Countdown to Christmas

It's just a week until Santa comes and brings gifts to all the good little girls and boys. I must have been very well behaved because my year was such a blessing! I have some time off between now and the new year, so I am looking forward to taking a few side trips outside of Sydney, and enjoying many glorious days on the beach. I have included a picture I snapped the other day at Tamarama, my most favorite beach in Sydney.

I thought I'd be quite homesick around holiday time, but since it's summer it really doesn't feel like Christmas. My family has been sending photos of the Christmas tree and various holiday happenings, so I still feel like I am a part of everything. I'm sure that on the day I'll miss my cousins and little faux niece and nephew, but with the miraculous technology of Skype, it's almost like I'm there. On Christmas Day, I'll be enjoying a BBQ on Bronte Beach with a whole bunch of my friends just eating, drinking and being thankful for one another and our surroundings. I consider myself a very fortunate girl!

I hope every one's shopping season is going seamlessly. I think it's been a very volatile and versatile year in the United States, but I hope 2010 will offer a bit more balance and certainty. Here's to hoping! xx

Yeah, It Was Good.

I was so incredibly and happily surprised by the play. The actors are so talented! It's hard to really explain it in words, but it was incredibly raw and vulnerable to say the least. Of course I was just a ham, but other characters really opened up their lives for everyone to experience. You never do know what people are going through or what makes them who they are, and this play was the perfect reminder of that. I am so glad I was able to take part. It was really very special and something I won't soon forget.

Reality Bytes

I'm currently caught in a struggle between trepidation and anticipation. In a strange twist of freaky fate, I have somehow become a character in a play that begins tonight at the Newtown Theatre. If you're sad you'll be missing my acting debut, you've got nothing to worry about. I'm not in the play at all, I'm actually the character. Yes, Chelsea O'Donnell, the 27 year old Marketing Manager from Brooklyn Proper will be on stage for all eyes and ears to enjoy.

The play is called "Reality Bytes" and I've had an actress interviewing me for the past couple weeks, recording every verse and curse in order to accurately portray me in this "reality theatre" experience. I've gotten used to the random late night phone calls ("what wrist do you wear your beads on?" "how would you pronounce 'theatre'?") but now that the show is finally here, I am a little apprehensive about the whole idea. I'm only hoping I kept my trash mouth to a minimum and didn't accidentally do anything to completely humiliate myself. I can guarantee that my friends are going to get a kick out of it, and probably get to know me a little bit better than they did before!

Melbourne Cup

While my fellow New Yorkers have been swept up in World Series fever (all Phillies all day), I experienced my first ever Melbourne Cup this week. Horse racing is a gigantic sport in Australia... actually anything that involves gambling is immensely popular in this country. So in celebration, the country closes down every first Tuesday in November for a day of drinking and punting.

Although Melbourne Cup Day is actually only an official holiday in the state of Victoria, Australians everywhere treat it like Christmas. Offices and shops lock up and everyone heads to the pub to watch the race. We at Barons had a beautiful three course lunch and champagne celebration for the few hours leading up to the race, and then sat in anticipation for three minutes as the horses sped around the track. From there, all we could do was toast our winnings and drown our losses in icy cold pale ale's.

The winning horse was called Shocking, and I'm proud to report that I roped in some serious dough from my punt - a whopping $16.50! Hey, a win is a win, right?

Jaca-What?

Spring is in full bloom here in Sydney and I am making the most of it before the super hot weather comes in another few weeks. All the roses have come up and there are poppies and bougainvilleas everywhere you look. My favourite new floral discovery is the jacaranda tree, as you'll see in the not so fantastic picture I snapped with my blackberry. I have never seen a jacaranda before, and they are not only gorgeous, but absolutely huge and everywhere! I took the metro over the city today and it was just a blanket of lavender - magnificent!

I took the day off today to run some errands and do all the chores around the house that I neglected while I was working over the weekend. I learned that unfortunately, Australians do not celebrate my most favourite holiday - Halloween! Can you believe it? They dress up on any occasion, but not on the biggest dress up day of the year. It's ludicrous. Luckily, they do celebrate Melbourne Cup, which is next Tuesday the 3rd. No one goes to work and everyone goes out to fancy lunches and drinks Verve and dresses up and gambles. So although there won't be any Monster Mash in my calendar this year, at least I have a little something special to make up for it!

Empire State of Mind

It's been too long since I've written, but my recent trip back to the States had me sidelined for a few weeks so there wasn't much to write about with regards to the land down under. It was sensational being back home and getting to see my family and friends again. My Nolita girls made my time in Manhattan fantastic, with plenty of party nights and some fantastic evenings just chilling at home with a NY slice or two! I had a blast with my family in Connecticut and got to see all the kids, visit with the grandparents and spend some quality time with mom and dad.

I was excited to come back to Australia, but I must admit that I left a piece of my heart back in Brooklyn. It was tough to leave everyone who knows me so well and come back to the other side of the world, which is all still fairly foreign. The 24-hour plane ride didn't help matters much either!

Luckily work has been really busy to I haven't had much time to be homesick. I worked back to back beer festivals the past two weekends, so while it's been good getting back into the swing of things, I am also exhausted! The photo is of me and the owner of one of our breweries after a few Lemon Myrtle Witbiers at the Australian Beer Fest at The Rocks in Sydney. I'm looking forward to a little bit of quite time, which I hope will happen this coming weekend. Until then, back to the grind!

