The Great International Australian Meetup Thread - LOCATION POLL UNDERWAY - Check PMs

Vixx

=========================================

THE GREAT AUSTRALIAN MEETUP
Codename: AusPAX

Thinking about visiting Australia "one of these days?" Well, make "one of these days" an ACTUAL trip and join us in Australia for our very ambitious and very first nationwide Australian Meetup!

For the Australian regulars, this is it: a full-on, nationwide AusPAX. We're planning this for the mid- to long-term, guys, so we're aiming for this to be sometime in January or February 2011!

See below for more details on how to register your interest!

Are you up for it? If you are, post AUSPAX in "DarkOrange" somewhere in this thread. In that SAME post, PLEASE detail the following:

1. timeframe and schedule for best time for such a trip
2. how many people would you like to bring with you
3. suggested locations
4. preferred activities
5. preferred trip duration
6. likelihood of your interest turning into an actual appearance at the event
7. any provisos - things you ABSOLUTELY MUST have or ABSOLUTELY CANNOT have

THIS IS OPEN TO EVERYONE EVERYWHERE, NOT JUST AUSSIES!
If you think you can make it or want to try to make it, please do join us!

======= LATEST DEVELOPMENTS =======

SCHEDULE
This event has been planned for JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2011.
This timeframe suits the most number of people, accommodates holidays on both sides of the globe, and also gives a summer option for winter-fearing northern-hemispherics. Flights can be pricier because of the holidays but as New Year's would be over by the time we make this trip it shouldn't be too bad.

LOCATION
We will be looking at a destination most likely in the Eastern States as that is most convenient for the greatest number of people. We will be looking for places easily accessed from major airports. A nice beach with nearby hiking, sightseeing, fishing, and hangouts options appears to be the best choice since it accommodates the greatest number of people.

TRANSPORTATION
Recommend the idea of groups of out-of-towners split car rental cost and carpool to the final destination. For those driving from home to the destination, we would suggest they time their departure alongside the possibility of picking some out-of-towners up at the airport on their way.

ACCOMMODATION
If we get a good sized number of people (~15 people), we can probably nab a RIDICULOUSLY NICE CHALET somewhere and split the price so we get it on the cheap. If we can get one with a decent TV (or even rent one), someone closer to our destination can even bring a console with multiplayer games.

DURATION
A four-day weekend trip might be the best kind of timing, but some people might find flights/travel too expensive to justify on just 4 days, which means there can either be splinter trips after or before the PAX OR extending the trip to a week with people coming and going during the week. The latter options makes splitting costs a bit harder but we'll manage.

CURRENT EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
- FROM AUSTRALIA -
Vivixenne
#pipe
theSquid
chrishallett83
stimtokolos
bsjezz
Blaket
Flay
The Black Hunter
Gatsby
flynnie
Tweaked_Bat_
Air
Butler
ruzkin
Synthetic Orange
Dhalphir
The Black Hunter
RocketScience

- FROM NEW ZEALAND -
Fletcher
Fishman
Shifty Fister

- FROM NORTH AMERICA -
Stale
Pillow
ASimPerson
Orikaeshigitae
Meissnerd
Jordyn
Trillian
Houk
IpseDixit
Bogey
Usagi
Mr. Defecation

- FROM EUROPE -
That Dave Fella
Wimble

- FROM ASIA -
Lost Salient

*Names in orange are people involved in organising the trip.*
If you are interested in helping us out, even if it's just helping Google things like prices or accommodation options, please PM me.

=========================================

As for the CityPAXes, you know how this works by now. If for whatever reason you don't, click the spoiler down there. (Or get out we don't want you here.)

HOW TO USE THIS OP: if your city name is colored ORANGE, it means there's an upcoming event available in the spoiler, and the next one is happening on the date appearing next to the city name (if confirmed)! Attendee names in BOLD means that this is the first gathering they are attending, while those that have been crossed out are cancellations.

Times, dates, and locations are where everyone is expected to MEET and does not necessarily detail where things will end up.

To sign up for an event, post your interest in this thread so that I can see it, and consider letting the listed Contact know via PM as well.

To initiate an event, just post about it in this thread or PM me with details, and I will edit them in here and update the title.

For people I have listed as CONTACT(S) for each event, please let me know what your preferred method of contact is (i.e., if you're okay with having your mobile number posted in this OP), otherwise by default I will just have people contact you via PM.

