Introduction / Setting
After the wild Flinders Hostel Christmas chaos, Melbourne suddenly slowed down.
On December 26th, Mara and I moved into our dogsit house in Richmond. It felt like a new chapter. Calm. Domestic. Grounded.
Or at least… that’s what we thought.
The house was beautiful — high ceilings, cute details, amazing location. But also?
Super dirty.
There was rotten food in the fridge. The sink was leaking. It felt slightly chaotic in a completely different way than hostel chaos. Less party. More “why is this leaking and why does it smell like expired pasta?”
Still, it was ours for a few weeks. And that already felt like stability.
Main Story / Adventures
Beach Coincidences
The first days were slow. We mostly just wandered around, went to the beach, and tanned in the sun. Honestly, it could’ve been worse.
On our first day after moving into Richmond, we went to the beach.
And guess who we randomly ran into there?
Floris.
Of course.
Melbourne suddenly felt small. We said hi. It was friendly, light, slightly charged. The kind of encounter that reminds you certain stories aren’t fully closed yet.
The BBQ That Turned Weird
The next day, we went to the beach again.
An older man randomly offered us drinks. We ended up sitting with him and his friends for a while. In Australia, everyone seems friendly at first, so we didn’t think too much of it.
They invited us to a café.
Then to their house for a BBQ.
At first it felt spontaneous. Harmless.
But slowly the comments shifted. Jokes about “going topless.” Small remarks that didn’t sit right. That subtle change in atmosphere where you suddenly feel very aware of yourself.
We looked at each other and silently agreed: time to go.
So we left.
Public House & The Fun Australians
But the night wasn’t over.
Instead of going home, we went out to Public House.
And that’s where the energy completely changed.
There we met a group of Australian guys our age. Normal. Fun. No weird undertones. Just summer vibes, drinks, music, laughing about accents and backpacker stories.
It felt easy.
Mara started flirting with one of them.
I started talking to another.
That effortless, harmless kind of flirting. No pressure. No weirdness. Just fun.
Eventually, they came back with us to the dogsit house.
Different from the BBQ guys. Different vibe entirely.
We stayed up talking, laughing, playing music. It felt young. Free. Safe.
That contrast in one single night was wild.
The Richmond House invitation (Floris & Sybe)
The day after that, we decided to host something ourselves.
This time, we invited Floris and Sybe.
They came over.
Very different energy again. Less chaotic. More charged.
Seeing Floris in our space felt strange in a good way. Just days ago it had been club chaos — now it was wine in our living room, softer conversations, longer eye contact.
As the night got later, it didn’t make sense for them to leave.
So they stayed.
Mattresses improvised. Late-night whispers. That quiet intimacy that feels bigger than it looks from the outside.
It wasn’t dramatic.
It was subtle.
And somehow that made it more intense.
The Job Hunt Era
Richmond, January vibes.
Mara and I decided to be productive girls and print CVs. We went around handing them out at cafés and restaurants. At one place, I had actually been invited earlier to come for a trial shift — but I didn’t really feel like it.
When we went inside to explain, they were… not impressed. Slightly unfriendly. They basically told me I should just do the trial immediately.
I didn’t.
Mara ended up working somewhere for about a week and a half. Classic backpacker job era.
It felt grown-up. And also slightly delusional. Like we were playing “independent adults in Australia.”
Rainy Museum Day
One day it was pouring rain, so we decided to go to the ACMI (Australian Centre for the Moving Image).
Girl.
I understood literally nothing.
It was interactive, digital, artsy, abstract — and I walked through it pretending I was intellectually stimulated while actually being confused 80% of the time.
Afterwards, we tried a food place that had looked good online. It wasn’t. I ordered vegetarian chicken nuggets that tasted… aggressively fake. After a few hours, I was starving again.
Balance.
Shrine & Soft Rome Vibes
Another day we visited the Shrine of Remembrance.
And honestly? It surprised me.
The building is stunning. Very grand. It reminded me a little of Rome — that monumental, historical energy. The museum inside is free and actually really interesting, focused on war history.
Mara took pictures of me there.
She’s… not the best photographer.
But that’s okay. It adds character.
After that, we wandered a bit, grabbed food, and went home to make nacho’s. Domestic girls again. Early night. Rain outside.
Such a contrast to Billboard chaos just days before.
Romance / Encounters
This period felt very different from Christmas week.
Less chaotic. More aware.
In just a few days, I experienced three completely different types of male energy.
First, the uncomfortable one — the BBQ situation. The subtle shift from friendly to inappropriate. The moment you realise you have to trust your instinct and leave.
Then, the fun one — the Australian guys at Public House. Easy flirting. No pressure. Just laughing about accents, backpacker life, and summer plans. Mara with one. Me with another. Harmless. Light. The kind of interaction that makes travelling feel playful instead of heavy.
And then Floris.
Running into him at the beach. Inviting him over the next day. The quiet tension when he stayed over.
Seeing him again made me realise something: you can feel a connection and still know it’s temporary.
And that doesn’t make it less real.
There’s something beautiful about that.
About allowing a moment to exist without forcing it into the future.
You flirt. You kiss. You stay up too late.
But sometimes, in between the chaos, there are softer moments that feel more intense than the wild ones.
And you already know they won’t last.
So you let them be what they are.
You don’t cling.
You don’t try to turn them into something permanent.
Travel teaches you that not every connection is meant to stay — some are just meant to shape you.
Tips & Tricks
Dogsitting in Melbourne:
TrustedHousesitters is amazing for free accommodation in great neighbourhoods like Richmond. But manage expectations — not every “beautiful home” is spotless. Be prepared to clean a little before you settle in.
Trust your intuition:
Australians are generally incredibly friendly. But friendly doesn’t always mean safe. If energy shifts, leave. Your instinct is smarter than you think.
Public House – go out here:
If you’re in Melbourne and want a fun, young, social night out, Public House is a great spot. Good music, mixed crowd, easy atmosphere. Perfect for meeting other travellers or locals without it feeling forced.
Job hunting:
Print CVs and physically walk into cafés — especially in areas like Richmond and Fitzroy. It feels old school, but it works. Backpacker jobs often happen through in-person energy, not emails.
Rainy day activity:
Visit the ACMI if you like digital art and film. Even if you don’t fully understand it (like me), it’s interactive and different from a typical museum.
Cultural stop:
The Shrine of Remembrance is absolutely worth visiting. Free museum inside, impressive architecture, and peaceful views over the city.
Beach tip:
Melbourne beaches aren’t Byron-level tropical, but they’re perfect for slow afternoons, tanning sessions, and unexpected reunions with almost-lovers.
Reflection / Closing
Melbourne Part 6 wasn’t loud.
It was slower.
Messier in a practical way.
More “real life.”
Cleaning someone else’s house.
Handing out CVs.
Questioning museum art.
Running into almost-lovers at the beach.
Inviting people over for a BBQ.
Going out to Public House and laughing with strangers.
Making waffles on a random Tuesday night.
It felt less cinematic — but somehow more meaningful.
Travel isn’t only sunsets, sailing trips, and Instagram-worthy moments.
Sometimes it’s leaking sinks, job rejections, rainy museum confusion, awkward encounters, and gentle, fleeting connections that you already know won’t last.
And somehow, that’s just as important.
Because in these quieter, slower, slightly messy days, you learn more about yourself, your boundaries, and the kind of energy you want to surround yourself with.
Wherever I am next, I’m learning that even chaos can feel like a beginning.
