#HeresToANewYear

2013. 

It's here. 

And so far, all first five days of it have been absolute bliss. 

2012 had been probably the most life changing, challenging, enriching, exciting and fulfilling year of my entire life. All at once.

I wouldn't change any of it. 

It is hard to believe that some of the people that I'm closest with I haven't even known for a year. And yet the adventures we've taken, the drama that's been had and the surprises  that have come all made this year fly by far too quickly. 

I know I have barely updated this old thing pretty much all of last year, of which I really hope to change.  I have had sooooo many things to blog about and yet have had no desire to sit still and make a proper post for any of them. 

But this year, I hope to correct that. I might just start surprising you with quick, basic posts and stop fussing so much over the photo quality (yup, that's probably the main reason I slack so much).  While I hope to someday dedicate posts to some of my most favorite '12 memoires, I know already there are plenty coming in '13. 

I am currently in my last two weeks of residing in Sydney. 

Even typing it still doesn't seem like it's true, but alas, I'll start my trek back home. 

I first will spend ten days in Tasmania, come back to Sydney for my final two days in Australia where I'll continue on to New Zealand. After twelve days in the North Island I go to Hawaii and spend another ten days on Oahu before finally flying home.

THEN!

(Because that clearly isn't enough) 

(and because I'm a sucker for flight sales)

I will be going to Germany for 19 days, after only a week back home, to visit my favorite German. Then I'll get to come back home to all the excitement of my best friends wedding coming up in April!

Whew! 

And from there I have no idea where the rest of the year will take me. 

But in the meantime, I have no work, no classes and no worries to enjoy the gorgeous weather that's finally hit sydney. 

#Conundrum

The blogging conundrum: 

When you finally start doing things worthy of blogging, there never seems to be the time to actually post them because you too busy actually experiencing real life.

This is not me complaining.

Trust me.

But so far my list of "blog-worthy" events to stick up here seems to be endless.
I have every intention of dedicating a post to all of the following, however, I hope these photos and brief captions will keep you satisfied until I actually manage to do that.

I started blogging about this weekend a couple months ago now...
aaaand have yet to finish. But I easily have huuundreds of photos from these few days that I have such a hard time sorting though and narrowing down. They are all just soooo good and still barely do the place justice. 

Something everyone, tourists and residents alike, should do is go along the most gorgeous 6 km walk just outside the city. It starts at Bondi, wraps around several beaches and ends in Coogee. All with amazing cliff views and array of accents & languages. 

I think it's obvious how biased I am with this area of Sydney. I do live within a few kilometers from some the greatest beaches for snorkeling, surfing, and sun-baking. Basically as soon as the sun graces me with it's warm rays; I'm out enjoying them.

This city was amazing, at least once you got past the horrendous weather. 

A visit to Melbourne would not be complete without a day spent along the Great Ocean Road; a good mixture of koalas, beach/cliff views and tourist traps.

A little de-tour on our Great Ocean Road trip left us abandoned in this ridiculously small village for 24 hours. Something that should have been terrible ended up being one the best days ever. 

For a couple weeks Circular Quay light up with the most amazing light installations.
 Just wait until you see the photos in color.

A gorgeous day that was meant to be no cost ended with copping a $100 fine.

Sydney surprises me sometimes.
Just when I was impressed with vivid, they come out with the biennale.
It's a massive contemporary art event that spreads over three months around the city.

I'm glad I left this until I've lived in Sydney for a year. It was pretty awesome seeing all my most favorite spots around sydney (trust me there are many) all at once and from really high. 

It's more awesome than what I've made it sound. 

Sometimes words fail me. I am a visual person after all. 

No surprise, university & assignments suck up a lot of my time. Fortunately being in design produces work that are much more interesting than test scores and essays.

Between all the traveling, uni work and enjoying the sun there is still, miraculously, enough time (and sometimes money) to enjoy the evenings. 

Sydney has been a busy place.

And in a week I'll be taking advantage of my two-week, mid-semester break by flying up to Cairns and driving back down the east coast to Sydney. That two week break will be the last with my German until he can no longer delay his inevitable flight back home to, you guessed it, Germany. 

So don't be surprised if I disappear for another few weeks.

Cheers!

#instawesome

Upon hearing the news of instagram finally going 'droid, I became an instawhore. 

If you'd like to be showered in many mundane life pictures of mine add me: pilgrimmemoirs

Otherwise I'll inflict you weekly here, because that's the blogger thing to do, right? 

But without further ado, I present you my first week in instagram pics...

 I had my last week of major hand-ins before this my two-week holiday started. I'm pretty stoked to finally not be spending so much time overnighting it here and getting my hands stained with ink. 

Early in the week there was a mini-break from classwork to celebrate this fine lady's 22nd birthday!

The rose wine was even busted out. 

Daylight savings came and brought 5 o'clock sunsets with it... probably the most depressing thing about summer leaving. 

Then I go home and think my dinner of cold organic pasta and IKEA elderflower juicebox is a legit fancy meal. ohhh my life... 

 While summer may be leaving, the best thing about it is that I'm in Australia, where winter is hardly even winter... at least compared to Wisconsin. 

There are still days where I can watch sunsets over the water and kick-off the boots and study on what very little grass UTS has. 

 Okay, now comes the best part. The friday night drinks that end at our favorite, and I think only, 24-hour cafe in Sydney. 

International students have way more fun. 

Okay, yes, I went to the beach... but stayed on the sand while my beloved german did all the snorkeling. As I mentioned before, we're in autumn, don't let even the sunniest days fool you into thinking it's a good beach day!

 Regardless, when I stop being a wimp, snorkeling will be done because I can't keep myself from the beauty that is beneath this surface!

Okay, this was neither last week or from instagram, but it is a sneak peak into a post that is coming up soon about my weekend away in the Blue Mountians. prepare your eyes for some stunning sights ;)

Cheers!