Brisbane in a Nutshell Part 3

After having a loopy week at work, full of disgruntled customers and running out of items for sandwiches, Saturday was more than welcomed. However, this wouldn't be just a normal Saturday event, this was Soundwave Saturday, or if you don't know what that means...just a huge music festival.

Now, live musical events havn't been a repertoire in my life, but I do enjoy music and love watching it live, so when I found out about this festival with 6 bands I play consistently on my Ipod, I had to pay the 130 dollars and go. It was definitely money well spent.

The doors opened at 11:30, I was there as the first people were scurrying in. It was similar to a sporting event as the hundreds of people filled the grounds. I walked around sipping in every musical drop like a fine wine.



With 30 bands playing on six different stages, you have to plan you time well to ensure you get to see your favorite bands. I highlighted the list of bands, and planned it all down to military standards...or...something close to.

The first band on the days list was called Goldfinger. I remember them from back in my junior high days as being a band with a little spunk. Well having not performed live for five years...these guys kicked the day off with a bang. The lead singer surfed the crowd, got us to all run at each other like Braveheart and then sprayed us with water.

I was pumped.



Next I met up with some friends who were attending the event and we watched Silverstein, dillinger escape plan and some others. Just so you know, most of the bands playing at this festival were rock, punk, rock and punk, metal, rock and metal, metal and punk...aaaaand...I think that's it. Pretty good categories if you ask me :D

Soon there was a slight rest between bands, so me and my buddies headed off to the nearest beer gardens to indulge in some cool refreshments. Unfortunately...eight dollars for a small beer was something I wasn't prepared for...looks like I'll have...um...one.

Gradually during the day, more and more people kept filling into the grounds. When it got time fo more of the famous bands, it was full on craziness. This was the perfect time to get into the middle of the crowd and juuuust see what happens.



Me and my two friends think it'd be good and safe right in the middle...turns out...it was complete chaos. Especially when the bloodhound gang started playing some of their hit songs. I literally turned into a human pinball, bouncing around all the bodies that surrounded me...crashing, sweating, getting my shirt ripped and my eye gouged. I think I also got kicked in the head at one point.

After seeing all the people crowd surfing, one of my friends thought it'd be a good idea to do the same. It started out awesome for him, lifted up over the sea of people, but then....he's falling...Nooooo...but luckily he didn't slam face first into the ground below as a few were able to catch him and push him to the front.



After a memorable performance by the bloodhound gang, who haven't toured since 2005/06, it was on to an up and coming Canadian band called Billy Talent. Again, I decided to get right into the middle of the party...again becoming a workout on my body as people and limbs were flying all over the place out of control. I loved every minute, however, soon started feeling extremely tired. So I squished my way through the barrage of people and collapsed on the grass. My whole body feeling like it was part of a day of athletic activities. My shirt and hair drenched from sweat.



As I lay there, listening to Billy Talent smashing out tunes in the background, my heart beat starting to slow and finally collecting my breath...I realized what a euphoric feeling I just had.



Soon, darkness began to blanket its self over the grounds...the light shows commenced with fast, sharp bursts and the music continued to pour on into the night. This time I moved up into the grandstands and had a panoramic view of what lay beneath. Rows and rows of people, enormous stages, and sky scrapers laying against the horizon in the back.

With four bands left to play, I picked up my zombie like body and continued to dance away the night. Falling in love with two other bands that I haven't heard before. Nine Inch Nails and Alkaline Trio.



It was a day to be remembered. Stunning music, girls and everything in between. I guess things do always work out for the better, as it was just random luck that I found out about this festival and decided to take a chance.

Once I got home, I collapsed on my bed and fell asleep. I guess music can have a physical and emotional effect on you.

Brisbane in a Nutshell Part 2

Well my last week in Brisbane was something of the "interesting" proportions. Not too much of excitement value, but a few good stories none the less. Unfortunately, no pictures were taken this week...so bare with me.

It was the week to do laundry...I had the day off and made sure I fit the most I could into that day. Unfortunately...after I had completed washing my clothes and hanging them on the line...it started to rain. Yipeeee.

Therefore I left all my clothes on the line, because...well...I didn't want to pay the extra to put them in the dryer. So I left the for a full day and then some. Finally, the next day I realized the clothes would probably dry better inside my room. So, I went to collect them all. To my grand surprise...or unsurprise...one of my shirts was missing.

I begin looking around the area...scowering the small corners...still nothing. Then it dawns on me. Oh...I guess someone stole my shirt.

Funny enough...this is a shirt that screams ME...it's the brightest colour I could find and therefore...slightly ugly...buuuut....it's of a very cool place in Asia...Vang Vieng Laos. So some "cool" person decided to steal this neon bright shirt just because of the name...great...thanks...well...atleast that's less laundry and more space for other items.

The other few days during the week were normal is as normal does...nothing exciting...go to work...make sandwiches...talk to the customers...chat with the cute girls and then come back to the hostel.

