AH!

After three nights in a row of sleeping (or trying to sleep) on airplanes, a night in a hostel bed is magical. So good!

IT’S OVER!

My layover in Perth rocked!

A swing friend from Hullabaloo picked me up from the airport (after a rather curt greeting from customs officials: they didn’t like that I had only one day in Australia, and the airport sniffer dogs thought I needed a shower, so they searched my luggage for drugs).

But, I was wisked away eventually, and taken to a shower. Very nice. Then, off to Cottesloe beach for hours in the sun and breeze. Afterward, a nice focaccia lunch followed by a few hours at Little Creatures Brewery (drank the Pale Ale, and ordered the olives and feta). As if that weren’t enough, I was taken to the Sail and Anchor and given a chilli beer - very spicy. Goes in like beer, goes down like hot sauce. At long last, a dinner party with other Perthies and finally to the airport for my connection to Melbourne.

A few hours in Melbourne, and then off to Christchurch.

Travelling with bags is nice, but tiring. 7 months is getting to be a long time. Packing and repacking, washing, carrying. It will be nice to be in one spot when I get to Japan.