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.

Tasmanian devil

not sure what building this is, but love it!

What is this? I forget, lol.

We did some drawings of it 🙂

Sooo cuuuute. They must have drugged it…

Opera house from the bridge (we walked across!)

Side view of Opera House

Held a wombat! downtown Sydney

Karen, thanks for hosting us!

Bondi Beach

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

Biking and Gardening

Waterfront busker

Sailing!

Acro yoga on the beach!

Under the bridge

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.

Us and our new friends, wearing hats! Teehee

this was at a community jam session we got to go to!

tiny tea set

beautiful sculptures at William Ricketts Sanctuary

kora and harp jam session

YEAH

Gum trees

James shears

tree cave

steam train! a popular tourist attraction.

Roderick playing his kora, a beautiful african harp type instrument

he also teaches african drumming!

Monika in front of her house in the mountains near Belgrave

cute teapots at fancy tea store

Beautiful idea 🙂

Tasmania: Up the East Coast

On March 15, 2013 By ambertravelingIn Backpacking, Pretty Places1 Comment

Here are a few pictures from our trip up the East Coast of Tasmania. We really took our time, spending 2 weeks to do a trip lots of people do in just a few days. We had lots of leisurely walks on beaches, and did a couple of longer treks on Maria Island and around Wineglass Bay.

There were adorable wallabies everywhere, who would have happily eaten out of our hands if we had offered food. We had heard not to feed them, though obviously lots of people do.