G'day! I'm Chris. I left my home in rural Australia back in 2007 to pursue a life less ordinary.
I specialize in ambitious travel - bucket list worthy journeys such as the Great US Road Trip, the ultimate African safari, and following the length of the Silk Road.
The sun sets over Lake Coeur D'Alene in northern Idaho
It was September of 2009 and the Aussie on the Road was in love.
I’d touched down in the United States at the very tail end of summer and had celebrated six months with the girl I was seeing by sipping Widmer Brothers Hefeweizen and eating deep fat fried feta at the White House in Post Falls, Washington.
The following day, with my jet-lag from the 17 hour flight from South Korea behind me, we woke to a beautiful fall morning and my girlfriend at the time took me to see my first real lake up close and personal.
Do we have lakes in Australia?
Yes and no. I grew up spending my summers on the seaweed strewn shores of Lake Macquarie and have vivid recollections of childhood camping vacations on the shores of the sometimes completely dry Lake Menindee.
But to say I was moved by my first encounter with the shores of Lake Coeur D’Alene or that I was absolutely awestruck when I stood on the deck looking out over Hayden Lake is an understatement.
I’d seen the ocean more times than I could ever hope to count. But there was something amazing and almost terrifying about this vast body of cold, clear water. Unlike the beaches I’d grown up exploring, this was something immediately deep and mysterious. The shore wasn’t soft sand or beachside cafes – but pine covered mountains rising steeply on all sides.
I was immediately put in mind of Stephen King and his descriptions of lakes in stories like The Mist or Bag of Bones. There were no sharks or crocodiles or box jellyfish lurking beneath those eerily still waters, but I felt a strange chill as I gingerly walked towards the diving board that jutted out over the dark blue of the lake.
It might not be evident in the video below that I was quite shaken by the experience. The moment passed with the first startling moment underneath those ice cold waters. You can see that moment below.
After I pulled myself up that ladder and savored the warm kiss of the sun on my goose-bumped flesh, I went straight back in.
Later that day I’d recline in a tube with a Cherry Dr. Pepper in one hand and a handful of home-made Chex mix in the other. I looked up at the azure sky and listened to the way the increasingly cool autumn breeze stirred the pines and made the ropes tethering us to the deck creak.
I soak in the cool waters of Hayden Lake on a warm Idaho afternoon in fall 2009
I didn’t get another chance to swim in a lake before I left the States. The days grew colder and soon there would be snow dusting the lawn of Fallon’s family home. But I still remember that warm fall day fondly and recall the dueling feelings of fear and exhileration as I threw myself off of the diving board and into the waters of Hayden Lake.
I hope someday, somewhere – I’ll get the chance to rekindle my brief love affair with lakes. They’re something most Australians will never really experience or truly appreciate.
It’s noon on a Monday and I’m struggling to keep my eyes open at my desk. I’ve spent the past two days in beautiful Tea Gardens on the coast just north of Newcastle. To say I was surprised by the beauty of the sleepy little village is an understatement. I had no idea that such a stunning location existed so close my former stomping grounds in Newcastle.
I’ll give a blow by blow of an epic weekend of drinking with locals, chasing dolphins, climbing up ridiculously high sand dunes, spear fishing, ribald conversation, and high stakes Scrabble just as soon as I get home, get showered, and get the photos off my camera.
I pity the people sharing a cubicle with me today. I smell of saltwater and hostels. That’s a sexy visual image for you ladies out there.
The whole trip was possible thanks to Ford – who were kind enough to loan me the brand new Ford Focus with a full tank of gas to get there and back again. A big thanks to them for making the trip possible as well as to my friends for tagging along and making it memorable. I’m sure Mel from The Mellyboo Project and Annie from Wayward Traveler will have their own recounts of the experience to join mine soon enough.
Enjoying a coconut on the beach in Hainan, China
The Queensland Odyssey
While there is a wee bit of wailing and gnashing of teeth from this poor sufferer of Mondayitis, I’m not doing it so tough. In fact, in five short days I’ll be packing my bags and getting on my first plane since leaving South Korea to take me off on my first solo adventure.
