Steve’s Travel Blog

 

Hello all,

I am sorry there are no pics with this blog but where I am at it is taking hours to get one pic on the site.  When I get to someplace better I will add the pics, should be in about a week.

Last time I bloged I had just got to Brisbane which was about 10 days ago and I have lots to catch up on.  I wanted to say thanks to my 2 aunts and their note to me, it is great to get these notes from home and I enjoy them, so keep them coming.

I got into Brisbane heading into a weekend and this city has tons to do.  I needed to get up to date on all that was going on and so I spent quite a bit of time at the State Library on my computer.  I had a planned Skype call with mom and dad but ended up running into some more computer problems and it took me 2 days to figure it out.  Once I got it figured it was so easy to fix, as usual and was able to have a great conversation with them.  In the mean time I tried to get some touring done around the city but always ended up in the area called Southback and by the beach.  It is a man made beach but that was all right and a great place to just hang out.  On Saturday night they had a “dancing in the streets” festival and I went with 2 people from my dorm room.  I put a bottle of wine into my black water bottle and off we went.  We thought it was professionals that were supposed to do the dancing but they would put on a short show and then teach everyone how to do their dance.  There was everything from hip hop to salsa.  The more I drank the more I danced and by the end of the night I am sure I was a hip hop star even though I have no idea what I was doing.  I think I will stick to salsa and jive, it is more my style.  I got up a little later on Sunday and had a pretty lazy day.  I went to the library to try to fix my computer and almost fell asleep while I was typing.  I laughed at myself and packed up my stuff and started back to the hostel with a stop at the muesum for a quick look, but I needed to get back and have a nap.  The rest of the day just drifted away because when I look at my journal to remind me of what I did there is nothing there.  Monday morning is when I figured out the computer problem and had the chat with mom and dad.  I also had a chat with Daryl (work buddy) and a couple of Facebook chats with Cathy and others.  By the time I got out of the library most of the day was gone and I still had not seen a lot of Brisbane.  I had met up with Kim again (met her in Agnes Waters/1770 and Hervey Bay) and we ended up making some plans for Tuesday.  The rest of Monday was spent reading and chilling out, I seem to be doing a lot of that but damn it is good.  I am guessing that everyone should have this opportunity to chill for a few hours every day.  It would make for such peaceful people although I am sure that some would go stir crazy.

On Tuesday I picked up Kim in my car and we drove to Mount Coot-tha.  We went to the lookout first and had a great view of the city.  It is a lot bigger than I thought (1.5 million people) and really spread out.  We did a 1 hour hike around the lookout area before hopping back into the car and going to the botanical gardens.  We walked around the gardens and it was in really good shape.  The last few gardens I have been to have left to grow out because it is winter here.  This one was neatly trimmed and lots of flowers blooming.  They also have a lot of Bearded Dragons (large lizard) around the gardens as well, which ended up been a problem.  We found a really big one when crossing a bridge that was below, I pulled out my camera to get a picture and it slipped and fell.  It almost hit the dragon in the head and then took a big bounce into the pond next to the dragon.  I just stood there looking at my camera bubbling away thinking “shit there goes another one”, my other camera that I sent home has been fixed and mom and dad are sending it to me but I will not get it until I get to Melbourne.  I got one of the workers to retrieve the camera and took out the batteries and picture card right away.  The pic card was okay and I did not loose any pictures but the camera was soaked.  No big deal because Kim was taking lots of pics and I could just get hers.  We left the area at around 4 and headed back to the city.  My plan was to take apart my camera and dry it out right away but when I got back there was a bbq starting and some of the others (Tim, James, James 2, Breandan and Rob) forced (like it was hard) me to join them.  We ended up in some party games and of course we (James, who was a dorm mate & I) won.  We won a jug of beer, a shot each and a t-shirt.  We ended up having 5 jugs between the 2 of us and then it was time to go to the pub where more cheap beer and rum were consumed.  I ended up talking with a girl (Kelly) for about an hour, got here email and said I would send her a facebook note the next day. It was a fun night and I did not get to bed until about 3am, gotta love Tuesdays!!!.

