Canberra...a cross between DC and New Orleans

Many people have asked me "Why did you go to Canberra?"
I'm not sure what the answer is...but it is somewhere between:
1. Wanting to add another state/territory to my list of Australian locations visited
2. Seeing the Australian capital city
3. Determining if it's really boring (as everyone says)
4. Bill Bryson's writing on the city

Here's a little tip if you ever visit the place: the bars stay open until after 2 am. While most people find this fact exciting, this little Texas girl couldn't understand why she was still being served at 4 am...and her liver revolted the next day (not to mention her head!).

Alas, a shower, brekky, and sunnies made a trip to Parliament House and the War Memorial possible. Friends helping me act like a crazy tourist made it memorable!

Enjoy the photos of my last road trip in Oz:

Camping?

Ok, I need an expert opinion...does this sound like camping:
1. Hot Water Showers
2. Short Walk to a BEAUTIFUL Beach
3. Electricity to Cook
4. Wine Glasses
5. Sleeping in a Tent

I went with my flatmate, Amanda, down South for the Easter long weekend (the Aussie's get Friday and Monday off). With practically half of the city leaving town, I thought it would be best to do the same. When Amanda offered camping with her family, I decided I would have my first 'real' camping experience - since I've never slept in a tent before.

Well, I can't really say that this weekend was "roughin' it". With one twenty cent piece, I got 3 minutes of hot water in the super clean shower - I even considered NOT wearing my flip flops in the shower (but don't worry Julie, I decided to be safe even if it did look TEN times better than any youth hostel shower).

While Amanda and I shared a two man tent, it came with two single air matresses that were just as nice as the mattress I sleep on in Sydney. Meals were prepared in the kitchen of the camper van or on the electric barbie...plus I got to chill out on fabulous beaches, roast marshmallows, and read as much as I wanted.

A most fabulous weekend...even if it wasn't REALLY a camping one...

Another Weekend, Another Beautiful Beach

Why are the beaches in Australia so beautiful? Is it because the Aussies are so clean and environmentally friendly? Or could it be the lack of Ozone layer that makes the sky bluer? Perhaps the length of time since I've been to a beach in America makes me forget the beauty there? Maybe the beaches in Texas really aren't that nice?

All I know is that I went to Bronte Beach this weekend...and it's gorgeous (even if I'm not so gorgeous in this photo of it:)

Celebration of Green

I've decided that St. Patrick's Day is the best color day of the year! Everyone wears green. If there were a holiday where everyone wore blue, it might be tough for me to decide...but there's not (yet - still pulling for Blueberry Day or Smurf Day or other such Blue Day) so it's easy for me to pick St. Patrick's Day as the clear color day winner.

I had to force my flatmate, Amanda, to put some green on before we left the house. But that wasn't so bad, because once we walked into the local Irish Pub (Kelly's), I felt at home in the sea of greens.

While we didn't stay at Kelly's (just think really loud Irish band playing music that was just a wee out of tune), we did have a stupendous night celebrating Patrick the Saint...err...green...err...something to do with Ireland?

LOVELY Adelaide

Not only should everyone come to Australia, but also they should visit the lovely town of Adelaide...because I had the most lovely time this weekend...so if you want a lovely weekend yourself - book in for Adelaide...ok so I wasn't paid of the South Australia Tourist Board - but I should have been...instead, enjoy the retelling of my weekend away:

I flew out (from Sydney) at the crack of dawn on Friday morning (and somehow managed to pack everything including toiletries in a carry-on bag). It was so early, I decided I earned a hot chocolate to celebrate the occasion - but was made to stand outside the boarding area until I had finished it as hot beverages are not allowed on such a little plane (which looked normal-sized to this Texan!).
Upon arrival, Pete came to pick me up in the SUV some friends away on holiday lent him for the weekend. He let me stop by the house to thrown down my bag and grab a slice of toast. But then Mrs. March, Pete, and I jumped back in the SUV (stopped for a quick coffee/hot chocolate = my 2nd hot chocolate of the weekend) and drove to McLaren Vale. McLaren Vale is a Wine Region about an hour south of Adelaide. We stopped through a few wineries for wine tastings - including the place where Pete's brother got married the weekend prior and Pete's friend Simon works. Simon offered me a bottle of Shiraz (and being a fan of Shiraz I didn't say no - though did have a long think about the size of my suitcase). After three wineries, we decided we better have a light lunch before heading back for tea with Nan for her birthday. So we went to Blessed Cheese which had amazing food even if it was just sausage rolls, dips, cheeses - it was still really high end, homemade, and EXCELLENT - which might account for the fact that it took 30 minutes to be served making us VERY late for tea...