It's Raining... Dust?

As you probably heard, things got a little dusty here in Sydney this week! They say it was the craziest weather in 60 years, and although I've only been here for nine months, I have to agree that is was one of the wildest things I've ever seen. The photo is the Harbour Bridge and that's not fancy photoshop - it's the real deal.

I was really confused when I opened my eyes at 6:30am. I could hear sirens and my whole bedroom had the creepiest orange glow, so the New Yorker in me immediately thought we must be getting bombed. Then I realized I was in Sydney. My second thought was a really bad fire because I could hear the trucks, but the glow was just beyond strange, so I got up and turned on the TV. My trusty local newspeople explained the situation, so I knew all was safe, but was it ever creepy! You know there is something wrong when your iGoogle weather just has an orange image box that says "DUST".

The sky stayed that way for a few hours, and eventually the sun broke through and the dust subsided. It was in the air all day, making it a little yucky to breathe, and I came home to find a bathtub full of red sediment, which wasn't the most fun to clean. All in all, no harm no foul, but definitely a very cool thing to experience and something pretty special to see.

Karaoke

A few weeks ago, I narrowly escaped my first (and probably last) karaoke experience. Everyone raves about how fun and silly it is, but the whole idea of belting out a Bon Jovi classic backed up by a television screen looping videos of 80's kids running and jumping and smiling has always creeped me out. Nonetheless, it was my idea to let my friend Bernie do whatever she wanted for her 29th birthday, so down the screeching hole of vocal horror I fell. Kind of like Alice in Wonderland, if she was a member of The Spice Girls.

Please make note - you cannot go to karaoke sober. Not only because everyone needs a little liquid courage to do what they normally do in the confines of their shower (singing of course!), but because karaoke joints are disgusting. After a lengthy pregame, we wound our way down a claustrophobic staircase in central Chinatown and into a basement that was probably once prominent a brothel in very recent history. Dozens of tiny, dark rooms covered and padded and faux fur furniture drew us in like a colonic. You don't want to go, but you have to. I wouldn't normally admit to this, but thank goodness for the fully-stocked fridge of vodka cruisers! Everyone drank, everyone sang, and everyone was sick the next morning. And me? Why, "Bed of Roses" of course!

Home Sweet Home

It's been a busy month with a lot of changes and fantastic things happening, but what I am most excited about is finally getting comfortable in my new home. I've been living here for about a month, but I was so all over the place that I just finally got around to getting some furniture last week. There is still a lot of work to be done, but at least I have a place to rest my bum. Now all I need is a dresser... and a coffee table... and a TV stand... and a new TV....

Other than settling into the new apartment, I've been working a lot and trying to sort the bits and bobs of my new visa. My current one only allows me to work at one company for six months, and that expires on October 1st. So now I am going for a 457 which will grant me temporary residency for up to four years. My part is pretty easy, but the company has never sponsored anyone before, so it's fairly stressful on that end. I'm just trying to make sure all my paperwork is in order so I don't get deported! :-o

I'm getting excited about coming back to New York and Connecticut October 1-12th. My pop says it feels like I have been gone forever. In some ways I agree and in others I feel like these past nine months have flown by. I'm looking forward to catching up with my family and seeing my ever-sprouting cousins and faux niece and nephew Fifer and Nino. I can't wait to go dancing with my girls and see all my old pals from the dirty dub. It's going to be a jam packed 12 days and it will be here in just four short weeks! Yay.

The Move

The day after we returned from Palm Cove, Kendra and I were faced with the painful and tedious task of moving house. We thought, how hard could it be? After all, the new apartment was but a five minute walk up the street, and how much could we have possibly accumulated in six, short months? A LOT.

I really don't know where it all came from. We don't even own any actual furniture. But somehow we filled four truckloads full of stuff and spent 10 hours hauling back and forth, cleaning, packing, unpacking and organizing. It's been two weeks and the place is still in shambles, but I absolutely love it. There is still no living room furniture, and there probably won't be until I find and purchase the vintage burgundy Chesterfield I've been dreaming of, but I see it as a fun project full of potential.

So, when you want to send gifts and money, don't let it get lost! The new address is:
201/3 Greenknowe Avenue
Elizabeth Bay NSW 2011
Australia

The Great Barrier Reef

All I can say is WOW! The Great Barrier Reef, what a fantastic place. It really is everything people rave about. My family has been lucky enough to go on a lot of adventures, but snorkeling in tropical North Queensland is definitely pretty high on my list of absolutely stunning places on the globe. Kendra and I arrived in Cairns on a Saturday and hopped in a taxi for the 20 minute drive up to Palm Cove, where the lovely Mango Lagoon Spa & Retreat awaited us. We were blessed with a gigantic suite outfitted with all the amenities of home and I could literally feel the weight lifting off my shoulders as I bellyflopped onto the enormous bed.

We spent the first day getting to know the area and trolling along the Palm Cove esplanade. The weather wasn't fantastic, so we were fine enjoying an evening of rest and relaxation before a big day on the reef the following morning.

We were up early as the bus was waiting for us around 7am. We rode back to Cairns and boarded a 80 person cruiser for our trip out onto the ocean. I had no idea how far the reef was from the mainland and it took us a few hours before we got out to our first snorkeling spot. We got to enjoy three different parts of the reef, all electric with thousands of fish of every colour and kind. We even got to swim alongside a giant sea turtle! It was a really cool day and one we won't soon forget.

