Long time no see ...

Heya all,

New year is here, 2011 is gone and 2012 here it comes! Happy New Years to you all! Feels exiting with a new year ahead of me, full of opportunities and maybe some traveling too :)

Devils Marbles, along the Stuart Highway, on the drive way up to Alice Springs

December was quick, with long hours at work and I still managed to squeeze in some traveling during the weekends. First weekend was spent working at the Christmas Bazaar at the Swedish Church, was there on Sunday and helped Ida in the smörgås-tent. Went to see Savanha sing at the RAAF in Point Cook where she was singing with her choir. Beautiful singing, and the chapel was full of anticipated kids in all ages. Good to see the kids, Savanha and Oden, even for a short period of time that Sunday.

A very focusing Savanha singing

2nd weekend was a long one, started to drive up the car for my brother and dad's Aussie-road trip, Toyota 4Runner from Melbourne to Darwin. Start was on Thursday at 1pm and arrival time to Darwin was Saturday 7pm. What a drive, now I know that Australia is amazingly big distance wise. First day we drove to Port Augusta, around 1080km in 10 hours, second day on Friday we drove to Alice Springs (picked up a guy from the Czech Republic - his car stopped and Mick couldn't fix it - and the best advice he got was to leave his little car by Stuart Highway and come with us to Alice, and so he came with us ... all the way to Darwin as it turned out later in the car :). We drove for 13 hours before arriving to Alice at 8pm and the next day we woke up at 4am and drove the remaining 1500km to Darwin in roughly 15 hours.

Just 1221km to Alice ... and from there another 1500km to Darwin

Road entertainment - emus strolling along

Happy me on Stuart Hwy in the middle of nowhere

Camel-guy walking with his camel down to Alice, met him around 100km north of Alice

Long time no see ... me with my brother and dad in Darwin, Saturday 10 Dec

Car being prepared for the drive back to Melbourne from Darwin, took them a few hours to get ready, not sure why the car was cleaned before the drive in the desert ...

The most memorable things from this quick road trip was the long long highway that didn't have many curves, the long road trains and the help they gave us when overtaking them, the guy with the 2 camels walking from Kathrine to Alice Springs - pretty cool thing to walk in the desert with two camels. I remember we had to make two u-turns to be able to take a photo of the camel guy and have a quick chat to him.

Seeing my dad and brother in Darwin on Saturday felt very good, long time no see ... almost 2 years ago that I've been away now, they both hugged me and my brother lifted me up although he knows I hate to be lifted up in the air :). They started the long drive towards Melbourne on Sunday afternoon after a big shopping tour to the supermarket, they both got some driving lessons for the left side and manual driving with the Toyota, and re-arranging the car for their needs. They got 10 days to get down to Melbourne before we're flying away for Christmas all of us.

MUMC had their Christmas party on Sandridge Beach in Port Melbourne on Thursday 15th of Dec, with traditional bbq and drinks, went and had a good chat, food and bike ride along the bay. One of the girls from the club, Emma, did the MUMC hut in a ginger cookie cake, looked amazing and tasted good too.

On Monday morning, Dec 19, my brother calls me early and tells me they are stuck outside of Marla in SA (South Australia), car was leaking oil and the left hand wheel bearing was broken and they could only drive very slowly. I was happy to inform them that I've paid a road-assistance before the road trip and that they didn't need to pay anything for the towing. Turned out the only thing they had to pay once they've been towed to Marla was the new wheel bearing (once the spare part arrived from Adelaide the next day with the bus) and the work the mechanic guy had done on the car. RACV paid the rest for them, which was excellent! I was really happy with RACV and that they could drive on Tuesday afternoon again ... and arrive to Melbourne on Thursday morning :)

All of us took of to Tassie on Thursday evening, flying to Launceston, my dad and brother got an envelope at the airport with the boarding passes - the trip was a surprise from me and by looking at the passes I thought that they would know where we were heading. But no, my dad didn't have a clue where Launceston is and my brother was all exited and very curious where that surprise place could be located. He eventually asked a guard where Launceston is and was happy to know that it's on Tassie. I was taking them all to my favourite place in Aussie, the most beautiful spot I've seen this far in this big country.

We stayed in Tassie for 8 days, drove from Launceston to Georgetown, Bridport, St Helens, the Freycinet Peninsula and National Park, the Nut, to Cradle Mountain NP before heading back to Launceston for the flight back to Melbourne. Camped all nights except for one night in Swansea where we had to sleep in a cabin since the camping spots were all fully booked. Did the scrambling up and down to Cradle Mountain summit for the 2nd time this year. Tough walk up and much more tougher on the way down, I did make it down but my legs were shaking many times and I was looking forward that delicious dinner we would get at the Cradle Lodge later on.

