk to a little adventure. It's not much work going on at the moment, which gave me another day off at Friday. Livy finished at midday so we went for the gym again. Unfortunately, they closed before we god there which made us end up at the cafe insteead, for another soya cappuccino. As it was about to be Linda's 22 birthday we throught her a surprise party that night. I had to try to keep her away from the goon room for about 15 minutes just before midnight, without making it look obvious, so that the other could prepare the surprise and celebration stuff, cake and presents. I didn't do very well to be honest, but it turned into a good laught and she did appreciate everything we did for her. Michaels younger brother came by as well, he use to join us on our drinking nights. This time he turned up in he's limousine, and took us for a drive around town. Wow. So basically, we all sat in this super fancy limo, having a glass of wine together, with him as our driver. Amazing. 

Me and Livy were the only unemployers that next day. After a well needed sleep inn we went to a park next to the shack to do a bit of yoga and exercising. Cheaper and closer than heading for the gym, which is closed on weekends anyway. We had great fun and felt well good afterwards even if we did end up just lying on the grass, listening to music and chatting to randome people walking pass. Back at the shack we decided to spend more of our free time learning how to speak Spanish. With her Spanish phrase book and my 'learn how to speak Spanish' app on the iPad we started our first lesson ..  The two of us went back in to town that night. not for going to the bar as you usually do on a Saturday night, but for another soya cappuccino. It was some kind of car event going on so Stina worked an extra shift. And we actually really enjoy the walk there and back. 

Leeton, Australia

So I've now started my third week at this farming thing. And it's quite funny how it took me and Nikki over a week to realize that we've been sleeping with one of our windows open the whole time. No wonder it felt like sleeping in an igloo the last few nights. So for the last week I've done nothing but desuckering, which I getting a bit tired of to be honest. And my legs, and back as well. The people and the atmosphere around here are as good as always thought. 

Last Thursday we threw a big Halloweenparty (as big you can make it by 13 people), which turned out to be great fun. Everyone was involved, even the two German girls who's never gives any effort to talk to everyone, showed up for a bit. Everyone dressed up. Spend the night with beer pong, chatting and randome drinking games which was good fun, even if getting up at 7 the next morning desuckering wasn't as funny .. 

That following weekend my dearest friend Cornelia came and visit me here in Leeton. she was on a roadtrip with the tree other girls I met in Bali, and they kindly decided to go 10 hours off road to come visit me. (That was probably not the main reason but I'd like to believe that). I met them straight after work on Saturday to show them the very highlights of Leeton and the fruitshack. They wasn't to impressive to put it in a nice way.  We went together to the bar that night, together with Katharina, one of the German girls I work with and I German guy who's just here for one night sorting some papers out. He's done his 88 days on this farm already to get he's second year visa , but unlucky for him the immigration didn't believe that he's done it properly so he had to come back to get some papers signed. To top it all he accidently drove over a kangaroo on he's way here which pretty much crached he's car, or he's bosses car who wasn't too happy about it. We all felt a bit sorry for him that day. Anyway, other than nice beer for once it wasn't too much happening at the bar (obviously, I'm still in Leeton), which made us drive back to shack sharing a few beers with Tom and Stina instead. I got a nice sleep in the next day, as it was my first day off since I got here. Even if my mother woke my up calling on Skype. Hihi. After a nice breakfast together with my Swedish friends we drove to Griffith, which is the bigger city next to Leeton where Cornelia and one of the other girls where catching a train down to Melbourne cup the same evening. We spend the day shopping which was well needed for me since Tom was about to leave in a week and planned to bring his hoodie with him. We got some shopping done following by a fabulous picnick in the park, a nap in the sun perforce saying foodbye to my lovely friends again. 

