Melbourne, Australia

Melbourne CBD

I ended up staying in Melbourne for almost three weeks as we tried to stick to the plan of  finding ourselves a work and place to stay for a couple of months. To get a work in Melbourne turned out to be harder than we'd ever imagine. We arrived Thursday night and after all the hitch hiking it took us the weekend to rest and to get back on track. I signed up for a RSA course straight away which I completed Sunday afternoon. Responsible service of alcohol. We booked and paid for a week at a hostel in the CBD and spend every day looking for work. We went to different suburbs every day handing our resumes out but with no success. 

Sunday was the first night since we got here that me and Stina had enought energy to go out meeting people. We went for a drink with my friend Chloe who I know from when I stay'd with Kehla my first time in Brisbane. They use to be roomies before Chloe moved to Melbourne to study. Together we ended up at a great bar called LaLa Land, where we got super well along with the Bartender Corey. He offered us a free jug of beer and our friendship was settled. 

Tuesday the 4th of February was the day when Stina been in Australia for exactly one year. Since Corey had that night off he promised to take us for a pubcrowl to celebrate. After another unsuccessful day of job searching that day we went to Chloe's work for a beer before meeting up with Corey at La La Land. We met another girl named Gen who joined us on our pub-crawl that night. Corey showed us around several different places before we saw ourselves back at La La.

Later that week Stina realized that she met a guy from Melbourne on the plane to Sydney, one year ago. She found his name, William, and number in her notebook and decided to text him just to see if he remembered her. He did, and we all met up for a couple of beers that Thursday night. Since we've never been to crown, melbournes casino, William insisted in taking us there. Not for gambling but to play games and dance on those mats we had as kids. We met up with Corey as well for a couple of beers, before heading to another place for a game of pool. 

Allthought our luck with finding jobs been quite unsuccessful we've done great with making friends. After one week we had four best friends. Chloe, Corey, Gen and William. And all of them is really trying to help us finding work as well as they want us to stay in Melbourne.  

Carlton

As we already paid for one week at the hostel we had to stay for one week at the hostel. Which was quite enoying when we after 3 days realized that we got bedbugs. I've never had bedbugs before and it's such a fuzz to get rid of. We got moved to a different room, but after a few days the disgusting animals found us there too. We were happy to move out to finally get rid of them and moved in to Chloe's place in Carlton, where we got to stay another week. Our friend Hugo came down from Brisbane that weekend as well, and we spend as much time as possible with him.  Me and Stina continued with everyday job hunting, and every night hanging out with our friends. We were getting more and more depressed, stressed over our non successfulness and started looking for other options. We got called to an interview for door to door sales, which is not a dream job but might be an oppertunity to get a little bit of money.  Stina finally got herself a trial at a cafe down in st Kilda later that week while I was considering going back to leeton to complete my farmdays.

 It turned out that Amy and Terry, my English friends that I met in Malaysia and Gilli, Indonesia recently got themselves to Melbourne as well. After my and Stina's 'sales interview' and that days unsuccessful job searching we met up with them for a couple of drinks and catch up. Great seeing them again! We got from there to queen Victoria's night market where we met up Hugo and Gen. The market was packed with people, and exept from the company, not very enjoying. 

Brunswick

After one week at Chloe's we moved to stay with Gen in Brunswick, north of Melbourne. Her roommate recently moved out so she got a spare room for us to stay in until her new roommate was about to move in. By this point we've been in Melbourne for two weeks and made the decision to stop looking for work. I decided to go back to Fruitshack as their season was coming up, and Stina decided that if she wouldn't get the job at the cafe she'll come with me. We still went for our training cource for the salesjob on Friday, mainly for the experience. It actually ended up beeing quite fun as well. 

As it was Valentines that day, Stina went off on a date with William. Gen was meeting up with an old friend and I was walking myself in to town, which took almost 2 hours with my sense of directions. I had a beer at Chloe's bar while she was closing up for the night. Together with her, a friend of hers and the British guy she's working with we went out for dance, drinks and a late night that brought me back to Chloe's to crash in about 8am. 

Sunday afternoon I walked myself in to town to meet Stina and Corey at La La Land after her 37,5 hour long date and trial at the cafe. Her morning trial went perfectly good and the would let her know by Tuesday whether she would get it or not. So I was waiting for that decision to be made before heading to Leeton. 

Stina decided to start the salesjob that Monday, just to have the oppertunity to stay even if she wouldn't get the cafejob. She did get it that same day, and could start work there by Friday. By then I decided to head to Leeton the very next morning. That night me, Stina and Gen went inte town to meet Corey and Celebrate that Stina got a job, and not celebrations that it was my last night. 

Since we got ourselves to bed after 4am, and I had to be up at 6, I ended up missing my train. Even if Stina told me never to go to bed when you're gonna have less than three hours sleep. She couldn't be more right and even if I've done that mistake so many times, I did it again. I considered hitch hiking, but in the end I couldn't be bothered. I walked in to town to see Chloe who's off from work for feeling sick. I met up with Amy and Terry again for a couple of drinks in the afternoon before spending the evening hanging out with Corey at st Kilda beach park playing frisbee and listening to music. 

