The Ticket, The Ride: Australia

Showing posts with label Australia. Show all posts

Half the fun of traveling to a new destination is checking out the party scene. Every city, every country, every culture has a different way of doing it up big. That being said, here are my top eleven party destinations that I have had the pleasure of making bad decisions in. Drinking, dancing, local as well as backpacker atmospheres mix together, just like that wicked cocktail you had at that no-name bar, in these nightlife havens choices. To narrow it down to 10 would be silly. There's just too much fun out there to be had! And, what's a party without cranking the volume up to eleven?
11) Naha City, Okinawa, Japan

Okinawa street art

With its island vibes and tech-charm that is synonymous with Japan, Okinawa is the perfect blend of laid back and upright. At first I was unsure of what to think of Okinawa. I loved mainland Japan and was a bit thrown off by the casual nature of the island and US military presence. But, that feeling quickly faded once I posted up at the local noodle bar and traded quips with my hostel mates, fellow travelers, and noodle chef behind the counter.
Okinawa is a holiday destination for many Japanese mainlanders and can obviously be seen as such. It's beautiful! And as I said before, far more casual than its mainland counterpart. Think Hawaii meets Japan. Colorful, traditional, Japanese arcades open up to American style bars and diners lining the alleyways and streets of central Naha City. Walk about, explore the numerous arcades, sneak off into alleys plastered with band posters; that's where the best hole-in-the-wall drinking holes are. And, may I suggest popping into a convenience store in between bars and purchasing yourself a sake "juice" box?
Be advised though if you find Naha City too tame for your party-thirst, stay away from the islands. These beautiful, yet sleepy, islands peppering the sea around Okinawa are virtual dead zones off-season. Unless you are part of a diving group, you'll be drinking alone.
Okinawa is definitely tame compared to the other cities on my list, but this family-friendly option is full of surprises.
Cash: $$$ Okinawa, though a far different vibe from mainland Japan, is still Japan! Expect higher prices for drinks, food, and accommodation.
Quick Tip: Sample the snake sake (habu sake or snake wine) and if you're lucky, a snake beer and curry infused with habu! Nothing like a little dose of snake toxin to get the party started...

10) Cairns, Australia

TABLE TOP DANCING IS UNDERTAKEN AT YOUR OWN RISK.

Come for the Great Barrier Reef and koalas, stay for the classic Aussie-madness... This tourist town runs rampant with partying locals and hostel workers at night, as long as you know where to go. Shops close early in Cairns as tourists head back to their accommodations and the city centre looks deserted from the surface. But that's because everyone is already at the bar!

Steer clear of the waterfront, where mainly higher-priced restaurants have staked their claim, and seek out the dingy pubs and backpacker hangouts. Aussie locals definitely live up to their partying reputation in this city. There will be no shortages of table dancing or late-night stagger fests in this picturesque, seaside town.

Cash: $$$$ A bit more backpacker friendly when it comes to drinks compared to Sydney, so don't worry too-too much.
Quick Tip: Ready to dance on top of tables? Head to The Woolshed. Enjoy, and don't say we didn't warn you~

9) Michigan, USA

Friends and Founders.

Michigan? Really? (some of you may be saying) Well! My home state of Michigan not only makes the list because of its friendliness and welcoming party atmosphere, but also because of its beer. My dear Michigan, with over 120 microbreweries to its name, ranks 5th overall in the US. Drink up, dress down, and play on with a myriad of breweries dotting almost every Michigan travel destination.
Like your beer mobile (Safe and legal, of course!)? Then take a spin on the Great Lakes Pedal Pub. This "green" pub is operated by a 15-person bike pedals its way around the various bars and pubs of the Grand Rapids City centre. What's better than having your stout and biking it off too?
Cash: $$$ Them microbrews aint cheap!
Quick Tip: Enjoy the festivals! There's no better way to experience the tastes and brews of Michigan than a summer festival. Festivals such as Arts, Beats, & Eats (metro Detroit area), Founders Fest (Grand Rapids), and ArtPrize (Grand Rapids) are all great ways to take in the party of Pure Michigan.

8) Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Our view from the "Helicopter Bar" in downtown Ho Chi Minh City.

You can live the high-life for pennies to the dollar in this exploding metropolis. South East Asia is known for being a beautiful, and cheap, travel spot for young travelers and expats alike. And I'd go as far to say that, bang-for-buck, Ho Chi Minh tops the list.

Enjoy the "fresh beer", also known as bia hoi, by day (Hey, it's low in alcohol! Don't judge!) and swank it up at the EON Heli Bar, located on the 51st floor of the Bitexco Financial Tower, by night. I'm usually not one for over the top and elitist atmospheres and scenes; usually because my pocketbook can't support such audaciousness. But, Ho Chi Minh allowed me to live a slice of the high life (literally) without waking up the next morning with a bill worse than my hangover.
Cash: $ Cheap. So cheap.
Quick Tip: Stay safe! Ho Chi Minh has a high theft rate so it's best to leave your bag or purse locked away in your hostel rather than take it out with you. I suggest using a small wristlet or money clip to keep your funds on hand.

7) Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Enjoying a brew in an English pub in Hong Kong

With all of its distinct districts and cultural diversity, you will never be at a loss for something new. Hong Kong can be a tad overwhelming with its crowds, compact city streets, and niche cultures. But don't let that stop you. Treat it like Vegas or NYC and let it envelop you.
The Central District of Hong Kong has these ingenious things called "travelators". Picture the escalator at your local mall, but place it outside and have it connecting you to different levels of quirky bars and little restaurants bathed in neon. You can hop on and off the travelators to martini bars, British pubs, and high end shops.
Hong Kong is generally pretty pricey. But there are exceptions to this. Competition is high so look out for drink specials and happy hour deals. Drinks can range from $5 USD to $14 depending on your drink of choice.
Cash: $$$$ Hong Kong is made for high rollers. Bring your wallet.
Quick Tip: Hong Kong is like the New York City of Asia; every borough has a different feel and a different vibe. Don't stick to just one area. move around! Explore!

6) New Orleans, USA

The infamous Rue...

New Orleans, Louisiana lives up to its reputation. It's mad. Plain and simple. I was on Bourbon Street, on a Tuesday afternoon, which also happened to be Christmas Day... and the streets were still alive with people, music, and Mardis Gras flair! Oh, and a woman mooning the streets below from her second story window...
NOLA is famous and world renowned for its music scene. Take advantage of it! Actually, it's very difficult not to. Almost every bar, restaurant, or street corner has its own quartet or soloist. Whether it's Jazz, Cajun, Blues, or if you happen to take the mic and spit out some fabulous karaoke; leave your inhibitions at the door. Dance! Sing! Do it all! New Orleans is there for you to do so.
When in town I highly suggest checking out Mulate's. It's a bit touristy, yes. But! It's also a great way to break yourself in to some Cajun culture. Watch the locals spin their partners around the dance floor and do your best to join in on the Cajun Two-Step.
Cash: $$$ As an infamous party stop, expect tourist prices.
Quick Tip: New Orleans is like Vegas: It never closes. Therefore, don't worry about going during Mardi Gras or high season. The party will still be there waiting for you to show up!

