Sydney Opera House II 13. Dezember 2009

sleeping beauty, oder dornroeschen mal anders…. es geht um die liebe und um die jahreszeiten…

die fee des fruehlings, lilac, waehlt ein kind aus, bei dessen geburt der winter enden soll… aurora, das kind eines koenigspaares. carrabosse, die fee des winters, allerdings moechte fuer immer herrschen und belegt aurora mit einem fluch. an ihrem 16. geburtstag soll diese sterben und der winter wird fuer immer waehren. lilac allerdings gelingt es den fluch abzuwandeln, aurora faellt nur in einen schlaf. nach hundert jahren winter gelingt es einem prinzen, aurora mit einem kuss aus ihrem schlaf zu erwecken und der winter verschwindet….

die liebe siegt ueber die dunkelheit, wie schoen

das ballett war wunderschoen und die atmosphaere der oper ist ein erlebnis. mit etwas glueck hab ich meinen stehplatz in einen sitzplatz verwandelt und das ballett war der angemessene abschluss eines perfekten tages!!!

naechsten freitag ist mein letzter arbeitstag, ich sehe ihm mit gemischten gefuehlen entgegen. am wochenende treff ich dann endlich die mona wieder! ich sammel sie in melbourne ein und gemeinsam gehts zurueck nach sydney, wo wir am 25.12. zu einer authentischen ozzi-christmas-party bei meinem chef und familie eingeladen sind! der plan fuer silvester steht noch nicht, aber vermutlich koennen sogar wir in sydney nichts verkehrt machen hoff ich jedenfalls… wer weiss was sonst wieder passiert, vielleicht faellt mir diesmal die harbourbridge auf den kopf…

meine zeit in australien neigt sich dem ende zu und ich freu mich schon total auf den letzten abschnitt unserer reise. zeit wirds, mal wieder was neues zu sehen…

Sydney Opera House I 12. Dezember 2009

ja, ich lebe noch! es gab schon beschwerden und ja, ich weiss, und ich fuehl mich auch fast ein bisschen schuldig, dass ich euch so gar nicht mehr hab teilhaben lassen an meinem leben in sydney. aber mona macht das ja alles wieder wett! jetzt wollt ich doch glatt mal fotos hochladen (wow!) und was passiert? ich steck das mp3-aufladekabel ein, nicht das fotokabel… ich wieder! also erst mal ohne fotos, aber ich probiers morgen nochmal, wenn ich euch von opera house II erzaehle!

der perfekte weg einen samstag morgen zu beginnen ist doch, sich aus dem bett zu quaelen und den bus zur oper zu nehmen, um sich fuer tickets fuer das ballett „sleeping beauty“ anzustellen. hier kurz die vorgeschichte, letzten samstag bin ich nach meiner tanzstunde bei der sydney dance company (der beginn des tanzmarathons… aber das ist eine andere geschichte und soll ein anderes mal erzaehlt werden) bei der oper vorbeispaziert und habe nach ticktet fuers ballett gefragt, da wurde mir hilfsbereit auskunft erteilt, wenn ich morgen frueh um 8:30 hier bin, kann ich stehplatzkarten bekommen fuer erschwingliche 30$. ich also hin, alles zu, ok also warten… als um 9 endlich mal jemand auftauchte musste ich erfahren, dass es sonntags NIE ein ballett gibt, und es sich um eine miscommunication handeln muss, da das alle mitarbeiter wissen… so schlecht ist mein englisch eigentlich nicht, dass ich „tomorrow“ nicht verstehen wuerde, aber egal. also hab ich heut noch mal einen versuch gestartet und, siehe da, man muss nur hartnaeckig sein nebenbei hab ich auch noch nette bekanntschaften geschlossen, als wir alle so bangend die leute in der schlange vor uns gezaehlt haben und ausrechneten, wenn person nr. 1 zwei tickets kauft und person nr. 2 und 3 nur jeder eins fuer sich… (jeder hoechstens 2 tickets und maximal 10 oder 12 stehplaetze). jedenfalls hat mir klein madison aus kalifornien hinter mir jede menge unmoralische angebote gemacht und mir nebenbei die namen und deren hintergruende von ihrem fisch, ihrer katze, ihrem hund und ihrem pferd erklaert… aha! die erste dame in der schlange hatte schon ein 2-stuendige zugfahrt hinter sich um rechzeitig in der schlange zu stehen und sie tanzte gluecklich von dannen allein das wars schon wert aufzustehen!

