You read it. Today I ate Kangaroo. Other things happened, but really the central event was eating Roo rump. Mio was still at the Gold Coast on the morning of the 30th so I did some laundry, cleaned the kitchen, packed my bags, wrote her a letter, watched tv, returned my night's movies in Sandgate, and caught the 3:00 train to Albion Station, where I was meeting Malcolm to go back to his and Tenai's place. Got there at 3:45 and Malcolm started cooking right away.
The house smelt of bbq sauce, spiced meat, and savoury smoke. We chatted and drank rum&cokes as we waited for the meat to cook. At 5:30ish, we all sat down to eat. The roo meat resembled lamb, yet it tasted like nothing I've ever eaten before. It had a faint gamey flavour, but mostly just bbq sauce and what I can only term as regular 'red meat' flavour. We also had Angus Beef sausages, potato salad, and cabbage salad. More drinks were poured, then Tenai had to go to work for a couple hours. So, Malcolm and I picked up a movie (Paranormal Activity) and sat down to watch it until Tenai got back. Good God, I do not recommend you watch that movie if you are at all faint of heart. I spent half the time with a blanket up around my ears. Spencer (the house cat) did not help by walking under my legs or stepping onto my shoulder from the couch back at particularly suspenseful moments. Needless to say, I embarrassed myself and Malcolm had a good laugh. When Tenai got home, we talked for a bit, played a game of Green Glass Doors (someone says something like "I love squirrels, but I hate rodents" and you have to figure out what the connection is. The name of the game is Green Glass Doors; the aim of the game is in the name. That is how it is introduced, and you must figure out what pattern is in the name and how it is repeated in the following "I love___, but I hate___." I got frustrated and tired after an hour of failure and cheated by Googleing the answer.
So, that was the end of my night; Tenai and Malcolm had put a mattress in the living room for me so I slept there in my sleeping bag.
p.s. Did I mention they have another roommate? He's a 30-year-old NZ bloke who I only saw for dinner so I didn't really get to know him.
Hope the weather clears up soon! Hugs to everyone back home!
xoxo - Katrina
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Stormy Storm Storm
Just before all internet cut out, it was yet another typical day in Shorncliffe. Mio left for the Gold Coast with two of her mates at around noon, leaving me queen of the house for the day/night. The day had dawned beautiful and clear, but I wasn't fooled. It had dawned that way for 8 days solid and each day the clouds crept in from the South, bringing shade and humidity that made going outdoors more of a chore than a pleasure.
I can't wait until I'm acclimatized. At the moment I feel rather pathetic walking around in shorts and a beater, raking my sweaty hair off my face while native Queenslanders are bundled up in jeans and a jacket on these "cold" Spring days.
I saw the clouds rolling in at 1:00 and decided to make a run for town before any rain action started. So, carefully slipping my shoes over my poor blistered feet (tip for travellers, bring worn-in shoes on your journey... if you plan on breaking-in new shoes, plan for them to break you), I walked to town for some movies and groceries. I planned to fill Mio's fridge so it would be re-stocked for when she returned. I picked up some juice, capsicums, bananas, and cookies, then couldn't think of what Mio might like so I stopped there. Got Invictus, Robin Hood, and She's Out of My League at the rental place, then raced to catch the train home. Literally was grabbing at the door handles as the train took off, missed it by moments, so I limped home with my heavy bags. Luckily it was only a 15 minute walk or I would have minced meat for feet.
Just as I turned into the driveway, the rain started coming down. After forgetting to close the windows the previous day and resulting in wet carpets, I ran inside to make sure I didn't make that mistake again. Thunder and lightning rolled in and the air turned grey with thick rain. I love tropical storms! Well, I love watching them. I hate what they do. I logged on to skype to talk with Benji and ended up losing him 5 minutes into the conversation. Practically crying in frustration, I re-booted my computer, trouble-shooted the internet, turned the source off and on, and tried every sort of remedial method before finally giving up. The storm had cut my internet, leaving me feeling exposed, alone, and totally isolated (yes, I realize that doesn't walk hand-in-hand with exposure, but work with me).
So, really, nothing monumental happened during the rest of the night. I watched my three movies, ate disgustingly garlicky spaghetti, tossed the leftover fennel sausages, broke into the cookie package I had so good-intentionally bought for Mio (after eating the previous cookie packet), and went to bed feeling quite lonely. Pathetic what a lack of internet can do for a modern-day girl. I'm not going to say I hope I get better because, truly, I hope it never happens again. I rely on my contact with home life to remain positive here. So, luckily I have internet again, I'm happy, healthy, and heading to Cairns soon!
xoxo everybody! - Katrina
I can't wait until I'm acclimatized. At the moment I feel rather pathetic walking around in shorts and a beater, raking my sweaty hair off my face while native Queenslanders are bundled up in jeans and a jacket on these "cold" Spring days.
I saw the clouds rolling in at 1:00 and decided to make a run for town before any rain action started. So, carefully slipping my shoes over my poor blistered feet (tip for travellers, bring worn-in shoes on your journey... if you plan on breaking-in new shoes, plan for them to break you), I walked to town for some movies and groceries. I planned to fill Mio's fridge so it would be re-stocked for when she returned. I picked up some juice, capsicums, bananas, and cookies, then couldn't think of what Mio might like so I stopped there. Got Invictus, Robin Hood, and She's Out of My League at the rental place, then raced to catch the train home. Literally was grabbing at the door handles as the train took off, missed it by moments, so I limped home with my heavy bags. Luckily it was only a 15 minute walk or I would have minced meat for feet.
Just as I turned into the driveway, the rain started coming down. After forgetting to close the windows the previous day and resulting in wet carpets, I ran inside to make sure I didn't make that mistake again. Thunder and lightning rolled in and the air turned grey with thick rain. I love tropical storms! Well, I love watching them. I hate what they do. I logged on to skype to talk with Benji and ended up losing him 5 minutes into the conversation. Practically crying in frustration, I re-booted my computer, trouble-shooted the internet, turned the source off and on, and tried every sort of remedial method before finally giving up. The storm had cut my internet, leaving me feeling exposed, alone, and totally isolated (yes, I realize that doesn't walk hand-in-hand with exposure, but work with me).
