Melbourne - 5 Reasons It is Australia's Best City

Big Ups To Melbourne As A City!

Have to give a post shout out and do a bit of a fast forward to my time here in Melbourne because I just think its to exciting not to share with everyone. 

I am tempted to make this a Melbourne VS Sydney Post but I'll refrain you all know my feelings on that city from my previous post here. 

So, why is Melbourne so great? Well truthfully, I had a rough start, I was sick and wandering around with a scowl so bad it almost turned into RBF (resting bitch face). But once the pain in my neck, literally subsided and I started to look around I realised. Holy shit, jackpot!

1. Free Transit - Free Trams in the CBD (central business district) - Right where I got my Apartment.

2. Architecture - I will Be going more in depth with a post dedicated to this later on. 

Surf Camp Australia - Seven Mile Beach

Surf Camp Australia - A Must Do. You will meet tons of really cool people and the instructors are top notch. Ranging from the real deal Ozzie boys and imported talent all the way from Sweden. 

It was an amazing week. Even though I was sick a lot I did enjoy meeting everyone and learning the real deal around Surfing in Australia.. Seven Mile Beach. Pay the Money GO DO IT

Free Haircuts? YUP

Oz Crew Reppin Hard at this Table. - Why is Danielle So Angry, no one knows.

Luke - Camp leader for the Week - Coolest Guy - It was Raining I am a drowned Rat. 

 Sorry Johnny, I told you I would Highjack this photo. I think its an improvement 

Felix - Swedish Semi Pro Hocky Player/Surf Master/Chris Hemsworth Twin

Christmas 2015 - Brighton Beach

Merry Christmas From Oz!

Christmas happened In another Country for me this year. Australia. We spent the day at my apartment in Melbourne for a fabulous feast, (Bacon Wrapped Turkey, Green Beans, Herbed stuffing, and Cranberry Sauce). Then we headed out to Brighton Beach to check out the huts and beach for the afternoon. Before I reveal all the amazing photos I'd just like to give a shout out to snow who gets a bad rap for often being the cold, unwelcome guest of many Canadians Holiday. I however LOVE snow and I miss it! So this was a very strange and different experience. I was super glad I met a friend introduced to me by my bestie Russian, Norwegian, Italian Pirate friend Karina <3 (Shout outs to her for being boss). My Christmas dinner date was  Karin and we had a BLAST! 

I tried to show her the best Canadian version of Christmas food I could as she is from Holland...Netherlands...Frisia... its all very complicated. 

Shes just a wonderful Horse loving great person I am so happy I met.
 

 

After this we took a really nice swim, minus the rocks and coral that kept attacking me and my feet and trying to kill me. And took a nice walk exploring the Bathing Huts along the Beach. FYI Canada, get on this shit do you know how many tourists come here just to stare at colourful shacks?!

Then we took the train for free because Melbourne rocks and does cool shit like that for Christmas to there citizens as a present. 

All it in all it was a fabulous Christmas, we ended at the Southern Cross Train Station for some reason eating Whoppers and Coke and people watching and trying identify possible terrorists. The police force was out like crazy and made us so nervous. Between the abandoned luggage and sketchy types you find in transit centers we had a blast laughing and comparing childhood stories. 

The Beached Blonde Abroad

Ultimate Oz - A Newbies Guide to 'Straya

If you are thinking about taking the plunge to a new country, and living and working and getting a visa and the whole shebang, you should probably take a look at a few companies that offer intro to services. For instance Ultimate Oz was one of 10 (we discovered after arriving )but they offer you a crash course in culture, hot spots, trips, Sim cards, jobs and general life questions and give you guidance when you land in a new place.

Ultimate Oz - Ultimate Into

There are a thousand travel agents and websites and nonsense to go through it will make your head spin. 

Pro Tip: When you've arrived at your accommodation, put the word out. Get social and start chatting with roommates, front desk staff and get advice to see what would be the best direction for you. Because honestly with the amount of travel agency's on commission they can charge and often will whatever they damn please and make you put down deposits you will never get back. So do some research don't feel the lead to follow the pack. Be your own travel agent and figure out exactly what you like and don't like. 

