Extennnnnded!!

Some people you meet in hostels, know exactly what they are doing, where they are going and when. Some of us have no idea. So when people ask you about your plans, you say you are trying to figure it out and you might extend your stay a few more nights in the meantime. It becomes quite humorous when another day goes by and you get asked again... and then the moment comes when you leave the group momentarily to go to reception to book a couple more nights, and return to the conversation and just laugh and say “extennnnnded!!”

The first few times I extended, happened because of the sailing trip that I booked and then just enjoying hanging out with the group of friends I had made. Between job hunting, grocery trips, visits to the lagoon and the beach, getting angrily lectured at by a really strange Australian, and other random adventures, I have kept quite busy and simultaneously made myself quite at home at the hostel. We have trivia every night, which is kind of a must-do here. It can get quite intense, and it is just too entertaining to miss. Steve, our trivia host, is a complete crackup. 

Wondering what to do one afternoon, a handful of us were told to go hike up Mt. Whitsunday. Knowing that it was a 1km hike.... and also hearing that some people didn’t make it to the top.... we were all curious to know how a 1km hike could really be that difficult....

10 minutes into it, breathing heavy already, and with our calves feeling like they might explode, we realized just how steep the hill was that we were climbing, and realized it would be like that allllll the way to the top. 

Walking backwards for parts of it (literally), the English and the Americans (appropriately referred to as #TeamFreedom) made it to the top!! The top and beyond I might add. 1km+ hike completed!

Another night was dedicated to Jimmy since it was his 25th birthday! We decided to throw him a bbq burger party. I couldn’t help myself, I had to get some party hats (which those who were delegated one, proudly wore allllll night long) and especially a cake (one that I convinced Steve to carry out and start the “happy birthday” song at the start of trivia. 

Jimmy the birthday boy!

Awesome birthday accomplished :)

flash forward a few days... I was a bit bummed that my original group of friends had all moved on to other places. But I had decided to extend through the weekend (through Oct. 4th), in hopes of hearing back from some job prospects in Airlie and specifically hoping to hear back from the tour guide/ranger position I had managed to find a phone number for and called and got myself an impromptu phone interview for. 

Lucky for me, I got what I hoped for! The manager from Bungalow Bay on Magnetic Island called to offer me a trial day for Monday the 5th! Greyhound bus booked, I am traveling to Magnetic Island!!