It's 3am.
I woke up at 3am.
Because.
Jetlag. How I've missed you.
The non-official Supergirl has returned from Down Under!
I unfortunately did not find Aquaman. It was a complete disappointment. Trip ruined.
Brace yourselves, it's going to be a long post.
Before I left for Australia, I went to Nepal with my parents.
With views like this:
Pretty safe to say you should go there.
Especially when you wake up to this:
Then fast-forward a week and I'm in Australia!
I started my 2.5 week solo-trip adventure in Melbourne.
The journey there however.
What.
China Southern Airlines. I don't think so.
Don't get me wrong, the food was amazing. I just wasn't partial to the 12 minutes I needed to charge from one gate to the other with two minutes to spare.
As I ran I felt like Usain Bolt.
Pretty sure I looked like something that can't run.
(I spent a full 15 minutes looking up "things that can't run" and that's the best I could come up with. I don't know. I guess I could have said chicken. Can chickens run? Like fully sprint?)
So Melbourne! The city of four seasons!
Melbourne. I like you. I met some really cool people there. And I've discovered the best way to meet people is to ask:
Where in the States are you guys from?
Only to have that questioned answered by: Um. Nowhere. We're from Australia.*
*Awkward.
I also did a free walking tour of the city which I definitely recommend. It's a 3 hour long walk in 30+ degree weather but you really get to see the entire CBD. Met some cool people then too. Yosemite in April right?
I went on a tour of the Great Ocean Road which had views like this:
It's alright to be jealous guys.
Then one day we went to St. Kilda's "beach" which was actually a really nice beach except for the fact that the day after I read the news where it stated that all of Melbourne's beaches were .... faeces infested. So there was that.
New Years Eve was a really great day and night. All those cool people I mentioned came to the CBD and we saw Darthvader playing the guitar.
Melbourne's fireworks were definitely better than those of Sydney.
Thanks for a great night guys!
Next stop was Sydney.
So I arrive at my hostel and lo and behold, it was complete false advertising! You booked one bed in a 10 person room? Nope! That room has now changed to fit 18 people. With one bathroom. That gets cleaned at 6:30am.
Luckily I could bond with everyone in the room over the crappiness of the room. And thus again met some really cool people.
Basically I need to find a job or someone willing to give me about 2000 euro so I can visit all these people. Any offers?
While in Sydney I went to the Blue Mountains which had views like this:
But that's not so important.
I PETTED A KOALA. IT WAS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE. (Besides the time I spent half a day with an elephant). (And besides the day my niece was born.) (And besides the day I won the free throw competition.) (You get my point).
I mean if you look past the claws that could you rip to shreds and the chlamydia those things are quite literally the best things ever.
Then one day because I am not a smart person I walked from my hostel (in Coogee) down to Bondi Beach and back. I walked 14.6km that day.
Swimming was off-limits because of these wonderful things called jellyfish.
Little tiny blue death traps. (So that's an exaggeration but you get my point). Also the water temp was only 25 degrees. So that's just a no go.
The Sydney CBD was pretty cool. It's much more commercialized than Melbourne. But I can understand why Melbourne was voted most liveable city four years in a row. Sydney was bigger and had more to see, but Melbourne was more people friendly (free tram throughout the CBD). I would compare Sydney to NYC and Melbourne to some place thats filled with hipsters. (Again I spent a full 15 minutes trying to think of a comparable place and could not come up with it). I guess maybe San Fransisco? Melbourne is a special place on its own. Sydney is more suited to those who live a fast paced life.
Third stop was the Gold Coast where I was hosted by lovely people who showed me local Australian culture. Meaning food. What trip isn't complete without trying local food.
Vegemite:
Never again.
After (at this point) 10+ days of high intensity adventuring I needed this place. I needed a day at the pool sitting on an inflatable pink flamingo. And Netflix.
Of course I saw the sights, Surfers Paradise and all that but an inflatable pink flamingo was the only thing I really wanted. And Netflix. And a bed. In a room by myself.
Thanks again for having me!
Last stop was Cairns! (Read: Great Barrier Reef).
Being that it was summer and rainy season, my hair progressed to grow about 3 times it's size.
