Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party

Happy Halloween!!

Halloween is only TWELVE days away! TWELVE DAYS!! How exciting is that?! Halloween is one of my favourite holidays. Not only do you get lots and lots of chocolate, but there’s an excuse to dress up.

Kate and I recently got back from Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party at Disney World. It is so much fun. If you don’t know, MNSSHP is a special event on certain nights at the Magic Kingdom. Everyone is allowed to dress up (even adults!) and there are loads of fun Halloween activities to do, even trick or treating!
I have gone three times and it’s been amazing every year. If you’re around the Disney parks in October, we definitely recommend you check it out!

Here are some memories from our days at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party!

2009

Kate and I went as Belle and Aurora. Even our parents got in on the action as Gaston and Merryweather!

2013

I went as Belle, and my boyfriend at the time went as the Beast. It was pretty awesome because we got reservations at the Be Our Guest restaurant before the party! It was pretty awesome dining dressed as Belle in the Beast's castle! I even got to dance with the real Beast.

2015

Kate and I went as, of course, Anna and Elsa. It was so amazing walking around! We felt like celebrities as kids kept calling out, "Anna! Elsa!" We had so so so much fun! 

We’ve put together some tips if you plan to go, and if you’d like to watch Anna and Elsa run around Magic Kingdom, check out the videos below!

  Have a spooky scary Halloween everyone!

Five Things I Learned From Travelling for Two Months

Well, I’ve been there and back again: my two-month travels to Australia are over and I’m back home in Canada. Before leaving, I anticipated that the trip would be some sort of life-altering experience, providing me with all the mental clarity I was lacking in my everyday life. And although I didn’t arrive home full of shaman-wise knowledge about my future, travelling definitely taught me these five things.
1. No one’s going to be happy 24/7: I try my best to be positive and upbeat around others, and at the beginning of our travels, I was definitely of the mind-set that, hey, we’re on vacation in a beautiful country, what have we got to be upset about! But when you’re crammed in a van, spending 24/7 with the same people with absolutely no alone time, you’re going to get cranky. By the end of the trip, I was a snappier, foul-mouthed version of myself, and I saw the same in my travel companions. I learned I couldn’t expect myself, or my friends, to be in a good mood all the time, and those expectations weren’t fair to any of us.
2. Sometimes you need a vacation from vacation: When you’re travelling non-stop, getting up early and going to bed late, on your feet all day, it’s absolutely exhausting. Some of my favourite days on the trip were when we stayed in one place and just chilled out, and I especially loved the few weeks where we had a home-base in Sydney. It’s important to give yourself time to relax and rest when you’re constantly on the go.

3. Buy into stereotypes: What I mean by this is, our most fun experiences were when we were doing things that were classically Australian. For example, experiencing ancient Aboriginal culture at Uluru, led by a real Aussie bushman, or cuddling koalas and kangaroos at Steve Irwin’s zoo. These are things I will only ever be able to do in Australia, and I wanted to make sure I did them all, no matter how outside my comfort zone (such as eating crocodile or scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef!)
 


4. Treasure the little things: However, amidst all the big stuff like I just mentioned, I learned to treasure those small, quiet moments. Of course, I’ll always look back and remember snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef, but I’ll also remember snuggling up in the van and watching Firefly or eating these tasty biscuits while we drove, or the time a frog jumped in our van and we all panicked. Those small moments are what built our trip and kept us sane between all the highlights.
5. There’s no place like home: As much as I loved Australia, I will admit, I will never tire of touching down in British Columbia. Being away from home always gives me an appreciation for what I have and how lucky I am to be from such a wonderful place.

Thanks for reading! Stay tuned for lots more Australian content on our vlog.

Five Things Canadians Miss When They're Abroad

With Canada Day just coming to a close, I thought it would be appropriate to write about five things a travelling Canuck misses when they’re away from home. Of course, these are just my opinion, but I think they hit pretty close to home.

1. The Wilderness: There are plenty of startlingly beautiful places in the world, but I would argue us Canadians are partial to the encompassing evergreen forests, the towering mountains and rugged coastline. When I travel I always appreciate the new sights I see, from the bustling cosmopolitan of a huge American city, to a historical chapel in Italy, to the sprawling Outback in Australia, but I find myself thinking of the beauty at home. For me, nothing compares!

2. Tap water: There’s just something so great about going anywhere in Canada and not having to worry about whether you can drink the tap water or not. And to top it off, it’s delicious!

3. Friendly strangers: Sure, it’s a generalization to say that everyone in Canada is polite and pleasant (I’ve worked in customer service, so I know this is not true!) but I can definitely say there’s a sense of openness surrounding Canadians that you don’t feel anywhere else in the world. Whether it’s asking a bus driver for directions or just grabbing a coffee, you’re more than likely to have a positive encounter with a Canadian.

