Visiting Byron Bay

Over the weekend we visited Byron Bay! We went out to the Bay Hotel Friday night. We danced and had a great time! We hiked up to see the Byron Bay lighthouse. There was an awesome view from the top of the blue ocean and our dive site! We dove Sunday morning at Jullian's Rocks. It was amazing!

Here is a picture of the most easterly point in Australia!



THe Byron Bay lighthouse! It was a hot hike to the top but the view from the top was amazing!



Here is the group picture at the top of the Byron Bay lighthouse!



The deep blue Pacific Ocean! Amazing!



Anyone want to play Frisbee in the ocean instead of freezing back in Indiana??

Scuba Diving in Byron Bay

Today we took a scuba diving trip just off the coast of Byron Bay near a place called Julian's Rock's. It was absolutely amazing! I admit I was a little scared before I entered the water, but after I descended to the bottom I was relaxed as ever! We saw leopard sharks, puffer fish, lion fish, a sea turtle, and all kinds of other fishies!!! We went for about 1/2 hour - 45 minutes to a maxium depth of between 50-60 ft.!


This is a photo of me descending to the depths of the Pacific Ocean!



This is what we saw right after we gathered at the bottom.....a sea turtle in its natural environment!



The group of us swimming through the ocean!



Can you spot the shark?



Leopard Shark!! This was a little freaky!



Diving was awesome!!

Taking Classes in Aussie Land

Here are some more pictures of the awesome Aussie trip! Classes started yesterday and we took a field trip to the rainforest!! Everyone is getting over their sunburns and its still very hot here!! (80's)

A group picture in the local Aussie swimming hole! (beware of snakes)



Some of the local Lennox Head stores....they have IGA's here in Australia just like in Ft. Recovery!!



A beautiful picture of the New South Wales country side on the way back from the rainforest!



For lunch we dined on kangaroo and crocodile! Believe me, they don't taste like chicken...



This is an awesome picture of the ocean and the moon at sunset just outside our camp. We were searching for kangaroos...local myth says they come out as the sun sets...maybe we will get to see one soon!



Don't freeze back in the states!!

Australia Day!

Yesterday was Australia Day here in Australia! Most of us went out and celebrated in Ballina! We saw fireworks and met some of the locals! Everyone had a blast!

Here is the snake we found in our laundry room! (I have to do laundry today....wish me luck!)




Here is a picture of the fireworks in Ballina! Happy Australia Day!!




Here is the Australian currency.




Australia doesn't have stop signs.......This is as close as Aussie drivers get to stopping...Give Way!



Here is a picture of our beautiful beach here in Lennox Head.




Over and Out from Aussie Land!

I'm in Australia!

We are in Australia! These pictures dont serve this country justice but everything is really cool! Everyone is having soooo much fun! The locals are all very nice and the town of Lennox Head is awesome!



We arrived Tuesday around 3:00 p.m. We had a cookout that night and started to unpack all of our stuff. The next day, we walked into Lennox Head and bought some groceries. We then went down to the beach, got sunburned, and had alot of fun! Last night alot of us went to the local pub and secured a place to watch the Super Bowl (although its on at 5:00 am!





We have seen snakes, frogs, crabs, and all kinds of other creepy critters.



Today we might travel into the big city of Ballina to get some more food and supplies. We have a meeting in about an hour for Ocean Safety. We also have an Orientation Meeting tonight to get used to the Lake Ainsworth campus.




The temperature has been very hot! 80's and 90's!



Hope all is well in the States!!

My Address

Here is my new address while I'm in Australia!! (Send me something!)



JD Keller, Ball State University
Lake Ainsworth Sport & Recreation Center
Post Office Box 121, Lennox Head 2478
NSW, Australia

Let's Go Outback Tonight

One week from today I will be in Australia!

Yesterday, to celebrate my upcoming departure to Aussie Land, Grandma and Grandpa and the McMillans went out to eat with us at The Outback Steakhouse. The food was delicious! Aussie Cheese Fries, Bloomin Onion, Alice Springs Chicken, Shrimp on the Barbie etc. etc.



Ironically, our waitress went to Australia through Ball State back in '04. She gave me some advice and told me some of the "hot spots" to visit.



One more week devoted to packing and getting ready to leave on the trip of a life time!

