Razzin around like a Tassie Devil
Oh its happened again. I keep meaning to log in and tell y'all about it and then loads happens, I'm a busy bee and have no effing time to type it down. Oh well, as my mate Scouse Mick once said, lifes for living, not writing about....
So I was in the Aussie 'Snow' having a bit of culture shock to living in a tiny snow village with a load of mad aussies. Once published, that last blog entry recieved mixed reviews about how harsh I'd been on the old Aussie humour and looking back- it was a bit scathing. I made some great mates there and was sad to say goodbye to the 'Stillwell Posse' that was my lodge. It was by far the best lodge to work in, best food and best craic. The village, a bit like Emmerdale with snow, had it 'all going on'. We had a sexual harrasment charge, and assault charge with police on ski mobilies turning up the next day. Got barred from the only pub in the village a few times. Blagged on the lifts and never bought a season pass... Ended the whole season with an infamous group staying at Stillwell called the 'Funhoggs' who drank Bloody Marys with their breakfast and were pished for the whole week. Every night after dinner they and all staff had to go out into the cold snowy night and shout 'Some MITTY! Some TITTY! Sooooome SUCK! -SUCK SUCK!' and neck a Schnapps- on the house by them. As staff we were knackered after a week of that. Jason aquired the nickname 'Seagull' for being a greedy bastard and had to explain to customers that the cookie jar saying 'Not For Seagulls' was actually a deterent for him- and no their were not any seagulls near Mt Kosiosko even though some 'basic' customers got a bit confused at the sign. Brooke would just cackle 'Nah, we used to have a crow turn up for scraps but now we've got a seagull upstairs that scared him away hahaha'.
So, with a mixture of relief (it was a small place) and sadness (goodbye little sister Brooke you alchie, Michal you love, and Bree you bossy boots) Jason and I headed back briefly to Sydney to pack up some stuff and say goodbye to the depleted Sydney gang of Heather, Chris & Kerry, Samuel and also Matt n Marcus, before flying off to the cheeky little Island/State of Tasmania!
We'd made a bit of a friend at the beginning of the snow season in 23 year old Patrick. Patrick is as dry as a desert and funny too, and probably regretted the casual invite to look after us when we emailed him and said we were coming. Pat likes to pick up other peoples slang words and use them in Tassie convo. His favourite when we stayed was 'you mong'.
Tasmania
Now every mainlander Aussie who heard we were going to Tassie asked 'What the bloody hell for?!!' but with hand on heart it was one of the most hospitable and friendly places I've visited. Patrick and his girlfriend Jackie picked us up from the airport with the aid of their friend Cass and her car and then took us to Hobart. Then we were introduced to Dan over nachos in a cafe in Salamanca waterfront. Then Pat n' Jacks had to go to work so Dan, who we'd only known 30 minutes, took us on a tour of Hobart! Pat and Jackie lived in a self contained flat within Jackies parents bungalow (Australia loves bunglows!) so effectively we were staying with Jackies parents and we had only really just met her also. Her parents Ian and Glenwyn were absolutley lovely and I could have stolen the family pet dog Moe who had a 'Gap' hoodie and was just one cute pooch.
We stayed a week and packed so much in. That first night, with our hosts working late, Cass and Dan picked us up and took us to Cassies beachside Clifton home for a roast dinner, complete with her neices giving us a bit of a show and also getting to meet a MENTAL Chiauaua called Diesel. Then when Pat & Jacks turned up we all went down to Clifton beach to check out the stars which were amazing. On the Friday we mountain biked down Mount Wellington, complete with geeky crash helmets and had a nose at the old Cascade Brewery- the oldest one in Australia. We went to the 'infamous' Salamanca markets on the Saturday and then took a tour to Port Arthur. You know how we joke that Australia was Englands biggest prison 200 years ago? Well if you were a 'crim' who wouldnt learn in NSW then you got deported to Port Arthur in Tasmania which at that time was probably the arse end of the world for an English man. The place is now a heritage site with many of the buildings preserved and after dark you can go on a 'Ghost Tour' which we did. Didnt see any ghosts unfortuantley but was a good laugh all the same. You had to feel for the poor buggers who served there- it was just a wretched place.
We took a day trip to Freycinet National park so we could check out Wineglass Bay- which was picture perfect. Then we took a 3 hour hike around the Peninsula which just knackered us out.
