Newcastle

We got dropped off at the parking lot at the train station across from YHA at around 9AM. Girl from the Netherlands left last night to catch her flight. Everyone went across the street to the hostel as we all got some time to kill. I still have about an hr and half before my train departs and Anica had to wait for her cab to the airport. Katrin and the French girls had booked accommodation at the hostel for the weekend for the country music festival. David and Matty got a job doing irrigation on a farm and they were waiting to get picked up. Lee and Colin were waiting on a call from their farmer. The rest went their separate ways. I said my goodbyes when it was time for me leave. We had fun. I’m definitely gonna miss these guys.

While waiting for my train I checked my ticket and it said I had to transfer at Broadmeadow and it was unreserved. I thought it meant that my ticket from thereon wasn’t reserved yet, but it also seemed like unreserved seating, so I asked an elderly couple who sat beside me and they said I might have to pay, but they weren’t so sure either. I figured I’ll just ask the train attendant later on when they check for tickets. The train was running a bit behind schedule. From Tamworth to Newcastle was about 4hrs. This time I remembered NOT to order food onboard eventhough I was starving. I had to transfer at Broadmeadow from regional to intercity service. I asked the ticket vendor about my ticket and he said it was all paid for, however because my train was late, my connecting train won’t be for an hr, but I could check in my luggages at the storage room. Just as I’ve checked in my bags, I was telling the lady there where I was going and she told me that my connecting train was actually late too and it’d be coming in about 5min, I just had to make it to the other side! I quickly made my way through the under tunnel and only waited 2min for the train. I did ask a father who was taking his 2 sons out for a bike ride if it was the right train.

I knew that Newcastle Beach YHA wasn’t far from the train station, but carrying 2 luggages really made it hard. I’m definitely gonna send one luggage home, I’m getting really tired of hauling all this crap everytime I had to move! The hostel was old but with historic characteristics where I had booked 4 nights. When I checked in I asked if there was a lift, and the guys at the reception responded no as if I’d just asked a stupid question. It is an old building after all. However, one of the guys did offer to help me with my luggages up the big staircase. My room was right by the staircase, so there wouldn’t be too much trouble when I leave. My doorknob felt like it would fall off anytime, but luckily I could still lock it.

When I walked into my room I met Ada, who was from Toronto. She was in Australia for a sponsorship working as a nurse in the nearby hospital. We got along very well. The weather was beautiful, and once I’ve settled in, I took a look around the hostel to see where everything’s at, then I set out for a walk around town. I went down to the reception and asked for a map and points of interest in the surrounding area. Ada has been in town for a couple days and she told me a few spots as well. I first went around Hunter Street just 5min walk from the hostel. I got myself a chicken schnitzel for lunch since I haven’t had anything to eat since I left Leconfield. Unfortunately it was the weekend so most of the shops were closed. Then I only walked as far as King Edward Park and made a turn around back because I was getting tired and it was getting quite warm. However I did notice signs of an outdoor cinema playing that night at the park.

Back at the hostel I ran into one of the guys from the reception, Gordon. He offered me a beer and we started chatting. He’s German but he’s been in Australia for the last 6yrs. He also started out with working holiday visa, got working at the hostel, then the owner decided to sponsor him and now he’s manager at the hostel. I would never have thought he was German. He speaks fluent Australian but with a slight accent that I couldn’t distinguish. He told me how he likes Canadians because we’re so chill. His buddy, the one who helped me out with my luggages, is Canadian as well.

Back at my room I met a Dutch girl who just moved in. She got herself working for accommodation at the hostel, but she was also looking for work in town. Then Ada came back and the 3 of us had a really long chat. Dutch went out to drop off some cv’s. It was close to dinner time and Ada asked what my plans are for the night and I told her about the outdoor cinema and asked if she’d like to join. We decided to try this fish ’n chips place on Hunter Street, supposedly one of the best in town. We each ordered a combo of catch of the day with salad. It was delicious and the portion was huge!!! It was take away, wrapped in paper. They don’t give you any tartar or tomato sauce (I doubt they carry ketchup at all in Australia!) unless you ask and pay extra, but I actually like the way they are just seasoned with salt. I couldn’t even get to the salad before we had to leave to get some alcohol before the movie. I got my leftover chips and bought a 750ml of VB. Ada bought herself a little bottle of wine.

