You can live everything you imagine

No longer in OZ... :(

2008-01-14T11:32:00+02:00

yep. that was it. I was a lazy bum and didn't write too much in this blog. oh well, it can only mean one thing. I had a great year. absolutely awesome.

in finland now. sitting at uni, feeling pretty lost. don't know what to do and where to go. i've forgot so many things, so many places. my body's here but mind somewhere else.

Adelaide.

2007-10-29T05:17:00+02:00

yes well...we're here. don't have much to say about Adelaide. It's just another city, pretty quiet one but nice. Visited an art gallery and a chocolate factory (yum!) and tried to go out on saturday for Niina's birthday drinks but it was raining and we didn't really know where to go so it wasn't too special. Was weird to get back to civilisation after the outback life. Saw Uluru and King's Canyon and they were both amazing although the weather didn't bring out the best colours of Uluru and we didn't get to see it at sunset. But yeah, was definitely worth the 3000km's drive!

when we started heading south from Uluru, Richard's van started making really weird noises (it had been giving the warning signs all the way from Townsville but being a lazy englishman he didn't do anything about it...) and after a couple of hours of driving it decided to break down in the middle of nowhere. couldn't really have been a worse place...80km's to the nearest town and no service stations or anything. we stopped about 10 cars and tried to get a towing rope and eventually I had to tow his van to the next town. apparently the head gasket was fucked and it would've cost him too much to get it fixed (obviously they added a little 'outback bonus' to the price..) so he had to leave the van there and move all his stuff to our van. the next couple of days were a bit frustrating with all that stuff in our van so we were really happy to get to Adelaide! on the way we stayed in Cooper Pedy, a dusty little mining town where half of the population lives in these underground dugout homes because the temperatures can reach such extremes as +50C in the summertime and -20 in the wintertime. We stayed the night underground as well in a little cave type of thing, was pretty interesting!

We're planning to leave Adelaide tomorrow, think we've seen pretty much everything we needed to in here...will probably drive along the coast and around the peninsula and then head to the Grampians (some sort of a mountain) before driving to Melbourne. Found out on saturday that Sanna and Antti will be here a week earlier than planned, so happy to see them soon! as usual I don't have any pictures, probably never will...but I'll keep updating this cos I seem to be too lazy to email everyone :) so keep reading and commenting! miss you all!

<3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

You haven’t seen the real Australia until you’ve seen the Outback

2007-10-20T03:56:00+03:00

We made it. 2500 km’s of straight and empty roads. And we’re only half way on our trip :) Never seen so many dead kangaroos and cows. Never seen such emptiness and roads that just don’t seem to end. All you can see is this blue haze at the “end” of the road probably caused by the heat, so that it looks like you’re driving into a gap after which there’s nothing. And every now and then a huge 50metre long road train passes you (they’re not really trains, just massive trucks) with a big wooosh! and then it’s empty again.

There wasn’t too much to see on the way. We stopped in a few little villages and saw some funny country people, you know the cowboy hats, boots and a big beard sort of country hillybillies. The cattle farms here are massive. They’re so big that they actually have to sheer the cattle with cars and helicopters. One of the biggest farms here is about the size of Belgium! Other than that there’s been some freaky green frogs in the toilets. hehe, yes. the first time we went to this dodgy looking “oudoor” toilet we ran out screaming with Niina….just because after flushing I discovered that there were 3 green frogs the size of my hand living underneath the toilet seat. yuck. that’s the outback life :D

So now we’re in Alice Springs, the centre of Australia, been here for a few days. The heat is quite unbearable (yesterday was +39C…in the shade!) so we haven’t done much, just been relaxing after the long and dusty drive. Today we’re going to get back on the road and start heading to Uluru and King’s Canyon. I still don’t have time to upload all my photos but I’m gonna add at least a few from the road. sorry for the crappy update again, I guess this heat is melting my brain. Hope you’re all well and happy, would love to hear from you!

