Australian Open 2008

Erlich and Ram from Israel

I was in Paris during the French Open, didn't go. It was too expensive because it was during the later rounds. I was in London during Wimbeldon. Didn't go because I read in the paper how much of a nightmare it was to line up and get tickets and I couldn't be bothered. I knew I had to go to the Australian Open. So I did. It was Australia Day on the 26th, so I bought a grounds pass for $23. I watched Sharapova defeat Ivanovic in the women's final just 200 feet from where it was taking place. It was 32 degrees, watched it in the sun on the big screen. Also got a chance to watch the wheelchair finals, saw Djokovic practice, Men's Doubles finals, and the junior boys finals live in Rod Laver Arena featuring an Aussie kid from Queensland (who one) and a kid from Tapei who could serve over 200kmh. Amazing tennis, you can tell they have a ways to go, but these kids could be the future. All in all a great Australia Day.

Pics:

1)Rod Laver Arena

2) Men's wheelchair final

3) Me watching women's final

4) Sharapova's glory

5) Djokovic returning serves on one of the practice courts

6) Maria and I

7) Men's doubles team Erlich and Ram of Israel accepting the trophy

8) Me in Rod Laver arena watching the junior boys final. Tomic def. Yang 4-6, 7-6, 6-0

Day trip to the city (Melbourne)

Pics:

1) Vic Market

2) Team Canada jacket

3) The crew touring Melbourne

4) The city

5) Federation Square

6) Flinders St. Station and St. Paul's from Eureka

7) Melbourne Park (Aussie Open)

8) Eureka Tower

9) Cool bridge and Flinders St. Station in background

10) Fed Square

11) St. Paul's Cathedral
12) Flinders Street Station

13) Luna Park entrance

14) Oldest rollercoaster in the world at Luna Park

Shae and Miia were heading up to the city for an appointment, so they figured it'd be fun to go up to the city one day to do the touristy things. They were right. Travis came with us too. We started at the Victoria Market in the morning, a massive outdoor marked. I bought a boomerang, a new wallet, and even saw some Team Canada memorabilia as well as an Oilers jersey. It was way cheaper than in the stores back home, but they only had larges. A Team Canada jersey would be good to have for travelling with. Anyway, after the Vic Market we met Shae's friend Shae, had lunch (I had a MASSIVE piece of lasagna, the Italian guy gave me a big smile when he just packed the plate full. Though I gotta say, there's still nothing like homemade lasagna, good on ya Mom!) After lunch we went over to the casino (apparently the only one in the State of Victoria, but I find that hard to believe). We walked along the South Bank over to Eureka Tower. Stats time:

Skydeck 88 is the highest public vantage point in the Southern Hemisphere

World's tallest residential building

Fastest lifts in the Southern Hemisphere (more than 9m/sec)

In other words, it's tall. The view was just spectacular, great view of Port Phillip Bay, Rod Laver Arena and the rest of the tennis park, the city, etc. After the skydeck we split up from Shae, Miia and Shae, and Travis and I went to Federation Square (city square, very modern and interesting), then to Luna Park in St. Kilda's. It was closed, but we could see the world's oldest rollercoaster from where we were standing. Plus we wanted pics of the clown face entrance.

Weekend Part Deux: Camping at Phillip Island

Pics:

1) Stampede poster

2) Nuclear tested penguin and I

3) Koala

4) Lee and I on the genetically modified koalas

5) Shae's Strawberry Shortcake shirt (Manda, this one's for you!)

6) Koala

7) Wallabee at Koala Park

After Wilson's Prom, we drove out to Phillip Island to meet up with Lee for the last few days. We went out for dinner at a great Tex Mex place (which had two Calgary Stampede posters), went to the famous "Penguin Parade" where little penguins, a species of penguin only found in the Southern hemisphere, come in from their daily activities in the ocean to make it to their burrows at sunset. Unfortunately, couldn't take any photographs of the penguin parade, but they were so funny to watch waddle up onto the beach and into their burrows. We even saw 2 penguins mating on their way up, pretty crazy stuff. The next morning we went to the Koala Park on the island, a conservation and research centre for the preservation of koalas. Not only did we see koalas, but wallabies as well, one of which hopped right towards Lee scaring the crap out of her. We also saw one koala climb down a tree, something you won't see that often (they're not very energetic based on their food intake; apparently the eucalyptus they consume is equal to the energy we receive from a bowl of cereal). Afterwards, we had lunch and drove home.

Weekend Camping and Hiking at Wilson's Promontory

Shae, Miia and I went camping and hiking out at Wilson's Promontory National Park on the South coast of Victoria a few weekends ago. We had bbq's, saw wildlife (including kangaroos, walabees and a tiger snake!), hiked to our campsite with full gear, and had a great overall weekend. The hike was spectacular, great coastal views en route to our site at Oberon Bay. The hike back on the other hand was pretty intense. Mostly uphill as we walked back a different way.

Pics:

1) The drive down

2) Me cooking the bbq like a true Aussie

3) A few 'roos

4) Shae, Miia and I on the hike to Oberon Bay

5) View on the hike

6) Spider-Brady

7) Cool rock formation

8) Me in front of Little Oberon Bay

9) Little Oberon Bay

10) Footprints of other hikers

11) Oberon Bay (look how wide the beach is!)

12) Tiger Snake in trees (look close)

13) Cool green caterpillar

14) View on the way back

15) Misty morning

My First Aussie Christmas

Pics:

1) Santa on a firetruck

2) Tree on Christmas morning

3) Shae, Miia and Lena on Christmas morning

4) Aussie animal chocolates with real bits of Emu, Kangaroo, Koala, Wombat

5) Christmas Morning: Shae and Miia bought me Home Alone!!!

6) Shae's Christmas Cake, Miia's Gingerbread house, and my little snowman in a stubby holder

7) The lunch table and Les getting excited

8) Me at the lunch table

9) Shae's Family: Luke, Les, Julie and Shae

10) My Aussie Christmas: Shorts, 'thongs,' and a can of VB in my nice Australia stubby holder

11) Nothing brings families together like poker on Christmas!

My first Christmas in the sun. Well it wasn't as sunny as I'd hoped, but it was still an overcast day at about 25 above or so. Not too shabby. I made sure to where 'thongs' and shorts, and I kept my beers cold in a stubby holder. Seriously though, Shae's family was great. They made me feel very welcome and at home. Shae's Mom Julie asked me at one point if it felt like Christmas, and that's when I realized it did. Sure I missed all of you back home, but they really made the day special. We woke up early Christmas morning. Shae, Miia and I exchanged gifts. Miia's friend Lena was also there for Christmas, so that was nice. The more the merrier after all! We drove off to Shae's folks' place, had a gigantor Christmas lunch (lunch is the big meal in Oz), and everyone was pretty impressed at how much I ate. I explained that not only do I do that normally at home, but I'm also travelling, so when I get an amazing meal like that, I take advantage of it. The day was great, more gift openings, drinking with the boys, walking the dogs, etc. A nice Christmas dinner with the famous prawns followed by the big poker game and goodbyes. All in all an amazing and memorable day. No doubt about it, as long as you spend Christmas with good people, it makes all the difference.