Jackie and Pat were a pair of 'musos' and had tickets to a Blues festival/concert type thingy and we were lucky, along with Dan, to be able to get in. This thing wasnt in a big arena, or field though. It was held in a kind of country Roadhouse cum pub in the middle of nowhere and was jam packed. We got to see Australias prevelent Bluesman Ash Grunwald, who was amusing as well as very good. I even bought a cd.
To round off the trip we took a tour to Russell Falls and the surrounding nature walks which reminded me alot of New Zealand and then we headed to The Sanctuary to see some real live Tassie Devils! I have to say, I thought they were quite cute- a bit like pot bellied pigs but with MASSIVE chompers. These ones didnt seem too scary as they were in captivity and seemed to like the ready supply of meat the warden chucked them. You would'nt want a bite off them though- you would definately lose your fingers. We also checked out all the small Wallabies, Euros (little Kangaroos) Possems and a very groovy, very chilled, and very HEEEE-OWJ Koala.
So yeah, Tassie in a week was jam packed. After a week our hosts must have breathed a sigh of relief that they had actually got rid of us but I hope when P&J (who start a RTW trip in November) land in the Uk they will let us repay the favour. They were feckin' brilliant.
And after all that, we flew to Melbourne.
Melbourne
We landed in Melbourne and decided to treat ourselves to a double room in a budget hotel rather than hostelling it for the first night. We checked out the cinema (Nacho Libre- ummm not that good) and had some nice Japanese grub before turning in. The next day we headed to the suburb of St Kilda so I could see it for myself after watching The Secret Life of Us years ago. Such a fan. Anyway St Kilda, in fact Melbourne, is very quirky and has a distinctly funkier feel than Sydney. We met another 'Ex Snow Bunny' in the shape of Amy from Sussex who took us to a club with the dubious name Brown Alley. Anyway, I didnt rate it- J thought it was alright. Next day we met up with Jonny Bancroft, a Geordie we also met in the snow. The original plan was for the three of us to head up the red centre together, but with Jason having to go to Thailand on the 2nd October it meant Jonny and I would be doing that together instead. Anyway due to not living in Melbourne, or even knowing anyone in the know (my hotmail had locked me out so couldnt email any of the melbourne mates I had lined up) we had a bit of a haphazard night out that took us from one side of the city to the other. We started in a too cool for school bar in Brunswick, then ended up in the deadest club ever near St Kilda- even though it had really good music. Was late, we spent a lot, but again not the best night out I've had.
Sunday roamed abit more of the city- mainly looking for some Adidas jacket Jonny wanted; 'Ive been dreaming about it man' but the only thing we aquired was sore feet. Chilled out and waited in anticipation for Neighbours Night!
Neighbours Night...
Ahhhh. It all went a bit loopy this one. On the bill for celeb meeting was Janel and Dylan (only vaguely know them) Toadie(!) and we had a special night because the band playing at the pub that night, 'Waiting Room', was fronted by none other than DR.CARL.KENNEEEEDYYYYYY!!!
We got there nice and early and you couldnt help but notice that the room was full of women- so bloke backpackers take note- a great pulling ground of Brit backpackers. Probably explains why Jason, before we started going out, had stayed in Melbourne for 3 weeks and went to the neighbours night every week. This was his fourth Neighbours Night, the sad individual.
We sat on a table with a couple, and three girls from Scotland and got very, very pissed. On a large screen various Neighbours 'Weddings' including Daphanies and Charleens played to the crowd and got us in the mood. There was a quiz (ridiculously hard) and then the 'stars' came out to do a Q&A. Then they roamed around so you could have your picture taken with them- each had a bouncer and they would only stay with you for a pic- they wouldnt sign anything or, even when I chased Toadie around the pub, speak to your mates on the phone. So I called him a wanker. But I was, um, a bit worse for wear. One of the Scottish girls was like "I cant beleive Toadies married!! Apparently before he was married he slept with all the fans. I canne agree with sleepin wie' a married man but I would def shag Toadie!!"
I was aghast!!! I mean a) that she wanted to sleep with some poor girls husband and b) that it was repulsive Toadie. Backpackers, man. Some sluts out there and no mistake.
By the time Dr. Carl came on I was wasted. They started with The Killers 'Somebody Told Me' and the way I ran onto the dancefloor to dance right in front of him you would have thought it was The Killers Brandon Flowers and not some middle aged soap actor. While I was shaking my thing Jason had to continually tell some persistent bird that that the mess on the dancefloor was infact his girlfriend, thankyou very much, and then eventually I had to be practically carried out of the pub. If anyone recieved a messy phonecall from Jason that night (or myself, I cant really remember) then apologies from both of us. Such a mess.... we needed an extra day to recover before we picked up our hire car for the Great Ocean Road.
