A couple of corrections....

It was pointed out to me that I made a big mistake in explaining cricket. Apparently birds are flying around saying I don't know anything of the sport and much more... well, I will stand corrected in that it is not 150 bowls or 10 outs till the team is done. If you do the math it is 300 bowls... generally speaking. There are a few ways to get a free bowl and such... but for ease sake that is the case. A pitcher also can't be replaced till he has bowled his 6 ( I think, I may be wrong in this)- which is kind of, very loosely like an inning.

Also- my good friend Jenna (please refer to Fraser Island for reference)reminded me as to why british men know so much about hair straighteners. It is not because they are in tune with their girlfriends likes and dislikes but because they use them! I am in Melbourne this weekend, visiting Craig (more about my weekend here later), and yes- he uses one too. THere have been many nights at the hostel that I have spent straightening Phil's hair, or even Jay before a night out. My hat goes off to the blokes who care that much about their looks... I can relate!

Meat pie's and Hungry Jack

Meat pies are supposedly famous as Vanessa was just telling me she read an article about them in NY. Well let me tell you, famous they are- found all over and consumed by the thousand every hour I am sure. I had the honor of eating one at the cricket game and from 7-11 (only 24 hour spot in Bondi)... and they are disgusting and yet positively addictive. The filling tastes like dog food! I oddly want one right now... though I do prefer the juicy big sausage roll from the 7-11. A question my friend Daz brought up... why is the 7-11 named the 7-11 if they are open 24 hours a day???

Speaking of names... Hungry Jack's looks mysteriously like Burger King... whopper and all... oh wait! It is Burger King... Rumor has it it as Burger King was going global, some nut case bought up the rights to the name here- copy wrote it and everything. He has since done nothing with the name and has no intention of doing anything with it. Apparently BK has sued him multiple times, never winning, and has also offered him loads of money for the rights- he has declined the cash every time, yet makes no money off of the name anyway. Finally in a court hearing a judge ordered the man to either do something with the name or BK gets the use of it. "Now, I am not one to gossip... so you ain't heard that from me!"

Cricket...

This goes back to my first week here and some time in Melbourne. CRAIG, my dearest friend that I previously spoke about and miss dearly. Why? Because he is barrels of fun and makes me feel good about myself... not because he compliments me on my beauty, but because he always has some sort of drama in his life... kidding, he really is the male version of me, which is why we get along so well. Never a dull moment with the kid...

Let's get back to Cricket. We all know I am a huge baseball fan, and not just a fan to impress the good looking male Yankee fans out there... but because I actually enjoy the game! Unfortunately the rest of the world just isn't in tune with the greatest sport on earth. Because of this, I am now a cricket fan. I needed my fix of sports... and this defo can be a temporary and worthy substitute. I watched some games on TV with Craig, who first introduced me to the game and have since been understanding all of the many rules that go along with it.

The major differences are that:
1) The players don't wear mitts- they catch that rock hard ball with their bare hands! Very impressive...
2) You can use a 'pitcher' (bowler) more than once in a game... you switch them often.
3) We alternate teams in innings, they have one team bat or bowl continuously till 10 outs are reached or 150 bowls, whichever comes first.
4) Loads more rules... but I don't think I will brag with all of this learned knowledge.

Back to my story... ahh, wait... big Steve also spent great length explaining the game to me as well as these sweet brit boys who's names I have completely forgotten. Baseball has a season... set number of games and the ultimate tournament at the end of the season, obvo being the World Series. Cricket has different leagues where player play for different teams, there are different tournaments, different types of games... that was and is the very confusing part to me.

I had the honor of going to a game! It was not just a regular game, but it was the championship game between England and Australia. Being that I have met so many nice brits... I was cheering for England! After about three rain delays... we won!!! It was a very exciting game, though England won pretty easily.

Some cool things about the games... much like our football games, the fans REALLY get into the game. Many dress up in crazy costumes, they talk a lot of crap to opposing fans and a lot of props... They blow up beach balls and throw them around. The object is to never have it fall on the ground or onto the field. If it falls onto the field it is popped by officials and everyone boo's. They also do the Mexican wave... oh you read it right. For some unknown reason, they call the wave, the Mexican Wave... no one could explain why.

I have to say I saw the most impressive wave ever. It was at the end of one of the rain delays as they were preparing the field. The wave must have gone around the stadium at least 25 times. At one area of the stadium, the rich people (season ticket holders) sit. They are considered old and posh (not the American use of the word Posh... but rich and snobby). They lacked participation and got booed many times. They finally joined in a bit, but it was a poor effort on their part. The rest of the stadium was one their feet, with arms raised high. It really put a smile on my face, the crowd was so into it!

