Mikey vs. Australia: May 2013

Life will hit ya every once in a while. My best friends were at the same Uni that gave me a chance - when 11 American schools didn't. These same "mates" have watched me run codes at a psyche hospital in Austin, have heard stories of Asia, have been hit by massive waves in Australia, have seen me at my best and pulled me out of my worst. They've held koalas, hung out with kangaroos, met smelly and douchey bogans, and have been bit by ducks.

I call Brisbane home the same way that I called Mokpo home, and the same way that I also called Austin home. When those homes - and their own definitions of friends or "mates" invades each other - it can really be something. I guess I just never really thought this would have happened:

I started with Brisbane. We took the bus to UQ, then the river-ferry through the city to South Bank and then Riverside. West End for Greek food and Indooroopilly for Yosuf's music at the Pig and Whistle.

After a few days in Brissy - we went to the gold coast for Surfers Paradise. A day trip that seemed to take longer than we were there - as per life sometimes I guess.

The first weekend we went to the zoo - and we got chased by a rogue duck.

The next weekend - I took them to a tiny place called Maroochydore, about an hour and half north of Brisbane and fifteen minutes north of a brilliantly named place "Mooloolaba."

I pride myself on finding myself off the beaten path - finding that road few have taken - rather than that one google or some travel book suggests. Maroochydore won't be found in a travel book or on a website, but, I can relax at a place that isn't in googles "relaxing beaches in Australia" search criteria.

Honestly, it's a place where old people live….

Its a place where locals find few tourists, or where locals go to drink away from tawdry and pretentious bars. It's a place where Aussies go to surf away from the so called "surfers paradise." It's a place where a nomad can Texan nurses for a kick ass breakfast and a drinking night with a Kiwi called Kim.

It's off the beaten path...Its a place that your friend Rachel will air drum on your head:

After Maroochydore and Katie falling asleep on the bus...(nope, don't have the heart to post it).I took them down to Syndey for the glory of Sydney.

Sydney was funny for a few reasons. On the way back from Maroochydore I realised that this would be the first of two times I would have to say goodbye to them for a while; I had to stick around in Brisbane for a lecture from 9-5 on Tuesday, and they left on Sunday. I would meet them Tuesday evening for our eventual goodbye on Wednesday.

I should have planned this better, granted, but I assumed Uni wouldn't start until the semester was set to start. My bad. I should have known...?

So on the way back from Maroochydore they talked me into coming to Sydney on Sunday night, flying back to Brisbane Monday-day, then flying back out Tuesday-day, then flying back to Brisbane Wednesday. Needless to say I was hesitant - the finances at that point demanded it.

But they helped me figure it out - and I made a decision I cannot regret.

So we do Sydney - we see the opera house and instead of rambeling about it - I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.