Walk thru Harbour Bridge

My full time job just required me to come 4x a week, i had Friday off last week and Monday off this week so basically i had long weekend! which is great so i could have some times for my self and write this blog. well i did work on Saturday part time job but just for 3 hours making $26/hours extra $60 to pay my phone bill. I call my family alot lately as i miss them more and more, this month i spent $90 for my Vodafone!
I wanted to go to Brisbane as  have never been there but perhaps sometime this month or next month.  i cant stuck like this doing nothing but work -eat and sleep. I always end up feeling exhausted at the end of the day and refuse to do anything but sit in the couch and watch TV or sleep.

Yesterday i drove to Neutral bay 20  minutes from Manly to see my work mate Maureen, i also met her guy housemate and we had lunch. It was nice. Hose is her housemate is from Mexico and his bf ( i forgot the name) is from Scotland. Everywhere you go in Australia, most of those people you meet aren't from here, 50% are immigrant just like me, the rest will be first generation especially form Europe. Perhaps when we have kids they are going to be our first Australian (Indonesian-American) generation! that would be cool!

Anyway, my friend Maureen took me to walk thru the Harbour bridge, it was 45 minutes walks and i was so excited! on the way we spotted some weekend markets which was fun! i always happy to see market or mall. The view was like the one i see in Sydney postcard. BEAUTIFUL! it was fine sunny day too so makes it even prettier on pictures! i could see the Opera house and Circular Quey! we walked all the way to the city and had cup of coffee in the Rock, there was market going on and of course many tourists! things were little bit pricey too.
we then continue walking thru George street, i felt like tourist in my own city! i kept complaining how tired i was after an hour n half walking we then took bus to Nortown. spotted this Little Italian but most of them were close because weekend! Her friend Bryan then came to join us as well as Melissa, they are very nice people! we had wood oven pizza in this Italian restaurant then headed to the cinema for French Film festival. It was good movie and long too! I had long but fine Sunday!

1st blog 2013

It has been awhile, i don't even know where to start, so many things happened in life in Sydney. Last time i wrote was about my trip to Melbourne for first time, staying in this backpack somewhere in St. Kilda share room with bunch of Irish and British. Second night we all couldnt sleep because one of them had sex in same room and made such a laud noice Twice!
Anyway, this is my second summer in Australia, its been beautiful and warm. Beach is always packed with tourists and parking spot is always full which i hate so much. i decided not to go anywhere during the weekend just because i dont want to lose my parking spot. suck!
Manly beach is beautiful, this summer time i swam in the ocean only 3 times. still too cool for me;) We are living in a real life with full time jobs and bills lol... it sucks! living near this beautiful beach paying more than $2000 /month rents for such a tiny box flat. i dont even go to the beach, sarcasm!
im so get use with high living cost especially in Manly. $3 mineral water, $15 lunch, $20 dinner.. lol
sometime i go to the city and have cheaper thai food for $8.. seriusly things are double price in Manly!
Yes real life sucks! i have been dreaming about Bali and Indonesia; massage, spa, good cheap food, family etc. now i have enough money to fly but dont have enough time to go! my time is clicking! i want to travel! im started to lose it...
we both work so hard and work pretty much everyday, we both pick up some part time job during the weekend. I love my job and my little kids, i love driving to work i love to have the wheels and the independence to do n go whatever i what to  go. I reeally cant stay still i have to move and do something! i need to learn to slow down!
I managed to fly my sister to Sydney, her first time abroad visit! she was so happy as she could be and enjoyed every minutes of her stay in Manly, she didnt want to leave. 2,5 months! long enough to have her around! i got used to it and missed her when she left. it reminds me of my old time first time i went abroad i found everything fascinating and interesting and everything made me happy. She kept saying "i want to live here!"
oh dear sister, you came here for visit you didnt live in a real life like i do. u dont have the bills or rents to pay or real jobs! you will feel excited for first couple months and then feel lonely after you've seen everything you need to see and thinking life back home isnt bad at all. at least still have family and friends around!
I think it depends on how you make you feel about life,. easy to say! Nope not many colour people here like US other than Asia and usually they stick together! a guy from LA i met in Mandi gra asked me "why there are so many white people here?" i was just laughing and he said "if you come to LA you will see so many people like us (appearntly he is Mexican American), come and live in LA". he sounds so racist lol.
No it is not my thing going to the pub or stayne, drink and watch everyone get drunk and try to hook up each other and perhaps if they get lucky they might have one night stand or continue into a relationship! but i do go there once in while. It is their kind of thing to do or they so called "culture thingy" i care less!
Life is now all about Work, eat and sleep! so boring! yup real life sucks! but i cant complain no more. im happy to be here! Australia! yesterday i went to doctor for medical check up, had my blood test etc. and it was FREE. Heatlh care n educations are free! i cant complain no more about paying taxes!