While I’ve had some unforgettable trips in the past few years that included surfing in Manly, learning to scuba dive on the Barrier Reef, exploring New Zealand, and relaxing in Fiji – all of those trips were planned by my ex-girlfriend and I was just a willing and grateful participant. Planning is not my forte.
But my Queensland trip is shaping up as something pretty damn awesome. I’m really excited about it not only because it’s going to be fun, but because it’s my first brush with planning a whole trip on my own. Consider it a test run for my next big trip.
I’m packing a whole hell of a lot into my trip. There’s two theme parks, a Zombie Walk, Halloween costume shenanigans, catching up with heaps of friends and family, rekindling my love affair with Hell Pizza, and a week living a life of leisure at beautiful Tangalooma on Moreton Island. I’m thinking some scuba diving, stand up paddle-boarding, and sand tobogganing are just what the doctor ordered.
World’s best doctor.
October 22nd to October 23rd – Being a nerd in Brisbane
Affectionately known in my home town as ‘Brisvegas’, Brisbane is a city I’ve visited quite often as a child but never as an adult. I’m looking forward to checking out Queensland’s capital without the leash of parents or teachers to keep me in check. And while I’d originally looked at Brisbane as a kind of boring stop-off before I headed out to the island, I’ve somehow managed to pack heaps into my two days and three nights there.
After touching down in the afternoon of the 22nd I’ll be quickly snapped up by my cousin David and his wife Vanessa, who have kindly offered to put me up for a few nights as well as show me the town. Saturday night holds a visit to Mana Bar. While it won’t be my first brush with mixing alcohol and video games (Ground Kontrol in Portland took that particular honor), it’s definitely a tad more upscale than the Pabst Blue Ribbon and old arcade games of that particular Portland institution.
My first attempt at being a zombie. Dressed up for the Speakeasy Halloween in Gwangju, South Korea. Photo by Derek Hannon.
I’m nerdishly excited about sipping on a richly alcholic Mana Potion cocktail while kicking my cousin-in-law’s ass at a game of Mario Kart. And hopeful that there will be plenty of cosplay enthusiasts there for me to take embarassingly nerdish photos with…
Sunday is a big one. I’ll be up bright and early (and probably nursing a hangover) to get my makeup applied for the Brisbane Zombie Walk. Shambling through the streets of Brisbane with a few thousand of my closest risen dead compadres seems like the perfect way to spend what I am praying is not a hot and humid day.
Once the shambling and the eating of brains has come to an end, I’ll be hurriedly scrubbing off my makeup and fake blood in preparation for a visit to the Brisbane wing of the very popular Belgian Bier Cafe chain. A few comically large beers and a bit of saeurkraut ought to hit the spot after the day’s festivities, and I’m looking forward to catching up with Kiri and her husband Trevor. I had several drama classes with Kiri in school and haven’t had the pleasure of meeting her husband just yet. I just feel bad that the expectant mother won’t be able to participate in the fine beer!
October 24th – Dream World
Me at Silverwood in 2009. My love for rollercoasters should be obvious.
Australia doesn’t have a Six Flags or a Disney Land (or Disney World). Dream World is about as good as it gets on the theme park front in Australia, and it’s not a bad effort for a country that doesn’t seem to share the American fascination with deep fried foods and roller-coasters.
I haven’t been to Dream World since I was twenty or so, and the park has gone all out and installed three insane new thrill rides since my last visit. I’m very much looking forward to trying out the new Tower of Terror, the terrifying looking Buzzsaw, and the Shockwave. And there’s plenty of old friends I need to catch up as well. The Wipeout, Thunder River Rapids Ride, and Captain Stuart Riverboat are all due for a much needed reunion. Then there’s Tiger Island, the legendary iMax cinema, and a few childhood rides that I may be too big to ride. But expect lots of photos and lots of video from my visit to Australia’s #1 theme park.
