The Fraser Island adventure we did was with Fraser Roving Backpackers Hostel and included 2 nights (before and after) AT the hostel.  Omgosh can we say so so so so so so so so so so so cool????  But NOT because of the hostel.

When we arrived at the hostel the Random Stranger from LA and I were in desperate need of food.  Both suffering from low blood sugar, he was getting a terrible headache and my hands were shaking and I was struggling to concentrate.  I know – terrible huh??  But it wasn’t a BIG deal because WAHOO!  there was an all you can eat Mexican Buffet waiting for us.  SWEET!!   Until OUR PLATES WERE TAKEN AWAY!!!  Apparently you’re not allowed to eat until AFTER listening to an HOUR LONG incredibly boring blah blah blah about the island.  AND THEN watching an HOUR LONG stupid movie.  Whatever – skip to the next morning.

Fraser Island is – well – an ISLAND :) So to get our 4×4 over there we had to take a barge (pic above.)  That alone is pretty cool – but it’s even cooler when you know that the island only has 1 hostel and 1 hotel – and the rest of it?  All people camping.  :)

We were part of an 8 person group which was part of a larger 16 person group (well kind of – we were from the same hostel and both drove pink SUVs.)  Pics of Group 1 and Group 2 below (obviously my group lacked creativity eh? lol.)

So DAY ONE on the Island was Lake McKenzie – oh heavens – it was LIKE heaven.  The water was crystal clear and FRESH!!  That’s right – a FRESH WATER LAKE! secluded by trees and perfectly divine! I’ve been really lucky to see a fair share of turquoise, aqua and crystal blue water in my life – but even still – Lake McKenzie still took my breath away.  Now for all of you dreamers out there … imagine you’re HERE with a special someone or by yourself if you prefer.  Meeting new people, exploring, swimming, relaxing – in your own little piece of heaven – far away from the world of computers and cell phones, far from the world of social agendas and work tasks – you’re free to BE.  Check it out … and dream with me :)

Even the BUGS were beautiful!!!!!

And the rodents were exotic:

After Lake McKenzie we set up camp – and that night when we settled into our tent…

I TURNED INTO A TOTAL BEOTCH! It’s true. I did.  I didn’t mean to, I didn’t want to, I tried to fight it – but it was like rottenness just crept over me and WHAM! I was not a pleasant person.  I’m not exactly sure what it was.  It had a little to do with my insecurities, a little to do with the situation, a little to do with the fact that I was developing feelings for the Random Stranger from LA and didn’t want to…  And for all of you that ever wonder if I my life is not like “for real” and the happy rainbows and butterflies I speak of are all make-believe – hear me now :) I tell it like it is.  Even when that paints ME in a bad light.

The next day he gave me a little space.  And finally when I couldn’t take it anymore I said, “You haven’t been your usual tactile self today.”  And he looked at me, put his hand on my leg to reassure me and said, “That’s because you’ve been a total beotch.”  HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

I laughed – he was right.  So we talked it out, I apologized, and then I discovered I had mixed emotions realizing the Random Stranger from LA wasn’t going to be so easy to push away.  But the more I thought about it, the more I understood that this guy was legit.  He wasn’t just putting up with me or humoring me.  He like LIKED me.  ME!  And I like liked HIM so yeah … it was good.  :)

Day 2 – driving down the coast of the island with a little stop at the Maheno Shipwreck.

Umm … I think it’s right about NOW that I should tell you that the Random Stranger and I have something in common.  You know how I like to do the self-portrait thing??  SO DOES HE!!!  We’d always offer to each other and be like, “Want me to take your pic?” and then we’d always both decline the other’s offer and be like, “That’s ok – I’ll take it myself.”  LOL

After visiting Maheno’s Shipwreck we went to Indian Head.  (note that this was still early in the day – and there are no pics of Daisy WITH her stranger … we weren’t back to normal yet.  HAHAHAHA!)  Indian Head was pretty cool.  I wandered off from the group though because I still needed some space.

The Random Stranger from LA didn’t let me wander off too far though, he came and joined me.  I was glad.

And then – maybe because we both knew we needed to put in a little effort to repair things (mostly on my part though!!) we let each other take pics of the other person.  HAHAHA – I know – but hey – it’s the truth.

And DANG I’m better at taking pics than he is.  Look at how he’s carefully framed on the edge of the photo – oh yes – it looks nice :)  Whereas he centered me (that’s a no no.)  Oh well – we can’t expect complete perfection can we?  ;)

Ok ok – I’m not being fair.  He did take a lot of the pics above :) I am just trying to make myself feel better because he DOES have a great eye and takes FAB non-portrait pics – it seems he can do just about everything well.  He took this pic below too …

And then we caught up with our group:

Did I mention that the Random Stranger from LA fractured one of his ribs?  Poor thing.  :(  And I kept accidentally bumping it.  :(   and OMGOSH I almost forgot to tell you we couldn’t swim in the ocean at Fraser Island because of these:

AAANNNDDD because of sharks:

OH!!!  AND speaking of jellyfish – before the Random Stranger and I had made-up and while we were walking down the beach he was wiggling a jellyfish with his flipflop and I came over to observe.  ”I kind of want to step on one,” I confessed to the Random Stranger from LA.  He looked around and SUPPOSEDLY found the PERFECT jellyfish for me to step on.  ”Here,” he called to me.  I went over to the little baby lump of jellyfish and I stepped on it.  ”No you have to like STEP on it,” he tells me.  So I did and PLOP! out goes disgusting jellyfish guts EVERYWHERE!!!!  I did the whole involuntary shudder and gasp – he laughed and laughed.  Gross.  He totally did that on purpose!!!!!

Ok so I know this is now a really long post and there are SO MANY pictures in it!!!  I’ll try and wrap up Fraser Island now and then tell you about heading back to Brisbane and THE GREAT BARRIER REEF in the next post :)  And of course … there will be more pictures!!  YAY!!!

So yeah – the next night we REALLY roughed it.  No showers, no toilets, no running water and we had to pitch our tents on sand.  The Random Stranger and I watched the sunset together though – it was nice to be made-up again – and then a pack of wild dingoes came into our camp and I wasn’t even scared with him by my side.  :)

holy wow – talking about dingoes reminded me that I have a pic with a dingo:

I can’t believe I almost forgot that!!!!  And how much do you love my ghetto-fabulous $100 towel?  It cost $10AUD but it REPRESENTS so much more. ;)

ok ok – here’s that wrap up I promised :)  The next morning we did a little more exploring and then we went back to the hostel where the Random Stranger from LA hunted down and caught a few more wild magoes for me.  YAY!

(p.s.) I crawled on my tummy to get under this fence because SOMEONE said that was how I should get to the other side. THEN as soon as I had crossed under he laughs and laughs and points out the entrance FIVE feet away – I could have walked around. Hmpf! Boys!!

(p.p.s.) am I wearing the same thing I did in pics from the last couple of days?  Yes??  Hmm … I wonder how that happened.  Must have involved a wenchface!!  HAHAHA – I crack myself up.

HAVE A HAPPY DAY!!! xoxoxoxo ~Daisy

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