2vjensen

[2vjensen]

Relaxing and upgrading my energy in Perth before returning back home on Saturday.

Next time I ought to begin my adventuroz trip in Perth to be able to explore more of WA - so many wonderful places to go. 

[2vjensen]

Having some light fun on my way home to Bulimba - first one just happened. And then I tried a few more - pretty nice outcome from the Riverside CityCat stop, me thinks!

The last one is, and take my word for it, the Orion’s Belt, the only star constellation to be seen on both the southern and northern hemisphere! Have been looking for it. And finally on my last night in Brisbane I saw it - had forgotten it’s tipped a bit compared to back home. But still gives me a nice homy feeling.

[2vjensen]

[2vjensen]

[2vjensen]

[2vjensen]

[2vjensen]

Back in cosy Brisbane again at Magic’s place after great, busy weekend in Sydney. Time to relax - and what better way than starting with a very late 4pmish breakfast at Max Brenner - the Bald Man. Uhmmmm, but please notice the healthy bit!

The 25th April is ANZAC Day (acronym for Australian-New Zealand Army Corps), which I believe is bank holiday for most. Many participate in dawn ceremonies hed all over the country with services and speeches. 

The Bulimba Memorial park held their service early in the day, and the rest of the day people came to relax and be together, like the football team above - the very young against the not so very young. And they had a great time, even though the balance seemed to tip once in a while. But the very young ones did score a brilliantly organised goal, and everyone cheered;0).

I enjoyed sitting quietly on a bench (’Quiet woman, I’m digisting’*) under some big trees, and I even thought I heard a kookaburra ... alas still not seen one on this trip.

And then home for TimTams in the company of Barnaby’s Midsummer Murders - seem to be a regular here in Oz.

*Quote from Dustin Hoffman in ‘Little Big Man’.

[2vjensen]

Sydney weekend  - meeting my Australian connection Mitch and his Danish wife Mette, friends from back home. Their wedding was held in Denmark last August near the Sky Mountain, Jutland - almost the highest place in DK, measuring approx 171 meters. And I still don’t understand how a flat country like The Netherlands can have higher bumps, but that’s de facto a fact!

We met at the Rocks, as I on my way to our first agreed meeting point at The Royal Copenhagen Ice Cream shop at Circular Quay passed a great breakfast opportunity with banana bread & cinnamon toasted bread, ahhhh be still my heart. Think it’s a good thing I do not bump into such temptations back home.

NB There seem to be an abundance of different ‘Danish’ ice cream shops in Oz, not sure why, but could be a salute to Mary or maybe H.C. Andersen? But the ice cream is good, even though neither owners nor ice cream seem to have any relation to Denmark (we have asked!).

In between drinking and eating - and trying to understand the selfie tool - we saw the ANZAC exhibition at the Convention Centre, Darling Harbour (see previous post below this one).

I have discovered, that my iPhone checks up on my health, and after approx 8000 steps and a very nice dinner at Portobello overlooking both the Opera and the Bridge, we finally sank into our seats at the Opera’s Joan Sutherland concert hall - waiting to be mesmerized by Patti Smith togther with many fans. In particular I was fascinated by a very tall man sitting just in front of me with a pirate scarf organising his long hair and an admiral’s hat on top.

Patti Smith is such a word wizard and a charmer - what a wonderful evening! And i know what to read when back home!

Full day done, taxi back to my hotel at Potts Point, Elisabeth Bay - my old hood from the first trip in 2014. Nice;0).

[2vjensen]

Back in Sydney we visited the ANZAC exhibition, touring through all states in Australia, starting at the Convention Center at Darling Harbour, Sydney (have never been in or seen such a large building, with lots of levels and sections, and well organized as everything seem to be in Australia).

We had our doubts if possible to get in, as it on their homepage was recommended to book online which a lot had done for Sunday as all were sold out - for this last day of school days for Easter. But as often seen when something is free, many find it OK not to turn up, which is such a shame. At some point patience will disappear, and there will be a cost. But not this Sunday as we could enter in stead of some of the 25% None Show Ups. 

It took a while to get to the exhibition, as we had to be briefed, e.g. on the audio device that helped you to collect additional information at all the red info spots - and have them send to your e-mail account for later reading. Brilliant idea - and at some point it turned into a sport to collect them. But during the seated waiting we were frequently recommended to drink water from the many taps distributed, and thanks to Mette I think I surpassed the recommended 2liters a day - it’s hot down here;0) 

In the exhibition there were used many creative ways to understand the horrors the soldiers and their relatives went through, e.g. showing slides on hospital beds, build in trenches in the battle field combined with horrific sounds, and a knitted sock from a sister to a beloved brother - never made the second, as he was killed. All in all a bit overwhelming with sounds, words and pictures, so at a point I stopped reading relaying on the e-mails I would get afterwards.