Pictures being taken over a lookout point west of Launceston on the way to St Helens

Wineglass Bay, Freycinet NP, my brother plunging into the water to try his new boogie-board, he was so happy, I was documenting his progress and he was less happy when I asked him to go back to the car park since we had a long walk up

Cradle Mountain summit - 2nd time up here this year, lots of scrambling, a bit scary and I still don't trust my legs to 100% so I was scrambling on my bottom on the way down and this way it took me a long time to get down

New Years come very quickly this year, I guess the year was so fully booked with things that I didn't have enough time to reflect over the last year. I love to travel, even if I've been traveling interstate now for almost 2 years, still too much to see and I still want to see many thing in Australia. Still haven't been to WA (Western Australia), so this year I hope to make it to WA.

New years eve was spent with my dad, brother, Mick and some friends in Albert Park over looking the city fireworks from the park. Very good spot to see the fireworks and I was happy to be with my family after such a long time :)

Fireworks from the city, overlooking from Albert Park

Travel month

Heya all,

Sun is shining today, like many other days here, summer time is here but the heat hasn't arrived yet to Melbourne, it's around 20 degrees every day, not much rain, windy and a bit chilly, I won't be complaining more, so I'm quiet :). Looking forward some warmer temperatures soon.

Summer is here, and so are the flowers, with this comes the hay fever too :(

Well to be honest November month has been full of travellings. Will try to write it all down here below :)

Beginning of month was spent on Tassie, finished the Overland Track with Mick by Lake St Clair on the 1st and next day we went on a long day walk around Mount Rufus for 7 hours. Spent 2 days in Hobart before flying back to Melbourne on Saturday 5th.

Yep, snow on the top of Mt Rufus, Tasmania - November 2, crazy weather with rain, hail, snow and sunshine during the day, I guess Tassie is just like Melbourne ... not so predictable

Shadow Lake, on the way down from Mt Rufus back to Lake St Clair

One of my best pictures from Tassie, did a drive from Hobart heading south along the highway and found this spot off the main road - it's just amazingly beautiful and peaceful and I still remember the smell of cows

Did a daywalk with the club, MUMC, on Sunday Nov 13 to the Cathedral Ranges, did the northern circuit walk, around 14 km with some scrambling involved. Krissie was the leader and it was a really good walk, hot and sunny and at the end it was pouring down with rain. Had a great dinner in Healesville on the way back to the city. Thanks Krissie for organising this walk!

All the 12 of us happy daywalkers, scrambling along the Cathedrals, happy the rain came when we were off the rocks, November 13

Went to see Kings of Leon on Monday Nov 14 at Rod Lavern Arena (the big tennis arena which is transform to a big music concert arena). The music was good but the band wasn't so good, they were too focused on themselves and not on the audience and the music ... anyway I'm happy I went and thanks Charmaine for selling the tickets to me :)

During the weekend of Nov 18-20 I was in the city, had a quiet weekend with yoga, running and visited "my"Swedish family in Werribee. Had a good time with the family and kids and I guess I'm still not too old to give Oden and Savanha a piggy ride :)

Last weekend of November me and Mick flew to Brisbane on Thursday evening to attend his brothers wedding in Noosa on Friday afternoon. It was a beautiful wedding in a hot church, sunny weather and with lovely guests. Have now met the whole Buckley family and I like them all (and I'm always honest as you all know). Reception was great with delicious food and cake was yum yum too :). I liked Noosa, even if I don't like big touristy places, but the atmosphere was good and people were polite and nice and not to forget the sunny weather. Had a hot uphill run to Noosa Heads National Park on Sunday morning before we left for Brisbane, amazing views along the running track with the ocean next to me, wish I could run there every day. Had a well derserved jump into the pool afterwards and a big aussie breakfast :)

Me and Mick outside the church in Noosa, next to us the bride and groom's car which we took for a drive the next day along the coast, felt like I was a movie star haha :)

Lots and lots of walking

Yeya all,

Pre-summer storm with hail and heavy rain is approching Melbourne as I type now and I'm happy to be inside dry and watching the scenic lightnings through the window :). I was amazingly quick on the bike home from work since everyone kept talking about this big storm coming.

October is gone, quick as the other months, being doing many things and I'll try to summarize it here below for you all my dear readers :)

Toolangi forest walk with MUM - around 22km in 7 hours - October 2

First weekend of October was a social one with a day visit to Werribee to see the kids and family, always good to see the kids, Oden and Savanha, they are getting bigger for every time I see them, but they still welcome me with the biggest hugs when they see me :).

