Category: Australia

  • how i made $400 for flying back from australia

    No, they didn’t pay me to leave. I didn’t cause that much trouble while I was there (I don’t think!) But making $400 (USD) really was true! It was super easy, and it was by absolute chance. My friends and I got to Sydney Airport three hours ahead of time for our 11:55 AM flight…

  • scuba diving in the great barrier reef

    There’s that one moment when you’re in the water, halfway between the surface and the ocean floor, where time feels like it has stopped. A million different thoughts rush through your mind, like – what if I run out of air? But it’s too late to turn back now. The pressure is closing in on…

  • getting stung by jellyfish in the great barrier reef

    Okay, it’s definitely not as serious as the title of this blog post suggests but I was definitely getting stung by really tiny (if not almost microscopic) jellyfish while I was snorkeling. Twice on my lips, and constantly on my arms and legs. It feels like a tiny electric shock. You can still feel the…

  • what it’s like to hold a koala

    They’re actually not as soft as they look. Don’t get me wrong, they’re soft but I guess just not what I was expecting. Their fur almost feels like the polyester stuffing from a pillow. They also do not smell minty from all the eucalyptus leaves they eat (like I had read). Here are a few…

  • cairns cheat sheet

    I don’t know about you but I couldn’t figure out how to pronounce Cairns. Carns? Cons? Canes? Turns out, the correct way to say it (with the Aussie accent) is, “Cans.” Pronunciation aside, let’s be real. There is not much to do in Cairns. Tourists only use it as a port to get to the…

  • what it’s like to spend chinese new year in australia

    Yes, I know the politically correct term would be Lunar New Year but I’m Chinese, therefore I am calling it Chinese New Year. Spending the holiday there actually wasn’t planned. My friends and I had booked our flights for February and later on found out that we would be there during that time. But I’m…

  • walking underwater at sea life melbourne

    Imagine this. You’re in a tunnel that’s made of glass. Behind that glass are all sorts of fish, manta rays, and sharks, all swimming above and around you. It almost feels as if you’re underwater with them. Like that manta ray’s fin will graze over your head at any second. Or the shark will take…

  • there’s more to the great ocean road than the 12 apostles

    If you like coastal drives, you’re going to want to check this one out. The Great Ocean Road was built by returned soldiers from 1919 to 1932 as a memorial to soldiers killed during World War I. It stretches for 151 miles, starting in the town of Angelsea in Victoria. Since I joined a day…

  • where to shop in melbourne

    There’s lots of shopping to be done! Queen Victoria Markets – also known as Queen Vic, or the Vic Markets, you will not want to leave this place. It’s actually an extremely dangerous place for your wallet (especially since some stalls accept credit cards)! You will leave, thinking to yourself, ‘What did I just buy? Did I…

  • city sights in melbourne

    White Night – it occurs around the summer solstice, where the sun rises early and darkness is never complete. It originated in St. Petersburg, Russia. White Night Festival activities include the arts and performances. Check these out! Streets – are closed off and you’ll find music and street performers in every direction Dancing – colorful…