Finally leaving

Will finally be leaving Australia next week so thought I'd fill you in on what's been happenning since I left Darwin.

Arrived back here last Friday to a slightly cold and wet late summers day in Adelaide. Just as I got to the hostel, saw Nobbi and Damian walking past. And just in the hostel entrance, there was Bruno and Cameron. They'd just arrived from Melbourne by car with Bruno's girlfriend Amanda.

Ended up being in 'The Cave' which is a 12 bed dorm for the third and final time and Robert was also in there along with the others, I'd just mentioned.

The reason they were all here? Well it was WOMADelaide weekend. For those that don't know, WOMAD stands for World Of Music, Arts and Dance and was started by Peter Gabriel in the UK in 1982. It stemmed from an idea he had in 1980 due to watching a concert invloving an African group. You also get WOMAD in Spain, Italy, Greece, Singapore, NZ etc.

Anyway, Cameron and I went there on the Friday evening and met up with Kameron, a girl I met in Adelaide previously, from America.

I have a tendency to always leave things behind at hostels. This time it was one of my jackets and the only piece of upper body warm clothing I had as everything else is on its way to Spain. Being used to the hotter northern climate, I felt bloody cold. Luckily, Cameron lent me his jacket which came in handy and thankfully, we spent quite a bit of time by the fire rockets which were parafin burner things shaped like rockets. Dried off in next to no time. Saw a few bands and left when it closed at midnight.

Once again, went there again on Saturday and I had the great idea of smuggling in a couple of 2 litre casks of Muscat (like Port). There was Cameron and me outside the festival wrestling with the bags of muscat trying to sellotape them round our waists under our tops and jackets(I bought one from a second hand place). After half an hour or so I gave up and simply hid it under my jacket in my hand while Cameron hid his in his jacket and tied it around his waist. There was an obvious lump in the sleeve but then you could only notice it from behind. We must have looked a right pair of idiots and couldn't stop
laughing. Got in easily and then eventually met up with the others and Sarah, who I met in Sydney in October.

Had a pretty random day of chatting, watching bands and perfomances, losing people, finding people, sending text messages etc etc etc but at least it was dry and warmer than the previous day.

Went on the Sunday again and lost people due to getting food and having no power on my phone. After a short while, went back to the hostel to charge my phone and went back again. Saw an Aboriginal guy from the NT on stage and he was really funny talking about random stuff and then bursting into song. Later on, I saw a Korean perfomance with some lady singing and a guy slowly painting a picture in the foreground. Then a few of them banged on their drums. Lost everyone again but eventually met up with Cameron later for a drink.

Got shouted at by the police for almost walking in front of their car as I crossed the road rather slowly. They had to slow down in their car to have a go at me. They weren't driving fast though, only about 10kph.

All in all, had a great weekend. By Monday, all my friends either left Adelaide or moved out of the hostel. I managed to smuggle Bruno and Cameron into my dorm for 1 night as there were 2 beds free. Bruno mananged to stay there another night for free but hitched out of Adelaide the following day.

Went to Mount Lofty yesterday with Mattius and Tobey, 2 German guys in my room and Tania, a German girl who's Birthday it was. Yep, the hostel has been invaded by Germans. Quite funny! She was saying she feels old being 20. Good grief, 20 and feeling old. I had to tell her how 31 is not even old. Anyway, Mount Lofty is about a 20 minute drive outside the city and overlooks it. Really nice views!

Drove onto Hahndorf, a German town settled in 1839 in the Adelaide Hills. Pretty nice place and the guys had to take quite a few photos and buy some German 'bum burners' - hot salami sausages. They weren't too hot though but I wouldn't have liked to try the 'X-rated bum burners' which were literally covered in chilli seeds and skin. Had a German wheat beer and then drove south to Victor Harbour which was pretty cool. There was an island in the sea connected by a bridge with a horse drawn tram. We walked there and noticed that Fairy Penguins lived on the island. Unfortunately, they only arrive just after
sunset and we had to drive an hour back to the hostel in time for the free BBQ. Didn't make it back in time but, luckily, they had kept a plate full of food for each of us.

Went out for a few drinks with Cameron in the evening and smuggled him into my room last night as he would have slept in his car. He left this afternoon but not after trying to break into his car with a dodgy coat hanger due to the car keys being locked inside. The RAC had to be called out in the end and the guy did a similar trick but opened it in about 2 seconds.

And next Thursday I am flying to Singapore with none other than Heather who I met in Darwin. I knew she was going to Asia but didn't know when and a couple of days ago, after a few emails, we agreed to travel together which has been a huge relief as I was getting stresed out about the whole travelling Asia alone dialema. Managed to book on the same flight as her from Melbourne so will get the overnight bus there next Wednesday or try and get a lift. Will be in Singapore for a couple of days (as it's just too damn expensive) and then work our way up through Malaysia to Thailand and see what happens.

My insurance runs out in May so I will probably leave by then to Spain. Have to get an onward ticket before leaving for Singapore so will do that in the next few days. Ticket was $300 cheaper with STA Travel then Travel Centre and, after 2 quotes from both agencies, STA was $2000 cheaper than Travel Centre flying from Bangkok to Spain. Girl was being a bit dippy there though.

Luckily, Mattius and Tobey who left today, are back tomorrow so at least there will be people I get on with and Tania is still here. I was getting a bit sad with my other friends all leaving but will hopefully meet up with some of them again some day and will stay in contact. Didn't want to go to Melbourne now as this place is less chaotic.