The Best Damn Aussie Burger in Germany

I had some sort of job training (for a company I'm now employed by, yippee!) in Hamburg last weekend and we were lucky enough to crash at Benny & Juli's place. On Friday night, Benny took us to one of his favourite bars just down the street from where he lives. Benny thought André and I would be extra amused at the fact that it was an Australian pub, and of course we were! We sipped on beers we had missed dearly (i.e. Toohey's and Carlton) even though the damned imports were 4 Euros each.



The guys ordered chicken wings (which were actually pretty decent) but once I saw this listed on the menu, I just had to try it. For old time's sake, ya know? Down Under calls it The Workingman Burger, which boggles my mind because it's clearly an Aussie Burger. Oh well. It had all the fixins it was supposed to have: a big fat pineapple ring, slices of bacon, a fried egg, beetroot... Boy, did things get sloppy. One thing's for certain: this burger was a million times better than Hungry Jack's piece of shh.



All in all, we were happy not only because we were in the company of awesome people and we were chillin' in one of the koolest cities in the world, but because we felt the feel-good Aussie vibes that night. HA! It's odd but true, though! We always reflect on our backpacker days in Oz, and it's even a thought to return someday (not just for holidays). Oz has it all: the jobs are well-paid, the weather never dips lower than 0°C (depending on where you live) and the lifestyle's so chill and laid-back. Siggghhhh.

Oz 2010-2011: Planes, Trains & Automobiles

For shits & giggs, I've plotted my journey in Oz and New Zealand (11/2010-10/2011) on this map. The dotted lines represent traveling by plane and the solid lines represent traveling by train or automobile. Oz is such a huge country, it'd take me at least 2 years to backpack it properly. As such, I didn't have the time (nor the $) to explore the Kimberleys or SA :( I am, however, proud to say that I literally came full circle and achieved most of my work/travel goals in Oz. Hallelujah! Let it be known that if you (YES, you!) are in need of Oz-y backpacker-ish tips/advice, you know who to holler at.



(START)
Melbourne

flew: San Francisco > Melbs
worked: 3 months in Melbs
roadtripped: up to Sydney (coastal route)
roadtripped: down to Melbs (inland route)
flew: Melbs > Auckland
roadtripped: down the North Island to Wellington (inland route)
roadtripped: down the South Island to Queenstown (coastal route)
flew: Christchurch > Sydney
flew: Sydney > Perth
worked: 2.5 months in Perth
flew: Perth > Alice Springs
roadtripped: west to Kings Canyon & Ayers Rock
roadtripped: east to Alice Springs & up to Darwin
worked: 9 weeks in Jabiru
flew: Darwin > Cairns
roadtripped: down to Byron Bay (coastal route)
road the rails: down to Sydney (coastal route)

(FINISH)
Sydney

Backpackers in Oz

When I embarked on my adventure in Oz back in Nov 2010, I came up with this idea. I thought it'd be kool to keep a log of all the wicked awesome people I had the privilege of meeting on my journey. In no particular order, I introduce you all to a buncha backpackers in Oz between Nov 2010 and Oct 2011. Ranging between the ages of 18-31, they're people I either traveled with, lived with or worked with.

The bottom line is that ya'll should be inspired by these koolass people. All of them had the balls to leave home with the intent to work and travel in a country they never grew up in; all of them have a unique story to tell. If you're currently contemplating just pickin' up and leaving, just remember... if all these people did it, you can too! Believe me you, traveling can and will change your life.



Name — Hampus Maxsebastian
Nationality — Swedish
Where to next? — "Maybe Byron Bay..."
Why Oz? — "I'm lookin' for my life..."
Why travel? — "Fuckin' just live your life."
#1 Travel Tip — "Just fuckin', just rock this place!"



Name — Nora Mulvaney
Nationality — Canadian
Where to next? — Vietnam
Why Oz? — "Because you can stay here so long, stay 1-2 years, come here with a one-way ticket..."
Why travel? — "I've always loved to travel and you start fresh every time."
#1 Travel Tip — "Hide the 3rd person."



