Oz 2010-2011: Planes, Trains & Automobiles

For shits & giggs, I've plotted my journey in Oz and New Zealand (11/2010-10/2011) on this map. The dotted lines represent traveling by plane and the solid lines represent traveling by train or automobile. Oz is such a huge country, it'd take me at least 2 years to backpack it properly. As such, I didn't have the time (nor the $) to explore the Kimberleys or SA :( I am, however, proud to say that I literally came full circle and achieved most of my work/travel goals in Oz. Hallelujah! Let it be known that if you (YES, you!) are in need of Oz-y backpacker-ish tips/advice, you know who to holler at. Moi!



(START)
Melbourne

flew: San Francisco > Melbs
worked: 3 months in Melbs
roadtripped: up to Sydney (coastal route)
roadtripped: down to Melbs (inland route)
flew: Melbs > Auckland
roadtripped: down the North Island to Wellington (inland route)
roadtripped: down the South Island to Queenstown (coastal route)
flew: Christchurch > Sydney
flew: Sydney > Perth
worked: 2.5 months in Perth
flew: Perth > Alice Springs
roadtripped: west to Kings Canyon & Ayers Rock
roadtripped: east to Alice Springs & up to Darwin
worked: 9 weeks in Jabiru
flew: Darwin > Cairns
roadtripped: down to Sydney (coastal route)

(FINISH)
Sydney

Thanks, Rosie!

I'm such a sucker for anything homemade. That's why I went straight bananas when this card was handed to me. Examining it in my hands with a mixture of excitement and shock, I'd forgotten how much I loved the feel of construction paper and how much I missed being crafty. #aleenescrafts



Much love to Rosie for being so thoughtful, and a big fat "You're Welcome" for the tees, etc. Respect for getting creative wit' it, girl! You've inspired me! I'm itching to create something fun outta funky-coloured construction paper now! PS. The image on the left was the front of the card, and the image on the right was one of the pages inside the card. Do we see a designer in the making here, people?

ANTI QUARTERLIFE CRISIS

Yes, I'm 25. How does it feel? %$#&in' awesome, hey!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I've had it up to HERE with fellow 20-something-year-olds. Why is it that people in their 20s tend to groan whenever their birthdays come along? You are not old, get over it. %$#& the people who expect you to be married by now, or to have kids by now, or to have bought a house by now. %$#& the norm and what society tells you to do. It's your life and you can live it however way you want.

On that note, I am unperturbed by what other 25-year-olds are doing. I won't settle and work at a job that disgusts me. I'm (*gasp!) ditching the notion of stability at the moment. I'm living each day with no regrets. I'm taking advantage of my 20s to explore, to try new things and to take on new challenges. I'm taking risks while I have the freedom to do so... to put it simply, I'm celebrating life!!! Because there's no time like the present, folks!!! Quit thinking about it, make movements already, and eventually (without a doubt), you'll find yourself getting closer to your dreams.

Turtles, Turtles, RA RA RA!

Better than the original, I kid you not. What 'chu know about dark chocolate Turtles with homemade caramel, hmm?! Big ups to Anhskis for making sure I didn't burn my caramel a second time (whoops!) and for tempering the chocolate. In all honesty, the only thing I could do without Anh's help was roast the pecans. Seriously though, I'd love to share this recipe with you guys. But the procedure would be way too difficult to describe on paper. Sooo.. free demos at my place for whoever's interested?

Grand Electric — K.L Vasos & $3 Tacos

Baiting the scene out: I'm visiting Toronto for a minute. And before I could decide whether I wanted to or not, I find myself being lured back into the Tdot food-y scene by my dear food-y friends. Trust me, it ain't easy finding food like this in Germany, so I'm juicing it for what it's worth while I'm here.



This, meine Freunde, is what they call a "Key Lime Vaso." What the $#%@ is a Vaso?! I'unno. The lime-y middle layer was 50% sour and 50% sweet (intense!!!!!!!!!!!), and Marievee couldn't decide if the presentation of this little do-hicky pleased her or not. A tad too much whipped cream für mich.



Amusing story: I took the photo on the left while Marievee took the photo on the right. And we both took our photos at the exact same time! You can kinda tell with the funky lighting goin' on. Pictured here are Grand Electric's Baja Fish Taco ($3) and Pork Belly Taco ($3). I preferred the Fish Taco because of its crazy combo of textures. So feelin' the fact that Grand Electric played a longass Kweli set, too. Can't forget to shoutout Lindsay for showin' us some BOH love. Congrats & keep doin' ur thang, girl!