Just returned from Australia over a week ago. I finally have a little time and a solid internet connection to discuss. The flight was sixteen hours in the middle of the middle row. When you’re my height, you can imagine how comfortable that is. Exit Row all the way next trip.
My introduction to the Land Down Under was the beautiful city of Melbourne. First and foremost, Melbourne has a very angular and artsy skyline, a real feast for the eyes. Along with that, if you’re staying in the downtown area its very easy to get around on foot. While the city bus tour I was on did give me some information (like how Melbourne has the third largest Greek population outside of Athens and Thessaloniki), I much more enjoyed actually walking around and taking in the city sights myself. Like how Melbourne comes alive on the Sundays when a football game (they called it ‘footy’) is on.
I took a tour of the Melbourne Museum and got acquainted with some Australian history. Basically the Aborigines had it as bad if not worse than the Native Americans. I was reading through some passages in their history exhibits thinking ‘haven’t I read this story already?”
The city is very diverse with a cornucopia of various races…except for Africans. Combined with my height I was the subject of much staring, so its like I never left the US.
On the same day as the Melbourne tour, I also did a tour of the nearby Philip Island to see the fairy penguin parade. These penguins only exist in Australia and New Zealand as they can’t survive in the arctic climates of their larger cousins. They swim in the Pacific all day and eat fish, then head back to their beach dwellings after sunset. Imagine hundreds upon hundreds of tiny blue penguins waddling past you as they go home to sleep, feed their babies or send out mating calls to make new babies. Yes. Amazingness. Its quite the spectacle. Unfortunately I couldn’t get any photos as pictures are forbidden.
My final day in Melbourne was spent travelling up the Great Ocean Road, built after World War 1 and is the world’s largest war memorial. I got great views of the coast line and an amazing view of some weathered rock formations near the town of Port Campbell. I definitely could have spent more time there.
There was one slight problem that occurred in Melbourne and kept reoccurring throughout my Australia trip. I got a lot of rewriting done, which is a good thing. But the issue was that the ideas would not stop! I would be on a tour seeing this amazing sight, which would inspire a brand new idea that I couldn’t wait to jot down. So instead of basking in the sights, I’m sometimes counting the minutes till I get back to my hotel to write it down. Yes, I know, shame on me. But that is the great thing about travelling, right? Its supposed to inspire new ideas for writing or just inspire. So no shame on me! Ha!
I found a great link detailing 5 great apps for authors that I will definitely look into, one which I already own. See them here.
The Outback is up next. Enjoy the Melbourne gallery.
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