While in Indonesia, Jaimie and I came to the realization that we are tired. Not just tired, but exhausted, physically and mentally. We were ready to call it quits, but at the same time were so excited about the final 2 countries on our list. So, we came to the conclusion that we would continue with our plans for the first week of Australia, but then instead of renting a car and making our way to Sydney, we would save that money and fly straight from Brisbane to New Zealand a week early. So with Brisbane being our last Australian destination, we were determined to make it count! We were lucky enough to stay with one of Jaimie's good friends from home, Laura, who just moved there for university. Fresh off our red eye flight, we hit the hay for a quick hour before venturing out to see the city. Laura lives in the hip, young-professionals neighborhood of South Bank, where restaurants, cafes, bars, and loads of gorgeous people are to be spotted everywhere. Unfortunately our first stop was a pharmacy to talk to the pharmacist about our numerous ailments. He listened to our symptoms and told us both to get in to see a doctor ASAP. Damn! There goes Monday... We brushed it off and decide to make the most of the rest of our time there, so we set off to the makeshift beach set up along the Brisbane River. A bit of tanning and people watching and less than an hour later our insides were boiling. All that talk about the intense Australian sun is certainly true! So we strolled along the river, taking in the beautiful scenery and bridges on our way to the grocery store. That night we planned a night out on the town, first stop: dinner at a delicious Mexican restaurant in the hippy neighborhood of Brisbane-delicious, but so so expensive!! Next up was a swanky little lounge atop a building overlooking the river. We managed to charm our way out of a $12 cover charge per person and in turn spent just that much on a simple pint of beer-yikes! Australia is far too rich for my blood!
Sunday was a day we had all anticipated since the days of our Brisbane adventure planning began. We were heading to the Australia Zoo, also known as the Steve Irwin Zoo!! It was a long and freezing train ride out there, but worth every second. We saw wombats, kangaroos, wallabies, elephants, crocodiles, dingos, Tasmanian devils, camels, tortoises, and so much more. Highlights of the day including feeding the kangaroos and watching the trainers enter the croc cages to feed them! That night we were quite exhausted from the days activities, so we opted to stay in an cook up a little delicious stir fry!
As I said before, Monday was our write-off day, as it was to be spent in the ER. Luckily there was no wait and the receptionist was extremely helpful in assisting us with insurance formalities and what not, so we got in to see the doctor immediately. Jaimie and I were taken into separate rooms and each seen by a different doctor. When I was escorted into my room, I was told to undress and put on a fancy hospital gown in case I needed xrays. Sure enough, the doctor comes in, listens to my symptoms and my breathing and immediately ushers me to xrays to check for tuberculosis! Because I had had a bad cough for over a month, and had been traveling through jungles in southeast Asia, the chance of my exposure to TB was extremely high, and my doctor was convinced I had it. Numerous chest xrays later, I am escorted back to my room, passing Jaimie on my way back-IV and all! After she had explained her symptoms and showed the doctor her wounds, they immediately pricked her and started an antibiotic drip for a staph infection! What winners we are! So for the next 2 hours as we awaited our results, we hung out in Jaimie's swanky room watching Ellen and Dr. Oz. Finally the results were in, Jaimie's blood was normal, showing just a minor staph infection, and my TB tests were negative, meaning I just had a severe case of bronchitis. Whew! We got our antibiotics and were on our way, just $350 poorer. That night after our dinner of leftovers, we decided to treat ourselves to a little dessert at a chocolate restaurant nearby. 3 chocolate ice cream with fudge sauce and fudge brownie sundaes later, we were the most guiltily content people on earth. Too bad the guilt continued for a fee more days...
Tuesday was our last day in Brisbane, so Jaimie and I made the most by venturing out for a little walk and stopping for lunch along the promenade. That afternoon Jaimie and her friend Laura decided to go see the third Twilight movie. I would rather pluck my eyeballs out than pay to see that, so I decided to stay home and skype my mama instead! That night me, Jaimie, Laura, and her roommate Aryn had one final dinner together at a delicious Italian restaurant in the promenade to bid farewell to Australia! We had an excellent time in Brisbane, the city was beautiful, the people were friendly, the weather was perfect, and if I didn't have to spend a full day's wages on a chinsy meal, I might actually consider moving there! Nahhh
Sunday was a day we had all anticipated since the days of our Brisbane adventure planning began. We were heading to the Australia Zoo, also known as the Steve Irwin Zoo!! It was a long and freezing train ride out there, but worth every second. We saw wombats, kangaroos, wallabies, elephants, crocodiles, dingos, Tasmanian devils, camels, tortoises, and so much more. Highlights of the day including feeding the kangaroos and watching the trainers enter the croc cages to feed them! That night we were quite exhausted from the days activities, so we opted to stay in an cook up a little delicious stir fry!
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| American Alligators |
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| That is a massive crocodile with a massive boar's head in it's mouth. |
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| dingo! |
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| tasmanian devil |
As I said before, Monday was our write-off day, as it was to be spent in the ER. Luckily there was no wait and the receptionist was extremely helpful in assisting us with insurance formalities and what not, so we got in to see the doctor immediately. Jaimie and I were taken into separate rooms and each seen by a different doctor. When I was escorted into my room, I was told to undress and put on a fancy hospital gown in case I needed xrays. Sure enough, the doctor comes in, listens to my symptoms and my breathing and immediately ushers me to xrays to check for tuberculosis! Because I had had a bad cough for over a month, and had been traveling through jungles in southeast Asia, the chance of my exposure to TB was extremely high, and my doctor was convinced I had it. Numerous chest xrays later, I am escorted back to my room, passing Jaimie on my way back-IV and all! After she had explained her symptoms and showed the doctor her wounds, they immediately pricked her and started an antibiotic drip for a staph infection! What winners we are! So for the next 2 hours as we awaited our results, we hung out in Jaimie's swanky room watching Ellen and Dr. Oz. Finally the results were in, Jaimie's blood was normal, showing just a minor staph infection, and my TB tests were negative, meaning I just had a severe case of bronchitis. Whew! We got our antibiotics and were on our way, just $350 poorer. That night after our dinner of leftovers, we decided to treat ourselves to a little dessert at a chocolate restaurant nearby. 3 chocolate ice cream with fudge sauce and fudge brownie sundaes later, we were the most guiltily content people on earth. Too bad the guilt continued for a fee more days...
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| death by chocolate |
Tuesday was our last day in Brisbane, so Jaimie and I made the most by venturing out for a little walk and stopping for lunch along the promenade. That afternoon Jaimie and her friend Laura decided to go see the third Twilight movie. I would rather pluck my eyeballs out than pay to see that, so I decided to stay home and skype my mama instead! That night me, Jaimie, Laura, and her roommate Aryn had one final dinner together at a delicious Italian restaurant in the promenade to bid farewell to Australia! We had an excellent time in Brisbane, the city was beautiful, the people were friendly, the weather was perfect, and if I didn't have to spend a full day's wages on a chinsy meal, I might actually consider moving there! Nahhh
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| Laura, me, and Aryn |
Ok so maybe you've proved your travel intensity. Dr. Sark says to lay off the girly froo-froo drinks and take a double shot of everclear. Always served me well.
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