Hello all. It has been AGES since I’ve update this blog? Why? Well, my priorities have shifted somewhat. I’m still in Australia, and loving the life here, but over the last few months I’ve had a number of big events in my life.
First off, I got married to my beautiful Aussie girl. We had a wonderful wedding week on the island of Kaua’i, where we had friends and family from both sides of the Pacific join us to celebrate our marriage.
When the ongoing project of planning the wedding finally subsided, we felt it was time for another. So as to continuously keep ourselves busy, we’re now building a custom home on the outskirts of Sydney. In an attempt to consolidate the many blogs I currently have running, you’ll be able to follow the build process here:
Megan and Stefan: Life, in progress.
See you there!
I’m a pretty big movie buff, and a hardcore trekkie (nerd alert!) to boot. Last night, at the Sydney Opera House, J.J. Abrams and the cast of the new Star Trek movie had their world debut. The red carpet was rolled out, reporters were everywhere, but sadly, I was unable to attend.
Today, Hugh Jackman and the cast of the new X Men Origins movie are premering the movie at the famous Cockatoo Island, in the middle of the harbour – one of set locations for the movie.
So why Sydney? Is it because each film features a prominent Australian actor (Star Trek has Eric Bana, while Xmen has Hugh Jackman)? Is it because of the favourable exchange rate between the American and Australian dollar? Or is it because Sydney is truly a destination city, and people (actors and directors included) want to find an excuse to travel here?
Whatever it may be, Sydney seems to have been getting a lot of press lately. It’s a good thing too, the Australian economy needs all the help it can get, and showcasing two big movie world premieres in some of the most scenic parts of Sydney is likely to do some good. As for the movies, I’m excited to see both, but Star Trek – that’s the one I’ll be in line for on opening night. Yes, I’m a trekkie. And proud of it.
My long haitus on the site has been the result of a 2 week holiday back to the States. Back to visit family, to visit my 2 week old neice, and to further plan for my upcoming wedding in September. It was a good trip; no a great trip, but it was a whirlwind of a trip nonetheless. Two weeks of nonstop activities has me longing for a holiday from my holiday. It’s good to be home though. It’s very good to be home. While I miss my friends and family, and always will, I’ve realised that Australia fits me. It’s a really good fit actually. Fifteen minutes into my drive from the Los Angeles airport, I remembered why I was always frustrated on Southern California highways. Fifteen minutes into a shopping experience at a local mall in San Diego, I remembered why an economy of scale has its positives and negatives. Fifteen minutes after I left, I remembered that I’m 7,000 miles away from my closest friends and family.
Living overseas has always been an adventure, but after returning home for the first time since leaving 18 months ago, I’ve been able to refresh my thoughts and truly understand and remember why I was so excited and jazzed about moving to another country. More specifically, Australia.
The majority of my trip was spent in San Diego, however between my partner and I, we had trips to Los Angeles (Disneyland), San Francisco, and Las Vegas. Each of these locales, although all quite different from each other, had traits that very similiar; traits that I wouldn’t have otherwise noticed had I not been out of the country for the past 18 months.
Especially in Las Vegas, where excess is the norm, everything (and I mean everything/everyone) was in excess. Drinking, gambling, food ($9 Prime Ribs) were abundant. You couldn’t help but be surrounding by an uneccesarily large amount of everything, everywhere you went.
While life would be different in any country, and each have their positives and negatives, this past trip has shown me that my decision to live in Australia was a good one. It’s one that has more positives than negatives associated with it, and although it has put me 7000 miles away from a great number of people that are important to me, I know that the ones that are truly great friends and great family members we’ll see on a pretty regular basis. To be honest, between Skype, Vonage VOIP, and email, I talk to my parents on almost a daily basis, and my closest friends almost every other day. The world is getting smaller. Maybe that’s a good thing? Fifteen years ago, Australia would have felt a lot further away, more isolated.
Either way, I love it here.
