Walked all over Melbourne yesterday.  It’s much colder here, but it warmed up a bit in the day.  Went to the Shrine of Remembrance which is a huge structure inspired by an Egyptian tomb and memorializes all those Australians who lost their lives in World War I and II.  It’s quite huge acturally, with three floors and a balcony to view the city.  The Stone of Remembrance is in the center of the shrine and every Nov 11th of each year the sun goes across this tiny hole in the wall so that the light crosses the Stone of Remembrance.  The ceremony is observed by the governor but not open to the public, so they have a moch display going with a booming voice over and fake light moving across the stone every hour.  I thought that was kind of strange but the attendants took it quite seriously.

Melbourne is a very artsy town and they have a theater spire playhouse which is beautiful and this placed called ACMI, Australian Center for the Moving Image which has all sorts of cinematic events and shows.  The Atrium in Federation square ahas some very interesting architecture which really I just have to post and show you.  Anyway, it was fun just to wonder around the city.  Not sure what I’m doing today, maybe just go down and check out the beach.  Gonna rent a car in a couple days to go down to the Great Ocean Road and see some roos and penguins.

Thurs, we just chilled and Phil showed us some more on the drums.  I was getting pretty I good I think, and then he switched to a alternating beat, two different beats with each hand and I was lost.  Still fun though.

Last night, we went out to World Bar with Lucy and met up with Mark, Kat, and Evelyn who I met in Japan.  It was heaps cool and good to see those folks again and hear of Mark’s latest travels and future travel plans.  he’s going to NZ to snowboard for 3 weeks, I’m so jealous.  We left there, and went over to this other bar which we’re still not sure if it was a gay bar or not, but they had great music and cheap drinks.  We danced a bit and then retired to la casa.

Today, we’re headed to Melbourne to see Louie Vega in concert for Anya’s friend Terrance’s bday.

Quick Summary:

yesterday went to Manly beach and laid out for a bit.  Snuck into an aqaurium.  I went to the Opera House and had the tour which was amazing.  Their organ has 10,100 pipes and all the concert halls together can seat 5000 people.  returned to Phil’s and had dinner and we played some drums.

today went to Bondi beach and did the walk from there to Coogee.  Then we went to cinema and saw The Proposal in Gold Class which means you’re watching the movie in a nice recliner chair with wine and food if you want.  Despite it being winter, the weather has actually been quite nice and warm: shorts during the day, but need pants at night.  Sorry so short, but exhausted, must sleep (but then I’m sure the brevity is a nice change of pace) 

I arrived at 6:30am in Sydney International and was supposed to go through customs, get my bag and meet Agnieszka at the domestic terminal baggage claim.  Everything in Australia is much more expensive then I thought.  In fact, to get from the international terminal to the domestic terminal, the airport bus costs $5.50!  And when I did the exchange, because of all the fees and everything, for 100USD, i got 103AUD, and that blows.  Anyway, got to the domestic terminal to find no sign of Agnieszka.  Apparently, she had deviated from the plan.  I called her cell phone from a pay phone and she was over at the international terminal waiting for me cause she thought my plane was delayed, but it was not.  Anyway, we met up and came to Phil and Svetha’s place here in Belmain just south of downtown Sydney.  We all had breafast, which was really good, and then Anya and I went out sight seeing.  I had just been on a 15 hour plane ride and Anya got up at 3am to make it to Sydney airport; i think she was more tired then I was, but we agreed we couldn’t go to sleep until at leasr 8pm otherwise our sleep cycles would be all messed up.

We walked down to the peire and took a ferry to the opera house which was beautiful.  We’re going to do a tour of it some time today.  We walked around The Rocks area and got some food and drink and then went down to Darling Harbour which is a very hip placec on the docks.  We got some ice cream and then  I dragged her into the Maritime Museum cause (it was free) I wanted to tsee the replica of the HMB Endeavor.  That’s the ship Captain James Cook used to map much of the eastern coast of Australia.  I read a book on him once cause I keep ending up in places he’s been like New Zealand, Alaska and the like.  It was thought at the time that New Zealand was actually a part of Australia until he charted all around New Zealand and found that they were way off.  We went around in the museum for a bit and then came back to Phil’s to meet up with Anya’s friend Lucy who was a lot of fun.  Also, Phil taught us some drumming rhythms; he teaches drum classes down on Bondi beach.  Lucy, Anya, and I went out to have sushi and wine and by the time we came back, everyone was asleep.

So that was the first day down under.  Today, we’re headed to Manly Beach, maybe surfing, back to the Opera House and who knows what else!

I’ve been to New Zealand and many parts of South East Asia, but never been to Australia.  And yet everytime I tell someone I’m headed to Australia, they’re like, “Again?  How many times you been down there?”

To set the record straight, I’ve never set foot on the isle of convicts, but I’m headed there tomorrow!  Going to go meet some friends down under and travel around for a bit, then come back and host the Big Beach BBQ Bash in LA on July 25th.  All are welcome to come!  While in Oz, I’m spending a week in Sydney sight seeing and meeting up with friends I met in Asia last winter; then heading to Melbourne to relax and soak in the Austin of Australia; Townsville for some scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef; and Darwin for hiking around the salt water crocs.

On a personal note, this trip feels a little different.  While I’m excited to go, I’m gonna miss my friends in Austin a lot.  It’s only a month though and I’m sure it’ll be fun… as long as something doesn’t kill me.  I keep remembering what those british guys said when we were exploring a cave in New Zealand with only a cell phone for a light.  “If we were in Australia, we’d be dead.”  Australia is

home to more deadly species then you can imagine, from snakes and spiders, to sharks and crocs, most everything can kill you somehow.  Makes you wonder how the Koala bear survived.

If all goes well, I’ll see yall when I get back with all limbs intact (jinx jinx) and more stories to tell.  Until then, feel free to follow my travels right here on Zach’s Travels.  *cue theme music*