After doing some shopping for some camping stuff and food we hit the permanent pool party at the backpackers (or so Lonely Planet book makes you believe). Believe it or not this is the first time on the trip we have just chilled by the pool (holiday from the holiday) complete with the Brits abroad crowd.

We are in pseudo traveller country, the people here 'travel' with huge suitcases containing extensive wardrobes. Shuttle buses wisk them from the door to the airport and tours bag them the sights for huge sums of money.

It seems that drinking in the many bars that line the streets is how you fit in - I always like to fit in. Armed with a jug of beer I started the process by the pool. Normally you are always having a chat with someone, but here it is hard work. It is like being in an elevator everybody just diverts eyes. I am sure that when you break through things will be OK but I didn't see anyone that I would like to chat with. Despite this the sun is shining and we could dangle our feet in the pool whilst watching people on the street below.

We found a place that could make a chick pea curry cheaper than you could make it yourself so after polishing off the jug we went out. There are lots of bars on Mitchell St but the prices were high so after checking out what bands were playing we headed back to the backpackers and the second jug. It is worth pointing out that the jugs are small and beer is weak so it felt like I had three pints in an English pub - no where near drunk.

This took us up to band starting time, relieved to get away from the backpackers we headed out. We walked up the strip and were soon handed a ticket for a free drink. Although the place was empty we headed in, but was soon stopped because I could not prove I was over 18 years old. In Australia like England it is the doormans discretion on judging your age so you had to conclude that the person didn't have any judgement.

Further down I went to open a door to a pub but was asked how much beer I had drunk. "Sufficient" was my response and after a warning to take it easy, let me in. I was confused "why, do I look drunk"? Liz was fuming but I needed a toilet so I went in.

Inside the gents I started a conversation with a couple of Ausies explaining what had happend. They seemed to have drunk more than me. He said "this is common, they will be watching you, if you talk to anyone else they will ask you to leave". Looking at my hat they said you need to lose that even though they said they liked it. The band was crap, and we didn't want to buy anything from here so we left.

After a rant on facebook we went to bed wishing we were back in friendly Vanuatu.