Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Random: The Good, The Bad, and the Unusual (Part I)

Ok, well here's a good time to stop and really really get into what I've been doing so far. Away from the flashing lights of tourist attractions and the visiting of good friends I've met along the way, the atmosphere surrounding me is much like the weather in Boston. The sun's always shining with a chance of grey clouds and mostly showers. The saying is, "You can experience an entire year's worth of seasons in one day". So, here we go:

For 2 months we found ourselves taking care of an 80 year old woman. Not for nothing, but no one person in their 30s should feel what it's like to abruptly slow down to 80 year old speed. I won't post pics of her as I don't want to give away her identity, but it's been a challenge. I will say this, when you've had lots of money in your life, there's no reason to make people feel like they are beneath you.  Especially people like me who could care less what side your bread's buttered on.   Here you are now, having people eager to look after you and attempt to make what little time they have in your life at least bearable. This is just to give a slight insight to our lives for the 1st 2 months in Sydney.

We've been thrust into this Indian community in Strathfield, NSW yet I have to admit my understanding of Tamil's getting better.  Now it's extremely quiet here.  I mean....when I tell folks I live in Strathfield the first question they ask is, "Why?" ha.  It's simple!  Really really simple.  Our very neighboring city is Homebush.  Here's a pic that shows the city in all it's glory:


And that's all there is really.....I would show more but then this main street may get jealous, blah blah.

The other thing we've been doing that I found to be pretty cool is going to Ermington and kick it with the Swamis on Sundays.  This has been amazingly good for me, going to the lectures and listening to Swami G.  I can dig what he's saying.  I feel like you can only be open to understanding if you acknowledge first that you have questions about yourself that you need answering.  Just because we have the internet at our fingertips doesn't mean we know everything.  Anyway, I'm not here to preach to anyone but it's definitely worth a go.  Click the pic for more info:





In the meantime we've also been fired from the worst job in history and that's saying so much.  We got jobs doing fund raising for the Australian Conservation Foundation.  I was fired in the first 30 minutes and Niara quit because....well it was a crap job and that's that.  HA!  

I've been driving on the left side of the road in the right side of the car. I know many people don't realize the significance of that but it's tricky when you've trained yourself your whole life to do the exact opposite. Even still, I managed to do it. Considering the odd things that do in fact happen in my life, it should not be any wonder that I end up in a car accident being hit from behind in the "brand new Mercedes". Don't think for a 2nd that we had it repaired straight away. This is what I was working with going to doctors appointments, grocery shopping, etc:


Everyone was alright except Niara's shoulder was sore for a few weeks.  It also eased up on the slowness of our lives after this accident.  In truth it was a blessing in disguise.  Then we were free to do things and see stuff.  So of course, the first thing I did was get a tattoo.  So essentially.....this guy:





Did this to me:


And so now I have this:


Or some version of it, ha.  I'll keep you posted on when it's healed.  But that's just my body not doing what it's supposed to on top of me drinking and heading to the beach right after.  HHHHH I will learn at some point, I will! 

And here is Niara's:


So all in all, you should check him out.  His name is Andre....Click his pic and his info will come right up!  My revenge is to make him look like a young Santa with my fancy and artistky camera:


Thursday, January 6, 2011

Sydney Aquarium (Part I)

Now these are random pics of Darling Harbour but I just had to share them....





























Sydney Aquarium (Part IV)

Very cool videos of the big boys......and I can tell you, after watching a whole week of shark week, I wasn't so keen on getting too close, ha....







 





P.S. watch how this one sneaks up on me towards the end...




 



 
 




Sydney Aquarium (Part III)

More fishies...












Also, there is a Lego Land theme in the aquarium where they build these massive statues out of legos:



Willy didn't look so free here....


Sydney Aquarium (Part II)

Sydney Aquarium is very very cool.  Located in Darling Harbour within walking distance from tons of stuff including the IMAX Theater which is the world's largest IMAX Theater.  For Niara's birthday we also saw Tron in 3D here.  Click the pic for more info on the theater:





Now, on to the fishies:
















New Year's Eve 2010 (Part II)


This one was a "Jesus Lives" but I couldn't be arsed to take another pic of it....


And here marks the famous firework display in Darling Harbour:



Monday, January 3, 2011

New Year's Eve 2010 (Part I)

Ok, so 1st time in Sydney for New Year's and it was craaaaazy.  We went to the hostel where we'd previously made new friends and picked them up to head out to Balmain to find a cozy spot to watch the 'works.  Sydney is the 2nd city on the planet to have the ball drop so we were way ahead of the rest of the world.  After sitting for hours in the sun all day waiting for the show to begin we had good food, good drink and good company to keep us going.  I unfortunately put out my back the day before so mostly pics of me are sprawled out on the ground trying to keep it straight.  I even added a little bit of a video of the show along with some other oddities.....enjoy....

So this is the Winking Lizard which is located near Central Station.  Great place for hangover brekky.  In fact, the first item on the menu listed is called the Hangover.  We needed a good strong base if we were to make it through New Year's festivities:


Some of the artwork located alongside Central Station:



This is the logo for one of the local beers known to Sydney.  Love the lizard with the blue tongue...






And of course, one of my good friends..... Stella....


This is when it got weird.  As the sun was beginning to set, someone was skywriting.  This one is an "R U Ok?"