Pictures!

New Pictures... the LAST TWO pages are new.

It's when I went to Queenscliff, Victoria (about 2 hours south of Melbourne) and swam with dolphins and seals in the middle of the ocean.

Enjoy!

Ready, Set, REBOUND!

"As the blood runs red down the needle and thread, someday you will be loved." -Death Cab for Cutie

I went and saw The Rebound tonight, with Catherine Zeta Jones and that hottie from The Hangover.  Now, I usually hate chick-flicks and would rather see a nice action or zombie film, but I saw it because: 1. it was 9.50 and Alice in Wonderland was 19.00... 2. the friendly cashier lady recommended it.  I think she was 15.  3.  I was alone, had sushi in my purse, so what other type of movie would me look so cool, all alone on a tuesday night?

I laughed, I cried... I ate sushi.  I consider it a good night.  Go see it!  

Today, Lizzo left to head north for Cairns.  She had been here the last two days, and we will meet up again in 3 weeks in Sydney.  We didn't do anything too mentionable, except hangout, eat good food, and gossip.  

Saturday night, the day before Lizzo came, was an interesting one.  One of those "pinch me" nights where you look around and think "I may only have $1,000 to my name and one backpack of belongings, but life's alright."  

That day I went down to the lagoon with Evan and Nick, got some sun, splashed around, and read my book.  I used to remember feeling really uneasy about the way I looked in a swimsuit.  I never even used to wear shorts/skirts/dresses a year ago because I hated the way I looked.  But, ever since this summer, I'm comfortable.  I'm not at my skinniest and I'm still pretty pale, but I have never felt more comfortable in my skin:  sprawled out on the sand or splashing in the waves with two really cute boys I just met a week earlier.

That night I went down to the hostel bar and grabbed a few drinks with a few Scottish fellows from the hostel.  Now, usually I can't understand a damn word the Scottish say.  I stare blankly, blink a few times, and mutter an "I'm sorry, but are you sure that was English?"  But, they were well spoken and we enjoyed a good laugh.  But, I got tired and went down to my room to lay down and figure out what to do with my night.  It was 10pm.

Evan and Nick shake me and tell me to get up, cause we're going swimming.  "At 10pm?"  "Yes, get dressed! Let's go."

So, Evan, Nick (Nova Scotia), Mary-Anne (Holland) and Rory (Ireland) walk down to the Lagoon I talk about all the time.  My swimsuit was still wet from that afternoon.  It was beautiful.  The water was lit up in a rainbow of colors, the sand was cool under my feet, and the city looked magnificent all lit up in front of a black backdrop.  I could even see a few stars.

We swam and splashed around and even became 13 again for a moment and played chicken fights.  That's where you get up on another person's shoulders and try to push the other person off.  It was me on Nick's shoulders and Mary-Anne on Evan's.  Now, Evan is about a foot taller than Nick.  Nick is my height.  So, their strategy was to back us into the deep end.  I'm proud to say they only pushed us down twice, out of the three times we played.  We won one!  

It soon got cold and real dark, around 1am, so we walked the 20 min walk back to the hostel.  I don't think I have laughed so hard and had such a good, random time in a very long time.  Well, in probably a week.  But, when I think my life couldn't get anymore sweet, it some how does.

And, what's funny, is I will probably never see these people again.

We all said goodbye the next morning, the Nova Scotians going to Manly (a beach about 45 min east of here), Mary-Anne went to Noosa Heads (north), and Rory is working here for awhile... so I'm leaving him!

For a moment, when I saw Nick and Evan walking away, I got a little sad at the thought that I would probably never talk to them again.  We didn't exchange phone numbers, and we made a promise to facebook each other, but most likely we still will never meet up again.  You get over it in a few minutes, but still... strange, isn't it?

What's even more strange, is my first night in my new hostel room (went from a 12 share UNair-conditioned room, mixed sex, to a 6 share air-conditioned, all girls), a girl brought a boy back and had sex ALL NIGHT LONG.  I didn't wake up, as I sleep like a dead person, but the rest of the room was up all night long, so we got her kicked out the next day.  Who wants to have sex, loudly, with five other people within 5 feet of you?  Seems a little dirty.

Oh hostels, you never quite know what you're going to get.

