Strawberry Fields Forever

Lots of random thoughts...spent the entire weekend exploring the CBD of this sprawling urban metropolis. The iconic Melbourne figure has to be Flinder's Street Station, the hub of the city. It is across from St. Paul's Cathedral and down the street from Federation Square.

The rest of the city oozes Victorian architecture and feel...fitting since I am in the state of Victoria...

The Crown Casino was a site to see, it felt like i was trapped in Vegas again. Went up to the Rialto Towers, the highest point in Melbun and got some fantastic views of the city.

Explored the Greek Precinct (Lonsdale), had some great thai food, and considered going into an Asian Karaoke place for some bubble tea. Really discovered China town on Bourke Street on Sunday morning for a great Dim Sum experience...prawn dumplings are just amazing. The comedy festival being held all month was in its last night and we caught the very last show...i actually get aussie jokes now and i'm not sure that I can even notice the acent anymore. I have started saying: "Do you reckon..." and also "What do you reckon?". I have caught myself saying "yah?" after sentences more than "hey?". ie: "You heard that thingo, yah?"

As for school - yuck...the only thing that makes me happy right now is how perfectly everything fits into my extra huge Roxy pencil case. My TI83+ calculator has never been so happy.

Surfing Culture...i knew i would get sucked in. So far i've accumulated:

• Rip Curl: Hat, keychain
• Billabong: Bathers (bikini), Backpack
• Cult: Bathers
• Roxy: Jumper (hoody), pencil case
• Havaianas: thongs (flip flops)

It was inevitable! I love surf culture and the laid back ease of it's style. Supporting St. Kilda Saints or Essendon Bombers in AFL - still undecided. Got both scarves because i liked the colors! tee hee hee. Played footy for the first time! it was spot on.

Oh ya and a quick more personal observation... phonetically, people here dont call me "meen-ah" (softly, gently). They call me "MAIN-ah" (roughly, crudely). Its so odd! I'll try to teach them how to say it "right" and it just doesnt work. So i've now resorted to introducing myself as "main-ah" (softly, gently) to try to make it easier for them to make the transition.

Cake shop in St. Kilda on Acland Street. This place has a ton of bakeries!

*nb: Something i found quite amusing...The Ladoo Shop- Ludikrishna style (a parody of fiddy's Candy Shop).