Glenn's Australian Adventure

2005-04-16T11:00:00.000+10:00

Plate signed by Petter Solberg

2005-04-16T10:56:00.000+10:00

Cruising

2005-04-16T10:54:00.000+10:00

Dennis and his RedRex

2005-04-16T10:53:00.000+10:00

Dan's STI

Hanging with the Subaru Club of Sydney

2005-04-14T10:43:00.000+10:00

Today I went out to Helensburg which is out in the country about an hour south of Sydney. I went down to visit my friends that I met in New Zealand that are part of the Subaru club of Sydney. They picked me up from the train station, I could hear them coming because of the distinct sound of the WRX. We went down the road and had lunch, Kebabs one of my favorites. We then regrouped with the others. I took a ride in Dan's STI which is pretty much stock except of a exhaust and chip. But he had just rally crossed it the weekend before so he still had numbers on the car and racing slicks! He has a decal company called Apex Decals, as you can tell from the pic. We went to a national park which was close by. The roads here were nice and twisty although a little rough in some places. We took a "spirited" ride through the forests, and with the racing slicks it was amazing how the STI would stick to the road and take corners. We stopped at a little town in the park that is only accessible by fairy or threw the national park. We had a quick coffee and bit to eat. The continued on our way to a look out point. Then drove back to Dan's house and played some WRC on the PS2. Well being the youngest there and probably the most experienced at rally games and video games in general, I kicked their asses pretty easily! All in all it was a really fun day.

2005-04-11T22:05:00.000+10:00

Toni from Ford

2005-04-11T22:04:00.000+10:00

Harri from Mitsubishi and Juanno Skoda

2005-04-11T22:03:00.000+10:00

Marcus from Peugeot

Rally NZ Day 3

2005-04-10T21:30:00.000+10:00

Petter and Phil

Today was the final day of my tour of Rally New Zealand. And when I thought that it couldn’t get much better, it did! The day started out as usual bright and early. We made it to the first stage (TeHutewal 1: SS17) which was probably the best of the day because I could see the cars coming from a good distance. They took a long right and then a long left in front of us. This gave me some great video to add to the dvd I’m going to make. The next stage (TePapatapu SS19) was ok but we only got to see the starts and we weren’t there very long. But I did get a chance to get some good pictures of the drivers getting ready to start the stage. We then quickly took off to the next stage (Whaanga Coast 2 SS20) which was a new stage. So this means that it was also the tours first time. And the viewing point wasn’t the best because of the amount of trees and the fact that there was a large drop to the road, which didn’t allow for the best visibility. But I managed to find a good spot on top of mound of dirt to get a better view. So I was a little bummed about the last two stages, but the first stage made up for that. After the stage we started the long drive back. On the way out of the stage we saw Sebation Leob on the side of the road taking a piss which was pretty funny. And later on we saw that Harrie Rovenpara in the Mitsubishi had been pulled over by the cops. Luckily they let him go right after we passed and we pulled over so we could watch him pass us. After making it back to Auckland we got dropped off at the Ceremonial Finish time control, which is where the cars check in before waiting to get on the podium. I thought I would stay around awhile and watch the cars line up waiting to get in. And I’m so glad I did because Petter Solberg stopped and I got him to sign my hat along with his co-driver Phil Mills. What a thrill this was defiantly the highlight of my day, and it completed my goal for the weekend of getting Solberg’s autograph. I then quickly ran over the ceremonial finish to watch the top cars go through, and hand out the trophies. After this I went back to the hotel and hung out with my Subaru friends, we went to dinner and went up the sky tower for awhile. Afterwards, I went to the rally after party. This was a great opportunity to get up close to some of the rally drivers. First I got to shake Marcus Gronholm’s (former world champion) hand and I got a great picture. I also met and got pictures with Harri Rovenpera, Toni Gardermister, and Juanno Turrine. (I’ll check spelling later ok!) This was one of the highlights of the trip, being in the same room and drinking with the WRC drivers. Marco Martin, and Michael Parks were also there, but weren’t very approachable and didn’t’ stay long. But it was still a great night anyways. And the perfect topper to a great World Rally Championship! I would definitely do it again in a second!

2005-04-09T19:54:00.002+10:00

Special Stage

Today was another great day of Rally Racing! It started out with the usual drive up to the first stage, which in this case was Wairere SS9: Wairere Rd. This stage was nice because it had a long left in front of us, which turned into a long right. This was also a good stage because we could get very close to the road, and the cars. I got sprayed by rocks a few times. It stings a little, but it’s all part of the experience of being there. After this stage we traveled to the next stage Bull 1 SS11: Porter Rd. On the way to this stage we went on a road which is used on the rally at a different time. It was really cool to see how much camber the roads have, and how twisty they really are. The stage was great because the cars would come down a straight and turn left right in front of us before they went over the finish only a few hundred meters away. I got some great video footage here. Then it was off to the service park. Which this time wasn’t that great. This was because most of the cars wouldn’t come in until we had to leave because the next stage was about an hour away. I did however get a picture in front of the Subaru service with my Subaru gear. (See above if I can upload the pics this time) The next stage was a new stage on the rally (at least for the tour) Waipu Caves SS12. This was a really cool stage because it was on top of a massive hill. Which provided some great scenic views. This also allowed us to see the cars coming from a great distance away. Afterwards we took the scenic windy roads back to Auckland, because we had some time to spare before the Manukau SSS just outside of Auckland. This is a Super Special Stage which means that the cars run on a small 2.10km track which is linked together so two cars can race against each other at the same time. This is done mostly for the enjoyment of spectators. It was really great to watch the cars compete against each other. But because it was at night it didn’t provide many good pictures or videos. But it was great fun, and all the cars ran twice. Then it was back to Auckland to rest for the next day which starts at six.

