It seams such a long time since I posted and that is mainly because it is, I'm sorry I have been so slow on the uptake but with lack of internet over the past few weeks and lots of darting all over the place i've not had much chance to catch up.
Australia is vast, bigger than europe and a place where your idea of distance is confused and a 2 hour drive is 'just down the road' But here I am where I started in Melbourne and with 5 out of the 7 states ticked of my to see list I think I've done quite well.
After diving in Cairns I headed up to Cape tribulation, where the tropical rainforest meets the beach and it's so untouched it must look pretty much the same as when Cook found it back in 1770. I stayed in a very remote hostel right in the forest and just off the beach. It was so far removed that it was a 2 hour round walk to the shop! Needless to say I did loads of walking while I was up there, even taking in a night walk in the jungle were we got to see lots of sleeping lizards and birds as well as my first wild snake, not something I wish to repeat!
Monday, December 3, 2007
Waiting for the show to start
I left Cairns and flew to Alice Springs for a 4 day tour of Uluru, the Olgas and Kings Canyon. Oh my goodness nothing in the world could be quite like this place. You drive for hours and see nothing but a huge cartoon sky and red sand with a few bushes dotted about. After the fourth hour of nothing I really did wonder why I had wasted my time and money to go and see a big pebble. The rock itself is very impressive but I found myself finding people spotting much more fun. The first evening we went to watch the sun set over Uluru something the every tour does so after our guide told us to hurry up or we might not get a parking space we jumped on the bus and headed to the rather busy 'sunset viewing carpark'
I have never found something to funny in all my life and I luckily found myself in the company of a German with a sense of humour as we went off to do a spot of people watching. This is where the tour operators go to town and bring out the champagne and nibbles before the show starts, you could point out the more posh tours by the cut glass champagne flutes and the cheaper backpacker options with their plastic mugs. (I was more middle of the road with a bog standard glass and sparkling wine)
I was really lucky with my trip and because we were quite a small group, the first two nights we were upgraded to another trip which included someone to cook for us and tents with beds and fans. It was so hot that most days we had to get up before sunrise to enable us to do the walks, on one day it was 28 degrees when we started walking at 6.30 and nearly 40 when we finished at 10! I have never been so hot in all my life. I would love to say that my trip got me closer to understanding the Aboriginal culture but no... It did help me to fully appreciate air conditioning though.
I have never found something to funny in all my life and I luckily found myself in the company of a German with a sense of humour as we went off to do a spot of people watching. This is where the tour operators go to town and bring out the champagne and nibbles before the show starts, you could point out the more posh tours by the cut glass champagne flutes and the cheaper backpacker options with their plastic mugs. (I was more middle of the road with a bog standard glass and sparkling wine)
I was really lucky with my trip and because we were quite a small group, the first two nights we were upgraded to another trip which included someone to cook for us and tents with beds and fans. It was so hot that most days we had to get up before sunrise to enable us to do the walks, on one day it was 28 degrees when we started walking at 6.30 and nearly 40 when we finished at 10! I have never been so hot in all my life. I would love to say that my trip got me closer to understanding the Aboriginal culture but no... It did help me to fully appreciate air conditioning though.
Tasmania
After a quick weekend stop in Melbourne I gathered my things and My brother and headed down to Tasmania for 5 days. Ade and I had discussed what we wanted to do with our time and we both agreed that we wanted to do lots of walking and avoid towns. As it turns out Tasmania only offers steep walks and long and winding roads in between them.
We found some beautiful beaches, amazing views along the way and some fantastic fish restaurants. We also did our bit for the local economy by consuming local beers and wines (which we felt were well deserved from all the walking)
We found some beautiful beaches, amazing views along the way and some fantastic fish restaurants. We also did our bit for the local economy by consuming local beers and wines (which we felt were well deserved from all the walking)
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Update...
... I found Nemo!
With my brand new divers certificate in hand I headed out of Carins to spend the day on a boat called 'silverswift' and yes I found nemo!