Also, Australia. Your weather was a bit of a let down. I expected 35+ and I get 18 - 25!
Cairns is a nice little town, but again no swimming because crocodiles.
And at this point I'm being told repeatedly by tour guides and locals: NO NOT EVERYTHING IS TRYING TO KILL YOU HERE.
Whatever you say guys.
So. I went snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef.
And of course this is the only picture I took of it:
BUT I went snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef.
And it was awesome. Besides the fact that apparently my head is too small and thus was required to wear a child's mask.
Thanks for that. Really. It's not like I'll be 23 next week or anything.
I saw Nemo! And Dory! And another little fish that tried to eat me. That was slightly uncalled for though. (Mind you he was probably the size of my pinky but still.)
And then this jellyfish (which later I was told was completely harmless) had the audacity to come right up to my face and invade my personal space.
The Reef was basically everything you could picture it to be. Fishes, jellyfish and turtles everywhere.
Also met some really cool people on this tour (who I'm really hoping won't be posting that incredibly flattering picture of us fully suited up - stinger suit, masks and all.)
My last day was bittersweet.
The journey back was a 32 hour nightmare but I won't go into that.
I can honestly say I learned a few things from this trip:
1. I cannot take selfies.
2. Traveling alone can be lonely (at first), especially when you're literally on the other side of the world. But it gets better.
3. The water in the toilet does actually flush the other way.
4. I still cannot read a map and proceeded to get lost quite a few times. Orientation is not my friend.
5. Take earplugs wherever I go.
Australia, thank you. If you'll have me, I'll be back.
I do need to thank a few people who weren't with me in Australia but kept my mind sane as I'm pretty sure I drove you guys insane. So Belgians, Swedes and people currently in Delhi, thanks for listening to me complain.* Reunion in a few months?
And here are a few more random pictures from the last 2.5 weeks:
*Parents and other family members, thank you to you as well of course. I wouldn't have been able to go on this trip without you all.
I woke up at 3am.
Because.
Jetlag. How I've missed you.
The non-official Supergirl has returned from Down Under!
I unfortunately did not find Aquaman. It was a complete disappointment. Trip ruined.
Brace yourselves, it's going to be a long post.
Before I left for Australia, I went to Nepal with my parents.
With views like this:
Especially when you wake up to this:
Then fast-forward a week and I'm in Australia!
I started my 2.5 week solo-trip adventure in Melbourne.
The journey there however.
What.
China Southern Airlines. I don't think so.
Don't get me wrong, the food was amazing. I just wasn't partial to the 12 minutes I needed to charge from one gate to the other with two minutes to spare.
As I ran I felt like Usain Bolt.
Pretty sure I looked like something that can't run.
(I spent a full 15 minutes looking up "things that can't run" and that's the best I could come up with. I don't know. I guess I could have said chicken. Can chickens run? Like fully sprint?)
So Melbourne! The city of four seasons!
Melbourne. I like you. I met some really cool people there. And I've discovered the best way to meet people is to ask:
Where in the States are you guys from?
Only to have that questioned answered by: Um. Nowhere. We're from Australia.*
*Awkward.
I also did a free walking tour of the city which I definitely recommend. It's a 3 hour long walk in 30+ degree weather but you really get to see the entire CBD. Met some cool people then too. Yosemite in April right?
I went on a tour of the Great Ocean Road which had views like this:
It's alright to be jealous guys.
Then one day we went to St. Kilda's "beach" which was actually a really nice beach except for the fact that the day after I read the news where it stated that all of Melbourne's beaches were .... faeces infested. So there was that.
New Years Eve was a really great day and night. All those cool people I mentioned came to the CBD and we saw Darthvader playing the guitar.
Melbourne's fireworks were definitely better than those of Sydney.
Thanks for a great night guys!
Next stop was Sydney.
So I arrive at my hostel and lo and behold, it was complete false advertising! You booked one bed in a 10 person room? Nope! That room has now changed to fit 18 people. With one bathroom. That gets cleaned at 6:30am.
Luckily I could bond with everyone in the room over the crappiness of the room. And thus again met some really cool people.
