Mad Max Beginnings

It all started on 19 March 2011.  We (again) had an early morning flight.  This time our destination was Broken Hill, the outback, where you see red sand for miles and everyone knows everyone else.  Interesting fact:  BHP Billiton started in Broken Hill (the BHP stands for Broken Hill Petroleum). I wasn't sure how I should feel about this trip.  On one hand I was super excited, but on another, my friend Emma sent me an article from news.com.au about recent breakouts in Broken Hill.  It was titled "Plague of insects, mice hits iconic Broken Hill" Some of my favorite excerpts are below...

THERE'S a deathly stench in the wind that blows down the main street of Broken Hill, though nobody is sure if it's the insects or the vermin. It's probably both. 

Attracted to light, the crickets have stormed the town from the desert, wreaking havoc on the local businesses, particularly those that deal in food. There are tales of insects baked into pizzas and languishing in the bottom of milkshakes. Some speak of having to vacuum their beds before going to sleep at nights. One business owner has been sealing his doors overnight with duct tape, but says they still get in somehow. He found hundreds of them one morning in his charity lollie box.

In the pubs, where crickets are swatted away with gestures that once saluted the flies, patrons are well advised to drink fast, lest a schooner left sitting on the bar for too long becomes a crunchy protein shake.

For some, the biggest worry is that the snakes will learn about the mice, and come slithering into town from the desert scrub, where spiders are already growing fat on the crickets and breeding fast, the town of Broken Hill becoming besieged by an army of venomous monsters.

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/national/plague-of-insects-mice-hits-iconic-outback-town-of-broken-hill/story-e6frfkvr-1226022477159#ixzz1Hz5OmRVw

So it’s early, so early that while boarding our plane the sun wasn't even out (and I'm not sure I would call it a plane).  There were only 30 seats and some propellers to get us off the ground - and I'm not even sure I want to go anymore.





But we were off....and 45 minutes later we were supposed to have arrived at Broken Hill.  At one point we started to descend and then all of a sudden we were back up and circling around.  Then the pilot came on the intercom to let us know that we had enough fuel to attempt one more landing but due to the weather they were having difficulties.  If a landing was not possible we would have to turn around and head back to Adelaide.  I was heartbroken.  I had three good friends with me and we were all going to Broken Hill (and one was from Broken Hill so we had a great place to stay and lots of tour guides).  Then it was back down again, the plane was shaky but I held my breath and prayed - and we finally landed.  I was so happy and ready for the weekend.

Emma's dad picked us up at the airport to take us home.  Since he is a dentist in town, we stopped by the office and picked up toothbrushes and toothpaste for everyone (it was a really nice welcoming gift).  Then off to the house to throw down our bags and get a bit of food.  Once we got settled we jumped in the car for our first tour.  Emma (our tour guide) gave us the tour of downtown.  We saw the stoplight and all the major hot spots...

The stoplights
 

News Agent
 

The Demo (this is where everyone goes on a Friday night)
 

The radio station (shaped as an old radio)
 

After the downtown tour, we went back to the house to get ready for the races.  The St. Paddy Day races, the entire reason we were there for the weekend.  Some horses, drinks, and head pieces.  We got all dolled up and headed to the track.  Upon arriving at the track it came to our attention that it was quite muddy, not good when you are wearing heals - and apparently not good for horse racing (as there were no horses there).  Yes that is right, due to the mud there would be no horse races for the day.  So, what else do you do at the horse races...drink? (no that is not entirely true; there is also Fashions in the Field).





Fashions in the Field - a fashion competition for the crowd to enjoy.  There are many different categories which one may enter (depending on ones age).  I really wanted Helen and Emma to enter as this would be one of my only opportunities to see Fashions in the Field, so we headed over to the judging area.  This whole competition thing started to look very serious, and I got nervous that we needed to register Helen and Emma.  So I head over to the judging table and ask the nice man with the microphone.  He informs me that there is no registration necessary and you just have to walk on up during your age category.  Well, good that means we didn't miss anything.



Then he asks me where I'm from (which doesn't alarm me as I get it all the time) and I tell him Colorado.  We chat a bit - I recognize him as one of the morning talk show hosts in Adelaide (which I subsequently find out was recently fired).  Then it starts - he is the MC for the event and every other sentence we hear that people have come from all over the world to participate in Fashions in the Field...all the way from Colorado...that he is so excited for the upcoming categories where people all the way from Colorado will be participating...