So, really, nothing monumental happened during the rest of the night. I watched my three movies, ate disgustingly garlicky spaghetti, tossed the leftover fennel sausages, broke into the cookie package I had so good-intentionally bought for Mio (after eating the previous cookie packet), and went to bed feeling quite lonely. Pathetic what a lack of internet can do for a modern-day girl. I'm not going to say I hope I get better because, truly, I hope it never happens again. I rely on my contact with home life to remain positive here. So, luckily I have internet again, I'm happy, healthy, and heading to Cairns soon!
xoxo everybody! - Katrina
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Tropical Storm
You read it, the 28th was incredibly stormy! So much for the morning looking so beautiful! As per usual, I job-hunted in the morning; watched the news, made breakfast, and read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows : ) That kept me occupied all day. At noon, when I had hoped to walk into town for some more dinner groceries and movies, the lightning struck. Great crashes of light and sound filled the dark grey skies; rain poured like a marathon from the sky, deafening splatters on the ground. Book in hand, curled up in a duvet, chocolate cookies at my side, I was not hard-pressed to stay inside. I did take my camera out to snap some photos of the storm, but that was my only outdoor excursion.
I finished the book at around 6:00 and picked a couple movies from Mio's small collection to watch. I mashed some potatoes and onions for dinner and sat down to watch Love Actually and How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days. Mio arrived home just as I was starting the second movie, but she went to bed early.
Again, not an incredibly eventful day in paradise. I'm feeling quite restless here and can't wait to get moving. You may wonder why I'm not getting out more here, but it's rather like living in Sydney, BC... beautiful, but small and isolated. And with a $10.60 pricetag on getting downtown and back, I'd rather save my money and stay indoors. So, that's what's happening for now. I move into a hostel soon, so I'll be living right downtown for a few days. That will hopefully be a great opportunity to meet people, make plans, perhaps get a travelling partner, and finally get going!
Until then, stick with me, I'll have awesome and interesting things to write about soon : )
xoxo - Katrina
I finished the book at around 6:00 and picked a couple movies from Mio's small collection to watch. I mashed some potatoes and onions for dinner and sat down to watch Love Actually and How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days. Mio arrived home just as I was starting the second movie, but she went to bed early.
Again, not an incredibly eventful day in paradise. I'm feeling quite restless here and can't wait to get moving. You may wonder why I'm not getting out more here, but it's rather like living in Sydney, BC... beautiful, but small and isolated. And with a $10.60 pricetag on getting downtown and back, I'd rather save my money and stay indoors. So, that's what's happening for now. I move into a hostel soon, so I'll be living right downtown for a few days. That will hopefully be a great opportunity to meet people, make plans, perhaps get a travelling partner, and finally get going!
Until then, stick with me, I'll have awesome and interesting things to write about soon : )
xoxo - Katrina
Monday, September 27, 2010
Spaghetti Rom-Com
As with previous days, the first part of my Monday was spent Skyping and looking for jobs. The Peterpan's job page that I paid $39 for was bringing up tonnes of likely jobs and it was all I could do to keep up with them! I applied for room attendant positions on a Dive Boat and three island resorts. Hopefully these will be as successful as my applications in Brisbane. Out of four applications, I was called in for two interviews. Now that I have decided to go to Cairns, however, I don't need/want a job in Brisbane.
At noon I walked into Sandgate (a 15 min. stroll down the road) to buy a contact case (out of the fifty million I have at home, I brought 0), some hair clips (same situation), post some mail (look out for it!), and buy some dinner ingredients. Mio was working from 2:00-9:00 so I offered to have dinner ready when she came home. I had some spiced sausage, spaghetti, fresh bread, and a $7.99 bottle of red wine (a Merlot to be exact). I also picked up two more movies from Mio's work : )
It was only 1:30 when I got back to the house, so I put the movies on and continued job searching. I also skyped with Giustina (stuck in the middle of no where, working a back-breaking tree-planting job for three months so she can be eligible to apply for a second work visa), Chantelle, and Benji.
When the movies were finished (and my sappy tears dried), I began chopping vegetables and frying sausage. The dinner-making process was more of a scavenger hunt as I did not know where anything was in Mio's house, but I ended up locating everything I needed. Thyme, Rosemary, Cumin, Worcestershire Sauce, salt, sausage, onions, garlic, and whole roma tomatoes went into the sauce. It smelt fantastic and I was starving so I grabbed the half-baguette and decided to eat my half. An empty bag later, I felt rather guilty but deliciously content.
There was just one thing wrong with the spaghetti. The sausage. It had fennel in it. The bursts of liquorice taste did not contribute to the rosemary/thyme and it was a bit of a disaster. I felt quite stupid since I'm usually not a bad cook at home. But spaghetti has never been my strong point. We decided to save the wine for a better occasion : )
After dinner, I began reading Mio's 7th Harry Potter. A couple hours and a couple hundred pages later, it was 11:30 and I was asleep on the chair. I was trying to stay up until midnight so I could say goodmorning to Benji (his 7am) but my eyelids wouldn't allow it. Utterly defeated and exhausted, I crawled upstairs and into bed.
So, goodmorning Benji (my time) and everyone else! Today looks like a lovely day. Let's see what it has in store.
xoxo - Katrina
At noon I walked into Sandgate (a 15 min. stroll down the road) to buy a contact case (out of the fifty million I have at home, I brought 0), some hair clips (same situation), post some mail (look out for it!), and buy some dinner ingredients. Mio was working from 2:00-9:00 so I offered to have dinner ready when she came home. I had some spiced sausage, spaghetti, fresh bread, and a $7.99 bottle of red wine (a Merlot to be exact). I also picked up two more movies from Mio's work : )
It was only 1:30 when I got back to the house, so I put the movies on and continued job searching. I also skyped with Giustina (stuck in the middle of no where, working a back-breaking tree-planting job for three months so she can be eligible to apply for a second work visa), Chantelle, and Benji.
When the movies were finished (and my sappy tears dried), I began chopping vegetables and frying sausage. The dinner-making process was more of a scavenger hunt as I did not know where anything was in Mio's house, but I ended up locating everything I needed. Thyme, Rosemary, Cumin, Worcestershire Sauce, salt, sausage, onions, garlic, and whole roma tomatoes went into the sauce. It smelt fantastic and I was starving so I grabbed the half-baguette and decided to eat my half. An empty bag later, I felt rather guilty but deliciously content.
