Meeting Ruth Bonne

:: The City ::
:: Melbourne ::
:: Victoria ::
:: Australia ::

:: Thursday 25th September 2008 ::
:: Very sunny and warm :: Ultra windy by the sea ::

** Today I caught the train into the city to meet Ruth Bonne - A lady from Belgium who is starting the DTS on the 1st with me =] She had meant to arrived the night before and stayed in a hostel "The Nunnery". The night of the 24th I made a map from the station to The Nunnery and now on my map I labeled the roads I needed to know. **

** When I arrived at the station at 10:30am I pulled out my map and began my mission. I told Ruth I would get to her at 11. I soon realised all the roads I had written down were pretty far from each other as the blocks here were massive! I soon had a blister on my right foot from the flip flop and me trying to walk quick. **

** Everything was okay UNTIL ... I couldn't find Victoria street. But I guessed if I kept walking I would get to somewhere I recognised soon. After feeling completely lost for 10 mins my heart jumped for joy when I saw the sign saying Lygon Street. Soon I felt in my element as I now knew where I was. Now I wasn't far from my destination and it was already 11:30am.. I panicked and picked up speed with a burst blister that was absolutely killing! According to my map - Which was correct, I just never realised, I headed off left to try find The Nunnery. Big Mistake! **

** Now making a u turn I headed back to Lygon Street once I realised what a silly mistake I had made. And seeing I was in Lygon street and already late I headed into my little pink/purple hot chocolate shop. Which turns out the Hot Chocolate is $3.50 EVEN BETTER!!! haha. But I got it to go, and headed off in the right direction for once!! I saw this large colourful thing in a park and realised it was the park I had been looking for and the colourful building was the museum. **

** Hoooorahhhh!! This park was big but once I was round it I spied Nicholson Street and was relieved I was here. The Nunnery was just across the street! I got to the door and buzzed and they let me in. I went to the reception and asked if Ruth had checked in last night. They were like yeah shes here, Room 12 if you want to go up. [I was shocked they gave that info out just like that seeing as on movies they're always like "Sorry sir you know I can't give out that kind of information" hehe] Getting nervous I walked up the stairs and tried to find room 12! I knocked on the door and it opened, I wasn't too sure if it was Ruth because me being silly forgot what she looked like on facebook x] so I went, "Hi, I'm umm Shelly :D " Fortunately it was Ruth but she informed me she had just arrived due to a 10 hour delay in Hong Kong from typhoons. And she had not slept. I did ask whether she would want to sleep instead of trek round Melbourne with me. But nope, it was a nice sunny day and she was going to enjoy her first day in Auzzie. **

** We decided we would get trams because my feet hurt and she was tired. So we waited at a tram stop and when the tram arrived we got on then to our demise the next stop was the end of service for that tram. We found it highly hilarious and got off, then decided to wait for the same tram going in the opposite direction to St Kilder. **

** When we arrived in St Kilder it was real windy by the shore! But it was still a nice warm day. Ruth was hungry so we went into St Kilders high street and scouted out all the food places. We found a nice Fish & Chip shop called Harry's [So different to the English names for that kind of shop!! The Dolphin hehe!] I was amazed when I saw that a small chips was $2.80!! This made me think, [hmm maybe I should get a medium!?] but i went with my gut and got a small, which turned out to be a massive box.. okay... so it wasn't massive... but the box was like the size of an a5 piece of paper and about 2 inches deep! filled with chips!! Now these chips were just your McCain Oven Chips you know, but they tasted good so all was well =] Ruth got a burger which was pretty big too!! hehe **

** We walked back to the beach and walked along the length of it, More people were there today as it was really nice weather. Even going in the sea, so it couldn't have been too cold! We decided to walk along the pier and on the pier it was so windy you could lean against it!! I strapped my camera to my wrist while I took photos hehe. It had such a beautiful view of the Melbourne skyline! And Ruth and I were in love with the city! hehe. We decided it was too windy and started heading back to our tram stop **

