On Koalas, Kangaroos, and Killing Mosquitoes

So, I've finally seen the Aussie animals! On Sunday, we went to the Koala Park (not just koalas), courtesy of our tour guide (Mickis's friend) Jason, in Pennant Hills.

Without further ado, the koalas! Cute, no? They're not very cuddly and soft, though. But no matter. And they really do spend most of their time just sleeping and eating. This one here is called Phasco. She was quite active. But I suspect that it was just the one hour of wakefulness each day that we got to pet her.



On the other hand, this is a cockatoo, who decided that he had to stick his head through the fence so that he could communicate more clearly with us. They did say lots of amusing things, and the most famous "Polly wanna cracker" line, of course. I was scared that he couldn't get his head back in, but alas! There was no such problem.

This is no kangaroo, this is a wallaby. He was just really cute so I had to take a picture of him. I think he was trying to get to the leaves in the cylinder, but succeeded only in sniffing at the pink string hanging from the tree.

This is a dingo. They don't look that scary, do they? In fact, I think they look like nice fox-dogs. They were put in this intense fence, though, so I imagine they're loads more dangerous than they look.

And now for the kangaroos. They're literally in this section of the park where you're free to go in and pet them or feed them! So here are Mickis and Sina petting a very cooperative, lazy kangaroo.

And lest we forget, kangaroos are marsupials. Very aptly demonstrated here. The little joeys are so adorable! Joey joey joey!


Now, I don't know why I look so surprised, seeing as the whole day was pretty much a photo session, but yeah. I imagine I was feeding the kangaroo. Maybe he bit me or something, but I don't remember.

And look at that! They coexist in peace.

This, completely unrelated except for the fact that we went on Sunday as well, is Paddy's market. Really cheap fruits and veggies--somewhat reminiscent of Asia (not to mention the fact that it is in Chinatown).



Now for the mosquitoes. I hate mosquitoes. I managed to get bitten about ten times last night, no less than three times on my face. And most of them are swelling like crazy (luckily only one of the ones on my has swollen). So today, I got up early, went to Coles and bought insect repellant to spray on almost all surfaces in my apartment, washed all the sheets and towels (for the second time in three days), plugged in some mosquito zapper, and am hoping that this will rid me of the annoying pests. Not to mention I spent about $30 on different creams and ointments to make these stupid lumps on my arms/legs stop itching.

It's been a lazy Saturday afternoon. I was in the library with Mickis this morning, finishing up a philosophy essay, and will be spending the next week working on an archaeology and a romanticism essay, but that's next week.

Allow me to summarise the last two weeks (the last post was a faux-post):

First, just a picture from the crab-racing bar last week. Mucho fun-o. Caroline just looked so happy I had to put this picture up.

As for the sailing lessons...I've had two sailing lessons already--I really don't know much about sailing, though, except the basic terminology and how to put the jib and the mainsail up. One more lesson, so I'm not going to be sailing anywhere anytime soon. But nonetheless, it is very fun, and the people are awesome. We sail on little boats--probably 5 people on the boat at most, it's about...6 metres? With a keel. I don't know much about it aside from that, but hopefully I'll be able to snap a few pictures (I don't take my camera out on the water for fear of capsizing--even though we aren't supposed to), or at least get a few pictures from someone else.

Last Friday...is a bit hazy. There was a nice dinner at King's Cross, then ivy yet again (I counted, and that was 4 times in 3 weeks we were there). Ivy was REALLY hazy, and then there was a weird incident at McDonald's where some hairdresser/singer who has a myspace page started singing for us right there. Yeah, can't remember it really well. I do remember I had on my new, pretty, and slightly painful heels, though.

Last Saturday, we went to Bronte beach--very nice family beach, they even have a nice little pool and "stoned-off" area for everyone to get in the water without having to deal with the waves and the rip and the like. Meet happy Sina, who is clearly enjoying our 4 hour stint at the beach.

On Tuesday, there was the Lord Mayor's Welcome for International Students at the Sydney Opera House. 1) The Lord Mayor was not present, it was the Deputy Lord Mayor. 2) The vice-chancellor from UTS told us about his own experience studying abroad, telling the following story (not verbatim): "I studied abroad in the States. The first day I got to campus, I walked towards the main gate of campus, and standing there was a man on a soap box with a chicken on his head. I hope you didn't have such a surprising welcome to Sydney, but I hope you'll have just as much fun as I did." [I went up to him afterwards and asked him where he studied abroad. Yes, it was UC Berkeley.] 3) There was an open bar, stocked with champagne, beer, wine. 4) There were large quantities of free food. 5) The view from inside the Opera House is simply amazing. 6) There was a brass quintet (they weren't great, but still). Needless to say, it was quite a nice afternoon/evening.

Then, there was dinner with the girls! $5 pizzas and $10 pitchers of sangria. Sounds like a good night. And it was!

Wednesday night: Up to the Orbit with Mickis's friend Ewa and her travel buddies. This is them being silly with the revolving floor and the stationary section. Haha, this ended in yet another night at the Sidebar and another late night snack at a McDonald's. Luckily, this one wasn't across the street from ivy. Still.

