Nov 4, 2004 - Leaving Home

The title is not really as dramatic as it sounds as I am spending some time within Australia, a land more familiar to me probably than many of the locals seeing as how my family moved around so much as I was growing up.The title is not really as dramatic as it sounds as I am spending some time within Australia, a land more familiar to me probably than many of the locals seeing as how my family moved around so much as I was growing up....

Oct 27, 2004 - Stormy Weather

Laura is so bored that she goes and sits and reads the guide book, people watching the Melbourne Fashion Week freaks who are set up in the Foyer. ... Wander round St Kilda (it's cold) and get back on a tram to come back into Melbourne. ... I think the lesson we're learning here is not to mess about with Melbourne tram drivers. ...

Oct 17, 2004 - Welcome to Australia

We arrived in Melbourne at 5 in the morning on the 16th andmycousin and Uncle were waiting at the airport to meet uswhich was nice. ... After a quick nap my cousin took us for a drive round part of Melbourne and, most importantly, Ramsay Street where I was shocked to discover that people actually live there - and no I don't mean Helen Daniels, The Kennedys, Jim Robinson or Bouncer! The next day we ventured into Melbourne to have a look around and to purchase jeans and jumpers! A trip up the Rialto Tower in Melbournes city centre offered spectacular views of the city and surrounding beaches. ... Sunday was another day spent seeing the sights of Melbourne,once the alcohol blur had died down from the previous evening. ... The final 3 days staying in Melbourne werespent seeing someof the places around Melbourne. ... After the GOR we drove back to Melbourne for the Neighbours night! Tuesday was spent out with my Uncle at Echuca seeing the old settlement town there and taking a trip down the Murray River on an Old Paddle Steamer which was nice and relaxing after the previous day's exertions. ...

Oct 14, 2004 - Melbourne

Melbourne and the unique culture of Australia Our time in Melbourne was an opportunity to reconnect with old friends and to visit old "haunts". ... Melbourne is cold in September and October, and although the sun can be hot during the day. ... As with our last visit, we were colder here, than anywhere else.Melbourne and the unique culture of Australia Our time in Melbourne was an opportunity to reconnect with old friends and to visit old "haunts". ... Melbourne is cold in September and October, and although the sun can be hot during the day. ... As with our last visit, we were colder here, than anywhere else....

Sep 18, 2004 - Up and away!

Finally on the way.Finally on the way....

Aug 8, 2004 - Travel Rash

After five weeks of outdoorsy fresh air and exercise, I get home and the contrast couldn't be greater - I'm holed up at a desk in a front room of my house staring at a computer screen. Melbourne is cold, and no matter what I do I can't get myself thoroughly warm, except in the shower - my shower, I love my shower. ... I love my whole house too, modest as it is, and I love Melbourne. ... Everything is clean and works properly.After five weeks of outdoorsy fresh air and exercise, I get home and the contrast couldn't be greater - I'm holed up at a desk in a front room of my house staring at a computer screen. Melbourne is cold, and no matter what I do I can't get myself thoroughly warm, except in the shower - my shower, I love my shower. ... I love my whole house too, modest as it is, and I love Melbourne. ... Everything is clean and works properly....

Jul 23, 2004 - a safe landing!

it was totally perfect until Melbourne was fogged in and we had to land in Syndey. ... no worries though mates, we made it to Melbourne a few hours later and even found alyssa and katie. ... after checking into our hostel - which is free, of course - we headed over to the rialto observation deck 55 stories above Melbourne. ... we watched a fantastic (read very sarcastically) movie about melbourne that reminded me of soaring over california, without the cheeesy music, fresh scents and feet dangling. ... fyi - do not go to the beach in melbourne in winter. ...

Jul 23, 2004 - Arrived in Melbourne

Here I am on the other side of the world! After two incredibly long plane flights (one from LA to Auckland and one from Auckland to Melbourne), we finally landed. ... In Melbourne, Alyssa and I waited for Hilary and Alison's plane to arrive (they took a direct flight - we couldn't get on that one) and finally we were all there and took a bus to our hostel. ... We also watched a little video about Melbourne called "Melbourne, A Great Place to Be" that was the cheesiest, most awful video ever! I commented as we left, "I'm really sad that this is the first thing we did in Australia. ...

Jun 25, 2004 - Australia! Melbourne!

Melbourne - Australia! So cold! As everyone had told us, it broke our hearts to leave the furnace that was Bangkok. ... Melbourne was 12deg and raining - bit like home really - and it nearly killed us stone dead. ... 8:30am, many beers to the worse, we staggered, broken and winded, out into the grey and raining Melbourne dawn. ...

Apr 2, 2004 - Melbourne, last stop in Oz

There was a bit of a convenient traffic jam when we arrived in Melbourne allowing us a couple of photos - which was nice. ... Next day we got the tram into the city and after a bit of shopping (gortex jackets for new zealand/south america) we had lunch by the river.There was a bit of a convenient traffic jam when we arrived in Melbourne allowing us a couple of photos - which was nice. ... Next day we got the tram into the city and after a bit of shopping (gortex jackets for new zealand/south america) we had lunch by the river....

Mar 3, 2004 - Greetings From Oz...

!!! GREETINGS FROM OZ !!! hello!! having a good time in oz at moment-cannot really remember the weekend apart from the shit grand prix but hey hadnt slept since friday night! aj and phil have been showing us the sights (clubs,bars,beach)etc, so naturally im tired! Grand prix was cloudy, a bit nipply and schumacher dominated the race and won-bastard. the only shitty thing was though is that we lost our digital camera somewhere between langkawi and melbourne so no photos im afraid guys! getting a new one this week though so do not fret! hope all is well. ... dont miss you just yet-only kidding.!!! GREETINGS FROM OZ !!! hello!! having a good time in oz at moment-cannot really remember the weekend apart from the shit grand prix but hey hadnt slept since friday night! aj and phil have been showing us the sights (clubs,bars,beach)etc, so naturally im tired! Grand prix was cloudy, a bit nipply and schumacher dominated the race and won-bastard. the only shitty thing was though is that we lost our digital camera somewhere between langkawi and melbourne so no photos im afraid guys! getting a new one this week though so do not fret! hope all is well. ... dont miss you just yet-only kidding....

Mar 1, 2004 - Melbourne/Phillip Island

Slept in until almost 9:00 today and that was nice. After some pizza we agreed to go to the Rialto Tower, the tallest building in Melbourne. ... Went back to her hotel, made a reservation to go to the Penguin Parade (more on that later), and then headed (via the train/subway) to the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). ... We were able to get a tour of the biggest cricket venue in the world which is currently being renovated to take the capacity to 120,000 seats.Slept in until almost 9:00 today and that was nice. After some pizza we agreed to go to the Rialto Tower, the tallest building in Melbourne. ... Went back to her hotel, made a reservation to go to the Penguin Parade (more on that later), and then headed (via the train/subway) to the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). ... We were able to get a tour of the biggest cricket venue in the world which is currently being renovated to take the capacity to 120,000 seats....