Down Under... Again!

The End...

2008-12-01T16:04:00.003+11:00

My trip is just about finished… it’s hard to believe 4 months have passed this quickly. I’ve really had the time of my life. I’ve learned so much and have made more memories and new friendships than I could have imagined.

Over the last few months, I’ve been working, partying, exploring, camping, shopping, hiking, swimming, surfing, photographing, biking, sailing, gambling, kayaking, cooking, reading, lawn bowling, dancing, relaxing, diving, snorkeling, four-wheeling… I’ve been to beaches, cities, deserts, parks, lakes, mountains, forests, sand dunes, opal mines, underground towns, museums, amusement parks, movies, wineries, sports stadiums, aboriginal sites, concerts, zoos and wildlife parks.

I’ve done things I’ve always wanted to, like seeing the true outback of Australia and scuba diving. And I’ve done things I never thought I would, like eating kangaroo meat and holding a snake.

I’ve met people from all over the world, and by the time I land in Pittsburgh on Wednesday evening, I will have traveled over 27,000 miles. I’ve loved every inch.

The only question now… is where to next??

Sydney Adventures

2008-11-29T13:57:00.008+11:00

I spent my last few days in Sydney this week... and I had to squeeze in a trip to the Blue Mountains. A few of us rented a car and drove out to the rural area about 2 hours east of Sydney. The Blue Mountains are famous for a rock formation called the Three Sisters and they're called the Blue Mountains because the eucalyptus trees give off a blue mist when it's rainy or wet. They really are beautiful... the photos aren't quite as impressive though... sorry about that.

We took a walk through some of the trails around the mountain and got to cross a short bridge that takes you to the first sister.

We paid a little extra to go on the SkyWay... a glass bottomed cable car that takes you across a canyon to the other side. You get to see the Katoomba Falls too, which was a little smaller than expected, but still a nice view.

The last thing I had to do in Sydney was visit Moore Park. I didn't get a chance to visit the Kimberleys, a mountain range in northwestern Australia. But I am taking the fact that there is a Moore Park and a place called Kimberley here as a sign that Australia really does love me and wants me to stay forever... it's just playing hard to get.

Surf's Up

2008-11-26T14:10:00.005+11:00

I couldn't possibly leave Australia without surfing... so I booked some surf lessons yesterday. It started off at 9am, driving an hour south to Boat Harbor. The instructor that picked me up was the epitome of surfer... blue eyes, shaggy blonde hair, no shoes, and a well-earned tan. He said he teaches surfing for about 9 months out of the year in Sydney, then goes off to Indonesia and surfs there for the other 3 months. Not a bad life...

I can't say I'm a pro... but I did technically stand on the board for about 20 seconds, so I'm pretty proud. Surfing is a lot harder than it looks. The worst part is getting past the waves with this massive board, and balancing on it long enough to catch the wave in. I didn't quite master an exit technique either, so I just biffed it and landed on my face most of the time. This picture pretty much explains it... but at least I got the instructor clapping for me.

I have a few bruises and my muscles are sore today, but I had the best time. If only they could come up with a more flattering design for a wetsuit...

Hostel Life

2008-11-26T14:03:00.006+11:00

After living on my own for the last 3 years... I really thought living in a hostel with so many other people would be tough getting used to. I have to admit, it's been the best part of my travels. Sure... sharing a dorm room with up to 10 other people can test your patience at times, but it's been the best way to meet people. As soon as you walk in the room and plunk down your bags, you've got friends in that city.

The hostel I'm in now has a great rooftop view... and we're always up there hanging out, making plans, drinking cheap boxed wine by the gallon, and swapping stories. I have one week left here and it will be hard saying goodbye to these friends. This is Hanna, Dominika, Martin, Johaness, and Bernd.

Summer Fun

2008-11-21T12:23:00.009+11:00

I am lucky enough to still be in summer over here...so I've made sure to visit the beaches while I still can. I am actually tan... which is a first. (well, technically a second... because I did get pretty tan last time I was here) but it's still not something I'm used to. I don't recognize myself sometimes...but it's great.

I went with some friends up to Palm Beach and to DeeWhy Beach, about an hour north of the city. Well worth the drive because the beach was beautiful and the sand was amazing. It was really clean, almost shimmering in the sun. It's also the location of an Aussie soap opera called Home & Away. The British guys I was with recognized the signs and a cafe they use for filming but since we don't get the show in the US, it wasn't quite as exciting for me.

I spent another day at Bondi Beach, which is probably Sydney's most famous beach. It's the closest to the city and always busy with surfers and swimmers. It's got a great nightlife too, and a lot of backpackers call Bondi home while in Sydney.

I've got less than two weeks left here in paradise... I spend about one more week in Sydney, then back to Melbourne for a goodbye party with some friends there. December 3, I board a long plane ride back to the 'burgh.

