Alrighty time for another short story of how I'm cruising in the Southern Hemisphere.

I have just come out of my last exam, which was dreadful - but I think I managed a pass if not a little higher. Marine Geoscience sucks. But huzzah, summer-holiday in Australia!

I must say, I feel like I earned it. Which is ridiculous, because I only had two exams and zero classes. Nontheless, I am very glad to be done and Superduper excited for New Zealand!!!! Yes, I'm going to Middle Earth this Monday. It's going to be a little bit colder there than in Sydney, but that's ok (never thought I would miss Holland's temperate climate, I blame Sydney's humidity - everything is so clammy!). I bought myself a high-tech lightweight raincoat (aren't you proud parents?) and am all set to go! Summer in NZ is equivalent to Dutch summer, so my motto is 'prepared for anything'.

In between my last classes and exam period (yes, there is a separate period for it here) I ignored my studies and basked in my laziness in Melbourne! The Cultural Capital of Australia - or so it is lovingly named by its citizens. If I had to recommend any city to live in in Australia, it would be Melbourne (Sydney gets second place). It's just more gezellig than Sydney, more relaxed, less business center. According to Bas, who accompanied me there, Sydney is more like American cities, whereas Melbourne has a more European feeling with its random architecture. Maybe that's why I felt at home there? Sydney does have better climates en beaches though… it's a close call ^^ I love both!

Me, Bas and Julia (my housemate) also took a day-tour of the Great Ocean road when we were down there. As many other things in Australia, this road is very accurately names. It's Great and it snakes 243 km along the shore giving glorious views of the Southern Ocean and it's coast. Apparently, it's the world's largest War Memorial - dedicated to WWI soldiers, as it was built by returning soldiers from that war who needed money. Australia has a massive amount of War Memorials everywhere. And not just little things, big in-your-face pyramid/Aztec temples! I mean, we have war memorials in Holland, but they're more subtle or something.. I have also seen a "War Memorial Playground" - who'd want to play there? I figure it might have something to do with the fact that the World Wars were not fought in Australia but overseas. People in Europe had to move on and rebuild from the devastations the wars left in their tracks. Maybe massive War Memorials were not necessary/painful? Anthropologically interesting.. Anyway, I derailed. The Great Ocean road is also very pretty!

Along the way are beautiful limestone rock formations and some neat wildlife spotting oppurtunies (Ooooommygoood a koalaaaaa!). Also, in St Kilda, a Melbourne suburb, we ventured onto a pier to spot a wild colony of penguins :D Apart from the crazy woman in our hostel and the disappointing overpriced Melbourne Prison Experience thing, it was absolutely fabulous. Oh well, I suppose crazy people give some character to your hostel experience. ^^ Also, we stayed in the middle of China town - Bas and me couldn't even thínk of eating noodles on the last day without throwing up (oh god the smell..)

So yeah, hopefully I'll be able to go to NZ this Monday and do all kinds of LotR related stuff (hehe). I say hopefully, because apparently Mount Doom has erupted and the volcanic ashes might throw some ash in my airplane food (dunglish ftw). "It's like raaaaiiiin on your wedding day…." However, it's looking good right now , so fingers crossed!

After that, I spend one more glorious week on the beaches in Sydney before heading off to my beloved cheese-land, where I will instantly freeze to death.

Zij die gaan sterven, groeten u.