The Gabtrotter

I am contently sitting in my Lagos bachelorette pad. At 15 euros a night, this place is a great deal. For its supreme location, compared to other cities, this price is really unheard of – it’s even good for Lagos. Wow, what a great deal. I was telling Allan that I did the math and living in some of the hostels I’ve been in would equate to around 400-500 euros a month-, which is great considering that it includes everything. I think if I went to school in Europe I might be tempted to live in a hostel, I’m half joking.

Lagos, thus far, has proved itself to be much more to my liking than Lisbon. It has beautiful weather during the day, and then cools down at night. Also, there are all sorts of great food deals- for example tonight for dinner I had fish, soup, salad, a beer, a water, and a scoop of ice cream, all for 7.50 euros. It was the best deal I found, and it actually tasted good too. The other night I had sardines, boiled potatoes and salad for 7 euros. The restaurant food is a great deal, but wait, it gets better. I went to the grocery store, where, I was able to buy 6 1.5 liters of water for 25 cents – and 5 apples for 75 cents. Can you believe that? I’ve never seen such brilliant prices, even in Mexico.

In addition to all of the great deals, I am very happy about the beautiful scenery. After this Euro-trip, I think, although I appreciate human made beauty, I most enjoy the wonders of nature. What it comes down to is that I just really love the beach. I can spend all day there, and be totally content. I’ve been spending my time at Praia de Dona Ana. It’s very beautiful, but the water is pretty chilly. It is not unbearable, but the water at Cascais near Lisbon was unbearable. It is just so cold, I swear after laying out and then hoping in the water, I saw steam rise from me. I am not the only one that found the water quite chilly, otherwise I would have thought that maybe I had been spoiled from the 4 months of warm Pacific waters I had grown accustom to this past “winter.”

Here are a some pictures from my day-time adventures:

Traveling is not always easy. Right now I am having a weak moment. I am worried about the future, haunted by my past and thus having problems focusing on the present. A friend of mine had said some unsettling things to me the other day, and I have yet to be able to shake their sting from my soul. What is it they say, “sticks and stones…” such utter nonsense that is, I’d take the stones any day. Sometimes I find it difficult to realize all that I am, or try to be, while in a foreign country. It can get a little lonely on the road, and when these moments happen it can get difficult to remember that somewhere, not too far away, I belong to a community, a family, friends, a school; even though not many people know it here, but somewhere someone does know my name. When I feel lonely during a long train ride, I try to keep as many pictures as I can on my iPhone and I start paging through them. Seeing the smiling faces, the times that have passed, brings sunshine to the chill that loneliness can bring. I think about what my friend are doing now, and I think about the USA and how it is starting to become summer and how that always had meant something to me. It doesn’t really mean anything to me now, because I feel so far away from it all.

After being back in the United States for a solid 10 days, I’ve come to the conclusion that that chapter of my life went by too quickly. I guess because it is this faraway place, it has the ability to seem less real than other chapters. Whereas, with things I miss or think about around here, I am reminded of them much easier since I am surrounded by them or pass by them regularly.

The night of our goodbye party, I mentioned in conversation that it is a sad realization that “this is the closest we will all ever be again.” My friends and I from this trip will probably never be in such close proximity at the same time, and as close again emotionally. There are always exceptions to the rule, but it is unlikely and that is a sad realization. For, there are not many times in life where you grow close with people and know for a fact that this will be as close as you will ever be, I guess when certain friends are moving or you are leaving you always assume that you’ll have the chance to be close again because you’ve had them part of your life for so long. With study abroad it is a bit different than that.

I guess that is what makes studying abroad such a highly regarded experience: for a short while you experience what it is like to live and create a world in another country, with different friends, different foods and life-altering experiences. For the most part, all of these experiences and ways of life are temporary-, which in a sense romanticizes the whole thing. Already, I have a tendency with nostalgia only remembering the good and forgetting the bad—oh sweet memory. As I think about the times from Australia, I remember them with fondness and appreciation more and more.

My friends and I at our goodbye party

Right now I feel like I am in limbo, the times here in Australia are on their final stretch. This is the last week of hanging out with friends I’ve made here, along the way. The final times I take the bus, or the train, or sit on my favorite beach. As the week goes along, and then when I finally step foot on that plane so will mark the end of another era. The lasts are here, the silent goodbyes, the snapshots that I am trying to take not only with my iphone but also with my quiet memory, where nostalgia will revisit in the months and even years ahead.

