pieces of my vacation

Hey there faithful readers!
Surprise surprise! I'm here to update again.

I'm enjoying what seems to be a never-ending vacation. I've been traveling since June 23, and every moment, every place has been perfectly perfect.
I told you all that I'd update along the way and I've done a very poor job of that. I just haven't wanted to set aside time to update my blog when I'm surrounded by wonderful friends, people whose company I am rarely able to enjoy.

Where have I been?

From Korea I flew to Melbourne, Australia. I posted a blog about that.
Then I flew to Sydney. I posted a blog about that as well.
Then I flew to Brisbane, met my brother, rented a camper and drove for 1o days up the Queensland coast.
I spent 2 weeks in Cairns and Port Douglas.
Then I returned to Sydney.
After 5 weeks in Australia I flew to Honolulu.
And now, I'm in Seattle.
Whew... I've covered a lot of ground!

I have heaps of photos and even more stories and memories. And I want to share them all with you! But instead of trying to put together a timeline presentation of the entire summer, I have decided to just share random memories and photos.

I'll post every few days and tell you a bit about a certain place or experience and I'll throw in some pictures.
So today I'll tell you about my first scuba dive!

Nick and I drove up the coast of Australia in a campervan. We had such a great time and couldn't have asked for better weather or scenery! We took two fantastic boat tours, the second one was in Cairns, Australia- a city right along the Great Barrier Reef.

We boarded an old lugger ship called the Falla. Though we were on a tour, it didn't feel like a tourist ship. It was more like going out on the water with a bunch of friends. The owner/skipper Doug Meyer was very welcoming and very eager to teach us about the reef and the coral and life at sea. Nick and I hadn't planned on scuba diving, but something changed our mind at the last minute. I think it was just the perfect setting, great people, perhaps some unexpected inspiration.

Now, I have always had a fear of the underwater world. I've always been paranoid of sharks and jellyfish and other such creatures. Somehow though, my fear disappeared as I was guided down below the ship. We saw all sorts of fish, big and small. Take the wonder of snorkeling and multiply it! The colors of the coral were unlike any color I've seen on land. The life, the way things mingle, the traffic of the fish, the movements of the plants, the sounds, the feelings... Going under the sea is like visiting a foreign country. But it was also like entering a sacred temple. It was perhaps the most beautiful place I've ever been. I didn't want to close my eyes. I didn't want to leave.

I don't have any photos from the dive, so I'm sorry I can't share any of the wonder with you. But an underwater camera, though pretty cool, just can't fully capture it. I did however take some pictures while we were on the ship. You can see the amazing color of the water, the cool ship, and hopefully you can imagine what it was like.

Sadly, 2 days after our tour the Falla sank. The ship accidentally hit the reef. No one was hurt, but my heart was really sad! That particular tour was impressive. Doug Meyer (owner/skipper) poured his heart into that ship and he was doing such a swell job. The good news is that the boat was repairable and I think it's already back and running tours.

Cheers to the Falla! And may her sails lead many more people to be inspired by the wonders below the waves!

umm, dear friends. i have an announcement to make. i'm staying here forever. thank you and goodbye.

These days I'm hanging out with some fine folks in Dee Why. It's just a hop, skip and a jump away from downtown Sydney.
Days are filled with walks along the beaches, watching surfers master giant waves, gazing at dolphins swimming merrily, reading, thinking, eating fine chocolates and cheeses, and enjoying the rich company of friends.

Here's a look at Dee Why Beach.

One night last week we drove up to a place called Northhead for a fantastic view of the city by night. It was very dark, and very cold. But also very cool.

Brennan: What's cooler? My handstand? Or the view?

Kenton: Umm...Does it have to be either/or? Can it be both/and?

April: Speechless... too busy posing dramatically.

They killed me.

April: I....just....wait....THERE! I win! I crossed the line first!

Kenton: Ehh whatever, I let you win.

There's so much to see in Sydney. It seems like every time you turn a corner there's a different sort of style, a different view, a different adventure waiting to happen.

Here's some pictures from my visit to Darling Harbour. I visited the Charles Darwin exibit at the Martime Museum. It was really interesting. My favorite part was reading through some of his letters. He was a profound writer. I never knew that.

This is a pretty good view of the city skyline.

Here's the landmark Opera House.

Kenton and Mike under the Harbour Bridge.

I spent some time hanging out at Circular Quay before catching the ferry back to Manly. There's the Harbour Bridge with some ferries coming in.

On Tuesday Kenton took me to the Blue Mountains. If I were making a list of favorite places, the Blue Mountains would be on that list. I was in reflective awe all day as we hiked and explored. Those three rock formations in the next picture are called the Three Sisters.

And this morning, Kenton and I woke up extra early and walked down to the beach to catch the sunrise. We weren't expecting much because the sky seemed quite cloudy and grey. We were however, dazzled by what felt like a joyful awakening. Even the dolphins were out jumping as we took a walk along the cliffs.

I have had an unforgettable week in Sydney. I'm doubly blessed to be in a beautiful place and also to be with some of my favorite people. I've been spending lots of time in thought, and just trying to search my heart to grow more each day. I finished reading a book called "The Life of the Beloved" by Henri Nouwen. He talks about how much God loves us, but also how everything we do or think is a chance for us to say "Yes, God, I love you too." So as I eat these meals of goodness, and as I see the sky painted with fine artistry, and as I share thoughts and words and laughter with my friends...in all I do may I never forget my place in this world.

God is good. Truly, faithfully, good.

Love you all. Sorry for the slow updates but you can see, I'm not exactly spending much time with my computer. I'm meeting my brother in 2 days and we'll begin our camping trip up the coast. Hooray!!!!

i love this city

I LOVE MELBOURNE!!!

• On Friday Aurelia and I went cycling around the city and she led me to the harbor and beach area. We sat at a lovely cafe on a long pier and drank exquisite espresso.
• Then on Saturday we went hiking in what is called the Dandenong Ranges. It was lush and green and smelled of fresh earth and we saw a Kookaburra (but it didn't laugh).
• Sunday Aurealia ran a half-marathan and I spent the morning watching fit runners and listening to stage music and cheering everyone on, and feeling inspired to excercize.

I have pictures of all of those days but I have limited internet access and the cafe here is very slooooowly uploading my photos. So below, please enjoy a bit of Melbourne through my eyes.

This is an astoundingly beautiful city, a mixture of all the things I love.
The architecture is vintage Victorian.
The espresso is top-of-the-line!
Public transport is rockin',
fresh markets boast a rainbow of fresh produce,
used book shops beckon you down intriguing alleys,
live music,
colors everywhere,
and the most friendly fun easy-going people you will ever meet.

I can't help but just fall instantly in love with it all!




Yep, it's all over the news here too!


The Queen Victoria Market could perhaps be my favorite place here.

I spent the afternoon/evening yesterday just wandering around the city. I walked an ungodly amount of kilometres just as happy as a clam. (hmm...a clam? whatever.) I'm filled with joy, so happy to be here, and excited to share at least these bits of it with you.

I sat for a while along the Yarra River. I enjoyed watching people, and also enjoyed a delicious pastry!

Yeah, pictures of me are rare these days. Much more amazing things to look at!

Peace y'all.