Later that evening I’ll return to Brisbane for a chance to enjoy a slice of Hell Pizza with some old buddies. In keeping with my nerdy Brisbane adventures, it’ll be a bite with four guys I’ve known for several years as a result of participating in the same fantasy rugby league competition. Having met one of them previously and spoken for years via forum or MSN messenger with the others – it’ll be good to finally be able to put old rivalries inside and share a few beers and a few slices of New Zealand’s greatest export since Phar Lap.
October 25th to 30th – Tangalooma
I’m really lucking out on this one. My old friend and former housemate Ben just happens to work on the idyllic island resort and he just happens to have a spare bed that he’s more than willing to lend me in exchange for a carton of beer and a few lessons in Korean.
Apparently Moreton Island is a very popular destination with Korean tourists. Time to put my broken Korean to the test…
I couldn’t be more excited for my time in paradise. The resort boasts everything from segway tours to scuba diving to dolphin feedings to outdoor cinemas. While it’s not likely to be busy due to it not yet being peak season, I’m looking forward to a few lazy days on the beach with an old mate. And it’s been over ten months since my last foray into scuba diving.
I’m overdue.
I’ll do my best to do the island justice after I’m done soaking it all in, but in the meantime you’ll get an idea of just what I’ll be doing by checking out their website.
October 31st – Halloween at Movie World
My friend Sarah can scarce resist my zombie charms. I am eating a sandwich. Photo by Tim Allen.
The catalyst for this entire trip was my old friend Temissa suggesting that I tag along for Halloween at Movie World. Dubbed ‘Fright Night‘, the event transforms Australia’s second most popular theme park into something out of nightmare by paying tribute to classic horror movies, keeping the thrill rides open late, and having Freddy Kruger and all of his homicidal friends roaming the park.
I’ve got my eye on a particularly creepy costume of my own for the evening.
I’ve not been to Movie World before either, so I’ll be heading over early in the day for a chance to try out multitude of rollercoasters that have made the park famous will be a lot of fun. There’s also a lot of Hollywood themed shows to be checked out such as a Hollywood stunt show and a 4-D ride that I’m intrigued by.
I’ll also get the chance to catch up with an old high school buddy and his new wife after the whole affair, and then it’s back to reality to work a few days (a whole two) before I have to head to my hometown for my ten year high school reunion.
No rest for the bearded.
A much younger Chris at his graduation. Hard to believe it's been ten years! Photo by Jillanne Herbert
In approximately twelve hours a very bleary eyed Aussie on the Road will be stumbling out into the hall, shrugging on a backpack, and piling into the back of a brand spanking new Ford Focus in preparation for a weekend in Port Stephens.
While I am as far from a morning person as one man could be, I do relish the prospect of waking up bright and early to go on a new adventure. It’s been far too long since I’ve experienced the thrill of a day laid out before me without so a new adventure to be had.
It’s all come about over the past few weeks after a representative at Ford emailed me about test driving the new Ford Focus, snapping lots of photos, and writing about my road trip experience. I didn’t let a little thing like the fact I don’t drive get in the way. I quickly contacted my old friend Dave, lassooed in Annie from Wayward Traveler and Mel from The Mellyboo Project, and got a good old fashioned road trip organized. Two cars, six people, and a whole lot of beachside shenanigans.
The original plan had been to visit Jervis Bay, but with no hostels in operation this weekend due to rennovations (I shit you not), we turned our eyes to the north and opted to spend our weekend at the Lazy Paddles hostel in Tea Gardens. It’s about 2.5 hours north of Sydney and nearby beautiful Port Stephens. I’ve been in the area once before and had the thrill of swimming with dolphins.
I’m eager for a second slice.
What’s Going On?
I’ve had a busy week. In addition to my earlier Bite with a Blogger with Mel, I’ve also caught up with the aforementioned Annie to set up next week’s segment. I won’t spoil anything, but suffice to say we found a bloody amazing old school cafe that offered up everything from root beer floats to chicken & waffles to banana cream pie.