A side note about the Mexican wave.. it is actually against the law here... yep, that's right they outlawed it... why? Once again... no idea! People are very discreet when starting one, or else they will get kicked out. Speaking of people getting kicked out, we saw many! As I said before people really get into the game- it's really funny when people get kicked out... the fans either cheer or start singing at them and taunting them.

Back to the posh area... there are two clear areas next to each other where they sit. It was explained to me that women used to sit in one area and the men in the other. This is not so anymore, but I though that was an interesting tid bit to add.

I also had my first meat pie at the game... but I will leave that for my next entry.

Flashpacker

I have been labeled the flashpacker... not what you are thinking!!!! It's the fact that I am always dressed nicely, shop a bit and go out to nice-ish dinners (meaning I don't eat ramen noodles). I think the label is hysterical... and probably spot on. This flashpacker never pretended to be a real backpacker- I think we all knew that! The backpackers are smarter than they seem... they are on to me!

When I first got to Indy's I was in room three. It is a dorm room that houses 12 people (hmmm... some nights we had more, 15 being the record). My first few nights in the dorm I was the only girl!!! When I started working I switched to the girls dorm, which sleeps 8 of us... it's a bit quieter. Everyone knows though, my real room is the TV room. It has air-con and comfy bean bags. I most usually fall asleep in there and then move up to my room when the cleaner starts banging around at 6 am. It's a nice routine.

The hostel is pretty gross I have to say. I think you would all be shocked that I live in such conditions. We drink out of bowls because there are never any mugs (they don't even have cups). There are the same flying cockroaches we have in BK, all over the backyard (it's just concrete back open area). The showers often clog and usually the toilet paper has run out. The bathroom is steamy, humid and hot... all meaning the same thing... but it really is that bad. I often shower in the boys room. When Marc and Steve were around we would all shower at the same time and sing songs.. it was pretty funny.

Things I have learned from being at Indy's:

1) English girls are obsessed with hair straighteners
2) English guys understand that and actually know all bout the best brand and such because of it
3) The English and Irish REALLY do need their tea and are very particular about how it is made
4) Nackered- means tired, beat
5) Australian men for the most part are arrogant and lazy... oh, lets throw sleazy in their too!
6) the English and Irish put butter on everything
7) The above also love Bolognese sauce... I think that is their only Italian dish known
8) Can't think of anything else... but I know there is loads more!

John, the manager, got a lil fish bowl and three fish... he named one after me! hmmm... maybe it's time to leave?!

Work...

That's right.. I got a job. That is the reason for my lengthy stay in Sydney. I am working for 6 weeks (3 weeks left) for a friends start up marketing company. They are working on several projects however one of them happens to be handbags. They want to start a handbag company from old PVC billboards... fashionable recycled handbags... they are going to launch with 5 bags and a wallet... I am project manager. Basically I am design and development for them. It has been amazing to be productive and work on something that I am so interested in.

travelling alone is ideal- however, after a while you feel a little self indulgent... you don't have to worry about anyone but yourself and have no real responsibilities. I was starting to feel like I was a bit of a waste in humanity... like I was contributing nothing to society... now I know designing handbags is not a contribution in many people eyes... but it is to me! It feels great to be doing something so creative and something that I might want to do when I return to NYC.

I think that is why I like to do big dinners too... I needed to care for people other than myself...

Sydney

I have been here for almost a month.. .or maybe a little more. It is unreal how time has gone by! I have been staying at a hostel the entire time. I tried to get an apartment, but my half ass attempt didn't work. The hostel is in Bondi Beach... a cool little beach suburb of Sydney. We walk around town barefoot... and do much more.

The hostel is called Indy's surfside. People come and go a lot but I had made an amazing group of friends. It's hard to back track now and go through everyone... but staying there for so long made me really understand the hostel lifestyle. In the hostel you have the people that live and work there (Nick or as I call him Snickers, John the manager and headband Dave), you have the people that stay no longer than two weeks (Martina, Alaska, Lottie, Celia, Ian, Steve, Rachel, Vicki, Chelsea, Peaches, Mike, Martin), you have the people that stay a little longer (Marc, Phil, Big Steve), the people who seem like the resident hostel-er (I think I now fall in that category, Jay, Bob, Hans, Lee) ... The people I named above for the most part were my crew of the first week... some left after a week and some stayed on for another... You become so close to people so quickly... we all had a great time... and it is super difficult saying goodbye. Lotti and Celia had left... they were the last of the girls to leave... and I was just left with my boys... but the night Marc brought them to the bus depot... they had him turn around for a return to the hostel for an extra week! You get sucked into this place... everyone always seems to stay a little longer. Through Lottie and Celia I met friends of theirs from home- Lizzie and Sophie...