Great ocean road tour Melbourne

Great Ocean Road is an Australian National Heritage that stretch of road along the south to east coast of AUstralia it is started from city call Torquay until Warrnambool. Yes this great tour is the headline of my Melbourne trip and probably the best of this 2012 trip. $90 for a day tour was way worthy I would have to pay more if I have known what I would get! It was awesoooomeeee! I'm highly recommended to everyone who visit Melbourne it was the best.
There are so many tour agent that you can book, online or thru brochure they all pretty much the same. I booked mine online, it was quick and easy. This tour agent has some pick up points including St. Kilda area where I stay. It is in Base backpacker which was across the street where I stay. I was ready at 7am, the bus picked me on time.... I love first work countries they don't mess with time and no rubber time either like back in Indo, Back home, if you make an appointment at 7 means they will be there at 8 lol. It was a small van with ony 24 people. They are all tourist just like me and have never been to this tour. We were all excited. The tour guide plus the driver name Bratt was very nice he explained everything about the places we visited.

Torquey is the start point of the great ocean road. It is nice little town with beautiful beach call bells beach... According to the tour guide this is the town where 2 Australian guys who was poor and loved surfing, they then made their own surfboard until one day people saw it and they like it. That's how the Ripcurl started. First stop was Bells beach; one of Australian's most famous surfing destination, beautiful beach, some surfers surfed, we stayed for 20 minutes had hot drink provided by the tour agent, coffee, tea or hot chocolate with some biscuits. Then we stopped at Memorial Arch and took some pictures. then Beach Walk, we walked for a stroll along one of the beautiful beach, small and beautiful town.

We passed through these popular seaside resort towns of Lorne & Angelsea, view some spectacular beaches then the bus stopped at Kennett River where we can see wild lazy Koalas and wild parrots. these Koala sleeps 20-22 hours a day. i spotted 2-3 of them up the tree. there are some wild beautiful parrots and ducks, other tour agent gave seeds to feed the bird but not ours. i did feed the parrot it was fun!.

it was already half day we all hungry Iluka Restaurant in Appolo bay was where we had our free lunch, we had options to choose such as Chicken, Fish, Salad or Vegetarian meals, it was good enough. i had rice and veggies to made up those times eating junk food (Mc. D or KFC). 45 minutes lunch it was pretty quick, we then hike to Otways" Rainforest or it is also called Mait's Rest, a guided bushwalk through this very rare, ancient, cool temperate rainforest. it felt dwarfed when i past some of the tallest trees in the world. 30 minutes walked was good enough and it was cool!

Next was The 12 Apostles and also the headline of the tour. It took an hour drive from the rainforest. it is the view of the beautiful limestone stacks that form the mighty 12 Apostles. unspokeable, beautiful-beautiful-beautiful...they also have his Helicopter Flight for $85, the tour guide said "those who wants to try helicopter stay on the  bus" i said "hell no!!" i have been on the plane off and on 10 times within a month hell i have enough. yes it was beautiful view... i saw it on Tv or seven world wonder but i was actually saw it with my bare eyes!