It’s always sad when a door closes. Shaking hands and a hug goodbye to my professors brought on a lone tear of appreciation.  For a short time this was my campus, my territory, but because it was so far from the place that I call my real home, it allowed for a different kind of growth and learning.

I came to Australia with the naive perspective that every experience I had was going to be amazing, and unique. That because I was halfway around the world every person I met was going to be interesting, and life altering. I did meet some interesting people, and a lot of interesting and unique things happened to me – but for the most part life here was not all that different than life over there. A good friend of mine’s mother said to her before she left that, “people are people – no matter where you are.” If there is one thing that I have learned abroad and in college, is that this is true. People are people and that life is life – no matter where you are and what you are doing. There are always going to be the few that you get close to and the few that you could have done without, and there are always going to be the times that leave you reeling years down the line and the times that you won’t remember a week from when it happened (because something’s are worth forgetting about).

Before I left, I told one of my best friends that I didn’t think too much would change at home while I was gone, and now I am getting ready to return to a place where my whole world is different. I’m returning to a place where I didn’t get to say those permanent goodbyes for I thought I’d have the chance to say them later… I guess you can say that I’ve really learned the meaning behind the quote: “Life is what happens to you while you are busy making other plans.” While I was making other plans, living here in Australia, my life at home altered and changed – people I thought that would always be there – left. No romantic goodbyes, just a couple of e-mails.

It’s weird to think how life can be going on with you where life is happening in front of you and then your other life, where you are not present, is also changing.

I too have changed; my expectations for my travels have lowered, which I guess is good. For maybe the places I see next will take me by pleasant surprises. I also have learned about what people think about Americans, and have seen the American stereotype come to life. I’ve also learned how to make yourself feel less lonely when the only friends and family you have are hours and miles away. Being abroad overall was a beautiful experience, rich in sights sought, friendships built and memories made. I am still learning how to accept the things that are beyond my control, but that’s a lifelong battle.

For now, all I have is this week. Nothing monumental is going to happen, I am not going to spend too much time partying or going out of my way to revisit favorite places. But, it is a time of reflection – a turning point. This week I will make peace with what I have had and try to write down my memories before they fade to black.

Sydney Opera House, taken by me, feb 28, 2010

Maybe it was the high expectations that I had for this trip, or maybe it was just because I didn’t research all of my options before I arrived – Sydney was not my cup of tea.

When did I go?

Thursday, February 25, 2010.  Through Monday, March 1, 2010.

Who did I go with?

Steph and My. They have been mentioned in previous posts. They stayed with me there from February 25 through the 29^th.

How did we get there?

We flew Tiger Airlines and we booked about 3 weeks in advance. It cost $75 roundtrip, without checking a bag. Unfortunately, I needed to pay $50 each way at the airport to check a bag and thus ruined the initial good deal. Well, this was a lesson for me for the rest of my travels.

I had found the good deal using, webjet.com.au but if you book through webjet they charge you a $20 fee. So it is best to take the deal and book on the airline website. An elderly couple recommended this site as the go-to place to find the best flight deals in Australia. It has worked to be the best place to check first, and then go accordingly to avoid the fee. I don’t understand why webjet does add in that extra $20, maybe not all travelers notice the extra fee!

Although I have heard a lot of complaints about Tiger, my experiences with them have always been great. Definitely the best cheap airline I have flown in Australia.

Where did we stay?

Base Backpackers Sydney.

I’ve only stayed at Base in Sydney and in Brisbane. I loved the hostel in Brisbane, but the one in Sydney did not live up to speed. Although it is not the worst hostel I have stayed at, the receptionists were not very friendly and a bit uptight.

We stayed in their highly regarded Sanctuary rooms.

I quoted Base earlier in the semester, for they described this is how they described their sanctuary rooms:

“The Female only SANCTUARY DORM is for ladies who like to be pampered! 4 to 8 bed dorm, clean, modern and comfortable non smoking room comprising a luggage security locker for each person, wireless internet access (surcharge applies), security swipe card access with a 24 hour reception, heating and air-conditioning. The beds have feather pillows and doona and made up with fresh linen. The rooms are featured with full-length mirrors. Hairdryers, hair strengtheners and beauty kits are available for your use on request at reception. Rate is for 1 person in a single bunk bed in the dorm. Fantastic price for that extra bit of luxury in a fantastic location, close to all the action in the heart of Sydney.”

