Matt's Travel Adventures: 2009

Monday, October 12, 2009

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Pros and Cons

Last night my crew and I went out to Scubar and we are chillin drinking checking out this hott girl. She turns around and screams MATT it was Ann this German girl i met in Brisbane, she was a regular in my bar and stayed at my hostel for a while. Ann and her friend Sabrina travelled to Cairns and now back to Sydney. This shit is crazy u meet someone in another state, u think u will never see them again and there they are in my local bar. It's good shit since she got her phone stolen in Cairns and lost everyones numbers. Especially good since tonight we are really going out on the town and now the girls are coming with us.
I just got done watching the footy (Australian Football League) final, it was Geelong vs. St. Kilda (Melbourne.) At the MCG the largest stadium in the Southern Hemisphere. I went there when i was in Melbourne with Raj. Footy is probably my favorite Aussie sport, it is def. the only one i can sit down and watch a whole game. I am also going to miss meeting so many international people and the friendliness of OZ. In Australia if u walk up to a group of people they will ask ur name and where u are from and usually if u want to join whatever is going on. In the U.S. if u walk up to a group of strangers and ask to join they will tell u to get lost or worse. I am going to miss the beautiful scenery, Toohey's New, the girls, Aussie BBQ, YHA's, kangaroos, Scubar (and the free drinks that go with it,) how oz is so green both with foliage and how all public transport is electric, toilets have two flush levels, outlets turn themselves off, and so on...
There are many things i am missing about home like NFL, real meal portions, driving is going to be great, blunts, making money, quality tv, free laundry, my bed, taco bell, PS3, the free pour, cheaper cigs and drinks. In OZ they have this sin tax it makes a pack of cigs 12 dollars and a 6 pack of beer 14.
It was an unforgettable trip and i wouldn't change anything about it. I thank god for giving me this opportunity and i only wish i would have started traveling at a younger age because now i don't want to stop!

Friday, September 25, 2009

What!

So i left off writing about this dust storm that hit Sydney on the 23rd. It was so dark i could not see the ocean. It didn't seem that big of a deal to me but i guess it was the first dust storm to hit Sydney in 50 years. I was a part of it i should have got a pic, damn goon- too hungover. So i get back to the Railway YHA (my home away from home) and i check back in. I go to my room i am making my bed and the room is empty. This guy walks in that had just checked in himself. So i interduce myself and ask his name and where he is from. He says Misbah from Afghanistan, i am waiting for him to ask me where i am from- he doesn't. I go make some food and go back to the room for a nap (as i said too much goon.) Misbah is in the room and he says i forgot to ask so u are Australian. I say no- he say English? I say no, so he finally says where then. I tell him i am from the U.S.- he just says oh twice. I go see my Canadian friends tell them the story they like it. Then later i am off to the grocery store and Misbah was asking where he can get some eggs. So i take him with me, he tells me he has never been to a grocery store in his life, only markets. Before two days ago he had never left Afghanistan in his life and now he is in Sydney. I think it was a bit of culture shock for him, that would be like us going to Afghanistan. So i ask him what he thinks of Australia he said he doesn't like it but he really likesthe girls. So i said if u like the girls then u should come out with us. It was Oktoberfest (sp?) at Scubar that night so he came with my two French Canadian friends and another French guy. He is Muslim so he doesn't drink but Max one of the French Canadian didn't really understand or couldn't hear over the music and kept on trying to get him to drink. I don't think this guy has ever even been inside a bar. After i drank one and half beers he said ok lets go. I said i might be here a while u can go back if u want, he left and the rest of us partied into the middle of the night. Well i never met anyone from Afghanistan but he's alright just a little sheltered. Oh yeah it being Oktoberfest Quey my Irish friend who works at Scubar was wearing a little German school girl mini skirt and bra it was hilarious- i have pics. I think he likes wearing dresses- strange guy. I can't believe it's almost over i will be home in 4 days. See you soon South FL.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

BONDI BEACH

Sunday morning i left Kings Cross and jumped on the subway to go stay on Bondi Beach. It is only 3 train stops away but so different. Kings Cross is all about the night life, plus u have to watch your back and wallet. Then i go to Bondi and it is like a different country, so much more beautiful. The night life is almost non-existent, bars close around 1am but nobody really stays around the bars that late anyway- everybody drinks on the beach. It is not dangerous like the Cross everyone is real friendly. So i went to the YHA to check in and they were fully booked. So they recommended a few other hostels. I went to Noha's backpackers and i was real pleased, in fact i was happier with Noah's, it is closer to the beach and more relaxed. I chilled out for the first night. Second day i went to the beach and i thought Bondi was so popular since it is Sydney's main beach but it is great probably the nicest southern beach i have been to. Huge inlet surrounded by cliffs and the street above is lined with restaurants and shops. Went back to Noah's and took it easy again, still recovering from Kings Cross. The next day I woke up made some breakfast went to eat it on the roof top overlooking the beach. While eating these two guys sat at my table and lit up a huge joint. So i finished breakfast they ask if i smoke so i said yes i wouldn't mind a wake and bake. The guys were a little older one worked at the hostel a Brazilian guy named jeorge and the other Austrian but i forget his name. So after that nice breakfast i went back to the beach which is filled with fine Aussie's and internationals, oh yeah it is topless too. I went back to the hostel after a while and met this guy in my room who just arrived in Australia 2 days ago from Chile. He had some Pisco and he wanted to drink it that night. Pisco is liquor made in Chile and Peru. I have never heard of it but u mix it with coke and it is called Piscola. The first two were rough but it tasted better and better with each drink. So we ended up going down to the beach with a big group of people some from my room like the two Irish guys. I also met a girl from NYC, I think she drank like half the bottle of Pisco. After it was gone it was on to the goon, we had three boxes. We drank the 2 white first then we were left with the red one which tasted like shit. We met this bum he was so wasted, we were chillin on this hill overlooking the beach. He fell and rolled down the hill with his guitar on his back, it was so funny. He made it back up and passed out on the sidewalk so this french guy pulled out his guitar and he cracked it in half during his tumble down the hill. He is not going to be happy when he finds out but he probably won't remember how it happened. Smoked few more, everyone is so generous in Bondi, i didn't pay for any drinks or bud that night. The next morning was not good. I had to check out at 10am but i was so hungover i didn't leave until 11am. Pisco and Goon makes for a real bad hangover. So i pack my shit up again (getting real old) and go to catch the bus to go back to Central. I couldn't believe it, there was a huge dust storm, i could not even see the beach. All the Asians had medical masks on and everyone was running. I did not know what was going on and i was so hungover that i did not really care. I guess it was big news though. Dust storms happen a lot down under but usually not in Sydney. But i made it back to Central without inhaling too much dust checked in and went back to sleep. Funny story about my new room but that is for a different post.

