The Weight

I was able to take advantage of the late checkout this morning and get my stuff together to depart 62 Grey.  I packed away some belongings to ship back home and managed to downsize by about 5kg.  I opted for delivery via boat, which will take about 3 months to arrive back home. Air was available for a 2 week delivery, but $30 more expensive.  There’s no rush to have these items arrive home with any sense of urgency. This makes my backpack a little more manageable. Slightly. 

I trotted down to Habitat HQ Hostel arriving slightly before noon.  Despite advising a 10a arrival the room wasn’t ready.  It’s pretty much full up with floods in Queensland, fires in Perth and the St. Kilda Festival. Whatever.  The dude at reception was a nice chap and gave me the run down on the facilities.  He mentioned that usually the more one pays the less interaction one tends to have.  Maybe so, but opportunity is what you make it and there is no way I’ll do dorm.  I’d rather sleep on the beach.  

The kitchen is open until 2a, there is a bike rack to lock up my ride, complimentary Wi-Fi, and drinking curfew. The common area is on the ground floor with a travel desk, 24hr personnel, a separate TV lounge area, decent sized kitchen with dedicated fridges for each floor (there are three) and a pool table, which you need to pay for…dumb.  There is also a bank of 8 computer terminals.  

Anyway, I stored my belongings and headed out for the day. I returned back around 6p after gallivanting around town for the day. Everything is paid in advance for five days including a $100 deposit for the electric key and another $20 for the side door entrance, which leads to the car park and bike racks.  At least security seems to be ideal.

My room is on the third floor in a seemingly quiet corner with only a couple of other rooms nearby.  It’s about 300sf with TV, but I have my own private bathroom. Sweet. The room including bed linen looks clean, but I’ll be wearing foot ware without fail. Some toiletries are provided; they look meagre so I’ll use my own.  There are also two towels, but I could see some hair, good thing I have a microfiber one I’m toting.  Thanks for the head’s up Chris. Apparently food and drink are prohibited in the room, wonder how they'll enforce that?

There’s a free sausage sizzle on the ground floor deck space going on right now, but a couple of bangers between white bread hardly looks appetizing. I’ll make use of the kitchen later and trust my culinary talents will lead to conversation.  Most of the folk here appear to be in their 20’s, no surprise really.  However, there is a decent mix of genders and from initial observation a lot of UK travellers. 

The day was mostly overcast, but humid. I got the air pumped in the front tire, but the overall state looks like an accident waiting to happen.  I cycled down to the CBD to get it tended to from the rental store.  They slapped on a new set of tires and tubes. Weeeeee! Plus there were no charges. While the bike was getting attended to, I grabbed some eats down one of the numerous laneway arcades.  I choose a place off Degraves Street called The Quarter. I had an antipasto veggie panini on focaccia with some wedges.  It was alright.

Tomorrow night I’m meeting Mardi and Peter, who are good friends of Chris and Megan.  We’re heading out on a boat cruise from Victoria Harbour.  It’s a themed event Funkin’ in the Bay.  Looks like it will be a crazy fun time, although rain is in forecast.  Don’t be misled by the event poster, I cruised by the Docklands to get my bearings and the boat is nowhere near that glamourous.  

I toured around a couple of vintage stores for most of the afternoon, but couldn’t nail down an outfit.  Prices for attire are fairly reasonable, so I won’t be too out of pocket for a single purpose wardrobe.  I need to get at early start at it tomorrow as I need to be at the dock by 7:30p.

I’m not sure what I’ll don for the affair, but something not too overly poly in fabric as I don’t wanna be a sweat box on the dance floor.  I’m thinking some loud fly collar print shirt and flared pants.  I’ll have to make do with the casual shoes I brought since forking out extra dollars for platforms hardly seems wise.  I’ll make up for it with some accessories. I hope. 

Ooh! Chris’ card of tic tacs also arrived in good order.  Look out!