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. 

Leeton, Australia

my last week at fruitshack felt like it would never end since we were so exited about leaving by this point. 

Last Thursday we had our - so far- rainiest day which brought us all to a day off (except from Stina who workes in a indoor cafe). Me and Liv went for a coffee as usual together with Paulo and Nikolaj to showed them around Leeton town as well. As Leeton isn't too big we soon found ourselves back at the shack playing games with Sam and Marc. Games soon turned out to drinking games, which (as soon as the rain stopped) turned into outdoor games. We had great fun and really enjoyed our day off, especially Nikolaj and Paolo who had such bad working days. 

That Saturday night all of us went to the roxy theatre in town to watch a local movie about Leeton and the people living here, part filmed at the fruitshack and with Michael as a part of it. It wasn't more than half an hour long, and to be honest not very interesting for non Australians to watch as it was about people living their whole life in Leeton, talking with a very strong accent. Afterwards we went down to the bar for a few beers, where Michael and his wife joined in as well. 

Sunday night the boss of Stina's had a Christmasparty for his employers, which he invided me and Nikki to since we worked at his farm one day packing Lemons. Livy got an invite as well cause we've been at the cafe so much and got a ride back to the shack from him a couple of times. He's a lovely person. We had a great time there even if it probably was more enjoyable for Stina who actually knew the people there. 

Livy, me, Stina and Nikki. And a guy in the backround who really wanted to be in the picture. 

I did my last day of desuckering on Tuesday, and continued the day beeing in the best mood ever. Me and Livy went into town for (what might be) our last coffee at Stina's and for a last roadie back to the shack. The next day I was working with Marc and Sam doing the weirdest work ever, something I could never imagine myself doing. We were basically castrating goats where my job was to inject them with a vaccine while the guys where carrying them up on the board. It was definetily a different experience .. We did finish quite early thought, and so did Liv who we met back at the shack. So the four of us drove down to the river for a couple of hours. That night we had movienight back at the shack, where Michael put up a projector to create this outdoor cinema for us. Me and Stina made some Swedish mudcake for everyone as well which was well appreciated. Thursday and Friday was working sorting garlic with Nikki. And the farmer had lots of puppies who he let us cuddle with, and his son got a python snake who I got to hold all around me. How cool is that?

 Thursday night it was the 'Light up Leeton', which is basically about people putting Christmaslights around their houses for other people to watch. So Michael took us on a tour around Leeton to watch all this decoration, and people really go mental with their houses. At some point you see yourselves standing there, watching all this decorating while thinking 'where the fuck is the house?'. There's all kind of lights you can imagines chrismastrees, Santa in all different kind of positions, music, stars crazy shit just for decoration.

 Marc, Nikolaj, Nikki, Kat, Linda, Kristina, Sam, Me, Livy and Paulo outside one of the mentally decorated houses. 

Friday night we were drinking to celebrate our last day at the shack.  Kat went to bed early cause she was about to drive us all in the morning so in the end there was Me, Liv and Stina together with Paulo,  Nikolaj, Marc and Sam having our last night at the shack. Stina's boss come by for a while together with he's son, and one of our other farmer as well. We had a brilliant time, perfect last night.  

Me, Sam, Nikolaj, one of our farmers, Stina, Marc, Paulo and Livy 

It was with tears in our eyes we left the shack the next morning, I'm not even joking. We got our papers signed, we turned our kee back, we herd Michals bad jokes for the last time, we wrote in the book and worst of all, we had to say good buy to our friends. Before we left we drove to the cafe for a last cappucino, and for Stina to say goodbuy to her colleagues. Paulo and Nikolaj joined us there as well as they had a day off but then we sadly enought had to say goodbye to them as well.

Even if I'm exited for a new Australian chapter and new adventures I'm really greatful for the time at the shack. It's been giving me strength, wisdoms, money, experiences, friends and 47 of the 88 farmdays I have to do to apply for my second year visa.  And as I wrote in michaels book: 'Before I got here, I got told that I wouldn't get rich coming to the fruitshack. I might not have earned much money, but I definetily got rich of experiences and friendship and I wold never change that for anything in the world' 

Leeton, australia

We got 3 new guys arriving. German Paulo, Danish Nikolaj and An Italian guy who managed to stay two nights before Michael kicked him out. Those two just couldn't handle eachother. 

