When the Lord closes a door, somewhere he opens a window

The door to my cockroach hostel was definately closed.
Thanks to the internet, I found out a friend of mine happened to be in Sydney too for 2 days and he asked me to meet up. I told him I couldn't since I was looking for another place to sleep.
He suggested to stay at his room in the 4 seasons. The 4 seasons! Talking about an upgrade.
It's a hotel where men open doors for you, carry your luggage, can provide room service, spa treatments, ...
The bathroom has got a shower & bath tub. A boxspring bed and flatscreen.
And the view.... The view... You can see the Opera House and harbour.

Secondly he gave me tickets to see Tiësto. Not that I travelled the world to see a Dutch DJ-dude play, but hey if it's free, why not? :)
The concert  was pretty good and the Aussies loved him.

Tonight another night at the 4 seasons and tomorrow I'll be moving to a YHA hostel. A little more expensive but cleaner! It has a sunroof that overlooks the Harbour bridge and Opera house too!

Oh, for those not on Facebook.
I have an Australian phone number now: +61 (0) 416 797 423
If you need me, you can text or call me. If I'm not able to pick up the phone (f.e. when it's the middle of the night here > 10 hours ahead of Belgium) you will get my so unbelievably cool voice mail :)
Vodaphone is a great provider. I charged my pre-paid card with 29$ (18,5€) and I get a credit of 150$!!! Thats 120$ for free :) Belgian companies should do the same :)
And you can choose a funny voicemail. I picked the 'Sex and the City' voicemail. So good!!! :)

Talking about Sex and the City, the 4 seasons is very SATC. I just can't believe how many rich people there are in  this world who can affort staying here.
But then again, I'm a low budget traveller with no job, but loads of fun!

Take care and keep warm :P
Tania (who got a little sunburned)

Let's put another cockroach on the barbie!

To Travel: To go from one place to another, as on a trip; journey.

This morning I checked out of the Glenferrie Lodge in Kirribilli. A nice quiet place. A place I could see myself living.
I was on my way again. I took the ferry to 'the mainland' and needed to get a bus to get to Surry Hills. Where my next backpack hostel would be.
I must say, all busdrivers I have met while being in Australia are so friendly and helpfull. The driver would tell me where to  get off to go to South Dowling street.
I sat on the bus next to an older woman also with a suitcase.
She asked me where I was from.
I told her: Belgium.
'Oh my, you are many miles away from home' she said.
I said: 'Yep... I just arrived two days ago and will stay here for 4 months'
She told me she was from New Zealand and I told her how much i wanted to go there too, but had no clue where to begin.
After talking to her on our short busride, she wrote down her address. She told me to call her if I was planning on going to New Zealand and she would pick me up from the airport. I could stay at her place and she would show me the North of New Zealand.
I just cannot believe how friendly people are down under. It still amazes me...  A lesson we could all learn.

With a smile on my face, i got off the bus  to get to my hostel. As I walked down the street,  I noticed the neighbourhood was not the nicest. Well, the houses look allright but the people are a bit weird.
Anyway, I got to the hostel.
A friendly guy welcomed me. As soon i was checked in he showed me around. The bathrooms are old but relatively clean. The kitchen area was messy (I know you are probably thinking I'm messy too, but this was different) It was all hostellike, kinda like I could expect.
But then.... I got to my room.... The rooms are soooo dirty. I don't think they have been cleaned for months. Seriously. And, as I looked up, what was supposed to be the ceiling above my bed, I saw this huge cockroach! I'm not even exaggerating. This thing was huge, and staring at me... I could start to scream. I mean, I love animals, but I hate, HATE, bugs. Especially the cockroaches.
( I know my mom would not sleep for weeks when she would see this place)
I immediatly left the place and came to Mc Donalds (because every  Mc Do in the world has free wifi) to look for another place to stay.
I know I probably won't get any refund from the Kangaroo bakpak. But choosing on sleeping with the cockroach in my room or loosing money over this... I made up my mind quickly. I'm not staying there, not even a night!
I mean, I slept in dodgy places, with bugs and stuff, but at least the sheets and stuff were clean.
So yes, I guess I have reached my limit about how 'cheap' I wanna go. And I am  too good to sleep with a cockroach! :)

For those curious about my roommate, here a nice picture. Enjoy!