Name — Diego Valdivia
Nationality — American/Mexican
Where to next? — Thailand
Why Oz? — Kangaroos
Why travel? — "It's the best."
#1 Travel Tip — "Just go for it."



Name — Tara Stephens
Nationality — Irish
Where to next? — Townsville, Australia
Why Oz? — "It was the furthest place away from Ireland."
Why travel? — "You get to meet new people and see a bit of the world."
#1 Travel Tip — "Don't pack too much. Less is more."



Name — Sam Jago Coleman
Nationality — British
Where to next? — Redroof, Cornwall, UK
Why Oz? — "New opportunities... a chance to see the world!"
Why travel? — "I like to meet new people, see new places... the thrill of adventure!"
#1 Travel Tip — "Get to the backpackers' ASAP, you never know who you'll meet!"



Name — Carina Meidert
Nationality — Bavarian
Where to next? — Singapore
Why Oz? — "No special reason... work to travel."
Why travel? — "Cultures and traditions... but especially, it helps me make sense of my future."
#1 Travel Tip — TBA



Name — Jonas Balzer
Nationality — German/Korean
Where to next? — Malaysia
Why Oz? — "So many backpackers, the sun, and the Outback."
Why travel? — "...just wanna do something different and FREEDOM!"
#1 Travel Tip — "Simply do what comes to your mind."



Name — Laure Parachini
Nationality — French
Where to next? — Byron Bay, Australia
Why Oz? — "the Heartbreaker TV series takes place in Oz, and it inspired me to come! When I was 15 I thought Australia was kool... the surfer dream/image influenced me."
Why travel? — "Because I want to see for myself what the news tells us... I want to know everything about everything. I'm a very curious person!"
#1 Travel Tip — "Travel light!"



Name — Lisa Waterink
Nationality — Dutch
Where to next? — Tasmania, Australia
Why Oz? — "I actually wanted to travel to South America, but my parents didn't think it was safe so I chose Oz. I'm enjoying my choice so far, I love it."
Why travel? — "I just finished high school, I felt I deserved time off, and I just wanted to gain more confidence, etc etc."
#1 Travel Tip — TBA



Name — Hayley Meads
Nationality — English
Where to next? — "No idea."
Why Oz? — "I always wanted to come here... it was a childhood dream."
Why travel? — "Meetin' new people, growing up, being your own person. You actually find yourself."
#1 Travel Tip — "SUN CREAM!"



Name — Javier Dominguez
Nationality — Cuban/American
Where to next? — "Asia, but technically Adelaide."
Why Oz? — *shruggs*
Why travel? — "It's always fun being somewhere new... and testing my limitations."
#1 Travel Tip — "Always remember flights are listed in the 24hr time format."



Name — Mary Rowlands
Nationality — British
Where to next? — Sydney, Australia
Why Oz? — "Everyone says that Oz is so amazing, but I doubted it. I wanted to prove myself wrong."
Why travel? — "For shitts and giggs."
#1 Travel Tip — "Trust fate."



Name — Vahur Lumilaid
Nationality — Estonian
Where to next? — Europe (but first, a few weeks in Asia, i.e. Bali)
Why Oz? — "It's an easy place to find a job and to travel."
Why travel? — "Fun, meet new friends, see different places."
#1 Travel Tip — N/A



Name — Niamh Rebecca Hill
Nationality — Canadian
Where to next? — Korea
Why Oz? — "I wanted to go somewhere warm and I have a lot of friends here."
Why travel? — "To avoid responsibility."
#1 Travel Tip — "Don't make plans and bring lots of baby wipes."



Name — Christel Knook
Nationality — Dutch
Where to next? — Asia
Why Oz? — "My boyfriend... initially."
Why travel? — "To explore the world, to get out of this bubble."
#1 Travel Tip — "Open up and it will all come to you."