Later

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Crazy Kings Cross

So i moved from the stoner hostel in the CBD (downtown) to a place in Kings Cross. I wanted to change it up so i moved to the grimy, rougher part of Sydney. Although it is not the best neighborhood it is action packed and the clubs go until the sun comes up. Sydney is so big i wouldn't be doing it justice to just stay in one area. The main drag, Darlinghurst rd. is lined with bars, brothels, travel agencies, hostels, and huge clubs. Some travel agencies are so close to the brothels it look like they are competing- u can either by a trip or a "date."
So I moved into this real lived in hostel called Bedlahm Backpackers right on Darlinghurst rd. and met my roommates i have one french Canadian, a polish guy (only the second polish guy i met while traveling,) and a french girl. So me and the polish guy, keive end up smoking a fat one, mixed with spin of course, in the fire escape. He liked that my last name is Petroski. Then later the French Canadian and i went out on Fri. night. We went to this sports bar to start where the AFL (footy) semi-finals was on- the only Aussie sport i can get into. Then we went to the World Bar. Where if u order a shot they pour a shaker full into a tea kettle and hand u as many shot glasses as u need. So i met this real hott Aussie chick we drank some tea kettle shots and i asked her if she wanted to go out tomorrow. She handed me her card and said come see me at work and u can have whatever u want. Ends up she works at one of the many brothels. She looked like a normal innocent girl i would have never guessed. So i politely declined and went for a cig. Lost my Canadian friend so went to smoke. I met an Australian guy who down on his luck, living on the street but a real cool guy. Talked to him for a while smoked some more, then eventually went back to the hostel and watched some shitty Australian tv in the lounge before going to bed. I am glad i moved out to Kings Cross for the experience but i think i can only stay here like two more nights max. Then i plan to take it easy for a few nights on Bondi Beach. Then back to the CBD hostel before a night on the plane, and then L.A., Dallas, and finally Naples. I can't believe my trip is actually coming to an end- I have mixed feelings about this- I can already feel the drama from home reaching out to me here but it has been the most relaxing trip of a lifetime, better then i could have even imagined.

Sunday, September 13, 2009

SYDNEY!!!

Three days ago i got on a plane at one of the smallest airports i have ever been, in Alice Springs. For a 5 hour flight from the middle of nowhere to the biggest and best city in Australia, Sydney. I am feeling slightly accomplished now that i have traveled practically the whole country. The only places i didn't get to visit is WA (Perth) and Tasmania. Anyway I land in Sydney airport and it was real nice to be somewhere familiar. I knew to go right to the subway and take it to central. Every other place i went it was the first time i had ever been there. I got back to one of the best places i stayed, Sydney Railway YHA. Was checking in and I saw my one of my first friends i made in OZ, Pascal the French Canadian. He was like come with me but i had to check in. So finally i went with him, he now has a bong he packed it up we smoked like the good old days (meaning 4 months ago.) Pascal and his brother Max work for the YHA (easy work for like an hour a day) for free accommodation. So they have been here the whole time but now they got a hooked up room. A tv, x-box 360, and a bong luxuries i haven't seen in a long time. In fact one of the reasons i found Alice so boring is I couldn't even find anything out there. So then i go to my room it is an 8-share, i make my bed then go to take a shower. When i get back it smells like weed in my room, so i talk to the 4 German guys in my room and ask if they smoke, they say yes, so i say u smoke in the room they say yes we have a bong want a try. So of course i say sure- i don't remember any bongs last time i was here. Turns out these Germans are real chill guys hang out with them for a while.
The next day i decide to do some tourist stuff i did not do the last time i was in Sydney. So i get on the free bus take it to Circular Quay which is by Darling Harbour. Get off and walk towards the Darling Harbour Bridge and there it is the famous Sydney Opera H0use. Snap a few pics then walk to the opera house where there was free concert going on- not my kind of music but a lot of people out there. Take some more photos of the sun setting on the city and all the water taxi's. Then walk back to the hostel. Get dressed and go to Scubar the place i got my first drink in OZ. Went with Pascal and their other French roommate who's name i can't remember. Max was working so got some free drinks. Quey (Irish friend) was trying to get us to go Kings Cross but i just wanted to take it easy and i will be there next weekend. So went back to the YHA got some food and smoked again then went to bed.
So good to be back to Sydney and great to see my friends are all still here, most of them anyway. Now i do have a problem i am really trying to see some NFL (especially the lions game) which is hard to catch in FL but i think the casino has the NFL package. Even though i should be staying out of the casino i think this is a legitimate reason to go. If it is on at 1pm on Sun. it should be on at 3am mon. right?
Later

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Wow

So Alice Springs is a sort of boring town, there are only two real bars. There are also so many Aboriginals and they stink really bad. I think the Northern Territory has the highest Abo population in OZ. So i'm bored sitting around outside the hostel when i saw a group of guys talking about going to the Town and Country (one of the two bars.) So i asked one are u going to the bar they said yes so i asked if they mind if i tag along. So we are walking to the bar make the normal introductions- name? country? and how long u been in OZ? One Aussie guy can't remember his name, Eric from Scotland, and Louie from France. So we sit down with a Toohey's New and start talking. That's when i asked Eric's story and wow.
He told me he was real sick in Scotland for a while then when he got better he wanted to go on a journey. Sounds kinda like my story right, but this is where the similarities stop. He told me he has traveled from Scotland on a bike, not a motor bike a bicycle. He went through England took the fairy to France then all they way through Europe. To Greece, Hungary, Jordan, Turkey, Pakistan, India, (i am sure i am leaving some countries out i was a little drunk) another fairy to Indonesia, Malaysia then to Darwin in the the north of Australia then he rode his bike through the whole desert to the middle and the town of Alice Springs. 16 countries in 18 months. He told me in Pakistan they didn't want to let him in but he had already gotten his visa so they had to let him. Four armed guards followed him in a truck. They wanted to get him out of Pakistan so bad that when he stoped to piss or eat they take his bike and put it in the car and try to give him a ride. He tried explaining he did not want a ride but they didn't understand so he would grab the bike and keep riding. He slept on benches or on the side of the rode. Some places he would meet nice people that would take him in and feed him, he said especially places like Jordan and Hungary. Now for the craziest part him and Louie met in Turkey 8 months back. Louie went home to France then traveled to Australia and some how they ended up meeting in Alice crazy right. So his plans now are to ride to down to Adelaide, Melbourne, then Sydney. Fly to New Zealand bike the country then fly to San Fran. and bike from Cali to New York. This guy is nuts. Then back home at that point he can really say i rode my bike around the world. He was supposed to ride off today but i saw him in by the pool and he said the aussie guy got him too drunk so he is gonna take it easy tonight and leave tomorrow.
This post hasn't really been about me but the point is even in a small boring town it's not always about whats going on it's about the company u have.