From winter to summer in only 30 hours :)

G'day my friends & family,

A hello from Sydney.
After travelling for 30 hours I arrived in the land of wonder, the land down under.
Everything is upside down here. It's summer, people drive on the lefthand side. I'm on the other side of the planet. And although fllying for 23,5 hours sounds long, it went by  so fast. Thanks to the inflight entertainment (as you can see on the picture) Before I knew it we were decending into Sydney airport.

I got through customs fast. Stamp in my passport and I was on my way. (I must have that innocent look;)
I went up to the information on the trains and buses how to get to Kirribilli (the town my first hotel is situated)
I took the train up to Circular Quay and the ferry to Kirribilli, which went right by the Opera House.
Since all single rooms were full they gave me an upgrade to a double room.
Yey, a big bed to catch up with my lack of sleep.

After a very welcoming shower I decided to lay down for just an hour, which turned into 4 hours. Guess I needed the sleep. Around 5pm I went into the little city center of Kirribilli to find a supermarket to buy some water and to get something to eat.
I found this sushi place. Yummy!!! I bought some sushi and sat outside while eating it. Overlooking the Opera House. Life is good!
I just had breakfast in the garden outside. Winter seems so, so far away right now :)
The weather here is warm/hot and humid (a disaster for my frizzy hair) Today temperatures will go upto 28°C with a slight chance of some rain later today.
Tonight I'm supposed to meet up with some couchsurfers @ Manly beach. Yes, people I have never met before. A guy named Art, a couchsurfing host, suggested to join them on a campingtrip next weekend. Sounds like fun. But we'll check it out tonight first.
Today I'm gonna try to figure out where to get a simcard and get some paperstuff in order.
And tomorrow I'll be moving to Surry Hills, where  my hostel 'Kangaroo Bakpak' is.

Oh, and watching the news earlier, there was a report about a house that's been exploded in Liege, Belgium. See, even when I'm on the other side of the world, Belgium keeps following me :)

Take care,
Tania

All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go...

Allrighty!!
Packing is almost done, only a few more hours and I'll start my big adventure down under.
Now... Let's see. I 'm about to fly 23,5 hours. (Stopover in Abu Dhabi is another 3 hours)
So basically I'll be travelling for 30 hours straight, if there is no delay.

Am I crazy? Oh, yes... But a good friend of mine told me the other day:
"C'est mieux vivre avec des remords qu'avec des regrets ..."
So that is what I'm doing right now!

Anyway, got to go, 'cause I'm leaving on a jetplane :)

Love,
Tania

Insomnia

In exactly one week I'm packing to get on a plane & fly to the other side of the planet.
One week... Seven days... 168 hours...
Last night I suffered from insomnia. My mind is going crazy, thinking too much.
Not easy to fall asleep, and when I did the nightmares begun.  You know, you dream you forget stuff, laptop, camera,... Or you dream the plane is gonna crash. You dream you'll be all alone & broke.
And than you wake up, sweaty. You feel your heart beating in the back of your throat and for a split second you wonder if you made the right choice.
Is it a wise thing to do to give up your job in times of recession? To just leave all your securities behind and take a leap in the unknown?

I couldn't help but wonder... Are we programmed to live the life that's expected from us? Are we taught to be scared if we cannot see the future? Have we failed if we did not accomplish the 'husband - kids and house with a picket fence' by  the age of 35?
Am I the crazy one if I don't follow the 'plan'   -OR-   is this the sanest decision I have ever made?
Maybe it's true, that sometimes we have to get lost to find ourselves.

And that the satisfaction I need depends on my going away, so that when I've gone and come back, I'll find it at home.

Tania

Counting down...

Hi!

With one month of delay I can finally start counting down to my trip down under.

After seeing lots of beautiful white snow, i'm ready to trade in my warm coat and go see some white beaches wearing sunscreen :)

I will leave cold Belgium on January 25 to arrive in warm Sydney the day after Australia Day.
My plan so far (I'm not the best planner) is to travel Oz clockwise. Which means Sydney - Melbourne - Adelaide - Perth - Alice Springs - Darwin - Cairns - Brisbane - Sydney - Abu Dhabi (to visit my brother in Dubai) - Brussels (May 23)
When I'm in Sydney or Melboure I will try to take a trip to New Zealand too.

So... that will keep me busy for 4 months huh? :)
As from now I will update my blog as much as I can.

Take care & keep warm,
Tania