Jazz City Diner might just be one of my new favorite places on earth. You can read more about it in yesterday’s Vintage Sydney post.
I’m a week away from my Queensland trip and it keeps picking up steam. I’m not sure where I’ll find the time to actually write about all of the stuff I’ll be doing – and scuba diving just got added back to the itinerary after Tangalooma re0opened their dive shop. Happy day!
I’ll be sure to post a real itinerary for the ten day Queensland expedition sometime next week. There’s also Annie’s Bite with a Blogger segment; a Bite with a Blogger interview at Sydney’s Night Noodle Markets with The Travel Maverick; a third visit to the markets with Nicole from Hola Chica Travels and Jessalyn from Diary of a Wandering Student; and a fifth Bite with a Blogger interview with Nicole next Friday at Vivaz.
That’s a lot of socializing and a lot of good food. Pray for CWB.
I’m also on the move again, although it’s across the city rather than across the world. I’ll be leaving my digs in sleepy Lane Cove and heading to Sydney’s inner west to take up residence with some friends in Marrickville. Cheaper rent and being closer to my buddies were a huge factor, and I’m looking forward to putting that extra cash towards more adventures.
Like the three week trip to Fiji I’m planning with my brothers for next August. Dun dun duuuunnnnn!
But it’s time for those much loved Recommended Reads and here’s this week’s slightly smaller dose.
In the past week I’ve somehow managed to eat galbi, bibimbap, seomgyeopsal, bulgogi, and lots of kimchi. It’s probably more traditional Korean food than I’d manage to eat in an average week when I was ESL teaching in South Korea. Needless to say, all of this delicious food has meant lots of Twitter chatting about the merits of Korean food and Juno (herself from Korea) was kind enough to point me in the direction of this post.
Now I can host Korean parties in my own house! Be prepared new housemates!
I’m becoming more and more interested in the use of media in blogging – and photo essays like these are something I’d love to someday intergrate into Aussie on the Road. This particular photo essay highlights an area I can honestly say I’ve never even contemplated visiting and I’m doubting the sanity of that mindset now. Tajikistan looks so beautiful!
I’ve eaten some pretty weird shit in my time. Whether it was fried grasshoppers at the Arizona State Fair, live sea cucumber during my first month in South Korea, or constant exposure to the skin crawling grossness of boiled silkworm on virtually every street corner in Korea – I’ve grimaced my way through my fair share of meals.
Raymond shows that the weirdness is unending here. Pig’s ovaries? Mmmm! Fried chicken complete with beak? Yummo!
And all told with the trademark Man on the Lam style. Laugh out loud stuff.
I think there are few things more offensive to a traveler than being accused of being small minded. I mean, honestly, isn’t it our open hearts and minds that push us to explore new places and interact with new cultures?
I got a bit of a chuckle (mixed in with some sympathy, I promise) as Anthony talks about the time his bald pate and poor choice of football jersey got him lumped alongside the skinheads in a riot. A really entertaining read. And one that I, as a suffer of male pattern baldness, hope to never experience myself.
This one just stood out from the many, many blogs I read this awake about dream travel destinations or how to budget. I went through a phase of absolutely loving all things Insane Clown Posse during my first year of college and was drawn to the garish makeup and talk of faygo. To be honest, I didn’t think the Posse were still together.
There’s some video in this one and a lot about the Juggalo subculture that will doubtless fascinate a few people. Go look!
And I thought that my brief brush with working as a stripper was a strange job…
Mica recounts her brief stint working as a condom distributor, bed-sheet changer, and occasional DJ on a swinger’s cruise and I really just need to leave it there. Go read. And look. There’s photos…
Fox Nomad is starting to become one of my favorite blogs when it comes to practical advice and inspiration. This is yet another great post (Fox Nomad’s third to make my Recommended Reads) and it’s about turning those idle-at-work daydreams into a reality. I’m actually going to print this one out and pin it up on my wall.
