Day Off

So today is my day off! We also got paid on wednesday so I think I'm gonna celebrate and go do some shopping. I haven't been around town much but there's an area called Chinatown that has some shops and we also have a little mall here. In Broome, on the weekends, they have a local market with all sorts of jewlery and crafts and food. I'm gonna head over to that and check it out too. I'm thinking a nice curry dish for lunch sounds pretty sweet! Also, some people from work and I are planning a sunset camel trek on the beach. I've barely ever ridden a horse and definetly never ridden a camel... so we'll see how it goes. It's supposed to be really cool. During the week I've just been working all day and trying to get to the pool or the beach as much as possible after work. Last night was a coworkers birthday so we had a little celebration at the hotel bar. Te chef cooked us some bar food and I was lucky enough to burn my lip on a meat pie. It blistered up and I now look like I have a severe case of herpes! Other than that life is pretty good. I made a decent amount of money on my last paycheck and I'm just enjoying life. Cheers.
Tj

Some more pics

Another koala... they're just so darn cute!

Some random guys with the Darling Harbour in Sydney in the background

The infamous Bondi Beach

So these are just a couple pics from my journey so far. It's been exciting, boring, nervous, wild and always an adventure! I've started to get in the groove of working and it's going pretty well. I have Sunday off, so I might go out with some friends from the resort tomorrow after work. I heard that the housewarming party was fun, and I'm sad that I missed it. I miss all of you and hope you're doing well!

Much love,

TJ

Work

So the last two days have been exciting in that I have started working. I am doing housekeeping and it not all that cool! I don't have to wear a maid's outfit... but I'm realizing the reasons I went to college. The first day wasn't too bad... I learned how to do everything and even made a couple of new friends. Today, I considered quitting during lunch. I wish I didn't need the money. I worked 9.5 hours today and it was hot and humid outside! My legs are killing me but I'm enjoying it here. It's a good experience... at least it's building character. Have to go... my internet is almost up!
Much love,
TJ

A couple pics

Just a couple pics:

Town beach, right by the hotel

Not in Broome, but a cute little Koala

You want me fluff yo pillow?

Well hello again from Broome! So everyone can be proud of me... I got a job... doing housekeeping! Anyone that has seen a room that I have lived in for more than 5 hours will be shocked at this, but we'll see how it goes. I'm not too excited about it, but the hours aren't bad, and it actually pays pretty well! With the job, I'm also able to live on-site. It's and older motel that the Oaks, the resort i'm working for, bought and turned into their staff quarters. I'm living with another guy in a room that's similar to a dorm room. We have our own bathroom and shower, so it's alright. We live there with about 20 other workers who are all pretty cool. So of my favorite times so far have been a group of us sitting on the porch and just hanging out and talking. The workers are mainly from Australia, but there are some from Korea, Germany, China, and Japan. Although they all speak english, it's been harder than I thought it would be to understand the Australian accent. The weather here has been pretty good. It gets into the low 90s during the day and at night it is beautiful! I've been spending quite a bit of time at the beach or by the pool. The beach is only 5 minutes away, so it's too easy not to go. I drove a car for the first time last night, and it was weird. They drive on the left side of the road, and the wheel is on the right side of the car. It wasn't too bad, it just takes a little getting used to! We don't have wireless at the hotel so I have to come to an internet cafe. I'll try and keep updated with everyone as much as possible and hopefully be able to skype with people soon. Hope all is well.
Much love,
Taylor

Broome...

So I arrived in Broome last night and have enjoyed it so far. If you try to find it on a map, its in the very far northwest of Australia. It's in the state Western Australia, which is none to be sparsely populated but with some great scenery. The population of Broome varies from 14,000 during the rainy season (October to January) to around 40,000 around now. During the wet season no tourists come and the weather is extremely hot and humid. I was told if we didn't leave before the second week or so of october we wouldn't be able to travel in our car as a result of the heavy rains and flooding. I was only on the beach for a short bit, but it looked pretty. I think I have a job either working in the resturaunt... or maybe doing a little housekeeping! It won't be the most fun... but it's a job and I get a cheap place to live. We went to a movie last night at a cool little outdoor theater in town and saw the most depressing and most boring movie imaginable! It was about a couple who were homeless and never talked to each other and they were always getting high by inhaling gasoline! The whole movie I was like "what kind of weird person made this!" After that we ate dinner with 9 of the workers from the Oaks, the resort i'll be working at. Today I think I might go fishing with one of the girl's friends who's living here. Other than that I think a nice relaxing day by the pool doesn't sound too bad! I've got some pictures that I'll try and pst soon... but I forgot my camera today. See ya!

The last couple days

I spent most of saturday walking around. Later that night I was able to catch a rugby match where the Syney Bulldogs were facing the Carberrara Raiders. The hometown Bulldogs ended up winning the match with a goal-line stand with a minute left.

Today, my roommate Peter and I went to the world-famous Bondi Beach. There was a large running race so there were people everywhere. It was very crowded, but still so beautiful. After that we decided to head to Darling Harbor and check out the wildlife museum. Here we were able to see Koalas, Kangaroos, crocodiles, and the most deadly spider snake and birds in the world(which all happen to reside around Sydney!) It was a fun day, but definetly an exhausting one! My feet are killing me... so I've gotta go sit in the sauna and have a couple beers and everything will be perfect! I hope everyone is having fun back in the states!

Much love,
Taylor

SYDNEY!

Welp, I arrived in Sydney in the early morning hours Australian time. The time here is 15 hours ahead of Oklahoma... so you can view this as a message from the future! We just took a walk through "the rocks" district and around the Opera house. I'll be able to check into my hostel in a couple of hours and it looks to be a pretty cool place. Hopefully the rooftop pool has a hot tub attached! It's a little chilly today with a high of around 22 degrees Celsius... which is around 71 degrees Fahrenheit. I've met two new friends and we've been walking around together and hopefully we'll meet some more tonight. Well, it's about time for me to take a nap... so i'll try and keep updating as much as possible!
p.s. I think we have plans to attend another ice bar tonight... Cheers!

Pre-Departure

With Hannah and my Mom's help, I am setting up my blog for people to keep up with me while I am "Down Under!" I leave tomorrow (Wednesday, August 5th) at 1:30 PM and will arrive (if everything goes as planned) in Sydney, Australia, on Friday, August 7th at 6:30 AM. Sydney time is 15 hours ahead of Oklahoma time. From there, I will spend a couple of days in Sydney before heading to Broome on Tuesday. Sydney is on the SE part of the continent and Broome is located on the NW part of the continent so it will be quite a flight!

Stay tuned and I'll try to update my blog as much as possible. I will also be checking my Facebook and email. My email is taylorj87@sbcglobal.net. My Skype name is taylormacb59

Until then... let's put another shrimp on the barbie!!!