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Walking the Red Center

So i planed to stay in Alice Springs for a week since i thought it would take a few days to set up my camping trip to Ayres Rock. So first thing i went to some tour companies to see rates and there are only two in the whole town, both 350 for 3 days. Then i met a French guy in my room named Eitcheene, he told me about this other guy who rented a car and was looking for some people to split costs and driving. I knew this would be a lot cheaper and we would have more freedom to stay as long as we wanted and not get up at 5am to get on a slow moving bus. The only catch is that they are leaving the next day. So i said i was down, that is one thing i have learned during my trip is to be more spontaneous, back home i feel like i plan stuff out too much. So the next morning we wake around 8am pack a small bag and put my huge bag in storage at the hostel. Get some breakfast and hit the road. I had no clue Ayers Rock (Uluru is what it is called in Australia) was so far but it was like a 5hr. drive- i would tell u miles but everything is in kilometers. I slept half the way through the outback until we stopped at this small outpost for truckers to get gas. They had a Emu farm so i messed with the huge birds for a little bit. Something else i could not believe they had was a bar, i mean it is rest stop for drivers- only in the outback. So i take a turn at driving- this is the first time i have ever driven on the left side of the road and with the steering wheel on the left. I did ok since it is one long stretch of road but i think if i was driving in the city i would have died. So we finally get to the Outback Pioneer Lodge where we are staying for the night. Then off to the rock. This thing is massive it is more like a mountain then a rock- it's hard to get perspective in a picture. We take the walk around it which was roughly 3 miles (again all in Kilometers) I found it a little boring. I took lots of pics since its Australia's signature landmark (which will be on FB.) One thing that was different is the sand. It's sand like i have never seen, completely bright red. I am going to try and bring some home if i can. It was so hot and the flies are like the size of birds that are not scared of people. So we watched the sunset on Uluru then went back to the small town of Yalaru for dinner and a much needed shower. It was a Friday night so they had a live band which was one guy. The bar was different since it's a dry region meaning the locals, mostly Aboriginal can't buy alcohol. So in order to get a beer u had to show your room key to prove that u didn't live there. Drank a few and called it a night, very tired.
The next day woke up about 9am and did not feel like doing anymore walking but Web and Eitcheene talked me into going to The Olgas. Dome formations about a mile from Uluru. We get there and there are three trails u can do. Easy, intermediate, and hard this already seemed more exciting then walking around a rock like the day before. So first we chose the intermediate walk, The Valley of The Winds. I also wanted this walk since the wind may keep the giant flies away. So the first mile is completely up hill some of it is rock climbing. So we get to the top lookout point and it was amazing. A picture could not even explain the view, so i took a video. Sat there for a while had a small lunch then began to descend. This walk was about 3 miles in and out of the valley's of the domes. So we get to the car crank up the AC and I wanted to go get lunch and chill for a bit, the response i got was fucking American doesn't want to walk anymore. So i said fuck it lets do the hard trail then. It was only a mile into a huge gorge and back but it took a lot of climbing and concentration not to slip on the loose rocks. I don't think they would let people in the U.S. do this without ropes and a guide. We did it and you would not believe what we came to at the end. Water a small stream in the middle of the desert. With lots of plant life and even rock wallabies, reptiles, and birds. The whole 3 days in the desert this was the only time i saw natural water, it was real nice. Relaxed by the stream for a while then back into the red hot Australian sun in the middle of the day. Finally we reach the rental car and by this time my feet are so tore up. We walked a total of 7 miles in two days. This night we (not my idea) decide to save some money and camp under the stars. Thank god this camp site had showers (cold water but still showers.) I get my sleeping bag out for the first time of this whole trip settle in. Smoke the last bit, i brought from when I saw Raj, under the stars. The stars out here are more amazing then i have seen anywhere else. There are no city lights to take away from the brightness.
Next day we pack up and go back to the lodge we stayed at the first night. We went to this BBQ bar. U purchase your cut of meat, be it Croc, Emu, Kangaroo, Beef, or Chicken then u cook it yourself. I got a combination plate had a small portion of each, I think i liked the Emu the best. What an experience the outback was and in the end it cost us 110 dollars each for the car and gas compared to the 350 the tours were charging. On the five hour drive back to Alice Springs we almost hit 5 different kangaroos, we came really close and had to surve not to hit one. They are like deer in North America maybe even more common. Good times glad i met these guys.