The Great Ocean Road
This was all about a bit of scenic culture. It took three days and two nights and in it we covered the Twelve Apostles- we stopped and had a cheeky helicopter ride above them and I was actually a bit scared again. Seems my fear of flying is returning- will have to jump out of another plane to get rid of it. We passed countless beautiful beaches and if it were Aussie summer we would have gone for a swim- but it was sunny, not warm. Also I have to say that south Victoria and Southern Australia has some stunning countryside- very like the rolling hills of the UK- it was a surprise. The second day we headed to the Grampians National Park to check out The Balconies and take a few scenic pics. Alot of forestation had been burnt in the New Years bush fires so some areas where sectioned off. When we got to the Balconies (unusual cliff edges like, well, a balcony) we waited until there were no tourists/rangers about before climbing over the safety rail and posing on the said cliff edges for photos. It was safe Ma dont worry...
Had a night in a YHA ecological hostel (all solar powered and quite swanky for a hostel) and cooked and then headed to Adelaide.
Adelaide
Not lots to tell as I wind this one up. Adelaide is a small fairly cute city. Bits of it reminded me of Hobart and it was just chilled. We stayed in a St Kilda-esque seaside area called Glenelg in a bit of a ropey backpackers that was full of sport students and then realised that the tour Jonny and I were supposed to be joining wouldnt pick us up from that area. On the Saturday night we three went to visit Jason's Auntie Juliette and her family. She cooked us a traditional Indian curry which was delish, and her husband Aussie Uncle Rob 'showed' us the garden which was just an excuse for this Aussie ex smoker to bum a cig off Jonny- only to be caught later by his wife. He also rummaged around under his window ledges so we could see some Red Back spiders. Honestly my skin was crawling just looking. Then the whole family, thats Aunt, Uncle and 3 children drove us up to Windy Point to have a night time view of Adelaide- lovely.
Sunday was my last day with Jason before he headed to Thailand. We moved hostels to the city, and went to a Chinese resturant before heading to some random club that had a Hed Kandi DJ on. I had met some FrenchMaurituius bird on the tram that day so she came out too.It was very late, and the next day I was in a very hungover, foul mood as I hugged my boyfriend goodbye and climbed on a tour bus to the outback.
So I was in the Aussie 'Snow' having a bit of culture shock to living in a tiny snow village with a load of mad aussies. Once published, that last blog entry recieved mixed reviews about how harsh I'd been on the old Aussie humour and looking back- it was a bit scathing. I made some great mates there and was sad to say goodbye to the 'Stillwell Posse' that was my lodge. It was by far the best lodge to work in, best food and best craic. The village, a bit like Emmerdale with snow, had it 'all going on'. We had a sexual harrasment charge, and assault charge with police on ski mobilies turning up the next day. Got barred from the only pub in the village a few times. Blagged on the lifts and never bought a season pass... Ended the whole season with an infamous group staying at Stillwell called the 'Funhoggs' who drank Bloody Marys with their breakfast and were pished for the whole week. Every night after dinner they and all staff had to go out into the cold snowy night and shout 'Some MITTY! Some TITTY! Sooooome SUCK! -SUCK SUCK!' and neck a Schnapps- on the house by them. As staff we were knackered after a week of that. Jason aquired the nickname 'Seagull' for being a greedy bastard and had to explain to customers that the cookie jar saying 'Not For Seagulls' was actually a deterent for him- and no their were not any seagulls near Mt Kosiosko even though some 'basic' customers got a bit confused at the sign. Brooke would just cackle 'Nah, we used to have a crow turn up for scraps but now we've got a seagull upstairs that scared him away hahaha'.
So, with a mixture of relief (it was a small place) and sadness (goodbye little sister Brooke you alchie, Michal you love, and Bree you bossy boots) Jason and I headed back briefly to Sydney to pack up some stuff and say goodbye to the depleted Sydney gang of Heather, Chris & Kerry, Samuel and also Matt n Marcus, before flying off to the cheeky little Island/State of Tasmania!
We'd made a bit of a friend at the beginning of the snow season in 23 year old Patrick. Patrick is as dry as a desert and funny too, and probably regretted the casual invite to look after us when we emailed him and said we were coming. Pat likes to pick up other peoples slang words and use them in Tassie convo. His favourite when we stayed was 'you mong'.
