Melbourne loves street art. In fact, its one of the international hotspot for this high-end graffiti. Though, Melbourne takes street art pretty seriously (even showcasing it in some museums!) so the term "graffiti" is better left unsaid...
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Our Koala Pictures!
Let me just preface this post by saying that we couldn't upload any photos while we were at the vineyard, so a backlog of pictures will follow!
Last week on our day off we ventured to the tiny Richmond Island, which my guidebook said could be a good place to find koalas. Well, we totally lucked out. There were koalas everywhere, just chillin in people's yards.
Last week on our day off we ventured to the tiny Richmond Island, which my guidebook said could be a good place to find koalas. Well, we totally lucked out. There were koalas everywhere, just chillin in people's yards.
... A Rugby PS
A glance at the 2011 Rugby World Cup website tells me that the USA just qualified for the tournament a week ago. Will you be supporting? (You've certainly got awhile to think about it!)
Rugby Initiation
Tim woke us up at 6:30 this morning so that we could catch the start of the NZ All Blacks vs Marseille Les Bleus match. The All Blacks begin every game with the traditional Maori hakka dance... talk about intimidation factor.
The All Black currently have a commanding lead - 32-12. They are the winningest team in Rugby - something like a 75% win rate in the club's history - but they lost out on the most recent world cup (in an embarassing quarterfinal loss). South Africa is the reigning world champ, but the Marseille club has beaten them three times in the past year. So, this game has some significance.
Can't you tell Tim is a great Rugby tutor?
I will say that the game is ridiculously addicting. All the hits of football but at a faster pace! Could you ask for more?
Can't you tell Tim is a great Rugby tutor?
I will say that the game is ridiculously addicting. All the hits of football but at a faster pace! Could you ask for more?
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Back to Good Ol' Melbourne
Our time on the vineyard is up! Natalie and I are headed back to stay with Tim (a.k.a. the kiwi All Blacks rugby team fanatic) in Melbourne for a few days before jetting off to Sydney on Tuesday.
What will we do the second time around in this Victorian city? Eat, eat, eat. Home to Bimbo's Deluxe $4 personal pizzas, the pay-as-you-feel-fit Lentil As Anything, and many, many other cheap eats, one of the greatest facets of Melbourne to explore is the [cheap] food.
We will probably also go to the beach. All day. Everyday.
And sleep, of course.
What will we do the second time around in this Victorian city? Eat, eat, eat. Home to Bimbo's Deluxe $4 personal pizzas, the pay-as-you-feel-fit Lentil As Anything, and many, many other cheap eats, one of the greatest facets of Melbourne to explore is the [cheap] food.
We will probably also go to the beach. All day. Everyday.
And sleep, of course.
I Have Developed the Sleep Patterns of a Six-Year-Old
While some people might believe that a person traveling through Australia stays up all night partying, laughing and drinking the night away, I have some news for you: this is not true. Well, at least for me.
Perhaps it's the rural atmosphere. Or maybe it's the whole physical labor (i.e. moving rocks) for 5 hours a day. On the other hand, it could also likely very be that I am either a) reverting to my sleep patterns of yore, or b) have matured far beyond my twenty-two years and am officially an old woman. Either way, I've been falling asleep around 10pm and waking up between 6 and 7am every morning.
Yup, that's right; I go to bed when the children do, and I wake up at the same time six-year-old Ashton arises (the two of us are always the first two out of bed). Sad? Perhaps...Although I must argue that I feel 10 times more invigorated. I haven't been awake this early on such a regular basis since Dad used to drive me to school early every morning when I was in 4th grade. For the first time in years, I fully appreciate my mornings. Ah, as my 7th grade Latin teacher (whose name I currently absolutely cannot remember) would say when our eyelids would start to droop: "Wake up, puellae! Carpe Diem!"
Perhaps it's the rural atmosphere. Or maybe it's the whole physical labor (i.e. moving rocks) for 5 hours a day. On the other hand, it could also likely very be that I am either a) reverting to my sleep patterns of yore, or b) have matured far beyond my twenty-two years and am officially an old woman. Either way, I've been falling asleep around 10pm and waking up between 6 and 7am every morning.
