This Week's Australian Wildlife

In the news this week:

Parts of the Great Barrier Reef are now available on Google Street View. Check out some great underwater shots here. I'm hoping to make a snorkeling trip up there in December.

The only documented albino humpback is swimming by Australia right now. I remember quite a few toasted conversations with my best friends in college about the beauty of whales. They are freaking magical. Meet Migaloo.

I pass this butcher on my bus route almost every day. I have yet to try kangaroo, crocodile, emu, or any other Australian game... 

Kangaroo, Crocodile, Wild Boar, Venison, Rabbit

This big fellow was spotted creeping across our living room floor. Please be assured there was a lot of yelling, running around, and uncontrollable shudders. My housemate captured it and placed it in the back yard. I'm pretty sure someone slept with the light on that night. It was my first experience with the notorious spiders of Australia.

Spider #1.

And then this happened the next day:

The same housemate captured a dying spider that was hanging out in our grill. He put it in a big tupperware container and when he came back a few minutes later there were, what appeared to be, TWO SPIDERS.

Spider #2

The even bigger spider was in the process of shedding its exoskeleton when captured. It was quite terrifying and we still don't know what to do with it.

Putting on a Wetsuit is a Lot of Work

Today I hurried home after my meeting so I could surf ("surf" defined loosely, since I haven't stood up yet.) My new high heels were slowing me down, so I actually bought a pair of $10 flats so I could speed-walk through the train station.

My bus route home takes me along the beach, so I could see the waves were consistent and the perfect size for me. The sun was starting to set so I probably had an hour before it was too dark. Needless to say, it's a beautiful time to be out on the water. I got off the bus - the last stop on the route - and power walked home so I could change into my wetsuit.

I hate putting on the wetsuit. It takes a long time to squeeze into a body sleeve and I always feel huge. Once it's on, it's all good and magical, but putting on the suit and taking it off is half of the effort of surfing.

I ran most of the way to the beach and was so happy to see there were only two other surfers out in my spot. I started paddling out and was in the water for literally 30 seconds when I heard an alarm go off.

THERE WAS A SHARK IN THE WATER!

So I didn't get to practice today.

I've been home for about two hours now, and I'm still wearing my wetsuit around my waist. Taking off the legs is the hardest part.

Snapshots of Sydney

Handy Man:
I really like our handy man. He's a Polish man that does odd jobs for our rental agency. He's also the only Bondi resident I've spoken with for more than two conversations.

While he was setting up our wireless, he told us about his experience being tear gassed by the Australian police during Saturday's anti-American riots in Sydney. He was an innocent bystander. Just one drop of the mist will render you useless for at least half an hour.

So far, he has painted our house, given me tips on local life of Bondi, provided us pot and pans, and most importantly, given me his longboard to borrow.

Our cozy home. My surfboard in the corner.

Surfing:
I've been out on the water two times since buying my wetsuit. Putting on the wetsuit seems to be half of the workout. I've been trying to become more comfortable in the water, but there has not been any progress with standing up...

but the beach is only a 5 minute barefoot-walk away. So I will try again tomorrow.

Caught some filming on my coastal run today.

Around Town:
My neighborhood is very walking/running friendly. There is so much space in Suburbia. There is a paved pathway or sidewalk along every street and hardly any traffic...

Before crossing the road (not at the intersection), I asked my house mate how he felt about jay-walking.
.6 seconds later I ran into a parked car and have had a bruise and cut on my leg for a week.

Bondi Beach Living

I'm living in a quiet, small, eastern suburb of Sydney called Bondi. The community is full of surfers, skaters, and dogs... just my luck, I can't believe I live here. The first day we all arrived, there was the annual Festival of the Winds. We were treated to a crowded beach, pretty flying kites, and great weather.

Kite Festival of Bondi.

I'm already feeling anxiety about leaving in a short 8 weeks. I bought a longboard and I'll be getting a wetsuit in the next few days. The water is COLD and it's been quite chilly (although the locals swear it's warm), but I'm ready to learn how to ride... there's really no excuse, I can walk to the beach in 5 minutes.

The North end of Bondi. Smaller waves. 

The beginning of a gorgeous coastal path.

The scenery is beautiful and I feel really fortunate to start my Australian project here, but there are a few caveats. Australia is the most expensive country I have visited thus far. Transportation, housing, and food are money suckers. The suburb is not very diverse and the local community is quite small- shops close early and last-call at the bar is 12:30. Australia is stingy with their internet... plans go by data used, so although I finally have access to PANDORA AND SPOTIFY!!! I won't be able to listen in too much or FaceTime.

It seems I'll be unplugging more often over the next few weeks, which has its benefits. I have no problem being outside enjoying the morning surf and coastal evening runs.

Goodbye, Singapore.

Just four more days in Singapore.
I've started the process of shedding excess baggage in anticipation of my move to Australia. My room is looking a bit tidier. My toiletries have been sorted through. Boxes are being prepared to be sent home and I've started saying my goodbyes. It doesn't feel like I will be leaving soon... Maybe because I'm not ready to go or maybe because I know I will be back.

Monsoon rolling in.

Clear, sunny, morning.

I thought Singapore was going to be boring and suppressive, but my time here has been quite comfortable.  It was easy to settle in here and make this place my home. Singapore is similar to a cosmopolitan American suburb... it's like Bethesda, MD and Arlington, VA smushed together and then relocated to Florida.

Iconic Marina bay in the background with corporate high-rises and Housing Development Board flats in the foreground.

The city has transformed itself in just the last three years and everything is quite modern while not being overwhelmingly urban. There's a strong Chinese influence here but the expat community is huge and it seems the country is comfortable with it's "multi-national" label - I can relate.

This group made Singapore feel like home.

Time flew by this summer, but with three cities to move to in Australia, I bet this fall will go by even faster.

Things I learned while I was in Singapore:

• close a deal
• play blackjack at the casino
• wake board
• ride a scooter
• value of duty-free alcohol