Tasmania (prelude) (vid) – Hobart Day 1

I have been here for less than an hour, and I have managed to get completely lost already LOL.  Go Matt!  I stopped and asked for directions from a cute elderly couple, but they were from Adelaide and didn’t know much themselves 😛  But at least they had cleverly brought their map with them haha. 

I’m staying in a hotel right near the only roundabout in the city centre, so thankfully that helped me a lot when I recognised it on their map.  My phone was completely dead so I didn’t take it out with me, as I only went out to grab some food to get me through the night/day.

I am SO tired.  I left the house in Brisbane at literally 7:30am.  I got here at 5:30pm!  Travelling all day!  I was so thankful that I left earlier, cos I couldn’t have made the plane if I didn’t!  1 train, 2 buses, 1 plane, another plane, another bus, and I’m finally here 😀
The plane was also delayed by an hour, as the previous flight ran into Sydney late, so I just hung around the airport and did not much at all really.  I went on my laptop for a while, as my phone was already nearly dead by then – thanks Grindr!  Worst battery-drainer app ever!

But, it all worked out, because I was captivated, even up in the sky.  The plane did a complete 360-degree turn back into it’s descent into Hobart, and if my phone had battery, I woulda got the most spectacular sunset I have ever seen in my life for you guys.  I don’t think I could ever forget it.  it just just that magnificent hue of green and purple against the orange/white clouds.  I literally couldn’t stop staring out the window at the beauty.  I’m not just saying that trying to up Tassie, but wow what an introduction and welcome.

I’m like a kid in a Candy store here.  I really am.  I can’t believe how excited I am inside.  I want to scream out ‘Ahhhh!’ in excitement. 
I know it’s only another state, but flying across the Bass Strait was exciting, especially as the pilot mentioned the upper Islands below us, which I think he said were St Helens?  Maybe I misheard that.

The thing I noticed most as the plane flew into Northern Tasmania was the trees.  Trees, trees and so so many, covering the many mountains, not touched by roads.  As the plane went further, I was disheartened by the bare brown patches amongst the luscious green landscape.  I’m no greeny-hippee, but wow, I can really see WHY there is so much conservation efforts here with the rainforests.  I was just so excited that I was about to land.  Seeing the coastline, so soooo thrilling.  And the complete turn-a-round of the plane and that sunset, unreal.

Tassie is big on Quarantine, and everyone has to declare fruit and vegetables – something I’ve never encountered at other state airports.  If you chose to ignore the blaring recorded voice to declare, you still have to have your bags all re-scanned just like at the initial security screening.  No biggie – I had nothing to hide lol.

I found the airport shuttle and it dropped me off right at the hotel.  The driver was very blokey and friendly – telling us all about a ship that ran into the main bridge into the Hobart Harbour back in the 70’s and made it collapse, killing about 12 people – 6 on the ship and 5 people in cars who drove over the edge.  Nice bit of trivia to learn as soon as I’d arrived in Hobart.  I was still in my own ‘wow I’m actually fucking here!’ world.

Even when I found the right street back to the hotel, I was walking along singing that ‘Oh. My. God’ bit of the song i posted in the previous entry, trying to imitate Amanda Palmer’s voice.  I’m even entertaining myself in my silly ways.

So yes, as you can see, I’ve brought my laptop.  I’ve had such a big day of travelling that I can’t wait to explore this city tomorrow in the daylight. 

I asked the girl at Woolies here where’s good to go, if I’m a tourist.  She suggested the art gallery here.  I did read something about it being amazing.  The guy in the line before me butted in with ‘Coffee shops’.  After he said that, I noticed how many coffee shops there actually are here.  I guess that’s because it gets so cold here?  They seemed to be everywhere!  I’m gunna check out a few tomorrow 😀

Right now, on my first night, I’m pretty much just veg-ing out in front of the cable tv on an awesome plasma tv!! 🙂 🙂

I may update heaps or not, but probably.

I’ve got so many pamplets to search through and decide what would be the most exciting.  Gosh.  AHHH!

Fuck I suck at video entries.  My hands were very cold handing onto my phone.  The wind goes away after a while.