I’ve been guilty of making excuses, I said as much last week, and maybe I need to surround myself with the reasons why my excuses are stupid. Fox Nomad has a pretty damn comprehensive list here.
This past week might have been the most prolific week in Aussie on the Road history. Of course, two of those were guest posts…
Next week promises to be bigger still. I’ve got the Bite with a Blogger interview with Annie from Wayward Traveler; my itinerary for Queensland; a few entries about this weekend’s trip to Port Stephens; a bit of day-dreaming about next year’s Fiji trip; a review of road tripping in the new Ford Focus; and whatever else enters this sleep deprived brain of mine.
I’ve still got a lot of content from Korea and the United States that I’ve never really managed to do justice to.
There’s also the upcoming Aussie on the Road podcast, plenty more video content as I test out my new Kodak PlaySport camera, and I’ll start recruiting writers from around the world to contribute to my Relationships on the Road eBook.
I was recently approached by Michelle from Ravishing Retro about the possibility of doing a guest post. While one might not think that there is a lot of crossover between a travel blog and a blog primarily about the retro lifestyle – I feel like sometimes a place can be experienced through new eyes if you just adjust the angle at you’re looking at it from.
Sydney is best known for the Opera House, the Harbour Bridge, the sport, the food, and the beaches – but there are sides to it that go overlooked and Sydney’s vintage past is one of them. And it goes beyond just checking out The Rocks…
Read on.
Vintage Sydney
Looking dapper at the Porteno Cafe in Newtown
Sydney is a city steeped in history. When you consider some of the glorious old buildings, the statues, the museums and such, there is a lot to explore of of the city’s past; but if you thought all that remained were these edifices, you’d be terribly mistaken. In fact, there are people in Sydney who live the past, and who dedicate their lives to its revival. I speak of the vintage scene, which is a side of Sydney few except the petticoat-wearing devotees themselves encounter.
The “vintage scene” is made up of people who in some capacity live a lifestyle inspired by the past. Though there are of course lovers and re-enactors of all centuries in varying numbers, “vintage” lifestylers are more concerned with the early to mid-twentieth century. When I refer to “vintage” this is what I refer to: the 1920s-early 1960s – anything older than this is considered antique.
You might see an odd hat-wearing fellow pass you by, or a lady wearing white gloves in the middle of summer. These are the devotees of which I speak, who frequent a host of interest-specific stores, places and events. If you’d like to dabble a little in the past, here’s my little guide to vintage Sydney:
The Vanguard, Newtown
If you’d like to dine with the sultry sounds of a 40s jazz band as your soundtrack, The Vanguard is where you ought to be. It’s a beautiful venue in Newtown built to emulate a 1920s theatre restaurant, playing host to almost exclusively retro or vintage-inspired acts: burlesque, jazz, rockabilly music… I can attest to the fact that the crowd is always well-dressed.
Porteno, Surry Hills
At Porteno you’ll be greeted by pin-up Maitre d’ extraordinaire Sarah Doyle, who will show you to your seats in a vintage frock and platinum blonde pin-curls. Your steak will be cooked by two heavily tattooed rockabilly men, their hair slicked back with bryl cream – it’s South American cuisine with a rock’n’roll vibe. This is not just a well-respected fine dining establishment (it won best restaurant in 2011), but also a sort of mecca for the vintage crowd.
Sterling, Surry Hills
Should you envy Sarah Doyle’s pin-curls so fiercely that you wish to emulate them yourself, make an appointment at Sterling in Surry Hills which specialises in retro hair. The ladies can have their hair set in all manner of extravagant vintage styles to the soundtrack of vinyl records, whilst the men can visit the “barber shop” out the back.