That following week I continued with the every day desuckering. It was getting ridiculously hot in the afternoon, up to 40 degrees so we had to take off earlier every day. We finally finished the field early Thursday morning, but by the time we were about to drive back from the field Katarina managed to drive into the very only ditch in the field which made the car get entire stuck. We all tried to push it while Kat was hanging on the gas but nothing could move it in that stage. To top it all, millions of big ants were crowling up our legs as we were pushing the car which made Linda and Kristina, the two other German girls screaming, jumping up and down at the same time as we where pushing. We didn't do very well. And Katharina was out of stage worrying about her car at the same time as we all was laughing finding this whole situation hilarious. When we finally realized that there's no way to move this car by our own we contacted Michael for help. He called our farmer who send us his neighbor to our rescue. 

After our adventurous car situation we still returned to the shack really early, before Stina even started her work that day. She's kind of cheating her way to get her second year visa by working at a cafe, owned by a farmer who agreed to sign her off anyway. 

Around midday more and more people dropped in as it was way to hot to be working in the sun. That's when we all decided to spend the very sunny day by the Leeton pool. As it was too many of us to fit in Katharinas car, the new German girls who just arrived to the shack took the bike there while Tom and Nikki was walking. Turned out to be a one hour walk there thought so on the way back we stopped by Stinas work to get a lift back to the shack. The pool was great fun, I brought my waterproof camera with me as well which turned out to be a good laught and by the end of the day I had about 240 pictures from about the last couple of hours. This picture is of me, Nikki and Katharina. 

That night Michael took us kangaroos potting again, as a last wish from Tom before he was leaving that Saturday. We only got the spot of around 5 of them this time, but got to see them jump over the fence which was quite cool. After a while we gave up and drove to the river insteead were we all sat under an amazing sky of stars, drinking champagne and sharing good stories. Such a nice end of a perfect day. 

The next day the most of us had an day off, mainly because there wasn't any work who needed to be done. I walked down to and around town for a while, visit Stina at her work where I met up with Tom, Nikki and English Sarah as well. As it was Tom and Sarah's last day which they obviously was quite sad about, we bought a bottle of champagne for the walk back and shared things we wouldn't miss about fruitshack. To make them feel better about leaving. 

 - like the fact that you're not allowed to drink from glass bottles (the reason we bought the champagne for the road) 

 -  desuckering 

- the uncomfortable beds

- the fact that you have to take a shit with people standing just outside the door

- eating cold pasta for lunch in the middle of a field

- all the fucking bugs. flies, Mosquitos, spiders, cockroaches that literally is everywhere

- the fact that you have to walk outside every time you have to go to the toilet

- getting up at 6 every morning 

- Sandra's alarmclock that never wakes her up 

- the wifi going on and off whenever it feels like to 

- the sometimes ridicously low hourly salary 

  .. To name a few

That ningt we had a goodbye party for Tom and Sarah. As fun as always with games such as picking up boxes using only your mouth and nothing but your feet allowes to touch the ground. Laughing and chatting the night away. Sarah and especially Tom has been at the shack longer than any else of us, and it definitely won't be the same without them. We all had a tearful goodbye the next morning as we were heading to work and the got ready for the train back to Sydney before Sarah's flying home and Tom got a flight to New Zealand. May our path cross in the future. 

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So before I'm about to end another massive post (this blog is ending up like a novel), I have to give my father all my best greetings for his birthday. All my thoughts with you (even if I'm quite sure you're not reading this anyway) enjoy your day and your year as a 57 year old. Love you

Leeton, Australia

So Instead of beeing a backpacker I ended up as a fruitpacker at a farm in soutwest NSW, Australia. I was just about to miss my flight from Brisbane as I accidently took the train to the airport in the wrong direction which made me end up at the opposite end of town. By the time I finally brought myself back to the central to switch to the right train I arrived to the airport just a few seconds befor my check in counter closed. This is why I shouldn't be left alone when I have to handle locations. I planned to spend the night at Sydney's domestic airport as I arrived quite late and was about to catch the train early in the morning, but unfortunately the airport closes at 11pm which was when the staff threw me out. I met an amarican girl on the street and we went together to find the fabled McHostel, the nearby McDonald's who are happy to let backpackers spent the night there. Maybe 'happy' isn't the right way to describe it, but at least they didn't complained when we crached at their chairs. 

