fredag 26. februar 2010

Go happy punk cabaret!!

Went to an absolutely super Amanda Palmer-concert at Melbourne Forum Theatre. Played many Dresden Dolls songs as well! The warm-up band, Michelangelo and the 1.5 night standers was also fun and good! And the audience was a lovely mixture of black dressed adolescents, fun mohawks-haired people, regulars and even some old people with white hair. The music was also just the perfect concoction of happy-dark-depressed-angry-fun tones and lyrics.

Listen to her here - if you haven't heard about her before!!

søndag 21. februar 2010

Happy people and short movies at Federation Square


Had a wonderful Sunday evening at federation square with Emily and her dog Dusty who charmed all females within a two meter radius, happy people and 16 short movies at Tropfest - the worlds largest filmfestival!

lørdag 20. februar 2010

Music in the park II - Bohemian Rapsody

The sun setting over the audience at Sydney Myer Music Bowl
Went to the second Melbourne Symphony Orchestra concert in the Sidney Myer Music Bowl. Bohemian Rapsody was theme this time.

Unfortunately, I had been destroyed by my one-hour virgin tennis session earlier in the day, so I half slept my way through the wonderful music and even had a little dream which included a orchestra in a park (.......).

Emily and Tim with his helmet (one never really can trust the orchestra for not throwing instruments at the audience....)

Tennis virgins at Orrong

First time tennis was great even though me and Annika (also a tennis virgin) didn't always hit the ball. (Sorry kids playing a more serious game next to us!).

After running around for one hour on the court in the burning hot 33 degrees Orrong Park Tennis court sun, we were exhausted and my face was lobster red. Need a tennis teacher next time to play by actual rules!

Exhausted tennis champion

fredag 19. februar 2010

The Drowsy Chaperone!


Friday night musical "Drowsy Chaperone" at the Arts Centre with Helena the British Statistician.
I absolutely loved the music, the dancing and Geoffrey Rush!!
And I want to learn how to tap dance now!

onsdag 17. februar 2010

Music in the park I - Romantic tunes


Me and visiting Norwegian Tirill attended the first Melbourne Symphony Orchestra concert in the Sidney Myer Music Bowl. They are having four outdoor concerts in all - and all are free!!
Romantic favorites was the theme this time. We brought picnic rugs, pizza and beers and squeezed in between snoggling love birds.
The music was spectacular!

Me and my lovely little creatures beer

tirsdag 16. februar 2010

Yarra Valley Wineries and the Dandedongs III: Finally wine:)

Tasting different wines at Rochelle with other eager wine tasters (whereas I am sure I saw none actually using the spitting bucket)


After birds and trains, we are finally ready for visiting the wineries.

First off is Rochelle, where we get an introduction to wine tasting and try wines with different types of grapes. (I get aggrevated by drinking Merlot). Afterwords, we get to taste different types of fudge (mmmmmm)

Then we head off to Chandon, which is mainly known for their production of champagne from Champagne and sparling wine in other countries (like here in Australia).

Toasting too sparkling wine with other day trippers (here Soon from South-Korea) at Chandon.


Winery Chandon

Yarra Valley wineries and the Dandedongs II: Billy the Puffing Train


We puffed and tootoooed our way through the blue mountains of the Dandedongs on the Puffin' Billy from Belgrave to pretty village of Menzies Creek with our feet out of the wagon!


It was great! The train trip lasted for 30 minutes and I wish it lasted much longer.


We even got the friendly conductor to take a picture for us. From left to right: Rob the Canadian matematician with Dennis the Conductors hat, hatless and a bit envious me and Tirill the visiting Norwegian

Yarra Valley wineries and the Dandedongs I : Feral birds

Me and Norwegian visiting friend Tirill goes to Yarra Valley and the Dandedongs for a day trip.
First stop is a bird sanctuary where we got Billy Tea (Mmmm!) and crackers with Vegemite (Yuck!) in addition to feeding birds and admiring tall trees.
The bus driver warned us beforehand about the feral biting cockatoos, but they seemed to put on their best behaviour for our visit. They even posed for my picture and didn't bite me...

Me feeding cockatoos leftovers (picture taken by Tirill)

søndag 14. februar 2010

Loving NY amongst lightning bolts and bats


Sunday night movie "NY, I love you" at the Moonlight cinema at the Royal Botanic Garden.

It was a great movie and nice to sit amongst the colorful crowd of people and picnic blankets, trees and flowers, and bolts of lightning and bats!

I even saw a shooting star!

Gon Chi Fac Chia! 恭喜发财!



Me and visiting Norwegian Tirill starts the Chinese New Year day with dim sum at Bok Choy Tang on federation square and then head off to Chinatown where lots of dragons were loose!

Apparently, the dragon is lured to the restaurant by cabbage.Then the dragon claims his red packets from the restaurant either through the window or the front door. The dragon is supposed to give luck to the restaurant this year! When the dragon is gone, lots of fire crackers go off making the lovely big crowd of people putting their hands over their and their kids ears.

Loved it!