Unemployed Life...

Oh boy, I never imagined being without work so long! After coming back from Hawaii I started my hunt for work fairly confident I was gonna land something quick. Boy was I wrong! Every week that went by I would become more and more unemployable. Part of my difficulty was that I was concentrating on corporate jobs which is probably the most difficult to get on a working holiday visa - even more so when your visa is running out.

Between applying for jobs and waking up at 2 in the afternoon I did get to catch up on my blogs, attend some wild parties, and brush up on being frugal. Hell even my cooking skills have been greatly improved (hey I had A LOT of time on my hands...). But after two months, money was getting tight and shit was getting boring.

It was coming to a point where it looked like my trip might come to an early end! After weeks of applying and boatloads of rejections (even Kmart rejected me!), rent was coming due and wasn't an attractive investment considering I could still be unemployed. While it would be nice to be home at Christmas, it would suck to just be finishing winter here and get back just in time for Canada's winter! I started to plan my way back...

As of last week my phone has been ringing non stop! Interviews and offers galore. Thankfully somethings come up and now my trip is saved! Fingers crossed I can outlive another Canadian winter!

Melbourne Nightlife Guide Part 2

As I’ve mentioned in part 1 of my Melbourne Nightlife Guide, having a full-on night out here can be quite expensive. You’re definitely looking at $100+ for a good night (dinner, drinks, and cab). Here in part 2 I’ll be covering two different districts where you can hang out the first being the Brunswick St./Smith St. areas as well as the CBD/Southbank. As covered before each district has it’s own culture and as such the dress codes or the way people dress can vary wildly depending on where you go. Let’s start off with the more accessible CBD/Southbank area as if you’re visiting this is the second most likely area you’re going to be staying in.

CBD/Southbank

The CBD (downtown) and Southbank to its south has probably the second largest concentration of hostels in the city as well as where all the major hotels are located. The nightlife in these areas cater to pretty much everyone due to the wide variety of budgets and crowds that flock here. A lot of people from the suburbs come out here as the trains run well into the night with the last ones being around 1:30am on weekends. There are plenty of different areas here with concentrations on different bars. The most notorious area you’ll probably hear about is King St. where there’s a large concentration of strip clubs and warnings of fights etc. Haven’t been there myself yet and really can’t be bothered with that scene. The Southbank area, home to the Crown Casino, is much more posh with bars and clubs that cater to the more well-off. If you’re planning on heading there I do recommend dressing up to avoid disappointment.

Section 8, 27-29 Tattersalls Lane, Melbourne CBD
This bar can be a bit tricky to find as it’s tucked away in an alley, but it’s well worth it once you get there. This bar is essentially made up of shipping containers and is completely open-air. While it can be a bit chilly in wintertime they have tons of heaters to keep you warm. The vibe here is very chill as there’s no dress code considering you’re outside anyway. From what I’ve experienced here, the music is mostly hip-hop, dancehall, reggaeton which is great as I haven’t found many places that cater to this style of music. Great place to chill but not a place to be wearing your dancing shoes.

The Carlton, 193 Bourke St., Melbourne CBD
This is a cool bar that spans multiple levels. The first floor looks more like a pub with tons of stuffed (like real/dead not plush) animals on display on the walls, gives it a sort of fancy vibe. There’s also the Palmz rooftop bar which is a tiki themed rooftop patio. This is an awesome place to spend an afternoon on in late spring/summer. This is a pricier venue and be forewarned that there is a dress code at night - collared shirts guys!

Crown Casino and Entertainment Complex, 8 Whiteman St., Southbank
This place truly offers everything in one big nicely wrapped package! Bars, casino gambling, nightclubs, pubs, restaurants, shopping and even a movie theatre. This place also caters to all budgets as well, with 5-star restaurants as well a food court. I haven’t had a chance to explore the nightclubs here but do know that it is very strict for guys - nice shoes and a collared shirt are a must. Also guys, I suggest bringing some female friends along to boost your chances at getting in as groups of guys are always last on the priority list to gain entry. There are plenty of bars on the gambling floor and it seems to run pretty much 24hrs. I’ve stumbled in here a few times at 4-5am. While it’s nice that there’s a place where you can keep your night going - by that point it’s almost ALWAYS a BAD idea. I do suggest dressing nicely and don’t gamble your trip/life savings away!

