Don't Cry for Me, Australiasia

Probably had my first bout of homesickness today. Been so busy the last 2 weeks that it’s been hard to focus on anything else. But travel comes with it’s own stresses, I’m learning.

The Perth trip is winding down, and I’ve been in the office for the last 3 days. Actually getting a lot done, given the 15 hour time difference that allows me to shoot 100 emails out with no response back, until 10pm when everyone in the Houston office gets in.

I miss my bed, I do. I miss my fridge, albeit, nothing in it. I miss walking into my house and loving the view. It hasn’t helped that the word I’ve gotten from back home is that the painters are doing a shitty job, and I just wanna be there to see it. Still haven’t seen any pics.

Funny, being away makes you really evaluate your close relationships, and who you miss talking to everyday, and who you don’t.

Alas, reminding myself how lucky I am to be experiencing this, and how fortune I am for this opportunity. But I do still miss you, Houston. I couldn’t not.

Here are a few pics around my office, and where I walk everyday for lunch.

This will be my last post from Perth. I leave tomorrow (Thursday) late night to Singapore, then to Tokyo, then to LA, and finally arriving in Houston at 6pm on Friday. A long 24 hours of traveling. Not looking forward to it.

I hope to see some of you this weekend before I head out to London next Wednesday. I will def be at Dr. Sketchy on Sunday, hope to see some of you there!

It’s hard to be away. But it’s nice to come home.

Tags: australia, perth, travel

What happened to my surf gene?

My Dad surfs. My uncle Charles surfs. My uncle Henry is a famous surfboard shaper. Heck, my parents met on a beach.

You would THINK I would be a natural, right?

Um, not so much.

And I’ve got the bumps and bruises to prove it, including a tennis ball sized goose egg behind my ear from when another surfer’s board slammed me in the noggin. Ouch!

I tried and tried and tried to get up. After seeing everyone else in the class streaming into the break, I was getting very frustrated, which I’m sure didn’t help. I switched my lead foot. I tried starting off with one leg up. I tried it all. The only thing I got was some extra attention from the instructor. Which wasn’t all bad.

After TWO HOURS, and much embarrassing encouragement from the WHOLE class, I finally managed to stand on the board, only to fall into the ocean seconds later.

My frustration soon faded as I reminded myself, “I’m in friggin’ Australia, in the Indian Ocean, attempting to surf.” This ain’t Galveston.

Tags: australia, perth, scarborough beach, surfing, travel

I haven't seen a Kangaroo, but I just ate one

It’s true. Those cute hopping fuzzy marsupials are actually considered pests here in Australia, and they club ‘em and eat up just like we would a deer. I was fascinated to learn that Australia’s national animal, the animal many Westerners associate with the land down under, was to be on my plate for lunch.

And mightI add, YUM-O! Very close to the consistency of beef (if you were wondering.) I got over the shock real quick, and had another bite.

After the Sunday morning surfing lesson with Russell, Callan and Margot picked us up at the hotel and we headed for Fremantle, a beach town just southwest of Perth.

Sunday Session. No, not a church service, and far from it. It’s Perth’s equivalent to Houston’s Sundae Fundae, so naturally I was game for that.

We started out at Little Creatures Brewery for some local brews. Good stuff. Actually, all the beer here I’ve had has been most excellent. Barking Duck still my fav.

We spent the rest of the afternoon in true Sunday Session and hopped around from bar to bar having a blast. Then, back to the hotel for some pool time. The sun here is HOT. And beer seeping from your pores I’m sure doesn’t help.

Back in the room now, getting ready for a week working in the Perth office. Thinking about this week, and the 4 short days I’ll be home Friday before heading back out to London, Amsterdam and Bahrain. All I can think is LAUNDRY! Oh and Dr. Sketchy! Don’t forget, this Sunday Feb 17th! I hope to see some of your mugs there, cuz i missus them.

More from Perth soon. Cheers, loves!

Tags: australia, beach, beer, brewery, fremantle, little creatures brewery, perth, sunday session, travel

Video: King's Park, Perth, WA

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIbNZoPUUns]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7L8gywPKlsU]

Tags: australia, king's park, perth, video

A View From The Top

Whoa.

I really don’t know what else to say but, Whoa.

Josh and I climbed the infamous Jacob’s Ladder today and headed to King’s Park. (as we both vowed to get in better shape. wow. what a hike.)

When we got to the top it was all well worth it.

It’s been a long day, and I’m exhausted. Going surfing at 7am! So in lieu of a lengthy, witty post, I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves. As Black Rob so eloquently put it, “It’s like, Whoa.”

Visit MyFlickr to see them all. Here are a few of my favs.

G’night mates!

Tags: australia, jacob's ladder, king's park, perth, travel

Friday Night (day)Lights

We started off Friday night at a pub near the hotel called Fenian’s (Adelaide TCE), for a few pints of VC. Next headed into the city center for dinner. It’s amazing how many places are closed after 6pm. It was nuts trying to find an open place for food. But we did, and after dinner headed into Subiaco.From what we were told, Subiaco is a more trendy neighborhood with bars and clubs, and that’s exactly what we found. We went to the Subiaco Hotel Bar, which was pretty happening on a Friday night. (Did i really just type “happening”? I MUST be tired. Or old.)

After a few drinks there, we decided to head back to the hotel for some drinks before bed. But little did we know, we were no where nearto getting to sleep.

While we were at the bar, we met the chef of our hotel restaurant. A young guy, and some of his girlfriends. We got to chatting with them, and before we knew it, we were at his flat, drinking beers and getting ready to head to the casino.

The casino was a short cab ride away. We played some blackjack and roulette (29 black, of course, Mom!) and went to the night club in the casino called the Ruby Room. Where i proceeded to out dance everyone on the dance floor. Surprise, surprise, huh? A guy walked up to me and told me, “You dance like no other person in here, look around. You are awesome!” Hahaha, it was true (well, the awesome part, too) but watching people dance, it was very different.

Back to the chef’s house. I would love to tell you the details of what happened then, but i cannot recall most of them. There was pizza, swimming, and i think some random dude? At 6:00am Josh and i walked back to the hotel, exhausted, just as the sun was coming up on the harbor. What a night. (er, daylight)

Tags: australia, perth, subiaco, travel

First Day Down Under

I’m sitting in my hotel room in Perth, watching the sailboats and rowing teams out on the Harbor. I have a great view from my hotel room, and it’s a beautiful day.

When we arrived yesterday, after calming down from the bathroom disaster back home, Josh and walked down to the pier for dinner. We planned to take the ferry across, but the last one would not get us back in time. So we found a pub near there called the Lucky Shag, and sat down with a few pints of Victoria Bitter and some Fish n Chips.
We are staying in East Perth, near an area called Northbridge, near the tourist attraction Swan Bells.

It’s Friday now, we are 13 hours ahead of Houston. I’ve been working all day in the hotel room, and getting ready to go meet the boys for happy hour.

Lots planned this weekend: Surfing lessons on Saturday, and I found an Arts & Fashion Market on Sunday that i plan to go to.

Chris has also gotten me in touch with his friend here who is a musician, so Im hoping to hook up and do some live music hopping while I’m here.

I’m headed to happy hour mates!

Cheers!

Tags: australia, bars, beer, fish n chips, perth, travel