Mamma Mia!

Ahh, the warm Aussie welcome.

Dearest Bleeders

I caught the coach up to Batemans Bay to see my cousin and her family on friday night. As I was waiting in the coach terminal there was a 'intresting' member of the human race waiting to catch the same coach as me. I prayed to god (and I am an athiest!!!) that he wouldn't get on the same coach as me, sure enough he did. This person obviously had a few issues, namely in the mental department, but, as I have learnt to be more tolerable whilst travelling I gave him his dues and didn't make any sort of judgement on him. This was to change, very quickly. I sat down on the coach and sat behind me were a couple who were obviously fellow travellers, they had all the trademarks - scruffy hair, unironed clothes, a hint of unwashed underware, just like me basically. So I got chatting with them. The guy was from the Isle of Man and his girlfriend was from Yorkshire. We exchanged stories and best places to visit when I heard shouted from the back of the coach (where this mental guy was sitting) 'will you just shut the f**k up you pommie git'. Nice!

Anyway the coach got underway and he wouldn't shut up. Abusing anyone and everyone. According to him . . . . Anyone who lives in Melbourne is a rat, Pomm's should f**k off to where we came from, Abo's should be locked up and the keys should be thrown away and he took on 4 'darkys' on the train to Melbourne.

Batemans Bay - Bloody Beautiful!

What really happened . . . . Melbournites are some of the friendliest people I have met, I am f**king off back to my own country in less than 2 months, Traditionally its the 'whites' who are the convicts in this country and I really hoped the the 4 guys on the train up to Melbourne gave him a bloody good pasting.

An advert for Australian tourism he wasn't. He is quite possibly the most disgusting, poor excuse for a human being I have ever had the displeasure to meet.

I got into Batemans Bay at 05:45 in the morning and my cousin was there to meet me. We went to a little bay just around the corner from her and watched the sun come up whilst catching up. After that we went back to her house and her two daughters were just waking up. Then the madness hit! Jana and Maya (the kids) are such good fun to be around. They are a real credit to Kate and Ric. We spent the day chilling out, going out for food and telling really poor jokes to each other - my experiance as a kids entertainer came in handy! On sunday I went to watch Ric play football. His team are undefeated so far in the league and sure enough they won 4-1. Maybe my curse on live sport was only restricted to the States.

Anna & Emilio's home - typical Italian styling,
well he did build it himself!

I caught the 10:15 coach up to Sydney on monday and Ric very kindly said that I could stay with his parents whilst I was in Sydney. They live about a 20 min train ride outside from the city so perfect for me, free food and accomidation. Ric's parents are both Italian and they emmigrated over to Australia 50 years ago. I feel like I have been to Italy as well now after spending just 1 night with them. It was amazing. We settled down to dinner and loads of family members came round (both houses next door are also owned by members of the family). Ric's mum (Anna) would not let me have a empty plate. I finished my excellent pasta and sauce when before I knew it it was full again - and I still had the main course to go! Ric's dad (Emilio) offered me some home-made brew. It is a spirit made out of grapes, I have seen them drink it in the Sopranos so blatently I said yes. He showed me his garden and his pizza room out the back. Other family members were hanging home-made salami. It is amazing staying with them. They are so so freindly and hospitalble. I am staying in a YHA tonight, just so I can go for a few drinks in Sydney and then head to the airport tomorrow morning.

Yesterday I went into the city and I have seen the Harbour Bridge and the Opera house, all the touristy things really. I went for a long stroll through the botanical gardens. They were really impressive. Such a little haven amongst the metropolis. Sydney is a cool city, not as good as Melbourne but what is making this part of my trip so very special is 'little Italy'.

Busking, Sydney style!

Today I said my farewells to Anna and Emilio and headed to my hostel, which its where I am now writing this. I will try to get some washing done later in preparation for all that South East Asia has to throw at me. I also need to pop back into the city at some point and stock up on souvenirs.


So, since this is going to be my last post from the land down under I better do what I have done for every other country and summarise. Australia is a strange, strange beast of a country. It is on extreme to another. I have met some of the most friendliest people so far here (except the Fijians, those guys are in a class of their own) but I have also heard some of the worse abuse of my life here. Now you could just say that it is one individual that caused that, and you would be right. However there is a certain feeling about Australia that I can't quite put my finger on, its not a malicious feeling but it isn't the warm, friendly, welcoming feeling that I got from New Zealand. I just feel as if the Aussie are pissed off with all the Brit's backpacking here. Well anyway I am outta here in less that 24 hours time. I probably will return. I would love to come back and stay longer with my cousin and her family and obviously I have to see the Ashes at the MCG, then I definitely would face the wrath of the Australian 'welcome'.

The 'money' shot!

I leave you with this though. . . . . . In a country that was predominantly founded by the immigrants of other country's it is with a huge amount of irony that I look back and realise that I found the Italians the most hospitable (and my cousin, who is English!).

Until we meet again,

T
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