I'm Going to a Land Down Under

Are you ready to know about my super amazing awesome surprise? Good! I'm finally ready to reveal what it is: I am going to

Australia

very, very soon. Like, less than a month from now soon. I haven't been ready to talk about it until this moment because I was so worried that plans would fall through and I was desperately trying not to get my hopes up. But it is happening, though I can hardly believe it.

So why am I going? How did this come about? Well, this past spring Scott traveled to Sydney on business, spent a week there, and returned home with nothing but wonderful things to say about that part of the world. When the company he was working with asked him to return this fall, he gladly agreed and vowed to take me with him. I've spent the past couple of months trying to get all the details to fall into place. I've got my passport, airline miles have been cashed in and flights have been booked, and I've made arrangements for my kids. It is real and I am going.

Now I realize that for some of my jet-setting, world-traveler friends, this trip probably seems like no big deal. And maybe, in the grand scheme of things, it really isn't. But for me, it's huge. The last time I traveled across the ocean to another country I was 18. The last time I crossed a border was on my honeymoon, when we went to British Columbia. It's been awhile since I've been off American soil and this will be my first time in the Southern hemisphere.

Scott will head out a few days before I do, so that he can take care of the business that requires him to go in the first place. I'll join him later and keep myself entertained for about a day and a half before he is freed up and we are able to be tourists together.

While in Sydney, I plan to sleep here:

I think I'll take a gander at these:

and maybe some of these:

I want to tour this:

Sydney Opera House

Also, I will climb to the top of this:

I do not plan to eat any of this:

But I might just eat this:

(I hear Kangaroo is tasty)

I will probably spend a day here:



Blue Mountains



And perhaps some time will be spent here:

Bondi Beach

But before I can do any of that, I must endure 20 hours on a plane, by myself, sitting in coach. To that end, I've been on a quest this week to find the perfect cross-body purse for travel. Here are the three choices I've narrowed it down to:



I know they all look similar, but there are subtle differences. I need a bag that can hold all of my stuff on the plane, like travel documents, electronic devices, my book, wallet, etc. It also needs to look cute and be easy to carry since I'll be toting it around Australia for a week. I ordered them all online and plan to stuff each to capacity, wear it around the house, and pick the best one to keep. Such big decisions, I know. Which do you like the best, based solely on the little pictures above?

Here's where I really need your help friends: what advice can you give for international travel and super-long flights? Got any tips or suggestions for what I should do/eat/explore while I'm away? What should I pack for Australian spring weather? Finally, how long do you think it will take for them to kick me out of their country if I greet each person I meet with "G'day Mate!" and ask every waiter to "Throw another shrimp on the barbie!" for me? (I love shrimp, so this is a real concern.)

Truth be told, I'm still in a state of denial about the whole excursion. I don't think it'll feel real until I'm on the flight to Sydney. And don't even get me started on everything that needs to happen between now and then. It's not like I'm in the middle of a major house remodel or anything...

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p.s. Where has all the comment love gone? How have I failed you, loyal readers? Help me feel validated by leaving a little note. Please and thank you. :)