Rose Seidler House, Wahroonga
If you’re willing to endure the half-hour drive out of Sydney into the suburbs, Rose Seidler House is worth visiting. It’s a 1950s home designed by the celebrated architect Harry Seidler that is preserved in all its splendour by the Historic Houses Trust. It’s stark, modern style is really quite fascinating. For one day a year Rose Seidler House is transformed into a sort of fete for the annual Fifties Fair, for which devotees of the era clear their calendars months in advance.
Retrospec’d, Newtown
There is quite an impressive array of vintage stores in Sydney, but Retrospec’d stands out as it is predominately a reproduction vintage store. The store sells garments designed to replicate the look and feel of 1940s and 50s fashions, which is particularly useful if it’s difficult for you to find vintage frocks in your size (oh, the tiny waists!)
Green Room Lounge Bar, Newtown
This bar, named for its proximity to the beautiful old Enmore Theatre a few doors down, feels comfortingly like a 1950s living room. As you sit on the retro couches sipping your mojito, old movies are screened with subtitles on the back wall (“Annie” was on last time I visited). The cocktail list is retro-inspired, as is the music. It’s a lovely, casual bar with a distinct fifties flavour.
Jazz City Diner, Darlinghurst
There is a proliferation of old-school diners opening up in Sydney, but Jazz City Diner just off Oxford St is my favourite of these. It serves up traditional American diner food, but really really good American diner food. Sitting up at the counter, you can watch your delicious burger prepared as you sip a malted milkshake, or else hang out in a cute little booth fitted out with its own TV. Simply divine!
Traditional vintage style on display
Sydney has quite a scene for those wanting to live the past, or even for those just wanting to dabble. Petticoats are optional, but if you feel so inclined, there’s a crowd of devotees waiting to welcome you to their retro haunts.
Ravishing Retro
You can read more about Sydney’s vintage/retro scene over at Michelle’s Ravishing Retro blog. There’s plenty of interesting stories about a subculture that – I can admit – I hadn’t heard of until I spoke with Michelle on Twitter.
Michelle is also going to provide me with some future posts on the vintage scenes in Portland and London. Huzzah!
Watch This Space!
I’m going to be organizing a little ‘retro tour’ of Sydney based on Michelle’s recommendations just as soon as I get back from all of my upcoming travel.
Familiar with Sydney’s vintage scene and want to point me in the right direction? I’d love some pointers.
Know of another Sydney subculture that you’re fascinated by? I’d love to hear about it!
My sides still hurt and I still feel a little embarrassed about traumatizing a jogger on Circular Quay with our entirely not-suitable-for-blog conversation after our interview. I think it’s safe to say that my interview with Mel from The Mellyboo Project was a whole hell of a lot of fun.
Last week I introduced my new Bite with a Blogger segment with an interview over Korean BBQ with Nicole from Bitten by the Travel Bug. Since that post hit the interwebs I’ve been flooded with expressions of interest to take part in an interview of their own. It’s enough to make a boy feel like the prettiest girl at the dance.
Mel excited at the prospect of crocodile pizza and rigorous questioning
But this week I had a chance to sit down with my bride-to-be (Twitter in joke) over some delicious saltwater crocodile pizza, wedges drowned in sour cream, and Aussie boutique beer at The Australian Hotel. And where Nicole and I managed to keep the first Bite with a Blogger segment relatively PC, there were certainly no holds barred between Mel and I.
Wait, that sounded pornographic.
I just meant that no topic of conversation was taboo. I feel for the tourists whose meandering exploration of Sydney took them by our table. Poor bastards.
Eating a Crocodile with The Mellyboo Project
The table upon which our rhythmic back and forth took place
Our plans for the day had originally involved my Hart’s Pub, which has the honor of being my favorite bar in Sydney. Alas, the bar kitchen had closed moments before we arrived for our late lunch at 3.30pm and so we instead headed to the Australian Hotel. Famous around Sydney for its pizza and its home brewed German style beer, the Australia was a pretty good second choice if you ask me.
I was last at the Australian Hotel in the aftermath of the epic Great Nomads Chase, so it was nice to be there considerably less sweaty and sore. There’s an innuendo to be made there, I know, but try and be classy people.