Everyone slept in on Wednesday and then the group of us walked to the library to check on email and whatever else.  Kim also met us there.  I got online and checked my emails and then went onto facebook to send a note to Kelly who it turns out gave me a fake email and obviously was not that impressed with me.  We all got a good laugh about it but I think the young guys felt better because they went home with nothing.  We all went for lunch and then chilled in Southbank again for a while till we went back to the hostel to chill.  I finally found time to take my camera apart, it was still very wet inside once I got it apart and the viewing screen was busted up pretty bad.  Not much chance of it working again but I am not giving up on it and put all the pieces in the room to put back together later.  It was looking as though it would be a very quiet evening because no one wanted to spend money and most were still tired.  I was sitting and talking with Tim after supper when I saw another girl (Esther)and knew that I had to talk with her. She went into the TV room and I followed.  We ended up having a short chat and then decided to watch a movie (Bourne Ultimatum).  After the movie we had another short chat and decided to meet up the next day and tour around the city.

Esther was traveling with another girl from Finland (Sanna) and we all met up after breakfast, around 9:30.  They had just got in the night before so they had not seen any of Brisbane yet.  We started our walk with the Southbank area (I love this area) and then the Botanical Gardens and along Queen Street in the CBD.  We stopped at food court and had some lunch and then we continued walking to 2 cathedrals (St. Stephen’s – catholic & St. John’s – anglican).  St. Stephen’s was really nice but the face of it was under construction.  St. John’s was nice as well but the stain glass was not as good and it was different to see a childs playground in the middle of the church.  I had to go in and start playing with the toys, I am more like a 4 year old than a 40 year old.  After I was done playing we went to ANZAC Square and looked around and then sat and relaxed for a while.  We decided that it would be a good idea to go to a jazz club that evening and picked the one that must have been the furthest away.  We went back to the hostel and got ready to go out and then went to an Indian restaurant which was about 2 blocks away from the hostel.  We decided that walking to the jazz club would be a good idea because we ate too much and started on our way.  It should have taken about 45 minutes to get but we took a wrong turn and it ended up taking about 2 hours and with all the luck we had going it as closed.  We had a good laugh at ourselves and then saw the ferry that goes along the river that if we would have taken it in the first place we would have been there in about 20 minutes.  We all wanted a drink and ended up at a pub called the Rumpus Room that was right across the street from the Indian restaurant that we started at.  After 3 hours of walking that beer tasted great. My plan was to leave to go to Surfers Paradise and Coolangatta the next day and they were planning on taking a bus to Byron Bay which is a little further down the coast.  We decided it would be great to travel together all the way to Byron Bay and then they could headed back north and I could continue south.  We had the one beer and headed back to the hostel as we were all very tired from a very long walking day.

We met up for breakfast in the morning (fruit salad & toast with peanut butter) and then continued our walking tour from the day before.  We went to city hall and up the tower for a great view of the city and then toured the Brisbane Museum which was pretty dull.  We then went to the Queensland Museum and I left Esther and Sanna to tour around and I went to the library to do some quick internet stuff.  We then walked back to the hostel and had lunch and started to make our way to Surfers Paradise.  I was told by everyone that Surfers was way over rated and just a bunch of big buildings and tourists and it would be best to get out as soon as possible.  When we made it to Surfers it was just that and we never stopped to get out of the car and left as quick as we got there and made our way to a much cooler place down the coast called Coolangatta.  The hostel was more expensive than most I have been staying at but it was really nice.  It had a big patio outside our room with nice loungers and chairs and we just sat back and relaxed.  We ended up having supper at the same spot even though the rules said no food in the rooms we figured we were okay because we were on the patio. Sanna was not feeling that well and went to bed early and Esther & I took a nice bottle of red wine down to the beach and chatted.  It felt like it was about an hour but 4 hours later we were both shaking from the cold and finally decided to head back to the hostel.  Instead of being smart and going to bed we ended up looking at pictures until 3:30 in the morning.

