tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38062906570739717292024-03-05T07:00:33.295-08:00Blogging Down UnderMike SevillaMike Sevillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14507112518498064784noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3806290657073971729.post-39000899885308687602009-11-23T19:47:00.000-08:002009-11-23T20:21:22.133-08:00B18: Last DaysHi!<br /><br />My days in Australian are winding down. I do not have time to make a blog in prose form but here is the condensed version.<br /><br />- Melbourne Victory soccer game: Soccer players in Australia still cry and hold their leg for 15 mins when they get fouled then get up and play the rest of the game. The guy that did that even scored the game-wining goal.<br />- Finals: Good - SWOT VAC, very comprehensive tests (3hrs) organized, included reading period. Bad - testing took a month, it was hot, the libraries were too crowded and the libarian yelled at me.<br />- Tasmania: We underestimated distance and didn't have enough time (only 3 days). There was tons of roadkill and we saw the Tasman Peninsula National Park (where there are no Tasmanian Devils with face cancer), Port Arthur (old prison), Cadbury Chocolate Factory, Jam Farm, Bay of Fires, St Columbus Falls, The Dairy Factory, Narawntapu National Park (with pademellons).<br />- Swan Hill: In the Mallee Shrubland outback, it really was isolated. I visited Abdul's family and it couldn't have been more lovely... they made me feel super comfortable.<br />- Mildura: Outback town with red sands.<br /><br />Here are some picture from the last two weeks. I'm coming home soon!<br /><br />Until then,<br /><br />Mikey Doo<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9djbavrJKKRJukSao0IxXm0qbI3n9CcxlRKy6sdgZtj6ACOQf4JId6kZfcWwNzBLAYGvKu-o6zEyn2OvNTelV3qcCBJhrrrXFfZ8OF1qm-p3b1eJAnxzKz2qWsW6Li6n2L8qEnxOlUs_t/s1600/IMG_1451.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9djbavrJKKRJukSao0IxXm0qbI3n9CcxlRKy6sdgZtj6ACOQf4JId6kZfcWwNzBLAYGvKu-o6zEyn2OvNTelV3qcCBJhrrrXFfZ8OF1qm-p3b1eJAnxzKz2qWsW6Li6n2L8qEnxOlUs_t/s400/IMG_1451.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407515498735485282" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">(This is why many of the national parks were closed. [Wentworth, Victoria])</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></div><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg59VA-2AHYwK4VVchOhZubxiLS_QE7kJ49Dr3j89Ia4krJejHDDNDVeTWGgCkxcGuL5dojfvULbbYlWLdgzcTf7rpVNtHEfC9R3mLKv8SQ3k0GOxPRLPREAE6tSRzpZdMbrQuGva_ZrhSf/s1600/IMG_1160.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg59VA-2AHYwK4VVchOhZubxiLS_QE7kJ49Dr3j89Ia4krJejHDDNDVeTWGgCkxcGuL5dojfvULbbYlWLdgzcTf7rpVNtHEfC9R3mLKv8SQ3k0GOxPRLPREAE6tSRzpZdMbrQuGva_ZrhSf/s400/IMG_1160.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407512786873736146" border="0" /></a>(The rugged cliffs of Tasmania. [Cape Huay, Tasmania])<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEignExkxFpeyN8ddsxpe6LCmcbtJw7jKViAq_W1ORJ9OEyL4YY3ctFaY1ZMwXKDmw0meSqoAUhzHfoxLZJc8jOSZsoiAqrmr0Sd35LH3iWNgoasJ5E070dP3xBNH6pSpyvZXu0WRf5JBmPR/s1600/IMG_1405.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEignExkxFpeyN8ddsxpe6LCmcbtJw7jKViAq_W1ORJ9OEyL4YY3ctFaY1ZMwXKDmw0meSqoAUhzHfoxLZJc8jOSZsoiAqrmr0Sd35LH3iWNgoasJ5E070dP3xBNH6pSpyvZXu0WRf5JBmPR/s400/IMG_1405.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407515490782379954" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">(The Murray River, Australia's largest inland river. Luckily no crayfish grabbed my toes. [Apex Campground, Mildura])</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5_CGj46UUl5KJvFdV7K-n-gLUTWwQ3sL5e3H4nfdi3uKO7lyrfC5xKmJvXkWlhBeI70ZGqX3GithGCh3DIYtouYdWptNGD-AhWu1PCA4Lp_ZQ_ZBbPX-88v-inOVDWCv5fGc6dZZAlBBd/s1600/IMG_1361.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5_CGj46UUl5KJvFdV7K-n-gLUTWwQ3sL5e3H4nfdi3uKO7lyrfC5xKmJvXkWlhBeI70ZGqX3GithGCh3DIYtouYdWptNGD-AhWu1PCA4Lp_ZQ_ZBbPX-88v-inOVDWCv5fGc6dZZAlBBd/s400/IMG_1361.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407515479172242386" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">(A Murray Cod. Australia also has a giant banana, shark, bug, etc. [Swan Hill, Victoria])</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZVe5l-s11iDmRumnbDuvMDqytH_F5zlrTHylALLXk_FlXV5GPj2Cgq-1m3AlIiMIuBQD4vlmrqE1d4IrOkq_Rnqfg97CiRZMNQdtYILnyX410vLWa2pYVlOWyVkmfj8F-cy9O5yJ3WpzU/s1600/IMG_1445.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZVe5l-s11iDmRumnbDuvMDqytH_F5zlrTHylALLXk_FlXV5GPj2Cgq-1m3AlIiMIuBQD4vlmrqE1d4IrOkq_Rnqfg97CiRZMNQdtYILnyX410vLWa2pYVlOWyVkmfj8F-cy9O5yJ3WpzU/s400/IMG_1445.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407515468361375570" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">(Hanging out in the outback. [Perry Sandhills, Wentworth])</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVoJic2qBOARGQWdnU2zpNcqeasPWrCPHQIZqAu8RHMSe0Z8t9ffEuPa7jvKBFDh_zqQVB7ERgfmAljEeiVdlJPfGgqRQhmsFW-WhK2krp0uUUi59jT9BCkG7axRMUP-N-Z-nwpuDvzSOi/s1600/IMG_1078.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVoJic2qBOARGQWdnU2zpNcqeasPWrCPHQIZqAu8RHMSe0Z8t9ffEuPa7jvKBFDh_zqQVB7ERgfmAljEeiVdlJPfGgqRQhmsFW-WhK2krp0uUUi59jT9BCkG7axRMUP-N-Z-nwpuDvzSOi/s400/IMG_1078.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407515460403100898" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">(The Melbourne Victory soccer club wasn't very victorious. [Etihad Stadium, Melbourne])</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQGXTsg4IFJiYey3I_HKJRSCZHsxHmKFuXeDaLfkIRhNVGTlF9T5I-aINGxzOlHzOqQDPTfM8rxR8lv2M_-tJZ_rzXgjxVJGZsm-8SUs6uKcIZ2n_WEg063GSrU2t8fcg272mn7ugCL-zG/s1600/IMG_1260.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQGXTsg4IFJiYey3I_HKJRSCZHsxHmKFuXeDaLfkIRhNVGTlF9T5I-aINGxzOlHzOqQDPTfM8rxR8lv2M_-tJZ_rzXgjxVJGZsm-8SUs6uKcIZ2n_WEg063GSrU2t8fcg272mn7ugCL-zG/s400/IMG_1260.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407514370959281394" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">(The rocky headlands of the Bay of Fires and Aussie Paul. [St. Helens, Tasmania])</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyO7m3EMvLoDFKnWYWsahXnkxCoVlP4Kw8TGBB0teX7LZnmcfWkGuLqEC48K6iYWpCgBG4xyCtFDAIq42oOD1tyjbC_USs0f6eIzH9_Yfoo3GY7hOKw7ejNvcAWzC3ftHAXnQudjq_SR6n/s1600/IMG_1325.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyO7m3EMvLoDFKnWYWsahXnkxCoVlP4Kw8TGBB0teX7LZnmcfWkGuLqEC48K6iYWpCgBG4xyCtFDAIq42oOD1tyjbC_USs0f6eIzH9_Yfoo3GY7hOKw7ejNvcAWzC3ftHAXnQudjq_SR6n/s400/IMG_1325.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407514363969999810" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">(The Tasmania gang after a non-stop weekend. [Narawntapu, Tasmania])<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7H5dItxMiBOM5eRlK4rNp7RVQ7bvQudmgAcK7WPtSvwKAUguhqBUOUHlnW3SvV86lYrdRtNXWRvoqgG__v-4iqRdJORjBHSJsSZv8R9p2LanmWvGWxIRNXkovCckGRjir0ZRHFHvnztGW/s1600/IMG_2400.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7H5dItxMiBOM5eRlK4rNp7RVQ7bvQudmgAcK7WPtSvwKAUguhqBUOUHlnW3SvV86lYrdRtNXWRvoqgG__v-4iqRdJORjBHSJsSZv8R9p2LanmWvGWxIRNXkovCckGRjir0ZRHFHvnztGW/s400/IMG_2400.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407514349672593314" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">(Rock climbing. That was some kind of red algae stuff. [St. Helens, Tasmania])<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSbrgnmp7GntVUynvwgAOBWacQahWPb5olVA0C7xbkFZantuOT_rXaO8T1RsuNyX0rX4IZPznZWBSSbW18EPhVQQntyZzfDVWj9GSvK31pECM-ew3arexCu4T9QouhsigR2PUEK-MMhWCd/s1600/IMG_1244.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSbrgnmp7GntVUynvwgAOBWacQahWPb5olVA0C7xbkFZantuOT_rXaO8T1RsuNyX0rX4IZPznZWBSSbW18EPhVQQntyZzfDVWj9GSvK31pECM-ew3arexCu4T9QouhsigR2PUEK-MMhWCd/s400/IMG_1244.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407512812055563074" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">(The Cadbury chocolate factory. [Hobart, Tasmania])</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsHOzNUBdq5IP9rOte-9mCCsOELs69-XyfSI740NQtzYLOTlQMYD3yuLHHMsWD_50ImZTfqdI99e41bP3sESCJ3QYDfWL-4FmoT5c4IqgKNJTjZlVRlNh19bhGow0vm7M95Rb-foP4e_Y-/s1600/IMG_1235.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsHOzNUBdq5IP9rOte-9mCCsOELs69-XyfSI740NQtzYLOTlQMYD3yuLHHMsWD_50ImZTfqdI99e41bP3sESCJ3QYDfWL-4FmoT5c4IqgKNJTjZlVRlNh19bhGow0vm7M95Rb-foP4e_Y-/s400/IMG_1235.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407512803141837938" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">(It was windy. I thought I was going to be blown off the mountain. [Mt. Wellington, Tasmania])</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7xvcCp4RIAIKPXceN3aPE6HbMYpZcNuNZemWKhNyf5e9fenTGsCiRt8iyIhm9H3kq19XeUKKMfn7tXdQqCUdgWtNsV_N3qtuwWsNxOMxn258olz-Ho3Ul3qtP9C67AwP1luZLnwH987_U/s1600/IMG_1134.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7xvcCp4RIAIKPXceN3aPE6HbMYpZcNuNZemWKhNyf5e9fenTGsCiRt8iyIhm9H3kq19XeUKKMfn7tXdQqCUdgWtNsV_N3qtuwWsNxOMxn258olz-Ho3Ul3qtP9C67AwP1luZLnwH987_U/s400/IMG_1134.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407512794825410098" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">(No Hormisira Banksii but there were Pan rocks. I will explain more later. [Tasmani Peninsula, Tasmania])</span><br /><br /></div>Mike Sevillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14507112518498064784noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3806290657073971729.post-85233582405795643332009-11-04T03:23:00.000-08:002009-11-04T04:08:40.747-08:00B17: Snorkelling, Surfing and the Melbourne Cup<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD2xxhRWFoKMwUTibGNpRHIdeVorSIbkT6ykSNHpTV0qSXz9VwiAyFiTZ0sRMotMLewbiP4G1eeOEKa8fFEaykPHPqFnV_6-pRM-77edc-aV7xdpui_U8GcucMuD5jy37ZVjD6JkYGC-7K/s1600-h/DSC_7307.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD2xxhRWFoKMwUTibGNpRHIdeVorSIbkT6ykSNHpTV0qSXz9VwiAyFiTZ0sRMotMLewbiP4G1eeOEKa8fFEaykPHPqFnV_6-pRM-77edc-aV7xdpui_U8GcucMuD5jy37ZVjD6JkYGC-7K/s400/DSC_7307.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400215537540495602" /></a><div><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Verdana'"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;"></span></p><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; font-family:'Verdana', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">(Shredding the gnar at the world famous Bells Beach. [Bells Beach, Torquay])</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Verdana', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Verdana', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Hi!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Verdana', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Verdana', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Last week was the last week of instruction and many of my classmates were stressed out about finals. I am now in SWOT Vac (Study Without Teaching Vacation) which is the time when Australians study. You see, Australians mess around the whole semester by handing out beer on campus every Tuesday, playing on multiple sports teams, running many clubs that drink all the time, bush-walking in their beautiful national parks, and partying their brains out on the weekend. They don't do the whole study thing until SWOT Vac (I saw so many people crawling around campus today when I was at the gym). They were surprised to hear us going out of town for our SWOT Vac… for once, they said "Wait… don't you have to study?"</span></span></div><p></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Verdana'"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Verdana'"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY9X74UnupZIbSWeq7gFztbAujjyg5TOeT6ZzrMKwpq7bZiE_ykd1FV5ENPQRRD0y0ch5KqDvMGMaWQL-td2GdYjjnYJ68OWPSmLhMOBi0VbMiyFj6L-8OnKhznZfGu-7bXfqY9SUksyk1/s1600-h/IMG_0950.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY9X74UnupZIbSWeq7gFztbAujjyg5TOeT6ZzrMKwpq7bZiE_ykd1FV5ENPQRRD0y0ch5KqDvMGMaWQL-td2GdYjjnYJ68OWPSmLhMOBi0VbMiyFj6L-8OnKhznZfGu-7bXfqY9SUksyk1/s400/IMG_0950.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400214458898720770" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Verdana'; min-height: 15px; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">(Wait, I'm supposed to study that? [Lowe Theatre, Melbourne Uni])</span></b></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Verdana'; min-height: 15.0px"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Verdana'; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Saturday we went snorkeling at the </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Mornington</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> Peninsula. Known for its extensive sea grass beds and its mostly endemic sea weeds (about 60%), the spots we snorkeled at were different than </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">anything</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> I'd ever seen. After a lot of searching, we saw wide-eyed </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">pufferfish</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">/</span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">globefish</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, crazy starfish with 15 legs, menacing crabs, little crayfish, tons of salmon, fluttering rays, and a weedy sea dragon. What looked like a piece of seaweed from above, turned out to be the weedy sea dragon I had come to the peninsula to find; the same creature they promise to show you on the $66 tour. Anyway, </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Dawit</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, the Cal marathon runner survived his first swim in the ocean (he learned to swim the day before coming to Australia) and we all had a great time.</span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Verdana'"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Verdana'"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb7BtK7O77ZwxQs90tSuGxk96vvjT3jdwt4RVjcYllh72UnPGt59HHh1ouQmrwlIgF00k5_RkQe8EX_Ecz_1cMPQCNC1PWaqCtrPPwcsbFhRT9LXeeccrkRh9O1j1z9reiNPv-2zuOyxEA/s1600-h/F1000023.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb7BtK7O77ZwxQs90tSuGxk96vvjT3jdwt4RVjcYllh72UnPGt59HHh1ouQmrwlIgF00k5_RkQe8EX_Ecz_1cMPQCNC1PWaqCtrPPwcsbFhRT9LXeeccrkRh9O1j1z9reiNPv-2zuOyxEA/s400/F1000023.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400210773327894322" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px; " /></a></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b>(The weedy sea dragon. This seahorse was hard to find! [Portsea Pier, Mornington Peninsula])</b></span></div></span><p></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Verdana'"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3V9TkD2lcMk4-Jzm2bryrXj9yD6817sHq_JmtOlIemnCEwUeSywejeoWY_RF70WZhyJCUIjRM9bhyphenhyphen5PA0y1CiFFzy-JUG7zpltYIbV3T4sTGq9A4SLSFoKw65XahRCuMsToITexldP8f6/s1600-h/F1000019.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3V9TkD2lcMk4-Jzm2bryrXj9yD6817sHq_JmtOlIemnCEwUeSywejeoWY_RF70WZhyJCUIjRM9bhyphenhyphen5PA0y1CiFFzy-JUG7zpltYIbV3T4sTGq9A4SLSFoKw65XahRCuMsToITexldP8f6/s400/F1000019.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400210766834672498" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px; text-align: center; " /></a></span><p></p> <p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Verdana'; min-height: 15px; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">(My favourite fish in the bay. I couldn't make him puff up, though. [Rye Pier, Mornington Peninsula])</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Verdana'; min-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Verdana'"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I had to get my surf on again, so I planned another surfing trip for Monday. We rented from the surf club and brought Abdul down to </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Torquay</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> for his first taste of the riding the motion of the ocean. The five of us (Brian, Mari, Abdul, Michele and I) carved up the waves at </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Torquay</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> Point Beach and Bells Beach. </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Torquay</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> was packed, but the bright spot was that Abdul stood up on his first wave! Bells Beach, home of the Rip Curl surf competition every year, was on a shallow rock reef littered with my friend </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Hormisira</span></i></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></i><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Banksii</span></i></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">.</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> I caught some pretty sweet waves that I would have to jump out of early lest I end up "surfing" on rocks. When we got home that night, Abdul wouldn't shut up about our trip. He asked questions ranging from where he can get a wetsuit to where he can sign up for surf club. Needless to say, I think I showed him a good time. </span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Verdana'"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Verdana'"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAGBi2ZEZc89a47pdUjRsRWIZwrqBKr9ngOrVdZtwFx2oukM3vetrvPCXFFsAVnOdzMYQ6rXcPthyphenhyphenYkAGuTA90ppXH_anR8xOAMKLN2ZguiiMvmYv5RyW280Zn-5l6zoD14mLtnwuxBtM0/s1600-h/DSC_7554.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAGBi2ZEZc89a47pdUjRsRWIZwrqBKr9ngOrVdZtwFx2oukM3vetrvPCXFFsAVnOdzMYQ6rXcPthyphenhyphenYkAGuTA90ppXH_anR8xOAMKLN2ZguiiMvmYv5RyW280Zn-5l6zoD14mLtnwuxBtM0/s400/DSC_7554.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400210745929095218" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></a></span></p> <p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Verdana'; min-height: 15px; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">(Heading out. [Torquay Beach, Torquay])</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Verdana'; min-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Verdana'"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I heard about the Melbourne Cup in America… that's how huge this race is.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Verdana'; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Verdana'"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"></span></p><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">"On the first Tuesday in November the nation stops for a horse race, the </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Melbourne</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> Cup (www.racingvictoria,net.au). In Melbourne it's cause to have a day off - never mind that it is the only race in the world that has a public holiday…it's watched by some 700 million people in 170 countries."</span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"></span><p></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Verdana'; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Verdana'"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">It must have been huge if it caused me to dress up in a suit and to pay $58 to get into. Luckily it did not </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">disappoint</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">. What did </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">disappoint</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> were the horses that I chose. In the pooled bet we had with our friends, Abdul picked "Shocking" and I went with "</span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Fiumicino</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">", horse # 3 and </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">jocky</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">-ed by "Steven King". "Shocking" came in first; in other words, Abdul picked the winner of the Melbourne Cup! "</span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Fiumicino</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> placed 22</span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">nd</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> in a 24 horse race (with one scratched before the race). I decided to place a real bet on the last race. Going with Maggie's lucky number 8, I threw $5 down on "Juggle the Books" which would have given me a $105 payout had I won. "Juggle the Books" didn't place in the top 10 of the 17 horse race.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Verdana'; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Verdana'; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd5ZwY3jfbiUZnwZzL2oac9dHYOS1GxhqE6jOALBaEZgC04WrVjhUJzIbNBKXSjYY40y7gnWHDgt_y-Om-omRHdcQmZk4nxLu4Yx_aZUWZIjGFS9cKGkkMVbkKxv0fsWTrb4SPma08jm9R/s1600-h/IMG_1028.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd5ZwY3jfbiUZnwZzL2oac9dHYOS1GxhqE6jOALBaEZgC04WrVjhUJzIbNBKXSjYY40y7gnWHDgt_y-Om-omRHdcQmZk4nxLu4Yx_aZUWZIjGFS9cKGkkMVbkKxv0fsWTrb4SPma08jm9R/s400/IMG_1028.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400212035349035554" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></span></p> <p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Verdana'; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">(Here are our front row seats! [The Melbourne Cup, Flemington Racecourse])</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Verdana'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Verdana'"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">What was more fun was seeing all the drunk Australians and the women with their funny hats. All the men had sunglasses and were </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">coral ling</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> their girlfriends around. We had many conversations with the older ladies who were so tipsy and made the funniest comments about how American we were. One of them even took a bite of Brian's </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">sandwich</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> that he was holding. What a country!</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Verdana'; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Verdana'"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">With that whirlwind of activity behind me, I can now concentrate on studying… not! I'm going to go play some </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">FIFA</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> and plan my trip to Tasmania. Why study today when I can study tomorrow?</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Verdana'; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Verdana'"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Until then,</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Verdana'; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Verdana'"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Mikey </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Doo</span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Verdana'"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Verdana'"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Foo_SauGd08R5FKP-ZvKkQb2KkMKPBGzrLjdvIkUePewgOPlqLf4gamX0bur6GRNa0wxqNuLtkgkJHkhGyyTvsVZjMW5zIFyulOszRi96HU2r2yk46dJmC2kqEaiRusFas5D3xecsmm-/s1600-h/IMG_0971.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Foo_SauGd08R5FKP-ZvKkQb2KkMKPBGzrLjdvIkUePewgOPlqLf4gamX0bur6GRNa0wxqNuLtkgkJHkhGyyTvsVZjMW5zIFyulOszRi96HU2r2yk46dJmC2kqEaiRusFas5D3xecsmm-/s400/IMG_0971.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400210759921786562" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Verdana'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">(We got some funny looks when we carried our foam boards into this territorial surf spot! [Bells Beach, Torquay])</span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Verdana'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></b></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Verdana'"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilGusi6gFrI5ZeWh9BDWcOt-flxH91IJ5wxDAuhtmp36d9pwSEfBasS8puUQPvRM-Ghq2I6RU381JahlufbvUx9J2mXvHDflDl5_g9q5a65eIaaxQO47v0cjXkm1DipRuj3LKwmJZUjcsH/s1600-h/13441_1198027704170_1032810035_30692048_6490527_n.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilGusi6gFrI5ZeWh9BDWcOt-flxH91IJ5wxDAuhtmp36d9pwSEfBasS8puUQPvRM-Ghq2I6RU381JahlufbvUx9J2mXvHDflDl5_g9q5a65eIaaxQO47v0cjXkm1DipRuj3LKwmJZUjcsH/s400/13441_1198027704170_1032810035_30692048_6490527_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400212436784882914" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">(Abdul showing off his winnings. What a punk. [The Melbourne Cup, Flemington Racecourse])</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></b></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx0kz12nEuRP450K0syeWak2qIaWup51jB2rQO4olgPYLeCrISfBKROpLwhb-WJa7pNuoOhgHYPRvzBDEPcEH1tHoiES1WlUA5wHy8wBKInMVOnRJeBaFJH6ZpQP-RjyhQbICg0uSfjxh4/s1600-h/IMG_0988.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx0kz12nEuRP450K0syeWak2qIaWup51jB2rQO4olgPYLeCrISfBKROpLwhb-WJa7pNuoOhgHYPRvzBDEPcEH1tHoiES1WlUA5wHy8wBKInMVOnRJeBaFJH6ZpQP-RjyhQbICg0uSfjxh4/s400/IMG_0988.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400212047774198194" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Verdana'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">(It was packed with funny hats galore! (The Melbourne Cup, Flemington Racecourse])</span></b></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div></span><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzFISIeorDLkKkpvoxVloGas-qRO0tlDILEbJzck5c3WwoZMr2JRg34SRkzUu9-LRwUc7PkgqoYRZYMTp7Fcg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">(Abdul bragging again. Geeze, I hate losing. [The Melbourne Cup, Flemington Racecourse])</span></b></div>Mike Sevillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14507112518498064784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3806290657073971729.post-41036929103824969822009-10-25T03:38:00.001-07:002009-10-25T04:30:53.793-07:00B16: The Academic Home Stretch<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3kccmP6xXR3h3s3PL0JpNiYSjtKcN2bZchD6JhwOfZPs1juWHGpDBtUgaCH1YB19874M7z2-Q_H57Uh-4cLE4UeIVIChp_ErErTQKEkWnLRkRbePOUFJf-qo1sPkJBokdFPKgeBeyd2Zy/s1600-h/IMG_0807.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3kccmP6xXR3h3s3PL0JpNiYSjtKcN2bZchD6JhwOfZPs1juWHGpDBtUgaCH1YB19874M7z2-Q_H57Uh-4cLE4UeIVIChp_ErErTQKEkWnLRkRbePOUFJf-qo1sPkJBokdFPKgeBeyd2Zy/s400/IMG_0807.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396489791057742626" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">(Perfect day in Australia. You can see the fortifications built to fight back the tide to keep the fort safe. [Fort Nepean, Mornington Peninsula])</span><br /><br />Hi!<br /><br />School has been going smoothly. Well, it always goes smoothly in the 'pre-final lull', but things should be heating up soon. My Statistics final, which is worth 80%, should be very steamy indeed. Globalisation is very vague and hopefully I can "crap on" (Australian term) about America, and how I'm American, and how I grew up in America, and how I have an American accent in order to sound like I am globalised and, hence, deserve a good grade. We are talking about seaweeds and seagrasses in Biology and that would be incredibly boring if I hadn't…<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_eEgAD4U3MJ124J1rA6uMk_eJg4D_dVXHu9-o1lo8OA-z2BMs6C-naZWYXbLC9ctLwN-JIkPhv4s-8OtTqS9BvAPJn0C_iDRLadGlxUMHAT7az4XOso-I5eMuSM8ZXs10hJ3HPnikfcA0/s1600-h/DSC_6525.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_eEgAD4U3MJ124J1rA6uMk_eJg4D_dVXHu9-o1lo8OA-z2BMs6C-naZWYXbLC9ctLwN-JIkPhv4s-8OtTqS9BvAPJn0C_iDRLadGlxUMHAT7az4XOso-I5eMuSM8ZXs10hJ3HPnikfcA0/s400/DSC_6525.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396487350222065602" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">(My feet were killing me because I was standing on pointy rocks! Gotta' work on my Queensland feet. [London Bridge, Mornington Peninsula]</span>)<br /><br />… gone to Mornington Peninsula 2 weeks ago! Often overshadowed by the Phillip Island penguin parade, the Mornington Peninsula was cheaper and more outdoors-ee. All along the Mornington Peninsula beaches were heaps and heaps of <span style="font-style: italic;">Hormisira banksii</span> which I gladly squishd between my toes. Highlights of the camping trip with Brian and Mari included, in addition to the pristine beaches, the historical Fort Nepean (built on tip of peninsula for war time), the London Bridge (not the same as in Port Campbell), and Cape Shanck (home of the blue-ring octupus). I also turned on the gas stove and pitched the tent all by myself.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8E0FeWhIfCrS9feFMgjK6aJTtMveC0v1BkxfHPnpco0z-1oB64sRs-IDJRJMOYku4m-Yy5_UUX3MMrP1AL9vYxAeSQRcKys6rI-Q1yDLktR_GGDo2sq4utsEGx91aN6bnV2H5qKGWXDG8/s1600-h/IMG_0583.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8E0FeWhIfCrS9feFMgjK6aJTtMveC0v1BkxfHPnpco0z-1oB64sRs-IDJRJMOYku4m-Yy5_UUX3MMrP1AL9vYxAeSQRcKys6rI-Q1yDLktR_GGDo2sq4utsEGx91aN6bnV2H5qKGWXDG8/s400/IMG_0583.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396491311151272322" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">(This is <span style="font-style: italic;">Hormisirii Banksii</span>. This was actually taken at Wye River, but its abundance at the Mornington Peninsula made me want to show what I was slushing through all weekend. [Mornington Peninsula])</span><br /><br />The next weekend, I took Brian's (driving manual with my left hand!) car and drove Mari, Michele, and Maureen up to the Dandenong Ranges. Home of the famous lyre bird, this documentary, by Abdul's favourite documentist, David Attenborough, was shot in the forests we went hiking in. Actually watch the video… it is amazing. We climbed the Kokoda trail, which is meant to show the treacherous conditions that Australian soldiers dealt with when fighting the Japanese. Powering through the famouse Eastern lyre bird trail and Sherbrook Falls trail, we were bush-walking fiends! I only made the car start smoking once. Note to self: learn what is under the hood of a car when I get back to America.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUPkv7wRovyZdB7-AVGfs3ixJ28Fra3pZPGqJIYpxY42eJhIGzbe9Ow3bp3D5vy-0CV7pfwebyjJf-xXmOYyhZEwlciSlkEBoKg19zkIKm8Pl4x-OAdW3iqIYcCfd22xku4kGVsUGe0BhZ/s1600-h/IMG_0908.