East cost, Australia

Surfers Paradise, Gold Cost

Rainbow beach become our most northern part of our Australian travels this time, since our money situation forced us to head back south to find some kind of work. We had to stand by the road and wait for a ride for about 20 minutes this time, which is the longest we ever had to wait. Also because there's not really anyone driving past Rainbow. Anyhow, this lovely mid age lady finally gave us a ride down the cost. After about 2,5 hours we got dropped us at a service station about an hour north of Brisbane. By that time we got there we met the same person who gave us a lift from Noosa to Rainbow. Turned out that he's together with his son is heading to the south of Brisbane and offered us a ride, for the second time. Since he was driving a youth, We all had to fit in the front seat together with he's sons 1 year old python snake. It was a lot of fun with the cutest 10 year old you could imagine, chatting the ride away teaching us about snakes and surfing. After a few other shorter lifts we got ourselves to Surfers paradise where we checked into a hostel for the night. Unfortunately, it turned out that Stina been running  out of money. We went to get some out from her Swedish savings account to put back into the Australian one. Clever as, she put all her money into the ATM without keeping any to use the next couple of days. And since it was Friday evening, before a long Australian holiday weekend, the bank wouldn't be open until Tuesday. That left her with 71 cent on  bank account which had to last her until then. Obviously, you can't go far with that so we both ended up sharing my budget for the next day, which forced us to live cheaper than one can imagine. 

Since Stina never experienced the Surfer's nightlife and we hadn't been out dancing for a while, that was what we aimed for that night. We played a game of pool at our hostel before they kicked us out, and another one at one of the bars before we went out looking for a club where we didn't had to pay entrance. Since we couldn't afford drinks but still wanted to meet people it's a good way to either play pool or go dancing. We ended up quite disgust of the clubs thought with their slinky atmosphere and posh downed-dressed people so we went back home instead. 

Nobby's beach, Gold Cost

We took a local bus from Surfers down to Nobbys beach, where Elis's currently staying with 5 other Australia guys. I met 2 of them while we were in Bali together a couple of months ago. Nobby's was so different from Surfers in every possible way and I do understand how Elis been stuck there for the last 4 months. It's a lot less backpackers, a lot smaller and more easy going people. The wether wasn't too great so we basically spend the day hanging out with Elis housemates, running in between the house and the bar 10 meters down the street. It was great fun meeting Elis again even if the rest of the guys could be a bit hard to socialize with. 

Byron Bay

26th of Januari, known as Australia Day. As usual me and Stina made no specific plans for this day even if we would like to head down from Nobby's to Byron which would be about 2 hours drive. We stood beside the road in Nobby's next to the highway, and got picked up by a sweet aus boy who lived just around the corner but felt like he didn't had anything else to do than giving us a lift down the road. He dropped us of at a service station almost half way to Byron where we met a lovely man, who use to be a hitchhiker himself in Europe back in the 80's. While he was driving us we picked up another hitchhiker, a German girl who was going a little bit further south. 

We checked into the same old campspot hanged around for a while with all the people around before walking in to town. We went back to our favorite bar for a while and met one of our kiwi friends before going dancing. As my sandals hit their last expiring day a few weeks ago, this night was the end for them and I found myself walking out on the street barefoot. Outside the abraKEBABra later that night we met Australian Callen who we started chatting with. Turned out that he was about to drive down south tomorrow, and had two spear seats in he's car. We easily decided to join them for a roadtrip down to Newcastle the next morning. 

Newcastle

While we were waiting for our ride in the morning we spent the hours trying to dig out all glass I got in my foot. Since I ended up beeing barefoot the night before and dark as it was I managed to step on glass on our way home. We sorted it out thought with the help of an English guy from our camp. 

Callen and his 2 friends picked up us in early arvo to start our 8 hour roadtrip down south. The car was packed, with the five of us and all our luggage. Especially mine and Stina's. We spent the hours chatting, singing, listening to way to loud music and all this typical road-trip things. We did a stop in Coffs Harbour to get pictures in front of the giant banana the have there, a touristy attraction. Other than that we tried to drive straight to Newcastle.

 Me and Stina kindly got offered to stay with Callen and his mother who is - exept from my own of cource - one of the most lovely mothers I have ever met. And I'm sure we did a good first impression as well, as she wrote the sweetest update about us on her facebookpage. 

 

 Even if me and Stina wanted to get to Melbourne as fast as possible we decided to stay one day in Newcastle to check it out and to hang out with our friend. Callan had a day off the next day and happily showed us around Newcastle. It reminds me a bit of Canberra with the fact that you'll have to drive everywhere since the city is quite spread out. There wasn't much to see really, but we had a nice day including beach and pool table. Nothing can go wrong there. 

Canberra

Callan dropped us off at a nearby service station on his way to work, around 6.30 in the morning. We got picked up by 26 year old Ian on his way to work at the central cost. Ian wasn't even the slightest motivated to work that morning, and would be at least an hour late already. After we shared our stories, inspired him to travel and make him realize how amazing we are he ended up calling sick that day to hang out with us a couple of more hours. We started off with visiting his father in northern Sydney. Even if Ian's working less than an hour from there, he hadn't been in Sydney for the last year. He claims it too far, while we find a one hour drive as nothing by now. He's father was super nice, funny old man who ended up joining us for a drive to the southern part of Sydney where he bought us lunch before dropping us off at another service station. After a few other drives we ended up with the greatest mid age man on our way to Canberra. We shared all our adventurous hitch hike stories and by the end of the day he got the two of us booked in and paid for in a lovely hotel in Canberra city. The room, the atmosphere, and all the surroundings was amazing, and did not fel like anything that we deserved. We felt a little bad for accepting this wonderful gift even if he never really gave us any choice. 

   As we now did got the loveliest room, just between me and Stina, we stayed in the entire evening taking advantage of our luxury facilities. We obviously had the best sleep ever, before checking out the next morning to continue our travels towards Melbourne.  

