The Spice of Life

Australian culture has been influenced by English, American, and Asian. This is evident in the cuisine especially. There are a few popular chains and dishes that have surprised me since arriving.

No longer is the "5, 5 dollar, 5 dollar footlonggggg". Now the actors in the commercials throw up a peace sign to indicate the bargain $7 footlong! Gotta love a "thriving" economy..

Back in the 60s, some mom and pop restaurant opened under the quaint name of Burger King. When the corporate giant  from America wanted to expand, the trademark was taken so they were forced to rename. "Welcome to Hungry Jacks!"

Its 2 am, the bars are closing down for the night, and your group is starving and craving some greasy, delicious snackage. In Atlanta, you'd hit up Waffle House for an All-Star Combo (or pork chops if you're David Brown) and some sweet tea. In Brisbane, however, you'd stumble to one of the 24hr meat pie shops that grace almost every street corner in the city centre. Curried chicken and vege or egg/bacon/cheese are the perfect combo for drunk food (grease stains on the paper bag are unavoidable) and fill you up enough to stop the slosh of alcohol in your stomach. Its a win win win (did I mention 24hr?!)

The most amazing food discovery I have found is the multitude of sushi takeaway shops. There are sometimes two in one street block and for $2-3, you can get an entire sushi roll that you are meant to just chomp into. No chopsticks required! And how do you add soy sauce to your on-the-go sushi? Why drop it from this cute little fishy teaspoon-sized plastic container of course!

I had burgers one day at this place that reminded me a lot of Yeah! Burger. Everything farm raised and organic. You know how on a menu, the first variation listed is usually the cheapest and most traditional? Well I got their first-listed chicken sandwich, and as delicious as it was, still caught me off guard. The toppings? Shredded carrots and beets (with sweet chili sauce, yum!)

So nowadays, my diet consists of sushi and meat pies. Which I'm okay with! I still need to experience a sushi train restaurant..yes they do exist!

Beaches, art, and blue skies galore

So my father and I went to Gold Coast, a city an hour south of Brisbane, to visit our cousin. The water was surprisingly warm and the beach basically deserted as it's "winter"

We drove to the train station as the sun was setting. 

Oh yeah, there's a train that takes you all the way to the beaches, one an hour north (Sunshine Coast) one south (Gold Coast/Surfers Paradise). And the train costs maybe $4 :D

Haven't walked through the art museums here, but even the outside have random awesome works

That was a wire bird that just looked like it was floating.

And every city has to have a Ferris wheel!

My next post will have to be on the odd food that is so casual here. Meat pies are just the tip of the iceberg! 

Unpacked

So we are settling in, we got a "2 bedroom" flat in the dead center of the city. It's pretty much the loft style that I dreamed about as a kid. My bed sits on a small balcony over the living room, which is open to the kitchen, and my fathers room is a converted dining room. So the privacy is less than desirable but for the price and walkability, I will sacrifice some. 

The backside

The stairs to my bed with my fathers room in the background

My nook, look how well I make my bed each day! (My momma taught me good)

Looking over the stairs to the kitchen/living room

The first thing I put up

Watching a footy game on our tv

Oh and this guy is my new best friend (I wish!)

Exploration

 There is always something going on in this city!

Stumbled upon this Chinese festival complete with dragon dance, drum solos, and a huge parade of men, women, children, and monks in traditional attire

Found this for Sam:)

This for Joe (they had the regular pizza flavor, but this was priceless)

The center line isn't to seperate direction, it's so walkers don't get run over! What a concept! Oh and there are about 6+miles of paths like this, just along the river:D

Twenty yards next to the path was rock climbing..

...which looks beautiful at night

Differences to note: the JUMBO coffee is about the size of a Tall at American Starbucks (beer bottle for reference) and not many places even offer it that large. 

Also...Chunky chips just made me laugh (steak fries)

Oh and there's no sales tax, so what you see is what you pay! Easy!

And this is a tiramisu dog...Aussies are cool

Surreal

This is where I live now. It is still so crazy to think that I am halfway around the world from where I was born, raised, and met everyone I've ever known. 

So plane trip was exhausting, I drug my 100+ pound luggage a quarter of a mile through Los Angeles because there was a giant car wreck outside our hotel, so that was fun. But it was worth it:)

My dad's cousin picked us up at the airport and we went out for drinks and dinner. The people here, especially my family, are just so friendly. You can strike up a conversation with anyone and if you look even the slightest bit lost, they just want to do all they can to help you. 

I've just been wandering around the first few days with my father, looking for rental apartments, and just becoming familiar with the city. A few key differences to note: They drive on the left of the road (I will look the wrong way for the next six months when crossing). Everything is about 50% more expensive (but minimum wage for a 21year old is about $20/hr...what!?). The city is so pedestrian friendly, there is a free ferry that runs almost all day. There are less actual sit down restaurants, but huge food courts with about 50 different options (and so much delicious Asian food!). 

Crossed the international dateline..ent from Wednesday night to Friday morning within 14 hours...I'm a timelord nbd

My dad's first selfie

I will always love the feeling and aight if being above the clouds, so surreal

My father in front of the actual building where his mother attended high school

Selfie with a brass kangaroo

My first authentic meat pie (curry chicken and veggie) omg soo good and flakey

Beautiful sunset from my hotel balcony. 

I miss everyone and Hotlanta (it's a bit chilly here when the winds picks up) but it's a great adventure with my father and I seriously recommend that anyone, who has been dragging their feet, pushing it to the back of their to-do list, or making excuses, just go travel! Whether it be to the next state over, or the next continent, don't get caught up in the humdrum life that society says is necessary. Get out there, experience new things, you can always return!