Today is the day =)

I'm going to Australia today!!!! I seriously can't believe it. I'm almost completely packed but I still have a few things to do before I go. I leave for the airport in about five hours which means my phone will be shut off and the only way to contact me will be e-mail ... and this blog, facebook, couchsurfing, and eventually by phone when I get my Australia phone set up (thanks Calli!) - so I guess I won't be that hard to stay in touch with. I don't know if I'll be able to make or receive international calls/texts but hopefully I'll be able to figure out Skype at some point. Also, I've been thinking maybe I can check voicemails through google voice if people call my google voice number ... does anyone know if this will work if my actual cell phone and main number are shut off? If so, my google voice number is (508) 657-4525.

*that's (508) MKP-4-LAL ;)

I'm fortunate to have lots of friends and family members who are well-traveled and have given me a ton of valuable information and travel tips. I think my favorite bit of advice was from my brother, who was just in Australia a couple months ago on his honeymoon. He called yesterday and said, "have a good time, be safe, and meet some nice Aussie boys, but don't stay there ... because the food is reaallyy expensive." hahaha thanks Johnny Boy =) 

My smart little sis suggested that I post my itinerary on here so people can have an idea of what I'm planning to do when I get to Australia, and a lot of people have asked me what my plan is so here goes:

I get into Melbourne on Friday morning (after a quick stop in Sydney) and I'll be livin large for the first three days because my parents got me a hotel room. YAY! Thank you parents!! =) It'll be so nice to rest when I get in and have a safe place to leave my things while I explore the city for a few days. After I leave the hotel, I'm going to couchsurf with someone in Melbourne -- my first couchsurfing experience as a surfer! I plan on visiting my dad's cousin Richard who lives near Melbourne, and then up to Townsville for the Full Noise Music Festival on November 20th. My friend Jenny is studying up there and she's going with me. woo hoooo! I'm super excited about the festival -- and the train I'm taking to get up there (it'll take about three days, with stops in Sydney and Brisbane). I bought a 6-month unlimited rail pass for Australia so I'll be taking the train a lot. After the music festival I'll probably hang out in Townsville for a few days. After that, I don't have a plan. I just know I'm going to be back in Melbourne for the Australian Open at the end of January (I already have my 5-day grounds pass!) and flying to New Zealand (into Auckland, out of Sydney) on February 4th. I'll be in New Zealand for about five weeks, working on organic farms (check out wwoof.co.nz if you haven't already) and probably staying mostly on the south island. So that's my plan. I'm sooooo excited!! I want to explore as much of Australia and New Zealand as I possibly can between now and mid-April. and I promise to do my best to keep you all updated along the way. <3

p.s. I will miss this face soooooo much :(