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUPkv7wRovyZdB7-AVGfs3ixJ28Fra3pZPGqJIYpxY42eJhIGzbe9Ow3bp3D5vy-0CV7pfwebyjJf-xXmOYyhZEwlciSlkEBoKg19zkIKm8Pl4x-OAdW3iqIYcCfd22xku4kGVsUGe0BhZ/s400/IMG_0908.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396488965013926866" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">(Some Australians gave me some birdseed to attract the huge cockatoos. They also asked me when I was going back to America before I even told them where I was from! How did they know?!?!? [Eastern Lyre Bird Trail, Dandenong Ranges]</span>)<br /><br /><object height="405" width="500"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/VjE0Kdfos4Y&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&border=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/VjE0Kdfos4Y&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="405" width="500"></embed></object><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">(Ok, I'm not kidding. Watch the video. It was filmed in the Dandenong Ranges! This is also Abdul's favourite documentist.)</span><br /><br /><br />Don't worry, I'm not only hanging out with Americans. Abdul invited me to play "futsal" on Tuesday since our campus sport season is over. It is like soccer except:<br />- the goalie acts like a kamakazi and comes out on the field all the time.<br />- after a goal, the defending team stands on a line and the other team kicks it right at them, like a shot on goal, but it always hits the human wall. I did plenty of ball-protecting.<br />- there are only 5 on the field.<br />- it is played on a basketball court.<br />- it hits the ceiling.<br />Not to blow my own trumpet, but I scored 4 goals and we won 7 to 3. The other goalie came up to us afterwards and "reckons" our team can win "the whole thing". Australians do a lot of reckoning.<br /><br />Abdul and I also went to the zoo and we saw some animals there. It makes me sad that I will be leaving soon. With that in mind, we planned a last hurrah for the couple of days after finals. We plan to go to Swan Hill, his hometown for a little taste of the outback. Then possibly a roadtrip down to the coast so I can teach him to surf and he can show me where he went to high school (right near Sydney). Hopefully it all works out for the best. Besides, I have to enjoy myself before I cone back to America and catch Swine Flu.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-pwFinV0HxqVQaQ07KpJiXQl5Hr2qDziZyu-CJlmz_XEhY6XAA2OXXwzKs4zv2V84dDMvLR_y-lwMk9aB66ZeYDF6XH0IdoVwi0OVarFoeSwjzPISDQ0abEW5CCaWVS4sthaUuawqGh1A/s1600-h/IMG_0707.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-pwFinV0HxqVQaQ07KpJiXQl5Hr2qDziZyu-CJlmz_XEhY6XAA2OXXwzKs4zv2V84dDMvLR_y-lwMk9aB66ZeYDF6XH0IdoVwi0OVarFoeSwjzPISDQ0abEW5CCaWVS4sthaUuawqGh1A/s400/IMG_0707.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396487324928534946" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">(These are echidnas, my favourite Australian animal. They are monotremes, meaning they lay eggs and have reptilian-like limbs. They 'breast feed' despite the fact that they have no nipples. Their penises have four heads and they are known for their "mating trains" where multiple males, sorted according to size, follow (in a line) and attempt to copulate with a female. [Royal Melbourne Zoo, Melbourne])</span><br /><br /><br />I booked my tickets to Tasmania for the end of November. They were only $28! My goal: capture a Tasmanian Devil and bring it back to Kimmy.<br /><br />Until then,<br /><br />Mikey Doo<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6JxiUt1z7WOWvE1sGCxTvdyQtiXcvroKWJ7jQQEAhmoEqSFMa00IXHkaUpqRlVdlxj69iWVtY_BEhR6Dga4bN2BNxFo-OKgPV67L11MecGUjP-BL0HCugnQcvyj4fFKqkGyGdQG5gGQVF/s1600-h/IMG_0901.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6JxiUt1z7WOWvE1sGCxTvdyQtiXcvroKWJ7jQQEAhmoEqSFMa00IXHkaUpqRlVdlxj69iWVtY_BEhR6Dga4bN2BNxFo-OKgPV67L11MecGUjP-BL0HCugnQcvyj4fFKqkGyGdQG5gGQVF/s400/IMG_0901.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396488958128089570" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">("Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree, merry merry king of the bush is he..." wait, they are sitting on fence posts and they aren't singing; they are waiting to steal our food. [Eastern Lyre Bird Trail, Dandenong Ranges])<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGNdmx75vJREnPPftkfCc0tFP2jOYfSXomaFTxgr-RliMMgGFzvt01tLd1kkAEkZg9rU0QmfW19yyabeLwzACfu3d9T3dg9ExrQYWtJLB0itkskUgU3I7USMcAo8pcAmfkBZfm1ZA0QbDx/s1600-h/DSC_6481.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGNdmx75vJREnPPftkfCc0tFP2jOYfSXomaFTxgr-RliMMgGFzvt01tLd1kkAEkZg9rU0QmfW19yyabeLwzACfu3d9T3dg9ExrQYWtJLB0itkskUgU3I7USMcAo8pcAmfkBZfm1ZA0QbDx/s400/DSC_6481.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396489800952933154" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">(Chilling on a lookout tower. The sea behind is where a former Melbourne Mayor went missing during an afternoon swim. His famous last words: "I know these seas like the back of my hand." [Fort Nepea, Mornington Peninsula])</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPPJT9N7WQFsXUEN4pW_ja8BwZFVEjH5pTlFkSYaKq6g4Ml_jEtTsrKctEwyj4m545qFOGIdCApem7Kp-tybfwIHNaLdNsB0RdpO72xGo1wqiuV42aDJ8jB1G8xCEQTzaouSdoJyT8uKoJ/s1600-h/IMG_0784.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPPJT9N7WQFsXUEN4pW_ja8BwZFVEjH5pTlFkSYaKq6g4Ml_jEtTsrKctEwyj4m545qFOGIdCApem7Kp-tybfwIHNaLdNsB0RdpO72xGo1wqiuV42aDJ8jB1G8xCEQTzaouSdoJyT8uKoJ/s400/IMG_0784.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396487332763200002" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">(This is now Mike's seat. The hikes here were short and there was a chair lift that will soon make them even shorter. [Arthur's Seat, Mornington Peninsula])</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpVo_FixP1Fff8OyURcBHdQrKODDxKopE180PXVj6agkQlt56rHdO0gNQ-v4L1DsnSD4UpY36uZq-k8tC8bCyHs1apNeY6t9I5Kdp0jWxvBZ-4Dy3Jkf6RlPgR9wNklWv5YqGiUJxAIiH6/s1600-h/IMG_0911.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpVo_FixP1Fff8OyURcBHdQrKODDxKopE180PXVj6agkQlt56rHdO0gNQ-v4L1DsnSD4UpY36uZq-k8tC8bCyHs1apNeY6t9I5Kdp0jWxvBZ-4Dy3Jkf6RlPgR9wNklWv5YqGiUJxAIiH6/s400/IMG_0911.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396488979609420818" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">(Auntie Amy, I found out about the Dandenongs from your friends list. Thanks! The thing I liked the most about the Dandenongs were the many different kinds of trees. Ferns and eucalyptus were abundant and everything was flowering. [Eastern Lyre Bird Trail, Dandenong Ranges])</span>Mike Sevillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14507112518498064784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3806290657073971729.post-36911591381102259712009-10-11T04:18:00.000-07:002009-10-24T22:29:14.520-07:00B15: Surfing the Great Ocean Road<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4AdphbdTD6DcMME7bwfRTcHDUd5czNgFEdqubO9zqFSo_wDi6Dk744GQUZBFTwNMD3vFSbf7MrO0VwA4KlFHDa2Q5NXtcfzBqUsycROxY5TFc50Xx4P-ngS1WaVSgMHrWa8iDdEkJItxG/s1600-h/Screen+shot+2009-10-11+at+10.35.39+PM.png" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 231px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4AdphbdTD6DcMME7bwfRTcHDUd5czNgFEdqubO9zqFSo_wDi6Dk744GQUZBFTwNMD3vFSbf7MrO0VwA4KlFHDa2Q5NXtcfzBqUsycROxY5TFc50Xx4P-ngS1WaVSgMHrWa8iDdEkJItxG/s400/Screen+shot+2009-10-11+at+10.35.39+PM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391304948599565010" border="0" /></a></span><p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12px;"><span><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(Jumping off the rocks in Lorne sucks! The surf was large, weak, and incredibly fun. This is where we entered the water. [Lorne, The Great Ocean Road])</span></span></b></i></span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Hi!</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 15px;font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This weekend I went down the Great Ocean Road again to our surf camp. On the way down we hitched a ride with an Aussie economics major who is applying to study abroad in Santa Barbara. He was pretty stoked that we wer from California and we talked about everything random, like cars, or the American Civil War, or the Chinese language, or surfing reefs, or Michele Obama, or Aboriginals. We also talked about our hopes for a good swell and warm waters.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 15px;font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">After going too far and ending up at Kennet River (where all the koalas are) we finally ended up Wye River. We stayed in another clubhouse, the Wye River Lifesaving Club. It was very homie. It is interesting how there are all these little hostel-type clubhouses on the coast with places to board and cook in the kitchen. It reminds me of ski resorts that board their employees during ski season. I wonder why America doesn't have these little lifesaving clubs?</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 15px;font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 15px;font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 15px;font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12px;"><span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRkYZs18rOYi3tBqDCKZUitpt6jm2XR1SoBjGJzFbadcqIVaQNevAaFKKn6MKMxXpzjeZlJCrJ1Zj6FO-efN-InfM7qYMaQvxlmLvpjN-JaZEY4_64t7Prcoe_TNZWM7p05W4B9q2QOaVH/s1600-h/IMG_0604.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRkYZs18rOYi3tBqDCKZUitpt6jm2XR1SoBjGJzFbadcqIVaQNevAaFKKn6MKMxXpzjeZlJCrJ1Zj6FO-efN-InfM7qYMaQvxlmLvpjN-JaZEY4_64t7Prcoe_TNZWM7p05W4B9q2QOaVH/s400/IMG_0604.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391304277163518370" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a></span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12px;"><span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(The Wye River Life Saving Club. Looks small because it is. At least this time there weren't 90 people with 60 beds... There as also a koala in the tree to left, it isn't pictured here. [Wye River, The Great Ocean Road])</span></span></i></b></span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Friday night we surfed Wye River (not actually a river, just a beach where the river feeds into the ocean). It was big and choppy and incredibly difficult to get out past the waves. The waves were inconsistent but still super fun to ride and I enjoyed them in between conversions wtih a guy from Chile who was "Chillen" out there. Saturday morning we surfed Wye River twice and it was more of the same: unpredictable, tiring, but fun. I ran into one of the Aussies from the last surf trip and she invited me out to Lorne to her favourite break. That afternoon, we (Chilean, Brazilian, Norwegian, Philipino, Aussies [two], and American [Brian]) packed up and drove down the windy road to Lorne. </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 15px;font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 15px;font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio5gh890S6fLy-rlY3uCf-Z9Ab8uZhCKUlufZ13O97cBy5hzt6jvsdgGAIkU_KmlHU_fM5XnMYTkGBtts3X24a4O7r6kEzOrukogHHV7Y0p0OJ5mExG0wR1HB-D9MfIl-BFyEqmKZkkTE0/s400/IMG_0542.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391303152733244722" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12px;"><span><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(Wye River. There was a bird's nest and it actually swooped screeching. We had to put our hoods on and run away. [Wye River, The Great Ocean Road])</span></span></b></i></span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">At Lorne I borrowed the Brazilian's board and we jumped off hte rocks into the blue waters. Ignoring the sheila's advice, I paddled to the left and soon found myself paddling on top of a rock literally. The middle of my board was sitting on top of a rock and I was paddling and not going anywhere. Other than that, I surfed great and the waves were pretty endless. We would catch waves and ride them all the way to the beach (about 150 metres away) and have to get out and run back up the rocks and jump back in. It was nice being able to surf a fiberglass board… the big foam ones are clunky and usually end up hitting me in the head.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 15px;font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The next day (Sunday) we went back to Lorne and I got to see the first big crowd of beachgoers in their bathing suits (bathers). We surfed the beach break which felt nice and safe. I watched the little Aussie children shred it up and they watched me do handstands on my board.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 15px;font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I also got to explore the tidepool at Wye River. My feet are taking a beating, but I feel that that is for the better in case I am in Irvine and ever need to walk home barefoot in the wee hours of the morning. Brian and I saw fishermen, salmon, starfish and crabs. We actually saw more dead wild life than living wild life! We saw a dead seagull, a dead crap, a dead fish, a dead jellyfish, and a dead penguin. The waters were clear as day and as warm as a bathtub. </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 15px;font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 15px;font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 15px;font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeXa52qZ5xmwu2aiJoTOwSAv14DPwkqXIrnS_tdsEtkt40-QuAjA18yUAAbhtDm7drq2-Pih70ZtE6jYj21Ldti1Hjc1Dstxj5bBYSweDh65DFWbOoLBngVHE2UfkcNUivpQKN8SEfdsiu/s400/IMG_0531.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391301883975608834" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></span></p><p style="margin: 0px; text-align: left; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 15px;font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(Spring time in Melbourne. Evidence of cauliflory is in the foreground. The leaves grow from the stem of the tree. [Carlton Gardens, Fitzroy])</span></span></i></b></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px; text-align: left; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 15px;font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px; text-align: center; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 15px;font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px; text-align: center; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 15px;font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTmWzLB7P1r4dzKyAHs4Ol-k4t_utrpL2g5Np8jFbaoWJ8-2mYBFy794n5_LU1I3kG3zQSX1VAszImHgMJBZpHA4c-J_peUWOF2MRbvr2d-4inws-5Gs0rz6jkUq5ImZgjI9decRckPFn-/s1600-h/IMG_0588.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTmWzLB7P1r4dzKyAHs4Ol-k4t_utrpL2g5Np8jFbaoWJ8-2mYBFy794n5_LU1I3kG3zQSX1VAszImHgMJBZpHA4c-J_peUWOF2MRbvr2d-4inws-5Gs0rz6jkUq5ImZgjI9decRckPFn-/s400/IMG_0588.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391310811037761282" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12px;"><span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(Blue waters and pointy rocks. [Wye River, The Great Ocean Road])</span></span></i></b></span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It's amazing how all the students I've met are so generous. They take me places, let me borrow their fiberglass boards, and are never too busy to give little tips that can make my life easier. It seems like all their experiences are so unique and so culture oriented. I have so much to learn. On the flip side, Aussies and international students like to drink, play games, and talk very loud. Sleeping is also something they don't like to do. Hence I didn't sleep much and am extremely tired. Next week I'm going to try and look into flights to Tasmania and my housemate and I are going to the zoo!</span></span></p> <p face="'Times New Roman'" size="12px" style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Until then,</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 15px;font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Mikey Doo</span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjenInzEGN-o3C_SsqkzFEqO1Grg9yyX89sGO4UCvSnhv_HoD-T2yzs_3ZSeKNhr7Ie03c0UHTzAC-tMNYXJGtQ9W2UFswN254bvx2RCQUk3Spn8ES47U82KPTcCT7REEgHZEF_RHmjP-GO/s400/IMG_0601.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391310850073205586" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(Wye River Beach. Pretty good swell. [Wye River, The Great Ocean Road])</span></span></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMpCDjWdwqPVQFeyhmCXTt25qBasdPgmoM6igaB0C71Ws4mPWZRLpdJKIYznoXDpQrOo_llfDop98m6NFU4VZG9dWfgvj3iP_w1sfU6ZwpbScb0Mx3TugG39hYQoo8G0oLiVrdo5MVgyt4/s1600-h/IMG_0596.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieKPwU07ji9njZ8hX5VZmPWYYewvBacGmcIhVha8P9fxnzqW8CEQw4yTCBruiHtRBrO41_lkCe5bjbpAdcZB4Gbq4DM_3APqGCwpYe7l7oA7ZhL8ET9cBDFdm0blBnZlEEwLoSfyJZhcHV/s400/IMG_0596.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391310839471188706" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" /></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><b><i><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMpCDjWdwqPVQFeyhmCXTt25qBasdPgmoM6igaB0C71Ws4mPWZRLpdJKIYznoXDpQrOo_llfDop98m6NFU4VZG9dWfgvj3iP_w1sfU6ZwpbScb0Mx3TugG39hYQoo8G0oLiVrdo5MVgyt4/s1600-h/IMG_0596.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(A starfish with 8 legs? [Wye River, </span></span></a></i></b><b><i><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMpCDjWdwqPVQFeyhmCXTt25qBasdPgmoM6igaB0C71Ws4mPWZRLpdJKIYznoXDpQrOo_llfDop98m6NFU4VZG9dWfgvj3iP_w1sfU6ZwpbScb0Mx3TugG39hYQoo8G0oLiVrdo5MVgyt4/s1600-h/IMG_0596.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Great Ocean Road])</span></span></a></i></b></span></span><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></i></b></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi16BgadrggufsBrbpLhzmwv-1GKtQjNNTpO-W1dutWzmiMsNpsOnGjgoZQBG94GtjWvJMJnTEZkwB7rQ4l24Cd6WqtlLzsOYOjAdmK56CcGHKhsfqef2EH5DpKjLCFCu7fGCoWZ3DcFnm4/s1600-h/IMG_0594.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi16BgadrggufsBrbpLhzmwv-1GKtQjNNTpO-W1dutWzmiMsNpsOnGjgoZQBG94GtjWvJMJnTEZkwB7rQ4l24Cd6WqtlLzsOYOjAdmK56CcGHKhsfqef2EH5DpKjLCFCu7fGCoWZ3DcFnm4/s400/IMG_0594.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391310831320719634" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" /></a></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(Getting the feet wet. I had to run away because that wave soaked that rock. [Wye River, The Great Ocean Road])</span></span></div></i></b></span></div><div><span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></i></b></span></div><span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg92w1gyT52otxbCo57JJ1ZwYt82kp3XW5pmd1XngkwoQymwCan-sIXXUJ192swyC39DTuBcrs3UTbwVLHmXIClKEcEsEItf8ibes_yqZhYoa6JvWo1jOXFChI15TRJyWxV6hivAv7MRRLv/s1600-h/IMG_0558.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg92w1gyT52otxbCo57JJ1ZwYt82kp3XW5pmd1XngkwoQymwCan-sIXXUJ192swyC39DTuBcrs3UTbwVLHmXIClKEcEsEItf8ibes_yqZhYoa6JvWo1jOXFChI15TRJyWxV6hivAv7MRRLv/s400/IMG_0558.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391303166155822050" border="0" /></a></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(Rock fishing. He was going for salmon. [Wye River, The Great Ocean Road])</span></span></i></b></span></div></div></div>Mike Sevillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14507112518498064784noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3806290657073971729.post-88289547870603697202009-09-29T05:44:00.001-07:002009-10-06T03:31:33.553-07:00B14: The Great Barrier Reef and Cape Tribulation<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQb2luBORIG9WvgK6QBshyphenhyphenQPKp0OqB_Er5ll9TxKK1_X1YFwRl2V-9HDc9Ccg42pEdYcOPE9zUtBv0A3kQg8UPl29_04qSHn_Uw-hGiptYMQrqSTzy9wteUGiD3VDnNE2fAAgE5RYe1mlh/s1600-h/D1000018.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQb2luBORIG9WvgK6QBshyphenhyphenQPKp0OqB_Er5ll9TxKK1_X1YFwRl2V-9HDc9Ccg42pEdYcOPE9zUtBv0A3kQg8UPl29_04qSHn_Uw-hGiptYMQrqSTzy9wteUGiD3VDnNE2fAAgE5RYe1mlh/s400/D1000018.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386876875963881714" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">(You have to get super close with the underwater cameras. The guide said if you listened, you could here fish munching on the coral... I never heard it. [<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Mackay</span> Reef, The Great Barrier Reef])</span><br /><br />Hi!<br /><br />I'm skipping my blurb about school because that's boring. I burst through the school doors and threw my papers and pens in the air in joy for it was uni break! I ran home and packed for Cairns (pronounce "Cans") and was on my flight the next day. Being an airhead, I thought my flight was an hour when in reality it was 4 hours. Boy was I surprised. The next day Michele (Berkeley), Maureen (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">UPenn</span>) and I picked up our Toyota <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Altise</span> and drove to Cape Tribulation.<br /><br />Sunday was all about driving. I (not Michele, not Maureen) drove through roundabouts and yields and left handed off ramps and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">speed bumps</span> with huge rocks on them and humongous signs with arrows pointing in every direction and didn't die. We stopped at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Mossman's</span> Gorge and my inner nerd was revealed as I swam around with goggles and did some "cliff diving' off some of the boulders. That night we made it to Cape Tribulation campground.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsdf4wlRj-d0ag7Ip3bGwRNhuSf2JDQvxFxzC2v3gwRRV0F6yqlGm2-MgZFaV_NfabXhz_oiGqQvNlOizlbnVt0eQwwrgDpsVMAxJTrOtBEUEwRvrGHVW9WZSRNOWdV6tXq7VtX0KTEZhm/s1600-h/IMG_0193.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsdf4wlRj-d0ag7Ip3bGwRNhuSf2JDQvxFxzC2v3gwRRV0F6yqlGm2-MgZFaV_NfabXhz_oiGqQvNlOizlbnVt0eQwwrgDpsVMAxJTrOtBEUEwRvrGHVW9WZSRNOWdV6tXq7VtX0KTEZhm/s400/IMG_0193.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386871247858070690" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">(The 2km track was boring, but on a scorcher like that day, it was nice to swim in the swimming hole. [<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Mossman's</span> Gorge, Queensland])</span><br /><br />Monday we climbed Mt. Sorrow. Michele, who jogged half dome, said it was the hardest hike she has ever done and I could tell she was telling the truth because her face was the color of a cherry. We made it to the top, through the tropical <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">rain forest</span>, leech and tick free (it hadn't rained in a while) and saw a rather <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">inspiring</span> view from a dinky platform. Defying all logic and common sense, I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">jubilantly</span> followed an Aussie through a bush onto a secret trail with a drop off on both sides (like the Devil's backbone at Zion). We made it through, climbed a boulder and I was greeted by this view:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnvEYSUbyf_vW1bATCwzIDaQOWFd1X3J3SMK0j4Q2qypTr5y-ZUX6LGq2cd4kt4JVLUjB7w-_axRuHVNI-v4ctBQi-HldtP82mT8Qby-1KucHkumrKeLGD3z8MrCfSibTvj17p3J99MRra/s1600-h/IMG_0246.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnvEYSUbyf_vW1bATCwzIDaQOWFd1X3J3SMK0j4Q2qypTr5y-ZUX6LGq2cd4kt4JVLUjB7w-_axRuHVNI-v4ctBQi-HldtP82mT8Qby-1KucHkumrKeLGD3z8MrCfSibTvj17p3J99MRra/s400/IMG_0246.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386871260982996226" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">(View from the second lookout of Mt. Sorrow. The <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">drop off</span> from here is freaky... Mom, my tummy went "Wee wee". [Mt. Sorrow, Cape Tribulation])</span><br /><br />On the way down I swung from branches and pretended that I was Tarzan.<br /><br />Tuesday was the reef trip. It was the most jaw-dropping thing I have ever seen I was so happy. I saw <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">dam =selfish</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">parrot fish</span>, a huge <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">puffer fish</span> (that followed me with one eye), a stunning stingray with blue specks, and some of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Nemo's</span> cousins. Some of the fish were as big as my torso and some were as small as my fingernail. The captain of the boat said he saw me diving to the bottom and asked what I saw. He knew what I was talking about and gave me little lectures about the ability of the fish I saw to change sexes, colors, or habitats. I wanted to touch the reef so badly, but I refrained because it damages the reef and would infect my hand. I remember being so caught up in the moment, that I was the only one in the water (everyone had returned to the boat). Time ran out and I wanted to cry because I didn't want to leave. I pathetically kicked my way back to the boat with one leg because I stayed out there so long that I acquired a muscle spasm in my right leg. One of the crew members smiled at me when I got onto the boat… I didn't smile back. I didn't want to leave :(.<br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPLN5nl_DQ-31d2bAwCiqoidIN-yWt3xswZt2etqrmdzjAWiEcHLy_zIZCkuv-SftQVn-wuLgDB0JSeC-nMQrinXYB5YqlNpEQwkx5sNS9t6CgZJ3NWLAP6mkl1RVIaMeIAbM6DtAjKv13/s1600-h/D1000005.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 265px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPLN5nl_DQ-31d2bAwCiqoidIN-yWt3xswZt2etqrmdzjAWiEcHLy_zIZCkuv-SftQVn-wuLgDB0JSeC-nMQrinXYB5YqlNpEQwkx5sNS9t6CgZJ3NWLAP6mkl1RVIaMeIAbM6DtAjKv13/s400/D1000005.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386874188102200946" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">(Making a dive. Dad, there was no seaweed to roll around in like in La <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Jolla</span> Cove. Diving down was always scary because I would take pictures and turn around and there would be coral right all around me. [<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Mackay</span> Reef, The Great Barrier Reef])</span><br /><br />Wednesday was Jungle Surfing (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">ziplining</span>) and exotic fruit tasting. Jungle surfing was a little lame… but hanging 23 metres in the canopy of the oldest continuous <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">rain forest</span> in the world was pretty awesome. My favourite fruit from fruit tasting was the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">jakfruit</span>, which tasted like <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">starburst</span> and could weigh up to 40 kilos (90 lbs!).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhITVZKQhHT_BwmXvzOS21ge87As-bVLMGdEqJgF9WsVeswINDO78Mri9d5I8ihVU7B0G7FXN-LjqxK3iFtQmoKcyOw1Y0K10MPKSz6HQpKB2A8FH9QOs89FNL38gBBgs_9nKmmojeK5-lP/s1600-h/IMG_0430.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 383px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhITVZKQhHT_BwmXvzOS21ge87As-bVLMGdEqJgF9WsVeswINDO78Mri9d5I8ihVU7B0G7FXN-LjqxK3iFtQmoKcyOw1Y0K10MPKSz6HQpKB2A8FH9QOs89FNL38gBBgs_9nKmmojeK5-lP/s400/IMG_0430.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386873242816810802" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">(This is a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">jakfruit</span>. Weird, huh? The little ones in the basket are Black <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Sapote</span> (left) and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Soursop</span> (right). Juanita, I also bought some <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">flaxseed</span> oil, but it tastes terrible! Grandma <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Sevilla</span>, the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">leche</span> (called <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">Longan</span>) was terrible here, it was nothing like the ones at 99 ranch! [<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">Daintree</span> Ice-Cream Company, Cow Bay])</span><br /><br />Thursday was <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">Paddletrek</span> (sea kayaking) and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">croc</span> spotting. Our kayaking guide Troy was like a little kid and was eager to show and talk about wildlife. He talked about <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">Dugongs</span>, turtles, and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">crocs</span>, but all we saw were sea hawks, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">mud skippers</span>, white tailed rats, and crabs. He took us some secret hikes to beautiful rock views and exotic <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33">croc</span> rivers. At <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34">croc</span>-spotting, we saw 0 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_35">croc</span>(s) and I actually fell asleep on the boat. I guess it was a pretty hectic week.<br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKcyZdGBkEb3v9gDq2l3W9TljhlpEOwWBTmnfz1aS8nSuRW1zcXFFAUhgyxlNrxPCRKmNuzGEeKUM8_ZK9M10CHxR5iYaUEmfgVe0_QRjznTDhslsM0238VA27I6INMXacuIt-WgKaU3sK/s1600-h/IMG_0402.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKcyZdGBkEb3v9gDq2l3W9TljhlpEOwWBTmnfz1aS8nSuRW1zcXFFAUhgyxlNrxPCRKmNuzGEeKUM8_ZK9M10CHxR5iYaUEmfgVe0_QRjznTDhslsM0238VA27I6INMXacuIt-WgKaU3sK/s400/IMG_0402.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386876117268167986" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">(The dust came all the way from Sydney. They said it hadn't been this bad in 70 years... but the view from sea kayaking is still amazing. [Cape Tribulation, Queensland])</span><br /><br />Friday we drove back to Cairns and returned the car. We also visited the Cairns Botanical Garden and walked along the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_36">Centenery</span> saltwater and freshwater ponds. We spent the rest of the day exploring the city, drinking tropical smoothies and browsing exotic markets.<br /><br />I took my 5:45AM flight home and read about 3 pages of "The Fountainhead" before passing out.