Saturday 27th December - here goes.....

Tuesday 16th December I spent the day just wondering around Melbourne and shopping with Sinead. We decide to go to a shop that sells half price tickets for shows that evening, and managed to get quite cheap tickets for a show called Witches in Britches. Reading the itinerary for the evening (obviously after we got the tickets!!), we saw that we were going to have to participate in the show. After reading this we both decided we needed to head to the pub before the show!!! After a quick pint, we headed over to where the show was being held, and waited for the doors to open. The first part meant walking through a dark corridor with people dressed up jumping out at you. After getting to the end of that we decided that the next stop should once again be the bar!!! We bought a glass of wine each, and then stood around whilst the people dressed up came round to chat to us. Thinking they were just being friendly we chatted away, only later to realise that they were actually just getting as much information off people as possible to use in the show!! D'oh!!!!!

There was a 3 course meal included in the price of the tickets, so we then went through and were seated ready to eat. At this point we decided to buy a bottle of sparkling wine (it's cheaper than buying by the glass!!) to drink with our food!! To start with we had a lovely soup (no idea what it was!), and that was followed by steak and a salad, and then a chocolate dessert for pudding. During this time another bottle of wine was ordered. Some of the cast got on stage during this time and introduced the whole audience, using the information they had got off us. I will admit here that me and Sinead got off very lightly. They just told everyone where we were from, and said that they liked to give a free gift to some people during these nights, so they gave us a cocktail shaker filled with a cocktail. Woohoo!!!!!

The show itself was funny. Neither of us are sure whether or not there was a story line, but there was lots of singing and dancing, and they got members of the audience up to do silly things like karaoke and stuff. We got off so lightly!!! After the show you could stay behind and drink some more and dance. We did!!! And then got a taxi to another pub, and then a tram to another. It was about 5am when we got in, but somehow, and I am not sure how, there was no hangover the next day. Well not for me anyway hehehe!!!

Wednesday was a very lazy day though, where we just went to St Kilda beach in Melbourne, and had a wonder around. We did go out for food that evening though, with someone Sinead had met on her tour, and a couple of drinks but it was quite an early night.

On Thursday we were changing hostels, so after checking out we caught the tram into the centre, and then another one out towards the hostel. It was surprisingly easy to find, and was a very quiet hostel. After checking in we went out for the day. To start with we walked to Fitzroy gardens, that was quite close to the hostel, and then caught a tram to chinatown. We had lunch in chinatown (using chopsticks of course!!). That evening we went to the cinema to see Madagascar 2, and also for a cocktail. It poured down with rain that evening, and we got drenched heading back to the hostel.

Friday, again, we just wondered around Melbourne, and I went to Albert Gardens for a while, but left because there were too many people running. I felt very unfit, and left to go an meet Sinead. We got a bottle of wine, and then headed back to the hostel. The bottle was only $5, but really nice (and it said wine on it, which is a pretty good sign!!!). We also went to Victoria Market to walk around. It was a fab market, with tons of fresh fruit and veg.

Saturday was an early start, because we were going on a Neighbours tour. We got to the where we were being picked up from at around half 8, and then got the bus that took us on the tour. We went to Ramsay Street, that is an actual street, and then saw the school and then went to the studios to see different buildings. After that we met someone who used to be in Neighbours and had our photo taken with her. As someone who hasn't watched Neighbours for quite a while, I didn't have a clue who she was!! After finishing the Neighbours tour, we headed to Chinatown again for lunch. We did go to a different place though, so that's ok!! We then spent the afternoon wondering around the museum and got another bottle of wine to take back to the hostel.

On Sunday we decided to head to a Science works place that was supposedly in Williamstown. After getting to Williamstown we found out it was actually in Spotswood that we had passed on the train and had to get 2 trains to get there. After reaching there we walked the wrong way so took us ages to find!! Once we got there we actually had a really good time, it was a real interactive place, so we were like kids running around!!

On Monday we wondered around Melbourne again (after I got Hayfever tabs - was suffering and the pharmacist made me take one before even leaving the pharmacy!!). We were supposed to go out Monday night, but things didn't work out as planned, so we just stayed in (yes, with another bottle of wine).

Tuesday we were leaving Melbourne, so we checked out and caught the train to the bus station, and then a bus to the airport. We then flew to Sydney. After eventually getting to the hostel, we checked in and then headed into the city to get some decorations (oh, after checking out the local first!!). After getting back to the hostel the rest of the group had checked in (there were 6 of us in the room - we were all from the Sept ozintro group), and we took the rest of them to show them the local (well we felt we should!), and then got pizza and a few drinks and came back to the hostel. We all had decided to do a Secret Santa, so picked names out of a hat for that!!

Wednesday (Christmas Eve) we caught the bus over to Coogee to the ozintro office because a few of us had post and stuff to collect from there, and then headed into town. We all went shopping for our secret santa pressies and I think that may have been the most stressful hour of my life. I hate busy shops, and never shop on Christmas Eve!! Never again!! After that we went to the supermarket to get food for Christmas Day, and then headed back to the hostel to get ready for our night out. We had tickets for a cruise, where all the drinks and food were included in the price. We all got quite a few looks as we headed there (and a couple of car horns sounding!!). We all had santa hats and tinsel, and Chris had dyed his hair blue (as you do!!). The cruise was real good fun, and loads of people had dressed up. Once the cruise had finished, we headed to the Gaff which is a really cheesy club (I first went there on my first night in Sydney!!). Around one o'clock we left and headed back to the hostel.

On Christmas Day we all got up feeling a little worse for wear, and decided against our cooked breakfast and Bucks Fizz. Eventually we all got moving, and sorted ourselves out. We gave out the secret Santa gifts and I got a plastic wine glass. I can't see why!!!!! We then caught the bus over to Coogee to the beach. As we arrived we were all hungry so got a burger from McDonalds, before finding a good spot on the grass (we decided the beach would be too sandy!!) and spending the afternoon there drinking beers, cooking and eating a barbie, and just having fun. I did wonder into the sea though to have my photo taken as proof I was on the beach on Christmas Day. After getting back to the hostel, I phoned home to say Merry Christmas, and then we all just kinda collapsed on our beds and slept!!

Boxing Day, we all felt ready for the Bucks Fizz for breakfast, and then headed over to Randwick Racecourse where we were going to spend the day. It was free to get in for International people as long as we had our passports, so that was all good!! It was a really good day. we drunk sparkling wine (we are backpackers so couldn't afford champagne), ate hot dogs (not quite as posh!!), and bet on a few horses. I came away pretty much with the same money I took so basically won back what I had bet. We then caught a taxi over to Bondi Junction to an Irish bar. There was an Irish Band playing, and I think around 80% of the people there were Irish. They were all singing Irish songs, and it was fab to listen to and the atmosphere was great. we then went for Mexican for food, and after eating I decided to head back to the hostel, and 2 others came with me while the rest stayed out drinking, All in all it was a pretty good Christmas!! One that I won't forget anyway!!!