2005-04-09T19:54:00.001+10:00

Special Stage

2005-04-09T19:54:00.000+10:00

Subaru Service

Rally New Zealand Day 1

2005-04-08T21:44:00.000+10:00

Well we took off for the rally at six thirty in the morning and headed to the first stage (Parahi SS1, Ovens Rd) of the rally. This was great stage because it was on a local farmers field and we had exclusive access. The road in was very muddy and slippy. The driver even got the van going sideways about a half dozen times which was great fun. We even got airborne over a bridge. It was wild I didn’t know a van with that many people could do that! This proved difficult for the Rally Sport magazine tour because their large bus couldn’t make it up some of the hills so they had to be shuttled in with the small busses and some of them missed the beginning. The great part about this spot was that it had a nice jump so we got to see the cars get airborne which was a MASSIVE THRILL!!! Although I missed taping the first driver Petter Solberg because when we got there the sweep car had already passed and we didn’t hear him coming. Then all of a sudden VROOM! He wipped passed, and took everyone by surprise! I managed to get the rest on tape, and got some great shots! After watching the top drivers pass we headed on to the next stage (Brooks 1 Swamp Rd Bridge) This was a neat spot because we could see the cars coming for a distance and they would turn hard left onto a bridge which allowed them to get airborne again, and then they took a hard right. Although this stage was busier because it was a regular spectator area, I managed to sneek my way into a vip area to get some great shots. After this we went back to the service area which was also busier then the day before. But on the way a we noted that an under cover cop was in front of us. This is because we play a game in the bus to try and guess how many cops we will see on the trip. Well one of the Skoda drivers Janne Tuohino passed us and then the cop on a twisty section of the road. Well shortly after this the cop pulled in over and gave him a ticket. We asked the cop after why because the line was dotteded so passing should have be allowed, but he said that he passed on the wrong side in a blind corner. So that was a bit interesting to see, he will probably get a penalty as a result of the ticket. It was great to be in the service park because many of the cars were damaged and needed repairs. It’s amazing how fast these mechanics work. I got this one great shot of me in front of the Citroen team wearing my Citroen shirt. (see above) Afterwards we continued on to the final stage of the day. (Millbrook SS8, Helmsdale Rd.) On the way we saw Petter Solberg on the side of the road, we think he was changing his tire, he must have had a punture! But he made it to the next stage on time. This stage was great because from far away we could see the cars come down a twisty section and then a fast long left and long right. This allowed the cars to travel at a pretty high speed. It was also amazing because of the amount of dust that the cars would turn up. After a car passed, the dust would barely settle before the next car came through. This was ok for the top drivers because they are separated by two minutes. But when the Group N drivers came threw we couldn’t even see them until they were up close because of the dust, and they are only separated by one minute. This would make it very difficult to drive in. After this stage we took the long trip back to Auckland.