<br /><br />This trip to Queensland was all about "firsts". This was the first time that I…:<br /><blockquote>- have had my luggage lost by the airlines. I got a free t-shirt and I wasn't even that upset. I guess I'm starting to gain the Australian stress-free outlook on life.<br />- thoroughly enjoyed a good campfire. We met new blokes (men) and sheilas (women) <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_37">every night</span> at the campfire and they loved talking about America and our backwards governmental system. Frequent topics of discussion included leeches, evading the Australian government, getting "Queensland Feet", salties (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_38">crocs</span>), leaving star wars toys on Mt. Sorrow, tea, cassowaries, free diving on the coral reef, drinking, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_39">dropbears</span> (imaginary bush creatures), spearfishing crayfish, and good bush tucker (food).<br />- was embarrassed for not picking up a bug. A woman saw me pushing a huge rhino beetle across the floor with my <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_40">sandle</span> and she said "it's not gonna bite ya'" and picked it up and put it outside. You don't understand… this rhino beetle was a solid 4 inches and SQUEALED when she picked it up.<br />- felt sad while snorkeling. Much of the corral was bleached and broken. Talking to Paul, a free-diving <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_41">spearfisher</span>, he said he didn't' expect the reef to last 10 years. What I saw I might never see again…<br />- did not freak out over ants. There was an ant the size of my fingernail in my shirt and when I pulled it out I didn't even scream! It was a green tree ant… I didn't quite have the courage to lick its abdomen to get the "lime" taste that they are famous for.<br />- went <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_42">croc</span> hunting through the forest by myself. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_43">Everytime</span> one of those bush-fowls moved, my head spun because I thought it my be a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_44">croc</span>. The fishermen said they were out earlier that morning, but on my solo excursion through the mangroves, I didn't find any.<br />- had to take a ferry with my car. Cape Tribulation sure is secluded!<br />- walked through the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_45">rain forest</span> barefoot. I pretty much walked everywhere barefoot, shirtless, drenched in sweat. Just like the little bush children. I felt like a true Australian.<br />- spent over $80 on bug <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_46">spray</span>, sunscreen, and aloe. Braving the elements is expensive … those <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_47">mozzies</span> (mosquitoes) are persistent.<br />- realised that spending money isn't always terrible. I had the time of life and will cherish these memories forever. I can't recall a time in my life when I have ever been so incredibly happy.</blockquote><a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhShwSeL_2YmQjXfUIpKLe9kYgZ64K_QAaSmvfbEU5HizxZ3lM5fA3ACNUvXa2CHiyshfAAdk4Ztd7dkyO51UELt_JNArAM4-J43NYLRXgZNDQk3f9dF8tICLe0L03ClHZZ94xcfDLLG6T3/s1600-h/IMG_0518.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhShwSeL_2YmQjXfUIpKLe9kYgZ64K_QAaSmvfbEU5HizxZ3lM5fA3ACNUvXa2CHiyshfAAdk4Ztd7dkyO51UELt_JNArAM4-J43NYLRXgZNDQk3f9dF8tICLe0L03ClHZZ94xcfDLLG6T3/s400/IMG_0518.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386876125925826290" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">(Since I know you all want to see my "Queensland Feet"! [<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_48">Dreamtime</span> Hostel, Cairns])</span><br /><br />Sorry for the long blog entry. I'll try to cut down the next one. Next weekend is another surf camp!<br /><br />Until then,<br /><br />Mikey <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_49">Doo</span><br /><a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLN5paPbXlY3VoghmrHtvzpwYS6khjBxet7MZs5pyfrUweE2-QL-AmHPvsJNZOKp5wC5N8jLZ8RhYz9GOB7qVSL4DaJzZ2COUJZ_sAnFSByXH8RAgXs7HtMJoE_MSLXAV2_Hzxzg8lCncR/s1600-h/IMG_1865.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 216px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLN5paPbXlY3VoghmrHtvzpwYS6khjBxet7MZs5pyfrUweE2-QL-AmHPvsJNZOKp5wC5N8jLZ8RhYz9GOB7qVSL4DaJzZ2COUJZ_sAnFSByXH8RAgXs7HtMJoE_MSLXAV2_Hzxzg8lCncR/s400/IMG_1865.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386873234907664834" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">(Beaches that I dream about. This is one of the only places in the world where the sea meets the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_50">rain forest</span>. This looks like a picture that would be hanging in Grandma Suzie's house. [Cape Tribulation, Queensland])</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNS7oyspzE9nZK84-6YG9K3de_0NTu4FrputNOYTdUHxC2kdI4Uv48TfjSsrHef3KyNN81j3EfXEpicZYM6zbCFOqhIrFUAnKLT-yAnUMXG23Wm590MC7y06ToEW4Qysf76DaB6MHbjVFd/s1600-h/D1000003.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNS7oyspzE9nZK84-6YG9K3de_0NTu4FrputNOYTdUHxC2kdI4Uv48TfjSsrHef3KyNN81j3EfXEpicZYM6zbCFOqhIrFUAnKLT-yAnUMXG23Wm590MC7y06ToEW4Qysf76DaB6MHbjVFd/s400/D1000003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386874178558302482" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">(I took 27 pictures in 10 minutes. I was too trigger happy and didn't get any pictures of big fish or stingrays. Oops! [<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_51">Mackay</span> Reef, The Great Barrier Reef])<br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span><a style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF0BUfFUVcRB0tjoGv0pSiSqhAuSuaHHaO21VfNe1CF2Ot0YTgFd9HzqANHJImS7LE1w4OVdaXb3pk3-bynbF1K0vUoL1sHcrUs2BUaV3amyztM7QdMJJJu1Pc0u5Twe9932B6GfW7NSyC/s1600-h/IMG_0404.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 246px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF0BUfFUVcRB0tjoGv0pSiSqhAuSuaHHaO21VfNe1CF2Ot0YTgFd9HzqANHJImS7LE1w4OVdaXb3pk3-bynbF1K0vUoL1sHcrUs2BUaV3amyztM7QdMJJJu1Pc0u5Twe9932B6GfW7NSyC/s400/IMG_0404.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386873253585196098" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">(Aboriginal markings on our bodies. We rubbed ochre (a type of rock) together and it made paint. We also had fresh coconut (as evidenced by the pile in the background). [<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_52">Paddletrek</span>, Cape Tribulation])</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmW_oPLloYAvEpxf5b8Lpc2ALMf6aqqCy6ROL8Hp3kw_PreknnKdLSob4d2CEQWHEDcMTuyw53O0rzXzqvoDyCGJ6Ik-uVOYJmiuMProIIe_ylD6AhqOwpJfAbr92saLoFBUUL29Un1Spm/s1600-h/IMG_0229.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmW_oPLloYAvEpxf5b8Lpc2ALMf6aqqCy6ROL8Hp3kw_PreknnKdLSob4d2CEQWHEDcMTuyw53O0rzXzqvoDyCGJ6Ik-uVOYJmiuMProIIe_ylD6AhqOwpJfAbr92saLoFBUUL29Un1Spm/s400/IMG_0229.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386871266154197394" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">(<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_53">Epiphytes</span> and buttress roots were characteristic of the tropical rain forest. [Mt. Sorrow, Cape Tribulation])</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Sf7PXKClOSDs3Rke6CGuBNyM22X_J2cAUOqvodaW2XBDkx7zTC2OALRTldkm1LGfQmNWjeQPJjaT8xJX6mS-3_VlfgvMzkpnQrL7S5WkD_FgLrX2tvURWnKuRi1j6_plLhQIwTitT_LS/s1600-h/IMG_0342.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Sf7PXKClOSDs3Rke6CGuBNyM22X_J2cAUOqvodaW2XBDkx7zTC2OALRTldkm1LGfQmNWjeQPJjaT8xJX6mS-3_VlfgvMzkpnQrL7S5WkD_FgLrX2tvURWnKuRi1j6_plLhQIwTitT_LS/s400/IMG_0342.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386876134761735522" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">(<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_54">Ziplining</span>. Kimmy, it wasn't as fun as you said it was in Hawaii! Upside down I thought I was going to hit my head. [Jungle Surfing, Cape Tribulation])<br /><br /></span><a style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhliBOOwdYUyIwDGtp2et8YhV8RQl1K3LtKOV2Lc2oclVlJS5R5-BplPTs7FBZjsw3-nb1um1VR2FJTRjq4CtmiaGEBRwtZVdC2rxOnJdHXIWncXUujeAiS_1H_wCA3uQRGSOfE3rPthnYq/s1600-h/100_4100.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhliBOOwdYUyIwDGtp2et8YhV8RQl1K3LtKOV2Lc2oclVlJS5R5-BplPTs7FBZjsw3-nb1um1VR2FJTRjq4CtmiaGEBRwtZVdC2rxOnJdHXIWncXUujeAiS_1H_wCA3uQRGSOfE3rPthnYq/s400/100_4100.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386874167604656354" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">(Where the "salties" live. The yellow mangrove leaves take up all the salt and fall off. Alexandra, doesn't the water look like the water from the "It's a small world ride" at Disneyland? [Coopers Creek, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_55">Daintree</span>])</span>Mike Sevillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14507112518498064784noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3806290657073971729.post-5961030700478612192009-09-17T05:41:00.000-07:002009-09-17T06:13:29.051-07:00Mt. Hotham and Great Alpine Road Pictures<a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvlX6rvge6BbGCvYCfBl1RYgHTLP4JTK0onVKh9r8X46RG2HFURvMVToSCKoj5VmxXoru7JEnVeqDgt-PxaSNTNvknCgur6NH1mq7o1kiOKDTjfJ0ZKi0cmzFYdDLCrtZrDvvc4eSltMBT/s1600-h/DSC_4982.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvlX6rvge6BbGCvYCfBl1RYgHTLP4JTK0onVKh9r8X46RG2HFURvMVToSCKoj5VmxXoru7JEnVeqDgt-PxaSNTNvknCgur6NH1mq7o1kiOKDTjfJ0ZKi0cmzFYdDLCrtZrDvvc4eSltMBT/s400/DSC_4982.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382420206222744386" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">(Snowboarding with Eucalyptus trees in the background. [Mt. Hotham])</span><br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjtvPfAorrECyXGB5UThcTpeJ-8N0e-D4SEYRi3lkL-000wu4w_IELJfeoOCdQdkJeYSI8i8XkuLnPyovnEl_iRhLS1BW2mR9_DPBhs4AthE3Blg3dTISNIBZFJc9Ajr1X9T1T4DrNBr1k/s1600-h/DSC_5067.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjtvPfAorrECyXGB5UThcTpeJ-8N0e-D4SEYRi3lkL-000wu4w_IELJfeoOCdQdkJeYSI8i8XkuLnPyovnEl_iRhLS1BW2mR9_DPBhs4AthE3Blg3dTISNIBZFJc9Ajr1X9T1T4DrNBr1k/s400/DSC_5067.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382420229547129106" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">(Egg & Bacon Peas (Fabaceae) attract bees with their large, showy petals. The markings are nectar guides for the bees. [Apex Lookout, The Great Alpine Road])</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3n7i-cn-JGRmYjzqeL-yEwVIOVOBarqmiCg3Bwnrt8zfD0UW0hpU8ezVQvtnHk1HmzHuvRZNrrU3NsAF99AsQA4it8pn66TK1LKqZ9OY-XZrWNT4zJWvqrRa6nVL34tz9ZWNjTdzsRG8I/s1600-h/DSC_4991.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3n7i-cn-JGRmYjzqeL-yEwVIOVOBarqmiCg3Bwnrt8zfD0UW0hpU8ezVQvtnHk1HmzHuvRZNrrU3NsAF99AsQA4it8pn66TK1LKqZ9OY-XZrWNT4zJWvqrRa6nVL34tz9ZWNjTdzsRG8I/s400/DSC_4991.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382420215391766850" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">(The Grevillea (Proteaceae) is characterised by its tepals (long petal parts sticking off). These tepals secrete nectar and attract birds (because they are red). When the bird drinks the nectar, the tepals bop the bird on the head which deposits pollen. Hopefully, the bird will help spread the pollen. [Apex Lookout, The Great Alpine Road])</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcy3Ip5ABEH5PWcjV71K6ZQ12cBOgowQ0gVVAwoCNDpHynDyUaR3oBXBcpqEzj7Oe20INSMGQ6nRAF1a7Y3EhmV86-un9_FBn124nBR9mFFAVZcLQJVCXze2f5uJSOaRsgJY3fWV1MY0R2/s1600-h/DSC_5022.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcy3Ip5ABEH5PWcjV71K6ZQ12cBOgowQ0gVVAwoCNDpHynDyUaR3oBXBcpqEzj7Oe20INSMGQ6nRAF1a7Y3EhmV86-un9_FBn124nBR9mFFAVZcLQJVCXze2f5uJSOaRsgJY3fWV1MY0R2/s400/DSC_5022.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382422099274093090" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">(This is a termite (Isoptera) mound. Australia has 15% of the termite species in the world. These mounds are excellent at managing the environment and the inside is usually kept at 95% humidity. [Apex Lookout, The Great Alpine Road])</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5-gXpOGb2mTBekJUKAHaqQj2H2q3Iy_0WPfUWanfFDf5cijYndIgO8EkP_-iFfW0KHOLqCi-JioMCHTsTlml4dGYGjRhJKVipJSwi5zkQeoH7y3wME_7WwZ_dUyoVNxoR3Micjkezfast/s1600-h/DSC_5220.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5-gXpOGb2mTBekJUKAHaqQj2H2q3Iy_0WPfUWanfFDf5cijYndIgO8EkP_-iFfW0KHOLqCi-JioMCHTsTlml4dGYGjRhJKVipJSwi5zkQeoH7y3wME_7WwZ_dUyoVNxoR3Micjkezfast/s400/DSC_5220.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382422105470874226" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">(Upper falls at Eurobin. Despite the name, there was no bin full of euros anywhere on the hike. [Eurobin Falls, Mt. Buffalo])</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6n9tWMQa0BmGWPPW8hGvIk3U9GcB4vQPE1UoVAjUZKEUfhgBEehyQqL_KdBr6P1XNnHrVBKhv5P8yXllW_8QWCPIE3znvianqiraA9KugkR_GzWVVKfe1o9JR54jgXI0-HFHrj-Wb5U_Y/s1600-h/DSC_5263.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6n9tWMQa0BmGWPPW8hGvIk3U9GcB4vQPE1UoVAjUZKEUfhgBEehyQqL_KdBr6P1XNnHrVBKhv5P8yXllW_8QWCPIE3znvianqiraA9KugkR_GzWVVKfe1o9JR54jgXI0-HFHrj-Wb5U_Y/s400/DSC_5263.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382422114897150098" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">(You can barely see the platform for para-sailing. The idea is to run down that wooden runway and jump off the cliff... [Underground River, Mt. Buffalo])</span>Mike Sevillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14507112518498064784noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3806290657073971729.post-55535881646501613462009-09-13T06:03:00.000-07:002009-09-13T13:48:35.784-07:00B13: Mt. Hotham and The Great Alpine Road<a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP6lHD93rr-j0EdsPr4KtaXqa0Qiy9Vqe018iN7kryNBSptzbx-ENy1B7wc8gXBIeE3ebFRhIUubGfIONR2xLDUTeRr0w0q1OLPGoGoJpG-XzQealMRupzP10g42V56WW9200-YKUoPzwF/s1600-h/IMG_0016.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP6lHD93rr-j0EdsPr4KtaXqa0Qiy9Vqe018iN7kryNBSptzbx-ENy1B7wc8gXBIeE3ebFRhIUubGfIONR2xLDUTeRr0w0q1OLPGoGoJpG-XzQealMRupzP10g42V56WW9200-YKUoPzwF/s400/IMG_0016.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380938305647666386" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">[The runs were a little slushy but the rides were awesome. Uncle Mike - Not as fun as Colorado, but I didn't fall on my face on any of the jumps this time! [Mt. Hotham, The High Country])</span><br /><br />Hi!<br /><br />I will refrain from putting up too many pictures until I get the ones Brian took. Check back on Wednesday!<br /><br />School - From what I heard back home, Australians are super difficult on grading essays, so I put a lot of time and finally got my result back last Friday. I got an H2A (B) and some very encouraging comments (Kimmy and dad, thanks for all the help with the essay!):<br /><blockquote>"Great work, Mike. Your rhetorical flair makes this essay a pleasure to read. Structuring your essay around the what, where and how points demonstrates an independent approach to the material. Your solid summaries of the articles and clear, independent argument demonstrate a good understanding of the key issues in the globalization of food and cultural imperialism more generally. A more nuanced analysis of Watson's argument would have articulated the complexity of cultural hybridity and strengthened the focus on how we eat through the analysis of cultural practice."<br /></blockquote>I have a mid-semester test that I have coming up in Biology and have been listening to lectures on my iPod on my way to class, and have been attending extra tutorials for Statistics.<br /><br />The week - Monday I tried Eritrean (African) food and Tuesday I scored 2 goals, but The Jersey Boys tied, 7-7. The fire lit inside me and by the end of the game, I was yelling at the referee in Spanish with sweat dripping down my face. Wednesday at baseball, I got to touch the Uni Games championship trophy and lamented over the fact that I wouldn’t get to help Melbourne defend their crown. Before I knew it, it was the weekend.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeZq_aoaIhERsBYEabdbtrP3UJJKyJxc3n4_Cc6FrzUXtg4mfcPBqcX7ke5twA0UXhiOIb9d85YnX3iCQyUWlGfcYgV0d8bpXtI3TM9hnD15D66xYLDL1TOVU_qcDgG7uEiOmII2B8KH6t/s1600-h/IMG_5003.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeZq_aoaIhERsBYEabdbtrP3UJJKyJxc3n4_Cc6FrzUXtg4mfcPBqcX7ke5twA0UXhiOIb9d85YnX3iCQyUWlGfcYgV0d8bpXtI3TM9hnD15D66xYLDL1TOVU_qcDgG7uEiOmII2B8KH6t/s400/IMG_5003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380938339996905506" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">[My friend, Dawit, took my housemate and I to try food from the country he grew up in, Eritrea. The bread was citrus-like and this lamb meat was tasty. I admit, that the best part was the baseball game (Arizona v. Colorado) playing on the big screens. [Footscray, Melbourne])</span><br /><br />On the weekend, Brian, Mari and I went snowboarding up in the “High Country”. Taking the Great Alpine Road (not as magnificent as the Great Ocean Road), Mari and I held on to the car handles as Brian recklessly took hairpin turns up to the top of the mountain. We arrived at Mt. Hotham, rented our equipment and hit the mountain. For the second half of the day I wore jeans because ski pant rentals cost $46 for a half day… When you are the only ski resort in town, you can charge an arm and a leg. I did my jumps, didn’t break an arm, watched Brian yell at Mari (“Mari, put your skis back on!”) and explored the runs lined with Eucalypt forests and weird insects embedded in the snow.<br /><br />Sunday was all about seeing the Great Alpine Road as we took 4 short hikes and a 4 wheel drive excursion. Tons of feces littered the road and we took note of the fact that we need a scat book for the next time we go hiking. I ran from plant to plant spewing useless information about the genus and special adaptations of the fauna. I was able to identify most of the plants and feel that this should substitute for my review for my mid-semester test. Mari asked if I was “this energetic as a kid”.<br /><br />I also learned some things from my trip. Back to the bullet points.<br />I learned that…<br /><ul><li>I don’t always need to be over prepared. Packing light and taking what I need is more important than bringing everything. This weekend we used a wood stick as a knife for our peanut and jelly sandwiches!</li><li>My first car is going to be 4 wheel drive, not an Acura (like Uncle Ed’s).</li><li>I should appreciate flora more. Even though plants don’t move, they are still amazing. </li><li>The reason that mom and dad forced me to go on hikes was not to cause me pain. They just wanted me to appreciate what they always have: enjoying the outdoors with people you love to be with.</li><li>You don’t need ski pants to ski. Jeans work fine… if you don’t fall.</li><li>Don’t drink beer after snowboarding all day. Drink water instead.</li><li>Australians aren’t that different from Americans. I thought that Australians were all about the outdoors and having fun. In reality it isn’t a race or sect of people that can offer me what I want, but individuals. The people I have met here, Australian and American alike, are outgoing and by being outgoing myself, I am making the most out of my experience.</li></ul><br /><a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM7gX6mYEWf1kCW8Xq6j0h6FAEfTPKDWVC9vMqF8nKYiAhrZWD4sqp-mGFwlHNyeeEV7VO7jM5OYMaRjrZneND_h2G48KPu4lPaqoNd3ZSYyXfZ8qJTEyhSewenLzbBYOtBqBunsvj2R1x/s1600-h/IMG_0042.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM7gX6mYEWf1kCW8Xq6j0h6FAEfTPKDWVC9vMqF8nKYiAhrZWD4sqp-mGFwlHNyeeEV7VO7jM5OYMaRjrZneND_h2G48KPu4lPaqoNd3ZSYyXfZ8qJTEyhSewenLzbBYOtBqBunsvj2R1x/s400/IMG_0042.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380938325700854258" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">(They ended up closing many of the runs because of the wind. [Mt. Hotham, The High Country])</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhmCwE8FeIjBsEhmrojNyh4V0wpu2hXOwtT6WlXWl17y0QFwFipvlwMbAG_dFYOfYYQgZpm_Ej8X4QUQGTEWJGeVR43GSHtM4XseBcGs8hl2GyGFfGTag1sUUBJJxorXaOfBEzPSU-CUu_/s1600-h/IMG_0007.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhmCwE8FeIjBsEhmrojNyh4V0wpu2hXOwtT6WlXWl17y0QFwFipvlwMbAG_dFYOfYYQgZpm_Ej8X4QUQGTEWJGeVR43GSHtM4XseBcGs8hl2GyGFfGTag1sUUBJJxorXaOfBEzPSU-CUu_/s400/IMG_0007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380938297278088434" border="0" /></a><!--EndFragment--> <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">(Brian and Mari wrestling over a tim tam. I told you those things cause problems! [Porepunkah Caravan Park, Porepunkah])</span><br /><a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuA4Hslar8wZf2-HbBFCTWGkXSeeXZtepbHRd0lY-A-WksFPTFOAZQUtLWpXYcd8PdxGhrhim4HyLFN1rPIrfMtZ03GXqci-nzpYfLVOcWFW0IZxioFqotX8F-LWgSAqJ-FLiM0QRbQkOt/s1600-h/IMG_0143.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuA4Hslar8wZf2-HbBFCTWGkXSeeXZtepbHRd0lY-A-WksFPTFOAZQUtLWpXYcd8PdxGhrhim4HyLFN1rPIrfMtZ03GXqci-nzpYfLVOcWFW0IZxioFqotX8F-LWgSAqJ-FLiM0QRbQkOt/s400/IMG_0143.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380939303211706050" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">(Venturing from the trail in front of The Lady Bath Falls. Mom - Hiker Rick would be proud of me! [Eurobin Falls, Mt. Buffalo])</span>Mike Sevillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14507112518498064784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3806290657073971729.post-56168264880448371582009-09-07T23:37:00.000-07:002009-09-08T05:14:55.463-07:00Wilson's Promontory Pictures (from Brian's Camera)Ok mom, feel free send me a $1,700 camera any time now!<br /><br /><a style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWM3jIh9w7PKmml8V5Ka4-PK565RsEYMnxllbB0AenZgeL3U8Xh2WDsoiZHvow-CSLbfaJyIwapJrLR738Dz_Dv-ZAgUgSeMyJ0qPFsm1O2BGGjoRhJxQNOZGRQiwXgIyp-gvFPEQTvx9j/s1600-h/DSC_4281.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWM3jIh9w7PKmml8V5Ka4-PK565RsEYMnxllbB0AenZgeL3U8Xh2WDsoiZHvow-CSLbfaJyIwapJrLR738Dz_Dv-ZAgUgSeMyJ0qPFsm1O2BGGjoRhJxQNOZGRQiwXgIyp-gvFPEQTvx9j/s400/DSC_4281.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378986690706935122" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">(What a tight camera! The stars of the southern hemisphere. Look for the "Southern Cross". [Tidal River Campground, Wilson's Promontory])</span><br /><br /><a style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsuAqIg_uz0oMxivVYuZL__nP1l2HdSs6EcAcvCJVaRS94wbAonm9hkcdAFLzTmCtgg6YsziQzNrt9GUVAILLJZB33wfd0zWxpFmhCseOLENNbYKWAShrwomeMFok6xdhB6d1s3hw84IML/s1600-h/DSC_4276.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsuAqIg_uz0oMxivVYuZL__nP1l2HdSs6EcAcvCJVaRS94wbAonm9hkcdAFLzTmCtgg6YsziQzNrt9GUVAILLJZB33wfd0zWxpFmhCseOLENNbYKWAShrwomeMFok6xdhB6d1s3hw84IML/s400/DSC_4276.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378986680927441282" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">(Dancing in the moonlight... [Tidal River Campground, Wilson's Promontory])</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK4MVbfN5SP9rU9Alz923RvUlkgMOf7L5CN_jC42YrXH40sEiXD4OgSOa2WebQChTi3MgSGa9zgBXXGFEicDu24LyNgobLsQSm8xxj1zR4wpZE1qiRg0Wu_QVxLNo1IOSLc7bXfhyphenhyphenYHjhf/s1600-h/DSC_4659.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK4MVbfN5SP9rU9Alz923RvUlkgMOf7L5CN_jC42YrXH40sEiXD4OgSOa2WebQChTi3MgSGa9zgBXXGFEicDu24LyNgobLsQSm8xxj1zR4wpZE1qiRg0Wu_QVxLNo1IOSLc7bXfhyphenhyphenYHjhf/s400/DSC_4659.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378996285280762114" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">(Oof! [Mt. Oberon, Wilson's Promontory])</span><br /><a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyi5k4yy0QLrYUR9bwbTIjfyywvARPSt5rPf0rFZ8C5UGrR-A2bAMvgWmSAu67hjCt2jbJzkuSRhKwuffXZJtJ2uf9hS_MDO696SguwFNcvG_wtZsEfOH6hb7QKvpaXejSKBdlXrVryYnf/s1600-h/DSC_4345.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyi5k4yy0QLrYUR9bwbTIjfyywvARPSt5rPf0rFZ8C5UGrR-A2bAMvgWmSAu67hjCt2jbJzkuSRhKwuffXZJtJ2uf9hS_MDO696SguwFNcvG_wtZsEfOH6hb7QKvpaXejSKBdlXrVryYnf/s400/DSC_4345.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378995176931023218" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">(River of tea. [Tidal River, Wilson's Promontory])</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9wCjKpHumq8XiLXVOXtnw-2bXAhonuLjmDnckMxP9bafE-7EtGRg5U6jeJC8EQzEJw2t5VR34C_vBi6lH6HwSEv9u_JKwUsoNlJhPKCdlH3eEIDE6QTl-3B71xGCbR6qkc27F7tlGgzuR/s1600-h/DSC_4555.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9wCjKpHumq8XiLXVOXtnw-2bXAhonuLjmDnckMxP9bafE-7EtGRg5U6jeJC8EQzEJw2t5VR34C_vBi6lH6HwSEv9u_JKwUsoNlJhPKCdlH3eEIDE6QTl-3B71xGCbR6qkc27F7tlGgzuR/s400/DSC_4555.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378995170857757746" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">(Rock climbing. [Squeaky Beach, Wilson's Promontory])</span><br /><a style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Rk3CTQqDPEILUmLswAArl6zPixKA_QUlUDilI_OQ6rJS5KvFKAjsGcRQvcanGeZiDnByd8-ipemEdAI1JpUyuphRJuMNqbT031o4-s6iRSIFSrFVFA4pYwOZJtIFilI4Dz7aDwCHyQz6/s1600-h/DSC_4683.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Rk3CTQqDPEILUmLswAArl6zPixKA_QUlUDilI_OQ6rJS5KvFKAjsGcRQvcanGeZiDnByd8-ipemEdAI1JpUyuphRJuMNqbT031o4-s6iRSIFSrFVFA4pYwOZJtIFilI4Dz7aDwCHyQz6/s400/DSC_4683.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378993974776897170" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">(The group! From L to R: Elaine, Mari, Brian, Me, Dawit. [Mt. Oberon, Wilson's Promontory])</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhju1WAoTzv6FX2IHhNSVs8BnjxbHRF47aXfzMP8eM_yOQJVRj5k2IBLURIKlrtlTuxo6tSPYn8Dua5BqEqDLezDeRXM_8SSPEzIgSjjEIwqFn-L3UROf5p3YqPP_eVVn8faV4Hcehgwo6x/s1600-h/DSC_4300.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhju1WAoTzv6FX2IHhNSVs8BnjxbHRF47aXfzMP8eM_yOQJVRj5k2IBLURIKlrtlTuxo6tSPYn8Dua5BqEqDLezDeRXM_8SSPEzIgSjjEIwqFn-L3UROf5p3YqPP_eVVn8faV4Hcehgwo6x/s400/DSC_4300.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378993961038644690" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">(Giving San Diego some love using extra shutter speed and a flashlight. [Tidal River Campground, Wilson's Promontory])</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5d9mwNqF2e0aTFtyiIbgfnbrW9y9fLrYc20Lw9mec-qW2FvHfCrCOjtIKEwTDlv2E4WJnGKPiTQ1E5R58nrfM1tuO4VN198ndpi3qwHy6mmd0EfS3joSzuEaCnYIUQ_x_Vz5qXRVT7Qu4/s1600-h/DSC_4830.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5d9mwNqF2e0aTFtyiIbgfnbrW9y9fLrYc20Lw9mec-qW2FvHfCrCOjtIKEwTDlv2E4WJnGKPiTQ1E5R58nrfM1tuO4VN198ndpi3qwHy6mmd0EfS3joSzuEaCnYIUQ_x_Vz5qXRVT7Qu4/s400/DSC_4830.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378992879346496034" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">(The emus would slowly walk away and would disappear in seconds. Can you see why? [Cotter's Lake, Wilson's Promontory])</span><br /><br /><a style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLPeyhfAeqh6jywcnU48FWmOT2WQSBiqAmzw-w6PX3TP5JQXqJtnDmNdaoUXFd4zkvGWYIWxmvjk2Mq3ED4NslYqtK95hTkFFQAVagriniiX-Z09iG5F7bXqv6hyM395Abj8hYA8dWrTJo/s1600-h/DSC_4807.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLPeyhfAeqh6jywcnU48FWmOT2WQSBiqAmzw-w6PX3TP5JQXqJtnDmNdaoUXFd4zkvGWYIWxmvjk2Mq3ED4NslYqtK95hTkFFQAVagriniiX-Z09iG5F7bXqv6hyM395Abj8hYA8dWrTJo/s400/DSC_4807.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378992869983334402" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">(Wallaby. [Cotter's Lake, Wilson's Promontory])<br /></span><a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAZmN4UW6DYicCcxT4UvQJr22SgMUWAiA3kwjBOA2mcAEdR2bS1NmbW1qNvY5nCJwd3KIRG9ZvJii74lEQhejm4doRa5JpblaTqSHlJRDI2-J_twG9m_CGEZ2jkMDpTr4rGUFh2HlvgxgA/s1600-h/DSC_4502.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAZmN4UW6DYicCcxT4UvQJr22SgMUWAiA3kwjBOA2mcAEdR2bS1NmbW1qNvY5nCJwd3KIRG9ZvJii74lEQhejm4doRa5JpblaTqSHlJRDI2-J_twG9m_CGEZ2jkMDpTr4rGUFh2HlvgxgA/s400/DSC_4502.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379012800083753506" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">(I don't know what this, but it is definitely a sclerophyll. I'm guessing a lilly pilly... I better get back to studying Biology of Australian Flora and Fauna! [Lilly Pilly Gully, Wilson's Promontory])</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"></span>Mike Sevillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14507112518498064784noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3806290657073971729.post-79512136761419048332009-09-07T05:38:00.000-07:002009-09-07T15:11:02.618-07:00B12: Wilson's Promontory<meta name="Keywords" content=""> <meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"> <meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"> <meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 11"> <meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 11"> <link style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" rel="File-List" href="file://localhost/Users/Mikey/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip1/01/clip_filelist.xml"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>540</o:Words> <o:characters>3079</o:Characters> <o:lines>25</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>6</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>3781</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.773</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Times New Roman"; panose-1:0 2 2 6 3 5 4 5 2 3; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:50331648 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-parent:""; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style> <!--StartFragment--><!--EndFragment--><a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4CjOjfjk4b6isVBTYcXFg7jVJ29XvYp1ocbEWNghNyiz7n5MYTrs_YhgysbXpbADAX7kRUpWJxfGDjimcyv3Aslnb9alk5-mE9UjURLgP-qg_QiCLRA0KU_eVmrGLldIka6fKVc_714Vj/s1600-h/IMG_4978.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4CjOjfjk4b6isVBTYcXFg7jVJ29XvYp1ocbEWNghNyiz7n5MYTrs_YhgysbXpbADAX7kRUpWJxfGDjimcyv3Aslnb9alk5-mE9UjURLgP-qg_QiCLRA0KU_eVmrGLldIka6fKVc_714Vj/s400/IMG_4978.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378707440472579618" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">(Doesn't this look "So Australian"? [Cotters Lake, Wilson's Promontory])</span>
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<br />Hi!
