Up nice and early for our flight to Melbourne, said goodbye to Home Backpackers (good hostel) Jo said her emotional goodbyes to the free toast and Jam! On arrival at Sydney airport a quick look at the board showed plenty of flights to Melbourne……. None of them ours! After discreetly checking we were not idiots turning up on the wrong day we walked over to the Virgin Blue information desk to ask what was happening, by the look on her face she had no idea but told us to queue up and check in at any Virgin Blue desk in a rather blarzay fashion…….. oh well turned out ok and landed in Melbourne shortly after lunchtime with our backpacks thankfully still in tow!

We accepted the first shuttle bus that came our way and for $15pp were driven straight to the front door of the YHA Oasis, this was a nice clean hostel that was in North Melbourne but turned out to be a 50 minute walk into the CBD….. We know this because we stupidly suggested going for a ‘little’ walk in the midday heat (in flip flops!!)….. And two hours later shattered and with aching feet arrived back at the YHA with a tin of beans from the local shop for our dinner! An early night followed!

After meeting Paul and Andy (Craig’s friends) we ventured out once again towards Melbourne CBD this time we cleverly purchased a tram ticket that shortened the journey to a comfortable 10 minutes, a quick stop at Subway for breakfast and a plan of action was produced…… we decided to head to St Kilda in South Melbourne with a brief stop at Federation Square. On the tram to St Kilda some girl decided to grab my crotch in broad daylight……. Well, what actually happened was a conductor boarded to check tickets and issue fines, as she did not have one an immediate great escape plan must have crossed her mind and up she jumped in the direction of the door slipping as soon as she got to her feet grabbing my crotch (for support maybe!?) She ended up getting away with it probably because of the confusion caused by her embarrassing fall!

We were going to spend the day at Luna Park but much to Jo’s disappointment it was shut so a walk along the beach presented an equally appealing activity….. a bar in the sun! Several beers for the boys and a bit too much wine for Jo later we realised we had 40 minutes to catch two trams back to the hostel, shower and get changed before catching a taxi back into town to meet Jo’s friends…. Not that she was short of any after her friend making ability kicked into overdrive on the tram post wine!

A pleasant Greek meal and an evening at a city roof top bar with more drinks… not that we needed any (well jo anyway) before a stint in the Casino rewarded Jo with a whopping $2 profit!

The next night we went to the Ice Bar where everything is made of ice including the glasses you drink from…… even the furniture you sit on! It was very cool experience (no pun intended)! You only get 30 mins but it’s more than enough! A very tasty chinese before hitting the sack!

Leaving Melbourne tomorrow for campervan fun!