Monday, September 7, 2009

The Ghan

So after a night out in Adelaide Pete and I left Marsila behind and boarded The Ghan. The Ghan is the train that goes through the outback from Adelaide to Alice Springs in the center of the continent, then on to Darwin in the Northern Territory. This one is much longer then The Overland it is 24 hours just to Alice Springs. It is still much better then the bus since it has all the things the other train had and more like a game room and Internet. It is the longest train I have ever seen it has 30 cars and two engines. Some of the cars are platinum class, they have their own car to themselves. It's like a studio apartment- kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, and even tv. Obviously that is not what my ticket was for since they ran 700 dollars a person. Mine is red class for 270. Real comfy seats, slept like 12 of the 24 hrs. maybe more. We stopped in Port Agusta for one hour- the border town between South Australia and The Northern Territory. I think an hour was pushing it, we only needed like 15 minutes to see the whole town. Pete and I watched two movies- The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and The Wrestler, we also played some chess. But mostly I just watched the scenery speed by. They have so many canola fields these bright yellow plants they use to make canola oil. Went by the biggest river in Australia the Murray, it wasn't that big. Sometimes they would stop in small towns to switch drivers but they would not let me off for a cig. that's a long trip. I talked to this old Aussie guy who said he rode the train in '58 and he liked it better because he could smoke a 50 pack of cigs. We finally arrive the next day in Alice Springs. Get our luggage and walk to the YHA which i should have rode the shuttle since it was much father then i thought and the sun is so much hotter out here. Checked in and started to figure out how to get to Ayers Rock and the other features out here. I thought Alice and Ayers were right next to each other but it is the outback and nothing is close to one another.

Sunday, September 6, 2009

The Overland and Adelaide

In an earlier post i wrote that i wanted to go to the red center but i was running out of cash. Well i stayed with Raj in Melbourne and he told me about the train. One of the main reasons i wasn't going to go is it's so far out there and the bus is a horrible way of transportation and a plane is just to expensive. For 49 dollars i rode the train (The Overland) from Melbourne in the state of Victoria to Adelaide in the state of South Australia. It was an 11 hour train ride but the train had a movie room, a bar, a restaurant, and showers on it. So much better then the greyhound. Now Adeliade is not the center it is in the middle on the south coast but it is the jumping off point for Alice Springs and Ayers Rock. On the bus i met this guy named Pete from New Zealand and this girl, Marsila from Columbia. So when we got to Adelaide we checked into the YHA and then went out for some drinks in the CBD since we were only going to be in Adelaide for one night.

Monday, August 31, 2009

Best Night in OZ

I have had lots of fun in lots of places but my night last night in Melbourne was the best night yet. Raj and I started our night with a home cooked Indian meal from Raj's mom. Then we drove to the city where we got a hotel room in the CBD. We pre-gamed in the room while we got ready. Raj's good friend Morgan is a DJ and he was playing at the Love Machine a club downtown. We go up skip the line which was huge. We were on the guest list but we thought we were still gonna have to pay to get in- nope all good, right in. We meet up with his crew drink for a while take some shots, dance a little- only when i am feeling real good. Great club, great music, beers from all over the world. I may have found my new favorite beer Boag's from Tasmania. We left the club like 2am which was still going strong. Got a Sulvaki at the famous shop on Chapel St. Then we snuck in this private birthday party for Shannon that Raj made the bounser believe we knew. Drank some more there, where Raj told me Brothels are legal in Australia and i did not know that. Got a taxi to go check this out when I was about to step in the cab and boom. We got hit from behind pretty hard. The drunk chic in the car looked right at me then drove away real fast so i jump in the cab and he races off to follow them. We are speeding around corners to catch up. When we do they speed up and spin out on a turn, side swipe two more cars. Raj takes down the info while the taxi driver follows close behind. I could not believe we were in a high speed chase in downtown Melbourne. It was so much fun since i was drunk and it was not our car. The cabbie took us to the brothel for free becuase of the chase, man i would pay to do that again. Checked out the brothel where all the girls parade in front of u and if u want u can pick the one of ur choice. I never knew it was legal and i have been in this country for 3 months, but now lets just say i am a believer. After we left we walked back to the hotel it was now like 5 am. We got back I smoked some and was passing out but Raj was still going so he left to meet his friend.
So in closing I went to the best club in Melbourne which i would have had no shot at getting in on my own, we were involved in a car chase, and i saw some real Aussie culture.

What a crazy night!

Thanks Raj- u come back to FL and I will attempt to top it in Miami- I dunno if i can though

Cities to Towns

I am going to list the Australian Cities by largest population. If it has an @ sign I have been there, the number of stars is how much i liked it (5 is the best.) I will tell u how many days i spent there at the end. If it is a capitol I'll tell u where if not I will still let u know what state it is in. There are 6 states and 2 territories and this country is almost the size of the U.S minus Alaska. Just nobody lives here there are about 30 million in OZ and 300 million in the U.S

Sydney- @ ***** New South Wales Capitol- 2 weeks
Melbourne- @ **** Victoria Capitol- 6 days (best night of my trip happened here)
Brisbane- @ *****, $ Queensland Capitol, worked for 2 months
Adelaide- South Australia Capitol- (next stop)
Perth- Western Australia Capitol-
Hobart- Tasmania Capitol-
Canberra- The countries capitol-
Townsville- QLD
Cairns-@ ***** QLD- 2 weeks
Geelong- VIC-
Rockhampton- QLD
New Castle- NSW
Darwin- Northern Territory Capital (about the size of Naples)-
Byron Bay- @ **** NSW- 1 week
Gold Coast- @ ** QLD- 3 days (surfers Paradise)
Arlie Beach- @ ***** QLD 1 week- 5 stars since it's the jumping off point Whitsundays and The Great Barrier Reef
Sunshine Coast- @ **** QLD 1 day- The Australian Zoo is a must see
Broome- WA-
Woolongong- NSW
Alice Springs- NT @** (6 days)
Hervey Bay- @ no stars- QLD real boring place
Cape Town- QLD-
Nimbin- @ ***** NSW- 1 day- The town for smokers but ya only 1 day
Uluru (Ayres Rock)- NT @ *** (2 days)

I am sure there are other smaller towns i missed but these are the well known ones.