We spent the third day soaking up some sun on Palm Cove Beach, trying to keep our energy high for a trip to the Daintree Rainforest the following morning. We were up bright and early again the next day, with a full itinerary of crocodile hunting on the Daintree River and looking for wildlife deep in the rainforest. We also got to meet some friendly kangaroos and visited Cape Tribulation, which I imagine must be gorgeous... when you're not getting soaked by a sudden storm.

Our flight didn't leave until late in the evening on Wednesday, so we got to enjoy a stunning, sunny day in the pool at Mango Lagoon. It was a really great way to end a fantastic holiday, and one that we hope to be able to repeat very soon.

More photos here.

All Points North

Just a quick update - Kendra and I are headed up to the Great Barrier Reef for a little R&R this weekend. We'll be staying at a little place in Palm Cove and we have some exciting things planned, including snorkeling and a visit to the rain forest. We're very excited to hit the beach and escape from this freezing winter! Actually, it's been in the 70's for the past two days, but that's not sufficient bikini weather, now is it? Plenty of pictures and stories to come soon!

Fourth of July

I hope everyone had a wonderful Fourth of July! Kendra and I spent the day with some friends at a local pub, drowning our independence in a plethora of Rogue beer. It's the first time Rogue has ever been available on tap in Australia and let me tell you, that Nut Brown did me proud. After a few I was feeling rather patriotic... until we decided to celebrate further by downing a few cheeseburgers on the way home. Then I felt rather sick!

I hope everyone's Independence Day was as slippery as ours!

This Wacky Winter

New York winters are brutal, but fairly predictable. You know you're in for a freezing, wet and wild three months. Coming into a Sydney winter, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. I had heard that you can just get away with a jumper (sweater) most days, and we were quite looking forward to putting our mittens and hats into retirement.

Today it's almost 70 and I am in short sleeves. Yesterday we played soccer in the park and lounged in the sun. Last weekend I was at an ice skating rink in the pouring rain, wearing a fur hooded coat. Not a few days before that, we were strolling on Bondi Beach!I know, I know, I have gumption to complain - I'm halfway through the two coldest months of the year and have yet to bat an eyelash at the temperature. But a little consistency would be nice!

In other news, Kendra and I are taking a little trip to the warm weather at the end of July. Yes, we are beach deprived. The location is yet to be determined, but we're tossing around the Great Barrier Reef, Fiji and Bali. While a tropical island sounds tempting, we're really excited to head to the north of Australia and do some snorkeling. Update soon!

The End of an Era

I hate to sound dramatic, but I've incurred a bit of trauma this week. Over the past five or so years, my trusty Chuck Taylors have been with me through thick and thin. They've seen me through three apartments, over half a dozen countries, and their fair share of male competition. As silly as it sounds, these sneakers are easily one of my most prized possessions. They've strolled Soho, stomped through Spain, and saw me through some of the most incredulous times of my short, manic adulthood. When chaos surrounded me, Chuck always had my feet firmly planted on the ground.

I am embarrassed to say that I abandoned my All-Stars before my journey to Australia. They were pretty broken down and I didn't think they were in any shape to make the trip. The soles were cracked, there were tears in the canvas, and you could actually put your finger through the bottom of the left shoe. So, with much trepidation, I left them in the U.S. and headed on my barefoot journey.

I regretted the decision immediately and wallowed in self pity for months without my beloved Converse. Luckily, Kendra's best friend took pity on my poor, pathetic "sole" and brought them to me in March. They've trekked and traveled all around Sydney with me, but as time wore on, they continued to beg for retirement. We've had a wonderful time together Down Under, but this past week I finally had to say goodbye.

Pathetically, I can't part with them, so I packed them in a shoebox and stored them under my bed for safekeeping. As I lay them to rest in their cardboard coffin, I couldn't help but feel like I was burying a piece of myself. To cope with the trauma, I decided on a fitting fix (pictured). I can only hope that my new investment will give me half the treasured memories and exciting times that my original All-Stars did.

R.I.P. old friends, you've done me proud.

Sailing

Today I was lucky enough to go sailing in Sydney Harbour. It was a long weekend to celebrate the Queen's Birthday (mind you, the Queen's birthday is in April, and Australia doesn't even technically have a queen) so my friend Eva and I took advantage of the beautiful weather and spent the day on a lovely 36-foot yacht.

As much as I appreciated the experience, I have to be honest -sailing is not for me. It's a lot of work! I was completely worthless in any attempt to pull ropes and turn levers, but luckily I did an excellent job making sure my glass of champagne was full at all times. Hey, we all have our talents right?

In all seriousness, it was a really fantastic day and a great way to spend a sunny afternoon. We had a gorgeous lunch of smoked trout, salad, feta, and sourdough bread, with coffee and Tim Tams for dessert! I love that it's the second coldest month of the year and we still are able to spend an afternoon out on the water relaxing and soaking up the rays. How cool is that? It's a bit different than New York, where the last boat I stepped foot on was probably a filthy ferry! :)

Vivid Sydney

While everyone at home is enjoying the beginning of summer, Sydney is bracing for the coldest months of the year. June and July are considered winter, and although it hardly gets chillier than October in New York, we're donning scarves and sipping soup on a daily basis. Even though I miss the heat and humidity, Sydney has a ton of awesome festivals and events to keep us occupied until the beach days come back our way.

