Note to Self #4

I enjoy hostelling and sharing dorm rooms with other travellers. It's easy on the budget, and it's a great way to meet people. However...it is not necessary to endure 3 consecutive nights with random roomies who snore so loudly that earplugs are deemed USELESS. There is something to be said for CHUCKING the budget and paying for a motel room.

Apollo Bay

Since my stay in Lorne was very social, my time in Apollo Bay seems more solitary in comparison. Apollo Bay is cute, but it’s a one-street town (a village, really), with not a lot going on. So I have officially declared this portion of my trip to be: THE APOLLO BAY WEEKEND RETREAT!My schedule is as follows:

Morning:
Run the length of the beach and back.Catch up on the blog and emails at the Internet Café while enjoying a cappuccino. OR
Read a book, sip a Flat White and eat a Passion Fruit muffin at another café.
Wander Aimlessly on the beach.

Afternoon:
Nap. AND/OR
Snack.
Read on the beach if it's sunny.
Do yoga.
Surf.

Evening:
Make dinner while chatting with other hostel guests.
Try a different Aussie beer with dinner.
Chat some more.
Read.

You can gauge the temperature of the water by noting how scrunched up my toes are as the water hits them!

Note to Self #3

When you think you’ve packed as light as you possibly can…pack EVEN LIGHTER! The surfboard is light, but awkward. You gotta admit though…I am slowly improving on this!
(The BULK of my belongings are in a Mini Self-Storage Unit in North Melbourne.)

Lorne

I’ve been staying at the Great Ocean Road YHA Backpacker’s Lodge in Lorne for the last little while. It is a cute collection of two-storey pine lodges nestled in the hillside. I’ve had a great time meeting people and making some new connections with other International travellers and Aussies.
I’ve surfed everyday I’ve been here, and I feel like I get better every time I'm out on the water. Matt and Jasmina, the couple who manage the cottages are super nice and quite a lot of fun. I have been out surfing with Jasmina a couple times. My roommate, Katja from Germany is great too! I feel a little sad having to move on...but I'll come back....FOR SURE!

There are resident koalas, cockatoos, lorakeets and parrots here. (They like to be hand fed.)

Reflections on the Australian Bush Fly

Hate Them! They move with you in small clouds around your face. It's kind of unpleasant to eat outside on patios/street cafes. They are NASTY!!
Some information for your reading enjoyment:

The Victorian Fly Suppression Unit describes the problem as follows:

"The bush fly has been identified as the primary outdoor pest, especially at social functions, sporting activities and other pursuits in open areas. It occurs around homes in the outer suburban areas each summer and can also be a problem in the inner suburbs and the city itself in certain 'plague' years. House flies, stable flies and blow flies are secondary problems in and around homes, particularly at backyard barbeques or other outdoor leisure activities. Unlike bush flies they usually do not travel far from their breeding source and large numbers can generally be traced to neglected plant or animal waste in the near vicinity."

"The Fly Suppression Unit has confirmed that the bush fly does not breed in the metropolitan area but is blown in from farming areas. Its main breeding source is cattle dung and during summer breeding takes place throughout pastoral areas of Victoria. In winter, the fly dies out in Victoria, but each spring returns from States to the north of us, carried on the northerly winds."

It is not unusual to see Aussies break off smaller branches from gum trees and use them as switches to keep the flies at bay. This is my switch with a view of the Lorne Foreshore in the background.

Fish and Chips!

I had my first Aussie Fish and Chips meal the other night. The “Flake and Chips” is not just white fish…it’s SHARK!
Not "Great White"...but still shark!

TAKE THE PLUNGE!

Board Hire and Suit Hire (at $50 for 1/2 day) for AT LEAST 60 days is approx. $3000.00 AUS.
VERSUS
New Mini Malibu 7’2 ($500 ), New "Wettie" (wetsuit) ($120), a Leggie (leash) ($30) and a Board Bag ($120) is $770.00 AUS.

Conclusion: Stop doing the math and get out on the water!



I hope my math is right! I'm committed now!

Surf Mecca

Torquay is the first stop of real significance along the Surf Coast Highway. It’s the home of the big Aussie wave, birthplace of Rip Curl and Quicksilver, and host to the famous annual Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach. This seaside town marks the beginning of the path I have chosen to travel for the next 2 months: The Great Ocean Road.


The beaches are wide and still not TOO crowded. I walked the 5 km. from Torquay to the famous Bells Beach along the beach walk. It’s got some great viewpoints of Jan Juc and Winkipop beaches along the way.

Funky Stuff

I spent my last weekend in Melbourne at “The Nunnery”. It’s a funky guesthouse across the road from Carlton Gardens and the Melbourne Museum. It’s in a part of town called Fitzroy, and the surrounding blocks are packed with trendy and bohemian shops, cafes, restaurants and bars. It’s got a little bit of an edge to it too. I wouldn’t mind living here when school starts!)
While the it served as a home to nuns in the diocese at one time, The Nunnery has been a popular backpackers stop for a while.

Australia Smells “Noice” in Spring!

It was rather chilly in Melbourne on the weekend, and I was happy that I had my down vest handy! So the weather might be unpredictable, but flowers are blooming, trees are coming into leaf, and WHEN the sun is out…it’s never cooler that 22 degrees and it’s lovely! As I wandered around some of the inner eastern suburbs, I noticed the heady scent of jasmine wafting through the air, and when the sun shines brightly, you can smell the eucalypt scent from the gum trees.