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Melboune to see Raj

Hey, so i finished up the east coast last week-went the whole from Sydney to Cairns. So I flew from Cairns to Melbourne at the bottom. It really reminds me of flying home to MI. I leave sunny south FL with beaches and palm trees and arrive in Detriot with cloudy and cold conditions, just like this trip was. My good friend Raj came and picked me up from the airport. I know Raj from 6 years ago my first season in Naples he was there on work visa from Australia. I told him then i would visit Australia one day and it took me 6 yrs. but i made it. So Raj took me to YHA central Melbourne where I stayed for two nights. It was the smallest hostel i have ever stayed at not very impressed. It in a perfect location right downtown and real close to the Victoria Harbor. The second day i wondered around, found lots of alleys in Melbourne are full of culture, shops, and cafe's unlike alleys of any other big city i have ever been to. I went the City Library used the free internet and they had X-Box 360 and Wii set up but i didn't play the line or que as they say here was too long.
The next day I was bored waiting for Raj to get out of work and i went to the casino which i should not have. Lost some money real fast, not gonna say how much (I did make some money at the Cairns casino.) Then walked accross the river and visited The Eureka Towers, the tallest residential building in the world. Raj got out of work we went to get some food and drank a little with the Fri. night working crowd. Then went to the suburbs to his house. Where I got my own room for only the second time in three months. Raj is currently living with his parents until his job starts in Sale, Vic in two weeks. His parents are real nice took me in. His mom even did my laundry which is the first time i did not have to pay for my laundry during my whole trip.
Sat. I sleept in a little and when i woke up they had a bunch of friends over making Lidoo a Indian sweet sort of candy. They do this for special occasions, this one was because Raj just had a son like a month before. Then we went to the MCG stadium (the biggest stadium in the southern hemisphere.) We tried to go to a AFL (australian football) but the game was sold out because it is almost playoffs and the two team were competing for a spot. So we went to a pub and watched the game on tv. I rode a city tram that is run by electric powered by Victorian wind farms 100% green energy. That night we made plans for a big night out in the city, even got a hotel room in the city. The night i had deserves it's own post up next but i will say it was the best night i have had in OZ.

Monday, August 24, 2009

Cairns

Cairns has been great it sort of reminds me of FL. It is winter right now and it is sunny and hot out everyday with palm trees everywhere. If i was gonna live in Australia I think Cairns would be the spot. They are having an arts festival right now. Last night they had a hip hop dance competition. It was real cool they had age groups and little kids like 5-8 were battling each other, funny shit. It was packed with people then after the competition they had fireworks and parties in the street. I wonder what tonight will be like. Cairns is must for travelers it is usually either the starting or ending point. So two days ago i saw these two girls from minnesota I met a long time ago my first week in Sydney just outside a club kinda crazy. Now u wanna hear real crazy when I first went to Railway YHA in Sydney I made great friends with these two french Canadian brothers Max and Pascal. Pascal is still in Sydney and i will see him in two weeks. Max met up with his girlfriend and travelled to Bali. I thought he was gone from Australia but yesterday he saw me on the street and said started yelling my name. I was so surprised to see him again. So last night his girl went to bed early and we drank and smoked a bit and caught up on travel stories it was really great.
The problem is I made it all the way up the east coast from Sydney and the plan was to go to the Northern Territory to Darwin then travel down the middle to Ayers Rock and Alice Springs. Then to South Australia and Adelaide then to Melbourne and back to Sydney but that trip is really expensive to see a rock and there is nothing in the middle. I am sooooo sick of the Greyhound and that would be days on the bus. So I am going to book a plane ticket to Melbourne where my friend Raj lives who I met while working at the Naples Grande. It will be good to see him and great to have a free place to stay. Which i haven't had since i first arrived in Brisbane with Eddie. Sounds like a good plan right- I will be leaving tropical Cairns to go the very bottom of the country where it is very cold right now (i don't know how cold because it is all in Celsius.)
I am actually starting to miss home, never before this week have i felt like this. I miss my truck, good tv, chicken diavlo, ESPN, my couch and my bed, taco bell, making money, my ps3, free pours, and i am getting sick of living out of a bag. I only listed things not people so don't get offended.
If i did it again it would be for a year and the first 6 months i would work lots then go traveling maybe out of the country. But ya live and learn right. I have made friends all over Europe so when i go there i will tons of places to stay in lots of different countries. Going to get my free meal from Gilligan's so Later

I Hate Cricket

Take the Baseball slow it way down, take away home runs, and stretch it out over five days for one game and u have Cricket. Seriously it makes Baseball seem action packed. It is the worst but the Aussie and English love it. The only sports the put on tv is rugby and cricket. I am starting to understand rugby but there are two different leagues with different rules so it is hard to keep track of. I just need some NFL i know it is almost that time.

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Tully River

Yesterday I went white water rafting on the Tull River in Northern Queensland. I got up at 6am got breakfast then on the bus which picked me up in front of Gilligans's. We drove for an hour and half up into the mountains (I slept.) Then got our equipment and walked to the water. We out there by 9am. It was grade 4 rapids so pretty strong. Our raft was good it was two Welsh guys that are my roomates- Craig and Matthew. Then a German guy, Austrian guy, and an English girl and of course our Aussie guide Chris. Went out until noon we stoped for lunch. We did flip the raft completely one time. After some kangaroo BBQ. We went back out I was already feeling the sun by this time. They let us swim a little and body raft some grade two rapids which was real fun. After some more 4 grade rapids we came to this waterfall and this big rock formation where u could jump from if u wanted. Of course i did it, I'd say it was like 30 feet high. The bottom of the river was beautiful all surrounded by mountains and tropical forests. But we were told no more swimming at this point because of the crocks in the area. After carrying the rafts up the path we got back on the bus and drove to small town of Tully with a population of 300. The town would not exist if it was not for the rafting. We went to a local pub for a few beers where they tried to sell us overpriced pics or dvd's I passed since i am getting a little broke.
I think this may have been one of my last adventures. I unfortunitly am not going to get to go to New Zealand or Thailand this trip like i wanted. I think someday i will get back to this part of the world- I hope, it's been the best time.
Later

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Follow Me

Hey if you are someone who reads this blog u should become a follower. Then i will can know who is reading this and u can make comments about my adventures. I can even comment back like to answer a question or whatever. I have 7 "Followers" and I am sure more people check it then that. If you are one of the 7 then cool thanks.
Cairns is great and so is Gilligan's the resort i am at if u ever go to Cairns it highly recommended. I am going white water rafting in 2 days. I will tell all about Cairns at the end of my visit.

