It is Easter Sunday.

I didn’t go to Church. I had some intentions to go. I imagine my last night in Sydney I got in my feels a little… I drank.. probably to forget in this case. But I did.. spend a significant amount of time thinking about what happens when we leave here.. spiritual thinking. I stayed up pretty late by the beach. Watching the waves.. seagulls.. couples cuddled up on the beach. I’m jealous. I’m Laying in the sand and grass. Listening to music.. and then not listening to music. I spent all day exploring the city of Sydney, Australia. I talked with lots of people. Took a mid-afternoon nap on the hostel room floor.. until a couple was checking into the room. I guess I was asleep for an hour or two. Exhausted. The iceberg swim club was really great…I’ve attached some pics.

Sydney is a beautiful city. It’s clean, expensive, and big. I didn’t spend much time here. I saw the Olympic park, opera house, and mainly bondi beach. It was enough for me. Id like to think I could live in Sydney. I’d like to think I could live in many places in Australia. It is halfway across the world… and tbh.. it feels a little bit like a different version of America. The people were great.. the food was okay.. the scenery was 💯. The attitude of people on the coast was.. laid back! Australians love their sports.. they love their partying.. fashion.. tattoos. I feel like this could be describing many places in the world. Blanket statements for such a small period of time spent here.. so I’ll refrain from adding any more generalizations.

I’m on a flight back to New Zealand. I feel like I’m going back home in a way. New Zealand is special. My friends Julian and Sarah had their sweet little girl over the past couple days. Beautiful little family. They were living in the house across the street from us. Happy for the Mangrum’s. I cannot wait to get back and meet all of the new kiddos. It will be neat seeing them grow up together.. probably from a distance.. but it will be neat to follow along. Part of me wishes I was doing the same thing.. but I ultimately know that what has transpired is meant to be.

Alabama won their Elite 8 game against Clemson as I was boarding this flight. I think this was the first year I didn’t fill out a bracket. I did however check the scores to see how bama was doing in the tournament. I’m most excited for my mate Austin Spraggins.. whom I’m sure is elated tonight… I would also bet that he’s already booked a flight to whichever city the games are being played in. Congratulations Austin and other bama bball fans!

There is a little boy boarding in front of me.. smiling, giggling, and waving… he has said “bye” to me about 50 times. I have said different versions of “bye” about 50 times right back to him. He gets on the plane and looks at the flight attendant.. and says “hi”! She blushes. Cute interaction.

No Wi-Fi and no plugs for chargers on this 3 hour flight with jet star to Queenstown. I need to do better about charging up my things. My personal battery has started to slow down as well. Maybe it’s the beach life.. idk. I need the mountains.. I need some greenery in my life.. some fresh, crisp air. I know just the place. I’m going to go get right in the middle of it. I accidentally pocketed Al’s knife that I was using on his land.. I got it confiscated in Australia unfortunately. I need to buy him a similar one and get it to him before I skip town and head north from queenstown. Also.. I don’t know if wrote about this.. but I set my bags down in the cairns airport to go to a restaurant real quick.. my bags were at the gate. I come back 15 min later…okay.. maybe I was gone 45 minutes.. and they are gone.. I head to security.. there they are.. and these cops are not happy.. giving me crap about being from Atlanta, GA knowing about the 96 Olympic bombing and still pulling a “stunt” like this lol. I do understand why it’s a thing but they were pissed. Im sitting here thinking okay.. that’s a great rule to have and it makes sense.. but I just walked into this airport.. went through the security screening.. and made it all the way to my gate without a single person checking my id.. where I was going.. or where I was from.. but don’t you dare leave that bag on my floor! It was all good. I now have a “federal offense warning” registered in Australia. Add it to the list.

I’ll stay in Wanaka probably tomorrow and then head towards fox and Fran’s Josef glaciers.. Mt. Cook as well. I’m ready to charge my battery back up some.. I can do that by getting in the mountains.. talking with more like minded people. Most people I came across doing what I’m doing.. in Australia.. were younger.. and really focused on partying. The New Zealand backpacker is a little more well rounded and experienced. Just from my experience! I’m trying to keep up with my travels on here but I’m feeling like getting a lot of important personal things on here before it’s too late. Too late as in.. the trip ends.. I go to work somewhere.. and I lose the patience to write all of this down.. because traveling solo and spending most of every day alone.. is allowing me to access feelings and parts of my brain that I normally struggle with articulating on paper(my notes app pretty much)

I’m growing a little anxious about the next step. It’s going to be a leap wherever it is.. I think that it does help the trip ending thing.. because another brand new adventure is just on the other side of April.

I have one more month left of this dream come true trip. Stay with me. I’ll be back one day soon.

Much love.