This video has been weeks in the making, it is some of my favorite spots on my recent Round the World Trip. I made it of a higher quality, so I hope you enjoy it!
Showing posts with label AUSTRALIA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label AUSTRALIA. Show all posts
Thursday, November 05, 2009
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Orange Sydney
The "Red Center" of Australia has decided to move into Sydney and Brisbane. The dust storms are creating havoc amongst residents, tourists, airports and outdoor activities. The pictures are rather stunning, so I had to share.
Apparently, the dust is on its way to New Zealand, I hope all my friends will be safe!
Apparently, the dust is on its way to New Zealand, I hope all my friends will be safe!
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Australia!
Australia is a very important place for me. In 2002-2003 I lived amongst the Aussies on my first solo trip and first time living out of the United States. I had a very memorable experience living in Sydney and traveling to Canberra, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Alice Springs, Uluru, Cairns, Brisbane, and all the way down the East Coast. In Australia, I met some of my lifelong friends, saw spiritual land, took a long train across the Nullabor Plane, learned to dive, went on a three day sailing trip, got lost on Fraser Island, chilled out in Byron Bay, kept up with the Sydney speed, went to heaps of beaches, had a great tan, drank too much Goon, hung out with Kwokkas, and had the time of my life.
On this trip, I decided to revisit my old stops in Sydney and then head up to Cairns for some heat! Remember, this is winter in Australia!
Sydney
Sydney is such as special place for me. I worked at the Four Seasons hotel meeting heaps of celebrities and friends. I lived with a big group of people at Footprints Westend for a few months and then with Greg at a flash place on Kent Street. I loved spending time in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Oxford Street, Tamarama Beach, Lady Jane Beach, the Opera House, Hyde Park, and in the Rocks. Sydney is amazing not only because it is vibrant, but the harbor and weather make it even better.
On this trip I went down Pitt Street, Darling Harbor, Watson’s Bay, Bondi Beach, Manly, and a whole heap of other places. It makes me so happy that I lived, worked and played in Australia. What was different was the weather. It was really cold in Sydney and their was heaps of rain. It is crazy to be in a winter where it is still around 20C/68F everyday.
Cairns
Cairns is in the tropical north of Queensland. After a week in Sydney I needed a few rays of sun. Cairns is home to one of the best spots to get onto the Great Barrier Reef. It also has a huge lagoon for swimming (there are crocs and box jellyfish in the waters of Cairns, it will kill you) and laying out. During my stay there was music most days around the lagoon.
Cairns also gave me an opportunity for me to hang out with my mate Heather, from Taupo whom lives in Cairns. We did a lot of walking, drinking, and hanging out while in the tropical north. It was great!
There are heaps of photos on my Facebook page, check them out!
On this trip, I decided to revisit my old stops in Sydney and then head up to Cairns for some heat! Remember, this is winter in Australia!
Sydney
Sydney is such as special place for me. I worked at the Four Seasons hotel meeting heaps of celebrities and friends. I lived with a big group of people at Footprints Westend for a few months and then with Greg at a flash place on Kent Street. I loved spending time in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Oxford Street, Tamarama Beach, Lady Jane Beach, the Opera House, Hyde Park, and in the Rocks. Sydney is amazing not only because it is vibrant, but the harbor and weather make it even better.
On this trip I went down Pitt Street, Darling Harbor, Watson’s Bay, Bondi Beach, Manly, and a whole heap of other places. It makes me so happy that I lived, worked and played in Australia. What was different was the weather. It was really cold in Sydney and their was heaps of rain. It is crazy to be in a winter where it is still around 20C/68F everyday.
Cairns
Cairns is in the tropical north of Queensland. After a week in Sydney I needed a few rays of sun. Cairns is home to one of the best spots to get onto the Great Barrier Reef. It also has a huge lagoon for swimming (there are crocs and box jellyfish in the waters of Cairns, it will kill you) and laying out. During my stay there was music most days around the lagoon.
Cairns also gave me an opportunity for me to hang out with my mate Heather, from Taupo whom lives in Cairns. We did a lot of walking, drinking, and hanging out while in the tropical north. It was great!
There are heaps of photos on my Facebook page, check them out!
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
Leaving New Zealand…Welcome to Australia!
I flew from Auckland to Sydney yesterday and it was magical. More on that shortly, but I finally got the tattoo I have been working on designing for the past couple of months. It came out better than I expected thanks to Jeff, Kenny, Murray, Geoff and tattoo artist Victor. It is the shape of New Zealand with the symbol of Aotearoa in the center. Aotearoa is Moari for New Zealand, or “Land of the Long White Cloud.” I had Victor put in a few blue highlights, because it is not only my favorite color but also a reminder of the country. I hope everyone that sees it will like it as much as I do. And don’t worry, it wasn’t that painful and I am not too sore today.
