Sara Hammerzmith

So today was the day. We got up at like, what, 4.30, packing our only suitcase into the taxi and said good bye to Curt and Chiara for now and headed towards the airport. Funnily enough, the taxi driver drove the wrong way, and THEN asked our destination. Made me pissed.

Once there, we checked in our bags, got stuff in the duty free and boarded the plane. And seriously, I’m gonna do what Luisa Omelian says – upgrade bitches, upgrade. We went with Emirates and I was happy to watch ”Hunger Games: Mocking Jay part 2” all the way from Brisbane to Auckland, again with a tasty breakfast. I need to upgrade to these kind of airlines.

Once landed we went through two hours of waiting. Seriously, I never realized how ”blessed” I’ve been to have a European Union passport holder until now. Going into the ”long” rows seriously… it took us two hours. TWO HOURS from when we got off the plane until we were actually IN New Zealand and free to go.

We found the bus rather quickly, got on it and discovered they have the cutest seats ever. Didn’t see much, since the bus had big printings on the window where we sat, but oh well. Got off at the right place and then took the WALK FROM HELL up to our hotel. I mean, I thought Hotel Micro in Stockholm was bad, but holy shit. Jucy Snooz beat them.

And Jucy Snooz… so you know how I chose the hotel based on the colors on the hotel right? Seriously, this is soooo our hotel. The humor is just so US. Damn. I need to go to New Zealand more often.

So, we changed clohtes and then hit the town. The first thing we did was to collect as many maps as we possibly could to start plan our days, and then went through a few touristshops planning what to get and then began the endless lookout for food. We decided we didn’t want to have fastfood, but rather real food to treat ourselves. We found an italian restaurant and had a blast.

Afterwards we headed over to a place called Rock Bar, which is just as the name suggests, a night club with rock music. So, with music videos from the heroes, a glass of wine and beer and maps and guidebooks, we found ourselves planning out what we wanted to do.

More locals came into this club which is also a karaoke bar, and once the karaoke was on the party was on. New Zealanders know how to party! Had a blast, thanks all involved. We headed home quite early, and now we lie here in bed listening to Battle Beast and planning out or days. New Zealand will be good.

// Sara

Today was quite interesting. It started out with us rescheduling New Zealand, as we had originally thought about going today, but decided against it. So I started the day out with packing and cleaning up after us, going for my walk…which became more dramatic than it should.

First and foremost, since I didn’t plan to do a big walk, I decided to bring neither my camera nor my phone, because I thought, what would I ever need or get to photograph?

Jokes on me, because when getting up from my safe place, I found myself looking into a pair of black eyes, belonging to the cutest cow I’ve seen in a long time. And she had company by three more. I know where they’re from – they’re from a far nearby. I talked to a local about the escaped cows and then continued on like nothing. When walking a bit further, I came across one of those dragon lizards and a bunch of tiny geckos. I guess jokes on me when I said I wouldn’t see anything exciting.

Later in the night I headed down to World Science Festival which was held on the Southbank, and started the evening out with watching ”Wall-E” on an outdoor cinema by the river. After the movies was done, I strolled down the marketplace and checked out the dress I’ve found myself checking out a lot. Really need to get it.

Spent the rest of the evening resting by the river, walking around Southbank to photograph it for my mother and then got home later than I thought I would. Perfect last evening in Australia for now.

// Sara

So, behind where Curt and Chiara lives there’s a big park. A park that I was told goes on and on and on and on and on for a very long period of time. Naturally, this intrigued me, so I packed my bag, made some food and went. The furthest I had gone before was the 3 kilometers to the workout equipment, but this day I figured I’d go even further.

So I went. There isn’t much to say about me going – the walk differed from being in parks to being among neighbourhoods, and the only really exciting thing must be the warning signs for magpies which freaked me out for a moment, but it was all good. I got all the way down to Virginia Golf Club where the road came to an abrupt end and I found myself walking back home.

After this I went downtown to meet up with Curt and he showed me some swords he’s been looking at, as well as some recordstores similar to Knastret. I really enjoyed being down there, you know, like coming home?

