Well, who saw it coming!! The end of the trip and the start of my new life in Aberdeen. Its been over 2 months since my last post on this blog, my Sex is on Fire post from my last days in Australia.
In those 2 months, i have had allot of time to think, allot of time to myself and allot of time to put the last 6 months into perspective. I have changed, very much so and very much for the better. I found myself, i found my confidence again and i found out the value of real and true friends. I have spent more time with my family in the last 2 months than i have combined in the last 7 years, which was my fault for putting distance between us, but going forward that will change. My time in America and Australia will be with me for life, the friends i made along the way, i hope they will be too, and the friends i had before, i value them even more now! You know who you are and you know what it means!! If i haven't already told you guys, well your the best!!!
So yeah, Aberdeen Baby!!! Its a cool place, and i really cant wait to show you all what it has to offer in due course. The hotel will be cool, the challenge of opening it is just what i needed to come back to and I'm loving it so far. There are bound to be mega stressful days ahead, but I'm ready for them. Found myself a lovely apartment to rent, cant wait to get my stuff moved in and make it home. This is it for me now, this is where the new Billy starts and makes his life what its meant to be. No more excuses.
And so concludes Billy's Round the World Adventure. What a blast!!. What a roller coaster of experiences, what an amazing list of things to do and see. It was everything i wanted and more besides. It was so worth every penny spent (a figure never to be added up !!!) and it is something that i will cherish for the rest of my life. So this will be my last post on here. Have been trying to wrap it up for a few weeks now, but couldn't quite put it into words.
And in a final and fitting close to this blog, i leave the last paragraph to my mum. So much of the trip revolved around you for me. Dealing with how i felt and how it would impact all areas of my life has been a difficult but necessary process and one which i will remember forever. I will always love you, you were amazing and having had the last months to deal with everything, it has made me realise that bit more (as if i didn't already know) how much of a special person you really were. I will miss you every day, but i will love you more each day, so its not an upsetting kind of feeling anymore. Everything i do in life going forward will in some way or another be dedicated to your memory and i hope i make you proud!! Always mam. Always. Over and Out!!!
Monday, 30 March 2009
Saturday, 24 January 2009
Sex on Fire
Lay where you're laying
Don't make a sound
I know they're watching
They're watching
All the commotion
Is killing our faith
It has people talking
They're talking
Your
Your sex is on fire
The dark of the alley
The breaking of day
Ahead while I'm driving
I'm driving
The soft lips are open
Them knuckles are pale
It feels like you're dying
You're dying
And your
Your sex is on fire
And so
Were the words to transpire
Hot as a fever
Rattling bones
I could just taste it
Taste it
If it's not forever
If it's just tonight
Oh it's still the greatest
The greatest
The greatest
And your
Your sex is on fire
Your
Your sex is on fire
And so
Were the words to transpire
And your
Your sex is on fire
And so
Were the words to transpire
Don't make a sound
I know they're watching
They're watching
All the commotion
Is killing our faith
It has people talking
They're talking
Your
Your sex is on fire
The dark of the alley
The breaking of day
Ahead while I'm driving
I'm driving
The soft lips are open
Them knuckles are pale
It feels like you're dying
You're dying
And your
Your sex is on fire
And so
Were the words to transpire
Hot as a fever
Rattling bones
I could just taste it
Taste it
If it's not forever
If it's just tonight
Oh it's still the greatest
The greatest
The greatest
And your
Your sex is on fire
Your
Your sex is on fire
And so
Were the words to transpire
And your
Your sex is on fire
And so
Were the words to transpire
Monday, 19 January 2009
Melbourne, and my decision to call it a day for now!
Melbourne has been cool. So nice to chill out here over the last week. Caught up with Thomas and Roisin again, got very drunk one night - stayed up until 9.30am, good times. Took a day to recover from that. Went on the neighbours tour which was fun and went to the Australian Open Tennis today, which was baking hot but good fun!!! Watched a 16 year old Auzzie guy beat an Italian in 4 sets, over 3 hours in temperatures over 35 degrees. good times.
And today i decided that i cant afford to carry on travelling for another 6 weeks. My original trip was meant to end on Wednesday anyways, and because i stayed on here in Oz, i basically have decided to return to the UK as planned on Wednesday and cancel the New Zealand part of the trip.
Yes i will loose money on it, but it doesn't make financial sense to keep spending, knowing that i wont have enough to live on when i return. By returning to the UK now i aim to get my eye fixed as soon as possible and put the life changing aspects of my trip into action.
So yes I'm a little gutted that its ending, i have so loved being in Australia and the Southern Hemisphere. I cant think about how cold its going to be back in the UK. If i did i wouldn't return full stop. But all jokes aside, its the right decision, I'm happy with that and it means that i have a reason to return to this part of the world again in the hopefully not too distant future.
So i will be back in the UK from Thursday morning, I'm officially homeless in the UK so any couches or spare rooms will be much appreciated!!!!
And today i decided that i cant afford to carry on travelling for another 6 weeks. My original trip was meant to end on Wednesday anyways, and because i stayed on here in Oz, i basically have decided to return to the UK as planned on Wednesday and cancel the New Zealand part of the trip.
Yes i will loose money on it, but it doesn't make financial sense to keep spending, knowing that i wont have enough to live on when i return. By returning to the UK now i aim to get my eye fixed as soon as possible and put the life changing aspects of my trip into action.
So yes I'm a little gutted that its ending, i have so loved being in Australia and the Southern Hemisphere. I cant think about how cold its going to be back in the UK. If i did i wouldn't return full stop. But all jokes aside, its the right decision, I'm happy with that and it means that i have a reason to return to this part of the world again in the hopefully not too distant future.
So i will be back in the UK from Thursday morning, I'm officially homeless in the UK so any couches or spare rooms will be much appreciated!!!!
Tuesday, 13 January 2009
Rock and Reef, December 2008 / January 2009. Love you guys!!!!!
What can i say. Im so pleased i spent 30 days with these guys. Best decision i ever made was to stay on and complete this trip and delay going to New Zealand.The End, and what a way to finish. Magical.
Words fail me in describing the last 36 hours of the trip, but somehow I have to put it down in writing. I write this from Melbourne, so its Tuesday afternoon here. The bit of the trip I need to put into words is from when we reached Uluru until this morning when I left Alice Springs.
After Kings Canyon I was in really good spirits. The sunrise hike had really given our energy levels a boost. Driving from there to Uluru is about 3 hours. I hadn’t really given Uluru much thought on this trip, kind of because it was never high on my list of things to do, in fact I wasn’t going to do it at all when I planned the original trip. So to finally see it, I just wasn’t prepared for the profound effect it had on me. I have been trying to figure out why and I still can’t really say, but I can say that I never expected it to be so stunning, so awe inspiring, so magical, so spiritual, so moving for me. But it was all that and more. Catching our first glimpse of it from the van was pretty cool, even if we fooled by fooluru (a big rock but not the real thing). But getting up close to it about an hour before sunset just blew me away. I was emotional, but not upset. As the sunset on the rock, Luke surprised us all with champagne, cheese and crackers and dips. And we sat there and watched the changing colours on the rock as the sun went down. And then as darkness set, the most glorious full moon rose just to the left of Uluru. Stunning. I had a moment (that lasted for about 20 minutes) when it was just me, the rock and the moon. I managed to zone out the flies, any background noise and even thought there were quite a few people around it was literally just the three of us. And something changed in me there and then. That sounds weird I know, and I can’t explain it properly, but my life changing experience that I was looking for happened in the middle of Australia gazing at Uluru. And I know that from now on, I’m going to live my life by what I decided and thought during those 20 minutes. And I feel so positive and happy about that!! The previous few days had kind of been leading to this, but I didn’t realise it. When I read back what I wrote a few days ago it’s more obvious. I found myself in the last 18 days of this trip and I owe a huge debt of gratitude to each person who shared the last 18 days with me. Each of them will hold a special place in my heart for the rest of my life.
I’m sure that there are people reading this who just don’t get what I’m saying, and so be it. Such is life as Ned Kelly once said (his last words apparently). If you don’t understand it, then maybe you will when I return and you see a difference in me.
Anyway, there is more to tell about Uluru than just that. Sunset was pretty spectacular, but then again so was Sunrise. We watched it with Uluru in front of us and the Olga’s, or Kata Tjuta to give it its proper name to our left. Stunning doesn’t do it justice, and I urge anyone who has the opportunity to see it in their lifetime to do so. After sunrise we went for a hike in Kata Tjuta, covering roughly 7.3km. Amazing scenery, felt so alive doing it. Did the bulk of it in just under 1.5 hours, we had to wait for the rest of the group to catch up, so I guess we completed that in about 1 hour 45 minutes. The terrain was pretty tough in places, but the uphill bits were always worth it.
Following on from here, we went on a hike around the base of Uluru. Amazing to experience it. 9 km in total, 39 degrees Celsius as we did it with no shade. Tough, but challenging. And I’m so pleased to have done it. Francis, Gill and I completed it in about 1 hour 50 minutes. They said to give 3 hours; I wanted to do it in 2, so to shave 10 minutes off it was a highlight for me!!!
All that action packed hiking stuff was so good, but it can’t take away from the magical effect Uluru had on me and until the day I die I will never forget my experience there.
After Uluru, we had to drive back up to Alice Spring for the last night of the trip. Such a long day. We had been up since 4.30am again. Most of us had hiked 16 and a bit Km. But we found energy from somewhere (red bull in my case) to end the tour in style. I repeat that as a group we really did bond so so well and it was so difficult to say goodbye to them all. There were lots of tears (and allot of them mine). I’m so privileged to have shared 18 to 30 days of my life with these guys, and I’ll say it again, they will always be close to my heart!! Luke made a lovely little speech for us and everyone, including him, was moved by the emotions of saying goodbye. Great friendships have been forged and distances are not going to get in the way of that.
Got a bit teary again today as I was leaving Alice Springs. Considering that I had such an aversion to the outback about 2 weeks ago, for it to have such a pull on my heartstrings now is all the more poignant for me personally. Arriving back into Melbourne was cool, don’t get me wrong, but a part of me will always be somewhere in the middle of Australia from now on!!
So, and this bit is addressed to all the guys on the trip, and of course to Luke also. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart for the most amazing set of experiences. For the fun, for the laughs, for the highs and for the lows, we survived them all together. I found me somewhere out here and in doing so I made some fantastic and lasting friendships. And to each of you I wish you nothing but the best for the future. And if I could have one wish, it would be that all tour groups experienced what we did. And that in no small part is due to the hard work and effort that Luke put into ensuring that we all got the maximum out of it. Personally I will be forever grateful to him for everything and I really do value his kind words at the end of the journey. Your one of life’s good guys dude!! And it was a pleasure to spend 30 days being shown around your country. Thank you!! I can’t say more than that!!
And now begins the next stage for me. I have a week to chill out in Melbourne, but I think it’s going to be pretty busy for me. I have lots to do and people to see. And then it’s back to Sydney for one night, and then New Zealand. NZ, now, doesn’t have anything to prove to me if that makes sense. I’m not looking for something anymore, I found that here. So I can take from NZ whatever it has to offer me, without being preoccupied with stuff. Bring it on!!!!
After Kings Canyon I was in really good spirits. The sunrise hike had really given our energy levels a boost. Driving from there to Uluru is about 3 hours. I hadn’t really given Uluru much thought on this trip, kind of because it was never high on my list of things to do, in fact I wasn’t going to do it at all when I planned the original trip. So to finally see it, I just wasn’t prepared for the profound effect it had on me. I have been trying to figure out why and I still can’t really say, but I can say that I never expected it to be so stunning, so awe inspiring, so magical, so spiritual, so moving for me. But it was all that and more. Catching our first glimpse of it from the van was pretty cool, even if we fooled by fooluru (a big rock but not the real thing). But getting up close to it about an hour before sunset just blew me away. I was emotional, but not upset. As the sunset on the rock, Luke surprised us all with champagne, cheese and crackers and dips. And we sat there and watched the changing colours on the rock as the sun went down. And then as darkness set, the most glorious full moon rose just to the left of Uluru. Stunning. I had a moment (that lasted for about 20 minutes) when it was just me, the rock and the moon. I managed to zone out the flies, any background noise and even thought there were quite a few people around it was literally just the three of us. And something changed in me there and then. That sounds weird I know, and I can’t explain it properly, but my life changing experience that I was looking for happened in the middle of Australia gazing at Uluru. And I know that from now on, I’m going to live my life by what I decided and thought during those 20 minutes. And I feel so positive and happy about that!! The previous few days had kind of been leading to this, but I didn’t realise it. When I read back what I wrote a few days ago it’s more obvious. I found myself in the last 18 days of this trip and I owe a huge debt of gratitude to each person who shared the last 18 days with me. Each of them will hold a special place in my heart for the rest of my life.
I’m sure that there are people reading this who just don’t get what I’m saying, and so be it. Such is life as Ned Kelly once said (his last words apparently). If you don’t understand it, then maybe you will when I return and you see a difference in me.
Anyway, there is more to tell about Uluru than just that. Sunset was pretty spectacular, but then again so was Sunrise. We watched it with Uluru in front of us and the Olga’s, or Kata Tjuta to give it its proper name to our left. Stunning doesn’t do it justice, and I urge anyone who has the opportunity to see it in their lifetime to do so. After sunrise we went for a hike in Kata Tjuta, covering roughly 7.3km. Amazing scenery, felt so alive doing it. Did the bulk of it in just under 1.5 hours, we had to wait for the rest of the group to catch up, so I guess we completed that in about 1 hour 45 minutes. The terrain was pretty tough in places, but the uphill bits were always worth it.
Following on from here, we went on a hike around the base of Uluru. Amazing to experience it. 9 km in total, 39 degrees Celsius as we did it with no shade. Tough, but challenging. And I’m so pleased to have done it. Francis, Gill and I completed it in about 1 hour 50 minutes. They said to give 3 hours; I wanted to do it in 2, so to shave 10 minutes off it was a highlight for me!!!
All that action packed hiking stuff was so good, but it can’t take away from the magical effect Uluru had on me and until the day I die I will never forget my experience there.