One such festival that's happening right now is Vivid Sydney, an amazing exhibition in the city's CBD (Central Business District). Vivid Sydney is a collection of art with lights that transforms Sydney's most notable attractions and neighborhoods into something exciting and new. I've included this this lovely picture of the Opera House that Kendra took so you can see what I mean!

Vivid City includes a number of light walks and it's really fun to explore the city at night and find new little treasures around every corner. We are looking forward to next weekend, where hundreds of little light cubes will float in the Sydney Harbour in remembrance of the Campbells Cove convict ship that caught on fire and sank in the early 1800's. It's really inspiring to see how artists interpret "light" and it's so fantastic that Sydney supports local creatives in such a big way.

Working Girl

Looking back, I realize I've never really blogged about work or what I do every day. Well, if you think I've landed a dream job here in Sydney, you would be right! In case you didn't know, I am the Marketing & Communications Manager of the biggest independent brewing company in Australia, and it's every bit as amazing as you might imagine.

My company owns three brands: Barons Brewing, Snowy Mountains, and Lucky Drink Co. Like Barons, Lucky is available all over the U.S., so be sure pick up a six-pack of buddha bottles near you! :) With the acquisition of the two new brands, there is plenty to do. Since I report to the Managing Director, I am free to be really creative in my role and dream up lots of madness. The people in the office are fantastic, and in six short weeks, I have learned heaps about both the beer business, and crazy Aussies in general!

I spend quite some time in pubs all around Sydney, and "research" has never been such fun. As much as I loved my past life in the beauty biz, booze suits me much better. It's a boys club for sure, but that's a space I've always been comfortable in and I'm growing more confident in my role every day.

Unlike New York, work stops everyday at 5pm. We get a long, leisurely lunch whenever we want and Fridays usually end at 3:30pm, when we all go to the pub downstairs and enjoy the fruits of our labour. Did I mention my office is above a pub? Ha! I haven't fully grasped this concept of a work/life balance and I often think my blackberry must be accidentally off when I don't get emails on the weekends. It's always on - people just don't bother you during personal time. It's a very foreign concept, don't you agree?

I Have Arrived!

This morning, I went to get my coffee at 10:30am instead of my regular 9am pit stop. When I went in, the barista said, "Aren't you a little late this morning?" and made my large skim flat white with one without even asking what I wanted. When the coffee man knows your order without having to ask, it's official. You're in. :)

Lawn Bowl

Weekend afternoons at Union Hall in Brooklyn were some of my most favorite times. After all, nothing says entertainment like bocce and beer abound. So, when my friends here in Sydney thought up the idea to spend an afternoon in Paddington sitting outside and playing lawn bowl, I was all about it.

I imagined the bowling club to be filled with retirees outfitted in white from head to toe and covered in zinc oxide everywhere else. I was wrong. Paddington Bowling Club has to be one of the most happening places in Sydney on a Saturday afternoon. There were tons of people, young and old, dressed to the nines in wigs, leisure suits, and whatever else they could get their hands on. Drinks flow very freely and people get pretty rowdy. The 15 courts were packed and the clubhouse was mobbed with people hanging out and watching various rugby games.

Our group consisted of about 12 people and as the boys got pretty competitive, we gals chit-chatted in the sun with lounge chairs and icy beverages. After an hour or two, no one could even remember which team they were on. It was a stunning, sunny day and we had an absolute blast. Who knew bowling could be such fun?

Mom is Here!

That's right, Deb has traveled all the way from Connecticut to see her two girls in Australia. It's been a very exciting time, starting with surprising Kendra with Mom's arrival on Friday. It was her 25th birthday and was she ever shocked. We all cried the happiest of tears and it was nothing short of amazing. It's been so fantastic having her around and even though I am working during the day, I love coming home and hanging out with her at night. We spent the weekend in Hunter Valley (the NSW equivalent to Sonoma) and this week Kendra has been taking her to see the sights. This weekend is Anzac Day, a very popular holiday here in Australia that is sure to induce much mischief from the O'Donnell girls. It's traditionally a day to honor the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps from World War I, but locally it's celebrated by getting absolutely smashed and gambling on a coin game called two-up. I'll be sure to report back on our antics!

If you're in New York this weekend, be sure to pick up tickets for the Tribeca Film Festival, specifically Ti West's new horror, House of the Devil! My stunning friend Jocelin Donahue stars, and when she becomes the next big thing, you can say you saw her way back when...

Some Sillies

I've been here for over three months and I still find something new and hysterical every day. 

The grocery store is always an adventure, where cantaloupes are rock melons, peppers are capsicums, and cheddar cheese is just plain "tasty". I won't even get into the weirdness that is men's panty liners. I still haven't quite gotten the hang of ordering in kilos and grams, and we usually end up with fish for five, or grumbling stomachs.

Australia is a land of two button toilets, one for small things and one for... other things. Rent is paid weekly, but paychecks come monthly. You can gamble on anything you can think of anywhere you can think of, from poker machines in pubs to chess at church (I imagine). Beer comes in a middy or a schooner, and it's common to order it using rhyme (beer = a pigs ear). Why? Why not. 

Coffee is ordered as a flat white, a long black and about a dozen other things, and you can't find one for cheaper than three dollars. Delicious, yes, but that much different than the cart on 43rd and 6th? I think not. Everyone keeps a bathing suit (cozi, swimmer, costume, tog) in their desk, and shooting down to the beach for a swim midday is more common than not. What can I say - I still have a lot to learn!

