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I've been waiting a bit to get posting on my time in Melbourne, mostly because my first few days here weren't the best. I always do my best to find the silver lining though, so during my first few days:

• I was able to wear my stylish new jeans because the weather was windy, grey and cold, with occaisional rain.
• I finished two books because the people I met during these first few days were really into leaving me my own space.
• Furthermore on that note, I've really brushed up on my small talk skills as people in the city are so challenging to connect with.
• I've been really stimulated by getting stand-offish folks to buy me drinks as the booze at the bars is really expensive.
• I have a new found appreciation for beer as the free "champagne" offered to girls staying in sanctuary is the equivalent to a vomit time-bomb.

So, in other words, the first few days on my own in Melbourne were kind of shitty, cold, lonely, boring and expensive. However, as per usual, I've quickly gotten into the swing of things and have met some lovely characters and am now having a rad time.

There are a lot of Irish people here looking for work, some of whom are brutal full-time boozehounds who wonder why no one here will hire them. Strange, I thought employers would jump all over unreliable piss heads who have barely comprehensible english and a grade 10 education. I've learned that in Ireland everyone is cousins with everyone, and this is very convenient when you are a backpacker. Walk around a bit and you'll see a girl you went to school with! Or just find someone with an Irish accent, same as you, and within a few minutes you'll find out that you're related and there's your drinking buddy for the night. Sorted!

I did meet one lovely girl in my dorm during those first bleak days, Nebh (Pronounced Nieve), a plump nerdy girl I bonded with instantly when I saw a copy of "The Corrections" by Jonathan Franzen on her bunk and realized that there was another literate person in the building. Her and I went shopping together, to the state library (I went twice) and went to the salt water baths. The baths are so so so amazing, I love them and am so very stoked they're only a couple blocks away. Big warm salty swimming pool, big salty hot tub with jets and a big eucalyptus scented-steam room - bliss. This cured Nebh's hangover when she drank 3 glasses of free champagne the night before.

There were three Danish girls staying in my dorm who all looked like various versions of Giselle and very very blonde and gorgeous. This made Nebh a little self-conscious, but I found it funny and a little delightful to wake up and look across the room and see so many pairs of perfect Danish boobies saying good morning to me. Yes, these girls slept naked.

The girls in my room now are also quite lovely, the girl sleeping under me is from Quallicum of all places hahahha. The best thing about staying in Sanctuary is that the girls have paid that little bit extra and made a conscious choice to have a nice nest to come home to at the end of the day. These girls tend to be literate, interesting, well-traveled and nerdy. But they also like to stay in their room, cook all their meals and go to bed early so it's a bit of a mixed bag. :-P

Sights I've seen in Melbourne so far include:

• Melbourne Museum aka the House of Horrors
  All the taxidermy, insect and disgusting human body crap you would ever want. Also currently home to the King Tut exhibit which was rad.
• State Library aka HeavenMassive beautiful building, home to the Ned Kelly exhibit and other neat rare book displays. Free internet and quality people watching.
• Multiple malls, markets boardwalks and street shops. I'm not allowed to buy anything as I'm headed to Bali in a week but there's a gorgeous necklace I spied on my first day and will likely be picking that up.
• Miscellaneous gardens and parks, gaudy statues of naked nymphs frolicking in fountains and impressive 1890s architechture from asshole to breakfast.
• My favourite restaurant, Lentil As Everything, which serves several types of curries and there are NO PRICES on the menu, you just pay whatever you think your meal was worth. Amazing chai tea, vegan (yes Jennifer, vegan) and so so so tasty.

Ryan is doing well at the mines which is fantastic. I didn't talk to him for a few days at first because he was in the middle of the desert in South Oz and was out of cell phone range. He borrowed a friend's phone on the 3rd day though and told me he's lead dude of his crew and has also scored the nicest accommodation in the camp. He is also eating four square meals a day and regularly getting pissed on bundy rum and coke so he's happy as a pig in shit. :-) He's in Orange now (I think) and has called me a few more times and we're both in good spirits, although I miss my partner in crime dearly. I remind myself that we spent ALOT of time together in Hong Kong and am appreciative of the silence when I'm in libraries and museums.

Yes Melbourne, you are massive. St Kilda is SO wonderful and chill and the CBD is big and bustling and full of very important and stylish people. The tram is cheap and I've mastered it easily, there are many varieties of beautiful Australian men everywhere. It's actually quite lovely here, once you get over how awful it is. :-P