Destination: Animal and Miami or Miami Animal

Inspiration: Kim Murphy turns 31 – “I am so excited to have my bday dinner with you guys!
We have reservations at Animal at 7:15PM
Animal is located at 435 N Fairfax Ave. It’s across the street from The Dime.”

Actualization: Desperate for travel, football, and a challenge, I was craving adventure. Kim’s 31st sparked memories of my 31st travels so I booked a free flight to the SuperBowl with my United miles. No clue if I’d have a ticket to the game but I knew I’d be with my kind – fans, superfans, animals, and mascots.

Thursday night – Animals and party animals.  The fun begins.  Birthday Animal, Kim Murphy turns 31 and we have her birthday dinner at Animal.  There were no Saints at that table but definitely Miami fans and Kim prepared me for the town with her knowledge of the city, her home to sleep and some practice drinking for her 31st.

Laura, Kim and Nisha

Friday – Fans and Superfans.  I made the 6am flight after Frustrated Fan Rembrandt called me 9 times between 4:30 and 5, called my brother for the address, pulled up in a taxi, and broke into my house to wake me up.  We caught up on sleep on the plane, and arrived in Miami with time to drop bags at the Shoreclub room of Superfan Rhiannon.

Me and Rhi

Rem, me and Jen

When traveling low budget, it’s always important to plan on inopportune flight times, mulitple sleepovers and constant change of plan.  I couldn’t even remember if I’d packed shoes but would have been happy with just flippy floppies for this trip!

Jen and I and our esspresso martinis

Friday Night began and ended at the W Hotel.  Saints fan Jen Birn and I had cocktails in the lounge and popped by room 1003 to see the view. Super(naked)fan Kives gave us a view alright….

 

Super Fan Kives

Next we hit the Audi party where we drank champagne and mingled inside as a steady downpour of rain trailed the sides of the windows along the penthouse at the W. The room was an attractive one so we didn’t mind-Kellan Lutz, Rob Lowe, Taylor Lautner, Jessica Alba.

Travel Job of the Day (and my favorite guest of the night) –  Audi’s CCO Jeff Kuhlman travels with media to try the new vehicles on roads all over the world.  He recently drove with a group of 20 from the middle of Australia up to the Northwest corner.  What a way to see the country with three days of driving and tents, can you imagine?  He flew in from a Spain roadtrip the day before.

Miami Day 2/Saturday – The rain had cleared.  It was a perfect morning for a run on the boardwalk followed by a day with the mascots at the DIRECTV Celebrity Beach Bowl.  We were Team Kellan in the corner. I loved that his friends had his name spelled out on posterboards to cheer him to victory. For me though, I couldn’t concentrate on the game, I just kept getting distracted by the mascots.

From mascots back to animals…Next highlight of the night was at the Miami home of Director, Michael Bay. The house was gorgeous and we entered into the party by crossing a pond out front, walking on squares of land that crossed in a diagonal pattern leading up to the entrance of his two-story home. The entire front was glass allowing us to see the roomful of guests but it wasn’t long before I found myself cold and ready to find someone to warm me up or head to the Maxim party.  I found that someone …nope not Michael Bay – Michael Bay’s Dog, Mason and well, yes, Michael Bay was there too!  Mason was def the hunk of burning love at that party and the burning love wasn’t sticking around so we headed out to burning loins Maxim. That sounds dirty but you know what I mean, it’s Maxim.

Realization: Superbowl time makes me reminiscent of college football fans and games. I thrive on that energy this weekend was buzzing with it. WHO DAT…to be continued….

Destination: Sydney Harbor Bridge

Inspiration: A whole slew of people raved about the bridge but Ryan Kwanten wins because he’s an Aussie and well who doesn’t want to listen to the guy in this picture?

After leaving me in OZ, Jen Birn worked her magic and got the following quote from Ryan for me: “I know it sounds touristy, but the Sydney Harbor Bridge walk is really cool at night, so she should definitely do that if she can, at sundown. After that she should take the ferry from Manly to Palm Beach and go bar hopping in Palm Beach. She’s guaranteed to meet some great people there and have just the time of her life.”

Actualization: When I first heard about this so-called bridge walk, I thought to myself I cannot do a cheesy tour. How unoriginal. And then I kept receiving email after email telling me to do the bridge. When Matthew Rhys told me to go at twilight, it seemed perfect to have a little vampire moment TRUE BLOOD at TWILIGHT.