The Footy

As I mentioned in my previous post, Easter is a pretty big holiday in Sydney, so I’ve been fortunate enough to have a four-day weekend. It’s been pretty fantastic and we’ve had some awesome weather, so we’ve been running around trying to take advantage of the fun! Last night, we walked over to the Sydney Football Stadium and caught a pro rugby game. The local team is the Waratahs and for $20, we got to sit right on the field. Granted we were on the goal end, but it was still pretty cool for very cheap. A couple of VBs in our hands and we were two happy girls! Rugby is a very complicated game and Australia has three different kinds – Australian Rugby League (AFL), National Rugby League (NRL) and Rugby Union, otherwise known as Super 14. League and Union are fairly similar, but AFL is completely different. The Waratahs are a Super 14 team and the only Sydney squad, which is opposite from AFL and NRL, which have multiple teams in Sydney. It’s all very confusing, but still a great game to watch! I highly recommend it.

In other news, I am a Twitter newbie! I’m still learning though, so take it easy on me. ☺

Work Week 1

I'm officially back to the daily grind. Fortune and a very lasting impression landed me a job as the Marketing Manager for a very successful independent brewing company here in Australia. Most people probably think marketing and public relations are one in the same, but my role here will actually be extremely different from anything I have ever done before, so I am thrilled to learn and excited for the new challenge. There are so many wonderful things about this job - the people in the office are fantastic, we're taking on new brands and growing like wildfire, and our office is above a pub!

I imagine the next few weeks will be about getting adjusted, but I'm already a bit restless to get into the swing of things. I'm not a fan of being the new kid! Luckily many of my colleagues have quickly become my comrades, and people have been so kind in helping me feel at home. Yesterday, one of the guys even took me and Kendra to a local rugby game. We brought along Flat Stanley, who arrived in the mail via our 10-year-old cousin. I think he had a great time, and we did too.

The weather is starting to turn a bit as autumn is upon us. Most days we're still in the 70's but at night it drops a bit cooler. It's been raining for a few days, so we've had to pull out our jumpers (sweaters), but it's still lovely. I'll be excited to see what "winter" is like!

Beachy Keen

As I have mentioned, I am counting down the final days of my absolutely sublime three month vacation here in Australia. On April 1, I'll enter back into the working world, and while the idea of giving up my beachy keen lifestyle leaves me with trepidation, this new gig excites me tremendously.

Even though I've been nothing but a glorified bum for the past 90 days, I've learned a lot about Sydneysiders and I'm glad I took the time to adapt to my surroundings appropriately. In New York, I found solace under a cherry blossom tree in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Here, I relish in quiet time at Tamarama Beach. The ivory sand and mouthwash colored waves get me every time.

Let's be honest though. My lifestyle as a working woman won't completely defeat my cruise control mentality. With a 9-5 steady plus 20 vacation days, 10 sick/personal days, and a dozen national holidays (Good Friday AND Easter Monday, seriously), I don't think I'll be beach deprived for a long time coming.

Week in Review

I realize I've been a pretty sorry excuse for a blogger. It's funny how time just slips away so easily here. Regardless, it's been a pretty eventful week and I'm excited to share a few musings.

We celebrated St. Patrick's Day this past Tuesday and it was the first time I can remember being able to wear a green sundress and not a sweater, pants and winter cap! We O'Donnell's were the only micks in the group, but the juxtaposition of a Malaysian, a Pole, a Greek and a few Sydneysiders was amusing nevertheless. On St. Patrick's Day everyone is Irish, right?

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday were spent training and learning about a job that I hope will begin this week, although I am too superstitious to let the cat out of the bag just yet. It's a dream gig and one that will really make my Sydney experience worthwhile from a career standpoint, but I don't want to get too excited until the ink is dry. If everything goes as planned, it will be a fantastic opportunity and one that will definitely keep me on my toes.

As always, the weather has been stunning, so I met Kendra and her friends from Connecticut at the beach on Saturday. I arrived just after everyone had a bit of a scare from a shark sighting. Luckily, I got to Bondi and found the three girls with all their limbs attached.

Sunday was a treat - we spent the day at lovely Watsons Bay (pictured) having drinks on the deck of the Watsons Bay Hotel. The place looks over the Harbour and out into the city and it's very popular with the locals, so I was glad to show our guests a great spot off the beaten (tourist) path.

Looking on to this week, I am excited to spend my last few work free days soaking up the sun. Kendra and her friend Nick are headed north to explore Queensland and do some camping at the Great Barrier Reef, and I am so thrilled for them to have that experience. I hope to be able to head north myself soon, but I'll be sure that my adventure includes a big bathroom and a very fluffy bed!

PS - Huge shout out to my mates at 5W who sent me such a lovely package this past week. Colored cotton balls, glue, mud masque and skyn - what more could a girl as for!

Two Months

This past Friday marked two months since we arrived here in Sydney. I'm still astounded that we made this leap and I don't know if that will ever go away. It's wonderful to be so excited about life!

I've been meeting a lot of people about jobs and I'm hoping to get in the swing of things in the next few weeks. Although perpetual vacation is an absolute dream, I am definitely ready to start applying myself in a business sense. There are only so many beaches in Sydney! Haha.

Kendra and I met some Brooklynites the other day and it's been really interesting trading stories and learning about other people. I especially like meeting Americans and finding out what made them move to the other side of the world. Sometimes it's a job, but for many it seems like more of a "now or never" decision, similar to how we landed here.