After Uluru, we had to drive back up to Alice Spring for the last night of the trip. Such a long day. We had been up since 4.30am again. Most of us had hiked 16 and a bit Km. But we found energy from somewhere (red bull in my case) to end the tour in style. I repeat that as a group we really did bond so so well and it was so difficult to say goodbye to them all. There were lots of tears (and allot of them mine). I’m so privileged to have shared 18 to 30 days of my life with these guys, and I’ll say it again, they will always be close to my heart!! Luke made a lovely little speech for us and everyone, including him, was moved by the emotions of saying goodbye. Great friendships have been forged and distances are not going to get in the way of that.
Got a bit teary again today as I was leaving Alice Springs. Considering that I had such an aversion to the outback about 2 weeks ago, for it to have such a pull on my heartstrings now is all the more poignant for me personally. Arriving back into Melbourne was cool, don’t get me wrong, but a part of me will always be somewhere in the middle of Australia from now on!!
So, and this bit is addressed to all the guys on the trip, and of course to Luke also. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart for the most amazing set of experiences. For the fun, for the laughs, for the highs and for the lows, we survived them all together. I found me somewhere out here and in doing so I made some fantastic and lasting friendships. And to each of you I wish you nothing but the best for the future. And if I could have one wish, it would be that all tour groups experienced what we did. And that in no small part is due to the hard work and effort that Luke put into ensuring that we all got the maximum out of it. Personally I will be forever grateful to him for everything and I really do value his kind words at the end of the journey. Your one of life’s good guys dude!! And it was a pleasure to spend 30 days being shown around your country. Thank you!! I can’t say more than that!!
And now begins the next stage for me. I have a week to chill out in Melbourne, but I think it’s going to be pretty busy for me. I have lots to do and people to see. And then it’s back to Sydney for one night, and then New Zealand. NZ, now, doesn’t have anything to prove to me if that makes sense. I’m not looking for something anymore, I found that here. So I can take from NZ whatever it has to offer me, without being preoccupied with stuff. Bring it on!!!!
Time is slipping by, i really dont want this trip to end, but i know it has to.
Wow. What an awesome 24 hours since I wrote the last update
I went quad biking in the Australian Outback at Kings Creek Station. It was so so so excellent. The outback from that angle was truly amazing and the scenery was breathtaking in places. We were out for an hour and covered about 20kms.
From there we headed to Kings Canyon. It’s between Alice Springs and Uluru. Amazing scenery. We did a hike along the canyon floor to watch the sun setting on the canyon walls. Beautiful. And then this morning we were up at 4.30am for a sunrise hike along the rim of the canyon. Breathtaking. I feel so alive after it. We hiked nearly 6kms. Francis and I did it in just over 2 hours. The rest took a more leisurely pace, but we kind of wanted to keep moving and work our way through it. We even took a 20 minute off track diversion to see a rock pool called the Garden of Eden. When we figured out that we were going in the wrong direction, we headed back!! The views as the sun rose were beautiful. Gave America’s canyons a run for their money!!!
Didn’t get much sleep last night as we had no aircon in the room. I was going to sleep outside under the stars but figured as we were up so early there wasn’t much point. Well I wish I had now. I might not have woken up with 40, yes that’s correct – 40, mosquito bites on my feet and legs. So not impressed am I!!! I managed to avoid them for the most part of the last 3 weeks, and then they all hit me at once. It’s like Braille on my legs. IT probably reads “I’m going to make you suffer you pasty skinned Irish Fool!!!!” so I’m desperately trying not to scratch them now, which isn’t easy given that there are so many of them, and so close together!!!!
We are heading for Uluru now, the last 36 hours of the trip before we drive back to Alice Springs tomorrow night. Whilst there we are doing a sunset, a sunrise and a hike around the base of it!!! Action packed!! We will go out for a last meal and night out on Monday night, and then I fly to Melbourne on Tuesday morning. There for a week, once night in Sydney and then fly to NZ on the 21st Jan. And then begins the last leg of my journey!!!!
I went quad biking in the Australian Outback at Kings Creek Station. It was so so so excellent. The outback from that angle was truly amazing and the scenery was breathtaking in places. We were out for an hour and covered about 20kms.
From there we headed to Kings Canyon. It’s between Alice Springs and Uluru. Amazing scenery. We did a hike along the canyon floor to watch the sun setting on the canyon walls. Beautiful. And then this morning we were up at 4.30am for a sunrise hike along the rim of the canyon. Breathtaking. I feel so alive after it. We hiked nearly 6kms. Francis and I did it in just over 2 hours. The rest took a more leisurely pace, but we kind of wanted to keep moving and work our way through it. We even took a 20 minute off track diversion to see a rock pool called the Garden of Eden. When we figured out that we were going in the wrong direction, we headed back!! The views as the sun rose were beautiful. Gave America’s canyons a run for their money!!!
Didn’t get much sleep last night as we had no aircon in the room. I was going to sleep outside under the stars but figured as we were up so early there wasn’t much point. Well I wish I had now. I might not have woken up with 40, yes that’s correct – 40, mosquito bites on my feet and legs. So not impressed am I!!! I managed to avoid them for the most part of the last 3 weeks, and then they all hit me at once. It’s like Braille on my legs. IT probably reads “I’m going to make you suffer you pasty skinned Irish Fool!!!!” so I’m desperately trying not to scratch them now, which isn’t easy given that there are so many of them, and so close together!!!!
We are heading for Uluru now, the last 36 hours of the trip before we drive back to Alice Springs tomorrow night. Whilst there we are doing a sunset, a sunrise and a hike around the base of it!!! Action packed!! We will go out for a last meal and night out on Monday night, and then I fly to Melbourne on Tuesday morning. There for a week, once night in Sydney and then fly to NZ on the 21st Jan. And then begins the last leg of my journey!!!!
The Final Countdown
As the trip comes towards the end, I guess it’s time to look back over the past month and identify the highs and lows. It really has been an excellent trip. A good bunch of people, a great tour leader who has a genuine interest in what he is showing us, and great places to see and visit. It seems like so long ago that we started out in Sydney on that Sunday morning (28 days ago to be precise). Pretty much from day one the group gelled well and half way up the road to Coffs harbour we were all chatting along like we had known each other for weeks.
The difference between the 2 parts of the trip are vast. The First part, along the east coast was certainly beautiful and action packed. Lots of activities, lots of beautiful beaches and scenery. Scenery that we are used to I guess in the northern hemisphere, though obviously the weather is better down here. Highlights of that part of the tour for me were Byron Bay – I want to live there, and the Whitsunday Islands, stunningly beautiful. Activity wise, the sky dive was obviously huge, as was the hangliding. Some of the smaller stuff was equally good though. I really enjoyed just going for a swim, or for a rainforest walk and stuff like that. The second part of the tour was certainly a challenge in terms of the distances and the territory covered. But despite not feeling the outback at first, I can now hand on heart say it’s been one of the best experiences of my life. I have challenged myself to do stuff and put myself in situations that I would never have normally done before. I have tested my resolve and proved to myself that I’m strong. I wouldn’t have changed it for anything. . Highlights for me from the second part are the devils marbles, New Years Eve in Darwin, Kakadu and Litchfield National Parks. And as I type this we still have 2 days left, king’s canyon and Uluru so no doubt there will be more highlights from those. Some of the drive days were long, but none to the point of complete desperation. We always managed to amuse ourselves on the bus. Abba day. Elton John day, rocking in the bus. Funky glasses, Blow Up Microphone, good times. The song of this trip for me, and I guess most of us, will always be the Kings of Leon, Sex on Fire. It’s our anthem. It was the first song of the New Year for us in Darwin also. Speaking of music, I must mention the saving grace that is my iPod. If ever I’m feeling down or just need to recharge my brain, some artists have really brought me back around. Alexandra Burke, your Hallelujah has been played so many times, and each time the hair stands up on the back of my neck. Leona, never fails to deliver for me either. Beyonce, Dolly, Goo Goo Dolls, Jack Johnson, Leon Jackson, Michael Buble, Stereophonics, Snow Patrol – have all played around in my head from time to time and always bring me back!!! I guess when I return I will always have music that will bring me right back here!!!
I will certainly miss the group when we go our separate ways on Tuesday. 3 of us are headed for Melbourne, 3 for Adelaide, 2 for Sydney (and onto London, then Edinburgh), one to Perth and two stay on in Alice Springs for a few more days. Luke has to drive the van back to Sydney, will take about 3 more days apparently. The 3 of us heading for Melbourne will probably meet up there, and Francis will be on my New Zealand trip with me so that’s good. Ironically, Francis and I didn’t always see eye to eye at the beginning, but I have warmed to the guy allot since the group got a bit smaller. He is one funny laid back dude. So laid back he could be described as comatose sometimes, hence why I used to get annoyed with him at the beginning, but it’s all good now.
The rest of the group, who I haven’t really described in any great detail are as follows.
Antoinette, from the Netherlands. Our resident drunk on one glass of wine Dutch Bird!!! Your a star, if a little loud at times, but we love you for it!!!!
Kathrin and George, our honeymooners from Germany. I would marry Kathrin for her cooking, the girl makes a mean curry. George, the quite gent with a wicked sense of humour. Our resident David Bailey with more photography kit than luggage!!!
Gill and Lynsey, my Scottish bitches. We hit it off more or less from day one. Laughing, giggling, character assassination, song ruining – we did it all this trip. Good times. I shouldn’t group them together really so I shall give each a description of her own.
Gill, The IT bird (of the information technology and not the Tara Palmer Tomlinson IT kind). Fun loving and always up for a laugh. We had some good old chats along the way, allot of drinks and allot of fun throughout. Nearly had Gill getting a tattoo as well as me, but it didn’t happen in the end. Her Sky dive is her highlight of the trip and it shows in the pictures of that day. She was blown away by it all.
Lynsey – I was probably closest to Lynsey out of everyone. We had a right laugh. When I was up she might be down and when I was down she might be up. But when we were both down, god help anyone who got in our way. Tennant Creek will always has special memories for me and our conversations about the outback and how much we weren’t feeling it. We would have left that day if it wasn’t for being in the middle of bloody nowhere. But we didn’t and on reflection, I think we both got allot more out of the end of the trip than either of us expected. Mosquito’s love this girl, and I have vivid memories of her sunburn from the rafting, that was so sore!! Love ya to bits doll, you’re a star!!! x
Rosalba. Poor little cold Italian Rosalba in 40 degree Australia. My little vogue bitch as she looks like a bloody model in every photo of her. Bitch!!!! And the thing with her and Joe, so sweet!!!
Els, from Belgium, joined us in Cairns. Loves her music and her tattoos. Probably haven’t gotten to know you that well as yet, but we still have a couple of days left. And we will always have our nights in the bush caravans when rosalba left us because of the 2 runaway geckos.
Rita, again joined us in Cairns. Mad little Rita, loves to dance. Will have lot of stories to tell her students when she returns to Canada.
Christian, also from Germany. Big tall Christian. I took over the food kitty from him on the second part of the trip. Likes his dancing and never got a chance to show us his moves on the dancefloor – yet. We still have the last night to go!!!!
And Francis, as mentioned above is from Switzerland.
Big shout out to those mentioned previously who left us in Cairns – Emma, Neil, Joe, Judge Jay and Janet. I should have been one of them, but decided to stay on as everyone now knows.
And of course that leaves me with Luke. Our infamous tour leader. For me (and I guess for others too) he has made this trip what it has been. He has taken us to the most amazing places, and not just because the itinerary says so. He has lead us as a leader but has also taken a genuine interest in each and every one of us throughout the trip. He has kept us all in line with our jobs and responsibilities, and kept us informed with his nightly after dinner speeches about the upcoming day or days. With all the long driving days, he has never shown us that he is tired or in any way fed up, and speaking as someone who has to sometimes keep smiling when all you want to do is scream, I know that can be hard to do sometimes. Cheers man for showing us Australia and giving us all every opportunity to experience our holiday as we would want to do it. You have made a lasting impression on me dude!!! Maybe catch you for a pint in Sydney before I head to NZ.
And then me. So what have I learnt about myself on this trip. I leaned to like me more I guess. I lost BiIly somewhere along the way over the last few years. It kind of felt like I was almost on autopilot. But now I feel revitalised and ready to take on the world again. I want to live my life and not look back with regrets in the future. The Billy that returns from this trip will be different that’s for sure. I want to be a more positive person going forward. The glass is always going to half full from now on!! And I want to have more people in my life. Not just people who I call friends but who I never really let in, but friends that I actually communicate with and tell them what’s happening etc. To those friends who I already do this with, don’t worry, it doesn’t mean you’re getting more!!! (If that makes sense)
Another thing I have learnt is that I can be very camp sometimes, and that there is nothing wrong with it. I guess I have been gay for what seems like an eternity, but in a sense I have never really pushed the boundaries of it, if that makes sense. I found on this trip I kind of used it not so much for attention, but as humour. I think most of the group got it so it’s all good. I guess I hold it back allot with work and that’s the way it has to be, but I need to let loose a little more when I’m not working when I go back. In doing so I will make more friends and meet new people. I know I need to find more of a work life balance and make the effort to get out there and meet new people. I like the Billy I am here, and that’s going to continue!!! When I figure out where I’m going to be when I return I can put it into action. 2009 is going to be the year I get things done. By the end of 2009 I intend to have my eye fixed, have learnt how to drive and aim to be in a proper relationship by next New Years Eve. And if I don’t have at least attempted those, then I invite you all to slap me!!!!