He was hiding in an anemone but looked quite pleased to see me, even if a little shy. I also found a turtle who let me stroke his shell while he ate his lunch of coral.
I now just need to work out what the divers sign is for 'thats so cool'
With my brand new divers certificate in hand I headed out of Carins to spend the day on a boat called 'silverswift' and yes I found nemo!
He was hiding in an anemone but looked quite pleased to see me, even if a little shy. I also found a turtle who let me stroke his shell while he ate his lunch of coral.
I now just need to work out what the divers sign is for 'thats so cool'
Friday, November 9, 2007
Whitehaven beach
It was sad to leave Byron Bay I really felt at home. It was especially difficult to leave because I was heading up to Brisbane, which just as everyone had said it would be, was not worth the two nights I spent there. It sounds harsh I know but were are talking about a CITY where you have to walk for 40 minutes before finding an open restaurant!
I then headed up to the Whitsunday's for a 3 day sailing trip. The boat I went on was a retired racing yacht called the Matador. The boat itself was cool and traveling at near 90 degrees as we flew along the waves was fantastic.
The Whitsunday's are amazing, I was expecting a tropical islands but they look more like the alps that have been flooded. The main point of the trip is to head out to Whitehaven beach which quite honestly is one of the most amazing places on earth. With sand that is so fine it feels like flour and the sea an amazing blue colour I really could have stayed for days.
The other main point of going sailing was to get a bit closer to the barrier reef and go snorkeling. I was so exited about seeing Nemo at home that I jumped right in, sadly he was nowhere to be seen. Although amazing fish that look like Zebras, neon fish and coral with an electric blue tinge did make up for it. It didn't stop me trying to find him the next day though... but sadly again, no sign.
I left the Whitsunday's for Mgnetic Island and a four day open water diving course (main hope to find Nemo) I can't believe I am saying this but I really enjoyed having to study for a while and although I found the underwater skills a bit daunting I really enjoyed the course. The dive school is right on the barrier reef and our final dive was sooo cool, we saw so many things including stingray and a fish with giraffe patterns, we even had a school of fish stalking us! But sadly.......... no Nemo!
So here I am in Cairns, I've booked a dive trip tomorrow in the last ditched attempt to find Nemo, I'll keep you posted!
I then headed up to the Whitsunday's for a 3 day sailing trip. The boat I went on was a retired racing yacht called the Matador. The boat itself was cool and traveling at near 90 degrees as we flew along the waves was fantastic.
The Whitsunday's are amazing, I was expecting a tropical islands but they look more like the alps that have been flooded. The main point of the trip is to head out to Whitehaven beach which quite honestly is one of the most amazing places on earth. With sand that is so fine it feels like flour and the sea an amazing blue colour I really could have stayed for days.
The other main point of going sailing was to get a bit closer to the barrier reef and go snorkeling. I was so exited about seeing Nemo at home that I jumped right in, sadly he was nowhere to be seen. Although amazing fish that look like Zebras, neon fish and coral with an electric blue tinge did make up for it. It didn't stop me trying to find him the next day though... but sadly again, no sign.
I left the Whitsunday's for Mgnetic Island and a four day open water diving course (main hope to find Nemo) I can't believe I am saying this but I really enjoyed having to study for a while and although I found the underwater skills a bit daunting I really enjoyed the course. The dive school is right on the barrier reef and our final dive was sooo cool, we saw so many things including stingray and a fish with giraffe patterns, we even had a school of fish stalking us! But sadly.......... no Nemo!
So here I am in Cairns, I've booked a dive trip tomorrow in the last ditched attempt to find Nemo, I'll keep you posted!
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Cape Byron
Well it's part of the visa requirements of all backpackers to head up the east coast so here I am in Byron bay. I set out from Sydney and with some nervousness I boarded the bus for Byron Bay. Everyone I have spoken to loves Byron they all seam to have 'crazy' time here and to be honest I got me a bit worried that it would be a bit like the walkabout during happy hour.
