Brisbane, Australia:
In Sydney, I got to spend an evening with my dear friend Stephanie.
Here in Brisbane, I was able to spend this afternoon with local friend Lauren, who I last saw back in July (in Sydney, the same night I hung out with a few other Aussie friends before seeing French and Saunders).
Lauren and I were "those lucky b*tches" in July
It’s always more fun to have a local show you around versus a tour guide, or even just wandering yourself. After spending some time at the Gallery of Modern Art, which has a great Asian exhibit on at the moment including works from North Korea, we spent a couple of hours chatting at a nearby cafe.
I love that even with a friend I don’t see often and mostly communicate with via the Internet, being together in person is instantly comfortable. Thanks Lauren!
Later, she showed me around the waterfront, walking through the Botanic Gardens and past the University of Queensland. We ducked into a secondhand bookstore that looked tiny from the outside but inside was cavernous, with incredibly tall shelves and piles upon piles of books.
The most intriguing find?
I’m definitely not a jingoistic, flag-waving American but flipping through this “bestseller,” I was absolutely appalled by the blatantly untrue statements, like about how “every” American walks around in fear of being mugged or killed. Really?
There was also a keeper on Australian-American relations that could have been a real conversation-starter. Maybe it would teach me to love Vegemite. 
Time is flying by, a total cliche that’s true, and it feels like each day goes faster than the last. I’m truly having a fantastic time here and am already planning to return with Simone (and anyone else who feels like joining in!) in a few years when we have a bit more money saved up.
I couldn’t let a moment pass without posting a picture of this most amazing Thai soup I had the other night. After more than two weeks of cooking every single meal at the hostel, I “splurged” on a meal out and got this delicious noodle & veggie soup, very spicy and cooked in delicious coconut milk.
So much yumminess in one bowl. 
I couldn’t totally go for that again right now.
Do you have friends you talk with more on-line than in person? Bloggers, I know you do!
Mmm, delicious Thai soup!
And I’m glad you had a friend to show you all those great sights! It’s true that there are some people who you don’t see often but when you get together it’s just comfortable and easy. Great friends.
Looks like you’re having a wonderful time!
Take care!
I worked at a summer camp on North Carolina once year and there were a lot of British, Australian, and New Zealand camp counselors. They managed to convince me that trying vegemite was an inititation every summer.
I passed. Wouldn’t eat it again, though. LOL
I love Australia! I studied in Sydney and drove through Brisbane. It’s gorgeous!
oh god, vegemite. blech! that book sounds like a gross overgeneralization, which i’m sure sells like crazy in various parts of the world! oh well! nothing you can do except be a good ambassador while on your travels, i’m sure you’ve changed many people’s perceptions of what it is to be an american. i usually just say i’m canadian, haha. give them the bad rap for a change! serioously everytime you say you’re with stephanie i wish you were talking about me, i want to be in AU with U. and yup i have many friends i talk to online more often than in person/phone…we’re scattered!
ayres rock here come!!!
I want some of your thai soup – mmmm! Yes I have lots of friends I keep up with via the WWW. It is really nice that we can do that!
[...] came a week before finding that great book about why the entire world hates America. Never in my travels have I met so many people who make [...]
Is vegemite the same as marmite? Bleh.
It’s not exactly the same but is equally disgusting.
I definitely talk to my on-line friends more on-line than in person! But that is because that is how our relationship started! So we blab when we see each other… and in emails!