Next stopp was Loch Ard Gorge  is the shipwreck was located it sailed from England, sad but true story back then years ago. the captain and 18 years old girl eva were the only 2 passengers who survived.... tower of beautiful limestone cliffs, it has small beautiful beach in between. 
The last place we visited was London Bridge....(has fallen down).. it said that a man who cheated on his wife was doing a tour with his girlfriend when this bridge fell down. They got trapped in the other side of the brigde, the media came to actually filmed the London bridge fallen down and of course the man and his girlfriend were on TV too that how his wife found out he cheated her, such a scandal!!! anyway it was beautiful and i it was stunning photo opportunity and i love this part alot especially a great story behind it, we only stayed for 15 minutes then off to Melbourne. it was already 6. it took 3 hours to get back to Sydney. i got to the hostel at 9.30 felt so tired, shower then crushed down!

i can say this is the headline of my 2012 trip. Great wall in China was great but this tour was amazing and im glad i did it. i had a good time!

 

Melbourne

My flight to Melbourne was better than before, tiger airline is a budget flight I got for $250 for 4 hours flight to Melbourne. I didn't know where to go, I asked random people here and there and they gave me different answers so I had to go back and forth to find the shuffle bus with my heavy luggages, pain!!!. I finally found St. Kilda bus cost $19. It took about 45 minutes ride. I thought It is going to be near the central but apparently not. St. Kilda is the suburb area with beautiful bay/beaches.  It is half an hour from downtown. I stay in a motel call Home traveller, didn't know what to expect and was thinking it should be better than Bambu backpack. In fact it does. Friendly staff, better room and clean bathroom, this room has 9 beds and mind as always is on top. The bed is clean, blanket and sheet are clean. I was happy to find a better place than Bambu hostel.
Most of them who live here (yes they actually live here for weeks) are Irish and British. They are nice and kinda laud too. Some speak very strong accents of wales or Irish and they have known each other. I have no problem with sharing and people around as long as they don't bother me. These people all are gone when I wake up because they go to work. In fact most of them work so during the day this motel is quiet. But when they all come back this motel is like a dorm... Or they front desk call it zoo.
At 6 until 9 most of them will be in the kitchen cooking and having dinner some are watching movies. There is a special room provided, everyone knows everyone and yes they live here for long enough. None of them is Australian I don't think so, most of them are from Europe or southAmerica or England. What I liked from meeting people in backpack is that everyone is so nice, they all come everywhere and they all r new here and they all definitely need friends. And it is nice to meet people from all over the world don't you think?
As soon as I arrived in hostel, I took a walk around neighbor, to the beach, there is an amusement park across the street call Luna park.  The beach is beautiful but it was cool. It is still winter damn it! There is also A pack where you can read or take your kids there, I love park. I was too hungry as I haven't had anything since morning i was about to have MC. Donald but then I spotted this Thai restaurant just across the street. My favorite Tom yum soup and veggie fried rice were my breakfast-lunch and dinner.

It was still Sunday night so everyone was out and partied. It was little bit laud coz everyone was still up till 2 I went to bed early but wake up couple times coz of everyone was up. I passed out too tired to say hi didn't care. When I woke up the next morning everyone was gone off to work. Just can't believe how do they do this. Up and partied all night plus drunk and go to work in the morning, these people get use to it I suppose. Irish and British, drinking is apart of their culture.

I went to the city, with a map and google map on my phone, I took tram 16 to FEderation square, from there then I walked and walked and walked... Walked until my feed hurt then I stopped to eat. I had KFC and Pho for my brunch. Then kept walking.... Swanston st- Flinders st.- Collin st. - Russell st. - Bourke st. -Lonsdale St. -queen st. Etc etc. I passed the famous block Arcade, Royal Arcade, Causeway, Union lane where there are so many small coffee shops along the street, street mucision, etc. I also went inside the Victoria state library, some museum, china town, church etc. Yes I have seen and walked as much as I could I left hostel at 11 am and came back at 9pm... So much to seem and I have seen a lot already. Still, i haven't enough time to see it all. But I guess I have walked and seen pretty much the central. Just like Sydney or any other big cities... Skyscrapers, tall office buildings, and old churches, beautiful!!!

