My Motorcycle Diaries:

Day 1:
Dear Diary,

My riding virginity got smashed yesterday.
And i loved every minute of it!
It was the BEST!
Why has it taken me this long to get on a motorbike?!
Argh!
It was seriously the most fun i have had in a very long time.
***
After an adventurous late night involving getting pushed up against a wall, going through road blocks, up & down dirt roads, getting slightly bogged, being lifted up onto a roadblock, hanging off a safety barrier, cliff edge, a shooting star across the bay, a 4am phone call, an impromptu overnight stay on the Mornington Peninsula & about 4 hours sleep, i put some leather on & got whisked away into the most glorious sunshine filled day.
(Or maybe that should be zoomed off into... ?!)
And yes, this was my first ever time on the back of a motorbike.
I was a bit scared before i got on but as soon as the engine started up, all of that fear just vanished & we were off!
I had complete trust in my companion.
It was the most perfect day for a ride.
Weaving in & out of traffic, cruising along the beach road & ending up at Portsea backbeach was spectacular.
*Aqua blue water, waves & sunshine.*
After a quick stop to check out the surf, we were off again.
Cruising along back roads on the Penny' we got up to a maximum speed of...

...I'll never tell!
This time we ended up in Flinders having a beer in the sunshine, just kicking back enjoying life & making the most of our day.
(Was this really the 'last ride?')
I couldn't wipe the smile off my face for the entire day. It was so much fun!
If i said i didn't feel like the coolest cat around while rocking the leather & getting my biker-chick on.. it would be the biggest lie in the history of untruth.
Now i completely understand it when people want to get on their motorbikes & just ride.
It's exhilarating. You feel so unbelievably free.
It's the most amazing rush!
Rounding out the day was a stop at Safety Beach for another quickie beer & then meeting friends at a little bar in Rye.
So tops off an excellent, unforgettable day~
Thankyou.
xox
ps- I was wearing cowboy boots.
Cowboys wear boots on horses & i was riding a steel horse, so i figured it made sense.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRvCvsRp5ho

Enjoy!

*SNEAKY* Airport SURPRISES!

Feb 14 2012
Marks the 2nd day this year that i have surprised friends at the airport on their Melbourne arrival!
Why do i do it? Because its FUN!
Its the unexpected. The thrill. The excitement of it all!
The first time, i was carrying an arm load of brightly coloured balloons.
The second time, i was wearing a big red bow tied around my body like i was a present.
I love surprises!
More importantly, i love it when i am the one giving the surprise.
In the lead up to the surprise day, you get to be all sneaky & be like a secret agent trying to find out much needed information so that it will all run smoothly on the day.
I started working this out about 2 weeks in advance.
Observe:
You need to put your friends off the trail completely before they are even on your trail.
'So, when do you get home? Cool story. Let's go get a beer.'
~seems random, but you found out the date they come home.
'So, what time do you get home? Cool story. Let's go get a beer.'
~seems random, but you found out the time they get home.
Next, you need to work out what airline they're flying with, if it's a domestic flight or international flight & where they are flying from. 
'So, is Jetstar taking you home via Perth again? yuk!'
~seems random to ask that specifically, but you still find out the needed information in your friends reply.
It seems everything is in place & ready to play out.
Excellent.
Oh! How could i forget to tell you this.. while all of this has been going on, you inform your friends on the day they are due to arrive that you 'don't want them back.'
Ofcourse you are only joking, but it does add a little more depth to the surprise i think...
The day has finally arrived.
At the airport with a carload of friends, sipping some beers, snacking, chatting & laughing away at how terrible we look wrapped in a big red bow.. you decide to go for a wander, thus separating yourself from your 3 friends.
'I'll meet you guys at the gate in 10 minutes!'