As people leave... you realize from the hostel employees that everyone is replaceable. The newbies come in and off they go all together for wild nights of partying again. It's a hard concept for me to be okay with. I have had a blast at the hostel and made new great friends.. but the first set could never be replaced in my eyes. We were the most open group- chilled out, inclusive, non judgemental, friendly... and out to have a great time. Since they have left... I have met some more great people... Lizzie, Sophie, Phil, Matty and more... Lizzie and Sophie are about to leave soon... which make me really sad.. they are the last of my 'girls' that are here... but I still have Jay... who is the male version of me... and again, you meet new people and just get used to the fact that people come and go. Some people I know I will see again and others I hope to... but it's hard to think that you become so close with someone so quickly and realistically you will never see them again. But others I know that is not true.... and the nature of travelling... you bump into people in other places! Marc (who I absolutely adore... funniest and sweetest kid alive!) and Phil are in Melbourne so I will see them when I go away fo rhte weekend... Steve will be in China when I am there... Lottie and Celia in NZ... MAritna, Sophie and Lizzie in Thailand... so sometimes it does work out!

It really is great though, to meet so many people. It is never boring in the hostel. We go out far too much... but we also have chilled out nights in the TV room... 20 something of us sharing bean bags and watching movies. I also have become the 'mom' (besides being the oldest)of my group and make big dinners for all of us... that creates some type of normalcy in the surreal lifestyle we live.

Bondi has a few bars that we go to on our local nights... Bungabar, a bungalow like beach bar up the road from us... B.B's - probably the coolest bar in Bondi, but that really doesn't say much and the hotel.. we always end up there late night, they have Buck hunter!!!

Tuesday nights is World Bar night in Kings Cross... they have tea pots that they fill up with shots... yummy stuff. My favorite night in Sydney by far was spent at World Bar. It was indy night and the crew went there. For some reason everyone went home early except for myself, Ian and Steve. We danced the night away... that is the night I became... 'one of the boys'... too much fun!

On some nights we end up going for a swim in the ocean... as we live one block from the beach.

It's hard to explain the life and tell all the stories... but it has been incredible! The nights are very late and loud... it's hard to have a night in there which makes it very difficult to work as well...

Final thoughts on Melbourne

Well I really do want to say that Melbourne rocks. It has a perfect balance of city life and a chilled mentality... yo uknow how some cities are a bit bland... like it could be a city any place in the world.. no real identity or flavor? Melbourne is the opposite of that. It's a New York, a Chicago (never been, but I gather)... Sydney on the other hand is an LA or a Boston.

Craig really showed me a great time. He is a great friend... we are probably too much a like... but that proves to be a great time... he laughs at all of my jokes ... but fails to realize I am prettier than he... a dream world he lives in. I am super thankful that I got to see Melbourne through him though... we really do like the same scene... it's funny when I talk to people about Melbourne... they either love it or hate it... when they love it they went to all the bars I did, same shopping areas and neighborhoods... when they hate it, they missed out on all of that. Again, if you don't know where to go in Melbourne- you wont just stumble upon it... I never would have had as good a time if I didn't get to experience Melbourne from a 'locals' percpective.

Can't wait to go again for the weekend...

C.P.E.

Craig Philip Evans- the prettiest boy in his class, the man who saves the world one child at a time, the ever so stylish friend of mine who just entered his first semester in one of the most prestigious law schools out there... so basically he was very busy during my days in Melbourne... which meant I spent more time with his ever so sweet house mate Ciaran...an Irish dude (who happens to have a great body and great to look at) I shared many memories with. This entry will be all about our adventures together...

Ciaran and I spent a day at the beach... We drove past St. Kilda (very cool hipster neighborhood) and went about 30 minutes further to Black Rock (or pebble, something like that) beach. Serina Williams was said to have been there the week before so we figured it must be nice. It was a very relaxing and chilled out time... not too many people were there at that point. The sun was shining, we had a nice cool breeze and the water was refreshing. Ciaran was a doll and got us some lunch... sandwiches and strawberries on the beach! It was nice having someone go and get lunch for me... again very sweet. We must have spent 6 hours on the beach. We shared great conversation, listened to his Ipod and went for a dip in the ocean. All in all it was a perfect day.

Ciaran and I also went to the market one day. It has all these different stands with fresh fruit, a butcher, juice bars, fresh donuts (sadly they were all out... we all know how much I love donuts!), fresh fish and then they have a clothing area with the most useless touristy crap outside of canal street. However... that did bring for great entertainment as Ciaran and I had a go at the hat stand... trying on the goofiest hats we could find. Not too sure if the man who owned the stand was as amused... but for a Sunday afternoon... it was a great way to spend it.