Fitzroy/Brunswick St.

Fitzroy, or more specifically Brunswick St. offers a more casual atmosphere also more catered to those who fancy the hipster/alternative scene. Funny enough this is the area closest to home yet the one I go to the least. The neighborhood is easily accessible via the 112 tram, or the 86 tram if you fancy visiting the bars on Smith St. nearby. The crowd around here is definitely more hipster so expect to see a lot of stubble and ironic t-shirts on guys and sadly more skrillex shaves on girls (they look good on NO ONE...NONE WHATSOEVER). That being said it’s still a fun and funky neighborhood to explore the nightlife in.

Palookaville, 416 Brunswick St., Fitzroy
This is an awesome place to grab dinner and drinks. The menu here is pretty good and most if not all meals are under $20. Drink prices are ok - pints range for about $8-$9. There’s also a pool table if you fancy playing a few rounds as well as nice leather couches if you just wanna chill. While it isn’t the busiest place on Brunswick St. it’s definitely a good place to start. No worries about dress codes here, it’s more of a restaurant than anything else.

Bimbo Deluxe, 376 Brunswick St., Fitzroy
If you’re looking to wear your dancing shoes on Brunswick St., this is the place to be. The main floor is home to the restaurant and dance floor/lounge area. The restaurant is awesome and shares the same menu as Lucky Coq on Chapel St. (same owner). The crowd here is more hipsterish but not overrun with them. There’s some cool couches by the dance floor as well as a really nice rooftop patio. This place definitely has a more relaxed dress code but I wouldn’t necessarily show up in a singlet and thongs.

The Provincial Hotel, 299 Brunswick St., Fitzroy
This is a fun place and seems to have DJs over the weekends. I can definitely say that this bar has some of the best looking crowd on Brunswick St. Drink prices are average, with $8-$9 pints and the music seems to be your regular top 40s mix. This is usually a stop along the way on a Brunswick St. bar crawl. Not sure of any dress code, but it usually is a good looking crowd. Worth checking out.

Well hopefully my guides help you out if you’re planning a night out here in Melbourne. The nightlife is definitely varied here depending on where you go. Just be sure to bring lots of money as your bar tab will add up FAST here!

Melbourne Nightlife Guide: Part One

One of the things I love to do when travelling is checking out the local nightlife. It’s always interesting looking at the way people act, dress and drink compared to home. Having lived here in Melbourne now for 10 months I’ve had the chance to check out plenty of different nightlife areas. The one thing I can say is that generally Australia’s nightlife if pricey compared to other parts of the world. If you’re looking to have a full on night expect to drop $150+ for dinner drinks and cab (and that’s being conservative!) If you’re planning to drop by, here’s a small guide on some of the different areas and my fav bars.

St Kilda:

If you’re backpacking, you’re more than likely going to end up here in St Kilda. Here you have a plethora of bars that cater to backpackers with relaxed dress codes and usually offering at least one night of cheap drinks. As a result, the crowds at certain bars and clubs will be largely backpackers. Singlets, thongs (not the good kind... flip-flops here in Oz), and shorts will be the dress style. I hate seeing flip-flops in a club, and singlets are just as bad - they look good on NO ONE!

Anyways, while you’re here be sure to check these places out:

La Roche Cafe - 185 Acland St, St Kilda
This place offers some of the best prices on pints in town. During happy hours (usually 4-6 then 9-close) you can get $5 pints last I checked. Great place to sit and hand with your mates, maybe even pre-drink before heading somewhere else.

Barkly Hotel - 109 Barkly St, St Kilda
This place is both a bar and club. The club is located on the rooftop of a lowrise building and best known for it’s Friday nights which cater to the backpacker crowd. Fridays they have no cover charge and $10 buckets of vodka red bull. As far as I know, no overt dress code.

The Espy - 11 The Esplanade, St Kilda
This bar is legendary and caters more to a live music crowd. Many acts play here on all nights of the week and is definitely a must visit while in the area. More of a rocker bar, dress code is relaxed but I wouldn’t wear thongs or a singlet. I love this bar but the only downside is that it’s a lot pricier than the surrounding bars ($18 for a jug, which is smaller than a North American pitcher).

