It´s wintertime down under, not that this is winter for me, the cold in Sweden can't be compared at all with the Australian winter. The Aussies are freezing and putting on gloves and hats (and their UGG-boots) when it´s 10 Celsius degrees, funny but very true, and entertaining for me to see :).
During the first weekend in July I went to the IceHouse down in the Docklands, here in Melbourne with Sean, kinda cool place, expensive and full of Saturday free people. In my head it was supposed to be cold inside so I was prepared with clothes ... but I was wrong, the heating was on (not on the ice but in the air), strange to see people in almost no clothes ...
Went up to Lake Mountain with some of MUMC's members on Sunday the 4th of July ... didn't do any cross country skiing, too expensive and I can borrow the skis from the club next time ... so next time :). Took a long walk in the snow while the guys were skiing ... very weird to go in snow in July ... but so fun!
No, it wasn't that cold, maybe 0 degrees.
Up on the summit, 1433 meters!
The second weekend in July I did a long hike in Wilsons Promotory National Park with Sean, in the south-east of Victoria, 300km from Melbourne. What a hike, pretty amazing, what ocean views and all the kangaroos and wallabies along the hike. I didn't know that I could walk so much during one day. First day = 20km and on Sunday I guess 30km along the coast and back to the car by Tidal River.
Well, the hike is not over yet ... still a couple of km to go to Roaring Meg and later on the South Point!
A scared wallaby along the walking track... I kept going with a smile on my face!
Close to the South Point of the mainland of Australia, cool place!
Besides the hiking I've been working as a waitress at Java Grill on Bourke Street and been to a couple of interviews at Manpower after work. It took me 3 interviews, one at Manpower and 2 at IBM for finally getting the work I wanted to have :). Thanks God I don't give up so easily! Had to quit my waitressing job on the 21th of July, my Greek boss Maria wasn't happy but she understood me. I'll always remember her words; - You can move on Ingrid, I envy you, I'll stay here! She is completely right, I can move on easily, this year is the move year for me...
The first running race for me in Australia was the "RunMelbourne" on the 18th of July, 10km around the city and the Botanical Gardens. Had to go up early on Sunday (apparently all big running races in Australia are starting early Sunday morning, just accept it, yep). Good race and an OK time, 52 minutes I think.
Yep, me in the running outfit :) a very focusing Ingrid
One more hike took place in July, this time to Cape Otway by Great Ocean Road, was walking along the Great Ocean Walk with Sean on the 24 and 25th of July. Had great time there, some wet and cold surprises during one night when it was raining heavily and the tent was put in a slope witch made the sleeping bags and mats all wet ... I was freezing so much that I practically longed to get up early in the morning :). The sunrise was so gorgeous by Blanket Beach ... look below!
The most memorable thing from the Cape Otway hike was ... the koalas in the wild .. all of a sudden there was a koala up in the three above my head and eating eucalyptus leaves. My first encounter with the koala was a good one :) .. and yes, they do look very soft :)
On the 26th of July I started to work @ IBM down at Southbank, in Melbourne city as a Resource Coordinator in a HR department. Fun work and quite challenging the first week since we (4 coordinators started on the same day) had no laptops for a week! Will be working now for 6 months, so no more travelling, not long ones at least to next year February. Saving money now and will travel in Aussie in January and February next year! But the weekend hikes and short travelling will be on, that is for sure :)