Tasmania
Now every mainlander Aussie who heard we were going to Tassie asked 'What the bloody hell for?!!' but with hand on heart it was one of the most hospitable and friendly places I've visited. Patrick and his girlfriend Jackie picked us up from the airport with the aid of their friend Cass and her car and then took us to Hobart. Then we were introduced to Dan over nachos in a cafe in Salamanca waterfront. Then Pat n' Jacks had to go to work so Dan, who we'd only known 30 minutes, took us on a tour of Hobart! Pat and Jackie lived in a self contained flat within Jackies parents bungalow (Australia loves bunglows!) so effectively we were staying with Jackies parents and we had only really just met her also. Her parents Ian and Glenwyn were absolutley lovely and I could have stolen the family pet dog Moe who had a 'Gap' hoodie and was just one cute pooch.
We stayed a week and packed so much in. That first night, with our hosts working late, Cass and Dan picked us up and took us to Cassies beachside Clifton home for a roast dinner, complete with her neices giving us a bit of a show and also getting to meet a MENTAL Chiauaua called Diesel. Then when Pat & Jacks turned up we all went down to Clifton beach to check out the stars which were amazing. On the Friday we mountain biked down Mount Wellington, complete with geeky crash helmets and had a nose at the old Cascade Brewery- the oldest one in Australia. We went to the 'infamous' Salamanca markets on the Saturday and then took a tour to Port Arthur. You know how we joke that Australia was Englands biggest prison 200 years ago? Well if you were a 'crim' who wouldnt learn in NSW then you got deported to Port Arthur in Tasmania which at that time was probably the arse end of the world for an English man. The place is now a heritage site with many of the buildings preserved and after dark you can go on a 'Ghost Tour' which we did. Didnt see any ghosts unfortuantley but was a good laugh all the same. You had to feel for the poor buggers who served there- it was just a wretched place.
We took a day trip to Freycinet National park so we could check out Wineglass Bay- which was picture perfect. Then we took a 3 hour hike around the Peninsula which just knackered us out.
Jackie and Pat were a pair of 'musos' and had tickets to a Blues festival/concert type thingy and we were lucky, along with Dan, to be able to get in. This thing wasnt in a big arena, or field though. It was held in a kind of country Roadhouse cum pub in the middle of nowhere and was jam packed. We got to see Australias prevelent Bluesman Ash Grunwald, who was amusing as well as very good. I even bought a cd.
To round off the trip we took a tour to Russell Falls and the surrounding nature walks which reminded me alot of New Zealand and then we headed to The Sanctuary to see some real live Tassie Devils! I have to say, I thought they were quite cute- a bit like pot bellied pigs but with MASSIVE chompers. These ones didnt seem too scary as they were in captivity and seemed to like the ready supply of meat the warden chucked them. You would'nt want a bite off them though- you would definately lose your fingers. We also checked out all the small Wallabies, Euros (little Kangaroos) Possems and a very groovy, very chilled, and very HEEEE-OWJ Koala.
So yeah, Tassie in a week was jam packed. After a week our hosts must have breathed a sigh of relief that they had actually got rid of us but I hope when P&J (who start a RTW trip in November) land in the Uk they will let us repay the favour. They were feckin' brilliant.
And after all that, we flew to Melbourne.
Melbourne
We landed in Melbourne and decided to treat ourselves to a double room in a budget hotel rather than hostelling it for the first night. We checked out the cinema (Nacho Libre- ummm not that good) and had some nice Japanese grub before turning in. The next day we headed to the suburb of St Kilda so I could see it for myself after watching The Secret Life of Us years ago. Such a fan. Anyway St Kilda, in fact Melbourne, is very quirky and has a distinctly funkier feel than Sydney. We met another 'Ex Snow Bunny' in the shape of Amy from Sussex who took us to a club with the dubious name Brown Alley. Anyway, I didnt rate it- J thought it was alright. Next day we met up with Jonny Bancroft, a Geordie we also met in the snow. The original plan was for the three of us to head up the red centre together, but with Jason having to go to Thailand on the 2nd October it meant Jonny and I would be doing that together instead. Anyway due to not living in Melbourne, or even knowing anyone in the know (my hotmail had locked me out so couldnt email any of the melbourne mates I had lined up) we had a bit of a haphazard night out that took us from one side of the city to the other. We started in a too cool for school bar in Brunswick, then ended up in the deadest club ever near St Kilda- even though it had really good music. Was late, we spent a lot, but again not the best night out I've had.