Some updates

2008-11-20T20:30:00.010+11:00

I finally had a chance to take tour of the Opera House. It was nice to be inside and see the stages after always seeing photos of the outside. The Opera House was built in the 1960s, and the design was chosen from a competition where artists submitted drawings for a new theater/opera hall. It was expected to take 4 years and cost $7 million. The design turned out to be much harder than the technology at the time could handle, so it was nearly abandoned. People pushed for it to be finished though, and it was completed 16 years later costing $102 million. If you ask me, it is well worth it. I love this building... it screams Sydney. I wasn't allowed to photograph inside, so this one of the stage is from the internet. There was a ballet rehearsal going on during our tour, so we got to sit and watch a few minutes of the dancers on stage.

It's really just been a great few weeks in Sydney. Traveling down the coast, I've run into so many people I've met earlier. Most backpackers make the same stops coming down to Sydney, so we see each other again and again. I met up with alot of them and had some great nights out. It was one friend's birthday, so we went out for lawn bowling... similar to bocce ball, and a very fun way to spend an afternoon. We played a few rounds with a few drinks and headed out on the town afterwards.

Sorry!

2008-11-15T12:10:00.002+11:00

Sorry for the lack of posts... some of the internet cafes here don't let me upload photos so it's been difficult to get anything online. But, rest assured... I am having a fabulous time. A few more beaches, some city sights, some fun bars and nights out on the hostel rooftop garden with beautiful city skylines, meeting up with new backpacker friends from other parts of my trip. I suggest you book your trip to the best city in the world soon.

I'll post some pictures and better stories when I can. I have to get back to the 78 degree sunshine ;)

Friends

2008-11-06T20:53:00.007+11:00

A great day today... I met up with my very first Australian friend, Dany, who I met about 6 years ago during his semester abroad in Pittsburgh. We went to his area of the city and to his local beach, Cronulla. It's really pretty, very non-touristy and full of surfers.

We went to Star City, a huge casino near Darling Harbour... and I'm happy to report I won $50 at roulette! Cameras aren't allowed in the casino, but I snuck this picture with my two $25 chips and my membership card.

We also went to an observation area at the top of the casino and got some photos of the city.

We wandered through Chinatown too. Tons of little restaurants and shops...but the Chinese food here is a little more authentic than it is in America.... something that takes a bit of getting used to.

An easy day catching up with an old friend... couldn't ask for more.

Right on through to Sydney!

2008-11-03T16:45:00.009+11:00

I haven't been able to slap the grin off my face for the last since yesterday when I landed. If it was possible to hug a city and squeeze the life out of it... that's what I would do to Sydney. I love everything about it... it's amazing.

I have three weeks here, and I did get to see most of Sydney the last time I was here for my semester abroad, so I am slowly re-exploring the city. I spent today walking through Darling Harbour, some parks in the middle, some of the shopping centers, and the Contemporary Museum of Art.

Darling Harbour has to be one of the best looking city areas in Australia. It's lined with shops, cafes, upscale bars, the huge aquarium and wildlife center, maritime museum... and it's where the MTV filmed Real World Sydney.

And no trip walking through the city is complete without going to Circular Quay, where the Harbour Bridge and unmistakable opera house is. I swear, there is nothing better than walking all day just to finish up by seeing this. It's just stunning.

I'm planning on a tour through the inside, which I didn't do last time. Plenty of photos still to come.

Sunshine

2008-11-01T22:10:00.004+11:00

The last few days have been pretty relaxed...just hanging out in some beach towns north of Brisbane. The first was Rainbow Beach.. a really really small town. Then I went to Noosa, which is one of my favorites so far. Funky shops and cafes in the town... very uncrowded clean beaches further out. I spent one day kayaking along the river and most of the rest of the time just hanging out on the beaches. These towns are so laid back.. I haven't worn shoes or makeup in days and it feels great.

Yesterday, I arrived in Brisbane. It's the first place on this trip that I visited the last time I was here, so it is cool to see some things that are familiar to me. I haven't had "familiar" in months. The city is nice, laid-back, of course, as everything else is. I was able to meet up with a friend I met on my outback trip so we went out for some drinks and Halloween parties. I have to say, I'm pretty disappointed in the costumes... very few people dressed up. But I can't complain because neither did I. Today we spent the day sightseeing and wandering through the city. We took a ferry ride on the river that winds through the city and walked through the Royal Botanical Gardens.

Last time I was in Brisbane, I got to skydive... which was the most amazing thing ever. But sad to say, I won't be doing it again this time. I am leaving tomorrow and headed for my favorite

city... Sydney, here I come!

Some Photos

2008-10-28T18:13:00.003+11:00

Here are a few photos of Fraser Island. The shipwreck on the beach that has been there for years... it's all rusted and falling apart. One photo of the dingos we saw all around the island... and a gorgeous view of the beach from one of the lookout points. Oh, and one of the coolest trucks on the island. Go Pink!

