Golden birthday part deux.

In the morning of the 23rd we had to get up pretty early to check out of the cabin. So by 10:30 or so we went and had a delicious vegan burger breakfast overlooking the water, where I ordered a $3.50 iced coffee that was super sour and bad. So, Scott took it back up to the counter where the guy proceeded to make me a free $8 coffee shake in return! From there we went to the whitest sand beach in the world for a swim and a sunbake. And just as we were arriving we saw all these guys jumping from the plane!

So much fun and so unbelievably beautiful. The most powdery sand imaginable.

From there we hopped in the car and went to a different section of the beach from the previous day for a bit of a hike. As soon as we got out of the car there were to rock wallabies just bobbing around! We got super close to them, and they were fantastic. Like a cat and a kangaroos had a baby. Then Scott found the crab with a squid for its lunch!

After a bit we stopped to eat some snacks at a picnic table, and there was a big mama roo with a blind eye and a joey! We got super close to her as well. Then two big old kookaburras were right by our table, and I got fairly close to them toooo! We laid about there for a while, and Scott picked me a few wild flowers. They're weeds, but they're beautiful and the first flowers a boy ever gave me! So they were special.

"Yeah, I know exactly what you mean, mate."

Once it was time to go, we took the long way back and ran into a few kangaroos in a campground! We had some bread, so we coaxed them in, and the little one held my hands and let me pet him! Apparently it's not common for wild kangaroos to do this at all! Nor is coming in close contact with wallabies, kangaroos with joeys, kookaburras, octopuses, or any of it. I guess the universe just knew it was my day.

 

All tuckered out, we piled into the car and stopped by Shane's parent's house, where I saw a few new kinds of birds and got to see a real Australian household and meet some of my first Australian non-20-something's. They had a lovely house and a mountain view dream backyard. As we left for the long ride home we stopped at McDonalds, where I got my first burger (from there) in like...10 years. So delicious, and topped off a perfect weekend before a lovely drive home. And, even though it was great, I really do miss all you guys at home. Just so you know <3

 

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Golden birthdays, part 1.

(^ Video! ^)

So on the 22nd, Shane, Scott and I were in Wollongong. Their friends had a party the night before, where I met their friend Jason, and then the four of us proceeded to venture down to Jervis Bay. We looked for accommodation for the night for a while (as JB is about 2.5 hours south of Sydney) until we found a caravan/cabin a few miles away. Before heading there, though, we looked out to the water at Jervis and found this bad boy under the dock! Scott has fucking dagger eyes, I swear it. Amazing

(^ Video! ^)

Then, after getting some snacks, drinks, sparklers, Tim tams, birdseed, and our cabin, we headed to the birds. It was just a park near the beach, but if you knew where to look you could have THIS! My sister did it years ago when she was here, so now it was my turn. Covered in rainbow lorikeets. Magical for sure. And, on the drive there I saw my first kangaroos around town!

After that, we meandered down to the beach, where I was totally overwhelmed.. White sand, blue and green water, rocks, tide pools, herons, shells, barnacles, crabs, three sweets Aussie boys, beer, and me. I had to walk away for a moment cause I was so blown away. Literally welled up, briefly! Such a breathtaking moment. And though the next day and earlier that day and later than night were all great, something about this moment stands out as the best.

(^ Video! ^)

After it started to rain a bit, we went to the grocery and got some food for dinner. Then we went back to the house and cooked and drank beer, and then at 11 walked down to the beach. At midnight they sang me happy birthday, along with an Aussie drinking song, and the we proceeded to do some sparklers and build a fire before retiring around 4. Really top notch.

P.s. The photo above of the vodka was our lamp until the fire was made! Haha. Also, shortly after this photo Shane put his hand in his book bag and then freaked out because he pulled out a 4" slug instead of rolling tobacco!

 

 

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Busy nights

So recently I've been extra lazy during the days and super busy at night. But, I at least manage to shove myself out of the house to a coffeehouse for a few hours every day. Helps me feel a teensy bit productive at least. Or whatever. Buuuut last night, Scott, his roommates and I went to see a band called Kingswood (I think?) at Sydney Uni which was pretty fun. Not a fully packed show or as gnarley of a venue as I'd usually dig, and the crowd was pretty solemn the first half hour, but in all we had a really great time.

And, tonight marks the beginning of a severely EPIC GOLDEN BIRTHDAY WEEKEND!!!! First, Shane, Nick, Sam, Louis and I are driving down to Wollongong for his friend's going away party, where Scott and Scotty are meeting us. Should be a pretty hectic party. Then we are staying the night, and a few of us are heading further south for the day to Jervis Bay! Down there are some incredible white-sand beaches (they claim the whitest sand in the world-- we'll see about that) and a place where birds land all over you! We are going to fish, boat (hopefully), and get drunk by a beachy bonfire before passing out in caravans. Then heading home Sunday for Wellsy's housewarming party! SO JAM PACKED AND SO PUMPED AND SO GOLDEN!

 

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Harbour Bridge walkz

Tuesday Scott and I walked over the bridge! I hadn't seen the city view at night yet, nor really been to the other side of Sydney. So we walked over, got a take-away pizza and some ice coffee, and sat down at the edge of the water. Super awesome to watch all the city lights come alive! Then we attemped to take a good pano, and just got a bunch of shitty ones. So here they are haha.