Kendra's friends from growing up are visiting this week (shout out!) so she's very excited to show them the city and have some familiar faces around. We're also looking forward to celebrating St. Patrick's Day this coming Tuesday. There are a ton of Irish immigrants here in Australia and we'll definitely be pounding a few Guinness with the best of them. It should be a busy week, and we're looking forward to more gorgeous weather and each day that will bring new adventures and fond memories for us.

Coogee to Bondi (and more funny words)

Kendra and I are lucky enough to have some of the most magnificent beaches in the world just a short ride away from our apartment in Sydney. We took advantage of another stunning afternoon and checked out the Coastal Walk, which starts at Bondi Beach and weaves its way south to Coogee. We arrived on the trail just above Coogee and headed north, dropping down and winding up the ocean cliffs of the Tasman Sea. We came upon Gordons Bay, which houses a heaping collection of old rowboats and one of the most breathtaking ocean views I have ever seen. Heading onward, we came to Clovelly Beach, a tiny inlet that calms the sea for families and young children to swim. We let ourselves get lost a little bit around Burrows Park, where the ocean path hugs the cliffs so closely that we couldn't resist a photo op from above! Rounding the bend, we found ourselves at Waverley Cemetery, a gigantic yet reflective resting place on the water. Many of the residents were buried there in the late 1800's and early 1900's, which made for a interesting and tranquil history lesson. Next up was Bronte Beach, a lovely little spot with picnic tables for a yummy lunch with a view. Finally, we came to Tamarama, which I have wondered about since meeting a band a few years ago by the same name. When they told me the name of the band originated from the beach where they grew up, I never imagined something so lovely. The sea was a gorgeous green and seeing the brave surfers battling the trecherous waves made my sis and I stop to take it all in. On the way to Bondi, we came across the most lovely sandstone, naturally carved in swirls and whirls that would be impressive for the most skilled sculptor. It's hard to believe such beauty can be created by the elements. But seeing is believing, so check out more photos here: http://picasaweb.google.com/Chelsea.ODonnell/CoogeeToBondiCoastalWalk#

Melbourne

After a few days out on the open road, Kendra and I had a chance to visit Melbourne, the second largest city in Australia. It's a really funky artsy town, full of graffiti-covered laneways and stunning architecture. We got to walk around and visit all the neighborhoods, many of which are similar to New York. Fitzroy reminds me of the Village, with its tiny specialty shops and dozens of restaurants. We stayed in St. Kilda, a great little suburb about 20 minutes south of the Central Business District, right on the ocean. Melbourne is much different from Sydney because while there is tons of stuff to do at night, there is not that much activity in the day time. In Sydney, everyone is running, swimming, sailing, going to the market, and on and on. Melbourne is a bit more quiet, although they definitely have their share of things to do after dark. It was a great place to see, but after a few days on the road and some time in the city, we were ready to come "home"!

The Great Ocean Road

What an amazing trip! Kendra and I were lucky enough to visit the Great Ocean Road this week and I have to say it is one of the most magnificent places in the world. About an hour and a half west of Melbourne, The Road winds along the southern coast of Victoria, starting in Torquay and ending in Portland. We picked up our rental car from the airport early Sunday morning and our excitement was only bated by the fear of driving on "the other side of the road". After a little bit of practice and a few wrong turns, we were on our way.

There are a ton of fantastic towns on The Great Ocean Road, including Torquay, home of surfers paradise, Bells Beach. We wound onward to Anglesea, Lorne and Apollo Bay before finding a cabin to rest our heads in Port Campbell. The Road itself is stunning, with its twists and turns and glorious views of the crystal clear ocean. As you look out, it's hard to believe that the next land mass is Antarctica! By the end of the day we were exhausted and also a little saddened by the fact that not one kangaroo or koala had crossed our path. Luckily, day two had something very different in store for us.

We woke up very early the next day to get moving and try to pack in as much as we could. Kendra started driving that morning and while I was looking at a map, she shrieked, and there it was - a dead kangaroo on the side of the road! We were devastated. Our first 'roo and it was roadkill! Not ten minutes later did we see another corpse - heartbreaking. Luckily, we got lost on a very bumpy side road and as a looked to my left, there were three young roos staring straight at us. They hung out long enough for us to snap a few pictures and were on their way. After that, we saw another roo, about a dozen koalas happily dozing in the eucalyptus trees, a bunch of gang-gang cockatoos and even a kookaburra! Success for the O'Donnell's with the animal kingdom.

Even though I wish we had longer than two days, I am so happy and grateful Kendra and I were able to experience The Great Ocean Road. It should be on everyones must visit list. It's truly one of the most sensational places I have ever seen.

Here Comes the Sun

The sun is back in Sydney and we took full advantage by having a beach day at Bondi. We met up with my old pal Romy and had a delicious lunch at her house, followed by a nice long stroll along the beach. It was another lazy, luxurious afternoon and I am trying to take full advantage of these glorious days before I have to start working again. Kendra and I are headed to Melbourne this weekend for a few days in the city and a two-day drive along the Great Ocean Road. Everyone says Melbourne is amazing and we can't wait. You'll get a full update when we return on Wednesday. Until then...

Elemental

Today we had an awesome day creating some paintings for our living room. We spent the afternoon at our friend Fleur's house, drinking champagne and enjoying a perfectly lazy day. Wondering how we met Fleur? The story is as brilliant as she is!

