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Australia Adventure

Discovery Student Adventures Takes Lemons and Makes "SOLO"

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Okay, so when I was packing for my trip to Australia with the Discovery Student Adventures team, I was imagining sunny skies and warm weather. So let's just say my suitcase was definitely not prepared for 50 degree weather and rain everyday since we arrived. But that's okay, because when you travel with Discovery Student Adventures and you have a fearless travel manager like Amanda, you take those lemon like situations and make SOLO, an Aussie version of lemonade that has become our Australian addicition. It could have been a normal drive into Bush Camp, but when the rain caused the roads to become too muddy and slick, Amanda transformed that route into a 4 wheel drive adventure... the bigger the puddles the more the kids hooted and hollered.

So here's a brief look at what we've done so far since arriving abroad only 8 days ago. Let's see if I can get this in one breath...

Landed after an 17 hour flight and headed straight to the Moonlit Animal sanctuary where we fed and walked among wallabies, cleaned Rita the wombat's cage and checked the fertility of sugar gliders. Nice scenic tour through Melbourne... very artistic place! A hike among the canopy of the Australia rainforest at Otway fly (screamed my head off when the kids shook the bridge) Took the "Great Ocean Road" drive, one of the top 10 drives in the world... watched what happens to CarolAnne when she has eaten too many lollies (candies) let's just say the call it the liquid laugh (but it's definitely not funny!) Had a behind the scenes tour of Healesville Sanctuary where kids got to witness a kangaroo autopsy (let's just say I stayed behind the glass and by the looks on the kids faces, I made the right choice!) Went shopping in the famous Victoria Market and enjoyed some local yellow kiwi (bought beanies, gloves, and a scarf as it is still freezing cold and rainy) Took a flight to the center of the outback where we had an overnight at the Ooramina Bush Camp... made bread, learned how to crack a whip, enjoyed a roaring campfire, and we slept in swags (an Australian sleeping bag type thing) An early rise and off to one of the most famous iconic Australian spots... know to some as "The Rock" other's as "Ayers" and officially as "Uluru" It's GIGANTIC. Met with Cassidy an Aboriginal who taught us how to make glue, throw a spear, told us stories in the sand, and helped us make dot paintings. Cooked our own dinner on the barbie. Woke up at O-Dark-thirty to watch the sunrise over Uluru. It did not disappoint and words don't do it justice! A magical moment for all! We saw our first glimpse of sun... but we are still bundled up... in fact they hit record lows today! Kids got to ride camels in the bush (laughed hysterically at their expressions) Took flight again to the northern shores.... officially threw jacket off as we hit the warm tropical weather... but guess what... still raining! Did I mention that we've seen rainbows EVERY DAY?!?! We are officially somewhere over the rainbow! Witnessed a croc feeding at Hartley's Crocodile farm and one of my trip highlights cuddled up with a Koala (they are VERY stinky and I decided not to sneak him in my bag) Watched where we stepped at a Banana factory :) Saw lots of banana trees and even helped packing a few, LOTS of mud, a terrific waterfall, the biggest spider I have ever seen in my life, and the BEST cream and lemingtons for morning tea. Headed toward the Great Barrier Reef and stopped for a picture with the world's largest Gum Boot for Eren. Enjoyed an Aussie burger... they put beets on them... it's fantastic! Reached Reef HQ and practiced snorkeling at Adrenaline Dive. Now the kids are down stairs at the Reef HQ learning how to identify fish and coral for their research expedition to Orpheus Island tomorrow.... insert long exhale here!

Can you believe all that in 8 days!Enough from me... go now to http://dsaaustralia.blogspot.com and read the kids and teachers AMAZING twitters and blogs. POST COMMENTS... they read them every night!

Now, go to http://discoverystudentadventures.com/ and pick which adventure you want to go on next year. EVERY teacher needs to have this amazing experience with their students and where there's a will, there is a way!

So cheers to each of you and a giant G'day from Australia! Here's a sneak peak of what we've done so far!
-Jannita Demian

4 comments:

Susan said...

Jannita,
I think you covered everthing! Amazing all they have done and seen.
It has been a great deal of fun following all of you through Australia. What a wonderful opportunity Discovery Student Adventures has provided for the kids and teachers. They have seen and experienced so many things since the Colorado kids were running through the airport to make the plane to Australia.
I think it will take them & those of you traveling with them a bit of time to unwind. It has been so fun to follow along.
I am going to have to follow the kids in South Africa now. I have become addicted to this.
Mrs. Jensen's mom

Erica Jaung said...

Jannita,
Wow! I never knew that it would be 50 degrees! I shouldn't complain about California weather now. I wonder what sugar gliders are... I never knew that 'lemonade' is called 'SOLO'. YUM! Have fun!!!!!
Erica Jaung

EstherChang said...

Jannita:
I loved reading about your experience. I can't imagine having to live in a 50 degree area. I'd freeze. I can't believe you guys went to the shore in rainy weather! However, I'd love to see the shore in a rainy weather!~ I also learned a new way of saying Lemonade.....

Jimmy Martinez said...

Jannita,
Wow, your story sounded like you had a lot of fun in Australia. It must have been fun and a little scary to experience all the adventures you had. You made everything sound so interesting; from the part about coming from the airport and fed the wallabies to the end of your story were you ate an Aussie burger. Your trip must have been lots of fun. Australia sounds like a fun place to visit. Are the cities in Australia really that nice? It sounds like a place where you can forget about all of your worries. I hope you had lots of fun over there!

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