In with the new

Time for my first big post of 2008. I've been woefully neglectful of the blog lately and I feel slightly out of practice. But it was Christmas then New Year's and I've been doing a lot of travelling around.

Spent Christmas in Sydney . . . my first beach Christmas. It was really cool and really odd celebrating in the middle of summer. Unfortunately, Sydney's weather didn't cooperate too well for the event. It was a cool 20 degrees on Christmas Day and overcast. It made beach picnicking a little less fun, to be sure.

However, the weather has turned right around since then. It's been sunny almost every day for the last couple of weeks and the mercury even hit a scorching 42 degrees in Melbourne on New Year's Eve.

Speaking of Melbourne, I finally made it to Australia's second-most famous city. People have long been telling me how fantastic Melbourne is. Let's just say it was good to see it in person and I'm glad I went . . . but I won't be rushing back any time soon. Melbourne just didn't do it for me. Sure there are plenty of nice restaurants, some gorgeous old buildings and shopping, shopping, shopping and shopping.

But I'm a beach/sun/outdoor lover. Melbourne's few beaches are fairly small, lack surf and aren't close to the city. I could care less if a city has a Prada or Louis Vuitton or whatever outlet.
Sydney has all of those things PLUS a stunningly beautiful harbour, amazing beaches and better weather on the whole. Even Brisbane's city centre and river is prettier than Melbourne's, if you ask me. Melbournians will hate me for saying all of this (they are fiercely proud of their city) but it's just how I honestly feel (please no hate mail or at least no letter bombs).

The Great Ocean Road, an ocean highway near Melbourne, was totally beautiful. There is town after town and beach after beach. My sister (who just finished a two-week holiday in Australia from her job in Korea) and I both tried surfing for the first time. We had a blast, even if we are fairly crappy surfers. We also saw a humongous wild koala next to the highway right after the surfing lesson. Got some excellent photos of him . . . what a cute critter.

I'm now in Hobart, capital city of Tasmania (yes, Tasmania is a real place and it's part of Australia). It's very pretty here and also full of historic buildings, a beautiful harbour/port and friendly people. I dare say (cautiously) that I like it better than Melbourne.

All the best to all my friends and readers (if I still have any) for a healthy, happy 2008.