2005-04-08T19:55:00.000+10:00

Citroen Service

Shakedown Day

2005-04-07T21:41:00.000+10:00

Well I made it to New Zealand, and to top it off it was the best flight I have had yet. I think for the first time ever I actually made it to Auckland a half hour early! So I figured this was a great start to my trip. The first day of my Rally New Zealand experience started early at 5:30am. So I only got about five hours of sleep, but this wasn’t a problem because we had a two hour drive north. I am on the Official Rally Spectator Tour, which is one of two tour groups, the other is run by Rally Sport magazine. Basically as far as I know it’s the same tour because they travel with us, but there is one big difference. We are in small nine person coaches and they are in large busses. This proved problematic for them later on, accessing some stages. On my bus there are a farther and son from Brisbane, an American from San Fran, two Japanese from Tokyo, a young Canadian couple from Vancouver, and the tour guide and driver. (which are amazing because they are both former rally drivers, and our driver is the fastest, getting us to all stages before anyone else.) The first stop we made was at the start line for the Shakedown day. For people not into rally this is like the practice day. So the WRC cars will travel on one stage over and over testing their cars setup. This was an AMAZING opportunity because this was not open to regular spectators. I got to get right up to the cars and actually touch some of them. This allowed me to get plenty of quality photos of the cars. The drivers didn’t actually get out of the cars, but some were nice enough to talk to us threw the windows. But one driver Chris Atkinson which is the new driver from Australia driving from Subaru, arrived late and got out of his car to prepare his gear. I jumped at the chance and ran up to him and started talking to him. I got his autograph and even a great picture. (See Above). I even helped him close his door. (Which was amazingly light!) So that was an amazing start to the weekend, and will defiantly be one of the highlights. The start was also good for being able to watch the power of the cars off the start line. Later on we went further down the shakedown stage and watched the cars take some corners at high speed. Which was a huge thrill. Afterwards we went to the service park, which also wasn’t open to spectators. This was another great chance to be able to see the cars up-close. I got to see all the mechanics working feverously on the cars. Although many of the drivers were busy talking with their engineers. I still got some fantastic pictures of the cars and some drivers. After that we went back to the hotel in Auckland. Later that night was the official start to the rally, which was held downtown. On my way down I met up with a group that were part of a Subaru WRX club from Sydney. So I hung out with them that night, which was great fun talking about Subaru and rally. One of the guys was even a rally driver, and he invited me to a rally in Australia in a couple of weeks. So I can get up-close to the car and hang out behind the scenes. So we had to wait around for awhile before the ceremony started. Basically there is a ramp with podium, the drivers drive over the ramp, they are introduced and give a few quick comments and then drive off the stage. This is all accompanied by fireworks, flames and loud music. Very exciting, and funny because many of the drivers cannot speak or understand English very well. This went on for about an hour and then my new friends and I went out for some Thai food. Then I was in bed by 11, because I had to be up for six the next day.

2005-04-07T19:56:00.001+10:00

Marcus Gronholm

2005-04-07T19:56:00.000+10:00

Petter Solberg

2005-04-07T19:55:00.001+10:00

Chris Atkinson

2005-04-07T19:55:00.000+10:00

Petter Solberg

Chelsea's 21 Birthday Party

2005-03-13T17:32:00.000+11:00

Today I went to my friend Chelseas 21 birthday party. It was my first Australian 21st so it was interesting to see how they do it. We started by going to a restaurant on Bondi Beach. It was a pretty classy place which turns into a club during the night. There were about 20 of use there, some of her friends and her family. We had about 3 different appetizers, one of bread and oil, one of bread sticks and different dipping sauces, and finally my favorite Calamari! It was amazing how much was there and I must say I had my fair share. For the main course we had the choice of chicken or fish. At first I choose the chicken, but everyone insisted that I try the fish, so I switched my order. The fish was very good but the presentation was different then I expected. I thought it would be a fillet of fish but it was a just a whole grilled fish, head and all. And of course for dessert we had birthday cake. After her family made the typical speeches and she had opened her gifts, we went down to a famous bar called the Place. It's right on the beach of Bondi and is pretty large consisting of two stories and a large balcony. Unfortunately it was to cold to be on the balcony, but we still had a great time inside. Above are some pictures from the dinner and after party.

2005-03-12T15:02:00.000+11:00

Prodigy on stage, can you spot them?

2005-03-12T15:01:00.000+11:00

At Two Tribes

Prodigy the show of the Century!!!

2005-03-08T14:59:00.000+11:00

Going to Two Tribes

Here are some pictures from a music event I went to called Two Tribes. It was simply amazing one of the best times I have had here so far. Mostly because one of my favorite groups since I was in highschool was the headliner. Simply put it was Prodigy!!! If you know of them you already know how good they are and can probably imagine how the would be live. Everyone I went with agreed that it was the best show they have ever seen. They played some of their new music like spitfire and plenty of old music such as frustrated, breath, mindfields, and smack my B*#&@ up, just to name a few. It was kind of disappointing at first because halfway through their first song the music suddenly stopped. I guess the system couldn't handle the bass, but after about an hour of testing the system with another group Prodigy came back on with no problems. Prodigy is a group that is huge around the world but rarely if ever travel to North America so this was my only chance to see them. They did have some shows later in the week that were sold out before I even arrived in Sydney. In the picture above from left to right its my friends Steve (steveo) Esther, Ricky (my flatmate), Kylie, and I. I'm so glad I had the chance to see them and I know this will be one event I will be talking about for a long time to come. Prodigy Rocks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

To check out a review of the show go to http://www.inthemix.com.au/reviews/events/20086/

First Day of School

2005-02-28T18:15:00.000+11:00

It was my first day of school today. I had two classes which went from 10 till 4. I have never been in a lecture before because my college didn't have any. So this was a new experience. It was a little taxing because it was two hours long. I'm used to classes only being 50min long, so this will take a bit of adjusting. My other class was 3 hours long!!! But lucky the teacher only kept us for two hours which seemed like enough to me. It's hard to sit in one spot for that length of time. But I"m sure I'll adjust soon enough. At least most of the information I learned today I already knew, so I should do well in the courses. Although the majority of the marks are for the final exam which will also be new for me. At Georgian we didn't have final exams only tests throughout the term. But I"m sure I will do fine despite the changes.

