JaPains on Film: Southern Hemisphere Edition

Here it is: the last set of photos from the tour, our Australia and New Zealand leg. We had about a week in Australia, and only three or for days in New Zealand, but they were filled with sun and wind and summer. Looking at these photos right now is both heartening and painful, as the bizarrely warm weather in NYC that had everyone getting their ya-yas out last week has disappeared as fast as it came. Barf.

Anyways...enjoy!!



Outside our hotel in Melbourne, which was on Gertrude St. Saltwaters ahoy!



Oh my god you guys, I nearly forgot! I totally saw THIS DUDE!!! That day or the next, just walkin' down the street, hair bobbing in the breeze. Mission accomplished.



The afternoon we arrived, we were invited to a BBQ at the Summer Cats' house, who happen to be the nicest dudes ever. We were fed prawns that may or may not have been cooked on a...ahem...barbie...



...and treated to some serious Aussie-style hospitality. Coopers!! (Don't forget to roll it!)



I saw this amazing necklace made of a million mini-Kaisers in the window of a little shop on Gertrude St.



Both the shows in Melbourne were at the East Brunswick Club, which was awesome because they offered us free food, which was all amazing. Warm chocolate brownies two nights in a row? Check. Here we're on our way to check out the Savers on Sydney Rd. after sound check.



The old buildings in Melbourne are amazing, so many ornate facades and lattice work. These are a couple on Sydney Rd.



Walking back from Sydney Rd. It felt so good to be somewhere where people can have actual gardens and front yards again.



Part of downtown Melbourne peeping through the trees in Carlton Gardens.



An amazing John Candy window shade we saw on the way to buy Alex some more medium format film, I think on Swanston St.?



Cooling my jets across from the National Gallery.



Lyin' back, lookin' up, driftin' off.



The next day the dudes played an in-store show at Polyester Records, where the lovely Elizabeth came and said hey to me--thanks again, it was so great to finally meet you :n )



Setting up before the Polyester in-store. The set was a little delayed because of a broken guitar string, but all was saved in the end.



Kip's peddle board, affectionately known as the "Painbow", in action.



The next day, while the band flew to Perth, I ended up staying in Melbourne. Which was a-ok, because I got to go to the Royal Botanic Gardens and learn a thing or two about Australian Flora.



This is the eternal flame that burns outside the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne. This seemed incredibly dangerous to my pampered American self, but also totally badass. Like, yeah, we've got large open flames in public places that never stop burning!! Fuckin' Aussie!!!



An American Apparel in Sydney getting prepped for Mardi Gras.



Morning light in our Sydney hotel room. It was kind of creepy sleeping next to an enormous mirror, but it made sleepy self portraits a real breeze.



Ok, maybe someone who lives in Sydney can explain to me what was going on here? All I know is that this was literally the most old people I've ever seen congregate in one area, it was like a sea of pastels! And then they all started going inside at the same time...



We ended up spending most of our day off in Sydney at Taronga Zoo, which was maybe a questionable decision, but hell, we wanted to see some Koalas ok?? Anyways, this is a view of the Opera House from the ferry we took to Koala Town.



Alex/Opera House face-off.



No clue why these last two came out so greenish and groovy looking, but I'm cool with it.



New Zealand!! Sadly, I don't have that many photos from our stay, since we were really just passing through, and I was kind of burnt out on lugging my camera around...but this was at Mission Bay in Auckland. Whole swatches of the beach were made up of these beautiful piles of shells.



At the top of Mt. Eden, looking down into the Crater. There's a surprise down there!



The view of Auckland from Mt. Eden, looking out towards volcanic Rangitoto Island.



In our room in Wellington. Oooh Wellington! I fell in love with the place, even though we had less than 24 hours there. Our hotel was right on Cuba St., and I stopped into Good As Gold and fondled some Funkis. Side note:, this sweet cat shirt was courtesy of an amazing vintage shop we found in Harajuku where everything was 700 Yen, or about $7.00 US.



Wellington at Sunset. I'm determined to get back here some day! It seriously blew my mind.

Aaaand...scene!

Ooh, I do want to say a quick thank you to both the sweet ladies who came and said hi to me during the shows in Auckland and Wellington. Like a true ass, I have forgotten your names, but it was so incredibly nice to talk to you, or at least yell at you over some indie rock 'n roll. Hearts to both of yous! And of course, thanks in general for all the sweet comments on these posts, I'm glad if I could inspire a little, or a lot, of wanderlust in you all!