4. The air: One of the coolest things about traveling is getting off the plane and taking a deep breath, inhaling the new scent. There’s even nuances between Canadian air; I could always tell the difference as soon as I stepped off a plane from Toronto into Victoria. But there’s nothing quite so sweet as being away from home for a long time and stepping off that plane and taking a deep drag of clean, Canadian air.

5. Hockey: Is there anything more exciting than being in a foreign country and seeing someone with a hockey jersey on? It’s like finding an instant friend…or a mortal enemy depending on the jersey! Having to endure other country’s national sports plastered on billboard and TVs just makes me crave coming home to watch the best sport on Earth.

But what’s the number one thing I miss when traveling abroad?

Tim Horton’s!

Do you agree or disagree with my choices? Let me know in the comments!

The Road to Adventure: Our Route Around Oz

The east coast of Australia has to be one of the most famous destinations for backpackers, and for good reason. From its gorgeous beaches, to the seaside towns, to the beautiful natural wonders, the east coast is filled with things to do. Plus, the east coast of Oz is also great for first-time backpackers because of its clear road signs, rampant hostels and tours, and plenty of like-minded travellers.

On our trip, we flew from Sydney to Alice Springs to Brisbane, then drove up to Cairns, before flying back to Sydney. Below, I’ve done a step-by-step guide of all of our main stops, so you can decide what’s right for your road trip!

1.     Sydney (One Week): It’s a must-do on any Australian road trip. From the iconic Opera House to the Sydney Bridge, this major city has something for everyone.

2.     Alice Springs/Uluru (4 days): Flying to the outback is not usually included in the average Australian road trip, but if you can fit it in, you definitely should! There is nothing like seeing the natural wonder of a wild kangaroo hopping against majestic Kata Tjuta. Plus, Alice Springs is a cute, quirky little town with tons of hidden gems!

3.     Brisbane (2 days): Like Sydney, Brisbane is a cosmopolitan town with it’s own wonders. You can spend hours at the Queensland Museum, relaxing at the beautiful lagoon, exploring the wonders of the universe at the Brisbane Planetarium, or hitting it off with your fellow travellers at one of the wild hostels!

4.     Byron Bay (1 day): Byron’s a quiet little hippy town right on the seaside. Although there’s no major tourist attractions, Byron has a beautiful beach and many gorgeous lookouts, and tons of quirky little shops.

5.     Nimbin (1 day): A hidden gem just outside of Byron, Nimbin is the definition of quirky. Rainbow benches, graffiti spouting messages of peace, and tons of head shops decorate this little town. If you’re offended by the “green” way of life, Nimbin is probably not for you!

6.     Gold Coast (2 days): With a big amusement park, a huge water park, and tons of nightlife at Surfer’s Paradise, the Gold Coast has something for all types of the young at heart.

7.     Sunshine Coast/Noosa (2 days): The Sunshine Coast bleeds into Noosa Heads, a gorgeous area of Australia filled with sparkling beaches and national parks. Spend a day playing with koalas and kangaroos at the Australia Zoo or relax in one of the beachside suburbs, like Coolum Beach!

8.     Rainbow Beach (2 days): One of the most popular destinations on the east coast, stunning Rainbow Beach is the jumping off point to Fraser Island. Fraser is home to the only pure-blood dingoes left in the world, as well as crystal-clear lakes, warm creeks, and it’s own shipwreck.

9.     Airilie Beach (3 days): Airilie Beach is most famous as being the connection to the Whitsundays, a collection of some of the most beautiful islands in the world. But Airilie is fun in it’s own right, with tons of cute shops and funky bars. Don’t forget to schedule a day (or two!) to explore the Whitsundays, an unforgettable experience!

10. Townsville (1 day): Compared to the other sights on the road-trip, Townsville can seem a bit bland, but it’s a good place to rest between the long road from Airilie to Cairns. Grab some grub at one of your favorite chain restaurants you’ve been missing or see a movie to relax!

11. The Atherton Tablelands (1 day): Take a western detour from Innisfail to access the Atherton Tablelands, an area of rolling green pastures and grazing cows. The must-see is the waterfall route, three incredible waterfalls that only require short hikes to access. The climax is Millaa Millaa Waterfall, where you can swim in the pool right below the falls.

12. Daintree Rainforest: Not to be missed is the absolutely unbelievable Daintree Rainforest, about an hour and a half north of Cairns. If you’re like us and unable to make it all the way to Cape Tribulation, check out Mossman Gorge on the southern end of the rainforest. Be prepared to get hot, wet, and awestruck!