5) Bangkok, Thailand

This place... can get you into trouble.
Swanky roof top bars over-looking the city, grungy backpacker hangouts, and ladyboy shows: Bangkok has it all; with little to no rules. (Well, maybe some rules... I don't think anyone wants to wind up in a Thai prison now do we?)
Khaosan Road is the beating heart of Bangkok's backpacker scene. It's vibrant, colorful, delicious, and wide awake most hours of the day and night. This area not only has a booming nightlife, but it also caters to the backpacker budget. Here, you can make bad decisions on a budget! Yay! Just please...stay away from the all-in-one tattoo parlor-currency exchange-thai massage salon. Your future self will thank you for not having to explain where that questionable lower-back, butterfly tattoo came from...
Cash: $$
Quick Tip: If you happen to meet an older British man, named Robbie, in cut-off jean shorts, who bears a striking resemblance to Rod Stewart...listen to him and follow his nightlife suggestions. You won't be disappointed.

4) Chicago, USA

Have you ever spent St. Patrick's Day in Chicago? No? Well, add that your Party Bucket List. Please? It's such a great time! (Psssttt...you don't even have to be Irish!)
Aside from the season of green, Chicago has everything to offer in terms of party year 'round. And in my personal opinion, beats New York City by a mile. Brew pubs, electronic house clubs, jazz dens, drag shows...it has it all. Bring Stefon away from Weekend Update in NYC and have him test out the Windy City. There's no doubt the ultimate club kid will be converted.
Be aware though! Clubbing in Chicago can get pricey quick! Even if you "know the DJ", you're looking to scrape by with a $14 Red Bull & vodka at any number of Chicago's dance clubs. Ouch!
Cash: $$$$ Don't look at your bank statement the next morning. Just. Don't.
Quick Tip: Take the train in from the suburbs and save money on parking, hotels, ...and drinks. Did you know you can legally drink on the metro commuter train going to and from downtown? Well, you can! (Except on St. Patrick's Day... sorry!)

3) Siem Reap, Cambodia

Explore the temples by day and the expat bars by night. Siem Reap is the no holds barred kind of night life that makes you wake up the next day with not only a hangover, but a free t-shirt from the bucket-sized cocktail you drank on a dare.

The area of Pub Street lives up to its name and is within walking distance from many, if not all, of the hotels and hostels surrounding the area. Pub Street is full of eateries, fish spas, souvenir shops, art stalls, and everything else. The most notable bars on the Pub Street local would be the infamous Angkor What? and Temple Bar. Enjoy, indulge, dance and play ...just don't bank on it being an authentic Khmer experience with a name like "Pub Street"...

Cash: $ Like most destinations in South East Asia, a little bit of cash goes a long way.
Quick Tip: Don't worry about getting all dressed up for a night on the town. The Siem Reap party scene is incredibly casual and full of laid back, most likely sweaty, backpackers. Relax, be yourself, and leave the makeup back at your hostel.

2) Sydney, Australia

Definitely the priciest destination on my list, Sydney offers classy, old world, European charm with its fine selection of pubs in an area known as the The Rocks as well as the pumping, gritty, nightlife found in Kings Cross.

Our first night in Sydney we inadvertently stumbled into the oldest pub in the city. Upon entering and sneaking up to the bar, we coincidentally met whom I assumed to be the oldest man in the pub. He was stoic, dressed in a green tweed suit complete with wool sweater vest, and had the sweetest demeanor you could imagine. He knew right away we "weren't from around here" on account of this bar seemingly being a sort of unspoken, locals-only hangout. He took it upon himself to give us the best tour anyone could ask for on the backside of a coaster: All the pubs to hit up in Sydney. Gotta love it! And yes, we followed the coaster to our delight~

Quick tip! Sydney is a beautiful city, with beautiful people. Take that into account when heading out on the town. Many places have a dress code so dress to impress!

Cash: $$$$$ Oi! This place is pricey!
Quick Tip: Walk! Taxicabs are expensive as hell in Sydney and it is best to avoid them when you can! The nightlife districts in Sydney are fairly close and walkable from one another. No worries, mate!

1) Seoul, South Korea

Op, Op, Opa Hongdae Style! ~graffiti in Hongdae, Seoul

Never have I partied harder. Never. Korea is a dreamland bubble. And at the center of this dreamland is a cosmopolitain city called Seoul. And inside Seoul, if you are brave enough to venture, is a party utopia known as Hongdae. A hefty concoction of soju and neon lures you in with its individualistic street style and endless choices of weird and whimsical theme bars, hofs, restaurants, and clubs. This city will have a hold on you the moment you step off the KTX and you'll be brushing the glitter off your coat on the way home before you realized what happened.
Start off or end the night with a visit to Hongdae Park. Don't let the term "park" dissuade you this park is barely family friendly come night; hosting anything from rap battles to pop-up kickboxing fights.
Cash: $$$ Save money by heading to a convenience store (conveniently located EVERYWHERE in Korea) and enjoy the fine taste of Cass from a can.
Quick Tip: Prepare yourself. You very well be up all night and not eve n realize it as you stumble out of the norebong (karaoke room) at 8AM still singing Don't Stop Believing. Seoul will do that to you.

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Now, I'm not advocating excessive or irresponsible drinking. A messy evening can ruin the night or even a trip for that matter! Be smart and have fun. And if drinking is not for you, that's cool too! Do you. There are plenty of things to do in these top party destinations without a drink in hand. (People watching probably tops the list...)

Don't see your favorite party destination here? Tell me in the comments below what's great about your party-place. I'd love to know! And, more than likely, love to visit!

Party on Wayne, Party on Garth...

"But, how do you pay for it all?"
This is a question that often faces young, long-term travelers with returning home; chatting to friends and family alike. And the answer is... Well, you'll be surprised what your USD (United States Dollar) can get you in some countries. Sure I've worked abroad and saved a decent amount while doing so, but the real key to keeping a padded travel wallet is to travel and stay within your means. And actually, staying is the easiest part; especially if you plan on backpacking your way through South East Asia! It's incredible how far your money can get you! I'm an advocate for "budget travel" because I believe that everyone should be able to make their travel dreams a reality. Money can be spent out doing rather than caught up in a hotel you're more than likely only going to drop your bags off at! So, without further ado, here's a short list of what $15USD or less can get you, accommodation-wise, in some of my personal, top travel destinations. Happy staying~! *Key: ABA = Average Budget Accommodation Price (1-5) = Value for Price

Vietnam ABA: $10 USD/per night, (5)

The beautiful streets of Hoi An, Vietnam.

