This was the second term break we had in the year and on the second week of the holidays, Siiri and I decided to go to Adelaide and Melbourne from the 1st of July to the 9th of July. We thought it was a good idea to actually go to Melbourne to Adelaide via the Great Ocean Rd. We departed Brisbane Airport at 8:00pm when we were supposed to depart at 7:55pm due to delays. We flew with Virgin Blue, which was a great flight until it was about to land in Adelaide. I used my logic and reasoned that instead of descending slowly in to the airport, it hurriedly descended vertically, that made me feel as if my eardrums were about to burst. Surprisingly I was the only one who seemed to have this inconvienience. Nevertheless, we arrived safely in Adelaide Airport at 10:05pm.
Siiri on the flight to Adelaide, reading a book to pass time.After arrival, we took a taxi to our accomodation, Adelaide Grenada Motor Inn, 493 Portrush Rd. It was a rather nice Inn..not to mention it was a bit shabby on the outside, but it was actually rather pleasant. We booked it through the internet (most of the things done are by the internet these days, don't you think?) and got this "deluxe" room that had a king size bed, a tv, bathroom and a lounge area. I was happy to know that it contained a rather ancient-looking hairdryer. We unpacked and discussed briefly of our plans to tour around Adelaide, but decided to look around on our first day. I had a quick shower before I went to bed, as my mother always advised me to have one, even if it was a brief shower, for we are highly exposed to germs in an aircraft. By the time I got out, Siiri was already half asleep.
Our "deluxe" room in Adelade Grenada Motor Inn..Siiri looking at maps and pamphlets
On the first day out, on the 2nd of July, we walked out to the nearest bus stop near the Inn. We caught one that dropped us off at the North Terrace and we decided to walk to Rundle St, where we were supposed to meet with an Adelaide Greeter (I have booked a meeting with an Adelaide Greeter, that was suppose to show us around, a week prior to our arrival) We had and hour and a half left before the meeting in front of the Information Center. We decided to have breakfast but we got distracted at a camera shop. (I had to get a memory card for my brand new Olympus FE-220 and I bought a 1GB one, whilst Siiri decided to buy a lens for her camera after browsing for some.) We then decided to find a place to have breakfast but it was too early for the shops to be open, therefore we had breakfast at McDonald's..
At 11am sharp, we met our Adelaide Greeter for the day, her name was Margaret. She showed us around Adelaide and also showed us how to get on to the free bus service that would take us around Adelaide city..yes..it is free! She gave us a brief tour around the Central Market which wasn't open on that day that led into China Town. Before she departed, she told us to get the O'Bahn bus, that is one of a kind service. The O'Bahn is just like any normal bus service but it gets on to rails and acts like a tram. Pretty amazing service it is! It brings you directly to the Tea Tree Plaza out of Adelaide. We did that on the second day.
We also caught a tram from Victoria Square to Glen Elg, near the ocean. It was a nice sunny day then, so we were fortunate to capture some lovely pictures that day. We thought the Maritime Museum was in Glen Elg but soon to realise that it was actually in Port Adelaide, one hour from where we were. Considering that it was lunch time, we did not want to spend 2 hours worth of journey there, so we spent more time in Glen Elg. They had beautiful apartments facing the sea, estimating about a $1 million at least for one of those. It was a upper class place to be.
Me at Glen Elg Beach..
At night we decided to go to a pub, an Irish pub to be exact. It was kind of fun being in one of those pubs that looked rather antique than those new trendy ones. We had a daiquiri each and we were discussing our trip. We also wandered aimlessly trying to find a bottle shop and found it 20 minutes later. Siiri bought a 6-pack Bacardi and Coke whilst I headed to the back of the shop looking for a good port. (I'm a wine girl and prefer a good port over vodka) You might think why I might state something so insignificant as to buying alcohol in a bottle shop. The reason is that we are both underage, me 16 turning 17 and Siiri's turning 18 next January. We found it funny how they rarely check your ID. We manged to pay for the alcohol without being asked for the ID and scurried back to the bus stop.
On the 4th of July, we had to wake up rather early, around 5am. We had to pack and check that we had everything and check out at 5:45am. We called the cab company the day before to send us to Waymouth St, where the Adventour Tours company. We were to depart at 6:30am from Adelaide but Jen, our tour guide and driver for that trip was late!
It was a small bus, more like a van than a bus with a trailer behind it for our luggage. The bus could only accomodate 20 + people. We were to be like a family for this trip. Sorry for not explaining things earlier, this is a 3 day, 2 nights trip from Adelaide to Melbourne via the Great Ocean Rd. It costs $375 per person including fuel levy. On this trip we met this Italian group, a British guy and 2 Dutch girls that proved to be good travelling companians.
From Left to Right: Marco, Luca & his brother Matteo in an Italian restaurant in Melbourne. The black and white photo shows Laura the very friendly Dutch girl who can speak Malay.