Yup, that's right; I go to bed when the children do, and I wake up at the same time six-year-old Ashton arises (the two of us are always the first two out of bed). Sad? Perhaps...Although I must argue that I feel 10 times more invigorated. I haven't been awake this early on such a regular basis since Dad used to drive me to school early every morning when I was in 4th grade. For the first time in years, I fully appreciate my mornings. Ah, as my 7th grade Latin teacher (whose name I currently absolutely cannot remember) would say when our eyelids would start to droop: "Wake up, puellae! Carpe Diem!"
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Thanksgiving Update #2
SUCCESS. Turkey was tender, and pumpkin pie = perfection. According to the Al and Catherine: "We'll have to do Thanksgiving next year!". Well, clearly...
Thanksgiving Update #1
Turkey's stuffed (thanks, Susie!!) and in the oven. Pumpkin pie has finally firmed up and is currently cooling. Apple crumble pie now taking it's turn. Cranberry sauce is also done...cooling on the stove (keeping the pumpkin pie company). Next up: mashed potatoes, steamed tomatoes and asparagus.
Yeah, I know. Nat and I are officially domestic goddesses...Watch out, Rachel Ray.
Yeah, I know. Nat and I are officially domestic goddesses...Watch out, Rachel Ray.
News Flash
When Carlyn and I woke up this morning, Catherine asked if we wouldn't mind moving Thanksgiving up a day, so that Alistair will be home for dinner (he has work tomorrow). So, Thanksgiving a day early! Let's see if we are up to the challenge.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Australian Music Spotlight #2: Australian Idol
Last night, the newest Australian Idol was crowned: Kiwi singer Stan Walker. I've never been one to follow American Idol, but I did get sucked into the competition here. And, I am literally obsessed with his single "Black Box." Its definitely pop but its very catchy. Enjoy!
The thing I think is really cool about Stan is that he is Maori, which are New Zealand's native people of Polynesian descent. I haven't learned a ton about the Maori culture since being here, but it's always highlighted heavily in all my guidebooks and the travels of people I've met. So, I'm rather excited to learn more about that once we head over to Kiwi-land.
"Black Box" is probably a far cry from traditional Maori singing, but I guess I'll just have to content myself with it for now!
The thing I think is really cool about Stan is that he is Maori, which are New Zealand's native people of Polynesian descent. I haven't learned a ton about the Maori culture since being here, but it's always highlighted heavily in all my guidebooks and the travels of people I've met. So, I'm rather excited to learn more about that once we head over to Kiwi-land.
"Black Box" is probably a far cry from traditional Maori singing, but I guess I'll just have to content myself with it for now!
Planning our Thanksgiving Dinner
Carlyn and I are currently trying to map out our Thanksgiving dinner. But there are just so many recipes to choose from - so many stuffings, cranberry sauces, and turkey tips arise with every Google search. Luckily at least the mashed potatoes are easy. Pretty near impossible to mess up those! (knock on wood.)
We told our current hosts that we would be happy to bring this bit of Americana to their home. They loved the idea, especially because they thought their kids would find it to be a blast. Thus the idea of an Australian Thanksgiving was born.
We hit our first snag when we learned that canned pumpkin is unheard of down under. So, we're sticking with just apple pie. It feels wrong to leave out such a staple of the Thanksgiving feast, but there aren't even pumpkins available for us to attempt making it from scratch! Other than that, we're planning on hitting all the classics - turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce.
We're drafting up our grocery list now - we'll be sure to let you all know how well it goes. Unless its disastrous, in which case I'll pretend this all never happened :)
We told our current hosts that we would be happy to bring this bit of Americana to their home. They loved the idea, especially because they thought their kids would find it to be a blast. Thus the idea of an Australian Thanksgiving was born.
We hit our first snag when we learned that canned pumpkin is unheard of down under. So, we're sticking with just apple pie. It feels wrong to leave out such a staple of the Thanksgiving feast, but there aren't even pumpkins available for us to attempt making it from scratch! Other than that, we're planning on hitting all the classics - turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce.