There was just one thing wrong with the spaghetti. The sausage. It had fennel in it. The bursts of liquorice taste did not contribute to the rosemary/thyme and it was a bit of a disaster. I felt quite stupid since I'm usually not a bad cook at home. But spaghetti has never been my strong point. We decided to save the wine for a better occasion : )
After dinner, I began reading Mio's 7th Harry Potter. A couple hours and a couple hundred pages later, it was 11:30 and I was asleep on the chair. I was trying to stay up until midnight so I could say goodmorning to Benji (his 7am) but my eyelids wouldn't allow it. Utterly defeated and exhausted, I crawled upstairs and into bed.
So, goodmorning Benji (my time) and everyone else! Today looks like a lovely day. Let's see what it has in store.
xoxo - Katrina
Knock Knock
I woke up on Sunday morning with plans to see an old friend from high school. She had just finished a Southeast Asia tour and is now living and working in Brisbane until she can get to New Zealand. I love how small this world can be sometimes. I'm halfway across the world from home and high school and here I find one of my mates; it's pretty cool. So, we had been trying to hook up for a few days and Sunday was supposed to be the day. Maybe. Probably. Chantelle had lost her cellphone charger and her mobile was dead so we were limited in our communications. Nevertheless, I hopped on the train at 11:45 and went downtown in hopes that we could meet up somewhere.
Well, I didn't end up meeting with Chantelle, but I did meet with someone else. My old friend Ryan, now married to the beautiful Charissa, called me and we three met for sodas on the grass at Southbank. We had a great two hours of chatting, laughing, and catching up on the last few years. At 3:30, Charissa had to return home to finish some homework and I had a meeting at Peterpan's travel agency. I left with an invitation to attend church with them next Sunday night and I'd love to take them up on that if I'm still in Brisbane (probably will be).
I had seen a deal in the travel agency window and wanted to ask into it. So, I met with the travel agent, chatted about fun ways to get to Cairns, signed up for their job board, and went home with lots of decisions to make. As I mentioned in my blog yesterday (prematurely since I was writing about the 25th and really that info was from the 26th), I'm hoping to head to Cairns to get an island resort job; Peterpan's is helping me out by getting a great package together so I can experience the beaches and gorgeous Northern Queensland climate as I make my way to tropical Cairns.
At 5:30 I hopped on a train back home, picked up a couple movies at Mio's work, then ate leftovers and watched Rom-Coms : )
Ready for adventures to begin!
xoxo - Katrina
Well, I didn't end up meeting with Chantelle, but I did meet with someone else. My old friend Ryan, now married to the beautiful Charissa, called me and we three met for sodas on the grass at Southbank. We had a great two hours of chatting, laughing, and catching up on the last few years. At 3:30, Charissa had to return home to finish some homework and I had a meeting at Peterpan's travel agency. I left with an invitation to attend church with them next Sunday night and I'd love to take them up on that if I'm still in Brisbane (probably will be).
I had seen a deal in the travel agency window and wanted to ask into it. So, I met with the travel agent, chatted about fun ways to get to Cairns, signed up for their job board, and went home with lots of decisions to make. As I mentioned in my blog yesterday (prematurely since I was writing about the 25th and really that info was from the 26th), I'm hoping to head to Cairns to get an island resort job; Peterpan's is helping me out by getting a great package together so I can experience the beaches and gorgeous Northern Queensland climate as I make my way to tropical Cairns.
At 5:30 I hopped on a train back home, picked up a couple movies at Mio's work, then ate leftovers and watched Rom-Coms : )
Ready for adventures to begin!
xoxo - Katrina
Sunday, September 26, 2010
For Lack of a Better Title
I don't have much to write for the 25th of September. I spent a lot of time on the computer, looking for jobs in Cairns. I have no plans to stay in Brisbane, where it feels like I'm not traveling. It is beautiful here, but it is also lonely in this vast metropolis. I have not met any other travelers by staying in Shorncliffe so I hope to head to a backpacker's inn when I take my leave of Mio's house. Giustina said she met a lot of cool people in her hostel, so I'll go there for a few days, then head up to Cairns.
Despite being lonely here on my own, I do not regret my decision of coming, nor do I feel out-of-place or sad. I love the constant heat of the day, the foreign sounds and sights, the freedom that comes with each day. I love walking with my camera, taking each step slowly so I don't miss a good shot. I love the independence of choosing where I will go next week. I saw a package deal at Peterpans Adventure Travel; 14000ft skydive, 2days/2nights Frazer Island, 2 days/2nights sail Whitsundays for $675. I think I will book that for myself and head to Cairns right after that to find a job. I could harvest, bartend, wait tables, teach English, nanny, work on an island resort (three guesses which one is my preferred choice there!). So many opportunities and choices, I am truly excited to get going. I'm glad and thankful that Mio offered me a place to stay for my first week in Australia, but it's time to move on and start my adventure. I have to remind myself that I am here to experience life, to treat myself, to not worry about spending money on adventures (just don't spend it on silly things), and to speak to strangers.
Apart from sitting on my bed looking for jobs (which lasted me from 10am - 4pm... I also procrastinated), I went for another walk around Shorncliffe. This time I turned right. My hour-long walk was less exciting than the previous one, but more relaxing. I walked along the marina, with the water to my left and the Sandgate Golf Course to my right. Mio said the water's edge used to be lined with small seafood vendors, but they're all gone now. Everything is a little tired and washed out, like a vintage photo. Shorncliffe is a small suburb, filled with typical Queensland raised houses with large verandas and latticed windows. I love the architecture. I love the trees and the flowers, the fact that I haven't seen any spiders yet. I love that there are Lorikeets and lizards present in every tree. The ocean here is not swimmable, however, and that upsets me. I can't wait to jump into the warm, salty Australian ocean (wearing a wetsuit, of course!). I have read that box jelly fish do not come into shoreline water, nor are they present on the Great Barrier Reef. Nevertheless, I don't plan on taking any chances.
