iGijs

Public Transportation is crap in Melbourne. At least in comparison to Berlin. The trains are not really expensive but on weekdays, the last one leaves at 11.00 pm. On weekend days, there might be a chance to hit the train till 1am but if you have missed that one, you need to step on the night bus.

So, I needed to buy a car or search for another option to go to work, downtown, the pub etc. I decided to buy a nice and fast bicycle. Here it is: It is nice, it looks great, it wasn’t cheap but it is fast like no other.

Melbourne has a lot of hills. Climbing up is a good sport. Riding downhill is so much fun. I already topped my record on the first weekend: 64,3 km/h.

Today a photo of the bike…and probably soon the photos of me after my first bike accident (with 65 km/h).

ChannelAdvisor has arranged an apartment for me where I can stay the first 30 days. The apartment is at Ringwood Royale in the suburb Ringwood. I didn’t had time to explore the neighbourhood but I made already some pictures of the apartment. Across the street is a shopping mall that has all the stores you need.

I will search for a permanent living during the first month and I will probably need a car too. The distances are just too big to drive with a bicycle and there are almost non public transportations available in the suburbs.

I went to a nearby supermarket this afternoon. I needed some food and drinks since the hotel-apartment where I live has a kitchen and I can cook my own meals there. The supermarket isn’t something special. I have seen the same big stores in the US and even in France but I was very surprised after seeing the product shown on the pictures below. It is “Hagelslag” and “Vlokken”. Something you normally only get in the Netherlands and what we put on our bread. I have never seen it in Berlin but they sell it 18.000 km further away from home.

I have been arrived safe and healthy in Melbourne. I am very tired since I didn’t got any sleep at all during the flight. Probably because they have these wonderful entertainment systems in each chair where you can choose from over 80 movies and lots of TV Series.

On the flight from Singapore to Melbourne I started with “The Lives of Others”, a movie that was recorded in Friedrichshain, the neighbourhood where I lived before. I had a pretty hard time not to cry. I was at the same locations each day and met all the people I love there. I am missing them already. I am glad that the communication techniques have become so easy that it is possible to chat for less money whenever you want or need.

 After I went through customs, which took less then five minutes, Kris picked me up and drove me to the hotel. Finally I could take a shower and fell in bed…after 36 hours.