Fraser Island

2008-10-25T14:59:00.003+11:00

A bit of a camera malfunction, so I am low on photos... but I just got back from a 3 day island safari on Fraser Island. A group of us got a four-wheel drive truck (it was hot pink... and awesome) and we camped on the island. We spent the days driving to different sites (a freshwater lake, a shipwreck, a lookout point) and spent the nights camping and drinking cheap wine. Wild dingos are all over the island and come right up to you... we had some fun trying to care them off every night. Fraser was one of the best parts of my trip so far... but so hard to describe. When I get some pictures together, I will post them.

I'm heading south still towards Brisbane... stopping in a few beach towns over the next week.

Magnetic Island

2008-10-20T11:43:00.009+11:00

I arrived in Townsville, a smaller city south of Cairns. I am actually staying on Magnetic Island, so I took a ferry across the water to get to my hostel. It's right on the beach... the only hostel in Australia that is directly on the beach. Huge deck and bar, and there's not much else around so people are hanging around outside all day here. Unfortunately, we can't do swimming in the beach right now... the reason, you ask? Well, a big crocodile is on the loose so there are warning signs everywhere to stay out of the water. Only in Australia, huh?

But, a bunch of us decided to rent bikes and ride to the other side of the island where we could go swimming. So our worldly little crew of Troy from Isreal, Nic from Wales, Marco from Switzerland, Ellen from Ireland, and little old me from the US set off for the day. We rode for 10 miles or so, to Horseshoe Bay.

We hiked to the top of the island too for some amazing panoramic views. Along the way, we stopped at a koala sanctuary and walked along a path to see koalas in the wild... we made it at the perfect time, just as they were waking up to eat. Koalas are nocturnal, so around sunset, they were waking up to eat. They only stay awake for about 4 or 5 hours a day though. They eat and sleep. That's it... talk about the life.

I Found Nemo

2008-10-17T10:50:00.008+11:00

I really did... he was in Cairns. I did a dive and snorkel tour of the Great Barrier Reef yesterday (I have the sunburn to prove it, if you don't believe me) and felt like I swam into the Disney movie with all the colors and fish swimming around.

We started off on a 45 minute boat ride out to a reef site... then had the chance to snorkel and swim out to see different sections of the coral. It was beautiful... so many fish swim right next to you, and if you just float and watch them, you get to see them in a totally natural state. I am considering myself very lucky to experience one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.

We had lunch on the boat, and moved onto another section of the reef. The second one was better than the first. I saw a sea turtle, and a ton more fish. The coral comes up pretty high in the water, so you are swimming only a few feet, sometimes inches above the coral. I don't have any pictures of the coral... the only cameras being sold on the boat were film cameras, and I knew they wouldn't take very good pictures. I stole a few from the internet that looked similar to what I saw.

I tried my first scuba dive, and lets just say I'm no expert. I really had trouble getting used to the breathing, so I didn't last too long. But, since the coral was so close to the surface, I really didn't miss out on seeing much. (At least that's what I am telling myself.)

And, to top off an amazing day, we all got free champagne on the boat ride back... not a bad way to finish up the experience of a lifetime.

I'm going to start working down the coast to Brisbane, then fly to Sydney over the next few weeks. Tomorrow I'm headed south to a smaller place called Magnetic Island. Should be fun!

Continued...

2008-10-15T18:06:00.009+11:00

Picking up where I left off... the last few days on my outback trip was full of things to do. Uluru was amazing... but being such a sacred Aboriginal site, it's disrespectful to climb to the top of it. So, our group did a climb through the Olgas, another huge rock formation not far from Uluru. It was beautiful at sunset, and the next day, we went hiking.

We also did a 4 hour hike through King's Canyon, which was our last stop before arriving in Alice Springs. This hike was the most difficult of them all... steep, rocky steps, but it was so worth it. We walked the rim of the canyon. A few times, kangaroos could be seen hopping around. All these trips were so full of amazing views the time went so quickly. Our guide was great, filling us in on stories and history of the places we were.

This is a few of the people on the trip with me... Brandon from the US, Nick from London, Maxime from France, Renata from Holland, Sabine from Holland, and Iveta from Czech Republic

Our guide ran into a friend of his who does animal tours,... he had a bunch of reptiles with him and let us play with a snake. I didn't play so much as squealed and tried to smile for the picture... but I actually held a snake and didn't die. Quite an accomplishment, I think.

I have hundreds more photos I could post... maybe I will at another time. But I'm already looking forward to my next trips so time to switch gears and get into beach mode. I am now in Cairns in the tropical north of the country, where the Great Barrier Reef it. Water and a beds are much welcomed after a week in the desert.

Desert Patrol

2008-10-15T11:02:00.014+11:00

This is where it gets good... I spent the last week on a group tour from Adelaide to Alice Springs. There were 17 of us... all young travelers from across the world. The trip in total was 2,850km (1,770 miles) and well worth every inch. The first stop was Flinders Ranges... a mountain region north of Adelaide. We drove right through the center of them on a rocky track, spotting wild kangaroos and wallabies as we went. We stopped at some old homestead ruins... houses built back when people tried farming and living on this land. We spent the night in a small country town... it felt like it was desolate at the time... but it was nothing in comparison with what was to come.