so kam ich also zu meinem ticket…

aber hiermit nicht genug mit der oper. im anschluss hatte ich noch ein architektur walking tour gebucht, die jeden cent wert war. die geschichte hinter der oper ist beeindruckend, bezaubernd und tragisch. und unser guide war der beste meiner bisherigen reise (@mona: schade dass du den verpasst hast! amazing!). ein architekt mit dem erstaunlichsten hintergrundwissen und eine begabung zum reden und eine leidenschaft fuers thema!

alles begann mit einem studentenprojekt, daraus wurde ein internationaler wettbewerb und den hat ein voellig unbekannter, junger daenischer architekt gewonnen. vor dem opera house hat joern utzon nur ein paar kleine wohnhaeuser gebaut. an dem wettbewerb arbeitete er nachts, wenn die kinder schon im bett waren und als einzige info ueber sydney hatte er immigrationsunterlagen von dem konsulat, bilder vom hafen… seine inspiration waren wolken, voegel und fische… sein entwurf hat die grossen architekten der moderne gespalten und alle emotionen von abscheu bis bewunderung hervorgerufen. er hat pablo picasso und le corbusier mit an bord geholt und 10 jahre seines lebens damit verbracht das innere der oper zu entwerfen, von der akustikdecke bis hin zur gabel im restaurant existieren zeichnungen und prototypen, allerdings wurde es niemals realisiert. die regierung hat utzon aus dem projekt gekickt auf grund zu hoher kosten und nicht einhaltung der termine und unkonventioneller arbeitsweise… die oper sollte von australischen architekten, mit einheimischen materialien und bewaehrter technik zu ende gebracht werden. am ende, wurde glas aus frankreich importiert und die kosten sind ins unermessliche gestiegen. utzon verliess sydney mit der oper unvollendet und das heutige bauwerk laesst deutlich erkennen, wo die schnittstelle liegt. utzon kehrte nach daenemark zurueck, war dort allerdings unerwuenscht, da er allein den ruf der daenen in der welt verdorben hatte… er ging ins „exil“ nach mallorca, seine karriere war beendet. er ist nie nach sydney zurueckgekehrt, hat die oper nie vollendet gesehen. ein traum, eine tragoedie und ein wahrzeichen sydneys trotz allem…

to be continued…

From 2 to 6 7. Dezember 2009

Adelaide – has there ever been a better couch? Ah, that is the bad thing – every couch is sooo good in her one way! Its absolutly crazy! I am really wondering how this can be, but it is like that! It simply is!

So I arrived here at 9 pm and Ash, the guy I was surfing with, picked me from the airport up and from the start I got along with him very well. I am sleeping on a reall couch in the living room of a absolutly lovley house in the city centre. And even better: Ash is an amazing cook and I am pretty sure, that I put on again 2 kilos, or 3 or even more…

His housemate Bea (spoken Bee- like the bumbel bee ) can cook as well very good and is hilarious! It was basicly her offer that I „can stay as long as you want to…“ So from just planed 2 nights, it became 6 and it was soooo good. I got feeded regulary with the nicest pizza, fish, salad, yoghurt, pancakes etc. ever! Everything was obviously homemade, with fresh nice ingredients from the amazing m arket in the city (I loved that! Ah, the passionfruit frozen yoghurt…).

Ash had to work the weekend (poor guy – at least he became sweet stuff from us on sunday at work ), so Bea and I hang out a lot, went to the market, to the beach, had breakfast, went out (her eyebrows are amazing, did you noticed that? ) and had generally just a fantastic time!

Today we went to Barossa, a very popluar and good wine region in this area, and tasted a lot of wine. I even bought some… and it was sooo much fun – well, you can see the pics. They say more that a thousend words.

Tomorrow I will leave and I will totally miss my new friends a lot!!!! :*-)

East Coast 3. Dezember 2009

Wow, I have already the East Coast behind me. Isnt that crazy? Time runs so fast and I really need again a rental car, but the money! Hey, its Christmas time. Somebody interessted in some charity? „Mona and the Great Ocean Road“??? Sounds good to me

Ok, my last post was about Fraser Island. I just saw the pic again and wow – that was great. Especially after I heard some other funny stories about people who go really bad cars (you can do a self-driving tour on the Island… I wouldnt recommend that at all!!!) and stuck and missed half of the trip because of that! Now I know at least, why I spent so much money – I had a lot of fun and it was really worth it.

