Yups, we're flying in less than 24 hours, and will be back in Holland in about 40. It's weird, as much as I have missed friendsw and family over the last two days, all I really want to do is play the sims and stay in my room for three weeks. No such luck though.
The last day here was spent packing and going to see the disappointing "The Lovely Bones". The packing is actually going a lot better than the incoming flight, mostly because I managed to dump ten packets of Stroopwafels among Tafkab's unsuspecting family.
This is not going to be the last blog, I am assuming there will be somewhat to say about the flight back. So keep checking this space.
Oh, and a belated but merry christmas, everybody!
K
Saturday, 26 December 2009
Thursday, 24 December 2009
Last days approaching
It is so weird. When I came here, I was going to be here for a full month. Now, about three days later, I am leaving in less than a week, right after christmas. Seriously, time has flewn so fast... On the one hand, I am happy to be going home, as it is nice to sleep in a familiar bed and I need to get my life sorted post-break-up. On the other hand, I am by far not tanned enough and I don't feel like I've seen everything yet.
Tafkab and I went up to see one of his old friends yesterday who lives along the northern coast, so another beach day! I've decided to do the anti-tourist thing and completely skip Bondi in favour of other, less well known beach locations.
The first beach was Avoca, a very nice, very very hot beach somewhere above Sydney. It was hot. Yes, there were multiple goodlooking men there, which helped, but mostly, it was warm. Very, very, very warm. Too warm to actually walk on. Fun, and the water was of course excellent, but nonetheless warm.
After an appropriate amount of time swimming, bodysurfing and drying of on the beach, we went on to Terrigal, known for it's marvellously cultured esplanade. Unfairly known, I have to say, so we left rather swiftly.
Met up with Tafkab's friends, stayed over in their incredibly, way too nice, I hate these people AND their sunroom house, and had breakfast, before they sent us on our way, luckily with the instructions on how to get to an ugg-store, something I had not been able to find yet and the non-inclusion of one in our trip would have send my aunt and cousin into a deathly rage.
And, toady, on the edge of my trip, I did what Tafkab has treathened to make me do since we got off the plane: Feed a kangaroo.
After this park, a lunch with a way, way too orangey-red hot dog and another trip in a way, way too hot red car, we arrived back for some rousing rounds of tabletennis, and of course, Christmas is tomorrow.
Almost home.
Oh yes, for some reason, in the koala-park, the toilets for the ladies are owned by men...
Tafkab and I went up to see one of his old friends yesterday who lives along the northern coast, so another beach day! I've decided to do the anti-tourist thing and completely skip Bondi in favour of other, less well known beach locations.
Avoca Beach, first stop
The first beach was Avoca, a very nice, very very hot beach somewhere above Sydney. It was hot. Yes, there were multiple goodlooking men there, which helped, but mostly, it was warm. Very, very, very warm. Too warm to actually walk on. Fun, and the water was of course excellent, but nonetheless warm.
After an appropriate amount of time swimming, bodysurfing and drying of on the beach, we went on to Terrigal, known for it's marvellously cultured esplanade. Unfairly known, I have to say, so we left rather swiftly.
Met up with Tafkab's friends, stayed over in their incredibly, way too nice, I hate these people AND their sunroom house, and had breakfast, before they sent us on our way, luckily with the instructions on how to get to an ugg-store, something I had not been able to find yet and the non-inclusion of one in our trip would have send my aunt and cousin into a deathly rage.
And, toady, on the edge of my trip, I did what Tafkab has treathened to make me do since we got off the plane: Feed a kangaroo.
Yes, a kangaroo INSIDE a kangaroo. The mamushka's of the animal kingdom I tells ya.
We went to a small koala hospital that had a number of animal-enclosures. all filled with australia's cutest and least poisonous animals. I was especially enamoured by the common wombat, which is just too cute.
Mr McCutiestein, the Wombat
The Grumpy-McSnoozers, just back from a Eucalyptus-binge
After this park, a lunch with a way, way too orangey-red hot dog and another trip in a way, way too hot red car, we arrived back for some rousing rounds of tabletennis, and of course, Christmas is tomorrow.
Almost home.
Oh yes, for some reason, in the koala-park, the toilets for the ladies are owned by men...
Tuesday, 22 December 2009
What do you mean "We are going up there"?
No photo's this time, as we were not allowed to take them.
But yes, Sydney, as most of you know, is build around a bay. And across this bay are several bridges, one of them, apparantly the longest single span bridge. The thing is about 134 meters from the water level, and this morning, I was on top of it.
We had to get up for this experience at the ungodly hour of 6.30 in the morning, which was just plain painful. But as I had fallen out of bed during a very strange dream at 2.30 prevously, I wa sin pain already anyways, so hey, that was doable. We arrived at the bottom of the bridge at about 8.30, and went to get suited up and instructed.
