Homeward Bound

After getting the red eye greyhound from Sydney, I arrived in Melbourne at 7am decided to hit the ground running and get a job as quickly as possible. Due to hostel check-ins not being until noon I managed to have a job interview lined up before I had accommodation! I carried on job hunting in a similar vain for two days signing up for temp agencies and securing interviews where possible. However, after I reflected on my first interview I had a change of heart. Having taken stock I realised that since arriving in Melbourne I had been on autopilot and was actually no longer keen to work. Having spent time since being in Australia in the company of working travellers, I really was not envious of their situations and felt it would be a step backwards for me to go back to a student style life in a stopgap job. So after reflecting on this I weighed up my options as to what to do next...

Traveling on I realised also no longer tempted me. I've had my fill as a solo traveller, even though I've barely been alone since I left, it is very different travelling with good friends and journeying with transitional randoms. Fellow travellers whom are you best friends from two days then never see again. So made the decision to enjoy the rest of my time in Oz but to ultimately head home.

Felt a weight lift off my shoulders with this decision and must stress that I have had a fantastic experience for the last 3 months and I'm really glad I came away on my own, challenged myself and expanded my comfort zone. But in future travel I want to share experiences with great friends and loved ones and for now get back to reality.

So after a few wasted days of pointless employment search I started to enjoy the sights and sounds of Melbourne. I was shown around the streets of the central city by Captain Awesome a random chap who puts on a free daily tour and lives solely off the tips. He portrays an alternative history of Melbourne, and always came back to the fact that it was originally called Batmania (surely Gotham would have been more appropriate). Wandered around some really cool sites including alleyways full of graffiti, as the city used to have a real graffiti problem they now have designated streets set aside where everything, walls, pavement, bins are all covered in paint. Even saw a piece by Banksy...

Outside of the central area I have been down to St Kilda. By day walked from South Melbourne beach round the sands scattered with jellyfish and waters infested with them to St Kilda beach. The temperature was above 40°C and the water provided much needed cooling. So hot that I even passed an ice cream parlour that was closed due to the extreme temperatures!! That night broke records as the hottest night in the last one hundred years with a low temperature of 36°C. I have never felt anything like it in a room without air conditioning, constant sweats and a bone dry mouth and a constant thirst that was impossible to quench - although right now I can't imagine I'll be getting much sympathy from the Scots reading this.

St Kilda is also the trendy place to party and cruised round a few bars there which were pretty cool and caught some good live bands. Also, wandered around Queen Victoria markets and perused the standard tat that was on sale. Everything from Aussie souvenirs, Ugg boots to fresh meat and veg. Ended up catching up with my cousin Andy and his family for a BBQ as well which was great to see them and also good get some proper food in me... Steak and sausages!!
Now heading up to Alice Springs for a jaunt to Uluru (aka Ayers Rock)...