29/04/09: We got bus at 1.10, I was well chuffed cos while we was walking to the bus station we was stopped by an old couple who asked how much my bag weighed and said I was carrying it beautifully. Only a short- 1 hour- drive to Yass where we got off and got on another coach for Melbourne. It was a long day- we didnt arrive till gone 10.30. We watched Stardust on the bus and then I looked out the window at the really dry, barren land. There was an amazin sunset and then there was 100s of stars which was cool. We was starving and the bus finally stopped for a meal break at 6.30. But instead of stopping at one of the nice service stations with Subways, etc, it stopped at a tiny cafe which had hardly anything and was really expensive!! I ended up with a crappy salad roll but when I opened it then it was all soggy on the bottom so I got my money back and ended up with a packet of crisps!! the driver put on Wild Hogs but it was crap so I slept a while and then we finally arrived at 10.40. We had to get the metro to the station near our hostel, which we navigated rather well. It is called the Clarence Hotel and rather posh. We checked in and then I crashed- the room was freezing though!

30/04/09: We slept through breakfast. Got up late and got ready while watching tv- still no confirmed cases of Swine flu in australia, fingers crossed!! Then we headed out to explore- blue skies and very sunny. We stopped at bakers up the road and I got a cheese and tomato toastie but they seemed to forget to charge me so I left. We walked through the botanic gardens to where all the stadiums are- they are quite impressive. We then walked along to Federation Square and to the Tourist Info centre. Melbourne seems pretty cool. We walked through the back streets which are the best shops and food places- we got a chinese buffet for $8 (4 pound) eat all you can. We walked around for a while then sat by the river and started looking through the brochures we'd picked up- the weather was lovely- blue skies and quite warm. But I felt really rough- stomach ache, head ache, a bit sick, tired and runny nose (we did worry I was gonna be the first case of Swine flu). So we went back to hotel and I slept for a few hours which was handy cos lil alex done all the washing (we had both run out of clothes and I'd had on the same socks for a week!!). I felt a bit better when I woke up but still not great so we went through brochures and decided what to do while here cos we'll be here now til we leave on the 12th- although dunno if i wanna go to Thailand if theres gonna be a flu pandemic (cant imagine they'll be as prepared as Oz or UK).

1/5/09: May already- 10 days til Vics birthday and 14 til dads! We were up early (I felt much better today) and went down for the free breakfast- toast, cereal, juice and fruit!! There has been a school staying here so there was 100's of kids at breakfast. We got ready and I booked a Great Ocean Road Tour for Monday. We then got the metro to the centre where we walked all around the shops and saw a Jazz festival in the centre but it sounded like kids playing with instruments so we moved on and found a food court for lunch- had nice jacket potatoes with salad. We walked around the rest of the centre looking for the bit with bars and clubs but all we saw was a lot of Mens clubs!!! Come back to hostel and went on internet before heading out again- we walked 5 minutes in other direction of hostel and found a really busy street with loads of shops and restraurants- its quite cool and a bit more alternative than the main stream part of the city. We walked for ages and ended up at the sea- we walked out along pier and could look back onto the city and watch the sunset- it was really beautiful. Then we walked back and stopped at a bar for a cider and a pint. Then grabbed a Subway on the way back to the hotel. The Great Ocean Road tour is a day trip along the Great Ocean Road stopping at some of the beaches and rock formations and rainforest and waterfalls, etc.

2/5/09: Up at 8.30 for free breakfast again. A beautiful sunny day with no clouds so we walked into the centre and to the tallest residential building in the southern hemisphere- Eureka Skydeck 88. We got a lift up 88 levels and then looked all round over the city and out to sea, etc. Then we walked around town for a while and got lunch at a foodcourt- I had a panini thing and lil alex had KFC. We walked along the river and sat in the sun and read and watched a lot of rowers. Then we walked to the Botanic Gardens and sat in the sun reading. Several people were getting married there. Lots of Sports fans about cos there was a game today- we might go next weekend. We went to supermarket and then come back to hostel. Had showers and finished the Da Vinci Code- it was quite good- film on tv tonight so that will be an interesting comparison. Visited a shrine of rememberance in park today for the WW1 and WW2 people, it had a small museum - they really honour and respect their soldiers, etc. Had falafel kebab from over the road for tea and then got cosy to watch Da Vinci Code- the book is better than the film!!!