Truly, that is all I have to write. My day was uneventful, not not bad. It was relaxing, exactly what I needed to help get over this lingering jet lag. I suggest to anyone travelling long distances that they fly through the day and arrive at night so they can sleep right away. Arriving in the morning here (Victoria's late afternoon) sent my internal clock into outer space and it's only just arriving home again. I'm still waking up at unholy hours of the morning and yawning at 7pm. Mio and I were supposed to go out to a popular pub/club last night, but I ended up curling into a warm duvet and watching cars. At 9:00pm, I couldn't think of going out. Hopefully we'll get out together before I leave Brisbane.
Love and happiness to everyone at home. I miss you!
xoxo - Katrina
Despite being lonely here on my own, I do not regret my decision of coming, nor do I feel out-of-place or sad. I love the constant heat of the day, the foreign sounds and sights, the freedom that comes with each day. I love walking with my camera, taking each step slowly so I don't miss a good shot. I love the independence of choosing where I will go next week. I saw a package deal at Peterpans Adventure Travel; 14000ft skydive, 2days/2nights Frazer Island, 2 days/2nights sail Whitsundays for $675. I think I will book that for myself and head to Cairns right after that to find a job. I could harvest, bartend, wait tables, teach English, nanny, work on an island resort (three guesses which one is my preferred choice there!). So many opportunities and choices, I am truly excited to get going. I'm glad and thankful that Mio offered me a place to stay for my first week in Australia, but it's time to move on and start my adventure. I have to remind myself that I am here to experience life, to treat myself, to not worry about spending money on adventures (just don't spend it on silly things), and to speak to strangers.
Apart from sitting on my bed looking for jobs (which lasted me from 10am - 4pm... I also procrastinated), I went for another walk around Shorncliffe. This time I turned right. My hour-long walk was less exciting than the previous one, but more relaxing. I walked along the marina, with the water to my left and the Sandgate Golf Course to my right. Mio said the water's edge used to be lined with small seafood vendors, but they're all gone now. Everything is a little tired and washed out, like a vintage photo. Shorncliffe is a small suburb, filled with typical Queensland raised houses with large verandas and latticed windows. I love the architecture. I love the trees and the flowers, the fact that I haven't seen any spiders yet. I love that there are Lorikeets and lizards present in every tree. The ocean here is not swimmable, however, and that upsets me. I can't wait to jump into the warm, salty Australian ocean (wearing a wetsuit, of course!). I have read that box jelly fish do not come into shoreline water, nor are they present on the Great Barrier Reef. Nevertheless, I don't plan on taking any chances.
Truly, that is all I have to write. My day was uneventful, not not bad. It was relaxing, exactly what I needed to help get over this lingering jet lag. I suggest to anyone travelling long distances that they fly through the day and arrive at night so they can sleep right away. Arriving in the morning here (Victoria's late afternoon) sent my internal clock into outer space and it's only just arriving home again. I'm still waking up at unholy hours of the morning and yawning at 7pm. Mio and I were supposed to go out to a popular pub/club last night, but I ended up curling into a warm duvet and watching cars. At 9:00pm, I couldn't think of going out. Hopefully we'll get out together before I leave Brisbane.
Love and happiness to everyone at home. I miss you!
xoxo - Katrina
Friday, September 24, 2010
Shorncliffe
I woke up early yesterday and decided to go for a walk. The morning was bright and heavy with heat, cloudy but not overcast. I left my ipod silent in my pocket, preferring to listen to the buzz and chirp (sometimes screech) of the birds and bugs that filled each bush and tree. Down the road half a block was the bay; a wide expanse of flat water with a marina to the right and clear skies to the left. A beautiful brick walkway lined the entire waterfront, curving around the corner to my left, where the soft mud of the riverbank met with sandy beach. I chose this way to walk, keeping my eyes searching for interesting things to photograph - of course I had my camera with me. A pier jutted out from the walkway, where several people stood lazily fishing, not necessarily to catch anything, but just for the sheer relaxation and pleasure of bobbing their rods. Just after this pier, the walkway melted into natural paths; one was a trampled grass path leading along the cliffs, the other was the sandy beach. I hopped down onto the beach and sank my feet into the sand, eyes peeled for shells. It was an incredibly peaceful walk that led me 5km along the waterfront, past parks and grassy fields, outdoor bbq areas and waterfront housing. The walkway re-started a km later and was filled with cyclists, runners, and other people like myself, just out for a morning stroll.
Now, when I say peaceful, I mean that rather loosely to resemble the larger percentage of my walk. During my beach amble, I admit that I was not only looking for shells. Every rock, dark crevice, blade of grass, leaf of tree... everything, was examined for spiders and other insects. Every noise had me alert, each brush of hair or vegetation against my skin had me leaping for fear that I had met with some deadly critter. I am truly a pathetic individual. Ironically, it was not an insect that eventually attacked me; it was a bird. A magpie, to be exact. I was halfway through my walk, just going through a public playground/park, scrolling through the ringtones on my new phone when something swooshed over my head, stirring my hair in its proximity. Naturally, I ducked and gave a yelp, causing my fellow walkers to give me rather strange stares. I looked wildly around, but couldn't see anything that might have just caused me such a fright, so I continued walking. Three steps later, it swooped again. This time, I saw a flash of black and white and followed it until it landed on a light post beside me. I stopped and stared at this pile of plumage for a while, assessing its speed and deadly beak while trying to figure out what I had done to bother it so that I could oblige it by stopping. I continued walking, warily this time, glancing over my shoulder to see if I was to be left alone. Not so. It swooped a third time, causing me to fling my arms over my head and duck again. I'm sure this was by now a source of great amusement to everyone around me. I did not know how to handle the situation and was becoming increasingly flustered. Finally, I turned to some passerbys and asked for their assistance. They suggested I put my sunglasses on my head, to make it look like I was watching it all the time. I did so and walked on, backwards this time, keeping my eyes glued on my taloned adversary. Putting a bathroom between it and myself, I turned around and walked swiftly away, glancing over my shoulder regularly to ensure I had lost it for good. I felt like a fool for being so shaken by a bird, but the experience of the moment was truly frightening and I felt helpless against my winged attacker.
