Philip Island & Melbourne

Before you start reading this chapter. I have to warn you gentle reader. I've written this while I was waiting for the magic in my black potion to kick in and I'm also cold. So, it might not be up to our usual standards. But I will not apologize. Time passes in stange ways right now and this should have been written in our paperless book some time ago.

16.4

OK, you are reading this because you are interested in what we are doing. That day we did not do anything interesting. We took the train across the country. Not really across the country, Australia is huge, but we did travel a good landscape distance. If you don't know what that is look at a globe, can you see the travelled distance? After a whole travelday, with two meals on the decent train (we got hot water, but no plugs or Wifi) we arrived in Melbourne. We didn’t do anything except grocery shopping and cooking. I told you that was not a very interesting day. But the next day was!

17.4

This day was filled with wonder and adventure! We left our animal companions in the hostel and left town. The two of them did deserve a nights rest form our company. The sub earth snakes cost a fortune to ride in Melbourne, so with the help of a nice counter lady we found a way that travelled above ground. We arrived in Cowes on Phillip Island shortly after noon. As expected we booked the cheapest accomondation we could find, which turned out to be a nice room with a kettle and free tea and coffee!! So fueled by the magic in our hot potions we ventured out. Our first idea was to explore the Island by two wheeled excercise contraptions, but the guy renting them out was probably part of the Merchand council of Ketterdam. Renting two such contraptions for the afternoon would have been more expensive than our room for the day. We did not do that. We decided to trust in our strength and the universe and just walked. The Island is beautiful. We passed strange birds and even stranger hopping animals. Our destination was a beach on the other side of the Island, where tiny penguins make their way to the shore in groups. After ¾ of the way a guy asked if we needed a lift to the penguin parade, so we happily jumped in. It turned out the guy was the manager of the nature reserve. He was a very nice person and took us in by the back entrance of the visitor center. Only the VIP treatment we deserve. He was also very concerned about our plan to get back to town or the lack of one (remember we ditched the two wheeled contraptions and just walked). The penguin parade takes place after sunset and it gets very dark and apparently the roads closes (?), so walking back for 3 h was not really an option. We were later informed by another visitor that taxis were also not really a thing. But we had faith in the universe and we would surely find a way back, but first we wanted to see some penguins. The little penguins can spent several weeks out at sea, but from time to time they go back on land. To do that safely, they gather in groups shortly after sunset and start that dangerous journey in a group. These groups of penguins can be watched from the sidelines. We sat in the cold and saw penguin after penguin emerge from the black sea, wait for others and then collectively waddle up the dunes. It was absolutely adoreble! We also communicated with the surrounding watchers, hoping one might be going the same way we would (none were). After watching the majority of the penguins waddle to the safety of the dunes, we walked over wooden planks, past the screeching birds to the entrance hall. There our last quest of the day started: finding people willing to take us back, so we didn't have to walk 3 h over pitch black, closed roads home. The first remarkable encounter, where with three backpackers. They travelled with a larger group, but were willing to ask their driver to take us along. One thing everyone who never asked someone to give them a lift should remember: never start asking with „I’ve met some strangers“. Surprisingly the driver was not scared off by the strange wording of the guy, but they were not going in the right direction. In the end an old aussie couple, who were travelling around for over a year took us along. They were very nice people and could tell great stories and our trust in the universe improved once more.

18.4

The following day we packed our small bags after breaking our fast and then ventured along the shore. The island was truly beautiful. We had lunch with a view over the sea. After that and a bit of exploration through the small stores we got on the bus back to Melbourne. There we met up with Meeko and Pascal again.

19.4

That day we cosplayed as humans who got their stuff sorted out. Therefore, we spend the morning working on our ever present to do list. We might have been too tired to leave the hostel that morning. So we ventured into the city after lunch. Melbourne is a large city filled with high cloud ticklers and small more hobbit worthy homes. There is also a waterway and some art galleries strewn about, waiting to be explored. That is what we did. A bit of exploring. Until we retired back to our hostel, ate dinner and watched Vikings.

20.4

The following day we met up with an old friend. Old only in travelling sense. We met them on our Ha Long Bay cruise over New Years. They also spent the past four month travelling through South East Asia. We met Marci and Kimmon (a friend they're staying at, also a great person!) for a cup of coffee. It was very nice to catch up again. The four of us spent a bit of time exploring the small alleyways of the CBD and Chinatown. Our ways separated for dinner, but crossed again afterwards in a small tavern. There was a delightful and colorful event taking place. We chatted with some people, looked at some small merchant stalls and watched the performanace of two drag queens. They were great! The event was called „beers for queers“ just to inform you.

21.4

Our last day in this chapter started. Our last day in the country of Perry's extended family. That day we needed to make sure we had a way to the metal dragon hub and we also got an invitation to our home in some sense (I'm very excited, but we'll only get there some time in the future, you have to wait and see). Otherwise we explored our charming neighbourhood in Melbourne and packed our stuff. The evening we needed to complete a very important task: eating all the food that we couldn't take over the ocean to the next place. It was a very hard task for two hobbits, especially finishing the chocolate.

22.4

That day we rose long before the crack of dawn to go to the metal dragon meeting hub to leave the country. We would reach country 20 that day! But all that is a story for another time. I need to finish my magic potion bevore it gets cold.