Not much to say today. I had a pretty relaxing day. I woke up around 7 am and sent my mom some pictures from graduation and helped with another favor I promised her. Amidst my computer work I ventured out for a coffee. It was a pretty warm winter day, much like those at home in Texas. I came back and worked on the computer for a couple more hours then had a bath and watched TV. I wandered around downtown Fremantle to find some lunch late in the afternoon and found the South Terrace Piazza or 'fairy land' walking around [View Full Entry]

---

---

I arrived in Perth at approximately 12:20 today. Robin (the mother of the family I will be au pairing for) met me at the baggage claim. We got my bag (I shipped my backpacker back pack yesterday) and headed for the car. They have a nice 4x4 Toyota and I promptly tried to get in on the wrong side of the car and gave Robin a little laugh. She took me the long way from Perth to Northern Fremantle, past the house and on to Fremantle to the hotel i'll be staying in for the next 3 nights. This is the [View Full Entry]

---

---

I started the morning early with some leftover spagbo, well penbo (penne bolognese) while I waited for Janice to join me in the world of the awake. We headed into the city to return her graduation garb and then to Lansdowne for our favorite $5, now $6 meal, that really costs $9-10 because you have to buy a drink. Afterwards we went for a little pampering at Dezire (is it desire or desiree, you decide). I got a mani/pedi/eyebrow wax and Janice got a pedi/facial. Afterwards we grabbed a few things at the store and headed back to Five Dock. We [View Full Entry]

---

---

Yesterday once we were up and showered we headed over to the Uni with foreboding skies to take Janice's graduation photos. I promised her we'd get some good shots despite anything the weather may bring and the weather brightened up just as soon as our camera batteries began to dim (so to speak--get the contrast, bright and dim). Before we went to take the pics we grabbed brunch at one of my favorites, Toby's Estate, they have the best coffee ever and I got a small bag ground up to take out to Perth. Pictures are pretty self explanatory and I [View Full Entry]

---

---

Last night we started off with dinner at Hernandez Cafe Restaurant, then rendevouzed with Janice's mate Stephanie at the Lindt Cafe on Darling Harbour. Then we hoofed it across the harbour to the National Maritime Museum for an outdoor (BYOB) showing of 'Twilight.' The company and atmosphere made up for the 'cheese upon cheese' (Thanks, Janice!) that is 'Twilight.' Delighted the movie was over we swung back by the Lindt Cafe to pick up 3 of Stephanie's friends and then trecked across the CBD (central business district) to Sydney Harbour to see Vivid, a festival where they've lit up the Sydn [View Full Entry]

---

---

I started the day at 6am. Janice started around 9am. So from 6am-9am I watched 'So You Think You Can Dance' and munched on some salt and vinegar chips. Once we were both up and showered Janice appeared in my doorway and told me "The day has finally arrived where you get to experience Max Brenner!" We headed into the city around 11 and made a bee line for the Paddington Markets. The first thing I purchased was a purple double kisslock eel skin clutch in dark purple and Janice got a pink wallet. Then we got Himalayan food and smoothies [View Full Entry]

---

---

I arrived in Sydney Kingsford-Smith airport this morning around 6:30 am. Customs was emigration weren't too bad, except apparently my middle name wasn't on my visa, so it took a couple minutes to get that straightened out. By the time that was done my baggage was out and I was ready to go through customs. It wasn't a huge hassle, but they took away my 'Just strawberries and bananas' and 'Just fruit salad' because of the bananas, I got to keep my 'Just peaches' and my farfel (its a grain that we Jews like to eat). My friend Janice, who [View Full Entry]

---

---

It was an eventful weekend. On the 15th of March I went with the girls (Jes, Cindy, Janice, and Sam) to Star City Casino, which is the only casino in New South Wales. We dressed up, gambled a bit, and paid a little too much for our cocktails, but hey, isn't that what gambling and casinos are all about? For St. Patrick's Day I went out with Jes and Virginia on a little pub crawl. We started with dinner and a pint at Scruffy Murphy's, then we went downstairs and listened to some crazy Irish karaoke with a transvestite MC. Our [View Full Entry]

---

---

I went to the Blue Mountains for a day trip. It was a sort of sampler trip, I saw a lot in a really short amount of time. We boarded a nice tour coach at 8am and proceeded to visit Sydney Olympic Park, Featherdale Wildlife Park, Wentworth Falls, Leura, The Three Sisters and Katoomba Scenic Railway. [View Full Entry]

---

---

Sorry for the lack of updates! A lot has been going on to prevent me from writing. The first week of March was both catastrophic and great. My computer crashed and I lost everything, fortunately I backed up before I left the USA and the backup is safe and sound at home. The building I live in has also experienced a rash of mail theft and bank fraud which my flatmate Jes and I fell victim to. On the upside I joined a Pilates/Yoga/Dance studio and the classes are a great and enjoyable workout. [View Full Entry]

---

---