Australia

It's been surf camp as usual. Had a fun partynight with Wieteke, finlandia and Matt Dee after everyone had gone to bed. Hilarious night The next morning I went on my last Byron-trip as a helper. Two days after I came back to camp, my sis(Hege) and cousin(Kristine) came to visit. They had travelled for 40 hours from Oslo, Norway to Sydney, Australia, when they got in the rented car and drove up to Bulahdelah. Where Billy and I had cheese, grapes and biscuits ready with Tim Tams as dessert. While we ate(read: Hege & Kristine), I got birthdaygifts, grot, glogg, saltsild, NORSK smaagodt og sjokolade and pic of Lucky(I've heard stories about her being spoilt now, but she still looks like a kitten After showers and stuff, they drove me to a doctor at Blueys. Who made me scream in pain for an hour , gave me 2 different antibiotics and too strong painkillers. My poor body who had to get filled up with all that Hege & Kristine went to Forster the next day and delivered a sample for me that the doctor gave me. On their 2 day stay at Waves Surf Camp, my sis & cousin saw probably everything but a surfboard HAHAHA
Thursday, 21 december, all three of us got in the white rented car and drove to Sydney airport, where we met Siri, my sis friend, before we got on the plane to Cairns. In Cairns the others were tourist - Green Island, Kuranda and stuff. While I got to see the shoppingcentre & the walk between the hotel and the hospital. And then the Cairns Base hospitals waiting room at the emergency, the emergency, the scc1(or something like that) in bed 9.4 & the famous theatre and recovery.
I sure got to experience something new!!!! Even if I didn't want to...

Back at Waves Surf Camp, my first home in Australia Love it!!
I was the first helper to arrive, except for Johannes 21 yo internt from Germany. OH MY GOD!!! I felt sorry for Vicky already the first day!!! He says he's worked before - organising his own parties. He got a partyroom... (it was a struggle getting him to work without making a scene in front of the punters)
Well, enough about that!
Surf camp is back to normal...crazy partying. Poolparty!! Dancing nude and on the bar, pooltable, tables & chairs
My first byron-trip as a helper was fantastic!! Playing games and singing around the camp fire in Yuraygir National Park Love it! Dylan entertaining the bus by chasing babybirds & roos HAHA Amazing fridaynight in Byron Bay as well. Thanks Tim
At surf camp I've been back at Seal Rocks, Lighthouse beach, Hawks Nest and been to Yagan/Yagon & Cellito beach. Love it!
I've also been on a roadtrip from Violet Hill Road, Bulahdelah, New South Wales to Blue Mountains...left camp at 7pm & got back at 7am... c r a z y, but fun
One fridaynight Annie(english) & I decided to PARTY PARTY!! starting with tequila so much fun!! The next morning I didn't get up in time cause Will(South Wales) didn't wake me... b a d b o y!! Walking from The Boatshed to The Cabana I heard screaming & laughing... What the fuck!?!! The boss had the surf lesson in the pool, cause The Big Blue Bus was stuck outside in the mud. After a hot lunch and a trip to the huge town of Bulahdelah, the bus was free & I jumped on the bus and went surfing in freezing cold weather & water in my bikini with no dry clothes or towel to put on afterwards. And back at camp the hot water didn't work HAHA but it was So So So worth it!!
Halloween was all crazy...I'll try and get photos for you!!
I bought a dolphin in Forster one day, Annie got Steve The Crocodile. Back at camp, we jumped in the pool with them! And noticed the guys by the boardshed - surfing in the mud with a rope and the troopy. Annie, Steve, me & my Pink Dolphin joined in on mudsurfing & mudwrestling. Hilarious day & night!!!