Sunday roamed abit more of the city- mainly looking for some Adidas jacket Jonny wanted; 'Ive been dreaming about it man' but the only thing we aquired was sore feet. Chilled out and waited in anticipation for Neighbours Night!
Neighbours Night...
Ahhhh. It all went a bit loopy this one. On the bill for celeb meeting was Janel and Dylan (only vaguely know them) Toadie(!) and we had a special night because the band playing at the pub that night, 'Waiting Room', was fronted by none other than DR.CARL.KENNEEEEDYYYYYY!!!
We got there nice and early and you couldnt help but notice that the room was full of women- so bloke backpackers take note- a great pulling ground of Brit backpackers. Probably explains why Jason, before we started going out, had stayed in Melbourne for 3 weeks and went to the neighbours night every week. This was his fourth Neighbours Night, the sad individual.
We sat on a table with a couple, and three girls from Scotland and got very, very pissed. On a large screen various Neighbours 'Weddings' including Daphanies and Charleens played to the crowd and got us in the mood. There was a quiz (ridiculously hard) and then the 'stars' came out to do a Q&A. Then they roamed around so you could have your picture taken with them- each had a bouncer and they would only stay with you for a pic- they wouldnt sign anything or, even when I chased Toadie around the pub, speak to your mates on the phone. So I called him a wanker. But I was, um, a bit worse for wear. One of the Scottish girls was like "I cant beleive Toadies married!! Apparently before he was married he slept with all the fans. I canne agree with sleepin wie' a married man but I would def shag Toadie!!"
I was aghast!!! I mean a) that she wanted to sleep with some poor girls husband and b) that it was repulsive Toadie. Backpackers, man. Some sluts out there and no mistake.
By the time Dr. Carl came on I was wasted. They started with The Killers 'Somebody Told Me' and the way I ran onto the dancefloor to dance right in front of him you would have thought it was The Killers Brandon Flowers and not some middle aged soap actor. While I was shaking my thing Jason had to continually tell some persistent bird that that the mess on the dancefloor was infact his girlfriend, thankyou very much, and then eventually I had to be practically carried out of the pub. If anyone recieved a messy phonecall from Jason that night (or myself, I cant really remember) then apologies from both of us. Such a mess.... we needed an extra day to recover before we picked up our hire car for the Great Ocean Road.
The Great Ocean Road
This was all about a bit of scenic culture. It took three days and two nights and in it we covered the Twelve Apostles- we stopped and had a cheeky helicopter ride above them and I was actually a bit scared again. Seems my fear of flying is returning- will have to jump out of another plane to get rid of it. We passed countless beautiful beaches and if it were Aussie summer we would have gone for a swim- but it was sunny, not warm. Also I have to say that south Victoria and Southern Australia has some stunning countryside- very like the rolling hills of the UK- it was a surprise. The second day we headed to the Grampians National Park to check out The Balconies and take a few scenic pics. Alot of forestation had been burnt in the New Years bush fires so some areas where sectioned off. When we got to the Balconies (unusual cliff edges like, well, a balcony) we waited until there were no tourists/rangers about before climbing over the safety rail and posing on the said cliff edges for photos. It was safe Ma dont worry...
Had a night in a YHA ecological hostel (all solar powered and quite swanky for a hostel) and cooked and then headed to Adelaide.
Adelaide
Not lots to tell as I wind this one up. Adelaide is a small fairly cute city. Bits of it reminded me of Hobart and it was just chilled. We stayed in a St Kilda-esque seaside area called Glenelg in a bit of a ropey backpackers that was full of sport students and then realised that the tour Jonny and I were supposed to be joining wouldnt pick us up from that area. On the Saturday night we three went to visit Jason's Auntie Juliette and her family. She cooked us a traditional Indian curry which was delish, and her husband Aussie Uncle Rob 'showed' us the garden which was just an excuse for this Aussie ex smoker to bum a cig off Jonny- only to be caught later by his wife. He also rummaged around under his window ledges so we could see some Red Back spiders. Honestly my skin was crawling just looking. Then the whole family, thats Aunt, Uncle and 3 children drove us up to Windy Point to have a night time view of Adelaide- lovely.
Sunday was my last day with Jason before he headed to Thailand. We moved hostels to the city, and went to a Chinese resturant before heading to some random club that had a Hed Kandi DJ on. I had met some FrenchMaurituius bird on the tram that day so she came out too.It was very late, and the next day I was in a very hungover, foul mood as I hugged my boyfriend goodbye and climbed on a tour bus to the outback.
posted by LesAlanos @ 12:35 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home