Christmas, New Year's, life, and a (wonderfully) hectic couple of weeks.

Ehhhhh boy.  I'm really, really, really, bad at keeping my blogs updated.  Sorry about that! I've been doing the whole "life" thing and have been a bit too caught up in it all, that I haven't had a chance to plant my butt in front of my computer and write a quick blurb.

But I'll do it now and fill you all in.

First and foremost, MERRY (BELATED) CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR to all my friends and family.  I hope your holiday season has been as wonderful as mine! Full of family, food, and, of course, beer!

;)

Christmas down on the Central Coast was absolutely wonderful, and during my time there, I was able to see some new, and beautiful places in Australia.

And of courrrssseee, I have pictures.

The Blue Mountains National Park, New South Wales:

The Three Sisters.  

Lookout off of the Three Sisters hiking trail....

...After hiking down these stairs of death. 

Back view of one of the "Three Sisters".
The hiking trail, (down the stairs of death), leads you to the back of the Three Sisters rock formations.

Well, shoot.  I was really looking forward to climbing these things.

So many beautiful hiking trails in the blue mountains,
with some breathtaking views of waterfalls.

At a "table top level-off" portion of the waterfall in the photo above.

150+ meter dropoff at the edge of this "leveling off" of the waterfall.
Ouch. That would be a long fall.

In addition to visiting the Blue Mountains.  Aaron and I spent a day at Taronga Zoo in Sydney. An absolutely, beautiful zoo that is situated right on the Sydney harbour.  Those animals certainly have some prime, and highly sought after, real estate.

Gorgeous view of the Sydney harbour! 

Malayan Tapir.  

Munro, the New Zealand Fiordland Crested Penguin

Feeding of the Little Penguins

Timon!

Taronga Zoo was great to see and Christmas, overall was wonderful on the Central Coast.  Never did I ever think I would be spending Christmas and New Year's in Australia. But here I am, so let's party!

Kidding.  I hardly have enough money keeping me afloat to buy carrots and coffee with.  Boo.

Anywho,  as most peeps know by now.  I've decided to stay here in Cairns and frolic with the Kangaroos.  I'll be leaving for New Zealand TOMORROW, to apply for my Work and Holiday Visa, and will be gone for 10 days, from the 9th-19th of January.

I'm stoked! I've never been to New Zealand before and through the help of my dad, his work friends, and family friends, I've been able to acquire accommodation in a couple of different places.  Which so very much so helps with the whole, I'm-incredibly-broke thing.  I'll be staying in Auckland for a couple of days, and will be spending the majority of my time in Rangiputa, about 4-5 hours north of Auckland on the Northern Beaches.


I googled some images of Rangiputa earlier this week to see exactly where I'll be going, and holy smokes.   I mean...I could do worse.

Ya....I think I'll be just fine. :)

Once I'm back from NZ, (granted that I receive a visa, barring any secret felonies that I didn't know existed), I'll be back in Cairns and beginning the job search.  I've already put out "feelers" to a Night Zoo position with Cairns Tropical Zoo, and have looked into working as a Veterinary technician assistant/Vet Nurse at a local veterinary clinic that works with exotic/native australian wildlife.  Not sure what will happen with both of those, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed for great things! Everything has worked out so far, so I'll just see what happens!

Phew. That was a lot of blogging right there.  Now I know why I shouldn't delay my posts by a month. Too much happens for that to occur.

So there you have it.  I'm staying in Cairns, Australia, in paradise, and seeing where life takes me with vet school, jobs, and life opportunities!  The plan is to be back in the States in either August, or potentially next december, but a lot of things are still up in the air!  I have my Oregon State University College of Veterinary Medicine Skype interview on the 24th/25th of January, and will find out if I'm accepted, or not, in February!  Like I said, it has been and will be a crazy, hectic couple of weeks.

Missing all my friends and fam, and hoping that everyone is doing well!

xxx

Nicole