Thursday and Friday = school, sailing, and a housewarming party that I have no pictures of. And then, today. Studying in the library, and an afternoon reading in Victoria park.

There, my post for the week. I'll try to scan a print or something from my photography class. I really lack photography skills, though.

On procrastination

I am currently sitting in the library, trying to write the papers for my classes that will be due in a week. As to what I've actually done:

• Figure out how to set up the Cisco VPN Client so that I can access wireless on campus
• Watched two weddings (or at least the arrival parties of two weddings) that are being held in the Great Hall this beautiful Saturday afternoon
• Read about 20 pages of Aristotle and come up with one not-too-bright question submission for my philosophy class
• Eaten half a bag of Haribo gummies and some Sweet Chili & Sour Cream Doritos
• Wondered why some people I know are going to a petting zoo today to see koalas, and I am here in the library instead (I've been thinking about this one extensively, and it all boils down to one simple explanation: life is unfair)
• Stared at the three notebooks, two readers, and one textbook that I managed to stick in my backpack and hauled into the library along with my laptop (how many of those have I actually used?)
• Written this blog post, and because it is cold in the libary, slipped my Cal sweats and sweater over my nice summer-outside-weather clothes (so now I look like I just rolled out of bed-in winter California)

Clearly, I am a very productive and studious student.

On trying new things

It’s been a while! Since school has started to pick up, I’ve been a little bit more busy—but of course, not too busy to go out and do/see new things. The last two Wednesdays, I’ve been going to Friends in Hand bar. It’s really quite an awesome bar; see the decorations.

There are several things that go on each Wednesday, the first event of the night is the balloon-blowing contest. Everyone blows until the balloon pops—girls first, then boys. Then there is a hula-hooping contest, then a “six-pack for a six-pack” contest. But the highlight of the night is this: crab racing! There are all these little hermit crabs, they put them in the middle of this huge round table, and then see which ones you can get to the edge of the table first.


Of course, you can pay 3 bucks and name a crab; the names are always rather entertaining, if not completely sexual. I’ll just leave that to your imagination. Anyways, if your crab wins, then you compete in a chocolate-salty-balls-eating contest (a la South Park), which includes licking the plate clean. Yup. But of course, wildly entertaining.


As for other things, Sina, Mickis, and I went to dim sum (or yum cha, as they call it here, and actually, more accurately so). They tried chicken (phoenix) feet! I’m so proud of them—of course it’s scary and weird! So here’s to trying new things!

Hmmm…now more to do with school. I developed my first roll of film today, and we’ll see prints next week, so perhaps I’ll post some up—although they’re probably not going to be any good, so don’t count on it. I also went to the International Exchange Fair today—did you know everybody and their mom who wants to go to California to study abroad generally wants to go to Berkeley? I had no idea it was so popular—although after talking to them, I guess it’s much more apparent that they simply don’t know that the other UC campuses are just as valid, Berkeley is just the most famous. Tomorrow, I start sailing lessons, so yay!

Oh, and on a completely unrelated note: I'm really sad about Natasha Richardson, I thought she was a great actress. And of course, it sucks for her kids.

On the first week of school

So it begins, school. I’ve almost forgotten what it feels like to sit in class. The last month or so has been one long vacation—in addition to that nice one and a half month break at home. I wish I could just live here for the semester, and not have to go to school. It’s been so nice.

But whatever, school is school. It’s different here, but maybe it’s just different because I’m no longer taking a bunch of classes with labs. Let me explain. I have 12 hours of class a week. I have three days of class a week. That has never happened in all my time at Berkeley. One hour on Monday, five on Tuesday, and six on Thursday. It’s wonderfully relaxing and yet slightly scary—they say that we’re supposed to study on our own time, there’s no handholding, etc., but I don’t really know what I’m supposed to do with my time. I do the readings, I take the notes, and then…I’m left with the whole rest of the day.

If you know me at all, you know I like structure and organisation. So, I feel like I’m wasting away some of my days when I have very little to do, and I feel like I should be doing something. Hence, my decision to join the gym. Once again, if you know me at all, you know I don’t like going to the gym too often. Maybe never. But I’ve joined the gym here, and I’m hoping that I go at least four times a week. Mind you, that doesn’t mean I’ll be running on the treadmill or lifting weights. As much as I like structure, I’m not going to go so far as to do that. I’m taking spinning and yoga. They’re fun! Alternative exercise for me!

Anyways…first week of school. Classes: interesting, although a little scary. They’re all things I’ve never really covered before, aside from my Ancient Civilisations class. But even that’s a little different because the focus here is on archaeology. It is exciting, though, because there’s some hands-on component to the class and we get to go see artefacts and stuff. Should be awesome. Other than that, Birth of Modern Science has yet to cover science (we’re covering cathedrals), Photography is intense, and Romanticism and Revolution has done absolutely nothing.