For example, we found out quickly large group activities were not our forte. The idea of being told where to go and what to do and when to leave and what to eat over the course of days on end with the same people that may or may not be your cup of tea... 18 and looking to party maybe not the exact spot you want to be stuck in for the next week. So choose wisely my little grasshoppers

Pro Tip: Pick things outside your comfort zone to a point of safety. The things we chose with ultimate oz had a massive impact on forcing someone like me ( a self proclaimed shut in who couldn't care less about being the star of the show) I was forced to introduce myself so many times I lost the ability to have anxiety over new people and just embraced the idea of the exciting possibility of new friendships. So let go of your fear. Enjoy yourself introverts!

Anyway here are a few snaps from our adventure the first week. Thrown together with people from all over the world 18-30 of all different shapes sizes and backgrounds. The ups and downs were huge but in the end I couldn't have asked for a better group of people to help me transition into Aussie life. 

Post Hail Storm - Sydney Opera House Tour

Coogee To Bondi Beach Walk

Coogee Beach

I like To Live Dangerously, None of this sit on the Board shit. 

Lauren, Danielle and I Sand boarding - I look like a terminator

Pizza Night after we Reached our base camp at 4 Mile Beach

Possom Friends, little scared More into Stealing our food then getting pets

Port Stephans Hike - So worth the Beautiful Climb for the View

The View, Just stunning

Johnnys Birthday at Base Camp. 

Josee the Resident Kangaroo 

All in all the Ultimate intro tour I feel was necessary. Now Ive conquered this country and I pish posh at the idea of doing guided tours in Lou of finding insane jewels and exciting trips on my own or with a few friends. But this was an awesome way to meet great people I hope to stay friends with for a long time.

The Beached Blonde Abroad

Sydney - A Very Bad Intro Auzzie Culture

Sydney in a Nutshell. Ill keep this quick and dirty for you all because truth be told, Sydney, not my Favorite city so far and I have far better things to share with you all.

First days were spent wandering around discovering all the sites and sounds and smells we could. Expensive food, Free Museums, Cruise Ships and Beautiful new Friends. Ultimate Oz is to blame for most of our new found friends and hilarious experiences.

Biggest Cruise ship I have ever Seen - Sydney Harbour

Sydney Harbour Bridge

Met Hilarious Sydney Business types and ate amazing food

Ozzie Staple Foods

We had to Indulge in Subway, Previous Canadian addictions followed me here

St Mary's Cathedral Sydney

St Mary's Cathedral, Absolutely Stunning

Museum of Modern Art - Free exhibits about work life truths

Sometimes Modern Art You just get creeped out from

Best Exhibit By Far

Keeping It real, Exhibit was epic

Ingenious Pub Design on the old Bank of Sydney Building

Australian Police having an Identity crisis trying to be Mounties and failing.

High Park Wedding. Stunning Bride and Groom. 

The Food in Australia is a whole post in itself, but Ill just leave this picture here for you all to decide how insanely tasty this Asian market was. Open late and in the basement of a mall. No fucks given we ate that shit all week long with portions for 2 meals!

We headed to Darling Harbour on our last night for an amazing night of fireworks and some goodbyes to newly made friends. 

This was a touch screen app that allowed us to pain an entire building in the colours of our choice. Needless to Say Lauren and Gareth and I played with it relentlessly for several minutes too long like the children we wanted to be 

I think by the 3rd day when Danielle and I had still not met an Australian Citizen we got very discouraged. It was not the city we had hoped it would be. It was cold, grated it was spring but after the first week we both looked at each other and said, WHERE THE HELL ARE ALL THE AUZZIES!

Turns out...NOT SYDNEY...And they don't fancy it very much either. At 1 million to buy into a property to live here, and a monopolized market of overseas buyers, Most people avoid for a warmer, smaller more welcoming section of towns and cities....

The Beached Blonde Abroad