The difference between the 2 parts of the trip are vast. The First part, along the east coast was certainly beautiful and action packed. Lots of activities, lots of beautiful beaches and scenery. Scenery that we are used to I guess in the northern hemisphere, though obviously the weather is better down here. Highlights of that part of the tour for me were Byron Bay – I want to live there, and the Whitsunday Islands, stunningly beautiful. Activity wise, the sky dive was obviously huge, as was the hangliding. Some of the smaller stuff was equally good though. I really enjoyed just going for a swim, or for a rainforest walk and stuff like that. The second part of the tour was certainly a challenge in terms of the distances and the territory covered. But despite not feeling the outback at first, I can now hand on heart say it’s been one of the best experiences of my life. I have challenged myself to do stuff and put myself in situations that I would never have normally done before. I have tested my resolve and proved to myself that I’m strong. I wouldn’t have changed it for anything. . Highlights for me from the second part are the devils marbles, New Years Eve in Darwin, Kakadu and Litchfield National Parks. And as I type this we still have 2 days left, king’s canyon and Uluru so no doubt there will be more highlights from those. Some of the drive days were long, but none to the point of complete desperation. We always managed to amuse ourselves on the bus. Abba day. Elton John day, rocking in the bus. Funky glasses, Blow Up Microphone, good times. The song of this trip for me, and I guess most of us, will always be the Kings of Leon, Sex on Fire. It’s our anthem. It was the first song of the New Year for us in Darwin also. Speaking of music, I must mention the saving grace that is my iPod. If ever I’m feeling down or just need to recharge my brain, some artists have really brought me back around. Alexandra Burke, your Hallelujah has been played so many times, and each time the hair stands up on the back of my neck. Leona, never fails to deliver for me either. Beyonce, Dolly, Goo Goo Dolls, Jack Johnson, Leon Jackson, Michael Buble, Stereophonics, Snow Patrol – have all played around in my head from time to time and always bring me back!!! I guess when I return I will always have music that will bring me right back here!!!
I will certainly miss the group when we go our separate ways on Tuesday. 3 of us are headed for Melbourne, 3 for Adelaide, 2 for Sydney (and onto London, then Edinburgh), one to Perth and two stay on in Alice Springs for a few more days. Luke has to drive the van back to Sydney, will take about 3 more days apparently. The 3 of us heading for Melbourne will probably meet up there, and Francis will be on my New Zealand trip with me so that’s good. Ironically, Francis and I didn’t always see eye to eye at the beginning, but I have warmed to the guy allot since the group got a bit smaller. He is one funny laid back dude. So laid back he could be described as comatose sometimes, hence why I used to get annoyed with him at the beginning, but it’s all good now.
The rest of the group, who I haven’t really described in any great detail are as follows.
Antoinette, from the Netherlands. Our resident drunk on one glass of wine Dutch Bird!!! Your a star, if a little loud at times, but we love you for it!!!!
Kathrin and George, our honeymooners from Germany. I would marry Kathrin for her cooking, the girl makes a mean curry. George, the quite gent with a wicked sense of humour. Our resident David Bailey with more photography kit than luggage!!!
Gill and Lynsey, my Scottish bitches. We hit it off more or less from day one. Laughing, giggling, character assassination, song ruining – we did it all this trip. Good times. I shouldn’t group them together really so I shall give each a description of her own.
Gill, The IT bird (of the information technology and not the Tara Palmer Tomlinson IT kind). Fun loving and always up for a laugh. We had some good old chats along the way, allot of drinks and allot of fun throughout. Nearly had Gill getting a tattoo as well as me, but it didn’t happen in the end. Her Sky dive is her highlight of the trip and it shows in the pictures of that day. She was blown away by it all.
Lynsey – I was probably closest to Lynsey out of everyone. We had a right laugh. When I was up she might be down and when I was down she might be up. But when we were both down, god help anyone who got in our way. Tennant Creek will always has special memories for me and our conversations about the outback and how much we weren’t feeling it. We would have left that day if it wasn’t for being in the middle of bloody nowhere. But we didn’t and on reflection, I think we both got allot more out of the end of the trip than either of us expected. Mosquito’s love this girl, and I have vivid memories of her sunburn from the rafting, that was so sore!! Love ya to bits doll, you’re a star!!! x
Rosalba. Poor little cold Italian Rosalba in 40 degree Australia. My little vogue bitch as she looks like a bloody model in every photo of her. Bitch!!!! And the thing with her and Joe, so sweet!!!
Els, from Belgium, joined us in Cairns. Loves her music and her tattoos. Probably haven’t gotten to know you that well as yet, but we still have a couple of days left. And we will always have our nights in the bush caravans when rosalba left us because of the 2 runaway geckos.
Rita, again joined us in Cairns. Mad little Rita, loves to dance. Will have lot of stories to tell her students when she returns to Canada.
Christian, also from Germany. Big tall Christian. I took over the food kitty from him on the second part of the trip. Likes his dancing and never got a chance to show us his moves on the dancefloor – yet. We still have the last night to go!!!!
And Francis, as mentioned above is from Switzerland.
Big shout out to those mentioned previously who left us in Cairns – Emma, Neil, Joe, Judge Jay and Janet. I should have been one of them, but decided to stay on as everyone now knows.
And of course that leaves me with Luke. Our infamous tour leader. For me (and I guess for others too) he has made this trip what it has been. He has taken us to the most amazing places, and not just because the itinerary says so. He has lead us as a leader but has also taken a genuine interest in each and every one of us throughout the trip. He has kept us all in line with our jobs and responsibilities, and kept us informed with his nightly after dinner speeches about the upcoming day or days. With all the long driving days, he has never shown us that he is tired or in any way fed up, and speaking as someone who has to sometimes keep smiling when all you want to do is scream, I know that can be hard to do sometimes. Cheers man for showing us Australia and giving us all every opportunity to experience our holiday as we would want to do it. You have made a lasting impression on me dude!!! Maybe catch you for a pint in Sydney before I head to NZ.
And then me. So what have I learnt about myself on this trip. I leaned to like me more I guess. I lost BiIly somewhere along the way over the last few years. It kind of felt like I was almost on autopilot. But now I feel revitalised and ready to take on the world again. I want to live my life and not look back with regrets in the future. The Billy that returns from this trip will be different that’s for sure. I want to be a more positive person going forward. The glass is always going to half full from now on!! And I want to have more people in my life. Not just people who I call friends but who I never really let in, but friends that I actually communicate with and tell them what’s happening etc. To those friends who I already do this with, don’t worry, it doesn’t mean you’re getting more!!! (If that makes sense)
Another thing I have learnt is that I can be very camp sometimes, and that there is nothing wrong with it. I guess I have been gay for what seems like an eternity, but in a sense I have never really pushed the boundaries of it, if that makes sense. I found on this trip I kind of used it not so much for attention, but as humour. I think most of the group got it so it’s all good. I guess I hold it back allot with work and that’s the way it has to be, but I need to let loose a little more when I’m not working when I go back. In doing so I will make more friends and meet new people. I know I need to find more of a work life balance and make the effort to get out there and meet new people. I like the Billy I am here, and that’s going to continue!!! When I figure out where I’m going to be when I return I can put it into action. 2009 is going to be the year I get things done. By the end of 2009 I intend to have my eye fixed, have learnt how to drive and aim to be in a proper relationship by next New Years Eve. And if I don’t have at least attempted those, then I invite you all to slap me!!!!
Thursday, 8 January 2009
Darwin to Alice Springs
Alot has happened in the last week. Moved on from Darwin after the hangovers recovered. Went to Kakadu National Park, which was beautiful. Stayed in bush tent type things which had a tarpaulin type roof and tin walls with little holes in!! All quite funky. We did a cruise along the yellow water Billabong, and also a jumping croc cruise where they fed the crocodiles. The scenery and the wildlife are amazing up here. It really is tropical weather though. High humidity and lots of bursts of rain. The Monsoon season is coming!!
From there we headed south again, down to Katherine again for one night and then on to Wauchope, a one house / pub / hotel town in the middle of nowhere. We watched the sun set on the devils marbles from there and it was well cool. The hotel was actually well cool. We practised synchronised swimming in the pool. Good times!!!!
From Wauchope we headed for Alice Springs. The Centre of Australia. Beneath the tropic of Capricorn again, its less humid and quite pleasant heat. We spend a few days here and then we head to explore Uluru and Kings Canyon. The tour ends next Monday and i don't want it to!!! its been such fun, a great bunch of people. a Great Tour leader and fun times!!!! New Zealand has a lot to live up to!!!!
From there we headed south again, down to Katherine again for one night and then on to Wauchope, a one house / pub / hotel town in the middle of nowhere. We watched the sun set on the devils marbles from there and it was well cool. The hotel was actually well cool. We practised synchronised swimming in the pool. Good times!!!!
From Wauchope we headed for Alice Springs. The Centre of Australia. Beneath the tropic of Capricorn again, its less humid and quite pleasant heat. We spend a few days here and then we head to explore Uluru and Kings Canyon. The tour ends next Monday and i don't want it to!!! its been such fun, a great bunch of people. a Great Tour leader and fun times!!!! New Zealand has a lot to live up to!!!!
Thursday, 1 January 2009
Litchfield National Park & New Years Eve In Darwin
Spent yesterday (well most of it) in Litchfield National Park. Wow, what a cool place. After days of Outback it was so refreshing to see lush green scenery, waterfalls, rivers. I loved it. We swam in rock pools, swam in waterfalls, generally had a blast. Just what we needed after 4 long driving days in the van!!
On to Darwin late in the evening. I had the best New Years Eve night out ever. I have never sweated so much, danced so much, and quiet possible never drank so much. It was such a fun night out. We watched the fireworks at 9pm (for the kids - its what they do over here) and then had a quick bit to eat before hitting the pub. There was live music, DJ, lots of alcohol and such a good atmosphere. I loved it. So definitely made the right decison to stay in Australia for New Year and Not New Zealand with a bunch of strangers i would only have met 2 days ago.
Didnt get to bed untill 4am. Slept until 2pm (well off and on slept) and am generally dying right now!!!!
Happy New Year to one and All!!! x
On to Darwin late in the evening. I had the best New Years Eve night out ever. I have never sweated so much, danced so much, and quiet possible never drank so much. It was such a fun night out. We watched the fireworks at 9pm (for the kids - its what they do over here) and then had a quick bit to eat before hitting the pub. There was live music, DJ, lots of alcohol and such a good atmosphere. I loved it. So definitely made the right decison to stay in Australia for New Year and Not New Zealand with a bunch of strangers i would only have met 2 days ago.
Didnt get to bed untill 4am. Slept until 2pm (well off and on slept) and am generally dying right now!!!!
Happy New Year to one and All!!! x
Alot in one blog!!!! Been in the outback you know!!!!
On the road again, having left Cairns. Had a really lovely Christmas in the end. As mentioned before, out on the Great Barrier Reef. We sailed out on the Passions of Paradise boat, to the outer reef. Paradise Reef to be precise. Went Scuba Diving etc as per last blog. My quote for the day came from Luke as we sailed out to the Reef - “Who needs that Snow Shit eh!!” . Went out last night in Cairns for our last group dinner before some of the guys left us. That would have been me but I changed my plans to stay on. And being here today feels so very right for me so I’m glad I made the decision to stay, however long it took me to make it.
Was sad to say goodbye to the 5 guys that left us. Jay, Joe, Emma, Neil and Janet – all of them really made an impact on the group and will be sincerely missed. As a full group we really did click well and get on and were able to live and travel together really well I found. Judge Jay – your a star and thank you for the laughs and the fun along the way. Joe, your one of the nicest most genuine guys I have met in a long time and I wish you well in the Navy. Emma and Neil (grouped together as your a couple) you guys are great. Such fun. Emma – you still look too good in a stinger suit for me to like you and Neil – I’m going to take up having a corona at 8am just to keep your memory alive on the bus!!! That and your stinky farts!!!!! Janet – Accident prone Janet. Take care hun. Hope you enjoy the last few days of your trip and have a lovely New Year back home.
Two new Girls have joined the trip. Els from Belgium and Rita from Canada. Both are settling in well and no doubt will have their own stories to keep us entertained in the coming weeks. So remaining on the bus now are Georg and Katrin, the honeymooners. Christian, Gill and Lynsey, Antoinette, Francis, Rosalba, Els, Rita and Myself. And of course Luke to keep us all in check!!! My duties have changed with the change in group. I’m now in charge of the food kitty and ensuring that we have enough food for breakfast lunch and dinner etc. I didn’t mind doing some of the cooking, but I think I prefer this role to be honest. You know us Taureans, a need to be needed. Or maybe it was my Chicken ala king on Christmas Eve that said I should be a planner and not a cooker!!!! (Joke – I think)
I have been doing a lot of thinking lately, indeed I guess for the whole trip including America as well. This career break for me was always about getting some time to clear my head and I guess get to grips with what I’m going to do with my life going forward. I have always been career driven from an early age, and achieved allot early on, so I felt I needed the time now to gather myself before the next phase. Some of that has to do with in some way coming to terms with my mums death a bit more, as I threw myself into my work when it happened and never really stepped back for long enough to allow myself to process it properly. And also to find the real Billy in all of this. Not Billy the General Manager or Billy who works in a Hotel, But me. What do I do? What do I contribute to a group? What can I learn from others around me? I also wanted to meet new people who weren’t in some way connected to Jury’s. That’s not a criticism of Jury’s, more a reflection of me for not pushing myself to make friends outside of some form of work related circle. By going on these trips and having to contribute as you do, it really has enlightened me a bit more about myself I guess. I need to translate that into my life when I return.
Speaking of returning, as I said my plans have all changed. Staying on this trip all the way to Alice Springs. That takes me to the 12th January. I then have around 8 or 9 days free before I need to be in Auckland for a 35 day trip of the North and South Islands, ending up back up in Auckland. From there I will arrange a flight home. Still planning on popping over to see Michelle for a few days or a week and looking to return to work sometime in March or April I guess, dependant on what’s available I guess. I really do appreciate that Jury’s did give me this Career Break and I firmly believe it will have a majorly positive effect on my life and career going forward.
Apologies to all friends who I haven’t spoken to in so long. With the travel and the time differences and the time delay on my phone also, it’s difficult. But just remember that even though I’m off gallivanting around the world, all of you still have a place firmly in my heart as I move from place to place. I should email more and send more face book messages also, but hopefully I have a better system now. I will type my Blog on word on the bus, upload it when I get an internet connection and that should free me some time to send and reply to emails and messages.
From Cairns we headed for a place called Charters Towers, near Townsville. Not so much a long driving day, as we left after lunch, but because it was Boxing Day there wasn’t much to do when we arrived. We stayed in a little pub hotel which was a nice change form hostels and stuff. Decor was dated but it was like the four seasons to me not to be in a bunk bed for a night!!!
