Getting run over by a car is no longer a major concern of mine, finally. You would never believe how strongly the look "left, right left" before crossing the street is ingrained into your mind until you try jaywalking in foreign land. Cars drive on the left side of the road here. And it's scary, or was anyway. I was constantly grabbed by my shirt collar and yanked back to the curb by friends in a effort to save me from a trip to hospital. I would say I'm fully adjusted to that, except now when I see cars on tv it takes at least 30 seconds to figure out if it's an American car or Australian because I can't remember which side the steering wheel should be on. It's very disorienting.

The weather here is finally shaping up a bit. It's been so damn cold here. I was decieved. Apparently I should have been on the east coast first, then traveled down here when it was too hot up in Brisbane and Sydney. Oh well, you know what they say about hindsight.

I bought a frisbee and it has turned out to be one of my best investments, second only to the skinny jeans mommy bought me before I departed. I'm almost fashionable here. Scary. When the weather is nice we trek on down to a park and throw the frisbee for a bit then pop up to the chocolate shop for an iced chocolate. Yesterday I took all Jake's money in Texas Hold 'Em. Unfortunately it was really my money that I loaned him but whatever, I won.

I had a 12 hour day trip up and down the Great Ocean Road last week with Jodie OPT. We took the dog and went all the way up the coast to the famed 12 Apostles and back again. We nearly ran over 2 wallabees, saw a lamb that was literally just born, and 2 koalas on the side of the road. Or maybe it was the same one but either way that is EXTREMELY rare! It was incredible! The ocean was the most incredible color. I can't wait to get back there later in the summer and get in that water. There are a couple national parks that way too that we drove by that look amazing for camping and hiking. Perhaps even a bit of climbing if I can just find a climbing partner.

Last weekend Barlow and his brother, friends from camp, came to Melbourne for a couple days and we had a small camp reunion at Blue Bar on Chaple Street. It's unbelievable how many camp friends are here.

This week I'll be staying in a hostel in the city to try and meet some other backpackers and find new cool things to do for the next few days before some traveling begins. I've found that living out in the burbs has gotten me into a pretty lame lifestyle. My time off is during the week, when everyone else works so I don't do a whole lot. BORING. So this week, that will change.

A bunch of us are heading to the Grampians National Park or possibly Wilson's Promontory if the weather is bad up north, for the weekend. Either way I'm excited to do some hiking and swimming in the falls. Then on Tuesday Jake and I are heading to Brisbane, Byron Bay and the Sunshine Coast for 2 weeks. 7 days now....I can't wait. Those areas have a bit more outdoorsy things to do.

I've figured out that life is a bit more expensive here, but it's offset by the $15/hr minimum wage. Anyway I thought I'd give you all a little insight to prices here, if anyone is interested.

Movie (Facebook...pretty good actually): 17$
Pint o average Beer: 8-9$
Small Cafe Latte: 3.20$
Double Cheeseburger from McD's: 4.35$
Sandwich from average restaurant: 13-5$
Daily Train Ticket: 10.60$
Cold 20 oz Coke (Mr. Bill): 3-4.50$
Warm 1.5 Liter Coke: 2.29$

P.S. The chocolate here is WAY FREAKIN BETTER. And Mr. Bill, the Coke tastes different here. In fact, all the sodas and gatorades and all that business do because of sugar regulations. No high fructose corn syrup here.

That's life for now. Love and miss you all.

xx
Liz