Strange Random People

We’ve met heaps of people on this trip that are rather strange. Because we are using this as a travel journal as well as a way to let our families know how we are doing I’m going to write about them on here so that we won’t forget about them. The reason I suddenly thought that I should start writing this down is because while I was waiting for water to boil to make our pasta a man came into the common room grabbed a knife from the kitchen, sat down and started picking his teeth with the knife. I just about vomited. Although with the atmosphere in this hostel nothing should surprise me anymore, more on this later when I write a post about Melbourne.

Another interesting character we met came around today. We were walking along the beach when a man came up beside us and started explaining the storm drains and why the water was so mucky. After he explained that he went on to warn us about pedophiles and perverts. And it wasn’t just telling us to be careful he told us about some very graphic things that he has witnessed. This little warning went on for a good 15 minutes and was slightly disturbing. At first I was fine with him warning us and what not but then it just wouldn’t stop and I was kind of creeped out. Needless to say, I was relieved when he left.

The first three days that we were in Melbourne we stayed at a hostel called the Urban Central and the hostel had the potential to be really awesome. The people in our room were not so awesome. One of the guys was trying to be a professional poker player and told us that he had one 160 000 recently. He knew a lot about it and I think that it might be true but I’m not super quick to believe anyone. The other people in our room were a couple from England. When they were by themselves they were both very very nice but as soon as they were together they were the most annoying people ever! They had a disco ball hanging from their bunk. It was ridiculous. Not only did they have a disco ball but they also had several pairs of her underwear hanging off the bunk. Every time I wanted to climb down off my bunk I had to climb all over their stuff. It was nuts and I was not impressed.

When we were at Port Macquarie there was a bogan family at the pool. We really didn’t think anything of it and then we heard them tell their only child to stay in the pool. They said do not leave we will come back stay in the pool. After Hannah and I got hungry we wandered down town and pretty far and we saw the parents coming out of a restaurant!! As if, they left their kid and went and ate food. As a side note the child was only about 8 years old. It wasn’t until around dinner time when they went back and picked her up. I felt so so bad for her.

We’ve across several people who use far too much cologne. Our very first experience with this was in Sydey on our first couple of days here when we stayed in a 10 person dorm. We quickly learned that 4 people female dorms are the way to go. There was 4 german guys who used an disgusting amount of axe. Everytime we walked into the room we couldn’t breathe in for a bit. It was terrible.

In Coff’s Harbor we stayed in our first 4 person dorm and we stayed with a lovely girl named Lisa who wasn’t weird or quirky at all. And another lady…Catherine from San Fransisco. She was certainly different. She got naked a lot and didn’t wear a bra and didn’t give us a warning and was oddly shaped. She was mostly nice but the most opinionated person I have ever met and she definitely sounded American. She had views about EVERYTHING. There was one evening when the four of us were sitting in the room talking and drinking and at the very beginning we were all talking and then after Catherine started arguing everything that was said Hannah and I both quickly tuned them out because we didn’t just want to sit and argue. Definitely American and definitely annoying. She asked us if we wanted to get a flat with her and at the very beginning we were like ya that wouldn’t be a bad idea but after a few days with her we never wanted to see her again.

Our next stop after Coff’s Harbor was Byron Bay where we stayed in the dreaded Arts Factory for our first 2 nights, I think I’ve talked about the arts factory before but if not let me know and I’ll remind you. There wasn’t anyone weird at the Arts Factory, well except everyone. The girl at the reception was hammered one night when we got there and was having her own dance party behind the desk. She was really awesome though. After that hostel we stayed in another one in town and there was a lady in our hostel named Jill, who was very very nice, but about 50 years older than us. And she also liked to get naked…it was not pleasant.

Regardless, of all of the weird people we met we have also met some really awesome people. In Sydney, I (mandy) met the Thorncraft’s which took us in and treated us like family. In Coff’s Harbor we met Lisa, from Germany, who wandered aimlessly around with us and taught us german drinking cheers. In Byron Bay we met Rachel, from Ireland who came with us for dinner and drinks and live music. We also met a lovely man who was our tour guide to Nimbin. He brought his 2 adorable children on the tour and their dog. In Newcastle, on our resting days, we met Satu and Tanja, from Finland who were hilarious. (Mrs Bucket (miss bouquet, miss bouquet, the lady of the house here) yes I know that no one will get that). They also introduced me to Strongbow which is a cider that I fell in love with. I really really hope that we have it at home. After Newcastle we went to Canberra and we met heaps of people there. Cam was pretty much our family for a month. The three of us made a pretty awesome team. He also introduced us to a lot of people. Nick, Sav, Dave, Ivan, and lots of others. Because of him we have couches to crash on when we’re back on the east coast.