Well there wasn't much I could do but participate in Fashions in the Field. Luckily there were about 90 ladies in our age category so there wasn't much pressure - and needless to say I didn't make it to the finals (neither did Helen or Emma - which I thought was a horrible call).

 

After that there wasn't much else to do but have some more champagne and make the rounds.  We saw many interesting people including some cowboys - but still no horses.








By the end of the day, I think a few people (guys in particular) drank a bit too much, because all of a sudden some guys in their knickers are on the race course ready to run (okay there were a few ladies there but all were fully clothed).  Oh man, I was embarrassed for them - but secretly excited that we were finally getting to see a race.  I have no idea who won, but that is my ever lasting memory of the Broken Hill St Paddy's Day Races.





After the races, it was back home for a quick change and a few more sites to see...



Then it was dinner and off to the after party.  Turns out it was in a new night club in town.  I can't say exactly what it looked like (it was quite dark) but there was a dance floor and a DJ.  We danced the night away and had a great time.

The next morning we were lucky to have a lie in - then a good breakfast before we were off for the all inclusive Broken Hill tour.  The first stop on the tour was the film studio.  This was cool - a great place for a raging party - huge cement building.  Broken Hill and the surrounding areas are used as a backdrop for many different movies - including the classic Mad Max (and Mad Max 2, and Mad Max 3, I even hear there is going to be a Mad Max 4).  So as weird as it sounds that there is a film studio in one of the more remote towns in Australia, it does make sense.




Next stop was Bell's Milk Bar - a classic to the Broken Hill residents.  We all got milk shakes flavored with their handmade 1950's recipe syrups.  They were delicious (although later I regretted getting a large and not using the restroom before I left).  Then it was back in the car and off to Silverton (this is where most of the Mad Max outdoor scenes were filmed).  We stopped by the cemetery, a mud hut, the Mad Max museum, a lookout point to Flinders Ranges, and the reservoir (this is when I really started to regret the large milk shake).  Luckily it was back into town to the local pub.






I think everyone was in the local pub to celebrate the day after the day everyone celebrated St Paddy's Day.  I must say a few of the party-goers looked as if they hadn't stopped drinking since Friday night (note today is Sunday) - but they were all having a great time, drinking beer and dancing to ACDC.  I even spotted a few "True" Aussies which really made my day.






The last stop on the all comprehensive tour were the sculptures.  Per the sculpture website, "The Sculpture Symposium, is a nationally successful sculpture symposium situated on a majestic hilltop within the centre of the reserve. The Symposium was completed in 1993 by artists from around the world, under the direction of organiser and artist Lawrence Beck. 12 Sandstone Sculptures highlight the skyline, all with a story to tell."

I must say, I didn't really get the story they were telling, but the sculptures were really nice.





Now back to the house, grab our bags and head to the airport.  We made it safely back to Adelaide and were ready for another week.  A great trip to Broken Hill and I didn't see one mouse or have any major encounters with live crickets.

Relaxing Recess

Last weekend was a long weekend - which can only mean one thing...time for a vacation.  Now we ladies had been talking last October about organising a ladies weekend - and we did - and it finally came.  We had this trip planned for over 4 months and it couldn't come soon enough...


 
It was an early Saturday morning start when my roommate (Helen) came to wake me up (again my alarm did not go off, I'm starting to think that 5:30 is too early of it as well).  We grabbed our bags and headed outside where Emma was waiting for us with the cab.  Got to the airport, met up with Sally and headed to the plane.  We were only one girl down (other Emma) but figured she would make it in the nick of time - which she did.  A quick flight to Melbourne and we were rocking and rolling.  Snagged a quick breakfast, our rental car and were on the road to Daylesford.

None of us had ever been to Daylesford, but as the welcoming sign confirmed, it is "The Spa Capital of Australia."  The exact thing that we were looking for.  As we drove into town and down the main road, we noticed a heap of rainbow flags hanging everywhere.  We knew that Daylesford is also a gay friendly town, but this seemed a bit over the top (even to me).  As it was about lunch time, we sat down in a nice cafe and ordered some food.  Had a nice relaxing lunch and were ready for our Saturday Spa treatments.  On our way out the waitress told us to enjoy the festival.

The festival?  We did not know of any festival...then a sign appeared "ChillOut:  2011 Bollywood in the Bush."  What is this festival?  Well I'll let them tell you in their own words.

