Monday 4th - Saturday 9th August 2008

Hello, not updated my blog for a while.

Well I am still living here in Brisbane, and I have now got myself a job working in a backpacker bar as a DJ & MC! So basically I choose the music and do party games with the people its a great job I love it. Ive switched my sleeping pattern around so I'm now alive during the night and asleep during the day!

Anyhow, this week I went SKIING! Yep it snows in Australia!

I've had the trip booked for some time, and week by week the excitment has been building. In order to go skiing out here you have to go to the snowy mountains down in New South Wales. So on Monday afternoon we flew from Brisbane down to Sydney - from there we got a coach from central for a 6 hour coach drive into the mountains.

When we arrived in the early hours on Tuesday morning we stepped off the bus to a pleasant -5c. Not too bad We were staying down in the Snowy Valley Resort in a little place called Jindabyne, not actually in the mountains but down in the valley, a 30min ride would await us to get up to the real snow.

So we checked in and got sorted with boots and skis along with proper clothing. An early start was in order for the morning so we headed to bed.

We arose at 6, opened the curtains and it was snowing lightly! I was like a little kid and ran outside hah. There was only a dusting down in the valley, but it set me up ready to hit the slopes where the base depth was 140cm! Sweet!!

So we set off in the coach up to the ski resort, as we got higher the snow started getting deeper and deeper I was loving it! We finally arrived and unloaded the gear and hit the slopes. I have only had a ski lesson I remember when I was younger and Kate was in the same boat so Tim was in charge of teaching us.

It was entertaining to say the least, Tuesday gave me plenty of bruises with skis flying off here and there and the odd bump in to a tree to slow me down. It also snowed pretty much all day on so that added to the fun! We started out learning on the little slopes, then after lunch Tim threw us in to an intermediate slope of which I ended up sliding down most of it on my ass, but it did us good and built confidense and learnt how to traverse and all that jazz.

We left the mountain at around 5pm after a good 8 hours up there. I loved the first day but my backside was red raw and a few bruises starting to show but what the hell!

When we arrived back at the resort we jumped in the heated pool and the sauna to roast us back up which was grand!! That evening we had a free 3 course meal included in the package, but as I knew one of the girls that worked there from Sydney I ended up getting all meals for free plus 50% off drinks so that wasnt so bad!

During the evening we went for a few beers at the bar and did the quiz but we sucked at that and headed for bed. But before we went to bed we decided it would be a good idea to jump in the hot tub on the roof - but it wasnt much of a hot tub as the cover had been left off and the water was freezing so we jumped straight back out of that.

Wednesday dawned a cloudy start, again we hit the slopes and had a fantastic day. The sun came out in the afternoon it was fantastic. We travelled around most of the mountain, got a ski lift up to one of the top runs and did some blue runs which was awesome. I hardly fell over today which was a bonus as I think my ass would of ripped off if Ide of kept falling on it.

During the afternoon Tim went off to do his own thing so me and Kate doodled around and had a funny afternoon. We fell off a chairlift when getting on it as it was one that drags you up and you stand with skis on the floor. We thought you sat down on it so ended up on our backsides again hah.

Wednesday night I went out with the girl I knew as Tim and Kate wanted an early night. There was quite a few of us that went out so got talking to some new people which was good!

After 4 hours sleep I woke up on Thursday ready and raring to go for the last day of skiing. I went around most of the day with a Brazilian guy I was talking to the night before who was a good laugh! We went to the very top of the mountain which was 2050m up and did a 5km run to the village which was great I loved that! The snow at the top of the mountain was amazing and there was fresh snow falling at the time. Great Stuff!!

So all in all it was a quality couple of days and something I definately want to do again. I picked it up really well eventually and just had a blast!!

We got the coach ride back to Sydney on Thursday night, then spent the day in Sydney on Friday doing the sights with Tim. Friday night we went for a few beers and watched abit of the olympics opening ceremony. Now it's Saturday and we flew back up to Brissy this afternoon. Im gunna chill out tonight, then back at work tomorrow evening. All good!