You check with airport staff about flights.
You go to the gate.
There is no one as far as the eye can see.
It's now 10 minutes after they supposedly landed.
You are alone, at the opposite end of the airport, wearing a big red bow & ignoring the strange looks you are getting as you walk through security.
cue *PANIC SWEAT*
Then.
THEN.
There's that heavy feeling in your gut.. no, not from what you just ate... 
Where the hell are they? Have i missed it completely?
No. Surely not.
Hell no. It was planned to a TEE.
It was PERFECT!
You decide to head back to where you left your other 3 friends.
On your way, you make a quick phone call & are told 'Yeah, we're here with them now. Where are YOU?!'
..and then there's that awkward moment when you realise you are at the wrong gate, you got told the wrong airline, which in turn makes you nearly burst into tears & you show up 5 minute's after everyone else has done your big SURPRISE!
FAIL.
No, you weren't there for the initial surprise.
But your friends were stoked to see you.
So i guess at the end of the day.. mission accomplished?!
xox

Taste of Summer*

*To my friends in the Northern Hemisphere who are about to head into a long, cold, dark winter... i suggest you stop reading right about now.
*Ahhh, summer. What bliss. Just around the corner... tomorrow, to be precise. 
I cannot wait! Finally after a gruelling year.
Holidays! Friends! Fun! Love!
Sun! Surf! Sand! Short Shorts! Red Bikinis!
What is it about summer that makes everyone so happy?
*Is it sipping cocktails with the girls, giggling & watching the world go by?
*Ice cold beers with the boys?
*Those balmy nights spent wandering the city streets with your nearest & dearest?
*Staying up to watch the sunrise over the horizon?
*Days spent snoozing on the beach?
*Or maybe its just the lack of clothes & amount of hot bodies to check out that give us all a secret smile?
Your guess is as good as mine :)
But there is no denying it, there is something about summer that puts us in a good mood.
Bring on the Vitamin D.
Even if you've had a terrible day, someone has treated you like rubbish or you are just feeling a bit downers on life.. 
For some reason, summer just makes it easier to deal with things like that.
A couple of days ago i headed into the the Big Smoke, aka the city, to meet up with a small bunch of friends for some lazy strawberry/apple ciders & vodka/raspberry's on the balcony of Madame Brussels.
http://www.madamebrussels.com/
It was brilliant.
Cool drinks, warm balmy day & good chats. The best!
Having daylight savings on our side, we wandered through the city, grabbed some takeaway pizza's & headed for the Botanical Gardens.
It was perfection.

To chance encounters.
This will be an unforgettable summer.
xox
ps- having said all of that... yesterday i was traipsing around the city in short shorts & today i am back to wearing jeans & boots. I was even greeted with thunder & rain when i woke up today *sigh. Thankyou Melbourne for being predictably unpredictable.

SYDNEY Vs 2x MELBOURNIAN WOMEN

What can 2 young, single women get up to with 5 nights in Sydney?
A lot. You would think.

Here are some short stories:

*After arriving in Sydney & turning on my phone, i noticed a friend had suggested cocktails.

I was off to a good start & i hadn't even collected my bags yet!

We went to Shady Pines Saloon~ it was cool.

Recommended is the Buffalo Trace bourbon, straight & shot, it will not disappoint. I promise. 

Follow it up with some Mexican & you've

had a brilliant night!*

~Upon leaving the Saloon, your friend informs you of a big celebratory night they recently had here & how they woke up with a mysterious permanent marker in their pocket the following morning. Random. But then a couple days later, you are reflecting on this conversation & realise that on this particular celebratory night, your friend sent you this picture:

'Get back in line' ...i can't help but wonder if this in fact was my friends handy work~

*I had very inconspicuously hidden a spare set of keys for my Smash friend, who was yet to arrive, under a sign post in the middle of the road outside our apartment. It was genius. Who would look in the shrubs for keys? Here is the link to our place, its fantastic: http://www.stayz.com.au/17128 ~this is our actual apartment. Totally gorgeous & i want to show it off to you!*

*If you check out that link, you'll notice there are windows in the bathroom.. all I've got to say is, it's a little bit awkward when you shower with the windows wide open to let out the steam & while you are conditioning your hair, you look out across the way & you spot a family sitting down to dinner. You think 'hmm, if i can see them this easily... there's probably a 100% chance they can see me & I don't want to put them off their dinner.' Windows closed.*