SouthEast Asia is a budget backpackers dream come true. I was blown away with what I was getting for my money in SEA, but Vietnam in particular... wow! Most "youth hostels" run from $5-$10 per night depending on the city you're staying in. And, I know what you may be thinking... $5?! Yahh, no thanks. I'd like to sleep sans-bed bugs, thanks! But, let me tell you... I've yet to have better hostel experiences than I had while traveling in Vietnam. Vietnam specializes in 'boutique' hostel experiences. This means that, more than likely, your $5USD will secure you not only a nice, comfortable, clean bed (with air conditioning!) but also a hearty breakfast bar or served breakfast in the morning, which is included in your fee. I traveled from one end of Vietnam to the other and I can tell you that this above and beyond service is the norm. Ohh, and did I mention that most hostels also have a pool? Yahh. Spoiled on $5USD a night. **Tip! If you plan on staying in Hanoi, I highly recommend staying at Little Hanoi Hostel. The staff was incredibly helpful and friendly. I can't even begin to explain. Lovely people! Cambodia ABA: $12 USD/per night, (5)

The balcony off our room in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

My first jaunt in Cambodia I was unsure of what to expect. But, I immediately fell in love with this place and have returned since to explore, indulge, and bask in the beauty of Angkor and more.

Through all my time in Cambodia, I've yet to find a hotel or hostel that didn't do anything but exceed my expectations. I've been privileged enough to stay at all ends of the accommodation spectrum in Cambodia. I've stuck to a hostel budget of $5 a night at The White Rabbit in the capital city of Phnom Penh, wild-awayed sunsets and sunrises in a treehouse bungalow on Koh Rong Island, and have made my way up the ladder to splurge at the Rambutan Resort. Now, not all accommodation falls below the $15USD budget, but I've chosen to slip in the above photo of The Golden Temple Villa in Siem Reap at a price of $17USD per night. (That's right. A private, tropical balcony for $17USD)

This place is so nice, I've stayed here twice! The rooms are beautiful, comfortable, privates only (no dorms here) and definitely luxurious by any backpacker-sense. They even leave little orchid petals on your bed! And, upon arrival, provide you with a "welcome drink" and snack.

If I ever go back to Siem Reap, for the third time, I guarantee you I'll be staying here again. If not for the room... definitely the restaurant in the lobby downstairs!

South Africa ABA: $15 USD/per night, (4.25)

Savannah Dry anyone?

Initially, since South Africa is extremely "Westernized", I thought I'd be paying American or European prices for any sort of budget accommodation and, as a result, would have to penny-pinch my way through the country. Thankfully!, this is not so. South African accommodation can range from the quaint and budget friendly to the exclusive Cape Town resort. But, let me tell you, the "quaint and budget friendly" digs do not disappoint! I'm actually blown away by what you can get on the cheap here in South Africa. Bed and breakfasts abound, private chalets are extremely affordable for traveling couples, and the attention to detail and care given by most staff is bar-none. We just got back from an epic, bucket-list checking, adventure to the Kruger National Park to roam amongst the lions (no big deal) and came back with more than enough cash for the next adventure. We stayed at Kruger Inn Backpackers and booked a private room, with a private bathroom, for $15USD per night. The location was serene (located inside Marloth Park) and was open to the creatures inhabiting the surrounding areas. Giraffe, wildebeest, and zebra were seen in and around the inn and this was truly worth the booking alone. There was a full communal kitchen with fridge and freezer, a comfy outdoor lounge, an outdoor mini bar, braai and picnic areas. What more could you need? (Anything close to this level of facilities in The States would easily cost $60-$80 per night. Easy.) All this and the staff was a beautifully-friendly older couple who you could tell absolutely loved their "home". I'm already planning my return trip!
Beijing, China ABA: $10 USD/per night, (3.75)

Entrance to the Forbidden City, Beijing

I wasn't sure what to expect in terms of budget-accommodation in Beijing. We'd just left Hong Kong and our pockets were crying out for some relief from mega-city prices. And, I was still dusting off the ants I'd acquired from my Causeway Bay hostel bed.
Since Beijing is a powerhouse mega-city like Hong Kong, we feared the worst. But! Thank goodness China knows how to package their tourism into little, manageable, and affordable pockets...

Mixed bedroom dorms will run you approximately $10USD per night and are pretty bare bones, but!, supply you with all the information you need to make the most out of Beijing. I was only in Beijing for a few days, but my research into where to stay proved that this price and service is the norm. Beijing in general was surprisingly cheap! Food, subway, tourist activities, even an excursion out to The Great Wall is all feasible on a tight, backpacker budget. Beijing is really trying to put its best foot forward in terms of foreign visitors.

Australia ABA: $15 USD/per night, (3.75)

Jail cell? Or hostel dorm room?
Cairns, Australia

I know. Encouraging photo, right? Well, Australia is crazy expensive. But, luckily, they have a healthy and active youth-backpacker culture that fosters essential, bare minimum, you make it what you want it to be accommodation. That dorm room pictured above (and many more like it) are God-sends when you're spending your life's savings on everything else. A safe, clean, young, party hostel (mixed dorm room) can run on average between $10-$20USD. Even in cities such as Sydney or Melbourne you can expect to pay exceptionally reasonable prices. I haven't quite figured out why this is... considering in Sydney we payed $4USD for a bottle of water! Perhaps the large quantity of traveling workers, WOOFers, or gap-year studnets that come through Australia has something to do with it? Whatever the reason, I'm glad it is so! In Australia, you definitely get what you pay for in terms of cheap accommodation. But, honestly, are you going to be spending that much time in your dorm room anyhow? No. Not when there are kangaroos to chase and koalas to cuddle! Here:

Koala tax to make up for the horrible hostel photo...hehe

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Budget Busters: The destinations are great, but be sure to set aside some extra cash to rest your head. Here are a few destinations that proved to be surprising in the "budget" department.
United States of America ABA: $40 USD/per night, (2.75)

The river runs green in Chicago on St. Patrick's Day!

Unless you're camping, I fear in order to chase the Great American Road-Trip Dream... you need a decent amount of cash at your disposal. Hostels are pricey in my home country! Dang! Budget accommodation in Chicago is $30USD per night at the cheapest, in San Francisco a dorm room can set you back $45 per night (!), and if you're eyes are set on The Big Apple, a hostel dorm in New York City can cost a whopping $55 per night! ~And, I've stayed in a budget place adjacent to Times Square... Trust me...I say, pay a little extra and skip the flea-bath post checkout.
And let's be real... free breakfast? Forget about it.
Toto, we're not in South East Asia anymore... Japan: ABA: $25 USD/per night, (4)

A beautiful 1920s home converted into a hostel.
Gion, Geisha District, Kyoto, Japan

Now, here's an instance where shelling out a little more cash doesn't bother me as much. Japanese architecture is stunning. So, paying a little bit more for a place to stay is essentially paying for the view. Right?