We ordered a tasting paddle and a large saltwater crocodile pizza. I’m a big fan of crocodile meat. In fact, it might have surpassed kangaroo as my favorite Australian animal to dine on.
I’ve yet to try koala though…
But enough about food and beer. On with the questions!
So, how long have you been travel blogging?
I’ve been travel blogging ‘consistently’ for the last year or so. However, back in the day I was quite the avid Livejournal-er and documented every last detail of my life – it’s quite fun to look back on those posts.
OMG! I had a Livejournal too! I was all emo and such in it.
What made you start a travel blog?
I started travel blogging because I really enjoyed reading other travel blogs. I also felt it was a great way for me to document my crazy adventures and share them with my friends and family back home. It actually shocked me that people other than my friends and family would be interested in my silly travel stories — but I suppose I’ve decided to run with it.
Mel went on to talk about how excited she was the first time she got ‘fan mail’. I’m sure we all remember the first time somebody who wasn’t a friend or family member commented on one of our posts, right?
What made you choose ‘The Mellyboo Project?’
I had read a book called The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin and it documented this woman’s mission to do little things to make herself happier with her life. When I made the big decision to give into my lifelong desire to see the world around me, I decided that it was me doing my part to make myself ‘happier’. Mellyboo has been a nickname of mine since high school. Thus, I created THE MELLYBOO PROJECT. Plus, like most bloggers out there, I suppose I’m a touch narcissistic.
Where has your pursuit of happiness taken you so far?
I’ve been to Scotland, Sweden, The Netherlands, France, Italy, Hong Kong, Macau, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Dominican Republic, The Bahamas, Saint Lucia, a few places in the USA (New York state, Florida), a few places in Canada (Montreal, Nova Scotia, Regina, Southern Ontario)… and… yeah… I think that’s it. I’ve touched down in Iceland for a layover and have their stamp in my passport, does that count?
Somebody always tries to sneak one like this through. Last week it was Nicole with Germany, and now Mel with Iceland. Not cool!
And you’re in Australia now, but what’s next for you?
I’m currently in Sydney on a working holiday visa but will be heading over to New Zealand in the new year on a working holiday. In May 2012, I plan on heading over to Africa to do a 3-4week tour through South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe. Money permitting, once I finish the Africa tour, I hope to stop in South East Asia for a few months to explore Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and hopefully Malaysia. Then back to New Zealand before returning home. Lots of travel plans in the works. Just need to keep making the big bucks to afford this expensive hobby of mine.
During our interview Mel handed in her CV with the staff at the Australian. Keep your fingers crossed for her.
What would you say has been your most memorable experience?
Photo from The Mellyboo Project
Oh man, most memorable experience?!
I’ve done and seen so much, especially in the last year — but I’d have to say doing the Nullarbor Traveller tour from Perth to Adelaide in March 2011. We covered nearly 4000km in 9 days; slept in swags; swam with dolphins, sea lions and blue fin tuna; went to some of the world’s most beautiful beaches in Cape Le Grande National Park; found ourselves on the edges of the stunning Bunda Cliffs; learned how to surf; and even slept amongst the koalas. I’ve got amazing memories from that tour for sure. Plus it’s always cool to do things that not a whole lot of people have done or even seen before – yay for pretty pictures and bragging rights.
And the scariest thing you’ve ever done?
Scariest? Hand feeding the blue fin tuna was absolutely terrifying. They are massive and as quick as a bat out of hell! Not to mention fingers can easily be mistaken for pilchers! When a massive bluefin tuna is swimming at you with its mouth open because a pilcher has landed in the water mere inches from your face- it sure makes you get out of the water quickly!
(Please Note: this is coming from someone who has scuba dived amongst sharks!)
And the most exciting?
Getting a kiss on the lips from a baby sea lion was pretty cool. But I must say bungy jumping in Queenstown, New Zealand was the ultimate adrenaline rush! I’ve gotta do it again!
