Ultimate Tourist Week

Today concludes our first week here. I'd say it's been a successful week. Thanks to many handy travel guides provided by friends, family, and the Australian locals, we hit most of the Brisbane (tourist) hot spots. Photo highlights below.

Photo of the city from the Brisbane Botanical Gardens


A tree in the botanical gardens with limbs growing into the ground


The Eye of Brisbane

Jeff in the Ferris Wheel

Me in a small panic. Not a fan of heights.

The KPMG building... where Jeff and I will both be working. Tallest building in Brisbane.

That's right folks, go big or go home.

Our first "night out" at a pub/bar.

Bars in Brisbane stay open until 5am. As Colleen would say, nothing good happens after midnight.

We spent part of Monday and Tuesday looking for a permanent residence (or at least for the next 12 months). We have a relocation specialist helping us with this--- now, don't let this title fool you, after one week here I'm fairly confident I could get hired as an Australian relocation specialist. Nonetheless, we're very grateful for her help, and found a wonderful apartment which we will move into on April 30th. I'll send an email with our new address. For a sneak preview, see photo exhibits below.

view from the balcony

actual building

balcony- my favorite thing!

location of our place relative to the city

We also spent much of Monday and Tuesday walking around Brisbane trying to get to know the city, and learn where we're going. The city is absolutely gorgeous, and very green both aesthetically and environmentally. Naturally both of these qualities make me very happy. Photo exhibits below.

First thing I see as I walk off the plane... :0) Australia, I like you already

Trashcan, along with recycle at every corner. What a concept
View from (our current) bedroom window

View from The Story Bridge

As a part of tourist week, we sampled the local food, and traveled by way of Brisbane public transport: ferry, train, and bus. The inner-city ferry which travels along the Brisbane River is just wonderful, and ever so convenient. See map of Brisbane below to better understand the ferry route.

Jeff eating some delicious sushi rolls

Jeff on the Brisbane River Ferry

Map of Brisbane

We took our first trip to the beach today, we went to Surfers Paradise just northeast of Brisbane. It was beautiful, as most beaches are. It did however, ever so slightly, remind me of South Padre Island or Panama Beach. Now I know this doesn't say much for the Australian beaches... but rest easy my potential visiting friends, this is just one of many (like over 100) beaches within a 2 hour drive from Brisbane. I've heard Surfers Paradise is the most dodgy beach of the bunch. Either way, we had a great time, and Jeff attempted to body board. Photo exhibits below.

Surfers Paradise Beach

Jeff headed out to bodyboard

As close as I'd get to the cold waves

Far and away the most exciting thing we've done is visit the Koala Sanctuary. Exciting, why? Well, cause we cuddled a koala. Need I say more? We also hung out with kangaroos, snakes, crocodiles, and more koalas. It was a fabulous adventure, a must see for all. Family Christmas card this year... I think so.

Tommy, my koala

Seriously, how cute is that?

Just chillin

Along with being the ultimate tourists, we've tried to take note of some of the major differences between Australia and the US. I'd say besides driving on the opposite side of the road, ordering coffee is a very different experience. Our first day here, we arrive to The Coffee Club (Starbucks equivalent, although there is ONE Starbucks in Brisbane), and try to order coffee. Jeff asks, "Could we get two large coffees?" Barista replies, "what kind?" Jeff replies, "just regular coffee...". Fair answer I'd say. Barista replies, ever so kindly, "Excuse me sir, but what kind of coffee would you like?" We are both sort-of in a panic wondering what to do here, as the line behind us is rapidly growing. The kind barista explains... there is no drip coffee in Australia, everything is made from expresso. So, we order a flat white, a quite delicious drink, and enjoy our first cup of Australian coffee. Some other notable differences... cars, the cost of everything, McDonald's, and public school uniforms. All items depicted below. We plan to add to this list each week.

This is not photo-shopped. Ladies, this is a serious crisis. Please send mascara

Public school uniforms. Aren't the hats a good addition?

This car is everywhere in Brisbane. If you don't believe me, see the 18 additional pics below...

That's right, McDonalds = Maccas. Even in the tv commercials. Maccas.

I'd say, so far, so good. Jeff starts work on Monday, so we'll have some new exciting auditing updates coming later this week...