Hey all! I'm back in Sydney with my friend Alex, and I have time for a quick update. We got into the city yesterday, and checkout out a bit of the city. We also hit up this crazy market in Darling Harbor called Paddy's Market, and picked up a few souvenirs for back home. I also met up randomly with an old friend from high school that I saw was in town for the weekend, and we grabbed some sushi together, Danielle, Alex, and I, over in Chinatown.
The plan today is to go up north to The Rocks neighborhood, and maybe take a ferry over to Manly Beach. I'll keep everyone updated about the next couple days as much as possible.
Later days!
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Melbourne Trip and the End of the Semester
First, I want to apologize to the people reading my blog about the lack of updates. I know I said that I would hope to update more often, but those updates did not happen. The simple fact was, in between my trip up to Cairns and the Gold Coast a few months ago, nothing really interesting happened. On weekdays I would go to class, maybe grab lunch on campus, and on the weekend I would be working on my multitude of projects while occasionally going out with people for drinks. The one time that I left the Newcastle area was to go to Sydney, and even that was for an assignment I was working on.
Luckily, all these major projects meant that I did't have a single final exam to worry about, and I was left about three weeks with which to travel. And that's how I got out to Melbourne.
I was lucky enough to travel with two friends of mine, Kate from Missouri, and Lauren from Saskatchewan. We left Newcastle Airport way, way too early in the morning of the 14th, and it was a quick hour and a half jaunt down to Melbourne. After getting some caffeine in our systems, we were on our way to checking in at Cooee!, our hostel. Yep, our hostel was actually named Cooee! Not a bad place, though. We set ourselves up in one of the ten-share rooms, then went out to explore the nearby suburb of St. Kilda.
Melbourne is mostly known as the artier, more trendier of the cities in Australia. We were not dissappointed in this aspect during our explorations of the city. In our short time in St. Kilda, we had a phenomenal breakfast, took in a art faire/market, checked out Luna Park (that's the place with the giant freaking face), walked around the beachfront a little, took in a movie (State of Play, in case you were wondering), and turned in early.
The next day, after decyphering whatever maps and schedules we had, we took a tram into downtown Melbourne. The city itself is, simply put, breath-taking. There were skyscrapers, squares, fountains, memorials, antique buildings, parks, bridges, statues everywhere you looked. We started out at Federation Square, then went south over the river to the Queen Victoria Park. We then spent most of the day aimlessly wandering the city, being thouroughly impressed by the sheer beauty and character of Melbourne. So great was it, that when we walked by the university at the heart of the city, Kate and Lauren spent about thirty minutes checking out post-grad programs there.
The next day we had another early start, as we were to spend most of the day touring the Great Ocean Road. During the thirteen-odd hour trip, we were granted stunning views of the coastline, as well as a number of interesting monolithic rock formations, like the Twelve Apostles.
We left for Newcastle the next day, but, needless to say, we were all sad to leave that magical city.
Just a heads up, I should be posting pictures soon to my Picasa site as soon as I can hash out a few problems that I'm having with the system right now.
Luckily, all these major projects meant that I did't have a single final exam to worry about, and I was left about three weeks with which to travel. And that's how I got out to Melbourne.
I was lucky enough to travel with two friends of mine, Kate from Missouri, and Lauren from Saskatchewan. We left Newcastle Airport way, way too early in the morning of the 14th, and it was a quick hour and a half jaunt down to Melbourne. After getting some caffeine in our systems, we were on our way to checking in at Cooee!, our hostel. Yep, our hostel was actually named Cooee! Not a bad place, though. We set ourselves up in one of the ten-share rooms, then went out to explore the nearby suburb of St. Kilda.
Melbourne is mostly known as the artier, more trendier of the cities in Australia. We were not dissappointed in this aspect during our explorations of the city. In our short time in St. Kilda, we had a phenomenal breakfast, took in a art faire/market, checked out Luna Park (that's the place with the giant freaking face), walked around the beachfront a little, took in a movie (State of Play, in case you were wondering), and turned in early.