Last summer, we were introduced in Brooklyn in a dark Moroccan restaurant after a day of antics that could have fogged the memory of an elephant. My friend Francine was in town from Miami and she and I had gone to the restaurant to meet our other friend Kellie and her cohorts. Fleur and her boyfriend Ryan were two of the troublemakers at the table, but it was no more than a fleeing introduction. When I decided to move to Sydney, Kellie kept talking about how I had to hook up with Fleur, who was now living in Sydney, but she kept forgetting to get me her contact details.

Fast forward to a few weeks ago. Kendra and I went out on a Friday night to meet our landlord for a drink at a lovely outdoor wine bar by our house. We sat down to a table full of ladies and I couldn't ignore the bells of familiarity ringing in my head when he introduced the blonde named Fleur. Yes, it was the same girl! Karma has a funny way of paving our way, doesn't it?

Anyway, here is a picture of the paintings I made for the house. They remind Kendra of fire and in light of the recent tragedy in Victoria, I think it's a fitting tribute. I've named the series "Elemental". What do you think?

Raindrops

Not much to update everyone on because it's been raining in Sydney for a week! It looks like we're coming to the end of it, but not until Thursday unfortunately. We've spent our down time eating, drinking and pretty much lounging around. We've gotten to check out two neighborhoods that we really like - Newtown and Surry Hills. Newtown is very funky and fun, with tons of antique and vintage stores. You can easily spend a day shopping and poking around. It's on the south side of Sydney and we're on the north east, but it's only about 35 minutes by train. The picture here is from Newtown, a building that couldn't resist giving us a kiss!

Surry Hills is within walking distance and it's the commercial fashion district. The main strip is Crown Street and it's filled with restaurants and boutiques. There are a lot of showrooms and fabric stores - it's definitely a great place to spark creativity.

This week I am looking forward to a few interviews and a great day of painting with our new friend Fleur. We need some art for our super white walls, mainly behind the couch in the living room. At end of the week we'll be at the beach to make up for the time we've spent complaining about the rain! I know, I know, it's nothing in comparison to the weather at home, rain is better than 20 degrees and snow, right?

Yikes!

I may be safe from fires and floods, but the sharks are in my backyard!
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/11/2487992.htm

Four Weeks

Today is the four week mark for us here in Sydney. I can't believe it. While it seems to have gone by so quickly, it's also amazing how acclimated we've gotten in such a short time. Just today I told a person, "it will be about a fortnight", which is what the Australians say for "two weeks". How silly.

Kendra and I are looking to plan a trip to Melbourne in the next week of so, we're just waiting to hear about some job interviews I have coming up. Now that we're settled in Sydney, we're anxious to travel. We're excited about many places, such as Byron Bay, Whitsunday, Brisbane and others. There is so much of Australia to see!

For those of you who are concerned about us getting caught up in the fires, don't worry, they aren't anywhere near us. We're at least a six hour drive from the closest one. It is interesting how much media coverage they are getting outside of Australia though. It's really terrible! More soon...

Tidbits

Kendra and I had our first houseguest, her friend Ben who she met in Africa. He's on a trip around the world and graced our air mattress with his presence. He took Kendra on a run for her money the past two nights and today she's feeling a bit, wellll....


Everything is really great here. The weather is outstanding and we take full advantage of it. There's only been a mild case of sunburn thus far, concentrated mainly on my poor behind. Other than that, life is just lovely. Kendra talked me into pilfering a television off the side of the road the other day. She went to the grocery store and said to herself, "If it's still there when I come back, I am taking it." With me as her accomplice, we pinched it right from the sidewalk and sure enough it works like a charm.

My word of the day is tucker, which here means food. My favorite usage was a little boy back to school shopping in K-Mart, telling his brother that they were all out of "tucker boxes". I don't like this tucker as much as mine at home, but it's still pretty tasty. :)

A Sydney Superbowl

I have to admit it was incredibly strange watching the game here, which began at 10am on Monday morning. Nevertheless, we were stoked as we arrived at the Empire Hotel and found a rousing group of middle aged Australian bikers already a few sheets to the wind, and just as enthusiastic about the game as we were. One gent was even wearing a Cardinals cap, a fan that isn't easy to find, even in America!

The game was awesome though, right? We had a great time cheering along with the Aussies, and I especially loved The Boss at half time. He's the best. It was a memorable experience for sure.

An Odd Thing About Sydneysiders..

They don't wear shoes much. I've noticed on numerous occations that people go barefoot just about anywhere. On the street, in the park, during rush hour, wherever and whenever.

Home, Sweet Home

Fantastic news! Kendra and I finally have a permanent place to rest our heads. We moved out of the Hilton and into our new apartment on Tuesday morning (Oz time) and have spent the past days cleaning and making it feel like home. The place is small but adorable and empty! We have one bed, one loveseat, one table and a few chairs, so we have some work to do.

On the flip side, our neighborhood Elizabeth Bay is lovely – full of little cafes and parks. Our building is right on Sydney Harbour and we get a fantastic breeze. We also have a really amazing roof deck and a big garden right on the water. You can see both the bridge and the Opera House from here! The pictures are from the new place and our “yard”.

Our internet is hooked up so I’ll be updating my blog more regularly. Now that the apartment search is over, it’s on to the job hunt. After that, I was thinking about trying to make some friends. ;)

That’s all for now. Email me if you want our new address to send along gifts and money!