The funny thing about travelling and living the way I do, is you learn to expect nothing and everything all at the same time.  What I mean is that I don't expect when I wake up for my life to be any different than it was the day before.  I have no expectations.  I rarely make plans and I try to say "yes" to everything.  But, you expect anything, as people are weird, and you meet all of them while you travel.  For instance, some people like to be exhibitionists! haha

Good night, everyone.

On the back of a motor bike 

With your arms outstretched trying to take flight 

Leaving everything behind 

But even at our swiftest speed 

We couldn't break from the concrete 

In the city where we still reside

And I have learned 

That even landlocked lovers yearn 

For the sea like navy men 

'Cause now we say goodnight 

"We're much too young, we're much too rich... so let's go out tonight and live like this."

Brisbane likes bridges.  I mean, REALLY likes bridges.  I can see about six in one go, each of them completely different from the next, connecting South Brisbane to North Brisbane, over the Brisbane River.  Most of them look like your normal bridge-type bridges, but there is this one that I'm pretty convinced the architect was on drugs.  Probably acid.  It's got wires and cords and poles galore.  It's stark white, but at night it changes colours: from blue, to purple, green, pink, yellow, etc...  It's an eye sore, that only a Brizzy local could love.  However, it does have these amazing little coves off of it that you can sit OVER the river and read a book, or if you're my Nova Scotian friends, enjoy the best water you have ever had out of a convenient water fountain.

Speaking of water fountains, they have a lot of them here, which I hadn't seen until this city.  Before I was convinced that only Americans had water fountains, however Brisbane has adopted it as well.  But, for us it's about convenience, for the Aussie's it's about conservation of water.  They use recycled water in most of the taps here and advise you to not drink out of the taps, use the fountains.  Saving the environment... by recycling our toilet water.  Yum!

Also, toilets really do flush the other way.  Nifty!

I went to the Casino last night with Evan and Nick and lost $10.  I'm quite the big spender... playing the dollar slots.  They don't have penny or nickel slots, as they don't have those types of money here.  So, I won $5 then lost it all again.  I watched my friends play the "big boys and girls games," but find myself easily bored and confused.  I like the flashing lights, pictures, and sounds that come out of the slots.  I'm like a 5 year old.  

After the tree of us were defeated, we walked home and I read more of my book "The Lost Continent" by Bill Bryson.  It's about American as the lost continent, and he road trips all over it, finding out what American is all about.  It's a good laugh.

Today I went to the art museum and saw a hat exhibit!  The word "free" lured me in.  

There were hats from all over the world, displayed as art.  There were your normal hats, some with feathers and fancy do-dads hanging off of them.  

Then there were some that I'm not sure deserved a place in an art museum: like the helmet.  It's description?  "Bike Helmet."  Thank you Mr. Sign, I had no idea.

Then there were the weird ones, where you question if anyone has actually ever worn it.  If they did wear it, why?  And, most importantly, what was the person on when they made it?  There was a knitted hat that had a whole breakfast knitted on top of it: eggs, sausage, bacon, even ketchup (tomato sauce).  

Oooh!  Then there was the hat that had a man and a women made out of woven straw (looked much like intricate voo-doo dolls), in quite a compromising position.  The label?  "Sex on the Brain Hat."  Clever!

There were a good three rooms of hats!  Wonder what the cat in the hat would've thought about that!

Then, I laid out in the lagoon area, which is a manmade beach right on the river... read my book and got some sun.

What a life!

Oh yea... I applied to some jobs too!  Might be moving up to Rockhampton to clean a hostel for awhile (13 hours north)!  *Crosses Fingers*

Love,

Michaela

"All the crazy shit I did tonight, those will be the best memories."

"Live for the power of love, not the love of power." -- I saw this on a sign a homeless man was holding. Ironic?

Brisbane is a sweatbox. Brisbane also likes to do this thing we call "shrane," which means it's completely sunny, not a cloud in the sky, but it's raining. It does this at least once a day.

I smell lovely, let me tell you.

Also, I haven't straightened my hair in over a month... I think I've actually only done it 10 times here.  I wear my hair down and curly 90% of the time.  I used to hate my hair, but I embrace it now.  

I have highly considered not washing my hair and getting dreads, however, as shampoo and conditioner are disgustingly expensive.

Actually, this whole country is disgustingly expensive! 