From humble beginnings, ChillOut has grown to become the biggest and longest-running queer pride event in regional Australia, and the largest festival in Hepburn Shire. While events in the capital cities might be a lot bigger, ChillOut retains a relaxed, down-to-earth atmosphere with plenty of opportunities to let your hair down, and has found a special place in the hearts of gay men and lesbians across Australia – and the world.   - Chilloutfestival.com.au


Yep, only we could pick to go to Daylesford during the largest gay festival - but that could only mean one thing:  There would be some wicked dance parties.  We started to become excited.




We had some time to do a bit of window shopping, look at some other menus in the windows and decide which bakery we could go to for some cakes.



Then it was off to the spa.  I went for the 90 minute hot oil massage - which was wonderful.  Some of the other girls got a scrub, some massages, others facials.  Afterward we all met up at our house. 

Ironically enough it was called the Whitehouse (was it coincidence from our party in February??).  This house was amazing.  The lady that owns it is an interior designer which is apparent the moment you step in the front door.  The attention to detail is impeccable and you immediately feel like you have stepped into your own imaginary world, but with a complete sense that you are at home.  This place was just amazing.







That night we headed to A Perfect Drop for dinner which was highly recommended (which I know would pass on).  The food was delicious.  I ordered some Asian rice (it is more interesting than the name I'm giving it) and stuffed zucchini flowers (one thing I can never turn down).  There were three orders of steak and one order of lamb.  Obviously I was not too into sharing that night. 

After dinner we headed back to the house (the ChillOut dance party that night was country themed and as I didn't bring my boots we figured it would be best not show up under dressed).  Back at home, we threw in a movie and had a complete girl’s night.  Watched The Devil Wears Prada, and discussed the important things in life (fashion, wine, chocolate, and why guys are idiots).

The next morning woke up and headed to Cliff's for breakfast.  The waitress came to take our drink order and the moment I said a skim flat white, this guy pops out of nowhere (like seriously I have no idea where he came from, and I tend to know my surroundings) and points to the bottom of the menu confirming that they don't do skinny drinks (or chi tea or decaf).  Well, then I guess I'll just get a normal flat white...



Then it came to ordering food.  You could get eggs and bacon, but you couldn't stipulate how the eggs were cooked.  The chef determined that all eggs would be cooked a certain way each day.  Well, my friend Helen only likes scrambled eggs, and asked politely if she could get some scrambled eggs and bacon.  The answer?  A big fat NO.  You could only have the poached...Poached?  Seriously, that is easier than scrambled?  Well, she ended up having poached eggs.  I on the other hand had baked beans with eggs and olive bread, and it was one of the best breakfasts that I've had (a close runner up to Snooze's Huevos Rancheros).



After breakfast we hit the markets.  Walked through a few stalls, then Emma asked if I smelled something.  I was like yeah, I can smell something - but didn't think too much about it.  Then not even a minute later she started to freak...turns out she had dog poo on her sandal.  We were all amazed at how it actually could have happened...it wasn't on the bottom, wasn't on the side, just on the top - like the dog put it there himself without her knowing.  Anyway, we tried to get it off with some leaves but without the proper equipment it was difficult.  So we headed home for some cleaning supplies. 



Once the sandals were under control, it was back out on the town.  Did a bit more shopping and went to the bakery for some good cakes.  Then again off to the spa.  This Spa was the killer of them all.  Helen, Emma and I got the works.  A mud scrub followed by a sauna and jet scrub, a facial, head massage and finished with a full body massage.  It was unbelievable - and all up in a tree house like atmosphere.  A great way to relax.



 

At the Spa it had started raining, so our walk around Daylesford Lake had been postponed indefinitely.  Sally and Emma planned a nice trip out to the country for some cider tasting.  They had three different ciders, one medium, one sweet and one dry.  They were all nice but not like the typical cider that we're use to.  Supposedly, cider was originally made flat (i.e. without carbonation) until the "big guys" got their hands on it and made it sparkling.  See you can learn something while drinking...

We ended up at home and not knowing what to do for dinner.  There was always the ChillOut DJ dance at the town hall tonight as well, but after finding out that it was $50 we vetoed that idea.  Instead we ordered in, some pizza and Thai food, put on Sex in the City (the movie) and another girl’s night began.  While going through four bottles of wine (with only one mishap with a wine cork), we periodically stopped to analyse the scenes and what we would want our friends to do in these situations (not that any of us will ever be in these situations, but nevertheless it is always good to know). Yeah, it’s a good thing there were no guys around...