I returned home at 10:30, showered, ate, and sat down at my computer to begin my job search. Not knowing whether I'd be in Brisbane or Cairns, I applied for jobs in each location (but secretly hoped for success in tropical, beachy, lush Cairns). At around 12:00, Mio and I hopped in the car and drove along the waterfront, through Shorncliffe and nearby Sandgate, exclaiming over the shabby million-dollar houses to our left and the sunny million-dollar view to our right. For lunch, we stopped at a fish'n'chips restaurant and ordered a colossal vegetarian burger for Mio and a mixed seafood platter for myself. As soon as mine arrived, I knew I had made a mistake. Everything was deep fried, and not much of it looked familiar. I picked up an orange-coloured bite-sized piece and popped it in my mouth. My stomach revolted, my tongue shrank away; the fishy taste was overwhelming and the slimy, mushy texture did nothing to improve the impression. With difficulty, I swallowed and quickly washed the taste away with chips and water. Now I was wary of the plate. I picked up something familiar, a piece of cod, and ate that. Good. Ok, not everything is bad. Now for the long, sausage-like thing. Crab. Also good. But kind of revolting in that it's deep-fried, sausage-shaped crab. Then there were scallops, calamari rings, more cod, and a couple prawns. Lots of salty chips, and a whole lot of water. There was also another orange thing, but I didn't touch that. I did slice it open to look inside though. It resembled a sponge, if sponges can be pureed and stuck back together with brown liquid oozing out of its pores. Disguised in tempura batter, it looked harmless on the outside, but the inside revealed its true alien nature and my stomach turned at the sight of it, knowing it had one inside. I felt rather sick for the rest of the day, but I'm sure it was just mental.
Mio had to work at 4:30, so I computed for a while, then went with her into town (5 minutes away). I picked up a movie at Mio's workplace, then walked back home as dusk slowly seeped into the daytime, bringing tropical Lorikeets out for dinnertime. I stopped to photograph a pair that had flown into a low-down branch, then continued home to make supper and watch my movie.
I had chosen Shutter Island, fully aware that I would be home alone and frightened to death of this psychological thriller. I figured I would be brave and get through it. I was wrong. I couldn't get past the introductory page - the one where you press play. The music started playing and scenes of the movie flashed on the screen as shadows played on the walls and the window and doorway behind me felt ominously full of hidden beings. True to the wimp that I am, I turned on the tv and began watching Australian sitcoms instead.
When Mio returned home at 9, we watched the movie together and agreed that it was definitely too scary to watch alone. We ate the leftover curry from the night before and huddled in our blankets as the music thumped and crescendoed.
The movie ended at 11:30 and I washed up and went to bed. Luckily, I was able to fall asleep without any nightmares or ghosts.
Hope you're getting some sun up there, I'd hate to hog it all : )
xoxo - Katrina
Now, when I say peaceful, I mean that rather loosely to resemble the larger percentage of my walk. During my beach amble, I admit that I was not only looking for shells. Every rock, dark crevice, blade of grass, leaf of tree... everything, was examined for spiders and other insects. Every noise had me alert, each brush of hair or vegetation against my skin had me leaping for fear that I had met with some deadly critter. I am truly a pathetic individual. Ironically, it was not an insect that eventually attacked me; it was a bird. A magpie, to be exact. I was halfway through my walk, just going through a public playground/park, scrolling through the ringtones on my new phone when something swooshed over my head, stirring my hair in its proximity. Naturally, I ducked and gave a yelp, causing my fellow walkers to give me rather strange stares. I looked wildly around, but couldn't see anything that might have just caused me such a fright, so I continued walking. Three steps later, it swooped again. This time, I saw a flash of black and white and followed it until it landed on a light post beside me. I stopped and stared at this pile of plumage for a while, assessing its speed and deadly beak while trying to figure out what I had done to bother it so that I could oblige it by stopping. I continued walking, warily this time, glancing over my shoulder to see if I was to be left alone. Not so. It swooped a third time, causing me to fling my arms over my head and duck again. I'm sure this was by now a source of great amusement to everyone around me. I did not know how to handle the situation and was becoming increasingly flustered. Finally, I turned to some passerbys and asked for their assistance. They suggested I put my sunglasses on my head, to make it look like I was watching it all the time. I did so and walked on, backwards this time, keeping my eyes glued on my taloned adversary. Putting a bathroom between it and myself, I turned around and walked swiftly away, glancing over my shoulder regularly to ensure I had lost it for good. I felt like a fool for being so shaken by a bird, but the experience of the moment was truly frightening and I felt helpless against my winged attacker.
I returned home at 10:30, showered, ate, and sat down at my computer to begin my job search. Not knowing whether I'd be in Brisbane or Cairns, I applied for jobs in each location (but secretly hoped for success in tropical, beachy, lush Cairns). At around 12:00, Mio and I hopped in the car and drove along the waterfront, through Shorncliffe and nearby Sandgate, exclaiming over the shabby million-dollar houses to our left and the sunny million-dollar view to our right. For lunch, we stopped at a fish'n'chips restaurant and ordered a colossal vegetarian burger for Mio and a mixed seafood platter for myself. As soon as mine arrived, I knew I had made a mistake. Everything was deep fried, and not much of it looked familiar. I picked up an orange-coloured bite-sized piece and popped it in my mouth. My stomach revolted, my tongue shrank away; the fishy taste was overwhelming and the slimy, mushy texture did nothing to improve the impression. With difficulty, I swallowed and quickly washed the taste away with chips and water. Now I was wary of the plate. I picked up something familiar, a piece of cod, and ate that. Good. Ok, not everything is bad. Now for the long, sausage-like thing. Crab. Also good. But kind of revolting in that it's deep-fried, sausage-shaped crab. Then there were scallops, calamari rings, more cod, and a couple prawns. Lots of salty chips, and a whole lot of water. There was also another orange thing, but I didn't touch that. I did slice it open to look inside though. It resembled a sponge, if sponges can be pureed and stuck back together with brown liquid oozing out of its pores. Disguised in tempura batter, it looked harmless on the outside, but the inside revealed its true alien nature and my stomach turned at the sight of it, knowing it had one inside. I felt rather sick for the rest of the day, but I'm sure it was just mental.
