taiwan and the east coast of australia by katy jane

hi all,

this post will be short as i am low on time at the internet cafe. big news this post: the girls and i have decided to part ways here in australia, with jess and laura to continue up the coast with some europeans in a camper van and me headed to taipei, taiwan to see a friend of ours from l'ville. we were together this weekend in sydney in a lovely hotel (thanks, linny!), but have gone our separate ways. as for the time in australia, we have enjoyed ourselves very much. i really really liked melbourne, which had a nice feeling to it, abundant, affordable, yummy food, and lots of tiny, colorful bright alley ways to get lost exploring. i'm sad to be leaving australia, but am excited to move on to the next phase of the trip. the girls and i have had a wonderful time, have seen so many awesome sights and met really great people. i am very sad that we are leaving eachother, but i think the time is right, as we have come to an inevitable crossroads on this kind of trip. ideally, we have all decided to travel to see new ways of life, meet new people and try to get a grasp of how people all over the world experience the ineffable. even on a trip where people, me and the girls, are together all the time and share common experiences, we all take away very different things and lessons and grow in new ways. in the last few days, i have come to realize that what i want and want to see and do and experience and live is different, no better and no worse, but different from the girls. and after much deliberation, i decided to be on my own for a while. i'm glad for the time we spent togther and the stories we will have to share in the future and the memories we will have forever. ah, this is actually getting a little depressing! but i am excited to get to asia and i know that the girls are very excited to keep exploring australia and the east coast. i am so excited and appropriately appreesive about traveling in an asia country, speaking only spanish and english, but can;t wait to eat a ton of noodles, to taichi in the park with old ladies, and drink tea until i burst. so, i will keep posting as will the girls and j.k.l.worldwide will be increasingly international. we continue to be winners. ok, out of time. hope everyone is well and i miss miss miss you all.

love katy