From Charters Towers we headed for Mount Isa. This is one of the longest driving days on the trip, nearly 800 km. Long day. We left at 5.30am (by mutual consent it should be said) and stopped a couple of times along the way. We went swimming in an outback pond, had lunch along the way and got to Mount Isa just before 5pm. Mount Isa is the world’s largest city by area according to Luke. I’m a bit sceptical about that, having been there. But Google will tell me whenever I get an internet connection again!!! We stayed at a Caravan Park – every time we stay at one I can’t help but think of home and away!! “Summer Bay Caravan Park – Flaming Golaths!!! “
From Mount Isa, we are heading for Tenant Creek. Another long driving day, leaving at 6.30am. Weather is almost unbearably hot. It was 41 degrees yesterday!! While you’re in the van your fine, but when you stop for lunch or toilet breaks its unbearable!! And the Flies. They are everywhere. I don’t mind them so much until it’s time to eat, then I lose the plot. I may have to invest in an o so attractive head net too keep them away from me!!!
I may be tempting fate by saying this, but the mosquitoes have learnt to stay away from me, I haven’t been bitten in over a week. I do cover myself in repellent every night, so that probably helps, but I had repellent on when I was bitten before, so I don’t trust it no matter what they say!!!
I need to weight myself soon, I feel like I have lost loads of weight!! Clothes are loose on me, my belly is less big than it was before!! I feel lighter, so I want to know how much lighter I am!! To be fair, I have probably sweated half a stone off in the last few days alone!!
Seeing lots of different sights as we head into the outback. I say head into it, we are in it but it does change every 100 miles or so. It’s certainly barren in places. No person to be seen for miles. No houses. No cars on the road for 100’s of miles. Only Road Trains, 3, 4, 5, 6 trailer trucks bombing along the roads. Anything that gets in their way is a definite goner.!!
Today is day 15 of the 30 day trip. We are aiming for Darwin which is at the top in the middle (sort of) after new year we then head straight back down the middle to Alice Springs and Ayres Rock!! Still need to figure out what I’m going to do for my 10 or so free days between the end of this trip and heading to New Zealand. Still need to sort flights home, but the outback isn’t the place to get that sorted!!! Will book them when we get to Darwin.
I’m still typing this on the bus as we drive along, so if it’s a bit rambly or jumps from one topic to another,it’s because my brain is just taking me from place to place.
Just drove past a dead kangaroo !!!
And the world’s biggest grasshoppers (well the biggest I have ever seen) keep getting stuck in the bug guard at the front of the van. They are literally bigger than my fist!!! Horrible things!! The bugs here are hard to cope with, but I am getting used to them.
Pulled a muscle in my back yesterday, so sitting on the bus is a bit painful today!!! Robbed a pillow from one of the hotels a few days ago, so that makes the long days more comfortable somewhat, but today I just can’t move without wincing in pain!!!
We arrived in Tenant Creek. Not much happening there to be honest. Accommodation is a bit poor but we make the best of it. It’s all part of the experience. The town itself is a one street kind of place, nothing too exciting. Dinner tonight will be chicken fajitas – for anyone at all interested in my diet whilst travelling.
Speaking of my diet whilst travelling, have the worst stomach cramps known to man over the last few day. Haven’t had much of an appetite when food is being served. Was physically ill in Tenant Creek. Its probably as a result of the long driving days. I'm sure it will pass soon.
From Tennant Creek we drove north towards Darwin. We headed for a town called Katherine, famous for Katherine Gorge. Its really beautiful, however the flies were unbearable. And it rained. As we head north we are heading into the northern territories rainy season. Most of the time its a nice relief from the heat but today it was just something else to make me question the outback that little bit more!! I seriously don’t know how people live out here. The isolation, the heat, the flies, everything i cant handle. I'm sure as we head back down toward Ayers rock again it will change, so I'm not giving up on it yet. But I'm just not feeling it!!
I held a baby kangaroo yesterday. Charlie. His mother died, so he was being raised by people who ran a pub near where we stopped to see some thermal pools. Oh my god he was so so so so so so so so so so adorable!!! And so Tame. I want one!!!
We also stopped for lunch yesterday at a pub called Daly Waters. Its historic apparently. Has loads of memorabilia on the walls etc. Left my card on the wall near the bar, and we left a group picture on the wall also. OzXposure was ere!!!!
Heading for Linchfield National Park now. Nearly there actually. Apparently we are staying in a house, a proper house, on a caravan park. I have high hopes of it being like Home and Away!!! Will keep you posted on that one!!!
Darwin tomorrow for 3 whole nights, heaven not having to repack every day!!! And we get to get horrendously drunk on new years eve and sleep it off for 2 days!!! Bring it on!!!
Was sad to say goodbye to the 5 guys that left us. Jay, Joe, Emma, Neil and Janet – all of them really made an impact on the group and will be sincerely missed. As a full group we really did click well and get on and were able to live and travel together really well I found. Judge Jay – your a star and thank you for the laughs and the fun along the way. Joe, your one of the nicest most genuine guys I have met in a long time and I wish you well in the Navy. Emma and Neil (grouped together as your a couple) you guys are great. Such fun. Emma – you still look too good in a stinger suit for me to like you and Neil – I’m going to take up having a corona at 8am just to keep your memory alive on the bus!!! That and your stinky farts!!!!! Janet – Accident prone Janet. Take care hun. Hope you enjoy the last few days of your trip and have a lovely New Year back home.
Two new Girls have joined the trip. Els from Belgium and Rita from Canada. Both are settling in well and no doubt will have their own stories to keep us entertained in the coming weeks. So remaining on the bus now are Georg and Katrin, the honeymooners. Christian, Gill and Lynsey, Antoinette, Francis, Rosalba, Els, Rita and Myself. And of course Luke to keep us all in check!!! My duties have changed with the change in group. I’m now in charge of the food kitty and ensuring that we have enough food for breakfast lunch and dinner etc. I didn’t mind doing some of the cooking, but I think I prefer this role to be honest. You know us Taureans, a need to be needed. Or maybe it was my Chicken ala king on Christmas Eve that said I should be a planner and not a cooker!!!! (Joke – I think)
I have been doing a lot of thinking lately, indeed I guess for the whole trip including America as well. This career break for me was always about getting some time to clear my head and I guess get to grips with what I’m going to do with my life going forward. I have always been career driven from an early age, and achieved allot early on, so I felt I needed the time now to gather myself before the next phase. Some of that has to do with in some way coming to terms with my mums death a bit more, as I threw myself into my work when it happened and never really stepped back for long enough to allow myself to process it properly. And also to find the real Billy in all of this. Not Billy the General Manager or Billy who works in a Hotel, But me. What do I do? What do I contribute to a group? What can I learn from others around me? I also wanted to meet new people who weren’t in some way connected to Jury’s. That’s not a criticism of Jury’s, more a reflection of me for not pushing myself to make friends outside of some form of work related circle. By going on these trips and having to contribute as you do, it really has enlightened me a bit more about myself I guess. I need to translate that into my life when I return.
Speaking of returning, as I said my plans have all changed. Staying on this trip all the way to Alice Springs. That takes me to the 12th January. I then have around 8 or 9 days free before I need to be in Auckland for a 35 day trip of the North and South Islands, ending up back up in Auckland. From there I will arrange a flight home. Still planning on popping over to see Michelle for a few days or a week and looking to return to work sometime in March or April I guess, dependant on what’s available I guess. I really do appreciate that Jury’s did give me this Career Break and I firmly believe it will have a majorly positive effect on my life and career going forward.
Apologies to all friends who I haven’t spoken to in so long. With the travel and the time differences and the time delay on my phone also, it’s difficult. But just remember that even though I’m off gallivanting around the world, all of you still have a place firmly in my heart as I move from place to place. I should email more and send more face book messages also, but hopefully I have a better system now. I will type my Blog on word on the bus, upload it when I get an internet connection and that should free me some time to send and reply to emails and messages.
From Cairns we headed for a place called Charters Towers, near Townsville. Not so much a long driving day, as we left after lunch, but because it was Boxing Day there wasn’t much to do when we arrived. We stayed in a little pub hotel which was a nice change form hostels and stuff. Decor was dated but it was like the four seasons to me not to be in a bunk bed for a night!!!
From Charters Towers we headed for Mount Isa. This is one of the longest driving days on the trip, nearly 800 km. Long day. We left at 5.30am (by mutual consent it should be said) and stopped a couple of times along the way. We went swimming in an outback pond, had lunch along the way and got to Mount Isa just before 5pm. Mount Isa is the world’s largest city by area according to Luke. I’m a bit sceptical about that, having been there. But Google will tell me whenever I get an internet connection again!!! We stayed at a Caravan Park – every time we stay at one I can’t help but think of home and away!! “Summer Bay Caravan Park – Flaming Golaths!!! “
From Mount Isa, we are heading for Tenant Creek. Another long driving day, leaving at 6.30am. Weather is almost unbearably hot. It was 41 degrees yesterday!! While you’re in the van your fine, but when you stop for lunch or toilet breaks its unbearable!! And the Flies. They are everywhere. I don’t mind them so much until it’s time to eat, then I lose the plot. I may have to invest in an o so attractive head net too keep them away from me!!!
I may be tempting fate by saying this, but the mosquitoes have learnt to stay away from me, I haven’t been bitten in over a week. I do cover myself in repellent every night, so that probably helps, but I had repellent on when I was bitten before, so I don’t trust it no matter what they say!!!
I need to weight myself soon, I feel like I have lost loads of weight!! Clothes are loose on me, my belly is less big than it was before!! I feel lighter, so I want to know how much lighter I am!! To be fair, I have probably sweated half a stone off in the last few days alone!!
Seeing lots of different sights as we head into the outback. I say head into it, we are in it but it does change every 100 miles or so. It’s certainly barren in places. No person to be seen for miles. No houses. No cars on the road for 100’s of miles. Only Road Trains, 3, 4, 5, 6 trailer trucks bombing along the roads. Anything that gets in their way is a definite goner.!!
Today is day 15 of the 30 day trip. We are aiming for Darwin which is at the top in the middle (sort of) after new year we then head straight back down the middle to Alice Springs and Ayres Rock!! Still need to figure out what I’m going to do for my 10 or so free days between the end of this trip and heading to New Zealand. Still need to sort flights home, but the outback isn’t the place to get that sorted!!! Will book them when we get to Darwin.
I’m still typing this on the bus as we drive along, so if it’s a bit rambly or jumps from one topic to another,it’s because my brain is just taking me from place to place.
Just drove past a dead kangaroo !!!
And the world’s biggest grasshoppers (well the biggest I have ever seen) keep getting stuck in the bug guard at the front of the van. They are literally bigger than my fist!!! Horrible things!! The bugs here are hard to cope with, but I am getting used to them.
Pulled a muscle in my back yesterday, so sitting on the bus is a bit painful today!!! Robbed a pillow from one of the hotels a few days ago, so that makes the long days more comfortable somewhat, but today I just can’t move without wincing in pain!!!
We arrived in Tenant Creek. Not much happening there to be honest. Accommodation is a bit poor but we make the best of it. It’s all part of the experience. The town itself is a one street kind of place, nothing too exciting. Dinner tonight will be chicken fajitas – for anyone at all interested in my diet whilst travelling.
Speaking of my diet whilst travelling, have the worst stomach cramps known to man over the last few day. Haven’t had much of an appetite when food is being served. Was physically ill in Tenant Creek. Its probably as a result of the long driving days. I'm sure it will pass soon.
From Tennant Creek we drove north towards Darwin. We headed for a town called Katherine, famous for Katherine Gorge. Its really beautiful, however the flies were unbearable. And it rained. As we head north we are heading into the northern territories rainy season. Most of the time its a nice relief from the heat but today it was just something else to make me question the outback that little bit more!! I seriously don’t know how people live out here. The isolation, the heat, the flies, everything i cant handle. I'm sure as we head back down toward Ayers rock again it will change, so I'm not giving up on it yet. But I'm just not feeling it!!
I held a baby kangaroo yesterday. Charlie. His mother died, so he was being raised by people who ran a pub near where we stopped to see some thermal pools. Oh my god he was so so so so so so so so so so adorable!!! And so Tame. I want one!!!
We also stopped for lunch yesterday at a pub called Daly Waters. Its historic apparently. Has loads of memorabilia on the walls etc. Left my card on the wall near the bar, and we left a group picture on the wall also. OzXposure was ere!!!!
Heading for Linchfield National Park now. Nearly there actually. Apparently we are staying in a house, a proper house, on a caravan park. I have high hopes of it being like Home and Away!!! Will keep you posted on that one!!!
Darwin tomorrow for 3 whole nights, heaven not having to repack every day!!! And we get to get horrendously drunk on new years eve and sleep it off for 2 days!!! Bring it on!!!
Thursday, 25 December 2008
Christmas Day
Christmas Day on the Great Barrier Reef. It was well cool. Went scuba diving, snorkeling. Its so beautiful. Saw some amazing fish and coral. I laid some flowers to float in the sea for my mum.
We had a lovely Christmas lunch on board the boat. Turkey, ham, prawns, crayfish (bugs) oysters. Heaven.
Going out in Cairns tonight for Christmas Dinner - plus no doubt lots of drinks.
Lots of love to all once again and Happy Christmas
Wednesday, 24 December 2008
Happy Christmas
To One and all i wish you a happy and safe Christmas, wherever in the world we may be!!!
Lots of love as always
Billy
X
Lots of love as always
Billy
X
My Ever changing plans
My head has been mush for the past 2 days trying to figure out what I'm going to do. I really want to stay on this tour until the end in Alica Springs on the 12th January. That would mean delaying my New Zealand trip.
Its possible, but it means that i have to do a 35 day tour of new Zealand starting on the 23rd January. Luke, the tour leader has been great and helpful in trying to sort it all out for me!!
It also means i need to book new flights home etc and from Australia to Auckland for the 23rd Jan. So much going around my head.
It hit me today that its Christmas and I'm away from home and my family. Had a bit of a weep for a while which helped. Missing my mum also, so tomorrow morning, before we head out to the Great Barrier Reef, I'm going to do something here in cairns just for her. Maybe lay some flowers somewhere or something like that!!!
I'm cooking dinner for the group tonight!!! So got to go chop some chicken!!!!
