I'm a little behind on my blogging due to my stressful traveling schedule. Jk, the traveling isn't stressful, its wonderful:) But I have a ton of school work to do on the days when I am at school, so here's what I did in Melbourne from last week. My next blog will probably be a long one after I've finished all my classes and projects next week. (AHH-- I'm finishing classes next week. And I'm leaving in exactly one month. It's crazy, I don't want to leave:( but at the same time I am getting excited to see everyone back home)
Wednesday May 13
For my Planet Earth practical today, we took a field trip to Port Kembla to do rock mapping. It was really cold and windy and raining and the waves were breaking and splashing us and coming up onto the grid we were supposed to be mapping. So every 30 seconds we would all have to jump up on the dyke to avoid the water (dykes stick up a bit because they are igneous intrusions and therefore harder, and harder to erode <-- rock knowledge that I'm learning). Thankfully one of my group mates lives at Campus East and drove us back so we didn't have to wait for the bus.
Then I packed up my last few things and left for the train/airport with Melissa. Apparently the terrorist alert level in Melbourne is high, so that's really good…glad I'm going. There were about 20 people on our flight and they had to beg people to sit in the emergency rows, which we were already in. We sat next to a guy who heard us talking about crew and started talking to us about it and literally didn't stop talking for the rest of the flight. Got to the airport at 11, then needed a bus and Uber to get to Philipp and Daniel's. They had One Direction sheets, because those were the cheapest they could find when they first got here, haha.
Thursday May 14
We went to the Melbourne Museum in the morning for a few hours, then the boys had to go to uni. Sara, Melissa and I did a free walking tour for 3 hours. The tour guide was really good and peppy and I learned a lot about Melbourne. She said all the best places to go and things to do are either secret or hidden. Which mostly are in lane ways. To me, these are the sketchy little alleyways with graffiti, but to Melbournians they are where all the good art, cafes, restaurants and bars are. She also told us about the rivalry between Melbourne and Sydney. They fought over who would be the capital of Australia for years, but could never decide. So instead of choosing one, they placed Canberra geographically in the center of Melbourne and Sydney and made that the capital. Melbourne has had a few nicknames throughout it's history including Marvelous Melbourne (during gold rush/expansion), Smellbourne (when the Yarra river got really gross and polluted), and Melbs (bogan). One of the founders of Melbourne's last names was Batman, so it could'e been named Batmania. We also visited the Melbourne jail. Only, in Australia they spell jail "gaol".
All day, the weather was extremely random. It would never straight up rain, but it would mist for a few minutes then get sunny. Then all of the sudden be misty again, then get sunny. We finished the tour by the Yarra river at 5:30. I got a little tired of it by the end, but most of it was very enjoyable and informative. We went shopping, made dinner, showered, and then went out when Philipp and Daniel got back from uni. We met a few of their friends and went to a cool underground bookstore bar (which would have been much cooler if I was 35 and made lots of money). Then we did heaps more walking around, walked up a ton of stairs to a rooftop bar. Then it started raining again, and we went home.
Friday May 15
Melissa, Sara and I woke up early for our Great Ocean Road tour. We started at the middle of the Great Ocean Road and then made our way back to the beginning (which is closer to Melbourne). Twelve Apostles was the first stop. There are actually only 8 apostles, because one fell in 2005 and there were only ever 9 to begin with, not 12. Next was Loch Ard Gorge. Both spots were very pretty, and there was a cool story about a shipwreck (of the Loch Ard ship, from which the Gorge gets its name). Our guide took us on a rainforest walk at Maits Rest, where he showed us 3000 year old tree ferns! And there were only two skinny tree ferns in the whole rainforest. We stopped a few other places, ate snacks and lunch, and in Apollos Bay tried some nasty Vegemite ice cream. After that, we stopped at place to see wild koalas!! They were so cute. I'm so relieved because I thought I was going to go my whole time in Australia without seeing a koala. A bird sat on Melissa's head too. I would've freaked if it landed on me.
On the bus, I was thinking about how much I've been on buses recently. This is literally the longest, best vacation ever. I've done so much cool stuff, and seen so many new things.
We got back late and were tired which was fine because the boys were out at a birthday party, so we just played cards and slept.