New Australia Blog

Once we arrive in Australia we will have plenty to blog about. Angie has created her own awesome blog so she can document all of our adventures. Now you can read her "Aussie News" and see some different Australia pictures.



Check it out @

http://www.freewebs.com/angiebsu/index.htm

Jack Hanna Visits BSU

Jack Hanna visited BSU on Wednesday, November 8th!

He brought a dingo from Australia, a clouded leopard, a Jackass Penguin, a Leopard Tortoise, a Three Banded Armadillo, a Bearcat, a Red Tailed Hawk, some Hissing Cockroaches, a Boa Constrictor, and (my favorite) a cheetah!

Steph and I went to the program with some of our friends and barely got seats! Emens was sold out for the show! I tried to get some pictures but the auditorium lights were dimmed low. Here are the some pictures of the event.

1. Jack Hanna on stage



2. Jack Hanna Talking about the Dingo (from Australia)



3. The Crowd as Jack Speaks about our Endangered Species



4. My Favorite Animal of the Night: The Cheetah!

Cook Islands?

We had our 1st Australia Meeting on Sunday. One of the questions that was brought up involved the possibly to extend our study abroad time......



At the end of our Australia Study Abroad opportunity we have the option to travel to the Cook Islands.....



We would be on our own....in charge of everything: transportation, lodging, food, entertainment etc. etc.



These islands are not traveled by tourists very often and we might not get the chance to visit these remote islands agian....



10 days on our own? So many decisions to make.....

SCUBA Diving in Phillips Quarry

SCUBA diving is offically over!! All three of us are certified divers!! Over the weekend we completed 4 dives in Phillips Quarry here in Muncie. We had a skills test and skin dive on Sat. morning. On Sunday we completed two recreational dives with our dive master. All three of us were relaxed and had successful dives!



There are all kinds of thing on the bottom of Phillips Quarry. There is a mirror, 5-6 boats, Christmas tree, a big tire that you can swim through, Jet Ski, fake shark, vodka bottles, and Halloween decorations.



Gary McMillan came up Sunday morning and took some pictures of us three in our scuba attire. The pictures are awesome although the video recording could use some work! HA!

Australia in Indiana

Last spring we took a road trip to the Indianapolis Zoo. Who knew Australia could be so close to home?



Scuba is almost over!! One more lecture and pool session, a "Transfer of Knowledge" test, and the Open Dive and Mike, Angie and I are certified divers!!



Homecoming back home in Jay County this weekend! Go Patriots!

Birthday Pictures

These pictures have nothing to do with Australia but I enjoyed my birthday so much that I had to post them!
Scott and Kristyn sent the puppy dog ears and the "Birthday King" and "Birthday King's Friend" crowns. Although a few of my friends thought it was a bit wierd that my aunt and uncle would send me dog ears in the mail, they enjoyed taking these pictures!! The Dairy Queen Oreo Blizzard Icecream Cake was delicious (and devoured within 2 days)! Thanks for everything guys!!



Also, the weekend at home was awesome. Birthday shopping, home cooked meal, party with the grandparents, church, lunch at El Camino, Colts game and homework....who could ask for a better weekend??

Scuba Week #5 + Birthday Weekend

Week 5 of Scuba Diving was eventful in many ways. First, we all had to descend to the bottom of the deep end. When our instructor pointed to us we each, individually, had to remove our scuba gear, pull out the regulator, and swim to him. We signaled we were out of air and he let us get a few breaths. Then we had to swim back to our gear, find the regulator to get a breath, and put everything back on. After a couple tries I completed this excercise and moved on to SCUBA rescue techniques. We learned out to save a diver that was struggling on the surface and a diver that was unconscious on the bottom. A final test for the night involved descending to one side of the deep end with all your scuba gear on, removing your mask, swimming to the other side of the pool, putting your mask back on, and finally clearing your mask of water. All and all, session #5 wasn't bad but I still have a ways to come before I am completly comfortable with scuba gear in the water. Open water dives are approaching in 2 weeks!!!



Finally, we get to the fun stuff!! I'm turning 20 this weekend!! Fall Semester is nearly half way over with midterms in the next couple of weeks!! This means Fall Break, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas are getting closer. Australia: Spring 07 will be here before we know it!!