Following the sun to Perth... (and how I spent my last 2 weeks in Melbourne)

I have officially arrived in Perth!! For some reason, I've been wanting to come here since day one. I don't really have a reason, just a feeling.

I have nothing to say about Perth yet since I've been blogging for the past 2 hours, except that there are a lot of Chinese restaurants nearby and that the first thing I did upon arriving at my new hostel is spray the mattress down with Lysol.

The past two weeks in Melbourne have been a blur. I was staying in St. Kilda, which is a beach neighborhood of Melbourne. Sean, Colin and I finally split up in Adelaide, so I've been traveling on my own. But it was only a baby-step to flying solo because I immediately met the most amazing group ever in my hostel room!

Yes, we were all in one room. And this picture doesn't include Craig, Tina, Pete, and a few other weird people... There was another American whose first and middle names were Molly Elizabeth too! But I am the far superior American Molly :)

This new hostel room was about the side of a long two car garage, with bunk beds and lockers lining either side of the painted brick walls, separated by a narrow walkway. There was crap everywhere and PEOPLE everywhere- it was not unusual to have 12-14 people in the room, with one bathroom to share between us... and I LOVED it. I booked a week initially and ended up staying for two.

At the Elephant & Wheelbarrow...

This is Emily and Pete. I'll be reuniting with Emily when I go to Sydney. The friendships you can make in a hostel are amazing.

I wasn't even there when they took this at the night market, but it's classic. From left to right, that's Lena of Germany, Darren of Norwich, Danny Boy the Scot, and Craig the Welshy.

As much as I miss driving, some of my favorite memories are of the walks homes... singing and dancing in the street... even the occasional soccer- excuse me, FOOTBALL lesson. I've been corrected so often- it's football, not soccer, and to-mah-to, not to-may-to :)

I took Geoff, Darren, Lena, and Ash to their first salsa lesson!

I was so surprised and happy when they agreed to go. I don't know why though- Lena was always down for anything, as were the guys, especially after I told them that women love men who can dance...

... any and all dancing :)

I also reunited with Dominican and Canada!

Coops and Dave dance too...

Pretty much sums up the nature of our relationship.

Malinda!! The only thing I liked about Canada after that hockey game...

And now, a quick tribute to quirky, beautiful Melbourne...

Degraves Street (above) and Centre Place (below), two of my favorite little alleys.

Chapel Street

Melbourne is known to have four seasons in a day. After a particularly stormy hour, the beach was littered with jellyfish.

I really came to St. Kilda at the perfect time. It was right before everyone found work and other places to live. What kind of work do backpackers get in a city? Pete works as a locksmith, Tina is waitressing at Taco Bills, which is like Chevys... Darren finally caved and accepted a position at McDonalds (which he is not happy about, but people get paid so much out here! doesn't seem like a bad gig)...

Geoff was a milkman for Aussie Farmers Direct... sort of. He also sold boxes of fruit...

Darren to the attractive prostitute on Grey St: "So what are you doing tonight?"

Prostitute: "I'm selling my box."

Darren: "Really?? You work for Aussie Farmers Direct, too?? Geoff! She's your colleague!"

Danny was fashionable in neon orange as an air conditioner installer...

and I was NOT a candy striper (although it might have been nice to be working in a hospital again).

But I found work at Misty's. Do you remember Misty's? The American diner that I had previously described as the epitome of what I did NOT want to do while I was here? Yeah...

about that...

Did I mention that we wore poodle skirts on the weekends?

I can make a mean milkshake now. And did you know that they call floats "spiders"?? I'm not ok with that.

I also made some bomb breaded sweet potato fries that day!

Talk about having to eat your words. Lesson learned. I actually had a great time, met some wonderful people, and it is something that I probably would never have done back home! Yay new experiences!

FYI: In Australia, to "root" means to have sex. So make sure you don't talk about rooting for a sports team (unless you REALLY like them, I suppose).. and if you work at an American diner and offer an Aussie a root beer, don't be surprised when he raises an eyebrow and asks if it comes with a room.