Tropfest 2005

2005-02-27T18:07:00.000+11:00

Today I went to Tropfest 2005 which is the largest short film festival in the world. It was held outside on 3 large screen televisions. It was a free event which was great and included 16 films no longer then 7 min. There were over 100,000 people so the park was pretty busy with people everywhere. Most of the films were pretty funny, one in particular which had a cardboard cutout of George W. Bush attacking a woman in her home. The film that won though was about a couple of bums that dreamed of surfing on the beach to the point that they thought they were really their. I don't think it was the best film of the night but it was well done. Overall it was a really fun night.

Orientation

2005-02-21T21:19:00.000+11:00

Today I went to orientation at my uni UWS. And it was so disorganized I couldn't believe it. I was just waiting in line after line. Sometimes for no reason at all. Other time we didn't know which line to go to and neither did the staff! I thought Georgian was bad but this was a Joke!!! So finally we got split up into groups by the courses we were taking and after about 2 hours of the teacher going though each persons credits, they got to us the Georgian students. We all had to take the same courses and we got to electives all core classes. So they could have just told us that from the start but I guess we have to wait our turn. Here is a list of the classes I will be taking.

Term 1

Consumer behavior
Fundamentals of Marketing Resources
Strategic Marketing management
International Marketing

Term 2

Business to business Marketing
Brand and Product management
Marketing Planning Project
Marketing of services

Afterward we were supposed to set up our email accounts online, but the system said I don't have access. I found out later this happened to all my friends. The site said to message the help desk but they only blew me off and told me to call the school. So it seems like it will just be one hassle after the other. I need my account to choose classes online so I hope I can quickly resolve this matter to do so. I just worried that there will also be problems with registration. I guess I will have to wait and see!

2005-02-19T22:00:00.001+11:00

The main Stage

2005-02-19T22:00:00.000+11:00

Some of the group from Good Vibrations

Good Vibrations

2005-02-19T21:36:00.000+11:00

Today I went to a music festival called Good Vibrations! It was a lot of fun at the start it had several stages, 2 large ones outside, and three others in large tents. Everything was going well until it started to rain. The first time it rained it pored harder then I have ever experienced, four of my friends and I huddled under a poncho with about 10 other people. It was windy and cold. We started to think why we were there. We then remembered about the one large tent and made a dash for it. The other tents were very crowded and people were getting crushed. But the tent we went to was fine and allowed us to dry off. Then the sun came out and it was nice and warm. But sooner then latter it started to rain again, but it only spat this time and we took cover under a large Heineken umbrella which was good because it allowed us to stay dry and still enjoy the music in the tent next to us. And people weren't going as crazy because it was only spitting. I got to see groups like Mylo, the Scissor Sisters, and arrested development which was Awsome! So it turned into a really good day overall. The rain really only added to the fun.

On top of the Hilton

2005-02-11T23:41:00.000+11:00

Below is a picture of me with some friends that was taken on top of the Hilton in Sydney. The thing that makes this special is that the Hilton in Sydney isn't open yet. We managed to get up there because of Steve (in yellow) who is working on refurbishing the existing building which will become the Hilton. We ended up there after going out and Steve wanted to show us the amazing view. After talking with the security guard he allowed us to go up to the top. It was really neat being inside, kind of like being in a movie because some floors aren't complete but others like the suites are. The main suite on the top floor was amazing with a spiral staircase in the front entrance, and large rooms with massive windows. After visiting the suits we went to the roof. Having to climb over air conditioning pipes and up large latter's was a little unnerving but the resulting views were breathtaking. We walked around the side of the building which gave us an excellent 360 degree view of Sydney. Some interesting things to note in the picture are the tiles on the roof which aren't actually tiles but painted lines, this is because tiles can fly off the building but the painted lines look good from the air or the skytower next door. Also the guy on the right in grey is my flatmate Ricky. Recently I have been working on getting settled in my apartment and exploring the suburb of Rockdale. I have also gone out a few times, including last night when I went out with Chelsea and Jen. We went to a pub in Sydney and met up with one of their friends Irish Jon. He is obviously Irish with his thick accent and ability to drink. He also took us to a club call RSL which are all over Sydney and require a membership. This allows you to have cheaper drinks and a better chance of getting a pool table which came in handy.

Friends and I on top of the Hilton in Sydney

2005-02-11T23:28:00.000+11:00

Glenn infront of the 12 Apostles

My New Flat

2005-01-29T16:40:00.000+11:00

Today I got to finally stop living out of my backpack and have a place to hang my hat. I think I'm really going to like living here. It's really close to shops, transport (15min to downtown Sydney) I have my own room with a triple door closet, my own bath with shower, bathtub, sink and toilet, our kitchen has all the amenities including dishwasher (Yes!!) and we even have laundry facilities in our apartment. Another plus is we are the end unit so we have windows on three sides, we are really close to the airport but there are double windows and think walls so you can't hear the planes at all inside the apartment. They also run on a limited schedule during the day so if I leave the window open I don't usually hear them. Another nice feature is our large balcony which is great for sitting outside and enjoying the sun. My flatmate Ricky took me to Ikea today and I picked up a table which was from the bargain area so it was only $35bucks (it was missing a wheel and the corners are dented, but I already replaced the wheel so it's like new!) I also picked up a 20inch fan for $15bucks what a steal! I have notice that some products like electronics and such are really cheap but stuff like groceries are more expensive so I guess it equals out. We have ordered DSL internet but we are waiting for the modem to come in the mail so it should be here sometime this week. Then I will get pictures up and update my blog again.