Came back to hostel with smile on my face, had a good and long day in the city by myself. I started to talk to everyone, it is easy to make friends when you are friendly and willing to make one. Yes everyone was nice they were all in the kitchen busy making dinner after long day at whatever work they have.
Great ocean road tour was booked, I did it online. Shea suggested me to take this tour. $90 for a whole day tour... I thought it was too expensive but it was way worthy compare to the experiences and things i've seen. I think these experiences - money can't buy, not even a single minute of the tour (well except for the long ride home) It was awesoooommeeee!

Perth, Bambu backpacker

I haven't had time to update my blog, was busy travelling off and on the plane and buses with my heavy luggages. I dislike, I should have learned from experiences that travel light. I have probably 30-40 kilos; 2 loaded bags and one backpack. Anyway, city of Perth; it is such  a small city with small downtown... I like it no rush everyone is so lay back. so nice, I can walk pretty much everywhere end everything is walking distance. Well depends but I like walking. First day in Perth without wasting my time I went to down town to see the city. There is free shuffle bus everywhere around town it calls blue cat.  There is a shelter bus in front of the hostel so it was easy for me to go around.
CBD down town is where all the shopping Malls, offices and entertains are. It is located in Hay street and Murray street. I hanged out there 2 days in the row, did some shopping, ate, and enjoy the scenes. It is pretty much like shopping area where there are so many Branded store and coffee shop. I wasn't really interested going to the beach as I just came back from Bali so my short visit to Perth was good enough. Everything was good, food was great and cheap, as matter of fact it is cheaper than Sydney.
I'm going to share about my experience living in this backpack called Bambu backpack. It is located in Aberdeen st. It was the worse backpack ever, God knows.... The bed and the room were so bad, dirty, smelly, had no window nor ventilation I was the only girl out of 8 people in room no. 6. Left, right and infrint of the hostel are bars and pubs. And Yes the music plays all night long so laud. It was nightmare, I only could sleep for 3-4 hours. I stayed there during the weekend which even worst. Everyone is out, partying and drinking and of course most of them were drunk. They came back late in the morning, tune on and off the room light and laud. Woke me up many times, I couldn't sleep nit not until everyone else were  sleeping because there will be no sounds but still those guys were drunk and as what happen to most of thise drunk!!!, yes they were all snore so laud so bad such a night mare. I booked female room but they put me there.
Every Friday  night this hostel has private party for those who stay there. It has it's own Dj, music and party lights. Yes everyone was drinking... And half of them were drunk. Don't get me wrong every one was so nice, understandable; they live in backpack, work, travel, having fun plus enjoy life. Most of them were from Europe. I don't think any of them are Australian. They all backpackers.
I did survive and I'm glad I stayed. It was such an experience and i made some friends too. I left hostel at 4.40 in the morning. The airport shuffle bus I paid $30 return ticket did picked me on time. I should have leave at 7 since my flight was at 9.30am but then what's the point I couldn't sleep in the hostel either, I was thinking I could sleep in the aero plane.
I made it to the airport 4 hours earlier, as always ( I once had this experience, almost missed my flight because I came late, since then I always come way early ) the check in counter was not opened yet and it was still quiet. When you wait that long these technology do help a lot; Phone, lpad and iPod. Played game or read the news... Time goes quick.
This time check in I didn't have problem with luggages, I bought extra luggage online spend another $50 for last flights. I do hate flying but I have to get on the plane so I can see the world. It is always scary to go out of our comfort zone but that's how we learnt I guess.
Travelling is always exciting, you sometimes don't know what to expect. What I like most about travelling is to get lost. To explore and see new things, to meet new people, to witness events, walk as long as this feed can walk. Because I'm already lost in whatever new places I have visited. No rush to  go everywhere, no deadline to catch, no schedule, no appointment, no home, no certain destination you just go and go... . Until you have enough. That's what I call it fun.  That's how I enjoy life;) love it love travelling.

