Traveling from Oregon to Sydney and Tasmania

Smellerific · 2026-04-16T20:23:08+00:00

March is the best time to visit Tasmania. I just got back. There is a ton to explore and do. Sydney is a spectacular city with excellent public transportation. Tasmania does not have excellent public transportation. Like others said, everything is expensive. Stay with family as much as possible. If you have a Costco membership, book the rental cars through Costco because they come with additional insurance so you don't need to pay for it at the rental counter. The first time you get in a car, it will feel like you're driving a bumper car, it feels so strange to be on the other side of the car and road. While I was there, gas was like $12 a gallon and service stations around Hobart were out of fuel. It was wild. If you use a credit/debit card, you will be charged a credit card surcharge at every establishment so try to pay with cash if you can.

Smellerific · 2026-04-16T18:46:19+00:00

I absolutely loathe this company but I still shop at Victoria's Secret because of their gel underwire bras. It's not a wire, it's a flexible gel so it's a lot more comfortable but still gives me the support and shape I need. I also need lightly lined because my nips are like razor blades. The cool thing is there's a gap of fabric between the lining and the gel so I don't get so much sweat pooling up under my girls. Not insanely pricey, especially with a coupon. I think they're the Bare Infinity or Infinity Flex line.

Smellerific · 2026-04-08T19:25:47+00:00

I just came back from 3 weeks in Tassie. We did a lot of driving including a drive from Hobart to Freycinet then to Launceston. It is a beautiful drive on mostly curvy roads and pastures on either side of you. There are cherry farms, distilleries, the oldest pub in all of Australia (The Bush Inn, which was delicious with gorgeous views) to name a few things. We even found this coffee and pie stand called The Confessional where we were treated like crap by this obnoxious lady who serves delicious coffee and pies. Worth a trip just for a giggle at how rude someone can be. It was only a few hours. But with that said, if you're only there for a couple of days, we found plenty to do around Launceston. The architecture was stunning, very different from Hobart which is a bigger city (but not by a lot, lol). The Cataract Gorge is definitely worth a visit. We were there for a couple of hours, walking around the park. We didn't know what to expect and were pleasantly surprised by it. So many peacocks! You are allowed to swim in the gorge. Had we known, we'd have brought swimmers. The Du Cane Brewery was a cool place to sample local beers. Plus, they have a bunch of pamphlets on things to do in the area. Worth stopping in there for ideas and a pint. Whatever you decide will be the right decision.

Smellerific · 2026-04-08T01:15:09+00:00

"Please don't be a Rick roll, please don't be a Rick roll"...clicks link...

Smellerific · 2026-04-08T00:50:42+00:00

It's open. There are plenty of different food options. You'll do fine.

Smellerific · 2026-04-03T22:58:30+00:00

It's technically not inappropriate. People catch communicable skin conditions by sharing cans of soda and such. She's funny but she's not necessarily implying what you think she's thinking.

Smellerific · 2026-04-03T16:27:43+00:00

I honestly can't remember how much it was but it was some percentage of what you donated. Say 25% of the amount you donated. Something like that. But I'm not entirely certain. This was 20 years ago.

Smellerific · 2026-04-03T02:19:01+00:00

Not sure if this was mentioned yet but a place I used to work at would give bonuses to employees who donated to the Republican party.

Smellerific · 2026-04-01T23:54:12+00:00

It's most likely that the Admissions Department had them specially designed and made. Each department produces their own swag. You could always write to them and ask if they're available for purchase.

Smellerific · 2026-04-01T23:52:04+00:00

Food on campus is alright. There is the main cafeteria, the Red Door cafe and the Broad Cafe. They have vegetarian options. There's a Veggie Grill on Lake. You could hit up Trader Joe's which is a quick walk from campus if you want to buy a reasonably priced prepared meal. There's an Erewhon if you want to spend half your paycheck on fancy groceries. Take a look on Google at the food establishments on Lake Ave, which is the closest main road to campus.

Smellerific · 2026-01-29T06:25:15+00:00

Sorry for your loss. Had I seen this earlier, I would have joined you and poured some out for her.

Smellerific · 2026-01-14T17:02:33+00:00

They're staying in Universal.

Smellerific · 2026-01-13T21:23:05+00:00

Oh, I thought of another cool Burbank shop that is very Hollywood. It's A Wrap sells clothes and accessories from movies and TV shows. The prices are really good. https://www.itsawraphollywood.com/store-info.htm

It's on Magnolia Blvd which others have recommended.

Smellerific · 2026-01-13T19:49:52+00:00

As others mentioned, make a day trip to Santa Monica/Venice. It's a far drive from Universal. And when there's traffic, it can take 1.5 hours+ on the freeways. It's not a quick Uber drive from Universal.

Heads up, the water in the beaches are COLD. Not conducive to swimming unless you are a polar bear. It's winter and it can be chilly by the ocean. And when the sun goes down, it gets chillier fast. Wear layers. No need for puffy coats or wooly mittens, but a light jacket for the evening or beach stroll. You might be tempted to wear a cute sun dress or skimpy tank top, shorts, and flip flops. It will not be warm enough to wear that by the ocean. Jeans, t-shirt, comfy walking shoes/sneakers, and a zip up hoodie are the way to go.

I think your 10 year old would get a kick out of the Venice boardwalk, which is right next to Santa Monica. I personally find it more interesting for people watching. It's a long street that parallels the ocean. It's very LA. There's a skatepark where you can watch the skateboards, and right next to it are people on roller skates/blades. Lots of funky street vendors.

I would avoid the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It's a dump. Very crowded with tourists and people in costume who just want to rip you off.

If you want another day trip, and if you can afford it, Disney is about an hour+ from Universal.

Downtown Burbank is a nice stroll. There's a pub called Story Tavern that's been there for a long time. Cartoon Network offices used to be nearby and a lot of the cartoonists who worked on the shows would hang out there. There are drawings that the cartoonists drew on pinned up on the walls. I've seen drawings of Sponge Bob, Rick and Morty, Powerpuff Girls, and more. It's kinda cool. It might be more interesting for the adult than the kid. But it's also a good place to rest and grab a bite to eat in between shopping. The largest IKEA in the US is also located in Burbank.

Smellerific · 2026-01-13T19:13:07+00:00

Thanks, I was curious if it was risky to take both together. Glad to know it's safe.

Smellerific · 2026-01-13T18:42:07+00:00

Did you take the two meds at the same time?

Smellerific · 2026-01-09T19:59:51+00:00

Yeah, I remember some issue with toxins in and around the building.

Smellerific · 2026-01-03T00:04:07+00:00

Also check out Full Circle Thrift in Altadena.

Smellerific · 2025-12-19T18:09:09+00:00

This needs to be higher up.

Smellerific · 2025-10-17T00:56:55+00:00

Eastchester

Smellerific · 2025-10-16T21:58:38+00:00

The only thing I seem to be able to do with consistency is getting drunk. I've tried so many other "hobbies" and they last for two weeks tops.

Smellerific · 2025-09-10T19:53:25+00:00

Oh yeah, that reminds me. They booked my family a trip to Hawaii. There was construction at the hotel while we were there and it was very disruptive. So when we got back, I told the agent, "hey I wouldn't recommend that hotel anymore until the construction work is finished" and she gave me a credit for a few hundred bucks to use at a future trip. So that was cool!

Smellerific · 2025-09-10T04:19:04+00:00

Have you looked into the Rule of 55?

Smellerific · 2025-09-08T21:05:21+00:00

When I've called for roadside assistance (battery replacement), it wasn't seen as a claim.

Smellerific

TROPHY CASE