13. Cairns (2 days): With tons of souvenir shops, a huge lagoon, and restaurants galore, Cairns is a tourist’s dream. The main attraction is the many tours leaving to see what has to be Australia’s greatest wonder: the Great Barrier Reef. If you’re only going to do one tour on your trip, make sure this is it! There is nothing like peering through the turquoise water and seeing the many tropical fish living among the coral. Cross this one off your bucket list in Cairns!

14. Palm Cove (2 days): We opted to spend the last two days in a small suburb outside of Cairns called Palm Cove. A five-minute walk from a beach with bathtub-warm water, plentiful cafes with great coffee and pastries, and a selection of tiny shops with beautiful hand-painted souvenirs made this a great choice!

There you go! That was the route we chose to explore Oz with! If you’ve backpacked Australia, where did you go? If you’re planning a trip, do any of these spots appeal to you? Let me know in the comments!

A Little Housekeeping...

Hey guys,

So it's been quite a while since I've posted, but a lot of changes have happened in the last few months. Leah and I are really just trying to get the ground back under us! Notably, I graduated from college (just a benchmark achievement in a very long list of obstacles to finally getting my degree!), moved into a new house, and have some very exciting writing news that we're going to share soon...

But most notable of the changes (and most significant reason for our blog/vlog absence) was our month-long road trip across Australia! It was an amazing, once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I can't wait to share our journey with you. If you're planning your own backpacking trip or just interested in all that Australia has to offer, stay tuned for tips, tricks, tales, and reviews from the land of Oz!

From now on, you'll be seeing blog posts from me every Sunday andWednesday, while Leah will be posting vlogs every Monday and Thursday, so don't forget to check out our Youtube channel!

If you have your own blog or Twitter, leave it in the comments below as we'd love to connect with you :)

Horseback Riding and Quad Biking Australia!

This was one of my first real adventures in Australia. I saw on an AuPair Facebook book page a group of AuPair who wanted to go horseback riding. So I decided to join them. The plan was to do horseback riding and then Wuad biking.

Glenworth valley is about 1 hour and 10 minutes from Sydney. It was my first solo drive on a major Australian highway. But wow, Glenworth Valley was beautiful!

I arrived at Glenworth stables and meet up with the other AuPairs. They were all German except for one girl who was from Italy.  

There was a really large stable that had at least 50 horses on it. It was finally time to start riding and they lead us into the stable. I got paired with the BIGGEST horse I've ever seen. Her name was Dory, and I had to be boosted up by the rancher. I've rode horses before, but not very much, and being up on top of Dory was a little frightening to say the least. 

We learned the basic commands, such as pull back to slow, and how to turn, and stop. 

The ride itself was very nice. I talked a lot to our guide who was super friendly. She told me all about their horses and the stable. Apparently Dory is a senior horse in the group, and one of the most gentle. Even children ride her. 

The trail itself was very beautiful, with lots of bush. I could defiantly tell the difference between an Australian and the trails on Vancouver island.

We weren’t allowed to take photos on the horse—they want to avoid a horse bolting mid selfie.

We stopped at a river and the horses started to paw the water which was really funny. 

They also took pictures of us. Which was quite nice.

I really enjoyed the ride back because I got to gallop! That was so much fun.

Overall I really enjoyed horseback riding and it's something I would love to do more of in Australia. I would for sure recommend the company; there were professional, knowledgeable, and lots of fun!

We had a couple hour break between horseback riding and quad biking. So we had some lunch and I got to know the other AuPairs.

After lunch was Quad Biking. Now I've never been quad biking before... 

It was a little scary at first. But before we even got out on the track we had to complete a series of different driving maneuvers. Definite flashbacks to driving tests in school.

Once we all completed the test we got to go out on the trail. It was a lot of fun bumping up and down on the road. We eventually got to a little race track where you could go around and around as fast as you wanted over little hills and tight corners.

I may have had to pull over a couple times to let people pass me.

Overall it was a great adventurous day!

Don't forget to check out the VIDEO of this adventure :)

I Slept through New Year’s Eve in Australia | Dealing with Travel Disappointment

Hi guys, Leah here. As many of you know, I recently made the move to Australia, and it is awesome. 2014 was the year I moved to Australia. 2014 was my year of big change and adventure. And how perfect would it all be to ring in 2015 in Australia!

New Year’s Eve was all planned out. I was heading up to the Gold Coast to celebrate the night at Surfers Paradise...which means I was up at 5am to catch my flight from Sydney to Brisbane. (You can probably see where this is going)

Once my friends and I arrived in Brisbane, we spent the whole day at Wet’n’Wild. It was over 30 degrees Celsius. 

We had a great day, splashing in the wave pool, and braving slides where the floor gave out beneath our feet. But after standing in lines, in the 35 degree heat, by the time we made it home we were exhausted.

