Melbourne Australia

Goon party anyone?

We said goodbye to our new New Zealand buddies and head back to the campervan place for the second time! The first time was to drop off the van, the second was to collect the phone charger and plug adapter we had left plugged into the van. These are essentials we couldn't justify leaving behind! From the depot, it was a short trip to the airport and hopped on our Quantas flight. Woooahh I love Quantas! By far the best flight experience yet, for starters the TV worked! Bliss.
We didn't know what to expect of Australia apart from it's a long way away from the UK and that's why most people go, especially the Irish and Swedish. Our first impression - rain.
It was still classed as winter/spring when we showed up but I always though it was hot ALL the time here... hhmmm. OK so there is actually a reason why it is not hot and dry as we expected. We are currently in the Big Wet (Jon knows the scientific name for it but he is napping and Google won't give me what I am looking for!). For years and years, it has been hot and dry as everyone imagines it to be but now it is not. In a way we are glad it is not always scorching because we have a lot of sunshine ahead and this gives our skin a rest. We will eventually make it to either the Red Center or Queensland and I'll be moaning it is too sweaty.
Our trip to Melbourne was split into 2 parts. First was St. Kilda. This is a beautiful harbour town and very funky. It was famous for its seedy 'massage' parlours and gay scene a while ago. There is still a smell of it but with a more classy edge with cute boutiques and cool cafe/bars where hundreds of backpackers hang out. Oz is not big on theme parks, instead they have Luna Park which is a fairground with old fashioned rides. In the winter it is closed during the week, so we missed it! The entrance is enough to scare all the kids away! Check out this link http://www.lunapark.com.au/ to see the scary man face... this is actually above the walkway and it is huge.
Travelling has either 'grown' us or we are just getting old because the hostel in St. Kilda was way too party party in the room for us! It was good at first but the fella who managed to fall asleep drunk in my laundry bag next to my bed made me appreciate the smelly private confinement of the campervan. We were also feeling rough from the parties in NZ!
We headed to the city center and stayed at the Urban Central hostel. This is the best hostel we stayed in, the rooms were smaller and quiet but the hostel vibe was fab and we met some great people. It amazing how up for a party you can be with a quiet room for slumber... OK I sound miserable now so I won't go on about that anymore. But it is proven the more one gets older the enzymes in the liver deplete and can not break down alcohol as well.............
Melbourne city is fantastic so cosmopolitan with a European twist. We went on a self-guided city walk of the street art. It took us around the graffiti covered narrow alley ways, all different colours and designs. The Parisian and European style ones too.
The Tim Burton exhibition was a highlight after we attempted to go 3 times. The exhibition has been there for months and continued to be fully booked most days. Attached was a Sound and Movement Museum for free, play as many computer games as you like for free! We also go a taste of what it is like to be in the Matrix! We recorded it too... I will get Jon to post it when he wakes up.
It happened to be Jonathan's 26th birthday too whilst in Melbourne. We had a great time and made sure we did enough to remember the occasion. Next year we can look back and think 'this time last year we celebrated in AUSTRALIA!'. He had mentioned in passing that he would like to take up some golf later in life or just whenever he gets the chance! I took it upon myself to make the dream come true. He awoke to balloons and a card on his top bunk. Had a fry-up butty for breakfast. Head to Aston Vale for a spot golf. When to the top of Eureka Tower and had a smashing Thai curry in China town to finish. Our friends posted a birthday message on Facebook for him too, that definitely added a sparkle.
After a week or so hanging around with our buddies from England, Singapore and Holland we had consumed too much box 'goon' wine ($10 for 4 litres!) it was time to move onto Sydney. We need to plan and save for the second half of our adventure and Sydney is the place to make it happen!
We bagged a fantastic deal on our flight with Jetstar - just $60 each.

All those hours spent at uni enjoying the Erinsborough lifestyle from afar in comfy pants... I nearly forgot to mention our Ramsey Street experience! No sunshine and no Harold Bishop but we got to see the famous spots and hold the street sign!!