Saturday May 16
Went to Queen Victoria Market, a huge market with all kinds of food, souvenirs, shoes, everything. For lunch, we went to a place where you can pay as much as you want for your meal. I think its a mind trick because I probably would've paid more than my meal was actually worth because I felt like they were being nice for not telling me how much to pay. However, mine was randomly spicy so I didn't like it that much, and therefore didn't over pay. (I haven't mentioned this yet, but all kinds of food are randomly spicy here. I'm not a fan. I have grown to really despise food that is even a tiny bit spicy, because the most unexpected food that I really want to eat turns out to be spicy). After lunch we took the tram to St. Kilda's and walked around Luna Park and the beach (where the little penguins come at dusk). Didn't see any penguins though because we had to go home so Philipp and Daniel could prepare for their "hAUSSIE" (house + aussie, get it?) party. They live with 6 other people and have a pretty big house and patio so they can have a lot of people over. The party was fun, and some other girls from the New Zealand trip who were in Melbourne came! Unfortunately, someone popped our NZ sheep mascot that Philipp and Daniel had kept. Very sad.
Sunday May 17
Melissa left at 6am. The rest of us spent a very relaxed day napping and walking around Fitzroy, which is a hipstery town next to the CBD.
We were actually very lucky with the weather yesterday and today, it was around 70 and sunny, making me wish I actually brought shorts. Daniel and Philipp said it hasn't been this nice in a while.
Monday May 18
We had to be out of their house at 9 because a pest control guy came. So, we walked around and went up in a really nice hotel to see the view from the 33rd floor. Daniel left for class, Sara left to go home, Philipp and I got lunch and then I got my bus back to the airport too. I feel like I haven't been to school in years.
Tuesday May 19
All my senior friends at Lehigh graduated yesterday! I can't believe it! I skyped Ben to talk about it and then, get this, we watched a movie "together" while halfway across the world. I played a movie on my computer and shared my screen with him through Skype and it actually worked…technology these days…
Alana came to say hi for a few minutes when she got back from the Gold Coast at 10:30. Besides that I'm not even going to see her or my other friends here until next week, because I'm leaving again for Byron Bay tomorrow…I miss them.
Wednesday May 20
I bought my flight for Bali for study break! And it isn't Malaysia Air, thank god.
Today, Melissa and I were talking about how badly we want school to be over. However, given the choice between leaving Australia right now (assuming I'd pass all my classes) and staying for a month but having to finish my classes, I would obviously stay. I want to stay here forever. Except for missing my friends and family and Kita.
Tonight I am back at the airport. I'm pumped to go surfing again in Byron Bay, and see my fam peeps.
Thanks for reading! Cheers;)
Wednesday May 13
For my Planet Earth practical today, we took a field trip to Port Kembla to do rock mapping. It was really cold and windy and raining and the waves were breaking and splashing us and coming up onto the grid we were supposed to be mapping. So every 30 seconds we would all have to jump up on the dyke to avoid the water (dykes stick up a bit because they are igneous intrusions and therefore harder, and harder to erode <-- rock knowledge that I'm learning). Thankfully one of my group mates lives at Campus East and drove us back so we didn't have to wait for the bus.
Then I packed up my last few things and left for the train/airport with Melissa. Apparently the terrorist alert level in Melbourne is high, so that's really good…glad I'm going. There were about 20 people on our flight and they had to beg people to sit in the emergency rows, which we were already in. We sat next to a guy who heard us talking about crew and started talking to us about it and literally didn't stop talking for the rest of the flight. Got to the airport at 11, then needed a bus and Uber to get to Philipp and Daniel's. They had One Direction sheets, because those were the cheapest they could find when they first got here, haha.
Thursday May 14
We went to the Melbourne Museum in the morning for a few hours, then the boys had to go to uni. Sara, Melissa and I did a free walking tour for 3 hours. The tour guide was really good and peppy and I learned a lot about Melbourne. She said all the best places to go and things to do are either secret or hidden. Which mostly are in lane ways. To me, these are the sketchy little alleyways with graffiti, but to Melbournians they are where all the good art, cafes, restaurants and bars are. She also told us about the rivalry between Melbourne and Sydney. They fought over who would be the capital of Australia for years, but could never decide. So instead of choosing one, they placed Canberra geographically in the center of Melbourne and Sydney and made that the capital. Melbourne has had a few nicknames throughout it's history including Marvelous Melbourne (during gold rush/expansion), Smellbourne (when the Yarra river got really gross and polluted), and Melbs (bogan). One of the founders of Melbourne's last names was Batman, so it could'e been named Batmania. We also visited the Melbourne jail. Only, in Australia they spell jail "gaol".
