Sunday 5^th February 2012

We had to get up early as tour flights were at around 8am. As morning walk we brought our baggage to the check-in counter. Here we were surprised as it should be 4kg heavier than before the flight to Australia. I do not think that there was more baggage as I already then did nearly not have enough space. After the last breakfast together we went to the gate. I accompanied Konrad to his flight after his hand luggage was checked for traces of explosives. Now it is definitive: Konrad flew to Sydney to work and I flew to Tasmania. I had a special experience when I arrived in Tasmania. There was no customs. Instead there was a dog which sniffed at my hand luggage and walking on the baggage band my backpack. Nobody should bring fruits, vegetables or flowers to the island. Then I went with the bus into the city to get to my accommodation. As it was before noon, it was not yet possible. They were so kind that I at least could leave my baggage there. First I went to the tourist information to check out what I can see here. In Hobart there is a tourist bus and I bought a 3-day pass for it. After a short trip with the bus I first checked in to my room. There are two others in my room which are travelling with a guided tour. They are from Ticino and Germany. As they told about their trip, I was glad to be on road by myself. So I can stay at the nice places and enjoy the time as I like. The disadvantage is that I surely meet less people. After I went into town again. Now it started to rain. I had a umbrella and was hoping it will get better. Towards the evening I walked to the harbour and visited the Salamanca Market. There is a big flea market every Saturday. After a short walk I went back to the hostel.

Saturday 4^th February, 2012

After we packed everything in the backpack, we visited the rest of Melbourne. We passed the library and went to see China town. Next stop was St. Patricks Cathedral, the catholic one. We enjoyed the chill in Lord's house, as it was warm outside and already in the morning the sun was burning on the skin. On the way to the aquarium we saw here and there a wedding and our one returned to mind. In the aquarium we marvelled at many foreign fishes. Here we also found the crocodile from Maru Koala Park which was on holiday here. It will go back when its new home will be finished. To get a bit distance to the city we walked in the Fitzroy Gardens. There we visited Cooks Cottage. This is the house where the explorer James Cook was born. It was moved to Australia. It is a small English cottage and they show how the people lived back then and told about the voyages of the sailor. In the park we could everywhere read that we should not feed possums as they then multiply and damage the trees. In the evening we had again an appointment with Zoe and went into a Japanese restaurant. It reminded more at a beach bar than at a restaurant, but was very cosy. Despite the full stomach we decided to have a dessert in the Italian barrier. Brunetti had a big assortment of culinary delights which we immediately tested. We gladly accepted the suggestion of Zoe to drive us to the hotel at the airport.

Friday 3^rd February 2012

Somehow I did not master yet the Australian washing-machines and tumble-dryers. Yesterday evening I washed the clothes and then realized that there is still washing powder on the cloth. I tried to wash it out by hand, but not very successfully. Also with the dryer: according to the hostel crew 30 minutes should be enough for drying. But also here the dryers are not faster than at home First we brought the car back as Melbourne is easier to get around with walking. First we visited the nearby Queen Victoria Market. On this huge market you may buy everything from food to souvenirs. We bought some fresh but expensive fruits. As the summer was bad here, the prize for fruits and vegetables is higher. But generally speaking Australia is as expensive as Switzerland. There is a free tram line circling around downtown. To explore the city we rode about half of the tour. I realized how much the area of the dockland developed. When I was here last time, there was very little. Now there are many new buildings and a new stadium. At the Federation Square in the center of Melbourne we dropped off. We visited the Pauls Cathedral. As we like to walk we went to the Royal Botanic Garden. It is huge and makes the impression of a local recreation area. After a nap in the park we wanted to see Melbourne with eagle eyes. The elevator took us to floor 88 of Eureka Tower. At nearly 300 m the city is very impressive to look at. In the evening we met Zoe, a friend of Konrad from his Dublin times. As she had to work longer it was quite late when we met. So we had to look for something to eat. We found a Korean restaurant. We ordered meat for the table grill. Konrad took beef tongue, Zoe and I two different kind of chicken. One was tender and lovely. The other tasted like a chewing gum and was not really edible.

Thursday 2^nd February 2012

As our bones were tired we made a lazier day. First we drove to the Dandenong National Park. At the car park we saw many cockatoos and parrots. You may feed them there with prepared feed. Suddenly, shhhh, and all cockatoos flew away. As I still felt the hiking from yesterday, we just made a little walk in the park. And again we observed a echinda. It seamed to take a nap. We drove on towards Melbourne, more exactly to St. Kilda. It is quite a way from the edge of the city until you reach the beach. The late afternoon and the evening we enjoyed with a long walk along the seaside. We closed the day observing the sunset.

Wednesday 1^st February, 2012

In the hostel we met yesterday Flo from Germany. He studies in St. Gall and is doing an exchange semester in Australia. As he did not travel by car he asked if he might join us. We sat off in the morning to the Prom, how the National Park is tenderly called by the locals. On the drive to Tidal River an Emu crossed the road, but it was too fast to take a picture. First we informed us in the tourist information which tracks were open. Many are closed as there were floods in the last year. For warm-up we walked to the Norman Bay. On the way we chased off a snake which wanted to take a sunbath. To have time to enjoy the view we went along the beach back to the car park. Now warmed up we hiked in the Lilly Pilly Gully. There was a dry rainforest. To get a better view over the Prom we went up Mount Bishop. Suddenly there was a loud noise in the bush beside us. We guessed that was a wallaby fleeing us. Even as the peak was only at 319 m, we had a spectacular view. Back at the car park we drove to Squeaky Beach. If you walk on that beach, it crunches below your feet. We were striding around the rocks and discussed what will be next. I was a bit sceptical about the suggestion to hike another 6 km as I felt already my sensible knee. So we decided to walk to a bay named Millers Landing. On the way a bird couple was trying to get feed from the tree beside the track and the cones dropped to the floor with a big crack. Understandable that we were a bit scared. But these kind of parrots we did not yet meet: black with yellow spots on the head and tail. We also met a few wallabies. To some we could get as close as 2 meters. Impressive. Down at the bay there were mangroves and black swans. As I still had some power left, we hiked up to another viewpoint. The track to the Vereker Outlook lead over many rocks and went up and up. The view was brilliant. On one side the sea and the islands, on the other the wide nature park. On the way back home we saw more kangaroos, cockatoos and other birds. It was a very nice day and I was surprised that I hiked in total about 20 km.