Tagurpidi Jaanipäev

I have been in Sydney for a while and by while I mean I have basically just settled down here with no intention of traveling or moving on anytime soon. Totally different approach compared what I had in NZ. But when holidays were approaching and knowing that everything basically comes to standstill here during that time I came up with plan to go back to Melbourne for a while. I was still quite undecided about it for a long time and ended up booking my tickets on last minute, ending costing me more than I would have liked but somehow happened that majority people I knew were there or heading there. I am not a big fan of Christmas holidays, but problem is that it is thing for lot of people and then it just would be awkward to feel left out (talk about peer pressure) but def. my plan was to celebrate my bd, usually by just getting on piss like a madman. Too old for cocktail wieners and lemonade and too young for quiet sit down with cake and coffee.

Ofc. it all started with a fact that day before my flight we had company's Christmas party. Actually at first I had planned my departing on that day but boss insisted to come to party so I rescheduled my flight. I am glad that I did it, was good to meet some of the co workers who I had no idea that were working for the company because mostly everyone gets assigned to sites quite randomly and we really don't meet each other otherwise.

Next day catching flight to Melbourne was not as bad you'd think after Christmas party. It is quite funny that after being emerged in routine you kind of forget what it feels to be outside of routine, how it feels to have holiday and just chill. At least it seems to be case for me, but just arriving to Melbourne filled me with profound sense of content. This city just has this one of a kind vibe that makes it standout. With its architecture it gives this open and little bit outdated feeling. With decent amount of green vegetation alternating almost abandoned looking buildings with modern skyscrapers.

Extra bonus points for having bunch of mates there who pick you up from train station and before you realise less than hour after landing you are on a beach chilling with a beer. Beaches, at least the one we were was lot less crowded than the ones are in Sydney.

Beer ended up being theme for rest of my holiday in Melbourne. No one needs solid foods or coffee when they wake up on couch and next to them is cold one. Tho next day I was lucky enough to celebrate Estonian Christmas which is on 24th with Estonian girl I met in Brisbane and with some random bunch of backpackers from India and Poland. Sitting in backyard with odd bunch of people, singing Christmas carols, eating blood sausage in 30+ heat, baking gingerbread and playing a quizzes... I must admit it has been most Christmashi celebration I have ever had anyway.

In Commonwealth countries seems to be case that "real" Christmas day is on 25. I ended up celebrating local christmas at my mates place. Celebrations continued to late/early which resulted in me waking up one year older and immediately feeling the effects of getting old, dry mouth, dizziness, feeling sick, having trouble walking straight, blurry vision, bad breath and probably couple extra gray hair as well. But age is just number and it was not time to stop.

Long story short after this binge drinking 5 day cycle it started more and more reminding midsummer festival back home, when you just basically get on piss for couple of days, chill and hang out on beach with your mates. Which has been holy tradition for me more than a decade back home and I don't take it lightly when comparing something to it. But it was kind of mirrored event, on opposite side of the world, on opposite holiday with opposite people.