After quite slepless night I managed to find the right train in the morning, and after a good 8 hours ride I found myself in this tiny little local town, surrounded by nothing but fields. I got picked up by the hostel host and local farmer Michael who drove me back to 'Fruitshack' where I was about to spend the following two months farming. 

I

Fruitshack is the hostel, or the shack obviously, where all the backpackers who's working in the area is staying. Including me there was 13 of us. All here by the same reason - to get our second year visa signed. As I still haven't build up my backpack properly I wasn't at all prepeard for the cold here as the night could get really chilled. I didn't even had a pair of long pants, or hoodies which made me freeze my fucking ass of during the night even if a got 4 blankets for myself. I got to borrow a hoodie from English Tom which been my lifesavers the last week. And a pair of trousers from Stina, the Swedish girl I spoke over the phone with before I got here.

That first evening for me Michael took us Kangaroo spotting. Which is when we all went into the bus above, got driven throught the forest with a big spotlight to catch the sight of some real Kangarooes. We didn't see one, ore two but 34 of them jumping around the forest that night. A good start at the shack for me. 

My first working day the next morning was terrible, if a got a chance to kill myself I probably would. It was that bad. I got placed to desuckering 23 rows of grape trees. by myself, with no music or anything. I was tired, as I didn't got any proper sleep during the last few nights. It was hot, my back started to hurt after 5 minutes. During that day I promised myself to be on the first train back to Sydney if I ever got placed at the same position again. 

As soon as I got back to the shack and to the people, my minds did changed a bit. We had a goodbye party for the French guy as he was leaving the following Monday after 5 month in the shack. Good fun, and a great start for me to get to know the others, with drinking games and chatting the hours away. 

Turned out that I was placed doing the exact same thing the next day, but this time together with Tom, my roommate Scottish Nikki, and the French guy. And it actually turned out to be a good laught this time since we all in the same situation, chatting to each other, supporting and helping each other out. Company make such a different. We decided to head down to one of the only bars that night to get some real good beers before the French guy was about to leave us. Also because you can't have glass bottles of beer at the shack meaning that your stuck with the cans bottles which isn't even half as good as the ones you could get at the bar. 

Sunday night Michael organised a outdoor cinema for us, where we all sat watching a movie with popcorn, champagne and blankets. Such a nice end of the week. 

 Me and Nikki went back to the same field doing the same desuckering thing the next few days as well. Two days I got placed doing some lemonpacking, which was all about putting lemons in a box, and sorting bad ones out. I got told that I was lucky getting that kind of work since that is the best paid one  and not as fysical hard. Basically, the work here is pretty shit, badpaidonce. But I considered that the experience you got, and the people you meet are worth so much more than any money in the world.

Also, before I finish this massive post, I want to give my mother the best congratulations on her birthday today. I miss you lots and I hope you having a splendid time back home with all your children around but me. Wish I was there only for that moment. you've  been in my thoughts all day, love you mom :) 

Brisbane, Australia

The thing I miss most about having travel company, is having someone to help me make decisions. I'm terrible at decisions. But since I'm only an hour from Brisbane I finally decided to go there for the weekend. Mainly to meet my friends Cara and Kehla who me, Anna and Beccy had a marvoulus time together with in Laos. I tried to catch the suburb to Kehlas from the trainstation, but ended up at the wrong one as I was suppose to take the bus, not the subway. Her boyfriend, kindly enought, came to pick me up at this stop I happend to get myself to, in an area they didn't even knew existed before.  Kehla live together with her boyfriend Lou, ia shared house within walking distance to the city centre, south bank and west end, and were happy to give their spare bedroom to me for a couple of days. Cara came by by the evening and the four of us had a couple of beers together before driving to Lou's brothers 26th birthday party. I haven't been at a real party for ages so It was great fun. And the girls are so amazing that it's impossible not having a good time around them. As it still was my first night in town they wanted to show me the good places for a night out. So we did end up at the bar in the end, down at 'the valley' which is on of the biggest bar areas. Didn't stay for too long thought before catching a cab back home. 

