Check in was too CHIRPY for 7 am on a Monday morning, subsequent to the torments of travel. I always feel awful arriving when everyone in the dorm is fast asleep, desperately not wanting to wake the sleepers. Try as you might to tiptoe around in the dark, your cognitive skills are lagging to locate the one empty bed and climb the ladder rungs (as it's only ever the top bunk left, right). At least I was able to fall straight under the doona for a siesta as I arrived in my 'jamas.
Shuteye is out of the question in a hot, stuffy room when only one of the ceiling fans is circulating the A/C and your roomies rise from their pits stomping around. An hour or so of rest and a cool shower would have to suffice before I officially began my first full day in a city, that hugs you with hope and happiness.
Batman Park (b to the w - I LOVE that Melbourne's former name was Batmania but not in connection with the comic or films) accommodated a flock of seagulls so fierce I was perturbed they'd attack me with poo pellets! Then there are the yoga doers who are so fit and glam, some even working out with their dogs. Should I be at all concerned that they enter into this willingly for FUN???
The Melburnians are not exaggerating when they claim that the weather really can change drastically over the course of the day. I experienced hot, windy, sunny, cool - all within minutes.
Not even 24 hours of touching down (under) and I've already been cracked on to by a 7/11 employee selling me my MYKI card. The smoothie complimented that my eyes are unbelievable and while I was flattered that he offered to show me around, I wasn't wanting to get into the romantic spirit with him.
Paddling in the Pacific Ocean was not the warm temperature I'd anticipated, nor was it clean or anything all that special as far as Australian beaches go. Knowing that there are sharks among us in the sea, meant that I got out of their sharpish but none tore me apart limb by limb - RESULT.
Narrowly missed my eye being gouged out by a fishermen who'd flung back his line overhead. To duck that with a cloudy, dazed brain took some doing let me tell ya! Day 3 ended with fish n' chips, a cheese and wine night at my hostel (neither of which I can have so I nibbled a cracker like a mouse) and chatting with all the chicas in my dorm room when my body was demanding sleep. It's been like 3 days in one - how did I stay up for so many hours??????
The sun was blazing down POW, POW, POW inflaming my face; so I sought out shade at ACMI (free Moving Image galleries at Federation Square). I had fun roving round the film and TV exhibits until I got to the Yang Fudong: Filmscapes! Part of which transmitted distressing scenes of a dog biting/mauling at skulls of corpses.
Melbourne Cricket Ground isn't too far away from Fed Sq (the tourist map made it appear within spitting distance) but it seemed so much further walking in the heat. Touring the MCG didn't quite make me a cricket girl but I was impressed all the same. We had a sweet, old fella for our volunteer guide who knew all the ins and outs so despite it not being the most exciting it was good to have someone truly passionate about the sport. Best of British all 240,000 plus of you on the membership waiting list! Crazy that it'll take 40 years for most of you to get in the elite club.
A lot of people figure me for a cowardly chicken and they'd be RIGHT as I only spent 25 minutes in the Old Melbourne Gaol. I missed the arrest re-enacting in what is reputed to be the most haunted building in Australia and it's just as well as I was so very creeped out as it was. This is where the infamous crim Ned Kelly was imprisoned and then executed, along with over 130 other heinous jailors. Sadly after several were hung in the gallows they were later proven to be innocent of their crime(s). I was double freaked out to be one of the only ones spooking themselves STUPID inside the dark, dingy cells as I imagined hearing their tortured souls dying after they'd met their dreadful fate.
Hosier Lane - where graffiti artists are magicians with a spray can.
HAHA OF THE DAY: Olivia sticking our itty bitty Frenchie, Cristel in Jenny's 50/60 litre backpack. I had no idea it would be so adorable but only funny in an you-had-to-be-there way!
#WINNING - I'm not very cute when I'm competitive and that's totes what went down at United's Tacos and Trivia Tuesday!!! I didn't give 2 figs about the prizes I just got consumed with wanting to win. And win, we DID. BOTH ROUNDS. Problem was we couldn't very well split a $100 Wildlife Tours voucher so it went to waste. *Pats self on back for only phone cheating on one question. Because who remembers how many sides a rhombus has anyway?*
How did I celebrate? With a long, choco nutty churro, happy burps and going to bed by 11pm!!! Hardcore holidaying :D
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