The next morning we cooked a feast for breakfast, coffee, juice, toast, eggs, tomatoes, bacon, and pancakes.  It was a great way to finish up at the house.  Then into the car a quick trip to our fountain and back to Melbourne.

 



On the way back we stopped at a few small towns, but as it was a public holiday there wasn't much going on, so we made it to Hanging Rock.  Originally we had this notion that Hanging Rock was the place where four girls went for a picnic and three disappeared never to be found again.  This idea was based on the movie Picnic at Hanging Rock, which we thought was based on actual events (turns out the movie was based on a book and the book was totally fictional).  Oh well, we were there and ready to hike...kind of.



We weren't really ready to hike, there were only two of us with sneakers on - but we were the most fashionable hikers going up to the summit.  Luckily it was only a 20 minute hike to the summit and not too difficult.  Since everyone (excluding me) was looking so fashionable, it was a good time to take lots of pictures. 





Then a quick stop at the factory outlet shops (after about five U-turns and consulting the iPhone) for some power shopping.  Each girl only had 45 minutes to get through all the stores she desired...and go...they were off and I kind of stood there in bewilderment, not sure what to do.  I walked through a few stores but then I saw it...the food court!  Went straight over and got a falafel roll.  Well, my shopping is now completed...

Everyone met after our allotted time and there were some good buys had by the Emmas.  We then headed back to the airport for our flight home.  All in all a great weekend with the ladies!

And so it begins...

It all started in February.  I had been living with my new roommate for a few weeks now and we decided that it would be a great time to throw a house warming party.  So it was set - for the 19 of February.  Un-Fender-like, there was no theme - but a great title..."Welcome to the Whitehouse."

See its funny/ironic in so many ways.  Her last name is White (Helen White), I'm American which is associated with the Whitehouse, and my name is Hillary (haha - like Hillary Clinton (even spelled the same)).

Like any good traditional house party, we had beer pong.  Which quickly turned into punch pong - because, unbeknown to me - Australians love making punch.  And when I say punch I mean a mixture of a much alcohol as possible.  There is this thing called Passion Pop which is a $6 champagne.   Mix that with a half bottle of vodka (we had peach and plain) a splash of lemonade (think American Sprite) and some tropical juice.  Which when drinking is delicious and you would never know that there is alcohol in it...

Until of course you have just played 5 straight games of punch pong (and won three I might add - with my spunky partner Hannah)...then it hits you.  So you make some more and enjoy the rest of the night.










The next weekend was a strictly no drinking weekend.  It was the 2nd Annual BRW Triathlon event (well 2nd annual for a few of us at KPMG - I think the event has actually been going on for like 25 years).  Now before you give me too much praise - this was a corporate triathlon which means it is short, flat and do-able for us bean counters who sit in a chair for 10+ hours a day looking at our computers. Lucky for my one of my clients was just sold and my February was loaded with work.  Why is this lucky??  Well I now had an excuse for being horrible as I didn't have time to train.

But the day came (sooner than I expected as my alarm failed to go off and I woke up at the time I was supposed to meet my team, raced over to West Lakes and only ran one red light) and we were kind of ready.  I made it in time to get my bike in the transition area and it was off to warm up...by talking to everyone else from KPMG about how we were never going to make it through this.



Then it was time to start, so I went and stood in the lake.  Next thing I know we were moving and shaking - I'm pretty sure I got kicked in the face at least once but I didn't let that stop me.  Got out of the water (total length of 400 meters) and on to the bike.  Some of the guys were passing me (which only means I passed them on the swim) and they had the nice road bikes.  Then off the bike (9kms) and onto the run.  This is where I was finally able to find my feet (hehehe) and off to catch all those cyclists - not sure I passed any of them but got back (after 4 kms) and traded the band off to my vibrant team member Sally.  She was off and the next thing I knew she was back again.  Then it was Emma's turn, she was the newcomer on the team and made us proud, running over the finish line with her arms raised high.





The weekend after that (we're now in the first weekend in March) my good friends Keith and Sally joined me on a camping trip to Flinders National Park.  We took the Friday off and headed out.  The Ford Fiesta was packed to the rim, but we had all the essentials (and a few luxury items).  As the drive is quite a haul, we decided to stop at Mt Remarkable for a quick hike.  What we found was no hiking but a sick bridge swing.  I think it made Keith's day - and as he was driving that is about all that matters.