[2vjensen]

[2vjensen]

Well, size doesn’t matter, so please don’t think that I favour after size between above pics. Even though the onion rings are delicios, and I several times had visualized myself sitting right there eating & looking at the Opera House.

But my heart loops when I see the Opera House - makes me very happy just sitting in the noisy food crowd with my back to the buzzing Sydney Harbour looking up at this World Heritage listed, majestic building, created by a Dane;0)!

Arrived to Sydney from Brisbane for a weekend stop over! Meeting with friends from back home tomorrow - at the Royal Danish Ice Cream shop at Circular Quay;0)! We have tickets for Patti Smith solo concert Sunday evening at SOH (Sydney Opera House). 

Interesting enough I have in The Australian, one of the big newspapers in Oz, seen notifications for everyone to come forward with comments or worries of the ongoing changes - think it might have to do with the forecourt (staircase area leading up to the building). 

There was a hearing this week on the ongoing works, and the architect, who has worked on this topic with Jan Utzon, son of Joern Utzon, expressed his feelings on the use of SOH quite clearly. He believes it should be recognized as the World Heritage it really is, instead of developing different kinds of more or less commercial use in and around it. He especially underlined that the forecourt ought to remain free of any events to enable everyone to see and stand amazed. 

I couldn’t agree more - because your reflections over this magnificent building risk being silenced by all the huffing and puffing happening around it. 

Sometimes you just need to be silent and listen with your heart.

[2vjensen]

Got off today at North Quay CityCat stop, passing Brisbane State Library on my way towards George Street, where I first bumped into this happy little group 3 years ago. Glad to see the kangaroos are still thriving, never objecting to take part in peoples photo shoots!

Another happy reunion was my appointment yesterday with Shirley at Toowong Chiropractor Clinic, the best masseuse in the Southern Hemisphere;0). And was welcomed to the clinic by this almost man sized spine! I learned that Australia’s social security is divided in a private and a free public one, called ‘Medicare’, and that it’s getting more and more difficult for most to pay the private insurances (offering faster assistance). Somethings seem to be a common issue all over the world. 

But it was a nice trip down memory lane getting off at CityCat Regatta stop, taking the bus to Toowong Village (shopping mall). I used to stay in this area, and the short walk alongside Coronation Drive with it’s bike path and river bank to the bus stop revealed these quite impressive fruits, which might be from jacarandas bearing beautiful lilac flowers in springtime, and there’s plenty of those alongside Coronation Drive.

Brisbane CBD (City Business District) seen from my hood, Bulimba.

And then I finally succeded in getting a picture of Mr. Cool Cat Magic - like most cats (all?) he sure isn’t interested in posing for a camera!

Tomorrow, Saturday, I’m off to Sydney for the Patti Smith solo concert in the Opera House with two friends from back home. Nice;0). 

[2vjensen]

Another beautiful day in Brisbane - enjoying life! 

The last couple of days I have been trying to decide where to spend next week as I’m leaving for Sydney over the weekend to see the Patti Smith solo concert in Sydney Opera House Sunday, joining 2 friends from back home, who are living in Oz for a year. Looking forward big time to that!

Was actually yesterday decided for Melbourne, but on my City Cat trip today I suddenly realized, that there’s no place I’d rather be than Brisbane. And my landlady has just confirmed that I can stay here with her and Magic, Mr. Cool Cat himself. Happy;0)

Bumped into the little bugger above, just grateful it wasn’t lliterally! The selfie-tool was handy to avoid crawling around too much to get a good shot.

In the beginning of Queen Street there’s a little shop with fresh juice & smoothies of all kinds, and today’s choice - Flue Fighter-juice - was very fresh and a bit sour (orange, lime, lemon). Tomorrow I might go fo the Tahiti Tango, a mango-orange smoothie!

Main event today was ticket for theatre play ‘Trainspotting’ at Brisbane Powerhose at City Cat stop New Farm (2nd picture). Such a vibrant, creative place in the city’s old powerhouse, now left more or less untouch with no plastic surgery done or needed. And a nice restaurant too.  

Trainspotting - I never got to see the movie years back, had a feeling it would be a tough one. The show sure was, involving more or less every man and woman in the audience (think the actors guiding us to our seats were being considerate to the not so young ones (e.g. me), so we got the chairs on 3rd and last row). 

That turned out to be a blessing, unless you like to have actors suddenly ‘facefucking’ you or have ‘shitty’ linen thrown over your head! Especially one beautiful woman was at a time ‘targeted’ by one of the actors, and you could see her boyfriend having a bit of a rough time controlling himself. 

