Orientation: Take 2

For our Fall IES Orientation we took a bus into the Grampians National Park, about 3.5 hours northeast of Melbourne. I have friends who spent some time climbing and hiking and camping there last semester, but I never made it out. Though we stayed on the outskirts, the park that we did see was absolutely breathtaking. We were based near Hall's Gap which has access to incredible sandstone rock formations and lookouts. Hopefully I can go back sometime this semester and do some more exploring, but for a weekend getaway I would say we had a pretty idea location. "That's what I said, I said 'Isn't this ideal!' " (Get it, Mama?).

The view from the top of Mt. Pickaninny. It was a comfortable 1.2 km stroll from our accommodations at the Grampians Retreat. I'm still paranoid about snakes so I was suspicious of every stick that possessed lifelike qualities, but I am pleased to say that I emerged from the hike alive. It was superhumanly foggy that morning and I'm surprised that it burned off enough to get this clear of a shot. It was so gorgeous. Although I think my program coordinator was sufficiently creeped out by my incessant questions regarding the kinds of foods he likes to make. But I learned that Brunswick Street has a shop that sells pomegranate molasses, so of course I'll be hitting that up as soon as I can!

Mt. Abrupt, site of my first abseiling experience. If you are unfamiliar with the concept, "abseiling" is basically a fancy word for "thrashing yourself down the face of a jagged rock as you pretend to look like you know what you're doing." Given this definition, I believe I was highly successful. Sure, other people repelled with swiftness and ease. But I like to keep things interesting. Unbruised knees are so last year.

Okay. This is the most adorable creature I have ever seen in my entire life. How is this level of cuteness even remotely possible? I just want to squeeze him (or her). I think the people I was with thought I had problems because I took about 13 pictures of this guy...and he never moved. I took 13 of the same picture. Those of you who know me probably aren't surprised by this. But it's sick. It was like I'd never seen another creature besides my own reflection in my life.

The Docklands and Other Adventures

Last week I ventured to the other side of the city. It's a magical land brimming with sidewalks and tram tracks and small yachts and grassy knolls and orange construction cones. But. It's precious. I took the City Circle Tram for the first time which is the same as any other tram but more old-timey...and free. This was some random sculpture made of curved metal bars and a couple sheets of pink metal mesh. Wow, that's fun to say.

This is just a rainbow building. No big deal. Except that it's awesome. I have no idea what purpose it serves but I want to live here. I imagine it's probably an apartment complex, which is perfect. It would be a bit difficult to make a home for myself in a row of cubicles or an empty mechanical warehouse.

This is a sculpture in a children's play area. Each of the cup-like attachments spin with the wind. It's really cool.

For our IES Farewell party we went to dinner at a delicious Greek restaurant (which served stuffed tomatoes and zucchini and bell peppers, or "capsicums" to the people who didn't eat the platters of tiny octopi. And by people, I mean me). After dinner we went to this underground bowling alley. Overall a wonderful night.

There was a festival going on in Federation Square for about a month called A Light in Winter. It was a celebration of the symbolism of light in a vast array of different religions. There was a raised platform (not in this picture) with probably about 50 7-foot tall pillars covered with LED lights. When you walked around them, sensors in the floor created specific patterns in the lights. So cool. And these lanterns were hanging from cables with red lasers shooting across them.

Craziness comes on quickly when we're bored. I believe here Laura was whipping her side ponytail in time to "Beautiful Day" by U2. This was moments before we decided to give Kate a unibrow with one of my curls. Best decision ever.