So back in the car and up to Wilpena Pound.  Got a few maps and realised that our car would really only make it to two camp sites as the others were on long gravel/dirt/your going to get a flat tire roads.  We made our way to the first one and set up camp.  Cooked some dinner, played some cards and listened to Glee.  We decided that Saturday would be full of a hike to St. Mary's Peak.  The tallest peak in the National Park with views for miles - a good nights rest was in order.



Unfortunately, none of us got a goods night rest.  The wind came howling up and shook our tents about.  If you have ever seen "The Happening" by M Night Shyamalan, I'm sorry it was a horrible movie, but that is what I thought we were going to be living through as the sounds were almost identical.  I did everything I could to try and fall asleep, as I knew tomorrow would be rough without just a little bit, counted sheep, hummed, thought about how tired I was, but there was nothing.

All of a sudden it was morning.  We all got up looking a little beaten, cooked a good brekky, packed a lunch and headed out.  The trail to St. Mary's Peak is considered "difficult."  Its about 15 kms and they recommend allowing 6 hours round trip.  Well, we figured that was a load of crap.  We wouldn't need 6 hours (I mean we all did just do the triathlon the weekend before with smashing times (note Keiths was an incredible 37 minutes)).  We headed out and the trail was what I think most would consider easy.  At this pace we would be to the top in 2 hours.



On the hike there is what I would consider some huge a#$ spiders - and I'm really not making that up.  They were everywhere.  The webs interwoven from tree to tree - right above our heads ready to pounce.  We took a hold of our fears and pushed on - luckily none of the spiders go to us.




Then we started to go up and then up some more, and more, when at some points we were scaling rock faces.  Needless to say, this slowed us down a bit.  From where we were there were two peaks you could see - a close one and a far one.  I took a look at them and told the guys, "Aahhh we are close it doesn't look too far away now" (referring to the close one).  Keith pointed out that he thought we might be headed to the far away one, but in any case we had to keep going. 



About an hour later we realised that it was the one further away.  We managed to loose the track right at the end and climbed up another rock face to the top.  And there we stood at the highest point in the Flinders Ranges.  Seeing miles upon miles of endless land on one side and Wilpena Pound on the other.  Wilpena Pound is a valley surrounded by a ring of mountains which the aboriginals believe to be two snakes protecting the land.  It was pretty spectacular.






At this point I was starving so we ate our lunch and relaxed for a bit before heading down.  Made it all the way back down (which to me is sometimes more difficult then going up) and we start heading around a bend in the trail.  I feel that something is a bit off - I hear some noises and stop.  Slowly walking around the trail we see a heard of wild goats.  Not sure what they were doing but they came out of the bush, walked/trotted on the trail, and then back into the bush.  It was pretty awesome - so much in fact that I didn't even think to get my camera.

Well, we finished the hike in the 6 hours the map told us we would.  It was kind of demoralising, but at the same time we did just hike 15 kms and a total vertical of about 1200m.  We camped at Wilpena Pound (the second place our car could easily get to) and made some pasta.

At one point in the night we had a visitor - Mr. Roo.  Mr. Roo was cute, he looked harmless and I'm sure he was used to people being around so expected some good food from us.  But we know better than to feed animals.  So we talked to him a bit and then tried to get him to leave.  This is when he went for our trash bag - Sally swiftly grabbed it and threw it out of the way and stepped in saying, "If you want to get to the trash bag, you'll have to get through me first."  Okay she didn't actually say that, but with the fighting stance she had no verbal words were necessary.  Luckily Mr. Roo was smart and left us alone for the rest of the night (kind of). 

Then it was star gazing time.  I love how many stars you can see when you are out of the city lights.  Even in the southern hemisphere you can see Orion.  Its about the only constellation that I'm able to pick out, but even so, the stars to me are a wonderment.

The next morning we packed up, and headed towards home.  We stopped and did one last, small hike to the aboriginal cave paintings.  They definitely weren't as impressive as the pictures on the pamphlet made them out to be, but I guess that is photo shop for you.

We made it back safe and sound, with no traffic/police tickets (which with Keith and I in the car is kind of a miracle).  A great way to start off the month of March....

Next weekend is finally our time to relax - as the lady's head to Daylesford for some spa time.