3/5/09: Went down for the free breakfast and then got ready and got a train ticket which includes all zones all day for $3.10 (1.55 pound). We headed first to Victoria Market which is a massive market that sells all sorts- clothes, jewellery, toys, souvenirs, etc and then also has a big fruit and veg section and another section with all meat and cheeses and pies, etc. It was the biggest I've ever seen but didnt buy anything except some strawberries and a salad wrap for lunch. Then we walked to the Prison musuem but decided not to pay and actually go in- maybe another day!? A huge protest going on which we had a nosy at and then caught the free city loop tram which goes around the centre and tells you about all the buildings, etc. We got off at the Docklands where there was another little market and then a new shopping street which we looked around- it was a rather posh area with all new apartments over the water. We then got the train to where all the stadiums are and walked through to the Botanic Gardens where we sat in the park for 15 minutes (I must of sat in an ants nest cos i got covered) then it was getting late and so we mooched back. Early start tomorrow- 6.50am- so not doing much tonight. We went and got a pizza to share and packed our bags then I started a new book and lil alex watched a bit of Borat before bed.

4/5/09: 6 days Vic!!! We got up at 6 (a killer) and got ready and made time for a quick free breakfast which luckily started at 6.30 before being picked up at 6.50 by Wild Wombat Escapes company for our Great Ocean Road bus tour. We first had to pick up some more people so a quick tour around Melbournes hotels- only 11 on tour tho and they were all ok except two annoying hermans!! Then we set off and made a couple of short stops overlooking the sea and a famous surf beach for pics and drinks and biscuits. Then we went to the lighthouse from Round the Twist (the kids programme me and smell loved)!!! Weather cloudy and drizzly but cleared up as day went on. Next we went to cafe where we fed cool birds and saw wild koalas- also saw lots of wild kangaroos. Several more brief stops for pictures and then we went on a rainforest walk and had a free lunch of salad wraps. Next we went to the 12 Apostles and saw the big stacks (big stone columns randomly standing in sea). We also saw island arc- another stack with a hole under it. Then we went to Loch Ard Gorge- which was a bay with caves. Then we ended up at London Bridge- more stack like things. Then we had the long drive back. A lot of driving and a weird bus driver who spent half the time talking about how rubbish the other companys are and the other half talking about the most random things- but he also gave some interesting information. Got back about 7.45- knackered. Great news about Norwich!!! We popped to the shop and then crashed.

5/5/09: 5 days Vic! We got up just in time for breakfast and then got ready and got the metro into the centre where we went to the Immigration museum- it was quite interesting- all about how they spent the last couple of hundred years encouraging people to come- mainly the English. It had several stories about individual people who have emigrated over the years for various reasons, etc. We spent a couple of hours there then lil alex went to find the Global Gossip internet place cos you cant download photos on the computers in our hotel. So there is now new photos- although there are still the ones from the trip yesterday to put on cos he run out of time. While I went and sat on the river bank cos it was a lovely sunny day- I read my book and watched kids learning to row. Then one of the guys from our trip yesterday come and sat on the bank too so I started chatting to him bout the trip and the rest of our travels cos he has been to singapore and thailand several times. Lil alex come and met us shortly afterwards. Then me and lil alex went and grabbed a late lunch and went to sit in the park for a while. Time was getting on and it was getting chilly as the sun went down so we walked back and went to supermarket. Lil alex is determined to get up for footie at 4.30am- so not doin much tonight. We watched some Oz tv- their version of 10 years younger, etc. Had a tin of peas and sweetcorn and a tub of potato salad for tea with a watermelon slice and kiwi- random!!!

6/5/09: Lil alex did manage to get up at 4.30 for the Arsenal v Man utd game but says he wishes he didnt bother. He come back to bed and slept through breakfast but I didnt miss it- couldnt miss free food!! Then we got ready and headed to the Melbourne Cricket Ground to find out about tours. Weather was quite cloudy all day. We got a tour of the MCG and entrance to the Australian Museum of Sport for $15 (7.50pounds)- bargain!! We had a guided tour all around the stadium, including standing on the pitch, going in the stands, changing rooms, media rooms, members lounges, etc. It was quite interesting- the stadium is used for cricket in their summer and transformed for Aussie Rules Football in the winter. Then we went to the sports museum- which was surprisingly interesting, spent a couple of hours looking round. Dad would of loved it!!! It was about 2.30 by the time we had finished so we walked into the city centre and got lunch- I had jacket potato. Then we walked to another park place and looked at a model village England gave to Melbourne after the war to say thanks for giving us food. Plus we saw the oldest house in Australia that Captain Cook had shipped over from England. We then had a long walk back to hotel. Went on internet, had showers, brought some snacks and watched some aussie tv.

