Day 365 of 365 - 25th of December, 2011
My last 365 post ever, I have to be honest when I say it’s a little saddening.
This year has been the most testing I have ever experienced. I’ve experienced the highest of highs and rock bottom. I’ve been suicidal and I’ve had times when life seemed perfect, I am so happy that I kept this diary for a whole year, I now have the ability to look back and reflect on some of the hardest days of my life.
Today it was Christmas, MERRY CHRISTMAS!
I woke up at about 9:30 and went out to greet my family.
I opened my stocking. I got a curler, babushka measuring cups, over the knee socks and chocolate coins.
Had a little bit of a tantrum regarding my dress for Christmas because I felt like a beached whale in it. I eventually wore it though.
We went to lunch and it was just lovely, the sun was shining (and yes, I’m reluctant to say that I actually enjoyed it) and I just enjoyed the company. I ate a fair bit, but I figure that I never will eat that much again so it’s okay. Mum and Dad have been really chill about drinking this whole trip which has been weird for me, but I don’t mind ;) nah, I don’t even like drinking that much.
At lunch we went down to a beautiful swimming hole, it was freezing but incredible. I got in a little bit of sun baking but we went back to the house for dessert pretty quickly.
Got back home from lunch and had a much needed shower, used my new coconut shampoo which is just hstueshtkshtnkese.
Then I watched Kim’s Fairytale Wedding and Kendall’s Sweet 16. Both were amazing. Can I just express my love for Kendall Jenner please, she is amazing. Can we be bffs?
Today has been lovely to spend it in New Zealand with people I wouldn’t usually spent it with. I’m happy.
Now I’m getting a bit teary saying goodbye to this blog, I’m probably really hormonal, but this blog showcases my best and worst. It has my inner most thoughts and also a reflection of my day to day life. I hope to always remember this and look back on it when I’m older so I can get an insight into my life at 15 and 16. Fuck, I’ve changed so much in this year.
Right now, I’m happy. I’m grateful for everything I have, I’m content with the direction my life is going in and I know 2012 will be better than 2011, Merry Christmas.
This is my final 365 post, signing off,
Darcey.
Day 362(364) of 365 - 24th of December, 2011
The 2nd last day of my 365…ever!
This morning I woke up really early because I had a little accident. Ooops.
So I was awake at about 7:30. Spent the morning watching TV and using my laptop.
Went to the shops with Mum and Di and got stuff for Christmas day tomorrow!
Went to this lovely house to go horse riding, they are friends of my Aunty and Uncle. NICEST HOUSE EVER! I got to ride a horsey and it was so fun and the girl, her name was Hannah was really nice. I got told for the 3rd time in two days that I should be a model. The New Zealand sense of humour cracks me up…
Had a shower and moisturised my legs for tomorrow.
I iced my gingerbreads and they look great.
For dinner I had steamed vegetables and ksljreitjhesuth yum.
I watched the Victoria’s Secret show and oh my god can I just be an angel please? I love them all so much oJtkthesjkthuse. The bra that Miranda Kerr wore in the Aquatic Angels bit, I need it in my life.
Spent the last two hours or so catching up on my 365s that I’ve missed whilst travelling this month. It’s taken so long and I’m missing some days here and there but it’s pretty good.
Excited about tomorrow, bit worried I’ll be overdressed but besides that it’s going to be lovely.
2nd last post on my 365 ever…wow.
It’s been a long and testing year, but I’m so happy I have this as a journal.
It’s Christmas Eve, bring on Christmas, bring on the New Year.
Day 361 of 365 - 23rd of December, 2011
Woke up at about 11:30 and bummed around for most of the day. I was so effing jet lagged. My god.
Mum and I went shopping with Becky and her daughter Maddison. Maddison is a muffin! So adorable. And she loves me.
I got a dress and shoes for Christmas day! I got a cape dress sort of thing and these gorgeous wedges!
Came home and made gingerbread for everyone. I ate too much dough though. EW.
Jet lag hit me again. So I’m going to sleep.
Day 360 of 365 - 22nd of December, 2011
Woke up at 6:30 and got ready to leave by 7:30.
We caught a cab to the airport and ended up having to wait 45 minutes before we could check in.
We checked in and because our flights were changed as compensation we were offered the opportunity to to use the Koru Lounge, so we went straight there.
IT WAS FUCKING AMAZING. A gorgeously decorated space with free food, drinks, wifi, views, EVERYTHING! They even had a shower facility and my brother used it, typical.
