June!!!

Music: Ben- Michael Jackson (RIP)

I checked the ol’ blog, and I was definitely surprised that the last time I wrote was at the beginning of June!  Holy Crow!  I’m getting bad at these updates.  I’m even getting bad at updating my own personal “for my eyes only” diary.  Things probably won’t improve when i hit the road again.

That’s right kiddies, tomorrow morning I head north on a train with my partner in crime, Natalie.  Wee!

But first, an update.

June.

June was AWESOME.  The beginning was Nats birthday.  Her birthday is june 4th, which, in Australia, is the beginning of “winter”.  I went up to the Sunshine Coast to surprise her with champagne and birthday hats, and we showed those uni students how to party.  The next day, we lounged on the beach and went to a local fish and chips shop for lunch.  Some might say it was perfect.  Well, at least i do.  Whenever i’m on the coasts of Queensland, it just blows my mind how lucky aussies are.  Every day, no matter what time of the year it is, unless it’s raining, you can head out and take a gorgeous stroll on the beach and even go swimming.  Totally paradise.

We drove back down to Brisbane that day to find out that our old mates, Tom and Rich (of Thailand and of Sydney) were travelling up the coast and would be reaching Brissy that Sunday for a classic Aussie Sunday session.  It was great seeing the guys again.  I love when people bring up memories of our travelling days in Asia, and its always nice to do it over a *coughcough* few drinks.

We took the guys out and about in Brisbane.  It’s a pretty nice city to walk around for the day, especially taking the boats along the river and walking through the parks and the waterfront.

We also went to the famous Steve Irwin zoo.  GREAT zoo, people.   Absolutely gorgeous!  Such a great, animal friendly zoo.  Little emotional seeing pictures of Steve Irwin, but at least his wife and children are carrying on his legacy.   We even caught a glimps of Bob Irwin (the little one).  The day at the zoo with the animals is probably one of my top ten days in Australia.

This time it was a REAL goodbye with Tom and Rich.  I have no plans of bumping into them in the next few months.. and definitely no money to go to England.  One day boys.. one day.

Last week was Tamara, Hayley and my super awesome two days in Sydney.   We went down for the State of Origin on a plane early wednesday morning from the Gold Coast.  We celebrated with Champagne on the plane and as soon as we dropped our stuff off at the backpackers, we headed into the beautiful city of Sydney.  Or more specifically, Tams favourite pub, The Lowenbrau.  Only eleven am, and i was already drinking down a litre of beer.

We ended up chatting with the only other people in the pub… four older males who took a liking to us, and invited us over to their penthouse.

Their penthouse suite… 18th floor of the Mantra, downtown Sydney.

Heck yes!

So we did.  We partied in a penthouse suite before the game, where the boys supplied us with all the drinks and foods we could ever want, and invited us over after the game.  The game itself was awesome.  Such a good atmosphere being in a huge sold out stadium of 80 000, surrounded by people drinking, high fiving, yelling and having a good ol time.  Partying all night in the penthouse wasn’t shabby either.

We spent the next day in Sydney, walking around the beautiful city, touching the opera house, taking a boat ride around the city and laughing about how lucky our night was.

Now it’s the end of June, and i’ve just had my last weekend in Brisbane.  I obviously partied with Tamara and Ed, my two besties here in Brisbane and had a delightful goodbye with Narelle (my coworker) and her family as well as the rest of my coworkers on my last shift.  Natalie was able to make it down for the weekend too, so saturday night was mayhem.

I’m really excited to leave and start travelling again, but really sad to leave Brisbane.  Its been a good home for the last 4-5 months and I’m going to be sad to leave my adopted brother Lachlan, sister Kaitlyn, mom and dad, Sharon and Laurie.  I can’t imagine not spending a day at Tam and Ed’s house, or seeing my coworkers again. . booo.

Today i got some good news though…. Tamara is coming to Canada!!!!!!  She bought her one way ticket yesterday and I will be picking her up in the Toronto airport on December 17th!!!!  (Oh, btw, mom… there will be an extra head for Christmas.)  I’m really excited for Tam to come and join me in Canada, and super keen to get into all the winter sports, since it will be like, her second time seeing snow!  Woo!