We went groceryshopping so I could cook them a meal, but… Well. The meal turned out fine, however, being unused to Australian goods, I managed to pick up the spiciest of spicy chilisauces, so our mouths BURNED. And it’s not even supposed to be spicy in the first place. We watched “Ghostbusters” while having dinner, Chiara came home later and we all went to bed. Slow, but nice day.

// Sara

Today I headed off early to town in order to catch one of many artgalleries they had. I went to the Modern Art Gallery, located close to Southbank, and I enjoyed it so much, and my favorites were the Aborgine art. Seriously, it’s absolutely stunning. This is the sort of art I’d have at home. I fell in love with the Asian pieces as well. I guess it’s just soothing. That reminds me. Once I move away from home, I need to set up a speaker that constantly plays the soundtrack from “Atlantis: The Lost Tales” every day.

After this, I did some quick shopping at the touristshops. Picked up a few gems, and also some candy before I headed down to one of the many pools at Southbank waiting for Curt. Seriously, I’m not sure if you guys ever been to Southbank, but it’s probably the best place on Earth.

Around 6-7 something-ish, Curt met me up at Southbank to have some one on one time, and we hit up this Burgerplace called “Grill’d”. I had a superspicy burger, which almost made me cry, but it was SOOOOO good. Seriously, REAL burgerplaces is the fucking shit. I need to have two or ten more of those before I leave this country. So fucking tasty.

We spent the evening talking about everything and nothing, spotting Elmohelmets on bikers and just enjoying ourselves and a drink and a burger.

We walked around a bit on Southbank, walking through the rain forest and the Japanese temple before we decided to head home. It was a really nice night and day, I couldn’t have enjoyed it more!

// Sara

Today we went for a walk, Michelle and I. It wasn’t very long, but the weather was amazing, and thus, we go. We packed our backpacks with food and off we went. At first we found ourselves going a bit in circles, but we eventually found a route.

We found ourselves ending up at the 7th Brigade Park, a remembrance park if you like for fallen soldiers.

We found ourselves a nice picnic table where we could sit down and enjoy the meal we brought, and we were accompanied by the cutest caterpillar ever. I poured him so water, and he actually drank. Amazing.

When the sunset started, we decided to head home. Once home, I recieved the best news I could possibly get, so we made ourselves ghostpancakes to celebrate. This was a fun, yet calm day.

// Sara

For the first time in a while I got down to Brisbane center for some shopping, or well you know, trying to shop anyway. I wish I was better at shopping than I am, but you know, what can you do?

I walked around the center for a while, checking out a lot of store and wound up in this one store called Valleygirl, where I instantly found a belt that I had to have, so obviously I got it. They played good music (read: Payphone – Maroon 5) so I found myself walking around a bit and found a couple of really cute tops, sadly, they were a bit too small and seeing their were sale items, they didn’t have the other size. What a shame really, but the belt is a killer.

I also wound up in a store called Paper Scissors, where I found quite a few items that I decided to try on. Ironically, the one top I didn’t think I’d get is the one I wound up getting. It’s funny how it works sometimes, isn’t it?

After everything was said and done, I went gorceryshopping to treat my hosts with a mushroom-ham sauce with tagliatelle, and on my way home from the city I cam across some very interesting statues.

Got home, cooked dinner and we had a pretty good time eating good cuisine and watching “Monsterman”, the Lordi documentary talking about, yeah, Lordi. Haha, what else?

// Sara

So. Today was Dreamworld day. At first I didn’t really get it, but the more time we spent there the more I started to understand that this is basically Disney World, but for Dreamworks. We left pretty early in the morning, around nine I think. Dave, Curt and I took one car, and then Chiara, Ashleigh and Michelle in the other one. We had a good drive down, listened to Powerwolf most of the way and introducing Dave to this wonderous music. Of course, Dave missed the sign, and it’s just fun, because I was about to tell them that we need to get off here, but I figured they know better, and then it turned out we were indeed supposed to be off there. Oh well then.

So, after a little detour, we finally made it to Dreamworld where we caught up with the ladies. Sorted out the tickets, and then we got inside.