Happy Christmas one and all!!!! x
Its possible, but it means that i have to do a 35 day tour of new Zealand starting on the 23rd January. Luke, the tour leader has been great and helpful in trying to sort it all out for me!!
It also means i need to book new flights home etc and from Australia to Auckland for the 23rd Jan. So much going around my head.
It hit me today that its Christmas and I'm away from home and my family. Had a bit of a weep for a while which helped. Missing my mum also, so tomorrow morning, before we head out to the Great Barrier Reef, I'm going to do something here in cairns just for her. Maybe lay some flowers somewhere or something like that!!!
I'm cooking dinner for the group tonight!!! So got to go chop some chicken!!!!
Happy Christmas one and all!!!! x
Skydive from 14,000 ft
What an amazing experience!!!! Totally insane!!!
Words cant adequately express the feeling of throwing yourself out of a plane at 14,000 feet. You get one minute of free fall which is just amazing, and then once the parachute opens its like gliding down to earth for about another 4 minutes.
I cant put it into words. I'm sorry. I'm trying to put the dvd of it onto facebook so you can see it.
When i landed i was in a complete daze for a few hours !!!
Wicked. so glad i did it!!!
Words cant adequately express the feeling of throwing yourself out of a plane at 14,000 feet. You get one minute of free fall which is just amazing, and then once the parachute opens its like gliding down to earth for about another 4 minutes.
I cant put it into words. I'm sorry. I'm trying to put the dvd of it onto facebook so you can see it.
When i landed i was in a complete daze for a few hours !!!
Wicked. so glad i did it!!!
Tuesday, 23 December 2008
Airlie Beach, The Whitsunday Islands, and Mission Beach
Back in the land of Internet connection now. We are now in Mission Beach and im going Sky Diving in a few hours. So hungover today, but more on that later!!
After Rockhampton and the Rodeo, we moved onto Airlie Beach for 2 nights. Its the gateway to the Whitsunday Islands. Its also where i got my Tattoo. I went for it and its cool. Its the Kanji symbol for mother, so its a permenant tribe to her of sorts. I go through days on this trip where i really have been thinking of her alot, which is good as this is the first prolonged period of time since her death that i have had time off work to focus on me and my thoughts i guess.
Anyways, back to Airlie. Lovely little place. Lots of celebrities live there. The Islands are beautiful. We went out on a yacht, the Maxi Ragimuffin. It was so so so lovely. We sailed out for about 3 hours to Whitehaven beach on Whitsunday Island itself. Beautiful 98% silica sand beach. it was like walking on velvet. So beautiful!!!! We ate lunch and swam and sunbathed!!! heaven. 4 days before christmas and i am in paradise!!!
We sailed back in and went out to the sailing club for dinner which was nice and went for a few drinks afterwards which was cool.
On Monday we moved on to Mission Beach. Bit of a long drive, but cool. I was booked in for a skydive but the weather turned bad so it was cancelled. It has now been rearranged for this afternoon. I was meant to be whitewater rafting today, but as i went out and got hideously drunk last night i couldnt face it.
We had a christmas party night in Mission beach. We all dressed up a bit in silly hats and got ve drunk and danced and generally made tits of ourselves. When we returned to the hostel around midnight some of jumped straight in the pool and messed around for an hour or so. The day before the day before christmas eve, and im swiming after midnight in an outdoor pool in tropical paradise.
Heaven.
Im not sure if i can stay on this trip, but i so want to now. Will know today!!!
If i dont survive the skydive then i love you all!!!
x
After Rockhampton and the Rodeo, we moved onto Airlie Beach for 2 nights. Its the gateway to the Whitsunday Islands. Its also where i got my Tattoo. I went for it and its cool. Its the Kanji symbol for mother, so its a permenant tribe to her of sorts. I go through days on this trip where i really have been thinking of her alot, which is good as this is the first prolonged period of time since her death that i have had time off work to focus on me and my thoughts i guess.
Anyways, back to Airlie. Lovely little place. Lots of celebrities live there. The Islands are beautiful. We went out on a yacht, the Maxi Ragimuffin. It was so so so lovely. We sailed out for about 3 hours to Whitehaven beach on Whitsunday Island itself. Beautiful 98% silica sand beach. it was like walking on velvet. So beautiful!!!! We ate lunch and swam and sunbathed!!! heaven. 4 days before christmas and i am in paradise!!!
We sailed back in and went out to the sailing club for dinner which was nice and went for a few drinks afterwards which was cool.
On Monday we moved on to Mission Beach. Bit of a long drive, but cool. I was booked in for a skydive but the weather turned bad so it was cancelled. It has now been rearranged for this afternoon. I was meant to be whitewater rafting today, but as i went out and got hideously drunk last night i couldnt face it.
We had a christmas party night in Mission beach. We all dressed up a bit in silly hats and got ve drunk and danced and generally made tits of ourselves. When we returned to the hostel around midnight some of jumped straight in the pool and messed around for an hour or so. The day before the day before christmas eve, and im swiming after midnight in an outdoor pool in tropical paradise.
Heaven.
Im not sure if i can stay on this trip, but i so want to now. Will know today!!!
If i dont survive the skydive then i love you all!!!
x
Moreton Island
After leaving Byron Bay, we drove on up the coast to Brisbane, or more specifically the port of Brisbane. We stayed at a caravan park, very home and away esq!!! We had an early start to catch the ferry to Moreton Island. Moreton Island is the world’s third largest Sand Island, located just off the coast from Brisbane. It took about an hour to get across. Only four wheel drive vehicles are allowed on the island. There are no roads as we know them, only Sand tracks and the beaches are the main highways!! So Cool.
Alan, our guide whilst on the island picked us up off the ferry and took us to our accommodation in one of the 3 towns on the island. Only about 60 people live on the island. We then went to the north beach on the island and took a walk along the headland, over the rocks to a place called Honeymoon Bay. We went body boarding in the sea which was so cool, lovely and warm. Then we headed inland, to a place called the Blue Lagoon. It’s a fresh water lake. Totally beautiful and so refreshing. Lovely to swim in. And virtually deserted. Such an amazing place.
We stayed on the island overnight. After a dinner of Lasagne cooked by the group we sat around and drank beers and chilled out. Lots of bugs and Mosquito’s around, but we tried to make the best of it.
For day 2, we went for a hike to the top of the highest vegetated sand dune in the world, Mount Tempest. It had panoramic views over the entire island. I didn’t actually go up to the top, choosing instead to have a sleep in the van, as thanks to one of the guys in the groups alarm going off every ten minutes from 5.30am, I needed a few more hours sleep. After that we went sand boarding down the sand dunes. It was cool to do, but Jesus the sand literally gets everywhere. We had to go swim in the sea to wash some of it off, but even today (nearly 36 hours later) I’m still finding sand in places sand was never meant to be.
After lunch on the beach we went to the resort on the island to swim in the pool, which was so so so lovely. We then took the ferry back to the mainland, and drove onto Mooloolaba where we stayed last night. It’s a nice town, we didn’t do much as we were all a bit wrecked.
Janet, the girl from Bolton had to go to Hospital with a sore throat. And then this morning she fell over and gashed her arm and leg as the van was reversing. It was all very dramatic.
Once she was bandaged up we hit the road, heading for Rockhampton. Bit of a long day driving but we got there in the end. We went to a rodeo for dinner, where the local boys were riding bulls in a pen in front of you. Quite cool. Rockhampton sits just on the tropic of Capricorn, so we are now officially in the Tropical zone. And Jesus don’t I know it. I’m sweating more and more with every step. It’s about 80% humidity here tonight. From here we are heading to Airlie Beach tomorrow which is where we sail out to the Whitsunday islands from. I’m really looking forward to that.
Mosquito’s have taken a liking to me, especially my face. I now have 4 bites on my face, 5 on my fingers, 3 on my arm and 3 on my stomach. And all that after I had covered myself in insect repellent. I dread to think what I would be like if I hadn’t sprayed. I have had to take my rings off as my fingers have swelled up so much. It’s not an attractive look!!!!
Finally spoke to the lovely people at Virgin today about changing my flight. They would like to charge me AUS$6776.00 to change my flight. That’s about twice the price of what the original flight cost me. So I’m looking into one way flights home for the end of Feb.
Internet connections aren’t great around here, so I haven’t been able to upload any photos yet, but will do soon.
Alan, our guide whilst on the island picked us up off the ferry and took us to our accommodation in one of the 3 towns on the island. Only about 60 people live on the island. We then went to the north beach on the island and took a walk along the headland, over the rocks to a place called Honeymoon Bay. We went body boarding in the sea which was so cool, lovely and warm. Then we headed inland, to a place called the Blue Lagoon. It’s a fresh water lake. Totally beautiful and so refreshing. Lovely to swim in. And virtually deserted. Such an amazing place.
We stayed on the island overnight. After a dinner of Lasagne cooked by the group we sat around and drank beers and chilled out. Lots of bugs and Mosquito’s around, but we tried to make the best of it.
For day 2, we went for a hike to the top of the highest vegetated sand dune in the world, Mount Tempest. It had panoramic views over the entire island. I didn’t actually go up to the top, choosing instead to have a sleep in the van, as thanks to one of the guys in the groups alarm going off every ten minutes from 5.30am, I needed a few more hours sleep. After that we went sand boarding down the sand dunes. It was cool to do, but Jesus the sand literally gets everywhere. We had to go swim in the sea to wash some of it off, but even today (nearly 36 hours later) I’m still finding sand in places sand was never meant to be.
After lunch on the beach we went to the resort on the island to swim in the pool, which was so so so lovely. We then took the ferry back to the mainland, and drove onto Mooloolaba where we stayed last night. It’s a nice town, we didn’t do much as we were all a bit wrecked.
Janet, the girl from Bolton had to go to Hospital with a sore throat. And then this morning she fell over and gashed her arm and leg as the van was reversing. It was all very dramatic.
Once she was bandaged up we hit the road, heading for Rockhampton. Bit of a long day driving but we got there in the end. We went to a rodeo for dinner, where the local boys were riding bulls in a pen in front of you. Quite cool. Rockhampton sits just on the tropic of Capricorn, so we are now officially in the Tropical zone. And Jesus don’t I know it. I’m sweating more and more with every step. It’s about 80% humidity here tonight. From here we are heading to Airlie Beach tomorrow which is where we sail out to the Whitsunday islands from. I’m really looking forward to that.
Mosquito’s have taken a liking to me, especially my face. I now have 4 bites on my face, 5 on my fingers, 3 on my arm and 3 on my stomach. And all that after I had covered myself in insect repellent. I dread to think what I would be like if I hadn’t sprayed. I have had to take my rings off as my fingers have swelled up so much. It’s not an attractive look!!!!
Finally spoke to the lovely people at Virgin today about changing my flight. They would like to charge me AUS$6776.00 to change my flight. That’s about twice the price of what the original flight cost me. So I’m looking into one way flights home for the end of Feb.
Internet connections aren’t great around here, so I haven’t been able to upload any photos yet, but will do soon.
Tuesday, 16 December 2008
I so love Byron Bay!!!!!!! I want to live here!!! For Ever!!!
This place is just the nicest place on earth. I love it. Went out last night to the pub for dinner and drinks. Ended up in a club called the Cheeky Monkey, dancing on tables, coyote ugly stylee!!! good times. Up this morning for 8am to go watch the Dolphins. Totally amazing. I loved it!! we sailed out into the bay and bit by bit they came closer and closer to the boat. Took over 300 pictures, most of them will probably be just water with a little bit of Dolphin Fin, but there will be some good ones in there I'm sure. We then went snorkling out in the bay which was awesome as well. We saw sea turtles and all sorts of colourful fish!!! Great day.
We have only been in Byron for less than a day but it feels like we have been here forever. I really don't want to leave!!! We head up the coast this evening, to surfers paradise and then to port Brisbane, ready for the boat tomorrow to Moreton Island.
Have decided to get a Tattoo. Been toying with the idea for a while, so in the next few days its got to happen. The one i want is the Japanese Symbol for Mother. Was going to do it today but i ran out of time as my haircut took too long. I am now as good as bald again!!!!
Will try to upload my pictures tonight, or in the next day or so at the latest
Weather is glorious today as well by the way.
Catch ya laters dudes
x
We have only been in Byron for less than a day but it feels like we have been here forever. I really don't want to leave!!! We head up the coast this evening, to surfers paradise and then to port Brisbane, ready for the boat tomorrow to Moreton Island.
Have decided to get a Tattoo. Been toying with the idea for a while, so in the next few days its got to happen. The one i want is the Japanese Symbol for Mother. Was going to do it today but i ran out of time as my haircut took too long. I am now as good as bald again!!!!
Will try to upload my pictures tonight, or in the next day or so at the latest
Weather is glorious today as well by the way.
Catch ya laters dudes
x
Monday, 15 December 2008
Byron Bay, the story so far
Byron Bay has to be one of the coolest places on earth. It sits just on the most Easterly point of Australia, has beautiful beaches, really cool laid back vibe to it. i love it and want to live here.
We arrived around lunch time, and signed up to go Dolphin Watching tomorrow morning. Then we headed to Cap Byron, the most Easterly Point. From there i went hangliding. It was so so so so so amazing. i loved it. We were flying around over the easterly point and the beaches for nearly 30 minutes. i got some great pictures and a video which i will put on facebook. to say it was amazing doesn't actually do it justice. It was literally breathtaking.
The Weather is so nice here now. Lovely and hot. Perfect for all the activities we are going doing like sailing in the Whitsunday Islands and Snorkeling. Found out today that on Christmas Day we are going to the Great Barrier Reef so that will be pretty amazing
I have also just found the best deal ever on a Hotel in Auckland for 2 nights from boxing Day. I booked the Langham Hotel Auckland, 5 star for (wait for it) - 65 pound sterling per night, including breakfast!!! its well plush. A little bit of luxury for me before i head off on my New Zealand Trip!!! Sorry YHA, but it beats the YHA any day. its so cheap it would be rude not to book it. There is one in London and its well nice.