So now I’m off to the North, to visit Nat’s dad in a place called Cape Tribulation.  No power, no cell phone connection, no city.  So long city life!  Catch up with you all in a little less than a month! xoxoxo

State of Origin

Music: new Yeah Yeah Yeahs cd. (two extremely enthusiastic thumbs up)

Alright, so there are many funny little quirks regarding our Australian sister that us Canadians may find amusing.  These may or may not include: bowls clubs, pokies, calling everyone mate, eating lots of lamb, these weird huge statues that are all around AU, kangaroos, lethal waters, lethal spiders and snakes, shortening every word in their dictionary, calling a pharmacist a chemist, thinking 12 degrees is cold, having 50 cent coins that could hurt a small child if thrown at one, and other such things.

Another thing that i find quite funny is how patriotic Australians are.  They fall in different levels of patriotism.  First is their State.  They looooove the State they come from (New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, Southern Australia.. just to name.. half of them).  More specifically, Queenslanders (Brisbane, the Sunshine coast, Gold Coast, Cairns…) absolutely DESPISE New South Wales (think Sydney…).  A common joke is that if a QLD team doesn’t win, then it better be any team, other than NSW.

Next they love their side of the country… therefore, poor old West coast Perth gets teased for being on the other side of Australia, nicknamed “Perthlings” as well as told they might as well be another country.  Harsh.  I would never say that about lil P.E.I.

Thirdly, they love their Country!  Americans suck, the UK sucks, New Zealand… oh lord, don’t get me started on what they have to say about Kiwis… and Canada… well.. no one cares about Canada.  (“You’re from Toronto?  Is that near Whistler?” True story.)

Lastly, they are proud Anzacs.  If the situation were to arise… say, in the Commonwealth games, or other instances where Aussies lose at some sport, but the Kiwis are left to beat the British at some lame game, like Cricket (have you looked into this sport?!?!  It is absolutely ridiculous and makes Baseball look as fast paced as speed skating), they will stand by their sister Southern Hemisphere country….but only then. (I’m sure it would then follow them being proud Commonwealthers… as long as they’re better than America…)

I was requested today to partake in one of the most Australian things i could do (and, I quote, “have to do”) while being here.  If I want to experience true Aussie “culture”, I would definitely, 100%, have to attend STATE OF ORIGIN!!!!

Most people are like… what?  State of Origin?  What does that mean?

Well, Aussies love their Rugby…or Footy, as they call it… and they love their teams, and they hate other teams.  Their teams validate their City, their State as being the best in Australia.  But wait!  What if players on a Sydney team were actually born and raised in Queensland?  Not Fair!!!

Solution: State of Origin.  (I’m not actually sure if that’s how the dilemma/solution situation went exactly… but i’m sure it was something along those lines).

So, Queensland and NSW call back their best players, no matter what team they currently play for, for a best out of three games, to determine who the better state is.  Qld vs. NSW; the Maroons vs. the Blues; the Cane Toads vs. the Cockroaches.

My dear friend Tamara calls me up with a complete schedule for us and a few others going down to Sydney for one night of mayhem and of course, game 2 of State of Origin.

“Alright.  I’m in.” Me.

“Yaaah!  We’re going to Sydney!” Tam

“Nice!  Which team are we going for?” Me.

Short angry silence.

“Queensland, Lindzy!!  The Maroons!!” (they pronounce Maroon, Ma-roh-n here… put that on the list) “Only the best team ev-ah!  The best state!  You’re gonna see what it’s like to be at a NSWs home game and WIN.  Qld is gonna KICK  NSWs ASS!!!”

My sweet little Tamara suddenly turns into a savage beast.

“Well, i’m a little frightened of being at such a highly competitive game–”

“Whatever man, I was at the game last year, and got a beer poured on me, and i took it like a man.  And you will TOO.  When QLd wins and NSW supporters are pissed at us for being AWESOME and beating them…”

You get the point… and all of this from a “young lady”…

There you have it… just trying to blend in with the crowd… learn a little culture… do as they do…

Man… remember the days when “learning the culture” included Ikebana classes (flower placement), tea ceremonies, bowing, and eating different foods?  Time to bring my macho…

Queensland ruuuuless!!!!  GGgggrrrrrr!!!!