Waterfalls, Puddles, Leeches

The week before last I went on a escapade with a friend into the mountains north of Brisbane. It was glorious. We skipped school and got some good old nature time in. The park was beautiful, with trails that lead to campsites via waterfalls.Unfortunately, the weather was dreadful. However, I can now say that I experienced the Australian rainforest in the pouring rain. For two days. And slept in a puddle. Or rather... didn't sleep in a puddle I suppose. Although, this is Australia we are talking about, so even with sleeping in a puddle I was very warm all night. Either way, the views along the trails were totally worth the rain and wind and soggy-ness, and the experience was cool all in itself. Parts of the forest that contained the eucalyptus were particularly nice because of the smell. It smelled like fresh rain and eucalyptus. Simply wonderful.

Now, I don't know if you are aware or not, but when you go into the mountains during a rather wet couple of days, the leeches come out to play. They tried about forty times to eat me alive. It was interesting. I stupidly cut my fingernails the day before we left on this trip, so the only way to get them off was to scrape them away with a stick. Even then, with this caveman tool of mine, they attacked me for the entire trip. It was annoying. I was bloody. My clothes were wet, smelly, and bloody. I am surprised my host mom didn't think someone had tried to murder me when I got home. Although, a vampire attack would have been more reasonable since I was having my blood sucked.
Australia does seem to be the place to experience all forms of wildlife. However, again, though the weather didn't share it's love with us, and we were being bled by the annelids, I am quite happy that I got out on this little camping trip and away from the stress of education and social constructs. Just us, the waterfalls, and the mud. Almost perfect.