Travelling / Backpacking / Flashpacking the World!

How cold was it last night, Freezing. No aching muscles today im feeling fresh. It would have been a short 2 hour drive today to a place called Coober Pedy, the Opal capital of the world. Apparently the most enduring symbol of the harshness of the Australian Outback, and the determination of those who live there. In the middle of a virtually waterless desert 380km from Woomera and considerably further from anywhere else, it’s a place where temperatures are so extreme that most of the homes and accommodation have been built underground. According to the Rough Guide the most remarkable thing about the town is that it even exists. 

The town might look familiar to some (not me) as it was used in the films Mad MAX 111, and, Until The End Of The World. There had to be a third time, slap bang in the middle of a desert, with the closest places being Marla, 110km back or Coober Pedy, 120km ahead. Some good fuel calculations Hans, get walking ha ha. Luckily he didn't get far before we flagged down a car and he got a ride, leaving Bernie and me to sit, wait, and fight off the flies. What a Tit. Nearly 3 hours later and unable to get a lift back (due to the lack of passing cars) he is back with the lady from the petrol garage and 25 litres of petrol, Result, obviously we gave her a drink. I could have counted the vehicles that passed us on my hand, not all of them but people do stop, one guy even offered us water.

A town with a difference that's for sure. Not only is Australia the driest continent in the world, Coober Pedy is the driest place in it. Not a tree or plant to be seen. The summer just gone they had temperatures between 42-48 degrees for seven weeks solid. Apparently the hottest recorded temperature here is 63 degrees but it’s not broadcast as they don't want to scare people off. The town of Coober Pedy is also the largest Opal field in the world, but with 96% of the worlds opals coming from Australia anyway there isn't really much competition. Population here 3500apx. Being so dry Coober Pedy also has the highest water rates, apparently 3 times higher than anywhere else in Australia. Not much of a town really, quite weird though. Lots of dust, along with old machinery, and what looks like old bits of film set lying around.

With the exception of the 2 small supermarkets, the petrol garages and the many liquor stores, pretty much all the other shops are expensive opal shops, it’s full of them. Slightly out of town back on the highway we then checked into the Riba's underground camping and caravan park, the only underground camping site in the world. Tunneled through sandstone its like being back at the Cu Chi tunnels, only a lot bigger. No need to put the tent up, no flies or mozzies underground so we can just sleep on the floor. Definitely a must if passing through Coober Pedy, not only is it unique but it’s also got a wicked camp kitchen, and an underground chill out room with a TV. No air con needed underground during the day and it’s warm at night. It’s also the only campsite here where you don't have to pay to take a shower.

I can now say that I have stayed "Underground down under", and quite possibly the best sleep I have had in ages, along with the perfect sleeping temperature it’s also dry and completely wind free. Walking out of the tunnel at 5am in the morning and it’s surprising just how cold it is outside. Back on road and heading towards Adelaide. Lunch and a refuel at port Agusta, the first major town since we left Alice, and then back on the road.

On the highway nearing Adelaide there was quite a few old bill with nothing better to do hidden behind road signs etc with speed guns in there hands. I bet that's great job satisfaction, get out there and catch some criminals or get a proper job you morons. Have they really got nothing better to do than worry about someone driving 10km an hour over the speed limit on a near empty highway, making criminals of ordinary people carrying out there every day lives, losers. As a driver, that really gets me, they’re so not doing it to prevent accidents, they’re just doing it as a way of generating money, to prevent accidents they would be in the city or near schools. 8 hours on the road and we are at last in Adelaide and checked into a hostel. Hostels all the way now, not only is this where it starts getting expensive but I have also got to get back in the routine of having a shower every day ha ha

A relaxing morning and then out in the afternoon around the city with 3 girls that Hans and me met last night, Jilly, Amy and Erin. Some good old English weather, it’s so much colder down south at the moment, for the first time since leaving England I’m walking around in a pair of jeans, normal clothes, wicked. Had a wicked lunch in China town, so cheap, it would cost more to buy the ingredients and cook it ourselves, proper good value. Definitely not a great city but just another one of Australia's nice clean ones.

Obviously there are a lot of differences for example, no Black cabs or red buses, the shortage of pigeons, the lack of history and historic architecture (the buildings here are modern and low rise, no big sky scrapers) along with the fact that Adelaide is a hell of a lot smaller but with all that said, I could be quite easily walking around London. Oh, and don't forget the beach, definitely not a big attraction, and not in this weather. You would also have to be pretty stupid to swim in the sea, could end up with a great white chewing on your leg, highly unlikely though, more chance of getting hit by a tram.

Checked out the Rodney Fox Shark Museum, 30 years ago whilst competing in a spear fishing competition he was attacked and nearly bitten in half by a Great White shark, the wounds of which required over 450 stitches. Since that day he has dedicated his life to protecting sharks, the great whites included. It’s funny how one incident big or small can change the whole path of your life. The museum itself really isn't that impressive, nowhere near as gruesome as I was expecting, and it’s really small. Back at the hostel and we all booked a Barossa Valley wine tour for tomorrow, heard lots of good things about them. It’s basically just a good excuse for a big piss up ha ha

Barossa Valley winery tour today. 8am pick up and it’s off in the mini bus along with the others on the tour for the journey through the Adelaide Hills. A couple of short stops on the way to the first winery, the first one being at the largest rocking horse in the world, which doesn't rock, pretty stupid really. And the second one being at an acoustic wall (a dam wall), where we split up and could hear each other whispering 150m away. The first wine stop was at the Orlando Winery, home of the famous Jacobs Creek. Not like normal wine tasting where you only get a little swig, nice big servings, just under half a glass of each wine tasted. At 9.30am and after 9 wines in about 15-20 minutes I think everyone was starting to feel it. There's a lady boy on the tour as well, a very bad lady boy, the first one I’ve seen since leaving Asia. If he/she isn't a lady boy then it is one really ugly bird, it is so obviously a geezer, his/her boyfriend doesn't seem to mind though.

So the Jacobs Creek road sign is the 2nd most commonly stolen road sign in Australia, can anyone guess what the 1st is. I said the kangaroo sign, but no, its actually the Ramsey Street road sign, (watch Neighbours if you don't know), and not just the Ramsey Street sign in Melbourne, any Ramsey Street sign will do. Off to another winery, the Tanunda winery. It’s getting to the stage now where there is not much looking, smelling, and tasting going on, just a lot more necking.