Luckily I was wrong and Byron is a chilled out alternative heaven. My experience may have been more in the hippy style because I have been staying here : http://www.artsfactory.com.au/ A crazy hostel that disbelieves rooms should have four walls and have many tee pees, tents and even a double decker bus to call home for a few nights.
The alternative style has attracted many alternative people who have been the friendliest I have meet so far in Australia. Byron cape itself is made up of the most amazing beaches. It wraps itself around a cape so it has something perfect to offer whatever the weather. The cape itself is home to the most easterly light house in Australia and I decided to hire a bike to take a closer look, it's just a shame that the bike I ended up with had no gears and very little in the way of breaks which made both riding up the hill and down equally interesting.
Luckily I was wrong and Byron is a chilled out alternative heaven. My experience may have been more in the hippy style because I have been staying here : http://www.artsfactory.com.au/ A crazy hostel that disbelieves rooms should have four walls and have many tee pees, tents and even a double decker bus to call home for a few nights.
The alternative style has attracted many alternative people who have been the friendliest I have meet so far in Australia. Byron cape itself is made up of the most amazing beaches. It wraps itself around a cape so it has something perfect to offer whatever the weather. The cape itself is home to the most easterly light house in Australia and I decided to hire a bike to take a closer look, it's just a shame that the bike I ended up with had no gears and very little in the way of breaks which made both riding up the hill and down equally interesting.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
The blue mountins
The past two days I have headed up into the Blue mountains a region just outside of Sydney. The mountains are famous for a blue haze that the eucalyptus trees give off when it's hot and wow they look amazing when they do! I decided to come up with the same tour company that I traveled from Melbourne with and yes yet again I had a tour guide a wee bit on the crazy side.
This guy was OBSESSED with spiders and snakes and informing us of imminent death at any available opportunity to the point that I was too scared to touch anything. However after some scary walks dodding funnel webs spider appartment blocks and possible snake houses we were rewarded with amazing views for our bravery.
We were lead down a path of 1600 steps into the canyon floor for a return trip on the steepest railway in the world. The track took us to near 90 degrees and had us holding on for dear life due to the fact the safety chain was made of plastic.
I left the tour to stay in the mountains for a couple of nights in a town called Katoomba the largest in the mountains which makes Newton Abbot seam the size of a city, but with some fantastic coffee shops which make relaxing with a book very easy.
This guy was OBSESSED with spiders and snakes and informing us of imminent death at any available opportunity to the point that I was too scared to touch anything. However after some scary walks dodding funnel webs spider appartment blocks and possible snake houses we were rewarded with amazing views for our bravery.
We were lead down a path of 1600 steps into the canyon floor for a return trip on the steepest railway in the world. The track took us to near 90 degrees and had us holding on for dear life due to the fact the safety chain was made of plastic.
I left the tour to stay in the mountains for a couple of nights in a town called Katoomba the largest in the mountains which makes Newton Abbot seam the size of a city, but with some fantastic coffee shops which make relaxing with a book very easy.
Sydney
I've spent the last week or so in and around Sydney. It seams strange to say it but know I've been to Sydney I really believe I am halfway around the world.
On the face of it I didn't like Sydney. After visiting both the Harbour bridge and Opera house I felt there was nothing left, the rest of the city seamed to be lacking in soul. It was at this point it became so obvious how new Australia is at only 200 years. It's lacking historical buildings and strange little streets that have been there for hundreds of years.
After discovering the suburbs and out of the way bays I have now come to the conclusion that Sydney does have soul but it is tucked away and nowhere near the CDB.
After a few nights in the centre I decided to head down to Bondi. Which was not the long out of the way beach I had imagined. It has a feel of an English seaside town with bigger waves! but so much more relaxed than the city centre and with free entertainment of watching the surfers.