Now, as you know...hostels can have their upsides and their downsides. Upsides for me...within walking distance to everything important in Brisbane, free wireless internet and you can always meet new people who come to the hostel. Downsides...share room with seven other people, stuff gets stolen, and the possibility that someone decides to have sex in the room.

I'd heard stories of people, having experience the drunk couple who stumble in at night and decide it would be a good idea to make the animal with two backs while there is a room full of seven or eight other people...pretty classy...I on the other hand had never witnessed that, so I always thought they were funny stories.

Then one night...after a long day...I decided to take it easy and go to bed earlier. I'm normally a heavy sleeper and especially after living in a hostel for quite some time...I'm used to alot more disruptive entrances...but this one will still remain a first.

I'm asleep and I can still remember the dream I was having...it's back in the colonial days and I'm a member on this old wooden ship as were going to explore the new lands...all of a sudden an enormous storm arises and the ship is shaking like crazy...swaying back and forth...people are getting thrown overboard...I try and make a move to get out of the way...and the ship violently shakes and I'm thrown over board...I'm falling into the water...then I wake up.

Huh? what's this?...my beds shaking too?

Then I hear the muffled voices...and it finally dawns on me...ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

I chuckle to myself...thinking how weird that dream was because of what's actually happening.

Oh...I forgot to mention...I'm on the top bunk and the monster with two backs is beneath me. Because I'm on the top...it shakes, wobbles and moves much more then say closer to the ground.

I'm not going to be some loser nerd who's going to yell at the couple...like I've heard people do in the past...so I make the best of the situation and imaging myself on an enormous rocking chair...and funnily enough...I become very relaxed...with the slight rocking and the harmonic breathing and sounds coming below me.

It's almost like an orchestra conducting a sleep rhythm...because I fell asleep very quickly after that. It was better than counting sheep...even though I wouldn't recommend this sleep treatment to anyone.

Ahhh yes...those are the beautiful stories that I'll be able to recount to my Gran kids about my glorious little travels across the world. Never a dull moment.

Still this next week will be much more eventful.

I bought tickets to a 30 band music festival...I'm very excited and hope the hype is as good as the festival...definitely something I've never done back home.

Brisbane in a Nutshell...part 1

After getting a job and deciding that I was going to remain at the hostel(well...just for now) What possible adventures...or troubles could I get into, and be interesting enough to write about?

Well...glad you asked...because, plenty would be the response.

However, let me first explain to you my day to day experience at the little ol sandwich place.

Tucked away in Brisbanes biggest mall is the Myer Center Carvery. Not only do we specialize on sandwiches, we also serve salads, fish and chips, capachino's...well you name it and we basically have it covered.

It's a great group of people that I work with and I've been learning quickly...getting work done and staying away from the gossip. Unfortunately...I work soooo much, I'm now getting tired of it(and I've only done it for two weeks...sheesh...guess this is what traveling does to ya)Anyways...now onto my day off.

Wednesday night.



After working for the past four days, I finally got well deserved day off, therefore my friends and I thought it would be a great idea to take in the Brisbane Wednesday night life.

The night was going great...we're all having a good time of laughing joking and fooling around. Of course girl were also a part of these times, but I never expected this next experience to happen.

After chatting with these two girls for a little, bugging them on where they worked, basically the same old stuff, I witness this guy out of the corner of my eye. His face is getting redder and redder with every joke until finally...POW RIGHT IN THE KISSER.

The guy just lunged at me and popped me right in the face...luckily it shocked me more then hurt me, but the guy was in a full on roid rage tantum. I ducted out of there before it got anymore crazy...only to get rounded up by a group of bouncers and escorted out.



I thought they were just going to talk to me about the incident, but what they did was, tell me to leave the premesis and leave "Christian" alone.

I was shocked...I tried to explain that I didn't do anything wrong, and if I "WAS" talking to "HIS" girls, he just needed to let me know and not just punch me in the face.

Nope they replied, we heard you attacked him, and since he is a valued customer...you are at fault...leave now.



I shook my head and just replied back with a smart ass comment, but luckily my friends were now outside, having a go with the bouncers, but we all decided to go elsewhere.

Guess we all need to experience new things once in our life that we never expected...glad nothing serious happened...its actually funny to laugh about now.

The next happeing of the week...THE CUT OF DESTINY...my hair.

If you had started seeing the pictures...my hair was begining to spiral...or grow ...out of control. Not only did my hair have a mind of its own...it started creating its own city and transport lines. Also it was starting to get in my eyes...soooo...definitely time to get a cut.



When I walked up to the hair cut place, the lady at the desk starred at me with a look of mix of horror, condescension and disbelief.

To give you a picture, it was like I was dressed as Death and there to take her away.



Once I recieved the A.O.K and sat down in the chair...I started getting nervous...geez I thought...what if she turns it into some sort of train wreck...but then I gazed at myself in the slender vertical standing mirror and the face spoke back to me...ya...it can't get any worse than this.

I wanted a brand new look. A hairstyle that really hasn't even been created yet. Unfortunately...the stylist...she didn't speak much English...so I opted for the easy route of getting a normal cut.



The results...not too bad...I definitely look more...human. And boy I didn't realize just how much hair I had.