Well I'm still in Kalgoorlie, so much for only staying here three nights untill the next train. I realise now that I made a big mistake when I first arrived here. I listened to other people's judgements of the place, people who hadn't even stayed here. There really isn't much to do here in the way of sightseeing, once you've done the tour then thats it really but its the people I've met here that have made it all worthwhile!!! So lets start the Kal experience from the start! Sunday - arrived at 10.20pm, was met at the station by Karika who runs the backpackers. After a quick tour of the hostel, I went to bed. Monday - Had a lazy morning, wandered into town to look round and get my bearings. Did some food shopping and headed back to the hostel. When I went into the kitchen to make my dinner (tea), it was a bit intimadating at first. The place was full of blokes in overalls who had all just finished work. My plan was to cook, eat and then disappear to the safety of my room. As I headed for the table, a chair was pulled out for me by a big Maori guy and introductions were made. Wiseman then introduced me to just about everyone who walked through the kitchen door. An hour later, I was still sat there, feeling at lot more relaxed and eating Frenchie's ice cream!! I was then sent to the dvd room armed with a copy of Once Were Warriors (Maori film) and presented with an easter egg. Tuesday - Wandered into town to buy some new jeans, seeing as I'd ripped my last pair while sandboarding. Booked myself on one of the Goldrush tours then headed for the hostel. A few of us headed to the cinema in the evening to watch the Da Vinci Code. Poanna drove us there and we all piled into Daniel's car to come home. Sat and watched a dvd with Dave while he tried to persuade me to stay till the weekend. If I said he used gentle persuasion, then I'd be lying, he beltered he over the head with a cushion!! Wednesday - Supposed to be my last day in Kal but I ended up changing my train and hostel reservations so I could stay untill Sunday. The promise of seeing Wayne dance on Saturday was just too much to resist!! Went on a tour of Kal, Boulder, saw the big hole in the ground (Superpit) and went to a mining museum. I spent an hour underground in an old mine and tried to pan for gold but didn't find any!! Went to Paddy's bar with Wiseman, Frenchie and John to watch a rugby league game. The boys insisted on buying all my drinks (I was politely told to sit down when I offered to get a round). Luckily for me, we were only having a "quiet night". On arrival back at the hostel I decided to swap all the fella's work boots around so that none of them were in pairs (I still maintain that I did not do this all on my own, I could have sworn I had help) before heading in the general direction of my room and passing out in the bathroom with my head in the toilet. Thursday - woke up late morning (I had managed to find my bed after my nap in the bathroom) feeling very sorry for myself. Just about managed to have a shower and got dressed before spending the day watching tv and sleeping on my bed. The only food I managed was two pieces of dry toast that I scrounged of Wiseman. I had learnt a valuable lesson, I can not match the boys drink for drink even on a quiet night, won't be making that mistake again. Ilse had been feeling a bit down so when she suggested a trip to Paddy's, my obvious answer was yes! (well I couldn't leave her on her own with all those blokes, could I?). We danced till the early hours then were driven home to the sounds of Bob Marley. When we arrived back at the hostel we were all mid song so Dave was made to keep driving round the block till we had finished singing!! Friday - Again another lazy day, just sleeping and watching tv. Spent the evening in the kitchen with some of the boys and a crate of woodstock and cola!!! Saturday - In the afternoon, a load of us headed up to Paddy's to watch the Super 14's final between the Hurricanes and the Crusaders. Then it was back to the hostel to grab some dinner before heading over to Boulder to watch the Kalgoorlie stormers take on Boulder (local rugby union). A few of the lads from the hostel play for the stormers so we went to show our support. After a convincing win, it was again back to the hostel to get changed before I hit the town (well Paddy's anyway) with Ilse. Eventually most of the hostel turned up and I partied till kicking out at 3am. Sunday - A coupe of us headed to the Star and Garter hotel for lunch and to play pool. Wiseman and Netana tried (unsuccessfully) to get me to eat some of their traditional Maori boil up at dinner time. In the evening I went with Wiseman to visit his mate (Dj Tipz) who burned me some cds, including Bob Marley which is the soundtrack to my time in Kal!! Said some goodbyes then it was off to the station with Karika. I was on the train by 11.20pm, leaving Kal at 1.40am. When I first arrived in Kal and was getting off the train and everyone I'd talked to on the journey was laughing and trying to persuade me just to get back on the train, a Swiss girl said to me "do you believe in fate"? I'm glad it was her advice I'd listened too and not theirs!!!