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Published: January 4th 2006
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Christmas
Christmas Tree at Jamie's House So that was Christmas 2006. What a different experience it was from 2005 with my family in Finland! The last time I wrote was in Canberra - it seems so long ago! Canberra turned out to be a great place, mainly due to the people I met at the hostel after Lucia and Pablo made their way over to Perth! The dorm was full the next night, with a very international crowd of fellow backpackers! We made sure to test out the night life of Canberra - which turned out to be surprisingly vivacious! I had a really good time, since that was the first time I had danced properly since...starting the trip!! Wow - that's a long time without dancing for me - usually I go out quite regularly!
After leaving Canberra, I made my way to Wollongong - which is located along the eastern coastline, just below Sydney. I spent a few days there, relaxing on the beach and enjoying some peace and quiet. While I was there, Jamie - the friend I travelled with in India - called and told me he was back in Australia. I decided it would be nice to go visit him up
Cessnock
Jamie outside his house in Newcastle, so after a short stop in Sydney, I made my way to Newcastle.
I arrived in Newcastle around the 17th of December, and since I didn't really have any Christmas plans, I decided to stay in Newcastle for a while. The first few nights I spent at Jamie's friend's house. I had heard a lot about this friend on Jamie's - the infamous Johnny. Jamie had been travelling with him in the Middle East just before I met him, and so I had quite a clear picture of him. But the reality of Johnny is quite different from even the wildest story - he is so full of energy that he could burst any minute!
My days with Johnny were full of activity - we went running, cycling, swimming, snorkeling, played tennis, and above all else - partied! I ended up going to the Delany's (the Del) Bar so many times I felt like I was a local, and Johnny made sure I had a good night dancing whenever we went out - by flinging me about and dancing like a mad-man!
After my stay at Johnny's, Jamie and I went to his home town
Cessnock
my pretty Christmas dress! of Cessnock. I got to meet his family and friends, which was very interesting, since I had heard so much about them as well (you end up talking a lot when you spend 24/7 with someone in India - where activity in the evenings is non-existent!). I had a great time, and really got along well with Jamie's family - they were extremely friendly, and curious about this strange blond girl from Finland travelling the world all by herself!
After a few days, I came back to Sydney, and decided to stay with a Swedish girl named Carina who I had met through Johnny on one of our nights out. Carina is also in Australia with a working holiday visa, and she is staying in Newcastle for a couple of months. I really enjoyed my stay with her - it felt good to have a place to stay for a longer time, and it made me think I'm ready to stay somewhere and find a job soon.
Carina and I celebrated Christmas Eve by going out to an Indian Restaurant and then out to The Del and a club afterwards. Not many people were out in town, so
Newcastle
Carina + Lincoln it was an early night. On Christmas Day, I got a ride up to Cessnock with one of Johnny's flatmates. Jamie was celebrating christmas at his aunt's house, so I got there at lunchtime, and was introduced to all the relatives. That was a great day! Jamie's aunt had a swimming pool in her yard, so we ended up swimming, eating, and talking all day. Everyone made me feel very welcome, and I was grateful to be able to experience Christmas with an Australian family!
The next day - on Boxing Day - there is a horse race in Newcastle, which attracts the most visitors to the city all year! One of Carina's friends was able to get us VIP tickets, and so I ended up being a VIP at my very first experience at a horse race! It was a great day, many people had dressed up, and it seemed to really be THE social event of the year. I even took a bet on one of the horses and won a few dollars (which I later lost)!!
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