Leslie Chappell's beach living experience with the Education Abroad Network

Alright well I do not even know were to start..I might cry writing this. This was an experience of a lifetime. I will never forget all the memories I made during my semester abroad.

First off, Bond University was so incredibly beautiful. The classes were extremely interesting and the professors were so friendly and nice. Living in the beach housing was a dream. It is about a 20 minute bus ride from Uni but a two minute walk from the beach. Everyone who worked at the Meriton were courteous and accommodating. It was a real treat. Broad Beach was such a nice town.

The Beach Hotel Bar directly next door to the Meriton had live music all the time, happy hour from 4-6. We would go to the beach all day then go there at 4 for an early pre game. Monday nights were low key, across the street at the casino was always an option. A few kids I knew won like $1500 so you never know. Tuesday nights were the nights to go to Bond. It'll be all Bond Uni kids so it was fun to meet everyone outside of class. CBD was the bar to be at. There's also a bar inside the casino called Prince Albert's thats a blast on tuesdays. There it was mostly locals which was fun to meet.

Wednesday Nights were another low key night. Usually we would just rest up for the weekend. Thursday Nights Bond had a ton of parties/ pub crawls the start at the bar on campus called Don's Tavern. If somethings going on there, definitely buy tickets and go. If there's nothing, clubs in surfers, or broad beach. Friday and Saturday night go to clubs in surfers (the drink, bedroom, beer garden, sin city, Melbas, Cocktail and dreams, shooters, ruby tramp. Or in broad beach thats literally a 1 minute walk from the meriton.. East night club was a blast for ladies night, and platinum night club was packed on Saturdays. There are usually Bond Uni events at platinum so there's not cover for students and free drinks. Sunday Surprisingly one of the biggest drinking days of the week. Go to Fish-O's in surfers during the day.. there are always a ton of DJs, the place is huge, and its right in the harbor which is really pretty.

By the way.. the Kebab stand below East is the most delicious thing I have ever eaten. I literally crave them all the time and had two a day way to many times. It was open late which is very convenient. Doner kebab with hot chile and garlic sauces is the way to go.

We went on a trip to the Whitsunday Islands (the sand is 99% silicon, and you sail throughout them. We went scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef! Finally, we went to New Zealand to Queenstown. It was only a $20 plane ticket to stop over so a group of us went. Definitely the greatest "vacation" inside a vacation i've ever been on. Queenstown is the coolest town I've ever been to... absolutely beautiful. Thats were we went bungy jumping, it was the second largest in the world called the Nevis Bungy. You can do so many things there. Queenstown is like an adrenaline junky town with people from all over the world coming in a out.. seriously from everywhere. People come and find jobs to work for like months at a time then travel somewhere else. Fergburger is open till like 5am and there are always lines, but the best burger I've ever had and I think it is voted best burger in the country! Definitely go to franz joseph or fox glacier and climb it. We got rained out but I know people who went were not disappointed.

Last but not least we went to Sydney for our orientation. Sydney is amazing. You stay in the World Tower on like the 86th floor which is the tallest building in Sydney. The apartments are like 1.3 million dollar places.. they are unbelievable. Don's miss any of the activities you do in Sydney.. like the zoo, tour, and absailing (repelling), and the dinner cruise on the Harbor Bridge. The good places to go are like bondi beach, manly beach, and Circular Quey. The Sydney Gestival was there when we were which is insane!! There were tons of stages, performances, DJs, everything for a whole night.

One of my favorite things I did was go to the Currumbin Rain Forest. It was a natural, open habitat for animals. I held a Koala and sat with kangaroos in the grass! Brisbane was also a cool city and close. The Robina rail was really cheap for students and you can use your transit bus pass. It only takes like an hour to the city or you can go directly to the airport.

Byron Bay was were Bond did a sky diving event. Once in a lifetime opportunity. Byron Bay is a pretty neat town it was a good day trip.

We also made it to Melbourne, it was colder there so a change of weather and an artsy city.

I'm sure this review was all over the place but I wrote what came to mind as I thought back on my experience.

Good luck mates,
Your Tour Guide Leslie