sorry no photos again, my laptop's too slow and we're gonna go see baby kangaroos and then get back on the road before it gets too hot! next time I promise :)

Burn baby burn

2007-10-09T04:20:00+03:00

Long time no see mates! I'm trying to upload some photos so this will be filled with them...it's taking too much time though. ok so no photos this time, sorry! It's our last day in Port Douglas, Tropical North Queensland, and tomorrow we'll start heading down south and then west to the outback...towards the burning hot Red Centre known as Alice Springs and Ayers Rock/Uluru. It's gonna be one hell of a journey, 5000km's of driving in the worst heat I've probably ever experienced in my life, surrounded by nothing but sand and a few suicidal kangaroos (hopefully not!). I'll try and write a few lines to let you know I'm alive. now I've got to go again!

i've come a long way from 'home'

2007-09-03T11:23:00+03:00

That two weeks from my last entry went pretty damn quickly then. Minna's gone and me and my Raisin400 are missing the sound and smell of her. I'm in Magnetic Island now, spent a couple of days in Townsville after Minna left last thursday. We had such a memorable trip, never got to go and do the sea kayaking because of a stupid little rain. Fraser Island, with our shitty 4WD, group of 10 girls and 1boy, storm, high tides and unexperienced drivers, was a little disaster but we survived, felt like we'd run a mental marathon after that tho. oh well, we had good times there too. but the highlight of all was our 3-day whitsunday islands sailing trip...it was so good that not much can probably beat that. the snorkeling on the reef was most beautiful thing i've ever seen, was breathless, speechless and just incredibly happy after that! never thought i'd get to experience something like that. swimming in the middle of thousands of fish i've never seen, the beautiful colourful corals underneath, hearing nothing but your own breathing....wow!! and we had such a nice boat, great crew, delicious food and a really good group of people so it was just perfect.

anyway my time's running out. will be on magnetic till wednesday and then niina and her friend will fly here from melbourne....so I'll have new company to travel with and I know it's gonna be lots of fun, can't wait!

cockoo

2007-08-19T04:53:00+03:00

we're back from our noosa canoe trip. it was awesome. wildlife, nature, early mornings and no late nights, sunrises and beautiful beautiful places. stayed in noosa last nite, using all the hostel facilities for free tho we're sleeping in our van. pretty hangover now so don't have a lot to say. it's raining. heading to rainbow beach today and then tomorrow morning at 6 we'll go sea kayaking with dolphins, whales, turtles etc. can't wait! arms are still sore from the 30 kms of canoeing we did.

minna is waiting to book her flight from whitsundays back to byron. i wanna go there too and don't want her to leave. got no idea what to do after she's gone. we have less than 2 weeks left together.

suggestions anyone?

Byron Bay!!

2007-07-30T04:46:00+03:00

I'm here! It's sunny and warm, shorts and t-shirt weather...I love it! Byron's such a lovely little town, got everything u need and a little more. Met all Minna's friends and we've just been chilling out at the beach basically. I'm really not used to having all this freedom to do whatever whenever, still got the busy Sydney vibe in my veins but I'm sure it's gonna get washed off pretty soon. It's also quite strange to not have anything of my own here except for my van, everything's unfamiliar and there's all these new people and places, felt a bit lost at first. But I'll get there...for sure! And this coming weekend there's a big festival here, Splendour in the grass, I was lucky and got myself a ticket yesterday! It was supposed to be completely sold out but yesterday they were selling tickets to locals and one guy helped us out so we got tickets :) It's going to be a weekend of total madness I think! it's been a while since the last festival i've been to...

Ok I should get my ass back to the beach now, it's so sunny and warm outside and here I am sitting by the computer. damn technology. got my flights back to UK sorted btw, I'm gonna leave sydney on the 10th Jan, got a free stopover in Tokyo and then I'll be in London on the 11th Jan. Will prob stay there for the weekend so if anyone happens to be there or is planning to go...that's the time and place to be!

