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Published: March 14th 2008
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Tram
Getting around in Melbers I was on the night flight from Perth to Melbourne which took 3 hours but arrived at 5 something in the morning as there are 2 hours time difference......after eating and having a very in-depth conversation with the lady sat next to me, I tried to get some sleep. Time flew by and when we landed I was absolutely knackered. The plan was to head to an area called Saint Kilda where my good pal Alice (who I met in Vietnam) was staying in a hostel. I got myself on the city bus and then hopped on a tram and got to the hostel at around 6:30am. I was told that if I wanted a bed immediately, I would have to pay for the previous night. Being a true backpacker, I didn't really want to pay for a whole night when I was only really checking in a few hours early. I was allowed up to see Alice and bless her she let me crash in her bed with her.... rather funny considering it was a top bunk-bed and 2 of us up there :-)
When we finally awoke a few hours later, we had a good catch up.... very cool
Museum
Right in the centre of Melbourne to see Alice again after having left her on Koh Phangan island a month or so earlier.....The weather wasn't great but we head out to have a bite to eat and a little wander around. That evening, Alice and a friend of hers her planned to go to a Neighbours night..... I wasn't completely keen on the idea but for old times sake I thought I would give it a go (Neighbours is an Aussie soap that I used to watch when I was a little girl still at school) :-)
That evening, Alice dyed my hair black (I fancied a change) and off we went to a pub around the corner for our 'Neighbours' quiz night. Some of the current actors would also be attending..... tehehe! We were sat with some other people and soon got chatting and befriended our fellow 'quiz team mates'...... The night was quite funny.... although we didn't win the quiz and nor did I actually recognise any of the actors. It has been so long since I saw that programme.
The following day was to be my last in the city so I decided to head out and get a feel for the city....
Cathedral
A lovely looking building in Melbers I got on the tram, walked around the centre loads and generally did the 'tourist' thing... visited the immigration museum and then later met up with Monique. I met Monique in Thailand who was on holiday visiting her pal Suzie (who I travelled with in Thailand). She told me to contact her when I was around so we met for a drink... which turned into more.... then dinner, wine and out for cocktails......This wasn't the best idea as I had to get up early the next morning to get myself on a flight as my ex-housemate and great friend Marta was on her way to meet me for a 2 week holiday. That night I went to bed quite drunk and fairly late.....fortunately I had befriended the Chilean guy who was sleeping on the bunk underneath me and I had told him I needed to get up early for my flight..... I set my alarm for 6:30 and went to sleep rather drunk..... at around 7:20, I awoke with the Chilean guy asking me "Shouldn't you be on your way to the airport?" I looked at my phone, saw the time and literally jumped out of bed cursing to high
Marta and Jo
On our 1st day together in Sydney at the harbour heaven.....I had missed the airport shuttle that I had paid for..... and the only option was to get in a taxi and hope to god that I would make it for my 8:30 flight. Luckily, for domestic flights, you only have to check in half an hour before and I made it by the skin of my teeth..... I was severely hung over but rather excited at the thought of seeing Marta. Kirsty, my soon to be travel buddy was also in Sydney waiting for us to arrive.....
I got to Sydney and had a text from Marta on where to meet so I made my way there.... I spotted her from a distance and ran up to her and we had quite a loud reunion....hugging and laughing a lot which was great. We sat and had a coffee, I filled her in a bit then off we went to make our way to Suzies house where we would be staying for the next 3 nights. The plan was to see a bit of Sydney.... watch Suzie in a play that she was working on (she is a damn fine actress) and then fly to Cairns where we had organised
Opera House
The infamous Sydney Opera House a campervan. We would then explore the east coast, sleeping where we could in our trusty van. How exciting we all thought.....
For some reason I had it stuck in my head that Suzie lived in Manly.... but she actually lives in Tamarama.... so the taxi ended up costing over double what it should have.... I am not doing very well today I thought....We got to Suzies and Alice was also there. We had a bite, chilled a bit and then made our way to check out Sydney harbour. We wandered around a bit and then stopped for a drink. Later on Kirsty came to meet us... it was lovely to see her also....
After her long trip and considering the time difference, Marta was a little tired so we had a relatively early night. The folllowing day, we arranged to meet Kirsty and take a little trip across the harbour to Manly. This is a cool place, very laid back people and lots of trendy bars/ restaurants.... we hung out for the day, laid on the beach then made our way back to Tamarama where we had a lovely dinner (prepared by the expert chef Joanna, aka ME). That
evening, we had arranged to meet my old uni pal, Ady in an area called Darling Harbour... off we went to see him. Lucky fr us, he had 3 Caiprinha cocktails waiting for us... GOD BLESS YOU ADY! :-). We drank, talked and the night passed by quickly.... we were fairly merry by the end of the evening when we got back to Tamarama, no surprise there. The following day, Marta and I had promised to cook a Spanish meal to thank Suzie for her great hospitality..... The meal went down a storm and we promptly went to the beach for a while. Luckily I decided to go back home early and try and get some rest (sounding a bit like a hangover) hehehe... before Suzies big night at the theatre. I got back just in time, the heavens opened and I spared a fleeting thought for Marta and Kirsty, they had gone walking and I was tucked up nicely in bed.... :-)
Due to the bad weather, we had problems getting to the theatre but we made it in the nick of time. Suzie and co were great in their show "The Last Highway".... centred around the lives of
The girls
On our way to Manly late-night shift workers based near a petrol station in Sydney. Check out:
http://www.urbantheatre.com.au/lasthighway.html
After the play, we went for a cheeky drink and met up with one of Martas old friends who was also travelling and in Sydney at the same time..... We made our way back to Suzies pretty early as we were to set off in the morning for Cairns to start our WICKED ROAD TRIP.......More to follow very soon xxxxx
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