Man were we unpleasantly dressed. What with the wind-chill and the safety-stuff and all we were dressed in these one size fits nobody-type greyish jumpsuits, with batman-style belts for the radios and clippy things to stop us from plummeting the aforementioned 134 meters. After a dry run on how to climb a ladder (slowly, and difficultly, if my group was to be believed) we were "allowed" out.
Out into the wild open air above sydney, into a beatiful view. Climbing and descending the bridge takes about three hours, and the nice tourguide people give you sime background information on the bridge. Being somewhat scaed of heights and definitely scared of deep, open water, I missed most of these bits of information. But the views were gorgeous.
So, so beautiful, you really get to see the whole of Sydney, the bay-heads and all the little white boats. Seriously, this is THE tourist attraction of Sydney, and very expensive with it. I'm not saying it's worth the money, but it is certainly worth getting over your nervousness for.
But yes, Sydney, as most of you know, is build around a bay. And across this bay are several bridges, one of them, apparantly the longest single span bridge. The thing is about 134 meters from the water level, and this morning, I was on top of it.
We had to get up for this experience at the ungodly hour of 6.30 in the morning, which was just plain painful. But as I had fallen out of bed during a very strange dream at 2.30 prevously, I wa sin pain already anyways, so hey, that was doable. We arrived at the bottom of the bridge at about 8.30, and went to get suited up and instructed.
Man were we unpleasantly dressed. What with the wind-chill and the safety-stuff and all we were dressed in these one size fits nobody-type greyish jumpsuits, with batman-style belts for the radios and clippy things to stop us from plummeting the aforementioned 134 meters. After a dry run on how to climb a ladder (slowly, and difficultly, if my group was to be believed) we were "allowed" out.
Out into the wild open air above sydney, into a beatiful view. Climbing and descending the bridge takes about three hours, and the nice tourguide people give you sime background information on the bridge. Being somewhat scaed of heights and definitely scared of deep, open water, I missed most of these bits of information. But the views were gorgeous.
So, so beautiful, you really get to see the whole of Sydney, the bay-heads and all the little white boats. Seriously, this is THE tourist attraction of Sydney, and very expensive with it. I'm not saying it's worth the money, but it is certainly worth getting over your nervousness for.
Saturday, 19 December 2009
Genzyme Christmas Party
Snce I am here in Oz issing the first real white christmas in a loooong looong time, and on the same reasons missing all the holiday-cheer associated with the holiday, I was rather chuffed when an australian friend of mine asked if I wanted to come to her office's x-mas feast. And even more pleased, as she works for the same company I do, only here in Australia. So I could still go to the office's celebration, and not feel toooo weird about it all.
The party was held in a park-area, during the day, with the traditional Australian BBQ, traditional Australian jumping castle, golf-putting-contraption and manicures. A little bit strange, perhaps, but still very good.
It was good catching up with the wonderful Aip (Australian Italian Princess, she'll hate me for the name) anyways, and spending the day with her in her more or less natural environment was a great pleasure.
She was lucky with the weather as well, as it was a beautiful sunny day.
The party was held in a park-area, during the day, with the traditional Australian BBQ, traditional Australian jumping castle, golf-putting-contraption and manicures. A little bit strange, perhaps, but still very good.
It was good catching up with the wonderful Aip (Australian Italian Princess, she'll hate me for the name) anyways, and spending the day with her in her more or less natural environment was a great pleasure.
She was lucky with the weather as well, as it was a beautiful sunny day.
Aip
Lucky with the weather I myself have not really been. It rains every two days or so, which means you can't swim at a lot of the beaches as the extra water comes with stronger currents and the additional danger of phosphates in the water. it doesn't stop people as such, but the lifeguards get annoying. Still, there is always the eye candy.
See, strong currents.
And Eye Candy
Apart from the beaches and Aip, We've been moving around Sydney doing touristy things, seeing Darling Harbour, walking around Glebe again and shopping for souvenirs.
So, yes. Only a few more days, and Christmas cuts into them as well, I'll be home before I know it, and I am only half happy about it.
Till later,
K
Wednesday, 16 December 2009
Other things I have now seen in real life.
Photos work again!
Now I know last post was a bit on the depressed side, I blame a short and heavy bout of home-sickness. Not that I am feeling home-sick, but tthis is my blog so I can blame whatever I damn well please to blame, I'm sorry but I can.