*We hit up a 3 day convention while we were in town which was very pleasant. On day 1, we got told we were 'Striking' & that we 'Stood out from the crowd because we looked different to everyone else.' As for the style in general, it wasn't exactly out of this world but to be honest, i would have to say people do know how to put an outfit together & look suave. Whether its a red leather tie or a pair of baby blue pants teamed with navy jacket,

it was nicely put together.*

*Then there were drinks at the Novotel. Being surrounded by the beautiful people & not knowing many there, definitely makes one feel insanely shy! Yes. That would be me I'm referring to. (As in, the shy one.. not the beautiful one) So instead of being all up in someone's grill, i chilled in the background sipping frangelico & lime while observing.*

*The Food: Mexican, Italian, Japanese. Win.

There is an amazing Japanese restaurant down the road from our place. In true Japanese style when you walk in, you are greeted with 'Irashimase!' (Welcome) & if you have ever been to Japan, you would know that when you walk into a shop, you are always greeted with that.

We found a nice Italian place called Love Supreme. And boy did we love it!

http://lovesupreme.com.au/

Get the YABASTA or ORECCHIETTE.*
~Although we didn't get it, apparently the Leone is also good~

*We ventured out into the glorious sunshine cruising around the city & Hyde Park. To our surprise, we got tan lines! We also hit up a pier right near the Opera House & Sydney Harbour Bridge. We soaked up the sunshine & were interrupted by an American guy asking us to take photos of himself holding up signs with mushy messages of love on them for his girlfriend! It was adorable! I wanted in on the cuteness so i jumped in a photo with him & made a love heart with my hands :) He then went on to tell us his name was Steadman & he was in a band who are playing a gig at Hisense Arena in Melbourne this weekend & he would get us free tickets.*

*Hitting up one of our favourite little spots- Gusto's at Fiveways- for breakfast/ brunch catch ups with a mate from Melbourne was lovely. It had been a long time between lattes.*

*How could i forget! The Lowenbrau. German Pub. German Beer. 2x Melbournian~European descendant women. Yes. It was as tasty as i rememebered. http://www.lowenbrau.com.au/

Sitting there minding our own business, a group of guys walked in. I took this poor quality, sneaky photo.. who needs pants? Seriously.*

*I think thats about it for now.

Thanks Sydney.

xox

A Few Short Stories About Sydney.

*We supported our friend by doing the chicken dance @ the Lowenbrau' German pub at The Rocks. Yes we looked like twits, but who cares. We had a blast.

I reccomend the Mango Beer or just the original.

*While helping a friend make some snacks after he so nicely opened up his house to about 10 people who wanted to hang out, i burned my finger on his oven. We were making toast. Sounds lame yeah? Well, he burnt his toast in an actual toaster. *

*We hit up this little corner cafe at Fiveways called Gusto for some delicious eggs benedict & coffee to warm our souls.
*Shopping on Oxford St with the girls was only made complete when a darling girl in our lil' crew purchased bright orange suede shoes. AMAZING.
*Driving from Woolloomoolloo -> Manly ->Woolloomooloo -> Manly -> Woolloomooloo.. stopping at a 24hr cafe both ways. All in the one night.
*Wearing my hair in a bun all day and standing on the corner of George St & Curtin Pl, i undid it & was flicking my
hair around wildly.
-I confess, it did look like a birds nest-
But nothing could prepare me for what happened next. My friend turned to me & asked
'Is that a wig?'
Dead pan. Dead serious.
I didn't know if i should laugh or cry!
Thanx mate.
*Rocking out in the car at traffic lights with 3 friends to 'Give me everything tonight.' and screaming it at the top of our lungs, HILARIOUS!
The end.
XOX
ps- How could i forget!
The 1st night at our hostel they ran out of blankets. Sweet. I had to sleep under 2 towels & 1 big scarfe. I was actually rather toasty- not sure how, but i was! Crazy.