Next day, we did a lot of driving to get further into the outback. We made a few stops in little towns to refuel and went to a locally-famous guy's home named Talc Alf. He's apparently slightly crazy but makes carvings and artwork. A lot of tour groups make this stop because he's something interesting along a dirt road where there is nothing else to see. The day we stopped, he wasn't around, so I missed the chance to see what he was like. We did go to his "art gallery" that was a shoddy bunch of shelves with his artwork.

Our next stop was to a city with a population of 8. There is nothing here but a gas station and a pub. What more do you need, really?

We camped here for the night... sleeping under the stars. No tents... just sleeping bags, while stared at the clearest and widest blanket of stars you could possibly image. It was hard to get to sleep because I didn't want to close my eyes. The sky was gorgeous... not something you would ever see in city.

The next day, we set off for Coober Pedy, an opal mining town. This was the part I was most looking forward to. The city basically exists underground to escape the heat... in the summer, it can get up to 60 degrees Celsius (140F). They burrow into the side of the mountains and live in perfectly normal homes... just their walls are rocks. We did an opal mine tour... learned about how opals are turned into jewelry, and how I can't afford the ring I want. A big, blue/green opal ring was about $700 or so. I settled for a small one though for quite a bit less.

We went to an underground pub, underground church, and we slept in an underground bunkhouse. It's a whole different world in Coober Pedy... from the surface, it looks like a construction site because of the mining equipment, and nothing is built over one story high. But everything is going on underground.

The next day was a long day of driving... long day. About 10 hours of driving through absolutely nothingness. For as far as you can see... there is dry, dusty ground with the occasional half-green bush struggling to survive. The drive would be so worth it though... because the end of this trip is Uluru... the enormous red rock in the center of the country. It's a sacred Aboriginal site and is what anyone coming to the outback is coming to see.

We got there for sunset... and these pictures are nothing compared to the actual site. The sunset changes the color of the rock, so every time you look at it, you see different colors and shading. We woke up at 4am the next morning to go see sunrise, and went for sunset again from another viewing area... it just keeps looking better and better.

We took a 3 hour walk around the rock to see it up close. There are small caves, watering holes, aboriginal artwork all along the sides. It's an amazing structure in the middle of nowhere.

There is certainly more to say... but I will have to begin another post later. Hope you enjoy this one for now.

Adelaide

2008-10-15T10:50:00.003+11:00

There's a lot of backtracking I'll have to do to explain this last week. It started Sunday with a flight to Adelaide. Slight disaster with that one... It was daylight savings on Sunday at 3am... my flight was at 6am. I expected my phone to automatically update and wake me up at the right time. Safe to say, don't always trust technology. I ended up missing my flight.. and losing my cell phone all in one morning. So I rebooked and left for Adelaide on Monday.

Adelaide is a smaller city... it's beautiful with parks enclosing the city center. The one day I had to spend there, it was Labor Day, so on top of already being a quieter city than I am used to, it was also nearly empty because of the holiday. We were restless in our hostel with nothing to do, so a guy from Uruguay and I went walking in the city, through the Botanical Gardens, and out for a few drinks to pass the time. The gardens and parks are the pride of the city, so everything was lush green, and kept in great condition.

Other than the walks and parks, it didn't feel like there was too much going on. There must be more to do in the city, but I had just one day there and it seemed to be the right amount. At least for now.

Hot

2008-10-14T12:02:00.002+11:00

Sorry for my lack of posting recently... I had limited internet access for the last week. I just got back to civilization after a week of camping in the outback. I traveled from Adelaide up to Alice Springs....had the most amazing time with a tour group of about 17 people. I will post photos as soon as I can!

Great Ocean Road

2008-10-05T19:35:00.008+11:00

I spent Saturday on the Great Ocean Road… the long winding coastline of the state of Victoria. There were a few stops to see some notable spots, the biggest attraction being the Twelve Apostles, limestone rock formations standing tall in the sea water. There are not 12 remaining any more… limestone is very fragile and is easily eroded by sea water. But the views are stunning and well worth the 160 mile drive.

I usually skim past scenery pictures, especially when they are someone else’s, but please know these photos don’t nearly do justice to the absolutely beautiful scenery along this coast. Standing out of the cliffs looking at these spots is really breathtaking.

The water is the most gorgeous shade of blue… and the coast line, apart from sleepy, surf towns along the way is so natural and untouched, I was just amazed.

One of these photos includes Split Point Light House, built in the 1800s to help ships navigating there way to southern Australia. It was tough terrain back then, and one of the sections along the Great Ocean Road is named Shipwreck Coast, for… yes, you guessed it, ship wrecks.

For lunch, we stopped in picnic area full of koalas and other animals in the wild. In Victoria, it’s illegal to touch koalas… apparently the southern koalas are larger and more aggressive than their northern neighbors. Other states allow you to pet them or cuddle them in parks. I got some photos, but had to keep my hands to myself.

