The second largest city in Australia is very artsy and crazy about sports. It's outrageously expensive and the pilot gives the current temperature in celsius as we fly into the airport. I don't have time to calculate the celsius temperature into fahrenheit degrees in my head, but the temperature he gives sounds cold!

A funny thing happened on the way to Australia! As I left Vietnam, I looked down at my arm . The dragon tattoo had vanished!!! Was it a magical dragon that could only be seen in Vietnam? It might also have something to do with what the tattoo artist in Vietnam said as he put it on. "It should last a couple of weeks, longer if you shower less." That is probably the closest I will ever come to having a tattoo!
My flight from Danang, Vietnam, made a stop in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where I had to switch planes after a few hours layover. 

My final stop for this trip is in Melbourne, Australia. Melbourne is the capital of the state of Victoria in Australia. It is located near the Port Philip Bay in the southern part of Australia.

The city is politically conservative and is the most cultured city in Australia, by many peoples standards. It's a beautiful place with Victorian-era architecture, seemingly unlimited cultural institutions and museums, art galleries, theaters and huge parks and gardens. The population of Melbourne is about 3 .5 million people.

The city of Melbourne loves its sports! Some say the sports fever takes on something of a religious nature in the city. They love their AFL football (not American football, they call soccer football here). They have cricket matches and horse racing, tennis and Formula One car racing. I had hoped to see a rugby match while here, but the season closed just before I arrived.

City train trams run down the middle of the streets along with the automobiles. The transportation is excellent, and also expensive to use. Melbourne is said to be one of the most livable cities in the world.
 
As soon as I leave the airport the cold wind chills me really good. It's about 50 degrees Fahrenheit on October 3. I just left 90F weather in Vietnam and I don't have on enough clothes.

I find a bus that can take me to the part of the city where I will stay. It is a big size bus and has a trailer attached to it . I discover the buses from the airport all have these trailers behind them . . . for the luggage.

I will stay in a motel in St. Kilda. It is a suburb of Melbourne about 4 miles from the center of the city. It's the "quirky" section of Melbourne, home to a lot of prominent artists and musicians. All around the area, as you walk, you will see various types of art work and drawings.

My first day in town, I walk around to see what this place is all about. A cup of coffee goes anywhere from $2.95 to over $7 a cup. The Aussies also love hot tea. I think a past British influence may be the reason.

I see bananas on sale for $2.50 a pound (regular, not organic). I bought some of the bananas. They are different than what we buy in the states and other places I have been. These bananas, when you pull back the peels, have a rough texture to the banana. Also, they are not as big around or as sweet as the bananas I am used to .

Small bags of chips in vending machines cost more than family-size bags in the states. Small pieces of bakery goods like fudge or a slice of cake runs $4, $5, $6 and more! 

Wifi in most of the developing countries I have been to is free, sometimes even on the beaches. But, here it is very expensive to use the wifi or internet. I wonder what kind of wages people that live here make in order to live.

I walk along the beach surrounding St. Kilda. This is Melbourne's most famous beach and my motel is only a few blocks away.

I walk along the cement pathway along the beach and see people windsurfing, sailing and kitesurfing! There are two paths, one for pedestrians and joggers, and right next to it is one for bikes and rollerbladers. Volleyball games are going on and kids chase the birds on the beach.

There are even people skydiving here! There is a very nice skate park here on the beach also . I spend time watching the skateboarders. There are very young ones. Some don't look to be even school age yet! Then, of course, there are many school age kids and a lot of adult men as well! It's a very popular sport here and this is a very popular place right on the beach! Despite the cold today, the people here are enjoying the outdoors! I like the St Kilda area. I made a good choice to stay here in this part of Melbourne!

Apparently, the public road that runs alongside the St Kilda Beach is very popular for marathons and bicycle racing!

There is a long pier here also. The cold wind blows, but nevertheless, I venture out on the pier. It goes a long ways into the bay. I walk along and look at the sea life in the clear water on each side of the boardwalk. Then, take a side trip along the boardwalks where private boats are docked.

There is a seafood restaurant to stop at if you wish, and right beyond that is a long breakwater section where a colony of little penguins stay . They are the smallest penguins in the world! You need to come at daybreak to see them leave, going out into the ocean for the day of feeding, or come at dusk to see them return. I went several times at dusk while I was in St Kilda. They return when it is getting dark and are so small, I never did get a good photo of them.

Another interesting thing, just a couple of blocks from my motel was the Luna Park. It opened in 1912! It has a 'moonface' entrance and has a historic scenic railway ride, along with many other amusement park rides.

The Scenic Railway is actually a roller coaster ride. As I watched it, I saw someone STANDING UP on it, while it went up and down the rails. It turns out that this ride is one of only 3 in the world that requires a brakeman to stand in the middle of the train as it goes. I got a photo. Take a close look!

Melbourne is a great city from what I have seen so far . I even saw some parrots in some front yards as I walked around St Kilda. They were not caged, just hanging out! 

There are bicycles along the street you can rent. You swipe your credit card and take the bike! Or, if you need to wash your dog, for $10 you can use the self-serve dog wash on the street. There is a public toilet on one of the streets, free to use. The toilet flushes when you wash your hands! The toilet seat is automatically washed when you leave the stall!

The local people are very friendly but I will have to learn some of the popular Aussie slang in order to understand them better.  "Arvo, cobber. Holy dooley! I'm gobsmacked to see ya here! Where ya from?" I know they're friendly, but not sure what all they said!!

I hope it warms up in this beautiful land, though. There is so much to enjoy outdoors!

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