Chapel Street

Chapel Street is probably THE place to see and be seen here in Melbourne. This area is easily accessible via public transit, but be sure to have cab fare home. Dress codes here can be quite strict as it is the IN place. Guys be sure to have a pair of dress shoes and a collared shirt, girls I suggest a dress and heels. While there are a few places that have cheaper food & drinks, expect to pay top dollar in a lot of the bars and clubs here.

Lucky Coq - Corner of Chapel and High St, Windsor
If you’re looking for a good cheap feed this is the place. You can get $4 pizzas and hot dogs here which is a great deal. This bar is a lot more lax than the others in the area and has a more sort of hipster vibe. Great place to lounge and have dinner as there are a lot of couches, a few retro arcade machines and a pool table. Drink prices are average, $7 schooners - nothing fancy.

Temperance Hotel - 426 Chapel St.
I’ve stumbled into this place randomly one night and had a great time. The crowd here is dressed really well, saw a lot of suits and dresses. Music is top 40s but with an accent on techno/electro beats as this is the norm for clubs out here. No cover charge, nice dance floor and plenty of room to sit. Can’t remember too much about drink prices as it was a messy night but I still highly recommend this place if you’re looking for a posh night out with some dancing.

Electric Ladyland - 1/265-267 Chapel St, Prahran
If you’re looking for a place to lounge, this is it. This bar has plenty of red leather couches all over the bar and provides a really cool atmosphere. This is a more posh venue, so be sure to dress accordingly - especially you guys as they are strict on shoes and shirts. They play awesome music here, mostly top 40s but also rocked some classic hip-hop which pleasantly surprised me. Drinks here are top dollar, beers are decently priced $6-$11/bottle but martinis can be over $20. No dance floor here as it’s not really a dancing venue but on the plus side there’s no cover.

Revolver - 229 Chapel St, Prahran
If after all the other bars close you’re still looking to party, this is the place to go to. There are 2 rooms (from what I can remember) one lounge area and another dance room. As with most afterhours techno is the music in the dance room. Dress code here is lax, arrived wearing a shirt and tie as I was at an awards ceremony earlier in the night and was told by the doorman to remove the tie for my own safety. He even went to great lengths to show me how my tie could be used against me. Had a laugh but he was serious! Cover is $10-$20 and this place only gets busy after 2am.

This covers part one of my nightlife guide to Melbourne. As you can see there are big contrasts to the clientele and prices depending on the district, but that’s what makes this city so great is that you have so many options. Be sure to tune in next week when I cover Fitzroy/Brunswick St and the CBD/Southbank.

Hawaiian Island Hopping: My Hawaiian Airlines Review

If you’re planning a trip to Hawaii, you’re probably going to be doing at least two islands while you’re there. If that’s the case you’re 90% likely going to be getting an inter-island flight with Hawaiian Airlines. The flights themselves are priced quite reasonably to be honest. Our flights to Maui were $150 return - so $75 each way, not overly expensive and would get us there in about 30 min. The booking experience online was quite simple, just needed to pick the dates and times as there were flights to Maui almost every hour. Then fill out all the passenger details and pay by credit card - easy as pie! I didn't have to deal with plenty of upsell attempts as I did when I booked my flight from Australia.

I’ll always remember thinking - ok just an inter-island flight so just show up with a minimum amount of time to check in and clear security. Thankfully one day at the hotel in Waikiki I was reading an article in Honolulu’s Star Advertiser about the struggles travellers have been facing with inter-island flights and the crazy lineups. The article suggested getting there with at least 3 hours handy to check in and clear security. I'm so glad that I followed the article’s advice as when I go there... DAMN! In Honolulu there were 2 massive lineups - both that went out the door. It really did take 90-120 min. to check in and clear security. In Maui it was the same thing, one massive line that goes halfway through the airport. Once you get through the massive line you’re in. All that’s left is to get to your gate and board your flight. There isn’t really all that much to see or do at the airport, just the odd food stand and maybe a burger king.

As for the flight itself - everything was as smooth as could be for a 30 some minute flight. There’s no need for any meals as the flights are so short, but the flight attendants still come around offering every passenger a complimentary juice - which is way more than what I got on my no-frills flight from Australia.  I do recommend a window seat as there’s no entertainment system once again due to the flight being so short. Looking through the window you can see some of the other islands which is pretty cool.