The german, danish guys didn't get a very good start here as they got put at the worst job ever, where they after their first full day of work earned about 15 dollars, which isn't even enought to pay the rent for the day.  We all felt a bit sorry for them, but told them that it would getting better and that they shouldn't do the job perfectly good since they obviously aren't pay'd to do so. I was doing weeds that week, hacking and spraying them away. I finished early Wednesday and walked to town to meet Sam1, Sam2 and Livy at the pool where they got dropped off after finishing their work. We spent a couple of hours there, working at our tans, swimming, sliding and chatting before leaving to the bar for a good cold drink during their happy hour. We met the new guys, Paulo and Nikolaj in town who gave the Sam's a lift back home as me and Livy was catching a lift with Stinas. 

I finished early the next day as well so me and Livy, who had a day off, walked into town to get a coffee from Stinas and going for a BBQ in the park. We met Nikki and English Sam (1) at the park as well as they're driving the bikes there. Katharina joined in after finishing work as well and we all had a nice time  together. Me and Livy took the bikes back to the shack as the others where staying later and going back with Kat's car. It been a while since we been on a bike thought, so it turned out to be a little adventure including falling over in the middle of the street .. 

Nikki, Kat and English Sam (1) 

That night we had a goodbye party for Sam 1, the English Sam who's leaving the shack for Sydney the next day, before going back to England. Lots of fun and a good way to include the new guys in our little group as well. Since I was drinking goone that night (Australian cheap cheap wine) instead of beer my hangover the next day was one of the worst. Luckily I only had a half day of work so I spend the rest of the day with Livy feeling sorry for eachother. We spend the evening in the common area watching 'how I met your mother' together before having a tearful goodbye to our dear friend Sam who's catching the night train to Sydney. 

Stina was housesitting that weekend, watching out for someone's house when they was away, so she wasn't around the shack. Saturday night me, Livy, Belguim Sam, German Paulo and Danish Nikolaj drove over to her house to have a nice dinner together, cooked in a clean kitchen, drinking wine from real wine glasses and just enjoying beeing around a nice, clean house. How you appreciate this small things after beeing in the shack for a while. We had an amazing evening thought, and we were all so facinated by the cleaness, the couches comfort and the proximity between all the rooms. 

Me and Livy where put back on desuckering that weekend, and after work on Sunday we drove together with Paulo, Nikolaj and Sam to this nearby river everyone told us about. It should be around a 20 minutes drive there, but as it wasn't really easy to find we drove around in circles for over an hour before finding the right way. It did was amazing, with a beach along the sideway. And the sun shining on it's way down.  Allthought, the currency was really strong, in which I got stuck in once so the guys had to pull me out as I was swimming for my life but got nowhere.

Me and Liv in the car with a (glass)bottle of wine

Me and Liv got Monday off, as there's still not much work going on. We did some cleaning before walking into town for cappucino, a couple of hours at the pool and ended up at the bar waiting for the rest of the shack arriving for shopping - Monday's supermarket run. 

As Kat got really, seriously sick that night (probably by yesterday's food) she wasn't able to drive to work as we was suppose to work together. Which means that I, by myself this time, got another day off.  I did some skypeing and more serious cleaning in the morning before realizing that I left my bag, with my kee, in the kitchen who someone locked before getting to work. So I couldn't really do much around here before finding Michael at mid day asking him to open for me. By that time Liv arrived back from work and Kat woke up from sleep so we all started at this 1000 pieces puzzle me and Liv bought yesterday to keep us busy at the shack. I planned to go to the gym as well, but half way there I realized  that what I'm doing at the gym is always exercises with my own bodyweight, which I can do for free in the park. And today was the perfect cloudy wether for outdoor exercises as well so I ended up spending a couple of hours there.