I can’t necessarily vouch for what their flight service is like, but if it’s anything like their customer service, I’d think twice before booking. Here’s why:
V Australia was scheduled to start flying daily from Sydney to Los Angeles in January 2009. Due to Boeing strikes and other shortcomings, this had to be pushed back to late February. No worries, we were travelling back to the States in early March. So, with that said, we booked a return airfare from Sydney to Los Angeles on V Australia, hoping that everything we’ve heard about Virgin, V Australia’s parent company, was in fact true. Even with fares that were a bit more expensive than Qantas and United (I will never fly United again, after flying Air New Zealand and other competitors), we felt good about our decision, and looked forward to the smooth flight across the Pacific on their new Boeing 777 airplane.
Fast forward to this past week. We received a message on our answering machine from a representative asking us to call back and reference our booking number. That’s never a good sign. Finally, after sitting on hold for a good 1/2 hour, we’re told that our flight has been changed to a day earlier. Yep, not good. When asked why, the representative said they hadn’t received the number of planes needed from Boeing to make daily flights from Sydney to Los Angeles possible. Ok, so while this was out of their hands, the way they dealt with the problem was not. They knew this was going to be a problem, all the way back in December, yet failed to contact us until now. Why? Because we booked at a higher fare than what was currently being offered.
We were told by the customer service representative that because it was just a time change, we’d unlikely be able to apply for a refund. Now I can understand changing the departure time by a few hours, but an entire day? That causes issues with work, getting the dog to the kennel, and otherwise arranging trasportation to the airport. Sorry, not good enough. We were then referred to a ‘customer service’ number, where they could ‘theoretically’ authorise a refund. So we called. No answer. We were asked to leave a message and they’d return our phone call within 24 hours. OK, not ideal, but good enough.
Three days later, we received a phone call, after spending a total of 3 hours on hold. After explaining the situation, and how it had become such an inconvenience, we were offered a full refund. While no apology was made, nor any form of compensation or compramise from V Australia, we were at least able to rebook on another airline. You’d think they’d make more of an effort to keep customers, especially with Delta entering the LA to Sydney market later this year. But on top of all the other hardship that we were put through, our refund will take 21 days. Why should we wait, when the mistake was not our fault?
Ultimately, it all worked out for the best. We were able to find seats on a Qantas flight for the appropriate days, and even managed to save $600 over the previously booked fare. While that’s all well and good, it has convinced me to steer clear of V Australia. Based on my experiences, I believe you should too. Just try to have a look around to see what else is out there first, if you’re thinking of V Australia.
It’s not Hamilton Island, and you’re not getting paid to stay there, but at least they’re not charging you. National parks throughout NSW will waive entry fees on January 26 to celebrate Australia Day.
Premier Nathan Rees said Australia Day was a perfect time to appreciate the nation’s natural beauty.
“Our native bush is an important symbol of what it means to be Australian,” he said in a statement on Wednesday.
“Our parks are home to stunning scenery, relaxing picnic areas and an amazing array of wildlife and cultural heritage found nowhere else in the world.”
He said he hoped free entry would encourage people to go bush on Australia Day, with many parks holding special activities.
“Most people in Sydney could travel less than a half hour from home and find themselves surrounded by the Australian bush in a national park,” Mr Rees said.
“There is no better way for all of us to understand how important our natural environment is than by getting out there and experiencing the bush first hand.”
Here’s your chance to get out and explore the country around you. Whether you love your bushwalks, or have a love of photography, get out there and see the surrounding countryside before it’s gone!
As the rest of us get up at 6am to start our slow and arduous journey to the office today, one lucky individual will have what will end being the best job in the world.
Queensland, Australia tourism is hurting. Despite having some of the most amazingly beautiful terrain and tourist destinations in the world, the world’s financial crisis is really hitting the area hard. With hotel bookings down sharply, Queensland’s tourism board is taking it upon themselves to fix the problem:
They’re giving job seekers the chance to get paid $150,000 (AU$) to live six months rent free on the Great Barrier Reef. (Good luck getting onto the site. Apparently this sounds appealing to the entire world.)
