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!

Twilight Parade

Arlington, Texas is a big suburb - but twice a year it feels again like a small town revolving around two parades - the BIG parade at 4th of July and the growing craze near Christmas called the Parade of Lights. It was this Parade of Lights that stuck with me and peaked my interest when I found out about the Chinese New Year's Twilight Parade.
I was excited to see the parade started with a lighted Ox - It is the Year of the Ox! I didn't know that every third float would be a lighted animal of some sort. Although I couldn't catch pics of them all...have to say my favorite was the seahorse (which sort of looked like an ant-eater at first).

The lighted floats with people on them were something of sight! Too bad they moved by too quickly for my camera to get a decent photo. I realized about half way through the parade that we were standing half a block away from the Grand Stand (where it was completely packed and unviewable). This meant that all the floats and performers 'made up time' from their performance in front of the judges by flying past the next block. I was lucky to catch the pics that I did...

The funniest float (to me) was this one with cardboard cutouts of people rather than real people...can't say that I understand what they were thinking. But the pagoda hut at the front was pretty breathtaking.

In between floats came groups of people - which did not show up in my photos except as dots where their twinkle lights were set. However, the people were totally cool. A drum group - I would say about 100 drummers! A martial arts group where each member held a big stick (don't know the proper name), whip, or nunchuck. At the call of the leader, everyone stopped and performed the same martial arts moves (with sounds) on an invisible attacker. A whole slew of beautiful women in different costumes strolled by - the most memorable were the women in an outfit resembling a Chinese Lantern around their hips...the bottom of the lantern stopped about their knees and the rest of the costume was completely straight thus they had to shuffle down the street!

Eventually, other random things appeared including this TV Station Van decked out in neon lighting. This seems like a lot of work for one parade - do you think they have it like that all year round?

And I couldn't post this without thanking the friends I dragged along to the somewhat lame event. Scott, Emily, and David endured an hour of the funny floats and crazy costumes. Hope they had as good a laugh as I did!

Learning To Cook

So I'm not sure how I missed out on learning how to cook. I helped my mom in the kitchen (probably not as often as she liked but still!). I haven't lived with someone who makes me dinner for YEARS now. But it wasn't until I moved to Australia that I realised I don't really know how to cook. You know - just look in the fridge and make something.

Sure, my dad taught me how to boil eggs (and the come out PERFECT - no green film between the york and the white - cooked all the way through without cracking the shell - perfect). I picked up how to make Mac and Cheese all by myself (once I learned how to read the directions on the package). I even progressed to not needing to measure out the ingredients to add to the Kraft package just winging it on what looked/tasted right. But I never learned that 'art' that is cooking. I still go to the store and try to think of a whole entire meal and then buy each ingredient.

I've watched my friends here in Oz...they're pretty decent at just buying some stuff and then having different meals for a few days. And I wonder, where do people learn to cook? Well, I found out - everyone here is required to take one course of the American equivalent of home economics. With that basic cooking out of the way, they can experient and just sort of get it...why didn't I think to do that way back in Junior High?

Like the 4th of July...but not.

On 26 January, Australians celebrate Australia Day! Now, I pretty much lied to high school kids about a month ago when I said "Everyone gets dressed up on the Australian National Colours hand celebrates a day full of Australian pride" because no one (except me) wore Green and Gold. Though there was plenty of flag colours - blue, red, and white (see how I kept thinking about July 4th?).

My flatmate said it would be fun to have a picnic (sort of like a 4th of July picnic...) in the park near our house. I invited everyone I knew in Sydney and only a couple showed up. But thank goodness Pete's cool and many of his work co-workers came out to partake. It was a overcast day - so we spread a big blanket out under a shady tree and put cheese, crackers, chicken, chips and dip, rock melon (err...cantalope), pinapple, and watermelon slices (again...the spread just begged for 4th of July references). But nothing compared to Pete's awesome Lamington cupcakes. Now, Lamtingtons are not supposed to come in cupcake form, but sometimes we improvise we we don't have the right pans in our house. It was my first taste of Lamingtons and boy are they yummy! Check out Claire and Ash sharing a Lamington above.

After nibbling on everything, Richard pulled out his cricket set - and we all took a turn at bat (is it 'at bat' in cricket?). I was impressed with my two hits! But everyone else was much better at bowling, fielding, and hitting. It made me want to play again...unfortunately, my legs starting stinging while I was out on the field. As I made my way back to the shade of the tree, I realized my thighs were a bright shade of pink.

It wasn't until I started applying suncream, that I remembered I had let my friends write "AUSSIE" in green and gold zinc down my right arm. Guess I'll know better for next time!

That night and the next day, my legs ripened to the brightest pink colour I have ever seen after sun. Four days of constant application of aloe has resulted in tannish-pink sink that might begin peeling at any minute. On one hand, my legs are no longer white. On the other, I just doubled my chances for skin cancer...oh and have this amazing shorts line...don't think that's going away for the next few years.