Hostels in Japan (Kyoto, Tokyo, Okinawa) can average $20USD- $45USD. But you can expect to pay a little more anyhow in Japan for food and transportation, so it's obvious that accommodation should follow suite.

And, Japanese culture values their privacy so don't fear staying in a dorm room. Dorm rooms in Japan usually come with either a divider, a curtain, or you're own little pod! So, you're almost paying for a "private" bed? Kinda?

I also found Japanese hostels to be extremely well-managed, friendly, and quiet. Overall, worth the price I'd say.

South Korea: ABA: $20 USD/per night, (2.50)

Detail of Gyeongbuk-gung Palace, Seoul

Just like Japan, you may be in Asia... but definitely not SouthEast Asia!

I lived in South Korea a little over two years and weekend trips to Seoul, Busan, or elsewhere was a regular routine. Transportation was easy and cheap enough but the hostels of South Korea left much to be desired.

Dorm room hostels in the hustle and bustle of Seoul can run anywhere from $15-$30USD. And that's providing a bed with little else. Some hostels provide "breakfast", AKA a few slices of bread. Consider yourself a King if your bread happens to come with some peanut butter.

If you live and travel in South Korea it's fine. But if you're a first timer or vacationer, budget accommodation in Korea will definitely be a turn-off.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: ABA: $15 USD/per night, (2)

View from my hostel in Kuala Lumpur.

I know, I know... I bash Kuala Lumpur a lot. But, it deserves it... I'm sorry. Dorm rooms range from $7-$20USD per night. I know, this sounds like it should be a steal. But, be careful. You're going to want to pay a little more to stay in a nicer area with good security, and it wouldn't hurt to stay close to the sights you want to see. Kuala Lumpur claims to be a part of the SouthEast Asia backpacker scene, but from what I could see ...it's far from that. There's not much to do out in the city, (especially at night since alcohol is expensive here and safety is a concern) so you might spend a decent amount of time in your hostel planning your next move. Choose wisely. And move on ASAP! Scotland, UK: ABA: $35 USD/per night, (4)

Scotland, in all her beauty.

Ahh, I could live in Scotland. And maybe I should because paying per night is a killer! Budget accommodation (hostels and bed and breakfasts) run around $45 per night in Scotland's major cities. But, dare I say, it's worth it? Scotland knows how to do hospitality. And if you're staying at a bed and breakfast, I can almost guarantee a lovely meal to be served by a lovely old woman who wants nothing more than to see you full, happy, and bundled up for the road ahead. ____________________________
Now, why isn't mainland Europe on here? Because I haven't been there yet, silly! Yet.
If you have any budget-travel recommendations for me as I plan my Euro-Trip, post them in the comments section below, or, feel free to tweet me at HeyyItsJmo. I'd love to hear from your experiences!
Find them DEALS!: When searching for my next place to rest my head, I typically start by browsing HostelWorld.com or Booking.com. Hostel World reviews are great and the booking system is easy, reliable, and has yet to let me down. I'd say I use Hostel World the most often. But! If I'm looking to splurge and grab a great deal, I use my membership points on Booking.com. I scored an incredible, pent-house style, single room, (with a bathtub on our balcony!!) at the Rambutan Resort, Phnom Penh for around $40USD. I was able to get this deal using my membership discount of %40 and with some good timing and email promotion scouting at the time of booking. That was my biggest accommodation score to date! What a rushhh~

Hope this helps! Happy staying! post signature

I was privileged enough to have gone to Australia with a People to People student Ambassador program about 10 years ago. I was there for a little less than a month, seeing the sights and promoting cultural exchange. My group and I made our way up and down the East Coast of Australia stopping in such cities as Melbourne, Sydney, Wagga Wagga, Canberra, and Cairns. It was an incredible opportunity. One that left me feeling tied to Australia forever.

So, when the time came to begin looking into summer travel plans, Kate and I set aside a few options. China? Mongolia? Vietnam? Mongolia was looking good there for a while until I stumbled across a cheap flight to Perth on a travel website. Australia? Hmmm... I threw out the idea to Kate and she was immediately set on it. Long story short, we initially planned on flying into Perth, driving a camper-van cross country, stopping along the way and then ending our trip/flying out of Sydney. Sounds amazing right? And yes, I still might do it one day. But. We had 8 days. Dreamers we are. But time was definitely not on our side. So we decided to put our road-trip dreams on the shelf and let them collect a wee bit of dust until I make it back State-side. Our new plan was to fly into Sydney, spend a couple days there, then head North to Cairns and finish up our trip on the Great Barrier Reef. Not a bad Plan B if you ask me.

Sydney.
Day 1-2 (Day 1=travel day):
If you can recall from two posts back, the weekend leading up to our departure to Australia was a little all over the place. The Wednesday of our flight both Kate and I said it felt like we just woke up and said "Hey, wanna go to Australia today?" Our heads weren't in it. We weren't even sure of our flight times half of the time. We were in a bit of a daze. Which, looking back on our travel day, was a bit of a good thing because our travel day ahead of us wasn't for the weak of heart.
Our layover in Malaysia was ...how can I put this? Glum? Yes, let's go with that. We weren't making any friends in that airport. That's for sure. Oh! And when flying Air Asia, mind you, you get absolutely no service. Even for a 9 hour flight. I'm talking no snacks, no water, and you even have to pay to rent a blanket to use! Kate and I couldn't help but laugh. No wonder we were getting to Aussie-Land so cheap. We ended up pooling whatever Korean won we had left to buy some kimchi-Ramen. Yep. Even cruising at 30,000 feet I can't get away from Korea.
But finally! After an entire day of travel we finally made it to Australia. And it was cold and rainy (Australian Winter). Which I didn't mind, but Kate only packed clothes appropriate for the second half of our trip: The beach part. And just to add to our interesting travel woes, we had some airport shuttle confusion (This confusion was later explained once we checked into our hostel...Wait for it. haha) So once we were finally seated on [not our] shuttle bus, Kate and I just beamed at each other a look of: What happened?