Jindabyne, Jindabyne...What happened in Jindy?
Well, let's see... I do remember heaps of partying and mornings where we were still drunk, & sleeping in the clothing shop and still manage to be late for work..Sorry, Mike! (At least I didn't get caught "swimming" in the clothes!! And what happened to the missing shoe, Grainne..? Did the nameless cutie give it back on the returns that sunday..or was it still by the window..?
And it wasn't me that had a serious fight with my sister, drunk as, or slept in the bistro -a bit too close- to the heater HAHA What a night!! Hopefully Lauren & Kate is behaving over in Europe now!! (Do you love London as much as me now..?)
But I was one of two that went to "Eskimo Joe" concert - very good! And I did make "fiskeboller" for dinner the tuesday Tim Silverwood got lost in the mountains.... Oh Well!
And I did run in Jindy's street holding on to a wheelchair HAHA the night we went to a Full Moon Party
Saturday 12 august 2006 I got Jackie to drive me to Jindabyne where we picked up Paal so crazy!!! I was over my head...so excited!!! we tried to talk norwegian, but we failed-both of us HAHA Went to work next morning, still drunk & no sleep, started serving in the bistro but ran back up cause I seriously had to brush my teeth!!! That day I went from working in the bistro in the morning, to do fitouts in the ski- and clothing shop, before I did housekeeping & the clothing shop again at night. Didn't get to shower and sleep before 11pm...
On Mike's (the boss of the shops) birthday, we celebrated with chocolate cake & alkohol such a funny night!! We got a new worker that night, arrived with the oz snow bus from Sydney at midnight, irish Ciara. She stayed up and partied till the end, with Lauren, Singha and me. The night ended with vegetable quiche OF COURSE (and Lauren had some cocoa pops as well )
The next morning, I should not have been doing the fitouts - dangerously climbing for boots...
Happy birthday on 16 august Ann-Helen!! Hipp Hipp Hurra
On Singha's birthday, we startet the day with bbq down at Lauren's place. And at 3-4pm we came drunk to work, where we continued drinking, after work we had a great partynight (as usual)
We've had heaps of mornings doing fitouts still drunk...crazy!!
One saturday Mtv came and filmed the resorts & oz snow's partynight!! such a great night!!! (again) HAHA (Did anyone see it on tv by the way??) That night ended with lots of staff helping cleaning the bar & even later I played with Zephyr 4 eva!! (Didn't understand what all the bruises where about the next day)

A couple of days after Ben left to work in Canberra, I went to Tuggeranong in Canberra to visit him. Went to the cinema where we watched my new favourite movie "Silent Hill" You just H A V E to see it!! Saturday we went to Sydney, to his cousins house and later to my first backyard party - birthday party FUNNY!! (So sorry I don't have any photos of the toilet...)
The next morning we went to Ben's parents house, cause it was fathers day. Where they made me play backyard cricket for the first time in my life. (I have no idea what the point was, but I played it..I think!?!) HAHA I came along with Ben, his parents, 2 younger sisters and a little brother - such a nice family! I had the best day hilarious on a BBQ-boat - probably the funniest thing I've ever seen :D HAHAHAHAHA (too bad I don't have any photos - cause you're all missing out...)

Back in Jindy, I worked a little bit & had the best night - I think - my last night there. w a y t o o d r u n k Lauren and I went all crazy HAHA at Banjo's and later at Black Diamond before we got home somehow...
Next morning I started chasing down my bag didn't find it Left with the oz snow bus, but jumped off in Canberra where Ben picked me up. Went to Sydney the next day, where I stayed at his family's house. Ben shoved me Kuringgai National Park, where we had chicken and potatosalad sandwich for brekky, before we went for a walk and ended up on a little beach. So nice (looked over to the beach where "Home & Away" are being filmed)
He also took me to a festival-thingy - Earthdance - where we met Laticia, Tim, Shane +++ what a hilarious and tragic day/night...
Laticia got a cut under her foot and while I was waiting for her at the first aid, when I ran off cause I REALLY had to pee. I fell about half way but kept on running to the toilet. Walking back to the first aid my leg seemed a bit weird, so when I came back to the first aid I said somebody might have to take a look at it. I looked down and saw blood everywhere!!! just pouring out of my left leg - it wouldn't stop. While they where cleaning it and saying I had to go get stitches, a guy bleeding from his head came in, so while I was waiting I just asked for some paper. Crabbed a taxi with Tim & Ben, at Tim's house we cleaned it and put stuff on it & went out clubbing...
Everything happening on sunday, tuesday I finally got my ass kicked to the doctor...where I got stitches and antibiotics pills and cream. Relaxed during the week and on friday I went to Annie's birthdayparty(Ben's younger sister) where I was drinking and dancing - S T U P I D!!!
Monday 25 september 2006 Ben, Lauren & Kate went to Europe. And I jumped on the bus to surf camp

