Great Escape Monthly Review: March 2017

They say March is “in like a lion and out like a lamb.” While that might be true back home in Maine, my March was a little different in Australia. You could say it went a little something like “in like my 20s and out like my 30s.”

On March 8th, I turned the ripe old age of 30. My birthday started out with taking an overnight train from Rockhampton to Airlie Beach where I started my Whitsundays sailing tour. Mother Nature was nice to me on my birthday, but the day after, she let the heavens open up. All damn day long. There’s nothing like sitting on Whitehaven Beach, Australia’s top beach, in the pouring rain. It was still stunning, though.

March was a whirlwind month of travel and work. My travel itinerary was jam packed with traveling up Australia’s East Coast and Tasmania. Between scuba diving, horseback riding, sailing, and other adventures, I also had to work. Back in February, I landed a very nice paying two-month contract with a content marketing company I work for sometimes. The money couldn’t have come at a better time, but unfortunately, the client loved to drop deadlines last-minute on me. I did it though!

Where I’ve Been

2 Days in Rainbow Beach
3 Days on Fraser Island
2 Days at the Country Campout & Emu Park with Loka Travel
3 Days Whitsundays/Airlie Beach
4 Days on Magnetic Island/Townsville
3 Days on the Great Barrier Reef
4 Days in Cairns
9 Days in Tasmania
1 Day in Sydney

The Highlights

I turned 30! Last September I totally freaked out about turning 30. Call it a very early midlife crisis, but I was terrified. As the day slowly approached, the more I realized my anxiety and fears about turning 30 were just in my head. Now, I own it! But, I guess I don’t really have a choice, huh? I wasn’t going to tell anyone that it was my birthday as I’m not a huge “birthday person,” but I let the cat out of the bag and ended up celebrating on my Whitsunday sailing tour. It was a great night with a ton of new friends. Thanks, Broomstick!
I got to scuba dive one of the best wreck dives in the world! I had no idea about the SS Yongala wreck until I met a British couple in Fiji who told me I couldn’t miss it. It quickly became the top item on my East Coast wish list. While I was on Magnetic Island for a few days, my wish was granted. It was a perfect day with great visibility and little currents. I have heaps of video footage that I need to edit still. The wreck is incredible and I can’t wait to share more with you!
I fell in love with Tasmania. There was no way I was leaving Australia without visiting Tasmania after several people told me it is very similar to Maine. I would have to agree. There were several times I was walking around Hobart and thinking “is this Portland or Hobart?” I spent my first three days with Jump Tours, my favorite Australian tour company, and another tour company. I’m already planning my next visit to I can do the Overland Trek.

The Lowlights

The stress from client deadlines. As I mentioned above, I loved my new client, but they were very disorganized. I’d have to repeatedly email them to get their tasks, deadlines, and feedback. They would then come back a week later saying they need three blog posts the next day. It’s always a joy, especially when you’re traveling a lot with questionable wifi connections.
Leaving Australia. After nearly a year in Australia, it finally hit me that I was leaving. I certainly had a tummy full of mixed emotions. I was excited to travel again and see New Zealand and Asia, but at the same time, I was going to miss Australia. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to see Tonia and all the horses before I left due to our travel schedules so I was quite sad about that. But, I suppose I’ll just have to plan to go back for a visit soon. I miss my pal, Alfie!

Monthly Income

Thanks to my two-month contract, I blew my monthly income goals out of the park. Even with a travel-heavy schedule, I grossed $2,330 USD. Of course, that’s before Uncle Same takes his share. One of my major goals this year is to pitch websites and publications, but with my travel and work schedule at the moment, that didn’t happen in March. Hopefully, in April and May, I will have a bit more time.

Expenses:

Transportation: $332.62
Accommodation: $461.32
Food and Drinks: $389.93
Activities, Tours & Fun: $355.54
Other (i.e., doctors, cell phone, general living expenses): $312.29
Business Expenses: $0

During the month of March, I spent $1,851.70 or $59.73 USD a day. After January and February expenses, you might wonder why my 31 days of travel was so cheap. Much of my activities, like diving and my Tasmania tours, were booked ahead and paid in the previous two months. I kept careful count of how much I spent during my East Coast travels so look for a post in the coming months on my cost breakdown.

Favorite Photo of the Month

Books I Read During March

Born For This: How to Find the Work You Were Meant to Do by Chris Guillebeau – I love all of Chris’s book and this on in particular spoke to me as I’m still trying to figure out what I’m meant to do. I feel that I’m much closer to figuring it out and this book gave me a lot of good “food for thought.”
The Irish Inheritance: A Jayne Sinclair Genealogical Mystery by MJ Lee – I absolutely love the genealogical thriller genre on Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited. I can’t get enough of it! I enjoyed the writing and storyline of this book. It’s a good combination of mystery, thrill, history, and travel. Everything I love in one book!
The Somme Legacy: A Jayne Sinclair Genealogical Mystery by MJ Lee – Once again, I love these quick and fun reads.

April Goals

Finish my client work
Pitch new websites and magazines
Enjoy New Zealand

Favorite Quote

“Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.” – Gustave Flaubert