Puffing up the mountains.
Sep. 8th, 2010 06:53 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
luckykaaWoke up early to go on a tour. I have mixed feelings about these organised tours. On one hand it's all stuff that otherwise I probably wouldn't have realised was there to be done and even if I did, would have had a lot of trouble organising. On the other hand I have exactly the same experience as every other person on the trip. Also there's a strong feeling of being herded about between tourist traps.
Still, I enjoyed it and that's what matters. Caught a quick glimpse of a camper van that had rolled down the hill. First stop was Devonshire Tea (freshly baked scones - very nice), and feeding of kookaburras, rosellas and other native avians. The Devonshire Tea was nice in that they seated single people together so we could have someone to chat to. I was with a Korean girl who was either shy or not good enough at English and an Indian Executive Producer for Star TV.
Next stop was the train ride. A preserved Narrow Gauge ride, called "Puffing Billy". It's hard to work out whether that was the name of the line or the engines or the service or what. It was fun though and they actually encourage people to sit on the edge of the coaches with legs dangling out.
So we had the train ride, then went on to the "unique" town of Sassafaras. Unique in that it appears to have a population of about 30 but can support three teashops, a toyshop, and antiques shop, a shop selling nick-nacks, and a couple of sweetshops.
That was only a morning tour, so I went down to St. Kilda in the evening. Someone mentioned "Lentil as Anything". A volunteer run vegetarian restaurant where they spend their profits on various worthwhile goals. My table had a map on it. It must have been quite old because it still had the USSR on it. A very loud pair of women came in. Well, one was loud and seemed a little out of it. According to her "I'm not on drugs, just sleep deprived". Then she whispered "because I was in the lockup all night".
Had contacted the photographer girl I met the yesterday to see if she wanted to meet up. Eventually she caught up with me. She was feeling a little rough after a heavy night the night before. There was a nice art area/garden. Beach would have been a lot more pleasant if it was summer and stuff was happening and it was warm. Dipped my toes in the water to see what it was like. Wayyyy too cold.
They have a scale model Solar system along St. Kilda beach. Saw Jupiter and Saturn. May go back sometime and find out what the sun is.
Still, I enjoyed it and that's what matters. Caught a quick glimpse of a camper van that had rolled down the hill. First stop was Devonshire Tea (freshly baked scones - very nice), and feeding of kookaburras, rosellas and other native avians. The Devonshire Tea was nice in that they seated single people together so we could have someone to chat to. I was with a Korean girl who was either shy or not good enough at English and an Indian Executive Producer for Star TV.
Next stop was the train ride. A preserved Narrow Gauge ride, called "Puffing Billy". It's hard to work out whether that was the name of the line or the engines or the service or what. It was fun though and they actually encourage people to sit on the edge of the coaches with legs dangling out.
So we had the train ride, then went on to the "unique" town of Sassafaras. Unique in that it appears to have a population of about 30 but can support three teashops, a toyshop, and antiques shop, a shop selling nick-nacks, and a couple of sweetshops.
That was only a morning tour, so I went down to St. Kilda in the evening. Someone mentioned "Lentil as Anything". A volunteer run vegetarian restaurant where they spend their profits on various worthwhile goals. My table had a map on it. It must have been quite old because it still had the USSR on it. A very loud pair of women came in. Well, one was loud and seemed a little out of it. According to her "I'm not on drugs, just sleep deprived". Then she whispered "because I was in the lockup all night".
Had contacted the photographer girl I met the yesterday to see if she wanted to meet up. Eventually she caught up with me. She was feeling a little rough after a heavy night the night before. There was a nice art area/garden. Beach would have been a lot more pleasant if it was summer and stuff was happening and it was warm. Dipped my toes in the water to see what it was like. Wayyyy too cold.
They have a scale model Solar system along St. Kilda beach. Saw Jupiter and Saturn. May go back sometime and find out what the sun is.