I just noticed I used way too many !!!!...heheh, guess I'm just a wee bit excited to be here :)

Things just couldn't be better...and other true lies

2007-07-26T16:43:00+03:00

In two days I'll be in Byron Bay so this is probably gonna be my last posting for a while...you never know.

I've had the saddest and most stressful last couple of weeks and I just can't wait to leave and let my mind relax for a while. Don't know where it all started but suddenly it seemed that anything that could go wrong, went wrong. First I discovered that I wouldn't get my new driver's licence before leaving Sydney since the address wasn't complete and the post office would send it back to Finland. It still hasn't arrived and no one knows where it is, yipee. So I'm gonna drive without my licence and if I get caught by the police, my travel funds might be cut a little for having to pay a 'bit' of a fine...fingers crossed that they won't stop me before Byron!

Then there was the trouble with the car...stupid me didn't even think for a second that the car is registered in South Australia and I couldn't transfer the ownership under my name unless I actually lived in Adelaide or something. Of course I did my best to somehow get around this, by making up a fake address in SA or getting a P.O. Box in Adelaide. but oh no it wasn't that simple and there's just no way I can register the car in SA unless I'm actually physically there. Sooo...officially I still don't even own the car and I'm gonna wait till I get to Queensland to register it there, since that should be a lot cheaper than doing it here in New South Wales. Again I'm gonna hope that the police won't stop me cos I don't know if it's actually legal to drive with it if I'm not the official owner yet. so yeheee, Laura's in more trouble again :) At least I've got insurance for the car!!

But as if this, the stress of leaving, and saying goodbyes to everyone wasn't putting me under enough stress, I got some more great surprises. On wednesday I went to the Japan Airlines office to change my return flight back home, planning to fly back in the beginning of January. oh but silly little laura, things just can't be that easy can they? well no, why should they...the stupid travel agency had somehow 'forgot' to tell me that there's some embargo period on my tickets, meaning I couldn't fly back between the 26th December and 12th January. Fair enough, book me a flight for the 13th Jan then (btw that's when my visa expires and I MUST leave Australia). Surprise surprise that's not possible cos my ticket expires on the 11th Jan so the latest I can leave is the 10th Jan...so now I'm hoping that they'll fix me a flight for the 10th and I won't have to pay more than the change fee. sorry to say this but there's no way I'll come back in December! Fingers crossed again, I should get some news tomoro...

I'm gonna finish with some pics again...they're all pretty random, but that's the way I feel right now. Keep smiling people, that's what keeps us going...

Louise's birthday dinner

I'm really craving for that cake right now...gonna make one tomoro!

My van!! and my house :)

World Bar, Amby's last night and cocktails from teapots...dangerous combination!

The Kid with her luggage the next day...

...I miss my girls.

new house, new car...oh yes!

2007-07-06T15:46:00+03:00

Totta se on :) ostin elämäni ensimmäisen oman neljällä pyörällä kulkevan menopelin. Maksoin hulppeet 3000 dollaria eli about 1890 euroa mikä oli aika hyvin tingitty vm. -89 toyota hiacesta kaikkine lisävarusteineen (sänky, retkikeittovälineet, kartat, leirintäalueoppaat, lonely planet-opas, cd-soitin/radio jne.), etenkin kun mekaanikkoystäväisen mukaan autosta ei juurikaan vikoja löytynyt ja moottorikin on vaihdettu vuos sitten uuteen. Kuvia tästä uudesta kauniista matkakumppanistani tulette varmasti näkemään pian, vielä en niitä ehtiny ottamaan ja ajamistakaan en oo henk.koht. testannu, mutta ens viikonlopulle jo suunniteltiin Ambyn kanssa reissua Canberraan...tulispahan samalla testattua auto ja nähtyä pääkaupunki, vaikkei se kuulemma suuremmalti poikkea monesta muusta kaupungista mutta eiköhän tuolla jotain näkemistä riitä.

