Boattrip!

Last Saturday I went on a boat trip with the housemates (Phil, Pierre, Mary, Charly, Gaby), Tuur, Jenna, Nemo and Abdul. Nemo is a skipper (which means he has a licence to drive a boat) and knows the owner of the boats so he could make a good price for us! We hired the boat at Marina Mirage for the whole day: a boat with chilling areas, BBQ and toilet! 

Tuur (VUB classmate)

Me

We left around 10.30am cruising on the Nerang River, around Surfers Paradise, Macintosh Island, Chevron Island, Paradise Island and Isle of Capri. Nemo showed us all the nice houses and nice places! "Place A" on the map is the Marina Mirage where we hired the boat. So in the morning we went all they way down. 

Map

The Marina

 Jackie Chan's House

Philippe and me

The house with the elevator

Surfers Paradise

Me and Jenna

Group picture

Tuur - Phil - Abdul

Nemo - Mary - Pierre - Charly

Amazing houses!

Me

Around 1pm we went back to the marina to pick up Gaby and after this we went up North to South Stradbrook Island (the island on the top on the right side). We stopped on the beach for a BBQ and chill on the beach.

BBQ time

BBQ!

Me

Philippe and me

Philippe and me dreaming

Mon amour et moi!

Let's jump!

From left to right: Tuur -Nemo-Phil-Abdul-Gaby-Jessie-Mary-Jenna

The boys

This was an amazing day! Nice weather, boat, amazing environment, beers, wine, BBQ, beach, nice people... I had an amazing day!

On Sunday however, I started packing at little bit... one more week and then I am leaving Australia for four months...

Cheers.
Jessie

little news

This is a post with some little news for people who don't have Facebook to follow me :-)


Seaworld


I went to Seaworld with my housemates Gaby, Pierre and Mary! We saw the sea lions, the dolphins, the sharks and lots of other fishes and animals :-) And of course we also did the two roller coasters at Seaworld. 

 

In the roller coaster

 After Seaworld we went to the Fisherman's Wharf for a drink. Fisherman's Wharf Tavern is a very nice bar with amazing view over the harbour and the boats! Especially at sunset time!

After this bar we went to Melbas for a 5 dollar steak with fries and salad. Jammie!

Mountain Tambourine

Last weekend on Saturday I went with Philippe on a motorbike trip to Mountain Tambourine. We have already been there a few times, but now we went to North Tambourine to do some bushwalking at the Witches Falls. After a very nice ride in the mountains we arrived and started with a picnic (= Subway)

After lunch we went for a very nice walk, but the waterfalls themselves were a bit disappointing. On the walking track we passed a huge tree! At this tree it was not clear were the path was going to... Phil thought he found it and we walked and walked between the trees... not really on a clear path in my opinion... I tried to look back often to keep an eye on the big tree. We went further and further away from the tree... trying to find back the track. I was so scared to get lost! We were NOT walking on the path... that was sure. And suddenly I could not see the big tree anymore. When Phil made me stop to remove a spider from my shoulder I had enough of it: I wanted to go back to this tree... NOW!

I think we are lost... It looked like this everywhere we looked

The tree with the big roots

We found it back, and apparently we had to climb over the roots of the tree to stay on the path... What an adventure! I was so scared in this rainforest! The rest of the path was very nice and we saw 2 wallabies but they were to fast for a picture... After our walk we went to a german bavarian bar. 

Sprinbrook with Tuur


On Saturday night Tuur arrived. Tuur is a friend with whom I studied at the VUB. He is travelling around Australia. So on Sunday Phil, Tuur and me went to the hinterland for a bike ride:

Phil teaching Tuur how to ride my bike

Tuur on my bike

Riding in the curves

The good hot chocolates and mon amour :-)

Purlingbrook falls

PhD...


And then... I have been working very hard for my PhD and an article that I am writing with my supervisor. For my PhD I am doing interviews over Skype now with tennis experts from successful tennis countries. Now I realise that international research from Australia is not easy... Because of the time difference most interviews are early in the morning (5 or 6am) or late in the evening (11pm or later)... Sometimes I have interviews at 11pm and the day after at 5am and again 11pm... So I sleep during the day :-) But I am getting data! Finally! Looking forward to start analyse the results of these interviews! But I first need a qualitative software program and I am also looking to find a company to transcribe my interviews because it is taking me ages to do this! 


So... this were the little updates...


I have less than 2 weeks left in Australia. It is a weird feeling! I am going to miss Australia... and Philippe... On the other hand I am looking forward to see my family and friends again... and to start with the second phase of my research. 


Keep you posted!


Cheers
Jessie