Surfers Night Markets

Every Wednesday (and some Fridays, but I'm still not sure which ones) Surfers puts on night markets. It's basically like every other market- stalls full of crap that you don't really need, but because (if you're in Surfers) you're probably on vacation you'll buy it. It's a genius concept, really. Wish I had thought of it myself.

They are doing mass construction off Cavill Ave in Surfers. Brand new buildings, a new "face" of Surfers and other stuff that cuts off my access of walking path's along the beach (not sure what's happening there) so now the markets are literally out my door (I can see them from my window). I've been wanting to take pictures for a while and finally made my way the 100 steps from my apartment door, down the stairs and to the street and got a couple that I like:

Heaps of people were here this evening. More than I remember there being last week-- must be more tourists because of the long weekend...

I just love how these look hanging outside every week. They are not at all practical for indoor use unless you have outlets in the ceiling, but they look neat against the dark night sky. 

Missing The City.

I was asked for a list of my favourite shopping spots in NYC by a friend who's friend is heading to the City this week. I compiled a pretty comprehensive list of amazing places to snag some deals, along side some great places to eat because a day of shopping requires a good breakfast! Yum!

I haven't been in about a year as I've been dancing around many other countries, so this picture is from my last trip to NYC.

But Anyway, this got me thinking about how much I love the city...

Bleecker St. in the Spring... what's not to love?

You know that song? "hey heyy do dooo doo do doo yeah yeahhh"

I was dying to hear that song, so I posed the question to my friend Nelson. Apparently I threw him with the "doo doo doo doo dooooo"'s. I should have clarified that it was electronic and a club song.

We worked it out and:



Love Kid Cudi.

Office Space

This is perhaps the worst photo of the day. It's a desk, I know. But it's my desk and that makes it pretty neat.

A little back story: A few weeks ago I was searching around campus for a place to start researching my dissertation. I found nothing but a few empty spaces on a bench in the library. If I had searched further I probably would have found a bean bag chair in the library. But I did not. Who can do work sitting in a bean bag chair?  I'm not sure about you, but I tend to people watch in the library and not do any work anyway...


So I asked for a workspace. I didn't care where it was as long as it had a computer and, if I was lucky, a window. Well ask and you shall receive because that day I was afforded with:

Beauty isn't it? A computer (with access to facebook-- probably should have switched that to a scholarly site prior to taking this totally geeky photo), a chair & outlets for my computer. Sweet deal.

If you follow the American version of the Office-- I need to make a bigger sign for my space. I have a little one between the computer and the monitor, but I need a massive one sort of like this:

 Now if only that dissertation would start to write itself... 

Jenna's Summer Jam (well, Spring Jam)

Remember the band Train? They had that song "Calling All Angels"... Yeah, they didn't sound like this before--but they do now:



My friend Jenna (also the newest guest blogger/ craft expert on this blog) just sent this to me. She says it's her new Summer Jam (but it's really only spring back in Canadaland... and it's Autumn here. I guess that means it's no one summer jam just yet!) But it's still fun and I like it... and maybe you will, too?

Photo of the Day 4: Full Moon

My new apartment seems to have the best of the ocean even though we're squeezed in between two other buildings: we still get the sunrise and amazing views of the moon! I haven't seen a reflection on the water like this in a long time:

Songs I'm Currently Digging

As of late, I've been spending a lot of time writing on my computer. Since I am (apparently) incapable of sitting in silence, I've been using iTunes shuffle as my non-silence lifeline.

You know, sometimes it's bad (or maybe those are just my songs?) but sometimes it come up with some pretty stellar songs that I haven't heard in ages.

Like, Ben Folds* song, Bruised.




*you may have seen Ben Folds in the news lately as he did a concert singing to people on Chatroulette

And the Stars- Your Ex-Lover is Dead which always makes me think of Champlain



And finally, Jack Johnson**- Banana Pancakes. Formally my ring tone and all around amazing song.



** Jack Johnson is playing Byron Bay Bluesfest... I've seen him live already, so I'm not sure I'll go again, but it would be amazing.

Team Island Tall Ships: Straddy Island

Photo of the day 3: Southport Marina, Gold Coast 

Anything with rays of light looks great to me! This was at about 5:30pm as we were pulling up to Fisho's- the after party for the Straddy Island boat cruise/ beach day. I just like it..

and one more, because the Gold Coast is pretty unreal:

Where's Waldo?

When my roomie Helena and I moved in, our kitchen had nothing. And when I say nothing, I really mean nothing. A few glasses, mugs with broken handles and no stove. Needless to say, we trekked to the local Target and stocked up on spoons with non-sharp edges (I think the ones they have here double as knives), a toaster oven (which we have used every day since we bought it) and mugs!

 This is mine:

When I see it I think of Where's Waldo and I think it's perfect for sipping tea and writing my dissertation.  I also doodle a lot.. eyes and hearts and things I hear and things I should remember and lines and whatever else comes to mind when I'm thinking about what to write next! 

New Idea: Photo of the day

This is not a new concept-- in fact heaps of people do this, but it is brand new to me... I'm going to try and take one fantastic (objectively speaking, of course) photo each of my remaining days in Surfers.

Here is the one from yesterday:

I love when you look up and see things like a sail boat on the ocean. I know it's nothing like actually being on the ocean, but seeing it from my window is still pretty amazing. I've been cooped up in my apartment reading PDF files off my computer for the last few weeks so I really really appreciate this view!  Side note: I've moved the dining room table (which also doubles as a flip cup and beer pong table) in front of the patio, so I face the ocean. Talk about a home office!


Photo of the day 2:

I'm here doing my Masters, so as much fun as it is- I do need to buckle down and get my readings done. Lucky for me, I can read up on dissertation writing on the beach! Ah, I just need to write a 15,000 word paper... It's a shame that my Mac and sand do not mix- I'd be writing on the beach every morning! 

Day 1 and 2. Hopefully about 3 1/2 more months of amazing (hopefully) photos to go...

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Here, There and Everywhere

I'm back on the Gold Coast and ready get back into the swing of things. I've sort of been all over the place. First in Rockhampton then Airlie Beach, The Whitsundays, Townsville, Magnetic Island, Cairns, The Great Barrier Reef, Cape Tribulation, Adelaide, Sydney, back to Adelaide, Brisbane and finally back to Surfers Paradise. Phew, what a few months it has been.

I had to find a new place when I got back and I landed up finding a sweet apartment that faces the ocean. Probably the best view I have ever had. Plus, I fall asleep to the ocean-- can't beat that!

I've finally done all my laundry (quite a task... most of my things were in a bag for 4 months) and have set up my closet. I have OPTIONS! That's pretty exciting for me. I've been rocking the same bunch of clothes for nearly 4 months. Seeing my dresses and shoes again was pretty exciting. Plus, I managed to snag a massive amount of hangers from this super cheap shop for free. Ah, it will never look this organized again: