21st Birthday in Auckland, New Zealand!
Whenever I thought about Auckland, New Zealand, I couldn't help but think of the final scene from The Wolf of Wall Street. It's the famous "sell me this pen" scene where the real Jordan Belfort makes a cameo and introduces Leonardo DiCaprio by saying, "I want you to give a warm Auckland, New Zealand welcome for my good friend and the world's greatest sales trainer, Mr. Jordan Belfort." For some reason, that scene was always the image I had of Auckland. Other than that, I knew
Three Quarters of the Way Through My Australian Journey
I still can't believe I've been in Australia for the past three months and that three-quarters of my study abroad experience is already over. With only one month remaining, it's hard not to think about how quickly the time has flown by. So far, Australia has been nothing short of amazing, magical, and breathtaking. Over the past few months, I've had the opportunity to visit incredible places, experience a new culture, make unforgettable memories, and meet amazing people from
Melbourne's Famous Street Art - Hosier Lane
My final stop in Melbourne before heading back to the Gold Coast was Hosier Lane, one of the city's most famous street art destinations. Although Hosier Lane is the most well-known, it's far from the only place to find incredible street art in Melbourne. Throughout the city, countless laneways and alleyways are filled with vibrant murals, graffiti, and artistic installations that have become a major part of Melbourne's identity and culture. Melbourne's laneways date back to t
Live Colorfully-Brighton Beach Bathing Boxes
On my last day in Melbourne, I took a trip to see the famous Brighton Beach Bathing Boxes, which are located about 25 minutes from my hostel. Brighton is an affluent beachside suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, located approximately 11 kilometers southeast of Melbourne's Central Business District. The area is known for its beautiful waterfront homes, upscale neighborhoods, and stunning views of Port Phillip Bay. However, Brighton's most famous attraction is undoubtedly Dendy Stre
The Great Ocean Road
Is this really happening? I'm going to see the Great Ocean Road?! Ever since I can remember, I've dreamed of visiting the Great Ocean Road. A little backstory: when I was very young, some family friends came to visit and showed us photos from their recent vacation. I distinctly remember seeing a picture of the Twelve Apostles, and at that moment, I told myself that one day I would see them in person. Most people don't know this, but that photo is actually what sparked my fasc
Melbourne: Australia's Cultural Capital
This past weekend, I took a three-day trip to Melbourne, Victoria. The flight from Gold Coast Airport in Coolangatta to Melbourne Airport in Tullamarine was only about two hours, which I would compare to flying from New York to Florida in the United States. Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, making it the second-largest city in Australia. With a population of more than 4.6 million people, residents are known as Melburnians. After arrivin
Exploring the Bundall Farmers Market
It was a beautiful autumn Sunday, and I had heard about a farmers market in the Surfers Paradise area, so I decided to check it out for myself. The market is located on the mainland side of the Surfers Paradise suburb. Getting there from my apartment took about 40 minutes on foot, although it's only an 11-minute drive by car. To get there, I took the tram to Cypress Avenue, turned onto Elkhorn Avenue, crossed the Surfers Paradise-Chevron Island Bridge, walked across Chevron I
Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi
This Saturday night, I got to experience my first Australian sporting event! I attended an Australian football game, which is commonly known as "footy." The match was between the Gold Coast Suns and the Geelong Cats and took place at Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast in Queensland. Getting there from Surfers Paradise was surprisingly easy. All I had to do was take the tram to the last stop, Broadbeach South, and then hop on a bus to the stadium. One of the best parts was tha
Bush Hike in Canungra
Today, I had originally planned to hike to Killarney Glen Waterfalls, home to a beautiful natural pool that is famously shaped like a heart. Unfortunately, the falls have been permanently closed due to numerous accidents over the years. Despite warning signs advising visitors not to jump into the pools, many people continued to do so. Tragically, several hikers were injured after slipping on rocks, hitting their heads, and drowning, which ultimately led to the site's closure.
KEI Photo Contest!
Hey everyone! I'm excited to share that five of my photos were selected for the KEI Photo Contest! It would mean so much to me if you could take a moment to vote for my photos. Voting is easy: Click the link below. Find my photos. Like them on Facebook. Voting ends on May 15th, so every vote counts! Thank you so much for your support. I really appreciate it! http://mailchi.mp/keiabroad/vote-now-in-keis-student-photo-contest