Last Day in Melbourne

2005-01-28T16:32:00.000+11:00

Well today was my last day in Melbourne. I started out the day by going to the Queen Victoria Market with Louise and Jill. This must be the largest market in Melbourne with everything from shirts to food. I picked up a rally shirt and a cricket shirt that says Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oi, oi, oi! I thought it was pretty funny and I think my friends will too. Afterwards I went to the National Gallery of Victoria, at one of the galleries I saw all art work from Australian artists and aboriginals. This was pretty interesting because it really showed the relationship between Aboringinals and other Australians threw art. Afterwards I went to the international gallery of NGV. This was great because I got to see a few Picasso's, Van Goets, and even Rodains Thinker! There was also a massive stain glassed ceiling which took 5 years to create, they have carpeted the floor and encourage you to lay down to view it. Tonight I just visited with everyone here which was great, I got to know another side of my family that I rarely see. Tomorrow I fly back to Sydney and can start to settle down in my flat.

Great Ocean Road Trip Day 2

2005-01-27T21:14:00.000+11:00

Today was the second day on my trip on the Great Ocean Road. We started out by going to Mates rainforest. Which was really cool because it had ton's of ferns, trees over a thousand years old and trees over 80 meters high. It was great being able to walk through the curvey boardwalk and see the vast number of trees that seemed to go on forever. It was remarkably cool and damp for Australia. Or at least what I have seen up until then. Our next stop on the tour was a place called London Bridge. That's because it's a rock formation that looks like a bridge in the water. It used to be connected to the land until part of it fell in the water in 1990 stranding two people on the island. Which is kind of ironic considering it was called the London Bridge. We then stopped at another bay which is famous because there was a shipwreck and only 2 teenagers survived in the bay out of 54 people on the ship. The final stop on our tour was the twelve apposels which is the most famous part of the tour and what most people come to see. It was breathtaking seeing the large rock formations sticking up out of the ocean. It's hard to believe that they are still standing, but my guide assured me that they will eventually fall into the ocean. Also there are about 14 of these on the shore line and they used to be called the pig and sows but the name was given to attract more tourists. And I guess it worked, cause it was pretty busy. Now I'm back at Jill's house in Sunbury just outside of Melbourne.

Happy Australia Day and Great Ocean Road Trip

2005-01-26T20:58:00.000+11:00

Today I started my Great Ocean Road trip which is supposed to be one of the most spectacular roads in the world. The bus that picked me up could hold about 28 people but to my relief there was only 15 of us. Most of the people are British, Kiwi's and there were two from Denmark. We started our trek by going to Torquay which is where RipCurl, Quicksilver and billabong were all started. After doing a little shopping there we headed down the coast to Bell's beach which is one of the most famous surfing beaches in the world. After traveling down the windy coastal road we took a few stops to take in the views. One of the stops was at a light house which was put up after over 700 ships crashed. It's supposed to be one of the most worst shores in the world. Our next stop was in a area known for it's koala population. This was pretty neat because we must have seen about a dozen Kowala's. They were so cute but didn't do much because of the extreme heat we were having. (37c) Our final stop was in Apollo Bay which is a nice little beach town. We stayed above a pub which was neat but also a little noisy. One good thing about the pub was it had a big screen tv which allowed us to watch some cricket and the tennis game which lasted about 4 hours.

My day at the Australian Open

2005-01-25T20:56:00.000+11:00

Well today I had to be in Downtown Melbourne for the night because tomorrow is Australia Day. Went I booked my trip for the great ocean road I forgot that the trains might be on a limited schedule. But this worked out for the best really. After booking into my room I went out to explore the big city, and I recalled that the open was being held in Melbourne. So I took a walk down to see where it was happening. And to my surprise I was able to get a ground ticket for $15. This didn't allow me into the main stadium to see the pros but I could go and watch every other game. In the morning I watched a bunch of juniors singles and doubles on the outside courts. But it started to get really hot and they put on a playing ban which happens when the temp reaches over 35c. So I went back to explore more of the city. In the evening I went back to Open to watch Roger and Andre Agassi play on a big screen they had outside of the stadium. It was pretty neat being with a big cowed and being able to hear the grunts and calls from the open stadium behind us. It was a truly unique experience.

