Best Commute in the World?

Many of us go through the daily commute to work: fighting through crowds and traffic, trying to wake up and prepping for what the day ahead holds. I do miss my car, but the Sydney work commute has been an adventure. First, it was the 333 and 380 bus fun. Since moving our office to North Sydney a few months ago, I've now had the pleasure of taking Sydney's trains and getting squished next to school kids and office workers from Bondi Junction to Town Hall and North Sydney stations.

A few weeks after arriving and taking the train across the Sydney Harbour Bridge, I predicted that this has to be the best commute anyone can enjoy, anywhere in the world. Tourists pay thousands just to see the Opera House and harbour, where I pay just $28 a week for ten trips over one of the most iconic settings on the globe.













However, this might be a little overrated, since I usually have my head in a book or too blocked by the packed train car to see anything more than traffic and bridge beams. But a good view of the water and top of the Opera House 'shells' reminds me of the scenic city I reside and work in. One strange aspect of heading back into Sydney is that while the train is going south, the traffic is driving north making passengers feel like we're going back in time or the wrong way down a one-way street.

Whether you work or visit Sydney, I'd suggest you grab a train over to Milson's Point or North Sydney for the journey and see what it's like every day on my way to the office. And after the train, another bonus is a good glimpse of the bridge going down the hill to McMahon's Point.

Koo Wee Rup

After the traditional trip to the Opera Bar, hiking the Bondi to Bronte cliffwalk, ferry to Manly, picnic at Ryan and Andy's and Japanese fish dinner, the next stop on mom and Aunt Eileen's Aussie Adventures took us south to Melbourne. OK, well, they ventured up to Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef, but this was MY next stop on their tour.

It was Friday the 13th, so I was expecting bad things to happen somewhere in the vicinity of the airport. Nothing drastic, but maybe sitting next to a fat guy or a delayed flight. The closest things I could decipher is the inability to catch a stand-by flight, sitting next to a fat guy and not having any money for the one shuttle bus into Melbourne. But good luck prevailed, as the kindly skydiving instructor Chris fronted me the $20 for my ride. Yes, my life is at a point where I need the help of skydiving instructors to pay for my shuttle bus because I don't know my Wells Fargo pin.

Finally getting into Melbourne around 11pm and grabbing a quick dinner, I snoozed away on my rollaway cot in room 121 of the Rendevous. Three things struck me from the Melbourne city tour the next morning: the guide spoke way too softly for 8am, Melbourne has a gaggle of sports venues and Captain Cook grew up in a house the size of an outhouse. Oh, and Yarra means 'everflowing' in Aboriginal. Why do we end up tired after just sitting in a bus most of the morn? Well, we needed our rest for a trip to Phillip Island and the Penguin Parade.

In short, the penguin tour took us two hours (in part through a town with one of my fave Aussie names, Koo Wee Rup) to Phillip Island, a scenic spot that's host to what else: an F1 and Moto GP racetrack. At sundown every night, hundreds of little penguins leave their daytime home in the ocean to head home to their burrows. On the marathon trip, I was wondering what all the fuss was about hanging out in the cold to watch penguins walking around...until I saw the little guys waddling out of the Pacific in droves, at exactly the time they promised. We even got something called the 'penguin premier' tickets, which was like box seats for the show. It was pretty cool to see these identical black and white birds rush out of the water and take to the penguin highway, coming home from work. There was even a Wallaby sighting to complete the night of nature.

They forbid us to take pictures, so here's a generic shot of the parade:













Sunday was looking like a hot one, so I made it over to the Australian Centre for the Museum Image to check out a exhibit of Dennis Hopper's films, photos and art collection. All I can say is the dude had it together, and still rolling along strong at 76. After Easy Rider, Colors and Andy Warhol paintings, I met up with friends Nirali and Martin right in the middle of a Polish festival. Seemed like a perfect time to grab a polish sausage for lunch.















Later on, mom, Aunt E and I cruised down Lygon Street, which seemed to have as many Italian restaurants as Phillip Island has penguins. We decided on the one that offered free wine and garlic bread, better deal than any others. Although it was 12 days after mom's birthday, I arranged the whole 'make a big deal' birthday dessert thing, and sure enough, they brought out tiramisu with the entire restaurant singing happy bday.
















Back to the Rendevous for a whopping four hours of sleep before saying g'day to mom and Aunt Eileen (they were headed for a week in NZ) and a 6am flight, then straight to work on Monday. This time I had the $20 for the shuttle bus.