After making several phone calls to inform the entire family that we would all be late for tea, we continued on the road and eventually turned up at a little coffee shop where cousins, siblings, Aunts, Grandma, and Grandpa were sipping on a coffee and eating cake. I was still full from lunch but decided I couldn't be rude and drink nothing...so my 3rd hot chocolate of the day was consumed. I had to MAKE the family sing Happy Birthday in the coffee shop because it was Nan's birthday and they were thinking of NOT singing. I was rewarded with a little laugh and smile from the birthday girl (the one in yellow).

Friday night was the first time I got to meet Pete's girlfriend, Jaye. She's a worship leader for a mega-church in Adelaide (called Paradise). Though it was different from any church I've ever been to, it most reminded me of a big church in Sydney with it's style of music and sermon style.

After church, Pete, Jaye, and I met up with another couple to hit La Trattoria - an Italian restaurant which won World's Best Pizza Maker at a contest in NYC a few years back. I had one of their gourmet pizzas and it was fabulous (though I'm not sure how that ties into the 'best pizza MAKER' title...).

Saturday morning was when drove me around the city to see the North/South/West/East Terraces (gardens). They are really pretty and surround the central business district (CBD or 'downtown') of Adelaide. It gives the city a feeling of being in the middle of a big open field. We walked through the East Terrace and one of the Universities in Adelaide to find the Adelaide Art Gallery.

While the collection wasn't big, the gallery had WAY more than I expected for such a small place - ok, that's not quite true - it had lots of different things from lots of different periods (which was amazing) but not much of anything in any one time or genre. I spent a good five minutes gazing at an engraved silver piece from the 1840s. But the further back we got, the more modern the pieces and the more difficult for me to move from one piece to another. One piece in the modern art section looked like a frame with a canvas painted black - but the longer you stared at the canvas, the more a young boy appeared to stare back at you. It was haunting and intriguing. In another room a LARGE, neon yellow rhino was mounted on the wall - the whole thing - from horn on the left to tail on the right...I was nervous it would pull the wall down any moment. After picking up a few postcards to send home, Pete and I took a stroll around a main street in Adelaide where I did a bit of shopping - because I (of course) forgot work pants. And while I was on holiday and didn't need to think about work until Monday, I was flying in Monday morning and heading straight to the office - thus I searched for about 30 minutes until I found SOMETHING that would work for work.

OK, I'm tired of blogging about this trip...which must mean that you're tired of reading about it...so here's the 'quick' version of the rest of the weekend - if I get 3 people to comment that they want the long version - I'll update!

After that, we picked up his girlfriend Jaye and went up to "the hills". Where we stopped by her dad's house (first time Pete met her dad which I think was just a spur of the moment decision but interesting to be there to watch), walked through Hahndorf (great little German town with fun little shops), then went further into the hills where we met up with a bunch of Pete's friends for dinner. One of his friends just built a house on the family 'farm' (for lack of a better word - big open space where they run sheep, but not a ranch...). Simon and Laura got married 6 months ago and she got pregnant about 2 months ago (which I think was a bit of a surprise that they getting excited about more and more each day). They've got a great house and a beautiful view. They live just round the corner from Simon's brother - who now has 7 puppies that we go to go play with!!!

We had a Roast (pork). And everyone brought a salad or bag of chips...then we took our wine and went to the living room to chat and play balderdash all night. This was really fun even if I wasn't very good at it. The boys just laughed and joked all night long which made me laugh and joke all night too.
Sunday - I woke up at 8 am to wee and then went back to bed because I was still sleepy and no one else was up yet. Next thing I know it's 11 am and everyone's waiting on me to shower so we can be off, haha. Pete's sister Georgia and I went to King William Street - close to their house but kind of a posh shopping street - where I had my fifth (that's right FIFTH but not last) hot chocolate of the weekend. Then we walked around until it started sprinkling. Jaye and Pete finally came by to pick us up (Pete had to go drop of the car he borrowed for the weekend) to take us to 'the bay' (which according to the facebook post by Pete is Glenelg, South Australia). It's a fun little place - boardwalk, ocean front strip of stores/restaurants/art, lots of shopping and surf shops. We had a look at the water, shops, and this place kind of like Gameworks or Dave&Busters (except no alcohol so it's meant for kids but parents play along too) called the Beach House. We got yummy chili hot chocolate (yes, this would be my 6th) that Pete and Georgia said tasted like heartburn chocolate. After that, it was time to head back to the March's house (pete's parents) for tea (dinner). His mom made Green Chili Chicken and salad (with a homemade salad dressing) and flat turkish bread...this was after the appetizers of spring rolls and cheese/crackers. It was SO yummy. Watched a little So You Think You Can Dance-Australia. Then went to bed as I was getting up at 4:30 am to get to the airport by 5:15 am to be on a plane by 6:05 am to be back in Sydney by 8:30 am (and go straight to work for 8 hours) the next day...

