a w a k e : t o : d r e a m

…it’s really true, I swear. By way of evidence, I should tell you that Melbourne is sadly lacking in internets. Yes, it’s true - the internets fairy has neglected to sprinkle a fair share of them on this lovely cosmopolitan city, leaving it dull, gray and uninspired in that regard. I am currently sitting in a Gloria Jeans (a tastier Aussie version of Starbucks) on Puckle Street, enjoying that local delicacy known as “raisin toast,” stealing “Belkin54g”’s internet from underneath his/her nose. Internet costs $8 for 15 minutes from Telstra (aka Telus) in any McDonalds or Starbucks, and most don’t have any sort of broadband in their houses. What is the deal, people?! Hence, this update is a week late.

After settling at the Friendly Group Greenhouse Backpacker hostel in Melbourne, I seriously reconsidered my idea of just living in a hostel the whole time. Not only is it quite expensive, but messy, disorganized, and very difficult to concentrate. Within days of my stay there, the only lift up to the main floor (where the main lifts are to the dorm floors) which is operated by the Melbourne police service office on the ground floor of the hostel building, broke down. Much as I love being carried around by cute, strapping Aussie police officers, I’d much rather come and go as I please from my place of residence.

Second hazard of living in the CBD? It is far, FAR too easy to waste one’s time buying fashionable but expensive clothes and eating and drinking fashionable and expensive food and drink. Seriously - I have no idea how I would get any work done living in such a place. For those who don’t know about Melbourne, you should. It is the fashion, culture and sporting capital of Australia - and well, it just as well should be the real capital of the country except that moving the politicos over from boring Canberra would probably ruin this amazingly cosmopolitan and industrious city.