1. October – Time confusion and trip to Halls Gap

This morning, we are wondering quite bit: is it 8.30 or 9.30 as we get up from our premium bed?

This is our trendy room at the Ballarat-YHA

In fact, Victoria (the state in which Melbourne as well as Ballarat are located) swichted to daylight saving time last night.

Quennsland. where we were before, is, however, not participating in the DST. They stopped in 1992. So, we will soon travel from Victoria to Queensland again, that means to the East and will set the clock nevertheless back…

First, we still stay in Ballarat. It is an old gold digger town. Our YHA is situated at the edge of a reconstructed fun version of the old gold digger town – a copy of the time between 1850 and 1860, with a lot of attractions, knowledge transfer – and a huge entrance fee (50 AUD).

We refrain and take at least a few pictures – like the historic coach from our window.

Ballarat is renowned for its victorian buildings – some we take a picture of.

Annette took a nice one of the  Mining Exchange – that’s where you got cash for nuggets….

Then we drive to the Sunday Market in Ballarat. Instead of finding food for our breakfast people sell mainly second hand stuff, plants and vegies….

Here, Annette couldn’t resist:

And of course there were flowers. This older lady talked to us about her daughter in law from Holland (she and her husband are expected back in Australia on Thursday – hartelig welkom!). Annette also couldn’t resist buying a bunch of Australian flowers – they will be placed in the YHA in Halls Gap).

After a short breakfast in a cafe, our journey leads us to Halls Gap, the capital of the Grampians, a quite well known mountain range in Victoria- with heaps of hiking trails.

Now, we are in Halls Gap, in the YHA, this time a spantan room. It is cooking time: Annette prepared the just bought potatoes, carrots and brokkoli plus a tasteless tofu….