Our check out was at 10am and we used every minute of it to wake up and get organized.  We drove to the store to get some groceries and then ate breakfast/lunch on the beach.  From there we walked along the beach and ocean front to Danger Point and then to the beach on the other side.  We sat at the beach for a few hours relaxing and talking.  I thought about throwing both of them in the ocean and did get them to the waters edge and thought better of it.  We then walked back to the car and made our way to a town called Nimbim.  This is supposed to be the pot (marihjuana) capital of Australia.  Since none of us smoke it it was pretty funny walking around.  The whole town is locked in the 70’s, it reminded me of Nelson BC.  The first guy we walked by wreeked of pot, actually the whole town did and the hours they work were funny.  We strolled through the shops for a while and then got back in the car and made our way to Byron Bay.  On the way we stopped at a roadside fruit stand and picked up some fresh fruit and vegetables.  The last 1/2 of the drive was in the dark but we made it to the YHA hostel with no problems. I made supper (pan fried fish with potatoes, peppers, onions and a salad.  With it been Saturday night we decided to head for a night club and took in some music.  Esther and I were still really tired from staying up so late the night before so we left after about an hour and went back to the hostel.  The plan was to go to sleep but we ended up talking for another 4 hours and going to sleep around 2am. 

Sunday ended up been a big time chill day in Byron Bay.  I got on the internet and did a few emails and had a couple of conversations but got tired of that real quick.  We had plans to walk on the beach but the big beanbag chairs were to comfortable to get out of.  Esther & I talked for quite a while and Sanna actually was productive and got a few things done.  In the afternoon Sanna went for a surf lesson and Esther & I picked up some groceries and then finally walked along the beach to where Sanna was taking her lesson.  We got there just as they were finishing so we sat back on the beach and watched the sunset.  The sunset was amazing and the only word to describe it is the slang word “MEJ”, I know it sounds different but it means “better than perfect”  and that was exactly it. 

We walked back to the hostel and then had made mexican food for supper.  After relaxing for a while we had chocolate fondue for dessert with strawberries, bananas and apples. Now that we were extremely full we made it back to the beanbag chairs and relaxed until they made us leave the area at 11:30 because they were closing.  We finally made it to bed at a decent time for once but it did not make much difference for waking up the next morning.  We slept in until 10am again and did not accomplish very much in the morning.  Sanna made us breakfast/lunch (eggs, ham,peppers and cheese on toast) and then off and running around the city.  She rented a bike and spent most of the day out and about.  Esther and I planned to go for a walk along the beach again but ended up just chilling in the room looking at pictures and talking.  Sanna came back and made supper for us but would not let us help at all.  We were not allowed anywhere near the kitchen so we stayed in the room until Sanna came and got us.  She made a remarkable meal of chicken breast wrapped in prosciutto and sage (wow,wow,wow) along with ravioli and salad.  She also had 2 bottles of wine to drink.  After supper she took us to a restuarant for dessert.  We did not know what to expect and it was definetly MEJ.  The waiter came out with 3 glasses of champagne for us and then 3 incredible desserts, one was a chocolate log another a blood orange tort and finally a carameliaed banana and ice cream.   I was so full after I could barely move and we decided that it would be a good idea to go for a walk to work some of it off.  When we got back to the hostel everyone was very sleepy and we went to bed.  As I get to know Esther and Sanna better I am learning some German and Finnish plus they both have some very cool sayings.  Now that I have travelled with them for a few days you need to know a little more about them.  Esther is 33 and a  teacher in Endingen, Germany which is in the south west part close to the Black Forest.  She is amazingly nice and we have been getting quite close over the last few days.  She has also done lots of travelling and has been to more countries than I have but I will catch up quickly as she has to go back to Germany on Sept. 7th for the school year. As we have got to know each other better Esther has had assorted saying that are really cool and mean a lot to me.  Esther always says that there are “no coincidences” and that there is a reason for everything, which I truely believe.  They obviously know my story at this point and what I am doing, or at least what I think I am doing.  Esther says that  I suffer from “Fernweh” which is a Greman word and is the exact opposite of homesickness, I am not sure if there is an English word for it but I will go with the German one.  Another saying that really stands out to me and really explains me is “all who wander are not lost” which was writen by JR Tolkien.  I seem to be learning a lot about myself and having a great time with them. Sanna is 34 and a doctor in Finland, she studied in Helsinki but now lives in a smaller town north.  Sanna has been taking english lessons from Esther & I and is doing great, but still makes us laugh a lot.  The last 4 days with them has been MEJ, so much so that I decided to continue to travel with them even though they are going in the opposite direction I was going and to places I have already seen.  I figure I am having this much fun and really I do not have any time limits like they do.  So the next day after breakfast, laundry and some time to chill we were headed back toward Brisbane but passed it on the outside and went to a place called Rainbow Beach.  I actually have not been here and so this was good.  We took it pretty easy for the rest of the day and did not get a lot accomplished except for another good supper and great conversation, but really what else do you need.

