Around Brisbane

So, I've been here for almost 8 months now, and so far I've

1) moved to a studio apartment
2) started a PhD
3) joined random student clubs (dance!)
4) attended seminars, lab retreats, workshops, and conferences (won $200 for best talk!)
5) seen kangaroos, wallabies, flying foxes, possums, gliders, koalas, and various birds -- in the wild!
6) been to the beach and the forest
7) driven on the WRONG side of the road
8) watched Australian football
9) moved again, this time to a 2 bedroom treehouse ;)
10) co-hosted an awesome housewarming party
11) turned 31 :P

and generally just roamed around the streets of Brisbane (and surrounding suburbs). Here are some pics taken around the city, using my (old, not-smart) camera phone.

The University of Queensland, St Lucia

Philippines

Because, if nothing else, I'm a completist, here's a photo diary (of sorts) of the last leg of my trip, about 7 months (!) late. My sister and I met up with a few cousins and spent a few days on Boracay, my favourite beach of the trip!

Vietnam

Day: 67
Countries: 7
Stops: 25


Two minivans took us to the Cambodia-Vietnam border, and this border seems more normal, although security and organization still seemed much more lax than the Singapore-Malaysia or Malaysia-Thailand borders. Then it's a quick minivan trip to Chau Doc, on the Mekong Delta. First order of business was a boat trip on the Mekong Delta, where we got to see (another) floating village. Then a motorbike ride up Sam Mountain for sunset! It was a fun ride, with lots of photo stops along the way. the last leg of the ride was pretty crazy as well with sharp uphill turns on a speeding motorbike! The sunset was also very pretty, and we stayed to have a drink at the top of the mountain before heading down and visiting a local pagoda on the way back to the hotel.

Life on the Mekong River, at Chau Doc

Sunset over the Mekong Delta, at Chau Doc

Cambodia

Day: 53
Countries: 6
Stops: 20


Currently sitting on our last overnight train, on the way to our 2nd to the last stop of the trip! But first, let me try and remember what we did back in Cambodia, over 2 weeks ago...

Malaysia and Southern Thailand

Day: 46
Countries: 5
Stops: 17


Two weeks went by so fast, and yet somehow Singapore seems so long ago, let alone Indonesia or China. I'm currently in Bangkok, waiting for my sister to join me at the hotel, so I finally have some time to catch up on the updates.


As I mentioned, we arrived in Melaka in the afternoon of Nov 14 (that's Day 33). Our hotel was in Chinatown, so we had a quick lunch at the nearby food centre that consisted of a few different vendors with their stalls and portable kitchens, and a number of tables and chairs at the ground level of a small building. Essentially, you go out and order your food, then you either take it back with you if it's ready, or they'll come and find you when it's cooked. Drinks can be ordered at the table separately. You pay for the meal once you get it, then you just eat your meal and leave when you're done. Average price was about $5 per meal or less, and the food was pretty decent if you're willing to eat local. After lunch, we went on an orientation walk through Jonker Street and the riverside, then during our free time, Morven (my roommate) and I went to explore the Istana Ke Sultana, which is a reconstructed timber palace with no nails. Afterwards was a trishaw tour, going out to a Malay village (Kampung Morten) to see a traditional Malay house, and a few other historical sites by the river, before dropping us back off for dinner in town.

Istana Ke Sultana

on the trishaw with Morven