The crazy thing about moving to a place 9,000 miles away from your home is that you know you have to leave it eventually. There was nothing permanent about this situation, thus I knew all the friends I met would have to leave me one day. Nothing good lasts forever, but our memories sure do.

Last night Annie, Will, Sarah and I had a last fling, consisting of karaoke! We sang "Summer of 69" by Bryan Adams and had the whole bar singing! What's funny, is songs that I grew up on (and my parents grew up on) are sung all over the world. A bar filled with 50+ backpackers, and every face was singing their heart out. We come from all over the world, yet somehow we all know how to make a fool out of ourselves with a microphone and some classic hits.

Man we were killin' time

We were young and restless

We needed to unwind

I guess nothin' can last forever, no

Australia is a funny culture, in this way.  It's geared toward backpackers... millions of people flock here just to find a little bit of solace from their own lives for one to two years.  Sure, some stay, but most go home, back to the daily grind of what we had.  But, as I was talking to a new Canadian friend (Nova Scotia), nothing ever changes back home... it's you who changes.  So, I know once I go home, I will do something with those changes.  I know I can never go back to Des Moines, Kansas City or Nashville to live.  I'm too restless.  

The damn travel bug has bitten me... it's highly infectious.

Possibly my new life plan consists of moving to California.  Sounds good, eh?

Random Aussie trivia:

*Their Internet consists of how much bandwidth you use in a month... it's not unlimited.

*They don't say "Crikey," nor do the majority of them dress like Crocodile Dundee.

*Sunscreen is really expensive and you go through it like it's your job.

*If you see a meal below $10, consider it the best find of your life

*They love Subway.  It's literally on every block... you may think I'm exaggerating, but I promise I'm not.

Random things I've learned/grown accustomed to:

*Gas grills... I LOVE them now... I used to be terrified

*I spell like I'm British sometimes... and secretly I like it, but don't tell my British friends.

*I eat ice cream out of the cone now.  Why did I spend 22 years of my life hating them?

*I like raw oysters.

To me, Australia hasn't been about all I can see and do (because really, there isn't THAT much to see and do here... it's not Europe or Asia!), it's about all I can experience.  And, all people I can meet and talk to.  

But I would walk five hundred miles

And I would walk five hundred more

Just to be the man who walked a thousand miles

To fall down at your door

All right, time to get going.

Love, 

Michaela

*EDIT*  Also, Australian money is waterproof AND tear proof.  Genius!

"Hey Honey, this is D.W. in Brizzy."

The title is from a coworker Darren that worked for CityMove in Brisbane. He did removals (moving) for us there, so when he called in, that's what he always said.

On that note... I'm in Brisbane (Brizzy)!

This city is gorgeous, and much different than Sydney. It's more like Melbourne. A lot of people slack off Brisbane as being boring, but I love it! The weather is really, really hot though, and muggy.

I have met some cool new people... a few from England, a few from Canada. I'm trying to make new friends! Still no job though. :(

Also, we went swimming in the "lagoon" today which is just an outdoor swimming area which is free to the public. Since Brisbane doesn't have any beaches, they built one in the city center! It was gorgeous and very relaxing... I took a nice nap on the sand!

Just a short update, I'm off to go sit on the balcony with Sara, Annie, and Will.

Cheers!

There's evil in your heart and it wants out to play.

Have you ever just seen someone and wanted to now more about them? Fallen instantly in love with a smile? Or the sound of someone's voice?

I have... in Byron Bay.

I don't know his name, or anything about him, really. I know he is from Germany (Bavaria) and he likes to work out (muscles galore). He plays scrabble and pool. He likes to body board and lay out on the beach. He also likes to cook. He has a gorgeous smile and eyes that light up when he laughs.

*sigh* I'm in love, and I don't even know his name.

And, he doesn't even know I exist.

------

Byron Bay is gorgeous and totally laid back. Hippies abound, along with the perpetual pot smell. The beaches extend for miles, as well as the mountains in the background.

I have done nothing but lay on the beach and on hammocks and enjoy the lifestyle of being on holiday.

I have decided that this trip and moving to Brisbane is a starting over of sorts. Sydney was a big starting over... as I was running away from everything imaginable in order to make sense of something.

Now, I'm okay... I still don't have anything figured out in my life, but I'm alright with that.

