3/12/07 PICS

Rugby game
see all photos »

So this weekend we were supposed to go sky diving, but didnt end up making it back in time. We left on Saturday morning bright and early and headed up to Coffs Harbour to watch the guys rugby game. We have not seen a real Australian sport since we have been here so it was exciting. We ended up staying at Mitches parents house, which was so nice to be in a family setting again. His parents and siblings were super nice and very accomodating. They made us lunch and dinner and had beds and everything ready for us. The game was ridiculous. In true Australian rugby they dont wear padding and go all out! There were a few fights that broke out during the game which made all that more interesting. We sat and learned the rules and object of the game for 3 hours, and let me tell you it was insane! I am surprised that more people dont take trips to the hospital. We described it as a game of Red Rover but 100 times more intense. All that they do is run each other down and slam one another in to the ground (keep in mind with no padding or helmets). After the game we got ready and went and experienced the night life around Mitches home town. It was a blast! We hung out with all of the rugby players and danced and talked and had a great time... until we got kicked out. Australian laws are different when it comes to drinking. Here they really enforce the policy that if you have had to much to drink you are kicked out. You dont have to do anything to get kicked out just if someone sees you and thinks that you are intoxicated that is it. Mitch whenever he drinks his eyes get blood shot even after a couple, so while we were there one of the security guards came up and was talking to us and saw his eyes and just assumed he had had to much. It was a bummer, but oh well. We still had a great time and I met a lot of great good looking rugby players, which made my night! On Sunday we were all lagging and didnt quite get up in time to get back for the sky diving. We decided that we are going to do that when we are in Cairnes instead. They have packages of three where we can go sky diving, hot air balloon, and white water rafting together. We decided that it would be a better deal to do that so there will be more to come on that.

Rugby game
see all photos »

Anyway, on Sunday we woke up and went and checked out the beach. I feel like we have been depraved. We hadnt been to the beach in nearly a week and we needed a little sand and water. We went and checked out the beach near his house and walked along the jetti (pier) and jumped off of that into the ocean. I am posting pictures of that along with the big mountain of a hill that we hiked up to see the most amazing view. I am telling you we luck out here. We have barely had any days of clouds and rain. It is always sunny and makes you want to get up and explore everything that Australia has to offer. Once we were up on the hill we walked over to the rocks and went and sat out on the edges there. The waves were incredible and it was amazing to watch. It was a very serine and relaxing day sitting and watching the waves hit against the rocks and the big cliffs. Before we headed back he also took us on a car ride to the top of this huge mountain. Up on the top there is a spot that you can go and see the view over the entire city. There are a few pictures on there of that as well. We could see the beach and grass hill that we climbed from up there as well. I am going to be so used to heights and hills by the time I leave here. If you look in the background of most of the pics you can see all of the hills. Australians cant avoid getting exercise, because everything you must climb up and down to get places.  After that we headed back home and got ready for the next 3 days of school. I was so tired today though. I woke up, went to class at 8 til 12 and then went back to bed until 6. The next couple of days will be filled with school and then this weekend we are going to try and make it to Byron Bay again to try surfing and just lay out on the beach. I will try and put pictures up here from the last time we went to Byron as well. The beach there is gorgeous (actually every beach in Australia is gorgeous) and the little shopping area. Until then :)!