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<br />I don’t know how these Australians do all the work, it seems like all they do is party but when it comes to tutorials, they all know what they are talking about. Maybe it’s just because I am terrible at biology and it takes me a little longer to learn what the benefits of Mycorrihizae bacterial symbiotic relationship are. Globalisation is really interesting, especially since we are talking about foreign aid and human rights. Getting into debates with Australians is so enlightening, despite the fact that they often debunk my arguments rather quickly. Research is tough, but now that I have a Perl programming book, things are running more smoothly (Auntie Mary, all those java classes I took have done me no good!). I worked very hard during the week, because during the weekend because...
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<br /><a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOFRXZ4QKefI3V-1IpLU_V083q09vP-lazp8jRadlx3uyCKP3xkVW01TSIEIp3Xr3lbRkD4Q3cgD5QIpZF1Fdfpb6vURIqAKdNsrloCebnfmsTSpLhJAPwvgnix5EHM_ohvp_QM5iRpclp/s1600-h/IMG_4921.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOFRXZ4QKefI3V-1IpLU_V083q09vP-lazp8jRadlx3uyCKP3xkVW01TSIEIp3Xr3lbRkD4Q3cgD5QIpZF1Fdfpb6vURIqAKdNsrloCebnfmsTSpLhJAPwvgnix5EHM_ohvp_QM5iRpclp/s400/IMG_4921.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378717826435258866" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">(Beautiful hike to Squeaky Beach from Pillar Point. The walks were slippery and the waves were massive. Luckily, I have my grip-grip vibrum hiking shoes! [Squeaky Beach, Wilson's Promontory])</span>
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<br />I went to Wilson’s Promontory! I went with Brian (UC Davis), Mari (Oberlin College), Dawit (Berkeley), and Elaine (George Washington University).
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<br />The hikes had a lot more water and beach with less rainforest. Tougher and longer treks were rewarded with panoramic views. I would reach the summits and put my arms up and pretend I was in a movie where the camera zooms out and circles me, encompassing the wonderful view. Wilson’s Promontory sits on the southernmost tip of Australia, on the Tidal River. The tidal river is dyed a nice shade of darkish red because the water runs through tea trees (I didn’t taste the water, but it looked like tea to me). We climbed enormous granite boulders, walked on the whitest beaches I have ever seen, and ate lunch on top of the windy peaks. We came back at night and cooked meat, marveled at the southern hemisphere star constellations, and made flashlight art with Brian’s $1,700 camera.
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<br />My favourite part was the animals. We saw roos (eastern grey kangaroos), waddling wombats, chubby wallabies, elusive emus, nasty leeches, irritating possums, scavenging rosellas, screeching magpies, ordinary crows, monster ants, shy centipedes, and one-legged seagulls (red legs and eyes!). I responded to the kookaburras that decided to “laugh” at 5 am with some shouts and spent a good portion of my meals chasing rosellas away. A wombat ran through Brian’s tent and left footprints on Mari’s pillow. Leeches in the sink prompted me to be as careful as possible when sitting on the toilet (stressful!). Drinking fountains were approached careful so as not to disturb the possum that decided to stop and deposit feces and urine. Seeing kangaroos hop around on the side of the road at night was fascinating because their movements are so unique and their reflective red eyes are so mesmerizing. Watching emus disappear (after Mari ran after them waving her arms in excitement) into the forest before my eyes was beyond frustrating. What struck me the most was the animals’ comfort with humans. Animals in Australia have no natural predators, so fleeing was never a necessity which allowed us to get up close and personal with the creatures.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimL1fNN9vpgcqjJGZMGWfDyoDCIdWB-tWjOpASUKMIA23iaNpBO8TkSxhu3MFi5jHW9TVHFNanntfANj_DtU8yN_hnupVgOQOB1JS8kfOn9o928cb9Qz1DPvCgTew8653k4Zn1aiwZ-7-j/s1600-h/IMG_4940.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimL1fNN9vpgcqjJGZMGWfDyoDCIdWB-tWjOpASUKMIA23iaNpBO8TkSxhu3MFi5jHW9TVHFNanntfANj_DtU8yN_hnupVgOQOB1JS8kfOn9o928cb9Qz1DPvCgTew8653k4Zn1aiwZ-7-j/s400/IMG_4940.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378705489361496754" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">(This is a wombat. He is a marsupial and makes loud noises that startle us in our sleep. The human is Brian. He hikes in flip flops. [Tidal River, Wilson's Promontory])</span>
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<br />Sadly, we didn’t get to go on ALL the hikes, but we did get to go on all that were open (except for 1). My favourite was the Mt. Oberon summit, which was a 2.5 hour hike that took us through eucalypt forests and to a panoramic view of the national park. The islands in the distance were mysterious and unexplored which made them all the more beautiful. We did many hikes and visited Squeaky Beach (white sands), Tidal Overlook (view of the tea river), Lilly Pilly Gully (lame), and Cotters Lake (actually a beach). I got on Dawit’s nerves because he wasn’t down for another 3.5 hours and was mad that I would even consider it.
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<br /><a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCoJfRG6Mb-zYeH7nqJu7-U0gzk1JiDfHwz_-duqZEZnVPKc1MeKXxOSN8fc2Xij9fWUuVIvroJ1_pLjA7z86A0Vx-NZ10xr8x_6YZCinRSxXuc9bjkrrCnWMUhfRdnKHy2f533AOtKGEk/s1600-h/IMG_4903.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCoJfRG6Mb-zYeH7nqJu7-U0gzk1JiDfHwz_-duqZEZnVPKc1MeKXxOSN8fc2Xij9fWUuVIvroJ1_pLjA7z86A0Vx-NZ10xr8x_6YZCinRSxXuc9bjkrrCnWMUhfRdnKHy2f533AOtKGEk/s400/IMG_4903.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378707471317405282" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">(The picture does not do justice to the blue water or the steep cliffs. [Pillar's Peak, Wilson's Promontory])</span>
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<br />So that was my adventure with nature. Next weekend, I don’t have anything planned, so hopefully I can have a relaxing 2 day vacation. This every-weekend-road trip way of life is wearing on me. I also booked my ticket for Cairns in Queensland for uni break. We are renting a car and camping every day. I guess Mike will continue to meet nature.
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<br />Soccer game tomorrow… I better get some sleep! Check back on Wednesday, I will try to have more pictures uploaded... my battery died halfway through the trip, so I didn't get very many pictures.
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<br />Until then,
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<br />Mikey Doo
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzDbjQN3F05AFpwPnzak1pxU4eQso69SWDRx7NptdOnD-VdjKrPlDmK5ronF6QziuJ1ccCJbtXq4lnTmiVI0w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div> <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">(Hanging out with the kangaroo. I get mad because he doesn't move. </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"> [Cotters Lake, Wilson's Promontory]</span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">)</span>
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<br /><a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9F1A6z8rEaAjQq_aI2c4HOfAXFbdLvwByn09m0DXMjpN17TF3Ezmjro4HQyN63cNO41iyRJSg0KitW9iORscjirDHKi8Icj_OXJb3GM23uANES69K-r9if4XWII_2S2QleD2d403E4Gkp/s1600-h/IMG_4995.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9F1A6z8rEaAjQq_aI2c4HOfAXFbdLvwByn09m0DXMjpN17TF3Ezmjro4HQyN63cNO41iyRJSg0KitW9iORscjirDHKi8Icj_OXJb3GM23uANES69K-r9if4XWII_2S2QleD2d403E4Gkp/s400/IMG_4995.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378707458572537346" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">(Is that wallaby pregnant or just stumpy? [Cotters Lake, Wilson's Promontory])</span>
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<br /><a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHCnK0SVeK659nL_gWy0_Ql-aJgYV8pQ8QXQuArp6sdf3ozGKLg4p6gGGKBeCGkLvup365yXBs2nbrLN8KruFfnB39VU1qd3GrCqa6-Tg045wOdR_9vyDbt_2zyKENLuNdF84417fyOI2x/s1600-h/IMG_4967.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHCnK0SVeK659nL_gWy0_Ql-aJgYV8pQ8QXQuArp6sdf3ozGKLg4p6gGGKBeCGkLvup365yXBs2nbrLN8KruFfnB39VU1qd3GrCqa6-Tg045wOdR_9vyDbt_2zyKENLuNdF84417fyOI2x/s400/IMG_4967.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378705515997076994" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">(Kangaroo meat... Grandma Suzie: we should just have this instead of turkey on Thanksgiving, it literally took 2 minutes to cook! [Tidal River Campground, Wilson's Promontory])</span>
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<br /><a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9rqAJRFzARubO4KKP2zmxbzVpQbomGY0pwdoR3tcK6tqJd1X0jBWjs9m3wIwBuX6OKp36rWhBkg-A0OHsYNuU3JObSqzdiojywGQ1g9sYTkq_mkcyjzCzbUIshtOU447akTocq4Z3BLyF/s1600-h/IMG_4926.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9rqAJRFzARubO4KKP2zmxbzVpQbomGY0pwdoR3tcK6tqJd1X0jBWjs9m3wIwBuX6OKp36rWhBkg-A0OHsYNuU3JObSqzdiojywGQ1g9sYTkq_mkcyjzCzbUIshtOU447akTocq4Z3BLyF/s400/IMG_4926.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378705507640154258" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">(Some Australian game. They threw the ball up, and chased each other, and threw the ball around. It was madness. Maybe I can teach this game to Michaela, Ryan, Max, Kiara, and Natalie! [Squeaky Beach, Wilson's Promontory])</span>
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYDfFG1LHlyxc4IBLWpQTJ9nO36P6tGnqpsux05FtRsuGQpR2UFoGzcy1J4LsIx-nh-_gbBdOokxRmmPMlU5NVSYVueYi9vNmhO6unbRHh70EExb0rrIB760lTr8-CSKEOjmUjln-iE-qz/s1600-h/IMG_4947.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYDfFG1LHlyxc4IBLWpQTJ9nO36P6tGnqpsux05FtRsuGQpR2UFoGzcy1J4LsIx-nh-_gbBdOokxRmmPMlU5NVSYVueYi9vNmhO6unbRHh70EExb0rrIB760lTr8-CSKEOjmUjln-iE-qz/s400/IMG_4947.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378719795121329106" border="0" /></a>
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">(Kangaroo Tail were everywhere. The base of the plants were burned, and it seems that the plants sprung to life after fire... almost as if they were waiting for the fire to pass through the area. [Lilly Pilly Gully, Wilson's Promontory])</span>
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<br /><a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQuV4U0LXPGE58vjoo3azAibNvpOy2SiK3j1zJbsmRpyV4cHYB7ApaYfYMEtiBx0XqJqEznHE6fxnO19Uk8M3jmbbQwg5jxQh6gF3g9Z3LbEfcul5j9z609GLR3bA5wbTvIyypklCaXYbX/s1600-h/IMG_4944.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQuV4U0LXPGE58vjoo3azAibNvpOy2SiK3j1zJbsmRpyV4cHYB7ApaYfYMEtiBx0XqJqEznHE6fxnO19Uk8M3jmbbQwg5jxQh6gF3g9Z3LbEfcul5j9z609GLR3bA5wbTvIyypklCaXYbX/s400/IMG_4944.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378719786491516178" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">(This is a charred Banksia plant right after a fire. The woody fruit must be opened by fire in order to germinate. This is one of the many adaptations of the sclerophyllous plants of Australia (thank you "Biology of Australia Flora and Fauna"!) [ Lilly Pilly Gully, Wilson's Promontory])</span>
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<br /><a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkxUchg-bdhEQTQf4JlyD3pQIMsQjEaQYEohZjzSc9_8FXUl6TUAK2Kzk6j0uPzRww2Y_oZpjySmBpw2QeTCE9VCJoR3nw4mwYeob_tRY9NAq3r-oZZ6G4ZSyTPFDR0bV3_VOtR906YjK6/s1600-h/IMG_4941.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkxUchg-bdhEQTQf4JlyD3pQIMsQjEaQYEohZjzSc9_8FXUl6TUAK2Kzk6j0uPzRww2Y_oZpjySmBpw2QeTCE9VCJoR3nw4mwYeob_tRY9NAq3r-oZZ6G4ZSyTPFDR0bV3_VOtR906YjK6/s400/IMG_4941.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378705497936812370" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">(Here Auntie Chrissy. You asked why they would need two flush buttons on the toilet... [Tidal River Campground, Wilson's Promontory])</span>
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPa4B04y3kB2C3wdvka96EF_53G1QhIT2GGLqERJhvADH5QHP5kF4ZHDkh2Lfyh42rhnxGTiVuzPHZxTGNSK7WmqCAiIkovUsz4a8CJAd_3FZIm9WsgxfTRWqTmqi8o9WHWJ0OB6psmap5/s1600-h/IMG_4894.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPa4B04y3kB2C3wdvka96EF_53G1QhIT2GGLqERJhvADH5QHP5kF4ZHDkh2Lfyh42rhnxGTiVuzPHZxTGNSK7WmqCAiIkovUsz4a8CJAd_3FZIm9WsgxfTRWqTmqi8o9WHWJ0OB6psmap5/s400/IMG_4894.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378705480628936914" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">(Before the kangaroo almost attacked me. I guess it didn't like me taking pictures because it started hopping quickly towards me. [Tidal River Campground, Wilson's Promontory])</span>
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<br /></div>Mike Sevillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14507112518498064784noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3806290657073971729.post-23380615966253383832009-08-30T01:55:00.000-07:002009-08-30T06:10:31.834-07:00B11: Not Wilson's Promontary...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiixCjbOQcNBXaA7JUURVXwqgiKESujPmdL_T_H-8w_6IbjCXwYlnfI-G3FPUaQtnOnP5ZD9I1d_tQP72dZpuRIHqs9H_uRQXcXaH6ofGeN5RqniQUZQXO-OQRsRI11zT9ae4NRfjqCBHyi/s1600-h/IMG_4723.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiixCjbOQcNBXaA7JUURVXwqgiKESujPmdL_T_H-8w_6IbjCXwYlnfI-G3FPUaQtnOnP5ZD9I1d_tQP72dZpuRIHqs9H_uRQXcXaH6ofGeN5RqniQUZQXO-OQRsRI11zT9ae4NRfjqCBHyi/s400/IMG_4723.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375683074388341346" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">(This is a red gum tree, a type of Eucalyptus in the family Myrtaceae. Eucalyptus were imported to America and were originally only endemic to Australia and Southern Asia. [Triplet Falls, Otway National Park])</span>
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<br /><meta name="Title" content=""> <meta name="Keywords" content=""> <meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"> <meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"> <meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 11"> <meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 11"> <link rel="File-List" href="file://localhost/Users/Mikey/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip1/01/clip_filelist.xml"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>752</o:Words> <o:characters>4291</o:Characters> <o:lines>35</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>8</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>5269</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.773</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Times New Roman"; panose-1:0 2 2 6 3 5 4 5 2 3; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:50331648 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-parent:""; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style> <!--StartFragment-->Hi!
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<br />Lost soccer game, didn’t make baseball playoff roster (not enough game eligibility), been spending every waking moment on the text mining research project, turned in a sub par biology assessment (it’s ok, I’m taking it pass no pass), and trying very hard to finish “The Fountainhead” by Ayn Rand.
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<br />What’s more interesting, as you can probably decipher from the opening picture, was my weekend. My friend with a car had to go to an Australia Football game for an assignment (what kind of assignment is that?), so we didn’t go to Wilson’s Promontory. No worries, I took a road trip instead. Ignoring the weather forecast (thunderstorms and high winds), we packed our tent, cooler (eski), and lonely planet handbook and were off for a weekend on the Great Ocean Road.
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<br />Leaving at 5pm, my housemate Abdul and I picked up Michele (Berkeley) and drove the 3 hours to Port Campbell National Park via the Princess Highway. The drive was pretty uneventful aside from the nasty “carpet” of Christmas Beetles at the gas stations. Arriving at Port Campbell, “we” pitched our tent (I didn’t do much of the pitching) under the light of our Mazda’s headlights (I am foreshadowing an unfortunate event). After clearing the beetles off the ground of the tent, we settled in, watched some movies on the laptop and feel asleep with the intent of getting an early start the next day. I don’t think that it stopped pouring rain once during the entire night. Good thing the tent leaked on Abdul’s bag instead of mine.
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<br />Awaking before the sun, we de-pitched our tent and packed up… but this happened:
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtJizPHBJ0Ku6unuSxJM6RUHe-spPQpww56P-VfA3oO5_-tqs8QrOCbH8QGckHkGHLXjVVmseR4P-e0w3INawBbZ4nk0T2Aoa9jtIFSrsOLwminZW8mwGNmNB7Of_ziz9-ngK-Jo3q5LvH/s1600-h/IMG_1545.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtJizPHBJ0Ku6unuSxJM6RUHe-spPQpww56P-VfA3oO5_-tqs8QrOCbH8QGckHkGHLXjVVmseR4P-e0w3INawBbZ4nk0T2Aoa9jtIFSrsOLwminZW8mwGNmNB7Of_ziz9-ngK-Jo3q5LvH/s400/IMG_1545.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375683041800287906" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">("Abdul, why did you leave the car lights on!?" Not the way to start off the day. I'm looking for the starter and Abdul is calling road side assitance. Time: 6:15 AM. [Port Campbell Campgrounds, Port Campbell National Park])</span>
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<br />So instead of watching the sun rise over the 12 Apostles National Park, we watched the sun rise over the RACV truck as the mechanic pulled in to jumpstart our car. An hour and a half later, we were exploring “The Blowhole”, “Loch Ard Gorge”, “Sherbrook Estuary”, “The Island Archway”, “Thunder Cave”, and the “12 Apostles”. The ice cold wind and the stinging raindrops drove everyone away, leaving the natural phenomena to be enjoyed only by Abdul, Michele, and I. The pictures don’t do the rock formations any justice; they were magnificent.
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<br /><a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX74mhfI5xSOfufAkRAyCTrhDaISxGdSJ7LiwS0pQ0l4QOXI40G4BiVZ_oJIhZYRsr7qIfx9xjkuAKum8pxj1-MR8wSQvZmYD7QCUl0ogOsdwpI_uiJlsUJBqpedCknjGSSsOFH7INP52h/s1600-h/IMG_4682.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 237px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX74mhfI5xSOfufAkRAyCTrhDaISxGdSJ7LiwS0pQ0l4QOXI40G4BiVZ_oJIhZYRsr7qIfx9xjkuAKum8pxj1-MR8wSQvZmYD7QCUl0ogOsdwpI_uiJlsUJBqpedCknjGSSsOFH7INP52h/s400/IMG_4682.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375683059802445442" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">(Michele and I in front of Lock Ard Wrecksite. [Loch Ard Gorge, The Great Ocean Road])</span>
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<br />I forced my carpool to go on a hike with me. We drove to Otway National Park and stopped at a small coffee shop so that I could pester the locals for information about their favourite hikes. Soon we were trekking through the Australian rainforest lined with red gum trees (eucalypts) and huge ferns like the ones in “Jurassic Park”. We completed 2 short hikes, “Triplet Falls” and “Hopetoun Falls”, and the waterfalls were large and breathtaking… I can do all the describing you want, but it wouldn’t even come close to the pictures… so just look at those.
<br /><a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9gse6BdCC0FiAHHRZrGnb1eAJbYaSWk-Sw8f7X4zcCgepv2GFkUiklHjoDYcCtnC03Bdj1TV8p2kBDivOaqFK7MwyzRz2ahIxxT_CigsZi5MxC-T1zFGgEqZcaB2cijLLk0JuIQQfvK_Q/s1600-h/IMG_1652.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 399px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9gse6BdCC0FiAHHRZrGnb1eAJbYaSWk-Sw8f7X4zcCgepv2GFkUiklHjoDYcCtnC03Bdj1TV8p2kBDivOaqFK7MwyzRz2ahIxxT_CigsZi5MxC-T1zFGgEqZcaB2cijLLk0JuIQQfvK_Q/s400/IMG_1652.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375685636337722338" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">(I guess the hike was worth it. [Triplet Falls, Otway])</span>
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<br /><a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOVEViQOSTT_d2dmdqAnUwqdsixmfSBliLIbky9xztpcbNTCGT72SMhIkHPRu1VKvmDvI85WpOzhDoo5hJxcQdIjPlo3hyphenhyphenI2mfOgPq3oI6OBCF0Iq_cCN8xosUn3KNonZOvhdPfa9XxCQl/s1600-h/IMG_4775.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOVEViQOSTT_d2dmdqAnUwqdsixmfSBliLIbky9xztpcbNTCGT72SMhIkHPRu1VKvmDvI85WpOzhDoo5hJxcQdIjPlo3hyphenhyphenI2mfOgPq3oI6OBCF0Iq_cCN8xosUn3KNonZOvhdPfa9XxCQl/s400/IMG_4775.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375685665957549090" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">(Sneaking off the trail... [Hoptoun Falls, Otway])</span>
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<br />My plan for seeing the Melba Gully glowworms at night and our plans for setting up camp at Apollo Bay were shattered by the relentless pounding of the rains. We argued and disagreed about what to do next. We came super close to waving the white flag and heading home on that Saturday, but my stubbornness and Abdul’s fear of driving on drenched, winding road forced us to rent a caravan in the Marengo Bay caravan park.
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<br />The caravan, a converted trailer with a living room attached was so comical that it lightened up our moods as we grilled sausages on the terrible stove and cut up a fruit salad. We laughed, took a million pictures, taught Abdul how to make s’mores, and completely forget about the thunder and hail outside.
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<br />We awoke with the sunrise again, and left the campground with the Lion King music playing on our stereo. After missing the exit three times, we finally found the Marriners Lookout and ascended to the top of the cliff and shared a stunning view of Apollo Bay with the sheep and alpaca. We then started back down the winding Great Ocean Road back to Melbourne.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikaukjz4p3a8UgTuSMJySb1PcUraNaefwG_Vgl8azs-nX8e3D2OwnRaDiRy5HtAGbKPMr3CFlpacD0CmnQPRU1tw57ua50_eAoLYLQyLZuKt8N91i5DZiKxI2zvxOk7l3Ho88xhMYBjky6/s1600-h/IMG_4817.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikaukjz4p3a8UgTuSMJySb1PcUraNaefwG_Vgl8azs-nX8e3D2OwnRaDiRy5HtAGbKPMr3CFlpacD0CmnQPRU1tw57ua50_eAoLYLQyLZuKt8N91i5DZiKxI2zvxOk7l3Ho88xhMYBjky6/s400/IMG_4817.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375687614732388914" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">(Amazing view of Apolly Bay and the hike only took 20 minutes. I believe Marengo Campground is near the tip. [Marriners Lookout, Apolly Bay])</span>
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<br />On the way home, we stopped at Kennet River. Kennet River has one of the highest concentrations of Koala’s in Victoria and it was easy to see whey; the majestic eucalypt forests were dense and plentiful. We drove up the hiking trail (oops… we were supposed to get out and walk) and I spotted a kangaroo that darted off the road. Michele and Abdul didn’t see it and were baffled when I yelled “Stop!” and jumped out of the car and ran to the edge of the cliff to get a glimpse of the fleeting marsupial. They ridiculed me; “Mike, you idiot, there are no kangaroos up here in the forest. You are crazy, stop wasting our time!” I was upset because no one believed me. They made fun of me for a good 10 minutes… until we saw another kangaroo with her two offspring in the middle of the road. Ha! Point for Mike. I also spotted the first Koala and we spent the morning slowly driving deeper and deeper on Grey River Road looking for the lazy creatures.