Will update more from Byron tomorrow, and tomorrow night we move on the Port Brisbane, from where we sail to Moreton Island the following morning. It has the worlds biggest sand dune apparently, and we get to sand surf down it (or one like it, I'm not quite sure)
We arrived around lunch time, and signed up to go Dolphin Watching tomorrow morning. Then we headed to Cap Byron, the most Easterly Point. From there i went hangliding. It was so so so so so amazing. i loved it. We were flying around over the easterly point and the beaches for nearly 30 minutes. i got some great pictures and a video which i will put on facebook. to say it was amazing doesn't actually do it justice. It was literally breathtaking.
The Weather is so nice here now. Lovely and hot. Perfect for all the activities we are going doing like sailing in the Whitsunday Islands and Snorkeling. Found out today that on Christmas Day we are going to the Great Barrier Reef so that will be pretty amazing
I have also just found the best deal ever on a Hotel in Auckland for 2 nights from boxing Day. I booked the Langham Hotel Auckland, 5 star for (wait for it) - 65 pound sterling per night, including breakfast!!! its well plush. A little bit of luxury for me before i head off on my New Zealand Trip!!! Sorry YHA, but it beats the YHA any day. its so cheap it would be rude not to book it. There is one in London and its well nice.
Will update more from Byron tomorrow, and tomorrow night we move on the Port Brisbane, from where we sail to Moreton Island the following morning. It has the worlds biggest sand dune apparently, and we get to sand surf down it (or one like it, I'm not quite sure)
Sunday, 14 December 2008
And so the next tour begins. Sydney to Cairns. 12 days.
This morning (Sunday) i was up early to head to the travelodge hotel to meet up with the OzXposure tour from Sydney to Cairns.
There are 14 of us in total, plus Luke the tour leader. Everyone seems nice. All European with one American guy. There are 2 Scottish girls, on girl from Bolton and a guy and a girl from Cheshire, one guy from Plymouth. Then there are 3 Germans, a dutch woman and a Swiss guy, and an Italian girl.
We left Sydney, over the Harbour Bridge, for a long drive to Coffs Harbour. We left at 8am, stopped for a picnic lunch along the way and got to Coffs Harbour around 5pm. We had a BBQ outside in the setting sun and had a wander along the beach. Not too much to do here really. Tomorrow we head to Byron Bay where im going to go Hangliding. Am going to book a Sky Dive for later in the week and also a Bungy Jump.
Will update more once we get into the trip more.
There are 14 of us in total, plus Luke the tour leader. Everyone seems nice. All European with one American guy. There are 2 Scottish girls, on girl from Bolton and a guy and a girl from Cheshire, one guy from Plymouth. Then there are 3 Germans, a dutch woman and a Swiss guy, and an Italian girl.
We left Sydney, over the Harbour Bridge, for a long drive to Coffs Harbour. We left at 8am, stopped for a picnic lunch along the way and got to Coffs Harbour around 5pm. We had a BBQ outside in the setting sun and had a wander along the beach. Not too much to do here really. Tomorrow we head to Byron Bay where im going to go Hangliding. Am going to book a Sky Dive for later in the week and also a Bungy Jump.
Will update more once we get into the trip more.
Friday, 12 December 2008
The end of Surf Camp and return to Sydney
Back in Sydney again after finishing up at Surf Camp yesterday (Thursday). The last day was the early start, 6.30am surf. My god but i wasn't in good form for it. It was cold, raining and getting into a wetsuit at 6am is not my idea of fun. After stomping down to the beach,doing our warm up exercises (which didn't warm me up) we eventually hit the sea. Joy of joys, it was like stepping into a nice warm bath. Pleasantly warm. So we surfed for a couple of hours, and it was pretty cool. Really glad i did it. Hard to believe that we were back in camp by 9am and tucking into breakfast - i was literally starving!!! After a short power nap, we were back at it again with some surf tips from the pro's and then our final hour of surfing. Managed to catch some waves and kind of felt i had the hang of it by the end of it.
After Lunch, we packed up, got our Surf Camp T Shirts and headed for the bus back to Sydney. We stopped in Gerringong for ice cream, and money so we could buy our photos of the week. - see Facebook for those. Will put them on picasa soon. Then it was back to Sydney, arriving around 7pm. Beer and Pizza in SCU Bar were cool. Checked into the hostel and then went back to SCU bar to get drunk with the gang. Some of the guys were going on to Byron Bay as part of Surf Camp,with a 12 hour overnight bus trip. But the majority of us stayed and got a it drunk!! it was a good laugh.
Decided this morning that i have had enough of hostels for a while. Needed my own space for a few nights before i join the Sydney to Cairns Trip on Sunday, so i booked into a hotel for 2 nights. Its like heaven. Pillows (plural!!) and a bath, and a king size bed!!!! and hair conditioner!!!! As its pouring down with rain today in Sydney, its perfect. I can just chill out and watch telly and relax in peace and quiet.
Tomorrow is supposed to be over 30 degrees again, so its just today that's crap!!
As i said, i join the trip to cairns on Sunday so will have more to write about then.
Later dudes
After Lunch, we packed up, got our Surf Camp T Shirts and headed for the bus back to Sydney. We stopped in Gerringong for ice cream, and money so we could buy our photos of the week. - see Facebook for those. Will put them on picasa soon. Then it was back to Sydney, arriving around 7pm. Beer and Pizza in SCU Bar were cool. Checked into the hostel and then went back to SCU bar to get drunk with the gang. Some of the guys were going on to Byron Bay as part of Surf Camp,with a 12 hour overnight bus trip. But the majority of us stayed and got a it drunk!! it was a good laugh.
Decided this morning that i have had enough of hostels for a while. Needed my own space for a few nights before i join the Sydney to Cairns Trip on Sunday, so i booked into a hotel for 2 nights. Its like heaven. Pillows (plural!!) and a bath, and a king size bed!!!! and hair conditioner!!!! As its pouring down with rain today in Sydney, its perfect. I can just chill out and watch telly and relax in peace and quiet.
Tomorrow is supposed to be over 30 degrees again, so its just today that's crap!!
As i said, i join the trip to cairns on Sunday so will have more to write about then.
Later dudes
Wednesday, 10 December 2008
Surf Camp
Well as i write this i have significantly more energy than the last entry. Still at Surf Camp, its Day 3. only one day left and we head back to Sydney tomorrow evening.
All in all its been cool. I'm not very good at surfing, but i can just about handle the basics of how to stand, how to get standing up and how to fall off. Its very hard going. I have aches and pains in muscles i didn't know i had, but if i continued on at it for a few months i would be about 8 stone by the end of it all!!!
The camp is cool. Just back from the beach, we walk along by the creek to get to the beach each day, twice a day. There are herons, and lots of small fish. its well nice when the sun shines. When we get to the beach for each lesson we do our revision of how to get up on the board and everything we did in the previous lessons and then something new. like today it was how to turn your surfboard. not really applicable to me who can barely go in a straight line, but some of the guys have really picked it up
Each lesson is over 2 hours long and its tough going. We started at 11.30am and 4.30pm the first day. Day 2 was 8.30am and 1.30pm. Day 3 was 11.30am and 4.30pm again and tomorrow we start at 6.30am (yes that's correct, not a typo!!) and 1.30pm. The early morning ones are supposed to be the best, so that will be an experience.
Day 1 was pretty warm, but cloudy. Day 2 was mega hot and mega sunny. Day 3 (today) was cloudy, rainy and windy. but the wind was coming off shore so the waves were awful. literally all over the place. Just like a washing machine (hence why that's what they call it in surf speak). So i chicken out of the afternoon session as it was getting worse and am conserving my energy for tomorrow morning.
The group is alot of dutch people, a few English guys, a guy from Finland, Canada and a few others, Some are here for 2 days, some for 4. The surf instructors are cool. Chaps is the leader, Wynnie is our instructor, and English girl called Emma, Seannie and a few others as well. One of the guys takes pictures which we get to buy tomorrow which is all good. There will be evidence that i was here, don't worry!!! Food is pretty good. lots to eat, as we are always starving when w get back from surfing. Never been left hungry yet.!!!
So all in all, I'm really glad i did it. I figured out i cant really surf well, but well enough to get in the water with a surf board at a later stage in my life. Will update on the last day when i get back to Sydney.
That's all for now folks.
All in all its been cool. I'm not very good at surfing, but i can just about handle the basics of how to stand, how to get standing up and how to fall off. Its very hard going. I have aches and pains in muscles i didn't know i had, but if i continued on at it for a few months i would be about 8 stone by the end of it all!!!
The camp is cool. Just back from the beach, we walk along by the creek to get to the beach each day, twice a day. There are herons, and lots of small fish. its well nice when the sun shines. When we get to the beach for each lesson we do our revision of how to get up on the board and everything we did in the previous lessons and then something new. like today it was how to turn your surfboard. not really applicable to me who can barely go in a straight line, but some of the guys have really picked it up
Each lesson is over 2 hours long and its tough going. We started at 11.30am and 4.30pm the first day. Day 2 was 8.30am and 1.30pm. Day 3 was 11.30am and 4.30pm again and tomorrow we start at 6.30am (yes that's correct, not a typo!!) and 1.30pm. The early morning ones are supposed to be the best, so that will be an experience.
Day 1 was pretty warm, but cloudy. Day 2 was mega hot and mega sunny. Day 3 (today) was cloudy, rainy and windy. but the wind was coming off shore so the waves were awful. literally all over the place. Just like a washing machine (hence why that's what they call it in surf speak). So i chicken out of the afternoon session as it was getting worse and am conserving my energy for tomorrow morning.
The group is alot of dutch people, a few English guys, a guy from Finland, Canada and a few others, Some are here for 2 days, some for 4. The surf instructors are cool. Chaps is the leader, Wynnie is our instructor, and English girl called Emma, Seannie and a few others as well. One of the guys takes pictures which we get to buy tomorrow which is all good. There will be evidence that i was here, don't worry!!! Food is pretty good. lots to eat, as we are always starving when w get back from surfing. Never been left hungry yet.!!!
So all in all, I'm really glad i did it. I figured out i cant really surf well, but well enough to get in the water with a surf board at a later stage in my life. Will update on the last day when i get back to Sydney.
That's all for now folks.
Tuesday, 9 December 2008
Update
Just a short update, will do a proper one on Friday when i return to Sydney.
Nightmare journey after the last update. Bag was on the 2nd last flight of the day from Melbourne, but i was on the flight 4 hours before it. Had to wait around on the off chance it arrived on a later plane, and thankfully it did. But instead of arriving at my hostel at 5 in the afternoon as planned, it was nearly midnight.
I took a private room as i couldn't be bothered with strangers at that hour and i needed to sort my stuff out for Surf School and stuff. So at 7.30am on Monday i joined to bus to Surf Camp.
Its cool, in Gerroa, about 2 hours south of Sydney, on Seven Mile Beach (does exactly what it says on the tin!!) Day one was straight into our first lesson, and within 20minutes we were in the sea. Then it was Lunch, and the second lesson. By the end of lesson 2 i had managed to stand up on the board once. Dinner and then we all sat around and watched a movie.
Day 2 - woke up in agony as every muscle i have aches. Climbed into my wet suit, almost against my will but i did it and we were in the water by 8.30am. Then back in for lunch and out again at 1.30pm for another 2 hours. Totally wrecked now so will fill in on the detail in a few days. But its all good. There will be pictures also.
Nightmare journey after the last update. Bag was on the 2nd last flight of the day from Melbourne, but i was on the flight 4 hours before it. Had to wait around on the off chance it arrived on a later plane, and thankfully it did. But instead of arriving at my hostel at 5 in the afternoon as planned, it was nearly midnight.
I took a private room as i couldn't be bothered with strangers at that hour and i needed to sort my stuff out for Surf School and stuff. So at 7.30am on Monday i joined to bus to Surf Camp.
Its cool, in Gerroa, about 2 hours south of Sydney, on Seven Mile Beach (does exactly what it says on the tin!!) Day one was straight into our first lesson, and within 20minutes we were in the sea. Then it was Lunch, and the second lesson. By the end of lesson 2 i had managed to stand up on the board once. Dinner and then we all sat around and watched a movie.
Day 2 - woke up in agony as every muscle i have aches. Climbed into my wet suit, almost against my will but i did it and we were in the water by 8.30am. Then back in for lunch and out again at 1.30pm for another 2 hours. Totally wrecked now so will fill in on the detail in a few days. But its all good. There will be pictures also.
Sunday, 7 December 2008
Bye Bye Melbourne, Well it would be if i could get on a plane out of here!!!
I sit typing this in the departures lounge of Melbourne Airport. My flight to Sydney was cancelled and the next available flight they could get me on was 4 hours later. Not the end of the world really, gave me time to sort through all my photos and stuff. As long as my luggage flies with me then all will be good.
So it is time to return to Sydney, even though that is only for a few hours as i leave it again tomorrow morning first thing!
Went to Mrs Parmas last night as per the last blog. Had a parma and it was well nice. Parmas are hard to describe. the one i had was full chicken breast, flattened out completely so it was quite large, breaded and cooked. Then it has a topping on it. So i had the Greek one, which has Feta, Olives, Onions etc on it. Delicious. Look up the website - http://www.mrsparmas.com.au/ They do great beers. I loved a beer called Heads beer, or Gippsland Gold and they do gluten free beers as well, so dad could have a beer if he wanted to fly all the way around the world to have one!!!
Stayed there until about midnight and then headed back to the hostel.
Met up with Thomas and Roisin this morning. They cooked me a big Fry Up before i left of the airport which was lovely.
And then that takes me to the Airport where i have been ever since. 4 hours already and another 1.5 hours to go. But its all good.
Surf School Tomorrow. God knows what it will be like but hey ho. The weather has been changeable. One day is baking, next can be cloudy. Next can be showers. its hard to judge it really. But generally its been really good and the further north i go the hotter it will get. And if i do the centre of Australia in February, that's when it gets serious hot!!!! Will decide this week about that.
So it is time to return to Sydney, even though that is only for a few hours as i leave it again tomorrow morning first thing!
Went to Mrs Parmas last night as per the last blog. Had a parma and it was well nice. Parmas are hard to describe. the one i had was full chicken breast, flattened out completely so it was quite large, breaded and cooked. Then it has a topping on it. So i had the Greek one, which has Feta, Olives, Onions etc on it. Delicious. Look up the website - http://www.mrsparmas.com.au/ They do great beers. I loved a beer called Heads beer, or Gippsland Gold and they do gluten free beers as well, so dad could have a beer if he wanted to fly all the way around the world to have one!!!
