missing Melbourne but enjoying Sydney so far

helloooooo! I am finally posting.

So, I spent almost exactly 2 weeks in Melbourne. I feel that I cut that portion of my trip a bit short, but there was a neat opportunity to travel up the coast to Sydney on a certain date, so I took it. How you ask? Um, with some random Aussie guy who has an SUV and does camping trips along the coast, taking 3 passengers with him. the other 2 were 2 CDN boys, just out of high school, hilarious, very entertaining road trip partners. we camped 2 nights on the coast on the way up to Sydney, adam (aussie guy) has the back (trunk?) and the roof all set up for camping, we had great dinners and brekkies both days, campfires, steve playing the guitar + singalongs, boxes of goon (cheap wine), and fairly comfortable sleeps in tents. saw some great south-east Oz coastline and a good story to tell.

Melbourne was great. (um, side note, I just changed the keyboard language to Korean, considered writing the post in that but quickly though better of it). anyway, tons of fun in Melbourne. St Kilda is a great area, its basically the only beach area of Melbourne, with a good backpacker vibe so I met some great people there and enjoyed the hostel there where I stayed about a week. I met a CDN girl, from New West nonetheless, on my first night at the 2nd hostel I stayed at in Melbourne. we met a group of 4 Irish who we continued to see, they were always drinking of course.

highlights of Melbourne were quiz night @ the hostel, after which I went out with a random group on a whim - 2 Irish boys, 1 swedish gal - good times dancing... ladies night @ the hostel with free champagne for about 2 hours, dont remember much after that except the McD's cheeseburger.... meeting up with Renae's brother in-law Blaise, we did a couple nights of drinks, and he graciously toured me in his car along a bit of the Great Ocean Road, which I had to miss a 2-day/1-night tour of due to my decision to drive up the coast with adam.... a saturday night @ the Belgium Beer Cafe, an old hotel/mansion type thing with outdoor beer garden (classy beer garden) with Kelly & Mike and the CDN girl. as far as sightseeing, the Melbourne Zoo (note pics are on facebook)... Fitzroy area & Brunswick Street, an alternative area, very cool to wander around....emm, that's it really, I will have to go back to Melbourne to tick off more sights :)

I've met 4 chefs on the trip so far, in under 3 weeks. Ive taken a mental note of this in light of my search for my next career.

I've also met a zillion Irish. which I'm not taking as a sign of the fact that I am destined to marry an irishman, there's just a shiteload of them travelling in Oz. regardless, I love them.

so Sydney...upon arriving I was fortunate enough to have a local (adam) show us the nighttime view of the harbour, the bridge, and the Opera House. I will have to go back @ night, it is quite beautiful. after staying 1 night @ an overpriced hostel near Central Station, I quickly moved to an area called Kings Cross which is an interesting mix of old & new/dirty & posh - but lots of backpackers here and its been good fun so far. Halloween was my first night and I ended up @ McD's (again) taking pics of 1 of the dudes from the hostel wearing a bunny suit. like a mascot suit. his other 3 buddies were a tiger, a monkey and a panda. an interesting night as a result indeed.

have been lazing around for the last couple days but yesterday I picked up my lazy ass and headed to Manly Beach for the afternoon with a couple really nice English girls. it was a short beach day, but it was only my second once since arriving so it was worth the trip. the walk to the ferry provided a great day time view of the Opera House and the Bridge, plus the ferry ride to Manly is quite beautiful, so both added to the experience of the day.

today I met up with a friend of Jamie's that she met in Paris, who I met once in Van, he's from around Sydney so we met and toured Darling Harbour, the Sydney Acquarium, and popped into a bar to watch the big race @ the Melbourne Cup on the TV. for the Melbourne Cup, everyone in Syd also dresses up for the event, ladies in fancy dresses and big hats, men in suits, and buggers off from work around noon and drinks, places bets, and I think basically hollars at the TV for the rest of the day. it was cool standing in the bar witnessing it.

anyway, I'm spent, and Im sure you're bored of reading at this point, so I'll leave it at that and will report back on further Sydney adventures sooner than 2 weeks! maybe...