Mittens 2005 - Testing the water.

Las Naranjas · Tue 03/08/2004 05:52:05

I know this is rather quick on the tails of Mittens '04, but considering the higher cost of tickets to the antipodies it will pay to start earlier, so I'm starting this as to allow a canvasing of opinions, as it stands, the rough shape of the even looks like this.

Location is Australia. That is final.

Somewhere in the vicinity of Brisbane is preferable. As it stands Coffs or Byron Bay seem good options. I lean towards the latter. For those unfamiliar with the town, it's the most easterly point on the continent and is traditionally associated with hippies. A caravan park or camping site there would be consistent with the Mittens theme.

Now this is an important issue for discussion. Ticket prices to Australia will be cheaper if it occurs during winter. Australian winters of course are not very severe, and most importantly it will coincide with the Summer holidays for Northerners.
But if you want beach weather and as many chances as possible to show how freakishly skinny you are we can try to do it during summer, or Spring [Autumn seems a bit too soon but if you can handle it....].

As per 2004, no minors. No questions.

Now, I'm not really undertaking to organise this, at least not until I can have an idea of who [especially Northern fellahs] will undertake the journey and what time they would prefer it. If you make the effort to come down, you can largely determine these details.

I'd really like considered opinions and would rather not have statements about how you wish you could go but have no money.

Privateer Puddin' · Tue 03/08/2004 11:03:25

I'll be 18 in May and i have exams may through to probably somewhen in July, so late July / August would be best for me. Australian winter is also absolutely fine by me, not too hot and nothing like our winters

edit: my new passport just came in the post, must be a sign

dasjoe · Tue 03/08/2004 11:19:10

what does the "no minors" mean exactly, i meant till when is somebody minor?

anyways, i'll then be 20 and may attend (depending on uni)

Privateer Puddin' · Tue 03/08/2004 11:23:48

I would think it's the same as this years mittens, 18.

Toefur · Tue 03/08/2004 12:00:19

I will be there!

I think it would be best when the weather is warm... but yeah. That may not be doable. Mind you, I hate Coffs Harbour / Byron Bay... so I think the location should be determined by me, and me alone. Hey, why not have it right up the top of Ayers Rock. That'd be fun. Okay, okay. Wherever.

The date should be, obviously, when most people can attend. Do holidays overseas coincide with ones here? I wouldn't know. Ah well, I guess I don't have anything useful to contribute to this thread afterall...

Though who else is from Vic? We can roadtrip up there! Whooo! As long as I can borrow someones car...

auhsor · Tue 03/08/2004 12:46:41

Well being from Australia I really should turn up hey. I live in Wollongong in NSW which is close to Sydney. I spose I might be able to manage a trip up north, seeing as I have a brother who lives at the Gold Coast. I don't know how it would seem to my family that I am going to go camping with a bunch of 'strangers'. I'll be 19 next year, but I still arn't all that independent. Maybe if I can get a job and get some money I would be able to. Personly I would vote to not have it in winter, as I don't like winter, but I guess it isn't as bad as other countries.

Well I guess I'm a maybe if it is decided we are having it here.

m0ds · Tue 03/08/2004 13:53:01

I'll hopefully go, but I probably won't have saved enough until July/August next year. I think it might be sensible to go at a non-peak time, otherwise the flight tickets are going to be pretty expensive.

FYI there will be another Brittens (the Mittens half way house) next year, for those who may not be able to afford Austrailia, or just want to go to both.

Kinoko · Tue 03/08/2004 14:46:33

Well, near Brisbane is great for me, and if I'm still in Australia at that point, I'll definitely be there. I may be going to Japan around April but more likely, September so if it's before then, I'll most likely be able to attend.

I have to agree that Byron Bay is sorta... hmm. I've never been there, but I have no desire to, quite frankly. Hippies piss me off ^_^ I'm no expert on camping though, so if that's what everyone wants to do I can't offer any alternatives. How about we all get some nice hotel rooms on the Gold Coast, get drunk every night and act like 17 year olds?

(Any Aussies will understand).

Dart · Tue 03/08/2004 14:58:46

Money isn't an issue... I have tons in my bank account.

And next year I'll be 18, so age won't be an issue.

Who knows? Maybe you'll see me next year if I'm not busy, and maybe you won't. But there's definitely the possibility.

EDIT: I would be able to go anywhere from June 23th to September 1st.

AGA · Tue 03/08/2004 16:27:02

Anytime between mid June and late September would be best for me, since I'm off uni thenabouts.

Pet Terry · Tue 03/08/2004 16:46:27

End of July should be okay to me unless those big guys in the army want me to be there more than six months, and if the flight tickets are not too expensive. I checked some flights for next year (February was the latest I could get right now) and they seem to be rather expensive, but if the tickets are cheaper during the Australian winter I just have to wait until I can get more accurate estimate of the needed amount of cash. Somewhere near Brisbane would probably be okay location for foreigners too, it shouldn't be too hard to get a flight there.

