Brisbane! Or Bris-Vegas as loads of the Aussies seem to call it. Seems to be a divided city in terms of opinion, people either like it or find it pants. I didn’t like it, I loved it!

The reasons people said they didn’t like it was because its boring and theres not much there. Granted it doesn’t have the iconic sites of Sydney like the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House or Melbourne with the MCG, the Eureka Tower and St. Kilda down the road, but I still found lots to see and do in my time there. I also had 2 full days of sun believe it or not, crushing the opinion I had that Queensland is the wettest place in the world!

Arrived in the afternoon, dumped my bags off at the hostel and grabbed my map to get familiar with the city. Damien lived and worked in Brisbane for over a year (and I can see why!) so he had informed me of all the best spots. Headed over to the Southbank area, which apart from housing some trendy bars shops had a millennium type wheel and a man made beach. Pretty weird sitting on the ‘beach’ looking over at the water with massive skyscrapers in the background.

After a few hours chillaxing I walked along the banks of the river that runs straight through Brisbane, fantastically called the Brisbane River. Made my way to the Gabba (Brisbane’s Cricket Ground) to see if there was any cricket on I could cath. No such luck (well until later!)

It was getting hotter than Megan Fox in a sauna by this point so I located a boozer and had a few cold ones. Well I couldn’t plan my few days in the street could i?! Had to leave after about half hour though as I was getting pestered by a smashed Aborigine. Intent on telling me all about his first day of work at a coffee shop. No doubt he’s been sacked now.

Headed over to the other side of the river via a walk over Story Bridge where if im honest I got a bit lost and ended walking for ages! Legs were well hurting so got a train to Milton, which accommodates one of the most sacred and important buildings in Brisbane – the Castelmaine XXXX brewery.

They open late on a Wednesday and I got there at 6:30 to be told “The only tours we have left start soon, its slightly more than usual, but it includes a BBQ at the end with your free beer samples. Is that alright?!” Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh ok then!!

The tour was wicked, completely different to the Heineken one in Amsterdam. That was good, but it was more about Heinekens history and things to do rather than the XXXX which was aboput how they made the beer. They took us around the factory, was well good seeing all these bottles whizzing about getting filled and packaged up.

So at the end im sat chatting to these well alright yanks who were on a 2 week ‘vacation’ to Brisbane from their duties in Iraq. They were superbly named Jeff and Jeremy! I laughed, thankfully they did too. Ive got place to crash if I ever end up in Ohio as well. Cool. So anyway were drinking our freebies and this Taiwanese family who done the tour with us left early, stopping off at our table on the way to give us all their free drink vouchers they didn’t use! Always knew they were top people over there!
Now ive had some random Wednesdays nights in my time, but drinking free beer thanks to a Taiwanese family in a Brisbane Brewery with my Jeff and Jeremy is going to take some beating. Oh yeah the BBQ was lovely too. I had seconds.

The next day I treated myself to a lie in because I was shattered, but mostly because I was dying. Got the citycat down the river to Bulimba and jumped off and had a good look about. Made my way back and had a walk through the City Botanic Gardens. Again it was well hot so I retreated back to the lagoon for a slob about and a swim. Kept this evening quieter than the last, still went and had beers though with a lad in the hostel down Queens Street which was a good area.

My final day (well morning and lunch) before leaving consisted of checking out Queen Street during the day. Im not really one for going back to the same place twice, think there’s too many places in the world to see and go. I’d definitely go back to Brisbane though.

Ive just arrived in Sydney after 2 overnight stops. (1 at Byron Bay and the other at Surf X (near Coffs Harbour)). No point doing separate entries so ill add them here…

Both are in New South Wales, so had to add an hour on (still weird doing that!) Didn’t stay long in Byron Bay at all, infact just an evening as the bus arrived at about 6pm and my bus out was at 8am. Unfortunately I didn’t get the chance to have a look around, everyone on the bus wanted to meet at 7:30 and the driver promised us some free beer at a (well cool themed place) called Cheeky Monkeys.

I wanted to get up early to try and catch sunrise at the lighthouse and go to the most easterly part of Australia. Too much beer and the fact it was absolutely hammering it down meant I didn’t go.

It was also raining at spot X, but I was surfing anyway so it didn’t matter. Cool dude. Now im not your typical surfer dude as theres a lackage of steroids and blonde hair dye, but I still had a good go and was pretty good if I may so myself!

I absolutely loved it, id quite like to be a bum and surf in New South Wales for the rest of my life as it happens! Our instructor was a right laugh and our group was small but we all got on really well. Funny that on the eve of the Merseyside derby I was sharing a room with 3 girls and another lad, an Everton season ticket holder! He weren’t happy with the result! Get in there Dirk!!

As I say, just arrived in Sydney now – not even had a look around yet! Have 4 days here before I fly back to Asia.

Lots of love x (x x x x x)