Off to Melbourne

2005-01-24T08:40:00.000+11:00

Yesterday I got a call from my brother asking me to go to Melbourne a day earlier then I had planned. Which worked out great because I was able to move into my flat a day earlier then I had planned. I quickly got online a booked a ticket. Everything was going great until I had to leave, there were horrible storms and they had to close the airport for about an hour. But once I got here the weather was great and everything went smoothly. I'm staying at my cousins place Jill's which is pretty busy at the moment. There are Jill and her husband, her two kids, a newborn (Born on my birthday!), my aunt Louise from Canada, and my brother Bryan and his girlfiend Jill. So needless to say I'm sleeping on the sofa, which is better then staying at a hostel. So it's great to be able to catch up on all our adventures, past and present. Today we are planning on going to a park called Hanging Rock which was made popular by an Australian movie about some school girls disappearing on a camping trip. It should be interesting to hear about the story and see the beautiful landscape.

The Intersection and the Beach

2005-01-21T09:36:00.000+11:00

Yesterday I went to a local pub called the intersection, I guess because it's on the main intersection of the suburb. Very original! Basically I just had a few drinks with my friends and we played a few games of pool. One interesting custom they have with pool here is that if someone comes by and puts a coin on the table, it means they want to challenge you to a game. If you lose the game, you lose the table. But you can always go back and challenge them again if you want. Well the next morning we went to a local beach called something like Cogico. It's a native name like most of the places here. Well I wasn't quite prepared for this outing as I had only put on sunscreen on my neck face and arms. I wasn't expecting to go to the beach. So you can imagine what happened. My entire chest is bright red today, although it seemed fine at the beach. I think I was lucky in the fact that I wasn't there too long and the burn isn't to bad or painful. And I don't' think it's going to peel, so I'm just going to put on some burn cream and hope for the best.

Australian Museum

2005-01-20T09:35:00.000+11:00

Today I visited the Australian Museum. They had some great displays skeletons. They even put some in some very funny positions. For example they took the skeleton on a horse and posed it on it's hind legs, then put a human skeleton on it's back with his hand in the air. Another was a domestic scene with a skeleton sitting in a chair reading a book, a dog skeleton was sitting beside him, a cat skeleton was chasing a mouse, and there was even a bird skeleton in a cage. Hilarious!!! They had other great exhibits on Insects and birds posing them in more natural settings. Another highlight of the museum was the photography exhibition. It had amazing photographs of animals and nature from photographers all over the world.

Oceanworld and the Sushi Train

2005-01-18T18:40:00.000+11:00

Today I started out by going back to the Sydney aquarium where I got a better look at all the exhibits and animals. This time without all the tour groups crowded around me. Afterwards I took the ferry to Manley beach where I went to Oceanworld another aquarium but this one also has dangerous Australian animals and a huge aquarium with quite a few large sharks. It's amazing how big sharks can get and the size/amount of teeth they have. Chelsea told me there were three "S's" to stay away from and they were all their. They include deadly spiders, snakes and scorpions. It was interesting to see what they looked like in person. Now I know what to stay away from and look out for. For dinner I went to my first Sushi Train. This was a really neat experience watching all the different types of sushi float by. It was almost hypnotic. And for 2.50 a plate a pretty good deal. I know I'll definitely be back there for many more meals. Mmmmm......

Manly Beach and the Sydney Aquarium

2005-01-17T18:09:00.000+11:00

Today I went to Manly beach just to check out what was going on. It wasn't a great day to go to the beach because it was little cold (I use that very lightly considering where most of you are reading this from) and a slight rainy mist. But it was fun to check out the beach and shops nonetheless. The highlight of the day was definitely the Sydney Aquarium. I joined the Aqua club which allows me unlimited access to the aquarium and a separate aquarium called Aquaworld located on Manly beach. It was twice the cost of admittance but by the time I visit both aquariums it will be worth the cost. And I'm sure I'll go back several more times. The Sydney Aquarium had possibly every living in the great barrier reef. From Sharks, to giant crabs bigger then my head. I only took a quick look around as I happened to visit when the tour busses arrived. I'll probably go early tomorrow so I can get a better look at all the exhibits.

Bondi Beach and the Harbor Front

2005-01-17T10:21:00.000+11:00

Yesterday I went to Bondi beach with my friends Chelsea and Jen. It's a pretty big beach, and one of the more touristy ones. Because it was Sunday there was a market with lots of jewelry, clothes and other market junk for sale. Bondi also has a long strip of stores, mostly restaurants, cafes and souvenir shops. We didn't go on the actual beach because it was a really windy day, but we sat on the grass just before the beach and watched the action for awhile. We also went to a nearby mall and I got a few t-shirts and a pair of jeans. It's not stuff I would probably usually wear back in Canada but it's more in style here. So I took the girls advice and now I feel like I blend in a bit more. Later on in the evening I took a stroll down to the harbor front where they were having a Latino fest. It was just a big music festival with bands from countries like Brazil. There were also plenty of street performers around. One guy was juggling 4 flaming torches at once, and another was juggling chainsaws. Entertaining to say the least.

