Blogger is being a bit difficult today so excuse the post if it is a little screwy.
Anyway, first night in Sydney last night and Neal and I had to have a discussion about the type of places we go out. Obviously, and this shouldn't surprise anyone, least of all us, we have different tastes in nightlife. Basically nightlife here feels similar to many bars in the US, for better or for worse.
Anyway, the really interesting part of the evening was when I got back to the hostel and was just poking my head out of the window to get some air...by the way, we have hit the warmer weather and it's only gonna get hotter...anyway, on one side our hostel is flanked by an office building and on the other is what I suspect is a brothel...wow, that's fascinating you say. The part I found interesting was that there were clearly people working in both, seemingly oblivious to one another, just another verification of my theory that there is always shit going on right under our noses that we catch nary a whiff of.
By the way, I wonder who does better after taxes?

A third full day in the same city! Can you believe it, we have actually gotten a chance to slow down and enjoy life a bit.
The Brothers Bodenheimer have taken on the city of Melbourne and enjoyed its' many fine offerings, the food really..it's quite good. Melbourne feels more American than anyplace in NZ did simply by virtue of it being less clean. Everywhere in NZ was spotless, nobody asking for a dime (or whatever), whereas Melbourne feels more like a city. Actually it feels a bit like New Orleans in a way, at least architecturally...that is you don't feel like someone is going to pop the proverbial cap in your ass any minute. We also seem to have met more people here, both in the hostels and out on the town. This, you must realize is a good thing, as even though Neal and I get along gangbusters there are only so many conversations in a row two people can have...I am certain his comment about shoving me off of an overpass yesterday is not a reflection on our relationship as much as his sadistic side.

Today we will do two very important things.

One: We will visit the Botanical Gardens...okay not very important in the grand scheme of things, but they are supposed to be quite nice...
Two: Laundry....ahhhhh, now this is important, as we could open the nylon bags we are using as laundry sacks and perhaps kill a dingo (that's one of them crazy Aussie dogs...get it...I threw in a local reference...boy am I good), or at least drive it away to curl up in the fetal position (can dogs do that?) and pray for sweet death. After we finish these tasks it is off to one of the many pubs that line Brunswick St. in the Kilroy area for fine food and finer booze.

One final note before I run today...if you have the opportunity to visit Melbourne there are a few things that you must do...and I say this as a preachy bastard, not as a friend:

Go to St. Kilda in the late afternoon and sit in (or out on the patio if available) the Hotel Espy (short for Esplanade) sipping cheap Victoria Bitter Beer and playing gin. On a side note, All Hail Pete Lord of Gin for the New Zealand portion of this journey. After that stroll along the pier to the breakwater and marvel at the fact that you are halfway around the globe and enjoying a very good buzz (side note:this works best if you are both buzzed and from halfway around the globe). After that, mosey along to the fine fine fine dining establishment known as Leo's Spaghetti Bar...it really is good...and partake of the dish Neal had..fettucine something or other (I am quite sure he will mention it in his post) and a cheap bottle of Aussie wine while noting the incredibly subtle brick work on the facade of the restaurant...all in all a kickass way to spend an afternoon.

This second one is more for the Mr./Mrs./Ms./Dr./whatever Nevada in all of us...you must visit the Crown Casino Complex....three words descirbe this place...SWEET FUCKING JESUS...

Well...that is it for today...drop a line and let me know what is happening back in my old realities and I promise to at least try and get back to you...also, those of you from whom I have received an address from I will be getting you postcards...promise...anyone else...

p.s. you have to appreciate that I worked the word mosey into this post!

In my last post I talked about the fine accomodations we found in Christchurch so it is only fair that I share at least some of the details of the total fucking shithole of a travesty we have spent the last two evenings in (yes, yes I know that is a bit much, but after 2 or 3 hours of sleep none of you are too chipper either). Anyway, the Exeter Backpackers Hotel, hereto referred to as Le Shithole, is everything you don't look for in a place to sleep. Nestled cozily between a major intersection in Chinatown, Le Shithole has nothing that the weary traveler could want. Actually that isn't entirely accurate as the pub right below our room was kind of fun. Anyway, if you do choose to lay your head down before say 3:00 AM, actually later because we didn't get in until 3 something last night and it was in full glory, you are lulled to sleep by the harmonious sounds of muffled bass as they loop one of three or four Red Hot Chili Pepper songs...ahh fucking magnifique! After one finally falls into the deep sleep that a stuffy, shaking, closet of a room provides they are assured of at least 12 minutes of uninterupted sleep before you hear one of the following:
screaming in either Aussie English or Chinese, at that time who really knows or cares which it is...
the street crews beginning their 4:00 AM jackhammering of the alley next to your window...
the incessant beep of a garbage truck backing down the alley to get all of the restaurant trash (Sarah S, you know that one well)...
or, of course, the hum of the streetcleaner (really the best possible option)...
So, in summation, you all should spend a night or two in this fine establishment...wait a second, I forgot to mention how wonderfully surly they all are...silly stupid me!

Alas I know some of you would like other info in your post, like what we have been doing, so I'll post something else later, after some coffee (wanted to get this one in quick, while the biterness and hangover were still just humming along) and of course after we follow the words of Shakespear...or was it Monty Python and "Get thee to a nunnery."