The first thing we did was to hit up one of the rides Ashleigh really wanted to go on. I have a heartcondition, as you may know, so I can’t go on a lot of rides, but we followed them regardless. It’s a nice looking themepark, but humans will never cease to amaze me. Some workers came with a young tiger, walking through, probably to move him, and as soon as they’d passed the people, the people ran up from behind to pet the tiger. Like, come one people. Leave the fucking pets alone.

(Picture belongs to Chiara Parry, used with permission)

After the ride, we went to a ride… that I can’t remember the name on for the life of me, but it is the same sort of ride as Kållerado on Liseberg. I liked it a lot, I was just surprised they had safetybelts, despite this ride being a bit… how do I put this… calmer than Kållerado. You who have been at Lisebergs knows the big “ocean” part where you just get float around like nothing and sometimes get stuck in? Like you were really on the seven seas? They don’t have that, yet they have seatbelts. We have that, and no seatbelts. I do find the watercanons a little lame as well, like, I walked out perfectly dry, which is impossible on Kållerado… But, none the less, I still enjoyed it.

After this, we caught some food and the most exciting thing that happened there was us hiding Dave’s pizza. Sadly, he took my food hostage. God damn it.

After this, we headed down to toward the wildlife section of the park, and saw a lot of nice animals. Like old turtles with algea on their backs.

And alpacas who could not give a shit about us being there. Or more, they obviously found themselves being better than us. Especially the white one. “I don’t have time for your bullshit”

Then we came out to the kangaroos. The firs thing that struck me, was that they were loose. Like, they could jump around and roam freely. I was surprised as hell, seeing kangaroos are pretty big and strong. I wonder how many accidents happen with the kangaroos… I don’t even wanna think about it. But they were chill as hell. Kangaroos are like, those kind of people who are in reality really strong and buff, but also really chill.

Then we headed over to see the sleeping little koalas. Like my spirit animal. Sleeping all the time. Cuties.

We headed down to watch birds, a wombat that was also sleeping (I don’t blame him, I’m tired too) and then we went down to see them feed the crocodiles. It was pretty cool.

We went down to an arcade-like hall, where the rest of the people went to the ball-pit shooting balls, and then did some radio-cars, but I found myself sitting outside the tiger pits watching the cubs play until I found a shadow Dave and I could rest in while the others did whatever they were doing. Oh that’s right, Ashleigh and I found a fancy dragon too.

Curt, Chiara, Dave and I went off to eat somewhere (ice-cream!) and later met up with Michelle and Ashleigh again. The day was coming to an end, and we took one last ride on Kållerado-look-alike, and then we headed home. Once home again, the rain started again and I spent most evening on the balcony sucking in all the calmness that is darkness and rain, and after it stopped I went on a walk around the suburb.

// Sara

Today was a really slow day. Curt, Chaira and Ashleigh was off to a party of a friend of theirs, but seeing I was a bit ill I decided to stay in. I went for my usual walk around the blocks, the weather wasn’t exactly on my side, so I didn’t do a whole lot. However, you know how in Sweden, when it rains, after rains comes the snails? Like this HUGE massive invasion of snails, that you can barely walk without stepping on a snail?

They have it here too, only with toads and frogs. I fucking shit you not, there were toads everywhere, all over, tons of them. It was like, the toad invasion. Maybe I should make a movie. The toad invasion. I stopped along the way to watch some field hockey games as well.

Once I got home, I walked down to one of the McDonald’s and got myself a dinner. And really like, treated myself with 6 pcs of Nuggest, a hamburger and two fries. I don’t treat myself a lot, so I figured it was about time I did that. So what I did is that, since Michelle was already asleep I went out on the balcony, set up my computer, fixed the chairs with pillows and blankets and my travelpillow and put on “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1” on the computer. It’s always a bit of a contradiction when you are eating while watching the Hunger Games series, but still. Love this series.

I remember I fell asleep a bit during the movie and woke up to unsettling noises of war. What a way to sleep, huh? It was raining a bit on the evening as well, but unlike Sweden, even though it rains it’s still superwarm, so it’s super duper cozy. After “Mockingjay” was finished I watched “Phineas & Ferb: Mission Marvel”, and Curt and Chiara got home when I was watching the end so Curt and I wound up discussing villains (Whiplash is so hot in this special, I can’t even deal with him) and having a bit of a heart to heart.