Sooo yes. What have I done with myself over the last few days? Well, let me tells ya. Tuesdaynight Tafkab and I went to see a show in the famous Sydney Opera House, as I had requested as one of the "Must do"s. And I can tell you, I was very much not disappointed. It was a concert of the Australian Chamber Orchestra, and it was music selected and introduced by Barry Humphries. Before the intermission this was. After the intermission, it was songs from the repertoire of Sir Les Patterson, Australian ambassador to the Arts, and the show was ended, rather well, I thought, by none other than gigastar and housewife Dame Edna Everage!
Before the intermission it was simply very very good. The main room of the Opera House has a magnificent seventies-feel to itself, and we were placed accoustically very advantageous. The music was Modern Classics, mostly from the interbellum-period 1920-1940, and very interesting. I have always had a thing for the modern classics, and the ASO is an amazing group of performers. Mr Humphries wqas quite funny in his introductions, and I really enjoyed myself. Regretfully, no photos, not allowed inside and I am a law-abiding Luce.
After the intermission, Sir Les was not really my cup of tea, but the Dame was everything i had expected of her, and more. A massive sparkly frock, and character to match, and her short introduction and presentation were absolutely grand. The glad-tossing and weaving at the final song warmed my heart, and I feel I have really entered the halls of gay-worthyness after this.
Today, Wednesday, Tafkab's lovely parental units had sprung tickets to see Wicked, the musical. Obviously I'd seen it in London, but hey, I like it, so why not see it again? To prepare, Tafkab and I went to the Chinese gardens, Sydney university and the 'burb of Glebe to do some touristy bits.
Ibis in Darling Harbour, on the way to the gardens
First of, the Chinese Gardens. I've wanted to go here to re-create one of my favourite AwkwardFamily-Photos, but ended up just really liking the tranquil surroundings. Strange how so central in the city this place of peaceful silence exists. Shame about the tourists though.
A koi in the Chinese Gardens and Being coy outside of them
The gardens are beautiful, very nicely laid out in five different settings, Lake, Mountains, Grotto, euhm and I forgot the other ones, but gorgeous.
Now I know last post was a bit on the depressed side, I blame a short and heavy bout of home-sickness. Not that I am feeling home-sick, but tthis is my blog so I can blame whatever I damn well please to blame, I'm sorry but I can.
Sooo yes. What have I done with myself over the last few days? Well, let me tells ya. Tuesdaynight Tafkab and I went to see a show in the famous Sydney Opera House, as I had requested as one of the "Must do"s. And I can tell you, I was very much not disappointed. It was a concert of the Australian Chamber Orchestra, and it was music selected and introduced by Barry Humphries. Before the intermission this was. After the intermission, it was songs from the repertoire of Sir Les Patterson, Australian ambassador to the Arts, and the show was ended, rather well, I thought, by none other than gigastar and housewife Dame Edna Everage!
Before the intermission it was simply very very good. The main room of the Opera House has a magnificent seventies-feel to itself, and we were placed accoustically very advantageous. The music was Modern Classics, mostly from the interbellum-period 1920-1940, and very interesting. I have always had a thing for the modern classics, and the ASO is an amazing group of performers. Mr Humphries wqas quite funny in his introductions, and I really enjoyed myself. Regretfully, no photos, not allowed inside and I am a law-abiding Luce.
After the intermission, Sir Les was not really my cup of tea, but the Dame was everything i had expected of her, and more. A massive sparkly frock, and character to match, and her short introduction and presentation were absolutely grand. The glad-tossing and weaving at the final song warmed my heart, and I feel I have really entered the halls of gay-worthyness after this.
Today, Wednesday, Tafkab's lovely parental units had sprung tickets to see Wicked, the musical. Obviously I'd seen it in London, but hey, I like it, so why not see it again? To prepare, Tafkab and I went to the Chinese gardens, Sydney university and the 'burb of Glebe to do some touristy bits.
First of, the Chinese Gardens. I've wanted to go here to re-create one of my favourite AwkwardFamily-Photos, but ended up just really liking the tranquil surroundings. Strange how so central in the city this place of peaceful silence exists. Shame about the tourists though.
The gardens are beautiful, very nicely laid out in five different settings, Lake, Mountains, Grotto, euhm and I forgot the other ones, but gorgeous.
View from the Gardens out into the harbour
Inside a pagoda
Climbing stuff & being Vitruvian
Tafkab and I spent some time making photos and enjoying ourselves climbing stuff, before going to the University and wandering around Glebe. I like Glebe. Glebe is one of the oldest suburbs of Sydney, and it feels metropolitan, a little bit bohemian and very, very funky. Good bookstores, good coffee-houses, good people.
The Quad of Sydney University. Pictured: Beauty
After this, Wicked, and it was, as always, very good. Tafkab and I both got a little too used to the original cast rrecording, so the first half of the show was spent going "That's not how it's done..." but the musical is a pleasure anyways.
Tomorrow, the beach.
Random leftover photo, also posted on Facebook:
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