Sleeping, Searching, and Shorncliffe

I realize I haven't updated in a while, so I figure I'd surprise everyone with a new post. It's 4:40 pm here, and I'm just sitting around waiting for it to be time for me to cook my spiral noodles and finish up some of the leftover spaghetti sauce in the fridge. It's an exciting life. (it was delicious by the way)

Over the past few weeks, we haven't really done much but hang around the house, watch movies, watch tv shows on laptops, play XBOX, go to Indro for food,  go to Indro to buy food, and whatnot. We did have a day where everyone was free, so we went to Shorncliffe Beach for a little outing.

Brisbane is on the coast, and the river is connected to Brisbane bay, which is really only the technical term for the pacific ocean, just because there are islands on the coast. So its not hard to find a decent beach once you hit the coast, you  just have to go up high enough or down low enough from the mouth of the Brisbane river to get to a decent non-polluted spot.

We stopped at Indro on the way, because Emily and Cal wanted to deposit the cash that Emily and I gave them for rent - since we dont have Australian bank accounts yet because we don't have jobs yet. (more on that in a minute).
I took out some more cash, and Emily and I bought bubble tea. Bubble tea is basically flavored tea with tapioca balls at the bottom. it's an experience, but the texture isn't for everyone.  I had it in my backpack, because apparently its forbidden to drink or eat on public transportation. Emily always told us to hide our drinks a bit on the bus and not drink while on the bus, just because they don't approve of it. But apparently it goes beyond that. It is a $220 fine to drink or eat on a train in this country. I suppose unless you are in the dining car and you bought the drink or food there. So we could only drink our bubble tea while walking between platforms, and waiting on platforms.

Since we took the bus to Indro first, we had to walk to Indro train station, get a train to Roma Street station, and then get a train to Shorncliffe.

Fun fact: Unlike other public transport, where you can buy a monthly pass with unlimited rides, in Australia you need to top up your Go-card whenever it runs low. The only thing the system does to help you is that any transfers you make within an hour are called continuations, so you don't get charged for every apparatus you board (as long as its all within the hour).

We got to Shorncliffe train station, and started walking. We didn't know where the shore was, so Emily took out her smart phone and got a GPS but Cal just kept walking up the hill because he was sure it would lead to somewhere. He was right, and we caught up to him.

Then we had to climb down to the actual shore area. When we got there, the weather was nice, but as we started walking on the sand, it got cloudy. Then while we were all walking out on a make-shift pier that any lifeguard would tell you not to walk on - ever - it started raining really hard, and got very windy. Walking out on it, i was just afraid a tidal wave would come up or something.

 The beach, the one area of the whole park that has a big area of sand designed for laying out. The rest of the places with sand were just to walk or explore or gather sea-shells.

 the thing we walked out on.


 
To give you an idea of how long it was ^

Then it rained.

 then it started raining again. Emily U attributed it to the Upton family curse. Apparently it always rains when you bring an Upton to the beach with you.

 Then we got some chips, and we started a cult following of air rats, or Jonathan Livingstons, if you will.

 Saw ridiculous double rainbows.

 and a crane.

 and a crap ton of dead jellyfish on every stretch of sand, ever, everywhere. It made it very very hard to convince yourself to go into the water, no matter how hot it got outside. (and right before the second downpour, it was 90+ in the sun with no clouds).

 Then after we finished our chips (and by chips I mean fries) we got on a train back home, but we went to the train station in Sandgate, since we had walked far enough on the coast to be closer to that station. So that was nice. The town of sandgate is actually super cute, and with more time and a second trip, it is a cute little beach town with shops and stuff.

Then we got off in Brisbane City, stopped in a discount book store - where I FINALLY found a copy of Oliver Twist that I didn't HATE the cover of!! I've always wanted the island trees library copy, because its green leatherbound and vintage looking, but they sold it in the book fair and I missed out on snagging it. Most covers have ugly drawings of Fagin, or cartoons of little boys, or just nothing. So this one is cream colored with white and blue pocket watches. It's very nice, and it was cheap. It's one of my favorite books, so I'm happy that I finally own it. I also got two other books that only cost me $5 for both. So not a bad haul. 

We also went into a discount souvenir shop. It was HUGE and full of a lot of junk. I only bought a pin, because I was feeling a bit frugal. I'll be going back though, just for the two things I was mulling over. They also sold taxidermied ball sacs of kangaroos. For $20. how tacky.

Then we went to Pancake Manor, which is a pancake restaurant and bar in an old catholic church. I am positive that the church was de-consecrated when it was sold, otherwise no one would ever have been able to open a bar inside the place. I got chocolate jewels, which were two large chocolate pancakes, with cream, chocolate ice cream, and hot fudge. I couldn't finish it, but it was delicious. Cal finished it for me.

The next day, Emily and I had to sit around the house all day waiting for the internet company guy to come fix our wifi connection. When he came, he freaked out the cat, and kind of us too because he was quite enthusiastic, had a really strong accent - like he was a Cockney Australian. it was strange, and we couldnt understand a word he said really. He walked in, checked something, and then left with his bag and didnt come back for a good hour. So we didnt know what was going on. Then for a few hours he was in and out, fixing wires outside on the street and stuff. Then he said he hated our block, and was sweaty so he lifted his shirt up and looked like he was going to full on take it off,  but the looks on our faces (I presume) stopped him from doing so, so he smoothly just wiped his face with it.
He got it fixed finally, and then left, but we still had no connection, so Emily called Cal to figure it out. But then we finally got it working!

Then we ordered Pizza Hut delivery and it was very good. I got the supreme. Large pizzas here are a bit smaller than Papa John's larges in America. We each got our own and it lasted me dinner that night, and lunch for two more days (despite its size it was filling. yay)

Since then we've been sitting around, literally.
I've applied to a few more jobs, researched some others, and have gotten lost into the throes of insecurity and downright fear. I will happily explain these things, once I can put them into words that won't offend the people with me here (because it is not their fault) nor wound my pride over my strong decision to come here. I've had two lovely conversations with my mom and with my darling ring sister about my concerns and I feel a bit better now, but talking it out would be great for all of you who's interest has only peaked because I decided to include this paragraph. Now you'll be waiting for that update, because what is more juicy than a glimpse into my own tortured anxiety-ridden mind?

Not much, I say. Not much ;)