<br /><a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDhWtv8Dplhb2vqzrsvQz90AaBTDDTyUucTjbIvx3aBUyuBGTJmDue0eFiafbNP1YYq47fjyKBVldJAfzbRuw-1aDMsSpm9MZ7Nxk8TQrrDhku0iv6p3dzOhfxAKbaNa_g-95m41IvaW6d/s1600-h/IMG_1564+copy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDhWtv8Dplhb2vqzrsvQz90AaBTDDTyUucTjbIvx3aBUyuBGTJmDue0eFiafbNP1YYq47fjyKBVldJAfzbRuw-1aDMsSpm9MZ7Nxk8TQrrDhku0iv6p3dzOhfxAKbaNa_g-95m41IvaW6d/s400/IMG_1564+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375737489869037426" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">(Animals? Look out for Kangaroos and Koalas... Scroll down for some more animals. [Great Ocean Road])</span>
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<br /><a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI-8eBOd_IFnx9EBPaljnnMN2qqulNdYMaXGs6tLk0L85BbIms8hTsOteahJARcLsIzDvPRICqKGB7gc_HWs9oPgGreAGoT-qo09Ed-0ghfblctQ9sd-Ric6XhGKRfQasNHCrqhlV74X0g/s1600-h/IMG_4853.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI-8eBOd_IFnx9EBPaljnnMN2qqulNdYMaXGs6tLk0L85BbIms8hTsOteahJARcLsIzDvPRICqKGB7gc_HWs9oPgGreAGoT-qo09Ed-0ghfblctQ9sd-Ric6XhGKRfQasNHCrqhlV74X0g/s400/IMG_4853.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375687648969139794" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">(Koala hunting! [Grey River Road, Kennet River])</span>
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<br />We headed home and enjoyed the amazing scenery. This is by far one of the most amazing experiences I had and I’m glad that I pushed everyone to stay. Me being a stubborn, immature baby forced everyone to go on my hikes, my lookouts, and my stupid river walks… Hopefully Abdul and Michele enjoyed it as much as I did. Next week it is back to soccer, baseball, schoolwork (maybe) and hopefully I can make it out to Wilson’s Promontory next weekend.
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<br />Until then,
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<br />Mikey Doo<!--EndFragment-->
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<br /><a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRjE5eyFlkrhm-BBwbYgYLRJ92QSyYQxvpm7VcWNqLka-vNgf4Gsmx9nzXZAO2hOS7VJAaFyv79Qt7qyy8Zlap1RIykl5CbTfn_ZqyXkATpH_eN5-CEPeVosMmhmY-Oez0rK7_pdMxnG8U/s1600-h/IMG_4687.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 254px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRjE5eyFlkrhm-BBwbYgYLRJ92QSyYQxvpm7VcWNqLka-vNgf4Gsmx9nzXZAO2hOS7VJAaFyv79Qt7qyy8Zlap1RIykl5CbTfn_ZqyXkATpH_eN5-CEPeVosMmhmY-Oez0rK7_pdMxnG8U/s400/IMG_4687.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375683067905087970" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">(The world famous 12 Apostles. But there's only 6! [12 Apostles, The Great Ocean Road])</span>
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<br /><a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-bukLEL7sFmNQrLntId5bGx5zwMOl0sfzy_hAtIrMZj4K4Udpo1XdlxGjAm2FEHHU-98NbMmnN1HNd3YtD_LjOF9fqex6EcUMe1unHUdqyVaH3LBYe_osUDNXHt2sme12w37wVhgh8F2G/s1600-h/IMG_1619.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-bukLEL7sFmNQrLntId5bGx5zwMOl0sfzy_hAtIrMZj4K4Udpo1XdlxGjAm2FEHHU-98NbMmnN1HNd3YtD_LjOF9fqex6EcUMe1unHUdqyVaH3LBYe_osUDNXHt2sme12w37wVhgh8F2G/s400/IMG_1619.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375683049719093522" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">(Walking on the beach our toes in the sand. [Loch Ard Gorge, Great Ocean Road])</span>
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<br /><a style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqccrR6iuxjMVxLLiiRE3dE4M3q62FJH_fA-jUGtZ6IaMPLKOaWgq_6XVdye6abuZ21XXGzm4y-Krslams2P6hEdL8BXvBv1lAx21NMfwZ95Tz-DCXokykcpVYRdJMP9UVeYp3vQIX7L3a/s1600-h/100_4389.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqccrR6iuxjMVxLLiiRE3dE4M3q62FJH_fA-jUGtZ6IaMPLKOaWgq_6XVdye6abuZ21XXGzm4y-Krslams2P6hEdL8BXvBv1lAx21NMfwZ95Tz-DCXokykcpVYRdJMP9UVeYp3vQIX7L3a/s400/100_4389.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375732835001807570" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">(Heading into the ferns and gum trees. [Caltoun Falls, Otway])</span>
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<br /><a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfXnOf73HyActcK1J_MRmv8rGUCJvDpQX_6ooTu6IYh9L0YUb3Dv-6sQHE3cTY09svUk5ld16IuthsfG4NLQA5r6GuR3UsIjhPIqRyvj-vpCN_KoNhKxoqJmsIsd8GQ73Bu30I09O9ZKA-/s1600-h/IMG_4769.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfXnOf73HyActcK1J_MRmv8rGUCJvDpQX_6ooTu6IYh9L0YUb3Dv-6sQHE3cTY09svUk5ld16IuthsfG4NLQA5r6GuR3UsIjhPIqRyvj-vpCN_KoNhKxoqJmsIsd8GQ73Bu30I09O9ZKA-/s400/IMG_4769.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375685674843801202" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">(Being goofy at Caltoun Falls. The spray from the falls was refreshing. [Caltoun Falls, Otway])</span>
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<br /><a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKkEr2to3G_-LSspy9kuKZ9Drm2t57mi6AYFyIdGEgaEuGtMjYKJkfVsJu-r-S0ULBI1zx9Qe9kG0GBqCYsaLWfhwIR8W07aISMAyOhuZlE9Hj2K803o3QDPUNInAayFGeX-9n17ZU1qvU/s1600-h/IMG_1649.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKkEr2to3G_-LSspy9kuKZ9Drm2t57mi6AYFyIdGEgaEuGtMjYKJkfVsJu-r-S0ULBI1zx9Qe9kG0GBqCYsaLWfhwIR8W07aISMAyOhuZlE9Hj2K803o3QDPUNInAayFGeX-9n17ZU1qvU/s400/IMG_1649.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375685642069480194" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">(Loggin' it. [Triple Falls, Otway])</span><span style="text-decoration: underline;">
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<br /></span><a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk4plyzl3gFE9Q_vJLikzPyoRVmvKkivKqhc64SVdZ2Bms2NnhZYZjeTT1SBxJskBM31NWfTl9TtJGBFjbTXB_toJAW-qxrIsO3BcyhdkXEdgD27wS3_65NAs0WJMPjOaemx7RD3VIlKgr/s1600-h/IMG_4877.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk4plyzl3gFE9Q_vJLikzPyoRVmvKkivKqhc64SVdZ2Bms2NnhZYZjeTT1SBxJskBM31NWfTl9TtJGBFjbTXB_toJAW-qxrIsO3BcyhdkXEdgD27wS3_65NAs0WJMPjOaemx7RD3VIlKgr/s400/IMG_4877.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375688374355567986" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">(Water and surfers in the distance. As the sun came out, the water got clearer. [Lorne])</span>
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<br /><a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic87WlSutjKZEOvZj0ivuQS3u1rgGH_pxlSUdHCXYbLlYBxS4i8kLG0DWw4XFJiXRO2ICUxXFj4Dl6QIsLMlRte9-v_gjQO5lD5tHoBveRK1qNnw5-4tbi48mvRgA1qBkIw1TIRQJTgg6C/s1600-h/IMG_4840.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic87WlSutjKZEOvZj0ivuQS3u1rgGH_pxlSUdHCXYbLlYBxS4i8kLG0DWw4XFJiXRO2ICUxXFj4Dl6QIsLMlRte9-v_gjQO5lD5tHoBveRK1qNnw5-4tbi48mvRgA1qBkIw1TIRQJTgg6C/s400/IMG_4840.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375687640963883442" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">(This is not a zoo! He was actually awake. [Grey River Road, Kennet River])</span>
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Tm2VnyN8EJ-1I6w8D89KhIVpezHIfom6y92cOe7XxvpZlqAoduoyYVxKSMXiiITJ11FZd8VAVNJP7UP3gKwQsyryvmGKb4YxuE5Vecx9zvUEqqT6188ntnQ85j274eeO1QmbchlZnKy0/s1600-h/IMG_4841.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Tm2VnyN8EJ-1I6w8D89KhIVpezHIfom6y92cOe7XxvpZlqAoduoyYVxKSMXiiITJ11FZd8VAVNJP7UP3gKwQsyryvmGKb4YxuE5Vecx9zvUEqqT6188ntnQ85j274eeO1QmbchlZnKy0/s400/IMG_4841.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375687634309821026" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">(Mamma Roo protecting her babies from us. [Grey River Road, Kennet River])</span>
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<br /><a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDdq_D4x1leeAMfloQUmfk2kkh_z_6ooWMV3e0LH99WEnkZzN8gs5DynsdnophogaBgzrLhfSjzEuax29DVdLQnz3G5kD479OjVQKkpJscFL33NbbJeAoDA9ypLUefr8mjEdnEbEK4rMEx/s1600-h/IMG_4713.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDdq_D4x1leeAMfloQUmfk2kkh_z_6ooWMV3e0LH99WEnkZzN8gs5DynsdnophogaBgzrLhfSjzEuax29DVdLQnz3G5kD479OjVQKkpJscFL33NbbJeAoDA9ypLUefr8mjEdnEbEK4rMEx/s400/IMG_4713.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375685654270451554" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">(Lorikeets and Roselas outside the coffee shop just outside of Otway. [Lavers Hill])</span>
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqccrR6iuxjMVxLLiiRE3dE4M3q62FJH_fA-jUGtZ6IaMPLKOaWgq_6XVdye6abuZ21XXGzm4y-Krslams2P6hEdL8BXvBv1lAx21NMfwZ95Tz-DCXokykcpVYRdJMP9UVeYp3vQIX7L3a/s1600-h/100_4389.JPG">
<br /></a>Mike Sevillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14507112518498064784noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3806290657073971729.post-20888439405224675002009-08-23T06:07:00.000-07:002009-08-24T15:19:23.586-07:00B10: Baseball.<span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNm0U42NzJVsX_gYqG2hpN33qM8Gtxpa352dAPKKGTPIRDQckGw_6RgMFYGVC-7RCWOmRyMJT3JhE7q0_J6TMob3TQ13-J-p6vsh5MdrH-UrjY_tc6LLMQPJ8xXwI5IycBXa9HoePr_YFE/s1600-h/IMG_4639.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNm0U42NzJVsX_gYqG2hpN33qM8Gtxpa352dAPKKGTPIRDQckGw_6RgMFYGVC-7RCWOmRyMJT3JhE7q0_J6TMob3TQ13-J-p6vsh5MdrH-UrjY_tc6LLMQPJ8xXwI5IycBXa9HoePr_YFE/s400/IMG_4639.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373657649279180194" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">("Why is everyone driving on the wrong side of the road?" [Fitzroy, Victoria])<br /><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" ><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxTH6snW9yx-KJQ6sQ_Ohtc5BNxSr9maiH71V4qCcWiXh7f1QYgXp6LW0UuL1bqjLndv_YF2c3AAkJPpX6gSsiK0snP3KvHqjtTHjkfC8x3HrWPpjWSVkuFJv7Aa0o8bN_S6bpMW2RNONc/s1600-h/IMG_4626.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxTH6snW9yx-KJQ6sQ_Ohtc5BNxSr9maiH71V4qCcWiXh7f1QYgXp6LW0UuL1bqjLndv_YF2c3AAkJPpX6gSsiK0snP3KvHqjtTHjkfC8x3HrWPpjWSVkuFJv7Aa0o8bN_S6bpMW2RNONc/s400/IMG_4626.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373149237276229138" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >(This is me trying to look cool. [Tom O'Halloran Field, Albert Park Reserve, Melbourne])</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br />Hi!</span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span lang="EN-US"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]-->Lot’s of school and lots of research. Turned in my globalisation essay, realised I’m very behind in my Flora and Fauna class, and did a lot of head-scratching in stats. There, that covers my academic obligation to this blog.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrR6kdaJzWr_TUsNWq4ji39x1_gp6XKsxTNnNrcpkIJzGH0QRSlElUbWSc08Ch6xfX8CvnOyqV3QXPYPSohYKd7gZhIKyUZT6OvPaTMi_slSsUaQYFQNldQWXFcvzbIWqTCZVexutB5Xk_/s1600-h/3646414785_eeed9d8ec7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrR6kdaJzWr_TUsNWq4ji39x1_gp6XKsxTNnNrcpkIJzGH0QRSlElUbWSc08Ch6xfX8CvnOyqV3QXPYPSohYKd7gZhIKyUZT6OvPaTMi_slSsUaQYFQNldQWXFcvzbIWqTCZVexutB5Xk_/s400/3646414785_eeed9d8ec7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373151237067167218" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-style: italic;">(This is mulga ant we learned about in Biology of Australian Flora and Fauna. The ants carry the aphids with their jaws out of their nest in the morning and put them on acacia trees. At the end of the day, the ants retrieve the aphids and bring them back to the nest. The ants stroke the backs of the aphids and the aphids regurgitate the honey or sap of the tree that they were sucking on and the ants eat this "vomit". The next day, the process repeats itself.[Photo courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/31715949@N00/3646414785/])</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span lang="EN-US"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span lang="EN-US">More importantly, I made a revolutionary discovery that changed my perpective on life<span style=""> </span>and will ultimately alter my priorities in regards to the importance of certain material possessions.<span style=""> </span>If you bite off the corners of a tim tam, you can use it as a straw for a glass of milk... I know this may not be as exciting to you as it is to me, but it has made the tim tam 4 times better which is unprecedented, since the tim tam is already my favorite night time treat. As the milk runs through the tim tam, it soaks the core of the fudge. The milk tastes like chocolate, and, more importantly, the tim tam becomes a mushy sensual delight that melts in the mouth. Tomorrow I am going to wake up early and swim in compensation for the heaps of tim tams I ate this weekend.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span lang="EN-US"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span lang="EN-US">Anyways, this week has been all about sports. Tuesday we had our first indoor soccer (futsal) game. We came back from a 3-0 deficit to win our first game 4-3 against the Freestylers FC. I could only play for 5 minutes at a time because I couldn’t breath. I need to get on that treadmill! Next up: O rei de Futbol. At baseball training on Tuesday night, the head coach invited me to play with the 1’s team, the class A league, the following night. I actually thought about not going because I wouldn’t get any playing time and my essay was due, but decided that this was a once in a lifetime opportunity, so I went.<span style=""> </span>I rode the bench the entire game with another American, and then “died in the on-deck circle” (the guy in front of me made the last out of the game).</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy7ZeAFnvxg4Fa302TMlAZDubSlg-NMfNxyUD_fnzIzEyFDuQtw2MDZsLpJqWvnXHxGyseWvbbeJiwG4oiFKytVfMC2biMu7E0JcX22k3p6temB4kP6d0demyflUghS0QVy4iaRUnnK43W/s1600-h/IMG_4611.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy7ZeAFnvxg4Fa302TMlAZDubSlg-NMfNxyUD_fnzIzEyFDuQtw2MDZsLpJqWvnXHxGyseWvbbeJiwG4oiFKytVfMC2biMu7E0JcX22k3p6temB4kP6d0demyflUghS0QVy4iaRUnnK43W/s400/IMG_4611.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373148002891339170" border="0" /></a></p><p style="font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">(This is a tram that has the name of our fustal team on it. I think that "The Jersey Boys" are a boy band, and my roommate thinks the name of our team is hilarious. [Melbourne Uni, Melbourne])</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span lang="EN-US"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span lang="EN-US">The head coach came over and talked to me during the game about the players. Turns out the left fielder played on the Olympic team in Athens in 2004 and was also drafted by the Minnesota Twins a couple years ago. He went 4-4 with a double and triple during the game. He also poked fun at me for taking pictures from the bench… the red laser from the camera blinded him in left field. The situation was pretty embarrassing. The team also featured one the best pitchers in Victoria, an outfielder who played in Europe, a pitcher who pitched for the University of Redlands, and a high school catcher about to play college ball in America. Compared to the 3’s team, the pace of the game was similar to that of America and these monsters hit the snot out of the ball.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZjSCadrCUem-NTQULVg1HcH1VFSkF7KmeqVRhQYIpCNsW7D3HqEovpVfNXfVO7VVKuPwNOV8ukwQVPjT87Kg_C5YsAOaB8y_66OfPDthzIdqK7gj6i1AlTuNZBv2Se1Lo8-yw695w-H4G/s1600-h/Picture+1.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 313px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZjSCadrCUem-NTQULVg1HcH1VFSkF7KmeqVRhQYIpCNsW7D3HqEovpVfNXfVO7VVKuPwNOV8ukwQVPjT87Kg_C5YsAOaB8y_66OfPDthzIdqK7gj6i1AlTuNZBv2Se1Lo8-yw695w-H4G/s400/Picture+1.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373151249899886066" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(This is the Olympian. He plays baseball. [Photo courtesy of http://www.baseball.com.au/?Page=10769])</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixx6m8foBfjs0wja9to03lkE5zmbRM209_Q5mZYtYs_p05ht5ARM01FoFTAdHJvbs8bpbd4FD0SmjUrm29iNbkGvq-WAUhNlNYdUbCZhB4piPzpqshFfrwBOAkpGn82dTdhjNkqGGrDpdF/s1600-h/IMG_4604.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixx6m8foBfjs0wja9to03lkE5zmbRM209_Q5mZYtYs_p05ht5ARM01FoFTAdHJvbs8bpbd4FD0SmjUrm29iNbkGvq-WAUhNlNYdUbCZhB4piPzpqshFfrwBOAkpGn82dTdhjNkqGGrDpdF/s400/IMG_4604.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373147991198297938" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(The view from the bench. This is best picture I could get... there is no "action" setting. [Melbourne Ball Park, Altona])</span><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><span lang="EN-US"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><span lang="EN-US">On Saturday I played on the 2’s team. Since this is my blog, I will dictate what I talk about it, and I have decided to talk about my defensive day instead of my offensive day (0 for 4). I started at second base for the first time since little league… I was so nervous. Guess where the first ball of the game was hit? It’s ok, I gobbled it up and made the play and that got all the jitters out of my system. I probably got the most plays of the day and didn’t make a single error! I even made a diving play in between first and second. I dove, rolled on my back, did a backwards somersault, landed on my feet and threw a short hop to the first basemen. The pitcher, who was about 40 years old, threw a complete game and had amazing control. We ended up winning the game 11-3. When I got a ride home and tried to offer my carpool some money for gas (petrol) he just laughed and drove away. I guess money ain't a big thing for these people.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLrpNbgxEg6oPGzHaboYoq7QXQqOHr4k5tDlMhoYbDcC7K4tIJblR5u4mexnGYrtq3S0wSSVpmm0isR45bJVkRiQ3BgzCP0uWPpn23CWWzPcXlPcugr9CosUtrfTKf9qDl5q3aPK_y0vb-/s1600-h/IMG_4628.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 247px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLrpNbgxEg6oPGzHaboYoq7QXQqOHr4k5tDlMhoYbDcC7K4tIJblR5u4mexnGYrtq3S0wSSVpmm0isR45bJVkRiQ3BgzCP0uWPpn23CWWzPcXlPcugr9CosUtrfTKf9qDl5q3aPK_y0vb-/s400/IMG_4628.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373149242604517346" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(Evidence that I actually dove. </span><span style="font-style: italic;"> [Tom O'Halloran Field, Albert Park Reserve, Melbourne])</span><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><span lang="EN-US"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]-->I went ahead and rejected Melbourne Uni’s invitation to the uni games on the Gold Coast because of the financial aspect of the trip. Whenever someone asked me, I just blamed my parents for not letting me go, even thought that wasn’t the case. Anyways, I’m trying to plan a camping trip for the uni break and hopefully things work out for the best.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><span lang="EN-US"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span lang="EN-US">This weekend I didn’t go out. I was too tired after the baseball game and didn’t attend their trivia night. My housemate and I did make it out to Chadstone, the biggest mall in Victoria and flitted around there for a while before buying a coffee table and comforter for my bed. The other nights, I stayed home, watched “Man on Fire” with my housemate, traded mp3 music files (I got a lot of Australian artists: Empire of the Sun, Kisschassy, Midnight Oil, Rooney), and did some “managing” for our soccer team. We also went on to Google maps and street view, and I showed him Tierrasanta and Serra High School, and he showed me Wollongong , the city he grew up in.<span style=""> </span>He said Tierrasanta was really “posh” which I guess means luxurious. It made me sad to see my old green Honda sitting in the driveway of our house (since now it is at the dump).<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" face="arial"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" face="arial"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd-cHPdYAQMk3DbtdNrKxhDFP4piby5eERkNbdvhN-yHLV_KEtBKTBN0Wfi8yaSCRsAh2eqMMvX7i69xbAMtOi_1qFL7K-V0Dsv56cvzR1fcAHNEisVKZLN8DabY0XhO4ZF2KBQ0VRthKF/s1600-h/IMG_4615.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd-cHPdYAQMk3DbtdNrKxhDFP4piby5eERkNbdvhN-yHLV_KEtBKTBN0Wfi8yaSCRsAh2eqMMvX7i69xbAMtOi_1qFL7K-V0Dsv56cvzR1fcAHNEisVKZLN8DabY0XhO4ZF2KBQ0VRthKF/s400/IMG_4615.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373148017554555138" border="0" /></a></p> <p style="font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" face="arial"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-style: italic;">(The largest mall in Victoria. My roommate went crazy. To me, it looked like another Westfield Shopping Center. [Chadstone, Victoria])</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" face="arial"><span lang="EN-US">Next week looks like it is going to be academically hectic again. Soccer on Tuesday, baseball on Tuesday and Wednesday, research meeting on Thursday but I can always look forward to the weekend. I’m going to ask my friend to drive me to Wilson’s Promontory for camping like he promised… Hopefully he keeps his word!<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" face="arial"><span lang="EN-US"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" face="arial"><span lang="EN-US">Until then,</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" face="arial"><span lang="EN-US"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" face="arial"><span lang="EN-US">Mikey Doo</span></p> <!--EndFragment--><br /><br /><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv7o1vB5SwktAPPOyqsIgdFQvLprc3cXJrsYRFtC9ZnVRu9Uoj5mz0w0RLSO_XfdPkfR6J1FB0B6yXGuoEIV_Oa48KTh1T9Q9ktBqyovZLx9Dngprlipy87XhzBnYUcsXbQFnakrJJb5ka/s1600-h/IMG_4614.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv7o1vB5SwktAPPOyqsIgdFQvLprc3cXJrsYRFtC9ZnVRu9Uoj5mz0w0RLSO_XfdPkfR6J1FB0B6yXGuoEIV_Oa48KTh1T9Q9ktBqyovZLx9Dngprlipy87XhzBnYUcsXbQFnakrJJb5ka/s400/IMG_4614.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373148009756322770" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">(A lorikeet. They are common and really pretty. [Carlton Gardens, Fitzroy])</span><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0-wsRVM4aeQLnC1YbsYk7uggyxwdJ9IjldUl0pgB6IB1VFhE5mJfoLjgAgDNRRJCPV42HD3InzpsKo6v8J27EPxzL8OO0IYVMNpaMSx0UheuMfMDMv75A6aQyK0lbgcplU2dRl3RwWh6-/s1600-h/IMG_4603.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0-wsRVM4aeQLnC1YbsYk7uggyxwdJ9IjldUl0pgB6IB1VFhE5mJfoLjgAgDNRRJCPV42HD3InzpsKo6v8J27EPxzL8OO0IYVMNpaMSx0UheuMfMDMv75A6aQyK0lbgcplU2dRl3RwWh6-/s400/IMG_4603.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373147985586542578" border="0" /></a></p><span style="font-style: italic;">(Baseball. [Melbourne Ball Park, Altona])<br /><br /></span><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjojYmAfZnsaqzChss2QanZUj359QTgA0ImuP7i_OGd58L8_sebykJHcmaVWP_kfvLouf6NQ40FGJI4mPJaXV70AEA_nNT17IDzOx4t1ACGdE5ILRuM_AKscNATr83zsajfBCvU1H-q6BQb/s1600-h/IMG_4620.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjojYmAfZnsaqzChss2QanZUj359QTgA0ImuP7i_OGd58L8_sebykJHcmaVWP_kfvLouf6NQ40FGJI4mPJaXV70AEA_nNT17IDzOx4t1ACGdE5ILRuM_AKscNATr83zsajfBCvU1H-q6BQb/s400/IMG_4620.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373149224680780466" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">(Dinner by candle light. My housemate wants to save energy. [Firzroy])</span><br /><br /><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBYxcIL3eoMSjH3eD6H5NMSbZzrXmlikhLqyB08Ui-COaukw8rwSdMPynIoZ1Sew_9N2RwxFdDEmXpaiO_3vj7YiTbg-IUAXmOQsDwQ8aC2L-2GNWwkb0LptGj6VWF2mbVvxngiVNrJZhO/s1600-h/IMG_4617.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBYxcIL3eoMSjH3eD6H5NMSbZzrXmlikhLqyB08Ui-COaukw8rwSdMPynIoZ1Sew_9N2RwxFdDEmXpaiO_3vj7YiTbg-IUAXmOQsDwQ8aC2L-2GNWwkb0LptGj6VWF2mbVvxngiVNrJZhO/s400/IMG_4617.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373149214667392226" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">(View from traffic, This is the Yarra River. [Melbourne])</span></span>Mike Sevillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14507112518498064784noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3806290657073971729.post-30484629930405473982009-08-16T06:15:00.000-07:002009-08-16T08:19:30.204-07:00B9: Surf anyone?<a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOJXSMM6QiFSr1leyltwwkbQ5zgg5xSLOkDo9y6v06M7wlqt5TFmFMXwTLNrM5hphKjiQ-VFGcjtaLv9D7nGnm7Na34c2hFbAlHdCGoELKpznlJRKTzwOc_aha9rSh8_4fGIzoYftRyyZb/s1600-h/IMG_4504.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 194px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOJXSMM6QiFSr1leyltwwkbQ5zgg5xSLOkDo9y6v06M7wlqt5TFmFMXwTLNrM5hphKjiQ-VFGcjtaLv9D7nGnm7Na34c2hFbAlHdCGoELKpznlJRKTzwOc_aha9rSh8_4fGIzoYftRyyZb/s400/IMG_4504.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370571206536520242" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">(We got up everyday at 6:30 so that we could watch the sunrise before our pancakes and cereal. Toitle is out there swimming around somewhere... I took him on the trip and now he's gone.. [Bancoora Beach, Breamlea])</span><br /><br />Hi!<br /><br />Life is chugging along. Classes are going well but they are starting to buckle down and due dates for assignments are coming. I don’t have any midterms, so I can concentrate on my essays and labs for the time being. Research is going well as I’m starting to use the internet for programs instead of writing my own. The problem is learning all the programming languages and this takes most of my time.<br /><br />Campus life is slowing down but I’ve managed to keep it exciting by continually losing the little traveler’s notebook (with all my bank account cards in it) that Max gave me. I’ve mostly been walking around campus, finding free lunches that clubs sponsor and I still have one more slice of cake left (I eat one every night). It tastes really good with some Hershey's syrup… apparently they don’t have that here.