So I know I'm out of Australia already but I have to finish the list. One thing I've become accustomed to while in Australia is the Melbourne public transportation. No car needed, insurance or a parking spot. It's easily the best mode of transportation if you're a local. All you need is a ticket and hopefully knowledge of which trams/trains to catch. And although schedules of the transport can be crazy, it's still pretty good in comparison to places like Sydney and Perth. You can grab a tram or train to just about the footsteps of anywhere you need to go. In most cases you can be there within a half hour. This gives all the suburbs surrounding the CBD (City Business District) easy access to explore. You don't have to stress about driving in the traffic, driving in an unknown area, nor driving on the opposite side of the road (wink, wink). Best part, if you have a few drinks with some mates no need to risk getting a DUI either. They have late night buses on the weekends, trams/trains run til pretty late, and taxi's are plentiful. Public transportation also gives you freedom to sit and watch outside the window to see what's around the city, read a book or listen to your ipod. Or for the bolder individuals, a random encounter and conversation with a complete stranger.
While there are many advantages to the public transport, there are a few things I will not miss about it. The crazy characters that board the trams/trains, the smelly ones too, and last but not least the claustrophobic feeling I get when stuffed onto a tram or train during peak hours. You certainly don't want to be cramped near a smelly person.
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