An Aussie BBQ for lunch, kangaroo cooked to absolute perfection (rare), it melted in your mouth, so good. Hans and I even managed to slip into a pub for a Perroni (Italian beer) each. Two more winery's after lunch, the Richmond Grove and the Bethany winery. The 2 girls from Hong Kong are struggling and so they have moved onto water tasting. And I have got to mention, we have met quite a few Asians travelling Australia and they are just so nice, even if they don't understand what you are saying they are just so friendly. No stupid faces or turned heads because they can’t understand you, they just keep trying and keep smiling. Why are we not like that? Ignorance.

It’s funny how everyone on the bus was really quiet and unsociable this morning, now look at them, lots of singing and telling jokes. A stop at one of Australia's many drive through bottle shops on the way back, Stella, Beautiful. Back at our hostel with the girls and a couple of others that we have picked up, and out comes the Goon. The cheapest wine you can get in a 5 litre box, the backpackers handbag. With the wine gone and everyone feeling pretty merry, and after 12 hours of drinking, it was then over the road to the pub. Everything after about 10pm is a blackout ha ha.

Well that was my first proper session in Australia, up until yesterday I could count the amount of beers I have had here on my hands. Wide awake by 7am and Hans is up before me, What's going on. Seems like I made an impression in the hostel last night. Lots of people telling me that I was talking to them after getting back from the pub, I haven't got a clue who they are and no memory of it at all, and mostly girls which is good. Seems to happen quite a lot when I’m drunk, the Kavos boys know what I’m talking about ha ha.

Trying to piece together the missing gaps of the night and I have also got loads of funny video clips on my camera which nobody remembers taking. The girls are all suffering and being sick on the sofa, O dear, and they are flying to Perth in a few hours. Bernie seems to have vanished and so Hans and me checked into another hostel, it’s good to keep moving around and meeting different people, it’s also cheaper and with breakfast included. I sense another toast eating challenge.

A cheap lunch in China Town and boy are my guts feeling rough ha ha. Back at the hostel and Hans and I ended up cooking dinner for everyone. Chicken Cacciatore, it was the hostels meal of the night but being bored silly we ended up cooking it for them along with our hostel trainee, Hannah. Lots of compliments to the chefs afterwards. On a mission now nicking music from peoples MP3 players, need to get some big David Grey, and it’s actually not a bad way of meeting people. Speed dating tomorrow night with Hannah and her University mates, should be a laugh.

A day around the city with young Gareth that we met last night. Free internet in the libraries here which is good. The worst dinner to date cooked by my Italian chef, being too lazy to go shopping, he has knocked up all that we have left, onion soup and a tin of tuna, Beautiful ha ha. Speed dating, not something that I have thought about doing before but it’s a good laugh though and I would definitely do it again. Chat a bird up for 5 minutes and then move on to the next, Wicked.

I also managed to upset the bird behind the bar ha ha. Basically she served me and immediately after paying whilst she was handing me my change I took a call on my phone, and so stepped away from the untouched drink and moved to the end of the bar to talk. 30 seconds later I turned around and my drink had gone. I asked if she knew where it was and she said that she didn't know that it was mine and so tipped it away. Ok I said, can I have another one then? She said if you pay me you can have another one. I was like, Sorry sweetheart but I don't think so, you have just tipped a perfectly good untouched drink away, why would you do that? She just said again that she didn't know it was mine. I was like, how can you say that you didn't know it was mine, you just served me, there is no one else at the bar, and you see me on the phone, how could you not know it was mine and more to the point why the hell would you tip a perfectly good untouched drink away. She said she didn't know it was mine and thought that somebody had ordered it and then left. Yeah ok I said, people do that a lot do they, order a drink, pay for it, and then leave it. Again she said she didn't know that it was mine. I said, How can you stand there in front of me and say that you didn't know that it was mine, you just gave it to me, you saw me on the phone, so why are you insisting on being awkward. If you don't get paid enough or are not happy working here then don't take it out on me, I just want another drink. She said again that she didn't know it was mine and again that I’m not getting another drink unless I pay for it. I said, I’m sorry but if your honestly telling me that you didn't know that that drink was mine than you must be a xxxxx Idiot, Where's the manager? Im the supervisor up here she said as she turned away to serve the only other person at the bar.

Ok, down the stairs I went and with the Vinny charm I spoke to the manager downstairs. He apologized and phoned her up and told her to pour me another drink. He also explained that it is the law in Australia to remove any unattended drinks from the bar due to drinks being spiked. That's cool I said, but she didn't explain that to me, and also if that's the case then you should have signs up explaining, what are people supposed to do if they want to go to the toilet, take it with them. Also there are a lot of backpackers in Australia and you can’t expect them all to know the score, if what just happened to me happened to the wrong sort of person you could have just had your bar smashed up. Anyway, up the stairs and the drink is on the bar waiting for me. Then a little while later whilst chatting to Hannah at the bar, the barmaid returned demanding an apology. You’re going to have a long wait I said because you aren't getting one. I don't regret anything I do, and I’m certainly not going to start questioning my actions for you, so why the hell would I apologize. You called me an Idiot she said. Well, I said, I talk to people the way they talk to me, if you don't want to be called an idiot then drop the attitude and don't act like one. Enjoy the rest of your evening I said with a smile, and I walked away.

All off to the next pub which is an Irish pub called PJ.O'Brian's. There is nothing that winds me up more on a night out than an arrogant beef cake doorman who has done a 2 week training course and now thinks that he is untouchable, doorman that are obviously unhappy and miserable in there own life's and so have  got nothing better to do that stop people having a good time. This ones saying that all the girls can go in but Hans, Gareth, and me, cant. When we asked why, his reason was, and these are his words, because our toes can breath. What? He was so arrogant about it, we are not going in and that's it. I said, at least explain yourself mate, what the hell does your toes can breath mean.

He said that our trainers were not fully sealed and that they have got holes in (meaning breath holes). By this stage it was clear that there was no way that we were going to be allowed in and so I said, Obviously our shoes have got holes in mate, how do you think we got our feet in them. Being a complete cock and unable to smile, that comment went down like a lead balloon ha ha. Whilst standing there chatting to the head doorman (another penis) I noticed that the girls being let in behind us only had flip flops on. How is that right I said. They’re girls he said. And he ain't changing his mind, one doorman says we aren't going in, they all say we aren't going in. Dicks, they really do think they’re something. It’s an Irish pub mate, sort it out, we should be able to walk in here with wellies on and a fishing rod. I hate fighting and I’ve only had 2 beers so it isn't the beer talking, Arrogant pricks like that really wind me up. If I had just 1 of my mates from home behind me, I swear I would have dropped one of them, being 3 of them though and not knowing what reaction I would get from Hans and Gareth, I thought better of it.