Stayed there until about midnight and then headed back to the hostel.
Met up with Thomas and Roisin this morning. They cooked me a big Fry Up before i left of the airport which was lovely.
And then that takes me to the Airport where i have been ever since. 4 hours already and another 1.5 hours to go. But its all good.
Surf School Tomorrow. God knows what it will be like but hey ho. The weather has been changeable. One day is baking, next can be cloudy. Next can be showers. its hard to judge it really. But generally its been really good and the further north i go the hotter it will get. And if i do the centre of Australia in February, that's when it gets serious hot!!!! Will decide this week about that.
Saturday, 6 December 2008
My quiet chill out day in Melbourne
Got home so late last night, and to be honest just a little bit drunk that i did very little today as i was so wrecked. But its all good!!!
Went to Thomas's bar last night, Mrs Parmas, on Little Bourke Street. Drank some of their different beers and chilled out while Thomas was working. When he finished up we sat down for some more beers with his workmate. Then we went to the bottle shop and bought more beer and drank it back at his flat. Beer is the common thread in all of this, i didn't get back to the hostel and into bed until near 4am.
So didn't get up today until midday.
Wandered around the shops, bought a new watch for surfing as the other one has a leather strap and is starting to get on my nerves a bit. Met Thomas and roisin for lunch and a wander around the shops. in between the showers, the sun is shining.
I really like the vibe of Melbourne, is so laid back and not so in your face like Sydney is.
Heading back to Mrs Parmas tonight for dinner. Parmas are mega popular in Melbourne so i have to go try one. I don't really know what they are but i will let you know tomorrow.
Deliberating about extending my time in Australia. I have to leave by the 28th Feb, as my tourist Visa runs out, so i could do a tour from Melbourne right up the centre of Australia, past Ayres rock and onto Darwin. Thomas, Roisin and Roisin's Sister are doing it so i would have company!! It makes sense, i just need to ring Virgin and try to change my flights back. i might still do it even if i cant change my flights, and perhaps come back via America if i had to get another flight. So many options really so I'm just getting it sorted in my head.
Went to Thomas's bar last night, Mrs Parmas, on Little Bourke Street. Drank some of their different beers and chilled out while Thomas was working. When he finished up we sat down for some more beers with his workmate. Then we went to the bottle shop and bought more beer and drank it back at his flat. Beer is the common thread in all of this, i didn't get back to the hostel and into bed until near 4am.
So didn't get up today until midday.
Wandered around the shops, bought a new watch for surfing as the other one has a leather strap and is starting to get on my nerves a bit. Met Thomas and roisin for lunch and a wander around the shops. in between the showers, the sun is shining.
I really like the vibe of Melbourne, is so laid back and not so in your face like Sydney is.
Heading back to Mrs Parmas tonight for dinner. Parmas are mega popular in Melbourne so i have to go try one. I don't really know what they are but i will let you know tomorrow.
Deliberating about extending my time in Australia. I have to leave by the 28th Feb, as my tourist Visa runs out, so i could do a tour from Melbourne right up the centre of Australia, past Ayres rock and onto Darwin. Thomas, Roisin and Roisin's Sister are doing it so i would have company!! It makes sense, i just need to ring Virgin and try to change my flights back. i might still do it even if i cant change my flights, and perhaps come back via America if i had to get another flight. So many options really so I'm just getting it sorted in my head.
Friday, 5 December 2008
Phillip Island and Melbourne
Day 2 in Melbourne, and Thomas, Roisin and I joined a tour to go to Phillip Island. Hangovers kind of faded away just in time for the 12.30pm start. We were on a bus of 25 people. Phillip Island is about 2 hours south of Melbourne. We went to a winery, for some sips of wine - probably best that there wasn't much of it, as the hangover was never too far away at the start of the day. Then we went to a wildlife park and saw Kangaroos, Koalas, Wombats, Emus. loads of cool Animals. We got to feed the kangaroos and touch them, and also we were allowed to stroke the wombats. Well cool. if a little smelly with lots of flys.
Then we headed for a beach, which is famous for its surf waves. It was a pretty cloudy day so the pictures don't look that good but it was pretty cool. Then we went to the nobbies, right on the end of Phillip island. there was literally millions of sea gulls everywhere. We were lucky and spotted 3 small penguins, hiding out in a small hole on the face of the cliff. we got some really good pictures of them. Then we went to the penguin parade.
Its where over a thousand small penguins, the smallest of the species worldwide, go out to sea before the sun rises and come back inland when the sunsets. The waddle across the beach as it gets dark. The do it in groups for safety and they are just so cute. They are all less than foot tall and its just the most amazing sight ever.We couldn't take photos because it hurts their eyes, but they are amazing. I recommend it to everyone!!!! i cant do it justice by typing about it. We returned to Melbourne late, getting home after 1am.
So was a bit wrecked this morning. Got up around 11am and wander the streets of Melbourne with Thomas for the day. Had a nice lunch and went to the top of the Eureka Tower, at 88 stories its the highest viewing platform in the southern hemisphere. great views. The weather is so good today. over 30 degrees again and very very hot in direct sun. Nice in the shade though. Going to chill out for the afternoon, and go have some drinks in the brewery pub where Thomas is working later. need to plan tomorrow as I'm not sure what to do as yet.
Melbourne is really cool. i like it here. probably more so than Sydney.
Then we headed for a beach, which is famous for its surf waves. It was a pretty cloudy day so the pictures don't look that good but it was pretty cool. Then we went to the nobbies, right on the end of Phillip island. there was literally millions of sea gulls everywhere. We were lucky and spotted 3 small penguins, hiding out in a small hole on the face of the cliff. we got some really good pictures of them. Then we went to the penguin parade.
Its where over a thousand small penguins, the smallest of the species worldwide, go out to sea before the sun rises and come back inland when the sunsets. The waddle across the beach as it gets dark. The do it in groups for safety and they are just so cute. They are all less than foot tall and its just the most amazing sight ever.We couldn't take photos because it hurts their eyes, but they are amazing. I recommend it to everyone!!!! i cant do it justice by typing about it. We returned to Melbourne late, getting home after 1am.
So was a bit wrecked this morning. Got up around 11am and wander the streets of Melbourne with Thomas for the day. Had a nice lunch and went to the top of the Eureka Tower, at 88 stories its the highest viewing platform in the southern hemisphere. great views. The weather is so good today. over 30 degrees again and very very hot in direct sun. Nice in the shade though. Going to chill out for the afternoon, and go have some drinks in the brewery pub where Thomas is working later. need to plan tomorrow as I'm not sure what to do as yet.
Melbourne is really cool. i like it here. probably more so than Sydney.
Thursday, 4 December 2008
Melbourne
Well, since my last post i have now moved onto melbourne! I flew down yesterday with Quantas. they fly every 30 mintues from Sydney to Melbourne. All day, every day. Its crazy but the flight was full so there must be demand for it!! anyway im rambling again!!!
So Melbourne is cool. i really like the vibe here. more laid back than Sydney and not as pretenious. No Bridge and No Opera House but still holding its own down there on the bottom of the country.
Met up with Thomas and Roisin when i arrived and we went for a mini wander around so i could get my bearings. We then went drinking. We went to an Ice Bar, where you have to wear all these layers and coats and you basically go into a freezer full of ice blocks and sculptures and drink out of ice glasses. it was well cool - figuratively and literally!!!!
Then we went to a BBQ out in St Kilda, which was cool. and then we drank some more. and needless to say im hungover today!!!
We are off to Phillip Island in an hour or so, it has loads of animals and stuff and small penguins and kangaroos and koala bears and stuff!!!! next blog will be about that!!!!
the evils of drink are begining to shout inside my head so i mut find nurofen!!!!
Im here until Sunday so will post more about Melbourne in the coming days!!! then its back to Syndey and Surf School on Monday!!!! Im bricking it!!!! im sensing im going to fall over alot!!!!
So Melbourne is cool. i really like the vibe here. more laid back than Sydney and not as pretenious. No Bridge and No Opera House but still holding its own down there on the bottom of the country.
Met up with Thomas and Roisin when i arrived and we went for a mini wander around so i could get my bearings. We then went drinking. We went to an Ice Bar, where you have to wear all these layers and coats and you basically go into a freezer full of ice blocks and sculptures and drink out of ice glasses. it was well cool - figuratively and literally!!!!
Then we went to a BBQ out in St Kilda, which was cool. and then we drank some more. and needless to say im hungover today!!!
We are off to Phillip Island in an hour or so, it has loads of animals and stuff and small penguins and kangaroos and koala bears and stuff!!!! next blog will be about that!!!!
the evils of drink are begining to shout inside my head so i mut find nurofen!!!!
Im here until Sunday so will post more about Melbourne in the coming days!!! then its back to Syndey and Surf School on Monday!!!! Im bricking it!!!! im sensing im going to fall over alot!!!!
Monday, 1 December 2008
Its so hot!!!!
I never thought i would be saying this, but it is so so hot now. it was 30 degrees yesterday, but it was uncomfortable heat and i couldnt really stay out in it!! I went to Coogee beach fairly early, i was on the beach at 9.30am and it was getting unbearable at that stage. really nice beach, qute a small place but very pleasant. i may stay there next week when i come back. then i got the bus to Bondi beach, and tried to relax and lie in the sun, but only managed an hour of it before i couldnt take it any more. i guess i should have jumped in the sea, but i wasnt prepared for swimming. Next week, once i have been to surf school, then i will!!
Bondi was cool, lots of big waves and a really nice beach. Will go back there next week and enjoy it more.
So i headedback to Sydney on the bus, only about 20 minutes or so. I had to have a shower and a power nap and that made me feel so much better. Even by 7pm as the sun was setting it was still really really warm. happy days i gues just takes a bit of getting used to.
I think once i join the tours the heat will be more bearable. having to move around and get buses and trains and walk places in this heat is too much.
Today im hitting the shops, mainly because its what i do best, but also for their air conditioning.
Of to Melbourne tomorrow (wednesday!!)
Bondi was cool, lots of big waves and a really nice beach. Will go back there next week and enjoy it more.
So i headedback to Sydney on the bus, only about 20 minutes or so. I had to have a shower and a power nap and that made me feel so much better. Even by 7pm as the sun was setting it was still really really warm. happy days i gues just takes a bit of getting used to.
I think once i join the tours the heat will be more bearable. having to move around and get buses and trains and walk places in this heat is too much.
Today im hitting the shops, mainly because its what i do best, but also for their air conditioning.
Of to Melbourne tomorrow (wednesday!!)
Sunday, 30 November 2008
Manly
For day 3, i couldn't quite decide whether to climb the bridge or head for the beach. If i chose the beach, there are so many to choose from. If i chose to climb the bridge, its 4 hours, so i would need to time it so i didn't waste a whole day on it. These tough decisions, it takes it out of me!!!
In the end, i walked towards the harbour, figuring i would decide somewhere along the way. Halfway down i came across Sydney Tower. It stands in the middle of the city and has 360 degree panoramic views of the city. So i decided to do that. once up there i could see the sea so that made up my mind for me.
I jumped on a ferry (its the main way to get around the coast here) and headed for Manly beach. its to the north of Sydney, at the entrance to Sydney Harbour. By the way, Sydney Harbour is huge. Sydney itself is just a tiny part of it. The Ferry went out past the Opera House and all the way along to the point where you can enter the harbour. Manly is just north of that and Manly beach itself is on the outside of the harbour. Beautiful. Long Sandy beach, proper surf waves. Very busy as the sun has finally come to Sydney (today is the first day of summer here!!! Irony is not lost on me!!) I strolled along, walked in the sea, generally chilled out. It was well cool.
All in all i spent about 5 hours there, so when i headed back to Sydney i was wrecked tired. So i fell into bed and slept for 10 hours straight!!! Its now Monday morning here and I'm going to head to Bondi beach today. The Sun is still shining. 30 degrees today apparently. Will probably do the bridge climb tomorrow and i fly to Melbourne on Wednesday. Going to a place called Phillip Island on Thursday with Thomas and Roisin, and then have a few free days in Melbourne before i fly back to Sydney on Sunday. Then its Surf School a week today !!!
By the way, and no offence to any Australian friends i may have made, or have yet to make, but i cant help but laugh every time i hear them talking like an episode of Kath and Kim. it cracks me up!!! but they really do talk like that. Well some of the do anyway!!!!
I have photos, but the Internet connection isn't the quickest here so i will upload them to facebook and picasa in the next few days when i move on!!!
Off to apply my sunscreen - or slip slap slop as they call it here!!!??? hey, if it works for them, who am i to argue.
In the end, i walked towards the harbour, figuring i would decide somewhere along the way. Halfway down i came across Sydney Tower. It stands in the middle of the city and has 360 degree panoramic views of the city. So i decided to do that. once up there i could see the sea so that made up my mind for me.
I jumped on a ferry (its the main way to get around the coast here) and headed for Manly beach. its to the north of Sydney, at the entrance to Sydney Harbour. By the way, Sydney Harbour is huge. Sydney itself is just a tiny part of it. The Ferry went out past the Opera House and all the way along to the point where you can enter the harbour. Manly is just north of that and Manly beach itself is on the outside of the harbour. Beautiful. Long Sandy beach, proper surf waves. Very busy as the sun has finally come to Sydney (today is the first day of summer here!!! Irony is not lost on me!!) I strolled along, walked in the sea, generally chilled out. It was well cool.
All in all i spent about 5 hours there, so when i headed back to Sydney i was wrecked tired. So i fell into bed and slept for 10 hours straight!!! Its now Monday morning here and I'm going to head to Bondi beach today. The Sun is still shining. 30 degrees today apparently. Will probably do the bridge climb tomorrow and i fly to Melbourne on Wednesday. Going to a place called Phillip Island on Thursday with Thomas and Roisin, and then have a few free days in Melbourne before i fly back to Sydney on Sunday. Then its Surf School a week today !!!
By the way, and no offence to any Australian friends i may have made, or have yet to make, but i cant help but laugh every time i hear them talking like an episode of Kath and Kim. it cracks me up!!! but they really do talk like that. Well some of the do anyway!!!!