Mum and I went off and did some duty free shopping. Mum got a powder foundation and brush and I got Eau So Fresh by Marc Jacobs, a collection of USA inspired OPI nail polishes, a MAC blush and….WE WENT INTO THE NEW VICTORIA’S SECRET STORE AND I GOT FIVE PAIRS OF UNDERWEAR! WEEEEE! I was hyperventilating when I saw the store.
Our first flight left Melbourne and was quite nice. I watched (500) Days Of Summer and just enjoyed the flight really.
We landed in Auckland and went straight into transit for our next flight.
Out flight ended up being delayed by about two hours and we thought it was going to suck but we went and spoke to the people at the Koru Lounge and they let us in, no problems at all! So we got to spend some more time in the Koru lounge. I ate way too much and mum thought I went to vomit because she like followed me to the bathroom ‘to wash her hands’
We got our flight to Wellington and it was a really modern and new plane, it was such a short flight and we were landing in no time at all.
Brent, my uncle, picked us up from the airport and we are now at his house in Wellington.
I just had a shower and now I’m really tired so I might sleep. A lovely day of flying I must say
Day 359 of 365 - 21st of December, 2011
Woke up at 11 and chilled out. Then Floyd and I went to the city and shopped. I got new jeans for NZ, which I size 6. I wanted to go a size smaller but there wasn’t a five. Only a four. Give me two months and I’ll get the four.
I also got a bag from Sportsgirl which is quite nice.
We had a nice time together.
When we got back I packed for NZ. I packed lots, I think mainly because I’ve been living out of a backpack for the past three weeks I want lots of clothing options.
Liz and Fran came over and I gave them the cross I got them from the Otovalo market. They really liked it.
At 8, we went out to a new Vietnamese restaurant called Bang Bang. It was rather delicious. I got mixed vegetables and my god they were good. Mum and I also shared grilled fish fillet with spicy salt. SOO GOOD.
Came home, got everything finalised for NZ and slept.
Day 357 and 358 of 365 - 19th and 20th of December, 2011
There are two days here because I lost a day flying.
We landed in Melbourne and the first thing I did was text mama to let her know we were there.
We went through security, customs and quarantine without any problems. They didn’t even check my bags!
Walked through the doors at International Departures and Floyd was standing right there. Mum came over and gave me the biggest hug and I was just so happy to see them.
We drove home, got coffees and then I lay out all the presents and things I got in the lounge room to show mum and Floyd.
At 6 mum, dad and I went to my Freeza graduation. It was really nice to see everyone and finalise our efforts in the committee this year. I got my certificate, we got photos and then I left because I was really quite tired.
Mum and I got pho for dinner and then walked home.
I have developed a weird chocolate obsession. I’m not really sure why or how but I love chocolate. Which is bad.
Really feeling the tiredness now.
Day 356 of 365 - 18th of December, 2011
Woke up at 4 to go to Quito airport to leave South America.
Everything was cool except Isabelle and Emily got full random police checks. The flight was good, I finished Survivor and started reading Damned. I love Chuck.
We landed in Houston and had to speed speed speed to catch our flight to LAX. We literally sprinted through the airport. At security there was this adorable nerd that asked us all these questions about Australia and started talking about the Pollywoodside. Who the hell knows about that. Lol. So we didn’t even get to sit down before our flight to LAX, we boarded straight away. That flight was fun, Isabelle, Grace and I had cwazy times.
It was a massive breath of relief to get to LAX. We said goodbye to three of the girls on the trip that are going on holidays in the USA now. We had to walk aaaaallll the way to the international terminal which killed my back because I have two bags. We were allowed to early check in, which was amazing because we had to wait eight hours for our flight.
We did some duty free shopping, it was actually so cheap. I went crazy on MAC make up. I got a bright red lipstick, a waterproof eyeliner and the COOLEST mascara I have ever seen. I also spent about 45 dollars on candy for friends and family. Lol.
So, Isabelle and I were just walking in LAX, going to get food and who should walk by but Chord Overstreet! I started freaking out and so did Isabelle and then we ran back and told everyone but they went and looked and only saw his back and said it wasn’t him. But on closer DOUBLE inspection we found out it was him. HOW FUCKING COOL! I was shaking. He got Panda Express.
The next 6 or so hours were spent relaxing in the LAX lounges, going for walks, buying magazines and candy and just, especially for me, loving to simply be in the Los Angeles vicinity. We went through customs and all the people were really lovely. Going through the security scanning section, guess who was going home for Christmas? RYAN KWANTON! aka Jason Stackhouse. Aka the really hot brother off true blood. WHAT ARE THE ODDS OF SEEING TWO CELEBRITIES IN LESS THAT TWO HOURS? SO COOL! Got to the gate lounge and four boys arrived that would be on our flight, and Emily and I were looking at one of them in particular that looked SOOO familiar. Lotti turned around and was like ‘Owen. The rowing coach’ and we all started freaking out. He’s on of our old rowing coaches and he’s on our flight (and what’s even more freaky is that out of this whole Airbus A380, he’s sitting next to Isabelle. WHAT ARE THE CHANCES!)
