Christmas Holidays Diary!
Should have done this a lot earlier! Right after returning to Melbourne from a more than fantastic trip, life in the 'most livable city on earth' continued at least as busy as before with new projects at work, salsa lessons, the search for a new housemate, huge surf hitting the beaches and reefs around, the Australian Open, and how surprising - not much time left for blogging or 'smugmug-ing'. More about all these things will be readable (once..;)) in my next posts! Now read on for a brief diary of my Christmas Holidays, and be sure to have a look in my Photo Album as well, which has been updated with about 100 new pictures.
Fri dec 23, 2005
At 3 o'clock a cab left from Rupert Street 9. Me, Fernanda, Felipe, and of course my surfboard aboard. At 7 o'clock local time, our plane touched the ground in confortable warm Goldcoast! The place literally breaths the Ocean, which became clear as soon as we left the aircraft when a nice sea breeze blew into our faces. Brett, a friend from AIESEC Sydney, had invited us to spend Christmas and the days after at his mothers house. He picked us up and drove us there over the Pacific Highway. We spend the night having dinner and walking around in Surfers Paradise, the heart of Goldcoast.
Sa, dec 24, 2005
In the morning Fiona arrived, the Indonesian trainee from Melbourne. Despite her disablement, a badly injured knee which made it impossible for her to walk without crutches, she decided to join as our fourth travel mate. After we arranged a rental car we drove to a beach and spend all day there. Sun aplenty! However, a complete lack of surf, with a Pacific Ocean flatter than a Dutch pankcake and not any movement in the ocean forecasted until the new year. At night we had a great and delicious Christmas meal with Brett and his family and we all got our Christmas presents afterwards.
Su, dec 25, 2005
Bretts mum, really an amazing host, prepared us a good Christmas breakfast, after which we went for another day on the beach. The car packed with remainings of snacks drinks and meals from the night before. Christmas on a Goldcoast beach, nice blue and warm water (23 degrees), kilometers of golden sand, enough space for everyone. Even without waves, I must say not a bad thing at all! ;)
Mo, dec 26, 2005
Together with Brett, his mum, brother and (pregnant) sister in law, we hired a boat and spend all day on Goldcoasts inland watters. Cruising around, chilling, enjoying the sun, snorkling (thousands of beautiful fishes of all colors, sizes and shapes!), having a barbie on one of the many islands, seeing wallabees and lots of pelicans. A wonderful day!
Tu, dec 27, 2005
Enough beach and water for a while, we decided to go on a trip to the hinterland: Lamington National Park. A 1 1/2 hour drive from Goldcoast. Rugged mountain scenery, the largest subtropical rainforest remnant in the world, varied wildlife including heaps of (at least to me) exotic birds, amazing panoramas, exciting tree-top walks. An amazing day out!
Wed, dec 28, 2005
Another one-day trip. But instead of the natural beauty of thousands years old bush, this time it was all about enjoying the beauty of Australia's third largest city, Capital of Queensland, Brisbane! A modern, progressive city, which appeared to breath a very relaxing, to me kind of Mediterranean atmosphere. We rent a wheelchair for fiona. Among other things we did lots of walking (and wheelchair driving), around the wonderful City Business District, at the Brisbane river banks, in some of the many beautiful parks, and the mayor shopping streets. We also went on a boat trip to see the city from the water, and managed to get a glimp of Brisbanes thriving nightlive in the evening, together with some AIESECers living in Brisbane.
Thu, dec 29, 2005
After a one hour flight we arrived in Sidney at around 2pm, where our ways separated. Fernanda and Felipe went to their Brasilian friend living at Manly Beach. Fiona and me went to Fiona's friends apartment right in the city center, our homebase for the next few days. To get a first impression of Sidney, we made a trip in the monorail and went to see the famous Harbour Bridge and Opera House in the night.
Fri, dec 30, 2005.
We spend all day walking around and sightseeing in the center of Sidney. Darlin Harbour, The Queen Victoria Building, Chinatown, and again the Opera House and Harbour Bridge, because it's so beautiful! An amazing day filled with lots of fantastic new impressions of a wonderful worldcity!
Sa, dec 31, 2005.
An absolutely unforgettable old year's day! Early in the morning, Fiona, her friend Yuki and me took the ferry to Manly beach, the place where our Brazilian travelmates stayed. Perfect weather, and for the first time this trip, although quite small, surfable WAVES! After a relaxing day on the beach and in the warm sea water, we all bought lots of wine, champaign, and snacks, and conquered a very good place close to the Harbour bridge between millions of people, to drink, laugh, picnic and wait for the Fireworks. At 12 o'clock, the biggest fireworks I've ever seen went off. Goose Bumps!! Everybody went crazy, the atmosphere was fantastic. Indescribable!!
Su, jan 1, 2006
The hottest New Years day ever measured in Sidney. 44 degrees. I spend the day at an overcrowded Bondi Beach, with Fernanda, Felipe, and Bianca, Gerbrand and Marcell, who had also happened to be in Sidney.