Living in the lap of luxury

2005-01-16T11:16:00.000+11:00

Well now that I have my own room I feel like I'm spoiling myself to much. I have a TV, A/C, coffee machine, a massive double bed, and a safe all in my room. Plus now I can sleep in as long as I want, without having to worry about being woken up by drunks. lol Well yesterday I hung out with my friends for awhile and then later on we went to a bar and a pretty posh club. The club was fairly small but looks just like one from Toronto on the inside. The only thing that shocked me was the cover price, $20!!! I don't' think I have ever paid that much to get into a club. But it was a lot of fun anyways. Clubs and bars here can stay open 24hrs if they have the right license. So when I went home at 1am they all thought I was crazy. Today I'm planning on going to Bondi beach with Chelsea and her friend Jen. So it should be a fun day in the sun and surf.

Hostel Horrors

2005-01-15T09:13:00.000+11:00

Well last night was interesting to say the least. It all started when our new hostel mate came in at about 5am. He just lays down and starts listening to music fairly loud. Being the only person in the room that speaks English I told him to turn it down or turn it off. Well luckily he complied with that request. But that isn't the worst of it. Next thing I know I wake up to the sound of my Spanish friend beside me saying "Waahhhhh!!!" I look over and the oriental guy is urinating on his suitcase!!!! Can you believe it! So I just started saying "Hey what are you doing? You know there are washrooms on this floor, your not supposed to piss in the rooms!!!!" He just turned back to his bed and said "I'm ok!" and turned over and fell to sleep. The Spanish guy and I just starred at each other in disbelief! Did that actually just happen? Well needless to say I went right down to the desk informed them of what had happened. I also asked to be switched to a private room. I don't mind paying the extra $40 bucks after that experience. And now that I have a flat I know how long I'll be there. Plus who knows how bad that room will smell now. Ewww!!!

Might have found a Flat

2005-01-14T17:28:00.000+11:00

Well last night I went out with my friend Chelsea and three of her friends. We went to a pool hall had some drinks and played lots of pool. It was a smashing good time! But the best part is that Ricky one of Chelsea's friends, has a flatmate who is moving out this month. So I went today to take a look at his flat. It's an apartment with all the amenities, such as cable, internet, washer and dryer, and most important of all a dishwasher! It's a pretty good price and it's close to shops and transit. I would also have my own bathroom. So I'm going to have to think about it and get back to him soon. Other then that I just went to the beach today and relaxed. I also got a weekly ticket to use the transit system as much as I want. They have such a good system here it's really easy to get around.

First Day in Sydney

2005-01-13T13:07:00.000+11:00

My first day in Sydney was one of my more relaxing days. Mostly because my feet are starting to get blisters and I walk with a funny limp. But other then that I'm doing great and still smiling. I went to Parramatta today where my campus is. It's not a very big campus but the buildings are old and classical looking. It's pretty cozy. The city itself is nice with a large market and the largest shopping center in New South Whales. (Or so my visitors pamphlet says) The train ride from Central Station in downtown Sydney takes about 20-25min so it's not to far. While I was there I met a girl name Chelsea who was lost. (Even though she is from Oz lol) So we took the train back to Central Station together. I'm actually about to meet her outside of city hall to go with her and her friends for some drinks. It should be fun! Tomorrow I'm planning on going back to Parramatta to check out places to stay. It should be pretty easy because it's summer here and the campus was, for the most part empty.

Getting there is half the Fun!

2005-01-12T17:30:00.000+11:00

Well today I left Auckland behind and moved on to Sydney. But it wasn't without it's own adventure. It all started when I boarded the air bus to go to the airport. But as the bus driver was pulling into a loading zone to pick up more passengers he scraped the side of a cab. Whoops!!! Well the Indian driver in the cab went ballistic! Yelling things like, "If you can't drive you shouldn't be driving a bus" and swearing threats. Well the bus driver just got back on the bus and drove off. Well the cab driver started following us, so the bus driver called the police station and informed them of the situation. We then stopped at the Police station where the bus driver said that the Police basically told the cabby to shut up and give him the insurance information. So that made the bus ride to the airport a little exciting. Then once I arrived at the airport, I was all ready to go ticket in hand. But at the counter they couldn't find my reservation on the computer. I wasn't even booked on the flight. So panic set in and I had to talk with their service rep. Luckily he was very good about the situation and wrote me note to get me on the plane. But I was pretty nervous up until I boarded the plane. I was worried they would put me on standby or bump me off because the plane was full! But luckily I made it without any further problems. Now I'm just going to explore Sydney and see what it has to offer.

Another Great Day in New Zealand

2005-01-11T16:04:00.000+11:00

Today being my final full day in New Zealand I really wanted to see some of the scenery that has made this country so famous. I took a tour of Rangitoto Island which is just across the bay from Auckland. This is a volcanic island that is open to the public to explore. I took the volcanic explorer experience which means that you take a trolley around the island rather then a 3+ hour walk. (Which my feet would not like one bit!) I got to see amazing views of Auckland harbor and the surrounding islands. At the summit of the volcano you could look down into the basin. The volcano hasn't erupted in over 350 years so the basin is covered in plant life. The island also had very unique plant life including a tree which is referred to as the New Zealand Christmas tree because of its beautiful red flowers which only blume 2 weeks before Christmas and about 4 weeks after. I was also able to crawl along volcanic rock which litters the island. I picked the perfect day because the sky's were crystal clear. The tour guide said that it was only the 2nd nice day since last summer. Afterwords I visited the Maritime Museum which is located at the Auckland harbor. This museum has a large collection of ships and memorabilia for which Auckland is famous for. I learned all about the history of sailing, the voyage of settlers, and the evolution of Auckland harbor. It was defiantly apparent how important sailing and the harbor is to New Zealand.

