New Years Fireworks

No pictures. For once I wanted to enjoy the sight of something truly amazing. At midnight the fireworks started and this was no ordinary fireworks show. The city sets off perfectly timed fireworks to music from about a dozen roof tops, Federation Square, and Docklands. The music can be heard on the radio so anyone can listen. From our friend's apartment the building straight across was one of the ones with fireworks on the roof. We had a perfect view and could see pretty much everything. We decided to stay in since no one really wanted to go walk around with the crowds and it was the best decision. I can't even begin to explain how amazing this was. It wasn't a few fireworks here and a few there, but an entire show going off from each location. You didn't have to go to a specific location because the whole city was the celebration. It was so bright that the whole city seemed to shine with each spectacular explosion. I've never seen so many fireworks going off all at the same time and I don't think many of the other people had either. I did not take any pictures, but I found a couple online to give you an example of what I am trying to describe.

*in this first picture we were next to the tall building with the blue lights on the top of it. I'm not sure we could have found a better view anywhere else :) We were right in the middle of it all.

Beach Day 2

Great view to sit and relax with a good book. The guys played volleyball, and I played a little too. Another fantastic day at the beach... in AU.... on December 30. If someone had told me a year ago that this is how I would spend my last days in 2011 I would have thought they were crazy.

I'm still trying to get the sand out of our apartment from the last time we went to the beach. I might have to just give up on it now. I love the beaches here and would spend every day there if I could. Okay, not every day. Both of the times that we have come to this beach we have seen the same group of people. They are probably there every day and lay around making a mess, drinking, and smoking. Complete waste of space people with no purpose. I wouldn't want to be one of them. If you don't pay any attention to those people the beach is a great place to be. There's enough space for everyone and it always feels like you are kind of there alone. I think it helps we are always by the volleyball nets. Families don't tend to hang out in that area too much and the few that do are usually down by the water. The water is cold and I haven't gone swimming in it yet. Don't know if I will ever actually swim, but I get my feet and legs wet walking along the edge. There are shells everywhere and sometimes I have to stop myself from taking them all home. They are so pretty, but I know they will still be there the next time we go. I used sunscreen... that's right I finally remembered to put it on. I always forget and by the time I remember it's too late. I haven't gotten too badly burnt though, but I'm sure to get a lecture from my nurse cousins for that anyway :).

It's the last day of 2011 and I think we are all glad that this year is coming to an end. I say the same thing every year "Next year will be great, way better then this year" and I really think it could be true this time. A new city, in a new country, in a new year. Who knows what other new things will come our way in 2012. 

Happy New Year!

OMG... Christmas Thunder Storm

As Alan put it earlier, "technically, with the hail it's been a white Christmas." I'm pretty sure this is the craziest storm I have ever seen. A lightning bolt hit just blocks from our apartment and was so loud our ears were ringing. A little scary, but SO cool. Hopefully the video plays, but if not there are a few pictures too. My tomatoes were hit pretty hard and the lettuce is gone :( The clouds gave us a Christmas present and it just keeps on giving. Merry Christmas everyone!

Beach Day 1

December 22, 2011
Temp: 30C (86F)
Humidity: 45%
Things to Do: BEACH!!!!

A group of us got together and went down to the South Melbourne Beach for an evening of fun in the sun. The guys played volleyball while Nicole and I walked the beach and lounged in the sun. It was a great day.

 

Almost Christmas and we find a guy playing volleyball in a Santa hat :D

 First fish n' chips in AU. Delicious!

Sand Ball

I was going to make a sandman, but didn't feel like going to get more water

Soft, fluffy sand

I picked all the shell bits out of this spot

My hands are so soft now :)

 A little something girly  

Royal Botanic Gardens

Not sure if anyone noticed, but when I first posted these pics they weren't actually showing up in the blog. I think the problem is fixed now, but if anyone is having trouble seeing the pictures please let me know.
These were taken at the Royal Botanic Gardens. We go there every couple of weeks because I like to see all the cool plants and animals; Ian tolerates it pretty well :) and even seems to like it sometimes. It's a little hard to tell in the pictures, but some of these plants are HUGE!!!

                                                                         Giant Leaves

 Balck Swans

These babies were tiny the first time we came here

Turtles :D

Pretty sure this little guy would've fit in the palm of my hand

Goofy Pic :p

Took this one for my mom. Thought she would enjoy the colors and

maybe even get a few ideas for her own garden space.

LOVE YOU MOM!!!!!

Weather

I love the weather here in Melbourne. The last few days it was hot and muggy to the point that I thought I was melting. Then today it was cool and rainy and in a few more days it will be hot again. I've been told it does this until about February when it is just plain hot for about a month then back to hot, cool, hot, cool, hot, cool, until “winter” (if you can even call it that) when it's just cool and rainy. It does get pretty windy sometimes and I don't care for that much, but it never lasts for too long and really is nothing to complain about. My favorite part is the late night storms that we've been getting recently. On days when it's a little cool in the city and hotter further inland the hot air mixes with the cool air and makes some pretty good thunder/lightning storms. I sat by the window tonight with the slider open watching it pour down rain and getting a great light show too. I feel that I should add that when it rains here it is generally pretty serious about it. If it rains during the day it seems to do it little bits at a time. By this I mean it rains hard, but only for a few minutes. Days like this it could be raining one minute and sunny the next and five minutes later be raining again. When it rains at night though it just pours. I love it. I will take rain in December over snow any year. I have been missing the snow a little though.

It is the middle of December, but it just doesn't feel like Christmas. We have a Christmas tree and it has presents under it and everywhere you go in the city there are decorations, Christmas music, and holiday events, but it just doesn't feel like Christmas when it's the middle of summer. Not to mention the part where we are spending a typically family-filled holiday season without all the family.

I am pretty proud of our Christmas tree. It's our $4 Charlie Brown tree (that's all it cost to make it). Our place is small and we don't have a lot of floor space, but wall space we have extra of. Green yarn and couple of days of knitting and our little 2D tree was done. I knitted the little balls too from yarn that the store was basically giving away just to get rid of it. Yarn here is usually pretty expensive if you want good yarn, but for projects like this the cheap stuff works great.

Our Balcony Garden

Our garden consists of mint, cilantro, thyme, rosemary, two tomatoes, and cut-and-come-again lettuce. The lettuce was started from seed and have just come up a few days ago. The chairs will be replaced by a bench at some point, but for now at least they can be of some use. They came with the place and are rusty and dirty; a couple are missing legs too. It is a good little garden... and to all my NWSP people, I'll be in touch when they all start to die on me :) I miss you all!

Werribee Open Range Zoo

November 22, 2011

St. Kilda

St. Kilda is about 30 minutes by tram from our apartment. It's right on the bay and has lots of little shops and restaurants.

St. Kilda Adventure 1

Wild penguins at St. Kilda Peir

Enterance to the amusement park in St. Kilda. Didn't go in, just took pictures.

German Shepherd that was walking by with his owner

St. Kilda Adventure 2

It was windy so there were lots of poeple out kitesurfing

First time putting my feet in the water on the other side of the Pacific

Rainbow Lorikeet

They were all over and are so pretty