On my way to Sydney I had a stop in Port Macquarie, where I stayed at the best hostel so far "Port Macquarie Backpackers". After a week actually making food (NO, I'm not talking about bread with hazelnut spread ) the manager wanted me to stay at the hostel and cook. Had a great time in Port Macquarie, taking it easy and working at a cafe.
When I got to Sydney I went to the bottleshop & got a little birthday gift for one of the norwegian girls, Mette. That saturday at Wig Ram road, there was a crazy norwegian "rolpefest" party. Everybody got extremely drunk from all the Hot'n'sweet, jellyshots, tequila & galliano shots + whatever people had with them...beer, wine, vodka
Crazy!!
The next day I met up with Mette, Ida & Eline(got my camera & cds back) we went to circular quay, and while we had our exclusive dinner I found some ?scary? photos on my camera, from the night before except laughing the whole time I was with the norwegian girls, we tried to ruin for some guys trying to shoot some skateboarding tricks Sorry guys! and we had some hot chocolates and I had to run up the escalators that goes down (its just something that norwegian girls studying in Sydney have to do...don't ask me!!) Such a fun day!!! Loved it, thanks girls! (Mette, Ida & Eline: How is Norway? small?)

22 june 2006 I got up at 05:30am, without much sleep, took the train to the international airport waiting an hour for Andre. While he was in Australia we went a weekend to the snow, Thredbo. When we came back to Bondi sunday night at 00:00 we drove to Tamworth, where we just spent 2 days at Jackaroo & Jillaroo School(cause of my bad back GRRR) I even had the coolest horse, Gullable or Bullable. So we drove to Armidale where we had lunch before we ended up in a suite at Quality Inn in Coffs Harbour. There we went to a dolphinshow (they are sooo cute!!!!) before we drove to Byron Bay where I saw my future surfboard at a place called something like "Earth & Sea". Next day we headed to Surfers Paradise where I had the best meal EVER EVER EVER!!! salmon that wasn't fried or burnt I was in heaven!!!
Then we drove to Noosa for a little bit of surfing at Sunshine Beach before we went to Rainbow Beach. The days after that was Tin Can Bay & Hervey Bay, where we went on a scenic flight over Fraser Island. On our way back to Sydney we stopped in Surfers again where we went on a rainforest walk & to Dreamworld. You won't believe what I did!!!! But I did it!! I took The Giant Drop (and they kept us up there forever!!! horrible horrible But I did it!! (kept on saying I would die, luckily no one else was norwegian :P) I was just a little bit shaky afterwards HA HA but a little while later I took The Tower of Horrer (and believe me it is the fucking tower of horror!!!!) it was h o r r i b l e!!! but I did it (when I came back, the hotel balcony wasn't even a little little little bit scary anymore - YEAHY!) Driving towards Sydney again, we slept near Kempsey, so the next morning I got my iced chocolate in Taree(it's the best!!) & also got a second view from Cape Hawke lookout near Forster. Back in Sydney we stayed at Swiss Grand at Bondi Beach. Such a nice breakfast! (think I miss "norwegian" food just a tiny bit... )
After Andre left, everything happened pretty quick. Slept above the Waves Surf School office & on the sofa where Vicky was housesitting. And I got to see how the busride would be to the snow again Vicky was driving the small bus after the van, when we found them, at the motorway, we changed trailers and drove back to Sydney
On friday I left for the snow, to go work, going in the small bus again to keep Ben company. What a great company I was, starting the trip with a phonecall and then not talking... Sorry Ben!!
So now I'm at Snowy Valley Resort in East Jindabyne, where I started working monday 17 july 2006. How about I end with that for now

wohoo yeay!!!
today is my day, at least my first name's day!!!

Tonje har navnedag idag :D gratulerer til alle de 6658 Tonjene fra Norge

Hipp Hipp Hurra

(sorry guys, I'm just norwegian...we always find something to celebrate so we can party!!! )

Finally I have time to tell you guys a little of what I've been doing in the land down under the last 2 months. Well, lets see...
I was in Surfers Paradise a week, just reading & enjoying the beach. Doing nothing really...Loved it!!
When that week ended, I got on a bus going south, after 10-11 hours I jumped off the bus at a little place called Bulahdelah. Suddenly I was back at surf camp again, with the help of Chris from Canada, Billy the dog, Vicky and her little car (packed with alkohol). Just in time for barbie. After dinner some drinking games, and then dancing all night!!! + a swim in the pool :P I stayed at surf camp, as a helper, for a month. Tried to leave a couple of times, but I was stuck!! :P
The helpers slept in a building, if you can call it that, called the Boatshed. I liked it, was nice, just like camping but with beds. Until swedish Linda came with her ghost story, The Harley ghost & then the stories about murdered people being dumped in the pond right outside...Renee and I found that quite scary after dark...someone should have filmed us :P (I slept a couple of times in the Cabana on the pool table (both night & day-time, sober & drunk) :P
The helpers got up 06:30am every day(Believe it or not!! I too got up at that time!! it's true!!!)
A lot happened at surf camp, and since I didn't write a diary at that point, I don't remember everything.
There were a lot of partying, but I think my first week was the craziest... Big party monday, tuesday, thursdag and saturday. Swimming in the pool at night, a couple of times... But saturday was just crazy.. oh my god or what do you think Jayne..jumping out of a driving vehicle..crazy girl!!! :P