PERTH

NUMBERS' DRUNKPAX
As agreed, Chris Hallett Eighty-three is going to organize DrunkPAX. Dates and venue have yet to be confirmed. Suggest your available/ideal dates by posting them in YELLOW somewhere in the thread. Do the same for preferred venues.

I myself may be suggesting Korean food to those interested just before DrunkPAX starts, as there are a bazillion Korean restaurants in the city.

VENUE: Moon and Sixpence
DATE: 12 December (Saturday)
TIME: 9:00 PM
CONTACT(S): Numbers (via PM) or Vivixenne (0402 315 113)

ATTENDEES:
Numbers + 1
AJR
flynnie
Vivixenne
Blaket
Kincaid
Butler
Waka Laka
noobert
[stirke]Kazza/Kuzza (Ben)[/strike]
[strike]BigKev + 1[/strike]
[strike]Dhalphir + 1[/strike]
[strike]Dublo7 is in Europe[/strike]
[strike]desperaterobots[/strike]

KNOWN RESIDENTS: Vivixenne, Blaket, Butler, Waka Laka, Kincaid, Dublo7, chrishallettbunchanumbers, BigKev, noobert, AJR, flynnie, Dhalphir, desperaterobots, PixelMonkey, Tallweirdo

SYDNEY

nothing yet

KNOWN RESIDENTS: Oden, Air, Tweaked_Bat_, bsjezz, Prohass, Gatsby, Ambassador, TrueHereticX, TheSquid, Flay

MELBOURNE - February 16+

MIXING BUSINESS AND PLEASURE: #pipe Mnvades Melbourne
As he's been promising and hinting at for about six months now, everyone's favourite banana is being flown to Melbourne for business this month for a night or two and he wants to hang out with YOU.

My boss has assured me the trip will be this month and today he said "probably next week" (15th-19th). I almost certainly won't know exact nights and details until a day or two before, but if you'll be in Melbourne and free to go out for a drink and some food that night then I'd love to hang out with some forumers.

I will be staying in a fancy hotel in St Kilda but I'm happy to travel anywhere by tram. I've been told that I'm on the clock from 9-5 (excepting extenuating circumstances) but free to do whatever after that.

VENUE: TBC
DATE: Arriving in Melbourne on Tuesday, 16 February
TIME: TBC
CONTACT: #pipe (via PM)

ATTENDEES:
#pipe
grug
Ten
stimtokolos

KNOWN RESIDENTS: Synthetic Orange, stimtokolos, Cyvros, YaYa, Ten, grug, ruzkin, Mr Fuzzbutt

BRISBANE - TBC

HASHPIPE'S BBQ GATHERING
A first-time games + drinks + BBQ meetup with the Brisbane forumers!

VENUE: Hashpipe's House
DATE: TBD - a date will be sorted out once 4 or more forumers show interest
TIME: TBD
CONTACT(S): #pipe (via PM)

ATTENDEES:
#pipe
Flyingman
LaCabra

KNOWN RESIDENTS: #pipe, The Cat, LaCabra, Flyingman

CANBERRA

I will never stop laughing sorry.

KNOWN RESIDENT: The Black Hunter

OTHER NEAT PEOPLE IN AUSTRALIA:
- Glorfindel (Gold Coast)
- marty_0001 (I don't know where he lives he is being sneaky about this)

HONORARY AUSTRALIANS:
- Vivixenne (because I've got some Australian in me every so often)
- Jordyn (because Butler said so and I can't deny Butler anything)
- Cardboard Tube (because he grew up in QLD and lives in the UK but WANTS to be in the US what the hell)
- Larlar (because he can edit other people's posts)
- Bogey (because I am a suck-up and also because Bogey waited before locking the old thread)
- Wimble (because he is the adorablest)
- Pillow (because she is a BITCH but not really)

KNOWN [strike]SHEEPFUCKERS[/strike] NEW ZEALANDERS:
- Fishman (Wellington)
- Shifty Fister (Auckland)
- L|ama (Dunedin)
- Generic Fan (Wellington)
- Fletcher (Dunedin)

Check this post frequently for updates on events and other things Australian! Feel free to join us if you'll be available!

