After leaving Adelaide for the last time it was back on the road (to be correct I should say air) and got my flight to the nations capital, Canberra. After researching and hearing various thing from people, I had the preconception that the place would be a boring, heartless city. As we landed it began to rain and I thought that this would make a miserable time here and that evening I walked round and my initial feeling that this was really a city with no identity. The reason for this is because the place is no more than 100 years old and only came about as Sydney and Melbourne could not decide who would be the capital after Australia's federationand this place was built as a compromise.

Next day I decided to hit the museums and first on my mind was to go to the war memorial where I heard a new exhibition had opened for all conflicts Australia had been in from 1945 which includes Korea, Vietnam and as up to date as Iraq and Afghanistan. The place was sensational I have to say and the exhibits very interesting. So much so I spent near enough five hours there! The most emotional part of this place is the Role of Honour detailing all Australians who died in conflict and seeing the walls of names was a sobering reminder of the great sacrifice the Commonwealth made on past conflicts especially the Great War where this had an entire wall for the four years of bloodshed.

Next Day I went to Parliament House to see where the nations interests are heard and decided. The buildingwas simply spectacular and no better words can be given for its size and splendor. Opened in 1982 each room of the building was designed as a different Australian environment for example the foyer was based on a eucalypt forest and had green marble on the pillars representing trees and also where possible they used Australian materials. I had a good look there and thanks to a highly knowledgeable tour guide, I know understand what Australia is.

After I went to old Parliament House which was built in 1927 to house the nations politics until a permanent place was built and the place stopped being the place of debate when the new, bigger and all together more impressive house was built.

That evening I got my fix of rugby and saw the Super XV game with the ACT Brumbies playing the Queensland Reds. Somehow I got seats right next to the tunnel on the half way line and with great seats, I enjoyed a good game of rugby where the home team The Brumbies came out the victors winning some 43-11

Next day I decided to walk round to the Australia National Museum with it being such a glorious day and mad my way along the lake to see Cook's Fountain which was impressively high before strolling to the museum. The museum is to show a history of Australian life detailing the unique environment and also Australian culture like their proud Victa lawn mowers. The building itself was again very impressive and oddly shaped but the shame was a lot of exhibits were changing so much of it was closed off but all in all a good way to end my time in the capital.

Next day, I yet again jumped on a flight to Melbourne and spend my last few days enjoying my second favourite city.