Blue Mansion
The afternoon of the blue mansion was really cool. It’s a Chinese mansion.We got to the first room and checked in. We started walking into the second room and went up the stairs to our fancy lunch. The food was really good. The foods that I tried were squid ink risotto, snapper, chicken roulade.
Chinese new yers in Penang
We got to the lanterns at 7:00PM. The temple was called Kek Lok Si. It had beautiful lights. There were 10000 lanterns. We wrote messages on a ribbon and put them on a wishing tree.
The next morning we had a morning tour so we got up at 6:30 and had Indian pancakes for breakfast. 
We started of the tour with a trip to the tea fields, where we learnt about the process of picking the tea leaves off the trees.
. Next we went into the jungle and went for a 45 minute hike and learnt about the different plants. 
After that we went to the tea factory where we had tea and strawberry tarts. 
We also bought ice tea and green tea latte. We went into the factory and watched them roll out the tea, dry it and shred it. That after noon, we went to the strawberry farm and they had a lot of different things to eat that involved strawberries (some didn’t even have strawberries in it). 
We got a strawberry milkshake, and we started walking back to the hotel and we saw some very nice flowers and plants. The next morning, we had more pancakes at the same place and started off the day with a hike. We had already started the hike when we realized we did not have bug spray, so my mom ran back to the hotel and grabbed it. We hiked up the mountain and it was quite steep but we made it to the top. We were at the top for about an hour before we headed back down another way. Going down was more fun and longer than coming up, because it was steep and it was like rock climbing. There were ropes you had to hold on to to stay alive. 
We arrived at a little village at the end of the hike and went to the tea house where we had cake and ice cream. On our way home we hitch hiked in the back of a truck! 
That day we did 23000 steps! The next a day, we had to leave so we had pancakes AGAIN and then we headed to Penang.
When we arrived in Melbourne, our parents surprised us because they told us we were going to go visit them. So on Monday morning, we hopped in the car and drove the seven hours to Mt Gambier. The drive was beautiful. The weather was perfect and the ocean was so clear. Tash our friend’s mom, recommended a couple places that we should stop so that’s what we did. The first stop was at the Umpherston Sinkholes. Sinkholes are caves which the entire ground has fallen down. It was pretty neat because it was transformed into a giant botanical garden. 
We also got to see a possum, which looks a little like a squirrel and a rat mixed together. 
The second stop was to go meet up with them at the Blue Lake. It was so nice to see them again. 
We took a couple pictures then we went to their holiday house. We settled in a bit and then we went out for fish n chips. They were so good because we ate them with extra chicken salt. The next morning, we ate breakfast and I taught Charlie and Kadie how to play a card game called “Exploding kittens”. At ten o’clock, all the girls went down to the park ( my dad was working). We played in the park while our moms drank their coffees then, we went back to their place for lunch. After lunch, we played a tag game called Camouflage. It was really fun and we couldn’t stop laughing. 
We had chicken and sausages for dinner and we played more Camouflage. The next morning, we sadly had to say our goodbyes. 
We packed up our car then we drove away. We are still hoping that they come visit us in Canada.
When we arrived in Merimbula, we were introduced to Nerissa ‘s dad Barney and his partner Tina. It was really late and we were exhausted after a day of driving so, we went to bed. The next morning,Tina made us pancakes then we all got ready for a fun day at Pambula beach. Just as we were about to leave, my dad said that I was going to take surf lessons and I was so happy about that. I had been wanting to go surfing ever since Caloundra. We all piled up in the car and we drove to the beach. My surf lesson was a blast, the coaches were fun, and the waves were huge but great for surfing. 
Meanwhile, Amelie and Elise were on the beach making a huge sandcastle with Brendan, Nerrisa’s brother. 
In the evening, Nerissa came with us to look for kangaroos. We did not have much luck at first but then we came across a golf course packed with them (maybe not packed but you get the picture). There were baby’s and a giant one that we were all scared of. We got some good pictures and we were able to go pretty close to them. 