The successful candidate will be asked to keep a blog and photo diary in exchange for six months rent-free on Hamilton Island as part of a $150,000 salary package that includes return airfares and travel insurance.
Australians and overseas applicants must be willing to “swim, snorkel, make friends with locals and generally enjoy the tropical Queensland climate and lifestyle”. Sounds really hard, doesn’t it? Tough life. They’re pretty much asking the successfull applicant to do what many of us are doing already: blog, photograph, and enjoy the world around us.
Pretty tough, huh?
While the rain is bucketing down in Southern California, and snow is falling throughout the San Francisco Bay area, us here in Australia are gearing up for a Christmas that promises to be full of laughter, cheer, and the beach. Ah yes, Christmas time in Australia. Warm weather, a few beers with close mates and family, and a BBQ. Now that Christmas is actually upon us, I’m ready to celebrate.
When I first came to Australia for Christmas three years ago, I thought I’d miss the cold, cozy weather that comes with Christmas; bundled up inside by the fire.
I was wrong.
There’s something nice about having a warm Christmas, sitting out on the patio eating a nice Christmas lunch, lounging away the afternoon in a chair, drifting in and out of conciousness. I may have been a Christmas purist in the past, but I’m a believer in a Southern Hemisphere holiday season.
The only downside I truly find to having the seasons reversed is that when winter does hit us in Australia, it’s long. Almost unbearably so. Why? There’s no holiday season to really break up the monotany of cold weather and the short daylight hours, and unlike schools in the States, the summer break and the Christmas holiday break are pretty much just lumped together into one. It’s like being born on Christmas, you’re going to get fewer presents, and people combining the celebratory times into one, which ultimately draws the attention away from you. Where it really belongs.
Do I sound bitter? Not at all. None of that really applies to me. I’ve got a summer (now winter) birthday in August, and I’m out of school. It’s not like I have a summer holiday anymore anyways.
I suppose July/August is a good time of year to escape Australia and visit the family back in California. I think I’m on to something…
I was up at the shops today, only to realise this: The Christmas decorations are up already.
Now I’m in Australia at the moment, and Thanksgiving isn’t celebrated here, but isn’t it too early? While I love Christmas (in fact it’s my favourite holiday of the year), I think that every year the holiday seems to be drawn out a little further. Now seeming to last over two months long, you start to wonder why…?
I personally think Christmas has been extended as long as it has because it has become a retail holiday. Apparently it’s all about giving gifts and spending money on each other. And while I love giving (and, I admit getting them too) gifts, we’ve lost track of what the holiday is all about. I’m not going to sit and preach about how one should appreciate the true value of Christmas, but I wonder this:
Do you believe that the Christmas season has been over extended?
Australia’s official language is English, but can you really understand the “lingo”? Take a quiz, to find out if you could really carry a conversation down under. Good luck, mate!
Click here for the quiz.
Post your results back here, and see how you stack up!
For the record, I live in Australia now, but the experiences I’ve had here, as well as the experiences I had in Spain, have given me a unique view on life in America, and I must say, there’s a lot that is taken for granted.
It’s Monday even, around 9pm, and you’ve got a craving for the new Snow Patrol CD. So where are you going to find it? Really just about anywhere. The American retail market is unlike anything I’ve ever seen, either here in Australia, over in Europe, or other international destinations I’ve had the pleasure to travel to. North America, as a whole, is considered to be extremely convienent, almost too much so. Here in Australia, the shops close around 5pm or so, each day except for “late night shopping” nights on Thursdays. Is this convienent? Sure it’s not, but at what point must we throw convenience aside for the things in life that truly matter. I worked in the retail sector in America for years, and on numerous instances, it’d keep me from having dinner with the family, hanging out with my friends, and even occasionally missing important holiday events. Why? For the convenience of the shoppers.
