Australia - Week One

There is likely to be a change in blog entries from this point forward: the length and frequency of posts is probably going to reduce considerably, as Australia is BLOODY EXPENSIVE!!!

I got up early today, to queue outside the State Library of Victoria, just so I can use the internet for free for 60 minutes. Otherwise, we are talking £2 an hour minimum, not 15-50p like in Asia! Anyway, I'm waffling, but from now on, things are going to be a little less detailed!

The flight from Bali went well - Katie had met a Qantas engineer in McDonalds in Kuta earlier in the day, so when we saw him just prior to boarding the flight, he took our names. Imagine how chuffed we were to receive free blanket packs (which on a budget flight, were not complimentary), a free breakfast AND free movies on our own little portable screens! We arrived on time, but it was a hell of a shock to be greeted with British winter weather as we disembarked. Seriously, isn't it supposed to be summer over here now??? Apparently, it hasn't rained like it did at the weekend for years and years... I swear, they knew I was coming.

We checked into the Flinders Station Backpackers hostel and had a nap. Later that afternoon, I wandered around the city, bought a guidebook to the East Coast and booked tickets to go on the Neighbours Tour! It quickly became apparent that this place IS as expensive as I had heard, and I was feeling sick by the time I had spent my weekly budget in 24 hours! And that wasn't my Asia weekly budget, but a new one I thought would be ample for here. Guess not. So I made it a priority to find a Qantas office, so I can cut my time here and in New Zealand by half. Otherwise, I may never make it to South America!!! I'm so pleased that it will cost me $40 to reorganise my flights, when I was assured by Austravel that there would be no charge involved. Not.

On Monday, I did a spot of shopping - tights, jumper, pyjamas, peanut butter and bread. So I had a little bit of warmth and something to eat for a few days!!! It's like being a student again. We also booked tickets to Philip Island and a hire car to take us along the Great Ocean Road. Well, when in Rome... Off we set on Tuesday morning at 8.30am. We filled up the tank and then just on the outskirts of Melbourne, the car began to judder and the engine maintenance light came on.

We had definitely used the correct fuel, as we'd phoned to check just moments before. So we pulled over, luckily just next to a junction on the motorway. Here's the next few hours in brief:

- Waited by side of road for tow truck to arrive.
- Truck arrives, waited for taxi to collect us to take us back to Melbourne.
- Unload all bags from car to side of road. That's 3 people's worldly goods.
- Taxi no show, load up car with bags.
- Climb into tow truck cab, taxi arrives!
- Unload car, load up taxi, back to Melbourne.
- Taxi driver not told by truck driver where to go, so drive round a bit.
- Get to hire car depot, no cars left and paperwork still in towed car!
- Lift to another depot, bags have been in 3 different vehicles by now.
- Get new car, reload bags, off we set, 3 hours later!!!

So, that was interesting! Anyway, off we set again and soon we were on the Great Ocean Road, passing through places called Peterborough and Torquay, stopping for fish and chips is Anglesea! We took loads of photos at every scenic lookout spot and saw wild koalas sleeping in the trees. It was late when we arrived at Warnambool, and found a friendly little backpackers place with just 3 beds to spare! On Wednesday, we went back down the Ocean Road to a lighthouse we had missed the previous day. So there's even more photos to sort through when I can get to a computer that will let me upload them (the library's services don't stretch that far!)

The Great Ocean Road

Thursday was an early start, up at 6.30, off by 7, in Melbourne just after 10, eventually found accommodation and unloaded the car by 11, returned the car by 12, set off on the trip to Philip Island at 12.30!!! We stopped at a winery for wine tasting (just the whites for me, thanks!), Maru Animal Sanctuary where I got to feed the emus and kangaroos and had the nicest piece of carrot cake EVER, Woolamai Beach on Philip Island, which is absolutely stunning, a great little pizza place for dinner, the Nobbies to see the nesting seagulls and then finally, the Penguin Parade.

Here, hundreds of Little Penguins emerge from the sea at sunset and walk for up to a kilometre, to reach their young who have been waiting patiently for food since daybreak. It was hilarious to see the tiny things come out of the sea and then decide it was too risky and waddle back in again! It was a shame, but it started to rain just as they were coming out of the sea, and we didn't relish the thought of being soaked through all the way back to Melbourne on the bus! At least we saw a few of them, boxed ticked!!!

I needed a lie in yesterday, seeing as it was half past midnight when we got back from Philip Island, but I had to be up early for the Neighbours Tour! It had to be done, but I must admit it was a little disappointing - we drove passed Erinsborough High, took a few photos at the set of the garage (but didn't go inside the studios) and then went to Ramsay Street (or Pine Oak Court as it is really known) itself. It is TINY. Like about the size of my road at home, I swear things look so much bigger on the telly. It was good fun being there though! Then it was back into St Kilda to meet a "star" of the show...

Everybody Needs Good Neighbours...

So we waited outside a closed theatre for a car to arrive and out jumps a girl I do not recognise. Not Karl Kennedy then!!! It turns out it is Michelle Scully, who I do remember after all, even though she actually left the show 4 years ago! She was really nice and chatted to us and gave autographs. Still, it all felt a little bit amateurish, another boxed that just had to be ticked, but another $50 gone...

I then spent the afternoon searching for a doctor's and signing up for Medicare - I've somehow picked up an infection that is manifesting itself in any open wound at all. So all my mosquito bites have gone green. Nice. I got some antibiotics in the end, so I now need to take them all the way up to New Year's Eve. Hope they work or I will look like a leper in my New Year's outfit!!! Best put the tights on, although Sydney is SUPPOSED to be boiling at this time of year. I'll believe it when I see it.

So here I am online. I've half spent next week's budget as well, and it didn't help having to spend $20.50 on a doctor's appointment and $22.50 for the prescription. I'll need to fork out another $22.50 in Sydney for another set of tablets. Damn it. Oh well. So today, I am going to hop on the free tram and tour around the city and maybe visit the Old Melbourne Gaol where you can try on Ned Kelly's armour. Tomorrow, I'll set off geocaching as that's free and will kill the hours until I board the night bus to Sydney. Goodness knows what I'll be doing on Christmas Day, maybe eating peanut butter sandwiches???

It may be another week before I post again, so have a Very Merry Christmas and a drink or two in my honour - I'm on antibiotics!!!