Hung out with friends. Mickis and Sina, of course, we went to a school club party, the beach (Coogee this time, outrageously large waves that knocked us all over), and some bars/clubs (Orbit – gorgeous, ivy – fun, Establishment – made a circle and the left). Will have more interesting stuff to add after tonight, I suppose, as it is Mardi Gras here (it’s a large LGBT festival/parade), so expect pictures.

‘Til then, I apologise for the rather boring and picture-less post.

Alternative O-Week

So instead of attending the Uni's O-Week (Orientation read: party), I went to Brisbane to see my aunt's family, whom I haven't seen for...oh, six or seven years. So I flew to Brisbane after signing up for my photography class (yay Sina!), and have now decided that there is a very real possibility that I want to move to Australia when I am done with medical school and residency and all that jazz.

Firstly, Brisbane is located along the aptly named Brisbane River, and there are an abundance of bridges (like the Story Bridge shown, and I don't know what the story is...har har). If you don't know me, I like bridges. I think bridges are freaking awesome.

My aunt and uncle showed me around the city, and pointed out a bunch of places that I could go visit on my own the next day or whenever else. I think the thing I liked most about Brisbane is the fact that even though there are high-rises in the CBD (Central Business District), there isn't that feeling of pressure that I normally associate with densely packed tall buildings.

After dinner, we went to this little area called Little Paris, where there are mostly Italian restaurants. The name comes from this Eiffel Tower replica, with the words "Savoir Faire" on it, which ironically, is a brand of Italian cooking appliances. But misnomers aside, they serve scrumptious desserts. This picture does not do justice to the desserts. If you're ever in the area, go to La Dolce Vitta Caffe and get those desserts! Not pictured: a Lychee Spider, which is peach gelato in a glass with lychee soda. It is also quite delicious.

After dessert, we went to watch my cousin's basketball training. Basketball isn't that popular in Australia, but my cousin has loved the Lakers (oh ugh) for as long as I can remember. He trains on Tuesday nights, and they have games every Friday. But more on the basketball a little later.

The next day, I went for a little exploring of my own. The first stop was UQ, the University of Queensland, where I got on the CityCat--a ferry that goes along the Brisbane River, and you can hop on and off as you like. It sounds weird for someone from California, but the CityCat and other ferries are very regular modes of transportation, it seems. For me, I've decided that between the three modes of transportation: by air, by land, and by sea, I prefer the first two vastly over the last. I don't do motion sickness very well, even if it's never too bad.

One of my stops was North Quay, which is the closest stop to the CBD. There is a section of the CBD called Queen Street Mall (hereafter abbreviated QSM), which is filled with stores and malls and all that jazz. What I like most about it, however, is that this part of the CBD is exclusively for pedestrians. Below the QSM runs a bus depot, and if you go into any of the shopping centres along the side of the QSM, you can go down to the bus depot and hop on the buses. It's really rather ingenious in minimising traffic, and it also makes for a much more pleasant tourist experience. It makes me think about the infrastructure of cities like San Francisco, and how much it can be improved. Of course, the city of Brisbane is relatively new; its growth over the last few years is, according to my uncle, absolutely ridiculous, and so everything that's being built is the newest and best. But nevertheless, I am still impressed.

I walked from the QSM to the Shrine of Remembrance in ANZAC Square (so short it can hardly be called a walk), which commemorates the Battle of Gallipolli during World War I. Unfortunately, the Allies were badly beaten by the Ottoman Empire in the battle, but it was the first major battle undertaken by the joint military formation of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC), so it's a pretty big deal here. As for the eternal flame, I want to say that it's dedicated to all the troops from both WWI and WWII, but I can't be 100% sure.

From there, I walked down to Riverside, and then got back on the CityCat, and went down to the South Bank. There's a bunch of stuff along the South Bank, including the State Library of Queensland, the Performing Arts Center, several Art Galleries, and this awesome little Nepalese Pagoda. It was constructed for the World Fair in Brisbane in 1988. Don't laugh, this is my attempt at an artsy picture.

On Thursday, I took a boat to Moreton Island, the third largest sand island in the world, after Fraser Island and North Stradbroke Island, all off the coast of Queensland. Moreton Island is really close to Brisbane, just an 80 minute boat ride. It's really gorgeous, and as you can see, not at all crowded. This might've had something to do with the fact that it was a weekday, and also during the school year for most people, but it was so calm and beautiful anyway.

There are a great many number of things you can do on the island, such as parasailing, kayaking, scuba diving, sand dune sliding, quad biking, to mention a few. I partook in the sand dune sliding, although there are no pictures, as well as the quad biking. Also, the most unique part of the resort is the opportunity to feed wild dolphins.

Yes, feed wild dolphins. There are no pictures of that, either, but I got a couple shots of dolphins when we were sitting on the jetty. Also, there were a bunch of pelicans in the morning, so I took about 80 pictures of pelicans. I'm not particularly fond of pelicans, but they were really cooperative in the picture-taking, so here they are.


Friday night, the basketball game! Some really bad action shots. I should learn how to use my camera better. Thank goodness for those photography classes, I guess.


Then, it was back to Sydney. School starts tomorrow--I'm actually kind of looking forward to it!