Weds. 24th June

So I have made it as far as Brisbane. A little unsure what to expect as I had head such mixed reviews of this place, and the nickname "BrisVegas" used quite widely in Byron and Surfers... but I'm really not sure where it comes from, Brisbane is pretty nice!!

I hated it on my first day here, almost entirely due to the fact that it was grey and heavy and pissing-down with rain all day, which was depressing and frustrating and generally made me think it was a horrible city *stamps foot*. But then Tuesday was beautiful and sunny and warm, as was today, and now I love it! It is fantastic, it's supposedly "winter" here yet warm enough that I have walked round in just a T-shirt all day today without needing a jumper even when it clouds over.. great climate!

Anywhere is difficult to like in the pouring rain, I did make it to the clock-tower building of city hall, went up in a lift to above the clockface, to get a good view over the (grey and rainy) city, which was okay I suppose, but kindof paled in comparison to the blue-skied eagle-eye view from the top of Q1 last week. Also wandered around the free Museum of Brisbane in the City Hall with an interesting, if slightly random exhibition about the Silky Oak tree, which is very popular in QLD and used to make all sorts of stuff. Was interesting about the logging history of the area more than anything.

Brisbane is inland! This is pretty much the first time I have not been beside the sea since I arrived in Aus and I miss it! There is a river here, it winds right through the city and you are never far from it's banks, which is nice. I walked for a while today along the waterside walkway round the bottom loop of the CBD area. It runs alongside the beautiful botanical gardens, which are fascinating for the tropical plants there, and a part is a boardwalk through a mangrove forest, which is pretty groovy! Was actually a pretty great walk, after the mangroves, it crossed over the Brisbane River to the other side and lead back up through Southbank, complete with big wheel, just like the British counterpart (and very similar in some ways).

I got a mini-job with the hostel today! I stayed in one hostel the first two nights, which was ok but kindof dirty and gross. The second night I was so itchy in bed, then the second day bites kept appearing and they are still appearing! I think I had bed bugs!! They are SOOO itchy, I need to speak to the hostel staff about them, but they said they can fumigate all my clothes and bags if it is bb and I think it is *ITCHY* I feel like I am a bona fide traveler now that I have slept in a bed with bed bugs... tick that one off the list!

So after two nights at Brisbane City Backpackers (with the BUGS) I had to move down the road to Chill as there were no vacancies at BCB. I went to a Job Club run by the guy that owns them and this morning he offered me 3hours per day 9am-12 handing out flyers for their new hostel, just stood outside Chill. And this pays for my bed in chill each night, so no accomodation to pay.. yay!! That's great for a couple of weeks but can't afford to stay in Brissy unless I get paid work too so have been round a couple of agencies today and signed up and will do more in the next few days. If I can get a few shifts, I could stay here for a few weeks, it has a nice feel about it.

Chill is nice! It's pretty new and nice and modern and spanky clean and the people there seem nice and friendly.. my room is TINY with 8beds and nowhere to put anything, imagine about 2-foot floor space down the middle between the bunks, and 8 massive rucksacks sat in it, you get the picture, but it is ok, the pros outweigh the cons and being able to work for my accom is a massive bonus.

Tomorrow am booked to do my RSA AGAIN! For Queensland, kindof annoying and will be well boring only 2months after doing my NSW one, but won't be able to get any hospitality work with out it so unavoidable.

I look like a leper and I am so goddammed ITCHY!