so... australia... was not happy to leave thailand, had the best time there ever but now im here i am never coming home (well i am, but, yeh)!! Got to melbourne and was welcomed with clouds - not what i signed up for when we decided to come here!!! Stayed in st kilda at this random hostel where everybody HATED us. St kilda was beautiful, at night we saw penguins coming out of the sea which was a rare treat too. I experimented with tasting fish - it wasnt fishy fish though so thoroughly enjoyable!! because everybody hated us we decided to get dead drunk and played stupid drinking games which really didnt make us any more popular with the residents of the hostel!! Went to a beer festival which was good fun and into the centre of melbourne a couple of times but there really isnt much to do there. We stayed for about 5 days and then booked our seat on the Oz Experience bus upto sydney. Had the most fun ever on that bus... there were about 20 of us on it (the family) and we had a right laugh. Our driver forest was dead fun too and knew loads about nature and animals and stuff. We were meant to go somewhere on the first day of the trip but there were still bushfires at the time and everybody had been evacuated so we couldn't go there... instead we got to lakes entrance earlier and went on the beach for a campfire and goon (4litre box of wine). had to get up real early the morning after which was NOT fun... got on the bus to go to thredbo where on the way we went on a death ride through the snowy mountains - sheer drops at the side of the road is never fun in a mini bus goin like 3000 mph... scary stuff. We stopped off the the snowy river where in the toilet we had our first experience with a red back killer spider, AHHHHHHHHH!!!! After that we went hiking to the highest point in australia. 7 miles in 2 hours = PAIN!!! At one point we were each the highest person in australia which is a pretty cool thing to say you've done. However if i ever have to climb Mt Kosciusko again, i'll request a 4x4mobile!!! got back to where we were staying and got straight in the jacuzzi - TREAT!!! after this we went to the resort bar and did LOTS of shots from a ski and LOTS of jagerbombs and maHUSIVE beers. real fun night with the family but did not enjoy getting up early - AGAIN - the next day. This is when we went to canberra. Went to visit parliament house and then on upto sydney for fun times. Stayed in Kings Cross - the prostitute/brothel area of sydney - SOOOOOOO much fun!! Met up with the family again for $10 steak (beaut) and beer again and cocktails out of teapots. Next day we went to sydney harbour bridge and the opera house, we've also been the royal botanical gardens where we saw loads of rats with wings, AKA bats (EUGHHHHH) and went bondi beach. Had a few more random nights out with the family before the all left to go up the east coast. We've now got a room in a shared house in bondi and managing to find jobs which is a treat - Just gotta learn how to surf now and i will be oficially initiated into oz life!! So yeh we've done loads since leaving thailand and have lots of stories (most of which cannot be written on here thats for sure)!! Still loving travelling and were having the best time ever. Now its time to get serious with our jobs and make some cash, living for the weekend and for the beach (oh and the surfers and lifeguards obviously!!!) they really are a rare treat for the eyes!!