Brisbane

Well it’s taken me a while to write this (just for a change), I moved to Brisbane when Sam left for Perth (19th March).

Brisbane been further up from Sydney is a bit warmer & humid, at the moment the weather is starting to change (getting colder), but it’s about 26 Max / 14 min (so shouldn’t complain too much).

So I booked in at the Palace backpackers (http://www.palacebackpackers.com.au/) which used to be a Salvation Army temperance hotel in early 1900’s. It was quite a good hostel and I managed to get a single room fairly cheaply, only problem with the room was it was by a noisy air outlet which operated day & night (thank god for earplugs) The hostel had a roof top terrace where my room was located and a “Down Under” bar in the basement.

I met up with my Cousin Tracey & Husband Kenny in Brisbane for my Birthday which was really good; we had a meal in Queen Street & followed up with a few drinks. Tracey & Kenny have now left for Vegas on the next leg of their 12 month honeymoon!

As I’m poor again I’ve registered at Adecco, a temp. agency for office work and got 3 days work formatting a word document for Queensland University of Technology – I cant believe people actually hire people to do such basic work!(not complaining though). After that I had a week off to mosey round Brisbane.

For the last 4 weeks I’ve been working in a different University (The University of Queensland) doing admin within their office furniture showroom, it was initially for 3 weeks but they have extended me until the end of May. I quite like working their as I can get the ferry to work which is quite pleasant in the morning and gives me a bit of time to read (currently reading Angels & Demons, Dan Brown – book courtesy of Sam).

Brisbane is a really nice city, its quite small & compact really – reminds me of Manchester in that sense. Everything in the city is pretty much walkable, the Brisbane river dissects the town in to north & south bank with the CBD been north and the arty centre been the south. Southbank has got the Art & Science museums, theatres and a fake lagoon! As Brisbane isn’t a coastal city the made a man made lagoon where you can go swimming or sunbath on the beach.
North of the river you have got the main shopping area; close to the shopping area was where my hostel & central station are.

Around Brisbane theirs quite a few places to visit at weekends etc (Byron Bay, Noosa, Surfers Paradise, Morton Island National Park), on Easter weekend I went to Surfers Paradise with a couple of friends originally from the hostel. Surfers is classed as the Gold Coast and is about an hour and half south of Brisbane. Really it’s a bit like Blackpool – amusements, souvenir shops etc, but it has got a lovely beach – which was most welcome as Brisbane hasn’t got one.

While staying at the hostel I met up with some Irish fellas (Paul & Willie) who were getting an apartment with a Kiwi (Elliot) who’s just come over to live in Australia. Another guy (Rich - Kiwi) was also planning to move in but had to delay as he is working in the hostel (free accommodation), so he paid the bond and I’ve moved in and been paying the rent (cheaper than the hostel!).

The apartment is in a six storey block with ours been on the top, after the hostel its pure luxury (Balcony, swimming pool, spa, air-conditioning, dishwasher). It’s situated on the river by the story bridge, which is a landmark bridge just by the central business district.

Its well located as it’s about 5 minutes to Chinatown and Fortitude Valley where most of the restaurants & bars are. Also theirs a train station & ferry station 5-10 minutes and to get to the main centre (Queen Street) takes about 10 minutes. We spend most of the time around the apartment (or unit if you’re Australian) and the Valley at weekends.

Rich is due to move in on the 22nd of this month as his course starts, so he is finishing his job at the hostel. So after that not sure where I’m going – maybe move back to the hostel or maybe to another one in Brisbane.

Well that’s about it for the moment, hope you are all well – have a great May!