Melbourne

The same man as yesterday picked us up outside the hotel he got us booked in to the day before. We couldn't thank him enought when he dropped us off along the highway going between Sydney and Melbourne on his way to work. We ended up sharing rides with around 6 different but wonderful drivers before we finally reached our goal that evening. After 3 weeks of hithhiking, 2464 km, and at least 30 different drivers.  By this point we were extremely exhausted. Fysically and socially and spend our first few days recovering with super early nights and sleep in mornings. Since we've been hitch hiking we have never really been able to sleep during our travels, and we always have to socialize and be talkative. I do believe that we inspired so many people during our way, and learnt so much from others. And we loved and appreciated every single bit of it. We couldn't be more thankful for every single person helping us out, giving us a lift and sharing their stories. This is something I'd look back to and remember as one of my best experiences for the rest of my life. But even if we've had amazing travel experiences from the last few weeks we both felt that it was getting time for something new, the excitement to start the next chapter of our Australian adventures. 

East Cost, Australia

Byron Bay

Me and Stina decided to do some traveling, since she's been in Australia for almost a year without beeing anywhere other than Sydney and Leeton. Our plan was to head up east cost, but without really making any plans. We got ourselves an early flight to Byron bay, and as we are way to cheap to pay for a hostel night only for a few hours, we ended up spending the night on McDonalds again. Just like I did my last time there as well. After a not that great sleep, and a hour flight we got ourselves to Ballina airport where we catched the local bus to Byron. We met up with Kat in the morning, who was on her way to Brisbane to try to find work. The three of us went for breakfast and a stroll around town. All the hostel seemed to be fully booked that night and Instead of spending the night outside in the rain (which was our first plan) we ended up buying a tiny tent to stay at a camping spot nearby, where Kat was staying as well. 

We put ourselves to sleep really early that night and got a 13 hour sleep before waking up to say goodbuy to Kat who was off to Brisbane. Me and Stina walked in to town to meet Isabella again. Together with her and her boyfriend we spent hours catching up and playing pool over a couple of beers. Me and Stina walked back to our camping where we happend to run in to Nikolaj and his girlfriend. Funny thing is that Stina just had a dream the day before about how we're meeting them in Byron bay, as we knew that they're traveling east cost as well. And here they are, standing at the same camping area. 

Me and Stina walked back into the city after sharing a couple of beers with our tent neighbors, 4 guys from New Zealand who's currently working in Byron. We met Isabella and Eric again when we went for pre drinks in the courtyard of their hostel. The same hostel as I stay'd in during my last stay in Byron. We all had a quite big, late night out together and it wasn't until 1 pm we woke up in our tent the next morning. As it was still raining, and I couldn't get in touch with Isabella, me end Stina spend the day hanging out with our kiwi camp neighbors. We went back into the city that night as well to celebrate one of the guys 25th birthday. And for me and Stina to get a chance to improve our pool skills. We're getting pretty good. 

We met up with Isabella and Eric at the beach the next morning, even if it took me and Stina a while to get there since I remembered the way wrong. We spent a few hours on the beach, got to meet her family for a short while before there were driving back to Brisbane to catch a flight back home to Sweden. Me and Stina went for a coffe at the cafe where two of our new Zealand neighbor was working. They're just about to finish their shift for the day by the time we got there and decided to come with us for a walk up to the lighthouse, and the Australia's most eastern point. It was a bit of a hike to get there, but we got the most amazing sea view with sharks and dolphins  in the water as well.  We walked over to the lighthouse and historical museum, before heading back down to the beach. As it was our last night in Byron, we found ourselves back at the bar again that evening. And because of our kiwi friends who are currently working in the bar. 

Broadbeach, Gold Cost

Neighter me or Stina had any plans or suggestions where to go next, we just wanted to travel. But up north would be preferable. As none of us been trying hitch hiking yet, we decided to give it a go. We wrote a sign saying 'anywhere pleace!! :)' and stood on the road just beside the campingarea as that's the one leading to the highway.  We stood there for less than 5 minutes before we got picked up by 24 year old Jesse from New Zealand. He gave us a lift to Broadbeach, just next to Surfers paradise where I did go my last time at Gold Cost. Jesse was super friendly and apparently he had a spare room in the house he's sharing with some friends,  where we was happy to stay. We spent that whole day chilling out in their backyard pool, just next to the river before going out for dinner. Me and Stina managed to convince Jesse to walk there instead of driving. It wasn't far but he managed to get os lost in every single way possible. And he's been living there for the last year. In the end we managed to get ourselves to the cinema to catch one of the movies. We ended up with 'hunger games 2' which was one of the worst movies I've ever seen. My expectations was quite high thought since I've read the books as well, but this was quite ridiculous. I didn't feel bad by falling asleep.  

Me and Stina with our sign in Jesse's backyard. 

We woke up the next day to go to the Broadbeach beach. We had to hide from the rain for a while thought and looked for a Internet cafe for Stina to sort her second year visa out. We didn't really found one and went back to the beach where Jesse met us after finishing work. Together with one of his housemates we went back out for dinner again and back home to spend the night drinking beer in their backyard. 

Me and Stina walked along the beach from Broadbeach to Surfers Paradise the next day to meet up with Elis. He's currently staying at a nearby beach at gold cost together with a couple of Australians that we all met in Bali, and just got back to gold cost from beeing somewhere else. We spend some time hanging out at the beach, and some games of pool before he was heading to work and me and Stina went back home to spend our last night at Jesse's place. 

Brisbane

Since Jesse worked in Brisbane, he gave us a ride to one of the suburbs early in the morning. We got ourselves into the city where we spent hours on the mission to find a place to storage our bags. Just for a couple of hours while we're waiting for Isabella to wake up. Shouldn't be too hard, you think. No one seemed to be very helpful so we just had to carry our bags around until Isabella called us to tell us where to go in about mid day. We got on the local bus to Hugo's place. One of my and Isabella's friend from home who's currently staying studying in Brisbane. He lives a little bit out in the suburbs in a house that he's sharing with a few other Australians. One of them turned out be well unhappy by us staying there, but I'll get to that. We spend that day, drinking beer and hanging out in the sun of Hugo's backyard. We took the bus down to south bank in the evening, but ended up back at Hugo's as the last bus back runs around 11.