We ate dinner, and then proceeded to get ready. Despite being super tired, I was still excited.

This was the first New Years Eve in my entire life where I wasn't in my home town. This was my first New Years being single in 5 years!

Maybe I’d kiss a hot Aussie at midnight, maybe I’d watch the fireworks appear over the beach and it would somehow set 2015 on the right track!

Except it was only 9pm, and we didn’t have to leave till 10, so I just lay on my bed…and when I opened my eyes, it was 12:40am. I bolted up—I couldn't believe it. I’d slept through New Years Eve.

But not just any New Years Eve...my New Years Eve in Australia!

I sort of sat stunned for a moment. I couldn't believe it. It was over, gone, and there was nothing that could be done to change it.

So what happened next?

I went back to sleep, and in the morning my friends and I had a good laugh about us all falling asleep.

And then?

We had a great rest of the trip.

We went to Movie World, explored Brisbane, swam in the pool, and by far made up for missing NYE with a fabulous night ( and morning ) in Surfers Paradise. 

Sure, missing the main event of our trip could have put a damper on everyone’s spirits and made everyone bitter and angry. But what would that accomplish? It wouldn’t have brought NYE back, and it would have just made the rest of the trip suck.

When dealing with disappointment while traveling, you only have two options.

1.) Shake it off and move on

2.) Hold onto it and ruin even more of your trip
I’ve had my share of travel disappointments so far such as losing my camera, being so sick in Disney World that Kate had to push me around Epcot in a wheel chair, and visiting a Japanese onsen That resembled a bathtub more than a pool.

But a great start to the New Years doesn't just happen because of a couple fireworks. Change doesn't just happen because you change a number at the end of the date.

For me, change happened when I stepped on the plane to Australia on October 23rd.

And plus, sometimes the best memories are because of travel disappointments. I’ll never forget that Kate and I had the entire Tokyo Disney to ourselves because of a giant rainstorm! 

We always learn from mistakes, so it’s going to take a quite a few disappointments before we’re seasoned travel pros. If you’re dealing with travel disappointment, the only thing you can do is shake it off and resolve to make the most of the situation.

What are some of your worst travel disappointments? Share your stories in the comments

My Week in Pictures | January 2nd 15- January 8th 15

Friday January 2nd

 

Explored the Gold Coast and found this awesome water park. We were the only one's for the last session so we had the whole course to ourselves! The lifeguards who had to stay may not have been so happy, but we had a blast.

Saturday January 3rd

We explored Brisbane during the day, then spent the night on the Gold Coast making up for falling asleep on NYE.

Sunday January 4th

Didn't arrive home to 8am. I got to see Surfers Paradise in the morning, which was awesome. Then I flew home to Sydney that night. (Snapchat @pandora55 )

Monday January 5th

Missed this little person so much! Plus her mom made her a Star Wars skirt, so she was pretty much the coolest kid in pre-school, ever!

Tuesday January 6th

Spent the day catching up on personal work. Have you seen our How to Edit your Novel video?

Wednesday January 7th

Concentrating on my art portfolio. My subject of choice, is of course, Egypt.

Thursday January 8th

Skyped with Kate! Planning her trip out here in May. We promise we'll have tons of fun adventures for you guys!

Side by side, or miles apart... we're sisters, connected by the heart. ❤️🌍 #sisters

A photo posted by Leah & Kate Rooper (@leahkatewrite) on Jan 7, 2015 at 12:55pm PST

My Week in Pictures | December 26th 14- January 1st 15

Friday December 26th 

I was still quite sick, so I spent the day watching The Walking Dead and doodling.

Saturday December 27th

Went outside to go to the doctor. The only good part about that trip was I found this awesome bag for half off. (By the way if you would like to see daily snaps of my adventures in Australia add @pandora55 )

Sunday December 28th 

Desperately trying to get better for my trip to Brisbane I stayed in... again! At least I was productive editing YouTube videos

Monday December 29th 

Guess what I did? That's right popped cold pills and stayed in bed! My rest time today was drawing Rey from Star War episode 7!

Tuesday December 30th 

Leaving for Brisbane tomorrow, and after very sadly losing my own camera, I went to the mall and bought myself a new one! Merry Christmas to me!

Wednesday December 31th 

Took a early morning flight to Brisbane from Sydney then spent the day at Wet'n'Wild.  Spoiler: Fell asleep and missed NYE! :(

So much fun at Brisbane Wet in Wild Now it's home to get ready for New Years Eve on the Gold Coast! ☀️🏄

A photo posted by Leah & Kate Rooper (@leahkatewrite) on Dec 30, 2014 at 10:46pm PS

Thursday January 1st

Laughing off missing NYE we spent the day at MOVIE WORLD! It reminded me a lot of Universal Studios. Was lots of fun!