I'm not using this Xanga any longer... if you want to see my page go to myspace.com and my url is Ashleyalwayssmiling or you can look up my name!

Goodday Mates! haha

Friday night I took my 1st ferry ride from Manly to Sydney to meet Shaun after work. It was only 6:20 when I got into the city, but it was dark and all the lights were absolutely stunning! The ferry drops everyone off right between the opra house and harbor bridge, that was so amazing, I stood outside the ferry as we pulled in looking at everything around me just thinking about how amazing this experience is! We met his friends at a club about a 10min walk into the city, this club was pretty nice! Shaun and everyone else said it was a cheaper club not a half good one, but it was better than anyone I've ever been in. 3 or 4 stories tall, all of the one club, with poker machines on the 2nd level and then the nice bars on the 3rd where we were. Only have to be 18 here which i'm getting used to quite quickly. His best mates Amond and Luke were very, lovely seem to be sincere guys and it was nice to get to meet them.

Yesterday was amazing! I'm now living pratically right on Manly beach, but walked down to Shelly beach yesterday. Looked so far away, but the time passed quickly. I have never felt such soft sand in between my toes before, it felt as if you're walking on marshmellows. lol. Anyways up at shelly beach there are some amazing cliffs that you walk up, there is a running strip and as the waves hit the rocks some water dropletts touch your skin, feels amazing! The water out of the water fountain tastes so incredibly clean which is such a small thing, but it doesn't taste like metal which is like the water fountains i've drank out of before. A couple had just gotten married and were having their reception at a restaurant that over looks the cliffs. They looked so beautiful and happy. People smile here, everyone is so lovely and kind.

Today I walked to the beach close by and watched the surfers...everyone surfs here! No one was able to catch the waves, they were huge, it's quite windy today. I played with a young boy who was gathering sand in his bucket. He would run up the stairs and then chunk his shovel down over the rocks, then have to climb one little foot at a time back down to retrieve it. He was so cute, curly hair, big brown eyes, talking to me in his accent, only maybe 3yrs old. I sat and read my book for about an hour, it's getting better. I used to not read... besides magazines... books i picked up again back in May, and it's a nice place to escape to. When nothing else is going on, it takes you to another world. I sounds small, but I love that. Taking it easy tonight, maybe playing some cards, but it's too cold to enjoy outside now. Gets warm in the day but morning and night and quite chilly. Having a good time so far!

Friday night I took my 1st ferry ride from Manly to Sydney to meet Shaun after work. It was only 6:20 when I got into the city, but it was dark and all the lights were absolutely stunning! The ferry drops everyone off right between the opra house and harbor bridge, that was so amazing, I stood outside the ferry as we pulled in looking at everything around me just thinking about how amazing this experience is! We met his friends at a club about a 10min walk into the city, this club was pretty nice! Shaun and everyone else said it was a cheaper club not a half good one, but it was better than anyone I've ever been in. 3 or 4 stories tall, all of the one club, with poker machines on the 2nd level and then the nice bars on the 3rd where we were. Only have to be 18 here which i'm getting used to quite quickly. His best mates Amond and Luke were very, lovely seem to be sincere guys and it was nice to get to meet them.

Yesterday was amazing! I'm now living pratically right on Manly beach, but walked down to Shelly beach yesterday. Looked so far away, but the time passed quickly. I have never felt such soft sand in between my toes before, it felt as if you're walking on marshmellows. lol. Anyways up at shelly beach there are some amazing cliffs that you walk up, there is a running strip and as the waves hit the rocks some water dropletts touch your skin, feels amazing! The water out of the water fountain tastes so incredibly clean which is such a small thing, but it doesn't taste like metal which is like the water fountains i've drank out of before. A couple had just gotten married and were having their reception at a restaurant that over looks the cliffs. They looked so beautiful and happy. People smile here, everyone is so lovely and kind.

Today I walked to the beach close by and watched the surfers...everyone surfs here! No one was able to catch the waves, they were huge, it's quite windy today. I played with a young boy who was gathering sand in his bucket. He would run up the stairs and then chunk his shovel down over the rocks, then have to climb one little foot at a time back down to retrieve it. He was so cute, curly hair, big brown eyes, talking to me in his accent, only maybe 3yrs old. I sat and read my book for about an hour, it's getting better. I used to not read... besides magazines... books i picked up again back in May, and it's a nice place to escape to. When nothing else is going on, it takes you to another world. I sounds small, but I love that. Taking it easy tonight, maybe playing some cards, but it's too cold to enjoy outside now. Gets warm in the day but morning and night and quite chilly. Having a good time so far!

Things here are exciting, different, but I am realizing how far away I am from home. It's hard being away, but also fun getting to see such different things. Everyone here is very very fashion foward, it made me think of Sarah Marsh b/c she would love dressing here! It looks like everyone just stepped out of a magazine. We went to the mall yesterday which was very interesting! The weirdest thing, their grocery store is inside their shopping malls, so after you get done grocery shopping, you can push your cart all over the mall and then they are just left in the parking garage! How strange is that! I have no idea how they ever keep track of their carts! We also went down to Manly beach where the apartment is, the beach is beautiful, and waves very large. It didn't feel so cold yesterday outside but when it got to night time it was FREEZING! Also, a man was putting a wheelchair in a car yesterday and I saw a woman sitting in the car seat and I was like Shaun! He's going to let the old lady with the wheelchair drive! Then I realized that she was actually sitting on the passenger side! haha that was quite funny and made me laugh for a few mins. Also the radio and TV stations, everyone talking in their accents, I was laughing in the car about that also. Last night I went to sleep around 7 or 8pm, and woke up at 4am this morning. Trying to adjust to the new times, but that might take a few days!

Ha so this trip has already been an interesting adventure! My plane from DFW to LAX last night got held up on the runway too long and I missed my flight to FIJI which then connects to Australia. So... after crying for a bit I got another flight that leaves tonight, called my friend Alan who was amazing and came to rescue me and let me stay with him for the night. Then today I went shopping with his mom and sister, we all met on my cruise last year, funny how things work out. I visited them while I was here in June so it was nice to get to see them again anyways. I guess LA isn't too bad of a place to get stuck in as long as you know people. lol.

Well, i'm going to have some dinner and then get ready for my long long flight! This time tomorrow I will almost be there!