It's been coming for a while and now has finally happened: my brother Sascha, who currently lives in Switzerland, finally visited me in Australia. During some three weeks in December and January we celebrated Christmas in Melbourne, partied in the New Year in Sydney and relaxed for a week on a sail boat and the beaches around the Whitsunday Islands and Airlie beach.
After a 24-hour long trip, Sascha arrived in Melbourne and it didn't take us long to share the first beer, as it was just in time for a relaxed Saturday evening. Surprisingly, without any major jet leg, we then started organising for our 'Orphan's Christmas Party' - in case you are wondering - that is a gathering for all interested folk who have their parents living overseas. Everybody brought a dish from their home country for dinner, so in the end we shared Mexican, Indian, Columbian, Polish, German, Israeli and Australian food. What a culinary feast it was. Of course, in good old Polish tradition, we shared a shot of vodka.
Illustration 1: Sascha and I
Illustration 2: Orphans' X-Mas Party @ my house with Sascha, Tal, Peter,
Robjen, Sophie, Paola, Taselo, Gerardo, Anshul, Rakhi
Illustration 3: Gerado and Tal - makes me laugh out loud
Illustration 4: Paolita, Sascha and Marisol at Dimitri from Paris' Boxing Day Rave
Illustration 5: Marisol and Sascha at Dimitri from Paris' Boxing Day Rave
Illustration 6: Sascha and I in Chapel Street, Melbourne
Illustration 7: Paolita and I at Brighton Beach
Illustration 8: Victorian State Police cruising Brighton Beach
Our next stop was Sydney for New Year’s. Kuba and Kasia's hospitality was greatly appreciated by Sascha and I; it allowed us to stay over in Sydney and party into the New Year together. In good old Aussie tradition, we rocked up early in the morning in one of the parks around the Sydney Harbour Bridge (where the big firework display takes place that you see on tv each year) to secure ourselves a great viewing spot at the water. Armed with sunscreen and plenty of beer, we sat with friends all day in the sun in keen anticipation of the great firework display. What a spectacle it was; surrounded by three simultaneously choreographed firework displays, thousands of happy, shouting and screaming people, we started the new year 2009 with a bang.
Illustration 9: Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House
Illustration 10: Boozing away with Sascha and waiting for the fireworks
Illustration 11: Kuba, Kasia Bartek Gene, Sascha, and many more friends in Sydney
Illustration 12: Sascha in the Sydney Aquarium
Illustration 13: Kangaroos
Illustration 14: A sleeping Koala
Illustration 15: A small Stingray
Illustration 16: a Shark
Illustration 17: A Python Snake and Sascha
Illustration 18: Bohhhh!
Illustration 19: Sascha's Jam session with an Aborigine
Illustration 20: Sascha and I having a beer at the Sydney Opera House Cafe
Illustration 21: we're taking a ferry to Manly Beach
Tired from two weeks of partying and traveling we decided to go north into the sub-tropics of Australia and check out the breathtaking Whitsunday Islands. There is a total of 74 stunning islands belonging to this group, a few of which you can find on the UNESCO World Heritage List. We decided to stay in the middle of Airlie beach, a very popular backpacker town, that basically guarantees fun.
Illustration 22: Some of the Whitsunday Islands
Illustration 23: Sascha in front of Whiteheaven Beach
Staying in Airlie, there were so many sail boats to choose from, to cruise the Whitsundays Islands. It was difficult to choose the right boat. But in the end the winner was clear to us - advertised 'as the best fun you can have with your pants on' it became clear to us that 'Spank Me' was the boat of choice. Three days and nights later, after we had sailed through rough and quiet waters, dived, danced and partied Spank Me had proven itself as the highlight of the three weeks. It was an amazingly open and warm group of people from all over the world. Together we snorkeled, swam, scuba dived, and danced into the night. We also explored some amazing places, such as the beautiful Whitehaven Beach with its crystal clear waters and shining white pristine silica sand.
