I decided Australia wasn't the place I was looking for, and got out of there. I figured, why spend exhorbitant amounts of money on something that I wasn't absolutely loving? The way I saw it, it was better to cut my losses and get out of there ASAP.
So, what didn't I like about Australia you ask?
Well, first of all, its not that I hate the place. It is simply not a place I would recommend for a backpacker. I put way too many eggs in one basket expecting to want to stay in Melbourne with my buddies working as a bartender, but after spending 48 hours in that city I bought a plane ticket to leave the next day. The beach was garbage-ridden, the water was brown, and the view consisted of oil tankers in the distance. It just wasn't the paradise that I had envisioned.
I never seriously considered what I would do if I didn't like Melbourne. Of course I planned to find a different job if that job fell through, but never once did I question whether or not I would like Melbourne enough to want to stay. I think I'm the only person EVER to have had a less than positive experience there, so take my opinion with a grain of salt. I couldn't have spent another night there. I think I would have tried swimming to Tazmania instead.
So I went to Noosa. Which was an overall huge improvement from the place I left behind in Melbourne. Great beaches, decent weather (most rain during the month of December in 75 years or something), and free accommodation at the hostel. Surfed everyday and drank beer every night. Ok, so whats wrong with that?
I found myself comparing a lot of things in Australia with my previous trip to South America. Bad idea. When it comes to backpacking, South America wins by a slaughter rule.
Australia prices are at least double those in the US (at press time, 1 USD ~= 1 AUD). A case of beer 3.2% domestic beer, when on sale, is $45 (not to mention they don't have higher percent than that! terrible!!). A burger and fries for lunch is at least $18. A night at a hostel, on average, is $32. Internet wi-fi cards are available for $4/hour.
In Argentina, liters of beer were equivalent of 75cents. The best steak of your life and a bottle of wine wouldn't be more than $10. Hostels are between $6-10 per night. Internet is always free!! Which blows me away that South America has better communications infrastructure than Australia.
I also just craved more of a cultural experience. I feel like after going to Oz, Australians are basically Americans but with funny accents. There are very few differences. Whether Australians like it or not, American and British culture has infiltrated their society to the extent that it is very difficult to find anything distinctly authentic Australian. They have the Queen of England on all their currency for God sakes.
I caught a flight from Brisbane to Sydney, stayed with my buddy Luke at his place for a few days, then flew back to San Francisco on Christmas Eve.
Spent 7 days hanging out in Oakland/San Fran Bay Area with Andrew and Corina, and caught a flight back to Chicago for New Years Eve.
Booked a flight to Cartagena for this upcoming Tuesday, January 18th.
I could have gone to nearby Southeast Asia to quench my thirst for culture, but still have unfinished business with South America. On my previous trip down there, I can't tell you how many people told me that Colombia was their favorite place they had been. That came as a surprise to me as I'm sure it would for anyone who listens or reads news media in the US. All I previously knew, or thought I knew, about Colombia was that it was the cocaine capital of the world, everyone was a guerilla freedom fighter, and everyone either gets murdered or kidnapped. Or Both.
As far as I know right now(but will find out real quick), that couldn't be further than the truth. Apparently the government has gone to great lengths to clear out the FARC (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia or Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia), the cartels, and the crime out of their country. Or at least out of the cities. Apparently traveling at night in the jungle isn't a good idea. Who would have known?
One thing many backpackers emphasized about Colombia was how friendly the people were. It will be tough to beat the Argentinians and the Uruguayans, for they showed me so much kindness and hospitality when I was visiting their countries. They really made me feel welcome, as if they wanted to really make sure I had nothing but the best experience possible.
Here's to hoping my backpacking buddies were right, and the US media isn't!
Next stop, Cartagena!
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