Uudessa kämpässä on tullu nyt pari yötä nukuttua Minnan lähdön jälkeen ja huone tuntuu ihan kotoisalta jo vaikken hirveesti viittikään asettua aloilleni muutaman viikon takia. Mulla on ihanan iso parveke ja muutaman päivän ollu mukavan lämmintä ja aurinkoista niin ei oo ollu paljon valittamista. Vaan eipä tässä oo taas ehtiny paljoo laiskottelemaan kun palasin taas kahvilaan töihin ja lisäks ollu miljoona asiaa hoidettavana ja tiistai-iltana oli Carlosin läksiäiset, eli kiirettä pitää edelleen. Ei kyllä tuu ihan heti ehkä ikävä tätä kiireellistä elämää kun pääsee tien päälle! Kaikki täällä tosiaan tekee lähtöään, ens viikolla lähtee Jeffrey ja Caroline ja sitten seuraavalla Amby, ja Louisella on kiirettä vanhempiensa ja siskonsa kanssa jotka on vierailemassa eli kaikki alkaa olla omilla teillään. Sehän se on tämän reissaamisen "huono" puoli että kaikki hyvä loppuu aikanaan....vaan eiköhän me tulla ainakin Louisen ja Ambyn kanssa tapaamaan taas ens vuonna kun minäkin oon palannu Euroopan mantereelle :) Ja Louise siskonsa kanssa mahdollisesti hyppää mun kyytiin kohti pohjosta kun 28.pv karistan Sydneyn pölyt jaloista (ja vaihdan flipflopeihin!!!), oon kyllä lupaillu kyytiä niin monelle että katotaan kuka sitä sitten loppujen lopuks lähtee mukaan...

Pistänpä tähän jotain kuvia parilta viime viikolta ja meiän partyista (jotka oli erinomaiset kiukkusesta naapurista huolimatta, paljon kavereita ketä ei ollu nähny pitkään aikaan ja uusia tuttavuuksia myös) ja jatkan sitten taas "työntekoa"...pitäkää vaan kelit hyvänä siellä niin me pidetään täällä tv:n katsojalukuja korkeella... saatiin oikein palkankorotuskin tällä viikolla, kyllä sietääkin näin rankasta ja stressaavasta työstä :P Voikaa hyvin ja kirjoitelkaa taas kuulumisia, kiitos niille ahkerille jotka on jaksaneet taas muutaman rivin kirjottaa!

Fun times I'll miss...

Näin hyvin alko Minnan Sydney-vierailu :P

Idiootti turisti taas liikkeellä...

Minna hiding in the bush

Dinner with friends...yam yam

Minna ja aboriginaalit

Kyllä, täällä on peräti ollu välillä t-paitakeli!

Nekromantixien keikalta...tämä tässä on Zombie Ghost Train, funfunfun!

Partyyy...Kauan kadotut serbialaiset kaverit, hauskoja poikia :D

Ja tässä kahden uus-seelantilaisen ja yhden ruotsalaisen kera (Annan kanssa pidetään niitä tv:n katsojalukuja yllä täällä toissä...)

Minna auringonotossa meidän ikkunassa...

..ja näkymät viimestä kertaa samaisesta ikkunasta. I'll miss this too! And our garden on sunny days...

pure awesomeness

2007-06-21T11:59:00+03:00

I've decided that from now on I'll only write in Finnish cos I don't think anyone is even reading my blog anymore. So far I've been writing in English cos I thought that way I would manage to keep everyone updated and save time from writing emails to everyone. But apparently only people in Finland are interested in what's going on donw here, so no more English. Feel free to complain and sorry for my bad Finnish expressions sometimes. It's getting better now :)