By the time we got to the park there was huge traffic and the hill was filled with people, mostly families with kids. There were a few food and drink stands as well. The park was set up perfectly for outdoor movies as the hill was formed in the way of an auditorium. We didn’t know what movie was playing, turned out it was Despicable Me 2. We found a not bad spot right by the foot path, a few trees were in the way but decent view, except for the annoying family who stood across the path from us blocking the view at times with their kids running around. I wasn’t sure what the law is for drinking in public in Australia so I was discreet with my beer just in case. I did see a couple popos on patrol. The movie was great! Just as good as the first one. However Ada doesn’t really watch animated movies, and I was surprised she’s never seen Despicable Me!

Next day, me, Ada, and the Dutch girl went for grocery shopping at Aldi’s. It seemed like a really long walk, but partly we were a bit lost as well. We did, however, got a nice walk around town and saw a wedding car showcase. After we dropped off our food, Dutch wanted to take a nap. It was still early afternoon, so Ada and I decided to take a walk along the coast, and she’ll show me the Bogey Hole where you can swim in. On the way there we saw 2 teenagers riding bikes on a half pipe. We sort of stopped just to take a look. I happened to be recording and one of the boys just decided to do a stunt for us. The Bogey Hole was constructed by order of a commandant for his personal use back in the days. I went in for a dip in the pool filled with algae and uneven bottoms, careful for my footing as it gets quite deep at certain parts. On our way back we passed by Newcastle Beach where they had a large outdoor swimming pool and made a mental note to go back there for a swim. We went further down to the sandy part and just relaxed there till just before dinner time. We got another new roommate, a really cute English girl name Sophie, travelling on her own. During dinner we met Adam, an American, pretty chill dude, pretty American.

Since it was the weekend, Ada and I felt like going out for drinks, and we heard Dalby Street is where all the fun’s at. We asked if Dutch would like to join us but she had to wake up early next morning for work at the hostel and Sophie was tired from that day’s travel so they both declined. We headed out just after 9PM. Dalby Street was about 25min walk, which was alright because the weather was warm, and we didn’t feel unsafe walking there at night. There were quite a few bars and everywhere seemed pretty busy. We ended up at the 5 Sawyers and ordered our beers. Half an hr later we were told that they would be closing soon and we looked at the time and it was only 10PM. Both me and Ada were quite surprised and disappointed. No bars close this early back home!!!

Next morning Dutch was already up working the hostel. Ada, Sophie, and I decided to grab a coffee on Hunter Street and to check out the shops. We sat outside a café and chatted over coffee/tea in the beautiful summer weather. There were a few stalls set up on the street, we also went into a vintage shop which reminded me of Vancouver, we had quite a few of those. We came back for lunch, and I met up with Katrin, who happened to be talking to Adam. We caught up over lunch. Adam suggested that we all go to the beach in the afternoon and he'll teach us bodyboard. Katrin had to go off to take care of some business, so it was just me, Ada, Sophie, and Adam. The hostel had free hires for surfboards and bodyboards. We headed down to the beach, ran into Dutch who was just on her way back. Neither me nor Sophie could swim, so we pretty much stayed on the beach. It seemed so easy watching Adam surf and bodyboard, Ada had hella fun trying it on her own. Me and Sophie decided that we'd try a couple times ourselves with the bodyboard. The waves were pretty strong that day and we were both tiny girls, so we almost got washed under a couple times, but it was still fun. After we dropped off the boards we went to Newcastle Beach to swim in that big outdoor pool and played (they) Marco Polo. It's really nice to be swimming in an outdoor pool right by the ocean where you can watch the waves wash ashore without having to worry about getting washed off.

It was around 4PM when we got back. Ada was pretty tired, but Sophie and I still felt like doing something, so we decided to walk to the lighthouse. Sophie had to get some aftersun, she was getting pretty burnt being the white girl she is. On the way there we saw concrete pillars made to look like pencils. We walked back along the wharf towards town and got to Dalby Street, went into the Newcastle Region Art Gallery. On our way back we stopped by IGA and I got myself a whole roasted chicken for $8!! Katrin came back for dinner and we were all chatting. Too bad she's leaving the next morning, but she'll be meeting up with her boyfriend in Sydney and they'll be travelling to Malaysia, so I wish her all the best. Later that night I was chilling at the outdoor patio at the hostel and ran into Gordon again. We started chatting in his office and he offered me beer and even pizza because there was pizza night that night.