My flight to Sydney was AMAZING. I think I have flown on about 300 flights in the past few years and this one was memorable. I didn’t get upgraded to business class on the Boeing 767-300, but I was in what Air New Zealand calls Space+ which is like United’s Premium Economy with more legroom. I was sitting on then window of seat 13A, with nobody next to me. The 767 is configured with a 2-3-2 seating arrangement. The airplane was equipped with small in seat TV’s that each person has control over. I watched heaps of episodes of “The Simpson,” “Big Bang Theory,” and “Two and a Half Men.” Then there was dinner, Chicken Kiev and a rice pilaf. It was so amazing. I love Air New Zealand even more!
Sydney
This is my first time back in Sydney since living here six years ago. I spent the evening walking up Pitt Street, where I used to live down to the harbor and then back up George Street where I used to work.
Walking up Pitt Street made me think about the past. The backpackers I lived in for a few months was still there, but with a paint job completed. Some of the old restaurants, sex clubs, bars, high rises, and souvenir shops were still in their places. But, there seemed to be new life on the street. The World Tower, which was being constructed when I was living here has been completed, it is such a bright spot on the way down to the harbor. There also seem to be a few unfamiliar buildings and hotels. There were more eating spots, which were very posh. I am proud of what the street has become.
When I arrived at the harbor, much was the same. The Museum of Contemporary Art, the Harbor Bridge, and the Opera House were still in their spots. Although it was pouring rain, it was amazing to see the Opera House full of color as someone was projecting lights on it and the museum. It seemed to give it new life.
Then I walked past the Fours Seasons, which is still wonderful down George Street, past old stomping grounds like Jackson’s on George, Scruffy Murphy’s, amongst others. I went near the huge cinema complex. There was a premiere of something going at the State Theater; there were heaps of media there.
Much is the same, but so much is different. I am glad to be revisiting my old home.
I am staying at a very unique and spotless backpackers. The Sydney YHA Railway Square is literally at the main train station. It is a converted old train building and even has rooms in old railcars. It is fairly new, and wonderfully spotless. If you are coming to Sydney, check it out!
My flight to Sydney was AMAZING. I think I have flown on about 300 flights in the past few years and this one was memorable. I didn’t get upgraded to business class on the Boeing 767-300, but I was in what Air New Zealand calls Space+ which is like United’s Premium Economy with more legroom. I was sitting on then window of seat 13A, with nobody next to me. The 767 is configured with a 2-3-2 seating arrangement. The airplane was equipped with small in seat TV’s that each person has control over. I watched heaps of episodes of “The Simpson,” “Big Bang Theory,” and “Two and a Half Men.” Then there was dinner, Chicken Kiev and a rice pilaf. It was so amazing. I love Air New Zealand even more!
Sydney
This is my first time back in Sydney since living here six years ago. I spent the evening walking up Pitt Street, where I used to live down to the harbor and then back up George Street where I used to work.
Walking up Pitt Street made me think about the past. The backpackers I lived in for a few months was still there, but with a paint job completed. Some of the old restaurants, sex clubs, bars, high rises, and souvenir shops were still in their places. But, there seemed to be new life on the street. The World Tower, which was being constructed when I was living here has been completed, it is such a bright spot on the way down to the harbor. There also seem to be a few unfamiliar buildings and hotels. There were more eating spots, which were very posh. I am proud of what the street has become.
When I arrived at the harbor, much was the same. The Museum of Contemporary Art, the Harbor Bridge, and the Opera House were still in their spots. Although it was pouring rain, it was amazing to see the Opera House full of color as someone was projecting lights on it and the museum. It seemed to give it new life.
Then I walked past the Fours Seasons, which is still wonderful down George Street, past old stomping grounds like Jackson’s on George, Scruffy Murphy’s, amongst others. I went near the huge cinema complex. There was a premiere of something going at the State Theater; there were heaps of media there.
Much is the same, but so much is different. I am glad to be revisiting my old home.
I am staying at a very unique and spotless backpackers. The Sydney YHA Railway Square is literally at the main train station. It is a converted old train building and even has rooms in old railcars. It is fairly new, and wonderfully spotless. If you are coming to Sydney, check it out!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Visit Me in Australia
Friends and Family, you should come and visit me when I travel through Australia. I was just looking online and found a roundtrip airfare from Des Moines to Sydney for only $1064.00 including taxes! I am planning to spend a couple of days in Sydney and then head north for warmer temperatures, I am thinking Noosa or Cairns. So send me an email if you are interested...
Oh, the dates are June 3-17th, 2009!
Oh, the dates are June 3-17th, 2009!
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