Attention Blog Readers!

PSA: I want to inform anyone and everyone (who actually reads this hot-mess of a blog) that I will be going on a short blogging hiatus due to my loving sister traveling approximately 10,000 miles - across the country and the vast Pacific Ocean - to visit her favorite, coolest, wittiest, etc... sister for Christmas and the New Year [maybe I should mention "vain" in there too...?]. 

We will be partaking in awesome activities during her stay, such as skydiving, learning to surf, expanding our cultural horizons by attending a Christmas orchestra at the Opera House (shout out: thanks Dad!), as well as some old fashioned sisterly bonding time. Words do not express how excited I am to see my freckled-faced BIG sister - but if there were words, I bet they would be along the lines of: OHEMGEE I'M SO PUMPED TO SEE MY BESTEST SISTER FRIEND I MAY EXPLODE WITH EXCITEMENT. 

See y'all in two weeks or so. Also, Merry Christmas ya filthy animals. 

SHE'S HERE!!!

What is Tropfest?

Summer is the best time of the year, and more accurately – summer in Sydney is the best place to be at the best time of the year. Sydney hosts many events and parties (some free, some super expensive) this time of the year, and it is very convenient that it falls within the holiday months. So, not only are you celebrating because summer is arriving in full force, but also everyone is merry and bright because it is Christmastime.

One of the kickoff events of the summer is TropFest – which is held on the second Sunday of December and is an Australian film festival that is held in one of the large public parks; and it is free for anyone to attend. The festival starts early afternoon with local and semi-famous Australian bands hitting the stage while fans and passerbys picnic in the park, whilst sipping on cider and soaking in the Australian sunrays. The film contest starts around 8pm, premiering the top 16 films that made it to the final judging.  In the past few years, TropFest was held at the Domain, a large grassy park near the Sydney CBD, but this year it was at Centennial Park, which is only a short walk from Bondi [obviously the TropFest gods sensed my arrival to Australia and decided to place the event to my nearest convenience].

Anywho, the top 16 films aired before thousands of people who gathered on this beautiful Sunday.  Some films were funny, some were serious, and others flat out did not make sense.  Every year there is a broad theme that the contestants need to incorporate in their film - this year’s theme: change. There were many pro-gay/lesbian films, as you can imagine, and others that simply threw a few coins in a shot sequence, defining the theme of “change” very literally. 

If you are interested, check out the winners and other finalists here. You must watch the winning film, entitled “Bamboozled”, as it was not only the first place winner, but an obvious crowd favorite [spoiler alert: it’s quite hilarious]. Although Bamboozled was not my personal favorite, it definitely deserved recognition of being a super creative and unexpected story.  Okay, okay, I know y’all are wondering my fave film (because this is my blog AND my opinion should always be factored in) – check it out here. Why, I choose this film, you may ask? Well, I didn't necessarily like the storyline per se, but I think the filmmaker narrated his story very creatively and unlike any of the other films. But, none of the judges asked my opinion for some reason... 

While you all are hibernating in the dead cold of winter, be sure to stay tuned for more summer activities that happen in the next months – sorry I’m not sorry.

A Place Fit for a King...

Epitome of Kings Cross

A few blog posts back, I wrote about the clubbing and bar area of Sydney’s Kings Cross.  The best words to describe Kings Cross are: ‘a beautiful disaster’. From rumors of organized crime and prostitution, to drag queens on every corner, to some of the best nightclubs in Sydney, Kings Cross is definitely one of a kind.  When I lived in Elizabeth Bay, I was only blocks away from the Cross, and needless to say, I saw some of the most interesting sights that I have ever seen.  As someone who holds her notepad in her phone as one of the most treasured applications of the iPhone, I would jot down scenes I would witness in Kings Cross at all hours.  So without further ado, here are the top KX sights I’ve seen during my stay in Sydney:

• A drag queen ordering a cappuccino.  This was witnessed on my way to work, which is around 8:30am.  Hey, no matter your profession, the mornings are always a bit easier to accept when accompanied with a cup of joe. 
• A koala-suited pervert.  While walking to the bars one night in the Cross, we passed by a human-sized koala swinging his hips… and umm… his koala privates.
• A different bachelorette party on every block.  Nautical themed, 80s themed, Great Gatsby themed, hot mess themed. Girls in electric pink boas, crowns and veils. Every corner, every weekend.
• An aborigine playing the didgeridoo for tips.  This is not a very uncommon sight for Australia, but in the Cross, it has been the only time I have seen an indigenous man didgeridooing alongside the beats of Snoop Dogg’s “Drop it Like It’s Hot”.
• The drunkest argument I have ever seen... at 8am.  Two very intoxicated squatters [I assume they were homeless by their lack of clean clothes, and their interest of aggressively drinking until sunrise – soz I'm generalizing] were in an altercation on my way to work one morning.  I walked passed as the Kings Cross cops were just arriving, but I did hear one of the drunkards scream, “DON’T TOUCH MY HAIR!” before kicking the other drunkard making him fall to the ground. It was way too much drama for my morning, to say the least.
• The musical stylings of the Funky Rabbit.  This sight was very similar to the human-sized inappropriate koala, except it was dressed as a rabbit and had its privates censored. The Funky Rabbit [fake] played the bass guitar and danced for tips on the corner - I wonder what his day job is...? [Naughty Koala perhaps?]