Mio had to work at 4:30, so I computed for a while, then went with her into town (5 minutes away). I picked up a movie at Mio's workplace, then walked back home as dusk slowly seeped into the daytime, bringing tropical Lorikeets out for dinnertime. I stopped to photograph a pair that had flown into a low-down branch, then continued home to make supper and watch my movie.
I had chosen Shutter Island, fully aware that I would be home alone and frightened to death of this psychological thriller. I figured I would be brave and get through it. I was wrong. I couldn't get past the introductory page - the one where you press play. The music started playing and scenes of the movie flashed on the screen as shadows played on the walls and the window and doorway behind me felt ominously full of hidden beings. True to the wimp that I am, I turned on the tv and began watching Australian sitcoms instead.
When Mio returned home at 9, we watched the movie together and agreed that it was definitely too scary to watch alone. We ate the leftover curry from the night before and huddled in our blankets as the music thumped and crescendoed.
The movie ended at 11:30 and I washed up and went to bed. Luckily, I was able to fall asleep without any nightmares or ghosts.
Hope you're getting some sun up there, I'd hate to hog it all : )
xoxo - Katrina
Thursday, September 23, 2010
A Sleep and A Day
Malcolm (Tenai's roommate) dropped me off at Central Station five minutes before I was supposed to meet Mio. With an 18kg backpack on my back, a 7kg bag on my front, and a shopping bag in my hand, I waddled up two flights of stairs, along some long corridors, up some more stairs, and over to the McDonalds where we were supposed to meet. Looking very vulnerable and uncertain, I'm sure, I circled the McDonalds, looked around for an ulterior entrance, and finally took a seat on a stool. A few minutes later, I saw Mio walking towards me, her face familiar from our Facebook conversations. She said we had 4 minutes to catch our train so we rushed to the ticket booth, spent a ridiculous $5.30 on my ticket, then sped down some more stairs to the platform. Our train was waiting there so we stepped on board and took off towards Shorncliffe.
Mio and I chatted a little, but I was quite out of it; in need of a shower and some sleep. I did enjoy watching the interesting trees and houses speed by, as well as the graffitied industrial areas full of smoke stacks and tin roofs. We were forced to get off the train one station early as they said there were some malfunctions on the track ahead. Luckily, a bus driver volunteered to take the train passengers the rest of the way for free! This was totally off his regular route, so we were extra grateful. Off at the station, we walked two minutes down the road to Mio's 90-year-old house.
After a quick tour, Mio kindly left me to shower and crash into bed. She had prepared her bedroom for me (angel that she is) and took the spare bedroom (with no door) for herself. At 6:00pm Brisbane time (1:00am Vic) I fell into bed and knew nothing of the world until the birds started chirping at 3:45. From then on, I tossed and turned, sleeping fitfully until 6:45 when I gave up on dreams and picked up my computer instead.
In the morning, Mio and I ate a quick breakfast, then hurried to catch the train into town. Mio had uni in the morning, but she left early so she would have time to show me around a bit. From Central Station, we walked through the pedestrian Queen St. Mall, full of stores as varied as Versace ($500/shirt) and Valley Girl ($5/shirt), with banks, restaurants, and cellphone stores in between. From there, we walked across a courtyard with a library on one side in a geometric modern building and a casino on the other in a building that looked more suited to be an olden times courthouse or expensive hotel. Then, across a bridge (must remember to look to the right before crossing the street, not the left), to the Southbank bus station. Southbank is Brisbane's jewel. It has undergone a massive facelift since I was last here and is now one of the most beautiful and inviting places to take a walk and spend an afternoon. There are museums, performing arts centres, cafes + restaurants, wonderful paths along the Brisbane river, and lots of places to do some free outdoor bbqing and picnics. There are trees and plants growing everywhere, alive with exotic birds (at least, exotic to me: ibis and magpie), lizards, geckos, iguanas, tons of bugs, and wonderfully colourful/fragrant flowers. I left Mio at the bus station and went for a walk on my own.
The rest of the day was spent leisurely walking about, taking pictures and enjoying the wonderful sun that had finally broken through the heavy grey clouds that had hovered over the city since the day before. The air was humid, causing my shirt to stick to my back and my hair to be an inconvenient veil of heat. I walked along Southbank, across the pedestrian bridge, through Brisbane's botanical gardens, then up the road to Woolworths, where I purchased the ingredients to make a sandwich for lunch. After enjoying that delicious meal, I walked back up to the Queen St. Mall, where I opened an Australian bank account and acquired a cellphone. One amazing thing about Australia is that the area code for phones is the same throughout the continent, so I can use this phone anywhere without getting long-distance charges! I'm really impressed by that, and I wish Canada could improve their terrible cellphone service to better resemble this one. For $30/month I get 3000 texts, 100 minutes, unlimited e-mail/facebook access, and $30 credit towards anything else I might like (such as sending "I love you" texts to my boy back home).
Feeling quite accomplished and more than a little tired, I made my way back to Central Station at around 3:00 and took the train back to Shorncliffe. I met Mio on the platform (turns out we were on the same train) and we walked back home.
The rest of the night contained some computing, grocery shopping, cooking a delicious curry dinner with Mio, watching tv, and going to bed at 8:30.
My first day in Brisbane was absolutely lovely and I can't wait to see what's in store for the rest of these 6 1/2 months!
Lots of love and wishes of happiness for everyone back home! I miss you!
xoxo - Katrina
Mio and I chatted a little, but I was quite out of it; in need of a shower and some sleep. I did enjoy watching the interesting trees and houses speed by, as well as the graffitied industrial areas full of smoke stacks and tin roofs. We were forced to get off the train one station early as they said there were some malfunctions on the track ahead. Luckily, a bus driver volunteered to take the train passengers the rest of the way for free! This was totally off his regular route, so we were extra grateful. Off at the station, we walked two minutes down the road to Mio's 90-year-old house.
After a quick tour, Mio kindly left me to shower and crash into bed. She had prepared her bedroom for me (angel that she is) and took the spare bedroom (with no door) for herself. At 6:00pm Brisbane time (1:00am Vic) I fell into bed and knew nothing of the world until the birds started chirping at 3:45. From then on, I tossed and turned, sleeping fitfully until 6:45 when I gave up on dreams and picked up my computer instead.