Wattle smells noice too. This pic is from Canberra.

Melbourne International Arts Festival

Happily, I was able to check out some of this festival before taking off for the coast.
Of note:I saw a Canadian company performing a great play called Half Life, written by John Mighton. The show was at the Arts Centre on St. Kilda St., the focal point of the Arts Precinct. The Arts Centre is replete with 6 performance spaces, lots of red carpet and reflective surfaces.

The distinctive spire on the top of the Arts Centre is lit up at night, (as much of downtown Melbourne is…), and it’s meant to look like the swirling skirt of a ballerina.


The view of The Arts Precinct from "SKYDECK!" The Arts Centre and the Art Gallery.

McDonald's in Australia

“MACCA’S” is a favourite Down here too!

The Australian alternative to Tim Horton's...

I was disappointed by the fries … It’s true AND sad!

Reasons Why I Like Melbourne: PUBLIC ART

You can’t go far in this city before you come across a sculpture, a painting, grafitti art (which is encouraged here), or chalk murals on the sidewalk. Some of my favourites this week:

A Coin Purse outside of the GPO, an upscale shopping arcade downtown.


Some kind of Ugly Puppy in front of the Westin Hotel.


Aboriginal Pathways in Birrarung Marr Park, along the Yarra River.

Thanksgiving in Melbourne

Needless to say, Australians don’t celebrate our Thanksgiving. Using the wonders of the Internet, I have found a group of Canadian ex-pats here in Melbourne. They are known as “The Canada Club of Victoria” ( for some reason, I find this funny.)

My membership details were expedited so I could be included in the dinner. Turkey and ham were served with all the fixings, and heaps of pumpkin pie and ice cream for dessert! It was all very tasty, and I met a bunch of “noice” people.
I was invited to join the group for the Grey Cup party… and Hockey Nights in Australia!!
Funny thing: I thought it might be overkill to wear my Roots Canada shirt….but the majority of people showed up wearing white and red! I’ll know for next time! (Oh, and if anyone is interested, I get a 20% discount on blade sharpening at a local skate shop. It's all about the perks, people!)

What the Hell am I doing?!

I had a panic attack on the streets of Melbourne the other day. Well…. that is PERHAPS overly dramatic. I was walking down one of the main streets of the city, and it struck me:
“I am going to live in a big city. Melbourne is BIG --- like New York-big!” (by Australian standards, at least….and mine too!) I sat down at the nearest café and ordered a hot “trim” latte. I was okay after that.
This is a view from 88th floor of The Eureka Tower.. It’s the “highest viewing platform in the Southern Hemisphere”. Melburnians call it “SKYDECK!”

Central Melbourne: Some Downtown Views

I walked and walked and walked some more today, and I KIND OF have a handle on the city's CBD. These are some of the things I saw.

A View of the CBD across the Yarra River from South Bank.

Outside the State Library...Very Planet of the Apes!



A piece of Public Art and the Towers of South Bank

NOTE TO SELF #2

Pack LESS …. especially when you have to carry it yourself!

NOTE TO SELF #1

Always consider your chosen hotel’s proximity to train and tram tracks before booking!
I already know this! WHY am I such a slow learner ??! (No comments please!)

Melbourne

Today I had an interview for the Postgraduate program at the Victorian College of the Arts. I had a tour of the facilities and an intense conversation with the "Head of School" there, Richard Murphet. It was a good interview, and I was offered a spot in the program there in February.
What's next? See the city, and then head for the surf!

Sights of Canberra

We visited the National Museum. It is excellent…along the lines of the Museum of Civilization in Ottawa! It’s focus is “the Australian identity”. It’s not all about Rugby, Marmite and Walkabouts…

The following is a ridiculous statement: There was a lot of great art at the National Gallery. Pollock, Monet, Warhol, and of course, Sidney Nolan’s series on Ned Kelly…Australia’s famous outlaw. More about him later!

The entrance of the gallery.


…considering an aluminum (pronounced “aloo-min-ee-um” here) sculpture in the Gallery’s gardens.

FLORIADE

Australia’s Spring Flowers.




















The crazy looking flower that in no way resembles a flowering bulb is the Waratah: The state flower of New South Wales. It's in a display here at Floriade, but I've also seen it displayed fresh in a few designer dress shops in Sydney too.

Road Trip!

I joined the Wicketts on a road trip to Canberra, the National Capital of Australia. Our purpose: to enjoy the massive floral displays at Floriade, the annual “Festival of Spring” hosted in Canberra.

My Rules for “Zen Travel”

Remember:

1. It is not easy to drive on the “other side” of the road AND the car.
2. The windshield wipers are where the turn signal should be.
3. Street signage is very unclear and confusing. Turns, merges and major freeways seem to sneak up awful quick.
4. If there’s a freeway exit…there’s a freeway entrance.
5. The more navigators the better!
6. The driver will usually follow his instinct when making split-second decisions.
7. MapQuest is not to be trusted.
8. Maps are good. GPS systems are better.
9. Watch for pedestrians, wombats and kangaroos.
10. When given a choice: Smile, disengage, listen to your iPod and watch the scenery go by…