If you don’t look into it, you wouldn’t know that all of us backpackers to Australia have to complete a life challenge to be entitled to a second year visa. When I say life challenge, I really mean a challenge! Like the hardest thing you would ever have to do.
Not only is it hard work but it is just an experience in its self. We have to complete 88 days of agriculture work. Doesn’t sound like a lot right? Trust me it is, although so rewarding once it is completed!
Unless this is your lifestyle, this really is a shock to the system! I worked doing orange picking, along with a group of random other jobs chucked in as well! Again, I can hear you thinking “orange picking can’t be that hard” well let me tell you now, it honestly is.
Firstly, I completed this during the winter months in a place called Loxton, which FYI is in the middle of nowhere. Next, it is shit money! But that isn’t the worst of it, because even if it is shit money, you’re in the middle of nowhere so can’t spend it anyway! And then it was cold, backbreaking and exhausting! I think there is a theme to my writing though… the people are amazing. They make it so much easier! I was so lucky to have met such a great group of people whilst completing my farm work I wouldn’t have been able to do it without them! And that is more important than you imagine because you are working and living with these people 24 hours a day! Maybe you get a break from them when you go to the toilet?
So anyway, farm work. There is a few things you have to think about…
1. Are you mentally ready? Because it really takes its toll! We would sometimes work 2 weeks in a row then get 1 day off! Routine is good though and just think, you get your days done quicker!
2. Do you know where you are going? You hear horror stories and to be honest, chances are, you are going to get treated like shit! I’m not saying this is okay at all, but don’t forget this is these people’s livelihood and if you do a bad job it will affect them! (Also most people in this line of work are grumpy old men) AND just count it as day… this isn’t your life career choice so as long as you’re getting your days ticked off it’s good!
3. Do you have the correct clothing? No point rocking up on a farm with your Levi jeans and new Nike trainers because they will get trashed, I promise! (RIP to my nice trainers)
4. Do you know what your letting yourself in for? Because I sure as hell didn’t! I would not have been able to do my work if it wasn’t for the incredible people I had around me!! Be prepared for a shock to the system when you’re sharing a kitchen, bathroom and bedroom!
5. Make sure you still have something to look forward to! This helps so much! Farm work is hard! And if you are working day after day.. a party with your friends on a Friday makes the week go by so much quicker! My friend and I also made a little calendar and treated ourselves to something every 11 days! This could be anything from booking tickets to an event when we finished to just buying a nice bottle of wine rather than drinking goon! You Aussie travellers will know how much of a treat this is especially if you are poor!
So there we have it… 88 days a slave complete and I have now been released from my prison sentence and am back in the real world… a tiny bit overwhelmed but I made it! Let me know if you have any more questions about my time because this really is not even touching the sides!
Firstly, you have to think about yourself! Sounds obvious right? I find that when you are alone for an extended period of time you get used to meeting new people and you just kind of go along with whatever they want to do for the company. Make sure you do what you want as well! I can’t stress enough how much stronger and confident you will become whilst backpacking solo, so instead of being that person that just goes with the flow, make the flow follow you!
Further on hostels, you are more than likely going to stay in a few places that are not what you call, how do I say this? Fit for human life to live in? Okay that’s a joke, but they are going to be pretty dire. Just laugh about it! What more can you do? It is all part of the experience! This bathroom, WOW. That bucket you see, yeah that is how you flush the toilet and worms would come out the tiles on the floor when you showered. It was a delight!
Last but not least, have fun! Don’t spend your time worrying about what other people are doing or thinking, don’t worry if your hair is turning to dreadlocks (although the whole world does have coconut oil pretty much and that will sort it out) Hey, don’t even worry if something gets lost or stolen, I mean it’s a pain but there is not one thing that can’t be solved! You will learn to overcome any problems that arise and by the end of it you will look back and those things won’t matter as long as you have had the best time possible!
Next thing I know, BAM, I’m in Australia, Perth to be exact. The heat is just something else, well I have got used to it now but that first few days, my god I was sweating like crazy after being in freezing temperatures for a month, it’s strange how quickly your body can adjust to different climates! So there I am, feeling groggy and jet lagged, desperate for a shower and a glass of ice cold water (or cider) I am ready to see what this place has to offer.
Margaret River is where we decided to set up base, about 3 hours south of Perth City. I was completely swept of my feet when I got here! The relaxed atmosphere, the beach, the kangaroos, you name it! Camper vans and 4×4 everywhere you look, winery that scream at you to come and taste their award winning wines, local food markets and outdoor cinemas. Do you understand why I wanted to come here now? This place is just an adventure in itself!
Straight away I went and bought myself my own little 4×4… which is currently trying to die on me already but we won’t worry about that until it actually happens right? This gave me the freedom to escape to the beach whenever I wanted, to find new places to explore, to visit the tourist attractions (because I am a tourist still although this is now home), and to just enjoy this beautiful area with all the incredible people I have met along the way!
When you think of Fiji, you think of the luxury, the white sandy beaches and the utterly gorgeous surroundings, but there is so much more to this place than anyone can ever imagine. For any of you that don’t know, Fiji is a group of 332 islands that are based in the South Pacific and yes, backpackers, there is a place here for you too!
The next thing on my list of things to do was island hopping, this is a must for any backpacker that’s heading over to Fiji, this is something you will never experience (well you might but still do this anyway!) I booked this through a company called 
So what I am trying to get at is that Fiji has plenty to see and do, don’t be put off thinking it’s all honeymoons and couples because it’s not, it’s music festivals, zip lining, diving, swimming, partying and just experiencing the local life. Visit a village, get on a bus to anywhere, buy food from the markets and soak up the life these people lead because it really is incredible! Who wants to stay on the tourist path anyway?!
Micro fibre towels are the one. I owe the person who told me to get these big time!! They’re horrible, don’t get me wrong but anyone that has used them knows that 1. when you finally get to use a real towel its like wrapping yourself if a sheet of perfect softness which really drys you! Its amazing. 2. They dry quickly, they fold up small, they’re easy to carry. If I was to have tried to take a real towel I would have spent half my time with a smelly heavy towel on my back making the backpack harder to carry!
3. Tents
5. The cold
The reason behind this event I hear you ask? Well Farfetch have recently started selling beauty products on their site and this leads to their first beauty event talking about the latest and upcoming make up trends, featuring looks ranging from the ‘no make up, make up’ to the Watermelon inspired look! YES you heard me correctly, Watermelon! Surprisingly it looks amazing! 
SO, what did I get? Firstly, the eyebrow conditioning primer. This product is something I don’t think the industry has much of yet. This is perfect for people like me who’s brows really aren’t all that without some TLC and this provides just that! Apply it over the brow, needing the smaller bit of product, this helps the brows to be more conditioned and help them to grow. This also helps product to last longer and stay in put meaning your look amazing all day long!
Then it contained the goof proof pencil. This is fabulous, it is a pencil and a brush, Benefit have really thought of it all. Smooth out your brow hair in the direction you want it to go and using the measure, make a mark at the edge, arch and centre as a starting mark and then continue to use the pencil to gently fill in the centre of the brow joining the dots together, basically dot to dot on your face? Fun right!
Face Camera Action 