At the end of the day people go out for a good time, I know doorman are there to do a job and not to be your friends but I honestly think that a small doorman with a smile and a bit of respect would have a lot less trouble than an arrogant , fat, steroid taking one. Tits like that wind people up people before they enter the club and then unfortunately some of them end up taking it out on someone else inside. Anyway, everything happens for a reason, and it’s funny how things turn out. After a bit of walking around we ended up in the Adelaide hotel bar.

As soon as I walked through the door 2 Australian birds were on me, a bit of chatting and joking around and then some guy next to them, sat at the end of the bar, waved me over. I started talking to him and that is exactly where I stayed for at least the next couple of hours. Hans and the others were across the bar and I didn't even notice the 2 Australian girls get up and leave. He was such a cool guy, originally from Adelaide, but he now lives in the States and is just here visiting. It’s hard to explain but I just found him so interesting, he was so well travelled, and just so passionate about everything. Quite possibly one of the most interesting guys I have met on my travels, and not only that, I didn't buy a drink all night. He said you’re a backpacker and im spending American dollars, I’m buying, Cool. He just kept handing over 100 dollar notes. After I don't know how long I eventually called over the others and introduced them to him, his name’s David by the way.

We all stayed there chatting to him until we left. It’s not just me, everyone agreed, what an interesting cool guy. It turns out that he is flying to Melbourne on Tuesday (my next stop) and will be there for 2 weeks, he gave me his number and said to give him a call when I get there, Sweet. Like I said, everything happens for a reason. Look at how good the night turned out. No music, no dancing, and no Sheila's, just a good chat with a really nice guy. So different to what we had in mind, but so much better. 3am, back at the hostel and someone has left the keys to the padlocked hostel fridge on the table, beautiful. Obviously Hans and me had to raid it, Nuttella on toast, biscuits, and tea. Just what was needed.

The average length stay in Adelaide by backpackers is apparently 1.2 days, there is nothing here, it’s just a small safe city with very little to do or see. As the Australians say "You move to Perth to retire, and move to Adelaide to die". Hans is leaving and heading back to Perth on Sunday with 2 English girls, and I’ve just got to find a ride to Melbourne, no rush though.

We had planned to hitch hike over to Kangaroo Island for the last bit of our journey together but it’s just too cold, way too cold for sleeping in a tent, jumpers and jeans all the way. Whilst eating brekki we got chatting to 3 Italian girls who are hiring a car today and heading to Melbourne. I didn't even think of it until Hans mentioned to them that I was heading that way as well. Straight away 1 of the girls, Diletta, was like, come with us, come with us. I must have made an impression, she's well keen ha ha. Obviously I was well up for it, 3 hot Italian chicks and me, Beautiful. It’s just a bit too much short notice though, they want to get to Melbourne pretty lively, where as I would like to stop off on the way.

They wee really nice girls, I exchanged numbers with Diletta and she told me to ring her when I get to Sydney, she is there for the next 3 years studying. Forget Melbourne I’m going straight to Sydney, she's hot. Not only is Niamha in Sydney as well, but also one of my boxing boys, John. He left England before me and has been in Sydney a year now, he flies to New Zealand in a couple of days to renew his visa so by the time I get to Sydney he will be back and sorted for a few drinking sessions, Wicked.

Around the town with Hans and Gareth and I got a call from an English guy offering me a lift to Melbourne, leaving tomorrow.

Well, he sounded so different on the phone, as soon as I met him in the pub for a beer it was so obvious that he had been smoking the old green, he seems ok though and so I agreed to go with him. Back at the hostel and Hans has been shopping for our last meal together, Fettuccini pasta, fresh basil, tomatoes, and beautiful Pesto. Definitely the best pasta of the trip. I’m not too sure what I’m going to do when we split up, since travelling together I can honestly say that I haven't cooked 1 meal, I’ve mastered the washing up though. Got a feeling I will end up living on plain pasta, tuna, and bread ha ha. After dinner Gareth and I went out with Hannah to a University bar for some cheap drinks. Now I know why I never went to Uni, and I think poor little Gareth is seriously reconsidering ha ha. Not only are they all young, but what is with the dress code and fashion in this place. A big O' XXXXXXX DEAR is all I can say to that, and look at the state of them, a couple of beers and not only are they all over the place but they are so immature.

I lost count of how many people we were introduced to but I can honestly say that I have never met a bigger group of idiots under one roof, Unbelievable. Nerds just ain't the word. They’re proper kids, I was never like that when I was there age, xxxx I sound old ha ha. Im glad to say that I wasn't the oldest in there though, there was a few older fellers that were in there for only one reason, to pick up drunk 18 year old birds. Rather them than me, I would need about 10 Stella's down me before I even thought about taking one of these nerds home. Met some right cock as well who started asking stupid questions, he didn't like it when I gave him stupid answers though, he started giving it. Nice one mate, go and bore someone else you xxxxxx idiot coz I ain't interested. I think he ended up getting chucked out.

Two pints later and I’ve had about as much of this place as I can take and so the 2 of us headed back to the hostel. Whilst out, I decided to blow my lift to Melbourne out, gut instinct! Anyone my age travelling the world who needs drugs to fulfil there experience must have issues, he's probably a diamond geezer, I just don't want to be around or travel with a stoner. Back at the hostel and I made myself known to the group outside, Debbie, Kate, Sharon, and Shean, until the early hours of the morning, had a proper good laugh. Like I said yesterday, it’s funny how things turn out. Guess where they are heading.

A day in the hostel with the others. Hans the man downloaded and put 3 David Grey albums on the old MP3 player today, Wicked. Free BBQ for dinner in the hostel, and then a night spent out the back drinking cheap wine with the others.

Well, after travelling 12691km together (not including the South West) and 1559 dollars of petrol after leaving Perth, its now time to say goodbye.

What can I say, Thank You Buddy it’s been awesome. It turns out that we are both flying to New Zealand around the same time and so obviously will be meeting up, probably even catch up in Sydney first. Happy travelling my Italian friend, see ya soon. Bloody hell ha ha, not only have I got to start cooking and shopping for myself, but I’ve also got to start carrying my backpack around, so far since arriving in Australia I have only moved it twice, from the airport into Kell's house, and from the house into the back of the car. It won’t be moving to far though, it will be in the back of another vehicle tomorrow which we are hiring first thing in the morning.

