Melbourne, Friends and Neighbours

     We headed off down to Melbourne for our fifth day of travelling, stopping at a small town to grab some KFC - just about the only thing in Oz that is cheaper than the UK.  Our plan was to go and see Steph first then find somewhere to camp for a few days before exploring the city.  Our GPS took us, without bother, to Stephs place, which was massive, and we had a few drinks, caught up, met the kids etc.  We felt slightly embarrassed about the fact that our scruffy, beat up van was parked outside this lovely residential area but it was fine for a few hours while we sat in the garden and had a chat.  The kids were very cute and chatty, Ilola a little shyer but Noah was telling us all about school, the great kids parties that they have now - trapeze, clowns, magicians etc - learning Chinese at school etc.  Steph very pregnant but doing fine - Hope all is well and everything goes smoothly when they come!

     We left after a few hours and headed off to a campsite we found on the internet, just North of Melbourne city, got there no bother as it was a Sunday night so no traffic, booked in, went to the nearest Woolworths supermarket and stocked up on food and booze.  The site was good, had a camp kitchen which we realised was far far easier than getting out the two ring hob, attaching the gas, getting the table out etc.  It was late now so we cooked, ate and went to bed,  We had plans for quite a bit of sightseeing over the next few days.

     Next morning we got up and headed into town by tram to the CBD (what we Brits call the city centre)  First things first was to organise the Neighbours tour I have been reading about in the guidebook...it had to be done. Once ticked of the list we started our walking tour but in blistering hot weather this was difficult we managed to see the docklands area....not to disimilar from London's dockland areas but smaller. 

Docklands and funky art

We then hitched the tram (free tourist one...far too busy and decided not to use that one again) and headed to the CBD and Flinders Street station, see the southbank and had lunch by the river....I was begining to really enjoy the place, it is more chilled then Sydney and thought I could live here too!!! 

Lunch by the River

After lunch we headed to Federation Square (its a central meeting point and has funky building that stick out from the rest of the city) As it was now too hot to bear we headed into ACMI (Australian Centre of Moving Image) mainly because it was free and had air con! It was great though, we saw everything to do with the moving image from TV, Films, Games and the future of the moving image. The pics especially the playing Sonic and the Commodore 64 were my highlights! 

Federation Square

It's a Commodore 64....reminds of my childhood

Mad Max and Neil

After this we left thinking it would have cooled down by now...no luck. We went to find a cinema and spend the evening watching the new Harry Potter film (mainly my idea!) and after a while and a short stop of a cold beer in a British Pub (not sure how we stumbled on this one...it just called to us) we found one payed $17 dollars each (pricey) and watched the film (was ok a little long and depressing but nice views of British landscape) followed by a Kebab...I'm a cheap date and headed back home.

Bindya, Lolly...Hot

     Next morning we took it easy in the caravan park for a bit - it was the first time that we had been able to do this as normally we have to leave evry morning before 10.  Bindya did some laundry and we got it out to dry which didn't take long as it was so insanely hot again.  Around 1ish, we headed into town again, planning on going to St Kilda, which is a subburb of Melbourne by the beach, and having a picnic in the Botanic Gardens.  St Kilda was nice, the beach was rammed full of 'schoolies' - all the 'Year 12' kids who haev finished their exam and were letting off steam.  We wandered along the pier, had an ice lolly which melted faster than we could eat it, visited the worst toilets we have seen in Australia and had a pint in a pub that reminded me of Brighton.  

The View from St Kilda Pier

Black Swan

We grabbed a pasty to add to our picnic then jumped on a tram to take us back a little way into town for the park.  The park had a really nice war memorial which (apparently) has a hole in the roof that allows the light in on 11 am, 11th November.  The botanic gardens were also really nice, a big lake, lots of swans (black ones) etc.  At one point we were just dozing off when some bloke walked past a woman who was fast asleep on the grass.  He shouted as loud as he could into her face as he passed, she screamed and jumped up, I assumed he knew her and it was a joke.  He then shouted, 'Now you know how it feels!' at her and muttered that she had done it to him earlier or something.  We were just both a bit shocked and, personally, very amused by this.  Maybe he was just mad.  

Us at the Botanical Gardens

We finished our late lunch and headed home as we had an early start the next day.

     Ok so today was the big day...The official Neighbours Tour....up and out of the caravan park by 7.00am and got to the centre of town via tram (having to go back once as the camera was missing)  and got to the tour place which had a variety of people from all different ages waiting outside like us for the tour to start. We were then met by an Irishman who told us to go round the corner and get on the bus....as I turned the corner I saw the bus (see pic and you will see what I mean). 

