2 weeks of Melbourne

2 weeks I've been in Melbourne now and I've got the feeling I'm becoming bipolar. Where do I start?..

At the hostel it was still nice, had some good times, did some sightseeing and not much to complain about. There was some talk about bed bugs, but until terror hits you we tend to think that we are unfellable by inconveniences like that (or is that just me?) Money business became an issue though. I managed to open up an Australian bank account after not to much difficulty. Now all that's left is stransfer money from my dutch to my Australian account and then I can buy a motorcycle. Easy right?... Well..

The thing is that I need to receive a text message with a TAN code to write money over. Easy system, IF my dutch SIM card would still have reception in Australia... So after requesting a number change for a foreign country, which should send the activation code to my parents address, and the just change the number online. Sounds easy enough, just wait a few days for the letter and to get to code from my parents.

In the meantime two french girls that I met on my first night in Melbourne (or actually one of them) moved into my hostel. It was very nice and fun and we spend a lot of time together (and no, no romantic stuff). Things were going good, positive vibes and I was literally shining with happy energy!

After only two hours of sleep I wake up in my bed. Itching all over the left side of my body! Every spot I wanted to scratch was swollen like they where blisters. BED BUGS! Because I couldn't possiby go back to sleep I woke up and looked on my phone. A message from my mom; "You have to pick up the activation code at the bank office yourself! Why did you block your account?!?" AAHH!!! @%T$!@$^&$%@*!!!!

Walking like a pissed off desperate mental case I messaged my mom saying: "What am I supposed to do then?! What do they want from me? Can't you call them? I'll give them everything they want!" Which wasn't so easy because I was the only person that has rights over my bank account.

So, Important Lesson 1: "If you go for a far away travel give your parents rights over your account before you leave." Thanks, captain hindsight!..

After about an hour of almost running and screaming through melbourne my mom managed to get someone from the bank to call my australian number and a solution should be found and received within 5 business days.

Happy as I was I went walking back to the hostel. On the way walked into some people that where celebrating their friends birthday by going out. I joined them, went to a club and had a great time there. I spend a few hours dancing, meeting new people and drinking beers (what else was I going to do? Sleep?!?).

I wanted to shoot a video of me looking at the camera while the camera filmed the pool table. Beers had clouded my judgement and there was a girl playing, she bent over while I was filming, unfortunate timing. I didn't realise it (since I was looking at the camera) until a security said: "What the hell do you think you're doing?!"

I couldn't convince him that it wasn't my intention and after telling the girl that pretty much broke her up in tears. It hurt me and I tried to comfort her, but she didn't believe me, just like the guard. So I got kicked out! There's a first time for everything I guess.

So after the emotional roller coaster, called thursday night, I got back to the hostel and slept on the couch. The next morning I showed the spots to the guys that worked there and they were shocked. They purged the room, threw out my matras, gave me money for cream, to wash and dry all my stuff, I got a free night, got moved to a smaller room for free and got beer later that night. It was a nice treatment after such a heavy night. Later that night I thought I lost my bag with my wallet and camera as well which seemed like the final straw and I punched the wall with my fist. yeah, I know... It just turned out to be near the feet of one of the french girls...

Well it was definitely an interesting night and I guess I can't top that (or atleast I hope not!) I did have a house party the next saturday. I got tipped for it the first sunday by the argentinian girl I met on the beach. There where all kinds of nationalities (Chili, Brazil, Argentina, Israel, Colombia, Germany, Belgium, Italy, France, the list just goes on!) I got so many nice contacts, friends, tips and fun on one party it was just perfect. The day after the party the party there was a free festival in the same area, so I planned to stay till the end and then sleep on the beach, or whatever. They offered me the couch instead and I befriended all the people that lived there. Wow what a blessing that was, I really needed it!

So after 2 days of partying with these guys I felt a lot better again and the weekend was over. I was stacked up on possitive vibes again and walked back to the hostel. Got another contact for outdoor parties in a evening shop while buying wine and managed to get a ride from a fellow traveler after a very nice and interesting conversation.

Since then it seems pretty boring in comparison. Got heavy emotional ups and downs. Still haven't gotten my bank codes (it's now been 9 days... but 2 full weekends, so I guess there is hope) and really needed a skate to blow off steam. Managed to find a 2nd hand element skateboard for $20 (like 13 euros :O) and just snapped the deck 2 days ago. The trucks, wheels and bearings are still in a very good condition, so it was still a bargain.

I found the perfect motorcycle in the bike shop nearby, but I don't have my money yet to pay for it. I try to be patient and accept that it will come when it comes and hope that the bike is still there when it does. But it's not easy. A big city like this is nice, but also very busy and I have difficulty finding my peace. Time to leave sooner or later...