Hi everyone! Just returned from sophisticated Melbourne where Char and I spent a week soaking up the museums, galleries, cool cafes, yummy restaurants and the fabulous shops. For this time I decided to forgo backpacking and heartily embrace my love of flashpacking. After partying in Sydney, Char and I flew to Melbourne and after the coldest shuttle bus ever, took a taxi (a treat for me!) to St Kildas. St Kildas is a very cool Melbourne suburb, complete with copious amounts of cafes and cake shops. We chilled out for a couple of days here, enjoying the beach by day and bars by night. In St Kilda's we stayed at base backpackers, which is like a backpacker factory, very large, a bit clinical in the name of cool and complete with pole dancing and wet t.shirt competitions in its bar - Char was in her element!!! After this, we headed into the CBD and stayed in Char's stepdad's apartment. For me it was a real novelty to be back in civilisation again. So quiet, so clean, comfy sofas, no queuing for the bathroom - wonderful! From here, we explored the nightlife of the Fitzroy suburb which is very similar to Old Street in London as well as donning our tourist hats and visiting the brilliant immigration museum and federation square. After Char left, I took a very cheesy, but essential when in Melbourne, Neighbours tour of Ramsey Street and Erinsborough High School. The school is a working school, not just a set, so as its school holidays here, we were able to easily wander around it. Ramsey Street itself was far shorter than I imagined, but with the exception of a very dominant building in the background that is never shown on the soap, everything was exactly as you see it on screen. I really liked Melbourne and it is easy to see why so many people prefer it to Sydney. Melbourne is definitely more sophisticated, more relaxed and friendlier than Sydney. I'm now back 'crap-packing' my way up the coast via the greyhound bus. Am in Bondi Sydney until mid next week and then off to Byron Bay for some intensive Yoga, and then to Surfers Paradise. Can't wait!