Hello all! I've decided I'm just going to put all of the Port Stephens trip in one post, instead of going by day, so this post is probably going to be really long, so I apologize for that! Anywho, it was a very, erm, interesting experience on this trip to say the least. While Port Stephens was one of the most beautiful and inspiring landscapes I've ever been to, and Shea and I had an amazing time amongst the two of us, this trip only reminded us why both of us not only hate traveling in huge tour groups, but also why we sometimes really do not like the fact that we are associated with other Americans. Never have I been so embarrassed in my entire life to be traveling with a group of Americans, I don't think I would have survived the trip had Shea not been there. The people on the trip (a mix of some BU students as well as some University of Miami-Ohio) were the most obnoxious and mind blowingly unaware people I've ever had the misfortune to come across. But more on this as later!
Friday night we got on the bus at 6:30, and then went to pick up the Miami-Ohio kids from where they were studying in Sydney a few blocks away. Right off the back Shea and I were getting nervous, as we could tell as people were getting on that this was going to be an interesting trip. The people were obviously only interested in getting drunk on the trip, and were incredibly rude to both the woman running the trip and the bus driver. As she was explaining the paperwork we had to fill out and trip details, some girls starting legitimately yelling at her to turn down the air. Not waiting until she'd finished talking, walking politely up to her and asking nicely if the air conditioning could be turned down, but actually screaming from all the way down at the other side of the bus "TURN THE AIR CONDITIONING DOWN." over and over and over again. Shea and I felt humiliated on behalf of everyone else on the bus, but no one else seemed to mind. Luckily, the bus soon started playing Ice Age and everyone shut up, giving us some nice peace and quiet from their stupidity as we made the three hour trip up the coast to Port Stephens. When we got to the hotel that night, Shea and I were insanely relived to find we had a room to ourselves, while everyone else were sharing apartments with four people. We were both really tired, so even though we'd both promised each other we were going to do some work when we arrived, we just climbed into bed and went to sleep.
Friday night we got on the bus at 6:30, and then went to pick up the Miami-Ohio kids from where they were studying in Sydney a few blocks away. Right off the back Shea and I were getting nervous, as we could tell as people were getting on that this was going to be an interesting trip. The people were obviously only interested in getting drunk on the trip, and were incredibly rude to both the woman running the trip and the bus driver. As she was explaining the paperwork we had to fill out and trip details, some girls starting legitimately yelling at her to turn down the air. Not waiting until she'd finished talking, walking politely up to her and asking nicely if the air conditioning could be turned down, but actually screaming from all the way down at the other side of the bus "TURN THE AIR CONDITIONING DOWN." over and over and over again. Shea and I felt humiliated on behalf of everyone else on the bus, but no one else seemed to mind. Luckily, the bus soon started playing Ice Age and everyone shut up, giving us some nice peace and quiet from their stupidity as we made the three hour trip up the coast to Port Stephens. When we got to the hotel that night, Shea and I were insanely relived to find we had a room to ourselves, while everyone else were sharing apartments with four people. We were both really tired, so even though we'd both promised each other we were going to do some work when we arrived, we just climbed into bed and went to sleep.
The next morning we woke up and headed over to the Ray and Shark Centre at Port Stephens, where we were able to feed the rays and sharks. While we were told to wear shorts and a t-shirt, I really wish they'd told us to just wear a bathing suit, because the water came up to well past my hips, and later my shoulders, while they'd made it seem like it would come up to our knees. It was really really fun though, this super cool guy in charge, Ryan, told us all about the rays and sharks and then let us get in with them to feed them some prawns. We started off with the little ones, who were really really cute! You have this stick that you attach the prawn to and then they come up and tear it off, it's actually kind of scaring, cause they just suck until it comes off, but then lift their faces up, and you can actually see a little face on the underside, it's really funny and cool! Then Ryan let us get in the tank with the huge manta rays, that were bigger than us! He had me sit along the side in the water up to my shoulders and then used fish to get her to come over to me and give me a hug. It was a really surreal experience, because she was just so massive and slick and heavy! It was crazy! After that Shea and I went and got into a tank with the sharks (nurse sharks) which was really cool cause they ranged in size from really small to absolutely huge! While the little ones had really rough skin, like sandpaper, the bigger ones were smooth and slick. It was super neat!
After we'd finished up with the rays and sharks and changed into dry clothes (but no shower, so we all smelled very fishy), we headed down to Tomaree Head Lookout, which takes you up to an amazing 360 degree panorama of Port Stephens and all its many bays from the top of the moutanin. It was quite the hike up there, incredibly steep and had lots of steps, but once we made it up there, it was definitely worth the effort. The views were absolutely stunning, you could see all the bays in the area, the full ocean behind it, and some of the many islands and hills around the area. The beaches looked perfect, and the water was so incredibly blue and clear you could see right down into the bottom, as you can see from the picture above. It was the perfect clear day, we were incredibly awed by the sight. It was very peaceful getting to stand at the top and look down over the entire area, and you never ran out of things to look at, as there were so many beaches and islands and hills in the area. After we'd soaked in the landscape and atmosphere for a bit, we climbed back down the mountain (very steep hill?) which was a bit of a struggle just because it was so steep you felt like you were going to sip and crash domino style into everyone below you.