Brisbane is going to be me making new friends (as we're all splitting up!)... finding a new job and trying to find another little piece of happiness in a random city on this huge world map.

Also, I'm looking forward to nutella and pancakes for dinner.

Life is perfect.


------
I asked for love
I asked for mercy
I asked for patience
but you’re already all of these things
I asked for love
I asked for mercy
I asked you for the sunshine
and then I begged you for the rain
if I knew what i needed
if I knew what was good for me
I’d be down on my knees begging please
let your light shine bright inside of me.


Love,
Michaela

Wonderful Adventures through Never-Neverland.

March 13th:

Because I am an idiot, I missed my bus this morning. So, I had an extra expense of buying a train ticket to get me to Port Macquarie. I just hopped on a little past 2pm and now have four hours to occupy. I just finished reading The Tenth Circle by Jodie Picoult (recommended, btw) and am going to run my computer batter down as my next form of entertainment. Then it will be my iPod, and hopefully by then, I will have arrived!

The last time I was on a country train (one that lasts for more than an hour) I was in Europe. Looking out the window now, it really doesn't look much different... well, the houses aren't bavarian styled or old victorian homes... they are built after 1900. There are no mountains in the back, or rolling hills for that matter. I do know that there is a beach not to far from the tracks, however. Somewhere there is a sand dune and some guy surfing. And, I can understand the conversations around me. That is one big standout from Europe.

The first time I ever rode on a country train was when I was younger and my parents took me on a vacation from Kansas City to St. Louis. I don't remember if it was the trip there or back, as little details like that seem to fade with time, but I do remember we were stuck on that train for hours longer than we should've been due to a failed engine. For some reason I think it was about 16 hours for what should've been a 5 hours train ride. Maybe it's my mind exaggerating, but I remember the heat and the lack of food, and a boy about my age played cards with me.

Years later, Abbie and I took the train to Chicago, then I took it all around Europe (my first solo experience was by myself, sitting in a train compartment with three buff Italian men who very well could've been in the mafia).

I still think I'd much rather travel by car or by bus, but there is something about trains that can put you in a different mood. It's like you can imagine yourself in a different time, exploring countryside that hasn't quite been affected by urban sprawl. However, this train squeaks, and is quite obnoxious.

I'm sure most of you know, but Australia is a very new country. Growing up in America, you know that most things aren't older than 1776. Sure, Native Americans predate that, but most of our history spans a short 350 years. Australia's is much shorter. Yes, the Aboriginals have a history, and no it shouldn't be overlooked. But, I'm talking about the growth of a country, when Australia really started to be put on the map: and that was January 26, 1788. Buildings don't predate the 1800s here. The commonwealth, that we know Australia as now, was formed in 1901. Crazy how young they are!

Thus, another reason I often feel I'm in America. Although, fall days in America don't look and feel like this. I don't get sunburns on a fall day in Kansas (or Iowa, or Tennessee... etc...), but I do in Australia.

Next stop is Port Macquarie, where my one goal while I'm there is to kayak. I've gone canoeing in my life, but never kayaking. They better give me a helmet, cause I'm pretty accident prone. LIke that time my entire family almost drown while kayaking down the river, one summer.

Family vacations became very rare after that and probably with good reason.

While in Newcastle I managed to only harm myself slightly by getting a huge blister on my toe and having it pop while on the beach... sand and oozing wounds are the best of mixtures. But, no death (yet). I did however see a koala in a tree eating a leaf. We were about 10 feet away from each other... i wanted to reach out and touch, but his claws looked pretty damn vicious. I always saw my first wallaby. I like to call it dogpig. Not the most endearing of animals, but neither are elephants or hippos, yet somehow Americans love them.

BTW, I forgot just how hard it is to pee in a moving train, especially when you have to bring your backpack/purse thing with you because it contains all of your valuables. I didn't pee on myself, so I'm considering it a successful trip.

One thing that I noticed about travelling to smaller towns is how willing the locals are to strike up a conversation with you. I think it's like that in America as well. Whenever you're in the city, people are too busy rushing from one thing to the next to even manage a smile or an 'excuse me.' But, in small towns, you have all the time in the world. Strolling down the promenade an elderly man asked where I was from and how I was enjoying his city. Sometimes back home people do this and you get freaked out that they have ulterior motives. You can usually hear it in the smoothness of their voice. But, I felt he was genuine. Then the ladies in the stores, or on the bus, or wherever I go, they want to chat and are more interested about me then I probably am about them. But, when you do strike up a conversation with a local, you learn just a little piece of their story. They aren't special people by any means, but they are unique. That's what travelling has taught me. Everyone has a story, you just have to be willing to listen.