After a good night sleep in the couch we spent hours cleaning the house as ther're selling it and have people to come look at it that day. And since the four of us got to stay there for free, we felt that's a way for us to show our appreciation.  We went to the fake beach in southbank in the afternoon. Basically a beach next to a pool in the middle of the city. We happened to run into Nikolaj and his girlfriend again and decided to try to meet up with them over a couple of beers the same evening. As Hugo was off for hokey training me, Stina, Eric and Isabella walked to west end for a beer. We told Nikolaj to meet us there, but they happend to walk in the wrong direction for ages because their GPS told them so and never got to the right place. We met back up with Hugo to take the bus back home. We decided not to stay at the veranda this night as Hugo's neighbor complained about us beeing to loud the night before. Hugo happend to get into a huge fight with one of his housemates as soon as we got into the front door. He was extremely unhappy, and started to scream at Hugo going mad over the fact that we were staying there. The four of us felt a bit bad for still beeing there after that,  but it was way to late to find somewhere else anyway. And he was definitely overreacting. 

  We walked down to a nearby park to listen to music, drinking wine and chatting the hours away. 

The police came chatting with us for a while too, since the were getting really bored that night. They are usually super friendly in this country. When we got back to Hugo's all 5 of us got in to he's room not to pist his housemate off even more. We got back way too late to get up in decent time the next morning thought. 

Coulandra, Sushine cost

Since Hugo live in the southeast part of Brisbane, and me and Stina was going north we had to travel by local buses across the town to find a good spot to hitch hike.  And we all stay'd in bed a little too long as well and didn't hit the road until the afternoon. Isabella and Eric was about to leave the same day as well to go back south to Byron bay. By hitch hiking as well. 

Even if we did travel across town to find a good hitch hiking spot, we didn't really. We stood on the road leading out of the city to the highway, but the traffic was little too fast. We got a little bit worried, especially since it was already getting late. After just a few minutes, a girl in our age came up to us offering a lift to the highway service station. As soon as we got to the service station (after having dinner) we met a wonderful mid age woman who drove us all the way to sunshine cost, where she's currently staying. So it all worked out pretty good after all. 

We checked in to a backpacker hostel, our first hostel since we started our travels. Bought a couple of beers chatting with people on the hostels common area. As it was Friday, the majority of the people staying there where all off to to clubbing later that night. By the time they left, which was pretty late, me and Stina went to bed. 

We went to check out the beach the next morning and spend a couple of hours in the sun. Since both me and Stina is really eager to improve our pool skills we ended up spending hours and hours at a sports bar that evening. We went together with an Australian guy who helped us out giving us tips how to get better. 

Mooloolaba, sunshine cost

We was about to leave for Noosa the next evening, but when we told the owners of the hostel that we planned to hitch hike the offered us a lift to their other hostel in Mooloolaba as the're going there anyway. It was only an 20 minutes drive, but at least it got us a little bit along our way up north. 

We stay'd in Mooloolaba only for the night thought, and headed for Noosa in the morning. 

Noosa, Sunshine cost

While we were walking down the street, dragging our bags after us this man pulled over asking where we're going. When we told him that we were looking for a good spot to hitching from he offered us a ride just to the next closest city along the way to Noosa. He couldn't find a spot good enought to drop us off so he ended up driving us all the way to Noosa, and back. He was very kind. 

During our travels throught Australia we've heard only good things about Noosa, and therefore our expectation was quite high. It is not very big, but very spread out. We stay'd at a tiny camping ground outside Noosaville, and for us to walk to Noosa head, or Noosa junction would take us almost an hour. 

As Patrick and his friend arrived to Noosa the same day we went back to Noosa head after dropping our luggage off, to meet them at the main beach. We decided to meet up again that evening for a couple of drinks as me and Stina went back to the camping for a while. 

The campground itself was extremely basic, and we weren't allowed in the area between 9.30 and 4.30 since the scouts were gonna be there at that time. The Mosquitos were killing us, there was not very many people staying there (understandable), but at least it was cheep. 

We walked back into Noosa junction where we was about to meet Patrick at a bar where they met some other friends. We found ourselves walking for ages and ages, on the darkestpath way, not knowing if we were walking in the right direction. And after an hour, always there I realized that I forgot to bring my id. Normally we'd probably be able to find a place where they don't check Id, but today they had some kind of happening in town and guards outside every pub. Patrick came to meet us anyway, so we ended up buying some beer drinking at the beach for a couple of hours. We ended up having a great time thought even if I did feel quite stupid walking for hours to get into the bar without bringing id. 

We walked to sunshine beach the next morning, which is a beautiful beach in the area where Patrick where staying. About 1,5 hour walking from our camp site. We spend a few hours on the beach before me and Stina where off to the Internet cafe to sort some stuff out. Me went back into town a few hours later, with my id this time, for some beer and pool game. Patrick joined us as well so we all improved our pools skills. We went to meet up with Patricks friends for a while before me and Stina started our one hour walk back home. 

Rainbow beach

Since Patrick and his friend where off to Rainbow beach the next morning, me and Stina decided to try to get there as well. We stood by the road just outside our campsite and got picked up by an Australian guy's living about half way to rainbow and offered us a lift there. After talking with us, and realizing how nice we were, he ended up driving us all way to rainbow beach. We stopped at his place on the way for a coffe,  beautiful located in the forest. We checked into a hostel in Rainbow, had lunch and a swim in the ocean together with our driver before he was heading back home. Me and Stina met up with Patrick and his friend at their hostel bar, where we spend the next couple of hours playing pool and chatting the night away. Since this was about to be the most northest part me and Stina reach this time (because of our money situation), and Patrick where heading further north the next morning this was about to be our last chance to hang out in a very long time. 