Australia is so easy to travel, not only do you see so many people travelling the country with suitcases, but what is with all the lap tops? Hans had one and it was wicked to have but he isn't carrying it around with him everywhere, it’s in the back of the car. So many so called backpackers have got them. Spent the day hanging out with Shean playing chess and Monopoly etc.

At last my dorm is full of Brits, Irish, Welsh, and Scottish, and all girls, Hans will wish he had stayed ha ha. It’s funny how the atmosphere in the room has changed, so much more alive, fun, and social. Put Germans in a dorm and no one talks. It’s wrong to judge them all on the majority but xxx are they ignorant. Not only are they everywhere they are also unsociable, miserable, and extremely rude. I can honestly say that amongst travellers in Australia the Germans have got to be the most hated ha ha. Personally I haven't got anything against them, I would just prefer it if they were no where near me.

If you’re going to stay in a hostel or dorm it doesn't cost anything to be a little bit social, some of them don't even return a Hello or a nod. If you’re not going to be sociable then don't stay in a hostel, stay in a B+B or get your own room, don't depress mine. Why be miserable when you’re travelling the world, some people just haven't got a clue have they. Do I sound like a winging Pom ha ha. I thought what Hans the German speaking Italian thought of them was funny, even in there own language they are the same, miserable and unable to take a joke, so the language barrier isn't to blame. Not only that most of them speak perfect English anyway, for some reason they just refuse too. Like Hans says, Germans can travel with Germans but very rarely do you get them travelling with anyone else, not properly anyway. Just look at the 2 we travelled with, 1 was a complete idiot and the other hardly spoke.

Down stairs after some chill out time on my own and the girls have cooked me dinner, Wicked and totally unexpected. They also introduced me to an English guy, Andy, from Maidstone, who has just arrived and is interested in joining us on our trip to Melbourne. I didn't really say too much to him, it’s kind of hard to take someone seriously when they are dressed like him, wearing a scarf, carrying a handbag, and camping it up all over the place, so obviously a bandit. Not much happening in the hostel tonight and so Shean and me popped over the road to the pub for a couple of beers, so funny, we have each other in stitches, non stop piss taking.

It’s time to organize some transport for our road trip to Melbourne. Six of us in total, Rachel from Wigan, Kate, Debbie and Cheryl from Scotland, Andy, and myself! Unfortunately Shean won't be joining us as at the moment he is not allowed outside of South Australia, trouble with the police ha ha. It’s not easy hiring wheels the week before Easter that's for sure, everything is fully booked. We are trying to get either a big 6 person camper van, or if not then two, 3 person campers. At the moment it looks more like we will end up getting a couple of cars between us and staying in hostels along the way.

Adelaide to Melbourne could be done in a day if you really wanted, but none of us are in a rush and so we are going to explore as much as possible on the way. Eventually after a lot of phone calls and wasted time we have managed to book 2 x 3 person camper vans, each one being from different companies and at different prices, and so all costs are being divided equally between the 6 of us. With Rachel and me being the only drivers in the group, one van is in her name and the other in mine. A 1500 dollar deposit on each camper van too, that's what credit cards are for. All in all the cost of both vans works out at 20 dollars per person per day, pretty good really, the same price as staying in a hostel. Not sure who is travelling with me in my van but one thing’s for sure, it won't be Andy. If he doesn't stop camping it up and pull his trousers up, I’ll end up pulling them up for him, so far that I will be tightening his belt around his neck ha ha.

Apparently he swings both ways, obviously confused, is it really that hard a choice to decide what you prefer. At the end of the day I don't care what he is, or what he does in the bedroom, I just don't want to keep seeing him prancing around with his boxers and half his arse hanging out. He is wearing a belt that looks more like a chandelier but yet his trousers are still half way down his arse, Sort it out. Skate boarders and surfers wear baggy trousers but there is a big difference between them and woofters camping it up. Another day of doing nothing in particular, just lots of piss taking with Shean and hanging out with the girls. At dinner time whilst in the kitchen with Shean, some English girls listening to us talking said that they thought we were hilarious, what we were saying and the way we talk, I think we were slagging Germans at the time ha ha. It would be such a laugh if Shean came with us tomorrow, and him and Hannah don't want me to leave.

It’s been a good laugh staying in that hostel but unfortunately it’s time to move on. All over the pub after dinner, there is a live band playing and it’s packed.

All up and ready to go and it’s off in a taxi to pick the camper vans up. It’s funny how I feel so much more comfortable driving an old dog of a van around than Hans's automatic car, it’s what I’m used to I guess, I love it. Debbie and Kate in my van, the party van, it might be an old dog but at least it’s got a cd player in it unlike van number 2 which has got the other 3 girls in it, Rachel, Cheryl, and Andy. A shopping stop and then off to find our way out of Adelaide. A lunch stop at the side of the Murrey River and then in the evening we stayed in the Karoonda National Park. The girls in my van and Rachel in the other are as good as gold, the 2 tarts however ( Andy and

Cheryl) could end up being hard work. They want to pay extra to stay in proper caravan sites every night because Andy has to have electricity and a shower every day, and Cheryl cant go a day without washing her hair. What is that all about? Ones a Tart and the others a stuck up gay ex Cambridge University boy with a silver spoon stuck up his arris. The idea of having camper vans is that we can stop and stay anywhere, not drive and pay extra so that we can stay in caravan parks, where is there sense of adventure.

Anyway after dinner we all sat in my van drinking the cheapest most disgusting wine we could buy and playing games, whereby I was dared to wear one of the girls bra's, apparently because my tits are bigger ha ha, and that is pretty much the last thing I remember.

O'Dear, I never get a headache after drinking, I’ve got one today, that wine is truly disgusting. Some brekki and after convincing them to stay in the National Park last night camper number 2 has now gone to the roadhouse on the highway to use the showers etc. I’m not driving anywhere at the moment, my head is pounding. A quick half hour power nap and it’s off to join the others at the roadhouse for a refreshing shower. Quite a lot of driving today! Stopped in a town for lunch, don't ask me the name of the place, just a small coastal town with lots of shops selling fresh seafood. Sat on the jetty eating fish and chips and overlooking what could be the dirtiest beach in Australia, the sea is black, looks like there has been an oil spillage.

More driving and then we stopped for the night in Mount Gambier, and for some reason we stayed on a caravan park (don't ask ha ha). A nice BBQ followed by some card playing, after last night there is no way anyone is drinking tonight and so it was quite an early night.