** When back in the city we got off by the train station because Ruth needed to check what times her bus was leaving tomorrow and plus she thought I was going home, She probably wanted me to as she was tired hehe. I said I was going to go on the city circle tram again and take photos this time! She said she would come, so we went off hunting for the circle tram stop. Once on we had a real fun time clicking our cameras like the tourists we were. First up was the Telstra Dome (Footy stadium - And Telstra is one of their phone providers). And there in the distance they are building a Melbourne Eye, hehe looks just like ours! Then on the corner to your left was 7 Studios. This is the same channel that Home and Away is filmed and broad casted on. But that's more near Sydney :( But in these studios their Deal or No Deal and other game shows are filmed. **

** This is now by the Harbour, and lots of expensive apartment buildings have been built to make lots of money! And they look ultra modern and colourful! Also there is a lot of modern art around the Docklands In the middle there is a sculpture of a Cow in a Tree.. random yes! But its a cow so its all good :D And then on the right its just a random massive metal thing! **

** Some more metal sculpture - Looks like a bird. And then a Kids playground in the docklands.. with some cool metal sculpture that rotates and moves like planets :D And then some more fancy pancy apartments. **

** Next around the corner is this old building which looks like it might have had something to do with a church as the other side had a cross on the roof! Then more art! A stone "Eagle" that looks out over the docklands 'to protect it' lol. And then back on the right the Sea Life Centre of Melbourne. hehe **

** I spied these trees with paintings all on them, I was like WOW there is a fish on that tree. Now Ruth, who's English is good but limited must have thought I'm sure that doesn't sound right! And I was like LOOK THERE!! A FISH ON THE TREE!!! haha. They have an underground system which they don't use anymore but the station is still there, and I liked the pretty old building of it so I took a photo :D And then next to that was a train station which was a fake looking old building, but I liked it still, thought [It looks very English with the clock hehe] **

** Federation Square. An information spot for tourists and also where events are held. It was ULTRA busy as the Melbourne show has begun which is a chance for the city people to see animals such as horses etc. Its like shows of horses and cats and dogs, Like a massive Crufts! Again a very modern futuristic looking building. **

** To the east of the city you will find more stadiums, The cricket oval and also concert stadiums. With what seem to be a fair ground outside! haha. **

** Art, Statue... Museum - Haven't been in there :( but I'm sure like all museums its petty boring! A big church cathedral looking building Hidden away behind the trees! The houses of Parliament including protesters sat at the steps! lol. Pretty lamps though!**

** Simply... I just liked the car, it looked cute! **

** Ned Kelly escaped from this prison. Yeah you heard right, its a PRISON!! And it looks nicer than majority of their buildings!! HAHA. And lastly on the tour you have the Library to your left and a funky music store which caught my eye on the right :D And on the drive home I decided totake lots of photos of the really cool graffiti I saw on the train =] **

**THE END**

I do have photos to add to this but at the moment i dont have time sorry!!

Paintball

:: Wallan ::
:: Victoria ::
:: Australia ::

:: 21/09/08 :: 21st September 2008 ::
:: Sunny around 16 C - Very windy up in the mountains ::

** Today Rach took me paintballing with her friends. She paid for me as her treat to me, but if i needed paintball refills then i paid. I quickly learnt that you will not survive the whole time without buying paint, So i had to haha. The first round i hid behind a metal sheet trying desperatly not to get hit. In this game you had unlimited lives however. But still i didnt want to get hit! My team won that round as we had least deaths :P **

** Second round we won too as we still were in posetion of the flag! In this round i kept asking the guy if i had been shot because i kept getting spray on me, and hes like NAH.. go for it! haha. But right at the end on the 10 second call i got hit in the goggles. Didnt hurt! Which i was happy about :D **

** Third round i got a bit more daring and went to a bunker with less shelter and was doing pretty well untill i let my but poke out a bit and boom they got me! so i walked back to the re start to get my second life. We lost that round quite miserably! **

** Fourth round was in a different location, which i prefered this location! We basically had unlimited lives in this game but once shot you had to stick your gun up and shout MEDIC and wait for someone on your team to come tag you. I was getting pretty far in a good location. I heard Rachel yell MEDIC YELLOW, and i thought ahh shes ptty close i can make it... i just didnt see Brett hiding over to my right. I made a dash got about 3/4ths of the way there and BOOM right in my right leg as i went to shove my gun in the air he shot AGAIN, fortunatly it hit the wonderful invention of a vest guard, otherwise lets say i woud have fell to the floor crying!! haha. Yeah, again i think we lost that round too! **