7/5/09: 3 days!! We were both up for breakfast. Got ready and headed out- we'd decided to have quite a chilled day cos we are knackered from all the walking we do everyday and we still have a few days to see the last few sights. The weather was really drizzly too. We walked to a big shopping centre in the middle of the city- we looked around but were both too tight to buy anything except some lunch from the foodcourt. Then we found an internet place where lil alex could upload more photos- should be some more now!! We got train back to hotel and then went cinema to see Defiance in the evening. It is a really sad film but really good. We come back and lil alex got Subway, then watched some tv and read.

8/5/09: Only 2 sleeps!! Glad you enjoyed Jimmy Carr!! We were up for breakfast and then had a relaxed morning getting ready before heading out- Lil alex had decided to do a brewery tour but I wasnt fussed about it so decided to do the Prison tour. We got the train together and lil alex walked me to the prison cos i'm hopeless at directions then he got another train to where his brewery was. First I done the Crime and Justice experience where we all got given a factsheet about our criminal character (I was being arrested for possession of drugs) and then a pretend sergant acted out what it would be like if were really being arrested. We were logged in a big book by being asked lots of questions, like age, tattoos, piercings, etc. Had mugshots taken. Then we played Sergant Says... which was used to pretend search us. Then we were divided up and locked in cells then we had lockdown and all the lights went out. Then we were allowed exercise time to look around that part of the museum. The cells still had all the graffitti from when it was really used. Then I went and looked around one of the wings which is a museum about some of the 135 people who were hung there, including Ned Kelly, plus it has information on prison life, etc. It was open from 1845-1924, then reopened briefly during WW2. It was really interesting. Then I walked back to the station where there is a foodcourt- so I had pizza for lunch. Then treated myself to a top I saw yesterday. Then I got a few supplies from the supermarket before heading back on the train. I sat and read paper and lil alex was back shortly after. He had really enjoyed his brewery tour- he had been shown all around the brewery- they make 2million litres of beer there everyday. But I think his favourite bit was the 3 free beers he got at the end. He said the location was really awful tho with all prostitutes on the streets and people doing drugs on the streets! We had showers and then got cosy to watch Monster-in-law.

9/5/09: Only 1 day vic!! Happy birthday today to Emily! We are running out of things to do in Melbourne now and keen to move on to new and warmer climates. We had breakfast and got ready- the weather was pretty dull again but we decided to walk to St Kilda (the beach) along the shopping streets near us. We had a leisurely stroll down, stopping at Prahan Market for a look around. Then headed back but lil alex had forgotten his trusted map so we got totally lost and ended up in a Jewish community- there was dozens of blokes with the top hats and long black coats and long beards and young boys with the cloth caps, etc. Eventually we found the main shopping street again. We went to the supermarket then to a foodcourt for a late lunch cos we was knackered from walking so far by then. We then walked the rest of the way back- my feet were actually bleeding when we arrived back!! We watched some of an Aussie football game on tv- it was being played at the MCG- who needs to pay $55 for a ticket to go in real life!? I read lots of my book and lil alex watched a film called Wolf Creek about 2 english backpackers in Oz Outback who get kidnapped and tortured and murdered- its based on a true story- lucky we leave soon!

10/05/09: HaPpY BiRtHdAy AuNtIe ViCkY!!!!!!! We were up for breakfast and got ready and booked our airport shuttle at reception. Then we got the cheap sunday railcard and went to Victoria Market to buy some souvenirs and presents!! We got a few cool bits then got some lunch and fruit from the food section. We went on a mission to find the Defiance book for lil alex- we succeeded! We walked to Federation Square and watched some street performers and there was a russian fair thing going on so we looked around some stalls and watched some russian dancing and singing! The weather was sunny for a change so we went and sat by the river and read for a while. Then we got the train back. I went out and got Subway for tea, lil alex had a microwavable curry.

11/5/09: (haha, no vic we were not on trampolines and glad u had a good birthday) Dads birthday countdown now- 3 days!! Our final full day in Australia- scary!! We were up for breakfast and then made a start on getting organised and packed- cos we have been in the same room for 2 weeks we'd started making ourselves at home. Then we headed out for a walk- the weather turned really bright so we took our books to the botanic gardens and read for a while. Then we walked back and had a final look down the main shopping street near us. We got lunch from the foodcourt. We stopped at an Irish pub for an aussie farewell drink in the sunny pub garden. Then we came back to the hotel to finish packing and get ready to leave tomorrow- we are getting picked up by an airport shuttle bus from hotel at 11.30 and fly at 3.30, arriving in Singapore at 9.30 local time but we already have hostel booked there. Glad to be leaving Australia, not as good as New Zealand, but would like to come back one day and explore the Outback.