We're drafting up our grocery list now - we'll be sure to let you all know how well it goes. Unless its disastrous, in which case I'll pretend this all never happened :)
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Pinot Gris
Last night, Alistair came home with the newly bottled Pinot Gris - their first vintage! It was wonderful to see the family try it for the first time, and to get to try it ourselves. It is FANTASTIC.
What luck that we wound up staying with them during such an exciting time... seeing (and drinking!) their first Shiraz and Pinot Gris. Can't wait to see how their vineyard progresses after we've left!
What luck that we wound up staying with them during such an exciting time... seeing (and drinking!) their first Shiraz and Pinot Gris. Can't wait to see how their vineyard progresses after we've left!
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Recipes from the Road #2: Still dessert, much easier, a LOT more chocolatey
12 minutes in the microwave = heaven.
60g butter - about 1/2 cup
half cup sugar
one egg
one cup self rising flower (this is equivalent to one cup all purpose flour, 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon of salt)
two tbsps cocoa
one and a half cups hot water
a few drops vanilla
Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. add the beaten egg, fold in sifted flour and cocoa alternately with the milk and vanilla.
Spread evenly in a round eight cup capacity microwave dish (this might explode a teensy bit in your microwave, but its definitely worth it!). Sprinkle with combined sugar and cocoa and carefully pour over the hot water.
Place on a rack, cover lightly and cook on HIGH about seven minutes until just cooked in the center. Stand five minutes before digging in!
60g butter - about 1/2 cup
half cup sugar
one egg
one cup self rising flower (this is equivalent to one cup all purpose flour, 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon of salt)
two tbsps cocoa
one and a half cups hot water
a few drops vanilla
Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. add the beaten egg, fold in sifted flour and cocoa alternately with the milk and vanilla.
Spread evenly in a round eight cup capacity microwave dish (this might explode a teensy bit in your microwave, but its definitely worth it!). Sprinkle with combined sugar and cocoa and carefully pour over the hot water.
Place on a rack, cover lightly and cook on HIGH about seven minutes until just cooked in the center. Stand five minutes before digging in!
Adventures of Oenophiles
Though we certainly aren't wine connoisseurs, we have been learning a lot about the wine industry, especially how difficult it is to start your own vineyard! Complications have included fruit loss to kangaroos, birds, and bushfires (their plants didn't burn, but smoke can wreak havoc with the fruit's flavor!), vine damage from gale winds, and heaps of other hurdles.
As a start-up, they still don't make or bottle their own wine in-house. Thus, after harvest in the fall (Feb-April, depending on the grape), the fruit is sent off to Mel, their wine-maker. Last Friday we had the chance to actually go an bottle their Shiraz, which they have been waiting on for ages! This was their first vintage, so it was pretty exciting to get to taste it right as it was ready! They were worried that the smoke from the bushfires would be detectable in the wine, but luckily, due to some measures taken on Mel's part, the wine came out really well - I think it might have turned me on to Shiraz for life.
Mel's workshed was filled with vats and crates of wine, the bottling and capping machine, and the large machine that tumbled the sparkling wine. It was all pretty awesome. We did have to feed the bottles into the machine and box them up, but luckily the novelty never really wore off.
This Friday - hopefully we'll be back to taste their Pinot Gris (historically my favorite wine, so I am very excited!)
PS - thanks to Carlyn's mom for "oenophiles" - love a good vocab word!
As a start-up, they still don't make or bottle their own wine in-house. Thus, after harvest in the fall (Feb-April, depending on the grape), the fruit is sent off to Mel, their wine-maker. Last Friday we had the chance to actually go an bottle their Shiraz, which they have been waiting on for ages! This was their first vintage, so it was pretty exciting to get to taste it right as it was ready! They were worried that the smoke from the bushfires would be detectable in the wine, but luckily, due to some measures taken on Mel's part, the wine came out really well - I think it might have turned me on to Shiraz for life.