My second week at surf camp I went on the Byron-trip with Brenda & Boris. Even though I had a cold and mostly slept & tried to keep on my feet the few hours I was awake(don't think my body liked the cold medicine), it was a nice trip. With busdriver Calvin and surfinstructors Ben(Porns) and Dylan. We saw a lot of nice beaches :D and Brenda had to walk my phone the first day :P (quite funny when she came back.. :P), we had pizza, slept at Way Way the first night and the rest of the trip we slept on The Big Blue Bus (which we have to visit at snow camp :P), saw kangaroos, talked a lot about chocolate, guys & sex...saw 4 or 5 shooting stars in one night :D had banana and chocolate pancakes for brekky in Yuraygir national park, and Boris didn't want us to leave Byron Bay, so he tried to distroy The Big Blue Bus... :P
It was really exciting(read embarrasing) to come back to surf camp on saturday... :P
Oh my god!! One tuesday night I got so drunk that I was still drunk at brekky on wednesday *hiding* That was the wednesday a lot of helpers left surf camp on the Byron-trip...Brenda, Martin, Jack, Linda, Linn & the dutch couple. *Brenda, come back!! the voice in my head kept screaming :P* That wednesday I also got my first hangover in Australia after sleeping a couple of hours..it was also my first EVER!!! I didn't dare to even move my eyes or anything, if I did it felt like my body would break into tousand pieces... HORRIBLE!!!!
One day the manager, Vicky, had to go to Taree to buy some tiles. Alex, Billy and I came with her. Even without taking the cold medicine I fell a sleep in the car, with Billy on my shoulder It was in Taree, I got 2 pair of jeans for NOK 75,- each!!! :D & Vicky bought me the best iced chocolate!! Thanks so much, Vicky, ur the best!!

17th of may I went on the Byron-trip again, with Alex, Tim S and Tim P. Celebrated on my own, on the beach. The warmest 17th of may celebration I've ever had :D Since you guys in Norway still were sleeping, I didn't have anyone to call and say Hipp Hipp Hurra to Suddenly I remembered the norwegians in Sydney, but then my phone went dead But I had a nice celebration on my own(with a lot of non-norwegians) with icecream, pizza, smirnoff ice & watched a movie. A great day!!(Have you seen Sin City yet, Hege??)
The second day we found the best spot to camp in Yuraygir national park, it was so nice!! :D Saw a lot of kangaroos - that made me happy!! - had lovely food & a nice fire & falling a sleep to the sound of the ocean(only thing missing was Lucky!) :D - I could live there!! -
In the morning I finally got pancakes that wasn't too sweet for me :D I loved it!!
When we got to Backpackers Inn in Byron Bay, Brenda and Boris was there *biggest smile ever*
On the way back to surf camp on saturday, Simon - a lovely guy, came with us, going to join us helpers :D (How old are you again, Simon?) I took my cold medicine again that day, so think I slept all the way down to surf camp & went to bed early that night cause I had no energy to even sit up.(That cold medicine is not good for ur body!!)
My last two nights at surf camp was really nice, dancing a lot :D loved it!!

Wednesday night I was back in Sydney, on Martin's floor(How weird was it to talk norwegian again...Did I look confused when you talked to me, Martin??)
Besides from being extremely homesick in Sydney, I met Ben J(surfinstructor), he shoved me around Bondi. Then I had dinner & went windowshopping with Laura(a girl that was at surf camp one weekend) at Bondi Jct, we also went to the Taronga Zoo on sunday. And I went to Seamus'(a guy from the last Byron-group) good bye party.
Monday I went to the W&T office, got a package from home, and shared Salt sild with a norwegian girl that I booked a tour from at Backpackers World Travels' desk. Tuesday I left Sydney again...