The next morning, I went for a walk with my mom and Nerissa. It was a really nice boardwalk. We walked all the way down to a little Cafe and I ordered a milkshake. Then we walked back to the house. Later on, my dad and I took a surf lesson. Yesterday, he saw me having so much fun that he wanted to join me. My dad never managed to stand on his board, it was hilarious to see him fall into the water. 
I found my dad was a bit of a distraction because every time I was just about to stand up he would cut me off. Thanks dad! That night, we went out for dinner with a whole bunch of my mom’s old highschool friends. 
The next morning, my dad and I woke up early, and we went for one more surf. The water was quiet but every once in a while there would be a giant one sometimes, too big for me. After surfing, we drove up to Eden to have a picnic and to meet my mom’s host moms from 1994. Eden was also the place that my parents were engaged. 
It was a nice evening, the food was good, and it was nice to finally meet Marg and Jo. The next morning we said our final goodbyes to Nerissa, Barney and Tina. Then we drove off to………….Melbourne.
The next day, we went to manly beach (a beautiful beach with great border walks) and dipped our feet in the rock pools. We also rented bikes and rode around the city. 
The next day, we had to leave so in the morning we got up early and went for a nice long walk called the Bondi coogee hike, before sitting in the car for a very long time. Sidney was fun but tiring. If you ever spend New Years there, then make sure not to park in the same place as we did!
We also had a BBQ and ate birthday cake. 
Wednesday started off with a swim, then we went shopping for our Secret Santa. 
I got my mom. After shopping, we went for another swim then had a lovely dinner. It was a fun night! Thursday morning we watched a Christmas movie. 
In the afternoon, we went to Southbank, which is in the heart of Brisbane. 
We went for lunch at a Mexican restaurant and I ordered chicken fajitas. We went swimming in an ocean pool and the adults went to the restaurant. Friday, we said our goodbyes then we drove to Caloundra, a town an hour north from Brisbane. When we arrived, we met Nerissa, Sue and Ian. Nerissa and my mom were roommates back when my mom lived in Australia. 
We were smoking hot because it was 40 degrees outside and it felt like we were in a sauna the entire day. We went in their pool. Saturday, we went to the beach with Nerissa and my mom’s other friend, Carrie and her family. I learnt how to surf, it was a blast. 
We spent the evening at Sandpoint Christmas carnival with Shane, Ella and Brian. We went on a mini bungee activity, took pictures at the photo booth, had dinner, and watched fire works that lasted thirty seconds because of the wind. 
We all had a big laugh about that. We had to say our final goodbyes which was really hard. Sunday, we went for a swim at the beach with the same gang. The waves were a bit to choppy, so it was too dangerous to surf. Then we came back and made a Gingerbread house with Sue. 
Later on in the evening, Nerissa and my parents went out for dinner and Sue and Ian took us for a drive to see Christmas lights. It was so fun! Monday morning we all got to work with our cooking and baking for Christmas. I made a Mississippi Mud Pie, Elise made Carmel slice and Amee made our traditional meat pie called ” Tortière” with my dad. 
We definitely had some fun volley ball games on Christmas Eve. 
That night, we got cookies and milk for Santa and we could almost not fall asleep bacause we were so excited. The next morning was fun. We started with gifts. 
We got a ticket to the Australia Zoo and we got the best present ever from Santa! We got tickets to go see Ed Sheeran live in Portugal! 
We were so excited that we couldn’t talk about anything but that, in the morning. In the afternoon, Carrie and Dan came over with their kids Mayson, Blayke and Ruby and also my moms friends Max and Michelle. We had an awesome Christmas lunch, a pool party and then after Max and his gang left, we played volleyball with Carrie and her family. It was a fantastic night. On boxing day, we went to the Australian Zoo. We saw tonnes of animals snakes, koalas, kangaroos, crocodiles, Tasmanian devils, beautiful birds, some giant lizards and tigers. 
We even got to watch a crocodile show with birds as well. It was cool to see the Irwins history. We also got to take a picture, holding a koala. After the Zoo, we went to the beach and had fish and chips with Carrie and her gang. Thursday, we packed up and left Caloundra. Goodbyes are always tough.
One Family, One World, One Year 