1) ST. KILDA - Having lunch with TV Director Richard Sarell and actor John Higginson in the trendy beach neighborhood of St. Kilda.

2) ST. KILDA - While exploring the St. Kilda area, I ran across the location film shoot of the second season Aussie TV hit show "The Secret Life of Us." I chatted with lighting tech Robert for an hour in between takes and shared our dreams of making films.

3) PRAHRAN - Having lunch with Louise Talmadge. Louise was a Hollywood actress in the 1970s before getting married and moving to Melbourne. She now acts in Australia and coaches actors. We talked "shop" for a while, and she gave me lots of great contact names in Sydney.

4) SOUTH YARRA - Posing with fellow actors Phil, Tanya, and Peter in Bruce Alexander's Thursday night workshop. Bruce (lower right) is well known throughout Australia for both his performance in the Aussie show "Seachange" as well as his amazing acting classes. He let me participate that night, and I had so much fun! He is truly an incredible coach, and I would love to study with him again.

5) ST. KILDA - Having dinner with award-winning filmmaker Clare Sawyer, my friend Georgia, and director Colin Mowbray. Clare and Georgia are long time friends from elementary school. Colin is a colleague and friend of Clare's.

6) MELBOURNE - A view of the Yarra River and Downtown Melbourne from the Swan Street bridge near the Rod Lever Arena -- home of The Australian Open.

7) MELBOURNE - American tennis star Pete Sampras serves to Finnish player Jan Niemenen. Sampras won his first round match 6-3, 6-4, 6-3.

8) MELBOURNE - Movie actress Bridget Wilson watches her husband Pete Sampras win his opening round match.

9) MELBOURNE - Charlie the Pavement Artist puts the finishing touches on his latest masterpiece. Charlie recreates art masterpieces by drawing chalk on the sidewalk. He accepts donations from people who walk by and often gets commission work.

10) BENTLEIGH - I saw so many interesting scenes like this one while riding Melbourne's trains.

11) BENTLEIGH - Trevor Mason delivers the ball to his son Michael as they practice cricket in a batting cage near their home. After letting me watch them for a while, they let me have a turn in the cage. It was harder than it looked, but I got a few hits and had fun laughing at myself during the
huge misses.

12) SOUTH YARRA - Dan shows Stewart how to keep his bat in the correct position during an evening cricket practice at a park near the South Yarra neighborhood.

13) MELBOURNE - Albert gives Jim some self defense tips during a private afternoon lesson in the Queen Victoria Gardens just south of Downtown.

14) MELBOURNE - Melissa studies her upcoming class schedule during visit to Queen Victoria Gardens. She will be a senior in high school this upcoming year.

15) BENTLEIGH - The summer weather means that the local trees are all blossoming. This purple Catalpa tree was in full bloom in the parking lot of my friend Georgia's flat.