Name — Adam Alexander Reis
Nationality — British
Where to next? — "Sydney I think..."
Why Oz? — "Because my friends booked it and told me I was going."
Why travel? — "It's just fun every day! Even if you're stuck in a flood or somethin', it'd still be fun!"
#1 Travel Tip — "Try to hang around people from the country you're visiting. PS. Work at the SEXPO!"



Name — Felix
Nationality — Hong Konger
Where to next? — 1. New Zealand 2. UK 3. Germany
Why Oz? — "It's easy to apply for a Visa here."
Why travel? — "You find yourself when you travel. Complete the travel mission before you die!"
#1 Travel Tip — "Never have sex with your friends!"



Name — Matteo Claudio Katzschner
Nationality — German/Italian
Where to next? — "Bali for 3 weeks, Thailand, back to Germany, then I'll plan a new trip and go to Canada or Australia again."
Why Oz? — "It's an amazing country... beautiful land, lots of animals, other cultures..."
Why travel? — "I wasn't so sure about traveling at first, but then when I first road-tripped I fell in love with it... SO MUCH FUN!"
#1 Travel Tip — Lucky Bay and the Kimberleys (Western Australia)



Name — Caroline Amy McKenzie
Nationality — "British, dude."
Where to next? — "I don't really know. It's a hard question. After Oz I'm going to New Zealand."
Why Oz? — "It has very beautiful beaches and it's very far away... and it seems like a lot of fun."
Why travel? — "It's not for everybody, but you have to experience new cultures! Good people + good location + good food = best times!"
#1 Travel Tip — 1. Do not leave home without a travel pillow. 2. If you're a girl, bring one nice dress.



Name — Christophe Richin
Nationality — French
Where to next? — Mauritius
Why Oz? — "Because it's easy to get a long-term Visa here and it's a warm country."
Why travel? — "I want to see something different... I have a restless soul."
#1 Travel Tip — "Don't drive over 80 km/hour (it saves you money)!"



Name — Sigourney Kiddy
Nationality — Scottish
Where to next? — Italy
Why Oz? — "Because everyone loves it and I wanna fall in love with it too."
Why travel? — "Freedom."
#1 Travel Tip — "Pack a beach towel."



Name — Matêj Linhart
Nationality — Czech
Where to next? — New Zealand
Why Oz? — "It's just part of my trip around the world."
Why travel? — "It gives me inspiration… for life."
#1 Travel Tip — "Throw away guides and cameras, listen to your inner voice, and enjoy every moment you have."



Name — Mariska Hulst
Nationality — Dutch
Where to next? — Darwin --> Broome --> Perth
Why Oz? — "...warm...safe...lots of backpackers..."
Why travel? — "I was done studying, I didn't want to study further or work, so I came to Oz!"
#1 Travel Tip — "Go and work somewhere and meet locals."



Name — Jennie Helen Gardner
Nationality — British
Where to next? — "Oh god... Sydney."
Why Oz? — "...'cuz it's as far away from England as you can get."
Why travel? — "Meeting people that you'd never meet before."
#1 Travel Tip — 1. Always carry lip gloss. 2. Keep a diary.



Name — Dennis Eichler
Nationality — German
Where to next? — Shanghai
Why Oz? — It's easy to get around, there's heaps to see, it's easy to get a Visa..."
Why travel? — "Because you really get to know the country you're in."
#1 Travel Tip — "Fast-drying towels and not worrying about a wet towel in your backpack."



I apologize to the 20+ Ozzie backpackers I had the pleasure of being acquainted with that also deserve to be featured in this post. Sometimes it just wasn't convenient to bust out my Moleskine and jot down notes, or sometimes I procrastinated and never got around to it. Sorry, kids. In any case, I'll end this shizzle off by filling out my own little questionnaire below. Rockin' the Beanie like whoa......



Name — Shelley Pascual
Nationality — Canadian/Filipino
Where to next? — "South Korea, Southeast Asia, then the rest of the World."
Why Oz? — "I missed the deadline for teaching English in South Korea, and Oz was my Plan B."
Why travel? — "There's nothing more fulfilling in life than learning about/understanding/living amongst cultures different from your own."
#1 Travel Tip — "Learn to detach yourself from material shit."

