Katy's Oz-some Blog: Still in Melbourne

We took the tram out to St. Kilda, which is Melbourne’s beachside area. We walked around their Sunday markets, down the pier and back and throughout the town. They also have a Luna Park, similar to Sydney’s. We stopped in there to look at the rides and I just had to buy some fairy floss aka cotton candy, can’t go to the fair and not get some of that sugary pink goodness! We also grabbed lunch there- Snag on Bread, aka a hot dog on a piece of white bread. They have the funniest names for things. After we had our fill of St. Kilda we caught the tram back to the city center. We walked across the main intersection in town, Swanston St. and Flinders St., to catch the city circle tram to take us out to the casino. As we did so a police escorted protest entered the intersection and decided to carry on their rally right there, in the middle of it. People swarmed from all over and completely filled the intersection. The protest was Indians demanding justice, protection for students and anti-racism.

We were talking to a tram officer and joking about whether the trams were running on time (they had all been stopped since they couldn’t cross the main intersection) and he said “I guess this means all the 7-Elevens are closed since all the Indians are here”. Wow, no wonder they are protesting racism. Some people are so dense. And just now, as I am typing this blog another guest of the hostel came in the TV room where I am and was talking to his friend about what’s going on outside. After making the same 7-Eleven joke he continued “the police should just pepper spray them or hose them down to break it up, then they wont smell like curry”. Wow. Really? Some people...

The protest will probably go on all night. One of the mounted police told us earlier that last time something like this happened it lasted all night. All they can do is block off the street and keep it from getting out of hand. When we walked past this afternoon there were even more people joining in.

We walked to the casino, since the tram wasn’t an option, and got carded before going in. Really? I look under 18? Ok. Sarah played some roulette then won back the money she lost on that plus some playing war. As in the card game you played when you were little where you each show a card and the higher one wins. Who knew it was a casino game? Well it worked in her favor at least. We celebrated her win with a pot of beer each at a pub right next to the protest. All in all it was a pretty event-filled day.

The protest did end up going on all night, we could hear music and shouting from our hostel room. Now its Wednesday and we haven’t really done much this week. Trying to save money + cold weather = watching lots of Scrubs on TV. We’ve been hanging out at the hostel, enjoying their extensive VHS collection. Yesterday we ventured out to the mall and grocery store. Big day! But hey, at least we left the hostel. I stopped in the city library on the way and looked at their cool dome reading room. Now I’m in McDonald’s, or Maccas as they say here, using their internet since its faster than what we get at the hostel and listening to a street performer play his electric guitar. Ok, the word performer is a stretch.

And now I’ve been listening to it for about 15 minutes waiting for my photos to upload and its about to drive me insane. He/she is horrible!!!

St. Kilda Pier