Mel's workshed was filled with vats and crates of wine, the bottling and capping machine, and the large machine that tumbled the sparkling wine. It was all pretty awesome. We did have to feed the bottles into the machine and box them up, but luckily the novelty never really wore off.
This Friday - hopefully we'll be back to taste their Pinot Gris (historically my favorite wine, so I am very excited!)
PS - thanks to Carlyn's mom for "oenophiles" - love a good vocab word!
Time Flies When You're Having Fun?
That's the best semi-apology I can come up with. It's agreed, though; Natalie and I have done a poor job of updating our blog since our arrival here in the Yarra Valley. But no worries, we're aware of the problem, and we're determined to fix it (to my mother: I mean this, Mom. We'll have you some new reading material ASAP).
Turns out we are having a blast here in Australian wine country. We bottled wine on Friday--their first batch of shiraz, to be exact. Saw some more kangaroos...parrots too. Actually, fun fact: parrots here are like pigeons in the States. They're EVERYWHERE. It was really wonderful at first, but now I just see colorful darts bolting across the sky every time I walk outside. I find it quite distracting. Oh, and we saw an emu in the field over from the vineyard. Second fun fact of the day: Emus emit a dreadful "squaw" sound. Also, when they walk, they look as though they're creeping.
In other news, Catherine has overloaded us--much to our intense pleasure--with her delicious baked goods: chocolate cake, chocolate pudding (a remarkable 12-minute microwaveable recipe), raspberry shortbread, and the most buttery chocolate chip cookies I've ever tasted (Sara Lee has nothing on this woman). As she keeps shoving dessert down my throat, I keep wondering how my pants size hasn't quadrupled yet. Turns out that standing out in the hot sun working on vines for 5 hours/day keeps one's waist-size in check--offsets the dessert, you know. Desperately chasing children who are very often dressed like superheroes and/or fairy princesses doesn't hurt either.
Oh also, two Canadian girls, Mallory and Chelsea, arrived a couple days ago. Four words: Breath. Of. Fresh. Air. NAT AND I HAVE FRIENDS. Not only do they speak like us (I've learned to overlook their odd pronunciations of words like "pasta" [pass-tah] and "about" [a-boot]), but they're young and friendly twenty-somethings like us. AND THEY'RE OUR FRIENDS. The first day they arrived, the four of us all watched the Anne of Green Gables movie together. I've got two words for you now: Kindred spirits.
Thursday, Catherine is planning to take all of us on a 40-min drive to the beach for the day. Supposed to be 40 degrees Celsius...That comes to about 105-110 degrees Fahrenheit. Ouch. I plan on temporarily setting aside my deathly fears of all sea creatures with teeth and instead, desperately fling my body into the cool water.
More updates to come :).
P.S. While removing cobwebs on the veranda yesterday afternoon, Natalie and I came across our first wild, and potentially very deathly, creature. Catherine assured us it probably wasn't a Redback (only THE most deadly, dear god). Could have been a black widow, however, with it's red splotch and spindly black legs. Man, sometimes I just shiver when I think about all the possible deaths I might die here...
Turns out we are having a blast here in Australian wine country. We bottled wine on Friday--their first batch of shiraz, to be exact. Saw some more kangaroos...parrots too. Actually, fun fact: parrots here are like pigeons in the States. They're EVERYWHERE. It was really wonderful at first, but now I just see colorful darts bolting across the sky every time I walk outside. I find it quite distracting. Oh, and we saw an emu in the field over from the vineyard. Second fun fact of the day: Emus emit a dreadful "squaw" sound. Also, when they walk, they look as though they're creeping.
In other news, Catherine has overloaded us--much to our intense pleasure--with her delicious baked goods: chocolate cake, chocolate pudding (a remarkable 12-minute microwaveable recipe), raspberry shortbread, and the most buttery chocolate chip cookies I've ever tasted (Sara Lee has nothing on this woman). As she keeps shoving dessert down my throat, I keep wondering how my pants size hasn't quadrupled yet. Turns out that standing out in the hot sun working on vines for 5 hours/day keeps one's waist-size in check--offsets the dessert, you know. Desperately chasing children who are very often dressed like superheroes and/or fairy princesses doesn't hurt either.