Checking into our hostel we were greeted with the reality of why we had such a hard time with our airport shuttle. The man working the front desk was adorable aaaaand high as a kite. Completely stoned. Welcome to Australia. He upgraded us to a private room because the wifi wasn't working and must've asked us to give the hostel a good review three times and maybe offered us a map about five. He was cute and harmless enough though.
Since it was about 40 degrees and rainy out, Kate had to borrow a pair of my pants. This wouldn't seem like a big deal, girls sharing clothes and all. But for those of you who don't know, I'm about 5'10" and Kate might be pushing 5'2". I gave her my belt but there was nothing stopping how hilarious this situation was. First things first: Food and much needed shopping.
We wandered about our area and settled in at a little Indian takeout place for our first meal in Sydney. We were starving after our 24 hour travel bender and would've pounced on just about anything. So Indian was a lovely and pleasant landing. After lunch we wandered even further into an area of Sydney known as Kings Cross. I'm sure a few red flags have gone up if you're familiar enough with Sydney. Yes, Kings Cross has a reputation for being party central for backpackers and locals alike. It was a little...skeezy. But that didn't stop us from grabbing a couple matching sweatshirts and chocolate bars before heading out on our scenic walk to Mrs. Macquarie's chair to get our first glimpse of the Opera House.

Armed with two or three maps provided to us by our hostel attendant, we set out to find a gander at the crown jewel of Sydney. Getting out of Kings Cross was easy enough and once we hit the naval harbour my 10 years old muscle-memory kicked in and I remembered how to get to the famous look out point. I was so excited for Kate to see it. The cold drizzle seeping into my severely unwaterproof shoes was little to keep me away. It could've been pouring for all I cared. We rounded the final bend of the windy pathway and I skipped towards Kate like a little kid asking "Are you ready!? Are you ready!?" Then, boom, there it was. It was definitely more beautiful and surreal than I remember. Perhaps it was the time of day. The sun was just starting to think about setting and the light on the water was fighting going to bed. It was beautiful.
Kate and I went a little photo crazy. But it couldn't be helped. Give a turtle with glaucoma a camera and I'm sure his photos would be good enough to hang up on your wall. It was impossible to take a bad picture.
We walked along the sea path to the base of the Opera House and then down into Circular Quay. We were both craving something terribly, terribly, bad for us and Western and what better meal to eat in a harbor than fish n' chips? We got takeout from a local vendor (A meal we definitely both could've split, but that's not how we roll..), sat down on a bench, and indulged. It was quite comical. Sydney is one of the fittest cities on the planet. So as we sat there stuffing our faces with fried loveliness, runner after runner cruised by in tight spandex a la GQ Nike's adverts. Once again. We had to laugh.
It was our first night in Sydney and despite exhaustion, there was no way we were calling it a night just yet. We decided to make our way back to a pub we saw earlier in a fancier district of Sydney known as The Rocks. The pub was called Fortune of War and advertised itself as being Sydney's oldest pub. Even if that wasn't true, they got us. Hook, line, and sinker. We sat down at the bar and were surrounded by old men in business suits and pea coats. We looked...a tad out of place. But that's the beauty of travelling! You don't exactly go somewhere new just to blend in into the same ol' thing. So we sat there staring at the beers on draft a bit. A cute old Australian man struck up a conversation with Kate. I assume it started along the lines of "You ain't from around here, are ya?" He was adorable, sitting on the corner of the bar drinking by himself in his houndstooth sweatervest and sport coat. Kate told the man she was from New Jersey and as soon as I told him I was from Michigan a man yelled from my right "Michigan sucks!" Ohh? Turns out, if you haven't already figured it out, it's a small world. Long story short, these two businessmen were from Michigan but one went to Ohio State -hence the "Michigan sucks!" It was fun to chat it up with them about Detroit and what have you and they ended up buying Kate and mine's first round. Not a bad way to start our Sydney pub experience.

Day 3:
The morning of our first full day in Sydney I had to run out to find a shoe store. Why? Oh, ya know, maybe because later on in the afternoon I was going to go climb the Sydney Harbor Bridge and all I had was a pair of flip-flops and a soggy pair of flats. No big deal really. After my lone and successful search for shoes (This is exciting for me ok? I can't buy shoes in Korea but in Australia I'm a normal sized person!) I met Kate back at the hostel and we left to go find breakfast. Fabulous, fabulous breakfast. I dare say most of this post is going to make this seem like a food blog rather than a travel blog... Australian food is gooooood. We settled on a place close by called Joe's cafe. Our waiter I can only assume was Joe. And Joe, was kind of an asshole. No. He was an asshole. This set the tone to what was unfortunately a reoccurring trend in Sydney. People were not nice to us. We didn't know if it was because we were tourists, because we were American, or if it was because we were so used to Korean hospitality that we forgot not all "Westerners" are as cheery and happy to be alive as us. Whatever it was, it put a little damper on my time in Sydney I hate to say. Anyhoo. Back to the food. My corn fritters with smoked salmon, grilled tomatoes, sauteed spinach, and ginger chutney sure made up for Joe's attitude. Can't get that in Korea. I hate to say it but I'd probably suck it up and deal with Joe just for the food. Nomz.
We took our usual route to the Opera House (Kate and I are travel creatures of habit. More on that later.) and popped in to ask a couple questions about purchasing tickets for an opera the following day. Like I said before, we were both in such a lackadaisical travel state that we rarely knew what time it was or what time we had things scheduled. So, before we knew it, we had to run (literally run!) to catch our bridge climb time.
I booked my bridge climb ticket a couple weeks in advanced with a credit card and a deep breath. Growing up I never had a fear of heights. But now, in my "old age", that classic Hitchcockian fear has crept into my psyche. Something to do with metal stairs/ladders and my foot going through the spaces. I don't know what I'm thinking! It's not like my feet are small or anything.. But anyway. Kate left it up to me and wasn't going to force me to do it. But that act alone was enough for me to be forced. Psssh, if it's left up to me, of course we're going to do it. So we we're running through the streets of Sydney in search of the Bridge Climb building. Our directions were off and we were sort of lost in that area known as The Rocks. We ran into a tour guide and I apologized for interrupting his tour but we were late I knew he'd know where to go. We were there with 5 minutes to spare. Wait, no actually, about a half hour to spare! haha When you book your bridge climb you are slotted for a time. Our time slot was afternoon at 1pm. Meaning, we could climb at 1pm or any other climb time scheduled within the 1pm time slot. So, long story short, we began our safety training at 1:30.
Everyone during our bridge climb experience was amazingly friendly. A nice change compared to others we encountered on our short trip. Our guides name was Camilla and she was a die-hard traveller and party girl. Her stories were great, she loved her job, and she had a zeal for life that was bright enough to shine through her matte grey jumpsuit. The group we climbed with turned into our adventure-family for those three hours we were on the bridge. There was a father and son, a UK-USA couple, an Aussie-UK, and then me and Kate: the Korean couple. We got suited up in our matching jumpsuits and stripped away any loose articles of clothing. Kate even had to take off her watch. We then went through a crash course safety demo complete with a mock course that prepared us for climbing the ladders on the bridge. That was definitely the part that was going to freak me out. We were attached to the bridge by a safety cable, but still, them stairs...I tell yah. No going back now!
We exited the Bridge Climb building through a tunnel that led us directly into the foundational structure of the bridge. We attached our clip to the safety cable, gave our radios and harnesses one last tug, and we were off. Immediately leaving the tunnel we were greeted by a gust of wind and a view of the Opera House to our right. We continued on, walking along a temporary construction platform high above the ground, until we reached the first pylon; high above street level but below the road level of the bridge. Camilla said that if you touch the granite of the pylon you will have good luck. You can bet I dragged my hand across the whole width of that thing. I was bringing up the rear of the group and I needed all the help I could get.
The worst part was definitely the ladders. Just as I suspected. For safety reasons you had to ascend and descend one person at a time. I was the last one and I took my dear, sweet, ole time. There were three ladders to climb before you hit the arch. By the second ladder you were road level with the bridge. Cars and pedestrians whizzed past as I climbed up one foot after another. Don't mind me! Just climbing this here bridge! The third ladder was my nemesis. Climbing the third ladder, you are no longer surrounded by any bridge structure. It's just you and the ladder and the Opera House to your left. But, I made it! And damn it felt good. Walking the arch was beautiful and relaxing. Absolutely incredible. The 360 degree view you had of Sydney at the summit was amazing. I felt like I could do anything. After a few photo ops, Camilla offered to record a video message for us that we could email someone from atop the bridge. I sent one back home. The entire experience took about 4 hours. If you are ever in Sydney...do this. Even if you are afraid of heights. DO IT. Definitely one of, if not the, highlight of the trip.

