Surprise.

Some of you may be wondering why I haven't posted in quite some time. Some of you may already know the answer.

It has taken many hours of thought but I have come to the conclusion that I must come home back to Michigan.

For now I will say this, this country is wonderful and full of new and exciting things to see and do. If you ever think you may want to come here, do.

But make sure you are ready.

Thank you for reading this blog. Perhaps I will post some more if you would like.

Will you tag me when you check into this place?

Yes well, the title refers to the ability to tag oneself and others at certain destinations using facebook. So for instance, right now some of you Michiganders are probably thinking of heading to the local Meijer for some groceries. Once you brave the elements and arrive at Meijer one can simply take their smartphone out of their pocket search places on facebook and find the local Meijer. You then click "check in" which allows other facebook users to know your current position to continue stalking you.

This application proves incredibly useful when one is traveling around cities such as Sydney. If you have been following my check-in you would know that I have visited a great deal of places in Sydney in the past week. Most of them have been bars but many of them have been wonderful tourist traps.

Examples: Sydney tower, Westfields Sydney, Sydney Maritime Museum, Sydney Botanical gardens, Sydney Opera House, Sydney Aquarium, Pancakes on the Rocks.

Swanky Bars: Strikers Bar (I think that is the name), Cargo Bar, The Opera Bar, James Squire Brewhouse, Bungelow 8.

Now if you have any interest in these places i suggest you google them because some of the sites are very cool and very informational. Perhaps they may inspire a visit if you ever decide to travel this way.

Its time to go make pad thai so peace. I'll write more when I get a chance. 

Sydney is named after an old wooden ship.

Yes well, let me first apologize for not posting in a week but I have been on some adventures as of late.

We took the train from Lawson to Sydney some seven days ago. Sydney as you may not know is most certainly not the capitol of Australia but merely its most famous city. Anyway, we got on the train (my first proper train trip) and rode the two hours into the city. It was new years eve so naturally there were some drunk on the train and we were lucky enough to see a women drinking beer and a man passed out in the middle of the aisle at the front of the car. He was actually sleeping for so long that another man began to sketch him in his notebook which I found quite amusing.

We arrived at Waverton (where our friends Kc and Alison live) got off the train and immediately stepped directly on what appeared and felt to be the surface of the sun. We walked up to their flat which had two balconies and a ridiculous view of the Harbor Bridge and cracked a beer with her roomates. We sat on the balconies for some time, drinking Pure Blonde beer and talking about the idiots that were trying to park on the streets below. By about four o'clock we may have been drunk and craving food so they proceeded to make Sausage Sizzle. I was skeptical of these things considering they looked an awful lot like hot dogs but after they were placed within a fresh bread roll and smothered in grilled onions I was onboard for many, many more. Needless to say that a rogue "snag" as they are called may have saved my life the next morning but I digress.

We left the flat at some time before nine o'clock to watch the kiddie fireworks over the bay. We wanted to go into the city further for a better spot but once we turned the corner out of their apartment parking lot and spotted police we figured that trying to carry three eskies (coolers) to a alcohol free zone may be more of a gamble then we wanted to take that day. So anyway, we decided to post up just outside their complex in a private courtyard of sorts. Look at the end of the Sydney album on facebook for location pictures. At this location we could see the entire harbor and almost half of the Harbor Bridge so we decided that this may be the spot to end all spots and began to drink heavily into the night.

Now I need you to imagine the last five firework shows that you have seen. Put those together, add a bridge some decorate tall ships and a heap of building with firework shooting guns on them and that was the show that we saw that night. I attempted to take pictures which are also up on facebook but they surely do not do it justice. You can however look the show up on youtube and watch what transpired.

The rest of the night can only be described as a classic 80's montage of drinking and shenanigans which culminates in people sleeping in hallways clutching a couch cushion and festive party hat. I awoke sometime later (8 am for some reason) and learned that I was the first to attempt this feat. I snagged a glass of water and a rogue sausage from the barbie of the day before. I would later learn that we would be heading to the beach that day and began to gather my mind for what lay ahead.