Adrian and Tash came up to join me for the weekend and took me on a magical mystery tour off the cool bits in and around Sydney. The Royal national park with beaches all to ourselves (it was raining), Watsons bay, the weekend markets and the northern beaches including Palm beach famous for Home and Away.
On the face of it I didn't like Sydney. After visiting both the Harbour bridge and Opera house I felt there was nothing left, the rest of the city seamed to be lacking in soul. It was at this point it became so obvious how new Australia is at only 200 years. It's lacking historical buildings and strange little streets that have been there for hundreds of years.
After discovering the suburbs and out of the way bays I have now come to the conclusion that Sydney does have soul but it is tucked away and nowhere near the CDB.
After a few nights in the centre I decided to head down to Bondi. Which was not the long out of the way beach I had imagined. It has a feel of an English seaside town with bigger waves! but so much more relaxed than the city centre and with free entertainment of watching the surfers.
Adrian and Tash came up to join me for the weekend and took me on a magical mystery tour off the cool bits in and around Sydney. The Royal national park with beaches all to ourselves (it was raining), Watsons bay, the weekend markets and the northern beaches including Palm beach famous for Home and Away.
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Melbourne to Sydney the long way round
I had decided a while ago that instead of just taking the greyhound up to Sydney I would join a tour and see some more of the country on the way. So bright and 6.15am early I stood at the wrong gallery in Melbourne waiting for my bus. After a while of wondering why no one else was taking to tour I re read the booking sheet and realised I should have been 5 mins down the road. So in my best backpackers panic I started running... luckily I spotted the bus coming down the street and after flagging them down and throwing myself onboard I was on my way.
Our tour guide was a chap called 'Bones' and I don't think I will every be able to put into words the crazy nature of this tall, skinny, long haired ozzy. Who informed us he had never been to europe because he thought it would be a bit dull. I could see his point after the tales of his travels came out, including the 3 years traveling with a camel and the purchase of Daryl the donkey in South America to help him get about.
Our first stop was Wilsons Promontory a nature reserve on the coast which includes the most southerly point of Australia. Bones stopped the bus because he had spotted a wombat in a clearing. He prepped us with tactics so we could get up close and because he was quite still we were in with a chance of getting a good look. After a stealthy creep round his lack of movement was explained by the fact he was dead. We were all visibly disappointed and sad so Bones lead us in to the bush with the promise of Kangaroos. True to his word after a short walk to another clearing we were surrounded by what seamed like hundreds of Roos bouncing about.
We then headed further in to the park for a 3k walk up onto the point and down on to a beach with sand so white and fine it felt like snow to walk on.
Day two we again were up bright and early and on the road by 6am. The landscape slowly turned into mountains and we turned off the main highway onto the 'Barry way' which has been carved into the mountains. Sadly they didn't think that a road wide enough fot two vehicles would be a good idea so as I peered out of the window I was greeted with a very large drop. The road took us up into the Snowy river region and the Australian snow fields. I know Australia has snow but I still could not get my head around the idea and even after a snow fight I wasn't quite believing it. we stayed in a town called Jindabyne which is situated on a huge man made lake, of which we had amazing views of from our room.
Day three we headed in to Canberra which true to my expectations was lacking in people and soul. We were taken to parliament house which offers a free tour and surprisingly is more interesting than we were all expecting. We when headed of for a drive around the embassy's and a game of 'guess which country lives here'
We arrived into Sydney just before 6 and I headed down to the harbour for a sneeky peak of the Harbour bridge and Opera house. I know it sounds strange but now I have seen them I can truly believe that I am in Australia.
Our tour guide was a chap called 'Bones' and I don't think I will every be able to put into words the crazy nature of this tall, skinny, long haired ozzy. Who informed us he had never been to europe because he thought it would be a bit dull. I could see his point after the tales of his travels came out, including the 3 years traveling with a camel and the purchase of Daryl the donkey in South America to help him get about.