Ihan vaan silta varalta etta joku ei ymmartanyt viime kerran kirjotusta niin mulla on siis uus tyopaikka ja pian myos uus kamppa heinakuuks ja kaiken taman myota voisin sanoa olevani melko tyytyvainen elamaan taalla talla hetkella :) Minnakin selvis perille viime perjantaina ja on kylla ollu ihan huippua kun on ollu joku yhta hullu (tai hullumpi tietenkin) taalla seurana, alkokin jo vahan kayda aika pitkaks kamppisten kanssa. Ollaan oltu liikkeessa melkeinpa koko ajan kun minnalle on pitany esitella kaupunkia ja siina valissa ollaan molemmat kayty toissa eika vuorot tietenkaan mee yhteen. Maanantai ja tiistaiyot oltiin siella 'hotellilla' (harjottelupaikassa siis) ja kaytettiin mun ansaitsemat ilmaset yopymiset, oli aika luksusta nukkua isossa LAMPIMASSA sangyssa ja aamulla kayda suihkussa ilman torakoita :D Kaikkeen nakojaan tottuu kun ei niita torakoita enaa ees huomaakaan, yks kamppis toteskin et joka aamu kun menee suihkuun niin siella on bileet torakoiden kanssa mika on kylla aika totta. Anyway, nautittiin kylla ihan taysilla siis luksusasunnon puhtaudesta ja molempina iltoina syotiin isot dinnerit muitten kamppisten kanssa. Alkaa olla vahan haikeutta ilmassa kun kaikki on pian lahossa ja naa on varmaan viimesia kertoja kun ollaan melkein kaikki yhessa. Onneks mulla on pian uudet seikkailut edessa enka viela oo palaamassa kotinurkille niinkun kaikki muut kamppikset :)

Loysin siis ens kuukaudeks uuden kampan ja muutan luultavasti ens viikon lopussa. Kamppa on tosi kiva pikku talo Newtownissa, vaan 5-10 min pyoralla toihin mika helpottaa huomattavasti kotimatkoja yolla. Kamppiksina on ilmeisesti kaks aussipoikaa ja kaks englantilaista tyttoo, tapaan ne maanantaina. Vuokraan siis huoneen vaan ens kuukaudeks kun saksalainen tytto kuka siina asuu menee kaymaan lomalla kotona, huone on pieni mutta kotoisa ja LAMMIN (mutta eihan Australiassa voi kylma ollakaan...vai voiko?) ja vuokra on halpa, joten eipa ois voinu paljon paremmin sattua. Ja hyvalla tuurilla saan viela ostettua sen kauan etsimani campervanin yhdelta niista kamppiksista! Ennen muuttoa pidetaan luultavasti ens lauantaina 'pienet laksiaisbileet' meidan talossa, toivottavasti on yhta hyvat kun viime kerralla. Ja isukki ja aippa alkaa huoliko, talla kertaa en havita mitaan! :)

Kaikinpuolin taalla siis elama nyt hymyilee ja myrskytkin hellitti hetkeks joten tanaan onnistuin saada jopa hieman syys/talvi-rusketusta naamaan kun kaytiin operataloa ja muita nahtavyyksia ihastelemassa. Huomenna luultavasti museo visiitille, lauantai-iltana Nekromantixien keikalle ja sunnuntaina Imax-teatteriin. Ja luultavasti ens viikonkin pitaa kiiretta viela turistioppaana toimiessa mutta hyva vaan, eipahan tuu turhaan lorvailtua ja naan samalla ite kaikki paikat missa ei oo viela tullu kaytya. Kiitos muuten kaikille sahkoposteista ja kommentteja saa edelleen laittaa, joillekin oon antanu tan mun tyonumeron mihin voi soitella ilmaseks. Omituista kylla mutta saatte tosiaan soitella mulle maksutta tanne pallon toiselle puolelle ja ihan teian normaaliin paiva-aikaan jos haluatte, pyytakaa vaan numero multa. Nyt pitaa varmaan heittaa parit karrynpyorat etta pysyn hereilla...pitakaa huoli ja hauskaa juhannusta, alkaa hukkuko!

Life's absolutely awesome :)

P.S. Kuvia tulossa pian...