Internet

$50.00 for a week of internet ok this is getting a little ridiculous. I am thinking I should go and get me a wireless card it would be cheaper.

Ok I've modified my blog so you can now make comments.. Pictures are still on the way.

Zoo - Greek Festival

I had to move as the place I was staying was full up for the weekend. I think I have too much stuff with me I was sopping wet by the time I had walked here. It was only about 2kms. I got my bed and went looking for some food. Boy I was hungry after a day wandering the zoo. I stumbled upon a Street festival I think it was Greek as there was an abundance of Greek food. Columbian? what were they doing at a Greek festival? needles to say their stall wasn't that busy.

I found me a gyro stand and got a lamb. The guy serving could not understand my name.. It was written on my food as Skype. There was a main stage s well as vender stalls and a smaller street strange and don't forget the handful of rides. On the smaller stage there was a DJ spinning some dance when I went by the first time. Walking back after eating my gyro it had gotten dark. I could see flames as I got closer. They were doing some kind of dancing with fire. not bad though I think they were a little nervous as they dropped the sticks a few times. I took some pictures and then wandering for a bit I could feel the day start to wear on I decided to pack it in and wander home.

Well off to the market have a great day!

Scott

Melbourne

Melbourne is different! it seams it is more like Winnipeg with it's large mix of different cultures. The first day I wandered the CBD ( central business district) I found a good little book store where I managed to buy the Redwall series I'm currently reading for $5.00 each. I ended up on the river towards the end of the day as the rowing clubs were just starting to practice I got a bunch of pictures of them.

They have a few different markets here. One is called the Queen Victoria Market, you can get everything from fruits & meat to clothes and souvenirs. Walking thru the stalls you ca hear the vendors cry out " Come get your banana's lowest prices. We don't' care if we make any money we just want to make friends!" its quite large! I bought some apples

Day 2 I decided to go the beach. I put my sunscreen on then went and waited for the bus, and waited and waited. finally going inside to find out what was going on. Well the driver was sick and the bus had ended up being full. So the guy finally showed up after about 45minutes. The beach is different here. There's a long boardwalk along side of it and just a little sand area. I picked out a spot and laid down to read my book. From here you can see all the big cargo ships coming into port. As well as a few helicopters humm that one looks like a coast guard. After reading for about 3 hours or so I thought I should wander a bit. As I was putting my shoes on along comes a police officer telling us not to go into the water a shark has been spotted in the area. There were a few people out playing in the water. They continued on down the beach. I was following them on the board walk As they were getting people out of the water a group of people were gathering towards one section where I was headed, all looking out into the water. Looking to where some where pointing I looked out and could see a long dark shape with a find sticking out moving along the shore line. Well there it was my first wild shark sighting. I guess I'm not going swimming today. I attempted to get a picture but my battery was low and it looks like I didn't get one.

Blue Mountains

Well after sitting on the beach for a week I headed up into the mountains. Blue Mountains in fact. They are called so for the blue haze that flows over them. Katoomba is the town right in the middle of the park, it's a nice little town spread out over the cliff tops. can you smell the fresh air?

The first day I went for a short 2 hour hike along the cliff tops looking out over the valley. all you can hear is the birds singing as you look out over it.

Day 2 started out with a hike to Ruined Castle a short 6 hour walk along the cliff tops and down a fire road. then walking down the side of a mountain on a old path from the earlier 1900's I still don't know how I managed that with 2 camera's hanging around my neck. you can see from the pictures how narrow the path is at times or how steep it is. upon making it to the bottom I realized "Great I'm going to have to get back up some how! the hike down the path was great you would think it would have been quiet except for all the birds. There are these birds called Bell birds that sound like bells going off constantly. though it was very peaceful. finding the top of Ruined castle you have great views from the middle of the valley. looking to the South east though you can see the numerous forest fires that are burning. Having looked around it was time to head back as it was starting to get dark at 3:00. picking up the pace I trekked back the 3kms in under 1.5 hours deciding instead of going back up where I came down I would continue on to the railway as it was only another 2 hour walk.

Well that was some walk. being hidden in the mountain shadow of the sun it was a little dark. but just around the bend and it lightened considerably. I saw something up ahead running that looked like a cat. Yet I was talking with a local and they don't have any big animals like we do back home. pulling out my camera to try and get a picture I spot it down in the bush. though it decided it didn't want it's picture taken! So over the landslide we go.. I think it needs to be a little better marked the path as at one point I could not find the marker I did managed to leave some blood behind on that rock climbing the hill. continuing on I make it back to flat land boy what a track up and down hill.. wait the last rail car has gone for the day I'm going to have to climb out of here. "Great" more stairs. Over 1000 of them in fact. Up Fubar stairs we go. with some great views of the valley on the way I can look back and see Ruined castle on the way up.

Boy was that a long trek 30km in total over 9.5hours of strait walking. Glad that's done time to find some food and another trek tomorrow I wonder where I will go?

Beach Week

Week 1 went by really fast. now I am at the beach. Bondi Beach in fact. Yesterday was beautiful I walked up and down the beach. sat and watched the people took some pictures then wandered the local shops. I found the little fish shop that was great! It's called Fish Mongers $10.50 for a fish and homemade chips. (they were huge) and wow was it good.

You know you'd think these places would have decent internet connections. but no! here I just paid $25. for a week and I cant even stay connected for 2 minutes!

Convenience stores rip you off here! $4.00 for a bottle of water that I did manage to find at a supermarket for $0.99
Drinks at any restaurant all seam to be priced $3.50 and up.

Well I should probably go and find some food. Talk to you later!

Here Finally

Well I've been here 4 days now. I've taken over 1000 pictures in the past 3 days! ( I slept away most of the first day) I've seen snakes, sharks, spiders, Koalas and kangaroos! It's weird walking around in shorts and a t-shirt. 5 days ago I was wearing a sweater, parka, mitts and a toque!

The room where I'm at now is not bad.. though the wafting cigarette smoke is not the greatest! I've tried to cover the whole under my door and prop the bathroom door with the fan running but I don't think it's helping much. hopefully the bad people will go to sleep soon and I will be able to breath again!

My internet connection is the pits. I've used better dial-up than I've had for the past week. We will see how it is at the next stop. Maybe then I will be able to upload some of the pictures I've taken.