Christmas Day antics
Wazzzaaaaa!
Woke up at eight this morning, an hour later than usual. We got back before midnight from our lovely evening with Mari and Marie. We ate some great food, watched Kalle Anka and drank glögg.
Haven't done more than eaten today really. I made potato gratang (gratin? gratäng!) and chicken for lunch. We're now sitting at Federation Square. It's the biggest free wifi spot in Australia. They've got beach chairs and places to sit everywhere and a big screen tv where they've shown films today. It's so hot and we're just sitting.
Tomorrow the sales start and the day after that we're watching the Hobbit and the Desolation of Smaug! Wooooo!
Latersss
- Nastasja
A few snaps from the past week
We walked down Collins Street one day and had been looking for cinemas the night before. Just noticed the entrance to the stairs to this rooftop bar and cinema. Wes took Julia and I there last time we were over but the cinema wasn't organized then I don't think. Cheap burgers and really friendly staff.
There are quite a few people dressed up. Here's Father Christmas in a graffitied alley.
One of the best places to eat sushi - ThaiViet Bibig.
If you walk down Collins Street there's an arcade where you can go downstairs to Dymocks For Booklovers. Instead of going downstairs, walk through and turn left. The rolls are only $2 each and they serve miso soup too!
Yum.
Across the street from the library is a massive shopping centre that I can't remember the name of. There's a little bookshelf-kind-of library there.
By Flinder Street Station they were selling plastic Christmas trees in the blazing sun.
We came home and made some yummy fajitas. I skipped the bread and ate them with salad.
We went for a walk and discovered Church Street/Chapel Street, Richmond, Prahran and Toorak. On the way we bought sandwiches from Pillar of Salt and enjoyed them in the sun.
On my way to town another day I photographed these... berries? Pretty colour.
ANOTHER great sushi place. Tokui Sushi, just below where Swanston Street crosses Lonsdale Street. $2 rolls.
We spent a few hours at the library and went for a burger at Grill'd - the Baa Baa Burger is an amazing one with lamb mince. Just across the space there was a market. We entered a competition to win $5000 and were offered free fairy floss (as they call it here).
So photogenic.
The chocolate cake was SO so good. That with a pot of tea for $5, ta very much. The girls we spoke to were so lovely as well.
We took tram 109 towards Box Hill and hopped off at IKEA. As we're celebrating Christmas Eve with our Norweigan friends we needed to stock up on some Swedish food. Too bad they'd ran out of gravad lax.
Outside the library we sighted this.... not sure if it works.
The number 35 tram - it circles the city and is free!
Best of times.
- Nastasja
Home away from home
We walk about places like these almost every day.
Sometimes those walks take us all the way down Victoria Street to IKEA where they sell sweets. Daniel has finally been able to eat some Swedish liqourice.
Updating his journal.
Aaaaand cooking yummy quesadillas for us.
Made by D.
We play a lot of cards. Daniel has taught me how to play Chicago, so now we can vary with that. We've been playing Canadian Rummy and "Skitgubbe" (=shithead?) during the whole of the trip before this.
Made some burgers. Everyday I am happy to not eat tuna and spaghetti.
The lovely wooden balcony doors.
Where we spend a lot of our time eating, reading, playing music, playing cards, talking and CHILLING.
Yep. Definitely nice to have a homebase without other people. Gathering strength before we go to Asia.
Stuffffff
Whadup!
There's not much going on here in Melbourne. We've not had any luck on the job front although Daniel was at an interview the other day. He applied for a Customer Service position and when he got there it was all a load of rubbish - it was just fundraising. That sounds coldhearted, but the working conditions are awful.
We met up two Norweigan friends, Mari and Marie, on Friday to party a little bit with their friends. After a few hours we went to town and ate some pizza and walked home.
Going to go and check out the Botanical Gardens today and enjoy the blue skies and sun. Got some planning of Asia to do too.
- Nastasja
Bibliotek och souvlaki
Som rubriken lyder. Ungefär. Suttit och skrivit CV och personliga brev på biblans datorer, tog en lunchpaus och såg på alla människor som sprang runt i ösregnet. När vi var klara med skrivandet så slutade det regna och vi promenerade glatt hem.
Vi träffade på grannen här, en interior designer med en riktigt fräck lya. Det finns så många balla typer i den här staden alltså. Imorgon ska vi i alla fall bjuda Cho på lunch - mammas recept på Westindian meatballs and rice.
- Nastasja
Walkabout in Melbourne
We woke up to 28 degrees and sun, so we made the most of it and spent the day outside.
There are so many old and beautiful buildings around.
Some artsy stuff.
Beautiful fences and decore on the houses.
The platypus
Peoples' drawings in the clay tiles in the park.
Christmas decorations against the blue sky. 
My dream man.
Inside one of the shopping centres.
Posing time in a courtyard.
We love all the churches and cathedrals. So majestic.
The fasade of the pub in the picture above.
Houses of colour.
We went for a Brunswick Bitter (beer) at a local pub called the Vic in the sun. So, so, so hot!- NastasjaAbout this high on life
Second week of having a cold. Not a happy bunny.
- N.
Det här med lösgodis
En blir så glad av tanken och synen av godis. Sen äter en fem sex stycken och mår illa resten av dagen och vaknar mitt i natten och behöver ta en samarin pga ont. Inte värt det. Åt även en halvfabrikatslunch á la Sverige i form av ett köttbullemeal. Inte heller bra för kroppen. Köpte kaviar med och strosade genom hela IKEA:t igår. Får nog bli lite gravad lax och glögg i jul!
- Nastasja
21 oktober
We're at Melbourne's State Library using the internet and just making time pass as we don't leave with our Greyhound bus until tonight at 8pm. It'll take us about 12,5h but we'll be asleep most of it (hopefully) and it'll save us a night at a hostel. We're staying somewhere on Darlinghurst Road, wherever that is, and then we probably will be crashing at my cousin Jodie's for a few days. Can not wait to see her! We've been reading up a bit on the bush fires that are close to Sydney and are making sure we're not in danger.
- Nastasja
Established in Melboune
Hey hey heeey!
We got here two days ago and have done no hard work, except maybe fighting our way through the kitchen to cook our food. We're staying at a big hostel called Urban Central in the southern part of Melbourne's city area, just across the Yarra River. We're sharing a room with another couple and it's more private and nice. Breakfast is free and the hostel organizes loads of stuff. Yesterday, for example, we ended up last in a trivia quiz, haha.
Had a poke about the city, gone on the free tram and discovered China Town. We've eaten sushi for hardly any money at all and almost blown away by the story warm winds. Had our first pollen shock today and it probably won't get easier from here, ha. We also stood and listened to two brothers with amazing voices sing and play Mumford&Sons-inspired music.
We're going to Philip Island tomorrow on a day tour to see penguins. Unluckily the forecast is 12 degrees and rain. Fingers crossed it changes!
Left our touch pads with all our pictures on at the hostel, hopefully we'll find more free wifi soon. The hostel charges $4 an hour!
Seeeee yaaas
- Nastasja
