14^th of October.

Woke up in 16 Murray Drive, Melbourne. We said our teary goodbyes to the Tomlin family who had looked after us for ten days like their own family. Australia is FAR away… But so is Finland if you look at it from here. Then we were picked up by older Tomlins who kindly gave us a ride to the airport. As it was once again pouring down rain, it was most appreciated. It’s somehow miraculous that someone on the other side of the world would do such a great favor to us, but sometimes the world amazes – there has clearly been that up in the air in the last two weeks.

I then decided to try and figure out how long our day was going to be, and more importantly, how long was our *flight* to Honolulu. After careful calculations, I came to the conclusion that the time difference is 21 hours, (or three, depends how you want to look at it) so our day was to last 45 hours. I doubt the day will ever be longer than this. We started from the future and went back to the past. You might think that no one noticed… What does it matter which day it is? But there you would be wrong. In the evening we realized that my husband’s credit card had been canceled, because he had made the suspicious purchase of buying supermarket dinner for us in Honolulu *before* he bought a jacket in Sydney… This is what happens when you do the day twice. Better to use cash, I am telling you.

After the long airport complications and flights from Melbourne to Sydney and Sydney to Honolulu, we arrived in the past at 9:30am, on the same day as we had left. This was my first entry to America, so I was expecting a whole good two hours of customs at least. Instead, we were through in ten minutes after the plane landed – which was amazing considering that we also had bought Kangaroo and Alligator Jerkey, which qualified as a meat product and needed to be declared. They laughed and thanked us for showing the items and we were through. Seriously the quickest immigration so far…

Our hotel is the Aqua Aloha Surf and Spa near Waikiki Beach, which I chose because it had complimentary internet in the room. We were blessed to get a room at 10:30am, after which we showered and head for lunch. It’s a good feeling to be back in the warm again, even if this is our last time on the trip… We managed to burn our noses through the sun cream, thanks to the ravaging sun that points almost directly at you.

We had Japanese for lunch and headed to see Waikiki Beach, after which we decided to walk to see the ‘Iolani Palace. This was the residence of Hawaii’s king and queen in the 19^th century and the only royal (monarch) residence in American soil apparently. Two monarchs governed from ‘Iolani Palace: King David Kalākaua and Queen Lili’uokalani. We took the self-audio tour around and it turned out to be really good and informative.

The King Kalākaua was a modern man and had travelled around the world (first monarch to do so) and collected modern items such as a flushing toilet and the telephone. There was even the electrical light installed into the Palace much before European equivalents. He ruled with his queen Kapiolani, but they had no children, so when the king fell ill and couldn’t get the remedy even from San Francisco, he died and left his sister, Princess Lili’uokalani in charge. The events on her time of power were quite contradictive, because a small group of influential men in court took her out of power and enprisoned her in one of the rooms of the Palace for eight months. This was done against the current President of United States as well, but unfortunately monarchy was never re-established in Hawaii. President Clinton did a public pardon for these events of the power taken from Queen Lili’uokalani without any legal right. This was a second museum that had a very guilt-driven story to tell. Perhaps the like that around the Pasific Ocean.

As far as what I think about Hawaii after the first day: It’s clear that Waikiki is a holiday resort for tourists, which we are not accustomed to see, but in anycase welcome the constant 7-11s and cheap food. When ordering food, or paying for services, one must remember around here that 15% is the current tip. It may look like things are cheap, but add tax and tip and they are suddenly expensive. It’s also a country built for private cars. I was actually surprised to find pavements to walk on in the centre of town. We are determined to survive without the hassle of renting a car, paying for the petrol and parking as well. Not to mention the stress of reading a map. So I think we’ll try some of the tours that the hotel offers for at least Pearl Harbor and the Polynesian Cultural Centre.

Day 38/63

We spent Monday by driving to Hillsville, where Tomlins family members have a big following. We also got to see the retired grandparents’ huge new place there – they moved from England this spring and were looking at downsizing… This however, is not the ozzie way, they got a huge four bedroom villa for their investment. The elder Tomlins seem very happy about their turn of life and move to Australia – they certainly don’t seem to miss Europe at all. That’s what’s going on with everyone we’ve met that have immigrated to Australia. They never want to leave and claim that they miss nothing of the poor weather Europe. There is a thought. So if you ever heard someone describe Australia as the promise land – they were not pulling your leg, mate.

