Finally a country where you can get a decent cup of tea!‏

I write to you from a very funky and ultra modern flat in one of the most hip and funky cities i have ever been - Melbourne Australia. I am in the land down under visiting an old friend from Harborview in Seattle (Shelly). Traci and I embarked on Wednesday from Seattle and ended up in Melbourne a few days later after layovers in both San Francisco and Sydney.

Melbourne is an awesome city. It has neat little alleyways, an amazing public transportation system and more coffee shops then even, dare I say it, Seattle. I cannot help but feeling out of place here as I stroll around in my Old Navy inspired wardrobe - women walk by in coloured tights, vintage jumpers, fur hats and skinny jeans all complete with the attitude to pull it off. I sip my "flat white" coffee quietly nestled in my fleece jacket with my runners/tennis shoes on, watching in awe.

It is autumn here and the leaves are changing and there is a chill in the air. My body responded immediately to the fall season by contracting a horrific cold. So I am sniffling my way through this amazing city with a runny nose and a throat soothed only by tea and slurpees.

Our first day here after our 14.5 hr international flight and combined 3 hours of domestic flights was spent napping and showering before a night on the town. My Canadian friends are definitely going to question our first stop, we went to a bar called "Chill On" - for a handsome some of money, you are dressed in a parka, boots and gloves and then placed in a giant ice freezer where the temperature is a brisk -10 C. Drinks are served to you in glasses made of ice. You sit on fur rugs on top of ice. The walls are ice. I think you get the picture. made me chuckle to think back to the times I would complain about bitter cold back home - who would have thought if you just serve a cocktail you can make a mint!

Today was a bit of a slower day because my head feels like it may explode. Breakfast at a trendy little restaurant and then shopping at an artisan market. We took a cruise down the Yarro river and sipped coffees in more then one of the many little cafe's that Melbourne has to offer. We strolled down alleys covered in graffiti commissioned by the government. One of the highlights of my day was photographing a riot/protest. There is a huge demonstration currently taking place in downtown Melbourne - Indian students are protesting 2 recent unprovoked attacks against Indians. Police on horses and others decked out in riot gear are on hand to try and control the situation that was escalating out of control. We saw the students unsuccessfully try and storm the train station and then react by throwing lit candles at the police. Similar to my last time in Cusco when Barry dragged me away, Shelly and Traci stopped me from getting close enough to get any decent shots.

Sorry for the rambling. I am a little high on the most powerful cold medicine the Chemist (pharmacist) would sell me. We are planning on hitting the road tomorrow in search of adventure down the Great Ocean Highway...

more to come,
amyleah