BDO

I'm pretty sure I lied to all my Australian Friends. I could have sworn that I've been to a music festival before - and I have! I've been to Northgate Music Festival...in College Station, TX. It books TX or local bands trying to make it on the scene to play a variety of different venues over 3 day/nights. However, I learned that it doesn't compare to the likes of Lollapalooza, Lilthfair, Warped Tour, and the like...but Big Day Out (BDO) does!

I can't say I knew much of the music - maybe 2 songs each band played, if I was lucky. But, every band played GOOD music...so an excellent day was had by all! Unfortunately, it was HOOOT. The best way I can explain this...I drank 4 bottles of water, 1 bottle of coke, and 3 slushies throughout the 10 hours I was at BDO and only used the toilet once - not to mention the misters we walked under or water we poured over our heads to keep cool...As you can see to the left, the girls (Claire, Jess, and Ash) and I made shirts just for BDO 09. It was fun to see different costumes (Dino Flintstone), outfits (twinkies in black shorts and green leafy wrap around tattoos on the left thigh), or matching shirts (Australian Flag shirts, Bintang Bali Beer shirts, etc.). The best was the group of 10 guys who dressed up as Where's Wally? (think Where's Waldo then be Australian).

When we got super tired, we headed up to the grandstand at the main stage to have a bit of a rest. Since I was running around with my friend from Bateman's Bay, I got to meet so many people from their hometown. At right, top row - Justin, two guys I don't remember their names; bottom row - Claire, Me, Elle.

In full festival spirit, I searched out a corny dog...only in Oz they call them Dagwood Dogs. AND they do the neatest trick...instead of putting out pump bottles of ketchup, they will dip your dog in a vat of ketchup (err...tomato sauce) covering it with yummy sauce all the way around. No need to pump, dip, or mess!

OK, on to the bands...the whole point of the day. I got to see Neil Young (I wish I could have been more excited about him but it was 9:40 pm when he went on and I was thinking more about a cold bath and my bed than the fact that I didn't like him leading with his rock set and would have preferred he played more folk songs). I caught a couple songs by The Ting Tings including their big song (That's Not My Name...or whatever the real title is). The Greats and Birds of Tokyo were amazing as well. But the BESTEST band of the day was by far - The Living End! The music was fun, got me dancing a bit, and I knew a two songs. Plus, the band itself puts on a great live show...including the upright bass player (Em - I could only imagine how much you would have loved to see them) standing on his instrument to play and then jump off...see right.

It definitely was worth taking a day off work to have this BIG DAY OUT!

My mom is going to kill me for this...

I have so much work to do this week because I am taking the day off on Friday. But I finally got pictures downloaded from my camera and I had to put some up!!!


How random is this?!? We were walking around downtown on a FREEZING cold night when we came upon a crew of carols...they wanted to sing "Let It Snow" so we obliged, and joined in a bit. Thankfully, Darah snapped this catchy picture so that we could remember the host of "The Nightie Before Christmas" Party - where you dress up in your Christmas PJs and carol around downtown Dallas.


Note1: He is wearing a Christmas Tree Sumbrero
Note2: He is wearing Christmas Bulb sunglasses
Note3: He is wearing gold wings...



While I was home, I found out that there are places in Texas where you can smoke indoors and drink 'tea' out of mugs. Yes, they allowed us to BYO beer...but then hide it away and brought it out in coffee mugs. Why? Why must we act like underage celebrities in LA nightclubs? I am neight underage nor in LA (celebrity status is still up in the air, ha). At least the mug was large enough to hold all 12 ounces of my Texas beer!



Did I only wear one shirt while I was home...goodness there are tons of photos of me in this totally awesome Down Under tee! But notice the hosts of the housewarming party - Katie and Paul - cleverly coordinated Christmas colors to be in the spirit of the season.



Katie and Paul have a lovely new home...hopefully, the damage from the fire has been repaired (no, I did not start the fire...I swear...ask Paul if you don't believe me!).



So, this is why my mom's going to kill me. But I can't pass up posting THE only photo of me and mom while I was home. Yes, we had just had lunch at Chipotle...but still it's me and my momma! It was so great to be home with family for the holidays. It has been so long since I had seen everyone and I am so glad I got to catch up with at least a few people in the middle of craziness called Christmas/New Year's Eve. Let me know if you got pics of me over the break because I would LOVE to see them!

Sleeps...

I pass a supermarket each morning when I exit the train station for work. As I walk by, I think of the photo I wanted to take but didn't get to before the sign was stolen...

In Australia, there's this phrase people use to talk about how excited they are about an upcoming event, trip, or holiday. It reminds me of being a little kid and not being able to fall asleep because I'm so excited about something.

The first time I heard it was on the way to surf camp when speaking with one of the instructors he told me he was going surfing in Bali soon..."Seven sleeps until Bali!"

I heard it several other times around the office or through friends...but I didn't realize the extent of the phrase until I saw a sign outside the supermarket that was a countdown...

"20 Sleeps Until Christmas!"

Each day they tore off a number...until some little hooligan stole the sign :( How was I to know how many sleeps until Christmas?!? Guess everyone else figured it out...