As both Kehla and Louey, but especially Cara, get the worst hangovers none of them where able to move from bed the next day. So I took myself to the inner city, mainly to find me a charger for my phone. I had to look for ages thought since none of the bigger phone shops got a charger that old (lol).   When I was done with my mission I had a little walk around King George and City Hall before spending a few hours at the Internet cafe applying for work. 

I tried to find my way by walking back to the city centre the next day since I couldn't afford paying every time. It was a beautiful walk, over the bridge from Soutbank and throught the botanical garden and didn't took me more than 20 minutes. I met up with Cara later and we went for a drink at the West end, which is the other 'bar area'. A little more chilled out and not as packed with nightclubs as 'the valley'.  Kehla was suppose to meet us as well but got stuck as work. 

I ended up staying way longer than the weekend in Brisbane. Kehla either got work or uni during the days, and Cara either got work or a hangover to bad to get out of bed. After a few days in I got called for a jobintervju for work in a nightclub, allthought  they didn't started hiring people until November and I'm not In a position where I can wait until then and maybe get a job. That said, I got a call from a farmer the very same day who offered me a position at his farm, about 6 hours inland from Sydney. A quite far and expensive way from here, which made me feel quite sceptic. I've heard a lot of horror stories about farmwork. Backpackers who are working their ass off and don't even earn enought to cover their accommodation, or didn't get any job while they're there even if they got promised to, This farmer understood my worry and an hour later I got called up by a Swedish girl working at the farm at the moment, who told me all about it which made me feel a lot better.  While I was thinking about my situation, Kehla took me for a private city tour, since she didn't had uni until 5. Cara felt to sick to come with. We walked down the south bank, where they got a 'fake'beach, a rainforest and a buddhatemple in the middle of the city. Brilliant, and with the river and the big city as a view in the backround. Throught the south bank we got ourselves to the library and museum and within walking distance to the West end, where we met up Louey for coffee. As this was about to be my last night in Brisbane I called Cara to come over that evening. She brought her boyfriend  and together with Kehla, Louey and one of their housemates we all had a few beers together at their Veranda and the local bar, where Lou use to work. We chatted for hours, laughed, shared good old Laos stories, realized how much we missed Anna and Beccy and drank beer for hours before going to sleep. 

Louey went up early to work in the bar, and Kehla went pass there on her way to the supermarket. Apparently his manager happen to be Swedish, and they might have work available. Super excited I brought Kehla with me down to talk with the manager. I was super honest and explained my situation, and she was really sweet and would love to have me in their team. Unfourtunable they didn't had any positions to fill within two weeks which made me make the decision to catch the flight after all. She's still gonna call me within two weeks, and I promised to let Louey know when I planned to get back in Brisbane. 

Surfers paradise, Australia

As Vicky disappeared up north I felt a bit lost on my minds since the thing with doing my farmwork straight away was that I'd do it with her. I was thinking about going back to Sydney trying to find a proper job instead. In the end I ended up going further north to the gold cost and surfers paradise since a guy I met my last night in Byron offered me a free ride. I loved it in surfers, but then I've said that about every single part of Australia I've been to so far. But yeah, surfers was an amazing town on a beautiful beach.  I spent that day trying to organize my situation and called all the farmers around the south east cost. None of them could give me work and accommodation, it was either work or accommodation. Stupid. Back in the hostel I met an Irish girl, Danish girl, German boy and English boy who all just met but all planned to stay get a work in gold cost. Since I loved it at surfers and The guys where such a funny group of people, I decided to stay trying to get some work here as well. Meaning that I spent the following two days trying to find work everywhere. Internet applications, resume handout, phone calls. Two days of less successful work finding draged my minds back to farmwork again. I could never made my mind up, and a little part of me still wanted to go back to Sydney. 

