I woke up around 9:30 am, feeling exhausted due to my disrupted sleep rhythm. Today’s agenda included a visit to Eureka Skydeck 88, a must-see for panoramic views of Melbourne. I took my backpack downstairs and stored it in a locker, a service I had to pay for in this hostel, which was a bit disappointing. Until now, I hadn’t encountered any charges for luggage storage during my journey. While I appreciated the overall quality of this top-notch hostel, the cleanliness of the showers in recent days and the condition of the lockers had not met my expectations.
Breakfast and Unexpected Offers
After storing my luggage, I stripped the sheets from my bed, carried them downstairs, and checked out. Settling into the common room, I enjoyed breakfast while watching How I Met Your Mother on my laptop. Shortly afterward, I met Simone, who went out to buy some coffee.
During our conversation, she kindly offered to take me to the airport later in the evening since she had to pick up her boyfriend there. Attempting to reclaim the money for the shuttle bus I had initially booked, I approached the reception, but they informed me it was already too late for a refund. Considering the altered timing and Simone’s generous offer, I decided to opt for the airport shuttle instead. I bid farewell to Simone as she left for coffee.
WiFi Woes in the City
I intended to go to the CBD to search for free WiFi, eager to upload new content to the website. However, the hostel’s WiFi blocked all FTP ports, rendering me unable to accomplish anything from there.
I hopped on a tram to the CBD, reaching my destination in about 30 minutes around 1 pm. Utilizing Google Maps, I located a Target store and reached it within 10 minutes. Seated comfortably, I initiated the upload process, and to my delight, it worked seamlessly once again. I cherished Target for its reliable and free WiFi. I spent the next 1.5 hours waiting, during which time I successfully uploaded and fixed the website. Yesterday, I finally discovered how to arrange all the pages in the center instead of to the left.
Street Art Exploration
After finishing my work, I opted to stroll back to Flinders Station and stumbled upon an alley adorned with captivating street art. Positioned across from Federation Square, beside St. Paul’s Cathedral, this discovery brought me immense joy. Despite my desire to explore it in the preceding days, the demands of planning and typing reports had consumed much of my time. Credit to Liam for mentioning this street, as it turned out to be a fascinating and almost like a free, open-air museum. It left me yearning for similar artistic expressions in Amsterdam.
I savored the scenery for 15 minutes before departing from the street. Despite hearing that the big lookout tower wasn’t particularly remarkable and came with a hefty price tag, I had ample funds for the day. I considered investing in a splendid view or converting the money into different currencies at the airport.
While in the Target store, I had already searched for the lookout point, Eureka Skydeck 88, on Google and pinpointed its location. It was the magnificent tower that adorned the skyline in the picture I had taken two days ago. I precisely knew its whereabouts—on Southbank.
Aerial Views and Tower Musings
I strolled toward Flinders Station, crossed the bridge, and turned right, heading towards the building. Ten minutes later, I arrived. After paying 25 AUD, I entered the elevator. It dawned on me that I had experienced this many times before—this would likely be tower view number 5.
I approached the windows, and to my surprise, everything seemed so small from up the Eureka Skydeck 88. It felt like I was in a Dutch miniature amusement park, Madurodam, in The Hague. The entire city transformed into tiny toy buildings—truly amazing.
It was fascinating to witness a miniature version of Flinders Station. From this vantage point, I identified the Australian Open area, the Rectangular Stadium, Federation Square, the CBD, and the coastline. St. Kilda, though somewhat concealed in the distance, added a nice touch. Having a last look at Melbourne before departing Australia gave me a sense of closure. I captured some final pictures of the interior of the building and then departed.
Baggage Challenges and Sunset Captures
At around 4:30, I returned to the hostel, watched some shows, and relaxed. I savored my last drinks, preparing for departure. I needed to be outside the hostel by 5:30 PM. Having pre-arranged a shuttle bus to the airport the day before, it arrived punctually, and an hour later, we reached Tullamarine Airport. Despite my early arrival—check-in wouldn’t commence until around 9 PM—it was the final airport shuttle of the day, and opting for a cab would have been pricier. The shuttle, costing 20 dollars, conveniently picked me up right in front of Habitat HQ hostel.
I marveled at the weight of my belongings; I estimated it to be around 25 kilograms, but the airport check-in revealed it was even more. With two laptops, three pillows, numerous clothes, unused gear, a substantial first aid kit, and a toiletry bag, the combined weight exceeded expectations. Fortunately, I didn’t have to trek a long distance burdened by the weight on my back—thankfully, haha.
In the airport shuttle, I captured some last images of the sunset. An hour later, at 6:30 pm, we reached the airport.
At the airport, I grabbed a sandwich from Subway’s first. Later, I hunted for a power socket for my phone, as the battery had drained significantly while listening to music on the shuttle bus. It was astonishing how poor my phone battery had become, lasting only an hour or two before running out, with a charging time of up to 4 hours. It was clear that it was time to invest in a new battery.
Customs Quirks and Last-Minute Help
I settled on the first floor, sitting on the ground and catching some How I Met Your Mother episodes on my laptop. Afterward, I explored the area, determining the check-in location. Spotting a baggage scale in the hall, I seized the opportunity to weigh my belongings. The airline allowed 25 kilograms of checked baggage, and I had upgraded in advance, aware that my initial 15-kilogram allowance wouldn’t suffice. My box weighed 9 kilograms, and the backpack clocked in around 17. Hoping for no issues, I recalled AJ, the Indonesian flight attendant, mentioning that exceptions are made for pleasant individuals, depending on the circumstances, of course.
At 9 pm, I transported my bags to the counter and provided the attendant with my flight details. He promptly inquired about my onward ticket, a detail I had taken care of in advance. Displaying it to him, everything was in order, and I received my boarding pass without further complications.
Relieved of the baggage burden, I proceeded to customs. Realizing I needed to fill out a form for departing travelers, I found myself without a pen. A facepalm moment ensued, considering I had left all pencils in my car. However, how many people carry a pen in their hand luggage on an airplane? Fortunately, a kind girl in the queue overheard my pen predicament and offered to lend hers. Grateful, I filled in the form. As we all awaited a baggage security check, I returned the pen to the girl. Moving on to the final customs checkpoint, the passport control, I presented the completed form to the officer. Some individuals ahead of me were sent back to acquire a form or complete it elsewhere, showcasing the stellar organizational skills of customs. Thankfully, the girl’s pencil proved to be a stroke of luck, allowing me to pass through without any hassle.
Enduring a two-hour wait, I eventually made my way to the gate. Seated comfortably, I savored a frozen coke purchased at Hungry Jacks for 4 dollars, a slight splurge from the usual 1 dollar. Passing the time with episodes of How I Met Your Mother, I also took the opportunity to charge my phone.
Next Stop: Uncharted Territory
The boarding process commenced at 11 pm, with everyone promptly seated. Initially, we were set for an early departure. However, the captain informed us that a bag required transfer to another plane, leading to a delay. Eventually, around 11:30 pm, we departed from Tullamarine airport. My assigned seat was 7D, positioned near the aisle, alongside two women.
I was en route to my next destination, the farthest from home I had ever ventured in my life.
