Back to Brisbane

My tour of queensland is comming to an end. There were some things that I did forget to post about though.

I wanted to tell anybody going to townsville to stop by "the brewery" and have a "Neds Red"... quite possibly one of the most outstanding brew's i've had to date. Imagine a guiness texture with an irish red flavor. For those true blue guiness fans, they also had a stout that was comprable. Talking about brews, I havn't had a fosters here yet, much less been to a bar that serves it. Stetson Draught is brewed by the same company and is very popular, but the most popular is "XXXX gold". Other common brews are Toothy's new (and the darker version, Toothy's old). Also bundaburg rum (i toured the distillary) is very delcious, and you can buy pre canned rum and cokes!

Parts of Australia doesn't get rain very much, and because of that they are very water concious. Many houses have rainwater collection systems, and some are plummed to use "grey water" (recycled water from showers, sinks, and laundry... not toilets) tu water their lawns. Solar water heaters are also very common, but the thing that will catch you most of gaurd is that their toilets here have 2 flushers. One's a half flush and ones a full flush. I guess its up for you to decide which one needs to be used.

Magnetic Island might need som clairification as well. Its an island, mostly covered by national park and home to the largest colony of koalas in Australia. For the lost fans out there, it is indeed magnetic to the point where compasses don't work right on the island, there are old WWII bunkers and gun stations on the island, and most of the island is mysterisouly innaccessable (no roads or trails going to that half of the island). But as for the other half, it is very over developed with lots of propertys to be rented or bought, sandy beaches, shops, and you get there by ferry. Its quite nice, and if you want to go there for cheep it has FOUR backpacker resorts on the island (yes, not hostels, resorts)

also, just for your information, there's not a whole lot in the outback... unless you like cattle.

Also, an update on graduate schools for those who are intrested. I have been accepted to University of Colorado (boulder), Colorado State University, University of Notre Dame, and Clemson (I think?). Colorado State and Notre Dame are offering me very nice finicial packages, clemson is offering me an ok one, and boulder is working on it. University of seattle must be sleepy due to all the rain, because i havn't heard from them.

Anyhow, peaceout. Pray for me while i'm in Tassie (starting Friday), I'd appricate it!
-Mike