We drove mainly to Hillsville to visit an animal sanctuary called ‘Healesville’, where they have got roos and other wobblies in very natural conditions. We saw a Koala dining with her youngling on her back, which apparently is very rare. The Kangaroos were a bit lazy and just slackering around, until it was food time and suddenly they were very active. We could touch them as well… Feels like a dog’s fur, for your information.

We also scouted the Tasmanian devils, which really look like small angry, black things, something like a cat, but fat. Like a mopsi, but evil. We saw iguanas, but the wombats were asleep. Echidna how ever were quite active and so was the cutest thing there: the Platypus. So many animals that I had never seen for real…

My time in Australia has been very well spent, I feel. It was weird to be in a country again, where you understand the language, where people understand what you are saying… And the culture feels somewhat familiar. Of course there would have been so much more to see, I’d love to see Uluru and Tasmania, so definitely, I’ll be back some day. When it was time to say goodbye to the Yimmlies, we were all quite sad. Ten days goes much faster than you think. Time to move on, see other continents and other adventures.

When you are travelling around the world, it’s not only your body that needs to adjust into the constant change – the mind is even slower adjuster. But I suppose that’s a good thing. These days will not escape my thoughts for many years to come, I’m sure.

Day 36-37/63

It was a beautiful day in Melbourne, so we went for a walk in the Botanical Gardens. These gardens hold an especially dear place in the hearts of the family that we are staying with, because they got married here around ten years ago. My husband was there in best man duty which made visiting this garden like a must place for us.

Australia is all about gigantic trees. In Finland, on average you can put the arms around a tree and put your hands together. That’s a normal tree. In here the bark is huge and leaves spread around with branches really wide. They also have a wide variation of flowers, plants and animals that I have never seen in my life. The gardens are spread on a huge area in the city centre, definitely worth it for a walk with family, perhaps a picnic with kids, too.

Afterwards we had a nice wander around Williams town, which is a sea shore area, on the other side of the bay (looking from where we are currently based in the Wattle park). This area has lovely boutiques, bakeries and cafés… All you could want really. Reminded me a little of Naantali harbor, but of course that is much much smaller. There is even a Titanic themed restaurant where you start to drown during dinner. Honestly, what is it with melbourneans and weird dining habits?

We had a baby sitter booked for the evening, but unfortunately none of us could face another night out, so we stayed in and watched television like a bunch of muppets. Well needed time to chill out, because on the next day we had some more fun coming to our way.

The Sunday started with lovely coffee and scans at the Borensztejns’. They have an absolutely gorgeous house with high pillars and high rooms, you know the houses in Gone with the Wind before the war? Pretty much like that. We were on our way  to a charity auction, where they raised money by selling pieces of art that the artists had donated. This was officially my first auction, which turned out to be an interesting occasion. Too bad the painting that I liked the best and the Tomlins would have quite wanted, went for a really high price. For us it’s easy: We don’t have walls anyways… I can’t even hang out my own pictures… And there is always need for new shelves… But in case there would have been something great that no one else wanted, then I can see the auctions being really good places for bargains. However, I am sure you need to go a serious load of stressful ones where someone buys you off on something you really wanted. I could see some incredibly rich people there, just buying some pieces off to possibly show that they can. If I ever have money, I swear that that’s not the way I’m going to be using it. Life is actually perhaps easier when you are not loaded. Possibly because you have needs and wants that you can work for and goals to achieve there. I was reminded once again, that I am really blessed to live my current, occasionally very poor life. I am sure glad I could afford to take this trip, but I am also glad that I need to go back to work straight after…

Okay, the morning after you’ve been to Dracula’s, you are going to feel in your head. You might have vague memories of having started your own dance styles in the late morning hours and definitely you’ll feel like it was time to stop drinking before 2am.

In any case, I think my personal Yimly and I are so pathetic alcoholists now a days that we had it much better than the native Yimms. Our brave host took us for a tram ride to town to pick up his wife’s car as well as to pop at the Victoria Market to do some grocery shopping for the barbeque in the evening. Even the guidebook to Australia that we bought said that the native specialty food-wise was barbeque.

Victoria Market is a huge complex of all kinds of food and tat sellers hurdled up on its own large block of space in the centre of Melbourne. There is a vegetable and salad open air market and the lovely butchers’, cheese and olive sellers are in a hall market. All that beautiful and exotic food, none of which I can particularly get away with bringing home… Yimms bought me some Kangaroo salami, so that I could have a taste. Kangaroo tastes pretty much like a richened beef – quite chewable, but my husband complaint of the smell of it. We had lovely big bratwursts and sour kraut for lunch and then when it was finally time to pop and buy me a pair of shoes, I was attacked with the Australian Fashion police, who commented on my shoes:”I like your shoes” (I was wearing socks and sandals… Thanks to it being bloody cold and me not having real shoes with me) “All Europeans wear shoes like this, it’s the newest thing”, I said and went on to buy a pair of trainers. A month without socks had ended.