Sydney, Australia

Since Paulo was about to come to Sydney for a few days as well, just over new year, we'd love to spend the day with him and Nikolaj and his girlfriend. But also With Kat, Patrick and his friend. Nikolaj, Paulo and James wanted to go up at 6 in the morning to stand in the queue for hours into the botanical garden, where you're suppose to have the best view over the fireworks over Harbour bridge and the opera house. Kat went away to a park with some of the people from our hostel way to early as well. In the end, me and Stina decided not to follow anyone and just do our own thing, in our own way. And we ended up having the best day. 

As Stina couldn't be bothered walking back to Glebe last night, and to sneak into our hostel is too easy, She ended up spending the night there as well. We started the day going for brunch at kings cross, she waited for me to get my stuff ready before we were off to Glebe. We spend a couple of hours at the pool together with Canadian Nilusha, who's the one living there.mUnfortunately she felt a bit too sick to come with us later on.  Me and Stina decided to go for dinner, and ended up at this lovely Indian restaurant. We shared a bottle of whine, delicious food, and talked for hours. We bought ourselves some beer and a bottle of champagne on our way back to welcome the new year with. We ended up walking to Bulmain, which is a big park not too far from Glebe, with a view over the Harbour bridge, and where a lot of people go for the fireworks. The walk there was a bit longer than we expected, and when we finally got there we weren't allowed in since we were carrying alcohol. We finished our beer at a tiny grass spot outside, and hide the champagne in my bag with the help of Stina's scarf and it worked perfectly. We met up with Patrick and his friend in the park as well just before the fireworks started off. 

Even if the firework itself wasn't as amazing as expected, I was in the happiest place. In an amazing country, surrounded by gorgeous people after a perfect day. Me and Stina agreed that after this moment, nothing could go wrong. We shared our bottle of champagne, cheering and hugging around. Made New Years conclusions including not making plans (as that was we went for today, which gave us the perfect day), live in the moment, and make as much of it as possible.

The fireworks ended quite quickly, and we're all thinking about heading back, or somewhere else. As it was impossible to even think about getting a cab, or even the bus, we started walking. By this time it was Me and Stina together with Patrick and a bunch of his friends friend. Probably the biggest group of Swedish people I've been around since I got here. It was a bit of a walk, almost 2 hours, but me and Stina enjoyd every second of it since we had such an amazing day and nothing could change that. We lost the others during our walk since they walked way to slow. You know how it's hard to keep a big group to walk in the same speed. We met Patrick back at kings cross, but the rest of them went to bed. We was suppose to meet up with Paulo, Nikolaj and James as well, but since they all been up since 6 in the morning queuing to the botanical garden, they were all back home by the time we got back. We we're not in a mood for clubbing so we went to a more quiet bar for another drink together with a British guy from our hostel. As we felt like the night was about to come to an end, and the sun was about to rise we're soon enought finding ourselves back in bed as well. 

Me and Patrick during fireworks at new years eve

Our first day of 2014, we wanted to spend on the beach. Paulo Said he was gonna meet us there vut headed of to blue montains instead. Me and Kat met up with Stina and her gorgeous canadian friend Nilusha, and we went down to Bondi together were we met James, Nikolaj and his girlfriend, who basically just came to visit him for a few weeks. The beach was absolutely packed with people, and the wether wasn't great, but it was still worth going and we a great time. As it was Kat's last night, and James's last night as well we decided to all meet up for a few drinks later on. Even if it is New Year's Day. I didn't stay up for too long thought as me and Stina where getting up early in the morning to visit Livy in Wollongong. 

Me and Kat checked out from the hostel and I went to meet Stina at the trainstation at 9. Turned out that she hadn't got any sleep at all yet, since she and James decided to stay at the bar quite a while after the rest of us left. So she had a great sleep during our 1,5 journey to Woolongong. So did I and we almost missed our stop in Wollongong, in which by the way turned out to be the wrong one. Livy got her friend to drive there and pick us up and arrived to the sight of me and Stina sleeping on each others shoulders. We did had a lovely day together even if Stina was a bit out of energi. We had a coffe, a look around the beautiful little town before we went to the beach for a while. Livy seemed to be living an amizing life in Wollongong. She's been getting up early every morning doing yoga, eating healthy, drinking te instead of alcohol and felt just great while me and Stina where complaining about how much our body's hurt and how bad we felt after our kings cross alcoholic lifestyle. 

Stina had a little nap that afternoon, and we woke her up just a few minutes before we had to leave for the train back to Sydney. As she still wasn't really awake, she accidently took Livys phone for her own (as they have the same one) and brought it with her to Sydney. It took us a few hours before we found out later that night. It's quite funny too since Livy been so unlucky with her technology, lost her old phone in blue montains and just bought a new one. We managed to send it back to her a few days later. We met up with Kat back at kings cross since she decided to stay another night. She also forced us to another night out since she claimed that this was her last night (again). Neither me or Stina enjoyd that night out, since we felt to fed up with the kings cross nightlife. All three of us, me, Kat and Stina, sneaked back in to our old hostel to sleep even if we didn't pay for the night. They did question it in the morning thought so I needed to find another place to stay by then. 

Kat left us in the morning, sadly enough, and me and Stina walked down town to get her a new suitcase for her future adventures.  We met up with her friend Nilusha who couldn't wait to tell us all about her morning being on a date with this guy she met last night. As soon as we saw her we could tell that she was on clouds of happiness and just couldn't stop smiling. She told us her story over and over again as we were walking to Broadway's shoppingmall close to Glebe. Stina got her suitcase, or a package of 7 bags, so I got one of them for myself as well. 

