Sydney

On October 5, 2013September 28, 2013 By ambertravelingIn Australia, Backpacking, Couchsurfing, Uncategorized1 Comment

From Melbourne we cruised up the coast through Wollongong and Sydney. We did the whole trip by train, which was scenic and relaxing. Wollongong is a beach college town reminiscient of my alma mater Santa Cruz.

We couchsurfed with some students there which was nice – family style meals every night. We went out dancing and even learned some acro yoga one early morning by the beach!

Sydney was special because we got to stay with my cousin’s friend Karen in her spiffy apartment at Bondi Junction. We had a few pleasant days exploring the waterfront, Botanic Gardens, and Opera House.

Karen, thanks for hosting us!

These love locks are a trend in Australia, they had some in Melbourne too

We did some drawings of it 🙂

Biking and Gardening

Acro yoga on the beach!

What is this? I forget, lol.

Waterfront busker

Tasmanian devil

Sailing!

Opera house from the bridge (we walked across!)

Side view of Opera House

Bondi Beach

Under the bridge

Sooo cuuuute. They must have drugged it…

Held a wombat! downtown Sydney

not sure what building this is, but love it!

Graffiti Laneways in Melbourne

On September 28, 2013September 23, 2013 By ambertravelingIn Australia, Backpacking, Pretty Places, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Melbourne has dozens of graffiti laneways to explore. Luckily for me I had my camera when I came across this one. The entire alleyway had been painted light blue the night before I saw it, and artists had already leapt at the opportunity to cover the blank canvas.

The blue explosion was a bit of a controversy. Some others in the street art community complained that the artist had covered up some important work. I thought it was quite spectacular to walk through. Unfortunately, when I went back a few days later much of the new graffiti had already been tagged. Glad I got there in time!

Awesome spider

I love this one, so beautiful

Tentacles

His lion was spectacular, but sadly got covered up just a few days later. 😦

Hari Krishna dude on ladder, Graffiti Laneway #8099335, Melbourne

Graffiti artists in St Kilda

Attention to detail

I saw a lot of his art around the city

Octapus

Belgrave

On September 16, 2013September 18, 2013 By ambertravelingIn Australia, Backpacking, Couchsurfing, Pretty Places, Uncategorized2 Comments

James and I took a weekend trip up to visit our new friends Monika and Roderick in Belgrave, a beautiful forest town just an hour outside of Melbourne by train.