To top it off, we got sweet results the night before and it just made the whole trip even sweeter. Although as usual, we are all never satisfied with what we had and had out little rants on how close we were to attaining a different score.
Ah well.
Sovereign Hill… what can I say? For starters, the journey there via the V-Line train was a first experience for most of us, maybe ‘cept Eric ‘cause apparently he went to Sydney via V-Line. That’s what he said ‘cause I am writing this in doubt.
On the way, the scenery was fantastic. The way the sun was peeking through the clouds was just… wow. It really makes you think if there’s something, someone out there that made this grand design… and how is this all possible? The majestic beauty of nature, so random yet so logical. So violent yet so elegant.
Crap, that last one got me going “o_0” and “What the hell is that?!”
Let’s take a look.
Dried up tree in wintertime
Sunlight peeking through the heavens
Misty flatlands
We got off at Ballarat station. Our special Gold Rush tickets include the bus ride there and it got us cheaper tickets too. Oh, and being students chops off another part of the entry fee. Sweet.
A map of Victoria's railways
Designs for some of the buildings
Welcome to Ballarat, lads.
"Should I even be sitting here?"
Posing in the bus
Weather wasn’t exactly at it’s best when we finally landed in Sovereign Hill. First off we checked out the Gold Museum. Outside there was a statue sitting down extending his hand. From the other stuff around him, I’d say he was a heavy drinker and smoker.
We’ll leave the dude alone for now. So we went in, got the tickets for the Gold Museum and Sovereign Hill itself and went around the Museum for a look-see.
We’ll leave the dude alone for now. So we went in, got the tickets for the Gold Museum and Sovereign Hill itself and went around the Museum for a look-see.
Huge ass piece of gold
Smaller chunks of gold
Stuff they used to entertain themselves back then
The printing press they used back then
Drilling gear
And deeper into the museum there were a lot more amazing exhibits.
Mini figurines depicting smelting
Jason and the Golden Fleece
Midas - Anatomically correct
Old music box
They had some foreign stuff too. A little history on far their gold went, I suppose. Check it.
In the old days, this was a scale. DUH.
There's a joke somewhere here.
Teeny Japanese sculptures
Ancient badass Chinese sword
My personal fave, the Gold Bazooka.
Kang Wei auditioning for the role of Ben Gates in National Treasure 3
These dudes took some time checking the stuff they sold in the souvenir shop. Now that we’re done with the Gold Museum, it’s time to have fun with Mr. Statue outside.
*grin*
So we went in Sovereign Hill and we were greeted by another museum. I don’t think I’ll upload the pics here but everything else is in my Facebook album and you’re more than welcome to go check it.
*phew*
Finally, in Sovereign Hill!
Now, this place is built on a hill and it’s one tough climb all the motherfucking way up. The place is fashioned in the style of how the place might’ve looked like back in the say. So you got dudes wearing old army uniforms, ladies in dresses and frills that will make Prince envious.
They had a few events going on all the time in the place. Horse rides, a redcoat show, musket firing show and other shit I probably missed and don’t remember.
I definitely caught the musket firing show.
We travelled up the initial area a bit and stumbled upon the gold panning area. Basically it’s one dirty ass river where the water is running through the hill and possibly gold has washed through and into the river. So yeah, get pannin’ and you might find a speck (I can’t stress the word speck enough) of gold for your troubles.
*phew*
Finally, in Sovereign Hill!
Now, this place is built on a hill and it’s one tough climb all the motherfucking way up. The place is fashioned in the style of how the place might’ve looked like back in the say. So you got dudes wearing old army uniforms, ladies in dresses and frills that will make Prince envious.
They had a few events going on all the time in the place. Horse rides, a redcoat show, musket firing show and other shit I probably missed and don’t remember.
I definitely caught the musket firing show.
We travelled up the initial area a bit and stumbled upon the gold panning area. Basically it’s one dirty ass river where the water is running through the hill and possibly gold has washed through and into the river. So yeah, get pannin’ and you might find a speck (I can’t stress the word speck enough) of gold for your troubles.
Digging and panning for ye gold
It's not an easy job...
