Melbourne to Perth

G'day, mates! Sorry for my lengthy hiatus but sometimes it's such a cumbersome task to upload photos and update the blog. I have been missing all my friends and family back in the States, though, so please know that I've been thinking of you often the past few weeks! I write from Broome, where I am currently 'stationed' for a bit, and will hopefully have some time to play catch up.

To start my time in Australia earlier this month, I spent a couple days in the lovely city of Melbourne. The time went by too fast, as I explored the city's cafes and botanical gardens with friends. Here are a few photos.

After a short time there, I flew to Perth. (Side note: I flew Tiger Airways, a budget airline that operates mainly here in Oz. If you ever think about using them, please talk to me first. I will convince you to stay far, far away!! Bad experience.)

 Perth, the capital and largest city in the state of Western Australia (known as WA), has a population of approximately 1.74 million and is listed in The Economist's top ten most livable cities.

Sunset at Freo (Fremantle), the original port city of Perth

With friends from the hostel: Rochelle (UK), Heather (Canada), and Sarah (Germany)

A view of the city from the hills of Kings Park

This Kiwi guy was chatting up Izzy then we turned around and he had fallen asleep...

One of my interesting Perth roomies, Rochelle, from the UK

My time in Perth was nice, but not nice enough to keep me from leaving after a week. Coming next: road tripping with new friends up Australia's west coast!

All is well

Greetings, friends! Just a quick update here! After spending a week in Perth I headed north on a road trip up the western coast with friends. It's incredibly remote out in these parts, and I haven't gotten cell reception, much less wi-fi, in several days. More to come later once we reach Broome and some semblance of civilization! Cheers!

On the road again

Kia ora, friends!

I write to you from Auckland, where I arrived a few days ago after a one-night stopover in Tahiti. My time there felt like more than just 20 hours, since it was filled with new experiences and new friends. I couchsurfed with my new friend Mehdi, who invited me back to the airport early the next morning (5am, after getting to bed after midnight!) to welcome some of his friends back home to French Polynesia. It is a local tradition for families to have big welcoming parties meet arrivers at the airport with music, song, and flowers. So that's what we did, early in the morning, to welcome back the mother and uncle of one of Mehdi's friends. After, we headed to their home up in the hills of Papeete for a traditional Tahitian breakfast: dishes of raw fish, jams made with local fruits, and of course, instant coffee! That afternoon, I spent a few hours on the beach before I had to catch an evening flight on to New Zealnd.

Here in Auckland, I've been staying with my good friend Louise, enjoying the sunny (but cool!) weather, and preparing for the next leg of my journey. I've mastered the art of driving on the "wrong" side of the road, which wasn't as difficult as I anticipated! :-) I'll travel to Melbourne for a few days, then move on to Perth, the main city in Western Australia.

Since I have no photos to share, I thought I'd include a couple pertinent excerpts from Whitman's "Song of the Open Road" for inspiration...


(3) You air that serves me with breath to speak!
You objects that call from diffusion my meanings and give them shape!
You light that wraps me and all things in delicate equable showers!
You paths worn in the irregular hollows by the roadsides!
I believe you are latent with unseen existences, you are so dear to me.

You flagg'd walks of the cities! you strong curbs at the edges!
You ferries! you planks and posts of wharves! you timber-lined
side! you distant ships!
You rows of houses! you window-pierc'd facades! you roofs!
You porches and entrances! you copings and iron guards!
You windows whose transparent shells might expose so much!
You doors and ascending steps! you arches!
You gray stones of interminable pavements! you trodden crossings!
From all that has touch'd you I believe you have imparted to
yourselves, and now would impart the same secretly to me,
From the living and the dead you have peopled your impassive surfaces,
and the spirits thereof would be evident and amicable with me.

(15)Allons! the road is before us!
It is safe--I have tried it--my own feet have tried it well--be not
detain'd!
Let the paper remain on the desk unwritten, and the book on the
shelf unopen'd!
Let the tools remain in the workshop! let the money remain unearn'd!
Let the school stand! mind not the cry of the teacher!
Let the preacher preach in his pulpit! let the lawyer plead in the
court, and the judge expound the law.

Rose City

I hadn't seen my sister Liz for over a year, so I decided that on my way out of the States, I would head to Portland for a visit. In Liz's neighborhood is one of the best parks in Portland, Mt. Tabor. It's on a huge hill that overlooks the city. One night I climbed up for sunset.

I loved hanging out with Liz, who showed me around her unique and interesting city. She took me to one of the cool restored hotels by McMenamins for a night. We had a lot of fun exploring the property, relaxing, and goofing off.

My cute sister in her kitchen:

After several quality days in Portland, I flew down to LA to catch my flight overseas for more traveling adventures. I miss you, Liz!!

Home sweet home

After the baptism, I spent a few weeks in the home fields of Austin. The rest and low-key family time was much needed as I was exhausted from my travels. It was a wonderful blessing to celebrate Easter with my family and close friends. Here are a few pics:





Some of the best friends a girl could ask for. On Mount Bonnell overlooking Lake Austin.



The canyon behind my neighborhood. Grew up playing here as a child, now I love to take walks down on the trails.

My beautiful parish, Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church, on Holy Friday.

I hope you all had lovely Easter celebrations. Christ is risen!!