Monday, August 17, 2009

Great Barrier Reef

So i am not the biggest fan of the ocean and snorkeling or scuba but it is the best reef in the world so i booked a snorkel and sail 3 day adventure in Aerlie Beach. The Whitsunday island chain is tropical islands running through the Great Barrier Reef. There are 74 islands and 68 are preserved national parks with no buildings on them. No wonder this is the best preserved coral reel in the world.
So the 1st day we get on the boat strait to the reef. The coral on the 1st day was not very impressive. So we return to the island we are staying on Koala Island. We get our room and there is me, the French guy i have been traveling with Triston, an English girl and guy who don't know each other Craig and Kristie, and 2 Irish girls Emma and Amy. I think we have the best group (all 3 girls are real hott.) It is all inclusive meals, accommodations, snorkel gear, and sail time. So we get out dinner then start drinking which may have been a bad idea because the next day breakfast was at 7am then on the boat at 8am.
The second day i did not go in the water because the first day i got a rash from the stinger suit and i was a little sun burnt. So i stayed on the boat with the Canadien guys and drank beer. I did go on a dingy and feed the fish. There were like 100 different kinds of tropical fish everywhere. So we go back at 6pm to Koala Island and eat dinner. Played some beach volleyball then played some drinking games and had an early night.
The next day 7am breakfast again at this point I was so tired i could not believe i was paying to get up at 630am. We go to the best spot on the last day. A secluded small island totally surrounded by coral reefs. I swam in from the boat (Pride of Aerlie) seemed like a longer swim then it looked. This coral is the stuff u see in pictures it was amazing. So many bright purple, blue, green, yellow and the water was so clear. Small sea turtles would poke their heads out of the reef then return if they see people. But the fish did not car they would come so close to my face i had to back up. So much coral built up on other coral that it was breaking the surface. I drank some salt water and wanted to go to the beach for something to drink and could not even get around all the coral. IT WAS AMAZING best trip within a trip i have done so far probably ever. After 3 hrs of snorkeling went back on the boat had lunch. After that we took a tour of the islands and these seagulls would follow the boat if u hold out some bread they would take it out of your hand. So we headed back to Aerlie chilled out for a while then had dinner and drinks at Morocco's a bar owned buy the Koala company. I said my good bye's got every one's facebook for when i go to Europe. Then Triston and I got on the 10pm bus to Cairns for me and Mission Beach for him. I got to Cairns at 6am the next morning and could not check in the swanky Gilligans until 2pm but i will tell you all about cairns in the next post. Pics soon to come on Facebook if u don't have it u should it is easy, free and the best way to stay in touch.
Later
p.s. more Aussie slang posted check it out

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Most expensive beach volleyball

So I get to Hervey Bay on a Fri. and stayed at the YHA it was a beautiful place with small cabins in the rain forest. Pretty yeah but the most boring hostel i ever stayed at everyone was in bed by 10pm. So the next day i moved to koala's thinking there would be more action but no not really. Went out with the Welsh and English guys in my room but the bar closed at 1am on a Sat. night then nothing. I was walking on the beach the next day out of boredom and saw a game of beach volleyball going on. They invited me to play, it was a group of locals, volunteer firefighters, school kids, and backpackers. So i play but all my stuff got sandy including my phone and camera. My '80's phone still works but not the camera (sorry Katie) sux so i had to buy another because i need some pics of the great barrier reef 250 bucks later it was officially the most expensive game of beach volleyball ever.

Bye Brissie

So i finally left the city that felt like home away from home. I think it was more sad to leave Brisbane then to leave Naples. In Naples i know i will be back but i will most likely never return to Brisbane. I made lots of great friends there that i hope i will stay in contact with and had a lot of good times but it is time to move on. So i got on a grayhound and went to Hervey Bay. I left on Thur. night at 9pm and got to the Bay at 10am. This time on the bus i could not sleep like last and this bus driver made so many stops. Even at places where nobody got on or off, like this town called Gin Gin with a population of 200 where i got off and smoked a little while the bus driver got his coffee and everyone else on the bus slept.

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Aussie Zoo

So i finally did something in Brisbane other then work or drink. I felt like a tourist again. My roommate Brian from France and I got my good friend Javi (Chile) to drive us 30 min. north to the sunshine coast for the Australian Zoo. So we walk in and it is the zoo that Steve Erwin set up so the first thing u see are a bunch of crocks and gators. Brian was all looking at them and i said come on i have these in FL i need to see a kangaroo. We walk around see every other animal including cassoways, echidna, lots of koalas that u could touch, tons of reptiles, then by that time there was a show so we had lunch and watched it. After lunch strait to the kangaroo pen. I thought they would be in an enclosure and i would see one. Since i haven't seen a kangaroo yet. we walk up to this giant gate one door opens, we wait for it to close open the second gate. It opens up into kangaroo heaven. There are hundreds of kangaroos and wallabies in this huge range with a river woods and fields. I feed some saw a joey and got lots of pics, which will be on Facebook. I also got to feed an elephant which made my hand stink really bad. Then we came back to the hostel got Chinese said my goodbyes to Javi, i will see her in march for Neisha's wedding. Then was just gonna grab a beer downstairs at the elephant and wheelbarrow but everyone found out it was my last night started buying me drinks ended up going to bunk got wasted and couldn't get up at 10am to check out so i changed my bus to tomorrow so ya know someday i will get out of this city. Well i gotta find a place to get my haircut- haven't gotten a cut since i have been here and it has been just over 2 months. Later

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Free at last

So this job i thought was ok but i didn't realize i would be working for the Italian devil. This lesbian 28 yr. old and her mom own and run this club in the Fortitude Valley of Brisbane. They are both alcoholics they sit outside and get drunk all day. Then if they see something they don't like they start screaming. At first i just said yeah ok but towards the end i would tell them they don't make sense. Well anyways i worked from 2pm to 6am on Fri then set up the bar on Sat from 2-7pm - she wanted me to work the night shift again. I am quitting when i get my paycheck anyway. I made enough money off them to travel again and that was the whole point. Makes me appreciate Vince and the others at brio a lot more. I am going to the Australian zoo that Steve Erwin set up on Wed then i leave on Thur. I am planning on going to Cairns slowly stopping most places in between like the island chain called Whitsundays on the great barrier reef. I am ready for some more adventure. Sorry i haven't been writing much but i have just been working, now that i am traveling i will update more often. I don't think i will miss Brisbane much but i will miss all the great friends i made here- stay in touch and if u are ever in the states i will show u a great time. I will get some pics of the zoo.going to the Normanby hotel a nice Sunday spot... good times!
Later

