Touch down: Australia

'My name is Rohit. So what else do you need to know? Stuff about my family, or where I'm from? None of that matters. Not once you cross the ocean and cut yourself loose, looking for something more beautiful, something more exciting and yes I admit, something more dangerous. So after 13 hours in the back of an airplane, two dumb movies, one plastic meal, three beers and absolutely no sleep, I finally touch down; In Melbourne, Down Under.

Let me assure you, as a self-confessed frequent backpacker, I was a little taken aback.

They call this the End of the World. Even though Tasmania, New Zealand, and a couple of countries, I guess in South America fall below the Melbourne latitude, they still like to blind themselves to those liveable lands.

When I got out of the airport, and cowlick was driving me to Thornbury, her and her hubby's home, I was dreading - the phrase End of the World - I hoped they didn't mean it literally. What do you know... I think they did.

It's dead silent. And it was just 9pm. Streets are empty. Just a few cars running past. That's a suburb.

Call me whatever you want, but I tell you, take away the pretty blonde girls, the greeenery, and Melbourne Central - town - Qatar isn't much different from M'bourne. Or maybe it is, Qatar might very well be a wee bit more happening.

Unbelievable eh?

Well, considering, I've just been here just about 14 hours, maybe I ain't that accurate. I haven't seen much yet. But I got a knack of bumping into problems. So they don't surprise me much.

I got a warning ticket - for crossing the road when it was red for pedestrians! Like hello! Cut me some slack here. And I wasn't the only one who crossed it when it was red. There were like three blonde's in front of me.

I was the only one the cop stopped and asked for identification. Why do you think that would happen? I don't know honestly. But its no big deal. It's just a friggin warning!

People look. I mean, I don't know what it is, but people look at you. I was seriously wondering is it the long hair, or they just haven't seen an Indian, wearing a backpack on his shoulders and walking their streets with a map in his hands. Or, is it that they think I'm good looking, or loud maybe, if you know what I mean.

It's too early to say, and I am still fucking stoned from last night. Trust me man, I smoked up after 7 months, and it hits you like a storm. The high, which was once a familiar one, becomes alien to you. You don't really figure out, if you're enjoying it, or if it's just landed you in unknown territory. I'll get used to it though.

Three days later, we will be heading up north to Cairns. That of course is another story altogether - a story that I don't know yet. I can just guess, and wonder. I'd rather not. I'm not in a state to know what happened yesterday, and I certainly am not interested in knowing what's gonna happen tonmorrow.

All I know right now is that I've touched down in Melbourne, and going by the first look of it - anything's possible.