We had a lunch break then for about an hour where we could also shower, but Shea and I decided there wasn't time for that and were both starving so we just dropped out stuff back at the room really quickly before heading to the main street to find some food. Unfortunately, this is when we heard on of the Miami girls talking to her friends (very loudly), in which she quite literally said, and I quote: "Guys, guys, guys. There hasn't been a disaster like my eyebrows since 9/11." If that doesn't give you an idea of the type of people we were stuck in a group with, I don't know what else would. Shea and I were both horrified, and could not believe what we'd just heard. We quickly got as far away from that group as possible, and looked for someplace to eat. We couldn't help but laugh when we found a Ned Kelly statue hanging out in front of a meat pie place called "Red Neds". Looks like it's impossible for us to escape Ned Kelly no matter where we go. I ended up getting a lamb meat pie which was really good, and a Bondi Chai Latte that was super yummy! We ended up really having to hurry cause it took longer than expected, but we managed to grab some ice cream before getting on the boat to go whale and dolphin watching cruise. Shea and I got a table to ourselves by a window (it was a little too chilly with the wind for us outside, and since we know how long it takes to actually find a whale, we didn't mind being inside for the meantime).
The next three hours were definitely the best time I had on the entire trip. Shea and I just talked about anything and everything for the entire trip, and I think we really grew as people as part of it. We talked a lot about race issues, gender issues, equality issues, and I think it was having such an intellectual and inspiring conversation when juxtaposed with the rest of the trip and the mindless things that were being said around us, that made such a huge contrast for us during the weekend. Shea and I were already pretty close to begin with, but after this afternoon we're so much closer, and I think we really appreciate each other a lot more than we ever have before. I think having this conversation really allowed us to get to know each other better, and gave us time to talk about things that we never do when we're in a huge group. It was a really lovely afternoon, and such a relief from the ignorance that was evident all around us. To top the day off, we got to see three whales hanging out on the surface and diving (sorry, couldn't get any pictures cause it happens so fast) and a whole pod of dolphins as well! Definitely worth the bonding time!
After the cruise ended, we went to a brewery/winery called Murray's where we had a wine and beer tasting (which wasn't very good honestly). We got pizza there to though, which was absolutely amazing! I ate way too much! And they had the most amazing chips (french fries) there as well! So much yumminess! Even though we had to deal with the other people getting drunk and being super loud and obnoxious, Shea and I enjoyed the yummy foods. When we got back to the room we ignored all the tipsy American students yelling about how they were about to go on a rager at the local pub, and stayed in our hotel room "working", which turned into us laying on each other's beds just talking some more and eating candy. It was a nice way to end the night.
After the cruise ended, we went to a brewery/winery called Murray's where we had a wine and beer tasting (which wasn't very good honestly). We got pizza there to though, which was absolutely amazing! I ate way too much! And they had the most amazing chips (french fries) there as well! So much yumminess! Even though we had to deal with the other people getting drunk and being super loud and obnoxious, Shea and I enjoyed the yummy foods. When we got back to the room we ignored all the tipsy American students yelling about how they were about to go on a rager at the local pub, and stayed in our hotel room "working", which turned into us laying on each other's beds just talking some more and eating candy. It was a nice way to end the night.
The next morning we got up very early and headed to Anna's Bay, which is right along the ocean but has some crazy sand dunes stretching for miles. It was really strange to look at, because it didn't even seem like the same country anymore. Suddenly I felt like I was in the middle of the desert, like how I imagined the Middle East, especially when we drove out into the middle of the dunes and couldn't see the ocean anymore. It was really really crazy. When we got out to the dunes, we were given sand boards and allowed to go sand boarding down the dunes! It was really really great fun! From the bottom the hill looked pretty big, but after climbing to the top, it looked huge! Once you started going though, it was really exhilarating and fun to slide down the sand like that. Unfortunately, the climb up to the top is not as fun, as not only is it a long climb, and steep, but because it's sand, you spend just as much time slipping downwards as you do going upwards. The best way is to keep running up so you have momentum, but you get so tired it's impossible. It was also super windy, so we were getting sand everywhere: in our clothes, our eyes, our hair. I'm sure I"ll be finding sand on me three weeks for now! So worth it though! After, we had the option of going camel riding, but the camels did not look well treated at all, so Shea and I refused to go on them. Instead, we hung out on the beach for a bit, but then it started to rain, so we ran back onto the bus.