The next day, after decyphering whatever maps and schedules we had, we took a tram into downtown Melbourne. The city itself is, simply put, breath-taking. There were skyscrapers, squares, fountains, memorials, antique buildings, parks, bridges, statues everywhere you looked. We started out at Federation Square, then went south over the river to the Queen Victoria Park. We then spent most of the day aimlessly wandering the city, being thouroughly impressed by the sheer beauty and character of Melbourne. So great was it, that when we walked by the university at the heart of the city, Kate and Lauren spent about thirty minutes checking out post-grad programs there.
The next day we had another early start, as we were to spend most of the day touring the Great Ocean Road. During the thirteen-odd hour trip, we were granted stunning views of the coastline, as well as a number of interesting monolithic rock formations, like the Twelve Apostles.
We left for Newcastle the next day, but, needless to say, we were all sad to leave that magical city.
Just a heads up, I should be posting pictures soon to my Picasa site as soon as I can hash out a few problems that I'm having with the system right now.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Vacation Pics
I have posted a great deal of photos from my trip on the Picasa sight, so if you follow the links from earlier, you should be able to find them easily. Many of you will notice that the pictures are in black and white, to which I will say that I am going through something of an artistic phase right now, and you'll all have to bare with me on it.
Otherwise, enjoy!
Otherwise, enjoy!
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
On the North-Eastern Coast
I got into Cairns at about 12 last night, then managed to check into my hotel at about 1. After trying not to wake up my dorm-mates, I fell asleep for about twelve hours. Not much going on today so far besides checking out the city. Alex and Tim said that they were goin skydiving today, I think, but I opted out to spend the day relaxing and exploring Cairns. So far, the most exciting thing I've seen is a bookstore that sells John D. MacDonald novels, and that's just on my street alone! (Okay, that might just be interesting to me)
The place that I'm staying at, Gilligan's, is pretty cool so far. The entire place seems geared towards people my age. There's an internet cafe on every floor, a bar and club on teh ground floor, a sweet little pool out back, and it looks like the place is situated right in the middle of town. Since the place is half hotel / half hostel, I am staying in a room with three more people. I haven't met them yet, even though two of them were there when I came in in the morning, I'm sure they're just lovely people.
Now, about Brisbane. When I last updated, I had no idea what I was going to do while waiting from my flight, besides maybe finding a quiet corner to catch some sleep in. I can easily say now that Brisbane is the most surprising place I have visited on this little trip. The city seems to be about the size of downtown Sydney, which is odd since Brisbane itself is nowhere by the ocean like every other Australia city I have seen. I had lunch in what was possibly the coolest, most charming cafe I have ever seen. I explored the Queen Street Mall and all of the massive shopping malls that border it. I met up randomly with this girl from Sweden while reading a book on a park bench, then hung out with her for the rest of the day. The day that I had thought would be filled with boredom and naps was instead filled with exploration, wonder, and sushi.
I have plans to go diving on the Great Barrier Reef, but I'll try to get another post up at some point afterwards. Later!
The place that I'm staying at, Gilligan's, is pretty cool so far. The entire place seems geared towards people my age. There's an internet cafe on every floor, a bar and club on teh ground floor, a sweet little pool out back, and it looks like the place is situated right in the middle of town. Since the place is half hotel / half hostel, I am staying in a room with three more people. I haven't met them yet, even though two of them were there when I came in in the morning, I'm sure they're just lovely people.
Now, about Brisbane. When I last updated, I had no idea what I was going to do while waiting from my flight, besides maybe finding a quiet corner to catch some sleep in. I can easily say now that Brisbane is the most surprising place I have visited on this little trip. The city seems to be about the size of downtown Sydney, which is odd since Brisbane itself is nowhere by the ocean like every other Australia city I have seen. I had lunch in what was possibly the coolest, most charming cafe I have ever seen. I explored the Queen Street Mall and all of the massive shopping malls that border it. I met up randomly with this girl from Sweden while reading a book on a park bench, then hung out with her for the rest of the day. The day that I had thought would be filled with boredom and naps was instead filled with exploration, wonder, and sushi.
I have plans to go diving on the Great Barrier Reef, but I'll try to get another post up at some point afterwards. Later!
Monday, April 13, 2009
Somehow in Brisbane
It's been a weird day or two, people. I am running on about three hours sleep as I write these words in an internet cafe in some backpackers' hotel in Brisbane. But first, BluesFest.