** Fifth round still the same game. I took a daring strategy of staying away from team mates so i can cover them, so i got a bit up hill. However i would not have been able to move any closer as the opposition were pretty close! I had a good position as i was the last team member standing, however that does not speak wonders for my medic skills! I didnt get shot in that round as the guy on the other team kindly ran up to me and offered a surrender.. im not stupid okay :D **

** At this moment me and the guy were a bit confused as something seemed to be happening over the other side, I asked, Do you know whats going on? and he was like a free for all i think, and i was like really? and he was like oh pants as by now i had my gun pointing at him and he ran! but i got him 3 times in the back :P. I felt OH so mean! but then the marshal was like okay all in saftey on, and turns out it wasnt the free for all just yet! HAHA. I appologised a lot to that guy! **

** Last round - Free for all. The 3 girls decided to make an aliance and we were allowed to pick a hiding spot! The guys had to stand in the middle and then run on the first whistle, then shoot on the second. Us girls just shot at them after the first whistle :P This round didnt last long for me as i ran out of ammo rather quick but i got one guy so many times!! HAHA shame and then moved on to Brett as he was closer andjust standing right in the open! haha. I got shot but mainly in the chest & Back guard. But the second i was out of ammo my gun was up and i ran out! hehe :P **

** The guys had what looked like some killers! fortunatly my shoulder hit from the last round only went a bit pink and te others i cant even feel anymore! However the day was a real work out from running up and down hills! And at least i had a really good time i liked it!!! =] **

** The End **

City & St Kilder Beach

:: Melbourne City ::
:: Melbourne ::
:: Victoria ::
:: Australia ::

:: 17/09/08 :: 17th September 2008 ::
:: Sunny and warm - slight winds ::

** Today I went into the City with Rachel's sister Jessica. She has lectures at uni for a couple hours in the morning, so she dropped me off on Lygon St with all the shops. I walked up one side of the street (the sunny side) trying to find a quiet place to sit in the sun and have a relaxing drink. Most of the coffee places had quite a lot of customers so i walked futher on. I walked up quite far and then realised i was comming to the end of the street, but a little Pink shop on the corner in the sun caught my eye. It was a cake and coffee shop to my delight, so i went in and ordered myself a hot chocolate, which cost $4.00 [WOW 2 pounds! I was amazed at this cheapness]. I found my slef an empty table in the sun outside the shop and began watching the city people rush by. The lady brought me my drink and to my dissapointment it was in the same boring glasses costa use at their stores. **

** Well there my hot chocolate stood infront of me, oozeing with foam and chocolate, some of it escaping over the side of the glass. I dug into the foam with my extra long spoon and took my first mouthfull of foam, to my suprise it tasted AWSOME. The foam was amazing, unlike any foam i had ever tasted. And the hot chocolate its self was incredible! The best i had ever had. I was rather impressed with my $4.00 world's best hot chocolate discovery! As i finished i felt like going into the lady before i left to say "Thank you, that was the best hot chocolate i've ever had" but then i thought [She'll think what a freak!] so my thought got the better of me and i just walked away. Off to browse the shops. I found a nice top for $10 which weighed nothing ;) and for 5 pounds it was a bargain, and also suitable for the requirements of YWAM =] **

** After Jess had finished he uni stuff she picked me up from the park on Lygon St and i met her cute little Chinese friend Gin. I loved Gin's outfit! [All Chinese have awsome style!] And we headed off to St Kilder Beach. This was about a 30 min drive from Melbourne centre but it was a really nice place! We found a place to park near the beach and then walked up really close. We didnt actually go on the beach as Jessica kindly informed me that we might step on something in the sand {Fact, Melbourne's beaches are exactly like those on Neighbours, o if you want a nice beach avoid Melbourne hehe} However, Still nicer than England's excuse for a beach PEBBLES! **