Illustration 24: Relaxation in the afternoon after our first scuba diving session
Illustration 25: Sascha found a friend right away ;)
Illustration 26: I love jumping
Illustration 27: The girls onboard to the name of the boat literally
Illustration 28: Sascha snorkeling away
Illustration 29: I'm snorkeling with a lot of fish
Illustration 30: Yeah! Scuba Diving
Illustration 31: I'm alright!!!
Illustration 32: How much is the fish?
Illustration 33: Hi Sascha! Blub... Blub....
Illustration 34: The Corals and Fish are amazing in the Great Barrier Reef
Illustration 35: Sea Turtles diving amongst us... sweet.
Illustration 36: The entire Spank Me Crew after 3 full days on the water
Shortly after, we returned to Melbourne, Sascha had to go back to Europe and we parted ways once more. Thankfully the next big event was not far away and my close friends from Sydney came over to see the Australia Open Tennis Women and Mens' Finals. The atmosphere during a Grand Slam final is truly amazing. I never realised how close you feel with the tennis stars when sitting in the small arena; marvelous.
Illustration 37: Jean, Bartek, Magda and Marcin visiting me in Melbourne for the Aussie Open
Illustration 38: That's it - The Rod Laver Arena
Illustration 39: Paola, Jurek and Marisol at the Australian Open
Illustration 40: Marisol and Paolita in the Tennis Arena
Illustration 41: Williams definitely deserved to win that grand slam...
2 straight sets in less than an hour
Illustration 42: The men's final was definitely worth watching... Nadal deserved to win
After a period of some intensive work and work-related travel, jumping back and forth between Sydney, Canberra, Auckland and Melbourne, I decided to join my great friends from Mexico and US on a trip to the Kingdom of Thailand. We specifically visited the Island of Phuket and some of the smaller islands around it, such as James Bond Island in the Phang-Nga Bay.
Illustration 43: Monks in Thailand
Illustration 44: Mariana, Ivette, Paola, Alejandra, Marisol and Ana in Bangkok
Illustration 45: Sleeping Buddha in Bangkok
Illustration 46: Patong Beach, Phuket
Illustration 47: Chico under the Waterfall on Phuket
Illustration 48: Marisol under the Waterfall
Illustration 49: Paola and I
Illustration 50: The entire Thailand Gang - Eduardo, Mariana,
Victor, Alejandra, Ivette, Paola, Mike, Marisol, Ana and Chico
Illustration 51: Sunset at Patong Beach
Illustration 52: Have you ever seen a Monkey riding a bike?
Illustration 53: In the Jungle... Elephant trekking with Paola
Illustration 54: Dumbo!
Illustration 55: That was steeper than it looks now!
Illustration 56: at the waterfall (Chico, Ana, Ivette & Marisol)
Illustration 57: James Bond Island 2
Illustration 58: Paolita and I
Illustration 59: Canoeing (Marisol & Ana)
Illustration 60: James Bond Island
Illustration 61: Sexy Bond Girls
Illustration 62: The Islands and the weather was just stunning
Illustration 63: more nature...
Illustration 64: Paolita!!!!
Illustration 65: Salud! (Paola and I)
I consider the highlight of the trip to be the stay on Koh Phi Phi, a place where party and absolute tranquility meet and you can spend days exploring and experiencing some truly great wonders of nature. Koh Phi Phi Ley and specifically Maya Bay are world famous from the movie 'The Beach' (primary filming location).
Illustration 66: Arriving on Koh Phi Phi
Illustration 67: Our Bungalows
Illustration 68: The Viewpoint - Phi Phi from the top
Illustration 69: on our way to Koh Phi Phi Ley - Inside the Island,
you can find the sheltered Beach of Maya Bay
Illustration 70: Chico snorkeling
Illustration 71: Yep - there was lots of fish as well
Illustration 72: Paola snorkeling
Illustration 73: Crystal clear aqua
Illustration 74: we finished the day climbing some rocks and jumping off the cliff
Illustration 75: Yeah you can shop anywhere in Thailand ;) LOL
Illustration 76: Party People!!!! We had a great time together
Illustration 77: That was obviously taken after a few rounds of drinks
Illustration 78: Sunset - Paolita
Illustration 79: Sunset - Victor
Illustration 80: Sunset with the Girls
Illustration 81: Paola and I at the Phi Phi Island Viewpoint
Illustration 82: Captain Cavemen!
