Considering I thought I would die of a heat stroke in Canberra, I was hoping for better luck in Melbourne. The looooonnnng drive took a lot out of us, but we got to Melbourne around 5 p.m., just as the dark clouds were looming overhead. We checked into the red, blocky Base Backpackers St. Kilda, … [Read more...] about Being a Refugee in Melbourne
Canberra: It’s Not Easy Being the ACT
If Sydney's the city you want to hook up with and Melbourne is the city you want to date, then you could say Canberra is that drunken one-night stand that you'd like to forget. Or so I came to believe when I told Sydneysiders that it was the next stop on my road trip. "Why are you going there?" … [Read more...] about Canberra: It’s Not Easy Being the ACT
Observations from a Couch Surfing Virgin
I joined the website out of curiosity long before I worked up the courage to do it. I had heard great stories from Andi as well as friends from Charleston who had hosted people. But was I cut out for it? I felt weird about staying at a stranger's house in a strange city, but as I learned, … [Read more...] about Observations from a Couch Surfing Virgin
Being the Three Sisters
There are many variations on the Aboriginal legend. In all versions, there were three sisters, named Meehni, Wimlah and Gunneedoo, members of the Katoomba tribe living in the Blue Mountains. The first version says that their father, Tyawan, possessed a magic shinbone that transformed him into a … [Read more...] about Being the Three Sisters
At Home at the End of the World
"What was your 'Oh my God, I'm in Australia' moment?" Heather asked me as we stood juxtaposed between Sydney's biggest icons: the Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House. I didn't know how to say that I hadn't had one yet. Sure, I knew I was here, but Sydney is exactly how I expected it to be. … [Read more...] about At Home at the End of the World