listening to: matchbox 20 - bright lights
currently at: an internet cafe in surfer's paradise, queensland, australia, 7.30pm (2 hours ahead of home time)

i just *had* to post this, right? am in surfer's paradise now, about 80km south of brisbane, in an internet cafe along the highway 10 minutes off from my hotel.

have travelled 2100+km on land since i left melbourne monday evening, with stops at sydney, wollalonga, hunter valley (with wine tasting!), port mcquarie, coffs harbour, byron bay (the most easterly point in australia) - and a spectacular sunrise this morning, and now surfer's paradise. as my friends note, it's a very tourist-y place, so i've been looking for souvenirs with little success. to all my readers, don't expect much - or even anything =\ i only really bought a hard rock cafe tee for my friend cos he asked for it (and paying).

what else...

* amazingly i haven't gotten carsick, a regular phenomena when i was young and riding in my dad's car up to malaysia. and consider that singapore to penang is under 900km (if i recall correctly)
* it's easy to get sunburnt here. i've turned a bit red. lips not doing too good as well
* quite a number of arguments on food and politics with my buddy. we agree to disagree of course. but arguments nonetheless. shall stick to travelling and the great bits about being down under
* i'd really like to be home now!
* i can't live without internet
* note to self: pack more socks. and i underpack. and i bring too small hand-luggage
* (again) souvenirs are tough to find
* i need more cash!
* i missed both euro 2004 semi-finals, and will miss most of the final, even if i get to catch the first half (flight out of brisbane to melbourne is 6.15am sunday morning; final is at 4.45am. damn)
* bring CDs when road-tripping, else subject to friend playing sarah mclachlan cd with 7 (or was it 9?) songs over and over again for 100s of kms. makes one sleeping. i still don't understand how it keeps him awake, except that he loves her music)
* must get car license. same buddy aiming to drive across the US next december, when he grads.
* fast food down here disagrees with me. i feel nauseous eating it after i complete the meal (well, the two times i ate it so far, plus the oily chips i've downed). byron bay is one town that bans (or refuses to have opened) fast food places (subway is the closest you can get). good idea.
* need a camera that can capture panoramic scenes, more memory for photo storage, more megapixels, better night shot capability
* i can finally say i've actually enjoyed my first glass of wine! had an amazing glass of semillon (some white wine) at hunter valley and bought two bottles. wanted to keep one for self and give other to prof, but comes in nice box for two. damn. how how?

ok that's all for now! updates and photos when i get back. internet cafe / souvenir shop closing in ten minutes...