Got the Oz experience bus to Barrington Tops, a lovely place, where 4 of us went horseriding, all of us ate pizza, most of them drank and went into the hot tub, and Leo Melvin Gay was not here
Next day we headed off to Mojo Surf Camp at Crescent Head(not as good as Waves Surf Camp of course!! :P) but oh my god!! how fun was it to surf with a yellow & black board... :D If you ever go to Mojo surf shack, make sure you get Slapper, the best wetsuit ever ever(except the one I just bought :P)
Next morning there were all the normal surf camp stories(and it wasn't about me this time YEAY!!)
We arrived in Byron Bay around 6pm, had cheap dinner & partied at Cheeky Monkeys. Funny night!! :D
Had a great friday with Brenda in Byron, doing yoga and eating pizza
On the way to Brisbane on saturday, the oz-bus had a breakfast-stop in Nimbin & stopped in Surfers Paradise for lunch, before we went hydro zorbing just in between Surfers and Brisbane. So much fun!! :D

Met up with Alex and Melvin(Ernesto), watched a movie - RV - and made dinner at their hostel. Nice day!!
Went back to Brenda and Byron Bay, where I am now. Doing yoga, relaxing, eating, relaxing, seen a couple of movies - The Da Vinci Code, March Of The Penguins - and on monday I'll leave, going down towards Sydney...

The surf trip is over That is something everybody have to do if they are in/coming to Australia!!! :D so much fun!! Waves Surf School, extremely fun to surf, everybody just have to try it :P

We were a small group that got picked up in Sydney early monday morning, by a little bus that just made a little bit of noise :P After driving back&forth, back&forth for a little while :P we finally arrived at surf camp, which is in the middle of fucking no where(Bulahdelah, Seal Rocks). We had a quick lunch and then drove to the beach *totally sweet* :P
During the 5 day trip, it was like breakfast, beach, lunch, beach, dinner, party, sleeping & breakfast, beach, lunch, beach, dinner, party, sleeping & breakfast, beach, lunch, beach, dinner, party, sleeping & breakfast, beach, lunch, beach, dinner, party, sleeping & beach, breakfast, beach, lunch, beach, dinner, party, sleeping... :D *fully sick*
Just so we would get a bit of variation, we moved from surf camp, by Seal Rocks, after 2 days to a beach called Crowdy Head where we surfed during the day and after lunch we drove to Way Way Logde/forest/creek where we slept, next day we drove to Yuraygir national park, where we surfed and camped. On the 5th day me & some others got up at 6am!! So we got to go to the beach both before and after breakfast, after lunch we drove to Byron Bay. Where everybody actually got a hot shower...so at dinner I saw a lot of strangers to begin with... :P *totally sick*
Most of us felt uncomfortable, so we jumped back in to the waves again *fully sweet* full moon and everything, skinnydipping :D after that we walked back to the hostel...

Now I'm wondering where to go, what to do...think maybe it'll be a bit difficult to find accommodation here now, cause there's a festival in Byron Bay at the moment...so maybe I'll go further north, but we'll see... :P

Arrived in Sydney wednesday 29 march 2006, around 3pm, found my way through to the work & travel-sign, which a young german, named Patrick(I think...), was holding. After a quick drive I was placed in an armchair with all my luggage...2 seconds later the young german, whos name I don't really know, came back with the key to my room(?) - that proved I had to share with quite a lot of people during the 3 nights I stayed at Base :D one of them I didn't see at all...heard when he/she went to bed late at night & got up really early again... :P

Saturday I dragged all my stuff to Amelia street, where my colleague from Mobelringen Nittedal in Norway live with 3 other norwegian students. Here I got quite comfy, with my music & sleeping bag + a pillow that I was so lucky to borrow :P, on the floor :D

During a week in Sydney, I've been walking & walking, been to Sydney's aquarium(where the sharks actually were a bit cute! but a couple of nights later I had a nightmare, that the biggest shark there got me through the glass...) and then I've been to Manly beach twice, once to Bondi beach, walking & walking & walking, been to The Ranch(with some norwegian students), and then I've been walking even more & taking the bus almost as much as I've been walking :P I've also seen the operahouse & the bridge, actually not that exciting to drive over the bridge every day :P

Today I'm moving to a hostel down town, since on monday morning at 8am(can anyone call and wake me up?? :P) I am supposed to be at a certain bus stop so I can go on the surf trip I've booked.. :D No one that can call and wake me up..??

:P