A morning exploring the sights around Mount Gambier, a couple of sink holes and the huge blue water lake, all worth a look but nothing overly exiting!

As a town though I thought Mount Gambier was really nice. More driving, then to the north of The Grampians National Park, crossing the South Australia/Victoria state border on the way, lots of thrashing the van on unmade dirt tracks, Wicked. Spent the night in a dirty hill billy caravan park which again we had to pay for. Van number 1 is getting fed up with the Fairies in van number 2 now, tut tut.

Another BBQ, kangaroo and chicken, beautiful. An early night for me, I don't see much point staying up in the freezing cold just for the sake of it, not only that everyone is back on the wine. I don't feel the need to drink that dirty cheap stuff just for the sake of it either and so im calling it a day. Goodnight.

Van number 1 and Rachel are up, fed, showered and ready to go. Once again we are waiting for the 2 pansies that are still in bed. Some van rocking and shouting and they are up, no breakfast and they didn't even use the showers that they keep insisting on having, they can do what they want tonight, van number 1 is on the side of the road, idiots ha ha. I haven't really got anything against either of them, I just think they’re a couple of pansies, And as for Andy, as a geezer I just cant take him seriously. He cracks me up, he is just so camp, I love waiting for him to crawl out of the van in the morning just to see what he is wearing ha ha, the day before yesterday he was a bright pink tight top, yesterday was a baby blue Mickey Mouse T-shirt, and today is a stripy purple number, not forgetting the jeans and chandelier belt that somehow hang more around his knees than his waste, his Elton John sun glasses, and his handbag that he refuses to put down.

Anyway, a wet, cold, windy day in the Grampians. Some wicked mountain driving and then for the first time since Asia, on with the poncho. With the

2 pansies staying in the van it was off with the girls on a couple of short walking routes which led to guess what!, Lookout points over the Grampians.

Nice views but at nothing other than down onto the tops of the trees below, the only thing is that they are all black and burnt from a big bush fire in the park back in February. The next stop was at a pony waterfall and then the stop after that was at a tiny tiny piece of Aboriginal rock art. Iv definitely seen way too much of this sort of stuff since I have been in Australia, iv got no interest in it at all, and its too wet and cold to care. Time to look for somewhere to plot up for the night, and once again they are requesting showers. Tuff Titty says van number 1, you should have got up this morning like the rest of us and had a shower, tonight's on the side of the road. Dinner and a camp fire on the side of the road and then for some reason Rachel has got a chocolate craving and so van number 2 left in search of a shop. Good Luck ha ha. I then got a message on my phone to say that they have found a proper free camping area half an hour up the road, and so we left to join them. Heaters on full blast and with only 1 headlight working it was time for some kangaroo dodging, they are everywhere. Proper good fun and some proper good driving, 120kmh all the way, No risk No buzz, some proper good swerving and some seriously harsh braking. I love driving like that, cant get the van over 140kmh though. Not much to do on the campsite, its pitch black and freezing cold. Laters.

A seriously cold night, its pointless laying in bed shivering, I was up and walking around the pitch black campsite at 4am, a walk in the dark down by the river and then back at the campsite there is a dog that keeps wanting to wrestle with me, the old jeans are filthy now. At last everyone is up and ready to go, no prizes for guessing who we have been waiting for. I think that Andy needs a dam good hiding or a good Arse shagging to make a man of him. Not only is he one of those so called "it’s hip to be bisexuals" that hasn't actually ever done anything with another bloke. How does that work then, how can he call himself bisexual, what is it a fashion statement, not only that I cant imagine a girl in the world that would sleep with him, he is so blatantly gay. He has also got to be one of the most boring people I have ever met, he kills conversations by trying to turn every conversation into something to do with, religion, politics, history, or 19th century globalization. Get a life you loser, like I said he cracks me up. I would love to know what he thinks of me ha ha. Anyway, a drive to another pony waterfall and then onto some mickey mouse caves where we stopped for lunch.

Next stop was at Hamilton, a nice small nothing town where I bought a 10 dollar fleece, its so cold. Onto a town called Port Fairy, a nice old fashioned town with an interesting walking path leading to the beach, which we walked in the freezing cold. The landscape scenery in this part of Australia is so different to the rest I have seen, so green and hilly, the girls reckon its like Scotland. Its a lot different to the straight roads and desert driving that im now used to that's for sure. We then drove to a town called Warrambool where again we stayed on a caravan site, apparently because not having a shower for 1 night is scankie, what a prick, if I didn't laugh at him so much I would have to dry slap him ha ha. After 7 months on the road and its time for my first hair cut, back in Adelaide I showed the girls my website and they couldn't believe how different I look with short hair. I do like the old long hair well traveled look but at the same time it is getting a bit out of control, and so Rachel the ex-hairdresser cut it for me. The girls all reckon it looks a lot better short, and even I cant believe how different I look, crazy. It felt kind of weird at first, especially when washing it, felt like there was nothing there to wash ha ha. Another freezing cold night in Australia!

Happy Easter. Guess who we are waiting for, a bit of deliberate noise and door slamming and once again neither of them used the showers tut tut. Great Ocean Road day today, what a drive. Over 300km of winding road with ocean views on one side and forest and mountains on the other. Stopped at all the coastal scenery and ocean carved rock formation lookout points along the way. The 12 Apostles, Loch Arc Gorge, London Bridge, Bay of Islands, and many more. All very nice but if im honest just like the rest of Australia, Very nice, sometimes very different, and more often than not, Boring. Yes the sights and views are very nice but with every view point packed full of tourists it’s kind of hard to get a good feel for the place. As a drive though the Great Ocean Road was probably without a doubt the best drive I will do in Australia, mainly I think because of the way I drive ha ha, I loved it. So many bends and hills etc, especially when we explored off the Great Ocean road up into the mountains where we saw wild koala bears in the trees, so cute. Speeding around the bends, up and down through the gears, I could drive like that all day long without a rest. Driving Hans's car around, most of which was through flat desert with nothing to see, I always felt tired. This is awesome, although I have got to admit, as a passenger like the others, after a couple of hours of it, I too would have probably found it quite boring. It would be wicked to drive on a motorbike, and also really good in the dark. The only thing for me that spoilt the drive was getting stuck behind people in flash cars that don't know how to drive, breaking on every bend for no reason, sort it out. Take your foot of the accelerator as you approach the bend, then accelerate around it, why brake?