Our first stop was Wilsons Promontory a nature reserve on the coast which includes the most southerly point of Australia. Bones stopped the bus because he had spotted a wombat in a clearing. He prepped us with tactics so we could get up close and because he was quite still we were in with a chance of getting a good look. After a stealthy creep round his lack of movement was explained by the fact he was dead. We were all visibly disappointed and sad so Bones lead us in to the bush with the promise of Kangaroos. True to his word after a short walk to another clearing we were surrounded by what seamed like hundreds of Roos bouncing about.
We then headed further in to the park for a 3k walk up onto the point and down on to a beach with sand so white and fine it felt like snow to walk on.
Day two we again were up bright and early and on the road by 6am. The landscape slowly turned into mountains and we turned off the main highway onto the 'Barry way' which has been carved into the mountains. Sadly they didn't think that a road wide enough fot two vehicles would be a good idea so as I peered out of the window I was greeted with a very large drop. The road took us up into the Snowy river region and the Australian snow fields. I know Australia has snow but I still could not get my head around the idea and even after a snow fight I wasn't quite believing it. we stayed in a town called Jindabyne which is situated on a huge man made lake, of which we had amazing views of from our room.
Day three we headed in to Canberra which true to my expectations was lacking in people and soul. We were taken to parliament house which offers a free tour and surprisingly is more interesting than we were all expecting. We when headed of for a drive around the embassy's and a game of 'guess which country lives here'
We arrived into Sydney just before 6 and I headed down to the harbour for a sneeky peak of the Harbour bridge and Opera house. I know it sounds strange but now I have seen them I can truly believe that I am in Australia.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
The Great Ocean Road
I love the sea so the idea of traveling down the great Ocean road has been one I've wanted to do for years.
I decided to hire a car so I could take it in my own time. I Started off at Torquay which true to the Devon form was out of season dull so after a quick stop I headed on down to Bells beach which was beautiful, after christening the car with sand I headed on to Anglesea which turned out to be a very sleepy town, with a beautiful beach. However rain was still in the air, so I headed on to Aireys Inlet and a lighthouse which turned out to be the one used in round the twist, the 80's kids tv show. It was really raining now so I decided to take to tour and head up to the top, which had amazing views.
Between Aireys Inlet and Lorne you pass under an arch which denotes the original section of the Great Ocean Road which was carved out of the cliffs by the solders who returned from the great war. This section hugs the coast line until Lorne where I decided to stay for the night. Lorne is pretty but with only 1000 people living there it is quite quiet, however in this changes in the summer when over 20,000 people will descend over a week.
The second day was beautiful so I headed out of Lorne to Kennet River in search of Wild Koala's. Who as it turns out seam to live in back-gardens! Then it was on to Apollo Bay which again has an amazing beach. The road then heads inland towards Lavers Hill where I headed off to the 'Otway Fly' a tree-top canopy walkway which as it turn out sways rather a lot in the wind. It was at this point I decided that I'm glad I'm not a tree or a Koala in a tree.
Next stop was gibson steps, a massive descent down the cliff to the beach just around the comer from the 12 Apostles. The land scape is amazing but as words can't describe it I shall let the photographs. Only 1k up the road is the 12 Apostles themselves, the area was crazy busy with goodness knows how many buss loads of tourists. The sky had turned moody and the Apostles seam to soak up the mood.
I headed with a couple more stops to admire the view but as the rain started to come in heavy again I decided to head straight up to Warrnambool.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Melbourne
I arrived in Melbourne on Sunday morning. It took an hour to get from the runway to my waiting brother with all the checks. This country is obsessed with not bringing food in and even have sniffer dogs who are trained to find bananas.
On Sunday Ade and Tash took me to Healesville Sanctury to see some very cute Australian animals. They also took me on an induction of deadly snakes, just incase...!
After a couple of days finding my way around Melbourne I'm heading off down the Great Ocean road in search of Koalas in the wild and some fish and chips by the sea.