Oh, and Tiger won the golf tourney, which took over the country's attention for a week. Speaking of blue blood sports, thinking of heading back down to Victoria for the Australian Open in January. Maybe I'll run into Andy Roddick at one of the alleyway bars.

Is There an Old Zealand?

Every time you apply for a new Visa, they make you leave the country. In April, it was Bali. To get my 457 last weekend, I made the quicker trip across the Tasman Sea to New Zealand. This would only be for a weekend, but I was determined to at least see a little more of Australia's little brother.













Don't follow the pushpins, just notice Auckland at the top of the north island

Before I get to the actual city, I have to make note of the concept that is Duty Free. You have to walk through this place to get into, or out of the gates. What is it exactly? I see, booze, cigarettes, purfume and electronics. I feel like Duty Free is what maybe purgaory is like. Sure, there's no tax, but now you're left with a bottle of Jack and another Ipod that smells like Chanel No 5. Yo digresso.

Auckland is New Zealand's biggest city, and from what I've heard, it's least attractive. But I've always been open to make my own opinions about these things. After arriving at the Base Backpackers, I took care of business and promptly applied for the visa. By this time, it was about 2am and people were still hanging out and milling around the hostel's lobby. Why are you still up?? Go to bed, people! It's at this point I officially realized I'm too old to stay at these places anymore. Luckily, I was checking into the Hyatt on Saturday.

One side note about Auckland: they have Dunkin Donuts, Wendy's AND a Denny's. This place went up about five notches just for that. I only ate a Dunkin Donuts, but damn, those glazed and Halloween Boston Creme donuts went dwn well with a coffee coolatta thing.

For nothing else, Auckland is worth a visit for the trip to, and experience on Waiheke Island. It's a Maori word, probably meaning 'the good wine' or something. A ferry ride over is about 30 mins and gives you a good vantage point of the city and it's surrounding areas. Auckland city is ok, but its harbor and local islands are much more impressive. When arriving on Waiheke, you have the option of a bus or hoofing it by foot. No question here, since it was a sunny 25 degree day.

A view of Waiheke from my private plane. No, my camera just wouldn't work.












After a recent day of wine tasting in Hunter Valley, became accustomed to the process of running through the wine list while some expert tried to explain how the next pinot should provide a 'stonefruit, forest floor' flavor. Duuude, it tastes like wine. OK, fine, they're all different, but my pallete is just taking in the alcohol. Since the third vinyard of the day (Jurassic Ridge...not to be confused with the dinosaur movie) offered free tastings, which was being done by the owner and winemaker....AND had bread with olive oil, I felt he deserved $29 of my hard-earned money. Since you can't bring back more than 100ml in carryon luggage, that meant I'd have to polish off my bottle of Jurassic Ridge Syrah (it's what the Kiwis called Shiraz, don't ask) that night. Woe is me.











Waiheke really is a nice island, especially when the wind isn't howling and it's clear, when you can see blue/green water and cool little islands in the distance. After about four hours of wine and walking, it was time to hop the ferry back to the mainland. That meant back to my hotel(!), the comfortable, quiet and classy Hyatt Auckland. For some twisted reason, I love hotels, even moreso after a night in a windowless room of Base Backpackers. That place felt like I was back in Stradley Hall at Ohio State.

I found a takeaway pizza place and picked up a calzone to share with my bottle of red and proceeded to spend the rest of Halloween in the room watching The Shining, All Blacks vs Wallabies, Frost/Nixon and Red Hot Chili Peppers videos. I'll think of something they all have in common, give me a minute.

On Sunday, I was up early enough where I could take another wander around Auckland in the daylight and make another venture to Dunkin Donuts. Seriously Sydney, I like that you're not full of chain restaurants, but get with the program here. I'd love some Munchkins! Made my way to a place called Sky Tower, where they offer something between a skydive and bungy jump off the tower. Seemed pretty cool, but pricey. Sky Tower has Sky City Casino, which is probably a healthier version than, say, hundreds of casinos that Vegas offers. I really just wanted to see some college fooball at the sports book, but yet another thing they don't have outside America.

I'd have to give Auckland a solid 7.5 out of 10. The city itself had some nice parts, good parks and a fine, fine Hyatt. Waiheke was worth the visit and the wine yet again flowed like fine itself. Really, though, I'll just be happy when the visa comes through. Processing, processing...