Well, whatever it is, I'm enjoying every fucked-up minute of it

I finally got off my lazy ass and did more research into travel at the end of the summer, and I'm glad I did.  I found a new, two week REI multisport trip in the Northern end of Queensland in AUSTRALIA.  That's right, Australia.  A day whitewater rafting, two days each hiking and biking, and three days each snorkeling and sea kayaking (the remaining 4 days in the 15 day trip being taken up by travel and the vagaries of crossing the International Date Line).  It looks absolutely amazing, unfortunately it is goddamn expensive.  $3000 dollars.  Before airfare, travel visas, a few of the meals, and other such costs, which will raise the cost by around 2000 or so (as airfare alone is 1500 round trip).  So yes, you will pay a lot for that muffler, and the cost is prohibitive.  But my parents are thinking about it, although it would mean I could never, ever, for the rest of my life ask them for money.  Amazingly enough, my mom seems to be on my side, as she thinks it wouldn't have  been any cheaper to go to Japan (as I wanted to earlier).  She did say that they had be thinking of possibly helping with a down payment on a car, which obviously wouldn't happen if they paid for the trip, but I think I can honestly say as nice as a car would be to have, as well as help in paying it off, this is something that I can easily count as a once in a lifetime experience.  No way I'll be able to afford it at any point in the next twenty years of my life, so now would be the time to get it out of the way.  The cost is certainly prohibitive, and I will not be angry or disappointed with them if in the end we come to the conclusion that it's too much.  Then, at least I'll maybe have part of a car as a consolation gift.  But this looks amazing, and I really want to go.  The decision needs to be made soon, so that we have time to set up the reservation and get everything going (luckily, I don't need any immunizations for Australia), so in the next few days I should know.  Wish me luck.