.....

I am picking this blog up two days later, sitting at a rest stop somewhere just north of Port Macquarie. I am on the greyhound, heading north to Coffs Harbour. My first day in Port Macquarie I spent inside, editing some video that I shall post here ASAP... or, as soon as I have sustainable Internet.

My second day in Port was magical... I saw bats (thousands of them above my head!), koalas, and dolphins! Sitting on the breakwall, in between the ocean and the river, I watched the sunset as dolphins played within metres of me. It was breathtaking, really. I never wanted to leave.

The koalas that I saw were in a koala hospital, which is free to the public. Since their areas are so endangered, they are often injured by people or fires, and have to be put in intensive care. These koalas were the cutest things you have ever seen, and were fighters! I didn't get to see any in the wild, although I was told they are EVERYWHERE in the trees! They are definitely hard to spot.

This morning (Monday the 15th) I woke up and tried... wait for it... VEGEMITE! We get free breakfast, so a jar was just sitting there. I had met a German girl the night before, and she was just like "Don't do it! Don't do it!" and laughed at me as I preceded to spread just a teeny-tiny bit onto a corner of my toast. I have to say it wasn't the worst thing I have ever tried, but it was definitely not the best. I won't be going back for seconds any time soon!

The German girl, Carolin, and I decided to go Kayaking... we rented a kayak for two hours and splashed around in the river for a little while. She was too afraid to go upstream through "horrible and scary rapids"... really, it was a rock with some waves.... so we had to get out, carry the kayak up a hill and over the highway to get to the other side. People laughed at us... I was laughing at myself too. Well, we get up there, and she decides it's too much effort (yea... you JUST realized that??), so we go back down, she's too scared to climb down the rocks and get in the water ("it's dangerous!"), so I do it myself. We then went the other way, around Pelican Island, which was gorgeous and so serene. 2I saw an Oyster farm! I'd seen it before on Dirty Jobs, but never in real life! I also saw a water dragon. About a foot and a half long! Even he was laughing at us.

It was a good two hours though! :) I had never been kayaking, just canoeing (remember my story about last time I went canoeing??).

I am now on a bus, that smells like piss, eating pistachios and orange juice, and waiting to get to Coffs Harbour.

Oh, my band of the moment is Rascal Flatts. I think I have officially become more southern just by moving away from the south. I have had two of their albums on repeat for the last week!

Love,

Michaela

Movin' on, suckers!

Ch-ch-check it out:

www.mycityclean.com.au
www.mycitybookkeeping.com.au

I have real published work!

I like the cleaning one better, just cause I got to draw fun, artsy things.

Let me know what you think! Even after I leave this job, people will see my work. :)

Today was my last night...

Love,

Michaela

Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil, See No Evil

(Click to Enlarge)
There is a pub called The Three Monkeys, located on the corner of George and Liverpool in Sydney. It's not too far from where I live now and it's been the center of many a nights in Sydney... mostly centering around meeting up with people I may never see again. It's a nice place to catch up, grab a beer and a pizza... or there is a night club upstairs.

But, what always caught my eye was that it was a really old building outside, with the inscripture on the side saying something about the bank of Australasia. Curious, right?

So, I did some research:

The Bank of Australia's 'Southern Branch' was established on this site during 1879 in rented premises.

In 1886 the existing building was constructed under the supervision of Architects Wardell & Vernon, comprising bank premises and shop accommodation for rental. The property was owned by the Estate of James Powell and was sold to the Bank of Australasia in 1902 for 10,000 pounds.

The building was altered in 1912, when the old shop fronts were filled in to match the remainder and the banking chamber extended.

The site is noteworthy for its association with banking, first as the Bank of Australasia from 1879, and subsequently as the ANZ bank from 1970 until its closure in 1998.

The building re-opened as a licensed public house in September 2000 in time for the Sydney Olympic Games.