Most stayed behind but some left with us to go to the beach. It was called Bundeena Beach in the Royal National Park (the second national park in the world apparently). Hot and sunny is an understatement 90 degrees I would guess. We sat on the beach, fell in and out of consciousness and laughed about the women who can fit into a bikini but should not necessarily wear a bikini. I learned of squirting sponges in the tide pool and stingy bits in the ocean that make Ted's skin turn red and irritated. I can best describe the setting as  Greek themed. I don't really know what that means but I didn't bring a camera and there were lots of sailboats and big houses and island looking peninsulas.

We left the beach and proceeded to drive down the coast on Lawrence Hargrave Drive. Google map that road, its a pretty cool drive to make if you like turning and shifting an unbelievable amount. We stopped for a bite to eat which I will touch on later and made our way back to Sydney. We stayed the night again at our friends house (much less eventful considering we were all zombies) and then made our way back into Sydney to Darling Harbor and Rachel's sister Emma's flat.

I think I will talk about the next leg of Sydney after a break. Please enjoy this post.

Mullets are so in.

Wow.

Saw a poisonous snake yesterday on a bush walk. This snake was not nearly as poisonous as the haircuts I saw at the mall today. Apparently Australian men go to the barber and sit down for half a haircut then get up midway through, throw on some gel, shave a line in their head and go on their merry way.

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj12zYLCxUZbi52St_klHIN7qH1pMZ4oMwjRkkTPd5S6jtuZOixi1F9HmP759sEqZPX4ORK11CiNauZxGn77cgrNBDQx9-wu-xHPiapO1UFk1l7Vq-z9DevWIQZpMAebtYCN0o_QDEGYQ/s1600/men+hairstyle.jpg

Anyway. Shmach bought me some rugby shorts so I can show off my milky thighs. I got some boardies too and MOM I got a wetsuit thing that blocks the sun so I don't have to worry about sunscreen at all.

The sushi train was unreal today too. Did you know they have those? You sit there and sushi rolls by and you pick it up and put it in your mouth hole. Any kind you want. Its a very American invention in Australia. I am proud of them inventing a way to take raw fish straight to the suck hole. Highly recommended by this guy.

The price of booze here is unreal too. And the roads are never straight. I might elaborate on these ideas later.

For now we are making a frozen pizza. And no, its not digorno. I was informed that frozen pizza is at a premium here. Sketchy. I need Jake to teach me some pizzatology so I can make some eatable foodstuffs while here.

Sydney harbor for fireworks and new years tomorrow night. Be jealous. Will post pictures.


Theodosius.

Airplanes and Opera Houses.

As you find me now I am drinking French Press coffee (apparently drip coffee is at a premium here? at the Cam's dining room table. Its currently approaching 80 American degrees here or like 28 fake degrees or something. Already this morning I have spied a giant white parakeet and blue tongue lizard. Successful morning if I say so myself.

So I arrived yesterday morning at about 10am here time. The plane ride was long but we were fed well and they had all of the movies and tv you could ever want on the screen on the back of the seat in front of you. I caught up on movies that I wanted to see (The Other Guys is a new favorite) as well as a ton of episodes of How I Met Your Mother. The people next to me were nice and flying in to see the fireworks on the bay for new years.

Rach and her sister picked me up from the airport. Customs was a breeze. They were really friendly and concerned with the soil on my hiking boots. Anyway, got through with no problem.

The first thing I noticed out of the airport was the cars. All weird looking with the steering wheel on the wrong side. I did discover Utes (Utility vehicles) which look like El Caminos and are completely bad ass.

We went to Emma's (Rachel's sis) apartment close to downtown Sydney. We the walked a few miles to downtown and the harbor bridge and opera house. So right away not being in the country for two hours and I was sipping coffee under the opera house and eating seafood wantons. We saw the city and learned that mullets are in style here and then came back to the Cam's for the night.

Needless to say, its starting to get hot and I think we are going to go for a swim. I already got sunburned yesterday and didn't go outside the city. Its all good though, I have beaucoup aloe vera.

G'day yall. 

This is where you will find me.

Hey kids, if you want to track whatshappeninow on my trip this is where I'll be at. I'm going to try to keep it updated as much as I can so cool. See you out there.

Haha I Know Myself.

I did lose touch with my blogger side. Shame, maybe I'll write something here in another month.