** We came, we saw, we were now on a hunt for Gello & Ice cream! We walked along the beach front for a while and then headded towards the town. We found a nice little Gello & Sorbet hut. I had a Mango Shake, which i wasnt impressed with as the mango tasted very very weak! Dissapointed with my $5.80 spend on that when i would have much prefered another $4.00 hot choccy :P We walked around the shops of St Kilder for what seemed a long time! St Kilder definatly add $$ to their prices due to tourism, iwas rather expencive! We had seen all the shops and it was getting rather windy so we were getting cold so we began headding back to the car. **

** Back in the car i decided to take some quick photos of the gorgeous beach front houses! [Oh to live in one of those i thought] We dropped Gin home and then Jess and I headed back to Eden Park so Jess could study and so i could d some veging :P **

** The End **

Healesville Sanctuary

:: Healesville Sanctuary ::
:: Healesville ::

:: Victoria ::

:: Australia ::

:: 14/09/08 :: Sunday 14th September 2008 ::

:: Sunny - approx 20 C - Very chilly wind ::

** Today i woke up earlier than normal to go to Healesville Sanctuary to see all the animals native to Australia. I went with Rachel and Brett (Rachel's boyfriend).I had no idea what to expect.. were the animals going to be caged up like in a zoo, or free in a big forest and you have to find and identify the animal yourself. I soon noticed it was in between and began my adventure around the "Park". **

** First enclosure was the Emus - but no emus to be found in their pen. A sign notified i will see an emu later on the trail. I thought this was no a good start but remained optimistic. As we made our way over to the Koalas i told Rach & Brett the Koalas have green tongues story.

Excitement struck as my eyes latched onto the pair of Koalas hiding up in the trees in their enclosure. [Photo! Was my first thought] and then the ("They smell of pee" - Natalie Webster once told me) was my after thought. But I thought, They're cute and their fur looks a bit like a sheepskin rug :) **

** Bypassing all the boring information bits we found ourselves KANGAROOS. With the Roos enclosure we were allowed to walk into it and take up close photos. There were ropes so you didn't get too close, but some Roos want to be famous and think you may be headhunting.

In the Platypus hut, to our dismay, we were not allowed to take photos with flashes on and the little things were just too quick darting through the water i would have never got a good pic, but they're way cute! Finally i got to see my Emu's, rather ugly birds but i learnt an interesting fact {Emu's cant walk backwards - Neither can Kangaroo's, and they're both on Australia's coat of arms} [Just a thought :: Maybe this is meant to symbolize NO GOING BACK :P] **

** Reaching the lesser known animals mid course in our trail we came across a Gonna. And that's exactly what you would be if you had one hurtling towards you! They're massive beast's!! **

** We spotted the cutest little rock wallaby, up on a rock, posing for a guy with a digital SLR with some huge lens to get right up in that rock wallaby's face. [Poor little thing looked a bit sad me thoughts].

Onto the pelicans. I never realised how massive those birds are! They're almost as short a me! Weird birds!

Look like a coloured in colouring book drawing! (Like a clown) It was almost feeding time for the Pellies and i thought [Hope they don't attack me] as they do because they can be rather vicious birds! **

** Next was the Wombats enclosure and the three of us searched and searched but saw no Wombat in sight, BUT we did fine ourselves 3 Echidna's. I took a close look at our Echidna friends Eddy and i noticed {Fact : his two back feet were BACKWARDS! And not to mention he had spikes all over!} Now Eddy was different to our other two Echidna's!He was taller, and lighter coloured, I liked Eddy the special Echidna!

Another let down was the Tasmanian Devil was being exactly that and hid so well no one could find her! We stayed for about 10 mins of the "meet the keeper" or the Tasmanians because we thought she would bring one out or at least we would see one. But no! the keeper just talked about how they are now Endangered due to a form of cancer they are getting. We left in search of dingos :) **

** On our path to the Dingoes we found our selves the reptiles house. We ventured in to see what we could find, Brown snake, Iguana, Death adders. Yeah that was a fun place! I shockingly found that all of the snakes in that house can be located in Queensland which a you can guess, i was overjoyed. hmmm.

We quickly nipped over to the Parrots in Flight show which ended as soon as we arrived, but what we managed to see looked good. **

** We still had 10Min's to kill before the "meet the keeper" show was on for the reptiles so we made a mad dash to the Dingo's pen. Dingo's are such cute dogs!

The older ones were being taken on their walk - around the park.