Wicked. On the last bit of driving of the day after stopping for fuel, Debbie and Kate thought that it would be funny to swap vans, leaving me for the first time with the 2 pansies. Thanks girls ha ha.

Ok, I thought to myself, I haven't really spoke to them this week so I suppose I should make an effort. I can tell you now that that positive thought didn't last too long. They got in the van talking about university, and then to top it off, Andy started talking about how good the Australian Independent news paper is. Get a life. That's pretty much all I heard of that conversation because on hearing that the volume on the stereo went up ha ha. Within 20 minutes they were both asleep, and I’ve got the girls texting me and taking the piss from the other van. We stopped for the night just outside of Torquay where we stayed in a national park in a tiny place called Port Addis.

Cooking dinner in the dark and we could hear and make out animals jumping from tree to tree. Unable to make out what they are in the dark (im guessing possums) and without a torch, kate and myself just carried on cooking. As it got later Andy then insisted that he needs to use the internet and so wants Rachel to drive him to Torquay. Because it cant wait till the morning can it you tit. And so after a debate Rachel drove him into town along with Debbie. Well its now pitch black and whatever is in the trees, they are everywhere now, the trouble is we cant see them, we can just hear them around us hissing and growling. Out with my knife just in case and then Kate and me ate dinner with Cheryl standing on the picnic table ha ha.

With no torch between us I thought that if I take a picture the flash on the camera would identify whatever is there. All the flash done was make whatever it was start growling, sorry girls wont do that again ha ha. With everything packed up we then got in the van to play cards and wait for van number 2 to return. Obviously the internet was closed, Debbie and Rachel avoided whatever was lurking outside and joined us in our van. Debbie and Cheryl are actually quite scared. Calm down girls, you’re in the van, I’m quite sure that whatever is out there isn't going to chew through the side of the van and get to ya. Andy however is another story. I actually thought he was joking at first, what a girl.

He is absolutely petrified, so much so that he wont get out of the van to join us in ours which is parked alongside. I would say its unbelievable but it’s not, the geezer is a complete and utter cock. He is in that van screaming at every little noise and requesting that Rachel drive him back into Torquay so that ha can stay in a proper caravan park. No way is the reply, what an absolute laughing stock. I wonder what his parents think of him, I bet there well proud. Not. And guess where he is going after Australia, South East Asia, he ain't going to last 5 minutes.

Out of the National Park that we stayed in, Rachel driving van number 2 is leading, and there is a car in front of me between our vans. With me up the back of the car in front, and all travelling at least 100km an hour, all of a sudden a blue light appeared in the back window of the car in front, its undercover Old Bill, and we are speeding. Rachel pulled over and the Old Bill pulled in behind her. I thought xxxx it im not getting nicked, he cant stop us both, See ya, and so I just carried on into Torquay town where we sat and waited for a phone call. Luckily she got let of with a lecture and a warning, the speed limit was 60kmh.

Being Easter Monday everything in the town is closed and so we decided to head straight for Melbourne. Once the richest city in the world it’s a lot different to anything else that I have seen in Australia, it’s big and the buildings are a hell of a lot higher than anywhere else I've been in Australia. As a city its a lot more like London than Adelaide was that's for sure. No U turns, no right turns, one ways, the best way to drive around Melbourne in a van when you have got no idea where you are going, is by driving the way I do in London. By going where I want and ignoring all the stupid signs that are just there for no other reason than to make driving around the city hard work. And so that's how I drove, even ended up down a tram only road at one point ha ha. Parked up and had a look around, lots of designer shops and lots of restaurants, hundreds of them. Had some lunch in a Vietnamese restaurant, it was nice but nothing compared to the real thing. A walk around and then back to the vans to find that both vans have got a parking ticket on ha ha, the joys of city driving.

Rachel is really wound up, it is annoying but not worth getting wound up over, maybe working in London im just used to em ha ha. We then drove to a Melbourne suburb called St Kilda, which is apparently the main nightlife area of the city. Very nice and right on the coast. Dropped the 2 fairies off at an expensive hostel, good riddens to them, and then the girls and me checked in to a cheaper one up the road. Some dinner and then out to a pub for a drink (city prices) before going to the cinema where we watched V for Vendetta. Walking around the streets afterwards and im quite surprised at just how many homeless people and prostitutes there are, they are everywhere. I wouldn't sleep with some of those hookers for free, let alone pay for it.

Early start and we have got to drive to north Melbourne to return my van, Rachel is keeping her van on and travelling with Debbie and Kate onto Sydney, and they have all been to Melbourne before and didn't like it. Some brekki and then back at the hostel its time to say Goodbye, see ya in Sydney girls.

Now that they have gone I have got the whole dorm to myself, it’s a big hostel but there doesn't seem to be many people here, it’s definitely not a hostel for meeting people, one more night and then I’ll move tomorrow morning. Quite a bit of walking around on my Jack Jones today, not much here just lots of shops, bars, coffee houses and restaurants, Melbourne is definitely the place for spending money and eating out. And its way too cold for the beach.

Back at the hostel and its time to do some laundry, O'dear it appears that im missing quite a few clothes, there is only 1 of 2 places they can be, in Perth with Hans or on the hostel washing line in Adelaide ha ha, not to worry, only Thai copies, and a good excuse to buy some new ones. Dinner and then watched Reservoir Dogs, twice. This hostel is pants, its empty. My 4th day in 7 months spent on my own, its good, especially when you love your own company.

Moved to a hostel down the road, its a lot busier and with a lot more atmosphere to it. Spent most of the day either walking around or on the internet. Im feeling quite bored with Melbourne/Australia again at the moment, just enjoying the alone time, when I want to meet people I will, at the moment though I just can’t be bothered. Apart from doing a Neighbours Ramsey street tour there doesn't seem to be much to do in Melbourne other than eating out, drinking, or going to some sort of concert or show. None of which I have got the least bit of interest in at the moment. Basically it’s just a big city, and a 1st world city is a 1st world city at the end of the day. Two days and im bored silly. I’ve asked around and there is nothing to do or see, either here, or between here and Sydney. Canberra the capital is in the middle but there is nothing there other than government buildings etc, and so I won’t be going there. As far as im concerned I have only got one thing to do in Melbourne and that's catch up with Kelly, as soon as iv done that im getting the bus straight to Sydney. In a way I feel like I have got to the stage now where I have done and seen so much over the last 7 months that im just not appreciating what im seeing as much as maybe I should be.