Even if me and Stina made the decision not to go out that night, Patrick managed to convince us to come with them to this club in darling Harbour. And since I didn't had anywhere to stay that night, we thought that we might as well go there and stay out all night until we could check into our new hostel in Glebe the next morning. Great plan huh. I went back to kings cross to collect my luggage before heading back to Stina's where I could storage them at Nilushas place during the night. By this point, Stina just picked up all her stuff that she left in her old apartment before she went away to Leeton a couple of months ago and was just in the session of sorting stuff out. We had a few beers while we were sorting and packing which took us a while and it wasn't before 2am we met Patrick and his friends in the club. In the end, both of us ended up sleeping on the floor of Nilushas tiny studio apartment for just an hour or two. 

We spent that day on Glebe's Saturday market as well as sorting and packing some more, leaving giant bags of Stina's old stuff to charity before we finally went to check in to our hostel in Glebe. On our way there Stina's big new suitcase manage to brake for being overpacked and she ended up drag it all way there in which obviously made it brake even more. 

After having our earliest night in weeks we woke up after a great full nights sleep to meet up with Nilusha. We went for a morning swim in her rooftop pool before getting some breakfast, or more like brunch. We headed back to the hostel to re-organize Stina's baggage with her new bag. Playing ping pong with an Estonian guy from our room before having another early night.  

Since we woke up at decent time we decided to try to walk to the beach. It took us about 2 hours to coogee wich is one of the beach southern suburbs of Sydney. We spend a couple of ours working on our tans, swimming in crazy waves and strong currents. A British guy that we met in kings cross came to join us as well. Nilusha told us about this Swedish pizza restaurant called 'sven's Viking pizza' in the area which we obviously had to check out as well. Turned out that it was closed only at Mondays though so we ended up at a sushi train place instead. We went for a game of pool, and me and Stina almost managed to beat the British guy even if we lost in the end. We finished the day with a sunset walk along the cliffs by the beach. 

Our last day in Sydney we went to the cinema to watch 'the secret life of Walter Miller'. Not a great movie, but it got a lot better halfway throught (I obviously fell asleep for a little bit in the beginning, because that's how I usally end up spending my time at cinemas). After the movie we met up with Nilusha for a last dinner together, and to finally try to make it to this Mexican place where our friend Tom use to as a bar manager before coming to fruitshack. We had a tasty meal and a few drinks together before saying goodbuy to Nilusha for this time. 

Me and Stina stay'd in town for a couple of more hours to meet Patrick for a last couple of drink as well. Even if we'd probably see him soon enought anyway since they're traveling up east cost as well. 

Sydney, Australia

We arrived back in the big city, just in time for Christmas, after a marvoulus week in the blue montains. I met up with my Swedish friend Cornelia who checked in to our hostel during these days. As Kat was meeting up with a friend during the day on Christmas Eve, Livy, Cornelia and I tried to find our way to the beach by walking. It took us a good 1,5 hour but we finally got there. Since I've been in sunny Australia I didn't got that much of an christmas feeling at all. Cornelia bought us some Swedish candy, Julmust and ginger cookies (pepparkakor), which at least taste like Christmas,  and we bought a bottle of wine to create a beach picnic - Swedish style. 

We took the bus back a couple of hours later, to get ready and meeting up with Kat and Stina for a Christmas dinner. We found a libaneise restaurant, which turned out to be super nice with tasty food and cosy atmosphere. We stay'd there for a couple of drinks as well and it was already past 10pm when we finally left. We got back to our hostel to consume a few more drinks before heading out. As we all (exept from Cornelia) been living on a farm in the middle of nowhere the past few months we were super exited for a proper night out. They kicked us out from the hostel, basically because Stina wasn't actually staying there and they wanted to keep the volume down after a certain time. The five of us went to the nearby park for a little while before heading out to the backpacker's party's area kings cross. We went between the bars and clubs around, lost Kat who met up with another friend, met some friends of Cornelia's and was basically drinking and dancing until early morning. A perfect night in every single way.

Me, Stina, Cornelia and Livy together with Cornelia's friends. 

I woke up after 1,5 hour sleep as Cornelia was catching a flight to Thailand. We planned to celebrate Christmas again, since Livy as a British person celebrate it on the 25th. Our plan changed when our hangover, tiredness and the massive almont of rain kept us inside. Me and Livy forced ourself out in the rain in the evening to meet Stina over a drink. Turned out that is wasn't as easy as it sounds. After getting lost a couple of times we finally found Stina in the rainy street and together we walked around for hours, throught the entire city without finding one single place thats open. How're you suppose to celebrate Christmas when there's nowhere to celebrate? We finally found ourselves soak wet in a bar right next to the opera house and Harbour bridge where we happily enjoyd a well deserved drink. 

We had to change hostel at the 26th, also called 'boxing day' and checked into our new hostel in the kings cross centre. This hostel turned out to be way more relaxed than our last one, and Livy could even sneak to spend the night in one of the free beds without paying. 

Me and Livy walked all the way to Glebe that day to hang out with Stina.  We had a coffe, Stina showed us around Glebe, the broadway shopping mall (which was packed with people because of the Boxing Day sale). Glebe is a wonderful, quiet suburb of Sydney, where Stina lived for 7 months before she came to Leeton. She's now staying at a friends place, where we went later to relax at their rooftop pool and to have a BBQ. 

Me, Stina and our delicious barbecue 

We went back to kings cross that night to go out for a few drinks, since it's Boxing Day and aperantly a common day to go out on. Like the 25th would be in Sweden. And it was also the last day with Livy before she was about to go to a friend in Wollongong the next day. We met Kat back at the hostel, and we all had a few drinks together with the people staying there before heading out again. 