Girls vs. Boys

This weekend we went to the pub. Nothing fancy - no plans - just went...some people met up with us...just a nice afternoon/evening of hanging out with friends.

Now, I didn't expect to go to the pub...or take pictures...or see friends. So I just sort of woke up and went...as did my friend Scott.

Then, why do I look like I rolled outta bed and Scott looks like he's ready to hit the catwalk?

Sometimes, I hate being a girl :)

Chillin'

Batemans Bay - Look it up on a map of Australia. It's in New South Wales. I went away with some friends for the weekend and I'd like to sum up how it went:

And now for another Thousand Words:

We began our adventure with a stop in the LITTLE town of Berry. One of the Claires (yes, I went there with TWO friends named Claire) went to dance class in Berry growing up and I convinced Claire S. and Claire W. to bust a few moves in front of the building.

However, Berry is famous for one things (in my friend's book, anyway): DONUTS! I have heard stories about the Berry Donuts and the stops on the way home (ie Batemans Bay is home for all these lovely ladies!). The Donut Cart - yes, I can attest, it is on wheels but more like something you see outside a construction site than an ice cream cart - cooks the donuts after you order them so you always get hot, fresh donuts. I learned just how hot the donuts were when I dropped the bag on the ground next to the car (don't worry two donuts were saved by the 5-second - the rest were saved by the bag). After cooking, the donuts are rolled in cinnamon and sugar. Here's the only way I can describe the taste - think of the best funnel cake you've ever eaten, subtract the powdered sugar, add just a hint of cinnamon ease of eating in donut form. They were SO good.

It was pretty late when we arrived in Batemans Bay so we immediately crashed out. But that allowed us to wake up 'early' (11 am) to meet some friends in a funky little town full of crazy shops for lunch. No, this is not my baby! It usually takes 9+ months to make one, so this one cannot be mine. But we met Emma and her mom Jesse for lunch at a cafe in Mogo. I also found a great scrapbook shop in Mogo and stocked up on the basics so I can get started on all the Sydney memories I have!

After lunch, we FINALLY made it to the beach. Donuts + Beach = Amazing Weekend. Everything else was just icing. Bourlee Beach was wonderful. The girls MADE me get in the COLD, COLD, COLD water. Somehow I survived for two (count them TWO) 5-minute dips! I have to say that the cool water makes sitting on the hot beach quite lovely. But this Texas girl is not used to getting in freezing cold ocean water. While at the beach, we met up with a slew of other people as well as 'running into' several (keep in mind, I was in a small town in New South Wales - everyone knows everyone or knows someone who knows everyone). I even learned about a new type of boat - the Surf Boat. The Navy (the Australian Navy that is) hosted its annual Surf Boat competition at Bourlee Beach over the weekend. Four people row, one steers, and they get the drowning person to the shore...well, back in the day when we didn't have jet skis or motorized boats. Now, they just use the Surf Boats to race around buoys.

After a shower, a barbie, and a vodka, it was time to head into 'town'! The courtesy bus picked us up...I don't really understand how this happened or what this meant. But two places will come by in a van and bring you to their place of business. They don't have that in Sydney! Again, I was amazed that everywhere we went we ran into person after person that my friends knew, went to school with, babysat, etc. In this photo, Justin and Claire (front row); Kate, Claire, Jess (second row); Neighbor who jumped on the bus with us (back row).

By Sunday I was in full relax mode. We headed down to Long Beach where we chilled on the shore until Claire's dad brought the boat around. Then we attached the inflatable 'tube' (there wasn't a hole in the middle, so I wouldn't call it a tube, but that's what everyone else called it) and enjoyed a morning of fun! To me, it was the best parts of waterski-ing without all the trouble...but then I've never stood up on waterskis so I don't think I'm the best judge. After boat time, I got a chance to try out the hammock...and that's when I truly understood what makes Batemans Bay so very special. Can't wait to go back!