How warm it is usually during winter and summer in Australia? Like if it's something like 15 - 25 celsius during the winter, that's pretty much like Finnish summer...

I can't say more than that yet, but of course I'd love to go. However, if there will be smaller gathering in Europe (ie., Brittens or similar) you will more likely to see me there, depending on the dates of course.

Andail · Tue 03/08/2004 21:00:28

I'll start saving up already. Unlike Dart's, my account is virtually empty after this costly summer.
And I expect to see every darn Australian ags:er when I come.

Also, now that Jess has proven that you can be female and still survive a mittens meeting, I hope that can encourage other female members to attend.

Las Naranjas · Wed 04/08/2004 01:11:43

Byron was just an idea thrown in the hat. If Kinoko would give some more ideas using her northern knowledge it would be appreciated. Just somewhere around the border.

I think winter is almost definate now. Earlier is too soon for tickets, and we don't want to be on the North/Gold coast in october/novermber [although I'm sure alot of you would make great Toolies].

July is mid winter, so it'll be a range of 10-18 degrees c each day. Not beach weather, but not much to complain about.

But this will be determined largely by those who come overseas, since if you make that effort, you deserve to be accomodated.

DragonRose · Wed 04/08/2004 02:46:25

Quote from: Andail on Tue 03/08/2004 21:00:28Also, now that Jess has proven that you can be female and still survive a mittens meeting, I hope that can encourage other female members to attend.

More ladies for the laddies? Sorry, that just popped into my head and I had to use it.

This one I'm definetly going to have to sit out. Australia would be a little (read: incredibly and unimaginably) out of range for my bank account to pay for.

rodekill · Wed 04/08/2004 08:15:18

Man, Australia is number one on my list of places I wanted to go to. Seriously.
I think it's because of the accent.
Can't resist... Australian... females...
The plane ticket would cost me a year of rent most likely, so there may be issues there.

jetxl · Wed 04/08/2004 12:34:11

If you can't make it down under then go to Brittens instead.

Privateer Puddin' · Wed 04/08/2004 14:17:15

As good as brittens was, it doesn't compare to the awesomeness that is mittens

Kinoko · Wed 04/08/2004 14:50:38

Note of interest: Right now, I'm watching a tv program showing an emu wandering around in thick snow. Seems so... odd.

Just ignore me and my hippy prejudice, Byron Bay's fine if that's suitable to everyone. I don't know much about the Eastern states still, even after living here for 4 years, so I can't really offer any alternatives.

Rodekill: You should definitely come ^_^ Aussie girls are BABES, man.

Captain Mostly · Wed 04/08/2004 15:15:21

I would like to go to see the monsoon in north Australia... If Mittens could be timed to match this I'd come along! I may come along anyway, but I would REALLY love to see the monsoon. (I read about that it happened, and was almost as hooked as I am on the idea of visiting a mangrove swamp... do you get them in Australia as well? A Mangrove swamp in the monsoon, and I'd probably never leave!

Layabout · Wed 04/08/2004 18:14:35

Ok.

Timeframe.
I would say october is better only because you can really take advantages of the beautiful australian beaches. The daytime temperatures should reach 28-30 degrees celcius. If you decide that January would be great then expect 45 degree weather. Winter, I for one would not like to sleep in a tent as the temperatures go down to 7 degrees celcius.

Location.

My suggestions are as follows.

Noosa, sunshine coast, queensland, which has a nice big ass beach, camping grounds, a national forest (which has a most excellent walking track), lots of shops, lots of japanese tourists, and lastly a clothing optional beach. :p

Surfers Paradise, Gold coast, Queensland, is a big comercialised holiday spot with a great nightlife, fuckloads of shops, long ass beach, and scooter hire. Full of police. Casino. No nude beaches though.

Byron Bay, NSW. Yeah, hippies, but not as bad as nimbin. Indulge in the fine dope you could find quite easily here, dodge the KOMBI's. They hold an annual blues and roots music festival here each year. At least with hippies, they are generally very mellow people, and wont bother you. You could probably go for a bit of nuded up swimming here, as the hippies sure won't care.

Wagga Wagga. Love the name. Thats it. Never been there, so I don't know much more.

Babe factor.

Yeah, very nice specimens. except at Byron, the chicks there are hippies and are too doped up to be attractive.

Accomodation.

There is a youth hostel in every city, campsites in abundance and caravan parks. Don't go for a hotel.

That said, I recommend you don't spend all that money and not see the rest of australia. Take half a year off from uni or your jobs, get a working holiday visa (if you can) and see Australia!

After all, it's very expensive to get over here, It's a 25 hour flight as well.

Mittens 2005 - Testing the water.

m0ds