Australia Day

Australia Day was on Monday and the entire country closes down shop and comes out to celebrate. The day marks the arrival of the first fleet landing in Port Jackson in 1788 and there were a ton of things to do in Sydney. The weather was a little gray in the morning, but we got to watch the tall ships race across Sydney Harbour and then went over to Hyde Park where everyone was eating and drinking under the trees. It started raining quite a bit, but people still seemed to enjoy themselves. The rain didn't even put a damper on the fireworks that went off in Darling Harbour later that evening. Australians have great pride in this country and we can definitely see why!

The Blue Mountains

Last week, Kendra and I escaped the city and took a two hour train west to the Blue Mountains. It was a sweltering day and we figured why not see what’s outside of Sydney! Our train left from Central Station and arrived in Katoomba, a great little town full of cute cafes and vintage shops. From there, we boarded a double decker bus which drove us into the mountains. They call them the Blue Mountains because of an ever-present blue haze that comes from sunlight refracting through the eucalyptus oil that evaporates from the gum trees. Gorgeous! We hiked all around and got to see some of the famous sites, including a rock formation called the Three Sisters and a stunning waterfall called Leura Cascades that we had to hike down (and back up) some exhausting verticals to get to. It was certainly worth it as you can see from the pictures! For lunch we headed to a tiny town called Leura and ate sandwiches in the shade. It was nice and cool under the umbrella of the trees and we had an amazing and exhausting day!

Manly Beach

I’m going to do a bit of backpedaling since I haven’t written about our adventures in a few days. Last week was hot and humid and we took advantage by visiting Manly, one of Sydney’s most famous beaches. To get there, you have to take a 30 minute ferry from the city’s main terminal, Circular Quay. The ferries are pretty fast and efficient, so it was a nice ride north across the Harbour.

Once we got off the ferry, we had to walk along the Corso to get to the beach. The Corso is full of little restaurants and surf shops, and tons of people! Once we got to the beach, we walked north a bit to escape the hoards and planted ourselves right by where they were giving surf lessons to the kids. We got a kick out of watching both them and the three instructors trying to control their group of twenty.

Manly is much bigger than Bondi, but still smaller than Long Beach. It was a great day of much needed rest and relaxation. We’ll be back there in a few weeks when my friend Andrew comes from New York to play in a beach volleyball tournament. Yay!

Bad Blogger!

I know I've been neglectful the past few days - we're being put up at the Hilton and their internet policy is a bit silly. We have to use shared computers and it's not all that convenient. Anyway, Monday is Australia Day (kind of like 4th of July) so I'm sure I'll have big news and I'll definitely post more pictures. Until then...

The Inauguration

What a great day! Kendra and I woke up at 3am to watch Obama's inauguration speech. Traveling overseas has been tough these past few years... I remember in Italy we were advised to say we were Canadian to avoid any sort of confrontation. I am so proud to be able to say I am an American here and look forward all the change and great things to come!

Guano!

We're walking through the Royal Botanic Gardens today and were a bit unnerved by the weird screeching coming from the trees. We look up and holy rats, it's BATS! Hundreds of them in the trees. I know the pictures don't really do it justice, but they were loud and scary as anything! Yikes!

Sightseeing and Apartment Hunting

The past few days have been full of both. While the apartment search is tedious and frustrating, it’s also a great way to see all the neighborhoods in the city.

On Sunday, we concentrated on the Inner West, visiting Darling Harbour, Pyrmont, Ultimo and Glebe. It’s a great part of the city, quiet and tidy with lovely Victorian houses mixed with more modern apartment buildings.

Darling Harbour is a great place with tons to do, including concerts, outdoor movies and really wild games and rides for kids. On the south end is Paddy’s Market, an enclosed arena selling everything from spices to linens and whatever else in between. Cockle Bay has great outdoor restaurants and offers a beautiful view of the city (pictured here).

We walked over the Pyrmont Bridge and headed to the Sydney Fish Market, which puts Pike’s Place in Seattle to shame! There were dozens of retailers selling every kind of fish under the sun, and another dozen restaurants serving it all up. It was amazing and I can’t wait to go back once we have our own kitchen to cook in!

From Pyrmont we headed over to Glebe, which showcases most of its action on Glebe Point Road. It’s a great little neighborhood, and the home to the worse burgers we have ever had in our lives. It was the first time I had eaten beef in Sydney, so I’m not sure if I was just unlucky or if beef is just totally wack here, but I’ll be sticking to chicken and fish from now on!

From Glebe, we wound back through the tiny neighborhood of Ultimo just north of the spacious Wentworth Park and headed back home. We were exhausted and had a big day ahead of us.

Monday took us running around the city like a couple of lunatics. Our hotel is on the north end of south Sydney, so we began the day by walking to Kings Cross, where we saw two apartments (one disgusting, one awesome). We had lunch at a Mexican place, which are pretty few and far in between considering our distance from Mexico, so I celebrated with a Corona. J

From there, we headed all the way west back to Glebe to look at another apartment. It was really nice, but a bit too far from city center. From Glebe we took a time-saving taxi to Pyrmont to look at another place, which was lovely and in a great location.

Finally, we headed all way back over to Darlo by Kings Cross for a look at a place in our favorite neighborhood, which proved to be a bit too small. We had just enough energy to pick up some dinner on the way home. It was a long, wild day, but we think we’re getting closer to finding a place that suits us!