On Sunday Ade and Tash took me to Healesville Sanctury to see some very cute Australian animals. They also took me on an induction of deadly snakes, just incase...!
After a couple of days finding my way around Melbourne I'm heading off down the Great Ocean road in search of Koalas in the wild and some fish and chips by the sea.
Monday, September 24, 2007
Singapore
As I stepped out of Singapore airport my glasses steamed up and I knew I had arrived. It was a half an hour cab ride into town and I was staying in a district called Little India. Singapore is a city of contrasts, on one hand you have amazing colonial buildings rich in history among shiny skyscrapers and postmodern tower blocks but what unites them all is the shear colour of the city.
My first day was spent finding my way round both on foot and by bus. Little India is a mass of brightly coloured colonial buildings. Right at the heart of it there is Tikka Market, Downstairs is filled with a meat and fish market, chicken feet and all. It smells of a mix of fish and incense, upstairs is filled with birightly coloured Sari's all so delicatly detailed.
In the eveing I went up to the 'Night Safari' ( http://www.nightsafari.com.sg/ ) a zoo filled with nocternal animals. After a 45 minite ride on the tram which takes you through the animals you can walk through the grounds. The paths are all dark and although you know they are all in enclosed your imagination goes wild and you see every rock as a pouncing lion.
Friday I took a night tour which included a dinner, a boat trip on the river finishing at Raffles for a Singapore sling. I left the tour before the Long Bar to go and meet some friends who were staying at the hotel and snuck into the residence only bar. As I walked in the pianist said 'good eving miss, how lovely to see you' Of course I had a Sinagpore sling of which I had no idea what they put in it! The building itself is timeless and as you look up you can see the corridors and imagine ladies in big dresses swooshing their way back to the suites.
I was really surprised by Singapore it has such a strong sence of difference, although they are 80% Chinese they see themselves as very differnent from China and are proud to be seperate from Malyasia.
My first day was spent finding my way round both on foot and by bus. Little India is a mass of brightly coloured colonial buildings. Right at the heart of it there is Tikka Market, Downstairs is filled with a meat and fish market, chicken feet and all. It smells of a mix of fish and incense, upstairs is filled with birightly coloured Sari's all so delicatly detailed.
In the eveing I went up to the 'Night Safari' ( http://www.nightsafari.com.sg/ ) a zoo filled with nocternal animals. After a 45 minite ride on the tram which takes you through the animals you can walk through the grounds. The paths are all dark and although you know they are all in enclosed your imagination goes wild and you see every rock as a pouncing lion.
Friday I took a night tour which included a dinner, a boat trip on the river finishing at Raffles for a Singapore sling. I left the tour before the Long Bar to go and meet some friends who were staying at the hotel and snuck into the residence only bar. As I walked in the pianist said 'good eving miss, how lovely to see you' Of course I had a Sinagpore sling of which I had no idea what they put in it! The building itself is timeless and as you look up you can see the corridors and imagine ladies in big dresses swooshing their way back to the suites.
I was really surprised by Singapore it has such a strong sence of difference, although they are 80% Chinese they see themselves as very differnent from China and are proud to be seperate from Malyasia.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Hello and welcome
I decided a little while ago that I would like to keep a journal of my trip, thinking when I'm old I can reminisce. Sadly I have terrible handwriting so the idea of something typed seamed a good one. So here I am 'blogging'
On Tuesday I'm flying off to Singapore where I will be spending a few days before heading over to Melbourne and see my brother Adrian. I then have 11 weeks in Australia before flying to Tokyo. I will then be spending a little over two weeks in Japan where I will be traveling to Kyoto Via, Nikko and Hiroshima. I might even get a glimpse of Mt Fuji if she's not feeling shy.
Along the way I hope to learn to dive, stand up on a surfboard and learn enough Japanese to tell someone 'I'm lost'.
So grab a cup of tea and join me on my adventure while I pretend to be Michael Palin.
Lucie
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