Day 38 in Wollongong at Uni

Goodbye Flinders Motel

A little over a month but I'm still discovering Australia. Now that I moved out of Flinders Motel, I feel so much better in my apartment. I live in a four-bedroom apartment at the brand new student residence Kooloobong Village (coo-lah-bong). 

Day View from my balcony

Night Shot from my balcony

                   Level 7: Blue                                                  "I haven't seen this floor yet"

                  Level 6: Green                                               "I love my floor, at the top baby"

                   Level 5: Yellow                                              "The brightest yellow ever"

                   Level 4: Orange                         " I don't know anyone who lives on this level"

                   Level 3: Red                                                   "This is the ground floor"

                    Level 2: Purple                      "Floor Lower Gound (LG), you mean LaRae Godoy."

                   Level 1: Pink                              "We got table tennis and bean bags, pretty sweet"

The day we got there, Alison Hemsley the head honcho gave us an introduction to the building. We were served slushies and muffins that rocked my world.  Afterwards, the adventure was on. Alyssa, Ari, and I toured the place. It is a rainbow with every floor painted a different color. The painted doors give the place a hostel feel. The outside is a total contrast. It looks like a up class hotel, five seasonsssssss!

Each apartment except the studios has a balcony that overlooks the outside greens or the courtyard, some can even see the ocean. Each floor has a group study room and foyer with "I FEEL GOOD" chairs.  The carpet, the chairs, the back splash, and tile in kitchen are all in the assigned color.

              The biggest benefit to the place is it is 5 minutes away from Uni. Uni here is actually a cool place unlike USA. Everyone either hangs out on the lawn, goes to Unibar/food, and chills in the library. The Unibar hosts live bands every Wednesday night and some Saturdays. They have hosted rappers, bands, and acoustics. The Rubens are coming in May, gotta check that out!

 

Uni Bar

With so much studying it feels good to hit up the beach whenever I can. The weather is definitley cooling down. I love going to North Gong Beach. The beach here is so nice. Waves are not rough and huge like the good old California ones. The water is warmer too. 

This pool is free to use. I love swimming here. 

Next to the beach sits a two free rock pools, natural and built. The built one is laned but still open circulation to the ocean. It is a great way to start your morning off. Another fun activity is indoor rock climbing at HangDog Rock gym. Tuesday night is university night where $15 bucks gives you 3 hours of climbing, equipment, and pizza.  It kicks your butt to the max, your forearms put in work. 

 

       

 I like to end the night with a skateboarding sesh on the campus, when it is empty. I'm still pretty shaky but learning something different everyday. 

Skateboarding Hasher's (Roomie) sneaks

Nikhil's Door (Roomie)

My bed

Born to be Bondi

South side of Bondi Beach (top left)
Tamarama Beach (top right)
Bondi Beach (center bottom)

       This was it guys, the second moment where I knew I belonged in Australia. If you live in a city where you just wish it would slow down a bit and people would just appreciate what they had more then you should come here.

      I arrived to Bondi Beach at 10 am and walked towards the northern point, this has become a pattern. I run into the Bondi market that is held every Sunday from 10am - 4 pm. It showcases Australia's up and coming designers as well as local merchants. It is like the Rose Bowl flea market cut in a quarter.

 

True blue at every angle

        Sound of music that strikes the right chord

A bouquet of flowers for me

Or maybe a paisley print tee

Leather bound journals 

Tarot card readings

This is rad man 

Skull candle for the rebel It's like the 311 song "I'll be here a while"

I fell in love with Australia

Again

       Across the street I landed at the beach, where the soft sand sucked in my feet. Waves are bigger than Manly Beach. The surfers come in full wetsuits. It is weird to me since the water is so warm compared to California beaches. People here are more tattooed and gorgeous.

Me at Bondi Beach

I meet up with all the girls from last night and we decided to do the highly recommended walk from Bondi to Coogee Beach. 

Along the way you pass Tamarama, Bronte, Clovelly, Gordon's Bay before arriving at Coogee Beach.

I swam at Bondi, Clovelly (more of a inlet then a bay) and Coogee.

Bronte was definetly the coolest but only offered natural rock baths to swim in as well as built baths.

Clovelly had the warmest water.

Coogee had the best waves but really course sand.

 

Surfers at Bronte Beach

Waverley Cemetery- RIP for real

Gordon's Bay

Gordon's Bay from south side

We made it to Coogee Beach

The views were the best part. They got better the farther you traveled south. The walk measures 6 km (3.5 miles). I was so glad I found a churro store ( San Churro) before I started the walk.  Just have to tell you they make them fresh and serve it with a dipping sauce, I got caramel. The best churro I have ever had.