<br /><br />Baseball is going well and I’m leaning towards going on the Gold Coast trip. Being around the baseball players here is awesome and they are always willing to share a good laugh. I haven’t gone to the pub with them yet because they go right after practice… when I’m the most tired. I even met a player from Occidentel College who played with a friend from high school… what a small world. I missed this week’s game, which means I only have one left for the season. Soccer starts on Tuesday and my housemate won’t shut up about strategy and playing time and the shedule (fixtures) and his new indoor shoes he bought… he is so excited. Our first game is against the Freestylers Football Club (we bettter crush ‘em).<br /><br />I left school early on Friday and caught a ride up with some Americans (UC Davis, Boston College, Oberlin College, and George Washington University) to the surf camp. On the hour and a half drive, the ones in the back talked about Top Chef and Dawson’s Creek and, as fascinating as that conversation was, I found myself setting up other camping trips with the driver, Brian. Brian bought a car and has gone on trips every weekend. We plan on going to Wilson’s Promentory in two weeks As always, I’ll supply you with a quote from an outside source about Wilson’s Promontory:<br /><br /><blockquote>“The southernmost point of the Australian mainland, Wilsons Promontory is arguably the most loved national park in Victoria. …<br />--<br />[snipp]<br />--<br />…The park has diverse vegetation communities including warm temperate and cool temperate rainforest, tall open forests, woodland, heathland, and swamp and coastal communities."<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">- Review from TotalTravel.com</span><br /></blockquote>I stress the word “plan”… Hopefully everything works out.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFYszxSYAYT0vMtolNhf4h5PAg2W-Nve5DWeqluZuKzOvU9ViZQWQF-M4q2iklPJXDl5jk1r19OcNr9xa7GyeiGXP9qxMh0C3sstsMViihOipPxT73gBvoU8DfZFCImxPi4a_EeYsA7gdf/s1600-h/IMG_4373.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFYszxSYAYT0vMtolNhf4h5PAg2W-Nve5DWeqluZuKzOvU9ViZQWQF-M4q2iklPJXDl5jk1r19OcNr9xa7GyeiGXP9qxMh0C3sstsMViihOipPxT73gBvoU8DfZFCImxPi4a_EeYsA7gdf/s400/IMG_4373.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370551515695323890" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">(The Bremlea market. The fries (chips) were amazing and the "Lot Burger" had beets and egg in it. The store also had tim-tams, but I restrained myself. [Breamlea]) </span><br /><br />We reached the “camp” at Bancoora Beach (named after a shipwreck) and I was greeted by another hostel-like, low-budget-looking, ridiculously-secluded, sandy-coloured “clubhouse”. The place had 40 beds and since there were 80 campers signed up, we had to stake out our sleeping quarters. I ended up having to share anyways. We got there, got some lunch (I brought mine, of course) and then headed out to the surf.<br /><br /><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8V8ZQrdeCPZ9c2Xl-CothNj_6FNqf-DmxAFYsPb7bA0moQrOA5PXDhLBNdsGWb721WTF_o6vPxis6gt8TheH61Ekrxx59-k1U6ix3oHJT1LPFyOrs8ob7pd412P88usyQn8ogN7PbXoX8/s1600-h/IMG_4375.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8V8ZQrdeCPZ9c2Xl-CothNj_6FNqf-DmxAFYsPb7bA0moQrOA5PXDhLBNdsGWb721WTF_o6vPxis6gt8TheH61Ekrxx59-k1U6ix3oHJT1LPFyOrs8ob7pd412P88usyQn8ogN7PbXoX8/s400/IMG_4375.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370551534991257186" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">(Bancoora Surf Life Saving Club. This is where we stayed. [Breamlea])</span><br /><br />It was COLD. I gave my carpool mates a condensed version of my lessons and fully intended to tow them into waves and work the “stabilizer” move to get them to stand up, but once I got in the water I was so giddy with excitement that I just ignored them and went surfing. I met an Australian from the camp we surfed for about 3 hours. She was way better than me and was excited to tell me about all the little beaches that were nearby. Saturday I surfed in the morning and in the evening and it was small. I had more fun paddling around and talking to all the other members of the Melbourne Uni Surfriders.<br /><br />The nights were all about partying. The Australians prepared sausage, pasta, hamburgers, and salad and it was all a little subpar. What do you expect? All they cared about was organising their nude race (I didn’t participate) and singing outdated drinking songs. It was easy to meet people because everyone was so relaxed and eager to form new relationships. One person joked that they should called this “Drink Camp”, not “Surf Camp”. My favourite part of the Barbie Q was the stars. Without night pollution, I saw amazing constellations that are only seen from the southern hemisphere.<br /><br />Sunday was spectacular as we Americans woke up, stole some boards and wetsuits from the garage and snuck out to 13th Beach before anyone noticed. We surfed there all morning and took some outstanding pictures with our Nokia (I’m working on getting the surf pictures from him… They should be posted by Wednesday). The rain, the bungee cords snapping, the boards flying off our roof, the mud, the 160 km/hr winds and the rocky gravel road were all forgotton when we caught our first waves. It was spectacular.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizaJcey1DHZ2MuwH9z1jbmsq-Qy2KoPsVVZSSebS0xFLRnorqiKvgDZsDeTZey4019uo4wmgUl6-LHQIggrB-KEauGZRkT1y5aMnKcdPoPEAi7P0yv_OYIoxTwUeAMezG_S5W8OLYQuTDz/s1600-h/IMG_4508.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizaJcey1DHZ2MuwH9z1jbmsq-Qy2KoPsVVZSSebS0xFLRnorqiKvgDZsDeTZey4019uo4wmgUl6-LHQIggrB-KEauGZRkT1y5aMnKcdPoPEAi7P0yv_OYIoxTwUeAMezG_S5W8OLYQuTDz/s400/IMG_4508.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370552827726230370" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">(When there is no surf, there are no surfers. The water was clear and blue. [Bancoora Beach, Breamlea])<br /><br /></span><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp-gPd3qi88zJKzKKII5h1ibKsApWvAz-KVtZtN6OFKUVHGSHfBecFvBulPOJfIL5e-Xls7RjpAb9pBzPsmuV13Iu_E0y0pIiW2FIcR64b9EzhoQ9j0R40yV3JdVuv8zQG-75vaFZ36LEg/s1600-h/IMG_4499.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp-gPd3qi88zJKzKKII5h1ibKsApWvAz-KVtZtN6OFKUVHGSHfBecFvBulPOJfIL5e-Xls7RjpAb9pBzPsmuV13Iu_E0y0pIiW2FIcR64b9EzhoQ9j0R40yV3JdVuv8zQG-75vaFZ36LEg/s400/IMG_4499.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370552819047420674" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">(Sunrise on Saturday. [Bancoora Beach, Breamlea])</span><br /><br />Check back this week for the surf pictures. Next weekend should be baseball on Saturday and we are trying to organise a day trip hike on Sunday. I didn’t get my hiking shoes sent out here for nothing! First, I need to get through this week and finish that stupid essay.<br /><br />Until then,<br /><br />Mikey Doo<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj18zjCDH6ZEMSdvE1Jr2MGnhnKxTJp79YzBy8AoM-MD7IyIbHEQ_umx8IPfzR-7pQ9PkJLjbcPtjvpfunqX55FXgRMA2JCV_6Q5z5xJsX3tI1GFvbKjFl-Rwc_MuH-bK8Flw5XN_vFhmBy/s1600-h/IMG_4589.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj18zjCDH6ZEMSdvE1Jr2MGnhnKxTJp79YzBy8AoM-MD7IyIbHEQ_umx8IPfzR-7pQ9PkJLjbcPtjvpfunqX55FXgRMA2JCV_6Q5z5xJsX3tI1GFvbKjFl-Rwc_MuH-bK8Flw5XN_vFhmBy/s400/IMG_4589.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370552856159576354" border="0" /></a><br />(H<span style="font-style: italic;">ere is our 4-runner and the boards we used. They worked out really well and you can paddle insanely fast on them. [13th Beach, Torquay])<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXCVxgZzV0n96uPH7B5mn2kdVb9vudslNCveMPoGrSLoTQRxRIKqhNKmoUcSPtdq-UvdaCKcoBRPfHG-uKZkObh0IMfpuMJaVZdY8jA-4Fg3L_1DckiBBkiYNk6_VMGqvdYHpPQZF7vMwE/s1600-h/IMG_4374.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXCVxgZzV0n96uPH7B5mn2kdVb9vudslNCveMPoGrSLoTQRxRIKqhNKmoUcSPtdq-UvdaCKcoBRPfHG-uKZkObh0IMfpuMJaVZdY8jA-4Fg3L_1DckiBBkiYNk6_VMGqvdYHpPQZF7vMwE/s400/IMG_4374.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370551524643165314" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">(The first day. I think that was a camp of some sort. That girl in front is wearing a USC sweatshirt, I believe. [Bancoora Beach, Breamlea])</span><br /><br /><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfOFj6ME38HR8UVh_pO0mzWuQlTxX1GQr3TPTDfeloY9cml7LwYe-swt7p70kExdbaVcUvT_3LttrLlTX3NJXPQBQ9iBmvbBNcml5PxRftG2JQZVh6NlumJPSoeJutfrMHd8QAFxaMOhml/s1600-h/IMG_4524.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfOFj6ME38HR8UVh_pO0mzWuQlTxX1GQr3TPTDfeloY9cml7LwYe-swt7p70kExdbaVcUvT_3LttrLlTX3NJXPQBQ9iBmvbBNcml5PxRftG2JQZVh6NlumJPSoeJutfrMHd8QAFxaMOhml/s400/IMG_4524.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370552840148926434" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">(Gippo (Melbourne Uni) and Brian (UC Davis). [BBQ, Breamlea])</span><br /><br /><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRTffhhr8URDHQUBjgUeOIgI_uCj6Kq50YaBKrBu1Dr2C_hXgMrxsiR-fgF7ySpP6Vsx6oat_11NhiIRRFVSylAhxoiFl5urgyRKR8bdR6lI4W2kFBQlB-3zFAVNW7HYFmrWIBQ6jwXawP/s1600-h/IMG_4413.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRTffhhr8URDHQUBjgUeOIgI_uCj6Kq50YaBKrBu1Dr2C_hXgMrxsiR-fgF7ySpP6Vsx6oat_11NhiIRRFVSylAhxoiFl5urgyRKR8bdR6lI4W2kFBQlB-3zFAVNW7HYFmrWIBQ6jwXawP/s400/IMG_4413.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370551546434375234" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">(The Bancoora S.L.S.C clubhouse. This was your typical trophy room with plaques, awards, and autographs. The clubhouse also had a fully functional bar. The pool balls were way smaller, and they have a rule where you get two shots if you miss the bal you are aiming for. [Bancoora Clubhouse, Breamlea])</span><br /><br /><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnh6rnB0Wk5Zleim5josElHzOQl1HVkHBlDfga7oK2gLL_zXh9d8iNQ7RZ4XxsPpAVEy8CnaKGUJqWuNRkLtJX6o7j-inBsbrw_AjM3JwXdxchTMIrLIyOkNR0kzVA-1-xDA76JHA4pJV3/s1600-h/IMG_4592.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnh6rnB0Wk5Zleim5josElHzOQl1HVkHBlDfga7oK2gLL_zXh9d8iNQ7RZ4XxsPpAVEy8CnaKGUJqWuNRkLtJX6o7j-inBsbrw_AjM3JwXdxchTMIrLIyOkNR0kzVA-1-xDA76JHA4pJV3/s400/IMG_4592.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370552863252494658" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">(These are Eucalyptus trees (Myrtaceae Family) endemic to the Gondwanan super continent which broke away from Antartica about 50 million years ago. The Eucalyptus is characterised by vertically hanging, isobilateral hanging leaves that avoid the suns rays. The numerous oil glands in the leaves are used in medicines and the oil is highly flammable to maximise burning so that regrowth can begin quickly. Eucalyptus was exported to California. [My Beautiful Landrette, Fitzroy])</span>Mike Sevillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14507112518498064784noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3806290657073971729.post-51831076439653022462009-08-09T07:22:00.000-07:002009-08-10T14:53:16.823-07:00B8: Melbournians and their Sport<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCIYaAoD3hz2V1wR4H9ZyQTX_YRUAMX-XPwth8SQ047R_2YEU6DZ5D8mLxnzpr5wL1DNIQ2_vBYATnkKtrcxeM05aEvb4rrEG7PrGLW7QeaasIbUAhtxOW8RFT-t7-WDrIknT2cbNYcTTc/s1600-h/IMG_4359.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCIYaAoD3hz2V1wR4H9ZyQTX_YRUAMX-XPwth8SQ047R_2YEU6DZ5D8mLxnzpr5wL1DNIQ2_vBYATnkKtrcxeM05aEvb4rrEG7PrGLW7QeaasIbUAhtxOW8RFT-t7-WDrIknT2cbNYcTTc/s400/IMG_4359.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367973816228232258" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">(Baseball! Hanging out with my "carpool mate", Michael. I went 1-2 with a strikeout, walk and RBI. Steven, that's 2.5 fantasy points. [Loyala Reserve, Watsonia])<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWxWvDq_mxUkwh_woYdg5OmfUtigkuW_Svz3w8O3tcf6dHWtPN70baJHfvu8aEaxiUrN6FkLIaOomx98UUoH8zUewRXK7dvQatSHAiaxJ34T90GfcZYPla5hqOiCqvcIYzdGR2ecu9VJaF/s1600-h/IMG_4277.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWxWvDq_mxUkwh_woYdg5OmfUtigkuW_Svz3w8O3tcf6dHWtPN70baJHfvu8aEaxiUrN6FkLIaOomx98UUoH8zUewRXK7dvQatSHAiaxJ34T90GfcZYPla5hqOiCqvcIYzdGR2ecu9VJaF/s400/IMG_4277.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367972598504554818" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">(We got there a little early, so those are the Juniors, 21 and under, playing rugby. [Olympic Park Stadium])</span><br /><br />Hi!<br /><br />For your loyal readers, I’m going to try and make an effort to blog every Sunday night so it should be up by Sunday morning for you guys on the west coast.<br /><br />Week two was like week one, only a little more organised (I’m going to try and spell like an Australian, so no more zed’s!) because I don’t have to walk around campus with my nose buried in a map, I know my timetable by heart, I know my workout schedule and I have found my study haven in the Eastern Resource Center. I spent much of my spare time working on some research for text mining. Right now, I’m just taking other people’s code and running it on heaps of data in different ways to see if I can get some noun phrases for a corpus (data). I am still lost, but I continue to work hard. Statistics is tough with all the new material, Biology of Australian Flora and Fauna has us learning about the “foreign” prickly pear cacti, and my first essay for Globalisation is coming up.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ouFAu2frPxbdMiuKoyNUVV1Pp_InpcWwQTcvURbzVhJkf3VYb0vIYg4cZV1gedjkDpcPLw3nY1LTBgZ7Bes-QvVFKOqPioUjGAu0rMnBHoxgp4KDcuai3KJkNupTcrMHDu9ZdY_pmT6q/s1600-h/IMG_4256.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ouFAu2frPxbdMiuKoyNUVV1Pp_InpcWwQTcvURbzVhJkf3VYb0vIYg4cZV1gedjkDpcPLw3nY1LTBgZ7Bes-QvVFKOqPioUjGAu0rMnBHoxgp4KDcuai3KJkNupTcrMHDu9ZdY_pmT6q/s400/IMG_4256.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367970707644732642" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">(Mom, you would love this rose bush thing. Whatever it is. [The Old Quad, University of Melbourne])</span><br /><br />Now that the boring uni stuff is out of the way, I can talk about the cool stuff I did.<br /><br />I went to a couple club meetings and finally settled on my favorites. I joined the Melbourne University Surfriders. All they really do is surf and go to pubs. Next weekend there is a surf trip down to Bancoora and I can’t wait… I’m literally shaking with excitement. My housemate and I also started an indoor soccer league and, thanks to my lovely sister Kimmy, I will have my indoor soccer shoes here in a couple of days. I decided not to join the Mountaineering club because they were a little intense, with their backpacking trips through the snow and their canyoning down waterfalls.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixclmL_rrituPhQQNZrRKnlMfKu0mTvpSss8eSm63LGMtTb6Be0D_5KkSOZgttma-K3Zsq19Byj-xXdgu_b0uJsPI4AEpiJDSrIgk2W8__Vum0OsrYtTEgEObxXDeBvJUnR10hnWG-vIqF/s1600-h/IMG_4243.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixclmL_rrituPhQQNZrRKnlMfKu0mTvpSss8eSm63LGMtTb6Be0D_5KkSOZgttma-K3Zsq19Byj-xXdgu_b0uJsPI4AEpiJDSrIgk2W8__Vum0OsrYtTEgEObxXDeBvJUnR10hnWG-vIqF/s400/IMG_4243.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367970701707757330" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">(The field hockey pitch where we are going to have our Campus Sport Soccer games. [Tin Alley, University of Melbourne])</span><br /><br />I also (as you can tell from the picture above) joined the Melbourne Uni Baseball team. There are only 3 games left, but I figured I might as well get the Ausball excperience. I practiced with the team and the coach said that it was “obvious that I had played before” and he invited me to the “Uni Games” which are like the Olympics for the Australian unis. The uni games are held on the Gold Coast (in Queensland) in September. Wikipedia has this to say about the Gold Coast:<br /><blockquote></blockquote><blockquote>Gold Coast City is renowned for its sunny subtropical climate, popular surfing beaches, expansive waterway and canal systems, a skyline dominated by high-rise apartment buildings, a peaceful rainforest hinterland in the west of the city, active nightlife and its wide variety of tourist attractions.</blockquote>We’ll see what my bank account has to say when the time comes (will cost close to $1000). As of right now, I’m just enjoying throwing the ball around again with some truly friendly Australians.<br /><br />On Friday night I went to the rugby game with my housemate. We sat in the third row and it was $20 (chump change compared to the $80 Petco Park tickets). The Melbourne Storm handled the North Queensland Cowboys by a fair margin (20 – 4) and I got to see Billy Slater, the hometown hero, run circles around Johnathon Thurston, the premier player of the entire rugby league. I probably annoyed my housemate into oblivion with all my questions. The first half we had a couple of trys (kind of like a touchdown) but missed our conversions (like a field goal) so the score was pretty close. We burst onto the scene in the second half and capitalised on some Cowboy mistakes, weak punts, and missed conversions (by Thurston). After the game, the players circled the field and gave high fives to the fans and even got in some pictures with some kids. For me, this was a truly remarkable display of appreciation, and it shows that the Australian athletes know what sport is about: being heroes and role models (even my housemate got a little giddy when his hero came by and gave him a high five). My favourite part was staring at the player’s massive legs, my $5 corndog dipped in sweet sauce and the cheerleaders.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJBUJ0RIg6c4RmT4-YPdIkeDDPlP6VCAPmBgODYLFGyWxRzOmBTvD23FoYeDiaKyxlFVmpYCaMWa1tJLQYC5cWP0kbbZktvJk3YYScKxKFKzlb_gxWpEwuZfILNtGtrx6yZweiytzmbHyT/s1600-h/IMG_4325.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 182px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJBUJ0RIg6c4RmT4-YPdIkeDDPlP6VCAPmBgODYLFGyWxRzOmBTvD23FoYeDiaKyxlFVmpYCaMWa1tJLQYC5cWP0kbbZktvJk3YYScKxKFKzlb_gxWpEwuZfILNtGtrx6yZweiytzmbHyT/s400/IMG_4325.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367972615521258418" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">(Thurston is wearing the hat thing. Sorry the picture is so blurry... they run fast. [Olympic Park Stadium])</span><br /><br />This week I really experienced the Australian spirit. A guy from the baseball team offered to give me a ride to the game and on the way there, our car broke down. We sat in a 7/11 and a guy came over to help us. He got right into the car and was hitting stuff with a fist and turning nobs and tightening bolts. He sat there for a good 15 minutes trying to helps us out and after he failed, he didn’t stop. He proceeded to go around the entire parking lot and asked other people for help on our behalf! I couldn’t believe it. This was just an example of the Australian way. My carpool “chaffeur” REFUSED to take my money for gas (petrol) even though he had waited in traffic to pick me up. My baseball team captain sent me 15 emails making sure that I had socks and cleats and equipment for the game (and when I didn’t, he arranged for guys to bring equipment for me). People on the trolley helped me figure out how to use my metLink card. Guys in the laundrette offered me advice on how to use a front load washing machine. My housemate even bought me a thirty (30!) dollar cake for my birthday. I thanked him and he said “Ah! No worries!”. The friendliness here blows me away.<br /><br />I’m having a great time, but I wish that I could have been home for my birthday. I had (for a long time) been looking forward to having a beer with my dad but unfortunately my 21st birthday was today. I know he was looking forward to it was much as I was, but at least he knows that I’m having the time of my life here.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKP5RfwPMJGrdsfjkmY-Aapu0EnV4140dAKF21m-lsUvnFTqID_ulJz-T6seoH5CZQ0UDyhK4onerrDzHHTk83uHybWL9vpb7sAi_28mb9LxZbTLLUMFi1Ir-CJhHrFONucyzBzF9L41mi/s1600-h/IMG_4366.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKP5RfwPMJGrdsfjkmY-Aapu0EnV4140dAKF21m-lsUvnFTqID_ulJz-T6seoH5CZQ0UDyhK4onerrDzHHTk83uHybWL9vpb7sAi_28mb9LxZbTLLUMFi1Ir-CJhHrFONucyzBzF9L41mi/s400/IMG_4366.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367973822281889426" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">(Remember those cakes in the window from Brunetti? The ones that I thought I'd never I'd get to eat? Well I ate one! This is my housemate Abdul and Michelle, from Berkeley. [Lygon St., Carlton])</span><br /><br />Next week is a week of new lecturers (they rotate) and more settling in. I haven’t seen any kangaroos yet… but I think I’m going to buy some kangaroo meet at the market tomorrow… my carpool driver said that it is great on the “barbie”.<br /><br />Until then,<br /><br />Mikey Doo<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIF5fKpXa0KHlXaDsqxO7on4h2a9AEXZbc832gWy656-kO53PZpjfA4WxxWLymhzuIfY0AthJOMsxyBtU0t4lYyupYxW5K0NTNvBknDUFs-bn1b4L8Sjzux_T943FuXt67cBzMpIcCLmFK/s1600-h/IMG_4356.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIF5fKpXa0KHlXaDsqxO7on4h2a9AEXZbc832gWy656-kO53PZpjfA4WxxWLymhzuIfY0AthJOMsxyBtU0t4lYyupYxW5K0NTNvBknDUFs-bn1b4L8Sjzux_T943FuXt67cBzMpIcCLmFK/s400/IMG_4356.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367973837568869650" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">(I love coffee and pastries. [Federation Square, Melbourne CBD])</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxEs3sf1Lbqj2M6G8g7VseNDQzcdW4akqy-n2Bzfd9ePhUhyphenhyphen9Ds8B97gLU9uvySo46_Ypfviv07Q_1QgdNrFynQfPHcjDwoQRJrSG7-FfF8kC8xF1jDGWfTqkEQ9SHIPRgsm5MCRVy3ovH/s1600-h/IMG_4365.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 326px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxEs3sf1Lbqj2M6G8g7VseNDQzcdW4akqy-n2Bzfd9ePhUhyphenhyphen9Ds8B97gLU9uvySo46_Ypfviv07Q_1QgdNrFynQfPHcjDwoQRJrSG7-FfF8kC8xF1jDGWfTqkEQ9SHIPRgsm5MCRVy3ovH/s400/IMG_4365.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367973829458490018" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">(My first up close encounter with a marsupial. Abdul has a talent of getting possums to come over to us. [Carlton Gardens])</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgIFC22fcUU4EDLcpmfiQtmdvyZ6TN5yCRaIJpsLhvPIKK_1oRcZdajdAdvnEQTGacR5xTGSOGaXanRIbxVPQIqpUsBFk5LthfwMweOkGNuIWPTJc_lgQy9rrEvZsjHXdMsgoLP_H0S0vU/s1600-h/IMG_4352.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgIFC22fcUU4EDLcpmfiQtmdvyZ6TN5yCRaIJpsLhvPIKK_1oRcZdajdAdvnEQTGacR5xTGSOGaXanRIbxVPQIqpUsBFk5LthfwMweOkGNuIWPTJc_lgQy9rrEvZsjHXdMsgoLP_H0S0vU/s400/IMG_4352.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367972625752452530" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">(Abdul gettin' some love from his hero, Dallas Johnson. [Olympica Park Stadium])</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLjds13jlKX8T8LxfFIeEHMnvSvpBrmxMowoECTi9WFhCOeJ9h8bJxS8p6jRgfj8ByY4y5CdL-Z0po8XzLI6VXnt9u828ohnETpATiGX24yJXsxerJPLnPlntL80Jx_gl5VhQ9r398Fmmm/s1600-h/IMG_4319.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLjds13jlKX8T8LxfFIeEHMnvSvpBrmxMowoECTi9WFhCOeJ9h8bJxS8p6jRgfj8ByY4y5CdL-Z0po8XzLI6VXnt9u828ohnETpATiGX24yJXsxerJPLnPlntL80Jx_gl5VhQ9r398Fmmm/s400/IMG_4319.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367972612797314738" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">(Corndog. [Olympic Park Stadium])</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9q-tKe4l6xmdG3slTEti0_OFROBx2T0BaU7qScWselnp19pNTtnYUKZkknetYeim-xTJnm70YOJBY7wVWPfiv8dKADng-bjTUrtjRF79B7eaFM-R73SG2lFkfxbpkJ0FZNooc3ebzR1e3/s1600-h/IMG_4253.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9q-tKe4l6xmdG3slTEti0_OFROBx2T0BaU7qScWselnp19pNTtnYUKZkknetYeim-xTJnm70YOJBY7wVWPfiv8dKADng-bjTUrtjRF79B7eaFM-R73SG2lFkfxbpkJ0FZNooc3ebzR1e3/s400/IMG_4253.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367972584949118418" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">(Right outside my Globalisation lecture. [Old Arts, University of Melbourne])</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8gE2EldbPn2ZUZi-v6et_Gc56QlagUlpBEEZ11YbOMLppPPb76JX3GUw0LQgABYcoqbdTE7Agm3ggKxr_VWPg5fZLfn8QndIeEDg3jeNpmZTMXw16EiAvIoVE0KFpIBfG52AcO5HKy6Tx/s1600-h/IMG_4239.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8gE2EldbPn2ZUZi-v6et_Gc56QlagUlpBEEZ11YbOMLppPPb76JX3GUw0LQgABYcoqbdTE7Agm3ggKxr_VWPg5fZLfn8QndIeEDg3jeNpmZTMXw16EiAvIoVE0KFpIBfG52AcO5HKy6Tx/s400/IMG_4239.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367970692210700466" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">(Some funnel thing for the rain in front of the union house. [Tin Alley, University of Melbourne])</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN9-EW0KJc1wq4KpD5LzoWZY_OXtmpsmRq6jBY6hq8mow5MI7UZUEfIU06A9BKc2F_OFc45F8p3Q6WCx7p1gDvX8nT5jl3eHCDWYDBjTHGZRed9RSzKtX9Z2MEVKHtfupVHToOzC6wUCCX/s1600-h/IMG_4235.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN9-EW0KJc1wq4KpD5LzoWZY_OXtmpsmRq6jBY6hq8mow5MI7UZUEfIU06A9BKc2F_OFc45F8p3Q6WCx7p1gDvX8nT5jl3eHCDWYDBjTHGZRed9RSzKtX9Z2MEVKHtfupVHToOzC6wUCCX/s400/IMG_4235.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367970689962454674" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">(The Union House. [Melbourne University])</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjovtO_2V0HVnqzZDGb8zEYJvN1sbrNiO1xh_2RjeDKkO2EnWFvGJ5XtPuTIHxgDDvNLCL2AkP2DWLcOwQVfXHN8ycHXR1puiBZ9LWuiWnaExi6i0kW82Lc-3HuL17AsXcuENGbgRl5vwF-/s1600-h/IMG_4230.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjovtO_2V0HVnqzZDGb8zEYJvN1sbrNiO1xh_2RjeDKkO2EnWFvGJ5XtPuTIHxgDDvNLCL2AkP2DWLcOwQVfXHN8ycHXR1puiBZ9LWuiWnaExi6i0kW82Lc-3HuL17AsXcuENGbgRl5vwF-/s400/IMG_4230.