Monday, July 13, 2009

Work, Work, Work

That's all i have been doing. This is not why i came to Australia. I worked six day this week the only reason i had Monday off is bc its closed on Mon but we still had to go there for a meeting. I just gotta remember the more i save now the better my next travels will be. I started to look for a place and they do have rooms with short term leases but i don't know maybe i will just tough it out in the hostel and save the money. Then i don't have to be bothered with a bond or lease and there is always something going on. My good friend Adam went home yesterday to London had some fun and we will meet for a beer somewhere again. Went out all night all over the Valley for his last night don't really remember going back to the room. Gotta go get something to eat wish they had a taco bell here.
PS thanx George for putting up the pics
lata

Friday, July 10, 2009

Working Out - The Aussie Way

My best friend so far- Pascal a great french canadien

View from the yha surfers paradise

The jump spot and this is after Nimbin and a cookie

For all my Florida people, i thought we were the sunsine state

Eddie with the camera

Eddie, Javi, and I at Maxi's Surfers Paradise

They say its like Amsterdamn without the prosie's

It's so much harder then it looks

Monday, July 6, 2009

CLUB KALIBER

HEY- so i finally got that job i have been looking for. I got a job a restaurant/club called kaliber. I was told when i started it would be bar tending by the owner then the manager tells me it is half on the floor and half behind the bar. so i have worked four shifts on the floor now and its a little crazy. For example coffee over here is totally different. There are usually 3 servers on, one inside one outside and one stays behind the counter works the register and the espresso machine. That position i avoided the first day then the second day the old Italian owner tells me i have to learn that and told the other servers not to help me. Now its not like the U.S. u don't just get a coffee. Every coffee drink comes from espresso. so i have servers sending tickets saying long black, flat white and a whole lot of other shit i have never heard of. At Brio if i needed a cappuccino i would just get a server to make it WOW did that hurt me. So as i am in the middle of making 3 cappuccinos, a flat white, a soy long black, and two skinny flat whites 2 tables want me to cash them out. it was hell but i rocked it. oh yeah i also get to make stuff like milkshakes and hot choc. so today i got paid made my first legit Australian pay check. while i was there i checked the schedule (roster as they call it here) and tomorrow is my first bar shift and the rest of the week is all bar so i guess i passed their test. At this place they make their own infused vodka and they have 35 kinds. they have vodka flavors i never even thought of like marshmallow, cotton candy, gun powder, chili, milk, wasabi, rose petals, cinnamon, mint, and so on. now with these vodkas they make 99 martinis. so i guess i am just gonna look in the menu bc there is no way i will ever remember all those. its all good though i get 25 on the floor and 30 dollars per hour on the bar so i am happy looks like i will be in Brisbane for at least two months make some money then travel again. Thur. i am looking at a studio apt. so i don't have to stay in the hostel anymore which will be a good change. I really enjoy meeting people but i have been living out of a bag for a month now and it is getting old. it will be nice to have my own space and its almost as cheap if it works out. well i miss you all and i am thinking of doing some extra traveling after Australia like to Bali, Thailand, Vietnam, New Zealand, or Fiji so if anyone is feeling brave and wants to travel let me know i would love to go with someone but i am not scared to do it on my own obviously (i am here on my own)
ps- asia is soooo cheap people leave Australia with barely any money and go to south east asia and live like kings.
C-ya

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Funny Money

Man they sure do have some wierd money around here. They have no pennies on 5 cents so they round up. There are no bills smaller then five. They have 1 and 2 dollar coin. So at the end of the night I end up with so much change. There is huge 50 and 20 cent coins but the dollar coins are small and gold. Then the notes are like plastic and each has a window you can see through. They are all different colors when money is yellow (50) red (20) or blue (10) its a lot easier to spend. Them not being green seems not so real to me and that is why i haven't written in a while.

Nothing has been going on because i haven't been spending money and i am a little bored of Brisbane. Which sucks becaus it is like the last big city to the North and if i go south its cold. So the company IEP said they would gaurantee a job when you arrive right. So i get to Sydney and had two options 1- Banquet bar tend for this catering company sound great right. WRONG they had me schedueled one shift so i call to see the rest and i wasn't on again for at least 3 weeks plus i would have to go and get a RSA (responisble service of alcohol for 80 bucks.) Which i would have got but it is different for each state and i thought i wanted to go to Brisbane. So i never worked that job. Option 2- fruit picking not happening. So now i am on my own. I did go in for this waiter position and worked again one day but its not for me, maybe i am being too picky I mean whats the difference if your getting a hourly rate of 19 dollars. I also had an interview at this nice hotel has 3 bars is it but i went for the interview and it was 40 min. on the train. He offered me the job but i havent answered him yet. Its so far. I don't really know what to do but its gonna be something if i dont get the right job soon i am gonna move on.

Monday, June 22, 2009

BRISBANE

It was great to have a free place to stay for 3 nights but I couldn't take the couch anymore, plus i think maybe his other 4 roommates wanted their couch back. He had roommates from all over the world- Slovakia, Hungary, Korea, and Columbia. They all just rent a room in this big house. I met the landlord nice old lady from Vietnam, I got her number for later she owns lots of properties. Anyways she gave me a ride to the hostel which is way more central then Eddies place in Wollengaba. The nicest hostel i have stayed in yet- brand new, nice bathrooms, and a bar in it. So I went out the first night then just chilled yesterday and today I decided it was really time to start the job hunt. Went lots of places and applied online. Got two jobs in the first day- one bar tending and one serving. I start the serving one tomorrow (maybe once he sees i suck with a tray he will just let me do what i applied for). I think i may just keep them both save up some money so in two months when i start traveling again i can go everywhere. We will have to wait and see if they work out. I'll let you know.
p.s. new surfing pics on facebook

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Falling Behind

Sorry i am 3 stops behind on my blog updates. So let me catch you up, after Nimbin I went back to Byron Bay for one chill night. After checking out of the yha got back on the greyhound but only for 2 hrs this time. Went to gold coast at a beach called surfers paradise. Took it easy again yes 2 nights in a row. The next day my friend i know from the registry came to surfers. She came with her friend eddie from D.C. None of us have ever surfed but we tried it. It is so much harder then it looks. Hard but fun i got up for like a second, i figure 2 or 3 more times and ill get it. We went out that night downtown to a bar called Waxi's.