During the nights all of the hostel guests gathered in the courtyard or hostel bar playing flip cup, beer pong or just chatting around. Since it's the end of Australian football season I've met a lot of groups of guys beeing on their footytrip. Like a weekend trip together with their teammates celebrating that the season is over, I guess. Those groups of guys is always the loudest group of people you see (or hear) in the bars. This weekend we got 3 different footy trip groups only in our hoste which made the evenings quite busy since the only thing they're doing is drinking beer, spending money and talking bullshit.  

Byron bay, Australia

Andrea and Vicky got a flight booked to Byron bay, where they were gonna try to find a farmjob or wwoofing, so I decided to go with them. But the day before departure they got a farmjob offered outside Cairns, which made me ending up going by myself to Byron. I did love Byron thought, as I'm not the biggest fan of huge cities, and ended up spending almost a week there. I was in the same dorm as 2 Swedish girls so we spend a lot of time together with 4 Swedish guys. I went to the gym a couple of time when I got bored of lying on the beach all day. Spent the nights in the hostels court yard, drinking goone (Their local cheap cheap wine) and chatting the night away. 

 As it was an Australian holiday that weekend every single hostel in Byron was fully booked that Saturday, which took me and the Swedish girls to a tiny town called Nimbin. I loved it there. There wasn't much to do but gosh it was beautiful. We spend the days there lying in the grass enjoying the wonderful view, or by the pool. I was thinking about staying there for a while as I got a job offered at the hostel (work for accomendation) but then I realized that I'd probably got to restless and I need some real money as well. After two nights in wonderful Nimbin we got back to Byron for one night only. I said goodbuy to Swedish as they where booked in another hostel and I was leaving the very next morning. 

Sydney, Australia

I was filled with joy and happiness when finally arriving to Sydney airport, since I've been looking forward to this moment for ages. I got myself an Australian number straight away to be able to call Vicky when arriving to Bondi. after a lot of hassel with different trains, busses and long distant walkes I finally got to Bondi beach when I realized that I forgot to save Vicky's number while beeing in Singapore. After even more of hassling I found me an Internet cafe where I could get in touch with her. I met her on the beach where we had a happy reunion moment and she introduced me to her friends, 2 Swedish girls and German Andrea she met while living in London. 

Me, Vicky and Andrea went to the beach the next day while the other Swedish girls went for job interviews since they're staying in Sydney for a while. Coming straight from Asia does makes it feel freezing cold here after 4pm thought so couldn't stay there for to long. As it was Friday we went out for a few drinks together before I was meeting up with a friend I met during my travels in Thailand, and Vicky where going on a date. I took a bus down to the city where I met my friend at a bar his friend was dj'ing at. Good fun meeting him again and lots of stories to share. 

That Saturday morning we went back to the beach since it was a lot hotter today. I got bored quite quickly and took a long walk around Bondi and down to the shopping mall to get myself some trainers and workout clothes. I'm slowly building my backpack back up. That night we started with a girly whine night in the apartment before heading out quite late. 

Vicky and her friends are the once who could easily spent 24 hours a day working on they tan, and are heading straight to the beach every morning. Since I'm getting quite tired of that life I decided to go sightseeing and met up with my Australian friend down in the city who where happy to be my private guide for the day. We went around amazing Harbour bridge, The opera house, the rocks, art museums and stuff like that. The contract of vicky and Andreas apartment expired on the 30th, which meny that they had to spend al day packing their stuff. Early next morning the apartment had to be empty. Forutnate the Swedish girls just got a contract of an apartment on the floor above where we could put our stuff during the day. 

As Andrea and Vicky had to sort their life out, and the Swedish girl went to their first day of work I started the day with heading straight to the gym. Ended up spending at least 3 hours there since it felt so good. Met up with the others at the beach later before heading out for our last dinner together. As Vicky and Andrea both had places to stay this last night at their 'not boyfriends but kind of', I couch surfed again with a guy in the city. Quite close to the airport which was perfect since I had to be there early next morning. He was really nice picking me up in Bondi that evening. We had some beers together, talking and stuff before I headed to bed. 

