17th Jan - So time to leave the chaos of Sydney behind me to make my way to Melbourne via a few other places. Today i visited the quiet capital that is Canberra. Got there and had a tour/look around the parliment house, which was a very impressive building, stunning to the eye and lots of australian - ity's. Canberra was an interesting place, the quietest capital i've ever seen. Apparently it was purposely built purely to be the capital, because Sydney and Melbourne were argueing over it. So the whole place is just government based buildings and workers. Also learnt about a president they had that they had apparently lost. He'd gone for a swim in the sea and disappeared!! Only in Australia (and maybe USA). That afternoon i checked into the hostel, which was a 'Youth Hostel Association' place which was alot quieter than alot i've been to but was nice, as my brain had been stirring quicker than Usain Bolt!! I went for a wander around town late that afternoon, and it was strangly dead. It was like a Zombie town there was hardly anyone around except between 12-1 and 5-6. And then it just looked like a zombie parade, but with the zombie's being designed by Armarni or something. That night chilled out and read with some people from my room in the hostel and literally bedded early, happy days!

18th Jan - Today i went to the National Art Museum, which was pretty stunning place, with lots of different types of art, Lichensteins and a really good street art exhibit. Generally just milaised around the town. That night was reading alot again before going to check out the Kareoke in the bar next door with 2 girls from my room, it was terrible, just had the same 4 people going up time and time again. You know the ones the people who think they can sing so dominate the stage, through complete ignorance and bad friends (good friends would tell them they suck!). So didn't stay long and just left to go to bed, which was what was needed.

19th - Was leaving Canberra today but not before checking out Canberra's impressive war memorials. Was a very impressive walk up to the museum with monuments remembering all the war's that Australia and New Zealand have been in, was very moving going around the museum and up the parade to it. Got back and got stuff ready to leave, back on the Oz bus to a place called 'Thredbo'. Thredbo was a stunning place, in the middle of a valley, was a ski resort, but obviously no snow due to the season. Some emphatic scenery though with beautifal mountains towering over you either side. The hostel had a like german feel to it, with big stein glasses and decor. We all had a jacuzzi and it was actually a bit nippy, just at the heels. That night we all hung out together got to know all the new people on my bus, through beers and a few shots up on the mountains where the hostel was. Was a good night.

20th Jan - Hiked to the highest mountain in Australia today, Mt Kusciuko only 2080m though. Was amazing scenery though, with mountains all around once we got to the top and some epic photos along with 'A SHED LOAD OF FLIES'. Seriously, if there was a 'Lord of the flies' this is where he'd live, amongst these hundreds of flies everywhere, i'd like to say it wasn't the heat doing it, but everyone else was getting covered in flies as well, i thought i might've been covered in sugar but nope. Left Thredbo, to head for 'Lakes Entrance', got there just before sunset, checked into hostel, then legged it to 90 mile beach to try and catch the sunset. We caught a bit of it and it was stunning orange fire burning on the horizon. Then went to the beach with some drinks and hung out there for a bit. We also so the moon which was huge compared to normal, looked like someone had roped it in. There were people fishing and still swimming in the beach, which just seemed endless either side, you couldn't see the edges, infinity. had a few drinks that night, before being asked to leave the hostel drinking area and 'go to the park' if we want to keep drinking. Haven't been drinking in a park since i was 15 (only joking mum and dad i was much older than that! hhmmmm), felt like i was keeping an eye out for cops all the time. Was good fun before getting some sleep afterwards.

21st Jan - Headed to Melbourne today, had to get up extraordinarily early (not gonna miss that). I was just in automatic mode, could've done it with my eyes closed, but managed. On way went to Wilsons Promotory Park, where we went to 'Squeky beach' with a bit of a hike as well. Stunning peak, where you could see the beach on the other side. Not everyone did the hike, some of the lazier people just stayed on the beach. Don't really understand why you'd come all this way to not do things, especially when its free...c'moN!!! I've seen less ignorance in US politicions. We then went to Melbourne, a lovely 7 hour drive. Got picked up by family friend that night to go to Carrum Downs in the suburbs for 2 nights. On the way we stoped for food and i finally tried kangaroo, which i actually thought was really nicce, a bit like lamb. That night chilled out and had an early night, which was well needed. Ready to face Melbourne in my last week abroad!! Scary s***!!