Illustration 83: The view from the top was breath taking
Illustration 84: Tarzan and Jane?
Illustration 85: Definitely Tarzan!
Illustration 86: The jungle
Illustration 87: is this supposed to make you feel comfortable
Illustration 88: Great water color
Illustration 89: I like speedboats
Illustration 90: Nature on Koh Phi Phi Ley, close to Maya Bay
Illustration 90: Lean back and relax, until you reach the next Island
Illustration 91: Maya Bay, here we are!
Illustration 92: Relaxation in the Maya Bay (Vic and Paola)
Illustration 93: The Gang at Maya Bay
Illustration 94: Isn't this view perfect?
Illustration 95: Yep I guess you want to jump of happiness (Paola)
Illustration 96: One more time...
Illustration 97: Sparkling Gems (Paola and Alejandra)
Illustration 98: Sweet (Paolita)
Illustration 99: Let's Jump one last time! (Paolita and Vic)
Shortly after coming back from Thailand, my good friend Simon married Ann. It was a beautiful and magnificent ceremony and reception. Marrying in the Melbourne Town Hall, the heart of Melbourne itself, is classy! ;)
Illustration 100: Simon & Ann's Wedding in Melbourne (Paola and I)
Illustration 101: Paola, Daniela, Ann & Simon, Victor and Kazia at the wedding
Illustration 102: Melbourne Town Hall in the Twilight - simply beautiful colors
Here are some more pics from other occasions:
Illustration 103: Christoph's Birthday and a weekend in Mt. Dandenong, Victoria
Illustration 104: Kuckoo's Restaurant in Olinta (Christoph and Vic)
Illustration 105: Trip to Torquay Beach (Paola and I)
Illustration 106: Surf Trip to Torquay Beach with the Ivette, Paola, Ana and Marisol
Illustration 107: Mexican Party (I, Leah and Gerardo)
Illustration 108: Mexican Party (Ingo, Gerardo, Gery and Javier)
Illustration 109: Mexican Party (Matt, Betty, Tasselo, myself,
Gerardo, Christoph, Ingo and Tobi)
Illustration 110: Gery and I @ the Mexican Party! Hola!
Illustration 111: Try opening a bottle of Sparkling with a French Saber!
Illustration 112: Pierre-Francis' farewell party involved lots of French traditions - Great Party
Illustration 113: Asia, Paola and I at the Loewenbraeuhaus in Sydney
Illustration 114: still at the Loewenbraeuhaus together with Bartek and Marcin
Illustration 115: Tobi's Bucks Day - Paintballing in the Victorian Bush.
Illustration 116: Valentines Day on the Yarra River in Melbourne
Illustration 117: Raeggee Festival in Brunswick Street, Melbourne
Illustration 118: Mike, Rahul, Paola, Ivette and I (from right to left) at the Reagee Festival
Illustration 119: Tobi's Pool Party (Mike, Daniela, Diana, and Renata)
Illustration 120: Underwater shots rock (Chico and Ingo)
Illustration 121: No Pool party without a diving contest (Vic)
Illustration 122: Tobi's flying high there
Illustration 123: Mr. Chico!! LOL
Illustration 124: Renata, Chico, Diana, Mike, Ingo, Vic, Daniela, Matt
Illustration 125: International Party at Chico's Home...
Illustration 126: Paolita in front of the Yarra River, Melbourne
Illustration 127: Yoga on Koh Phi Phi... live your dreams...
Well, I hope you have enjoyed the quick update and the pictures and I'm looking to catching up with you soon.
Live your
dreams,
Victor |