We boarded FINALLY but there was an hour hold up, but I wasn’t to fussed. Thanks to amazing Airbus technology I got to watch the take off from a camera attached to the back of the plane on the outside, it looked so cool.
The flight is nearly half way through and I actually feel like I’m doing pretty well. I slept for like three hours! That’s probably a record for me. I started watching Crazy, Stupid, Love again just because I have an irrational obsession with Ryan Gosling. I’m going to read two magazines I got now and then maybe watch a movie. Everyone is sleeping but it’s okay.
I’m excited to land in Melbourne and see the family, I miss them.
Day 355 of 365 - 17th of September, 2011
Today we woke up at 6 to go to the animal market. It was one of the most eye opening experiences of my life. It was quite distressing but I also am glad I saw it. The animals were all treated so horribly. There were pigs being dragged by their hind legs and kittens crammed in cages. It was such a loud market because of all the animals crying and squealing.
We went back to the hotel, had breakfast and headed out to the markets. I ended up spending $150. It was such an amazing market.
I got so fucking much (a whole new bag full). I got a poncho, two blankets, a beanie, a scarf, a t shirt, jewelry and SOOOO many other things.
After that we left Otavalo and went out for lunch. At lunch a tried guinea pig for the first and last time in my life. When I had the little piece all I could think of was the little guinea pigs squirming about at the market. After that it took us two hours to get back to Quito. We got our rooms and re packed our bags for the flights that start tomorrow.
It all fits in my bags!
For dinner we went to a Thai restaurant called Uncle Ho’s. I had been craving tofu so that’s just what I got. SO FUCKING YUM. Now at the hotel, about to sleep on my last night of the trip. Tomorrow we are getting up at 4am. I should sleep.
Oh and Ms Lucas came and gave us $55 each for LAX (it’s the leftover money we have for the trip each) SO PUMPED FOR LAX. Goodnight. I’ve loved this trip so much.
Day 354 of 365 - 16th of December, 2011
Woke up and had breakfast because we were getting on the bus to Otavalo!
We left at around 9 and our first stop was Mitad Del Mundo (the center of the earth/equator line) it was so cool. We looked at some South American history and we actually got to see two shrunken heads. I learnt so much. We also did little experiments on the equator line. Like balancing an egg and watching water go straight down and not spinning a certain way.
We got back on the bus and I read a fair bit of my book. We got lunch at a traditional Ecuadorian restaurant and our guide suggested a couple of meals we shouldn’t try because they had blood in them :S
We eventually made it in to Otavalo and all I can say is IM IN LOVE WITH THIS PLACE. There is so much culture and history and many of the people still wear their traditional clothes. We walked around town, had a little glimpse at the markets we will be visiting tomorrow (the biggest Indian market in South America) and we went to a coffee and chocolate shop and I had the best coffee I’ve had in ages. We walked around some more and my god I want to buy everything! I’m so beyond excited for tomorrow.
Tomorrow morning we are also going to an animal market, I’m a little hesitant to see the animals treated differently to what I’m used to but it’s all part of the experience. For dinner we went to a really nice restaurant. I had a lovely salad. A band at dinner played traditional South American music and I LOVED IT. It was such good music.
We then walked back to the hotel, I got all my stuff sorted for tomorrow and now I’m going to sleep. SO EXCITED! EEEEP!
Day 353 of 365 - 15th of December, 2011
Woke up and had breakfast and spent most of the morning brainstorming ideas for our presentation of the trip for when we get back to Australia.
Then we spent our last two hours in town. I also got my mum a really nice necklace. We had lunch at a nice restaurant and then met with Tim and the teachers to go to the airport. We got to go in the back of utes. It was fun.
Saying goodbye to Tim was actually pretty sad. We all hugged him and went through the gate.
The flight was good. It was a roomy plane but there were no TVs. So I read and slept and listened to music.
We got to Quito and it was FREEEEEEZING. it was 11 degrees. We caught a bus to our hotel and went and put on warmer clothes. We went out for dinner at a place called The Magic Bean, I had a falafel salad. Walking back from dinner was really scary. The clouds have come down really low because we are so high in the mountains. Isabelle and I are now rugged up in our beds.
Tomorrow we are going to to Otovalo. I also decided that when we took off from the Galapagos that my diet would begin again. Yay.