Coming down from our bridge high (mentally and physically) Kate and I decided to celebrate by tasting some famous Australian wine and cheese. We were terribly hungry after our day (What else is new?) so we didn't venture far. We sat down outside at a wine bistro in The Rocks and had, what we fondly call, a Pretty Woman moment. Remember in Pretty Woman when no one would wait on her and she ends up going shopping elsewhere and drops a bunch of money, only coming back to the first shop to say "Big mistake. Huge!" ? Well, that's how we felt. After facing snobby and rude people elsewhere we decided to suck it up, embrace our tourist-label, and drop some major dough eating and drinking whatever we wanted, wherever we wanted. Aside from the fact that we were lured in by a $5 a glass happy hour (haha) we splurged on a cheese plate that had brie, Parmesan, Gouda, blue cheese, honey, figs, crispy breads and jam. To die for. And if that wasn't enough we added a foccacia plate as well with hummus, roasted red pepper compote, and olive oil and herbs. Yes, you can get that in The States, no problem. But coming from Korea this was the nectar of the Gods. We posted up here and got a little tipsy.

Kate and I invented a plan to go to China Town and eat more. We started walking that way but were easily distracted once we stumbled upon one of the pubs the old man the first night wrote down for us on the back of that coaster. Hero of Waterloo it is then! This place was great. It was larger and situated the corner of a neighborhood that reminded me of Ballatar, Scotland. They were playing Mumford and Sons and we ended up running into our Michigan buddies again. How was this not meant to be? We chatted it up with some locals and they told us to continue our pub crawl down the street to Lord Nelson's. China Town would have to wait.
Lord Nelson's was quite the happening place. From the outside it looked similar to The Hero of Waterloo, but on the inside it reminded me of The Winchester from Shawn of the Dead. Plus, just to make it more fabulous, it was a micro brew. We chatted it up with some locals (rather drunken, hilarious, old men actually) and ended up hanging out with an Australian field hockey team. Another long-story short, Kate ended up convincing me (And I didn't need much convincing! haha) that I belong here.

Day 4:
Rolling out of bed, another "Wait! What time is it!?" forced it's way out of me. We slept in. It was much needed but there was food to be had and opera to catch. We took our familiar route once more along the navy bay and stopped over at Harry's Cafe de Wheels for a quick breakfast/lunch combo. I dare not call it brunch because walking around with gravy dripping down your arm is anything but classy. I knew to hit this spot because I'm an avid Anthony Bourdain No Reservations watcher. He stopped here when he was in Sydney so of course I had to. And it did not disappoint. The cafe serves "pies". Not dessert pies, but pot pies. Pot pies topped with such deliciousness as mushy peas and "mash" (mashed potatoes and gravy). It was like having a UK Thanksgiving in the palm of your hand. I went with a veggie pin on the Harry's classic "Tiger", the "Veggie-Tiger": a veggie pot pie topped with mushy peas, mashed potatoes, and gravy. Yum. I want one right now.
We made it to the opera in time and took our seats in the balcony. I couldn't believe this was actually about to happen. I geek out for theatre regardless, but to actually see a production inside of the famed Sydney Opera House? Psssh, Broadway can take a back seat for the moment. I suggested we see Tosca since it was a tragedy. Comedic operas never really did anything for me and since this was Kate's first opera, I didn't it to disappoint. It was powerful and the second act blew us both away. What made our experience that much interesting was the fact that our seats were situated in such a way where we couldn't see the ticker. We had no subtitles! But I kinda liked that actually. It made us more invested in feeling the music and reading the emotions of that characters rather than being concerned with translating every word. We understood the story just fine.

After the opera we decided to hit up a store and compile a grocery bag full of goodies for a picnic in a park. I want to make an effort to do this more travelling. I love foreign marts and grocery stores. You never know what you're going to find. But, Kate and I were on a mission and made away with a bag full of cheese, hummus, chips, and chocolate. We finished what we could of our spread and decided to finally make it to China Town after taking in a sunset. One thing I forgot to mention about Australian Winter's: Stuff closes early here! I couldn't believe it but by the time we got to China Town (maybe around 6pm) all the shops were closed up and the only thing left to do was eat! We didn't complain too much... After some noodles, Kate introduced me to FroYo and all was right with the world. We waddled our way back to our hostel to change, take a quick breather, and then head back out for the night. We took in some live music, danced with an older group of women, and had a drink with a Kings Cross bar owner. We were both exhausted but we also both operate on the same travel-level: We can't waste a night. We ended up walking back towards our hostel and hit up a little pizza joint that we planned on going to the night before. The owner's name was Mike and we ended up chatting it up for quite some time. He ended up giving us our pizza for free because we were "great girls". Alright, well played Sydney. I guess not everyone here is a jerk...

