The Infamous Deep Fried Mars Bar and Night Time Beach Culture

So trying to avoid a vicious cop out, here are the photos from awhile ago when Christian, Frankie, Koki and I went on a bit of a hike to Bondi Beach to do the very easy and quite scenic Bondi to Coogee (sp?) walk. I'm pretty sure we got lost a couple times, but in our defence it was dark and we're all foreigners. If you hate on us, I'm calling the police and registering you as a sex offender. I'm just kidding. I'll just get deported.

Newcastle: The Lost Album

Lo and behold! Here is the long awaited photos and blog about Newcastle, the dirty bald spot of Sydney.

Australian Foreign Policy

So a couple weeks ago, I was thinking about something distinctly "Canadian" that I could share with my unenlightened roommates. Between maple syrup & Canadian bacon, something everyone knows about, I elected a French Canadian Classic: the noble Poutine. Much like with my previous post regarding ramen, here is the wikipedia page for the unawares:

Source: Wikpedia

Poutine is a dish consisting of French fries topped with fresh cheese curd, covered with brown gravy and sometimes additional ingredients.... The French fries are of medium thickness, and fried so that the inside stays soft, while the outside is crunchy. The gravy is a light chicken, veal or turkey gravy, mildly spiced with a hint of pepper. Fresh cheese curd (not more than a day old) are used. To maintain the texture of the fries, the cheese curd and gravy must be added immediately prior to serving the dish.

So after browsing through the local supermarkets, I was able to find most of the ingredients to make this, most noblest of traditions. Unfortunately, Brown Sauce, the ubiquitous secret ingredient of Poutine, was no where to be found. I asked my mom to send me a packet of the stuff. And lo and behold, after about a week, it arrived. I had to pick it up from the post office, and what I got was a bit of a surprise...

Atypical of Australia (fear of things coming on boats), it appears that Australians have a deep-seeded fear of things coming in packages. So while my beautiful gravy mix languished in an Australian holding cell, unbeknownst to me or my family. But finally, after suffering through that horrible ordeal... here it was. I actually haven't made it yet, but it's nice to know I have a piece of Canada with me (or very shortly... in me!)

Happy Eating,

Rick

What is the point?

I think something I've learned from trying to get a degree in philosophy & history is that eventually you have to keep asking yourself...

... what's the point?

Eventually I have to try and figure out what the point of this blog is. There are plenty of far more interesting travel blogs out there... so what is it exactly that I'm trying to do that no one else has done before? Is it going on ridiculous adventures? Sight-seeing? Being a tourist? A cultural journey into the heart of a new and foreign place?

I guess the heart of this little adventure into the blogsphere is a cultural one. I'm probably more interested in seeing how someone, transplanted out of their little comfortable niche that is "life" copes with changing conditions. I could also probably be a bit more honest with what it's like to be away from friends, family and other normal conveniences. Is this all about adaptation, adoption or re-invention? I'm not sure yet... but I suspect the more honest I am here, the easier it'll be for you (my oh so patient and loving readers) to get a sense of this rather personal journey.

To start, for one thing, school sucks. Let me clarify, school work sucks. The actual university life, going to class, reading cool material is awesome. I like learning. But, I'll be frank about school. After taking 2 months off beforehand, and THEN arriving in what could be one of the most slack universities out there, and THEN being forced to do assignments while simultaneously planning ridiculous road trips up the coast... it's not exactly the most conducive student learning environment. Personally I've had both ups and downs in terms of school here (pun?), but the reality is that trying to do everything at once is pretty hard.

I think it might have something to do with the lack of class + realizing everyone in my class doesn't do any work or go to lecture + living in a houseful of really fun people = not good perfect for academicstudent life. Not to knock on my friends back home... but I guess I'm in a different environment and it's been challenging trying to adapt.