Once finished with “Phineas & Ferb” I went to bed to prepare for tomorrows adventures, Dreamworld.

// Sara

For today’s evening we decided to, together with a friend and the sister’s of Curts, head down to the city, mostly for dinner and to look around a bit. So first and foremost, for the first time ever I went on Australian transport, which differs a bit from Sweden. Here, you tag your card when you enter the bus, but you also tag your card when you LEAVE the bus, and it’s really then the money is withdrawn. A little confusing for me who’s so used to put down my buscard right after I enter so I don’t lose it, but I can work with this.

So, we got down to the city and headed over to a mall where we met up with Tayla, Ashleigh and Ciára who was more or less waiting for us in the mall. After walking around in some of the stores we headed outside and went across the bridge over the river, Ashleigh being like my private little tour guide telling me about the town, the river and the bridge. And the view is seriously…

Just look for yourself. As we were all pretty hungry we mainly looked for somewhere to eat, and wound up at this Japanese place where I got a chicken sort of dish. I have to disappoint you that I don’t remember the name of the dish nor the place, but it was indeed really good!

Afterwards, the rest of the lot was heading for dessert, so I decided to head over to the marketplace. Curt accompanied me, and we wound up walking around the waterpark and the pools they have close to the river, which is absolutely stunning. Like, seriously. I was dying inside on how beautiful it was. And to top it off, we met the cutest little possum ever. What a little guy!

We met up with the rest of the crew, and Ashleigh was challenging some of the fountains (she won) and after that, the group splitted and we got home.

It was a great evening, and I’ll for sure be back in town to check out some of the stuff I never checked out this night. Seriously. Amazing.

// Sara

You know what my favorite part about my running trail is? It’s that part of the park that sounds like the stereotypical tropical jungle. I guess, it in a way is indeed a tropical jungle, but it’s just on that one patch. I remember even taking out my earplugs just to listen to the noise of a million different bugs and birds making sounds, and thanks to the incoming heatwaves and humidity in the air, it felt like I for a moment were in the Amazonas, or something. Well, it’s close enough for now, right?

I love the trail though. I mean, we haven’t done much since we got here, but I could literally do anything to just chop out this trail and take it with me to Sweden. Perfect distance, and lovely equipment along the way. and the view, I mean, how bad can this be?

I spent parts of the afternoon on the balcony reading “The Fifth Wave” that I’m currently on. I saw the movie a while back, and I liked it a lot so I figured I’d give the book a shot. For now, it’s pretty slow and hard to chew down, but perhaps it gets better.

In the late afternoon I went down to Chermside Shopping Centre for a first shoppingspree. This means, basically check out what they have and prepare for a real shoppingroute. The first thing I had set to get was actually Rachel Platten’s album “Wildfire”. I had planned to get it while downunder, so I was very happy to find it in the recordstore, and especially at that price. Her album is probably going to become the soundtrack of this trip, and I need to save her music since some of her songs got bad memories to them, but it will be fine. After that, I headed over to the foodstore originally looking for after-sun screen, but wound up buying a lot of pop corn and candy instead. Whatever rocks your boat, right?

After that I strolled along some of the clothing stores, and I found quite a few interesting one I need to think further about. But I did stop by what is probably Australia’s answer to Glitter and Claire’s, which is Lovisa. They had a lot of lovely jewellery, even some I need to think further about, but for now I picked up two of them that couldn’t wait ’til later.

After this, I did a quick stop by The Body Shop to pick up on more body butter since I’m running out and my body is screaming for more.

After this, went home for like ten minutes before we went back to have dinner with Chiara on her lunchbreak, then home again. We talked a bit, and then I decided to take a nap but woke up by the fire alarm going off in the building. We all got out after a few ifs and buts, after seeing the fire truck coming, but gladly it was false alarm. But you know, that is one hell of a way to wake up on!

Later in the night when Chiara came home we finally got around to buy the tickets for Epica, so now that is for sure a go! So excited to FINALLY see The Quantuum Enigma tour since I managed to miss out on it TWICE while in Europe. How the hell is that even possible.

// Sara