Lounge area at Goldfish
Photo from goldfishkigscross.com

I had to follow-up this awesome day with an awesome night out. Tonight I was nomad, I knew nobody so I made friends at the bar next door. Mostly all London boys, we headed back out to Kings Cross where I met Brett, an Aussie who was over hanging out with his friends so we split and found Goldfish. Goldfish is a club that has unisex bathrooms and a live band that plays todays hits. We danced the night away and then settled for some kebabs (gyros in US) at 3am. Kebabs for Australians are like the Jack in the box tacos for Americans.

In the morning it boarded the train back home to Wollongong. It was not 48 hours before that I was nervous and not sure if I could make it all by myself. Traveling alone you really learn who you are and how well you are able to adapt to the raw environment you are born in to.

Photo from my camera on my phone, pretty good!

Some of the things I have learned along the way

•    Keep your spirit awake and alive
•    Be true and honest
•    Live by a good code and know your limits
•   Trust only yourself but try to understand others
•  Don't be afraid to ask
• Never get comfortable and never stop trying

A day in the life of a student in Wollongong

Australian pack of cigarettes really
cater to the customer. ($20 a pack)

      

 It was a beautiful day and a great night here. All started with a load of laundry and my first "real" cup of coffee. I finally made it to the market and bought me some good instant instead of the hotel package crap coffee. After sucking down three cups I hung the clothes to dry on the lines because in Australia they do not really use dryers.

       I got ready and laced up my tennis for a run down to the beach, which is about five minutes away. Once to the sand I run along the wet sand for about another 5 minutes. Already drenched in sweat from head to toe. You got to love the humidity here. Took the easier way back along a forestry trail. Once I arrived back at the hotel I was notified that a last minute planned trip to Nan Tien Temple was about to depart. I really wanted to go so I changed without showering, I know gross but got to go.

        Cruising down Highway 1,  I don't know if they are called highways or freeways here. Twenty-five minutes south of Wollongong we arrived at the largest Buddhist Temple in the Southern Hemisphere. As we approach the stairs to the temple the serenity just takes over your whole body and you instantly lose any thought or worry you had been pondering. Silence overcomes the atmosphere. Once the initial awe wears off the inspirational feelings start to arise and I feel that empowerment of control come back to life.

     The main shrine has five giant Buddhas all representing some virtue (Longevity, Wisdom, Inner Beauty, Peace and Confidence) but I was not allowed to take any pictures because of the significance to the temple. I was however able to take a picture of the Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva in the Great Compassion Hall.  This was the second Buddhist Temple I have been to in my life and I plan on seeing more.

     The next adventure of the day continued down south to a beach town on the coast call Kiama (ky-am-ah), NSW. First, we stopped at the point where you can trek out onto the rocky hills and enjoy the beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean. I tried to capture a spew of ocean water escape from the blowhole but it was kind of shy today.

                   

               Once we grew sick of watching the turquoise waves pound against the dark rocky cliffs and shoot huge white spray into the air we headed to city square. I chowed down on some tempura prawns and chips, B- grade. With my stomach full there was only one good activity to burn off the "carbage" and that would be shopping at the local "op" shop (thrift store). Of course I found a treasure, a white mini dress for the all white-party taking place tonight.  Four dollars for a dress, score.

Australia Life

Aussie native fashion, model: Hanah

         Back at the casa, Ari, Alyssa, Heidi and myself (all foreign exchange, 3 USA and 1 Icelandian) take off for the night. On campus all the new students to Uni (university) met at the Unibar (sick bar on campus, will post me pictures soon) for speed dating. Systematically I got matched with more girls but we made it work.  

The line outside the club. No wait for us :)

                        In the process I made new friends and ended up back at their dorms for pre-drinks and then we were off to a night at The Grand. The Grand is a club that included a variety of areas: casino, billiards, lounges, bar, dance floor and outside area.

American Roomie Ari and Alyssa

Dance floor Packed

         Music was amazing the dance floor was packed and the drinks were flowing. You have to be careful here though because the date rape drug is big here.  I was already pretty "pissed" before I got to the club. 

Kid in the middle is the dummy who pulled the alarm.

       You know it was a good night when you have all your stuff, a load of pictures and a sore body from dancing. The only thing that could have gone better is not waking up to a fire alarm at 2:45 am because some lads decided to pull it. A $750 fine before school even starts will not sit well with the parents, poor kid.