The bridge walk is NOT cheap, but as expected worth every penny. I chose the express which I learned is very smart. Express is 2 hours no dilly-dallying. Regular is 3.5 hours. I don’t do well with downtime and know I wouldn’t have enjoyed the tour quite as much. If you are okay doing stairs and want a mini workout with a history lesson and topped with a RIDICULOUS view of the city. This is where to go. I had a fun group comprised of:

1) Anthony, our adorable tour guide who genuinely loved what he did and made the trip a blast. I loved that we went fast too! Anthony and I were at the front and would climb and talk between stops where he’d point out popular spots with fun stories about the history of Sydney. I am a harsh critic of tour guides and get easily annoyed when they talk too much or are cheesy. Anthony was perfect. He really enjoyed sharing the stories of his hometown with people.

2) Three Swiss dudes: These guys were comedy and in Australia learning English.

3) Nina and David: a NY Mom and Dad. Nina was the mom checking to make sure everyone was okay as it got dark and we made our way up and over across the top of the bridge. David was actually using this challenge to overcome his fear of heights. They were visiting Sydney because David has developed a therapy technique called brainspotting. Fascinating. He gets to travel and teach the technique around the world.

We all got breathalized. Yup you had to be under .05! Thank god I didn’t do this one yesterday because my rose with Rod def would have been an issue and embarassing. Who knew they were making us blow before the walk?
Then we put on our prison costumes. I had seen people on the bridge my second day in Sydney and told Jen, “omg they send their prisoners to go work on their bridge.” Jen laughed at me as we soon found out the prisoners were tourists and they have you on a lock chain walking for safety reasons.
Then we walked. I always love when I get to learn and workout simultaneously. So I give this moment a 99%!

Realization: Don’t be afraid to be a tourist.

Your Moment:

Ryan’s full quote: “I know it sounds touristy, but the Sydney Harbor Bridge walk is really cool at night, so she should definitely do that if she can, at sundown. After that she should take the ferry from Manly to Palm Beach and go bar hopping in Palm Beach. She’s guaranteed to meet some great people there and have just the time of her life.”

Amaury Nolasco Prisonbreak: “Climb the bridge…. It INSANE!!”

Matthew Rhys Brothers and Sisters: “SHIT! You still there, thought you were leaving Saturday – misread your email. If you are still there – my one and only piece of advice. Six words. Sydney Harbor Bridge climb at Sunset. Hope you’re having a ripping time cobber, Good on ya..Happy Bloody Birthday mate, Mx”

Stacy Keibler DWTS: “You can climb the Sydney Harbor bridge. Near the opera house, you get an amazing view of the city! I did it! It takes half of the day or so but if you have the time it’s worth it. and if you aren’t scared of heights. They take you to a couple great spots up there that are excellent photo ops with the city behind you.”

Sydney Harbor Bridge
HBO: True Blood
Twilight: New (full) Moon
Ryan Kwanten

Jessica continued: “The owners name is lyn and tell her u r a friend of mine. It is where all the celebs stay when they go-really private bungalows.”

Destination: Byron at Byron, Balcony, and Cheeky Monkeys

Inspiration: Jessica Meisels, engaged to kiwi racedriver Matt Halliday (who recently won the New Zealand for Porsche), provided us with our Byron Bay moment to stay at the Byron at Byron Bay and meet its owner, Lynn. Every Aussie has told me that Byron Bay is not to miss. Based on the last 24 hours, it’s pretty easy to see why!

Actualization: The 3 blondes of B52….yes the Aussies have labeled us. Jen, Janae and Angie in room B52 had quite the night out. After tapas and wine at Balcony, our waiter said, “you definitely aren’t ready for Cheeky Monkeys” as he brought us 3 Esspresso Martinis.

We downed the drinks and followed the drunkest girls on the street to the bar.

We proceeded to carry out our moment and climbed up on the tables with all the drunk travelers and danced like we were 21. Bobblehead Holland,who was actually 21 and convinced I was 22, unleashed the kissing bandit….I think it was his smiley innocent face and protests that I couldn’t be 31 that provoked the makeout on the street…or maybe just his nodding at my every word.

Blonds of B52 spent breakfast recapping our night, we were joined for coffee and macaroons by an incredible woman.

