Final Few Days in Australia [April 2023]
Aug. 13th, 2023 08:05 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
beelikejTen days ago I put up my final tweet and I've been trying to shift my focus to other social media instead. I do miss my fandom friends, most of them are still mostly active on Twitter. Just in case anyone is looking around for any interaction, I'm not only BeeLikeJ at Dreamwidth.org and Livejournal.com, but I keep a daily Dutch blog at Blogspot.com and also have accounts at http://fandom.ink & http://mastodon.social
You can also find me at Instagram / Gmail / Tumblr / AO3 / Spoutible / Discord / etc ;)
Here is the last picspam of my trip to New Zealand and Australia; I spent my final few days with my brother and his family in Newcastle. Besides daily walks to yet another beach nearby, I also was taken to a museum, an adult cabaret and a nature reserve!
Thursday, April 13: Newcastle Museum + The Party
Walking through the neighbourhood with my brother and nephew ahead of me: taking pictures of awesome wall art and a suspicious bust:)
We had fun at the interactive science corner of the Newcastle Museum where nephew R was able to lift a car all by himself!
On the walk back home I heard this bird and it took me a long time to find it in the tree; luckily it gave quite the concert, so I had time to discover him:)
Love the architecture of the University of Newcastle.
From my family's appartment you can see the Obelisk, one of Newcastle's oldest navigational markers (1850).
I took a lovely afternoon bath with my book:)
Massive rainbow! Fitting for the evening with my sister in law: we went to an adult cabaret show The Party in the Spiegeltent at Civic Park.
The show was very sexy singing and dancing, we had a blast. On the walk home we stopped for icecream (and brought some home as well). It was pouring with rain, but we didn't mind. Worth it.
Friday, April 14: Pedestrian bridges & Blackbutt Reserve
In the morning we drove to the Memorial Walk, a pedestrian bridge built to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the ANZAC landing at Gallipoli in 1915. The 450 meter long cliff top walkway links Newcastle's Strzelecki Lookout to Fenton Avenue and offers a 360 view of Newcastle city and coastline!
The steel silhouettes of soldiers are inscribed with the names of almost 11,000 known Hunter Valley men and women who enlisted during World War I.
Spotted the adorable little green devil graffiti on the way back to the car.
We had lunch at Goldbergs', I chose The Deluxe Bacon and Egg Roll with a honey thickshake.
After that we drove to Blackbutt Reserve for some wildlife; spotted the first animal from the parking lot, comment if you can see it!
We walked through the wildlife exhibit and saw wallabies and koalas, cuddly!
There were also groovy frogs and birds in a pond.
My nephew and I competed in taking the best picture of this kookaburra in the wild. (this is my best effort; he won, mostly because he had the professional camera from my brother, but considering he used that for the first time, congratulations, R.;)
I also saw this curled plant. We had a lovely afternoon.
Saturday, April 15: Swimming in Newcastle Ocean Bath & walk at Macquarie Pier
Yay, didn't bring my bathingsuit in vain; my brother and I went for a swim in the Ocean Bath, cold to get in, but once I got used to it, I didn't want to get out:)
We also did a final stoll on the boulevard; J and R had to get out on the rocks for a closer look of the surfers (you can see them in the distance)
At the end of the afternoon we drove to Macquarie Pier and walked all the way to the end of the Breakwater. I finally saw Nobbys Head Lighthouse (1885) up close!
Cool wall art too.
Me with sister in law G. and nephew R. *waves*
Seagull on basalt block.
One of five relief sculptures by Julie Squires, Greg Bell and Mini Heath, depicting fictional images of maritime environment (1997).
Ending the day with a sunset and icecream \o/
Sunday, April 16: Bondi Beach & flight Sydney-Dubai
Finally a photo of my breakfast: a toastie with ham and cheese, yoghurt and juice.
By backpack is nearly packed; I slept in my nephews room, can you tell? He still had access to his game computer during the day;)
G. drove us to Sydney, we stopped at Bondi Beach Promenade for a drink (strawberry and orange blossom soda) and food.
I recognized that lifeguard building from Bondi Rescue:) We walked along the water and I finally spotted dolphins! Didn't manage to make a photo, but they were there, honest!
Colourful streetart *hearteyes*
G, J and R dropped my off at the airport, byeeeeee! *waves* And I'm on my own again for the trip home.
Found my gate and plane:)
First part: from Sydney to Dubai. From here on, time means nothing; I think this is supposed to be dinner.
Monday, April 17: flight Dubai-Amsterdam
Sort of slept in between snacks and tv. I assume this is breakfast; flying for 13 hours messes with your internal clock.
Oooh, sunrise over Dubai!
Fortunately the departure board also offered English, so I knew where to go for my next flight.
Wahey, managed to grab one of the relax seats near the gate. Didn't dare to nap though!
Boarded.
MMMm, breakfast! Let's go to Amsterdam!
Final meal on the plane and there is Schiphol airport, yay!
My mom surprised me at the gate and we travelled together by train. At home she had made me a welcome sign (the castle is a soft pillow)
Ahw, home sweet home.
The End! Thanks for coming along:)
J.
