LIBERTY OR DEATH!!!

We drove around the west coast of Tasmania. As a little layover we stayed in a small quaint town called Strahan. We had drove in about 4pm and checked in to our "cabin." It was a funny cabin, triangle in shape and lacked a finished ceiling inside, but as we have learned as we have been traveling that the small things like a warm place to sleep is always welcome. Some have NOT had heat at all and we have been sleeping in as much clothes as we can get on . The unfortunate part about this hostel was the fact it was in the forest and you had to go outside to pee. Quite scary at night.... Anyway.....

We got into the hostel and found ourselves extremely bored. We met a lovely women (Rose) who was traveling around with her daughter (Kayla) spending 10days tooling around Tasmania. They told us about a pantomime show that runs nightly and was deemed "interactive." Who knows what a pantomine, interactive show is? We were bored by this point. It was pouring and the thought of watching Judge Judy on the television sounded less then appealing, so we went.

It was an outdoor show, comprised of just 2 men dressed in very odd clothing. They were suppose to be convicts stealing a ship that I guess in the end was lost or something. The name of teh show was the Ship that Never Was. The show started with us being put in hats and told that we were convicts. The rest of the show was an odd assortment of yelling things like Give me liberty or give me death... People were shot at and there was some sort of battle and the ship, we found out, made it to Cuba but after that gets a little fuzzy. So for an 1 1/2hrs of confusion we left there with some questions but it killed some time. You have to give them credit though. This town probably has no more then 100ppl in it. Yet they hold a show EVERY night. It shocks me that they can find enough people to come and see it to make it worth while.

The next day we drove over to Lanceston and spent the night. This was one of those times you appreciate the heater. We got into our room and the heater was on the ceiling. Now heat rises... so what was the point of that? Does that make sense to you? So we spent a very cold evening under 4 blankets attempting to stay warm. I guess we are making memories, right? We have learned to appreciate the finer things in life. Like a heater in the room is a good thing in the winter. Some haven't had any at all. A complemenatry towel is fantastic and a decent kitchen. I have developed a rating system 1-5 and have set up a academy awards of hostels. We lovenly call them the bungees. We have the golden pillow award (this is the best bed) the silver spoon award (best kitchen). Yah as you can tell... we have some time on our hands. Academy awards are per country only if you were curious.

Next day, drove to Hobart and went to the Cadbury factory... THIS IS THE GREATEST PLACE IN THE WORLD! It was like being let into the Willy Wonka factory. The whole building smells like chocolate. You walk in and are greeted by Freddo the Frog, get a big hug and a hand full of candy to start. The walking tour was nice, but I found myself thinking "enough with the tour... where are the free samples?" On a side note... as we were walking by one of the corridors there was a sign asking whether you were at risk for diabetes. Now being in a chocolate factory... do you think that's weird? Anyway.... We ended the tour at a big giant trunk the tour guide opened it up (insert angel music and bright light) and revealed a trunk of beautiful assorted candies.. THAT WAS JUST FOR US! So we left there on a sugar rush and quite happy for only $24 dollars... what a deal! Made our way to Hobart to catch a flight to Melbourne. Of course with a few Cadbury bars with us....

Hope all of you are well
---Gina