For example, the waterfalls in the Grampians, to a lot of people they are amazing and beautiful, but to me after seeing and swimming in the waterfalls in Thailand and Laos, there Pony. Im not being arrogant about it im just being honest. Once again im bored silly with Australia, I could so easily be at home, it’s so similar, Melbourne/London, as the Thai's would say "Same same but different".

Just spoke to Niamha and she had a little moan at me telling me to stop complaining and said that I should just be grateful to be here. That's true but im not complaining, I'm just being honest. There is a difference between appreciating and being grateful for the opportunity and experience, and enjoying it. I do appreciate it, I know that im doing what many people will never be able to do or get the opportunity to do. I actually got an email from Mie in Vietnam the other day saying that I am the happiest guy in life that she has ever met. Quite sad really, and it did make me think, but at the end of the day if I'm bored im bored, if im not enjoying Australia im not enjoying it, im not going to lie about it. Its kind of hard to explain, im enjoying what im doing and the people im meeting, im just not enjoying the country, its western, its modern, and its boring. Niamha is having a totally different experience at the moment; she's working hard and saving to travel up the East Coast in June, in a relationship and back in the routine of every day life as we know it. If I was working I would be having a totally different experience too, but im not. And if im honest I have got no reason and no intention too, I've got the rest of my life to work im damned if im going to do it in Australia, I want to get out the country not hang around in it. But then I guess im lucky to be in that position, a lot of travellers aren't, they have to work. Im fortunate enough to be in a position where I just think that no matter how much I spend, or how much overdrawn I may end up, im only going to be here once, there will always be work and money for me to earn when I get home.

Sydney as a place is probably going to be very much the same as Melbourne, just another big modern city, the only difference being that it’s got beautiful beaches, warmer weather at the moment, and some serous nightlife.

Packed up, on a tram, and im moving to the city. The girls told me about a hostel they stayed in last time they were here where you get breakfast and access to a gym over the road included in the price. Checked in and then map in hand I headed towards the Queen Victoria market to buy some clothes.

Definitely a good place to find a bargain, not only is it massive it’s also cheap, with that said though I still managed to spend nearly 200 dollars. A couple of nice T-shirts, 2 going out shirts, a pair of shoes, a belt, and food, if I didn't have to cart it all around with me I could quite easily of spent a small fortune. With the new wardrobe I’ll be looking pretty damn Hot in Sydney ha ha, not sure where I am going to put it all though. Back at the hostel and its time for an onion sandwich, I’ve got a proper cold, all blocked up, sneezing, and even my eyes are watery, hardly surprising with this weather though, im not used to it anymore ha ha Watched a film in the video room and then it was over the road to use the free gym which is in the Melbourne World Trade Centre, that's me sorted for the rest of my stay here.

Pasta with chopped chilli for dinner, I feel so rough. The best way to beat a cold is to sweat it out, that's tomorrow sorted, fleece on, I will be on that gym and on a running machine until I am absolutely knackered, it could be a long day. Back in the dorm and im having a sort out of the old pack back making some room for the new gear, nothing got thrown away; the other lads in the dorm were more than happy with what I no longer wanted.

Still feeling really rough, I still managed to set a new toast eating record though, 14 slices washed down with a cup of coffee and a pint of milk, beautiful. Going for the big 20 before I leave. A walk around the city, it may just be another city but it is nice, as well as, clean, easy going, modern, and easy to get around. My mission is to find the Melbourne Town Hall which is where I have got to pay the parking tickets. It’s different to in England, at home you have to pay the fine first and then if you want to contest it then you can.

Here, if you contest the fine it gets put on hold for 28 days and then you only have to pay it if the reason for contesting is not accepted. Obviously I contested, just had to write a letter full of bull, 126 dollars is 126 dollars at the end of the day, just got to wait for the result, fingers crossed. At the end of the day if I don't pay it there is not much they can do about it, what they going to do track me down in the UK. If I do decide not to pay it though it just means that if I wanted to one day return to Australia I might be refused entry, O'dear, what a shame ha ha. Back at the hostel and all I feel like doing is going back to bed, it’s time to get rid of this poxy cold. Over the road to the gym and I ran 12.2km in 60 minutes, the only reason I stopped is because my feet were really hurting from my trainers, I hardly broke a sweat but I felt wicked afterwards. A few weights and then back to the hostel for half a kilo of grapes and a nice shower. It works every time, apart from the blisters on my feet I feel so much better than what I did this morning. Pasta with silly amounts of garlic for dinner, I’ll be good in the morning.

Another record breaking breakfast, 16 slices today. Think I might have a day off the toast tomorrow, that amount of bread can’t be good for ya ha ha. Not much to report, just a chill out day. Some free internet in the city library, a quick workout, and then spent the rest of the day in the hostel.

Chilled out all morning and then at about midday I got a train and met Kelly. We spent the day catching up and basically just being a couch potato.

Later in the evening we got a take away and hired a video called Sleepers. Hans had the book and it was so good that I read it in 2 days. I’ve got to say that it’s the first time I have read a book and then watched the film, and as everybody always says, the book was so much better.

Nothing to report today apart from the nightmare snorer in the dorm last night, Unbelievable! There's snoring and there's snoring but that was something else. Ten people in the dorm and nine of us were woken up by it.

It was so loud and so annoying, I tried but there was no way I could go back to sleep with that racket and so ended up shouting "Shut up you xxx". He obviously heard me as at last the room went silent, for about ten minutes anyway, and then suddenly, Ahhhhh he started up again. It was that bad that one guy grabbed his pillow and duvet and left the room. Who's got something to chuck at him I said, some guy replied, how about a knife, I had to chuckle. Eventually after I don't know how long of trying to get back to sleep, I grabbed my jeans, took out a handful of silver coins, and launched them in his direction. Everyone was wetting themselves but it worked, he didn't make a sound for the rest of the night. I can’t believe how annoying that was, Crazy.

Public holiday today, it’s Anzac day. A day of hanging around in the hostel and then in the evening I met Kelly for dinner in an Italian restaurant. A few drinks in a bar afterwards and its now the early hours of the morning, and so with the trains no longer running I got a cab back to the hostel. It’s kind of weird to think that I met Kelly just over a year ago in Prague, and if it wasn't for meeting her and that trip to Prague I probably wouldn't be here now. Everything happens for a reason. She let me stay in her house in

Perth , and now there's the possibility that we may never meet again. I hope that's not the case, Thanks for everything Kel.

Another nothing day. The only productive thing I did today was buy a bus ticket to Sydney, leaving first thing Friday morning. The girls have found a nice cheap hostel in the main nightlife area of Kings Cross and so that's where I will be heading.