All in all the inter-island flying experience was pretty smooth. From the hassle-free booking to touching down on a new island. Just be sure to allow yourself plenty of time at the airport to clear security as even though it’s a very short flight, with one leaving every hour there’s hundreds of people showing up at once. Apart from that have fun exploring Hawaii!

Exploring Honolulu And Its Surroundings

I’ve already gone over some of the great sights you can see in Honolulu without having to spend much money. There’s so much to see and do in Honolulu that I thought I’d dedicate another post to give you some ideas if you’re making your way to Hawaii. This time we’ll concentrate more on Honolulu’s downtown area but as well a real gem that’s a bit outside the city.

This was the nicest area of Chinatown I could find...

Honolulu’s downtown area (or CBD for the Aussies) is fairly small and a little off the main tourist path but it does offer quite a few sights that are worth checking out. First and foremost I’d like to warn you about the Chinatown area. Normally a chinatown area doubles as a tourist area but Honolulu’s is a dump. If you look around you’ll see plenty of warnings about the area and they’re quite correct. I’ve made my way to the area both in daytime and nighttime and both times I found a very large concentration of homeless. At night it’s worse as the sidewalks were full of people sleeping. There’s really nothing to see here except some discount shops but the quality of the products are dismal.

Iolani Palace

One of the must see activities, Iolani Palace, lies in the east end of the downtown area. Here you can either take a guided tour (only available certain days) or take a self guided audio tour. Here you will learn all about Hawaii’s monarchy and its history. At the time I didn’t think I was going to enjoy it that much but it ended up being one of my favorite sights in the city. The audio tour lasts about an hour to and hour and a half and you’re free to explore all the rooms of the palace. In the same area you’ll find the State Capitol building which has interesting architecture but from the looks of it doesn’t offer tours. Also across from the palace there’s the statue of King Kamehameha I which is quite nicely detailed.

A map of the maze - pretty elaborate!

Lastly I wanna cover another of my favorite sites which was the Dole Pineapple Plantation. To get there is a bit of an adventure by public transit but it’s doable. From Waikiki take any bus going to the Ala Moana Centre and from there get to the bus stop on Ala Moana Blvd and grab the 52 to Wahiawa Heights which is the last stop. From there grab the 55 North Shore Kaneohe and the plantation is the 5th stop right in front of it. The journey takes 2 hours so this makes for a good day trip. The plantation itself is free, but all the activities cost quite little. We spent maybe $20 on activities there. There’s the big Dole shop, the Pineapple Express, a garden, as well as the world’s largest hedge maze. We only did the Pineapple Express and the hedge made. The Pineapple Express is a short 20 min train ride through the plantation while listening to the history behind Dole and Hawaii. It’s all right but nothing to really write home about. The maze was quite fun and where you can put your map reading skills to the test. There are 8 stations in the maze which you need to find and get the stencil on your maze ticket. There’s a time stamp booth at the maze entrance where you can track your start and finish time. Ours was 1hr 10min. Be sure to wear a hat and bring lots of sunscreen and water. I had forgotten my hat and regretted it while I was there as the was barely any shade in the maze.

Don't forget to get a cone of Dole Whip - Fresh  pineapple ice cream!

As you can see, there are plenty of things to do in Honolulu and its surroundings. There’s plenty of reasons to get out of Waikiki and explore the surrounding areas. As mentioned before, so long as you keep away from Chinatown you should be all right. So get out there and explore the amazing island of Oahu!

The Great Ocean Road: Exploring Victoria’s Southern Coastline

Travelling to Melbourne you’ll be able to experience all the great gems that this city has to offer. However no trip to Victoria would be complete without exploring the Great Ocean Road which follows the state’s southern coastline. This makes for a great day trip or even a weekend escape from the city. Many tour companies offer coach tours but be prepared for a long day as they usually leave early in the morning (around 7am) and only come back in the late evening. I’ve done the trip 3 times already, twice with one of my friends and once with my mom where I got behind the wheel. Renting a car is probably the best way to do it, but be warned that it’s not the easiest drive, as well be sure not to get distracted by the scenery. As well being in Victoria be sure to adhere to all speed limits accordingly, speeding by the tiniest margin (under 10k) will net you a fine of $153. These are enforced not only by officers but by speeding cameras which are well hidden.