Oh also, two Canadian girls, Mallory and Chelsea, arrived a couple days ago. Four words: Breath. Of. Fresh. Air. NAT AND I HAVE FRIENDS. Not only do they speak like us (I've learned to overlook their odd pronunciations of words like "pasta" [pass-tah] and "about" [a-boot]), but they're young and friendly twenty-somethings like us. AND THEY'RE OUR FRIENDS. The first day they arrived, the four of us all watched the Anne of Green Gables movie together. I've got two words for you now: Kindred spirits.
Thursday, Catherine is planning to take all of us on a 40-min drive to the beach for the day. Supposed to be 40 degrees Celsius...That comes to about 105-110 degrees Fahrenheit. Ouch. I plan on temporarily setting aside my deathly fears of all sea creatures with teeth and instead, desperately fling my body into the cool water.
More updates to come :).
P.S. While removing cobwebs on the veranda yesterday afternoon, Natalie and I came across our first wild, and potentially very deathly, creature. Catherine assured us it probably wasn't a Redback (only THE most deadly, dear god). Could have been a black widow, however, with it's red splotch and spindly black legs. Man, sometimes I just shiver when I think about all the possible deaths I might die here...
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Tiger in Australia!
No, not the Tasmanian Tiger. I gave up on that one (a.k.a. my dream of becoming famous for finding the presumed-extinct marsupial tiger) as soon as we left Tassie.
Rather, I'm speaking of the American Tiger. You know, Tiger Woods...duh.
It's that time of year, folks. Time for the Australian Masters, the biggest golf tournament in all of Australia. Held in Melbourne this year, it's the golf tournaments of all golf tournaments--Down Under, that is.
This year, however, it's quite the big deal, as America's very own Tiger Woods is making his first appearance. As Alistair Hicks (co-owner of the vineyard we're working on) says, golf is big in Australia, but they've never had someone outside Australia who's as big as Tiger compete here. So it's, like, a REALLY BIG DEAL.
The Australian Masters paid Tiger 3 mil just to fly out here and compete. (Note: The first prize is only 1 mil.) Supposedly, however, the revenue made has almost doubled that 3 mil already because of the hoards of Australian people who have paid to come see him live in person. Channel 7 paid more than usual to broadcast the tournament, advertisements are way up, etc. Tiger is quite the celebrity here it appears.
p.s. Updates on Tiger's progress to come.
Rather, I'm speaking of the American Tiger. You know, Tiger Woods...duh.
It's that time of year, folks. Time for the Australian Masters, the biggest golf tournament in all of Australia. Held in Melbourne this year, it's the golf tournaments of all golf tournaments--Down Under, that is.
This year, however, it's quite the big deal, as America's very own Tiger Woods is making his first appearance. As Alistair Hicks (co-owner of the vineyard we're working on) says, golf is big in Australia, but they've never had someone outside Australia who's as big as Tiger compete here. So it's, like, a REALLY BIG DEAL.
The Australian Masters paid Tiger 3 mil just to fly out here and compete. (Note: The first prize is only 1 mil.) Supposedly, however, the revenue made has almost doubled that 3 mil already because of the hoards of Australian people who have paid to come see him live in person. Channel 7 paid more than usual to broadcast the tournament, advertisements are way up, etc. Tiger is quite the celebrity here it appears.
p.s. Updates on Tiger's progress to come.
In Honor of [American] Veterans Day...
...I decided to google the term "australian wars" to see how this seemingly peaceful Aussie nation/state/continent has fared in world conflict.
To my surprise, Australia has been involved in a good many wars and lost a good many men and women. A brief overview of Australian military history: Sudan in 1885, Boer War, Boxer Rebellion, World War I, and World War II; the Occupation of Japan, the Korean War, the Malayan Emergency, and the Indonesian Confrontation; the Vietnam War and the First Gulf War. More than you might expect from such a little continent with such a small population, eh? Moreover, when you think about it, Australia is quite young in comparison to most other places in the world; that's a lot of fighting for just a couple hundred years.