The next day we had a really relaxed day at the hostel. The wether wasn't too good, so we ended up spending a few hours organizing pictures from the blue montains. We were also about to meet up with Nikolaj, who was arriving to Sydney from the fruitshack that evening. Liv decided to stay another night as well. On our way to get some food I happened to run in to my second cousin Patrick and he's friend on the street of kings cross. They just arrived to sydney from new Zeeland and about to check in to their hostel, just around the corner from mine. We met Nikolaj and Stina and brought them back to our hostel for a little catch up, and fruitshack gossip. Patrick and his friend came over as well and we all had a few drinks together. We had great fun, to meet up with everyone I haven't seen in a while. Bud I did wake up with the worst hangover in my life, I'm not even joking, and promised myself to never drink goone again. Me, Kat and Livy went down to the beach to meet up with Nikolaj and a welsh friend of his. Patrick was suppose to join as well but they ended up at the wrong beach. As we got back to the hostel we had to say goodbuye to Livy who was now leaving us after such an amazing time together. Stina came in the evening to have a few drinks together with Nikolaj and welsh James. We went to a small bar to meet James's friends and to a bigger one where me met Patrick and his friends as well. 

Patrick, Me and Stina in one of the king cross nightclubs 

At Sunday the 29, our 4th day at king cross me and Stina promised eachother not to let the night end the same as the last ones. We felt quite overdone with king cross and it's nightlife by now. 

Me and Kat spend the day down town, at paddy's market and china town. I mainly came with her as company since I promised myself to spend as small almont of money as possible. It's really hard beeing in Sydney thought. We decided to go to a karaoke bar in the centre area that night, to keep us away from kings cross. And because Karhe got over-exited by the idea. Me, Kat and Patrick met Stina in the centre where James and his friend joined us as well. The 6 of us got a room for ourselves where we were trying to sing together for the next 2 hours. None of us turned out to be very good singers, but it was great fun. 

I went to Stina's place in the morning, for a knäckebröd breakfast at the rooftop and ended up spending the whole day laying by the pool. We walked together back to kings cross, which we considered took us about an hour. We spend the evening basically trying to decide how to spend our new year. Either me or Stina did really care, we just wanted to be around our friends. But all of our friends wanted to do different things. In the end we decided that the best plan is to not make any plans. Go for a beer and take it from there. 

Blue Montains, Australia

Together with Liv and Kathe we were about to drive up to the blue montains for a one week trek and camping trip. Since we're all on the travellers budget, and knew that we had to put a lot of money while back in Sydney we all wanted to make this trip as cheap as possible. 

Isabella called me up at 7.30 in the morning as they where heading up to the Blue montains as well for a day trip. Since I couldn't wait to see my best friend I went straight to meet her up in the morning and to go with them up in the montains where I'd meet Kathe and Liv again that same evening. 

Since I haven't seen her in four month that catch up was amazing, and to spend the day with her and her family. We drove with their rented car up in the montains to go to echo point and the three sisters where we got the most breathtaking view over the montains. From there we drove to the other side of the valley to go on this skylifts between the montains and tiny trains down in the valley, the rainforest and spectacular waterfalls. In the end of the day we went to Katoomba, which is a quaint little town nearby. We had a little walk around but since Isabella's brother where feeling sick they decided to head back to Sydney and therefore drop me off to meet up with Kathe and Liv again. 

Even if the sights, views and everything from this day was amazing, the most enjoyable thing was to be around my best friend again. It gave me new travel energi, and I recon that if a could meet someone close from home a little now and then, I could keep traveling for ever. 

             Isabella and I  at echo point with the view over three sisters 

Me, Kathe and Livy drove to one of the free camping spots nearby. The road there was one of the worst I've ever seen, in which we were stuck with for 9 km before we reached this beautiful campspot where we spend the night. We went back to the three sister and echo point the next morning, basically cause Livy and Kat missed it the dy before. Somewhere around there we lost Kathe who thought we all were going down the giant stairway together, while we understand her as she were coming back in a couple of minutes. We found her three hours later full of scars, after basically falling down the stairway and taking the railway back up. She was fine thought, just a bit tired. we drove back to the city of Katoomba for a drink and ended up spending the night there sleeping in the car. 

Our third day we went to explore the area around Katoomba before moving on to the next free campingspot as we worked our way back to Sydney. We went to the famous wenworthfalls where me and liv had a swim, even if the wether wasn't too good. We had a little walk up and down the stairways along the montains over an lovely view. We ended up at a gorgeous cafe with a beautiful montainview where we relaxed for a while before continuing for a afternoon bush walk. The bushwalk took us straight into the jungle along a tiny pathway who took us to four different waterfalls. It was an amazing feeling walking throught the bush, having poisonous snakes blocking you're way, stunning forest with the sun shining throught, and wonderful waterfalls all around. I was in heaven. 

                    Liv and I under the wenworthfalls 

We spend the night at a different campsite and the following day exploring the area around. As Kat didn't feel to good, me and Livy went on our own adventures into the jungle. We followed a pathway,  it kept getting smaller and smaller and ended up with us making our own way throught the bush. We did found our way back to the pathway where we could take another turn which soon enought brought us to a gorgeous lake an the middle of the jungle. amazing. That night a French girl and a group of English people arrived to the campsite, and we ended up having our own little party together, with spotlights, music, fire and way to much wine. As none of us felt to good the next day, we spend most of the day in the next town to get our stuff Charged. I Wasn't well prepared before leaving civilization and ran out of battery on my camera, phone and iPad our very first day in the montains. Also, I forgot my camera charger in Leeton. After a couple of hours in this cosy little town we drove to the next camping spot, and our last one before heading back to Sydney. 

