Tassie Adventures: Day 2

We received a nasty shock on the morning of our second day. An Aud20 parking fine! We woke up too late to feed the greedy meter and thus had to pay the price. What an awful way to start our day.

Just when we were filled with the euphoria of checking out of our hostel and visiting the Cadbury Chocolate Factory in Claremont. We paid Aud12.50 entrance fees and could take as many free sampler sized and wrapped chocolates as we want when we stepped into the store cum foyer.

Don't be deceived by its bland looks. It's a most heavenly place!

An antique chocolate tin box

Now this is one yummy looking man. I want him!!!

I want him, too!!!

Now, this may sound like a traitorous statement, but if it was legal with the Aussie Wildlife Association and if wombats can survive in Malaysian's hot climate comfortably, I'd take one as a pet anytime. Wombats have to be the cutest creatures imaginable. Cute, furry, wobbly, juicily plump and of a benign nature. What's not to like about wombats?

Ok, back to the Cadbury factory tour. We were given 'shower caps' before entering the factory. We saw some big machines, some small ones, some conveyor belts and the smell of chocolate was overpowering in some very hot processing rooms. Cadbury originated from England. The Hobart factory produce chocolates for this part of Asia. The elderly tour guide lady was funny and we had fun being guided by her. All I can say upon reflecting on the whole tour while blogging now, is that am I glad I don't work in a factory.

HS did call me a princess several times throughout the trip and I guess he's right and very irritating! I don't have problems acknowledging that I'm a princess in God's eyes and my parents' hearts. They gave me the security and confidence I need to face the world. I've been very blessed to be surrounded by people who are loving, supportive, understanding and affirming most of my life. However, this was the first long trip where I felt the accute lack of such affirmation and it did dampen my spirits a lot. But on hindsight, this was a good learning and growing experience for me. A toughening up of sorts But no, I am still very happy working in a nice office for now instead of a hot sweltering factory with horrific sound pollution, thank you very much. Chocolate makers, you have my deepest respect and gratitute. The things you go through to produce quality chocolates will be forever seared in my mind. Thank you, thank you, thank you

After the factory tour, we and our shower caps posed next to the purple Cadbury car.

We grabbed some more free chockies before leaving the Cadbury factory to head towards Lake St. Clair where we were supposed to spend the night. The beginning of our journey looked promising, with nice plants and all.

On the way to Lake St. Clair

But as we went further along, brown stuff accompanied us instead. Our hearts began to sink. Would the other parts of Tassie be as brown and parched as these? Have we come all the way here in vain? Where are all the green stuff??

The brown hills

More brown hills

Road in the middle of brown things

A brown cow to complete the growing Brown Things collection

Some pipes connected to a water catchment area

The 3-minute Shower

After being encouraged by an Information Center staff on one of the towns that we stopped by that there will be greener stuff as we go further along our journey, we arrived at Lake St. Clair Resort quite late in the afternoon. The bunk room was good but the shower system sucks. To get hot water coming out from the shower, you have to pay Aud1 for 6 minutes of shower. No dollar, no shower. How unbelievable can it get?!!!

Being conservative with their cash, MF and I two mysterious girls decided to pay the Aud1 and take 3 minutes of hot shower each, one after another. They strategised so well that they had ample minutes to spare. Change from dirty clothes, shower and then change to clean clothes. What a simply marvellous feat! What amazing girls!

Bet ya can't wait for what transpired on Day 3, eh? :P