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7/10/06 - Bus to Canberra at 12.30pm, will get me in at 3.45pm.
Arrived in Canberra on time and jumped in a taxi. Room is very nice and people seem friendly. Settled in and carried on reading my latest book 'Lucky Man', by Michael J. Fox. Free tea and coffee here 24 hours a day, so I made good use of that!
I'm a little upset as Caitlin, who I met on my Indochina trip has not replied to my email, it would have been so nice to catch up with her in her home town. Never mind, I'll keep checking incase she has replied before I leave on Weds.
Watched telly for a bit in the TV lounge, then had an early night (well would have been early, but I can't put the book down!).
8/10/06 - Got up at 7.30am and had a lovely breakfast (which is included in room rate!) then I went to the local Sunday market, which was really good. Vegged out the rest of the day, watching telly, Jerry Maguire, then a bit of Australian Idol! Met Brian and his daughter, god he could talk!!! Eventually got to bed around 10.30pm!
9/10/06 - I have walked for miles today and yippee Caitlin has sent me an email and it looks like we'll meet up tonight! I started this morning by walking down through Bowen Park along by Lake Burley Griffen, very lovely and I saw lots of black swans. Then I carried on around and saw High Court of Australia, Reconciliation Place, International Flag Display, National Gallery, then I walked up to Old Parliament House, then finally further up to the new Parliament House on Capital Hill. Lots of security before entering the building, which is to be expected I suppose, this is the equivalent to our Parliament building! Had a good mooch around, but decided not to go through to listen to the politicians droning on and on, so I went up to the roof top cafe and had a sandwich. Then I decided to find the bus stop to take me over the river to Commonwealth Park, as there was an annual 'Floriade' (Flower Show and stalls) event going on. Lady at front desk told me where to catch the bus, just as I was walking along roadside one went past me, never mind, it wasn't long before the next one. I jumped on the bus and asked how much and the driver said, 'because of your lovely smile and happy demeaner, you can get on for nothing', woo hoo! I was really shocked, what a very nice man indeed!
Got off and wandered through the park to the 'Floriade'. It was really nice, lots of stalls and floral displays, it went on for miles. They handed out free copies of The Canberra Times, so I found a nice shady bench next to the lake and had a read. Then I walked for miles again all the way along until I got to Anzac Parade, I dodged the cars crossing the road (this is a joke! Canberra is so quiet there is hardly any traffic! very weird) and I walked up the full length of Anzac Parade, passing lots of magnificent war memorials and sculptures. At the other end was the Australian War Memorial, I had a good look around and was very impressed. It's the best war museum and memorial I've been to. I found some family surnames on the memorial wall, not sure if related, but you never know! After that I walked through a sleepy residential area, then Glebe Park into the town centre. This is when I found Caitlin's email reply. I got the bus back to the Lodge and freshened up.
Caitlin picked me up at 7.30pm, it was so nice to catch up with her. We went for a coffee and a natter in a cafe/restaurant nearby, then she drove me up to Red Hill Lookout and the views over the city at night were stunning. She couldn't believe how far I had walked today!! It was a shame we couldn't spend more time together, but she is busy with her University course.
10/10/06 - Spent the morning mooching around the local shops, then I managed to find my way across town on the bus to a Buddhist Temple. Unfortunately, it wasn't very spectacular, I think I've been spoilt with what I saw in Vietnam and Cambodia! Didn't stay too long and caught the bus back into town. It was the same driver who had dropped me off, so that goes to show how short a time I spent there! Got back and packed, as leaving for Melbourne tomorrow.
11/10/06 - Got a lift from lady at the Lodge to the bus station, so that saved me a taxi fare! But I had to wait for a few hours for the bus, so I just read my new book (yes I finished the Michael J Fox one, which was fab!) now on to Goldie Hawn's 'A Lotus Grows in the Mud'. Left Canberra at 1.30pm, got into Melbourne at 9.45pm and got a taxi to 'The Nunnery' (not literally!). Checked into a dorm room for one night and the only bed left was a top bunk, OH NO!, at least it was just for one night, then moving tomorrow to a single room for rest of stay, yippee! Place seems really nice and people lovely.
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