Tasmania

Today is 12/02/2009. Thursday. Day 517 in Tasmania. The weather in Tasmania is cloudy and a bit rainy.

I've been staying in this small and beautiful island Tasmania for 9 days. In the past 9 days, I've travelled from north Tasmania to south until Hobart.

3rd/Feb, I boarded on the big ferry "Spirit of Tasmania" with my car. I paid 235AUD for this ferry. This giant ferry is really a big monster. Why? This giant contains lots of rooms / travel service offices / car parkings / kitchens......everything you need. You can definitely say it's the Goddess of Bass Strait.

4th/Feb, Early morning at 6, I opened my eyes. The scene showed in my sight...hills and rural town. When I saw this view, I knew I had already prepared to experience this island which everybody praises.

The first station is Devonport. The third biggest city in Tas. I was interested this place. I determined to stay here 1 day. The hostel for this night is Tasman backpackers. When I checked in it, I'd suddenly realized this is working hostel. Everybody knows Asian always like to work. So I found out most people who lived in this hostel are Asians...

5th/Feb, I checked out Tasman Backpackers to go to the next destination. The Second biggest city in Tas...Launceston. I checked in Launceston backpackers. This backpacker has very good environment and good kitchen (and beautiful receptionist). I stayed here 3 days and travelled around Launceston.

In Launceston, the most famous spot is cataract gorge. This place contains 1 river between two steep cliffs. I climbed cliff and walked around this place. The views made me amaze due to the spectacular views. But this place is not very wide. After travelling cataract gorge, I went back to the central Launceston and tasted fish and chips.

I also went to Mole Creek National Park to see the stalactite. The cave of stalactite is very cold only Celsius roughly 9 degrees. You need jackets to come in. I found out I ran out of the battery of my digital camera. Thanks to my travel partner German girl Linda. She still has digital camera and took some photos inside...lucky. The guide of this cave introduced the statement of the history of this stalactitic cave. God has been sculpting this stalactitic cave millions of years to show his artistic gift for all the people. But I also discovered some clues of human vandalic ruin roughly few decades ago.

8th/Feb, I left Launceston and started to go to Hobart, which is the biggest city in Tas. From Launceston to Hobart is only 200Km. When I and Linda arrived in Hobart, we checked in the city central backpacker and stayed here one night. She had already joined a tour before we arrived Hobart. So we separate in Hobart. I'm still trying to get a job in Hobart while I typed this article.

10th/Feb, I drove my car with a Hong Kong guy Ringo and a Hong Kong girl Winnie to travel around Hobart and Tasman peninsula. The temperature on this 1300m high mountain is always under 10. It's summer now, but I never felt any summer atmosphere on the top of this mountain. The pictures of the top of this mountain show me the scene in winter. Apparently this place will be veiled by mass snow in winter. The view on the top appeals uncountable tourists each year. I can almost see all the southeast Tasmania...Tasman Peninsula...Eaglehawk Neck...all the views of Hobart. Ringo and me never stop surprising when we standed on the top. But it's too cold on the top. I asked for return soon.

We returned to Hobart afterwards. We didn't spend too much time for Willington Mt. We still had a lot of time to go to Tasman peninsula and departed at 3:30pm. Ringo asked for tasting oyster, so I drove my car to reach the famous oyster farm. I think he extremely likes oysters and ate them very quick. He said these oysters is the reason he came here. I think I fulfilled his will apparently.

Then we went to the last place we want to go...Port Arthur. Port Arthur has notorious history. 100-odd years ago. This place was for prisoners. Especially for those prisoners who committed murder and to be sentenced death penalty. So we joined ghost tour of 9:15pm. It was really spooky and impressive experience. Antique church and hospital made everybody terrified even screamed. But there were too many people in this tour, I didn't be terrified obviously. After this tour, we went back to Hobart. This time I had to drive carefully. Because I saw many wild animals beside of this road. Some of them were road killed. Finally, we went back to Hobart and hostel safely and had a good sleep. I'm lucky enough that I'm not followed by ghosts in my return.