Destination Byron Bay: 2 Days of Travel, Day 1

After talking to one of my bestfriends from home, Jess, she convinced me to get to Byron Bay as soon as possible. It didnt take much for her to twist my arm, and actually I think her exact words were “I would have been there yesterday”. Jeanie, my friend Scott and I decided to go out for Chinese food and drinks to celebrate. We spent the night discussing religion, sex and politics over a few too many glasses of “celebratory” bubbly.

@ a Truck-stop in the middle of nowhere

I woke up to “Somebody that I used to know” pulsing from the alarm clock at 3:00 a.m. That was my cue to grab My Roaming Backpack and catch the 3:40 a.m. bus from Mildura, Victoria to Cootamundra, New South Wales, aka, the middle of nowhere. To top it all off I had one of the worst migraines Ive had in forever, and a ghastly 9 hour bus ride in my immediate future! Everything hurt; smells, light, sound. Really regretting those last few glasses of wine, I wished I could block the world out and go back to bed, but the train ticket was already paid for. "Buy the ticket, take the ride!"

Fields of Cano

 Instead I blocked out as much as I could using earplugs and sunglasses. Then I popped a super-strong form of Aspirin, and asked Scott to work on my pressure points using a technique he learned in Thailand. All I could do was carry on and hope for the best. It was 5 hours until I was relieved on my agony, but I guess it could have been worse. I could have got stranded in Cootamundra! (Jokes, well, not really)

After reaching Cootamundra and waiting 2 hours for the next train into Sydney, I spent the next 6 hours on a train. It was all so boring its really not worth mentioning. It goes a little something like this: Nothingness, nothingness, canola fields, nothingness, more canola fields, old saloon town, dried up river bed, and so on. After a long day we reached Sydney once again, where we grabbed some greasy pizza and falafel wraps and took advantage of the dry sauna and pool at our hostel. I went to bed early and prepared myself for the next morning. In the cards?: a 12 hour train ride to Byron Bay at the crack of dawn.

Adventures Are Full of Mis-Adventures Part 2

Since Jeanie rescued us from our farm fate, we have had two relatively peaceful weeks to look for a job without incurring any expenses. Hallelujah! This has balanced the books a bit and also gave us time to re-group. Although our time has been mostly consumed with boring job applications, writing cover letters, and updating resumes, we've had a good time in Jeanie’s company.

Out the car window, on the way to Adelaide

 Last weekend we drove to Adelaide, South Australia, “the city of churches” (and strip clubs) and also " Australia's Most Livable City"- is that because of the churches or the strip clubs? Kidding...

During the 4 hour ride Jeanie taught us all of the 101 Australian ways to flip someone off on the road. Quite amusing, really! We also checked out a rather entertaining Agricultural Fair in Wentworth, where I tried pavlova for the first time, and saw a man carrying a salami stick almost as tall as him. Jeanie suspects he is trying to make up for something.

Mildura is by no means a happening place for young travelers but I must admit there are some highlights. They've got a great Backpackers store, called Aussie Disposals, that’s where I bought my newest tent- quality stuff! If you’re passing on through anyways, its worth a stop. There's also some great wine around and some good ethnic restaurants, like Thai-riffic, a classy restaurant with a modern twist on Thai classics -they make a beautiful red curry on a bed of coconut rice! 

I can't say I will miss good ol' Mildura, but I will miss Jeanie, her English/Irish vocabulary, our "DnM's" (Deep 'n' meaningfuls) and her collection of “Grumpy Old Women” DVDs. Its time to load up My Roaming Backpack for the next adventure. The destination? An alternative, “hippy” community on the east coast, otherwise known as Byron Bay.

Adventures Are Full of Mis-Adventures Part 1

Today I am breathing fresh air! It's Saturday morning here in Australia and the tides for me are turning. I am feeling relieved and invigorated to be catching a train leaving Mildura, Victoria after 2 painfully slow weeks in a town of teenie boppers and elderly.

After our disastrous encounter with orange picking in Iraak, Victoria (1/2 an hour from Midura) me and my friend Scott escaped the job and took refuge with his sweet, wonderful, and hilariously animated Aunt Jeanie. Luckily, Scott seems to have long-lost relatives from Ireland everywhere! Jeanie didn't know us from a hole in the wall, but rang us one day and saved us from that wretched farm. She showed up in her car almost immediately and brought us back into "civilization", where we have been residing since.

Dance party in the kitchen, listening to
 DJ Tiesto off my cell phone!

That was the end of camping on the semi-desert floor on nights dropping to -2 degrees Celcius, the red earth beneath us rock-hard, and pushing condensation through our sleeping bags. It was the end of bathing outside in the cold, under a broken shower-head behind the tractor shed, getting eaten by flies and all the other fun stuff that comes with camping in the Australian desert. Most of all, she saved us from having to break our backs, only to accept shit pay, that consequently we ended up spending on the cost of food and “farm rent” of 50$/week.(Food can be extremely expensive in Australia, so after paying for groceries we were maybe breaking even) I think we lost more money than we made if you include the cost of transportation. It was a complete mis-adventure, but that's what travel is all about!