Bali to Perth

Bali vacation is over, sad to leave the island I heart most, I love BAli. The last 3 days in Kuta we just stayed, relaxing, walked alone the beach, shopped and ate. night life in Bali is pretty much the same. Every night is saturday night. Tourists are keep coming everyday. Good thing Sept is the low season so it was little bit quiet. I did nothing but ate, slept and walked along the beach. It was real vacation so nice.

My flight to Perth was early morning, my sister left first at 5 am. I got to the airport at 6, it was already long queue, there were 3 different flights flew to Perth at the same time. My luggage was overloaded I had 10 kg extra and it cost $100. I didn't want to pay that much so I gave some of my stuff away like blanket, jacket, Indo spices, bag, etc. my hand luggage was also overload. I didn't want to give up my new bag. One of the officers helped me, he gave me free luggage. So instead of paying $100 I only paid $20 to him.
The flight was good at the beginning but nightmare at the end, especially when the plane was about to land. It was pretty shaking and scary. I hate flying. I felt like wanted to cry thinking about booking straight flight to Sydney and get this trip done. $30 return bus shuffle to the airport, it dropped me in front of Bambu hostel.
The hostel; when I saw the room I was ready to walked away. The worse Hostel ever, dirty room, things were all over the floor and worst of is Iam the only girl sharing with 5 guys from England, India, TAiwan, NZ, German, etc. the kitchen is dirty, bathroom is ok. I started to talk to everyone and they all are nice. I started to like this hostel. I thought "they can do it what can't I".
The door has no lock, people come and go whatever they want, I have my bag locked. Can really have a good sleep with the noise and people getting drunk or party next door. Well  at this point price is a matter or I got what I pay. I'm in backpacker life zone where everyone share everything and privacy isn't a priority. It is kind of fun, like a dorm. Seems like these people live here for long enough and they know each other. But no complain all good. We will never know until we try.
And I don't want to miss this opportunity when I have the change to experience the life of real backpacker. I better regret things I haven't done that things I've done :) just 3 nights i can handle it. all good

Uluwatu Temple

Pura Uluwatu is a beautiful temple with a lot of Monkeys, it is also called Uluwatu Monkey Temple. These monkeys live here, they are pretty aggressive. We tourist have to be very careful when we walk in, all the accessories like hats, watch, ear-ing, sunglasses, camera or any small things that can be taken are must be hidden or put it in the bag. These monkeys like to grab anything they can grab, i remember last time i came here with Shea, the monkey almost took his $600 glasses, he was fighting over the glasses with a monkey.. funnny. Monkey gave up but his glasses was kind of bend and needed to be fix. 

I took my sister to this temple, there was a ceremony going on, pretty much the same like the one in Tanah lot. many Balinese came wearing white cloth called "kebaya" beautiful. everyone brought a basket of offering. There are some small temples in side and one of the biggest was close for tourist. it is on the cliff, amazing view with the blue ocean and the sky. i took bunch of pictures. We saw only few monkeys, i guess there were so many people praying on the temple made the monkey hid inside the forest.  Temple also holds "Kecak " dance. It is the famous Balinese traditional dance., i have seen it once. it was great. 

we stayed for 3 hours then went to Uluwatu surf point, good wave for surfer... Shea took me there once. then we rode to Nusa Dua beach... beautiful beach but a lots of people. Nusa Dua is where most of five stars hotel located. most of these hotel has its own private beach for the guest. so some beaches in Nusa Dua is not for public. Collecting shells and looking for star fish are my favourite things to do in Nua Dua beach, especially when it is low tide. 

my sister is not a good motorbike ride, she rides just like everyone else turn left and right whatever she wants. I kept screaming every time she broke the traffic light. i kept telling myself no more motorbike ride in Indo. we rent the bike for 3 days and i am glad it is over.