.:Snow in August:.

Oh boy what a week! Just came home all bruised, but happy from our 3 days mountain trip which was indescribable! The week at work went by so quickly. Probably the reason for that is because I am so busy there at the moment. And bit by bit I am actually starting to like it there (sort of). On Wednesday I was supposed to go for movies with Christian (my Aussie mum’s nephew) but instead I ended up to have drinks and play pool with him and 2 of his (BIG) rugby team mates, which was a great fun! Before I even realized it was already Thursday evening and it was time for our snow trip. Chris picked me and Marko up from the city and we stayed the night at his parents place. The next morning we woke up early, packed the car and started our journey towards the mountains. The first stop was after 2,5 hours in Canberra, which is the capital of Australia. The city reminded me about Finnish towns, maybe it has something to do with the weather as well, because it was pouring and cold ;) The city it self holds approximately 200,000 inhabitants and the main attractions are the parliament house, heaps of different museums, porn and fireworks ;). We did a quick visit to the parliament house, which is enormous. The guide told us that the building holds 25km corridors space. Wouldn’t want to be the cleaning lady there ;) The next place we visited was the War memorial museum, which was really impressive and our guide, Brenda was really inspiring. We browsed through the 1st and the 2nd world war and wondered the enormous warships.
At 6’oclock we finally arrived to Thredbo ski resort, which is the biggest resort in New South Wales. We stayed at Vince’s (nice Italian man) winter unit, which was located right next to the slopes. We had the two upper floors just for us three (Chris, Marko and me) and happily I discovered that there was a big bath next to my room. JACKPOT! Later we went for a dinner with Chris’ brother (Darren) and one other guy and it felt so surreal when I was watching outside the window and it was snowing. Felt like Christmas and it is August. The dinner was yummy! After our stomachs were full we decided to go for a drink. The bar was packed and there was a nice live band playing the oldies from the 80’s. We really weren’t supposed to stay long, but yep the hours just went by so quickly and it was about 6am when I was comfy in my bed.
After 3 hours sleep we hit the slopes and I really didn’t even feel tired, because I was so excided to go snowboarding. The weather couldn’t be better, sunny, no wind and prob +15 in the sun. The sights were breathtaking from the top and we spent quite a while just sitting with our boards and admiring the beautiful nature from the heights of 2000m. My snowboarding skills were a bit rusty since it has been 2 years the last time I did it, but we still managed to be active the whole day there. At four o’clock the resort closed and my last run was so painful. Seriously after dozens of fallings on my knees I felt that I couldn’t take it any more and the whole last run I was just veining/crying, but eventually made it back to our cabin. Immediately after returning from the slopes I jumped in hot warm bubble bath and it felt sensational. Donno what it is, if I am getting old or what, because I remember we did this partying-nights, snowboarding-days every day for 5 days with the girls when we were in Levi in 2002, but now I was really feeling exhausted. Later we were invited downstairs to have a dinner with Vince (the owner of the cabin) and had some great pasta. The guys went out that night and I stayed home and fell asleep at eight. The next day our trip was about to come to the end and it was time to say goodbye to Tredbo. On our way back home we made a quick visit in Jindabyne, which is a small town nearby. It is also the place were the Aussie movie “Jindabyne” surprisingly was shot. We also visited again Canberra, but this time we saw the city in the heights of hundreds of meters, from Telstra tower. Yep, and the city looked a bit better now (when it was not raining ;)). Around at 7ish we came to Chris’ parents place and had a nice dinner with the whole family, some Chinese. Couldn’t believe that it was already Sunday and I would have to work the next day. Well only one month to go to our birthday trip to Port Douglas and the Great Barrier Reef ;) How are you all hanging there? Summer is over and the winter is threateningly getting there? Wendy how is your new apartment? Oh, and for my Dutch mum and dad I wanna wish great trip to Indonesia, ENJOY and remember to send a postcard for me ;) hugs & kisses!