Our 3rd row was lucky only to have ‘dirty’ wc water splashed over us (nice brown colour;0).  

What a show, what a performance! Bravo! The mental and physical vulnerability of these young drug adicts were so alive, so real!

If you ever bump into this theatre play - go see it! And maybe bring some additional hankies!

[2vjensen]

My wonderful Brisbane, finally back again;0). Few changes discovered, only good ones such as the last pic above with slide and elevator having replaced the previous steep staircases for a now easy ride to Queen Street (like the pedestrian Stroeget in Cph). Well, I’m not getting younger, so some comforts are highly appreciated;0)!

I stay this time in Bulimba, downstream from CBD. This means frequent travels with the City Cats - and what could be more refreshing on a hot day than felling the slight coolness from the Brisbane River? Staying at Love Street what could go wrong - in the company of 19 year old Magic, Mr. Cool Cat with light green eyes and a demanding voice. When he needs company he calls, and we gladly respond;0)

Bulimba is, I think, a small suburb to Brisbane, but it has the most important ingredient: a Max Brenner cafe where you get Strawberry-to-dip-in-melted-milk-chocolate plus a whole lot of more very naughty, delicious stuff. I haven’t dared venture into that many yet, but I feel my courage levelling up!

Little late in updating my Adventuroz blog which I blame on my ‘15 minutes of fame cough’, but improving (me, not the cough luckily). Melbourne’s 4 season a day weather really exists with southern cold winds interchanging with the warm northern dittos. But what a nice, lively, colourful city! Might be an upcoming competition to Brisbane - in my heart i.e. - because in real life it has proven a serious competition to Sydney in many aspects, e.g. house pricing, population - you name it. 

I’ll be back with pics from Melbourne visiting Penguin Parade, Twelve Apostles, wallabies, visiting Collingwood …

[2vjensen]

Uhmmmm, late breakfast at The Victoria State Library (VSL) - what a treat! Just look at that roasted banana bread - as delicious as it looks! Again I met a lot of nice people, so my first impression of Melbourne and Melbournians seem to stick;0)!

Then browsing in the Reading’s satelite same place - a highly recommended bookshop where the main shop is located in Carlton, close to where I live.

And then I took a closer look at the fascinating sculpture just in front of VSL - funny with ‘Libra’ either surfacing or sinking into the ground - I go for the first version thinking of balance and liberty;0).

[2vjensen]

First thing done in Melbourne was a concert at Rod Laver Arena with Blondie and Cyndi Lauper - a few appetizers from the show above! What a merry audience - of all ages! Easy communication, lots of dancing, and how the two sassy ladies made us sing and rock!

I had really looked forward to hear Cyndi’s ‘Girls just wanna have fun’ which had been the theme of my first trip to Oz. But funny enough Blondie took care of that one - and did good! She underlined the new addition ‘…damental rights’! And Cyndi started with ‘Stop fucking the planet’ on her front page! Nice touch;0)!

I allowed myself a taxi both ways, excuse was jetlag - and as always nice talking to taxi drivers! I noticed at one point we were driving on Batman Avenue, and asked if it really was the one and only, but this he didn’t know - that’s for me to explore!

[2vjensen]

I’m in Melbourne! Busy buzzing, very much alive, friendly Melbourne! That’s my first impression - and I look forward to experience more, even though there don’t seem to be time enough. Choose carefully, as you never know what can happen, if not …!

Above you see as first picture my place, my home, my peace and quiet - the former Firebrigade Station No 3, now 22 apartments with many reminders from its original occupation - and yes, the pole is still there, but not accessible which I’m kind of happy about - no unnecessary temptations, thanks!

And after a very slow, but relaxing start I tried the trams today after topping up my myki card (or actually Alexander’s - at my disposal while I’m here).

Melbourne is an eco friendly tram city which also fits the almost military grid like cityplanning for some of the suburbs. I still long for the trams in Copenhagen that might still be running the streets of Cairo (or maybe not? Must be 40 something years since they left us).

Starting point of the day was to secure adventures - so I visited the Information Centre on Federation Square where a lot of things is going on all the time - happened upon the artist performing a ‘very dangerous act risking hidding the pavement for our amusement’! 

At the center a very sweet woman helped me secure the first two: Monday a trip to Phillip Island and it’s main attraction - the penguins returning home for the night. And Wednesday I finally get to drive along the Great Ocean Road with an abundance of stuff to experience, see and enjoy - amongst them feeding wallabies (can’t help myself - I’m in love with kangaroos of all kinds)!

Haven’t yet visited the lanes with all their grafittis - but saw a glimps opposite Federation Square with a party going on - inspirering calypso, but the poor musicians had heavy, greasy smoke coming their way!