After lunch, we did a short hike through a lush rainforest area. Unfortunately, no pictures of that part of the trip. My camera battery was dying.

One of the limestone formations is called London Bridge. It used to actually be a natural bridge you could walk across to the end of the rocks. Sometime in the early 90s, a tour group went across for the views, got their photos and started returning back to main land. Just as the group crossed, the limestone crumbled and left one section of limestone standing alone. The tour group realized two people, a man and a woman were left stranded on the remaining section. It turned into a huge media rescue, news casters, etc. But the couple didn’t want any attention, tried to hide from cameras, and wouldn’t do interviews. It turns out, the man was there with his mistress and told his wife he was out of town on business! Ha, nice way to find out the truth, huh?

Hope you enjoyed the pictures… you would have enjoyed it so much more if you could have seen it with your own eyes. It was absolutely gorgeous.

Updates

2008-10-01T12:52:00.005+10:00

It's just about time to leave Melbourne and move along on my trip. Friday is my last day of work (yay!) so I get to head out and see more of the country. Saturday, I"ll travel along the Great Ocean Road which is a gorgeous coastline outside of Melbourne. The trip lasts all day and has some beautiful scenery and photo ops. Sunday, I fly to Adelaide, another southern city. I'll be spending a few days there, then it's off to outback country. Will keep you posted!

Best Weekend Ever

2008-09-29T09:15:00.027+10:00

This past weekend was the final footy game of the season... like the Superbowl in the US. Everyone had barbeques and parties, bets were placed on the winner, and the city was going nuts.

I went to a bbq to watch the game... didn't end up seeing much of it, but has the best time. And afterwards, everyone was out celebrating if their team won... or drowning their sorrows if their team lost.

Saturday I booked a day tour to Philip Island, where the big attraction is the Penguin Parade. At night, little fairy penguins come in from the ocean and waddle along the beach to their homes in the grass and hills. The tour lasts 9 hours and makes stops all along the way. Here are some of the highlights:

What better way to start a trip that with wine tasting. We went to Gurdies Winery, and learned about how they made some of their wines. We tasted 5 or 6 varieties. Some were good, some were too dry, but free wine at noon? Yes, thank you.

Next stop was Cape Woolamai, a gorgeous surf beach. It was stunning... untouched and completely natural looking. No cafes, no shops... just a viewing deck and you could see for miles down the coast.

It was a little cold and windy for surfing so no one was out. Our guide told us Australian beaches are rated 1-10 for safety, 10 being the most dangerous. This beach was a 8.

And now... for the photos you have all been waiting for: kangaroos! The next stop was Maru Wildlife Park. We had the chance to feed and play with wallabies and kangaroos. There is not much visible difference between the two except size, but they are apparently different species.

This is me and my new favorite buddy. He followed me around for a while knowing I had more food.

There was another larger male kangaroo, he stood about as tall as me and he got a little pushy. One of the guides told me to push him down by his shoulders if he got rough. I tried once, but he was actually too strong for me. I couldn't get him to leave me alone, and the guide said a last resort was to drop the food and just step back. The kangaroo really did start knocking me over and I just got scared and had to drop the food.

I like the females better... a little smaller and a little nicer. This one has a little joey in her pouch.

I could have stayed here for hours... but we had to move along to catch the penguins.

Unfortunately, we aren't allowed to use cameras on the beach during the penguin parade, so I stole these from a website to show you. It's great watching them come out of the water... they are so tiny, maybe 8 or 10 inches high. They huddle together in the sand, groups of 20 or 30 at a time. They check that everyone made it out of the surf together. And they waddle along within just a few feet of you to their burrows.

It happens every night, and lasts for hours. Once you've seen a few groups, you can walk along a wooden deck that winds through the grassy hills where their homes are. You can get really close to them... it takes a lot of willpower not to grab one and put it in your bag.

Street Festival

2008-09-24T19:23:00.006+10:00

Like I said before... Melbourne is an very social, artsy city. This past weekend I went to a big street festival north of the city called High Vibes. It was a long stretch of 9 or 10 streets blocked off, with bands playing, beer and food vendors, and tons of shops and stands selling all sorts of things. (I bought two really awesome rings, if you are interested.)

The group of friends I'm with are so great. I've met them through another friend, and they've been so nice and so welcoming. They've really made me feel at home. They're all from England, most from the same area and have been in Melbourne for a few years.

Don't worry... I still miss all of you at home!

Urban Art

2008-09-20T15:29:00.014+10:00

The thing that drew me to Melbourne was hearing (and reading) that it was a very artsy city. There are sections of town for the bohemian, hippie types... others for the funky, urban, modern ones. There are a few annual festivals and always some shows and music going on in the city. Just a walking tour through the central part of the city, you will find random urban art. There are murals and sculpture pieces everywhere. Some are a bit odd, but all together, it gives Melbourne a really cool, creative vibe. These are some of the things I found along the way.

I'm not too sure about this one... I can't decide if it's a make-up compact or a change purse. But it's just a piece of artwork most people use as a bench.