Nevertheless, I also discovered that Australia--and New Zealand for that matter--celebrate a Veterans Day of their very own. It's called "Anzac Day," Anzac for its celebration of the "Anzac spirit," which famous Australian historian Charles Bean coined as "reckless valor in a good cause, for enterprise, resourcefulness, fidelity, comradeship, and endurance that will never own defeat."
Anzac Day is celebrated on April 25th by both Australia and New Zealand in commemoration of those who have died in battle.
To my surprise, Australia has been involved in a good many wars and lost a good many men and women. A brief overview of Australian military history: Sudan in 1885, Boer War, Boxer Rebellion, World War I, and World War II; the Occupation of Japan, the Korean War, the Malayan Emergency, and the Indonesian Confrontation; the Vietnam War and the First Gulf War. More than you might expect from such a little continent with such a small population, eh? Moreover, when you think about it, Australia is quite young in comparison to most other places in the world; that's a lot of fighting for just a couple hundred years.
Nevertheless, I also discovered that Australia--and New Zealand for that matter--celebrate a Veterans Day of their very own. It's called "Anzac Day," Anzac for its celebration of the "Anzac spirit," which famous Australian historian Charles Bean coined as "reckless valor in a good cause, for enterprise, resourcefulness, fidelity, comradeship, and endurance that will never own defeat."
Anzac Day is celebrated on April 25th by both Australia and New Zealand in commemoration of those who have died in battle.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Kangaroo Sighting!
We just saw about 20 kangaroos hopping away from us in a field next to the vineyard. It was fantastic!Of course, I brought my camera... but no memory card. So, hopefully they will reappear again before long.
PS: these signs really are everywhere.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Off to the Yarra Valley
Next stop: a vineyard in the Yarra Valley for about two weeks. I imagine myself a cultured wine connoisseur by the end of our stay. (Please, keep the realism on pause for awhile to allow me this fantasy).
The weather looks to finally be on our side - high seventies to mid eighties! Aka high twenties, to those literate in Celsius. I recognize that this is still only ten (F) degrees better than I'd be faring at home, but still!
Test Tubes and Hospital Beds (a.k.a. Our First Night Out)
Have you ever sipped a drink from a test tube??
Well we haven't either. Although we were hoping as much when we first stepped foot in Melbourne's renowned Croft Institute, a nightclub in a sketchy back alley of Melbourne's Chinatown famous for its test tube drinks and hospital beds. We got the beds, but we didn't get the drinks. Bugger.
Fun news: Nat and I met up with two of my friends from Stanford, Christy and Morgan, who happened to be in Melbourne at the same time (they were here for business...the backpacking and professional worlds collide!). Before hitting the streets, we convinced them to come with us to Shanghai Dumpling, another Melbourne institution amongst cheap twenty-somethings who only want to pay ~$6 for a large plate of 15-20 fried or steamed dumplings. Two words: Chinese deliciousness. Oh, and it was BYO, as most places here in Melbourne tend to be. So, filled with dumplings and cheap wine, we made our way to Croft Institute, where we had a couple drinks, befriended some short Australian men (note: Christy and Morgan played for the Stanford Women's Basketball team, so when I say "short" I really mean short...), and made our way to dance the night away to L.A. Riots in some other club that I couldn't be bothered to remember the name of.
So there you go. Our first night out. We stayed out past our usual 9:30 bedtimes, and took Melbourne (read: a tiny alley way in Chinatown) by storm. Woot woot.
Well we haven't either. Although we were hoping as much when we first stepped foot in Melbourne's renowned Croft Institute, a nightclub in a sketchy back alley of Melbourne's Chinatown famous for its test tube drinks and hospital beds. We got the beds, but we didn't get the drinks. Bugger.