PREVIOUS GATHERINGS (I will find the links to the pictures at my leisure unless you want to help me)

• VIV'S ASIAN HQ MEET-UP - PERTH - Pictures by Butler
• WAKA LAKA'S BBQ OF MANY LIES BUT THAT IS NOW TOTALLY GOING TO HAPPEN - PERTH - Pictures by Waka Laka
• KINCAID'S 1907 BINGE - PERTH - Pictures by Kincaid
• BUTLER'S GREAT ADVENTURE - PERTH - Pictures by Kincaid
• SANDGROPERS MOVIE NIGHT I - PERTH - April 30th, Thursday - X-Men Origins: Wolverine
• DOING POOP WITH SYNTHETIC ORANGE - MELBOURNE - June 7th, Sunday
• SYDNEY MEETUP - SYDNEY - June 20th, Saturday - Also known as "HandsomePAX"
• NERD MOVIE MARATHON - PERTH - June 20th, Saturday
• BLIVIENNE'S SUPER CASUAL HOUSEWARMING GAME DAY - PERTH - August 29th, Saturday
• GRUG'S SUPER AWESOME MELBOURNE MEET - MELBOURNE - August 22nd, Saturday
• TWEAKED BAT'S IMPROMPTU BREWSKIE NIGHT - SYDNEY - August 22nd, Saturday
• SANDGROPERS MOVIE NIGHT II - PERTH - Up
• HYDE PARK NOODLE EXTRAVAGANZA aka HandsomePAX II - SYDNEY - October 16th
• BUTLER'S PANCAKEPAX - PERTH - November 21st, Saturday
• BEACHES AND BITCHES - PERTH - November 28th, Saturday
• NUMBERS' DRUNKPAX - PERTH - December 12th, Saturday
• A NOT-SO-MANLY BEACH BOOMBOX BBQ - SYDNEY - January 16th, Saturday
• BLUNTERPAX - MELBOURNE - January

Vixx

thanks Bogey I know your thread locking finger was probably cramping a bit

Tweaked_Bat_

First post.

(you didn't put Sydney's beach meet-up into the OP. I know, you were too busy and excited about the whole AusPAX thing, but we're real people with real feelings, too, Viv).

Tweaked_Bat_

Call it:

Sydney's Shelly Beach Boombox BBQ - 16th Jan

Bogey

That Super Meetup sounds epic as hell!

I wish you guys a ton of luck in pulling it off.

pillow

every paycheck my likelihood of getting to go raises at LEAST 5%

Dragonicity

I've always wanted to go to Australia and New Zealand.

Not sure if I'm going to be able to afford a trip to either or both any time soon.

IpseDixit

Oh gosh, this would be so cool. Z and I would be totally down

But looking at it right now flight prices are anywhere between $1200 (on Emirates with an overnight in Dubai and fuck that) to ~$1,500 on Qantas or United

Of course who knows what our monetary situation will be like next year

Shifty Fister

i am apparently saving up for my trip to italy in july right now (not flights which are already covered) so i guess that'll give me roughly half a year to get together whatever scratch i need for this big ol meetup

#pipe

I am super excited for this

Fishman

So, I hear some ball boy peed his pants at the Australian Open and caused a 30 minute delay while they dried the court.

You know, usually when I'm talking about Aussies dropping the ball with a backward square slash, I'm just discussing the latest Test Cricket collapse.


Hey-oo.

Ten

The only way I will make it to this is if I decide to use that same time to come back and visit my parents

Which is something I should probably do by then, but argh, so expensive

#pipe

fish that joke is like some kind of brain teaser

IpseDixit

Fishman wrote: »

So, I hear some ball boy peed his pants at the Australian Open and caused a 30 minute delay while they dried the court.

You know, usually when I'm talking about Aussies dropping the ball with a backward square slash, I'm just discussing the latest Test Cricket collapse.


Hey-oo.

There are a lot of words

And they seem like they should make sense

So I'm just going to awkwardly half laugh while looking at everyone else seeing if they got it

GenericFan

Don't worry fishman, I get it. It was funny, mainly because I despise the Australian cricket team.

Also technically, wouldn't a shot to backwards square be a cut, not slash

Vixx

Tweaked_Bat_ wrote: »

First post.

(you didn't put Sydney's beach meet-up into the OP. I know, you were too busy and excited about the whole AusPAX thing, but we're real people with real feelings, too, Viv).

there are many events that don't get put into that list because you know they're still in the CityPAX part of the list you GOOBER

Vixx

Dragonicity wrote: »

I've always wanted to go to Australia and New Zealand.