The Magic is about to begin.....

We got on but realised there was no seat for me and Neil together so Neil got to sit in the front with Crazy Jerry our tour guide and driver.  Jerry was FAB he knew everything about Neighbours and knew his audience well (basically a lot of Pommies and 2 Aussies) He drove us to the studio where Neighbours is filmed while reminiscing about Neighbours plots, character, deaths, wedding (the famous Kylie and Jason one) and the best scenes being Jo Mangle's wife being shot by hunters and Harold's cliff disappearance. We drove past the school used in Neighbours and basketball area used for school outdoor filming. When we arrived at the studio I was doubley excited at it also where Prisoner Cell Block H was filmed...I was raised on Aussie shows...blame my mum she loved Flying Doctors and Sons and Daughters. As we entered the parking lot we saw someone come out of the car and low and behold who was it......Dr Karl Kennedy (A.K.A. Alan Fletcher). As Neil was at the front he got to meet, hug and shake hands with the man himself. Smaller than on camera but obviously works out as his arms were huge! We all got a photo (on front of Lou's Mechanics) and an autograph before say out goodbyes, having laughed at his jokes, stared for a bit, got photos outside Grease Monkeys and Carpenter Car Lot. 

I so Love this Pic!

We then drove to Ramsay Street, which is not called Ramsay Street at all and it is tiny (only 6 houses). It is private property and so we can't go up on Susan's drive or visit the Robinson household (hey I'm old school) but again as Neil was at the front and my birthday was this month we got a Ramsay Street Sign and I ran in front of every street and had pics in front of it. 

Neighbours....everybody needs good neighbours.....

The place has a security guide 24 hours as people like to get naked and get on the roof of the people's house and do "Wheelies" in the famous Cul de Sac.  After a lot of pics and me just standing in awe we had to head back in the bus and head back to reality....

Ramsey Street

Thumper

      We had a coffee and muffin at some cafe then headed off for more sightseeing.  We wandered down across the river, past the theatre and to the NGVI (National Gallery of Victoria International) where we browsed for a few hours - lots of paintings and sculptures and photos etc.  There was the most wierd giant inflatable Thumper (from Bambi) in the massive foyer.  
Some of the exhibitions were pretty good, some just odd (classic chairs through the ages) some I could have easily missed (lace work through the 19th century).  After this we went back into town for lunch.  We bought a 'Slurpie' from a 7-11 - another classic Aussie treat - and sat down by the river to have our lunch - a pie.  Mixed feelings about Slurpies - some flavours far too artificial. 

Neil's First Slurpee

Then we had a pint in the Transport bar by the square and headed off in search of these wierd and wonderful bars we have heard exist in Melbourne.  The licensing laws around here are very liberal so it seems like almost anyone can open a bar, almost wherever they want.  This has led to loads of tiny bars opening up in small alleyways across the city.  This is what we were trying to find.  Armed with a book written in 2005, we soon discovered that a lot of them close down quite frequently.  

Graffti Wall

We still got to see lots of amazing graffti clad alleyways, a street named after AC/DC (Rock 'n' Roll!!) and quite a bit of the city before we finally found one that was open - I think it was called Penny Blue - and got to taste some lovely drinks at very sizeable prices.  By the time we had done all this it was time to go and meet our friends, Amy and Sharon from the Inca Trail up at Victoria Market.
     

Rocking Out in ACDC Lane

The girls has decided that we visit and eat at the Victoria Market which in the Summer does a late night markets stalls, including a range of food stalls and drinks stalls ever Wednesday. We met them and headed into the market where they are hundreds of stalls and music coming from every direction.

Neil, Bindya, Amy and Sharon at Victoria Market

After finding a place we sit down we met Amy's Boyfriend Vinh, we caught up on things since the trail.  It was really nice to catch up and chat to them as they were the pair we spent most of our time with on the trail as we shared the same motto of slowly but surely.... The headed for some food, for so many to choose from the choice was difficult but me and Neil went for Indian (it had been a while!) washed down with wine and beer. It was a great place with a really nice atmosphere and again emphasised how much I would like to live in Melbourne...maybe, just maybe. Anyway after hours of yapping with Amy, Sharon and Vinh about everything and everything we said our goodbyes...girls see you when you in London!!! It was now raining so after a wet journey home we headed for bed and said goodnight to beautiful Melbourne. 


Links for Pics
Melbourne Day 1
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=249585&id=547011402&l=f3ebcf0a9eMelbourne Day 2
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=249586&id=547011402&l=fb5fd9ad57 
Melbourne - Neighbours Day 
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=249588&id=547011402&l=5d5aec4920