BluesFest may have been the single most amazing music experience of my life. The performers were incredible, the crowds were responsive, and the place was absolutely packed. It was interesting, though, just how muddy the entire venue got by the end of the night. I should have noticed that people in Byron Bay were selling wadding boots and ponchos. I should have known.
The place was bad enough when we first got there, since the rain had been nonstop for the past couple day all up and down the East Coast. The stage that we were at for most of the day, the one with Jason Mraz, Ben Harper, and Xavier Rudd, was thankfully covered and dry. When it came time to leave, we could have been walking through an open floodplane for all we knew.
We made it back to Byron Bay okay, then set up ourselves in the town bus stop. After about seven hours or so, my Greyhound bus had finally come. I allowed myself a couple hours of sleep on the ride over. I think I may have been driven through Surfer's Paradise, and maybe sat next to a couple people from Iowa State, but I can neither confirm nor deny that that was a dream at this point.
I'm now killing some time in Brisbane. I have no idea what this city offers, what to look for or what to avoid, but hey, it's a learning experience. I'm also starting my freakout phase early for the flight later tonight. God how I hate freaking out for absolutely no reason.
Talk to you in Cairnes.
BluesFest may have been the single most amazing music experience of my life. The performers were incredible, the crowds were responsive, and the place was absolutely packed. It was interesting, though, just how muddy the entire venue got by the end of the night. I should have noticed that people in Byron Bay were selling wadding boots and ponchos. I should have known.
The place was bad enough when we first got there, since the rain had been nonstop for the past couple day all up and down the East Coast. The stage that we were at for most of the day, the one with Jason Mraz, Ben Harper, and Xavier Rudd, was thankfully covered and dry. When it came time to leave, we could have been walking through an open floodplane for all we knew.
We made it back to Byron Bay okay, then set up ourselves in the town bus stop. After about seven hours or so, my Greyhound bus had finally come. I allowed myself a couple hours of sleep on the ride over. I think I may have been driven through Surfer's Paradise, and maybe sat next to a couple people from Iowa State, but I can neither confirm nor deny that that was a dream at this point.
I'm now killing some time in Brisbane. I have no idea what this city offers, what to look for or what to avoid, but hey, it's a learning experience. I'm also starting my freakout phase early for the flight later tonight. God how I hate freaking out for absolutely no reason.
Talk to you in Cairnes.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Paradise - Day 2
A busy day in Paradise today. It's Easter Sunday, and the streets, malls, and beaches are inundated with countless tourists. I myself have been trying to avoid the crowds as best as I can.
The rest of the Newcastle group, whom I met up with briefly last night at the Islander Backpackers Hotel, has gone off to Dreamland, the Australian equivalent of Great America. As things like that aren't all that interesting to me, I opted to instead sleep in, then hit the town.
This day, as all good days should start, was spent eating a kebab from a hole-in-the-wall Turkish place while reading Bill Bryson's epic, Down Under, otherwise known as In a Sunburned Land. I have read this book a couple times earlier, but I wanted to get Bryson's take on Australia while I am actually there, and see what connects.
Bryson described Surfer's Paradise as a sort of tourist trap with an interesting name. I do not disagree with this, and I am currently trying to see the Surfer's Paradise of 50 years ago in the high-rise setting. I am so far unable to do so. The town is too much filled with trendy skyscrapers and Condom Kingdoms (yes, its a store here) to be once considered a pleasant, restful destination. It's not to say that Surfer's Paradise is bad. It's just not a place to find relaxation, in my opinion.
I will try to post pictures of the town as soon as possible.
The rest of the Newcastle group, whom I met up with briefly last night at the Islander Backpackers Hotel, has gone off to Dreamland, the Australian equivalent of Great America. As things like that aren't all that interesting to me, I opted to instead sleep in, then hit the town.
This day, as all good days should start, was spent eating a kebab from a hole-in-the-wall Turkish place while reading Bill Bryson's epic, Down Under, otherwise known as In a Sunburned Land. I have read this book a couple times earlier, but I wanted to get Bryson's take on Australia while I am actually there, and see what connects.