Last day in Melbourne, Yeah! Pretty much just spent the day making the most of the gym and the free internet in the city library! Cant wait to get to Sydney.

13 hours on a coach looking at nothing other than yellow fields and trees and at last I’m in Sydney, the rape capital of the world. Onto the Sydney underground and I got a train to Sydney's red light district, Kings Cross. The Sydney underground is pretty much the same as the London underground, old and dirty. The differences being that it’s a lot slower, not half as busy, and the double decker trains which before now I’d only ever seen in Holland.

I was met by the girls at Kings Cross station and they led me to the hostel where they had saved me some dinner. Definitely a new one on me, and I know for sure that Hans would be shaking his head ha ha, Pasta with sweet chili sauce and melted cheese on top, ummm, surprisingly good.

All ready and it’s off on a train to check out Sydney's world famous Bondi beach. Being no where near Bondi junction train station (a good 20 min walk away) we first ended up at a nice little beach further around the coast, a nice little bay full of surfers, and ‘No Swimming’ signs. It’s too hot  not to have a quick dip though. We then followed the cliff walk path around the coast towards Bondi beach, lots of keep fit going on around here. Bondi beach is nice and apart from the beach we have just been on, it’s the first time that I have been on a beach with lifeguards and what I think are shark spotter helicopters flying overhead. With next week being the start of winter the beach is pretty quiet at the moment, I’ve seen pictures of Bondi in the summer and it is just absolutely heaving.

We didn't actually go on Bondi beach today, instead we walked along passed all the little beach shops, little stalls, and fast food places, just checking the place out. Fish and chips on the green set back from the beach and guess who we were joined by? Niamha. She looked like she was glowing, it’s good to know that one of us is enjoying Australia, and it was good to see her again. Like Niamha said, she is enjoying the city life because being from Ireland it’s the first time she has really experienced it, for me though it just seems so normal, so like home, and not at all like I’m in Australia, just a big city with a beach. Walking back to the train station whilst buying some fruit Niamha bought me a bunch of chillies ha ha, she knows how much I’ve missed these bad boys, Beautiful. Back at the hostel for dinner and Rachel said she wanted spicy, so with all 5 chillies I made what could be the spiciest pasta sauce ever. Debbie as usual wouldn’t even try it, Kate's mouth was on fire for about an hour after, and Rachel loved it but needed about a gallon of water to wash it down ha ha. It will burn again tomorrow on the way out.

Well we had planned to go out drinking tonight but there doesn't seem to be much going on and none of us can be bothered now. So we spent the night in the hostel, where in the TV room I had some gay guy acting like a tit, he crossed the line at one point and I think the look he got from me said it all, the girls thought I was going to get up and smack him ha ha. I put it down to him having one too many and he was alright after that.

There is an English girl in this hostel and in our dorm that has got a serious attitude problem, I think she thinks that because she has been here so long she owns the place, the way she talks to people is unbelievable. Anyway this morning whilst I was talking to another girl in the dorm she rudely interrupted me trying to tell me with her attitude that Australia doesn't have Top man or Top Shop stores. They might not have them in Sydney but I know for sure they have got them in Perth.

If it’s English or American you can pretty much guarantee that it’s somewhere in Australia. She wouldn't have it though and told me to shut up and called me stupid. Who the xxxx does she think she's talking too. I love winding people up with attitude, putty in my hands, the more attitude they give and the more they retaliate, the more it gives me to play with, dangle the line and if they bite I’ll just keep reeling them in. Obviously I took the piss out of her, her accent and her attitude, and after I asked her why she is always so xxxxxx moody, unfortunately she walked out ha ha. If your gonna give it, be able to take it. Idiot.

Anyway, off to Bondi for a day on the beach, and as we found out the hard way, you are only supposed to swim between the flags. it’s not very well marked with warning signs though, there was none to be seen right up the end where we entered the beach and jumped in the sea. I’ve swam in some strong currents but that was something else, the waves are quite big but it was the force of the water running backwards from the shore back into the sea that kept pulling us out. Even when you are only knee deep in water the amount of sand being shifted by the sea in unbelievable! Standing on the spot without moving, one second you are knee deep in water, another, and so much sand has been dragged into the sea that your then swimming and unable to touch the floor. Wait for a wave, the sand is pushed back and you’re back to standing knee deep in water, crazy.

You don't realize just how powerful the sea can be. No matter how hard we tried we couldn’t get back to the shore, and believe it or not we we only about 20-30m out, so powerful. In that sort of situation it’s a case of looking after number one ha ha, and being fit definitely has its results. For me it was a case of waiting for a big wave to come and then I swam like crazy till I got to the shore, seriously hard work. Now the girls are stuck and I’m looking around for a life guard, do you think I can see one, they’re all up the other end of the beach, how stupid is that. By now the girls are drifting towards the rocks, and so I climbed over them and helped them out. Luckily they are ok, just a few little grazes from where they got dragged over the rocks. Some sun bathing and then it was only when we walked up the beach that we see all the No Swimming signs. On this whole beach which is packed with surfers there is only 2 little areas marked out with flags which are safe for swimming in, and each being no more than 30m long. And when I say safe, I mean that the currents are still pretty strong it’s just that each little area is patrolled by about 20 lifeguards, they are on the beach, in the sea swimming amongst us, and on surf boards keeping an eye out. Try swimming out and staying between the flags for longer than 5 minutes, before you know it you’re outside the flags and heading straight into a rip, Crazy.

The currents and waves are good fun but it’s definitely not a beach where you can have a relaxing dip in the water. In the short time we were sunbathing we saw a couple of people getting rescued and helped out to shore. Those lifeguards have got their work cut out, and this is quiet time. A walk around the streets of Bondi and to me it just seems like a place full of posers, loads of people jogging and exercising in public for the look at me, look at me buzz, not because they are fit. What's the point in running on little walking paths or streets full of people when you have to keep slowing down and stopping to cross roads or get around people. That's not running, that's look at me. Back from the beach there is a long road which runs up hill, everyone seems to be running down it, sort it out, turn around and run up it you posers. I think it funny, it’s so artificial. Melbourne has got so much more class. If I was to compare the two and the people, I would say that Melbourne is home to Gucci and Armani, where as Sydney is Ben Sherman and Von Dutch. Back at the hostel and whilst eating dinner Dan the gay guy from last night apologised, it’s cool man, don't worry about it. Today is another day. Another night in the hostel, that swimming has seriously knackered us out.