The building is an excellent example
of Victorian Italianate Architecture and is an important element in the streetscape.
The design is dominated by a curved corner pediment which addresses the intersection of George & Liverpool St's.

The building is listed in the City of Sydney Heritage Inventory and the Register of the National Estate.

What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger.

Friday night there was a big party on our balcony... went to bed at 1, woke up at 5:45am to be at work by 7:30am... was so tired, but I rallied for my night...

I took a beautiful 2 hour harbour dinner cruise last night! There was an amazing buffet dinner, free wine/beer/champagne! Lizzo and I danced around on the roof of the boat with great views of the famous Sydney harbour! Best part: it was FREE! Lizzo go 6 free tickets because a lady bribed her at work to get her in for a move in a spot that was already full. She took two, so we could go! One of the best nights I've had here! I will miss Sydney.

At work they have me making two websites. They are starting two new companies, so I get to make them! Putting my photoshop and dreamweaver skills to work! They look really cool so far... I have more skill than I thought! I will post them as soon as I can...

I leave on Wednesday, though... I'm taking a 10 day trip up the coast to Brisbane. I'm stopping in Newcastle, Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour, Byron Bay (with 4 friends for St. Patrick's Day!!!), and Surfer's Paradise. So excited!

On a much more sad note, Mike had another heart attack and is back in the hospital, so send some love and prayers his way. He would appreciate that! :D

Anyways, I'm off to watch The Informant.

Love,

Michaela

It's sunny outside, but I've been inside allllllll day...

When I lived in Coogee, I felt like I lived in Overland Park, Kansas... well, if you were to add a beach, small cottages, rolling hills, and palm trees to the OP, but you'll get my point: I lived in a suburb with white, middle class families. The beach was in my view every morning, where I could roll out of bed and be on the sand in less than 5 minutes.

I moved to the city exactly a month ago, and it's definitely a 180! There are traffic sounds at all hours of the day in the background, it's a little more smoggy and humid, and I am always in a sea of people (all of which are hundreds of different races and ethnicities). I've never actually lived in a city before (okay... I lived in Des Moines, but it doesn't really count). I wouldn't change it for the world...

But, on that note, I'm living out my last week here in Sydney and am packing up my bags and heading North! Leaving next Wednesday, I'm going to go on a 10 day vacation up the east coast, stopping at Newcastle, Port Marquarie, Coffs Harbour, Byron Bay, and Surfer's Paradise. I will then make my way to Brisbane to, once again, settle down: find a job and a place to live in less than a week! I did it in Sydney... think I can do it again?

Another one of my friends has left me... first it was Hilary, then it was Arron, who is now trying to make it all alone in Melbourne... Then I'm the next to leave, then Annie, Lizzo, Will, Sarah... the list goes on. Funny thing is, I have moved a lot in my life, you think I would've gotten used to saying goodbye, but it never gets easier! But, I do know I have made lots of friends that I will keep in touch with for a very long time, and hopefully get to travel to awesome parts of the world!

On Saturday, I went surfing for the first time ever. I survived... I didn't stand up on the bored, but I survived. I think I enjoy splashing around in waves more than I actually enjoying trying to ride them, but I would probably give surfing another go.

Later that day, my friend Eric rang me and said him and his friends were in Syndey (from Melbourne) and needed a place to crash. We've got plenty of couches at our place, so I invited them all over... they cooked us dinner, brought us liquor, and we ended up having a great Mardi Gras! Granted, I didn't get to see any of the parade (minus a drag queen and some feathers), but we went to Sidebar and danced for awhile, then went to our balcony and threw a party until 4am!

I've mostly spent my days lounging around with friends, walking the streets of Sydney. Arron and I did go to a taping of a show on Monday called "When I Grow Up"... pretty much it was like "Kids Say the Darndest Things." It was fun to be back in a studio, and I realized (just a teensy bit) that I miss being in production... I still don't know what I want to do with my life, but I have recently been enjoying putting together movies and being a typical production nerd.

Last night, being Arron's last night, me, Jay and Arron went to the Three Monkey's bar and had a few beers... I ended up going home at 5am, waking up my roommate, because I was locked out (we don't have keys to our place, you have to ring in. It's amazing how you can lose track of time so quickly!

Anyways, I apologize for the jumble that is this post... I hadn't updated in awhile so I had a lot to say. I will update more, promise!

Love,
Michaela