Melbourne

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Day 1

I arrive in Melbourne at 8 am after a 12 hour bus ride which was a lot fuller that expected. I assumed that it would be relatively quiet with it being a overnight bus but I was wrong and I don't get much sleep as a consequence. I catch a cab to the hostel with two German girls and we split the fair. At reception I am told that I can't check in till two. This was not the news that I wanted. She did tell me how ever that there were the Victoria markets to the back of the hostel and that they had a luggage room. I make my way to the markets and pick up one or two bits (mostly sausages and cheese.) One sausage sandwich later and I am struggling badly to stay awake. I find my way onto a sofa and through a series of cat naps and reading my book two pm arrives. I throw my stuff in the room and head for the showers before climbing into bed for a little snoozy. I awake to the sound of my room mates coming in. They have a box of goon and invite me to join but for some reason I pass on the offer. It turns out that one of my room mates is from Yorkshire and we start to talk about all things northern. Five minutes later I have a full glass of goon in hand and we have a plan to make cheese toasties and to go out. The plan goes off without a hitch (well apart from the goon being confiscated by a member of staff.) We catch a cab on to one of the main streets and work our way down it till a club finally let's us in. As first impressions go Melbourne has a lot slower place than Sydney and is a lot less built up. The night is still very good though and the club has a better variety of music.

Day 2
I awake late with a usual feeling. My room mates are getting up as well and we make a plan to have a picnic in the botanical gardens. We head to the local Aldi (yep same as in UK) for some supplies and set off. We walk through the main centre of the city and out the other side. The Botanical gardens are very stunning and remind me of being back home as we sit next to a pond. We polish of the goon from yesterday and feast on cheese crackers, ham, salami, a cheap Pringles imitation and a jam roll. At about 5pm we head back to the hostel and more cheese toasties are the order of the day. Me and the northern girl book our tickets for the Australian open and the evening concludes with a film in the hostel cinema.

Day 3
Today is the first round of the Australian open and I have tickets to the Hisense Arena which my mum is very jealous about. Due to a mild sun burn I don a thin shirt for the event. It takes roughly 20 minutes to get there and we take our seats in the shade forth first game which is Mannarino vs Del Potro. After the match concludes we head to the outside courts to catch the end of Birdych. Then back to the Hisense for Sciavone followed by Nadal. Nadal is as devastating as usual and his opponent only manages to put up a fight for the first set and then withers. Nadal wins in straight sets. We then catch the end of the Laura Robson match and head to the outdoor screen where we watch Federer. This concludes at about ten pm and I am now officially a fan of live tennis matches. Mum I’ll take you to Wimbledon one day.

Day 4
Today is my Philip Island tour. I have been looking forward to this as Philip Island is home to the MOTO GP track in Australia. The bus picks me up at mid day and we head to a local park where we can see flying foxes (bats.) Next is a stop for lunch where I try flake (shark) and chips. It's delicious. Next we head to a very run down wild life park and I begin to think that I have chosen the wrong tour. The driver has a very bad habit of leaving 10 second pauses in his commentary which quickly become annoying. We cross the bridge onto Philip Island and stop at chocolate world. Unfortunately we only have time to go into the gift shop for a rabbit dropping sized taster. Next we head to the MOTO GP track. He pulls up outside the fence and tells us we can take our pictures here. I had learnt that this would be the case earlier in the tour but I'm still gutted all the same. I hop off the bus and try and get my camera to focus through the links in the chain. I manage one semi respectful shot before we head to the town of Cowes. Here we have half an hour free and me and two American ladies get a 6 pack and head for the beech. They are not impressed by the tour and we have a good old bitch over a beer. I also learn of the Italian cruise shop disaster, I was never very good at current affairs but since traveling I am completely oblivious. We have a shite pizza and head to a place called Swan Lake. Butterflies fly around us as we walk around the lakes and we spot black swans. Next we head to a lookout spot where we can look upon Round island which I s supposed to be home to sea lions but I can’t spot anything. Finally we head to the penguin parade. Philip island is home to a massive colony of little (fairy) penguins and the government has built a series of board walks around there homes so that you can watch them head to there homes. I find a spot down on the beach and within 5 minutes the first penguin emerges from the sea. All that is missing is a commentary from Morgan Freeman or David Attenborough. The trip is finally worth while as this is a real wildlife spectacle. We follow the penguins in there hundreds or possibly thousands back to their homes and after a short while catch the bus back to Melbourne. Unfortunately the buses air con is not brilliant and not sweating isn’t a option.

Day 5
Today starts slowly with me exploring the shops of Melbourne and buying a few small food items. After lunch I head to the coast and a place called St Kilda where I meet Michael. Michael was on my yachting course and lives in St Kilda. He has arranged for me to be a extra crew member on the boat that he crews on. He signs me in the club and tells me Wednesday is race day. Our boat is competing in the spinnaker race (a type of sail) We have a swift pot (half pint) and head down to the pier where he introduces me to the Matador. He refers to it as a dingy with giant sales. 30 minutes later I can see why. We have to sit on the high side of the boat with our legs over the side to stop it from cap sizing while we are racing. Mike seemed very insistent that I borrow a pair of his shoes and another crew member leant me there coat. As a wave splashes over me I realize why and am grateful. I spend most of the time aboard clambering from one side of the boat to the other and one point don't do it quick enough and the water rises up beneath me. It reminds me of lowering myself into a bath which is something I haven't done in over 3 months now. I laugh most of the time on board and can't believe how close we come to hitting other boats. It appears like we cross the line first, and I tell the crew that these are the best/worst conditions that I have ever sailed in and also the fastest I've been on a sailing boat (14 knots.) The swells were close to two meters and the wind I wouldn't like to guess at but strong is the answer. We head back to the club house and dinner is provided (mostly fish based.) While there we have our victory confirmed and I chat with the rest of the crew about my travels and future plans. They seem like a really nice bunch who get on well despite the mini quarrels while racing. Mike drops me off at the Hostel and I tell him if I come back I would love to do it again.

Day 6
Every so often while traveling you have what I like to call a admin day. This is where you check the details for the next leg of your trip, do your washing and buy things such as shampoo and toothpaste. They don't make very exciting blog material. In the evening I head to federation square and meet up with one of the Landerners and we watch Hewit vs Roddick on the big screen with a box of goon before heading to the Casino. The Casino is the biggest yet and unfortunately we are turned away from the club inside for looking too shabby but watch a person in a vest and shorts get let in. We console ourselves with a curry and head to another bar before I head home. I was only supposed to be out for a bit as I get picked up tomorrow at 6:45 for my great ocean road tour. I get to bed at 1:00.

P.S. A few things set Melbourne apart from the other places I have visited and these include trams, a man dressed as a penguin playing the saxophone and LED horse and carts (just the carts not the horses.) I guess this is what they call character.

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