corneredglobe

Diving in the Great Barrier Reef has always been on my bucket list. It was an incredible experience that totally lived up to my expectations.

As with most new experiences, I worried about things that were non-issues or never happened. I worried about being the lone inexperienced diver on the boat, I worried about not having a dive buddy and of course I worried about running into Jaws.

Known as "Aussie Strine", Australian slang is almost a language unto itself. It's a colorful and descriptive way of speaking that I definitely enjoyed listening to and trying to unravel. So before you board the plane, here are some of my favorites that'll (hopefully) help you beef up on your Aussie lingo.

Nestled at the very top of Queensland is Cairns (pronounced 'Caans'). A small town that serves as an access point to some of Australia's most famous attractions. From Cairns you can book tours to go on hiking adventures in Daintree Rainforest or the Tablelands, dive into the Great Barrier Reef, daytrip to some of the nearby idyllic islands or have an extreme adventure like whitewater rafting, skydiving or bungee jumping. This is a town that lives on the tourist dollars and it shows by the number of activities and tours it has on offer.

St. Kilda isn't an area that's necessarily on people's must visit list when in Melbourne, which is a shame. This is a beautiful neighborhood filled with chilled out bars, fantastic food and funky stores. Best of all it's only a 15 minute tram ride from CBD. It's definitely worth the trip to enjoy it's attractions, an early morning coffee or a night out in a bar.

These are my top reasons for why you must visit St. Kilda:

Melbourne and Australia (in general) are not places I'd consider friendly to penny pinching digital nomads. The cost of living here is exorbitantly high. Anyone planning an extended stay in this area should secure contract work prior to coming. Nomads who are already in Melbourne and trying to find a comfortable place to work with free wifi (at first glance) might think the city doesn't cater to them. I experienced this, but after some research I found the following great places to plugin and get work done while on the road.

Australia is one of the world's top wine producers and (while in Melbourne) you must make time to visit Yarra Valley. There's over 80 wineries in Yarra, 50 of which have an open cellar door for tastings. Since I was traveling solo, and didn't want to drive home drunk, I booked a Yara wine tour.

This year I was lucky enough to attend the first three days of the Australian Open in Melbourne. The first two days I entered with ground passes and on the third day I had a ticket to the morning session in Rod Laver Arena. I loved the experience, but now that it's done I wish I'd known some information that would've made it even better. This is what you need to know before attending the Australian Open.

Most people don't try solo travel because they fear being alone. They presume it'll be difficult to meet people and make new friends. While this might happen, the reality (in my experience) is the opposite. In my travels I've met a large number of people under many different circumstances. Traveling solo actually opens you up to the possibility of making new friends. It forces you to become more social.

If you're hesitant about traveling alone or are looking for ideas on how to meet people on your trips, below are some easy tips to make friends while traveling solo:

Sardinia, the second largest island in the Mediterranean, is heaven on Earth. Across this island are countless mountain ranges, beautiful beaches and idyllic towns. The great joy of traveling across Sardinia, is uncovering its many hidden treasures. You'll discover enchanting beaches, inlets and coves; some accessible by car others only by boat.

Melbourne, Sydney's artistic sister, is famous for its lanes, alleyways, arcades and cafe society. Walking through its hipster streets is an attraction not to be missed. These streets move to a rhythm all their own. There's a new revelation waiting to be discovered round every corner. Below is my guide to Melbourne's must see arcades, lanes and street art.