I got up in the morning around 7:30 and then went on the internet from 8 – 8:30 for a quick update.  We had breakfast (our usual of fruit salad with yogurt and toast with peanut butter.  I started to write this blog in the morning and by noon we were all ready for a our along the beach.  We walked along the area called the coloured sands which were similar to waht I saw in HerveyBay.  We got back to the hostel in time to catch a bus up to a lookout and a sand blow.  We brought a bottle of wine and a few beers with us and watched the sunset, hich was absolelutely MEJ.  We walked back to the hostel and made spaghetti and sauce and then listened to the one man band playing for the hostel.  He was really good and we bought a CD but onece we put in the car his music just dod not seem to be as good.  We sat around and talked about funny stories about each other and even some serious ones.  Nothing to deep and we had a ton of fun.

Now we had to decide on how we were going to get to Fraser Island (guided like I had done before or self drive with a group of teenagers) and it came real easy and we decided to go with a guided tour.  We called the operator and found out the earliest to start was on Saturday and come back on Monday which will work great since Sanna has to be back in Brisbane for Tuesday and a flight to New Zealand.  It was still a long drive to Hervey Bay from here so we decided to backtrack a little and go from Noosa.  We left Rainbow beach at around noon and stopped once for a break and then again at a lookout oint with a 45 minute hike.  The hike was real easy and then made our way to the store for groceries and finally to the hostel.  We sat around just catching the atmosphere of the place and then cooked a supper of Salmon done in Yogurt sauce, potatoes in rosemary and spianch with onion ahd herbs.We had  bottle of red wine with supper and chilled after with some more great conversation. 

I am headed back to Fraser Island for the 2nd time to see the sights with Esther and Sanna and then after 3 days there it will be back to Brisbane and Sanna heads to New Zealand and Esther is supposed to go on to Uluru where I have been as well.  I am still not sure what I am going to do but I guess I will figure it out over the next few days.  I have so much fun the last week I wish it would never end.

Esther and Sanna are such a big part of this blog they have both decided to write a note to whoever can read it or take the time to translate it: Esther’s is in German and Sanna’s is in Finnish, good luck to all who take the time to figure out what they said.  If you do let me know because they won’t tell me.

“ES SIND DIE BEGEGNUNGEN MIT MENSCHEN, DIE DAS LEBEN LEBENSWERT MACHEN.” GUY DE MONTPASSANT
Was fuer ein Glueck, einen Menschen wie Stephen zu kennen und als Freund haben zu duerfen – ich kann komplett verstehen, wie sehr ihr ihn alle vermissen muesst. Das einzige Wort was diese paar Tage, die wir zusammen verbracht haben beschreiben koennte ist MEJ…
ESTHER

LAhtiessAni matkaan pelkAsin eniten yksinAisyyttA, mutta tultuani Australiaan en ole ollut pAivAAkAAn yksin. Tapasin Estherin ja Stevenin, ja olemme matkustaneet yhdessA yli viikon ajan pitkin Australian itArannikkoa. Me sovimme hyvin yhteen, jokin ihmeellinen tasapaino meidAn vAlillAmme on. Olemme nAhneet paljon ja syOneet joka ilta (liiankin!) hyvin…MinA olen oppinut, etta elAmAssA on paljon asioita, mistA voi iloita. EikA aina tarvitse elAA varjossa.

MinA en ymmarrA sitten millAAn, miksi Australiasta katsottuna tAhdet ovat taivaalla yloOsalaisin…? Ja mita loytyy siita pisteesta, missa ruusulinja (0 pituuspiiri) ja paivantasaaja leikkaavat?

SANNA

Well I guess that is all for this time, I hope you all take care and here is one last thought to leave you with “Getting old is mandatory, growing up is optional”

Till next time, love ya all

Steve

PS:2 Happy Birthday wishes go out this time, first is my nephew Emerson who has his bday on Friday the 21st of August, I think he turns 12.  I am sure he will have a great party with his friends and get ay to much stuff but the little shit probably deserves it.  2nd is my cousin Denise who is turning ????, I know but I am just being nice and not saying, on August 23rd.

Tags: Australia

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