Fun news: Nat and I met up with two of my friends from Stanford, Christy and Morgan, who happened to be in Melbourne at the same time (they were here for business...the backpacking and professional worlds collide!). Before hitting the streets, we convinced them to come with us to Shanghai Dumpling, another Melbourne institution amongst cheap twenty-somethings who only want to pay ~$6 for a large plate of 15-20 fried or steamed dumplings. Two words: Chinese deliciousness. Oh, and it was BYO, as most places here in Melbourne tend to be. So, filled with dumplings and cheap wine, we made our way to Croft Institute, where we had a couple drinks, befriended some short Australian men (note: Christy and Morgan played for the Stanford Women's Basketball team, so when I say "short" I really mean short...), and made our way to dance the night away to L.A. Riots in some other club that I couldn't be bothered to remember the name of.
So there you go. Our first night out. We stayed out past our usual 9:30 bedtimes, and took Melbourne (read: a tiny alley way in Chinatown) by storm. Woot woot.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Great Ocean Road
Apollo Bay is, for many people, just a pit stop en route to the great limestone cliffs of the Great Ocean Road. Though we extended our stay in Apollo Bay, we followed in the footsteps of thousands of tourists before us and made our way to these scenic stones. Apparently, they are absolute stunners at sunset, though I was perfectly pleased with how they looked in the muggy midafternoon sorta-sunlight.
This one has a funny story: to the left of the arch you see, there used to be another arch that somewhat recently collapsed. When it fell down, it stranded two young married people on the arch. Problem: they weren't married to each other. National news busting your affair? Karma.
I just chased down a kid wearing a Skins hat...
(...you could even say I hailed him) only to discover he didn't even know what the Redskins were. Way to get my hopes up, Random Disappointing Stranger.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Going Off the Grid
Going where (almost) no young twentysomething (can I call myself that? do I even want to?) has gone before: off the grid. I haven’t had a mobile since I arrived in Australia, but this past week I decided that I was going to swear off the internet as well. Ever my parents’ daughter, this decision was partly economical. As Carlyn stated, there was no free wireless in Apollo Bay. I didn’t want to have to pay the $5 an hour, and that price was just the impetus I needed to take an introspective vacation while we relaxed in the beachside town.
I know that I probably won’t have another chance to take such a break from the internet, since there is always so much planning to do. But, in fact I relished the relative solitude. I know that many of you who have seen me wield a blackberry probably don’t believe me, but stranger things have happened.
Below is a picture of the lovely YHA Eco Beach hostel. It was truly an escape, and I am determined to create my own mini greenhouse, fashioned after Gilbert's! I think it would be a good addition to the Pitcher family garden... so Dad, Susan - start planning.
As promised:
Our sleeping arrangements at Melbourne's Tullamarine airport. Those booths were heavenly. Compared to our other options...
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Apollo Bay Doesn't Have Free Wireless...
…Hence the lack of blog posts these past few days. Apollo Bay not only doesn’t have free wireless (a.k.a. Ronald McDonald hasn’t quite made it this far out along the Great Ocean Road yet), but the wireless they DO have is too expensive. Or maybe it’s just that I’m too cheap. Either way, our apologies.
So, yeah…Apollo Bay. Quite the hoppin’ town. Note: Sarcasm very much intended.
Not, but in all reality, although there isn’t really that much to it, Apollo Bay is quite the little paradise. Mainly a tourist destination in between Torquay and Warrnambool, two other Great Ocean Road destinations, the town is fitted with many lovely hotels/hostels, seafood cafés, and, of course, a beautiful white sand beach with complementary turquoise blue waves. The hilly backdrop only makes the entire image more picturesque.
Natalie and I have been here for approximately 5 days now. We’ve been working at an eco-friendly hostel only 800m (yeah, that’s right; I use metrics now) from the beach, dutifully going about our duties as expert gardeners and weeders. Two hours per day in exchange for free accommodation…not a bad deal, huh?
We’re technically staying in a 4-bed all-female room, although over the past 4 nights we’ve only had the pleasure of 2 roomies: Rebecca the Kiwi from Melbourne, and Verena the German. Both were great. Neither killed us in our sleep, which is really all you can hope for after seeing the horror movie “Hostel.”