Mo, jan 2, 2006
The last day in Sidney, I spend alone, and with a reason: Good waves!!! I went to Marubra beach, on recommendation of Marcell, who's from Sidney originally. He was right, the place is good for surfing! The 1,5m sets broke very well, and it was not crowded. A good day of surfing was exactly what was needed to complete the best Christmas Holidays of my life. Tired of the paddling, but totally satisfied I boarded the airplain back to Melbourne in the evening!
Fri dec 23, 2005At 3 o'clock a cab left from Rupert Street 9. Me, Fernanda, Felipe, and of course my surfboard aboard. At 7 o'clock local time, our plane touched the ground in confortable warm Goldcoast! The place literally breaths the Ocean, which became clear as soon as we left the aircraft when a nice sea breeze blew into our faces. Brett, a friend from AIESEC Sydney, had invited us to spend Christmas and the days after at his mothers house. He picked us up and drove us there over the Pacific Highway. We spend the night having dinner and walking around in Surfers Paradise, the heart of Goldcoast.
Sa, dec 24, 2005In the morning Fiona arrived, the Indonesian trainee from Melbourne. Despite her disablement, a badly injured knee which made it impossible for her to walk without crutches, she decided to join as our fourth travel mate. After we arranged a rental car we drove to a beach and spend all day there. Sun aplenty! However, a complete lack of surf, with a Pacific Ocean flatter than a Dutch pankcake and not any movement in the ocean forecasted until the new year. At night we had a great and delicious Christmas meal with Brett and his family and we all got our Christmas presents afterwards.
Su, dec 25, 2005Bretts mum, really an amazing host, prepared us a good Christmas breakfast, after which we went for another day on the beach. The car packed with remainings of snacks drinks and meals from the night before. Christmas on a Goldcoast beach, nice blue and warm water (23 degrees), kilometers of golden sand, enough space for everyone. Even without waves, I must say not a bad thing at all! ;)
Mo, dec 26, 2005
Together with Brett, his mum, brother and (pregnant) sister in law, we hired a boat and spend all day on Goldcoasts inland watters. Cruising around, chilling, enjoying the sun, snorkling (thousands of beautiful fishes of all colors, sizes and shapes!), having a barbie on one of the many islands, seeing wallabees and lots of pelicans. A wonderful day!
Tu, dec 27, 2005 Enough beach and water for a while, we decided to go on a trip to the hinterland: Lamington National Park. A 1 1/2 hour drive from Goldcoast. Rugged mountain scenery, the largest subtropical rainforest remnant in the world, varied wildlife including heaps of (at least to me) exotic birds, amazing panoramas, exciting tree-top walks. An amazing day out!
Wed, dec 28, 2005Another one-day trip. But instead of the natural beauty of thousands years old bush, this time it was all about enjoying the beauty of Australia's third largest city, Capital of Queensland, Brisbane! A modern, progressive city, which appeared to breath a very relaxing, to me kind of Mediterranean atmosphere. We rent a wheelchair for fiona. Among other things we did lots of walking (and wheelchair driving), around the wonderful City Business District, at the Brisbane river banks, in some of the many beautiful parks, and the mayor shopping streets. We also went on a boat trip to see the city from the water, and managed to get a glimp of Brisbanes thriving nightlive in the evening, together with some AIESECers living in Brisbane.
Thu, dec 29, 2005
After a one hour flight we arrived in Sidney at around 2pm, where our ways separated. Fernanda and Felipe went to their Brasilian friend living at Manly Beach. Fiona and me went to Fiona's friends apartment right in the city center, our homebase for the next few days. To get a first impression of Sidney, we made a trip in the monorail and went to see the famous Harbour Bridge and Opera House in the night.
Fri, dec 30, 2005.We spend all day walking around and sightseeing in the center of Sidney. Darlin Harbour, The Queen Victoria Building, Chinatown, and again the Opera House and Harbour Bridge, because it's so beautiful! An amazing day filled with lots of fantastic new impressions of a wonderful worldcity!
Sa, dec 31, 2005.An absolutely unforgettable old year's day! Early in the morning, Fiona, her friend Yuki and me took the ferry to Manly beach, the place where our Brazilian travelmates stayed. Perfect weather, and for the first time this trip, although quite small, surfable WAVES! After a relaxing day on the beach and in the warm sea water, we all bought lots of wine, champaign, and snacks, and conquered a very good place close to the Harbour bridge between millions of people, to drink, laugh, picnic and wait for the Fireworks. At 12 o'clock, the biggest fireworks I've ever seen went off. Goose Bumps!! Everybody went crazy, the atmosphere was fantastic. Indescribable!!
Su, jan 1, 2006
The hottest New Years day ever measured in Sidney. 44 degrees. I spend the day at an overcrowded Bondi Beach, with Fernanda, Felipe, and Bianca, Gerbrand and Marcell, who had also happened to be in Sidney.
Mo, jan 2, 2006
The last day in Sidney, I spend alone, and with a reason: Good waves!!! I went to Marubra beach, on recommendation of Marcell, who's from Sidney originally. He was right, the place is good for surfing! The 1,5m sets broke very well, and it was not crowded. A good day of surfing was exactly what was needed to complete the best Christmas Holidays of my life. Tired of the paddling, but totally satisfied I boarded the airplain back to Melbourne in the evening!
