The Random Days...

So today was my day off from work for the week (I work as an "All rounder' in a hotel to save some pennies for my next venture) and having had quite the A-hole of a boss previously, I was anxious to meet my new ones. Especially because they were on holiday when I got here and I worked 2 weeks before actually meeting them. 

Today one of my bosses (Owen) offered to take me on his farm. 'Bring some drinks' he said, and I knew I was gonna have a good day. As soon as we got there we saw a snake... my first one in all my time here. Oh my good god I was scared haha. Owen drove on as if it was nothing, he even offered to kill it for me - apprently it's a tiger snake. Then he shown me around the shed where he shears the sheep (which he'll be doing next week, hopefully I'll get to go along and I'll take some pictures). 

Then he got on his tractor and loaded some cottonseed for the sheep into his UTE and off we went. The wheels on the tractor were as big as me, I was so gutted I didn't take my phone to take any pictures with. We scooped handfuls of cottonseed as his Mum drove the ute along and scattered it on the ground for them, we saw the sheep all running for the food and some even ate it out of our hands. We went to the cattle farm part and as part of the cows getting used to being without the calves that were sold, we had to walk them around the paddock (is it called?). It was all really different stuff to what I am used to. It was so lovely and I chatted to Owen for ages, it's really made me feel so much better about being here. When you have one bad boss, it really knocks you for six and makes you think they are all like that, it's so refreshing to learn that it's not the case.

We also saw some Emus, Kangaroos, Pigs, Chickens and a peacock! The Peacock was absoloutely stunning, the colours of it were awe inspiring. Nature is so beautiful (Hippie moment). 

I will definately update you all next week when I shear a sheep (or attempt to) and I just want to say, to anyone reading this - thanks for taking the time out of your day to do so. I know I only have a small amount of followers but everytime I get a new one it's unbelieveable to me that anyone would want to read what I write. So thank you and I hope you all have a great day! xxx

So... Where to next?

Here's my dilemma. When I came out to Australia my family were pretty adamant that I would need to buy a return ticket, just in-case of emergency. So I did. Here comes the dilemma... You can only use your return ticket in your first year of travel. CRAP. I came here in November last year, and this means I only have around 8 weeks left in Australia. A truly frightening prospect.

So... what do I do? I have given myself 3 options...

1 - New Zealand.

When I got to Australia I never thought I would want to travel NZ. I knew I'd like to visit, maybe for a week or so, but I never thought of it as a place to spend a prolonged period of time in. That was, until I saw pictures. So many people I have met whilst travelling have showed me the most incredible pictures of New Zealand and oh my god I want to go. I have just stolen some pictures off a friends facebook page to show you what I am talking about. Swoooon.

I should point out these pictures are not taken by a professional which just goes to show how incredible this place looks. Absolutely.... insane. It hurts my head a bit. & the finale -

Ohhhh yeah baby!! Hobbit-land! Amazing! Going to New Zealand obviously has it's perks but it would mean another year or two away from family and friends, going it totally alone and losing out on my plane ticket home as the bloody company will not give me even a partial refund. Swines.

2. Asia.

It may or may not come as a surprise to you that I have an English degree. A Bachelor of the Arts, if you will. Not putting this to use makes me sad, sometimes. In comes the allure of teaching English as a foreign language. New challenges, fantastic scenery and something that will look pretty frickin good on my CV in a few years.

Again, this would mean giving up my plane ticket and spending more time away from home, not to mention the fact my Mother is almost sure that me going to Asia alone is basically asking murderers to turn me into some form of gourmet kebab. I'm thinking Thailand or Vietnam. My friend did it and she got paid well and had the experience of a lifetime but... she was with her boyfriend. Am I brave enough to do this alone? Here, have some pictures...

3. Home/Manchester

Ok, admittedly this does not fill me with as much excitement. The prospect of going home, to find a job to fund my next travels whilst I could just be moving straight onto them seems pretty silly. But oh my god, the lure of spending a Christmas with my family and friends is right up there with travelling to New Zealand! I miss home and my family SO much. The thought of going to lush, stocking up on bath bombs and having hot wine and cake with my Mum and Sisters sounds like heaven to my ears. Also, I have a ticket there already. Am I realistically going to be able to save enough money to get a flight to NZ and spends too before summer comes around? Or do I just go home and spend a few months there and try not to dip into the savings I'll have when I get there? I spent last Christmas away and it killed me. I got drunk on a beach in St Kilda and vowed I would never be away again. So... what do you think I should do? What would you do? This would also mean I can travel the UK a bit, visit my friend in Ireland over Christmas and my friend in Brighton who's visiting from Australia. Help anyone?

Admittedly, not nearly as beautiful but part of me feels like I am putting off real life by travelling and I am hitting 25 in a couple of months so maybe I should just go home and face 'reality'?

I hate being an adult and having to make my own bloody decisions sometimes.

I know, first world problems eh.

Love Sam

x