Went for a day trip with MUMC outside of Melbourne on Sunday morning, did the Toolangi Circuit Walk, took us around 7 hours with lunch and rest stops. Beautiful forest walk and up to the top of hill (1027m). Ended the walk with a delicious dinner in Healsville on the way back to the city.

The 9 brace MUMCers who defited the leeches during the Toolangi walk - Krissie as the leader this trip, bottom left side

2nd weekend of October me and Mick flew up to Brisbane, QLD, to meet up with the grand Buckley family:). It was good to see them all, his mum and dad, his brother and sister. Did see a shy koala in the garden, no snakes even if they had a big python a few days before (maybe next time I'll see one, who knows).

See the koala with the fluffy ears?

Lovely puppy Molly liked my feet haha :) .. Gray and Naula's dog

3rd weekend of October I went on my biggest challenge trip ever with MUMC, 24-hour walk from Mt Bogong to Mt Feathertop. Well, we didn't quite made it, 5 of us (started 9 in total) didn't finish the whole walk since one of the guys in the group sprained his ankle and it had swolled up and was painful to walk for him. The decision to stop was good for me since I was getting very tired after 15 hours of walking and was looking forward a bed and pillow in Falls Creek where we slept in a ski lodge while the rest of the group (the quick group) kept walking for 28 hours before they finished the walk and picked us up the next day after the car shuffle was done. Well done guys and thanks for the trip Luke!

4rd weekend of October was spent at home drying food non-stop for 3 days with the club's flash dehydrator. Dried fruits, pasta, rice, curry with tofu and pasta sauce .... took a long time, but we got food for 4 days for the Overland Track. Bough a a really nice tent, Venus Extreme (Exped) and I bought myself a brand new backpack (65 to 85 litres, LowAlpine).

Last week was spent preparing and packing for the Tassie trip and the Overland Track. Flew to Devonport on Thursday morning, 27th and were picked up by Tony and Merril who we met along our day walk in Tassie over Easter. Tony and Merril are the nicest old couple in Tassie, they took good care of us, had a great dinner in the evening and provided us with lots of info of the track and some other walks around Tassie and drove us to Cradle Mountain on Friday morning. Both me and Mick are very thankful of the help, drive and time that both Tony and Merril spent with us, thank you! I hope that when I'll grow older that I'll be as social, nice and appreciate life and nature as much as Tony and Merril does today :)

First day on the Overland Track, started on Friday 28th, from Ronny Creek, heavy heavy day with all the food and water to cary, with a steep walk to Marion's lookout. Stopped at Waterfall Valley hut for the night after 5 hours of walking, slept like a baby with the waterfall running next to the tent.

First day - Overland Track - October 28 - on the way to Waterfall Valley hut

The track - bord walk is really nice, had my board walk song (I love the board walk, I love the board walk sha la la la la) - but there wasn't much board walk so I was really happy when long sections of board walk was coming along the track

Tent is being pitched up by Mick, he took the tent pitching seriously :) ... first night in the new tent, smelt new and lovely

Waterfall Valley hut - 1st hut on the track, spent one night here

2nd day on the track - had long walk from Waterfall Valley hut to Pelion hut, over 25km, skipped one hut along the track, Windermere, since the weather was ok ... by the time we got to Pelion hut it was pouring down with rain and I was stuffed up with all the roots and waterholes along the track

Happy me on the 3rd day - walked from Pelion hut to Kia Ora - stopped by 3 huge waterfalls and skipped Mt Ossa sidetrip since the weather was bad

Wombat walking on the track - had a look at us and took of again :)

Suspension bridge crossing close to Narcissus hut, getting closer to the end of the walk, pretty cool bridge, only one person at a time was allowed to cross

OK, to sum up the Overland Track: we finished the walk in 5 days (planned for 7), really good walk, not that hard after a few days of warm-up, there are many huts along the track, well marked track with splendid sidetrips to do if the weather is good ... which it wasn't for us so we had to skip Mt Ossa, Mt Barn Bluff and Pine Valley track ... so next time we'll do Mt Ossa via Jerusalem National Park and stay at Pelion Hut and walk up to Pine Valley hut via Lake St Claire (by ferry this time) and do the Labyrinth and Mt Acropolis. Tassie is a place that I'll return to with pleasure, it's always beautiful and I'm always sad to leave this island.

Busy and stresy month

Hey all,

I'm happy that September is finally over, it's been a very hectic month at work with way too much to do. The long days with running, yoga and work on the schedule have made me tired ...