The red hand's cave mission

I felt a lot better the next day and was ready to explore more of the Australian nature. We started the day with going to the jellybean pool, or so they called it even if it was more of a tiny lake surrounded by rocks. Liv got to try cliff jumping for her first time which was well exiting. 

as Kat still didn't feel good she went back to the tent while me and Liv headed into the forest on our own adventures again. Let's call it the red hand's cave mission. We had no idea where to go, or where to start so we asked this Australian man down the road. He advices us to go to the red hand's cave, which is this super old aboriginal art cave and off we went. We soon got to the Blue pool, where we continued straight to follow the pathway further into the woods.  The pathway soon turned in to no pathway, which we found quite common by now, but there where colored signs on the threes which hopefully would lead us to the cave. Since there's been bush fires in the area we ended up following burned signs who led us straight upon the hill right into the bush. We soon found ourselves completely lost in the middle of the djungle. As our eyes searched for burned signs it catched the sight of a little house just down the hill and up another. As we had no idea where else to go we hiked there straight away with the hope to find someone to direct our way back. We found a beautiful house, a swimming pool which was well advertising to jump straight into after hiking for hours in Australians worst heat. We found no human life signs. Since we didn't really feel like heading back into the pyramid of woods, we followed the street which hopefully would bring us back to where we started. We found a playground to enjoy ourselves at, but still no people. From walking in a pyramid of woods, we were now walking in a pyramid of empty streets. Finally we managed to find a lovely lady driving out of her parking spot. Since it was quite a good walk back, and one of Australians hottest day, she was nice enought to give us a drive back to where we started. 

So were where back at the parking spot where Kat dropped us off over two hours ago, but still haven't found the cave. We met a nice woman who explained the way and gave us a map this time and we finally managed to find our way there. The cave it selves was cool as well,  and I always wanted to see aboriginal art like this. Even if the hike there was more of an adventure. 

                     Kathe, Me and Livy at the jellybean pool 

So we managed to live super cheap this 8 days in the montains, until the very last day at our camping spot where we got about a 100 dollar fine all together for putting up our tent at the day used area. It was signs everywhere saying 'camping prohibited', but since none of us (not even English Liv) knew the meaning of that word we just assumed it would be allowed. Quite enoying but considered how much money we saved this day by not living in hostel it didn't felt too bad. 

The Lennox bridge mission

Our last day in the montains we went to find Australians oldest bridge, the Lennox bridge. We drove into the parking spot right next to a little bridge thinking 'this can't be it' since we expected a beautiful old one we saw on lonely planets picture. A sign saying Lennox bridge directed us into the forest so off we went. We guessed our way throught the jungle of pathways until we met a nice guy on a bike who could give us more specific directions. We got ourselves to a nice viewpoint, which we forgot to enjoy beeing to obsessed finding this bridge. Lost in the djungle of different pathways again we managed to run into the same guy on a bike who pointed out the way for us. Again. We followed the road until we found a map of the area who to be honest, was more confusing than helpful. We were just about to take off the wrong turn when we for the third time saw the same cyclist coming up the road. He must have thought we were going mad, which to be honest I thought we did. He directed us down the road one last time which brought us to another beautiful viewpoint. With only the bridge in our mind we continued downhill, just as we got told. We were running by excitement and just when we expected it to appear in front of us we saw ourselves standing back at the same carspot as the one we started off from. Beeing well frustrated by this point we asked for new directions by this lovely Australian old couple that just pulled over next to our car. 'You're looking at it' was the response we got. Apparently this beautiful old bridge beeing slightly renovated over the years, but it sure was the one right next to us. 

               Beautiful Blue montains

Our last night up in the montains we spent in a park before sleeping in the car, since there was no camping spots around. But since we was completely mosquito free in the park, for the first time in over a week, Liv and I ended up bringing our sleeping bags out to sleep on the grass. It wasn't a very good sleep but I do love the feeling of sleeping under the sky. 

And there our trip ended and we were about to head back to the big city for Christmas celebration, and New Years celebration. The past week been lovely in every possible way. And I'm definetily sure ill come back, since it know there's so much more to see and explore in the area. 

Canberra, Australia

A four hours hangover drive took us to Canberra, the capital of Australia. It is quite tiny to be a capital and there isn't really anything to do or to see there. We went to Livys friend Nick who she met while he was traveling Europe. He lives with his family in Canberra and welcomed us into their house. They spoiled us with queen sized beds, clean blankets, big fresh towels, nice shower in this gorgeous house with they view over the golf area where we saw lots of kangaroos hopping around. Definitely an upgrade from the fruitshack. 

We went over to Nicks friends place for BBQ and drinks that evening, and a swim in their pool and hot tub. Amazing. Since we all still recovered from yesterday, and looked forward to sleeping in a real bed we found ourselves back at Nick's before midnight. 

After what might have been the best sleep any of us have had for months we woke up to the smell of fresh cooked scones that Nicks mother maked us. After a lovely breakfast Nick took us to the cheapest shop in town so we could get some shopping done. We said goodbye to Nick and couldn't thank him enought for letting us stay and setted of for Sydney. 

During my childhood I learned never to put stuff on the top of the car. I wished someone told Liv so as she put her wallet on the roof while having a coffe at a service station. She realized that when we got to Sydney a couple of hours later. We dropped Stina off at her friend and me, Livy and Kat tried to find our way to Kat's friend from home who's currently staying in Sydney. It was not easy in a big city like this and it took us hours to find the right way. Reminds me of when we were driving in Italy a couple of years ago and just couldn't figure out to get back into the city. 

My plan for the day was to meet up with Isabella, my best friend from home who's now traveling Australia with her family. Allthought I had a hard time getting in touch with her since they didn't had any wifi, I never got her Australian number and she wasn't expecting me until the day after. Insteead we spend the evening at Kat's friends place and went back to sleep in the car.