In the morning, Mio and I ate a quick breakfast, then hurried to catch the train into town. Mio had uni in the morning, but she left early so she would have time to show me around a bit. From Central Station, we walked through the pedestrian Queen St. Mall, full of stores as varied as Versace ($500/shirt) and Valley Girl ($5/shirt), with banks, restaurants, and cellphone stores in between. From there, we walked across a courtyard with a library on one side in a geometric modern building and a casino on the other in a building that looked more suited to be an olden times courthouse or expensive hotel. Then, across a bridge (must remember to look to the right before crossing the street, not the left), to the Southbank bus station. Southbank is Brisbane's jewel. It has undergone a massive facelift since I was last here and is now one of the most beautiful and inviting places to take a walk and spend an afternoon. There are museums, performing arts centres, cafes + restaurants, wonderful paths along the Brisbane river, and lots of places to do some free outdoor bbqing and picnics. There are trees and plants growing everywhere, alive with exotic birds (at least, exotic to me: ibis and magpie), lizards, geckos, iguanas, tons of bugs, and wonderfully colourful/fragrant flowers. I left Mio at the bus station and went for a walk on my own.
The rest of the day was spent leisurely walking about, taking pictures and enjoying the wonderful sun that had finally broken through the heavy grey clouds that had hovered over the city since the day before. The air was humid, causing my shirt to stick to my back and my hair to be an inconvenient veil of heat. I walked along Southbank, across the pedestrian bridge, through Brisbane's botanical gardens, then up the road to Woolworths, where I purchased the ingredients to make a sandwich for lunch. After enjoying that delicious meal, I walked back up to the Queen St. Mall, where I opened an Australian bank account and acquired a cellphone. One amazing thing about Australia is that the area code for phones is the same throughout the continent, so I can use this phone anywhere without getting long-distance charges! I'm really impressed by that, and I wish Canada could improve their terrible cellphone service to better resemble this one. For $30/month I get 3000 texts, 100 minutes, unlimited e-mail/facebook access, and $30 credit towards anything else I might like (such as sending "I love you" texts to my boy back home).
Feeling quite accomplished and more than a little tired, I made my way back to Central Station at around 3:00 and took the train back to Shorncliffe. I met Mio on the platform (turns out we were on the same train) and we walked back home.
The rest of the night contained some computing, grocery shopping, cooking a delicious curry dinner with Mio, watching tv, and going to bed at 8:30.
My first day in Brisbane was absolutely lovely and I can't wait to see what's in store for the rest of these 6 1/2 months!
Lots of love and wishes of happiness for everyone back home! I miss you!
xoxo - Katrina
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Not Another Down Under Joke
I'm finally here in Brisbane and it feels great to be off a plane and on solid ground! I remember my long flight to Thailand as a fun experience with lots of movies and good food. The flight from L.A. to Sydney was not so. I flew into L.A. at 9:30 and had half an hour of free time before I had to go through the fight gates. I used that time to look for free wi-fi and therefore didn't eat dinner, thinking I could get some through the gates. Not so. There were no hot meals on the other side and I wasn't about to pay $8.00 for a sandwich so I sat and ate some M&Ms. Our plane boarded at 11:50, sat around for half an hour, then finally took off at 12:20am. We weren't served "dinner" for another hour. I had grilled Mahi-Mahi in a mustard sauce with steamed vegetables; tiramisu for dessert and a bloody mary to drink (it was free.. couldn't resist!). The vodka managed to knock me out and I slept from 2:00am until 7:30am.
The two ladies sitting next to me were an elderly (unless you take her view that 75 is the new middle-aged) aunt, Theresa, and her niece, Elizabeth. They were wonderful company, full of great stories and comforting advice. When I woke up, they were shuffling a big deck of cards that slightly resembled Tarot. When I inquired into it, they informed me that these were Oracle cards - different from Tarot in that these do not have set meanings for each card, but rather tailor to the "energy" of the holder. They offered to read my cards and I accepted, curious as to what it would say. After shuffling my energy into the cards, I drew one, then five, then an extra because Theresa felt that my oracle was not completed. It was interesting to hear Theresa tell me what her impression of me was; I felt that she had a gift for discovering someone's true personality, strengths, and weaknesses.
Though I do not believe in the spirituality that surrounds Oracle cards, I did enjoy the experience and felt like the advice I was given was good advice, regardless of its origins. I was told to awaken my spirit and embolden myself for the future, to accept offers of kindness and not worry about where my meals or beds are going to come from because they would be provided. I was also advised to tune into my body and meditate, but also to dance and let free. Theresa said I should rise above any situation that might arise and listen to my heart because it would never lead me astray. My final card told me that I would not have to worry about finances because I was provided for. I liked that final card. : )
With a cramped bum and a seriously full bladder, I got off the plane in sunny Sydney at 7:30am on Wednesday the 22nd. We had passed the international date line during the night and arrived in the future! The customs line to get into Australia was an anthill and I immediately began to worry that I would miss my 9:15 connecting flight to Brisbane. An hour and a half later, I was informed at the ticket desk that there was no possible way I could make my flight. Thank you, customs. They put me on a 12:30 flight, which left me with 3 1/2 hours to burn. I was hungry, tired, and eager to find some wi-fi (which the lady at the ticket desk assured me was free throughout the airport). A shuttle bus took me across to the domestic departures building and I found an empty chair to compute on. Wi-fi turned out to be $5 so I packed up and went to the beautiful business lounge I had passed a little earlier. Up the elevator and to the left was an airport paradise. Big comfy chairs, computer desks, couches, coffee, and snack tables. I walked in and sat down, not giving anyone the chance to think I didn't belong there. After connecting to the internet and logging onto Facebook, I picked up a smoked meat sandwich, couscous salad, and cheese/crackers at the snack table. All deliciously free.
At 11:50, I boarded my Brisbane flight and immediately started snoring. We flew over the Sydney Opera House and I got a lovely view of the sunny harbour before settling in for the 1 hour and 8 minute flight. The lady next to me started looking very eager as we descended into Brisbane so I asked if she was arriving home. That conversation led me into a cab with Tanei, heading to her house, with an offer to drive me into town and to sleep at her house should I ever need a place to stay! She paid for the $30 cab ride, called her roommate to give me a ride when it turned out her car was at her mum's, and made it clear that I was welcome at her place any time. I was truly taken-aback by the unabashed friendliness and generosity shown me; it was such a wonderful first-impression of Brisbane!