And adapt I did! I now frequent the library like it's nobodies business... but only to steal their internet. Work gets done but... I think I work better late at night with my laptop and a cup of tea. You adapt or die. I think that's the mantra for this trip. Between finding a place to stay, trying to meet people, trying to set up life for 4 months, doing school work... it just never really ends. And on top of that, TRYING to fit in all those cool things that people expect you to do while abroad, leads to a bit of a mess. Luckily, I've handed in my last assignment for the year, so all I have left to do is exams and one take-home test. At the same time, I'm IN that work zone.

You know what I'm talking about right? That "writer's high" were after finishing something you feel immediately compelled to continue writing? That might explain why I'm pounding away at my keyboard with the utmost conviction while my roommates are watching Family Guy or actually doing assignments. It's pretty bizarre but I WISH I had an assignment to do right now... this feeling will probably fade in time for exams. *sigh*

Anyways, this was my little digression and delay of an actual real post. I did in fact go to Newcastle a couple weeks ago. The place is pretty beautiful, but I will happily say it was not worth a 4:00am wake up. Although I did find out about feeding sharks near there. I'm going to try and plan a road trip up there and check that business out (Nicole&friends... I'll pay for gas if you want to check that bullshit out?)!

I've also got the Sydney Aquarium to do again, and maybe one more stop at the Fish Market. Oh and another International Beer Pong tournament to host. Possibly do more school things on the side? God I need a desk.

Cheerio,
Rick

a little too sentimental.

Sorry for the lack of update guys, been caught up with what has been known world-wide by University students as "Death Week" aka the one week where all your profs decide to designate all the assignments due-dates. I'm in the tail end of one now, so don't really have too much to worry about until exams.

When I first met Koki, one thing he told me he missed most about Japan was Ramen. To the unknowing reader, Ramen [Source: Wikipedia]...



Ramen (ラーメン, rāmen, IPA: [ɽa-meɴ] is a Japanese noodle dish that originated in China. It is served in a meat- or fish-based broth, often flavored with soy sauce or miso, and uses toppings such as sliced pork (チャーシュー, chāshū), dried seaweed (海苔, nori), kamaboko, green onions, and occasionally corn. Almost every locality in Japan has its own variation of ramen, from the tonkotsu (pork bone broth) ramen of Kyūshū to the miso ramen of Hokkaidō.

So, being the awesome dude that I am, I asked my uncle (who lived in Sydney about 5 years ago, and the one I stayed with) for the best ramen in Sydney. Although he pointed me to one stop in Artarmon, this was pretty far away from my place. Luckily, my uncle's friend directed me to his favourite ramen shop in Sydney, conveniently in Chinatown.


Koki approved. As soon as we walked in we were bombarded with Japanese culture. Koki felt right at home. Arguably it wasn't as good as in Tokyo. But I guess from this little trip I learned two things.

1. Little touches like a bowl of noodles, a little care package, anything really that reminds you of home is always most appreciated in a new and unfamiliar place
2. Australia, I suppose, is best describe as an Asian city full of white people. The fact that the place was rammed with a 50/50 split of both Asians/Caucasians should show how the tastes of everyone here are pretty similar. Otherwise, good food transcends cultural boundaries.

I realize this post is a bit of a copout, but we actually went to Newcastle a few weeks back and I've just been suffering from writer's laze and from Death Week. I think sometime in the next 2-3 days I'll try and do a ridiculous DOUBLE post. Hopefully that'll remind me to keep doing this thing. Taylor Swift and John Mayer are great company in Fisher!

Yesterday Christian, Evan and I hiked up to Pennant Hills to watch the Flyers/Bruins game at our friend Nicole's house. Yes, that's right, even in this god forsaken country they have cable tv that lets people enjoy the wonders that is Hockey. Ridiculous game! Who saw that coming?

Peace in the Middle East,
Rick

P.S. At the risk of losing all street cred, how awesome is that Ke$ha character? Besides her completely over the top music, she seems a little TOO genuine and nice... Taylor Swift + Jack Daniels? I think so.

[Edited] I tried fixing some of the images so they'd expand, but alas it appears they haven't worked. Whoops!