Well, the sanctuary was not like that. They did have some random shampoos and conditioners, but it didn’t even appear to be ours because they were just stacked on the desk as if they belonged to one of the other backpackers in our room.

The room had a comfy bed and nice sheets, but the AC didn’t work that well. The floor looked like it could use a good vacuum. Their description really is a bit outrageous for what it is, but what can you expect for a hostel.

It WAS, however, in the best location possible. It is located right around the corner from St. George ST. where all of the action is.

Overall I’d give this hostel a C+. I did have one particularly bad incident with them while I was leaving, which knocked them from getting a B.

A day before my departure I decided to go ahead and book the shuttle to the airport for $15. When I booked it, the women at the counter wrote down my name and had a receipt of my purchase and a copy of my ticket number. When I checked out, I must have left the paper in the room and it got thrown out. I went back upstairs in an attempt to try and find it. I go back downstairs to explain to the receptionists about the dilemma and they replied coolly, “Oh yes, you’ll just have to buy another ticket.” I didn’t understand why that would be the case since they had written down my information, and asked, “Why would I have to do that if you have it written down in your book?” They told me that because the ticket is not tied to me, I could have sold it to somebody else. I told them that that wasn’t the case and that I didn’t understand their policy. Then they proceed to tell me that it is like buying a shirt a store, if you lose the shirt then it’s your own fault for losing the shirt. Well, really it isn’t the same as losing a shirt. This is a ticket for a seat on a bus. The bus fills up, they wrote down my name in regard to the ticket. They were very rude and handled the situation very poorly. I left the hostel with a very bad taste in my mouth.

Frustrated, I decided to go to a café nearby and call the people who actually drive the shuttle. They told me that it was not a problem, that they did have me down on their list and that I could get on the shuttle without the ticket. This just goes to show you that Base simply was being non-negotiable without a reason.

What did we do?

Thursday night:

It was late so we decided to check out the bar at the hostel. It was called The Scary Canary. A lively place, a lot of fellow backpackers were there

Friday:

My insisted upon going to a Vietnamese restaurant in Star City (the Sydney casino), but before we left she did not know exactly where it was so we spent a good 45 minutes wandering around for it. At the time it was not a lot of fun, but in hindsight it wasn’t that bad. We ended up getting to the restaurant, the name of which escapes me, and of course it was not open yet. So we just sat around the casino waiting for the place to open. It was a bit pricey but the meal I ordered was quiet delicious.

Afterward we met up with Stephanie and we made our way to the Opera House. We did not go for a tour, but just took pictures outside of it. They were too lazy to walk inside with me, but I went in and checked it out. It was beautiful. I wish I would have taken a tour, but I plan on being back someday.  Visiting the Opera House was one of my favorite parts of the trip; it was really cool to see such a monumental sight in real life.

We then took pictures in front of the Sydney Bridge.

Leigh and Kim traveled with the school to Sydney, and because they were on a guided tour they were not able to hang out with us at their leisure. I did meet up with them later in the night; we went to a bar called scubar.

Saturday:

We went shopping and I found a great shirt and pair of shoes for a total of $25. I also bought some souvenirs for my friends and myself. We each bought an Australia jacket for $13 each.

That night we made it our way to a place to indulge in our first experience with eating kangaroo. It was delicious, like steak but more tender.

After dinner it was time to go check out Sydney’s huge GLBT mardi gras celebration. It was a lot of fun and reminded me of Boston Pride. I could not believe how many people were there.

Sunday:

I made my way to Bondi Beach. I really was un-impressed by Australia’s most recognized beach. I guess the beautiful beaches of the Gold Coast have spoiled me, for as far as looks were concerned, it was not very beautiful. There were a lot of cameras on the beach and a good amount of people, I could not figure out what was going on.

After I was done taking pictures, I decided to walk along the shore and finally settle to sit down for a bit under the overcast skies. I could not have been sitting for more than about 5 minutes when my day dreams were suddenly interrupted by the intercom, “Everybody please evacuate the beach, a tsunami will be hitting the shore in about 12 minutes.” I could not believe my ears, and my heart started to beat wildly as my mind was racing. As an American, tsunamis have never been much of a worry for me. Thus, when I heard the intercom I thought I was done for. People did start scurrying off, muttering to each other and looking around. I started to get nervous. I meandered through the crowds to what I decided would be a good altitude to watch and be safe. Along the way I met a woman who had been in the Thailand tsunami, and she summed up her experience as being pure hell. Well, I decided to get my video camera out and said a brief goodbye to mom and dad and my other relatives and friends. Then, I decided to go ahead and film it – I mean CNN would buy this tape afterwards… If I survived, right??   Well, I waited a good hour and nothing happened. So, I shrugged off my CNN debut and made my way through the various beach shops and restaurants. A personal favorite that I crossed was, “Gabby’s Café.” I didn’t remember opening a café in Sydney, but I guess other people do have my name.