Mel bungie jumping in Queenstown
On the subject of kissing, got any travel romances to tell us about?
Oh come on! Every backpacker has had at LEAST one travel romance.
*Sigh* I don’t…
I met my first travel ‘boyfriend’ – a guy from Sweden- my second day in Sydney at the end of 2010. It just so happened that a girl I had befriended owed him money, we had to go drop off the money at his house in North Manly, we hit it off and over the next few weeks we spent heaps of time together. He had invited me to join him in Thailand and I seriously considered it, but in the end decided to do my own thing. We still chat every now and then, and I know that if I ever go back to Sweden, I’ve got a friend I can stay with.
At this point in the interview sex had been a pretty constant topic, much to the amusement of the pretty girl who was serving us. So I had to ask Mel if she had any interesting sex on the road stories to tell.
What kind of girl do you take me for!? A lady doesn’t kiss and tell… however, I guess we’ve already established that I’m kind of shameless.
4 words.. accidental live sex show. Whoops!
What’s one travel tip you’d like to share?
One travel tip? Since the previous Bite with a Blogger tip was zip-lock bags, I will just say be open to change. Don’t plan too much. Go with the flow. Some of the most rewarding experiences and memories can happen when you least expect them.
My last question would be – what is your ultimate travel dream?
My ultimate travel dream, would be to become a gazillionaire and to never work a day in my life, and just explore and see every last inch of the world. Realistically though, I would absolutely love to dive the Galapagos Islands and travel through South America – Machu Picchu, The Amazon, Patagonia, Brazil, Argentina, Chile… I want to see it all!
And last but certainly not least – recommend two of your blog entries that you think people will enjoy.
With questions done and stomachs rumbling, it was time to launch into our meal at the Australian. We ordered the saltwater crocodile pizza and a tasting paddle of beers. The staff were super friendly and eager to chat with us whenever they came by. The bartender was happy to tell us all about the beers they had on tap and the girls outside would stop for a joke whenever they came by.
Mel, if you get the job there, hook me up with that cute girl who was waiting our table?
Crocodile is… amazing. Whether you’re eating the Cajun Crocodile Bites at Hart’s Pub or sinking your teeth into the wonderfully light pizza at the Australian Hotel, you’re in for a treat. It’s a bit like chicken, but an experience all on its own. Where else in the world can you not only dine on both animals on the national crest – but also dine on one of the most dangerous predators in the world.
This truly is the lucky country.
Our pizza didn’t quite fill us up. Nor did our tasting paddle satisfy our beer hunger. We ordered a serve of wedges with sweet chili sauce and sour cream and a full size beer for each of us. While Mel had a generic beer I can’t recall the name of, I splashed out on the fantastic Kolsch from 4 Pines Brewery in Manly.
When the eating and drinking were done it was time for a leisurely walk through The Rocks to check out Mel’s favorite photographer’s studio and snap a few obligatory photos of The Opera House as we made our way to Circular Quay. Mel’s going to be tagging along on for my trip up to Port Stephens this weekend – so I’m sure I’ll have more tales of this crazy Canadian for you real soon.
Go read The Mellyboo Project!
This series isn’t just an excuse for me to eat delicious food with cute travel bloggers. It just so happens that I’ve carefully planned it so that my first two interviews fit that description >_>
The main purpose of this series is to highlight the many wonderful blogs out there. The Mellyboo Project is full of funny anecdotes from all around the world and you’ll find that Mel’s writing is every bit as infectious and inappropriate as her real life persona. You can also find her on Twitter as @mellyboo.
Mel abseiling at the Blue Mountains
Want In?
I’m really looking forward to adding more to this Bite with a Blogger series. There’s a lot of travelers both here in Sydney and around the world I’d love to get to know a little better.
If you’re ever in Sydney and want a bite to eat, a good chat, and some free publicity for your blog or project – let me know! You can reach me through my Contact page, hit me up on Twitter (@aussieontheroad) or ask on my Facebook page.
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