Just another piece... these are all through the city. No real rhyme or reason, but they make it interesting.

This one I love... it's looks like a library is sinking into the sidewalk (or pushing out of it, for the optimists). It's in the middle of the city, in front of the State Library.

The other cool thing about Australian cities is the buskers... the people who play music, or do some kind of trick on the street (no, not those kinds of tricks) to earn money. They aren't beggars though... you actually have to get a license to busk and earn money this way. You can always find really good musicians setting up on a busy corner playing music. I saw this woman the other day. I dont know what they are called... but she stands still, looking like a sculpture.

It's kind of surreal... all these things can makes it feel like walking through a Dr. Suess novel or something. I usually use these pieces as ways to find my way around ("Turn left at the sinking library, walk past the change purse"... works for me!)

Back into It

2008-09-15T21:12:00.002+10:00

Sorry, it's been a while since I posted anything good. I am back into a routine of working 5 days a week, so my week days have been somewhat uneventful. I figure I should get the work out of the way now so I can enjoy the money I'm making for the rest of my trip. I've tried to squeeze all the fun I can out of the weekends though.

The nights are beautiful in the city... so much is going on and people are everywhere looking for a good time. I spent some time visiting a few more pubs (sorry, Mom) but I did get a chance to see more of what the city had to offer outside of the bars.

Like every major city in Australia, it's based along the coast and has beautiful beaches. The most popular beach area in Melbourne is St. Kilda. It was warm enough this weekend to visit, so I hopped on a tram for the 15 minute ride in. The place is gorgeous, and has so many outdoor shops and eateries along the water, called the Esplanade. Melbourne is itching for summer to start, so even though it wasn't really the swimming/surfing kind of beach weather, people were still there enjoying the sun.

Sunday, I went back again with two friends, Mike and Amy, who are here from New Zealand. We got lunch near the beach and went to Luna Park, a little amusement park there. There is one of these in Sydney too... and they both have this weird entrance of a pretty creepy looking clown face. The park is small, but if you go on any of the rides that take you high up, you get a great view of the beach, the Esplanade, and the city skyline in the background.

Fun weekend.. and now it's back to work...

New Home

2008-09-15T13:50:00.007+10:00

This weekend, I moved to Urban Central... a new hostel much closer to the center of the city. It's really nice, very clean, and has lots of freebies. I am staying in a 4-bed dorm room, that feels much more private than that because of how the furniture is set up. If you still think hostels are creepy and dangerous... don't. Look at their website, it's great: http://www.urbancentral.com.au/.

My roommates are a German girl, who is in Melbourne for another week. And two Irish sisters who are heading home in a few days. The Irish girls have been traveling for a while, and said their favorite place to visit was the US. They said everyone was so nice to them there... I thought to myself it's because everyone in America wishes they were Irish! Especially on St Patrick's Day!

Here is my new home... for the next three weeks anyway.

Weekend

2008-08-31T20:24:00.010+10:00

After working all week, I was more than ready for a little fun this weekend. I went out for drinks with a group of friends and got to see a few nice local bars, one of which had a great jazz band playing. The best thing about going out with a group here is the guys do all the paying. They take turns getting rounds, and girls aren't expected to do the same. I tried a few times, but they wouldn't let me.... I didn't spend a dime all night!

Australia is huge on sports... and Melbourne in particular loves Aussie Rules Football, or footy as it's called. Sunday I went to the last Aussie Rules game before the playoffs. The stadium (the MCG) is absolutely massive... the field is at least double the size of an American football field, but oval instead of rectangular. The object of the game is to kick the ball through the upright poles, similar to a field goal in the NFL. The middle poles get you 6 points, the secondary poles on either side gets you 1 point. The game seems kind of chaotic to watch... 18 players on each team, a lot of running around, very few pauses, and the ball is constantly being kicked or punted to other players. It was a fun game... I'm not sure I really get it, but I cheered when other people cheered, and booed when other people booed.

My favorite part of the game was half time... they bring out mini poles and let little kids play on the field. The favored team in this game was the Richmond Tigers, and their colors are black and gold... kind of looked like Pittsburgh! They won too... 121 - 41. The fans were singing the team songs (every team has their own songs and cheers) for a while after the game ended.

It was a fun experience, and I wouldn't have heard the end of it if I left Melbourne without seeing a footy game.

Work Update

2008-08-30T10:49:00.004+10:00

Sorry I haven't posted much recently... I'm a busy working girl now. The job is ok... but much more actual work than I expected. I thought I'd be sorting papers, filing, and getting people coffee. But, I am actually taking over the entire position for a girl who is using her vacation days. She's spending 5 weeks traveling through Europe. Yes, 5 weeks vacation. I found out that everyone here gets 4 weeks vacation time to start. And whatever you don't use accrues the next year. And this is 4 weeks is in addition to public holidays, Christmas, etc. Aussies are living the good life over here.