Then last night we took it easy, got to see most of the lakers game but i kept having to remind this Aussie guy to go back from national geographic- i dont think he liked basketball much. Checked out of the hostel today at 10am but didnt have to get on a bus this time!!!! we went to mcdonalds breakfast then drove to Brisbane. Went downtown and grocery shopping. Now eddie the guy from dc i just met is letting me sleep on his couch for a few. All part of the adventure plus its free.

Sucks done travelling for a little bit kinda sad but i gotta make some money before i see the rest. Which i will do regardless.

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Facebook

I made a facebook page and one of my traveling buddies put all my pics on there so check them out and eventually i will get them on this page. Find me on Facebook ok.

Nimbin and the waterfall

So i went on a day trip from Byron Bay inland to the small hippie town of Nimbin where weed is decriminalized. No if it was on the coast it wouldn't be but nobody lives inland so they just get left alone. So i got some cookies there pretty nice. Then we went to the rain forest and jumped off this massive waterfall real stonned. It was sooooo cold.

Friday, June 12, 2009

Beautiful Byron Bay

Sydney and Byron are completely opposite. Byrons beaches are amazing. Yesterday I went mountain biking on all the trails all the way up to the light house. The way back was way more fun. Then last night went to this backpacker bar Cheeky Monkey and got wasted they had some wet t-shirt contest. Today me and they guy i always call the Irish guy who now tells me he is welsh and doesn't appreciate me calling him Irish. From now on he is Owien ok. So me and Owien went to the beach and did some buggy boarding the water was freezing so we mostly just blazed on the amazing beach. Going to a BBQ now so bye.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

All night on a bus

I spend last night on a bus to Byron Bay- 12 hours but i did it the right way took the 9pm bus so i could sleep the whole way and miss paying for accommodations for one night. Oh yeah my last meal before i left was a kangaroo burger. Now to some Americans this might sound gross or mean but there are soooo many of them that when you order a burger they normally ask beef or kangaroo.
So now i am in Byron Bay a little warmer place up the coast. Compared to Sydney this seems soo tiny. So I am going to the grocery store and I see an Irish guy i know from sydney he left like 2 days before me and now we meet again pretty cool. I guess i cant put up pics on these rented time computers but some day you will see all of the pics. Gonna take a shower and then me and this canadien guy are going to see if we can get a rebroadcast of the red wings game.
Later

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Going north to warmer weather

Well guys its time for me to move on. Sydney was lots of fun but there is no work its just like the u.s. seasonal. So i am getting on a grayhound and going to Brisbane where i know two people and have a job waiting maybe. I get two stops on the way and have two weeks to get to Brisbane. I know i am stopping in Byron Bay gonna surf and sand board. Now i have to pick the other stop i heard new castle is ok surfers paradise maybe but Nimbin is the hippie stop of Australia so when i stop at one of these places i will let u know how it was. I may not have internet access i am leaving the IEP program office and going out on my own so it should be fun. Hope all is well with all of you and ill post when i can.

ps my camera is being gay with these macs they have in the office so i will try and put up some pics when i get use of a pc ok

Monday, June 8, 2009

Wanna learn a little Ausie?

Thanks - Cheers
Your welcome - No worries
Bro - Mate
Box wine - Goon
Joint - Dubbie
Sex - Root Lots - Heaps
Cell - Mobile
Garbage - Rubbish
Dress Warm - Nic Up
Pitcher - Jug
How are you - Ya goin'
Line - Que
Sun Tan - Bake
Luggage - Pack
Draft smaller then a pint - Schooner
Wasted - Pissed
Thanks - Tah
Sprite - Lemon Ade
Lemon Aid - Squash
Ginger Ale - Dry
Slot Machines - Pokies
911 - 000
To Go - Take Away
Entree - Main
Sun Glasses - Sunnies
Toilet - Lou
More to come i'm sure

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Call Me!!!

So jeorge thinks the number i posted was wrong i dunno so u think the country code is (61) then the cell code or area code is 4 then my number is 05189587. Try that and u know what u should just be here not chillin in PA.

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Finally found it

Yo!!!! So i hung out with a melting pot of travelers last night 3 Australians guys, 1 austrian guy, 1 german guy, 2 girls from Minnesota, a girl from Denmark, a guy from Jersey who's birthday it was, and 2 french Canadiens. The French Canadiens hooked me up with what i was looking for i was excited. So now im all good, better time everyday (went 5 days without, yes bwells 5 days.)

I walked to Darling harbor yesterday shit is real cool i wish someone was here to experience this with me- Jeorge.

Planning a trip up the coast to brisbane but i am going to ride the bus bc they have this deal where you can get off and on up to 40 times so basically unlimited so i am going to hit up all the little outback towns on the way then meet up with my friends in Brisbane.

Oh also i got a cell or as they say here a mobile so i dont expect anyone to call me but if you want to u can get a calling card for australia in and call me the country code is (02) then 0405189587 just remember we are 10 hrs ahead so 11pm to like 3 am is cool.

Remember people that think they know everything know less then u.

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

HOSTEL

So I am staying in a hostel which i thought i would hate but i actually like it i meet people from all over. I have two guys from Sweden in my room. We went out last night and they didn't know about jager bombs, they loved them. We took like 7 in a row. Then we got kicked out bc one the sweds couldn't handle and was too drunk to go back in after a smoke. So we took a cab to a new bar scruffy murphys where there was a whole group of americans there that i chilled with then we left after almost getting in a fight with an irish asshole. Tonite there is an event for IEP members the company i went with to get here. Sorry no pics yet maybe tonite i will bring out the camera. Love you and miss you all.

I made it!!!

Hey my people. I made it to Australia, I can't believe I am here. I had a bad start I missed a plane in Charlotte so I had to fly to San Fran. the next day. Then when I got there they told me they didn't have a flight to Sydney until Wed. so i had to fly to L.A. sit there all day then fly to Sydney. That's just the beginning then when I finally got to Sydney after 2 days of traveling they lost my bag. I finally got it back yesterday. So it is getting better now. Sydney is amazing, huge like New York City or London huge.

Thursday, May 14, 2009

I am just about ready for the 25 hour flight

Hi my friends.
I am leaving for Australia real soon, to be specific, the Day is 5/28/09.
My first stop is Sydney. After I get settled with my first job and place I will update.
Stay in touch.
Matt