4 Days in Melbourne

Sorry for lack of updates in the last few days.

You have to pay for internet access here, and I'm tight.

Here's about 4 days worth of nonsense ...

Thurs -

Didn't really do much today, just ambled around the Queen Victoria Market for a couple of hours.

They sell lots of really great fresh fish/meat/veg/fruit here, so I bought some prawns, some fresh pasta, some tomatoes, etc and did my first bit of 'home cooking'.

I prefer the eating-out option to be honest - less washing up, and pretty much as cheap over here.

Went for a few drinks with a nice Canadian girl called Claudie (that's a guess at the spelling - she pronounced it Klody, but she had a strong French accent).

Anyhow, she was going to be leaving for Darwin the following morning, so I got her number and said I'd give her a call when I got there.

Went to a free comedy night at a local venue, with a couple of the other folks from the hostel. There were about 6 acts on, but the funniest was actually the compere. Still, you can't beat it on value for money terms !

Fri -

Booked myself on a small group tour going from Melbourne to Alice Springs. That leaves on Thursday, so I have to entertain myself here for a couple more days than I expected.

I'll update my blog just before I go, because I'm not sure I'll be able to for the 10 days when I'm on the tour.

You probably won't be able to reach my mobile during the second half of the tour, either.

The tour itself sounds pretty decent. We do the Great Ocean Road (between Melbourne and Adelaide), then up towards Alice, via a few points of interest (Coober Pedy - a mining community where everyone lives underground, the actual centre of Australia, Uluru, and the Olgas).

I've also managed to pick up a free sleeping bag from someone who's just on their way home. Apparently I'll need it during this tour. Oh dear. Anyone know how to use a sleeping bag ?

Something else I've decided to do is to 'rationalise' my luggage.

I'm sending various bits and bobs home via 'slow mail', which will take about 3 months ! It'll get home after I do, probably.

I think I'm going to dump my Death Star sized suitcase, and get something smaller (a hatchback, perhaps).

Maybe I'll be able to sell the suitcase as a small fishing vessel. It's certainly big enough!

Sat -

Got a free ticket to the Aussie Rules Football game at the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground) today, through the hostel.

Went with about 25 other folks from the hostel.

It was a good game (local team St Kilda beat no-hopers Richmond 174-71), and the MCG is a pretty nice stadium.

Afterwards, went for a few beers with one of the girls who was out for the footy. A nice lass from Preston called Steph. She's working in Melbourne for the YHA, so she gets a free room at the hostel.

We ended up (accidentaly) crashing someones 21st birthday party in a local pub.

I'm sure there were no 'private party' signs on the door when we went in, but after about an hour, the place was full of people in suits, plus us 2 in jeans.

I think we really twigged when they started handing round the nibbles, sometime later.

No-one seemed to mind too much (I don't think), and we kept getting served, so we just played dumb, and got drunk !

Sun -

Went on a trip to Philip Island to see the 'Penguin Run'.

Every night, 'Little Penguins' (they are only about 10 inches tall) congregate in the surf, and then cross the beach en-masse to reach their burrows in the hills behind.

This all happens just after sunset, so you have to get there about 5:45pm, and wait about 15 mins for the action.

The penguins gather into groups of about 10, and then have a go at crossing the beach. Sometimes they make it, sometimes one chickens out, and they all scurry back into the sea.

Unfortunately, you can't take photos (it's dark, and any flashes would scare the penguins), so you'll have to rely on my description.

Before that, we went to a nature reserve to see wombats (including Molly, who farts when stroked ... bit like me really), koalas and kangaroos.

They're all rescued animals, and are pretty tame (you can hand feed the 'roos).

Good day, overall.