So, I spent the week in training, and Monday I'm on my own. My main job is working with international students who want to take ESL courses. I have to make sure they are eligible for a free government program offered, and that means checking their passport and visa. It's the worst tease for someone like me... I have to look at visas that say "this visa holder can remain in Australia indefinitely." I would do anything to make my visa say that... mine says I better get my American butt back home by December 3.

So far so good though... I'm looking for an apartment closer to the campus so I don't have such a long commute. Will keep you posted!

She works hard for the money...

2008-08-23T12:28:00.000+10:00

I got a job! It's true; I am now a gainfully employed Aussie... wanna-be. I sent my info to a staffing agency on Wednesday, had an interview on Thursday afternoon, and start working on Monday!

I will be doing general office help for a university just outside the city. I think it will be pretty interesting, because I am going to be in the Language Center. So even though I won't be too involved with projects or information, it will be dealing with English, language learning, ESL, etc. which I love. The assignment lasts until October 3, so I'll be in Melbourne for a while longer.

Considering I have been on a long vacation since mid June, getting back into the swing of a 9-5 job is not going to be easy. But working a full time job does mean that happy hours are back on the agenda...

Wish me luck!

Random Fun

2008-08-19T09:50:00.001+10:00

The best part of being in a new country is finding all the little day-to-day things that are done differently. Things that the residents here don't think twice about, but that make me pull out my camera and ask as many questions as I can. Here are a few of the quirky things I've found here... it doesn't always take much to amuse me, but hopefully you'll find these interesting too.

When you order a Coke or Sprite at a cafe, they give it to you these small glass bottles. I've seen them in stores at home, but not really in use. I think they're so cute and love that they're common here.

I saw these burgers in the grocery store yesterday. They are shaped like Australia for no real reason. It's not a holiday or anything, just for fun.

One really odd thing about driving in Melbourne is what they call a Hook Turn. It means you have to make a right-hand turn from the left lane. I'm pretty sure Melbourne is the only city that has this, and I've been told it's to keep cars out of the way of the city trams, which run through the middle of the road. But... driving on the left side of the road, in the right side of the car, and having to make a right-hand turn from the left lane?? Melbourne should be very, very happy to know I wont be driving here.

The eternal question for any traveler down under is whether or not the toilets really flush in the opposite direction. I've tested this, and really have come to the conclusion that they don't. It actually seems to me like the water goes straight down moreso than it spins. But, besides the flushing, the toilets here have something else about them. Almost all of them have two buttons for flushing. One is a "half flush" and one is a "full flush" depending on how much water you need to use. Australia is always in the middle of a water crisis, so they are very conscious about not wasting water. (When it gets really bad, they have bans on car washing, lawn watering, filling your pool, etc.) But on a daily basis, you get to decide how much water you need. I've seen a lot of different buttons, but they are all some variation of a short line and a longer line. Saving the world, one flush at a time, I guess. Go Aussies.

Skydeck

2008-08-18T22:48:00.001+10:00

In the Rialto Tower in Melbourne, the 88th floor has an observation room called the Skydeck. It's a 360 degree view of everything in the city... here are some photos for your viewing please:

In the one above, you can see the Yarra, and some of the city buildings. In the back, the stadium is the MCG - Melbourne Cricket Ground, where they play Aussie Rules Football (or footie, as its affectionately called) which is basically worshipped in the city.

And below, a picture of another building, and a nighttime shot. I love the city at night.

Melbourne Nightlife

2008-08-18T08:13:00.000+10:00

This weekend was my first chance to really go out and experience Melbourne nightlife. All in all, it's pretty good. A lot of people are out in the city, and there is every choice of bars, shows, and clubs to go to. Friday night , I went out with my friend to meet a group of people at an 80s night. The music was good... some songs I knew, some I didn't. I guess Aussies have their own 1-hit wonders.

The only bad thing about going out in Melbourne is the drink prices. Beers and mixed drinks are about $8-$9 a piece. That's probably similar to New York City, but coming from Pittsburgh where you can easily find a $1 beer night or some $2 anything specials, it's a little hard to get used to.

Another night, I went to a Pub Trivia game with some of the people in my travel program... and we won. $100 bar tab for our group, thanks to me answering the token US question "What year did Bush take office?"

The funny thing about meeting all these people is they loved my accent. My regular, American accent. What are they thinking??

Perks of Non-Commissioned Workers

2008-08-15T09:24:00.000+10:00

People always ask me why I love Australia so much. It can sometimes be hard to explain exactly... it's more of a general vibe of the people and the city. Everything is laid back, people are genuinely nice, and life is to be enjoyed.

A few days ago, I went to switch my cell phone to an Australian SIM card. I didn't go right after arriving because I was dreading the usual cell phone store experience: workers on commission pushing random products/services/ insurance/packages onto you when all you wanted was a new charger. I was also confused on how the SIM card switch would work, which meant I should be prepared to be scammed out of money somehow.