1. Businesstrip to Auckland [and Livejournal] | 2. Tour to Waitomo Caves & Rotorua [and LJ] | 3. Auckland and Northern Island train [and LJ] 4. From Wellington NZL to Sydney AUS [and LJ] 5. Newcastle + Daytrip Melbourne [and LJ]
Video Playlist of New Zealand | Video Playlist of Australia
---
X-posted to https://beelikej.livejournal.com/581710.html
Lurk or comment wherever you like:)
You can also find me at Instagram / Gmail / Tumblr / AO3 / Spoutible / Discord / etc ;)
Here is the last picspam of my trip to New Zealand and Australia; I spent my final few days with my brother and his family in Newcastle. Besides daily walks to yet another beach nearby, I also was taken to a museum, an adult cabaret and a nature reserve!
Thursday, April 13: Newcastle Museum + The Party
Walking through the neighbourhood with my brother and nephew ahead of me: taking pictures of awesome wall art and a suspicious bust:)
We had fun at the interactive science corner of the Newcastle Museum where nephew R was able to lift a car all by himself!
On the walk back home I heard this bird and it took me a long time to find it in the tree; luckily it gave quite the concert, so I had time to discover him:)
Love the architecture of the University of Newcastle.
From my family's appartment you can see the Obelisk, one of Newcastle's oldest navigational markers (1850).
I took a lovely afternoon bath with my book:)
Massive rainbow! Fitting for the evening with my sister in law: we went to an adult cabaret show The Party in the Spiegeltent at Civic Park.
The show was very sexy singing and dancing, we had a blast. On the walk home we stopped for icecream (and brought some home as well). It was pouring with rain, but we didn't mind. Worth it.
Friday, April 14: Pedestrian bridges & Blackbutt Reserve
In the morning we drove to the Memorial Walk, a pedestrian bridge built to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the ANZAC landing at Gallipoli in 1915. The 450 meter long cliff top walkway links Newcastle's Strzelecki Lookout to Fenton Avenue and offers a 360 view of Newcastle city and coastline!
The steel silhouettes of soldiers are inscribed with the names of almost 11,000 known Hunter Valley men and women who enlisted during World War I.
Spotted the adorable little green devil graffiti on the way back to the car.
We had lunch at Goldbergs', I chose The Deluxe Bacon and Egg Roll with a honey thickshake.
After that we drove to Blackbutt Reserve for some wildlife; spotted the first animal from the parking lot, comment if you can see it!
We walked through the wildlife exhibit and saw wallabies and koalas, cuddly!
There were also groovy frogs and birds in a pond.
My nephew and I competed in taking the best picture of this kookaburra in the wild. (this is my best effort; he won, mostly because he had the professional camera from my brother, but considering he used that for the first time, congratulations, R.;)
I also saw this curled plant. We had a lovely afternoon.
Saturday, April 15: Swimming in Newcastle Ocean Bath & walk at Macquarie Pier
Yay, didn't bring my bathingsuit in vain; my brother and I went for a swim in the Ocean Bath, cold to get in, but once I got used to it, I didn't want to get out:)
We also did a final stoll on the boulevard; J and R had to get out on the rocks for a closer look of the surfers (you can see them in the distance)
At the end of the afternoon we drove to Macquarie Pier and walked all the way to the end of the Breakwater. I finally saw Nobbys Head Lighthouse (1885) up close!
Cool wall art too.
Me with sister in law G. and nephew R. *waves*
Seagull on basalt block.
One of five relief sculptures by Julie Squires, Greg Bell and Mini Heath, depicting fictional images of maritime environment (1997).
Ending the day with a sunset and icecream \o/
Sunday, April 16: Bondi Beach & flight Sydney-Dubai
Finally a photo of my breakfast: a toastie with ham and cheese, yoghurt and juice.
By backpack is nearly packed; I slept in my nephews room, can you tell? He still had access to his game computer during the day;)
G. drove us to Sydney, we stopped at Bondi Beach Promenade for a drink (strawberry and orange blossom soda) and food.
I recognized that lifeguard building from Bondi Rescue:) We walked along the water and I finally spotted dolphins! Didn't manage to make a photo, but they were there, honest!
Colourful streetart *hearteyes*
G, J and R dropped my off at the airport, byeeeeee! *waves* And I'm on my own again for the trip home.
Found my gate and plane:)
First part: from Sydney to Dubai. From here on, time means nothing; I think this is supposed to be dinner.
Monday, April 17: flight Dubai-Amsterdam
Sort of slept in between snacks and tv. I assume this is breakfast; flying for 13 hours messes with your internal clock.
Oooh, sunrise over Dubai!
Fortunately the departure board also offered English, so I knew where to go for my next flight.
Wahey, managed to grab one of the relax seats near the gate. Didn't dare to nap though!
Boarded.
MMMm, breakfast! Let's go to Amsterdam!
Final meal on the plane and there is Schiphol airport, yay!
My mom surprised me at the gate and we travelled together by train. At home she had made me a welcome sign (the castle is a soft pillow)
Ahw, home sweet home.
The End! Thanks for coming along:)
J.
1. Businesstrip to Auckland [and Livejournal] | 2. Tour to Waitomo Caves & Rotorua [and LJ] | 3. Auckland and Northern Island train [and LJ] 4. From Wellington NZL to Sydney AUS [and LJ] 5. Newcastle + Daytrip Melbourne [and LJ]
Video Playlist of New Zealand | Video Playlist of Australia
---
X-posted to https://beelikej.livejournal.com/581710.html
Lurk or comment wherever you like:)