So now I'm in Melbourne... I was told by a Darwinian (someone from Darwin) girl, Masina, I met in Chiang Mai and Pai that you only pronounce the '-bourne' fully if you are posh... so can't be having that, so I'm in Melbin (although by that logic I should called Bournemouth, Binmouth... not so catchy for Bondi beach's main competitor;) ... ... It's a nice city... either my post Asia gloom is lifting or this is a genuinely nicer city then Sydney (in my humble opinion... which is always right!)... I can't put my finger on it (because the difference isn't tangible) but there is something nicer about this city... dare I say it but something Bristol-esque about here (but maybe that's my nostalgia talking?)... there's a river running through it and a big square and free museums, and trans through the city... it's just nice... I'm glad I'm here... (but I'm still gonna be a whiny tight-ass!)...
... The only problem when I arrived yesterday was the whether... it was insanely hot... I mean crazy... I made the error of going out in a vest with no sun cream on because I had to put my bag in storage as I waited for the hostel room to be ready (still hate the hostels... bring back bad memories from shared kitchens in halls at uni... ... ... actually hate is too strong a word... ... I preferred hostels in other countries... #diplomatic;)... so I was constantly searching for shade to escape the scolding sun in the cloudless sky... but even in the shade there was no rest-bite... as I sat in the shade the breeze would bring just hot air... like when you open an oven and the hot air rises into your face... I though, 'Oh, come on! This is getting bloody silly now' ... Then after check in and a shower, I got creamed up (in sun cream) and went out to bask like a share... but alas (N.B. Change your language on facebook to 'English (pirate)' it's funny:), the clouds had drawn in, the wind cooled, and I needed to get a bloody jumper... damn you sods law...
... I've been round the museums today and yesterday at happy hour at the hostel I had two glasses of red wine instead of beer ($2.50 a glass is LITERALLY sale of the century here!)... I think I'm becoming cultured here... let's bring the tone down a notch or two... ... one thing I have noticed in Melbin is that there are a lot of adult book stores and cinemas and stuff right in the middle of town... like next to KFC and all that... but the only time I've seen someone skulk out of a shop all nervous and shame ridden is when I saw a burly Ozzie man walk out of a hobbies and crafts shop with an Air fix plastic model set under him arm... he looked left and then right, kept his head down and walked at quite a pace... I don't know if this reflects any kind of manly culture in Australia or anything like that (I think probably not), but I imagined him getting caught walking out of the toy store by his mates who would tell him, "Come one mate, get some balls, be a man, get a beer and some porn not some f**king Air fix" ... it just made me giggle to myself... :)
... the whether is beautiful again today, and I will meet a friend I met at Nap Park hostel in Bangkok this evening when I finish work... She's from Yeovil and is letting me settle on her couch for a couple of nights (which is amazing because it'll save me at least $60 and I'll see a familiar face:)... I'm a bit stuck on the, 'Do I offer to pay money?' question R.E. sleeping on peoples couches... do I just bum there like a tramp for nothing and enjoy the free accommodation, or do I buy dinner or something? ... I'm currently thinking of buying a bottle of red wine... then we can share it (Which means I get some but also if she lives with other people they get some) and she can drink herself to oblivion to escape my constant and boring chatter about all the things I've done since I last met her:)
... I'm off to the cinema museam now... they have an exhibit about classic Disney films on now... could be interesting or totally crap... oh well ... ... ... also went to the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground) this morning and it made me think about my brother Jason (Sports nutter like me) and my family when we visited the place 10 years ago... it's bloody big... like 100,000 people capacity!
... this Internet cafe has loads of crickets in which is weird (is that why they called the MCG, the Melbourne CRICKET ground?... pun-tastic:)...
... OK I'm clearly struggling for stuff to write so I should go... this cinema's not going to enjoy itself...
Love to all:)
Matt
P.S. The football transfer window was mental... 35 million for Andy Carroll (unproven, half a good season in the Prem, chequered past) makes the 27 million Man City paid for Edin Dzeko (proven record in Germany, won championships, played in Europe, only 2 years older the Carroll) seem like sale of the century ... (I know people will say the Van Der Vart transfer was better value but that was a last minute coup by Tottenham, the Dzeko transfer was by design) ... anyway, you're not all football fans I guess...
... The only problem when I arrived yesterday was the whether... it was insanely hot... I mean crazy... I made the error of going out in a vest with no sun cream on because I had to put my bag in storage as I waited for the hostel room to be ready (still hate the hostels... bring back bad memories from shared kitchens in halls at uni... ... ... actually hate is too strong a word... ... I preferred hostels in other countries... #diplomatic;)... so I was constantly searching for shade to escape the scolding sun in the cloudless sky... but even in the shade there was no rest-bite... as I sat in the shade the breeze would bring just hot air... like when you open an oven and the hot air rises into your face... I though, 'Oh, come on! This is getting bloody silly now' ... Then after check in and a shower, I got creamed up (in sun cream) and went out to bask like a share... but alas (N.B. Change your language on facebook to 'English (pirate)' it's funny:), the clouds had drawn in, the wind cooled, and I needed to get a bloody jumper... damn you sods law...
... I've been round the museums today and yesterday at happy hour at the hostel I had two glasses of red wine instead of beer ($2.50 a glass is LITERALLY sale of the century here!)... I think I'm becoming cultured here... let's bring the tone down a notch or two... ... one thing I have noticed in Melbin is that there are a lot of adult book stores and cinemas and stuff right in the middle of town... like next to KFC and all that... but the only time I've seen someone skulk out of a shop all nervous and shame ridden is when I saw a burly Ozzie man walk out of a hobbies and crafts shop with an Air fix plastic model set under him arm... he looked left and then right, kept his head down and walked at quite a pace... I don't know if this reflects any kind of manly culture in Australia or anything like that (I think probably not), but I imagined him getting caught walking out of the toy store by his mates who would tell him, "Come one mate, get some balls, be a man, get a beer and some porn not some f**king Air fix" ... it just made me giggle to myself... :)
... the whether is beautiful again today, and I will meet a friend I met at Nap Park hostel in Bangkok this evening when I finish work... She's from Yeovil and is letting me settle on her couch for a couple of nights (which is amazing because it'll save me at least $60 and I'll see a familiar face:)... I'm a bit stuck on the, 'Do I offer to pay money?' question R.E. sleeping on peoples couches... do I just bum there like a tramp for nothing and enjoy the free accommodation, or do I buy dinner or something? ... I'm currently thinking of buying a bottle of red wine... then we can share it (Which means I get some but also if she lives with other people they get some) and she can drink herself to oblivion to escape my constant and boring chatter about all the things I've done since I last met her:)
... I'm off to the cinema museam now... they have an exhibit about classic Disney films on now... could be interesting or totally crap... oh well ... ... ... also went to the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground) this morning and it made me think about my brother Jason (Sports nutter like me) and my family when we visited the place 10 years ago... it's bloody big... like 100,000 people capacity!
... this Internet cafe has loads of crickets in which is weird (is that why they called the MCG, the Melbourne CRICKET ground?... pun-tastic:)...
... OK I'm clearly struggling for stuff to write so I should go... this cinema's not going to enjoy itself...
Love to all:)
Matt
P.S. The football transfer window was mental... 35 million for Andy Carroll (unproven, half a good season in the Prem, chequered past) makes the 27 million Man City paid for Edin Dzeko (proven record in Germany, won championships, played in Europe, only 2 years older the Carroll) seem like sale of the century ... (I know people will say the Van Der Vart transfer was better value but that was a last minute coup by Tottenham, the Dzeko transfer was by design) ... anyway, you're not all football fans I guess...
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