Day 5:
Our last day in Sydney we had nothing scheduled. It was a free day. And, unlike our travel-style, Kate and I actually both slept in. It was a much needed recharge. We took in breakfast at a little cafe a couple streets away from our hostel. We ate outside and had a lovely street view to compliment the loveliness of our food. And it was lovely I assure you. We both treated ourselves to real coffee to start. I've never been a coffee snob. But Korea has changed that. It's amazing to taste a full bodied black coffee after having liquid sweetener touch your lips for months. I then had a wild-mushroom and spinach torte and Kate and I split a fruit salad with a side of real honeycomb. I felt so privileged and posh. Our waitstaff was really cute and friendly as well. It was if word got around the city that people were being jerks to us and finally, on our last day, Sydney rallied together to change our minds. After brunch (Yes. Classy enough to be called so.) we walked to Circular Quay one last time and caught a ferry to Manly Beach. Manly holds a special place in my heart because it was one of the first outings on my last Australia trip to really stand out as a bonding experience with my group. We took surf lessons together. And, to my surprise, I remembered where to find the surfing pavilion where the lessons were held. Strange to think. I've only been there once. 10 years ago. I told you it stood out! Kate and I walked along the beach, took in some shopping, and ended up climbing out onto some boulders overlooking the water. I'd have to say that this was one of my favorite "down-time" moments of the trip. We didn't need anything to entertain us. Feeling the cool, smooth, stone under my bare feet as we watched the sunset on the water was enough for me. I have no conception of how long we sat out there for. I lost track of time. Before we left Manly, we had sushi (Made by a Korean family! No escape.) and gave into my new addiction for the second night in a row: FroYo.

The ferry back to Circular Quay was beautiful. Kate and I hung our feet off the stern of the boat and watched the lights of the city. Approaching the Opera House at night from the water was another surreal moment. Both of us whipped out on cameras on cue and joked "Oh, that's what that looks like." and "What did you see in Australia guys? *scrolls through photos* Oh ya know, the Opera House-the Opera House-the Opera House." I will never get tired of looking at that thing! It's beautiful! Kate joked that I should be an architecture tour guide when I retire one day because of how excited I get over tiles, textures, etc. Greenfield Village here I come? Only if I get to dress up...

Cairns.
Day 6:
We had an early morning flight into Cairns so we had to roll out of bed around 4:30am. I dare say, there was no teary goodbye to Sydney Central Backpackers. It felt like a weight was lifted leaving that place. We landed into Cairns after a 3 hour flight and we were feeling rough. A shower and change was in order. We stayed in a mixed dorm-style room at this hostel; bunking with a German girl to our right and a French man right below. I slung my backpack on the top bunk of the Monsieur and called it a day. Though we were groggy and tired, we couldn't be bothered hanging around here for much longer. We had animals to cuddle!

We meandered about downtown Cairns for a bit, encountering more cranky locals and a slew of Asian tourists, until it was time to catch the infamous Kuranda bus(!!!). Kuranda is a small, rain forest village/tourist trap, situated in the mountains of Cairns. I say tourist trap because that's really what it is and I will openly admit that. If you make the trek up this mountain to see kangaroos (which run free and overpopulate the country), you ain't from around here. The bus ride up was beautiful. There was a clearing about halfway up the mountain that gave you a pristine view of the insanely blue water of Cairns. The colors of the Australian landscape are enough to make you squint. They are so saturated, lush, and beautiful. (If a color can be "lush"?)
We only had a couple hours to spend in Kuranda so we made a B-line for the wildlife park. Priorities. It was a Monday afternoon so we practically had the place to ourselves. There was one lone kangaroo laying outside of the kangaroo "rest area" so we had at it. He was medium sized, with big doe-eyes and tiny little hands. We tooks turns petting him and had more photo-ops than there was space on my memory card. Yup. I ran out! Quick! Back track! Delete! You don't need 3 pictures of the cheesecake you ate last night! Ok, maybe I do...

We left our deer-dog friend and went on to hold Tilly the koala. The woman in charge of handling the koalas was just as sweet as Tilly. You could tell she loved her job and loved these little dudes. Holding a koala was just like how I remember it. A squishy, furry, bag of sand. His little koala butt sat in my left hand as his arms were draped over my right shoulder. So worth being a cheesy tourist...so worth it.
We left Kuranda back for Cairns and chose to eat along the main seaside strip downtown. Kate was in search of kangaroo. Yep. To eat. Pet them by day, dine on them by night. It was a bucket list thing of hers and really, it's comparable to eating venison back in The States. We find them cute, cuddly, and exotic. But in Aussieland they are hunted just the same. So I obliged and helped her find a place. We settled on a fancy bistro called Kani. Kate got her 'Down Under Dining' on and had a plate full of kangaroo, crocodile, and emu. I opted for grilled eggplant, wine, and more cheese. Can't stop. Won't stop. Or at least until I'm fat, drunk, and broke. Amiright?! Speaking of which...after dinner we did partake in more indulgence. Cheesecake and wine. I know. I'm not sorry. Can't say I'm surprised I came home with 5 extra pounds. And I aint talkin' about luggage...

"Who would steal 30 bagged lunches?"
"I'll tell ya who..."

Day 7:
The main event of our Cairns stay was our adventure to the Great Barrier Reef. Our shuttle bus from our hostel picked us up at 8am to take us to our catamaran docked at Port Douglas. Our coach driver was incredibly friendly and even pulled off to the side of the road at one point so we could get a look at a field full of kangaroos. There must of been at least 80 kangaroos in this field.
The weather was incredible as we stepped off our coach and boarded our Quicksilver boat. I did a do-over. Quicksilver is the company that I went to the reef with last time and the experience was so incredible that I feared if I went with another company my brain would've been filled with coulda-shoulda-wouldas. I'm going to sound like I'm being payed to say this but, I can't see how any other tour group could be better. We were taken out two hours to sea on the Agincourt reef system; part of the "ribbon reefs". On the way there we had coffee and cookies while listening to a marine biologist talk about the ecosystem we were about to be surrounded by. I was geeking out a wee bit and muttering answers to the questions the biologist was asking her audience under my breath. After hearing about wrasse and parrotfish, it was time to cruise on out to the bow of the boat to sunbath on the deck. Seriously. Is this my life?
We arrived, stuck on some flippers, and were in the water within 15 minutes of arriving at the reef. There were some pretty large fish already hanging out by the snorkel platform so it was literally a "dive in!" moment. It was incredible. The water was so clear, the creatures were beautiful, and the ecosystem looked as if there was no such thing as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. As I gained confidence I swam out further and further away from the platform; letting my underwater camera lead me. I'm so glad I explored where I did because I ended up swimming with a humphead wrasse! I was alone, really no one else around me, when I spotted a diver cruising along the bottom with a camera. He saw me and motioned for me to follow and look where he was pointing. Next thing I know a HUGE wrasse cruises around a cluster of coral. This is definitely the largest fish I've ever swam with. It's lips were about the width of my wrist. Annoyed by the diver it swam away, and it happened to choose an escape route that led it right underneath my body. Absolutely amazing. I swam back in for a wee bit but then ventured back out again in search of a shark. The last time I was at this reef I swam with a sea turtle, this time with a wrasse. The only thing that was missing was my shark. I swam back to the area where I saw the wrasse and hung right as it was deeper water. The coral cleared for a bit and the landscape was more barren. I swam past one of the snorkel rest stations and looked out towards a group of large rocks ahead of me. Sure enough there was a little Carcharhinidae. I was so excited that it didn't really cross my mind that most people would swim away from one of these little guys rather than towards it. But he was just a little guy. A nurse shark I believe. I was able to nab one picture before he swam off. I've never had the opportunity to swim with a shark in open water. And what better place than the Great Barrier Reef? Incredible. Absolutely incredible. Bucket list item #4. Check.