The Best Day Yet!

2005-01-11T06:03:00.000+11:00

Well today was a great day. I started out by going to Kelly Tarlton's Antarctic Encounter & Underwater World. This was like half zoo and half theme park. They had a large glass tube with a moving belt that would take you around a circle. They had massive manta rays, sharks, fish, and turtles that would swim overhead. It was really amazing. They also had a ride which started by boarding an arctic cat. The ride told you the story of antarctic exploration and then you entered a large room with penguins swimming past, jumping in the water, and just hanging out. It was pretty cool! (literally) As I was leaving I watched the bus pull out of the parking lot. The next bus didn't come for another hour and a half. I recalled from my lonely planet that there was a memorial garden up the road. So after finding this garden, I got some great views of Auckland city. I also met up with some Aucklanders one driving a Legacy RS and they were kind enough to give me a ride back into town. This saved me a good hour and a half, or a long walk. Next I walked all the way up Queen street the main street in Auckland. After leaving the city central I came across Lion Red breweries. So I booked a tour for later in the afternoon. I went farther up the road until I came to Broadway st which is the posh street in Auckland with Versacci, Mont Blanc, etc... as well as all the local dealerships. So I was in car heaven. I got to see Holden's, Nissan's, Ferrari's, Masserati's, Alfa Romeo's, MG's, and Porsche. Afterwords I went to Lion Red brewery and took the tour. It was a great tour with the history of beer, how they make it, and market it. I was able to taste the different hops and barley used to make the beer. The day I was there they were making Stella Artois, this is a very expensive beer to brew because it takes 12 more days then any other beer they produce. This is the only place other then Belgium were Stella is brewed. And after the tour was over they allowed us to sample two of their most popular house brews. Tasty!The rest of the day I just explored the city and relaxed

The Skytower

2005-01-10T18:32:00.000+11:00

This evening I went up the Skytower, the tallest structure in the southeren hemisphere. I went to the very top observation deck at about 9pm so I could just catch the sunset. And was it ever amazing watching the sun go down and to see Auckland light up before my very eyes. I took alot of pictures although I can't post any untill I'm in Sydney, and can connect my laptop to the internet. But trust me it will be worth the wait!

First Day in New Zealand

2005-01-09T14:42:00.000+11:00

Well after a long flight I finally made it to Auckland! The hostel I'm staying at is great, it's right downtown and has all the amenities including the internet. After checking in I went for a nice walk through downtown. It's amazing how different it is compared to Toronto. For my first day I went to the Auckland Zoo where I got to see some exotic and not so exotic animals. My favorite animal there was the Kiwi, it was in a dark room with red lights because they are nocturnal. This made them a little difficult to see. After the Zoo I went the Museum of transportation and technology. This was kind of like the science center in toronto with many educational displays. There was a large collection of old cars, busses, trains, and airplanes. I even got a ride on an old electric trolley followed by a old bus which took me to the other part of the museum a few blocks away. So it was a pretty good day although I'm exhausted and my feet could use a good rest. Tonight I'm planning on going up the skytower, although I"m waiting for sunset as this is supposed to be the best time.
It isn't as hot as I expected but it is a little overcast. It's certainly hotter then Canada.

Waiting in LA

2005-01-08T11:14:00.000+11:00

Well here I am at LAX with my boarding pass in hand. It's about 4 here now and I can board the plane at 845, so I have a good 5 hours to kill. The only problem is that I can't leave the terminal without going through customs again, so it isn't worth the hassle. Speaking of customs I was luckily selected to be randomly seached at Pearson International. This consisted of the complete dismantling of my bags, the removal of my shoes, and a quick pat down. (anyone that saw my bags knows that they were bursting at the seams, it took me about 10 min to get everything back in) But other then that the flight here to LA went by quickly. I sat beside a couple from Whitby that had visited Auckland last year. So they were able to fill me in on all the best sites to see and tours to go. I'm pretty excited about getting to New Zealand now especially because I will be arriving at about 730AM so I will be able to start site seeing right away. I'll leave my next post when I find the internet in Auckland!

Bryan and Lisa Depart

2005-01-06T13:47:00.000+11:00

Today Bryan and his girlfriend Lisa departed for Hong Kong. We had a large group of well wishers including Barb, Aunt Carol, Lisa's parents and Dennis & Bobby Jackson. Before they departed we had a coffee or milkshake, in my case. We conversed about the exciting adventures ahead, and about tax loopholes. Then at around 8:30 it was time to say our goodbyes and watch them wait in the extremely long customs lineup. Watching them leave only makes me more excited about my leaving in another couple of days.