Long Awaited Party Number 3!

Hey Kids!

So I am aware it has been several months since I've updated my blog! This is both due to the fact I've been busy enjoying a little country called Brazil, but mainly, let's be honest here, I'm just lazy!

Because I've left it so long between updates and so much has happened over this period of time, to write it all in one blog would result in you losing interest mid-read. And we don't want that happening now do we? Thats what i thought! So, Ive come up with a brilliant solution! Ill do it in installments...

Now I'm not really sure what system to go with here so I might just brainstorm out loud and we'll go from there...
Now... Last covered was Carnaval way back in February.
Since then, few events have taken place, just a brief overveiw:
1. South Trip - In March I spent 2 weeks touring the South of Brazil
2. Fantasy Party - Visited Locky in his city for its biggest party of the year! (Now Im being modest here when I say we were the best dressed!)
3. Amazon Expedition - Spent 2 weeks in the Amazon Jungle!
4. The Girls - Made THE best friends in the world, only to turn around and have to say goodbye two months later....
5. Pimps&Hoes Party - Again, hit up Goiania to visit Locky and attend another more then mentionable Party in Brazil!
6. Changed host familys
7. World Cup over here!
8. Oh and I am now fat. Kind of put on 10kgs somewhere in there....
9. And on the horizon... My new fam bam are taking me to Sao Paulo(the city with the population equivalent to that of Aus's) and Rio de Janeiro next week!

Now yes, I will go into further detail on all of the above over the next couple of blogs so bare with me! (Except number 8, bit of a touchy subject that one!)

First up.... SOUTH TRIP!!!!
So with 63 exchange students from 18 different nationalaties, visiting 3 countries in 2 weeks... It was 1 freaking amazingg trip!!
I won't bore you with a play by play of the trip itinerary (mainly because, after so long, i dont rememeber it!) but it was an unforgettable trip, made so many awesome friends from all around the world!

The first couple of days we went to Iguassu Falls national park, visited a bird park-got photos with Tucan Sam!

Then went to the falls itself! Was spectacular! Even went in a boat up the river and under a fall itself! Was absolutely beautiful.. But ill let the photos speak for themselves..

Then checked out the falls from Argentinian side and spent the day in Argentina! Also got to visit Paraguay for a day of ridiculously cheap shopping!
Then we spent the next week and a half touring the south of Brazil in a bus full of exchange students! I would have to say, this was actually the best part! Microphone for karoake was all we needed to keep us entertained for the trip!
Favourite city I hear you ask? Definately Florianopolis! Beautiful beaches, beautiful people (they say the best looking Brazillians come from the South!) and an all round good time! We spent 4 days in this city, hitting up beaches, attempting to surf, playing beach soccer with Brazilians and somewhere in there, white water rafting in the jungle!

FANTASY PARTY!
In April, I headed down to visit Locky in Goanna-town (aka Goiania but we struggle with the prononciation of this one) for Festa de Fantasia aka the citys biggest party of the year! So must admit, had been looking foward to this for a while, we even bought our costumes months in advance! I find usually with high expectation comes disappointment, this definately was not the case! Have to say, highlight of this year so far! With thousands of people attending, VIP tickets and an open bar, perfect recipe for a good night! And, in true Aussie style, took full advantage of the open bar situation! Was a freaking sensational night! Even jumped the railing and danced on stage for short burts quite regularly throughout the night, this then resulted in being chased by security but luckily we had some pretty inconspicuous attire so they never caught us!

The setup was like 3 massive marque's joined together-1 with the bar, stage, dancefloor etc, 1 for the food and the other one, not really sure what!

The tickets for this event were a bit pricey, but a full buffet of amazing food was promised so I was in! But at 430am when Locky and I were feeling a bit peckish we thought we'd go take advantage of this unlimited food situation as well! But we got there to find there was no food! So,what did we do? We burst into the kitchen (in our skin tight licra body suits i might add) abusing the people, in english and/or broken portuguese demanding we be fed! They either didnt understand us or didnt want a bar of it, and kicked us out of the kitchen! We were not happy Jan! Stumbled back to the bar throwing chairs, tables and various other objects in our path! But we got over this pretty quickly..
So at 730am we decided we had enough and were ready for bed! Soft effort I know! We then somehow ended up in the car of this random couple who spoke perfect English and they drove us home.. Yes mum, i know this is extremely dangerous but luckily we weren't kidnapped and sold on the sextrade! Promise it wont happen again!

AMAZON!!!!
So my 2 week trip with 45 other exchange students to the Amazon Jungle twas absolutely incredible to say the least!!!! Like the South Trip, the people were amazing! And made so many good friends from around the world!
So we arrived in Manaus, and it was soo bloody hot! Like humid as eff! You walked outside and would start sweating! The first 2 days we spend in the city, staying in a ridicously large hotel with 2 pools, a shopping centre and a zoo! And this wasnt just any zoo! This was a zoo with monkeys! Monkeys that hold your hand! I want a monkey! The first night we went to this party, quick story behind it: so, theres like a blue team vs red team themed danceoff (Haha thats a very basic version of the explanation but it works!) Anyway, they rehearse (seperately obviously) for this party for months! And we went along to a red night, learnt these cool Brazilian dances, all the exchange students got invited up on stage and even danced amoungst the professionals-we were basically famous! It was a great night!

Next day we moved all our junk to the boat we would live on for the next 10 days! And off we went along the Amazon River! The set up was pretty convenient, 2 double story boats-one for living on-at night they put up hammocks to sleep in and by day you had couches and whatnot, and the other one was the restaurant boat that would pull up beside the boat at meal times and you would have to jump from boat to boat whilst travelling along the river!

We went trecking through the jungle with local Indians who know a ridiculous amount about the plants and what they do! Its amazing! One evening we went for a bit of a casual stroll through the Amazon Jungle.. in the darkness! Went swimming in a waterfall and checked out some caves! Twas an adventure and a half! This whole trip was!

Went canoeing in tribal style wooden canoes which sunk quite frequently!
Swam with pink dolphins! Went fishing for paranas!
At night we would all jump in a heap of smaller boats and go exploring for crocodiles and what not! Even caught a few baby ones!

Visited an Indian tribe! It was definately eye-opening to see how they live, it is so remote and well, tribal!

We spent a day visiting a small remote community in the jungle! The kids showed us around their school/village! Was an awesome experience!

Brazilians are soccer crazy so it was only fair we played against the Brazilians in their national sport! Exchangers Vs Villagers! We won't discuss the outcome though, unfair advantage if you ask me!

Then there was a small gathering thrown in the village for us that night!
One night we headed on a treck through the jungle, hammocks in hand, to what felt like the middle of nowhere, where we set up camp for the night!

And to wrap up the trip, our second last day we spent on this beautiful little island! That night we had a bonfire on the beach complete with guitars and a sing-a-long! And the boat crew set up the tables and chairs on the sand with lanterns and what not, was a bit cute! Was a great last night with all the exchangers!
The last few days of the trip saw a contagious tropical disease getting round! But, it being the racist kind, only really seemed to affect the Aussies! The last day I got ridiculously sick and ended up spending the night in a Brazilian hospital with 2 other Aussies and a German with various seringes being administered and being put on a drip! Was an experience, let's just put it that way!

But besides the minor negative regarding the hospital visit, the trip was beyond spectacular! Bloody serreal experience!!!

And well, thats the first 3 points covered kids! Will tackle the rest next time!

Hope everything back your way is top notch! Missing you all!
Until next time groovers...
Tchau!