Australia Day Weekend (4th of July down under)

3 day holiday weekend!!

It is the independence for Australia - a bit different as it essentially the establishment of Australia but always a soar topic for the aboriginal culture (sort of American to Native Americans).... It is crazy how patriotic the city gets - hair dyed, face paint, all on country spirit!

I needed this weekend! It was a lovely weekend - the reason why I wanted to move here. Good dinners, good beaches, good friends and good ole aussie summer eventfulness :)

Saturday Jane and took a Ferry over to Manly - 20 minutes away yet it feels like a vacation, with a holiday, tropical feel.... oh and ran into the British royalty band below before heading out on the ferry.

Got the best seats in the house at the Wharf Bar - just relaxed and took in the day.

Ran into Jen on the left - dressin like a teenie bopper with the fluro attire :) she was on her way to an 80s beach party...pretty funny that this style is big here, "kids" actual wear this as fashion. It makes one feel old when you start to think that the "kids" fashion forward style is strange and you cant relate. I remember that time when I was the kid, what happened.

Sunday, meet Kai, Jodie and Ben at Circular Quay to go to Manly again for a beach/snorkel day. Caught the fire juggling, knife swollowing on a ladder act before heading out...

Snorkel Time!!

That is not Burger King Jodies eating but rather Hungry Jacks :) It is funny how things are exactly the same but just rebranded for Australia. I have been noticing this with cereal - so Frosted Flakes = Frosties, Coco Puffs = Coco Pops, Rice Crispes = Rice Bubbles, etc...

Huge sand castle on the main Manly beach where there was festivities going on...

Below is my favorite fish - the Blue Grouper...the scuba guy next to the fish gives perspective to the size of the fish...so cool.

Blow fish below...

Went for a walk up to the top of the hill that over looks a bunch of northern beaches...however walked into a spider nesting...thousands of them all over the trail...like a cone tunnel of web and spiders...lets say we turned around immediately and i had a minor freak out!

L I V I N




Left shows the area where we snorkeled for 3 hours...I learned a huge lesson which is sunscreen!! And always snorkel with a shirt on...my back is fried!

Had amazing chocolate dessert on the ferry ride home - yum! Kai passed out in a chocolate coma

Hit the Opera House bar for some wine and got a cool fire works show...I guess for someones wedding.. a little over the top id say...

The "shake shake" pics are thanks to a technique Ben taught us...makes some funky lighting effects.

Monday was relaxing movie day - a little work then off to the Wildlife Preserve, got to see all kinds of animals. Finally saw a Kangaroo and Kola bears!!! walked around Darlingharbor - lots of people, street shows and things going on.

Speed Dating Adventure Down Under

Jane talked me into a speed dating adventure - her friend works at the company and got us into this event for free...why not?? We were pretty nervous for obvious reasons...and unfortunately the thing we were dreading came true...the guys were made up of geeks, guys that dont know they're gay yet, old/bald crack heads, short men, retail sales clerks...oh what a good time though. The event coordinator felt bad for us so the champagne kept coming :) it was pretty fun. This one old/bald crack head just kept repeating I am a Blank Page...no matter what I asked him.

Before the event the work crew had a few drinks at Lord Robberts...we had a great time prepping for this thing :) you can really have fun with this type of thing, making up different personas, talk non stop not letting him get a word in, then dont say one thing for the next date, endless fun could be had...it was a little harder to do this with a straight face in the one on ones...the dates lasted 8 minutes which seemed like a long time but wasnt so bad.

I am following up this week with one of the guys...race horse breeder with good style, nice and down to earth....why not get a drink :)

Pics below are the debrief Jane and I had - hit a few fun bars...drinks in coconuts and burnt with a blow torch...

Jazz Festival in the Domain

Despite being sick for 5 weeks I needed some fresh air and good times...The Domain is a 10 minute walk from my house (outside the Botanical Gardens). The festival was huge - 100 thousand people, just sitting on picnic blankets, with snacks, wine and friends... i found everyone pretty easily but my head was soooo congested it was hard to hear everyone! And get this...i hear my name being called in a group of peeps behind us...and Vas was there with his friends! How crazy is that! It was good to catch up with him...and everyone else. After being sick for so long I needed some fun...pretty depressing being that sick for sooo long.

The music was good, we all ended up dancing in the grass towards the end. Kelly, Vas and I proceeded to the opera bar for a drink, then Kelly and I danced the night away at Cargo! It was a blast! met some fun people but did get home a bit late. Woke up on Sunday sicker than a dog!! literally in bed..not mobile at all...had to miss the snorkel trip i planned :( sucked!

All of us having a great night - Kai, Jodies, Me, Vas, Kelly, Josh and Rupel!