Singapore, Singapore

I arrived to Singapore where I got picked up by a girl from couchsurfing who nicely enough was willing to show me around the city during the day. She took me to some highlights such as the war memorial, colonoral district, little India, their 15 floor library!!! (Alice), other seights I don't remember the name of and orchard street since I really need to get some more shopping done before entering expensive Australia. A private local guide was exactly what I needed to get as much out of my short visit her as possible. And she was happy to share the historical stories as well. 

We said goodbye to each other by the evening as I was meeting up with my host for the night. Since Singapore is a lot more expensive than the rest of Asia, I decided to try some couchsurfing while I'm here. The Indian/Norwegian guy who let me sleep at his couch got a big flat at the 39th floor in the central part of Singapore. Imagine that view. Amazing. We went out for one drink, but ended up back at the balcony of their 39th floor flat, since the price to go for a beer is about the same as back home. 

I woke up quite early the next morning since all the flat mates were heading to work. I decided to hit the road as soon as it started to rain, shitloads of rain. I waited for it to stop for a while, but it seemed to continue raining all day so I went out anyway. I got myself straight to orchard street and H&M where I spent at least 3 hours trying to build my luggage back up. (Yes, I'm traveling across the world just go to the same shops as back home). Funny thing about Singapore is that they got Malls everywhere, And I really mean everywhere. Every 50th meters was a new mall, but not a single one of them got a sportshop. Which was one of the things I really needed to find.  Singapore is also one of the cleanest city I've been to and you can get a fine if you put garbidge on the ground, which is weird since I nearly couldn't find any bins. 

After my massive H&M shopping I went to Chinatown, since the rain cooled down a bit. Chinatown is really nice but a place to get lost. Especially when you'r like my who unlucky got my mothers local mind. I spent some getting lost, finding my way throughout the tine streets of Chinetown before taking the train back to little India and Burgis village, which as I mall who feels more like a market with their cheap prices and small shops. I hate shopping, it was nothing I enjoyd while the day passed by, I felt more sorry for myself. I managed to find my way by walking from Little India back to the apartment, which I'm very proud of. I spent some time with my host before he headed for football training, and went to the airport 4 hours to early. Everyone always been talking about Singapore's airport as one of the best, and that they easily could spent a whole day there. I would never spend a whole day there but a few hours was okay. Got massages and cinemas there but it was a bit to expensive for me. Spent most of the time at the free wifi and netflix, and some more shopping for my last Singaporean dollars until bording time.

Kuta, Indonesia

Me and Katie  cached a bus that morning to get her to the airport and myself to Kuta. I met up with Cornelia the same night, who I met during my open water course in January and a few other times during our travels. She and 3 of her friends just arrived from Sweden on their way to Australia. We went out for dinner and beer to celebrate their arrival and our first night together. The next morning I moved in to their room, and we spend the day at our hostel pool before going shopping cause one of Cornelia's friend lost her bag as well (at the airport so she'll probably get it back). Later on we met a few local friends who brought us back to their place where they'd cooked us a typical local meal. We played some games together for a few hours before heading back out. 

I tried surfing for the first time, in which I did very well. Managed to stand up on my second try and it was good fun. After a few hours on the beach we met up with Elis who finished his open water diving course, and arrived back to Kuta. We met another Swedish guy in the bar the same night so in the end it was seven of us hanging out. We headed down to the beach again the next morning to go surfing again. This time we got ourselves a teacher to be sure we're doing it the right way. It wasn't really necessary to be honest, since the only thing they did was to give us some more speed by pushing us through the waves. I do like it better to learn by myself even if a did get some good tips. The waves was very big and the currents really strong which makes it a bit harder for us beginners. We tried it again the next day as all seven of us headed down to the beach again. The waves wasn't too good though so none of us were doing very well compared to the last days. Can't wait to try it in Australia too. 