My 1st Day in Australia

It's time to get honest: I bought myself the newest 13" MacBook Pro. So technically, I could have posted stuff up a long time ago. But the truth is, folks, I feel differently about my website. I mean I started this blog nearly two years ago, and now... in order for it to be a true reflection of me, it gots to change somehow. And because I'm still figuring out how it must change, it has remained stagnant.

All I know right now is that I miss Australia, dearly. I miss the awesome weather, I miss constantly meeting new people, I miss hittin' the road... Most of all, I miss the possibility of each day being 360° different from the next. But I'm not gonna dwell on the past. To reminisce, I've posted a throwback vid of my 1st day in Oz, jittery though I was. I had just landed in Melbourne, I was taking the Skybus into the city, and I didn't know what the eff I was getting myself into. At the time, hells no I didn't think I'd survive 11 months of backpacking! But I did. And it's about time I patted myself on the back for it.

Nimbin, Australia ― A Tacktacular Town

2 Oct 2011 | I only spent 2 hours in Nimbin, too little time to develop an educated opinion on the tacktacular town. The shops on the main strip can be perused in about half an hour, selling everything from slouchy hippie pants to hookahs to neon bumper stickers. A white-haired lady will try to lure you into buying some of her magic cookies, and other randoms on the street will openly ask you whether you'd like to purchase marijuana. I left the town that day wishing I'd had the opportunity to speak with a true local. I feel I'd understand Nimbin's weird/kitsch-y vibe a bit more if I'd learned of its history and how it came to be. Btw, though the typography is awful, I gotta admit, I'm a fulltime dreamer too. Et tu?

Goodbye Oz, Hallo Deutschland!

It's me! In Muenster, Germany! Eating a Quarkini! (Mini Quark Doughnut) 

The truth is out. I'm no longer in the la-la land of Oz. It was bittersweet to leave the country I called home for 11 months, but I didn't have time to dwell on it, because I flew straight from Australia to Germany. Yup, I'm currently living in Deutschland, and so far it's been super geil!!! The downside? I've been without reliable Internet access for the past couple weeks, so I have a backlog of kool food-y shiet I'm dying to share with you guys. Worse still, my external hard drive is effed, so it might be a while 'til I can update the masthead of my website. This drives me madd!!! In any case, expect posts of my last days in Oz to be up shortly... as well, my current crazy adventures here in Deutschland!!!

Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast, Queensland

30 Sept 2011 | Surfers ain't got sh.t on South Beach, so please stop comparing Australia's Gold Coast with Miami, Florida. Thank you.

Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Island

20 Sept 2011 | Hill Inlet Lookout (see previous post) overlooks the famous Whitehaven Beach of the Whitsundays. Wasn't I a lucky duck for being able to chill on Whitehaven Beach for a solid 2 hours?



Whitehaven Beach is a 7km stretch of 98% pure silica white sand. The photo on the left is my view of the beach looking south, and the photo on the right is my view of the beach looking north.



After running into the water and swimming for a while, I got hungry. Two seagulls kept pestering me as I sat and enjoyed my tuna sandwich lunch. Sigh, I really loved these natural wavy patterns in the sand.



On the far south side of Whitehaven Beach, I spotted these cute kids making giant ice cream sand castles. Yum! The sand castle on the left looks uber ice cream-y. Scoop of maple walnut, please!



Thank you, Whitehaven Beach, for letting me rub your fine white sands into my skin. I'd been advised to try it and found it rather pointless but thanks anyway. I'll be back someday, Whitsundays! Adieu!

Hill Inlet Lookout, Whitsunday Island

20 Sept 2011 | Look closely at the picture above. Can you see the tiny blobs of people walking along the beach? And the tiny yellow raft sitting along the edge of the sand? My camera wasn't good enough to capture the stingrays we could also see from Hill Inlet Lookout. From the view up top, the stingrays looked like a random scatter of brown dots in the water. PS. The Whitsundays took my breath away!