We then took ourselves and the groceries back to the lovely family Barbie, in which all the family was invited. I had been told a lot about the Borensztejns as well as the Tomlins, and they turned out to be a lovely crowd, filled with laughter and children running around. Dani had been cooking all day and the feast was very deligious. I got to meet Mrs. Borensztejn who told me of her trip to Poland, which had not gone so well… I got thought what is the difference between football and Rugby by two younger Borensztejns. I talked with Mr. Tomlin the elder, who looks scarily like Dumbledore from films 2-> when he speaks at you. And most of all, it felt like being with my own family. It’s incredible to discover the warmth of such a big number of people, on the other side of the world, all curious to meet you, like I was suddenly coming into the family. And I was. The Tomlins will always be our family.

Day 34/63

After three days of working from the bed of Agatha Tomlin, I was ready to get back into sightseeing. Small break from the world never harmed anyone, but I also wanted to see Melbourne. Our lovely host Simon, better known as Yimly, Yimford, Yimms or Ugly, took us downtown for a lovely day. We parked the car at the harbor and took the tram to the equivalent of the Southbank, where we then loitered off like three muppets.

We came across the EUREKA! Building which is the current tallest building of the city. This one was only completed in 1.6.2006!  We decided to take the elevator into the Skydeck 88^th floor. The tower is the world’s tallest residential tower when measured to its highest floor. From the tower, it is easy to understand Melbourne. It’s a city built around a big bay. So big in fact that it takes my Shorinji Kempo friend Rob Gassin a whole day to ride around it by a bike. This is called ‘Around the Bay within a Day’ race that the melbourneans do every year.

This is also a city of sports. Competitive sports in particular. They have at least three different arenas, one coming up as well.. Like two wasn’t enough. One is for football, one for rugby and so on. I am not into these sports, but I was delighted to see a bunch of blue tennis courts and to realize that the Australian Open is held right here in Melbourne. It’s always on during the night if you are a Finn, so I never actually get to watch it. That I think is the reason that I never realized the city it was based in either.

We had lunch in the Federation Square before mazing our way around the centre of Melbourne, past the Flinders station to a tram that took us back to Yimm’s car. This concluded my first tour in the centre of Melbourne. Of course it’s marvelous! So much better than Sydney!

In the evening, the Yimms had gotten a baby sitter to Agatha and Dophin boy who are the kids, and we the grown ups had booked something called ‘Dracula’s’. My husband assured me that this was exactly the best possible thing we wanted to spend our time and money on, and as he knows me very well, he was not wrong. Unfortunately for you, dear readers, what goes on in Dracula’s, stays in Dracula’s. No pictures allowed. But if you are ever in Melbourne, this is not something you want to miss. Remember to book in advance… I have to say that the only thing that comes close to this much fun is the Sitsit, a private party that my friend Tino organizes every year. Yam-Yam!

Day 30/63

On Sunday morning we got a flight from Sydney to Melbourne. I was seriously educated on the way, that I shouldn’t say anything positive about Sydney to the Melbourneans (or vice versa). They apparently have some rivalry going on between them, up to the point that they had to build an artificial city to be the capital because they couldn’t agree which one would be the better one.

In Melbourne we are staying with my husband’s old friend and his family’s house. And there he was this old friend, meeting us at the airport. He was easy to spot as his chemistry with my husband is on its own level… They used to be flatmates in their twenties and had spent countless hours playing Resident Evil together. Somehow they’ve even created their own language in the process. So I was not surprised as his wife yelled: “Yimms!” when she saw my husband. I have never met this family before, but they started instantly feel like meeting family members of my own.

The hospitality of this family has completely surprised me. Not only had they made their incredibly posh house spotless, but also cooked a really complicated dinner involving barbeque and two stages of sauces… They have even gotten a hotel for their cats while we are staying, since I am heavily allergic to that sort of furrballs. They’ve got two very well behaving children, the eight year old daughter had done a research project *for fun* about Finland, just because we were arriving. I am sure I didn’t feel this special even at my own wedding!

I have been told, that Melbourne is a city much more gorgeous and posh than Sydney, so I am looking forward on finding that out for myself as well.