Not sure if I'm going to be able to afford a trip to either or both any time soon.

it's a year from now, that's not anytime soon

do it

unintentional

wait did a ball boy actually piss himself

Vixx

Bogey wrote: »

That Super Meetup sounds epic as hell!

I wish you guys a ton of luck in pulling it off.

you should consider joining us

pweeze

L|ama

I don't so much despise the australian cricket team as really really enjoy the expression ricky ponting gets on his face whenever they lose or do something wrong

I also despise the australian cricket team, though

Fishman

GenericFan wrote: »

Don't worry fishman, I get it. It was funny, mainly because I despise the Australian cricket team.

Also technically, wouldn't a shot to backwards square be a cut, not slash

Well, a slash isn't a recognised shot so much as it is a wild swing, so it can go anywhere.

And yes, a ball boy did actually pee himself.

pillow

When I get to Australia I'm gonna re-enact the entire plot of "our lips are sealed." If that's not a selling point, bogey, I don't know what is.

Vixx

pillow wrote: »

When I get to Australia I'm gonna re-enact the entire plot of "our lips are sealed." If that's not a selling point, bogey, I don't know what is.

I almost want to put this in the OP

almost

pillow

Vivixenne wrote: »

pillow wrote: »

When I get to Australia I'm gonna re-enact the entire plot of "our lips are sealed." If that's not a selling point, bogey, I don't know what is.

I almost want to put this in the OP

almost

Regarding a boomerang:

"Um dude, your frisbee is broken."

pillow

And every time we go to a new location I'll yell "Hey! Attention, everyone! I'm part of the witness protection program!"


I'll need some sweet shades, a few bright colored tanktops, tie dye headbands, and maybe a toe ring or two for good measure. Oh, and someone who looks just like me.

Vixx

AUSTRALIANS:

please start listing good locations that you'd be interested in

you don't have to do the research, I'll do that, but just give us a location or some such and I will start looking into them and narrowing down a list

IT MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:

Most convenient for the greatest number of people.
Places easily accessed from major airports.
Accommodates a wide variety of activity options from indoors to outdoors.
A nice beach with nearby hiking, sightseeing, fishing, and hangouts options is a good idea.

Shifty Fister

melbourne or close to there (so i can visit my sister)

#pipe

Byron Bay

some beach side community near Melbourne

some beach side community near Sydney

Cairns

Vixx

Melbourne is expensive though

Fishman

Cairns at the height of Summer?

Sounds... sticky.

GenericFan

Vivixenne wrote: »

Melbourne is expensive though

well you have a year to raise some money don't you miss "don't worry you have a year to raise money to fly half way around the world to come visit me"

Shifty Fister

Vivixenne wrote: »

Melbourne is expensive though

melbourne also owns

trade offs you know

#pipe

Fishman wrote: »

Cairns at the height of Summer?

Sounds... sticky.

that's true!

Vixx

GenericFan wrote: »

Vivixenne wrote: »

Melbourne is expensive though

well you have a year to raise some money don't you miss "don't worry you have a year to raise money to fly half way around the world to come visit me"

yes and that increases the amount of money people may need to save!

still it's an option and we could look into it, I'd just rather it not be in a heavily populated area

Vixx

Fishman wrote: »

Cairns at the height of Summer?

Sounds... sticky.

it's a PAX, it's going to end up sticky anyway

:winky:

but more importantly if the ocean's RIGHT THERE it's not like that's not a great way to cool off

Tweaked_Bat_

Vivixenne wrote: »

Tweaked_Bat_ wrote: »

First post.

(you didn't put Sydney's beach meet-up into the OP. I know, you were too busy and excited about the whole AusPAX thing, but we're real people with real feelings, too, Viv).

there are many events that don't get put into that list because you know they're still in the CityPAX part of the list you GOOBER

MY BAD, SORRY.

Blake T

Melbourne And Sydney are generally cheaper to travel to that Brisbane.

Vixx

do NSW or Victoria have a Cairns-like place?

because I am liking what I see in Cairns but Blaket has a point

Blake T

Also I can't believe that tweaked bat actually wrote first post.

Vixx

40TH POST

BAM

YEAH

WOOOO TAKE THAT BITCHES

pillow

I'm aiming for 69th post. 8-)