We next met the 'gang' (Becs and her boyfriend Tom, his brother, Craig, and Dave). Ciaran's sailing instructor was there too... a very strange character. We went to play lawn bowling a very similar game to Baci ball. Made me think of the mighty bacigalupes! I was by far the worst- but it was great fun. Craig wasn't much better and I looked cuter playing... infact the crazy sailor said I had nice cleavage, the very first thing he said to me. I don't think he said anything complimentary towards Craig.

So as you can see Melbourne was great fun... more to tell in my next entry. For now Hope you enjoyed meeting Ciaran...

A lot of catching up to do...

Oops. That is all I have to say about that... oh wait, one more thing... thank you to those of you that I have not lost on my little hiatus from writing. I value your loyalty and hope you find these next entries to have been worth the wait.

Melbourne...

Melbourne I must say is my favorite city in Australia. I think it might be number 2 on my list for coolest cities, clearly NY being #1... defo for the bar seen at the very least. I arrived on a Friday, which also happened to be Australia day... it could not have been more perfect, filled with fireworks and all.

I went to Melbourne to visit a very dear friend of mine, Craig- but he is truly a cool dude and is worthy of a blog entry all to his own (or maybe I write this because he loves himself so much that I would never here the end of it if I didn't give him enough 'face' time in my entries and I really don't feel like hearing him go on and on about it).

It was cool to be in a house again... he lives in Port Melbourne with 2 other housemates and a guest, Dave that never seemed to leave. It was quite the mix matching of people which made for some great laughs. We had a barbecue during the day and then went out to my new favorite bar in the whole world... St. Jerome. We went to a few that night... all really cool... but St. J was rockin. I twas very small inside and they had an outside yet is was covered... but the walls were the neighboring buildings with graffiti on them...

The really cool thing about Melbourne is that if you don't know where the cool bars are you would never find them. They are all down small and dark ally ways... once again reminds me of old school NY. If you combined NY and San Diego, you would get Melbourne... it's the best of both worlds. The shopping is really great too... there are a lot of really cool boutiques. There are sections of Melbourne that are very Williamsburg, LES- esque. I think that is why I liked it so much.

My first few days in Melbourne I really spent bumming around the house in my PJ's. It felt great to have a clean shower, comfy bed and privacy! More than anything it felt great to do nothing... I had been on the go for quite some time and it took a toll on me! Craig's housemate, Becca- her boyfriend thought I was nuts... They made fun of me for staying in my PJ's for the first 4 days... but I had to do it! I watched lots of TV and melted into the couch. I stayed in Melbourne for about 10 days.... and it got pretty eventful!

After getting my lazy time in... it was time to trek on and see the sights! I had a great day shopping- and this was no backpackers shopping trip! I seemed to have been possessed by a wealthy, uber stylish, needing far too many expensive but amazingly unique hair clips, chick ... who was that girl?! I need to keep her suppressed or I will be back home in a week!

I did some touristy day excursions... the great ocean road drive and Philip Island (please do not add an 'S' to the end, Ozzie's get very touchy on that one). I am mixing the two day excursions up so we will morf them into one, after all you have no no way of knowing my lies... did I really do any of this at all?! (I kid... unbelievably, I have done it all). We went to what seemed to be a petting zoo, however rather than goats and sheep there were kangaroos, wallaby's, koalas (not allowed to be within a foot of them... they are ferocious little devils!). I even got to feed an emu... most excited- I saw a kangaroo with an erection... I never thought I could ever make that claim! Surprisingly I was hte only one to take a photo of it... who wouldn't want a photo of a Kangaroo with an erection?! I know you are wondering what it looks like... it is actually curvy, almost cork screw like... but very thin.... like your pinkie finger. That's all I really want to say about that.

On Phillip Island I went to the Penguin Parade. At night time hundreds of penguins go from the water to their little caves of a home to feed their youngsters. It was really one of the coolest experiences! I sat with an 85 year old lady and we had a ball... she was SO MURIEL CONKY!!!! Along the way to the Penguins, we went to some of the most beautiful beaches and cliffs I have ever seen. The sun was shining... and everything seemed to glow!

Among the beaches, HJF get ready to get jealous because I know you love this movie as much as I, we went to the one where they filmed Point Break... so cool... just too cool.

On one of the tours I bumped into the girls I met in Cairns... they were on the very same tour. That is what I love about travelling- you bump into friends you met elsewhere... it's really cool in that respect.