 

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Coasts

 

Monday (St. Patty's Day) was a great day.

In the morning I got up super early and walked downtown to the the tenth floor of a fancy office building, where I proceeded to take a five hour barista course! I was nervous at first, but it ended up being really badass. I've always had an obsession with coffee, and now I finally had the chance to learn it! The course was three hours of learning the basics (i.e. how to froth milk, how long a good shot should extract for, how to make all your popular drinks, standard temperatures...etc) and the last two were a test over everything, as well as latte art! So fun and so fucking hard. I spilled so much milk that morning. But in all, I passed and am now a nationally accredited barista!

Then in the afternoon, I met up with Scott, and we went to Coogee Beach. We walked around a bit, and then found this great little rocky cliff overlooking the ocean. We sat there and talked, and then watched the moonrise! MOON. RISE. Seriously. It was the first time I've ever seen that happen before, and it was incredible. The moon was huge and reddish! Such a lovely experience.

Also, Saturday I went to a secret-location-German-techno-warehouse rave. Super sick. People from all over the world! That's where I met the previously mentioned Scott. We all danced (my housemates and buddies came with me) and then he and I chilled outside in the ally, exhausted, while everyone was all still raging to the same song until sunrise. Well, until the cops showed up at 5, anyway. Super crazy, rad fucking night.

 

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Fin.

 

Meh, done drawing I guess!

So today I went to a coffee house I saw yesterday walking through Surry Hills. No idea what it's called, but it had a sign outside that said "Sex sells, too bad we only sell coffee." They played really great music the whole time, had rad spoons (the dog one may or may not have slipped into my bag) and the barista came up and chatted with me about tattoos. He wants to hang and have a beer/tattoo night, and he has all the gear I'd need! Sounds tempting, but I'm sure there were romantic undertones, and I'm not interested particularly. Nice guy though. Then I walked down Oxford street and went into some great graphic design concept shops, and ended up downtown after a while. I the way home I stopped for a cigarette outside Wake Up! hostel, and ended up meeting these two lovely Israeli girls named Yuval and Noga. We sat inside and then ate dinner together, before they unfortunately had to catch the night bus for Melbourne. But, they'll be back next Sunday--my birthday! They're coming out to celebrate with me! Success on sneaky-hostel-porch-smoke tactics. More to come.

 

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Exciting things to come!

 

So I originally intended to go back to the bakery today, but instead stopped a block short at a restaurant called "Cowbell 808." Cute place covered in graffiti and collage, good music and happy, whistling workers. Unfortunately didn't take a picture of it! I'll try to next time I'm over there, along with the bakery. But I sat there a while and added a little more to my drawing (which is still unfinished), and chatted with the waitress a bit who came and sat down with me, named Grace. Anyway, they closed at three so I trekked off a few miles down the road in search of an art store. I found one eventually, and boy are they more comprehensive here! So much more sweet shit to buy! Eventually I settled on this stuff after staring at fancy water colors for an hour. Super pumped to use it! Expect big updates soon!

Also, I decided Sunday I leave for a backpackers in the Blue Mountains for about four days. They're much cheaper there, and highly rated, plus then I can mountain-hike to my heart's content! Super excited!

 

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Little bits of progress

 

Sat at the Bourke Street Bakery two days ago (and had a suuuuper babely waiter) and added a little bit to the page. Had delicious coffee and a cheese & tomato croissant--the place is incredible. The food is awesome and the staff is lovely. I sat outside all afternoon and four different workers came up and complimented me and then chatted with me a bit! They even stopped by to say goodbye after their shifts ended! I think I'm going to go back there tomorrow for another go.

 

ibis and weird ribbon dancing old people

 

Yesterday I went to the botanical gardens all afternoon, which made for one of my favorite days yet. I was feeling pretty depressed about being stuck in such a big city for a whole month, so this was a much needed little excursion. Saw a foot-long lizard, butterflies, dragon flies, and tons of birds. Got a little sun, too. Then came back and drew this guy, who I'm not a huge fan of, but the type was fun.

 

Then today I went to Bondi Beach, which is a nice beach but I'm not a huge fan. Had a very frustrating time getting there as well. Got on the train which took me to a bus, then got on what I thought was the right bus. It had the proper number and name, but then after about a half hour on it I started to recognize my surroundings and realized it went the exact opposite direction of where I needed to be. So I got off, now 45 minutes from Bondi, with and interview to be at at 10:30 and it was around 10:10. So I nabbed the next bus, and closely followed its route on my gps to make sure I was going the right way. It was perfectly on point for about 35 minutes, and then two stops away starts going some crazy direction away from the beach! So I asked the bus driver and he said I was on the wrong bus. Which I was NOT. So he dropped me off a 15 minute walk away, where I then rushed like a maniac to the interview. I ended up being an hour late, sweaty, frazzled, and frustrated only to discover it didn't really matter. It wasn't even a proper interview, my interviewer wasn't even there (which she didn't tell me when I texted her to tell her I would be late), and mostly I just needed to call a number to get a NSW tattooers license before we can even chat about hiring me. Plus they don't really do guest positions and I'd have to stick around for 6 months. I couldn't handle Sydney another 6 weeks let alone months. Oh well.

 

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