Opera House

Today I took the train to Circular Quaye and saw a play at the Sydney Opera House. It was called "The Shape of a Girl". It's about violence perpetrated by girls. The play is loosely based around the murder of Reena Virk in Victoria. When I read the write up on the Opera House website I couldn't possibly miss this as it sits so close to home. All the references to Victoria and the Island made me so happy. The play was a 70 minute long Monologue. It was a wonderful performance and I had a wonderful day today, though I am getting really tired of being alone. I havn't talk to anyone today, aside from saying "Hi, I'm just looking" to shop clerks. As much as I'm having a killer time doing my own thing, I sure can't wait to get home!

http://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/

Powerhouse Museum|Science+Design|Sydney Australia

The Powerhouse Museum of Science and Design is holding the 12th annual International Design Festival at the moment so I took the Monorail across Darling Harbour and over to the museum. I took a tour from this very eccentric guy which was really informative. I learned a lot and saw a lot of really neat inventions.

http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/

Museum of Contemporary Art|2008 Biennale of Sydney|Circular Quaye, Sydney Australia

Today I toured the Museum of Contemporary Art. It was weird, but I really enjoyed it. The weirdest thing I saw was a stuffed dead horse hanging from the roof reflecting elements of tragedy and comedy in human life. As well this photographer who took thousands of pictures of women through bushes, at the super market, or at the local public swimming pool. He developed his photos in a bathtub in his back yard at night time and made his own cameras with odds and ends such as the tops of beer bottles. His pictures were grainy and of poor quality. It was eerily cool.

http://www.mca.com.au/

Tropical North Queensland

Home from Tropical North Queensland! What a beautiful place. It's god's country, I swear! We played and frolicked in the waves the second we got to our hotel. The waves were big enough to enjoy but small enough that they weren't dangerous, aside from pulling your bathing suit down!! Port Douglas is the kind of place you only see in movies. It's one of those places that looks just like it does online. I'd love to retire in a place like that, or have a holiday home there. Ahh that'd be the ultimate. While we were there we took a day trip to Kuranda Village and visited Tjabuki the aboriginal museum and went snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef. We swam with Turtles and Sharks and saw Sea anenomes. Part way through the week we headed further up north to The Daintree Rainforest in Cape Tribulation. Our first hotel was literally in the middle of the rain forest and everything to do was a million miles away so Graham made some calls and got us to a different hotel the next morning. The new hotel was "unlike anything else in the world". We had our own little wooden lodge in the rain forest with wooden doors that fold up and look out into the forest. It was incredible place. The beach was unlike anything I've ever seen. The whole are reminded me of the movie The Beach which is my all time favorite movie with Leonardo DiCaprio where they go traveling in Thailand. Anyway, we went horse back riding our first day and hiking the next and the last day Graham and Sheryl went Kyaking and I stayed back and got a massage at the hotel. I was happy to get back to the city, or at least some sort of civilization. Cape Tribulation was very secluded.

Now I start my work experience at GTA, in their online division called Octopus Travel. Very excited to get my work on!

SYDNEY AUSTRALIA

Graham and I did a 3.3 km run yesterday and afterward went to New Town. I bought a jacket and we bought these little things this guy was making on the sidewalk. Graham is going to put his on his desk at work. We were craving some Easy Way so we went into town. I bought a bag at this gangster skateboard shop. We discovered that Carhartt has now branched into skate clothes and they are trying to change their image in another country. It's hilarious!! They have these graphic t's and skateboards and bags. Anywho, we went and met Sheryl after work and went to Ashfield for dinner with her family to celebrate her raise.

We are leaving for the Great Barrier Reef tomorrow Morning. Pretty pumped to see the beaches!!

SYDNEY AUSTRALIA

The flight was great. It was great having a direct flight from Vancouver to Sydney. The girl I sat next to was a little...snotty. I only got up twice and she made such a big deal about it. There was so many World Youth Day pilgrims on the airplane. They are really quite frustrating. They are all over the place like little ants! Everytime we get on the train they are there. Always in big packs with their matching backpacks and flags. Whenever I see them I wonder why they had to choose Sydney as the location for the Catholic Youth Fest.

On my first day in the city we went to the Opera House and I got to see the bridge and we walked through the park. We were hungry so we went to the mall. The shopping in Sydney is unbelievable. It's unbelievable.

On my second day we went to Taronga Zoo. We took a passenger boat across the harbor to get there. You could see the entire harbor at once from there. The zoo was really quite amazing. I've never seen anything like it. It was a REAL zoo! That was a long day. I was all nackered out after that.

Graham took two weeks off of work so we are spending this week together. On Monday we went on a 7km jog and after that we went to Oxford st to meet Sheryl after work. Graham and I attempted to make Fish burgers that have potato in them. They were alright.

On Tuesday we went to Bondi Junction. It's this huge mall with stores like Armani and Chanel. I bought a pair of volcom jeans and a roxy australia sweatshirt from the Quicksilver store where I met the most beautiful Australian man, about 9' tall. He was the stereotypical Australian man. Graham and I made Tandori Chicken & Feta wraps for dinner and rhbarb and apple crisp for dessert. It was excellent! I was very tired and also a little homesick so I went to bed early. Not home sick in the sense that I want to go home, because I don't. It's just weird being in someone elses house and not my own.

Today is Wednesday July 16th and it's 11:26 am. Graham and I are about to go for a 3 km run and then go to the store to buy grocerys.

12 HOURS TO GO

12 hours until I start my journey. I'm most excited for the ride from Victoria to Vancouver. The sun should just be setting which will make for some great pictures. Not going to lie, I can't wait to go shopping at the airport. Apparently it's like a mall. I'm also going to see the sunrise during the flight to Australia. I'm pretty much packed. I need to buy some rolaids and some graval so I can fall asleep on the plane. I just want to go RIGHT NOW. No more waiting, please!!

LESS THAN TWENTY FO

Leaving YYJ (Victoria Int.) in a mere 24 hrs. Not all that nervous. Called a rep at Air Canada and settled my VISA situation. I'm officially allowed to enter Australia. The whole evening I've been exploring YVR (Vancouver Int.) so I know what to expect and where to go so things go as smooth as humanly possible.

I'd like to thank everyone who stopped by my house last night; it meant a whole heck of a lot. Even if all the crying hurt my head!

TWENTY-FO>

BON VOYAGE

Tonight is my going away party. I'm thinking it's going to be a good time. We're making cup cakes and some groovy cds. My to do list for today includes: mow the lawn, buy hot dog buns, and clean out the hot tub. Lets hope there is no tears shed. It'd be nice to have this a happy event. It's suppose to be a happy time in my life. NO REGRETS!

ONE MORE WEEK

Never thought this would ever come: THE ONE WEEK COUNT DOWN! It's a little bit surreal right now. I purchased a new camera for my adventure. It's a Sony DSCH10B. So look forward to some great shots through-out my journey!