Toolangi day walk with MUMC

Around 60km to Melbourne

This is a bit ironic now ... the most exiting thing during September was that I bought myself a new bike, a brand new Blast Kona, blue/white with hydralic brakes and way too many gears, new lock, helmet, lights (the whole kit/hela kitet in Swedish:) ... I had a fall of my bike almost 4 weeks ago and I've sprained (stukat) two fingers, the pinky and the next fin

ger to it on my right hand. The fingers are still in pain, can't bend them yet, the healing is slow and the only and best thing I can do is to rest my fingers. I'm probably not the best person when it comes to rest my body ... this is a good opportunity to rest up and think and do things I normally don't have time for.

My beloved new bike - I'm riding again after 2 weeks off the bike

Other than the bike fall I've been donating blood, went to a cray fish party in Werribee, did a phone gaine in the CBD of Melbourne (charity photo chase in the city together with Khan from MUMC - a really fun day even if we didn't win anything), did the Werribee Gorge circuit walk with Mick (8km) where I was walking funny with my right arm on my left shoulder :)

Weribee Gorge circuit walk

Gorgeous day for a walk - Werribee Gorge

Photo-gaine in the ciy - Fed square

Ciao!

Last winter month of August

Hey hey,

August is gone and spring is here in Melbourne, all the trees and flowers are in bloom and it´s a joy to see it from the bike seat to and from work every day.

Green green ...spring is here! 

The month of August was a bit quite compared the July, no long bushwalking trips. All weekends were spent in the city except for two. Most memorable things I did during August was seeing the "Ballet Revolution" with Diana (excellent ballet, tango and latin dancing show with great dancers from Cuba), spent a day with the kids and family in Werribee (can still remember Oden, the 5 year old, asking me on my arrival:

 - Why are you so late Ingrid, I´ve waited for you a long time, can I´ve a big piggy ride?)
hihi, how cute is this on a scale? :)

Flew to Sydney on Friday 12 August with Mick for the City to Surf race and had a chilling Saturday in the big city, feels like Sydney is more my old city since I can find myself around the CDB easily now. Went to see a movie, Green Lantern, in 3D, sat in Gold Class - my first time and not the last I can say - really comfy and nice food service which you can book to arrive at different times during the movie session. On Sunday the 14th of August, was the big racing day, up early for my 8.10am start, chilly weather with rain and later on with just clouds. Finished the race in a slow time, not happy with my time this year, my fault I guess not training enough before hand. Next year I´m back Sydney - now training for the Melbourne Half Marathon :)

Me and Mick after the finish on Bondi Beach - City to Surf in Sydney

Huge bubbles in Sydney - Hyde Park 

The weather has been really beautiful down here in Melb during the last weeks of August, which made me drag Mick out for a daywalk in the Dandenongs Ranges, just a short drive from the city. We did the 1000-steps and walked around in the park, really nice, even if the 1000-steps was a bit crowded with people.

At the top of the 1000-steps in the Dandenongs Ranges National Park

View among the tree tops down in the valley of the Dandenongs 

Last week of August was spent packing and unpacking, moved to Hawthorn with Mick to our new place, a 2 bedroom apartment with a balcony, close to the Yarra river which is perfect for riding my bike to/from work and running too. Exciting to live together now and I guess this will kind of make me stay longer down under (already been here 1 year and 6 months) and at the moment I don't see myself move back to Sweden. Will let the time decide what will happen in the future ... living in the moment now :)

 Adios for now, hugs to you all, family and friends!

Cultural July

Hey hey,

Yep, July is gone ... and I'm wondering why the month just flew away so quickly.
Sum up of July: a very cultural month :)


Foggy Melbourne from level 26 at work - the fog just came and it was surreal, like in the movies, couldn't see the buildings over the river Yarra


Ireland or Australia? - greenish landscape along GOW


2 kangaroos watching us bushwalkers along the GOW

First weekend of July was spent in the city, visiting the Swedish family in Werribee with Mick - always so good to see the kids, Sue & Rudolf and Ida & Fredrik.
MUMC-Krissie was organising the skating in the Docklands on Sunday evening and it was a good skating time, first time in winter time with a cooler temperature outside than inside.


View from GOW - past Aire River

Second weekend was spent bushwalking on the Great Ocean Walk, did the last part of the walk from Aire River - Johanna Beach - Ryan's Den on Saturday (27.2km) and Ryan's Den - Glemamle Homestead (29km) on Sunday. The 7 of us from MUMC walked and walked with the heavy backpacks for 2 whole days, from 8am to 5pm both days. We all made it to the end of the GOW (Great Ocean Walk), 2.5km from the Twelve Apostles... except for one of us who hitchhiked back to Apollo Bay (where we went and picked her up on the way back to Melbourne).


