I said good-bye to New Zealand
Hello everyone, I said good-bye to New Zealand and have just spent the last few days in Melbourne.
Before arriving in Australia, I rode my motorcycle back up north to Auckland after surviving a horrible small plane ride from the South island to North island. I wondered why it was so cheap.
Anyhow, I went caving in Waitomo on the North island before I left which was really amazing. First you have to rappell (abseil) 40 metres down a sinkhole where you then walk/swim for 4 hours through the limestone caves. Nobody told me about the 3 and 4 foot long eels down there. No, I'm not kidding. Anyhow, to get out we had to crawl on our hands and knees in some spots and then climb up a waterfall at the end. It was great, but I've decided NZ is the place of danger. Nothing like this would ever be allowed in North America.
Anyhow, now I'm in Melbourne...
Yesterday (March 12), I rented a really nice Yamaha TDM 850 motorcycle (I guess I've got a thing for bikes, no?) and I rode out to the Great Ocean road about 300km's from Melbourne. It is one of Australia's most scenic drives and was well worth it! The weather was extremely hot the first day (up to 40 degrees celcius), but cooled dow today. The road was clear and windy and passes all kinds of beautiful beaches where people could be seen surfing.
In Torquay, on the way there is all the original Aussie surf shops and most people here look the part. I stayed at a great Hostel on the way which was swarming with wild parrots and cockateils (the big white ones that Berreta? used to have) looking for free food.
I had dinner with a German guy who was riding a Harley. He trieds to convert me to the Harley way, but I wasn't going there.
Tonight, I'm taking the night bus to Sydney (so I don't have to pay for accommodation) and there I'm going to a big BBQ that I was invited to by a Dragon Boat team I met in New Zealand. It should be a good time and sounds like a great way to introduce Sydney. I will try to portray a positive image of a Canadian and try to hold my own in the Beer department. Oh yeah, did I metion I've gained about 10 pounds? I hope it comes off at my age... ;)
Melbourne is a nice city and does not have a "Big City" feel about it. The people here are really laid back and friendly. I did get my haircut today for only $9 and now I know why it was only $9. The bald path will grow back in time...
I'm just going to stroll down to the Yarra river now and have a coffee because I really believe there is one cafe for each of the 3 million people that live in Melbourne!
G'day, talk to you later. Actually, here is a quick list of the new expressions I've picked up in NZ and OZ:
"Heaps" (Used by everyone, use like "Loads")
"Tops" ("The Best")
"Sweet As" ("Great" - annoying after a while though)
You know the usual ones too...
"No worries", etc.
G'day for now...Mark down under...
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