HAPPY NEW YEARS!!!

On Monday we had another beach day. Very relaxed, reading and playing in the waves with Ed and Will. We each got another massage too, luxury! Han's wasn't quite hard enough at first, though, so she asked for it to be a liiiittle bit harder - something must've been lost in translation because the masseuse went SO much harder!! Han could feel her straining to push as hard as she could but didn't want to say anything; it was painful but kind of good pain. They cracked, massaged, and stretched us, and even walked on our backs!! It was really lovely, although it took Han a couple days to recover haha she's still a little bruised. We came home and had yummy pizza for dinner and watched (some of) the worst movie ever: Beverly Hills Ninja. We called it a night pretty early because we wanted to rest up for New Years Eve!!

Yesterday was SO MUCH FUN! We started the day off slowly, went to a beach - which actually wasn't much of a beach!! It was high tide and the water came right up to the edge of the restaurants! They had to put out sandbags, it was pretty crazy - then did some shopping for New Years outfits with Claire. 

Later on in the arvo we went out with Claire and Ed to get Mani/Pedis done. We had trouble finding a salon with any availability, but we did find this bizarre place where you stick your legs in a fishtank and all these little fish nibble on your feet!! OH MY GOD it was SO strange; the most ticklish, freaky feeling, verging on unbearable but actually oddly enjoyable haha very fun!

We ended up finding a little place on the beach to get our nails done but we'd sort of run out of time! Eddie ended up being the only one to get her nails done before we had to head home - we didn't mind though, because we were PUMPED for our big night out!

Dad, Claire, and the two of us got all dressed up and went to Bo Phut to find a nice restaurant on the beach. We were charmed by a French host out the front of a delish-looking place, The Seaside. The food was great and the view was spectacular. We looked out at lanterns being released and fireworks going off early while we gorged ourselves on Thai and seafood. 

After dinner we went for a wander along the beach, bought some 60 Baht ($2) cocktails, and let off lanterns of our own. It was such a lovely experience and we sent them into the sky with wishes for the New Year.

We went back to the cool bridge from a couple days ago (which was decidedly less pleasant after a couple drinks haha we ran to the end and Luce nearly lost her dinner!) and we also had a couple special unco moments on the beach (Luce washed the sand off her feet and tried to step into her sandals but a wave came and nearly dragged em away hahaha at least the people in the restaurants overlooking the beach got a bit of a show with their dinner!)

After all that it was time for the main event!! At 9:00 we drove up to a higher spot right out on the edge of the island to the W Hotel!! It was so specky: grand entrance, flashing lights, huge pool, searchlights, loud music, and an incredible view. 

(we didn't actually take this pic haha)

In the pool were these big sunken pods with couches in them that we're just awesome and it didn't escape our notice that one of the pods in particular had some good looking guys in it. We did a bit of a slow walk by, nonchalant as we could, and before we knew it a few if them were introducing themselves! They were Aussie lads and they were really nice. We were chatting for a bit and they asked who we'd come with, we said "our parents" and they (in hindsight, probably joking) said "can we meet them?" and we were like "sure!" and brought them over to Dad and Claire. After a little while they invited us all to hang out with them in the pod! Haha our cunning plan worked! Just kidding. Well mostly. Anyway, it was good timing too because for the half hour leading up to midnight there was different performers out on a platform in the middle of the pool. There was a very cool hip hop group and two badass flamethrowers!

A little before midnight we left the pod, grabbed some complimentary champagne, and stood with Dad and Claire right at the edge of the roof to watch the fireworks! We counted down to the New Year, WOO!!! We could see fireworks all the way along the beach and got the most fantastic show right in front of us! They were so close we were looking pretty much straight up! Ahh it was just PERFECT. 

After the fireworks went out onto the dance floor for a couple songs then found the Aussie boys, wished them happy new year and said goodbye. The night couldn't have gone better, it was absolutely wonderful! Great way to start off the year - 2014's going to be a great one, we just know it!

A Perfect End to a Perfect Trip!

Wow! We've had a busy few days with a lot to catch up on! On Thursday we went to the Canberra zoo and aquarium which was so much fun and very exciting!

We were there early and almost all of the animals were being interesting - which is a first in our zoo-going experience. We saw two gay lions getting it on (also a first...), a sun bear playing and trying to scratch an itch that it couldn't quite reach, King Julien from Madagascar, a big brown bear like chewy awwwww, and a lot of Aussie wildlife: dingos, kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, wombats, and emus.

Will recently decided that chameleons, or "camouflage lizards," are his favourite animals. He spent the whole time in the aquarium pointing out the animals blending in, and told us: "I'm a pretty good camouflage spotter." 

We went to the zoo sausage sizzle and had the classic Aussie sausage sangers we've missed so much! Yum!

We had a quiet evening at home and delish salmon risotto for dinner.

Next day we had one very last surprise in store for grandpa... We'd secretly organised with grandma to come over for lunch and the surprise went perfectly! We saw uncle Matt too while we were over and it was lovely to catch up with all of them.

We had driven to their place and on the way back we got a little turned around, yikes! We went the wrong way and were trying to turn around when we found ourselves in the left lane (good) of two left lanes of oncoming traffic (eek! Not good!). Han did a quick reverse manoeuvre and got us back on track but it was slightly terrifying... 

When we got home Phe came over for one last visit. Eddie suggested that we show Phe the finished dance as a dress rehearsal before we perform for the whole fam on Saturday. Mid way through "I Would" by 1D, though, Eddie had a bit of a mishap!

It really was hilarious! Once we knew Ed wasn't hurt we all had a bit of a laugh and had another (more successful) crack at the dance. So here it is, the long awaited, umm, masterpiece...

--- eeeek! Just kidding! It won't upload right now so we'll try again later ---

The next day was Saturday, our last full day in Aus! We got up early to watch the kiddies at their swimming lessons - they did SO well and were absolutely adorable!

After that we went out for a coffee with our childhood friend Nick. It was so great to see him after about 8 years! We've all grown up but none of us have really changed all that much.

We had a lot to catch up on though, and it was awesome to hear all about Nick! He'd just come back from field training with ADFA, so he was considerably more badass than he was the last time we saw him!

Nick dropped us home in time to help get ready for a big Sunday roast with the whole fam. Lucy helped Eddie and Will ice/decorate cupcakes - this is the pose Han got when she asked for "nonchalant."

The lunch was perfect and it was great to catch up with the fam! Sue also brought a tin of our favourite shortbread over for us to take back to LA, so sweet of her! We've already started on it since getting back and it's seriously helping with the homesickness for Aus.

We got absolutely destroyed in the cricket that night, which was entirely depressing, and watched some of the Tour de France before packing our bags and going to sleep.

Yesterday - if it even counts as yesterday, so confusing - we had a yummy breakfast, watched Han's ballet recital dvd, and did early birthday prezzies before heading to the airport. We had a bittersweet goodbye, sad to leave after such a lovely visit but excited to head back to LA. Part of our b'day present was a countdown timer to our Chrissy holiday in Thailand, only 150 days until we see each other again!

The flight was entirely unpleasant :( neither of us slept and a baby a few seats away cried for all but, I don't know, about two hours, ugh. We made it, though, and knew Ollie and Wyatt would be at LAX to pick us up... They weren't. Haha we gave them a wake up call and they left soon after to come get us.

We made it back to the apartment and on the top of our to do list was catching up on The Bachelorette! Tonight is the second last episode and we're glad to be caught up! We're pretty into it...

We have a big day of unpacking, errands, grocery shopping, and laundry planned for today, so we'd best be off! It feels great to be back in sunny LA, the city of angels.