We made it back to the reptiles hut for the talk bout snake bite but were bit later than others who were tall and had kiddywinks (on their shoulders).

We were there for long enough to see the keeper get peed on by the iguana (this was the very beginning) and to find out some useful facts {Only 2 people a year die from a snake bite} and how to react etc, helpful things i hopefully wont have to put into practice! And the fact that {Bee/Wasp sting is the biggest killer}. **

** At 2:30pm we attended the Birds of Prey show. This was amazing. A bunch of Chinese tourists sat next to me and their translator was really friendly and started chatting to me. And was like where you from? You sound English ... Detected i shamefully said "I am" HAHA.

The first bird came SWOOPING out to the sound of the Didgeridoo and the bird man made the bird fly right over my head!! [I thought please don't listen to the call of nature if you get one birdy] These birds were BIG! Wish i ha taken photos but my battery decided to die when i reached the pelicans all the way back there!

Th last bird they set loose to fly around for us was still flying round when the show was over. They said she hardly comes back because shes looking for a mate. And theyve left her out all night before.

The show was over and we decided to leave and pop into the Gift store **

** We got side tracked. Found the cage with the Fruit bats in and walked through. These bats were NOT small! But they were all hanging upside down from the top of the cage sleeping (Well trying to). **

** In the sanctuary shop Rach and I were like 5 year olds messing with the Teddy's and having fun. Rach bought me a Possum toy for $3.00 Its so cute! I picked it! It was the cutest face, and i didn't realise when i picked it but it was the most stuffed making it fatter too. he he.

I got home and called my Possum Andy. **

** To top the day off we popped into Subway in Healesville just to fill that massive hole called my stomach! **

** The End Finally **

The beginning & Flight

:: Birmingham Airport ::
:: Birmingham ::

:: West Midlands ::
:: England ::

:: 03/09/08 :: Wednesday 03rd September 2008 ::

:: Sunny with clouds - Freezing with constant wind ::

** Today, Bags packed, Goodbyes said to most, I stepped on the plane to trigger the start of my adventure. Only to see this country, I've half called home over the years, in 8 or so months. **

** Took my seat on flight EK040 Birmingham - Dubai. I had the whole 3 seats to myself :) Should have taken full advantage and slept while i had the space, the quiet and the lights out! Instead i watched movies : St Trinnian's (*----) Jumper (****-) Jack & Jill vs The World (**---) I ate those awesome little biscuits they give you on all plane flights, then dinner was a chicken curry like thing with rice. **

"Did you hear the news,
I'm leaving home today"

:: Dubai Airport ::
:: Dubai ::

:: 04/09/08 :: Thursday 04th September ::

** Landed in Dubai at 01:30am their time. As I stepped off the plane the heat wave hit me and the humidity must have been 100%. I thought it was the heat from the planes engines but as I walked further down the stairs I realised it was the weather. I didn't like the humidity but I defiantly liked the heat. **

** I only had to wait in Dubai for 2 hours, but by now I had had no sleep and I was very tired. The plane I boarded next was stopping in Singapore, which wasn't on my flight schedule when I booked, but it was going to Melbourne. So I just trusted I would get there! Now I defiantly ha to sleep on this flight to block out the kid sitting next to me with his mom. The mom was so nice, she woke me up when food was coming round etc. The guy sitting on the other side of the isle was chatting away to her and I think I heard him say he was a Christian, and I was like, bet he did the brave christian thing and asked "If this plane was to crash, do you know for sure where you'll be going... etc" which I admire! Takes guts! **

** The change over in Singapore was just a quick 30min petrol refill. **

** Back in the sky on the way to Melbourne! Again I slept most of the way, as I began watching movies but fell asleep. Got woken up by the nice lady, with the card in her hand saying fill this out sweetie - The decleration form. Reality sunk in and realised I had arrived **

:: Melbourne Airport ::
:: Melbourne ::
:: Victoria ::
:: Australia ::

:: 05/09/08 :: Friday 05th September 2008 ::
:: Dark - Very cold ::

** Arrived in Tullmarine at 00:40am! I landed on Australian soil! Sorted. One more place ticked off the world map. Rach & Family were there to pick me up! Got out of customs at 02:00am **

** The End **