After Fraser I decided go to Agnes Water so 1770 as you all know. Ah, I loved this place. The people were so cool and friendly, I took my surfing lessons, the sunset, the atmosphere!

I stayed there for 3 nights and drove with Paul, an american, up north. The plan was to go till Mackay, stay there for a night and then continue to Airlie Beach. Airlie Beach is the town where all the sailing boat trips to the Whitsundays leave. I actually was not really sure if I really wanted to do a trip – I get so easily sea-sick… When I think of the trip in Peru… I better dont do that! Anyway, when we got back to the Bruce Highway (and civilisation ) I recieved a sms for Nick, a dutch guy who left Agnes two days before us. He found a sailing boat for quite a good deal and asked me if I want to come… I still had some MPC-drops (YEAH!!!) left, so I said yes… and it was the right decision.

So I drove through till Airlie Beach the same day (about 670km -10 hours with breaks… ) and the next day we went on the tour (after losing my nice drivers license… how stupid can I be??? At least the police was nice ). The trip was AMAZING! I used of course my MPC (I guess that is the right name. Doesnt matter anyway!) and I didnt get sick at all and could fully relaxe the whole time. The sun was shining , the catamaran was floating over the water, the fishes were mulit-colored and the atmosphere stunning. We went snorcheling every day several times and the

colors, fishes and corals were beautiful. I said hello to Nemo (haha) and the parrotfish. I saw a turtle… and she saw me! Can you imagine how it feels when a turtel is just 2 meters away and starring at you? Not a dizzy glace or anything like that – STARRING at YOU?!  W.O.W. She (or he…) had beautiful eyes.

Apart from that we visited the Whiteheaven Beach, which was really nice as well! I dont have any pics, because the sand is so fine, that its killing cameras, so I didnt take mine (I met a guy afterwards who couldnt zoom with his camera after the trip anymore – ok, the crew is NOT exageration the whole time…). But still – memorys are in my mind! Cool was also that our group was nice. Nick was quite fun to hang around with and also the other ones. So time flew by and after 3 short days we where back in Airlie Beach.

I stayed one more night and drove then back again to Agnes Waters. That was such a nice place, that I rather spent there some more time than somewhere else! I took another surfing lesson and two days later I drove to Noosa – back as well, but this time Couchsurfing with nice Justin! What a lovely man! Its a pity that I could only stay one more night.

The next day I had planed to go to the Glashouse Mountains, Maleny and the Australia Zoo (you know the famous crocodile hunter Steve Ivery? Thats his zoo). Maleny was a nice cute little town where I had the most deliciouse Mango Cheesecake ever… Afterwards it was somehow already so late, that the Zoo was not really worth it. So I drove to the Glashouse Mountains and climbed a tine mountain (its funny what they call here a mountain!). It was a little bit raining but the view was still nice!

My time on the East Coast was nearly over – I drove back to Brisi to meet Blair again It was nice, coming somehow home (I place I have already been before) and I really enjoyed it being back there! My flight the next day was only at 6pm, so I went before that to the ZOO I missed the day before. Oh my gosh, can you imagine how it feels to pet a Koala or a Kanghoroo (???)? No? Well, I can – I know it now. Ah, they are sooooo CUTE! I love the ears of the Koalas! And the way they sleep and cuddel the tree – ahhh!

And then I left – and now I am here – Adelaide!

I like it. I can couchsurf again. I got a free bike the whole day. The parks are nice! But there is still much more to see!

What I really got is relaxed. This is sooo cool. When people ask me, what time I am leaving the next day, or what time I put my alarmclock, I can only start to laugh. I dont need times anymore! I get up when I get up (mostly at 6 am and then I am falling asleep again, at least on a good day). I am leaving when I am ready. I am going whereever I want to go. I am free. I am totally absolutly free!

Finally holiday 23. November 2009

I know that a lot of you might think, that I already had more than 7 months  holiday… Thats sooo wrong.

My holidays just started a few days ago. I am now travelling the Eastcoast up till Airlie Beach (Whitsunday Islands) with my rental and its so hot and nice, that this really feels like holiday! I love it!