Next morning I woke up early and walked around town looking for cardboard boxes to pack up some of my stuff to send home. I went to quite a few shops but they all had nothing or boxes that were too small, but everyone was really helpful in suggesting where I might find some boxes. I finally found a decent size box at a grocery store. When I first walked in I had mistaken a customer for one of the clerks. After I got my box I saw him sitting on some steps having a smoke on my way back and he congratulated me on finding my box. Back at the hostel, I packed up most of my winter clothes, as well as the travel pack that my friend lent me, leaving only my luggage, the small backpack, and my sleeping bag with me. Borrowed some tape from the reception, and it's ready to be shipped off next morning. For lunch, I had a chicken breast, canned pasta, and some salad that Ada was giving away. Sophie had instant noodles over salad, Ada had something random she whipped up. We were all looking at each other's food and just laughed at how random and creative backpacker's meals could be. I still had a chicken breast left but since I'll be leaving next morning, I told Dutch she could have it if she wants.

The hostel hosted a pub night where there's free food and possibly free drinks at a nearby hotel. The food was simple sausages and jalapeño poppers. We played games and a few of us got free drinks from it. The host left us to mingle soon after the game. Sophie seemed to have acquired an admirer who's also from England. He seemed pretty wild, and invited us over to his dorm for some drinking games. We all had a few more drinks then headed back to the hostel, I was pretty buzzed by then. I bumped into Adam on my way back to the room and asked if he'd like to join us, but he was just on his way out to watch the stars down at the beach, and he was leaving the next day. There were about 10 of us, and we played ring of fire. One of the girls kept forgetting to do the rule before you drink. A guy just moved in and we quickly got him to play with us and he got the Question Master card and right away tricked another guy to take a drink. There were a couple Canadians as well. When it was waterfall Ada was right next to me so I tried to make her drink more, as I usually do for my friends. By the end of it everyone was pretty drunk and Wild Brit suggested we go to the beach. On my way out I bumped into Gordon and we started chatting, I was pretty drunk so I kinda lost everyone so I just stayed and chatted with Gordon till pretty late. Next morning I heard apparently Wild Brit went for skinny dip in the ocean.

I woke up really early next morning to send off my package, got to the post office even before it was opened. The lady said my package was slightly oversized, luckily she just let it slide, it cost me around $175...... Then I got back to my hostel, checked out, and waited for my ride to Narrowmine. Apparently my new boss sent one of his buddies to come pick me up because he happened to be in town. Saves me the train ticket. Ada couldn't believe I'd just get a ride from a stranger's stranger friend out to the middle of nowhere. At the moment I didn't think much of it, but when talking on the phone I didn't feel anything fishy about them, but looking back, I guess I got lucky they were good people. When I was waiting for my ride I got to chat with one of the ladies who work at the hostel. She's Australian, but she's been travelling around Australia on her own as well. Then Gordon came in, and he looked like shit. Apparently he had hell of a night last night as well. I left him some time after midnight, don't know what happened to him afterwards, seemed like he had quite a lot to drink!
Sophie left that morning as well to Port Stephens via Greyhound. She’s such a tiny girl with her huge luggage. We bid our farewells. Ada came to say goodbye but she had to go get her blood test for her nursing job. I gave Gordon a hug before I left.

I knew I was going to work at a horse stable and I knew that my boss' friend was there to pick up a horse, so I was expecting like a truck of some sort, but he came in an ute (which I didn't know was called an ute at the time)!! I've seen those cars around all over Australia and they seemed cool, like a low rise pickup truck but made to look more sporty and I've always wanted to sit in one of those and now I got to! On the way to meet up with my new boss, Lindsey, I got to chat with Damian. Apparently they've known each other since high school and they both grew up around horses. He used to live out in Narrowmine as well, but decided to move out here closer to the city and started his own horse training business just like Lindsey. Then we met up with Lindsey where they were picking up a new horse that hasn't been broken in. Took them a very long time to get the horse into the carriage. Finally got the horse in, got to ride in Lindsey's big ass truck. I was working for accommodation, so Lindsey would be providing all the food as well. First meal he got me was McDonald's... When we got to Dubbo he said he needed to meet up with his daughter and his brother, so we stopped by another McDonald's and I met his 5y/o daughter Dakota and her cousin, I forgot her name, and his brother Matt. The girls were definitely farm girls, even though Dakota was wearing a princess dress she was jumping and running all over the place enjoying her time. Adorable little girl.

When we finally got to Narrowmine and dropped off the horse at the stable it was already dark. Lindsey gave me his little daughter's room (it's so pink and full of butterflies and barbies and princesses!!!) because she stays between him and his ex-wife, and his brother is currently staying with him as well. Finally took a shower, which barely had any water pressure, settled in, and be ready to work next morning starting at 6AM!!!