Making our own fun on the farm with the 
boys living out of their camper-van

The first week I arrived in Australia, I stayed in Sydney (not the best idea for a budget traveler * Note taken*). Within 7 days, 1500$ Canadian felt like it was “missing” from my account. Considering I had only paid for budget accommodation-and the over-priced scraps of what food I was willing to spend my hard-earned money on, I was not impressed. I had hardly eaten! Where was all my money going? This Working Holiday Visa was starting to look rather expensive..

I Survived Orange Picking in Iraak, Australia!

ORANGES, ORANGES, ORANGES, and some lemons..
One week of orange and lemon picking in Iraak, Victoria, Australia was enough for me!
Farmers don't get much for citrus these days, so neither do the laborers- unless you're quick, and you've got to be constantly quick. You pick one bin- you get 20$ after taxes. However, its not easy work, and depending how fast you move, it can take awhile to fill a bin. It also takes quite a few "Joey" pouches!

Tenting on the farm in Iraak's semi-desert. 
We are surrounded by Eucalyptus & Almond trees!

I assumed I could pick 4 bins on my first day, and work my way up. This would make me 80 easy Australian dollars (after taxes)- I mean how hard can it be to pick an orange? It seemed like a great deal since Id be making cash and basically living free. I was wrong. My first day, I picked only two bins. I was thrilled about the pay, but chalked it up to my first day. A few guys who also started picking on the same day as me finished with 2 bins- that made me feel a bit better. For the rest of the week, they picked up the pace, picking 4 bins each in 8 hours. I chose to work 6 hour days instead, bringing in 2-3 bins/day.

Me! Sitting in a bin getting carried around on a forklift, climbing trees
 and ladders, dumping out oranges from my "Joey" pouch, 
a bunch of oranges and one giant lemon!

If you're considering citrus picking, be prepared for it. I have worked on so many farms, and done so much hard labor in the past, I thought it would be no problem for me. I'm used to lifting 40, 25 kilo bags of fertilizer consecutively, piece of cake. But, I underestimated it. It really is back-breaking work for little pay, so you've got to be motivated. If you want to make it worth your time you've got to haul ass, all day. I was a little discouraged by the pay, so I felt like hauling ass 6 hours a day was enough for me!
 Some tips I can offer for citrus pickers:

• Bring at least 2 Liters of water with you (you will sweat for most of the day)
• Bring plenty of protein-packed foods
• Wear long pants or capris, and a long-sleeved shirt that's tough so thorns wont go through it
• Wear thick, rubberized gloves and a ball cap to keep branches out of your face
• Bring music that pumps you up, MP3 or speakers- the faster the music, the better!
• Car seat strap covers work great to keep the "Joey" pouches from digging into your shoulders
• Shin pads would be a great investment
• Stretch lots!

After only a few days of picking citrus, my hands and legs were stuck with thorns even though I was wearing the best gear and my shins and legs were bruised yellow from climbing trees and ladders. Not to mention my wrists and elbows were in poor shape from the repetitive movements. There is a technique to picking oranges and lemons quickly, and it involves a lot of flicking. But...what an experience!

 I left with a belly full of citrus, a small pay cheque and an interesting experience to tell you all about. All I can say is I'm glad I don't have to pick citrus for the whole season, but I admire all the people out there who do!


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New South Wales to Victoria, Australia

Having been in the Sydney & Manly area for about 2 weeks, I am finding myself anxious to get out of the city & into the country. Sydney is a beautiful city, with lots to do- but it is a metropolis after all, and an expensive one at that! One of the travel pamphlets I picked up recently stated it is the 15th most expensive city in the world & my bank account is starting to feel it!

The country lifestyle is in my heart & I just cant wait to pitch a tent, feel the ground beneath my feet & watch the moon evolve as the days pass. In the city, even one as beautiful as Sydney, it is hard to notice the nature around us- its the stuff that makes life so beautiful. Nature is calling me. 

Myself & my two travel companions have landed an Orange picking job 30 minutes south of Mildura, Victoria. In a small country town called Iraak, we will be living in tents on the farm for 3-5 weeks.

We left Sydney yesterday and took a train/bus combo with CountryLink, transferring in Cootamundra. The total cost was $91 AUD. We survived the 17 hour trip, a severe rainstorm & a double rainbow! The trip down here was quite beautiful.

We showed up in Mildura lastnight around midnight to find the bus stop had little shelter from the insanely heavy downpour that was upon us. Luckily- so luckily, we had a ride to pick us up, a very friendly fellow from the hostel, " Mildura Stop Over". We spent today walking around Mildura, picking up supplies for the weeks to come, another tent, some thick insulated work gloves, etc. etc.

The farmer, whose name is also Jamie is picking us up to go to Iraak in only an hour, so I best be on my way, follow-up and more pics to come! Kickin off..

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