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367970681647674450" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">(Hanging out on the South Lawn between classes. [University of Melbourne])</span>Mike Sevillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14507112518498064784noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3806290657073971729.post-2052812770492390062009-08-02T06:30:00.000-07:002009-08-08T00:58:48.165-07:00B7: Food, Food, Food<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6tVouKPtGzMNjTNt5XS2MozxgKmAOgCRtTfWb7WP8BLrhNw-SNcZMt_-XwedhlQLsEaB_g7BaIq4Gq-vlNJ4UCr10Phzuo49pJk-7k2r4x4rhRSP_zxQZpE2WUASYSjX7n2EPYD6Fwa_h/s1600-h/IMG_4198.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6tVouKPtGzMNjTNt5XS2MozxgKmAOgCRtTfWb7WP8BLrhNw-SNcZMt_-XwedhlQLsEaB_g7BaIq4Gq-vlNJ4UCr10Phzuo49pJk-7k2r4x4rhRSP_zxQZpE2WUASYSjX7n2EPYD6Fwa_h/s400/IMG_4198.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365360330067404242" border="0" /></a>(<span style="font-style: italic;">The biggest collection of fruit that I have ever seen. This is just the entrance. [Victoria Market])</span><br /><br />Hi!<br /><br />Back at UC Irvine, I arranged a chat with an Australian who went to Western Australia University just so I could get a feel for the academic differences between Australian and American higher education. He told me that the biggest differences were the professors and their teaching styles. He noted that, because the Australian professor’s weren’t solely in the profession for the research grant money, they focus more on teaching and allocating time for their students. Through my first week of classes, I can see what he means.<br /><br />The first week of classes were great. All my professors are fantastic. They are fast paced, energetic, knowledgeable, and funny. Their dynamic lectures are inspiring and their enthusiasm radiates from every word. Even the discussion sections we have are fun to go to, especially my Globalisation (note the lack of the “zed”) class because my American perspective is often asked for. Good thing I have been listening to my Dan Carlin Common Sense political pod cast… Anyway, classes are great and I’m having a great experience.<br /><br />Outside the classroom it has been all about food. Today I went to the world famous Victorian Market with my Cal friend. The entrance is lined with rows and rows of meat. Seafood, sausages, patties, brisket, lamb, anything you can imagine (literally… take a look at the picture). Then the cheese room, with at least 5 stands of different kinds of cheese. We had to hurry through the outdoor fruit market because of the noise. Noise from shoppers, from little kids and from the annoying sellers, shouting about the freshness and value of their fruits. We were then dumped into a section that was like an upscale swap meet, only 3 times bigger. Aboriginal style art on boomerangs, paintings and didgeridoos were everywhere along with the cheap belt buckles and stuffed animals. Grandma Sevilla, you would go crazy for all the seafood and Grandma Suzie, you would probably buy all the little aboriginal knick knacks (check out the picture). The market sure was bustling and I plan to go back and buy some true Australian stuff, but I have to make sure to stay way from the lolly shops…<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuqTt_RA6xKWW7YiIMXa9ZNLGzZ5pbUtSwrL7xHj5zm8N9C1x5tnNnRAlc9U3abea8qe0-dDpjXHK1lIia9NpBhMpvgpyh85JHt3rJj_ku-fIQQmUgEgY4MBzD8zJESQ2GvDvP0lh4f2Vq/s1600-h/IMG_4201.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuqTt_RA6xKWW7YiIMXa9ZNLGzZ5pbUtSwrL7xHj5zm8N9C1x5tnNnRAlc9U3abea8qe0-dDpjXHK1lIia9NpBhMpvgpyh85JHt3rJj_ku-fIQQmUgEgY4MBzD8zJESQ2GvDvP0lh4f2Vq/s400/IMG_4201.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365362552732910114" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">(They really do have everything at the Victoria Market...Check out the sign. [Victoria Market])<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJsu6vA7R5W2c9pKMxZ4tkHi1tGb1_4ugCuxCJE4uy8Kgwbp1FjlgiEFrKg5gTHRtgWjkeL2CSfaMbAwKOYjfRbV4iSRMH6jdTNeDgywmZ2Jf6_34rXVHCh75OJiJc6rrCRqtFAoI0Qzkk/s1600-h/IMG_4182.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJsu6vA7R5W2c9pKMxZ4tkHi1tGb1_4ugCuxCJE4uy8Kgwbp1FjlgiEFrKg5gTHRtgWjkeL2CSfaMbAwKOYjfRbV4iSRMH6jdTNeDgywmZ2Jf6_34rXVHCh75OJiJc6rrCRqtFAoI0Qzkk/s400/IMG_4182.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365360308837550786" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">(Wine Holders, Boomerangs, Masks, Didgeridoos, and coasters with aboriginal artwork. [Victoria Market])<br /></span><br /><br />Life has really settled down and I feel like I’m really getting a true Australian experience. I drink “heaps” of tea and eat “loads” of Tim tams. I’ve been to some parties and the food from the barbecue (barbie) is always fantastic. At the parties I’m either referred to as “Mike-O” (they shorten everything with either a “y” or an “-o”) or “California”. The most interesting conversations are about the Australian Football League (footy) and the American economy (they know more about America than I do about Australia). I’ve heard that the best part of Australia is the coffee and breakfast (brekkie) but I’ve just stuck to my bowl of cereal and wheat biscuits. The research is tough… he has me doing some work with some Matlab and Octave software to extract high probability words and phrases from documents… I don’t really know what I’m doing, but I’m working hard.<br /><br />This week I’m going to a Mountaineering Club meeting on Tuesday and a rugby game at Olympic Stadium on Friday with my housemate (Steven, you would love Rugby and Footy). My friend wants to a rent a car and go down to the Great Ocean Road, so I’ll keep you updated on how that goes.<br /><br />Sorry the lack of posts and for yelling at you guys for commenting in the wrong place.<br /><br />Until next time,<br /><br />Mikey Doo<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcCDhXPwOFR0Q2yQkOXAhUvnj6b-ZhJvzJ0TjdEFbK0ecFOA87czjPLzOELf9JmTeC4MC8RYvYVjZhEzYwidag3966YX9lfBSjjgzeE7Q2B-FPG7UGSexol-Jo0sJU180yAwognbKyhxIR/s1600-h/IMG_4179.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcCDhXPwOFR0Q2yQkOXAhUvnj6b-ZhJvzJ0TjdEFbK0ecFOA87czjPLzOELf9JmTeC4MC8RYvYVjZhEzYwidag3966YX9lfBSjjgzeE7Q2B-FPG7UGSexol-Jo0sJU180yAwognbKyhxIR/s400/IMG_4179.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365360306417313266" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">(The Royal Exhibition Building and the Melbourne Museum. [Carlton Gardens, Fitzroy])</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFNgITqTjAwhgTDYnFxoUIwv4zd9FlR3dwpja2tfvqYT23z76a7O-HmxPTYMJJDhLGsVDRiv-xca1hYv1RcHNOjEduRSMd9j7H4aJpL0uhsac7vVhfq1lAc6REd1p9hyxzGueSQaqXdW27/s1600-h/IMG_4224.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFNgITqTjAwhgTDYnFxoUIwv4zd9FlR3dwpja2tfvqYT23z76a7O-HmxPTYMJJDhLGsVDRiv-xca1hYv1RcHNOjEduRSMd9j7H4aJpL0uhsac7vVhfq1lAc6REd1p9hyxzGueSQaqXdW27/s400/IMG_4224.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365367571918191762" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">(From Left to Right: Boag's Draught Tasmanian Beer, Veggimite, Cadburry Chocolate, Tim Tams, Tasmanian Leatherback Honey, Wheat Biscuits. [My Kitchen]</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrSEiuIYQeuMtu02WZ-lB_4RZyl4mJ8g6VaZvU3InkkVxBlHMMbl43iyrBuAFNE2uTmAiWuO8m-EHiHZYKA1PYH4efAY5fEDWZJb7NCKwvk0rqD8CZ54XCuXbJw_2BKHVkAeZq9GEQNqJW/s1600-h/IMG_4215.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrSEiuIYQeuMtu02WZ-lB_4RZyl4mJ8g6VaZvU3InkkVxBlHMMbl43iyrBuAFNE2uTmAiWuO8m-EHiHZYKA1PYH4efAY5fEDWZJb7NCKwvk0rqD8CZ54XCuXbJw_2BKHVkAeZq9GEQNqJW/s400/IMG_4215.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365362576812199746" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">(My room.)</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYQsqNTosFSQHMbWjH5F3kUhn-_EmCuACxCIFh8IlGAP7c57O7IQJL8z2JNokgddYoPQDzZv4j31vVpQ_yG5sRjJdIBlVHoO5oWpz13eLhCf0MBnQNLZsUjRh7jDnkbaEEcn9u-kJ-6GW6/s1600-h/IMG_4214.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYQsqNTosFSQHMbWjH5F3kUhn-_EmCuACxCIFh8IlGAP7c57O7IQJL8z2JNokgddYoPQDzZv4j31vVpQ_yG5sRjJdIBlVHoO5oWpz13eLhCf0MBnQNLZsUjRh7jDnkbaEEcn9u-kJ-6GW6/s400/IMG_4214.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365362570587402258" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">(Australian Coat of Arms exhibit. The Kangaroo and Emu are Australia's most recognizable fauna. [Melbourne Museum, Carlton Gardens])</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkIBxNg1SWH1or5qCY2X7ySBagvSEO4pFDU0MbE2XmgNlKS-1ur7aKK5LFgZRDCEFwB1OGrXZNZbAvkSoMN6eKquE-oGsoKHDyapRvkTVvYvH918uCdBC6WILl9v2O9lQFCNNP5iPz6cp2/s1600-h/IMG_4212.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkIBxNg1SWH1or5qCY2X7ySBagvSEO4pFDU0MbE2XmgNlKS-1ur7aKK5LFgZRDCEFwB1OGrXZNZbAvkSoMN6eKquE-oGsoKHDyapRvkTVvYvH918uCdBC6WILl9v2O9lQFCNNP5iPz6cp2/s400/IMG_4212.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365362562969550546" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">(Some aboriginal style canoes. They aren't really originals... most of the stuff made in the museum was made in the 1980's. [Melbourne Museum, Carlton Gardens])</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXQKZ0FFhMyuDCUz00mxRqyyms-2Uj8FsqMD-oH7Amxy5sJHUgLHCET5vECWxHD78gAkrKYJkdxeYAqGAibYeCFWHL-KP4-E4QQ3i5AOP08o5yJ8QBmJpp5MHsAtxRXCewG4HWkOdbqcQm/s1600-h/IMG_4200.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXQKZ0FFhMyuDCUz00mxRqyyms-2Uj8FsqMD-oH7Amxy5sJHUgLHCET5vECWxHD78gAkrKYJkdxeYAqGAibYeCFWHL-KP4-E4QQ3i5AOP08o5yJ8QBmJpp5MHsAtxRXCewG4HWkOdbqcQm/s400/IMG_4200.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365362544225406242" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">(Champagne Ham Pizza and I forgot what my friend got. Something with too many vegetables. The restaurant was called "Colour of Earth" and they made some obscure, healthy food that Auntie Juanita would love. [Victoria Market])</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA1Gf4D4_KfFkIbpoXMNtnhhv4kNzXr7l0pdbBLT0I8UEUI8562Vtx0HlmIm9EBBr5uPOOzwQv4gz938jKD4sITZyycQdB5RA3YN-9pwNaIoIhzupjuYAjk7yVYezS8RbQjmcHRvQaRHLp/s1600-h/IMG_4192.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA1Gf4D4_KfFkIbpoXMNtnhhv4kNzXr7l0pdbBLT0I8UEUI8562Vtx0HlmIm9EBBr5uPOOzwQv4gz938jKD4sITZyycQdB5RA3YN-9pwNaIoIhzupjuYAjk7yVYezS8RbQjmcHRvQaRHLp/s400/IMG_4192.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365360324194450322" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">(Good thing Alexandra wasn't with me, or she would have purchased this parrot too. [Victoria Market])</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWDJTjf1cdtnh61c8re0Wv1aQtE2ZKZXL5F1SiExH7Ob0cD1Pq_RaAtT1wHmDQsCg0CJ0nN8WGgnFqgXmp9aA8IJWwoUO6o-x_hkpKEqlmEoc2AlHq0ayODPa9FOaeoXnVxfzOqQoM9mfe/s1600-h/IMG_4186.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWDJTjf1cdtnh61c8re0Wv1aQtE2ZKZXL5F1SiExH7Ob0cD1Pq_RaAtT1wHmDQsCg0CJ0nN8WGgnFqgXmp9aA8IJWwoUO6o-x_hkpKEqlmEoc2AlHq0ayODPa9FOaeoXnVxfzOqQoM9mfe/s400/IMG_4186.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365360313581316482" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">(Michaela, I still haven't purchased any candy. Can you believe that? [Lolly Shop])</span>Mike Sevillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14507112518498064784noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3806290657073971729.post-76794429495056055692009-07-27T05:16:00.000-07:002009-07-27T05:37:55.674-07:00Side Note.Alright guys. It's getting difficult to read your comments because you comment on random blogs (especially you, Uncle Ed) so it's hard for me to find them.<br /><br />Each blog entry has a comment area assigned to it. So if you want to comment about a specific blog, you need to post it on that particular blog's comment section. What you need to do is go to the blog, scroll down to the bottom of that particular blog and click on "1 comments" or "2 comments" or whatever it says. The "# comments" font is small, so you older folks may need to put some glasses on.<br /><br />Also, since I blog sporadically, you may want to subscribe to my blog so that you know when I post a new one instead of checking every day. You need a google, yahoo, or aim account, so if you have any of these email addresses, you can click on "Follow" on the right hand side of my blog. The hip, younger generation (including Karen) + my technologically savvy father has already done this, so if you have any questions, ask them.<br /><br />Right now, my housemate and I are snuggled next to the heater listening to Michael Jackson albums. It is freezing here... I had to buy a pair of slippers for the first time in life.<br /><br />Here is a complimentary picture... and remember, comment in the correct place!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSm4WMZC5PYtN4HXkTDV3PY6tC64dNga62B90j8yp2W7jZp4eQwTDDPzLtzZOTFEf6GHGteWYGa3wgl1Tn7lZnFKzStAVTS0-ugXoJJpWWbr7P8GtF4i5vJtz5XfK7oCrkqWNZRyTMusCP/s1600-h/IMG_4173.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSm4WMZC5PYtN4HXkTDV3PY6tC64dNga62B90j8yp2W7jZp4eQwTDDPzLtzZOTFEf6GHGteWYGa3wgl1Tn7lZnFKzStAVTS0-ugXoJJpWWbr7P8GtF4i5vJtz5XfK7oCrkqWNZRyTMusCP/s400/IMG_4173.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363116211340439138" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">(Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne Museum (cube) and the city of Melbourne. [Carlton Gardens, Fitzroy])</span>Mike Sevillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14507112518498064784noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3806290657073971729.post-68693081534127160232009-07-26T06:51:00.000-07:002009-07-27T05:37:17.811-07:00B6: Getting Settled<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwD05pJ6iEUmCjPAsqscjo2ue4hR_bOINKJ5dLsV8SBjnRsJcsn_uEJNe_nJC80s-r8MPw78vNVxp_QPJSVFcAw16341FNBcW06ltfG8ehgfH4x79zn5ChxkC0JxVcQf8EOJzzzmzcZ8tX/s1600-h/IMG_4152.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwD05pJ6iEUmCjPAsqscjo2ue4hR_bOINKJ5dLsV8SBjnRsJcsn_uEJNe_nJC80s-r8MPw78vNVxp_QPJSVFcAw16341FNBcW06ltfG8ehgfH4x79zn5ChxkC0JxVcQf8EOJzzzmzcZ8tX/s400/IMG_4152.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362770113280652962" border="0" /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></a><span style="font-style: italic;">(St. Patrick's Cathedral, I think, and Federation Square. [Flinders St., Melbourne])</span><br /><br />Hi!<br /><br />Orientation went well. Every exchange student sat down with an academic advisor and they personally helped advised, enroll, and register us for our classes. I guess the administraters here in Australia actually do some adminstrating… what a concept. Anyways, I went to a bunch of the optional orientation presentations and found them incredibly helpful and lively. Even the handbooks have a much lighter tone, talking about drinking and living life. I felt very welcome druing my Welcome Week.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDurKeoAdR09ro7SITazIZUkuqehXW7rF1bkJ35TrpjGKn-8n_FJqq81lsHWYjueTDjFgGl5gYD-Uk6m-Gxi4nc9gk8OlC86h9R6tCH2_9mVo95wc8bAmA09ZSBK05MghCNbfTm-YYlBgM/s1600-h/IMG_4118.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDurKeoAdR09ro7SITazIZUkuqehXW7rF1bkJ35TrpjGKn-8n_FJqq81lsHWYjueTDjFgGl5gYD-Uk6m-Gxi4nc9gk8OlC86h9R6tCH2_9mVo95wc8bAmA09ZSBK05MghCNbfTm-YYlBgM/s400/IMG_4118.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362767929368620066" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">(My student ID (concession card) and planner (diary).)</span><br /><br />My friend and I went to a movie (at the concession stand they served beer, fudge, and popcorn)and decided to see an authentic Australian movie instead of “Harry Potter”. I picked “Wake in Fright” after multiple recommendations from the ticketer and other random Aussies. Here are the specs of the movie:<br /> - Setting: Australian Outback (in a small mining town)<br />- Characters: John Grant, an educated school teacher who is looking to fly to Sydney to meet his girlfriend during one of his vacations.<br />- Plot: There was none. All he did was drink, gamble away all his money and hunt kangaroos. He never even got around to seeing his girlfriend. The disclaimer at the end of the movie explained that the kangaroo hunting scenes were from an actual kangaroo hunt. They wanted to show the brutality of such an activity and it made me cringe at every crack of the rifle.<br />- Soundtrack: Didgereedoo background music.<br />- Production: I don’t think a tripod was used. Lots of quick, random flashbacks.<br />After the movie, my friend leaned over and said “Well, that was very Australian” and I must agree. Reviews said it was “One of the greatest films to be made in the country” (Garry Maddox, Sydney Morning Herald). I really enjoyed the movie and it proved to be an excellent way to be introduced to the Australian way of life: drink and offer other people drinks.<br /><br />This week has been incredibly busy. There were a couple more bar nights and I after one of the nights out, I found myself at the Crown Casino with the New Yoka again. The guys at my table were playing Michael Jackson on their iPhone speakers and constantly made fun of eachother (especially me, after I lost my money). I stopped using my free gym pass because the lady pushed so incredibly hard for me to get a membership… she doesn’t understand that I only want the free 7 days. Today I signed up for a gym membership through school. I’ve spent the other nights walking around trying the deserts in the city and drooling over the cakes in the window shops.<br /><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ25_ZycebwabJUx8nCc3XnADZwAvYLcxCilao25B8CIQjKU3Afkk4ns97_aw8kAjzzVPyGK4JyAg0C1RPcZxJry5Z_UNp3UFBHxFnA-AAAIMXHNY1PU5qPpeNBVNwahs_EsIfdcQsczPh/s1600-h/IMG_4099.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ25_ZycebwabJUx8nCc3XnADZwAvYLcxCilao25B8CIQjKU3Afkk4ns97_aw8kAjzzVPyGK4JyAg0C1RPcZxJry5Z_UNp3UFBHxFnA-AAAIMXHNY1PU5qPpeNBVNwahs_EsIfdcQsczPh/s400/IMG_4099.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362767919648531074" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">(Cakes from Brunetti. [Lygon St., Carlton])</span><br /><br />I moved out of the hostel (after saying goodbye to the French girls) and moved into my flat. My house mate is very helpful and has already driven me to look at some beds and do grocery shopping. Tomorrow we are going to buy tickets for the Melbourne Storm vs. the Sydney Swans rugby game next week in the brand new stadium. We also hope to make it over to the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) for an Aussie League Football match (the stadium holds over 110,000 people). I have found a bed through gumtree (Australia’s version of craigslist) and am in the process of getting it to my place.<br /><br />This week I start classes (eek!) and am going to look into joining some clubs. My housemate said all the clubs only go to bars and drink, so hopefully I can find one that actually does an activity. I’m looking at an indoor soccer league with my housemate. I am also working on getting some research done with a professor here at my university (uni) in the field of text mining. Text mining is a technology that will (someday) be able to “read” through heaps of documents and sort them according to topic. I’ll let you know more about it when I learn a little bit more.<br /><br />Until then,<br /><br />Mikey Doo<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirgjYqUBEhPE_2FcfZFu90TP_bOIYAuOr5Th3rbRqWVH_-2-uKEp4ZfT4DWKBn4WzSWR5RaovD4iNtrqppN3bZvP9GgM4y8-kmZzf4o-Z6iklN1-99ICpTREcy-IEWfbKtIeGD_EzWCrV1/s1600-h/IMG_4149.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirgjYqUBEhPE_2FcfZFu90TP_bOIYAuOr5Th3rbRqWVH_-2-uKEp4ZfT4DWKBn4WzSWR5RaovD4iNtrqppN3bZvP9GgM4y8-kmZzf4o-Z6iklN1-99ICpTREcy-IEWfbKtIeGD_EzWCrV1/s400/IMG_4149.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362770103690669906" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">(Sandridge Bridge. Looking at the north side of the Yarra River. [Melbourne])</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjngvq7jChE12ntVeD7D1Ej44xEe4ZJTywsuyBJJaHixqY2eHzC58uSio-dfwSlD1e2tbwyqcOx1TIhBg7qXvMQYrPIOuLiGIvRK9bsBQBSnsFGB7asEqVlWhYam6QsP2UCoBEt9YpY0vi-/s1600-h/IMG_4136.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjngvq7jChE12ntVeD7D1Ej44xEe4ZJTywsuyBJJaHixqY2eHzC58uSio-dfwSlD1e2tbwyqcOx1TIhBg7qXvMQYrPIOuLiGIvRK9bsBQBSnsFGB7asEqVlWhYam6QsP2UCoBEt9YpY0vi-/s400/IMG_4136.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362770101993912002" border="0" /></a> (Crown Casino. Where my money is. Looking at the north side of the Yarra. [Melbourne])<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxTbbsm5lA-BZaurpYcHFyUDbQLNEsBYcoOOXrAQB6OiZLK0wUHZ2bUoIYUd4y7BzHGUqzik84EysfnC9XnxIn3aosbGC9PeYoqs79NCi-diWfg465rM9C9cC1VQus-Q56B54cuyNrkdsj/s1600-h/IMG_4129.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxTbbsm5lA-BZaurpYcHFyUDbQLNEsBYcoOOXrAQB6OiZLK0wUHZ2bUoIYUd4y7BzHGUqzik84EysfnC9XnxIn3aosbGC9PeYoqs79NCi-diWfg465rM9C9cC1VQus-Q56B54cuyNrkdsj/s400/IMG_4129.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362767935146532914" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">(Pasta night at the nunnery. It was free. [The Nunnery Accommodation])<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-m-6jBJOPwLHek4Hd-_zLICQfnK_9wWzhswUEo8jDUoi6AqMhM3WQs4EcpBROVHOawy0sLX1Vx3pKRkMcSidPDlfWVsUFepDvQBI4qQDZaRUXkUHsQURV2y7oPbFzdhETXeotR_1Ea1Vi/s1600-h/IMG_4102.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-m-6jBJOPwLHek4Hd-_zLICQfnK_9wWzhswUEo8jDUoi6AqMhM3WQs4EcpBROVHOawy0sLX1Vx3pKRkMcSidPDlfWVsUFepDvQBI4qQDZaRUXkUHsQURV2y7oPbFzdhETXeotR_1Ea1Vi/s400/IMG_4102.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362767923660909026" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">(Apparently, my friend likes gelato more than I do. [Lygon St., Carlton])</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT3BTxuk_8kQ3_Vm3TKgTj-NCQhqkAfV5kE3AieBPvd5_AbW9doTlhNTAb-hHGKM_AKgija0qJwQMGBLF2dR6kAGFes0JG08jczpzrm1OMKwyANRkOKXRK9_1toOvpO-_BwvS0D-fdK8TH/s1600-h/IMG_4172.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT3BTxuk_8kQ3_Vm3TKgTj-NCQhqkAfV5kE3AieBPvd5_AbW9doTlhNTAb-hHGKM_AKgija0qJwQMGBLF2dR6kAGFes0JG08jczpzrm1OMKwyANRkOKXRK9_1toOvpO-_BwvS0D-fdK8TH/s400/IMG_4172.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362770129236302402" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">(Australian wildlife. Actually, they are just pigeons. [Carlton Gardens])</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdqKfUIwhUsqvTWHwTgIgdNMOQotaX_8KAfLlGAnFKot0u1msClILpexW26-akX5z1TewroMVd1DohAG-_HduAJTKLW90ugQ4uQPIYNXmKA9Y9N61J5Rd8U7Qn5vkoCiRQN3vyz1q9q3C3/s1600-h/IMG_4154.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdqKfUIwhUsqvTWHwTgIgdNMOQotaX_8KAfLlGAnFKot0u1msClILpexW26-akX5z1TewroMVd1DohAG-_HduAJTKLW90ugQ4uQPIYNXmKA9Y9N61J5Rd8U7Qn5vkoCiRQN3vyz1q9q3C3/s400/IMG_4154.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362770124724596466" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">(These Triple Choc are timtam knockoffs. Tim tams are delicious. The Tiny Bears were gross and that milk doesn't need to be refrigerated! [Lygon St., Carlton])</span>Mike Sevillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14507112518498064784noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3806290657073971729.post-46000576610522926002009-07-19T22:30:00.000-07:002009-07-20T04:56:19.708-07:00B5: Melbourne Exploring<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGthodHB-YUGQUHm-j4r7XHQCaMRpXVT3DI-UfMyi_bcMoI0oRfEVyv40_dLXLb91nJEF-NHEp7y3nK5VUSir2NSO_PQiBtMmn-cI-KVat2IILnmSAL3Kc_4YhhkzxsKqyTW4n46O_KtYj/s1600-h/IMG_4092.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGthodHB-YUGQUHm-j4r7XHQCaMRpXVT3DI-UfMyi_bcMoI0oRfEVyv40_dLXLb91nJEF-NHEp7y3nK5VUSir2NSO_PQiBtMmn-cI-KVat2IILnmSAL3Kc_4YhhkzxsKqyTW4n46O_KtYj/s400/IMG_4092.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360413273905772146" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">("All [buildings] are Victorian-era and sweeping staircases and ornate stained-glass windows are the norm." - <span style="font-weight: bold;">Excerpt from Lonely Planet</span> [The Nunnery])</span><br /><br />Hi!<br /><br />I am currently staying at the Nunnery Hostel. I was a little disgusted at first… sharing a room with11 other people. Now I love it. For only $30 AUD a night, I enjoy complimentary breakfast (Brekkie), the company of tons of Melbourne Uni students, and a great staff (they call themselves “the nuns”, but I don’t know if they are actually nuns). We had pancakes, Australian style, which were more like Crepes. Even the French girls were surprised. The place is so homie, that one of the ladies has been staying for six (6!) months.<br /><br />I share a room with six other French girls, and a guy and girl from Holland. Most of them are frantically looking for housing, bustling in and out of the hostel. They are incredibly friendly, always inviting me to lunch or out on the town. Last night a group of us went out.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI6SRmX1QE2I4CckPpFeqeZ3qREnMPVHZXhmacIKlGmMwIm1jnMG794-pwMeAYKeEBEShAPpoR8TtNo2kXsglS7OpAj_8yNYCMD5J7IulgF74WVEXOx0POIB39ShogaM1hvWb0mHdGyupl/s1600-h/IMG_4095.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI6SRmX1QE2I4CckPpFeqeZ3qREnMPVHZXhmacIKlGmMwIm1jnMG794-pwMeAYKeEBEShAPpoR8TtNo2kXsglS7OpAj_8yNYCMD5J7IulgF74WVEXOx0POIB39ShogaM1hvWb0mHdGyupl/s400/IMG_4095.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360413278552180754" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">(My hostel room. It was scary at first, but now I like living here. [The Nunnery])</span><br /><br /><br />We first went to dinner at a little Asian restaurant and we talked a good while about culture (sports, drinking, geography, compulsory language requirements in America, housing, you name it). Everyone was very talkative and there were never really any awkward moments. The most interesting things we talked about were the “Typical American” tendencies.<br /><br />The French and Holland students observed that “Typical Americans”:<br />-… don’t always act like they do on the OC, Sweet 16, or Desperate Housewives (Uncle Ed’s favorite shows).