In Brisbane I was couchsurfing with a really nice guy and we went to Movie World, but well, you know that already. Then I got my car and drove up to Noosa, where I saw my first Koalas and they are sooooo sweet!!! Ah, this ears, I love the ears! Then I drove to Hervey Bay and stayed in a Hostel with only 8 beds, it was nice and familiar – I loved that!  There we went to a Aldi and saw Spaezle and Spekualzius and Pfeffernuesse I didnt buy any of that, because its still to early and  hey, where is Christmas…. but well, close to that Aldi I saw my first Kangoroohs (???) and they were jumping around! THAT is really funny. What strange animals… I wonder what god was thinking then… or the evoluion!

I got on a Fraser Island Tour and that was amazing as well, I had lovely beaches, sweet water lakes, turtles, Dingos, spanish girls…. all I needed to relax (except of the not sleeping on the stupid plastic bed). You saw probably the pics… The spanish girls (3) where just great – I more or less (more less…) stole the place of Joana and felt really bad. So we started to talk and found out that they are from Spain, which I loved of course. They were 30, 34 and 34 and soooo funny. Ah, I miss the spanish people. So nice!

The roads on the island where super bumpy… full of sand and once we had to get out of the bus, because the bus couldnt make it the hill up ( I got to heavy…. ) Well, it was a great trip.

Now I am in Agnes Waters or 1770 (thats the town name) and I went surfing today – fun, fun, fun…. I loved it! Time is running out!!!!

31 degrees in Brisbane 16. November 2009

Wow, I am already for about 1.5 weeks here and time runs fast.

I came here in a plane and next to me sat a german girl. I didnt realise that until 30 minutes before we arrived. I saw her passport. Ah, the germans are everywhere – they are like mushrooms… Well, I was actually quite happy to meet her, because she is FAMOUS!!!! She is the second best swimmer we have in Germany and it was so interesting to squeeze her out… Well, thats a very german expressiong, but I guess you get it all! She went to the Olympic Games in Sydney and Peking and came second on the world championship! Isnt that crazy?

Then I arrived in Sydney and saw finally Eva again. Ah, that was great! It was as if we never have been seperated at all. I stayed with her for a couple of days and took then the night bus to Surfers Paradise. 15h busride – damn, I had missed that already a lot The bus ride was fine. As always time passes by! I arrived in the morning and went to the BEACH! Sooo nice! I acutally felt asleep, but not for long. I got a little sunburned, but not to bad. I just didnt put the lotion on perfectly (I will remember that!).

At night time we played some drinking games… Yes, you read correctly! We (that includes me) played drinking games. Well, I had a cup of tea and then water, so it wasnt bad for me Afterwards (OMG) we went DANCING!!!! Can you believe it? I went dancing after such a long time again (Eva and I tried that as well in Sydney in a gay club, but the music… well, its always the same). So in Sufers we went to Melbas bar and they had good music and also a live band (ok, just one guy), he was really good. It was a great night out – I could have danced more, but also less so am was very happy. Next day I went shopping and …. blablabla. I wanted to go out again (DANCING) and we drove with 9 people in ONE car (it worked somehow) to a girls flat… The others were already quite drunken and I finally discoverd that they wanted to go to a club… club… electronic music… I was still lucky, because the student living with that girl was really nice, so the others left and we chatted about god and the world. I had a great night anyway.

So the next day I took the bus to Brisbane and met my host Blair and yesterday – MOVIE WORLD! That was cool. Well, the shows mostly sucked! But Superman Rollercoaster was sooo much fun!

At the moment I am waiting to get my car – oh, I should leave now – and then…. more beach, more sun, more ocean for Mona!

Ps. You all might think that I had a nice sunny vacation till now – you are wrong. It was most of the times very cold, and I really deserve this weather! So, dont be jealous!

PPs. Well, I in your place, I would be still jealous *HARHARHAR*

Leaving New Zealand 6. November 2009

Wow, time ran yout for me here. I am now 2.5 months here and it doesnt kind of feel like that – on one hand… but on the other I cant even remember Southamerica. Ok, thats obviously not true. It just seems like that. Or Tahiti… wow! I havent seen Eva for also 2.5 months. Weird!

Well, I am feeling ready to continue. I have seen quite a lot here, not everything, but thats great. So I have to come back some day. And guys: if you think going to Kiwiland for 3 weeks is not worth it -> you are wrong. The long flight is worth it. So, who is coming with me next time? But … the world is still so big and there are so many places to go to! On the one hand I think its stupid to go always to the same place, but on the other side isnt it great if you found the perfect place for you? A place you want to come back for all of you life? Who knows…

So, I spent my last days in Christchurch and Julia and I didnt do that much. We were hanging around, going to the movies, driving to Akaroa, visiting the botanical garden and thats pretty much it. But it was great! We stayed at this wonderful couch with 3 guys living in a nice house, a other couchsurfer and a huge piano! Erin is a really good player! Yesterday we had lovely Kasspatzen and today Erin and Matt made a wonderful breakfast for everybody. Sweet!

