1st day 2nd part

After our Lunch at the seaside we bought a tramticket for th month (~100AUD). Melbourne does not have a subway but a widespread tram network. We took the tram to the southern bank of the Yarra River and continued by foot. While walking to the princess bridge we enjoyed the view on the melbournian skyline.After crossing the Princess Bridge we came onto the Swanston Street, probably the commercial aorta of Melbourne. At the beginning are the standard Australian souvenir shops, interrupted by Asian take-away food stands and shops selling used books. Further north are the shops of Quicksilver, RipCurl (where a bout a pair of Flip-Flops) , other clothing shops and well-know fast-food restaurants like McDonald and Hungry Jacks (=Burger King). I had my first and probably last burger there, not because it didn't taste good, but there is no difference in taste o the burgers you get in Germany. Besides you can get good and cheap sushi rolls everywhere.
Though you see a lot of different peoples there we were fast bored of Swanston Street and took one of the roads leading to the centre of the CBD (Central Business District). What I do like about Melbourne are the clean street with lot of trees even in the centre of the city and contrast of the smaller older buildings and new shiny skyscrapers. Especially those little churches that you can find now and then:
Last but not least we got onto the Rialto Tower and from approximately 250 meters above the ground we had a terrific view over Melbourne and the surrounding areas (this panorama is directed to the west, you can spot right of the middle the Yarra River and Princess Bridge crossing it, farther behind the big stadium for the Aussie Rules Football matches, on the left side is the CBD, on the fa right side the southern riverbank with some new buildings):
With that picture I wanna say goodbye 'till the next article.
Cya soon at "Where the beds are burning..."

On the way to Australia and first day in Melbourne

G'day mates!

After leaving Munich on Sunday evening on Emirates EK 52 (A330-200) Sylvain (a fellow student who's spending 6 month in Australia, too) arrived on Monday morning in Dubai to change on the EK406 (A340-500). A 11h flight from Dubai to Melbourne. The service on both flights was really great and the meals they served were delicious except the breakfast before landing in Melbourne. I took the seafood on some kind of rice that with the texture oatmeal gruel and it was very spicy. The alternative were a omelette with mushrooms... But this was the only thing to complain about on both flights and all in all it was way better than the cafeteria of the TU Munich in Garching ;-)
Dubai International Airport is for a passenger who's for the first time there quite interesing. You'll find a shopping mall in the heart of Terminal 1 and will see a lot of different people with diffrent cultures. Altough, it's very very crowded espeacially in the peak hours. You'll find a lot of people lying and sleeping on the floor, sometimes even without a blanket under them and to find seating place you have to go to the higher numbered gates.

After Arriving in Melbourne we had to go through the Quaratine control zone, where our baggage was checked for anything that could harm the flora and fauna of Australia. The Nestle Dessert Chocolat got through, so my flatmates will have the opportunity to taste my Mousse au Chocolate. We decides to take the Skybs to Southern Cross Station and to walk the last 2km the appartment as we had enough of sittig around (remember we had 11h+6h of flying behind us). We arrived to the appartment wich was indeed a small house seemingly unimpressive little house, but when we got in we both agreed that, it was perfect (photos will come later).

After meeting Helen, who stayed already six month in Melbourne and who will be leaving in a few days, and Susanne, who will stay with us, we got a cup of coffee and a warm shower. I never felt better before!!! After putting on fresh clothes Sylvain and I decided to walk to a restaurant to eat Kangoroos steak as the first meal in Australia. Just right out of the door we took off our pullovers because it was sunny 23°C and a blue sky above us. We walked to the beach were I took the picture of that bridge. After an hour of walking we reached the restaurant where we had the 'roo steaks on the esplanade. That's the way how you imagine the first hours in Oz!!!


As it's already getting late I will continue writting tomorrow!


PS: Hier gibts weitere Bilder:

1st Day & Arrival