Great Photos of the Great Ocean Road online

5 of the 12 Apostles,
originally uploaded by bernd ploderer.

Finally I have my own notebook and slowly I regain control over the huge amount of digital data including my photos. The trip was just for one day but I could see a lot: Bells Beach (surfer paradise), a lighthouse (just forgot the name), a moderate rainforest, the 12 Apostles (as you can see on the picture) and London Bridge. More on flickr.
Btw: this weekend was much less exciting (but also less exhausting), just sleeping, reading, shopping and going to the beach :)

I converted to a Mac

photo booth,
originally uploaded by bernd ploderer.

After more than 10 years working on DOS, Windows and sometimes on Linux I converted to Mac. I'm just trying to set everything up. Hope it's really as good as the Mac people say, I'll see. The first contact is very positive and I wanted to share the smile on my face with you by blogging this picture :)

koalas in the wild

koala in the wild 3,
originally uploaded by bernd ploderer.

What a day! I saw koalas alive and kicking (eating / sleeping :) on my trip along the great ocean road. more pictures 2 follow.

volleyball inside: 21

I've been to the volleyball training of the Renegades yesterday. After my degradation to team 2 on Monday I was allowed to join the Honours team yesterday so that the coach could watch me. It was a good training and I learned some new offenses: First a short and a long (variations of a 1) and furthermore a 21, which was totally new for me. The basic idea of a 21 is to run for a 2 (which is signalled as a 4 in Feldbach and as a 3 in Salzburg, the numbers are different everywhere), and then make a fast step aside to a 1 and hit the ball. The intention is to confuse the block on the other side, however I think trying the 21 confused me even more :) Nevertheless it's good to learn new things, though my biggest challenge at the volleyball trainings is to understand the coach and the other players - c'est la vie.

my bicycle

my bicycle,
originally uploaded by bernd ploderer.

Finally I'm mobile! I made a tour to the beach last Sunday. On the way I wanted to explore the Formula 1 circuit, which is nothing more than a street through St. Albert Park. Anyway, the circuit was already closed and somehow I got lost and found myself with the bicycle on a city highway :-O Never mind, I'm still alive and kicking and I also found my way to the gorgeous beach. (The beach may be nothing special for someone from Queensland or whereever, but it's gorgeous for someone from the Alps)

Uni Melbourne

Old Quad,
originally uploaded by bernd ploderer.

I put some photos of my new uni online. I took them last Sunday, that's why there are no people on it. Usually it's crowded with students from all over the world. A great place to study and as far as I can say, it offers outstanding research & education (what else should I say :)

Melbourne from St.Kilda Pier

Melbourne from St.Kilda Pier,
originally uploaded by bernd ploderer.

I've been to St. Kilda Beach last Sunday and made a couple of fotos. However I still have difficulties with the computers down here, so it may take a little while until I get organised and can add new ones. Just one thing to say about the beach, it was gorgeous - especially the sunset!

Ferrari parade

Ferrari parade,
originally uploaded by JohnvW.

I wanted to go to IKEA yesterday and I accidentally crushed into a Ferrari parade. Everyone who knows me can confirm that I' have no special interest in cars. I never I owned one. Cars are usually just a means to overcome distances for me. However yesterday maybe the little kid in me came up. 60 Ferraris in a row - awesome!
Just a comment on the drivers: As far as I could see all of them were male. That's just the way it is with sports cars.

my first day in Melbourne

Finally after 2 weeks extra holidays in Auersbach I arrived in Melbourne. What can I say so far about my new home: the weather is fantastic, the people are sooooooooo friendly and helpful, the flat is more than just ok, and the uni seems to be amazing. Nevertheless I miss Austria a little, but I think that's normal. Look forward to meeting new friends and commencing with my studies. First I have to get some basic items for my flat, like linen, pillows, dishes, ..., suncream (very important! :) ...
I'm overwhelmed by all the impressions (and the tons of information brochures I got from uni, housing, ... ;-). It feels great to be here.