Julia and I have to bring the car back (or better swap it, because Jules will keep it). Then… still time before my check-in (which I obvilously couldnt do online alghouth my stupid fu* ticket got revalidaded… ) . And then… wow, I have to say goodbye to Jules and that will be sad. I guess she will have a party afterwards, when I am gone and drink champane No, we really did have a great time together and I was sooo much fun driving with her around Kiwiland. She is such a nice and lovely person… ah, I will miss her! But she is of course all ready invited to Evas and mine Welcome-back-birthday-whatever-Party! *Yiephh*

So, THAT IS IT (ah, I saw it yesterday -wow! What a genius he was! He did make the world a better place!)

Servus!

New Adventure Sport: extrem Airline Calling… 3. November 2009

- Mr W*** said Qantas should handle the problem…

- I called Qantas: sorry, cant help, its a LAN Ticket, but well, do you have the ticketnumber? No, I dont, but I can get it…

- I got the number called again (other person): Sorry, its a LAN Ticket, cant help you, no, Ticketnumber doesnt help me, *ARGHS*, beeing on hold, beeing on hold,* ARGHS*, beeing longer on hold, sorry, I just want you to let you know, that I am speaking to LAN at the moment, *YES, a professional on the phone*, LAN will call you -> that was last friday morning

- Monday no calls, I called LAN: what… ah… I am not authorized… ah… ok, I see to whom Qantas talked, it was Christine, she will call or email you

- Tuesday no calls, I called LAN: Can I speak to Christine (thats a progress, isnt it?), Hello, I am Ramona, you have… I want to… blablabla all over again(ARGHS*Wasnt she already working on it? NO* ARGHS), Ah, but you dont have a LAN Ticket, you have a LAN Peru Ticket, ah, I see and NOW?*arghs*, we have to reissue that, OK, do it!, it will cost you 25 Kiwi-$, I need your credit card number, *AH, she couldnt do it anyway without me and just didnt called me for fun – SWEET* *ARGHS*, I have done it, *YES* can you please sent everything to me? And now I want to change my Helsinki-Mumbai-thing… … …

 

Doesnt sound that like a lot of FUN? No, you are soo weird…

Well, if you dont understand it – thats ok. I dont understand it neither! BUT it SEEMS, that I can fly on Friday, that sounds really good to me.

 

Apart from that… we drove from Dunedin to Mt. Cook in two easy days and had really fantastic weather! The pics will come… Can it be that I already told you that? I think so, but cant remember… Anyway, it was amazing! The Mt. Cook is just sooo huge and beautiful…

Well, now we are already in Christchurch and I have only 3 days left. I am really looking forward to see Eva again and to continue my travels. I have been here for now 2.5 months and that was a really long time. I love it here, but its time to move on!

Funny Finair 29. Oktober 2009

Ah, life is great. Thats a thing nobody should never ever forget!

So, after I tried to burn my pictures as it seems a million times, it worked. Unfortunatly some of my Milford Sound pictures are ruined but I could recover some, so thats not too bad.

Then I tried to „revalidate“ my ticket and book our last open flight (Mumbai-Helsinki-Munich) and for that I called Qantas. Qantas said they cant do it, because they are not the ticketholder. This cant be – because LAN did the same with our original Iberia-ticket… Ok, never mind. I called LAN. Oh, they cant do it on the phone, I should sent an email, which I did immediatly. I didnt get an answer so I called again and talked to a diffrent person. She said that there is no flight from Mumbai to Helsinki… We have to fly over London… :O Wow! No flight. I couldnt believe it, so I checked it myself. There is NO flight from Mumbai to Helsinki. But we booked it. The next mission was clear: Calling your super professional and always competent office in Munich. I told Mr. W*** (not Mr. Zack) the problem. He will handle it. Funny Finair changed the flight schedule. No more Mumbai!

Fazit: We will have to fly over London. So I can wave Germany when I fly over it.

Well, never mind. At least: Life is great, isnt it?

Yes, it is!

South Southisland 24. Oktober 2009