This ended up being unfortunate because I witnessed two of the most appalling conversations I've ever listened to in my life. The first was occurring between this obnoxious guy who lives on my floor back at BU, and some other girl. This guy was going on and on about how women are the root of all evil for men, and that his last girlfriend made him hate women, because, get this, she was too independent for him. Yes. This guy was seriously complaining that his girlfriend was too independent for him. He complained for a good five minutes about how she didn't seem to need any help with anything and that she didn't need to rely on him. Even worse, the girl he was talking to nodded along and was like, "Yeah, I can totally see that, that's so frustrating, ohmygod". Seriously? SERIOUSLY?! I had to try so hard not to turn around and say anything, because I knew it wasn't going to be worth getting into, but I was incredibly disgusted, and couldn't believe him or this other girl.
Then, to make thing worse, these girls from Miami-Ohio University got back on the bus and started talking about the time they'd had last night, which was embarrassing to listen to, as they were definitely the obnoxious, loud, drunk Americans at the local pub last night. That's when one of the girls was like "Guys, guys, listen, I kissed a girl last night. I haven't done that since sophomore year of high school," to which her "friend" replied, "Ohmygod. Stop. Talking. That's disgusting, you're making me want to vomit." Shea and I were beyond disgusted at this point, and shot them looks that could have killed, but I don't think they noticed. Had we been stuck with them any longer, I honestly think we would have cracked and had to say something. I've never been so frustrated and angry and upset before, all these people were just so ignorant and stupid, and loud and obnoxious it was hard to believe. They seriously need to be educated. As soon as possible.
Once everyone was back on the bus, we headed back into town for lunch, before getting back on the bus and driving back to Sydney. Luckily they put a movie on again so everyone was quiet, and we didn't have to put up with any more of their conversations. I don't think I've ever been so relieved to be back and Sydney and get off that bus, as I was then. Shea and I went out to this Malaysian place we've been wanting to try for forever, and it was amazing! So glad we finally found the time to go do it! Then we did a little bit of work and went to sleep, very happy to be away from the group and back to Sydney. I definitely learned my lesson about traveling with so many ignorant Americans at once, and it just reminded me again how much I hate traveling in big groups to begin with. Even eight people on our road trip sometimes felt like a lot, I definitely prefer just exploring and traveling with two or three. Shea is my favorite person to travel with so far, she's so insightful and a lot of fun, and is just so interesting! Definitely wish we had more time to travel elsewhere together!
Anywho, that was my very interesting weekend in Port Stephens, but don't get me wrong, I still had a lot of fun with Shea, and Port Stephens was one of the most beautiful places I've ever been to! Below I have a video of me sand boarding (sorry it's a little shaky, the wind was really strong so it was hard to keep still). There's also a slide show underneath that with some more pictures. Enjoy!
Then, to make thing worse, these girls from Miami-Ohio University got back on the bus and started talking about the time they'd had last night, which was embarrassing to listen to, as they were definitely the obnoxious, loud, drunk Americans at the local pub last night. That's when one of the girls was like "Guys, guys, listen, I kissed a girl last night. I haven't done that since sophomore year of high school," to which her "friend" replied, "Ohmygod. Stop. Talking. That's disgusting, you're making me want to vomit." Shea and I were beyond disgusted at this point, and shot them looks that could have killed, but I don't think they noticed. Had we been stuck with them any longer, I honestly think we would have cracked and had to say something. I've never been so frustrated and angry and upset before, all these people were just so ignorant and stupid, and loud and obnoxious it was hard to believe. They seriously need to be educated. As soon as possible.
Once everyone was back on the bus, we headed back into town for lunch, before getting back on the bus and driving back to Sydney. Luckily they put a movie on again so everyone was quiet, and we didn't have to put up with any more of their conversations. I don't think I've ever been so relieved to be back and Sydney and get off that bus, as I was then. Shea and I went out to this Malaysian place we've been wanting to try for forever, and it was amazing! So glad we finally found the time to go do it! Then we did a little bit of work and went to sleep, very happy to be away from the group and back to Sydney. I definitely learned my lesson about traveling with so many ignorant Americans at once, and it just reminded me again how much I hate traveling in big groups to begin with. Even eight people on our road trip sometimes felt like a lot, I definitely prefer just exploring and traveling with two or three. Shea is my favorite person to travel with so far, she's so insightful and a lot of fun, and is just so interesting! Definitely wish we had more time to travel elsewhere together!
Anywho, that was my very interesting weekend in Port Stephens, but don't get me wrong, I still had a lot of fun with Shea, and Port Stephens was one of the most beautiful places I've ever been to! Below I have a video of me sand boarding (sorry it's a little shaky, the wind was really strong so it was hard to keep still). There's also a slide show underneath that with some more pictures. Enjoy!