The first day of out 3 day tour proved to be exciting. We went on this "little" hike on the mountains that the Aborigine used to initiate manhood. It was not so little after all! After I have bragged how I liked hiking and may prove to be good at them..I ended up last!! How embarassing!! We spent the first night in Horsham, a very little town, in a backpackers. It was the first time I slept in a 12 dorm room and that proved to be rather exciting. We finished what we have left of our Bourbon and coke and got some local Bundaberg Rum and coke. I had three cans that night. Siiri and I and this Sydney borne Aussie girl, Brenda, had a conversation along with the British bloke, Matthew. We shared some stories of our adventures for a few hours after dinner before we headed to our dorms. The real problem for the first night was that Siiri snored and so did Matthew in the bunk next to ours. I slept on the top bunk whilst Siiri occupied the bottom. Not to sound like a complainer, but the matteress was lumpy and I had a terrible night, only to wake up to a sore back and snores!
Along the way, we stopped at a golf course that actually allowed a road passing through it. We came down to take photos as someone decided to vandalise it. If you look closely enough, one can see that it had been cleaned before.
The second day, we were supposed to go to the Pinnacles, but since it was raining we could not risk the hike as it was slippery. We had breakfast and slowly packed our stuff. I can't really remember what we really did on the second day..I feel old! Ah..yes..we stopped by a cheese factory on the way. Non of us really bought any cheese but I decided to invest in a bottle of Plum dessert wine. At our next stop, it was a fairly small town, consisting of 8 locals! Oh yes and I remembered going to a waterfall which was absolutely brilliant!
Waterfall that we stopped at. Brilliant isn't it? And this was just with my slick Olympus FE220 digital camera. Not even a professional one..
The dorms were much better with 4 person a room. That was the most memorable night of the tour, as after dinner I decided to try the wine that I had bought in the cheese factory. None of my friends who tried them liked it, so I had the honours of finishing it. Then me and Siiri shared the last can of rum and coke and then we decided to open the port that I have bought in Adelaide. (yes we did not open it yet!) I got quite merry that night, with my cheeks going pink (very rare occasion) but not drunk, I could still walk in a very straight line! We ended up sleeping at 1:30am after playing Merde or equivalent to Shithead (card games)
We woke up quite early and I was surprised how I did not end up being grumpy from the lack of sleep. I had to wake up a bit earlier as I had to have a shower. We started our trip on the Great Ocean Rd and the famous 12 Apostles. Jen also told us a story of Eva Carmichael and the cave that was named after her. It was a hard one to get into for the waves keep breaking in and we had to time when it went out and run across into the cave. I got wet on the way back to the beach. Thankfully it was only my joggers that got wet.
Eva Carmichael cave on the right. Look at the tide! Now imagine us trying to get across...
We arrived in Melbourne at 7:15pm and we got the contacts of our new found friends. We were supposed to meet at the Base Backpackers in St. Kilda at 9:00pm but couldn't get a tram till 9:30pm. Siiri and I stayed at the Kingstreet Backpackers. It was rather shabby compared to the one in Sydney but it was alright. The room was much bigger too. We first caught up with the Italians and had burgers for dinner at Hungry Jacks before we caught the tram. Thus upon arriving at the Base Backpackers Bar, the guards were quick to ask me for identification. I think it was what I was wearing that night. We then decided to look for another bar and found one after they had some pizza in the Italian restaurant. We (the Italians and us) had beer whilst waiting for them (Matthew, Team Canada and Juul (Dutch)) We found another bar but we had to pay to get in. Trying not to look suspicious I went up to pay. The guards yet again confronted me and asked for identification. I pretended I did not have one on me and told him a total fib of how I was afraid of getting robbed along with my passport and therefore left it in my bag in my accomodation. Being lenient that night, the guard let me through. First time in a bar/ disco for adults..I was like WOW!! But it was too crowded for my liking, I like bars where you actually get to sit down and have some soothing music with cocktails or wine. Nevertheless it was a new experience for me.
Next day we went around Melbourne, especially Swanston St where things were happening alot. I have to cut this short but it was a rather nice place to be. This cinema we went into had a room called the Half way Bend (or Pipe) I can't recall but instead of seats, they have beanbags. Giant ones to accomodate 3 people..Cool eh? We also went to an Australian Football game in Melbourne and we randomly chose a side to be on that actually won! We met up with Matthew everyday since we have been in Melbourne. And oh my...he does have very dry sense of humour!
Bean-bag cinema where I watched The Pirates of the Carribean At World's End for the second time, unfortunately next to Matthew "Twiglett".
It was sad to actually leave as we did thoroughly enjoy our trip..And I must say backpacking is fun! Next time, hopefully, I will be lucky enough to backpack through Europe. That would be a dream come true!!
Matthew "Twigglet" Twigg - the Brit