Kate and I got out of the water for a wee bit to have lunch on the platform. Indian and seafood was on the menu. So perfect. And after I filled my belly with enough food to sink me to the bottom of the sea, Kate and I went to take a look inside the underwater viewing platform.
Kate and I were one of the first people to get in the water and we were definitely one of the last ones out at the whistle. Just like back at my Uncle Archie's backyard pool. They called me a mermaid for a reason.

A full day of sea swimming and eating and watching other things swim and eat takes a lot out of you. I passed out on the bus ride back and Kate captured one of my best moments of the trip on film. I woke up to a camera in my face and let out an instinctual "Oh nooo!". Probably woke up half the bus... Antics like these. Maybe that's why we weren't making any Aussie-chingus?

In Thailand Kate and I frequented a pad thai stand over and over again. And if we would've found that night's dinner spot any sooner, it would've been like Kao San Road all over again. We ate dinner at a burger place called Grill'd. It was divine. It was a little local place, with hipster swag, and a mouth-watering menu. I had an amazing veggie burger stacked high with avocado and a spicy mayo that put any others to shame. But the fries were by far the best fries I think I've ever had in my life. Not exaggerating. They were sprinkled with sea salt, rosemary, and something else that I can't quite put my finger on. Neither of us are "Burger People", but damn...I might just be converted.
I'll let you guess what happened next. Go ahead. What am I'm going to say happened next? You can probably quote me word for word. I'll give you a moment. ________________ Ok?
Well, we were exhausted. But because we can't let any night go to waste. (Sleep? Who needs sleep?) We headed out to check out what pubs Cairns had to offer. We took in a pint here, and a pint there and ended up at a cheesy Outback Steakhouse-esque restaurant just because we felt that we ran out of options. We snuggled up to the bar in the back and chatted it up with the bartender (If you've ever watched True Blood, picture Jason Stackouse but substitute the New Orleans accent for Australian.) asking him "If you weren't working right now, where would you be off to?" He said: "We'll, there's about 5 good places in town. But I've been kicked out of 4 of them. So I guess the one that I'm not banned from." Ohh? Well then. But then he changed his mind and told us to go to the place that he's been banned for life: The Woolshed. How could we resist?

The Woolshed was like something out of a movie. Picture Coyote Ugly but Australian. And instead of the bartenders dancing on the bar, the patrons were dancing on the tables. We ended up making friends with a wedding party (of course!) and I danced the night away with a Finnish girl named Josephine who moved to Australia about a year ago after meeting her Aussie boyfriend while on vacation in Bali. And I thought I had interesting relationship stories... Way to show me up Josephine.

Day 8: Our final day.
Because I'm now a walking cliche and like to get tattoos in different countries, I had to wake up at a reasonable hour to meet with my artist whom I made an appointment with weeks before. (They're not as impulsive as they seem, I swear!)
I chose to get my work done at Cairns City Tattoo after some research and finding an artist I liked. When choosing an artist, for me anyhow, it's half aesthetic and half artist's personality. It's about the design for sure, but then it's also about creating another memory. So I met up with my artist Mat Fink and felt as comfortable and confident as can be. He was a big teddy bear. Such a sweet guy. A former Australian sailor who trained in the very bay Kate and I walked past every day to and from the Opera House and Circular Quay. While doing dive training he said he encountered some Great Whites in the bay. So amazing. (That's actually more common than most people think too!) This whole situation was so fitting. I saw a shark in open water yesterday, my artist dove with Great Whites, and I was getting a hammerhead shark on my foot.
Come to find out, getting a tattoo on the top of your foot is not as cute-sie as it may seem. It took about an hour and a half and I must admit the last 15 minutes were torture. I actually had to take a break. Ehhh..embarrassing. But Mat was sweet about it and got me a glass of water. But it's done! It looks fabulous and I love it.

As a celebratory post-tat date, we headed back to Grill'd. haha And you better believe that this time we didn't share a side of fries! Seriously. If you ever find yourself in Cairns, first things first: See the reef. Second: Eat at Grill'd.

We walked along a little boardwalk on the beach after dinner. People watching, bird watching, BAT watching! Huge fruit bats were swooping down from the trees and it was clear that they were not concerned at all with people. I felt like Ace Ventura.

It was our final night. It was an indulgent-whirlwind of a trip and we couldn't let it end without one last night for the record books. We went back to our hostel, changed and got all gussied up, and headed back into to town for...you guessed it: More dessert and more wine. But this time we bought the bottle. Never done that in a restaurant before! Bucket List Item #346: Check.
We headed back to The Woolshed for more table dancing and Aussie-antics. It was a Wednesday night, mind you, and this place was packed. I was going to say I feel like Aussies probably party hard even on days like Christmas, but then I remembered: They do. It's summer for them and Christmas day is often spent grilling on the beach. Yeah. Australia.

Day 9: Travel day from hell.
I've never had three flights in one day. And I think it's safe to say that I never will again. From Cairns to Sydney. Sydney to Kuala Lampur. Kuala Lampur to Incheon. Nope. Never again. Especially on an airline that would probably charge you if you asked a stewardess "Excuse me miss, what time is it?". But we made it. And by the time I was done drooling all over myself on the third flight, the first flight seemed like a dream. We came to the realization that we had a 36 hour travel day from door to door. I'll wear that as a badge of honor. (*Note to self: Stop travelling ridiculous distances with a fresh tattoo. It sucks.)

Australia. Would I go back a third time? Yes. Why? Well for one, I have a thing with even numbers. And for two, it's an incredible country. It's as if the UK and California had a baby and they named it Australia, Aussie for short. I'm thinking that after my second contract in Korea is finished I'm going to do a bit of travelling, touch base at home, and then head back to WWOOF (Willing Workers on Organic Farms). Just another one of those opportunities, like coming to Korea, that if I hear about it and know that it exists...I can't pass up. I just can't. I have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

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Return to Oz.

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