Unfortunately, it looks as if the rest of the world may start to follow this trend. The retail sector, in countries around the world, is growing at an unbelievable rate. Will other countries follow the lead of the American retail sector and keep their doors open at all hours of the day? Perhaps. Is it worth it? Maybe, but it really doesn’t matter. The retail sector as a whole is the 2nd largest employer in the country. Whether or not we should have the accessibility to products we don’t even need, the retail market plays a big part in keeping the economy afloat. Many of the employed individuals in the retail sector are younger, and often pump their hard earned money right back into the market. I don’t think the 9a-9p hours are going anywhere anytime soon, and it might just get worse from here. A economic slowdown won’t help, in fact it may just make retailers go to extremes and milk the market for all it’s worth.
So treasure those family dinners, and appreciate the time spent with your friends, because despite how few and far between those are now, they may soon disappear completely.
I came across the most intriguing article (Ok, it was a boring work day, I admit it) awhile back about an area of the NSW coast that’s actually being put aside as a “surfing reserve”, somewhere that developers won’t be able to overwork or build up like they’re doing everywhere else. So what else does it allow for? Not much really, it seems as if it’s more of a title than anything else, but it’s a start in the right direction. Surfing is a sport that carries such a low impact on the environment. No need for a big grassy field, no sidewalks or roads, no long chairlift cut up a mountain…it’s a sport that takes advantage of what mother nature has given us. Oh, and did I mention it’s good to get out and exercise?
“Both the lands and waters of Lennox are recognised worldwide as a breeding ground for surfing legends and folklore,” Mr Kelly said.
“We want to make sure those waters are protected for surfers for the future.”
He said surfing spots such as Lennox were as valuable to Australians as Uluru, the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) or the Opera House.
This action isn’t completely about surfing, it’s about preserving the natural, pristine beaches that Australia is lucky enough to have, and it’s good that we’re starting now. In Southern California, surfers are fighting to protect some of the most historic surfing spots around, keeping highway bypasses and huge developments from ruining the beautiful vistas and spoiling the natural habitats that are quickly being bulldozed over. Is it too late there? Perhaps not, as a recent vote to save Trestles, a popular and historic spot passed. I’ve had the privelidge to visit this amazing beach, and a highway bypass would have just decimated the area. I’m glad to see the outpouring of emotion over this small area of land.
So why a reserve? I think it’s Australia’s way of preempting the overdevelopment of the beautiful beaches we take for granted here. Sure, this particular beach is off the beaten path, and overdevelopment may be decades away, but it’s never to early to start thinking about the future. After all, who wants a highway bypass running through their favourite beach?
Ok, I’ve never been squirmish about wildlife. Not reptiles, arachnids, or anything of the sort. Until now. Actually, I’m really not sure what to make of it anymore. You see, the wildlife here in Australia is completely different than anywhere else I’ve ever been. I’d venture to say that it all kinda “creeps up on ya”, but really, it’s been here the entire time, and it’s all easier to see coming. The lizards? They’re bigger here. How about the frogs? Bigger still. Snakes? Yep, huge. Even the ants, crickets, grasshoppers, and spiders are bigger here. Around three of four times the size. You think I’m joking? Come see it for yourself.
What’s funny (in a nervous laugh kind of way), is that a lot of it can kill you.
Seriously.
Australia, in all its beauty, is a rough and ready continent. Australia possesses more species of venomous snakes than any country on earth. (by the way, ALL snakes in the sate of Tasmania are poisonous). The “champion” of all poisonous snake in Australia, and also the world, is the Taipan snake which is considered 50 times more venomous than the cobra. In fact, Australia has six of the top ten most venomous snakes in the world. Of course, Aussies are quite proud of that. Pretty sure it makes them feel tough. I thought that is what rugby was for.