What's up the mountain.
Eric trying his luck
"Nah, this is the way you mine it..."
One dirty ass river where kids probably peed into
I personally didn’t bother. Just probably wanted to hammer Daniel or Eric in the head with the shovel.
Next up was a little underground voice-guided tour through a mine.
Funny part was when he stepped into the booth where someone greeted us. We entered in the order of Daniel, Eric, me and Kang Wei and the dude counted us out.
“1, 2, 3 and half”
*laughs*
“Head on in!”
“Come on half!”
“Fuck you, man!”
You can imagine who said what. Heh heh heh…
The underground tour was totally voice-guided and if my technophile knowledge serves me right, it’s triggered by motion sensors lined along the tunnels. So we weave through cramped tunnels and dimly-lit tunnels, with voices of an old man and a young boy narrating and talking the whole tour content to us.
Eventually we reach a part in the tunnel where a possibly holographic display shows how gold was found in Sovereign Hill. After that it was a nice climb back up to fresh air, sunshine and… rain. Fuck.
Fear not as it didn’t dampen our spirits.
So we decided to go have lunch and wait it out. I wonder is it part of the whole Sovereign Hill charade to be racist as well? Took them damned long to pass the menu and take our order. We were completely ignored until we demanded attention. Whatever. White people.
Next up we went into this theatre to regroup.
Next up was a little underground voice-guided tour through a mine.
Funny part was when he stepped into the booth where someone greeted us. We entered in the order of Daniel, Eric, me and Kang Wei and the dude counted us out.
“1, 2, 3 and half”
*laughs*
“Head on in!”
“Come on half!”
“Fuck you, man!”
You can imagine who said what. Heh heh heh…
The underground tour was totally voice-guided and if my technophile knowledge serves me right, it’s triggered by motion sensors lined along the tunnels. So we weave through cramped tunnels and dimly-lit tunnels, with voices of an old man and a young boy narrating and talking the whole tour content to us.
Eventually we reach a part in the tunnel where a possibly holographic display shows how gold was found in Sovereign Hill. After that it was a nice climb back up to fresh air, sunshine and… rain. Fuck.
Fear not as it didn’t dampen our spirits.
So we decided to go have lunch and wait it out. I wonder is it part of the whole Sovereign Hill charade to be racist as well? Took them damned long to pass the menu and take our order. We were completely ignored until we demanded attention. Whatever. White people.
Next up we went into this theatre to regroup.
Gs in the house
Thinkin' about his future
Initially loads of people thought this was a ghost shot.
Since it was winter, there was a Frozen in Time thing going on all ‘round the place. So next stop was a little portable oversized freezer housing some ice sculptures.
A disappointing display really. Well, later we bought tickets for the Gold Mine tour which was one of the bigger main attractions and went on to see half of the gold pouring show.
The Gold Mine tour was fantastic. We went 100 feet below into the mine and saw how mining tools worked and shit like that. Not a bad experience.
By the time we got out it was almost closing time and Eric had to skedaddle to the Gold Museum to get some souvenirs so we followed him out.
Awesome day out despite the rain. And where there’s rain, there’s a rainbow that follows. In this case, two.
The Gold Mine tour was fantastic. We went 100 feet below into the mine and saw how mining tools worked and shit like that. Not a bad experience.
By the time we got out it was almost closing time and Eric had to skedaddle to the Gold Museum to get some souvenirs so we followed him out.
Awesome day out despite the rain. And where there’s rain, there’s a rainbow that follows. In this case, two.
Beautiful.
Long post for a long day. Skipped out on loads of details but to hell with it. I’m out.
Peace out y’all.
P.S: Congrats to all the VU students that passed, especially the Sunway ones since you guys probably had to give ass and suck dick to pass. Good luck to the Monash students that are getting their results coming Friday!
Long post for a long day. Skipped out on loads of details but to hell with it. I’m out.
Peace out y’all.
P.S: Congrats to all the VU students that passed, especially the Sunway ones since you guys probably had to give ass and suck dick to pass. Good luck to the Monash students that are getting their results coming Friday!
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