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Published: January 28th 2006
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The Gang...
Brett, Hannah, Me, Adam and Ellie Tues 10th Jan - Thurs 26th Jan I’ve arrived in Melbourne with great hopes and excitement! Not sure why though! Oh well, maybe it was time to cut the apron strings of Sydney and to see the rest of the country!
I arrived at 7am…too early to check into my new hostel in St Kilda, so ended up having brekkie at a café and then wandering down to St Kilda beach to kill time! it’s ok but not as nice as the beaches in Sydney! and I was constantly being attacked by horrible flies - I think it’s their mission in life to pester the crap out of you! I’m finding myself getting really frustrated at them and telling them to bugger off…like they can understand me!! Obviously they don’t and keep pestering me! Aarrgghhh!
Met up with Ellie, Hannah and Brett (Hannah’s boyf).
Went to Melbourne Museum, it’s a really cool place, and one of the best exhibits there was a kitchen from the neighbours set…guess who’s kitchen it was??!
Also saw the stuffed Phar Lap - champion Aussie race horse - apparently it’s a real stuffed horse…eeeww! There were the usual things at museums -
Adam looking terrified...
...I swear I didn't touch him! dinosaur bones, fishy things, human body (interesting video on conception…a bit gross when the baby was born!!) and creepy crawly section. Gave that bit a wide berth…especially after my cockroach incident in Sydney!
So I’ve been away from home now for nearly 2 months (can you believe it? It feels like it was only last weekend when we were in Kickers and partying in London - oh how time flies!!) This is the first time I’ve actually felt homesick…well, craving for a nice English roast with a nice big yorkshire pudding! I blame Hannah as she was talking about yorkshire puds so much!! Anyway, we managed to find a pub which had roast dinners, but shock horror…no yorkshire!! We were devastated!! - but at least the roast was good through…hmmm roast dinner!!
I’m finally getting into this backpacking thing - hanging with the guys has given me my initiation into the nightlife of a backpacker - they took me to places where you’re given free drinks and then you move onto the next bar when the promo has finished! I don’t think I spent a penny that night! First we went to Sky Lounge - hmm not much
sky…or lounge for that matter - how can I describe it…hmm…a shithole!! I don’t think I’ve ever been to a club that seedy before…no wonder the drinks are free - luckily we only stayed for one before moving onto Bubble Bar for some bubble fun!! Again, couldn’t make out any bubbles! We were stood outside waiting to go in, surrounded by…loads of yoofs dressed up in the strangest clothes I’ve ever seen…baggy dungarees and wife beater vests!! I was actually quite scared! I was told by Ellie and Hannah that it was a cool lounge type thing with free champers, but the noise I could hear sounded like a drug fuelled heavy trance session!
Luckily were ushered into a different part of the club and the place was really cool...nice chilled house music, comfy sofas and free champers. Although a few dungarees and vests got in, the general atmosphere of the place, I’m pleased to say, was quite nice and the evening ended with a trip to maccy d’s and Adam ordering 100 chicken nuggets - we made a fair dent into the pile, but lets just say I don’t want to see chicken nuggets again for a very
long time!!
We moved hostel to get closer to the action in the city - it’s so nice to be in the city - made all the sweeter by a lovely cute guy who works at the hostel…always saying hello to me and being nice…yes, I know it’s his job to be nice and everything…but he was extra helpful and gave me a slice of cake!! And obviously I’m not going to do anything about it other than stalk him from afar!! - anyway, enough, my parents might be reading this!!
Back onto sightseeing, went to Melbourne Gaol to see where prisoners were held and hanged - Ned Kelly was hanged there!
Paid a visit to the Stanley Kubrick exhibition - it was very interesting and then realised I’ve never seen any of his films before! The shame of it…but still the exhibition was good
Also went along to the Immigration museum, it was ok, but we didn’t think it was worth the $6 to get in - although subsequently found out that there was actually more than the 1 floor we saw! …nice they sign posted it clearly! so in hindsight, it probably is worth
$6!! Never mind…at least we got the benefit of air con!!
I managed to escape to Phillip Island for a few days to chill out and see the cutest things ever…tiny fairy penguins - they are the smallest penguins in the world! - went to the penguin parade and watched them waddle out of the sea and up the shore to their little nests for the night. Oh they are just so cute I wanted to smuggle a few into my bag and take them home! There are so many of them…no one would notice, but alas…the rangers were keeping their beady eyes on me so I couldn’t! There’s something about penguins that make you go ahhhh and coo like a lunatic! Or is that just me?! I was sat there watching the little cuties and had one of those “oh my god, I can’t believe I’m here” moments…Les, I blame you for the penguin gushing - I distinctly remember a time (one of the many!) I walked past your desk at work asking what Australia was like (whether it had shops and running water etc etc!) and you telling me I should go and see penguins on Phillip
Island!
Anyway, Phillip Island is so nice, penguins aside. It’s so laid back here, I’ve chilled out and read books, walked for miles along the beach. The hostel is beautiful, not in a flash, loads of modern stuff kind of way. But really homely and friendly - there’s no sense of rushing to do this and that, it’s just so relaxing…I’m completely recharged now! Yes I know I’m doing bugger all and have been for a long while now, but travelling can be very stressful…having to talk to people and do the whole chit chat thing!
Back onto the mainland for Australia Day! Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oi Oi Oi!! I actually heard people chant that at the pub on Australia Day!! The day itself was packed with sitting in a pub - not for the drink, just for the air conditioning cuz it was so hot!! But the fireworks in Federation Square were cool cuz they were going off, literally above our heads and then we wandered over to the Docklands and saw spectacular fireworks there! Ahhhh…the Aussies are pretty good at putting on fireworks displays!!
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