Walking through the streets of melbourne i cant help but wish i was here on a shopping holiday rather than as a traveller! Channel, loius vuitton, g-star to mention a few, each the size of debenhams alone!

I made my way up to the Melbourne museum where I explored yet more Aboriginal culture! Each of the stories are heart breaking as even if White men didn't massacre the people, aboriginals often died of the diseases they brought!

I was also fortunate enough to see Phar laps Hyde and a true replica of himself! Costing just £168 as a 2 year old, many thought his gangly structure wouldn't cut it on the race track! Although his trainer and strapper, tommy had faith in his British blood lines and never doubted him! Winning the Melbourne cup a record 3 times, he was taken to Mexico as a 4 year old to race against the best on the international field! A short time after winning his race, tommy noticed he wasn't looking too good in his stable and a few hours later, he was dead! Australia went into mourning as the 1930s was a time when radio and televisions were becoming mainstream so households felt a real connection to the wondrous galloper! Arsenic was found in his system although in those days, it was often given to animals as a stimulant so although many conspiracy theories exist, it may have been a simple case of tommy supplying the wrong dose! His excellent confirmation and his heart, twice the size of an average horse heart, aswell as his sheer determination all played their part in phar lap becoming the best there ever was! His heart is showcased at Canberra and his skeleton at new Zealand where he was bred!

I then visited the Mind and body gallery before getting kicked out as the closing time had passed!

Salmon and sun dried tomatoes pasta and a Pinot at cafe andiamo wet down well before making my way home in the downpour! Seems this weather is following me!