Monday:

That was when I had my lovely argument with Base Backpackers. I decided to have breakfast at a café nearby. I spent the day working on the homework I had due on Tuesday and caught my flight at around 3:30 PM.

I don’t understand why Internet is so hard to come by in Australia. The only airport I’ve been to with free Internet was incidentally in Darwin. The rest try to charge you an insane amount like $25 for the hour. Crickey, let’s get a technology update mates!

Tuesday – 12:36 AM Australian Time – Monday 10:36AM Eastern Time

Currently I am writing from a cheap hostel in Melbourne. I have as much internet as $3 dollars could get me. This hostel we are at is pretty pathetic, I wish I knew the name – it’s on little burke street. Every inch of it is dirty, but it’s the best deal we could find ($25 for the night). This has by far been the most spontaneous trip of my life and also one of the most fun.  We arrived Friday morning and spent Friday and Saturday in Melbourne having fun in the city – it’s such a beautiful city and very eclectic with so much to do. The weather is very San Francisco with a similar vibe but with some Boston flavor. Sunday and Monday we rented a car. In fact it’s parked outside our nasty little hostel right now. Sunday we road tripped to hanging rock and Philip’s Island. At Philip’s Island we saw the penguin march – which was super cool (and we were glad we just paid general admission because we would have seen the same thing if we had paid more). We then made it as close to the Great Ocean Road as we could, and decided to try and find a place in Geelong (the second largest city in Victoria – much smaller in comparison to Melbourne). We couldn’t find a place within our backpacker budget so we slept in our car in the parking lot of the local train station. We found a 5 star hotel with a gym and spa where Leigh and I were able to shower. We then drove the Great Ocean Road and saw all sorts of beautiful things; especially the famous 12 Apostles rock collection.

(by the way Melbourne is chilly, but it’s nice to feel some cool fresh air – it’s been 40s-60s this whole trip)

I’m leaving out many details but hopefully I’ll be able to update soon. I can hear the sound of silence… well Simon and Garfunkel’s version playing in the other room and I need to catch up on some rest.

Thoughts

- Two weeks ago I went to Airlie Beach / Whitsunday Islands. We didn’t make it out to the islands because there was a cyclone / hurricane. The first two days were fun, but it hit a rough patch that I hope I’ll be able to talk about soon.

- Last week I went to Brisbane with some of my favorite people. We had a lot of fun. On the way I met a nice guy on the train who wants to be an actor. It’s funny how you can meet such interesting people at random times, like taking a train to Brisbane.

- I finished my paper. It wasn’t exactly as good as I’d hoped it would be.

- I started a tumblr, just for collecting quotes. And short pieces of information.

Here’s the link: http://gabbygabriel.tumblr.com/

- I’m about to do some laundry and prepare for the trip I am taking to Darwin. It’s 12PM now and our flight leaves at 9PM. I’m going with Leigh.

- I need to figure out when the dining hall is open, considering that it’s Easter weekend.

- It’ll be cool to spend Easter weekend in the outback.

11:19 PM

Right now I’m wrapping up the first page to my final paper for Australian Cinema. The question I chose to answer,

“How important is it to define what constitutes an “Australian” film? Support your views with reference to past and present trends in Australian film production and film criticism.”

The paper is due tomorrow by 4PM, but I am going to try and have it finished for our 9AM class. After this paper I have a lot of breathing room, for the only class I’ll really have any assignments for is Directing Actors, which does not require a lot of work on my part because it all comes from the imagination, which I fortunately have a lot of. Today I took a long nap in preparation for this paper I need to write. It’s funny, I slept until 5PM and now I feel wide awake at 11PM.

Am I creating a new time zone within a time zone?

Last week I had a very unsuccessful trip to the Whitsunday Islands. We were supposed to go scuba diving at the Great Barrier Reef, but Hurricane/Cyclone Ului rained on that parade.

I have a lot to say, but have told myself that I have to go to the gym and do homework today… I think I’ll have sometime to later to fully write.