I feel a little bad writing something like this -- candidly because I'm pretty thankful for each day I spend traveling -- but I'll say it anyway: In planning my big 'round-the-world trip I found myself with a "week to kill" between climbing in New Zealand and the next phase of my adventure: three weeks in Japan with Dave, a close friend from Toronto. So I got out the 'ole globe and started looking for a place between New Zealand and Japan to base myself for the week. About three seconds later I identified Australia -- the giant land mass between the two countries -- as my interim destination.
But seeing all of Australia in a week is impossible, so where to go? Back to the globe I went and the answer was obvious: I'd visit the Great Barrier Reef. My first stop in getting there: Brisbane.
I spent only a night in Brisbane and thus my insight is limited. I will say that my immediate impression of the city is that it's a place I might have enjoyed very much when I was a little younger -- say, right after college -- but today it's all just a little too hip and muggy for me.
The city did, however, introduce me to (1) Australia's amazing public swimming pools (which are disguised as beaches):
And, (2) Australia's unique version of the "iced coffee" -- to which I've taken quite the liking. Dear Canada: Can you please create some coffee-flavored drink that is topped with ice cream, whipped cream, and cinnamon and sell it on every street corner for a somewhat reasonable price? Sincerely, Friends of Those Who Like Delicious Things.
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