<br />-… like, use the words “like” and “um” too much. (Ex: “Like, we went to this place, and like, um, had some fun, like, lots of fun.”)<br />-… are immature about drinking. Since the rest of the world can drink at 16 (like Holland), it is surprising for other cultures to see us American kids (under 21) running around like banshees drinking their brains out here in Australia.<br />-… don’t take the driving privilege as seriously as other countries. The fact that we can drive before drinking seems backwards to them.<br />-… only play the “typical American drinking game with the big red cups and white rims and ball” (beer pong). They don’t think it’s that great.<br />-… are pretty clueless about the world around us, like languages, capitals of countries, politics, etc.<br /><br />Grandma Sevilla: I wear the phase-2 leather jacket you gave me every day because it’s the only way that I don’t look like a “Typical American”.<br /><br />We went to a club called the “Night Cat”. It was salsa night… what a coincidence. I watched the insane moves of all the other salsa dancers and even had a couple dances myself. Outside the dance floor, I got in an argument with a Texas exchange student about the 3-count salsa tempo. I had a lot of fun but I’ve decided that I’m going to need to repeat the “Beginning Salsa” course or have Auntie Chrissy re-teach me.<br /><br />Anyways, these last couple of days I have just done some housekeeping stuff (paperwork for the apartment, opening a bank account, buying a new cell phone [after putting my old one in the wash]), and looking for research opportunities. I even “exercised” my right to a free seven day gym trial. Everything is in Kilos so I have to walk around the gym with my phone so that I can convert all the weights. I put on too much weight on the decline bench and had to have a local pull the bar off my neck. A couple days ago, I even went for a swim, but had trouble because they circle swim on the left side of the line (Auntie Amy, it drove me crazy)!<br /><br />It’s hard living out here and I get lonely. All your comments are a little gut-wrenching, but I love hearing from you all. Keep the comments coming. I miss you all.<br /><br />Tomorrow is Orientation for study abroad students. Hopefully I get my Metlink Train, Tram, Bus, Subway card!<br /><br />Until then,<br /><br />Mikey Doo<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDy1LXsNEv3NjGYiDyf-IRG_ClVQ1LztXbnlEUjDs2ewB65mAzwJ5js3zANDeoA0DcJlVhwH3w3CSDC9Z0j3xed-m8COabYMESHlCSY4CuAE4181Hl3GzUriIC_p1hH29NTc_v1pD9cAri/s1600-h/IMG_4065.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDy1LXsNEv3NjGYiDyf-IRG_ClVQ1LztXbnlEUjDs2ewB65mAzwJ5js3zANDeoA0DcJlVhwH3w3CSDC9Z0j3xed-m8COabYMESHlCSY4CuAE4181Hl3GzUriIC_p1hH29NTc_v1pD9cAri/s400/IMG_4065.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360411195285176866" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">(Gelato on every corner. Ah! [Lygon Street, Carlton])</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH9a5jTi8pdsxJ7nysjtWIJyn8DMapVB2XVhAugoerNxA0g3FQw8TMBjrTVfgDNXNkZrbfmxLk5TvQ_2l4-xPaFjUBLNQtpnxn1B09-4qo0PdqJ4kZn1mZIGz10KsYd9IZb_uZK5yoZBcy/s1600-h/IMG_4071.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH9a5jTi8pdsxJ7nysjtWIJyn8DMapVB2XVhAugoerNxA0g3FQw8TMBjrTVfgDNXNkZrbfmxLk5TvQ_2l4-xPaFjUBLNQtpnxn1B09-4qo0PdqJ4kZn1mZIGz10KsYd9IZb_uZK5yoZBcy/s400/IMG_4071.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360418537482300066" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">(The traffic, near my flat, into the city. The line is much longer than the picture will show. [Nicholson Street, Fitzroy])</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ23S94FbcTXC8y7VsN-9KSsWO454xvPJBoxf0bV8uhTUqem-8LmiKnfjM66ofBiEG3zsZAGM7Od3_tLNqaJuVbIIaht-GDGqkLialTIHX0DzpEQnxXfkC4beXdkb8OwEr_QEyzzYLzM77/s1600-h/IMG_4086.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ23S94FbcTXC8y7VsN-9KSsWO454xvPJBoxf0bV8uhTUqem-8LmiKnfjM66ofBiEG3zsZAGM7Od3_tLNqaJuVbIIaht-GDGqkLialTIHX0DzpEQnxXfkC4beXdkb8OwEr_QEyzzYLzM77/s400/IMG_4086.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360418534373810002" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">(The fountain in Carlton Gardens. The iMax theatre, art gallery, and the Melbourne Museum are also in this park. [Victoria Street, Fitzroy])</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglHUAUXxbGo0LEbWgdjtYA59v4WagpKxiqU3OHua1HXrUP-SW1QvmVXir73ygOKyTNu9E9Tj0m1OJr5VBA9HmKuY_MA8Dw9wi6hJRpfxEDr2lRAxXR58ibWPuE4kVunkERUpQr5x4yGvsS/s1600-h/IMG_4089.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 294px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglHUAUXxbGo0LEbWgdjtYA59v4WagpKxiqU3OHua1HXrUP-SW1QvmVXir73ygOKyTNu9E9Tj0m1OJr5VBA9HmKuY_MA8Dw9wi6hJRpfxEDr2lRAxXR58ibWPuE4kVunkERUpQr5x4yGvsS/s400/IMG_4089.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360417210470742850" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">(The rooftop fire escape of the nunnery. This is my third cup of tea today. [The Nunnery])</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijgFX7DxPG3v06ZcVj42tdGjkHXmhIL4xUXPS5Cse4wP5W-KBjyGW16zqRwfvzOC5E4DvgCJeChlLtk7Qq0ZcnV80kM9oY9EmVrEOp-SfBDJMEP3dGWMHLYFsr8rJnOLe24bi2lSXTiR2n/s1600-h/IMG_4087.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijgFX7DxPG3v06ZcVj42tdGjkHXmhIL4xUXPS5Cse4wP5W-KBjyGW16zqRwfvzOC5E4DvgCJeChlLtk7Qq0ZcnV80kM9oY9EmVrEOp-SfBDJMEP3dGWMHLYFsr8rJnOLe24bi2lSXTiR2n/s400/IMG_4087.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360417206961657730" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">(Toitle trying to eat my Aussie Delight pizza. I can't decide if I like the pizza or the Aussie Delight Burger from the cafe around the corner better. Aussie just means "with eggs" and other breakfast foods. [Umbago Coffex, Brunswick St.]</span>Mike Sevillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14507112518498064784noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3806290657073971729.post-51189716209620067302009-07-16T05:36:00.000-07:002009-07-16T06:06:35.562-07:00B4: Melbourne<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ-fxzaU2BttVKJH69i28kzXk8iwrHPQL16WuXoia2tmImkUO3JYKVJlOyfYDr3U7cga1lO5EmlQmLjR4hYlmtKzlCuaZTRRIigLoIht9lt4Mlfk2eBRmCKdXtRC-r5l5BzjHXGhenZL0X/s1600-h/IMG_4057.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ-fxzaU2BttVKJH69i28kzXk8iwrHPQL16WuXoia2tmImkUO3JYKVJlOyfYDr3U7cga1lO5EmlQmLjR4hYlmtKzlCuaZTRRIigLoIht9lt4Mlfk2eBRmCKdXtRC-r5l5BzjHXGhenZL0X/s400/IMG_4057.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359038082474680082" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">(Picturesque Melbourne. [South Bank and Yarra River])</span><br /><br />Hi!<br /><br />My travel book, “Lonely Planet”, raves about the things to do in Melbourne, like the bars, clubs, shopping at Victoria Market, visiting the bay, spending money etc. Well, I haven’t done any of that yet. I have looked for housing.<br /><br />I arrived in Melbourne on Monday, stepped off the plane and said “Now what?”. I took a shuttle with some international students to my hostel. I chatted with some California kids until their designated stops. <br /><br />Kids from New York, Mexico, and England were there as well. Before arriving at my hostel, the New Yorker (“New Yoka”) offered me his floor to sleep on. Because I am a cost efficient (cheap) guy, I obliged. We got the England girl’s number and headed to the New Yoka’s campus affiliated housing. Naturally, after his 14 hour flight, his frisking in the Sydney customs checkpoint, and his hour and a half flight to Melbourne, the New Yoka wanted to go out. The England girl laughed at us when we didn’t know what apple cider was (think apple + champagne + sugar + headache). We met some Bostonians and Aussies at the apartment complex and went to the pub. It was $10 per pitcher (pot) night. <br /><br />The next day I met with a Berkeley (Go Bears!) friend from the Sydney Orientation because she didn’t have housing either. She helped me look for housing… actually, she did most of it for me. Our housing adventure took us all over Melbourne, from the Italian strip of Carlton, to the bar scene of Brunswick, from the lifeless Parkville, to the outskirts of Fitroy. We met students from the university (uni), adult professionals (employed), fiscal landlords, desperate homeowners, and even an exotic dancer. I finally found a place in Fitroy, half a block from Brunswick St with a local Aussie student from Wollongong. Lonely Planet says “Brunswick St is probably Melbourne’s liveliest street and where you’ll find some of the best food, weirdest shops, most interesting people and unique clothes.”<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJLRU7cav_xtT2N4_sqFMAGEGWsdGqhjBH97Y93ZItuHLxYszLPdGcmLHLywoU5WDqgdDTwAAoQXyxuU_YK5lNdtCgEW-HGWggA0MFsDCkpXPAvhaHciTupfj0LtHWwjwFn2Cmo4riFqP4/s1600-h/Kitchen.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJLRU7cav_xtT2N4_sqFMAGEGWsdGqhjBH97Y93ZItuHLxYszLPdGcmLHLywoU5WDqgdDTwAAoQXyxuU_YK5lNdtCgEW-HGWggA0MFsDCkpXPAvhaHciTupfj0LtHWwjwFn2Cmo4riFqP4/s400/Kitchen.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359041502655455090" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">(The kitchen of the place. [Hanover St., Fitzroy])</span><br /><br />Right now, I am living on Berkeley girl’s floor, avoiding her landlord. She hasn’t kicked me out yet, so I guess I’m still welcome. (Mom, don’t worry, I bought her dinner and groceries… I’m not overstaying my welcome). <br /><br />Now I introduce a section called “I now know”.<br />I now know:<br />- … that everyone jaywalks in Australia despite the fact that none of the cars ever slow down.<br />-… that light beer is only 2% here.<br />-… that no one cares about baseball. Actually, when the England girl explained cricket, it seemed pretty simple. Cricket matches can last days! Literally.<br />-… that dryers are a HUGE convenience (I guess Australians hang their clothes on a rack).<br />-… that the 2 flush buttons are for conserving water.<br />-… that if I am lost, all I need to do is pull out a map and some random Aussie is bound to come over and help.<br />-… that some bathrooms are in the backyard in an outhouse (ew!)<br />-… that really good people are out there.<br />-… that walking the streets of a city is more enjoyable that using google earth.<br />-… that having a positive attitude can help make terrible situations (being homeless) less terrible. <br /><br />That’s all for now.<br /><br />Until then,<br /><br />Mikey Doo<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNhRHZ-nFLvt8rnyqIUB23acmRUzJlDKl55BwriM64Y7QloX8zYo5k_WwP00Mymqjp2rHkrHFKbeFm5cOc-evp0rIcswO1xFvNhNsg7veaYk71XPMqUewwVsnHoo2iNIB_bbcPnRV3BIpT/s1600-h/IMG_4053.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNhRHZ-nFLvt8rnyqIUB23acmRUzJlDKl55BwriM64Y7QloX8zYo5k_WwP00Mymqjp2rHkrHFKbeFm5cOc-evp0rIcswO1xFvNhNsg7veaYk71XPMqUewwVsnHoo2iNIB_bbcPnRV3BIpT/s400/IMG_4053.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359039270251559026" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">(The George Adams Gallery, I think. [Southbank])</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwAo76aHYjTBo6NFY96cVp9LLHJ5_slHu9USnP0NXAicizO9FuvOJwz5OiNf8YuYL05KpKZkVse0RFK3J83Sgcw644UmHh-vKREcNAj6dOl9kD1iIfsQLXqbFYpdRmEStXNBx8pAIjZjq2/s1600-h/IMG_4045.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwAo76aHYjTBo6NFY96cVp9LLHJ5_slHu9USnP0NXAicizO9FuvOJwz5OiNf8YuYL05KpKZkVse0RFK3J83Sgcw644UmHh-vKREcNAj6dOl9kD1iIfsQLXqbFYpdRmEStXNBx8pAIjZjq2/s400/IMG_4045.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359040769872804642" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">(St. -----'s Cathedral. [Fitzroy])</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCU7d3_rkEk0rHg0D1KwAz0sdnszqX5iuG6zTXaPZdgAFJSsdaTStneUDzEFnCn47LU4xISpdj4F3DuizKZTiuNmW0CvsWq2Tg2ztNq5tdPjei8kF7JuVNfO2iKuEfyq_xel-7S52Dymhc/s1600-h/IMG_4030.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCU7d3_rkEk0rHg0D1KwAz0sdnszqX5iuG6zTXaPZdgAFJSsdaTStneUDzEFnCn47LU4xISpdj4F3DuizKZTiuNmW0CvsWq2Tg2ztNq5tdPjei8kF7JuVNfO2iKuEfyq_xel-7S52Dymhc/s400/IMG_4030.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359038093303429666" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">(Michaela: I found the candy (lolly) shop! [Carlton])</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW-F2_J0eRrKnLOEH5Lx56vfXYxKvf4nxCgdzBVjx1uyX7po9rVkYCVg7ZABbwmhHrkSKoBFQoUkQI1YOEu5kbi55WzTJZLBbAEqhnLiE_cypSquKwbp86eEKji3ttof6exsjtUx49ZgZX/s1600-h/IMG_4059.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW-F2_J0eRrKnLOEH5Lx56vfXYxKvf4nxCgdzBVjx1uyX7po9rVkYCVg7ZABbwmhHrkSKoBFQoUkQI1YOEu5kbi55WzTJZLBbAEqhnLiE_cypSquKwbp86eEKji3ttof6exsjtUx49ZgZX/s400/IMG_4059.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359037030625554594" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">(Me at the river. [Yarra River])</span>Mike Sevillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14507112518498064784noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3806290657073971729.post-71410305963591108662009-07-12T03:42:00.000-07:002009-07-12T04:27:34.974-07:00B3: Sydney Exploring<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaWccUyOFrQmOtp1F4A8QjueADqRulxL9lNUZejC6iGICDNLWrav_60q8iGNwye3CFO_hmv1NF4nCSZ58vlQd8EhlK5sl0zOo25dMTKfyNKVJjBFGgCF19iX_p6XVMUj0kKpDIWo47DjxU/s1600-h/IMG_4006.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 155px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaWccUyOFrQmOtp1F4A8QjueADqRulxL9lNUZejC6iGICDNLWrav_60q8iGNwye3CFO_hmv1NF4nCSZ58vlQd8EhlK5sl0zOo25dMTKfyNKVJjBFGgCF19iX_p6XVMUj0kKpDIWo47DjxU/s400/IMG_4006.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357530701248847042" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">(Anyone recognize this? [Sydney Opera House and Sydney Bridge])</span><br /><br />Hi!<br /><br />So orientation is drawing to a close and I’ve met some friends going to the University of Melbourne with me (they all already have housing…). I’m dreading the chore of finding housing but it should be easier with my new “Vodafone” cell phone (mobile).<br /><br />I have been all over Sydney these past 2 days. On Friday night, I went out to the bars. Drinks were at a special for $3.50 for a beer and certain mixed drinks. There weren’t any American beers, but I took a liking to “Toohey’s Dry”. Most of the time, we talked about meeting one of the girls at her university (uni) in Tasmania for some backpacking through the Tasmanian outback (Kimmy, I’ll be on the lookout for some Tasmanian Devils). Hopefully, we all take her up on that offer. Afterward we went to a nightclub… unfortunately it was “CEO Night” so I was a little underdressed. Thanks to some Aussies that we met walking along the street, we were able to bypass the huge line to get in. We hung out, danced for a little while, then made our way back to the hotel. <br /><br />As part of orientation we took a cruise along Sydney Harbor and saw the Opera House (you may have heard of it), Sydney bridge and all the islands off the coast of Sydney. They had some spectacular views and we even saw some crazy guy jump off one of the islands into the shark infested, freezing waters. We had lunch down in the marketplace where a bunch of street booths were up and selling food, paintings, aussie artifacts, and wine. We passed on the wine tasting… I think it’s an acquired taste (a taste that I have yet to acquire). I bought a gyro, Australian style. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOjmOaF3-d5TVWI1EPVxot0hVurYH7wtCag74DzqDMIklIUmVd5FBCTLe_BVU0V8dtd0XJV-fMYSPwfq45xxYbVTVCwYM95cnyptHivDR1CQddYwkGgUvjvE6cv2jR90etnm4M44-Dljej/s1600-h/IMG_3907.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOjmOaF3-d5TVWI1EPVxot0hVurYH7wtCag74DzqDMIklIUmVd5FBCTLe_BVU0V8dtd0XJV-fMYSPwfq45xxYbVTVCwYM95cnyptHivDR1CQddYwkGgUvjvE6cv2jR90etnm4M44-Dljej/s400/IMG_3907.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357525238492383442" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">(Something that I was tempted to buy at the outdoor marketplace... Maggie, don't look!)</span><br /><br />Saturday night, after orientation, my roommate and some friends bought some Dis2overy passes for 2 passes at the aquarium and/or the sky tower. The aquarium had some dugongs and some of the biggest manta rays and sharks I have ever seen. I posted a picture with someone in it so that you can get a comparison. We saw the sky tower, but unfortunately, the pictures didn’t come out so well. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioZgPzNvz3cQzUy4DHHGIXCwubXE6BRReDrBz95OPonjSJIuXa_xdRFskczDld9oi-BYzLE5gZtIoMwaipKsUK1xVtmENs3c6ttlGOKXUACJKGjhBRurYl7Uwe2BoGru_kpQeo3EtmYLyO/s1600-h/IMG_3967.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioZgPzNvz3cQzUy4DHHGIXCwubXE6BRReDrBz95OPonjSJIuXa_xdRFskczDld9oi-BYzLE5gZtIoMwaipKsUK1xVtmENs3c6ttlGOKXUACJKGjhBRurYl7Uwe2BoGru_kpQeo3EtmYLyO/s400/IMG_3967.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357526894104260194" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">(I call this the "manta-shark". [Sydney Aquarium])</span><br /><br />I’m sitting in McDonalds using their free WiFi (since everyone else charges an arm and a leg for internet) waiting for a friend so that we can go to the Royal Botanical Gardens. <br /><br />Tomorrow I fly to Melbourne and start looking for housing (eek!). I know you are all wishing me luck. <br /><br />Until then,<br /><br />Mikey Doo<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCNdQ3GlSlKMDnlrrZpQzhj1TzY5eHDObbJMRR7q8JIgqNhGY6G8mRcpootAkTqSD4Tg6xN_mKuEXhibVOUqjH_muPDy8prMQ8me4TP_D46pWIB7azjcYberr6uw0eYgN1tDlD4kvrGZDA/s1600-h/IMG_3898.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCNdQ3GlSlKMDnlrrZpQzhj1TzY5eHDObbJMRR7q8JIgqNhGY6G8mRcpootAkTqSD4Tg6xN_mKuEXhibVOUqjH_muPDy8prMQ8me4TP_D46pWIB7azjcYberr6uw0eYgN1tDlD4kvrGZDA/s400/IMG_3898.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357524382620619346" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">(Look closely for the "toitle". [Woolloomooloo Bay])</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhae1AaRkXid1df2_K3ayL422JB1utrv1VVuFavGYdoeidEWzcYO5hNR2Y-R9qB7xMqHkI56Lv3YctBB1Lb4W7GsbIgzDaCKh5DcYT8ke-3Or-oFUF30AQBZtyVvyB0R8W5Cu2Hp2q8XJ3F/s1600-h/IMG_3934.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhae1AaRkXid1df2_K3ayL422JB1utrv1VVuFavGYdoeidEWzcYO5hNR2Y-R9qB7xMqHkI56Lv3YctBB1Lb4W7GsbIgzDaCKh5DcYT8ke-3Or-oFUF30AQBZtyVvyB0R8W5Cu2Hp2q8XJ3F/s400/IMG_3934.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357528072680201938" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">(I call these "Dino Birds"... Anyone know their real name?)</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdOhPmj2ReEnyTJTPYca3jKTZU3aIlJBf6M8juhIhKZczzyZx2YGMLW_U7I2tD74e_YggqP3BdsoN6lZNswCRsCblJ5yC08tGLhSqZsp-qLzbqHVkL7so2EOLTPfz8eOqFhPeeo_506tmS/s1600-h/IMG_4004.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdOhPmj2ReEnyTJTPYca3jKTZU3aIlJBf6M8juhIhKZczzyZx2YGMLW_U7I2tD74e_YggqP3BdsoN6lZNswCRsCblJ5yC08tGLhSqZsp-qLzbqHVkL7so2EOLTPfz8eOqFhPeeo_506tmS/s400/IMG_4004.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357531803661880098" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">(Some flowers for mom with Sydney Harbor in the background. [Royal Botanical Gardens])</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb5cH8rS7n-KRP6bqkAR_INwTNruSoz2jUwlmH491kjcT_pU86d69xcfhRG3heplxpZKo4mxIVN_JpGHhcDkM2loqCBmbgfXRfuBNLimj2z7IZ71CcUliYrioJ4H8i2OiOeGyOMnPHPDpl/s1600-h/IMG_4008.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb5cH8rS7n-KRP6bqkAR_INwTNruSoz2jUwlmH491kjcT_pU86d69xcfhRG3heplxpZKo4mxIVN_JpGHhcDkM2loqCBmbgfXRfuBNLimj2z7IZ71CcUliYrioJ4H8i2OiOeGyOMnPHPDpl/s400/IMG_4008.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357532677688474674" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">(The Sky Tower is on the left and it overlooks all of Sydney. [Sydney Harbor])</span>Mike Sevillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14507112518498064784noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3806290657073971729.post-52228718944630285362009-07-09T03:42:00.000-07:002009-07-09T04:30:26.103-07:00B2: Touchdown in Australia<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHkj8pWEJ2icmvwgzlnSKP9kuQLuFfgAM9BLWs4jgSBPy-HR_uJQd-f2QS3eMOypf8pZoOryu2hdJLFkSy4Md_wDJS0JChn2Kku_TSf6V_28V-fvs21_6H8xCCMGJ1Ni5Pq5ItFBlc1aRH/s1600-h/IMG_3849.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHkj8pWEJ2icmvwgzlnSKP9kuQLuFfgAM9BLWs4jgSBPy-HR_uJQd-f2QS3eMOypf8pZoOryu2hdJLFkSy4Md_wDJS0JChn2Kku_TSf6V_28V-fvs21_6H8xCCMGJ1Ni5Pq5ItFBlc1aRH/s400/IMG_3849.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356415267749070018" /></a><br /><br />Hi!<br /><br />I have arrived in Sydney, Australia.<br /><br />We had some tailwind on the way down, so it only took 13 and a half hours. When filling out my customs card, I was saved by the Aussie lady sitting next to me who informed me that Sour Patch Gummies didn’t count as foreign foods. She laughed she when she explained that she had just saved me hours with the customs agents and even gave me her card just in case I had any other trouble while in Australia. I’m so grateful that she decided to help my poor, lost soul.<br /><br />Once off the plane, I walked through the rain in my sandals and jeans to the trolley station and figured out how to get to my hotel. I spent the day walking the blocks around my hotel. There are lots of Asians (and Asian restaurants) in this part of town. I bought Subway (I know, how foreign, right?) and discovered that the $27 power transformer I bought is unnecessary. I dropped in on the St Mary’s Cathedral, which contained more tourists than praying individuals. The city is beautiful… take a look at the pictures I have posted.<br /><br />Here are my observations: Rugby is fascinating and cricket is confusing and all they talk about is the field (pitch). I played with the toilet that has 2 flush buttons for a good 15 minutes. For those of you who are wondering, it flushes neither clockwise or counterclockwise. Water flows from the back, then the front, then disappears. Jaywalking is very difficult because Australians drive on the left side of the road and on the ground at every intersection it says “Look right”. Alcohol is very important in this country, as is evident by the 6 different kinds of beers (schooners) stocked in my fridge or by the fact that coming off the plane, I was directed into a room full of liquor. I also ran (literally) into some weird bird. I found his friends nesting in a palm tree squawking incredibly loudly and nobody else seemed as bothered as I did. Everyone has a huge heart here and all are quick to explain their knowledge of surfing in Australia. We’ll see how the coming weeks go. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibkzaPDLba1sBHfT8Q0HMZz61BSq2PNt3vrgegRQCrB7fRTIM04OjC6eKVYNF9Ji3B2i04b1N009N7lzQPZnL-pRAF1VAOfTu2-4TrY1SLVrCruLaYecDWNPPP8lI1NUtblZg5EpGte73J/s1600-h/IMG_3847.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibkzaPDLba1sBHfT8Q0HMZz61BSq2PNt3vrgegRQCrB7fRTIM04OjC6eKVYNF9Ji3B2i04b1N009N7lzQPZnL-pRAF1VAOfTu2-4TrY1SLVrCruLaYecDWNPPP8lI1NUtblZg5EpGte73J/s400/IMG_3847.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356418631609369106" /></a><br /><br /><br />Tomorrow is Orientation and then I head out to Melbourne. I’ll let you know if I acquire an Australian accent.<br /><br />Until then,<br /><br />Mikey Doo<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2m9O6gD9g7_XOervvYtYEzTrfVC6cCWq7sbWyjiIrg64F85BslWfMAcGdcauD8Tenpn3Z1rJbJDN81ayV1jwTovBVAf41s3ADLc5776gWfsPCdQMq_Uk3Of_cBqPb5sudePHVOa78qqLe/s1600-h/IMG_3866.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2m9O6gD9g7_XOervvYtYEzTrfVC6cCWq7sbWyjiIrg64F85BslWfMAcGdcauD8Tenpn3Z1rJbJDN81ayV1jwTovBVAf41s3ADLc5776gWfsPCdQMq_Uk3Of_cBqPb5sudePHVOa78qqLe/s400/IMG_3866.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356419755881006306" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyK8TVkrbkDOud6vdYZkEIAotvjAqG5gKWsxZYDSRRgmpE0swt2gtj-m05QY22vKRjYV5kDqYb2-FQl5rEPI-f6fLeRcfoJSQmPskqDzCyhVwoP2VpGdxUMRuhDrNmDkVEnOgCpGMtOd0K/s1600-h/IMG_3872.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyK8TVkrbkDOud6vdYZkEIAotvjAqG5gKWsxZYDSRRgmpE0swt2gtj-m05QY22vKRjYV5kDqYb2-FQl5rEPI-f6fLeRcfoJSQmPskqDzCyhVwoP2VpGdxUMRuhDrNmDkVEnOgCpGMtOd0K/s400/IMG_3872.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356419296584365650" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx8DRozAkfrRXuBd12dEr3DyHfYafKHcI9QofT7Kuqwp9cejoL9gAuSYJhGYndmpctb5FiJUt9CFrloDDSt2miYSD4sVbdBZk03Uaw8udl28EhkJJlWX0aLgbeaQKZ9e7ZewuMP1P9PCq8/s1600-h/IMG_3855.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx8DRozAkfrRXuBd12dEr3DyHfYafKHcI9QofT7Kuqwp9cejoL9gAuSYJhGYndmpctb5FiJUt9CFrloDDSt2miYSD4sVbdBZk03Uaw8udl28EhkJJlWX0aLgbeaQKZ9e7ZewuMP1P9PCq8/s400/IMG_3855.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356419294133773586" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW_x_3XXFQxnsLRfAGA1LqxQyzqekS9c3-yrNDP33l9ePBh64XI5uIUen8YfqhEeHGKR3EwnolVKBRutjPak1n9Qzkni5ooBkwiA77ucKxEBcXqkxVaJPoIH0BwP6d0Ca15W3mJoqDuGUo/s1600-h/IMG_3848.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW_x_3XXFQxnsLRfAGA1LqxQyzqekS9c3-yrNDP33l9ePBh64XI5uIUen8YfqhEeHGKR3EwnolVKBRutjPak1n9Qzkni5ooBkwiA77ucKxEBcXqkxVaJPoIH0BwP6d0Ca15W3mJoqDuGUo/s400/IMG_3848.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356418634629816546" /></a>Mike Sevillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14507112518498064784noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3806290657073971729.post-76312083948180209352009-07-06T16:34:00.001-07:002009-07-09T03:44:00.422-07:00B1: Taking Off Tomorrow.Hi!<br /><br />Here is a test blog.<br /><br />My day has consisted of creating lists for packing, quadruple checking my passport and visa verifications, spending time with Alexandra, getting ready for dinner with Kimmy and watching baseball for the last time.<br /><br />Getting ready for the experience of a life time.<br /><br />Until then,<br /><br />Mikey DooMike Sevillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14507112518498064784noreply@blogger.com7