The 7 dwarfs from left: Michael, Rob, Mary, Amber with Mick, Nhung and me at the back


The end of the walk, the Twelve Apostles, almost blew off the walking track cause the wind was so strong :)

The third, forth and fifth week of July was spent in Melbourne, working, dancing ballet and tango, seeing the Nederlands Dance show (a modern dance show), a French movie (Little white lies), celebrating Christmas in July with Mick's friends in Brunswick, brand launch party for Experis, celebrating the 2nd Christmas in July at the Swedish Church where Ida was cooking all the delicious Scandinavian food, had one year at IBM on July 26 :), saw a Spanish film on the MIFF (Melbourne International Film Festival) - Medianeras (cool, new style movie), went to my first house cheering party in Northcote at Krissie's place (good to see the MUMC-friends) and I did a long day walk from St Kilda to Brighton Beach and back to St Kilda on the last Sunday of July.


Christmas in July - food and Ginger beer at the Swedish Church, no alcohol before the City to Surf in Sydney :) (hårda bud/tough luck)

See you next month!

Diving and bushwalking June

Hey all,

Here we go again, another month is gone. June was a very quick month I must admit, way too quick. Being away from Melbourne during two weekends helps the time to move quickly :)


Early sunrise by Blanket Bay June 19 - Great Ocean Walk with MUMC

First week of June was a warm up for the second week with lots of work (me backing up on a colleague as a Resource Manager), did a daywalk in the Dandenong NP (Sherbrooke walk, footy game on the MCG between Collingwood and St Kilda (the Saints lost big time - Go Saints next time) and volonteered at the Swedish Church Sunday afternoon when the Swedish priest family had their farewell party day.

Second week was a good week with a long flight up to Cairns on Thursday afternoon after work. The warm Cairns was very welcoming to a chilly cold me and a sweaty warm Mick who didn´t like the hot QLD as much as I did. On Friday morning we took our dive medical and were picked up by Jason, the dive instructor from RumRunner and had the first theory day on our Open Water diving license course. Tiring long day with lots of video watching and dives in a cold pool was ended with a good and warm Greek dinner in the small city of Cairns with almost no traffic :). Saturday morning we got up early at 6am for the boat departure from the harbor at 7.45 with the destination Great Barrier Reef. Had our first 2 dives in the open water with some practices and skill tests. All good except for me and Mick being seasick on the boat and throwing up overboard. I got so seasick that I couldn't eat anything for almost 24 hours, just had some water and slept for more than 14 hours ... what a boat ride, damn big waves ...
On Sunday we had our last 2 dives, where the first one in the morning was down to the magical 18m deep (Masa the instructor for the morning dive took us down on a sand patch and put the number 18 on his writing board) :). We all passed the dives and tests (me passed the mask removal after some well needed practice) and headed back to Cairns - me sleeping the whole way back since the waves were big and I didn´t want to throw up again.


Me trying to smile ... hard to smile while diving :)


Group picture from left; Jason, me, Mick, Naomi and Singh


On RumRunner on the way back to Cairns, the sun was warm and I could sit down for a while without being seasick

Back in Cairns we hired a car and headed up to Cape Tribulation for 3 days of laziness filled with sleep, food, beach walking and book reading. Tried Jungle Surfing in the rainforest south of Cape Trib, preatty cool and not scary at all, see below ...


Jungle surfing in Cape Tribulation, here upside down on the last section of the surfing

Headed back to Cairns on Wednesday June 15 and flew back to the chilly Melbourne. Always hard to leave a warm and beautiful place...

On the weekend of 17-19 June me and a group from MUMC headed out from Melbourne for a bushwalking trip along the Great Ocean Walk (GOW). We started (12 people with me as trip leader) from Apollo Bay and finished the fist day in Blanket Bay and the second day by Aire River. Had a good time walking and contemplating on the beach, muddy walk sections and good long sleep in the warm tent. We saw a koala and a wallaby on the way and the Canadian guy Felix was happy and exited that he had seen some native Australian animals on his first bush walking trip down under.


Beach walk from Apollo Bay via Marengo Beach, weather was crazy with sunshine one minute and rain one minute


Koala on the ground, didn't or couldn't climb up the tree, could have been sick, poor thing


All of us by the end of the walk, Aire River - happy walkers resting sore feet with blisters

The rest of June was spent at work, dancing, watching the BANFF Mountaineering Movie Festival with MUMC, tried to give some blood (but couldn't since the nurse picked a bad place and my blood didn't fill up the bags) and attended a midsummer party at the Swedish Church with Mick.