As for Brisbane itself, it's cloudy, hot, and humid! No sunshine here on the first day of Spring.
I'll write about my wonderful new roommate for the week, my first night's sleep (or lack thereof), and first trip into town tomorrow!
Until then, I hope everyone is safe and healthy and happy!
xoxo - Katrina
The two ladies sitting next to me were an elderly (unless you take her view that 75 is the new middle-aged) aunt, Theresa, and her niece, Elizabeth. They were wonderful company, full of great stories and comforting advice. When I woke up, they were shuffling a big deck of cards that slightly resembled Tarot. When I inquired into it, they informed me that these were Oracle cards - different from Tarot in that these do not have set meanings for each card, but rather tailor to the "energy" of the holder. They offered to read my cards and I accepted, curious as to what it would say. After shuffling my energy into the cards, I drew one, then five, then an extra because Theresa felt that my oracle was not completed. It was interesting to hear Theresa tell me what her impression of me was; I felt that she had a gift for discovering someone's true personality, strengths, and weaknesses.
Though I do not believe in the spirituality that surrounds Oracle cards, I did enjoy the experience and felt like the advice I was given was good advice, regardless of its origins. I was told to awaken my spirit and embolden myself for the future, to accept offers of kindness and not worry about where my meals or beds are going to come from because they would be provided. I was also advised to tune into my body and meditate, but also to dance and let free. Theresa said I should rise above any situation that might arise and listen to my heart because it would never lead me astray. My final card told me that I would not have to worry about finances because I was provided for. I liked that final card. : )
With a cramped bum and a seriously full bladder, I got off the plane in sunny Sydney at 7:30am on Wednesday the 22nd. We had passed the international date line during the night and arrived in the future! The customs line to get into Australia was an anthill and I immediately began to worry that I would miss my 9:15 connecting flight to Brisbane. An hour and a half later, I was informed at the ticket desk that there was no possible way I could make my flight. Thank you, customs. They put me on a 12:30 flight, which left me with 3 1/2 hours to burn. I was hungry, tired, and eager to find some wi-fi (which the lady at the ticket desk assured me was free throughout the airport). A shuttle bus took me across to the domestic departures building and I found an empty chair to compute on. Wi-fi turned out to be $5 so I packed up and went to the beautiful business lounge I had passed a little earlier. Up the elevator and to the left was an airport paradise. Big comfy chairs, computer desks, couches, coffee, and snack tables. I walked in and sat down, not giving anyone the chance to think I didn't belong there. After connecting to the internet and logging onto Facebook, I picked up a smoked meat sandwich, couscous salad, and cheese/crackers at the snack table. All deliciously free.
At 11:50, I boarded my Brisbane flight and immediately started snoring. We flew over the Sydney Opera House and I got a lovely view of the sunny harbour before settling in for the 1 hour and 8 minute flight. The lady next to me started looking very eager as we descended into Brisbane so I asked if she was arriving home. That conversation led me into a cab with Tanei, heading to her house, with an offer to drive me into town and to sleep at her house should I ever need a place to stay! She paid for the $30 cab ride, called her roommate to give me a ride when it turned out her car was at her mum's, and made it clear that I was welcome at her place any time. I was truly taken-aback by the unabashed friendliness and generosity shown me; it was such a wonderful first-impression of Brisbane!
As for Brisbane itself, it's cloudy, hot, and humid! No sunshine here on the first day of Spring.
I'll write about my wonderful new roommate for the week, my first night's sleep (or lack thereof), and first trip into town tomorrow!
Until then, I hope everyone is safe and healthy and happy!
xoxo - Katrina
Monday, September 20, 2010
YVR to LAX - Round One
Well, I am through the frightening and intimidating process of U.S. Customs
and Immigration. I have been deemed clean and safe so I am now
sitting at gate 83, waiting to board my 6:35 flight to L.A. It is sunny
outside and I am excited to see the planes roll by, knowing that I will
soon be watching the clouds roll by underneath me!
Annalyn and I had an unexpected turn of events at the airport. She made
a comment wishing she could come along and I suddenly thought, why not?
I have the money to front her a plane ticket, she has the bare
necessities for traveling (passport, face wash), and she has nothing of
dire importance holding her back. After an hour of seriously
considering this (as well as laughing hysterically, texting multitudes
of people for a poll, and checking into the Aus job situation), Annalyn
and I decided that she would fly out in a week!! I will loan her the
money to pay for her flight, she will do all the necessary research and
visa applications, and I will see her in a week at the Brisbane
airport!! The prospect of having a traveling companion is so exciting
and comforting! I am more confident, less frightened, and less lonely.
I think this will be the best decision we've ever made : )
I board my flight in an hour and, aside from having a nice conversation with a guy who was heading home from Vietnam, I have nothing of excitement to relate. I hope everyone in Victoria is well and I will check in again when I reach Brisbane.
xoxo! Katrina
and Immigration. I have been deemed clean and safe so I am now
sitting at gate 83, waiting to board my 6:35 flight to L.A. It is sunny
outside and I am excited to see the planes roll by, knowing that I will
soon be watching the clouds roll by underneath me!
Annalyn and I had an unexpected turn of events at the airport. She made
a comment wishing she could come along and I suddenly thought, why not?
I have the money to front her a plane ticket, she has the bare
necessities for traveling (passport, face wash), and she has nothing of
dire importance holding her back. After an hour of seriously
considering this (as well as laughing hysterically, texting multitudes
of people for a poll, and checking into the Aus job situation), Annalyn
and I decided that she would fly out in a week!! I will loan her the
money to pay for her flight, she will do all the necessary research and
visa applications, and I will see her in a week at the Brisbane
airport!! The prospect of having a traveling companion is so exciting
and comforting! I am more confident, less frightened, and less lonely.
I think this will be the best decision we've ever made : )
I board my flight in an hour and, aside from having a nice conversation with a guy who was heading home from Vietnam, I have nothing of excitement to relate. I hope everyone in Victoria is well and I will check in again when I reach Brisbane.
xoxo! Katrina
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