It's been awhile since I've updated so I'll have to break this into a few parts.
Great Ocean Road 08/02
After a week here, I decide to go on my first trip. Great Ocean Road is a road down the coast of Victoria with a very scenic walking path that goes down the beach and through the woods. We started at Apollo Bay and planned to end at the 12 Apostles. It would be an 8 day hike in all. I knew from the beginning that I'd have to turn back early because my uni orientation was in 5 days. I meet Sophie, Matt and Allie at the train station in Melbourne to head to Apollo Bay. We all had our huge backpacks on (I was using my ILBE, which is the pack I used during OCS). We were so big and in the way of everything. First stop was Geelong, where we had to switch from train to bus. We got out and explored the city for a bit while we waited on the bus, Allie had a package to send and I had a postcard to write. Somehow, between the four of us, we didn't notice how much time had passed and we missed our bus. Not a huge deal because Geelong is a nice quiet little city that we wanted to explore more anyway and there was another one we could take in a hour.
Arriving in Apollo Bay: The scenery on the bus is amazing. When we get in, it's about 9 at night, and everything is closing down. We don't have any food or anything so we need to find some before we go to our hostel for the night. One shop is closing down and Allie begs with the Chinese owner to let us in really quickly because we just got in and we desperately need some supplies. He reluctantly agrees and says that one of us may come in. While we're outside deciding what we need, we notice that there is one other place open that we can get food at, so we decide to get only the real essentials. I run in and come to the counter with a flat of Carlton (24 beers) and two bottles of wine. The owner laughs and says "Oh, you just needed some supplies I see? Only the essentials." He then tells me that you haven't had the real Aussie experience until you get piss drunk in the streets and get arrested. Noted. We go next door and order a couple of pizzas and we enjoy some pizza and beer outside. We of course hold up our stereotype as the loud, obnoxious Americans. Go us.

Day 1 of hiking: We get out of our hostel in the morning and ready ourselves for the hike. The next hint of civilization will be a 3 day hike from here, so we stock up on at least 3 days worth of food. We meet one more, Tim, and we head out. The first 2 miles are down the beach, then the trail starts winding through the woods.

 

   

  

 

Where we made dinner.              

When we get near the campsite, we decide to set up on the rocks and cook dinner. I made a campfire and we settle in for a little bit. Just as we are packing up to head to the campsite, it starts pouring down rain. This storm came out of nowhere. We start walking briskly up the steep hill for about 20 min until we get to the campsite, which is very disappointing. It is essentially a clearing in the woods. We get out the tents and start setting up. It is a full-blown thunderstorm at this point and we are freezing. We finally get the tents set up and get inside. The night was just miserable, we were sleeping in a pool of water and the tent leaked. The storm went on all night and into the morning. The next day we are all soaked, cold and tired. After looking at the map more carefully, we realize there probably wouldn't be a town with a bus going through for several days. I concluded that if I didn't turn back now I wouldn't get back in time for my orientation. Allie goes back with me, and Tim, Matt and Sophie push on.

So our trip got cut pretty short, but that didn't stop us from having fun on the way back. Allie and I head back to Melbourne and she stays with me for a few days. She wanted to spend some time in Melbourne so I showed her around, Geri and Mick had a barbecue for us. Here are some pictures from St. Kilda festival. That was a lot of fun.

Orientation

Allie flies home and I go to RMIT's orientation for the foreign kids. Not quite like BGR, but they tried. There are a lot of exchange students from everywhere in the world you could think of. They sent us on a scavenger hunt and then we went on a cruise later that night. By the end of the night, all the different accents were blending into one and I couldn't tell where anyone was from anymore. I didn't know there were so many different versions of English. Prize for best English I'd have to say goes to the Germans.

Death Cab!!

I've been waiting years for Death Cab for Cutie to be in the same city as me, and I just found out that they are going to be in Melbourne. It was an awesome show, they were amazing. Not much I can say but post a few pictures.

Now for some pictures of the city.