Archway welcoming you to the Great Ocean Road

One of my trips was a fishing trip down in Apollo Bay. This is a great stop along the Great Ocean Road which offers plenty of restaurants and accommodation (including hostels for us budget travellers. If you’re fortunate to be in possession of a boat - as we were, there is a sheltered harbour here which is a great launching point for a fishing trip. I was able to catch a few flatheads as well as a gum shark. Just be careful as we did come across a stone fish which is quite poisonous, be sure to handle with care. Waters here are rough so be sure to check the forecasts as the weather can change in a heartbeat. Apollo Bay is about 3hrs away from Melbourne.

Johanna Beach

My last trip on the Great Ocean Road was for my mom’s visit. We rented a car through Budget as they were one of the few locations in my area open on a Sunday which cost us about $130 for two days. I took the wheel as I’d already been several times, as well as the fact that we drive on the left here which I’m more used to having been here long enough. The biggest frustration for me was the fact that I kept putting the damn wipers on instead of the turn signal! (The levers are reversed here.) We made our way all across the Great Ocean Road to the 12 Apostles which is a definite must see if you’re doing the Great Ocean Road. It’s quite a drive to get there, plan about 6 hrs to get there which includes time for lunch and the occasional photo/bathroom stop. Originally we were planning on spending the night out there but came to the conclusion that being the off season there wasn’t much to do so we drove into Warrnambool for dinner and took the Princes Highway back which takes about 4 hrs. It was a long day of driving but definitely worth it!

View of the Twelve Apostles from the lookout

If you are in the Melbourne area for at least a week, I highly recommend getting out of the city and checking out the Great Ocean Road. It’s a bit of a drive, and can be expensive if you’re caught speeding, but the sights and scenery definitely make up for it. Especially in the summertime this road brings you along some very stunning beaches. So be sure to get out there and explore Victoria’s countryside.

Maui On A Budget...Um...No...

When planning a trip to Hawaii you’ll probably want to visit at least one more island than Oahu. This is where careful research comes in and where careful choices have to be made. You’ll probably research Maui which is probably the second most popular island after Oahu. I did glance at it and from my research there was cheaper accommodation as well as some activities, perfect for a 3 night venture. Unfortunately while everything on paper was true regarding activities and cheaper accommodation I did screw up a very important factor which is logistics.

Maui is a popular place for honeymooners. As a result, most of the facilities on the island are catered to them. Most of the accommodation on the island is resorts which pretty much have everything you could want. As well, since most people visiting are on a honeymoon or an anniversary etc, usually their budgets are a lot higher than say ours. Shops and restaurants will have higher prices than say in Waikiki. 

Panoramic view from Lahaina Village

Getting from the airport to your hotel is quite expensive. Most likely you’ll either be on the south or west coast of the island which is FAR from the airport. The airport shuttle company had quoted us separately at $90 per person round trip to Lahaina which is outrageous. If you book as a group you can get a significant discount as it was $116 round trip if booked together. If that’s the price for an airport shuttle I’d hate to imagine the price of a taxi...

Lahaina Village

We opted to stay in Lahaina village which is an old whaling village on the west coast of the island. It’s a gorgeous village and our accommodation at the Lahaina Inn was great for the price. This is a tourist village as all the shops and restaurants are catered to tourists. You’ll find all sorts of restaurants which will satisfy anyone's taste. There’s also nightlife in Lahaina with a few bars/clubs BUT the village empties out at about 10pm when all the resort busses leave - so don’t expect it to be busy...

Luau at the Royal Lahaina Resort

Part of the deal we had with our hotel was that we had access to all the facilities at the Royal Lahaina Resort. Unfortunately public transport on the island isn’t the greatest and you’re looking at busses that depart every hour. Having to take a public bus and a free resort shuttle meant that getting to the resort would take over an hour in some cases as the bus and shuttle would just miss each other. We did however opt to do the resort luau which was great but a bit pricey at $70 per person. This however included a buffet meal and open bar. The show was great and showcased dances from many polynesian islands and finished with some fire dancing.

Thankfully the beaches are free and there are 2 nice beaches near Lahaina village, to the north and south. Apart from that a car would be required to visit most other tourist sites on the island. While I enjoyed Maui, it did present quite a few difficulties. I would highly recommend renting a car if planning on travelling here. Otherwise I’d also recommend maybe looking at some of the other islands.