The experience couldn't have been better... two guys working the desk were so friendly and realized I didn't really know what to ask or how to go about this switch. They explained everything, more than once for me, and gave me a ton of extras. When all was said and done, I paid $29 for $160 worth of pre-paid credit. I also got advice on what to visit in New Zealand and who had the best beer selections on tap. They didn't get commission for their service, but they reminded me why I love Australia so much. The people here are so open. And the accents don't hurt either.

Another amazing cell phone perk... while I was there, other people were renewing contracts. If they signed up for two year contract, they got a free GPS system. Yes, a $350 GPS system for a cell phone contract. In the States, you're lucky if you get a T-shirt!

One for the Girls

2008-08-15T08:54:00.001+10:00

Yesterday's adventure took me on a river cruise of the Yarra River that runs through the city. There were two options: downstream that highlights the newer buildings and technological advances of the city... or upstream, which shows architecture and the history of the city. I chose upstream so I learned a lot of random facts about the history of Melbourne and some of the buildings along the way. The cruise was good, but that leaves me without a lot of exciting things to show here. I'll do my best though.

Fact 1: The Yarra river is saltwater on bottom and freshwater on top. I didn't even know that was possible. And it's brown in color not due to pollution, but it's from clay in the soil underneath. It's actually one of the top 5 cleanest rivers in the world.

Fact 2: There are 65 bridges that cross the river. One of them was built during/after WWII, when most of the male worker population was depleted. They needed a bridge built in a specific area, and reluctantly let women design and build the entire thing. They didn't expect it to last, it was more of a temporary solution until the big, strapping men returned. Turns out, to this day... it is the only bridge in Melbourne that is maintenance free every annual inspection. So, yay for us girls!

Money

2008-08-12T09:59:00.001+10:00

I love Australian money. Every bill (or note, as they call it) is a different size and color. And they are basically impossible to rip or tear. They've got a plastic finish to them, so they hold up a lot better. There are $2 and $1 coins. It sucks getting all that change in your wallet, but if you forget you have it...it's fun to look later and find you have $20 or so extra in change.

Also... Australia includes the tax on the price of things before it's rung up. So if something says its $6.95 on the shelf, when you go to pay, you are paying $6.95. It's so much easier. Here's a picture. Hope you enjoyed my random thing for today.

After the Jetlag

2008-08-10T10:27:00.001+10:00

So, here I am... in Melbourne finally. The flights took forever, and I'm more than happy to be back on land and rested. The hostel I am staying in is very nice, despite what people think about hostels. Really, they just make me feel like I'm in a college dorm again. I share a room with other travelers who come and go, community showers on every floor, kitchen (with free breakfast!) and tons of help for people looking for trips, car rentals, jobs, things to do, etc.

I did a little sightseeing in the city yesterday just trying to get my bearings. If you know me at all, you know I have zero sense of direction, so it's not the easiest thing in the world for me to find my way around a new city. A friend of mine is living in Melbourne and he showed me the basics. I bought myself a MetCard for riding the trams, and went into the city to explore. The picture to the right is me in front of Flinders Street Station. It's the original 1911 building used for trains. It's a central stop for traveling in the city.

As you can see in the pictures, I am wearing a jacket and sweater... it's a little colder here than I expected. It's about 50F. So, I have to say, Australia in the summer is way better. But I'll live.

This is the Southbank of the Yarra River. It's a trendy area with shops, restaurants, and you can catch day cruises up and down the river. They nickname the Yarra River the "upside down river" because its pretty brown and muddy. Not the prettiest thing in the world, but the area around it is nice. The tallest building in the back has a observation deck that I plan to visit soon.

I saw a few of these carriages around the city. I love that they ride right along with cars and buses.

Below is Federation Square... it's a really unique, abstract group of buildings. Inside is a museum, a theater, and some shopping. There's an enormous TV screen on the side of one of the buildings. When I walked past they were showing part of the Olympics. They generally have movies, or big sporting events broadcast here. People gather outside to watch it and it's all free. There are cafes and shops all around through here too.

Welcome!

2008-07-20T08:14:00.000+10:00

Welcome to my first blog!

Well, it’s 18 days until I embark on a 20+ hour combination of flights that will land me in Melbourne, Australia. That is… 20+ hours of flying COACH. I’m crossing my fingers for a nearly empty plane so I can stretch out, but I’m not getting my hopes up. I leave August 6 around 3pm our time, and when all is said and done, I touch down in Melbourne on Friday, August 8 at 8am their time.

The plan this time in Oz is backpack through more cities, and work my way around the country over four months. I don’t have a real itinerary and I’m not planning on making one. I don’t want anything structured… whatever happens will happen. I know I want to hit a few specific places but the “when” and for “how long” is yet to be answered.

I will certainly miss a lot of people while I am gone. I am missing a few important events as well… the bf’s birthday, at least one wedding, and my favorite holiday, Halloween. Australia’s singular downfall is that they don’t dress up for Halloween. I may have to bring over the one American tradition they need, but that will require the perfect costume. It may take some time…

Please check back often … I will update as much as I can and put pictures up to show you all the fabulous things I get to see.

Enjoy!
Kim