Basically I need to find a job or someone willing to give me about 2000 euro so I can visit all these people. Any offers?
While in Sydney I went to the Blue Mountains which had views like this:
I PETTED A KOALA. IT WAS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE. (Besides the time I spent half a day with an elephant). (And besides the day my niece was born.) (And besides the day I won the free throw competition.) (You get my point).
I mean if you look past the claws that could you rip to shreds and the chlamydia those things are quite literally the best things ever.
Then one day because I am not a smart person I walked from my hostel (in Coogee) down to Bondi Beach and back. I walked 14.6km that day.
Swimming was off-limits because of these wonderful things called jellyfish.
Little tiny blue death traps. (So that's an exaggeration but you get my point). Also the water temp was only 25 degrees. So that's just a no go.
 |
| Bondi Beach |
The Sydney CBD was pretty cool. It's much more commercialized than Melbourne. But I can understand why Melbourne was voted most liveable city four years in a row. Sydney was bigger and had more to see, but Melbourne was more people friendly (free tram throughout the CBD). I would compare Sydney to NYC and Melbourne to some place thats filled with hipsters. (Again I spent a full 15 minutes trying to think of a comparable place and could not come up with it). I guess maybe San Fransisco? Melbourne is a special place on its own. Sydney is more suited to those who live a fast paced life.
Third stop was the Gold Coast where I was hosted by lovely people who showed me local Australian culture. Meaning food. What trip isn't complete without trying local food.
Vegemite:
Never again.
After (at this point) 10+ days of high intensity adventuring I needed this place. I needed a day at the pool sitting on an inflatable pink flamingo. And Netflix.
Of course I saw the sights, Surfers Paradise and all that but an inflatable pink flamingo was the only thing I really wanted. And Netflix. And a bed. In a room by myself.
Thanks again for having me!
Last stop was Cairns! (Read: Great Barrier Reef).
 |
| Cairn's Residents |
Also, Australia. Your weather was a bit of a let down. I expected 35+ and I get 18 - 25!
Cairns is a nice little town, but again no swimming because crocodiles.
And at this point I'm being told repeatedly by tour guides and locals: NO NOT EVERYTHING IS TRYING TO KILL YOU HERE.
Whatever you say guys.
So. I went snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef.
And of course this is the only picture I took of it:
BUT I went snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef.
And it was awesome. Besides the fact that apparently my head is too small and thus was required to wear a child's mask.
Thanks for that. Really. It's not like I'll be 23 next week or anything.
I saw Nemo! And Dory! And another little fish that tried to eat me. That was slightly uncalled for though. (Mind you he was probably the size of my pinky but still.)
And then this jellyfish (which later I was told was completely harmless) had the audacity to come right up to my face and invade my personal space.
The Reef was basically everything you could picture it to be. Fishes, jellyfish and turtles everywhere.
Also met some really cool people on this tour (who I'm really hoping won't be posting that incredibly flattering picture of us fully suited up - stinger suit, masks and all.)
My last day was bittersweet.
The journey back was a 32 hour nightmare but I won't go into that.
I can honestly say I learned a few things from this trip:
1. I cannot take selfies.
2. Traveling alone can be lonely (at first), especially when you're literally on the other side of the world. But it gets better.
3. The water in the toilet does actually flush the other way.
4. I still cannot read a map and proceeded to get lost quite a few times. Orientation is not my friend.
5. Take earplugs wherever I go.
Australia, thank you. If you'll have me, I'll be back.
I do need to thank a few people who weren't with me in Australia but kept my mind sane as I'm pretty sure I drove you guys insane. So Belgians, Swedes and people currently in Delhi, thanks for listening to me complain.* Reunion in a few months?
And here are a few more random pictures from the last 2.5 weeks:
 |
| A wild koala |
 |
| Great Ocean Road |
 |
| Famous Hosier Lane where people are allowed to spray paint in Melbourne |
 |
| Hosier Lane |
 |
| So turns out those rescue shows are real. Lady fell over and sprained her ankle so the lifeguards and a camera crew came to the rescue. |
*Parents and other family members, thank you to you as well of course. I wouldn't have been able to go on this trip without you all.
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