All day, the weather was extremely random. It would never straight up rain, but it would mist for a few minutes then get sunny. Then all of the sudden be misty again, then get sunny. We finished the tour by the Yarra river at 5:30. I got a little tired of it by the end, but most of it was very enjoyable and informative. We went shopping, made dinner, showered, and then went out when Philipp and Daniel got back from uni. We met a few of their friends and went to a cool underground bookstore bar (which would have been much cooler if I was 35 and made lots of money). Then we did heaps more walking around, walked up a ton of stairs to a rooftop bar. Then it started raining again, and we went home.
Friday May 15
Melissa, Sara and I woke up early for our Great Ocean Road tour. We started at the middle of the Great Ocean Road and then made our way back to the beginning (which is closer to Melbourne). Twelve Apostles was the first stop. There are actually only 8 apostles, because one fell in 2005 and there were only ever 9 to begin with, not 12. Next was Loch Ard Gorge. Both spots were very pretty, and there was a cool story about a shipwreck (of the Loch Ard ship, from which the Gorge gets its name). Our guide took us on a rainforest walk at Maits Rest, where he showed us 3000 year old tree ferns! And there were only two skinny tree ferns in the whole rainforest. We stopped a few other places, ate snacks and lunch, and in Apollos Bay tried some nasty Vegemite ice cream. After that, we stopped at place to see wild koalas!! They were so cute. I'm so relieved because I thought I was going to go my whole time in Australia without seeing a koala. A bird sat on Melissa's head too. I would've freaked if it landed on me.
On the bus, I was thinking about how much I've been on buses recently. This is literally the longest, best vacation ever. I've done so much cool stuff, and seen so many new things.
We got back late and were tired which was fine because the boys were out at a birthday party, so we just played cards and slept.
Saturday May 16
Went to Queen Victoria Market, a huge market with all kinds of food, souvenirs, shoes, everything. For lunch, we went to a place where you can pay as much as you want for your meal. I think its a mind trick because I probably would've paid more than my meal was actually worth because I felt like they were being nice for not telling me how much to pay. However, mine was randomly spicy so I didn't like it that much, and therefore didn't over pay. (I haven't mentioned this yet, but all kinds of food are randomly spicy here. I'm not a fan. I have grown to really despise food that is even a tiny bit spicy, because the most unexpected food that I really want to eat turns out to be spicy). After lunch we took the tram to St. Kilda's and walked around Luna Park and the beach (where the little penguins come at dusk). Didn't see any penguins though because we had to go home so Philipp and Daniel could prepare for their "hAUSSIE" (house + aussie, get it?) party. They live with 6 other people and have a pretty big house and patio so they can have a lot of people over. The party was fun, and some other girls from the New Zealand trip who were in Melbourne came! Unfortunately, someone popped our NZ sheep mascot that Philipp and Daniel had kept. Very sad.
Sunday May 17
Melissa left at 6am. The rest of us spent a very relaxed day napping and walking around Fitzroy, which is a hipstery town next to the CBD.
We were actually very lucky with the weather yesterday and today, it was around 70 and sunny, making me wish I actually brought shorts. Daniel and Philipp said it hasn't been this nice in a while.
Monday May 18
We had to be out of their house at 9 because a pest control guy came. So, we walked around and went up in a really nice hotel to see the view from the 33rd floor. Daniel left for class, Sara left to go home, Philipp and I got lunch and then I got my bus back to the airport too. I feel like I haven't been to school in years.
Tuesday May 19
All my senior friends at Lehigh graduated yesterday! I can't believe it! I skyped Ben to talk about it and then, get this, we watched a movie "together" while halfway across the world. I played a movie on my computer and shared my screen with him through Skype and it actually worked…technology these days…
Alana came to say hi for a few minutes when she got back from the Gold Coast at 10:30. Besides that I'm not even going to see her or my other friends here until next week, because I'm leaving again for Byron Bay tomorrow…I miss them.
Wednesday May 20
I bought my flight for Bali for study break! And it isn't Malaysia Air, thank god.
Today, Melissa and I were talking about how badly we want school to be over. However, given the choice between leaving Australia right now (assuming I'd pass all my classes) and staying for a month but having to finish my classes, I would obviously stay. I want to stay here forever. Except for missing my friends and family and Kita.
Tonight I am back at the airport. I'm pumped to go surfing again in Byron Bay, and see my fam peeps.
Thanks for reading! Cheers;)