Now, if that doesn’t make you want to come visit the hideously awesome sights of Sydney’s Kings Cross, then I don’t know what will.

Inside the Birdcage

So a few weeks ago, I moved into my cozy new place above the flower shop in Bondi; I blogged about it and provided a picture of the outside for all to imagine the greatness of the flat. Since then, I have gotten a few requests for pictures of the inside of our flat, and I can now finally provide these! It's a lovely flat, but it lacks much needed storage space, so it took some time and innovation to finally clear the living room with clothes and shoes - hey, three girls live here, can you expect anything less?

Disclaimer(s): I only took photos of my room, so just imagine two other rooms that are slightly smaller and seemingly messier - no offense Bridget.  I also did not provide pictures of the bathroom, but yes we do have one, and yes the toilet water spins in the opposite direction.  Lastly, the house is this clean only because it was Thanksgiving and I did not have a part time job at the time - A.K.A. I was a housewife and trying out my domestic abilities. It was painful. 

Introducing, Insiders Look at The Birdcage...

Stairs up to the flat, accompanied with exposed brick and cactus

Walk into Living Area - Jade's surf board, not mine

Mantle, no fire

View #1 of Living Room

View #2 of Living Room / Kitchen

Kitchen / Dining Area (typically only one table)

Where the magic happens

Desk with memory board :)

Wardrobe

Australia meets Thanksgiving

As everyone knows, Thanksgiving is a wonderful American tradition in which we celebrated the foreign settlers and the Native American people coming together to share a feast around a big wooden table centuries ago. [We tend to leave out the part about how we repay the natives by slaughtering them in thousands and forcing the ones who complied to move to deserted real estate out west… too soon?] Anyways, the present day Thanksgiving tradition is primarily about indulging yourself with scrumptious home-cooked food while celebrating the things and people that you are thankful for.  As this is the first time I have been away from my family during the Thanksgiving holiday, it only seemed fitting to celebrate my favorite holiday with the friends I have made here in Australia.

I sent out recipes to friends with some of the traditional foods that my family sets out on our Thanksgiving table as inspiration for them to either make something, or bring a dish to share on the 28^th day of November.  On Thanksgiving, the table was surrounded by three Americans (including myself), and six Aussies excited about losing their Thanksgiving virginity. Homemade stuffing, coleslaw, salad, yams, bread rolls and a 4.5 kilo turkey accompanied with cranberry sauce (which took 3 grocery stores to find) all sat on our dining room table.  I will commend one Aussie in particular for taking on the challenge of making yams – a dish that requires a sharp eye to tell when to take out the dish prior to letting the marshmallows burn. 

Speaking of yams, they were a peculiar dish that the Aussies have never heard of before, questioning why Americans would need to add more sugar and butter to the already savory sweet potato, and then topping them with EVEN MORE sugar in the form of marshmallows.  Once they tried the yams, they understood its desire. 

Before we spoiled ourselves with the massive amounts of food on the table, I led the group as we all shared what we were thankful for – the cheesiest tradition of Thanksgiving, in which obviously had to be shared as well.  From friends and family, to Wu Tang Clan and Tyler the Creator, we all shared what was meaningful in our lives.  All in all, it was a beautiful meal and an even more beautiful memory as I got to share an American tradition with a bunch of Aussies.  I guess I will have to see if they can keep the tradition going after I leave [but let’s be honest, I was kind of the main dish on the table – sorry to overthrow you, turkey]. 

The struggle is real

Disclaimer: This may come as a scare for some, but the image you are about to see is real. Hipsters, beware.

Yes, your eyes through your non-prescription thick rimmed glasses are reading this clearly - $60 bucks for a case of PBR is a real deal in Australia. When you are used to using sofa change to come up with enough money for a PBR back home, this comes as a cruel, cruel reality check. I repeat - $60 BUCKS FOR A CASE OF PBR!! And the sad thing is, that is considered on the cheaper scale of beer prices. I know, I know, I can sense your sympathy from Australia...

...and yes, I ended up buying a 6 pack for $18.