Bryson described Surfer's Paradise as a sort of tourist trap with an interesting name. I do not disagree with this, and I am currently trying to see the Surfer's Paradise of 50 years ago in the high-rise setting. I am so far unable to do so. The town is too much filled with trendy skyscrapers and Condom Kingdoms (yes, its a store here) to be once considered a pleasant, restful destination. It's not to say that Surfer's Paradise is bad. It's just not a place to find relaxation, in my opinion.
I will try to post pictures of the town as soon as possible.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Hard Times in Surfer's Paradise
Hello all. Yes, yes, I know that there's been a lack of updates, especially some pertaining to my birthday. But class projects and trip planning have been taking up a good portion of my time, recently.
So first, my birthday. Friday night was wonderful. I was able to go out to dinner with a large group of friends over on Beaumont Street, and good times we had by all. The day of my actual birthday, the Saturday after that, was considerably slower. Instead of going out and partying, I chose instead to have a quiet night in with friends, playing poker and drinking and the like. Pretty enjoyable, as far as 21st birthdays go.
The following week was spent putting some finishing touches on some history papers, nothing major. The rest of the week was spent stressing over travel details and what to pack.
Thursday night was when things got interesting.
At least, it was supposed to be. According to a clerical error made during the reservation process, I had accidentally purchased a ticket for the morning train ride, rather than the evening trip that I had thought I had instead. After much cursing at myself, I sulked back to International House, and bought a ticket for Friday night. That portion, the traveling last night, went off without nary a hitch. I caught about three hours sleep in about twelve hours travel, and arrived at the bus depot in Surfer's Paradise like some kind of mindless zombie.
This leads me to today's debacle. I must have spent about two hours this morning trying to find accommodation, but since it is Easter Weekend, most everything from hotels to motels to hostels had been booked solid. I was lucky enough to find a motel about ten minutes away from the downtown area, though I was feeling kind of desperate at the time, needing to sleep and use the facilities in an altogether terrible way. So now here I am, typing the results of the past 24 hours to all of my readers, the rest of the group from Newcastle at some waterpark nearby, trying to chalk this up as a learning experience, but mostly just feeling pissed at myself.
Surfer's Paradise, however, is a remarkable place. The place seems small enough, but the area is dotted with towering residential buildings and souvenir shops. The entire place feels like an odd mixture between Miami as one sees it in movies and Burn Notices, and the Wisconsin Dells. I will attempt to explain this madness after I get a few more hours of sleep behind me.
Talk to ya soon.
So first, my birthday. Friday night was wonderful. I was able to go out to dinner with a large group of friends over on Beaumont Street, and good times we had by all. The day of my actual birthday, the Saturday after that, was considerably slower. Instead of going out and partying, I chose instead to have a quiet night in with friends, playing poker and drinking and the like. Pretty enjoyable, as far as 21st birthdays go.
The following week was spent putting some finishing touches on some history papers, nothing major. The rest of the week was spent stressing over travel details and what to pack.
Thursday night was when things got interesting.
At least, it was supposed to be. According to a clerical error made during the reservation process, I had accidentally purchased a ticket for the morning train ride, rather than the evening trip that I had thought I had instead. After much cursing at myself, I sulked back to International House, and bought a ticket for Friday night. That portion, the traveling last night, went off without nary a hitch. I caught about three hours sleep in about twelve hours travel, and arrived at the bus depot in Surfer's Paradise like some kind of mindless zombie.
This leads me to today's debacle. I must have spent about two hours this morning trying to find accommodation, but since it is Easter Weekend, most everything from hotels to motels to hostels had been booked solid. I was lucky enough to find a motel about ten minutes away from the downtown area, though I was feeling kind of desperate at the time, needing to sleep and use the facilities in an altogether terrible way. So now here I am, typing the results of the past 24 hours to all of my readers, the rest of the group from Newcastle at some waterpark nearby, trying to chalk this up as a learning experience, but mostly just feeling pissed at myself.
Surfer's Paradise, however, is a remarkable place. The place seems small enough, but the area is dotted with towering residential buildings and souvenir shops. The entire place feels like an odd mixture between Miami as one sees it in movies and Burn Notices, and the Wisconsin Dells. I will attempt to explain this madness after I get a few more hours of sleep behind me.
Talk to ya soon.
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