Blogs from Southbank, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, Oceania - page 5

Hi everyone! As most you know by now, I've made it safely to Brisbane. The plane ride from LAX was actually very good. Qantas is a great airline, I heard that they weren't but I had as good of a time as I could have on a 13 hour plane ride. I'm currently staying at a Hostel in the west end of Brisbane called somewhere to stay. As far as hostels go, it's very nice. I'm staying here one more night and then I'll hopefully have a permanent place to stay (I'm crossing my fingers) Today I'm looking for a place to stay and things are looking hopeful. I'm looking at a really nice flat in Kangaroo Point this evening and I think things will go well. I must go, I miss you all! Cheers! Nicole ... read more

I crawled out of bed and to the kettle at 9am today and spent the morning researching Greyhound coach fares to both Byron Bay (for Caroline and Elizabeth visit) and Chinchilla in readiness for the 2009 Melon Festival. Once I had both those figured out (and pretty cheaply too), Mike re-introduced me to the wonders of Macgyver...which I had actually forgotten how good it was. Indeed, using chocolate to seal a leaking acid tank was pure genius!! My nostalgia intake fulfilled, I took a long stroll to the bus stop and hopped onto the 345 bus into the City to continue my adventures. There was actually lots to see on the journey, Alderley train station which would look good converted to 'Hornby Size' and probably more worrying, a business unit called Fuchs High Performance Lubricants...it's just ... read more

I have been in Brisbane a whole week now and today I embarked on my second self guided proper tour of the City this time taking in the Queensland Museum and Brisbane Art Gallery. The exact definition of art worries me especially having just seen the most un-artistic exhibit I have ever seen in my entire life... a framed piece of corrugated cardboard which looked like it had just been taken out of a Christmas Hamper with a few random folds in it! That's not Art!!! It's 'Crap'!!! Having picked myself up from the floor after laughing myself silly, I then took a nostalgic trip back to the Eighties taking in the 'Game On' exhibition at the State Library which was simply awesome!!! Basically, it was a collection of old computer and games consoles plus arcade ... read more

16/1/09 = I love you Southbank Woke up early today, but didn't matter, because had had such a good nights sleep anyway. Decided to be v.productive and wash my clothes...I'm turning into quite the little washer women. By time had finished, Hat re-appeared (she been up since 6) and we went down for breakfast. Had nice lovely museli (not bing sarcastic) and got chatting to Iris = german girl. Had already planned our day = CityCat ferry to take us along river, with a stop at Southbank and also a bus trip to lookout. Iris decided to join us and set leaving time for 9:30. Got showered and ready, then all met downstairs and headed off on time. Deb had already made up our packed lunches for day, so headed straight down towards Riverside. Riverside itself ... read more

Today when we went to Streets beach we managed to get our 2 towels spread under a large tree directly out of the sun. We had slathered up in the recommended Factor 30 sunscreen. Again it was about 30 degree’s and very warm, obviously a wind down day for the sun worshippers. We both metaphorically dived in to our books, and I managed to finish mine. Our existence is quite peculiar at the moment, we have a hearty breakfast, to the beach, grab some sun, have lunch, have some more sun, then go back to our hotel room to sort some stuff out. Around 4.00pm the thunder and lightning started, followed 10 minutes later by an incredible storm, the lightning was awesome and Caroline tried to capture it on digital camera, with mediocre results, still she ... read more