Lynn, the manager of The Byron at Byron Bay, is the kind of woman you want to meet when you travel. She told us the stories and the history of the small town and the incredible energy that has brought so many to visit here. First, there was Seasick Steve who Lynn almost kicked out of the hotel when she thought he was a bumb in the lobby the day Nicole Kidman came. He’s actually former hobo turned famous folk singer and a now a close friend of hers. Then there was Rusty Miller, a famous 68 year old ex-prosurfer who now teaches surf lessons to tourists. Lynn explained the culture and the people with such a way that you just knew she had found true happiness in her life here. We later came home from the kayak trip she arranged for us starving and it was like momma byron knew…she had macadamias and wine waiting for us along with a note from her and our new Byron family.

Realization:  Always act young- 21 is best – and find a mom in every country!

www.thebyronatbyron.com.au
www.seasicksteve.com

I’d like to preface this excerpt that this was a night of Hammer and Ham…

Ben Schwerin, my well-traveled friend, always seems to send me to people who end up staying in my life no matter what country they are in, so when Ben said I should meet his friend Max Markson from Sydney I knew I had to get to it. Lucky for me Max happened to be in Melbourne with MC Hammer at the same time I was there for my quick stint. Max invited me and my new Melbourne socialite friends to come to Hammertime for XBOX360 after our dinner at Giusseppies. Giusseppies is a favorite of Jamie, DJ Prequel, and Max. Eating dinner with these young bachelors who grew up together was a trip for Jen, Janae and yours truly. The adorable Max (secret boyfriend to Janae) who couldn’t say a sentence without a grin slipping out by the end. When he said, “guys my day couldn’t have been worse….” somehow that grin still came out and you knew he just made fun out of life. Jamie, the hot one, who smiled and women drooled.  Jamie chose our dinner spot, made us reservations, and then had to go home…

Jamie couldn’t continue on because of an experience with one of the who was going to be at Hammer. He took her to a bar and left her there! Ha. We all know a Jamie and you just always want to keep him around.

DJ Prequel was the ham! He did every impression. We spent half the night naming countries and he would impersonate how women from that country would take a man to bed. It was like an instructional video. Russia-”You. There. Get on all fours. Take me now.”

While the boys continued to ham it up, I saw a shiny large object and like a three year old bolted to find out what it did. There in the middle of the restaurant was some sort of meat chopper. I was fascinated. Jonathan, the slicer, explained the $30,000 berkel and how it was used to cut hams. He showed me how he took the rump of the ham and put it on the teeth of the slicer and prepared the ham for diners. I don’t eat meat but I liked watching it cut to the bone.

Ham to hammer. Nothing makes me happier than hearing the reminiscent “2 legit. 2 legit to quit.” And “you’ve got to pray. Prayyy. Prayy. You’ve got to pray just to make it today!”

We boogied down and then Max Markson invited us back to the Park Hyatt where Hammer sang us lyrics from his upcoming album, Britney Spears partied in the private glass room next to us, and the Pussycat Dolls sang along to their song that came on at the hotel.

Three hams in one night and this was ready for bed and a new adventure. Off to Byron Bay.

Joel Madden quote: “And she should go to an aussie rules football game. I would tell her to see the melbourne cup but its already passed. That’s the thing to see.”

At first I thought Joel’s email had a typo but in fact it is called, “Aussie rules football”. DEFINITION: A variant of football played between two teams of 18 players, plus four interchange players, outdoors on large oval-shaped grass fields (often modified cricket fields), with a ball in the shape of a prolate spheroid.

I kind of happened upon Joel’s moment yesterday which made it even more fun. That morning I searched for a game to attend and realized the football season for 09 was up. Went for my now routine run for the day and happened upon a trifecta of sport’s arenas and decided it was time to get creative for a moment.

Jen and I walked around the entire MRC stadium where they hold cricket, football and rugby matches. We took pictures imitating the statues of the great sport’s heroes of Melbourne. I chatted up security and ground’s crew trying to persuade my way in.  Finally at GATE 3 my Angie Charm worked as I got a secret grin from the security there. I explained that I needed to take a picture while I visualized a football game down in the arena. As he opened up the rope and tried to keep up his serious guard air, he said, “Okay I’ll take you down for photos.” I know he loved every minute of watching Jen and I run around taking photos in different seats and posing around the field. We even got Jonathan to be photographer for a few.

Jen found this quote on the wall as we walked out – “Moments that made us”. This captured the essence of today:)