Spiders are far more common to tread across than snakes. As with snakes, spiders rank amongst the most dangerous. THE most dangerous spider in the world is the “Sydney Funnel Web Spider”. Appropriately named, this spider resides only the Sydney area. Woohoo, so glad I’m living in this locale. If you’re not visiting Sydney, or making the move here, you’ve got one less thing to worry about. If you are, you really have nothing to worry about, unless you’re completely careless about where you stick your hand at night. The far more common “Redback Spider” is the culprit of the majority of spider bites in Australia. For you Americans, this gal looks a lot like a Black Widow Spider, just three times as dangerous. Of those bitten, the majority are to the blokes, spending entirely too much time in the outhouse. I have come across this spider myself, in the organics bin while mowing the lawn. She’s a creepy looking creature, but was no match for my large wooden plank. Stefan 1, Spider 0.
I’ve had enough of these spiders and snakes. Let’s head for the river. Nope, never mind. Crocodiles there. The beach it is.
Good idea, but it’s not much better there. Great White Sharks, Blue Bottle Jellyfish, the Box Jellyfish, the Stone Fish, and so many others. We’re all familiar with the Great White Shark, but what is a Blue Bottle, a Box Jellyfish, and a Stone Fish?
The Blue Bottle jellyfish, or commonly referred to as the “Portuguese Man O’ War”, is actually a siphonophore—a colony of specialized polyps. That’s all well and good, and interesting to the scientific community, but when it stings, it stings like a jellyfish, and hurts. A lot. Bluebottles have a float or bottle-shaped blue sac, which sits on the water’s surface. They have many string-like tentacles hanging down from the float. Usually, you can see them in the water, or there are signs alerting you to their presence.
The sting from the tentacles is dangerous to humans. These stings usually cause excruciating pain, and have even been the cause of several deaths. Detached tentacles and specimens which wash up on shore can sting just as painfully as the intact creature in the water for weeks after their detachment. Medical attention is usually necessary, especially in extreme cases.
The Box Jellyfish (also known as a Sea Wasp) is a very dangerous creature to inhabit Australian waters. The Jellyfish has extreme toxins present on its tentacles, which when in contact with a human, can stop cardio-respiratory functions in as little as three minutes. This jellyfish is responsible for more deaths in Australian than snakes, sharks and salt water crocodiles.
The creature has a square body and inhabits the north east areas of Australia. The tentacles may reach up to 80 cms in length. It is found along the coast of the Great Barrier Reef. They are arguably the most venomous creatures in the world. Stings from such species are excruciatingly painful, either initially or as an after-effect, and are often fatal. However not all species of Box Jellyfish are this dangerous to humans. Unfortunately, the ones along the coast of Australia, are. In the Australian summer from November to April or May, box jellyfish are abundant in the warm waters of northern Australia and drive away most swimmers. However, they generally disappear during the Australian Winter.
The Stonefish is another of Australia’s deadly marine creatures. They inhabit shallow waters along the coast. The stonefish is well camouflaged in the ocean, as it is a brownish colour, and often resembles a rock, hence “Stone Fish”. Ugly bloke, isn’t he?
It has thirteen sharp dorsal spines on its back, which each have extremely toxic venom. The venom of a stonefish can kill a human in two hours, if not properly treated. If you’re swimming in a rocky area of the shore, please don’t step on that rock that has a bunch of spines sticking out of it. It’s just not a good idea. Trust me on that one.
Have I scared you yet? If so, I’m sorry. There ARE a lot of dangerous animals in Australia, but it’s rare to come face to face with them if you use common sense. Don’t stick your hands where they don’t belong, watch where you step during your bush walks, and keep an eye out at the beach. If there are signs saying,” Hey you, don’t go in the water, stupid.”, then you probably shouldn’t throw on your swimsuit and jump in the water. Of course, accidents happen, but there are anti venoms for most venomous creatures in Australia. Don’t let these guys keep you from seeing this beautiful country.