That night we went out for drinks again since it was about to be the last opportunity for all of us to go out together. The Swedish guy've been here several times before and know the right places to go too. After a few beers and a late night we woke up with a hangover that wasn't able to take us back surfing. Instead all of us went to the beach sleeping and playing beach ping pong. We went out for dinner buffet and card game at the hotel before saying goodbye to eachother since I was about to catch an early flight to Singapore and the girls heading to Ubud. I'll meet them and Elis down in Australia in some point. Looking forward to that. 

Ubud, Indonesia

Since my 13 hours journey to Gilli's was such a nightmare, It wasn't a hard decision taking the fast boat back to Bali. My easy night before paid well, since this was a ride of blood, sweat, tears and vomits.  It didn't get better by this old weird American man behind me kept poking me and the English girl next to me, asking us stupid questions.  If I'd have open my mouth in that moment, I'm pretty sure there would've been more than words coming out. 

I've heard a lot about Ubud, as a place you can't miss, and my expectations were pretty hight. I guess that after being at Gilli's every other place would've been a disappointment. Its a nice town. it got a few temples, a market, monkeys and a ricefield but thats pretty much it. You're done by the end of the day. Me and English Katie from the boat stay'd at a homestay where we shared a room. Together with an Australian girl we went for a walk around (in the rain), and ended up at a local music/dance/theatre show. It was ridiculous, and hilarious at the same time. Good entertainment and experiences. We went down to the Monkeyforest and monkeytemple in the morning. I hadn't even entrenched before I got into a huge fight with a crazy monkey who just didn't want to get off my neck. They where everywhere. We spent hours in the forest before we went for a tiny trek up on the mountain to reach the rice fields. 

Celebrating Katie's last night traveling seemed like a great idea, which took us down to the bar to meet up with two English guys that Katie been traveling with before. Turns out it was the same two guys me and Elis were chatting with for a while in the bar back at Gilli's.  Ubud is not really famous for it's nightlife, but with our good company we managed to have a great night. 

Gilli trawagan, Indonesia

I spent so many days at Gilli that I might have a hard time separate them since they all look quite alike. I fell in love with this small, beautiful island, with an atmosphere to keep every single soul to stay. No roads or traffic, no crazy 'trying to sell you stuff' thing. It remember me a bit of Railay, my favorite spot in Thailand, and I loved it just as much. 

My way to get here from Bali was pretty tough. I said goodbye to the French girls to catch a bus at 6am to Padang bay, a slowboat to Lombok,  another minibus to sengiggi bay and a llongtailboat to Gilli. It Took me 13 hours and included the fact that I got my backpack stolen from me in Padang bay. The man I showed my ticket to, told me that he would bring my bag to the boat for me. But apparently, he didn't. Hope he'll enjoy my dirty, girly clothes, make-up and 35 sized shoes .. 

I wasn't in my best mood when I finally arrived at Gilli island and had to accept the fact that my bag was gone. I felt a lot better when I met my friends from Penang after running into Terry on the street. He brought me back to their room, which he shared with Amy (who I also met in Penang), another English guy, Norwegian guy and American girl. They where all very supportive and buy'd me beer cause the felt sorry for me. Probably more sorry for me than I did. The Norwegian and American left back to Bali the next morning. The rest of us hanged out a lot with two other English guys for a couple of days, who where on holiday from their life in Australia. We spend the days on the beach and the nights in the bar. In the in between time, I tried to find myself some new clothes. The guys left one by one. First Terry after a few days, then the two English guys after another few days and In the end it was pretty much only me and Amy left. 

One day I decided to go for a fundive which was amazing. 4 turtles and one reefshark in the same dive. the water wasn't too clear though, but it was still an incredible cool experience. That day I ran into my second cousin Elis on the street, who happens to have the same travel plan as I. We decided to meet up for dinner and ended up having a few drinks in the bar, where we met Amy with more english friends as well. Me and Elis decided to meet the next day as well, my last one, and we all headed to the 'sunsetbar' for sunset. We had a quite early night though since Elis was starting his diving the next morning, I was catching my boat and Amy just blamed her age.