Gilbert, our boss, is quite the pleasant Australian gentlemen. Fun facts about Gilbert: He and his wife Gay run the place, and they do their jobs well. Gilbert doesn’t really believe in cutting down trees…which is why he has us do it for him. He also believes that laughter is the best therapy. He has a small little dog whose name starts with an “E” (Elise? Elva? Eloise? Unclear), and drives a black Saab (he drives the Saab, not the dog). He doesn’t understand why Natalie and I lounge around the hostel all day, but nevertheless seems to be pleased to have us around as company. We will always remember dear ol’ Gil. Oh, and he has us rake Zen patterns in the gravel with his deceased mother’s old gardening rake. Fun Fact #1 right there.
The weather’s been a bit dreary. And by dreary, I mean that I can currently hear the torrential rain outside our room’s screen door. Seems that the poor weather follows us everywhere. We’re keeping our fingers crossed that by the time we reach the Yarra Valley in less than a week, the sun gods will have defeated the rain gods and restored weather happiness.
For now, though, we shall wait with bated breath. Wednesday we’re headed back to Melbourne with a long detour to Warrnambool first so that we can see the famous Twelve Apostles (a series of rock formations in the ocean), among other sights along the Great Ocean Road. Then it’s Melbourne for 3 days where we’ll be staying with our most recent CouchSurfing friend Tim. We’ve heard there are a lot of delicious, cheap eats in this Victoria city, so we’ll keep you posted--literally--with a few menu options that we may or may not decide to sample.
So….Until then, folks. G’day!
So, yeah…Apollo Bay. Quite the hoppin’ town. Note: Sarcasm very much intended.
Not, but in all reality, although there isn’t really that much to it, Apollo Bay is quite the little paradise. Mainly a tourist destination in between Torquay and Warrnambool, two other Great Ocean Road destinations, the town is fitted with many lovely hotels/hostels, seafood cafés, and, of course, a beautiful white sand beach with complementary turquoise blue waves. The hilly backdrop only makes the entire image more picturesque.
Natalie and I have been here for approximately 5 days now. We’ve been working at an eco-friendly hostel only 800m (yeah, that’s right; I use metrics now) from the beach, dutifully going about our duties as expert gardeners and weeders. Two hours per day in exchange for free accommodation…not a bad deal, huh?
We’re technically staying in a 4-bed all-female room, although over the past 4 nights we’ve only had the pleasure of 2 roomies: Rebecca the Kiwi from Melbourne, and Verena the German. Both were great. Neither killed us in our sleep, which is really all you can hope for after seeing the horror movie “Hostel.”
Gilbert, our boss, is quite the pleasant Australian gentlemen. Fun facts about Gilbert: He and his wife Gay run the place, and they do their jobs well. Gilbert doesn’t really believe in cutting down trees…which is why he has us do it for him. He also believes that laughter is the best therapy. He has a small little dog whose name starts with an “E” (Elise? Elva? Eloise? Unclear), and drives a black Saab (he drives the Saab, not the dog). He doesn’t understand why Natalie and I lounge around the hostel all day, but nevertheless seems to be pleased to have us around as company. We will always remember dear ol’ Gil. Oh, and he has us rake Zen patterns in the gravel with his deceased mother’s old gardening rake. Fun Fact #1 right there.
The weather’s been a bit dreary. And by dreary, I mean that I can currently hear the torrential rain outside our room’s screen door. Seems that the poor weather follows us everywhere. We’re keeping our fingers crossed that by the time we reach the Yarra Valley in less than a week, the sun gods will have defeated the rain gods and restored weather happiness.
For now, though, we shall wait with bated breath. Wednesday we’re headed back to Melbourne with a long detour to Warrnambool first so that we can see the famous Twelve Apostles (a series of rock formations in the ocean), among other sights along the Great Ocean Road. Then it’s Melbourne for 3 days where we’ll be staying with our most recent CouchSurfing friend Tim. We’ve heard there are a lot of delicious, cheap eats in this Victoria city, so we’ll keep you posted--literally--with a few menu options that we may or may not decide to sample.
So….Until then, folks. G’day!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)