I have photos, but the Internet connection isn't the quickest here so i will upload them to facebook and picasa in the next few days when i move on!!!
Off to apply my sunscreen - or slip slap slop as they call it here!!!??? hey, if it works for them, who am i to argue.
Saturday, 29 November 2008
Day 1, which is really day 2 as i slept for most of day 1
My first full day awake in Sydney. Its well cool. Actual first full day is a bit of a write off as jet lag and rain kicked in so i literally slept my way through most of it.
Yesterday, Saturday, i was up fairly early, moved rooms into my dorm, and hit the streets of Sydney. Trying to avoid the showers along the way. It wasn't bad, just every once in a while a short shower!!
Headed for the harbour to see the bridge and the opera house, as i guess most people do. It is well cool. Literally every picture you have ever seen of it comes true. I wandered around there for hours, just chilling and see what there was. Walked the botanical gardens which is right next to the opera house, took a free tour of Government House which was pretty cool, and had lunch with a view of both the bridge in front of me and the opera house to my right.
Saturday seemed to be the day to get married in Sydney, and to have your pictures taken in the harbour. There was literally 20 weddings that i saw, including one outdoor one that was all set up on a lawn in the botanical gardens, who all went running for cover when the rain started. I thought it was quite funny, but I'm sure they were not impressed. To be fair, the string quartet keep playing in the rain!!!
Anyways, i walked along Darling harbour from there and to kill time in that part of the evening when the sun sets, but its too early to do anything, i went to the cinema to watch Quantum of Solace. And also to rest my feet as i had kind of walked miles. It was good, i liked it!!
Got back to the hostel, freshened up and went for a couple of beers in the bar downstairs. Got chatting to a few people, everyone here is either on a working visa or just passing through. Its a cool hostel, funky. After a few drinks i got tired so headed to bed around 11pm.
Just figuring out what to do today. Head to the beach maybe? Bondi, Coogee or Manly. Who knows. I also want to climb the bridge, but may do that tomorrow i think. I'm here until Wednesday, and I'm back here 3 times again before i head home so i do have plenty time. So much to see and do i cant make up my mind.
Yesterday, Saturday, i was up fairly early, moved rooms into my dorm, and hit the streets of Sydney. Trying to avoid the showers along the way. It wasn't bad, just every once in a while a short shower!!
Headed for the harbour to see the bridge and the opera house, as i guess most people do. It is well cool. Literally every picture you have ever seen of it comes true. I wandered around there for hours, just chilling and see what there was. Walked the botanical gardens which is right next to the opera house, took a free tour of Government House which was pretty cool, and had lunch with a view of both the bridge in front of me and the opera house to my right.
Saturday seemed to be the day to get married in Sydney, and to have your pictures taken in the harbour. There was literally 20 weddings that i saw, including one outdoor one that was all set up on a lawn in the botanical gardens, who all went running for cover when the rain started. I thought it was quite funny, but I'm sure they were not impressed. To be fair, the string quartet keep playing in the rain!!!
Anyways, i walked along Darling harbour from there and to kill time in that part of the evening when the sun sets, but its too early to do anything, i went to the cinema to watch Quantum of Solace. And also to rest my feet as i had kind of walked miles. It was good, i liked it!!
Got back to the hostel, freshened up and went for a couple of beers in the bar downstairs. Got chatting to a few people, everyone here is either on a working visa or just passing through. Its a cool hostel, funky. After a few drinks i got tired so headed to bed around 11pm.
Just figuring out what to do today. Head to the beach maybe? Bondi, Coogee or Manly. Who knows. I also want to climb the bridge, but may do that tomorrow i think. I'm here until Wednesday, and I'm back here 3 times again before i head home so i do have plenty time. So much to see and do i cant make up my mind.
Thursday, 27 November 2008
And he arrives !!! G'day Mate!!! Where's the barbie?
Well if finally made it to Australia. Door to door from my house on Wednesday morning to arriving at the hostel about an hour ago was only 39 hours travelling. Seeing as i slept pretty much the entire 2 flights, it kind of feels like i have flown from London to Spain or somewhere equally close. Odd Really. Thank god though. Im through with sever jet lag for the rest of my life. Flights were cool, i really like the Airbus 340 - 400. The 747 - 600 used to be my favourite plane, but not anymore!!! (im a bit of a geek like that) on the same vane, we pulled up beside the A380 at the airport and its frankly a bit diasappointing. looks quite small from the outside for a double decker plane!! anyways, i digress.
So im finally here. its mad to think im on the other side of the world. The Airport was well nice - as was hong kong for that matter. i got the train from the airport to central and the hostelis right across the ad so happy days. The hostel, where im typing this is well funky. Wake Up Sydney, voted the best hostel in the world apparently. Nice mix of people and friendly staff. Doesnt look to be too far from the harbour and stuff so will head out to explore later. Waiting for my room just now. I got a private room for tonight, just in case i doget some sort of jet lag, but move into a dorm tomorrow!! its all good.
It is raining right now, but its only showers, so will have to dodge them. it is still 25 degress at 9 am in the morning though so warm rain. From tomorrow onwards its supposed to be really sunny, so sun tan here i come. Or Lobster pink as others refer to it!!! i dont care!!! Im in Australia and they are not!!!!!
Well thats about it for now. A bit of a blog about nothing but hey ho, im getting good at that!!!
X
PS - its Eleven hours ahead, and not 10 as i had thought!! God damn Daylight Savings Time, send to this earth to confuse me!!! So for the benefit of all those wishing to bombard me with texts and phone calls, change the AM to PM (or vice versa) and take away 1 hour. Its that simple, stupid. Anyone calling me in the middle of the night my time has been warned!!!!!
So im finally here. its mad to think im on the other side of the world. The Airport was well nice - as was hong kong for that matter. i got the train from the airport to central and the hostelis right across the ad so happy days. The hostel, where im typing this is well funky. Wake Up Sydney, voted the best hostel in the world apparently. Nice mix of people and friendly staff. Doesnt look to be too far from the harbour and stuff so will head out to explore later. Waiting for my room just now. I got a private room for tonight, just in case i doget some sort of jet lag, but move into a dorm tomorrow!! its all good.
It is raining right now, but its only showers, so will have to dodge them. it is still 25 degress at 9 am in the morning though so warm rain. From tomorrow onwards its supposed to be really sunny, so sun tan here i come. Or Lobster pink as others refer to it!!! i dont care!!! Im in Australia and they are not!!!!!
Well thats about it for now. A bit of a blog about nothing but hey ho, im getting good at that!!!
X
PS - its Eleven hours ahead, and not 10 as i had thought!! God damn Daylight Savings Time, send to this earth to confuse me!!! So for the benefit of all those wishing to bombard me with texts and phone calls, change the AM to PM (or vice versa) and take away 1 hour. Its that simple, stupid. Anyone calling me in the middle of the night my time has been warned!!!!!
Are we nearly there yet?
Okay, before you get excitable, I'm not in Oz yet. Despite saying in my last two blogs that my next one would be from there, i must remind you that this is my blog and therefore my prerogative!!! (like anyone is bothered but humour me!!!)
So I'm in Hong Kong now, after my 12 hour flight from heathrow. It was very pleasant actually. I slept for nearly 9 hours of it so all is good. I'm feeling very refreshed so far. We board again in 90 minutes for the next 10 hour flight to Sydney.
Turns out i should be able to change my flight on the return leg of my trip, i need to do it from Australia when i have completed one leg and it should only be a small fee to stop off in Hong Kong on the way back. Been looking it up and reading about it and it would be so cool. Quite daunting on my own, but while I'm here i have to do it. The whole language and culture thing scares me, but i cant stick to the English speaking countries all the time
If anyone fancies joining me for a week in Hong Kong and maybe on into China at the end of Janauay email me!!!!
Well I'm off to eat my nice Duck Salad in the Virgin Clubhouse in Hong Kong. Next blog should be from OZ but no promises!!!!
Whatever goodbye is in Chinese then there you have it!!
x
So I'm in Hong Kong now, after my 12 hour flight from heathrow. It was very pleasant actually. I slept for nearly 9 hours of it so all is good. I'm feeling very refreshed so far. We board again in 90 minutes for the next 10 hour flight to Sydney.
Turns out i should be able to change my flight on the return leg of my trip, i need to do it from Australia when i have completed one leg and it should only be a small fee to stop off in Hong Kong on the way back. Been looking it up and reading about it and it would be so cool. Quite daunting on my own, but while I'm here i have to do it. The whole language and culture thing scares me, but i cant stick to the English speaking countries all the time
If anyone fancies joining me for a week in Hong Kong and maybe on into China at the end of Janauay email me!!!!
Well I'm off to eat my nice Duck Salad in the Virgin Clubhouse in Hong Kong. Next blog should be from OZ but no promises!!!!
Whatever goodbye is in Chinese then there you have it!!
x
Wednesday, 26 November 2008
And its goodbye to Ireland!!!
On the move again. Sitting in Cork airport killing time writing this. Up since 5.45am so feeling a bit tired, but i had my starbucks with an extra shot of espresso and that seems to have done the trick. London next for about 8 hours in Heathrow and then board my Virgin Flight to Sydney via Hong Kong. (sleeping tablets are at the ready)
Luggage wasnt quiet as light as i thought. 27.7 kios in the main bag and 12 kg in my hand luggage. Still feels light to me though!!! Its better than the 40kg in brought back from the states, plus my hand luggage!!!! And the lovely girl from Aer Lingus only charged me €20, bless her.
Its been nice too be home and to restup for a while, but im glad to be back on the move again and off to sunnier climbs!!! Although having said that, it hasnt been that cold in Ireland, but its still not San Francisco or Australia Weather.
I think i managed to catch up wi everyone i know in Ireland. If i missed you out then i have obviously forgotten about you so get over it!!! (joke!!X)
Lots of time to kill in Heathrow, so going towander around the shop, chill out in the Virgin Clubhouse and i have a Hot Shave booked for 6pm. might try to get my nails done as well, its amazing what happens when your not working and stop biting them. they get very unruly!!!! So apart from a bit of free pampering compliments of Virgin, thats all i shall be doing for the afternoon.
Next update will definitely be from Australia, i know i said that the last time but its my blog and i make the rules, okay!!!!!!
See you from the other side of the world.
PS. its 10 hours ahead, so remember take the time your on, change the AM to PM or vice versa and take off 2 hours. (11am in Ireland is 9pm in Sydney) just in case you all want to inundate me with text messages and calls!!!!!!
see ya !!!!
Luggage wasnt quiet as light as i thought. 27.7 kios in the main bag and 12 kg in my hand luggage. Still feels light to me though!!! Its better than the 40kg in brought back from the states, plus my hand luggage!!!! And the lovely girl from Aer Lingus only charged me €20, bless her.
Its been nice too be home and to restup for a while, but im glad to be back on the move again and off to sunnier climbs!!! Although having said that, it hasnt been that cold in Ireland, but its still not San Francisco or Australia Weather.
I think i managed to catch up wi everyone i know in Ireland. If i missed you out then i have obviously forgotten about you so get over it!!! (joke!!X)
Lots of time to kill in Heathrow, so going towander around the shop, chill out in the Virgin Clubhouse and i have a Hot Shave booked for 6pm. might try to get my nails done as well, its amazing what happens when your not working and stop biting them. they get very unruly!!!! So apart from a bit of free pampering compliments of Virgin, thats all i shall be doing for the afternoon.
Next update will definitely be from Australia, i know i said that the last time but its my blog and i make the rules, okay!!!!!!
See you from the other side of the world.
PS. its 10 hours ahead, so remember take the time your on, change the AM to PM or vice versa and take off 2 hours. (11am in Ireland is 9pm in Sydney) just in case you all want to inundate me with text messages and calls!!!!!!
see ya !!!!
Tuesday, 25 November 2008
Monday, 24 November 2008
Nearly time to go again!!!
Only one full day left until i hit the road again. Home has been good, finally back to a proper sleep pattern thanks to some lovely sleeping tablets. Apologies to all the friends who had to put up with me in my zombie state last week. In case it didnt come across, i did have a ball in America, i just was too tired to tell you all about it. Hangovers - Karen, Emma, Geraldine, Laura,David and Colette -you all have a lot to answer for (it was fun though!! Thank you X)
We had Mass for my mum yesterday, its hard to believe its been 7 years already. Hopefully she is keeping an eye on me from somewhere when im off on jaunts round the world.
Started packing today. After spending 3 days washing and drying clothes (note to self, by your father a dryer!!!) everything is folded and more or less packed. Currently sitting at just under 20 kgs, with only a few smaller bits left to pack. Thats nearly 10kg less than i took to America, so something has improved! will certainly be easier to carry (and allows me to pick up more stuff along the way i guess). Only got my one big bag and a small back pack, so its all good.
Really looking forward to Australia and New Zealand now. It seemed so long ago when i booked it and now its finally here. Read the itineraries again for my trips and they are more active than i remember when i booked them, which is al good. Will loose another few pounds hopefully!!! And of course im looking forward to Surf School. Learn a new skill.
Going to try to change my flight back and spend some time in Hong Kong. And then planning to head to visit Michelle in the Alps, if she will still have me!!!
Next blog will probably be from Australia, after my 24 hour flight, which is essentially another 35 hours travelling from when i leave home on Wenesday morning. Again, thank god for sleeping tablets!!!
Watch this space for my Oz Adventures!!!!
We had Mass for my mum yesterday, its hard to believe its been 7 years already. Hopefully she is keeping an eye on me from somewhere when im off on jaunts round the world.
Started packing today. After spending 3 days washing and drying clothes (note to self, by your father a dryer!!!) everything is folded and more or less packed. Currently sitting at just under 20 kgs, with only a few smaller bits left to pack. Thats nearly 10kg less than i took to America, so something has improved! will certainly be easier to carry (and allows me to pick up more stuff along the way i guess). Only got my one big bag and a small back pack, so its all good.
Really looking forward to Australia and New Zealand now. It seemed so long ago when i booked it and now its finally here. Read the itineraries again for my trips and they are more active than i remember when i booked them, which is al good. Will loose another few pounds hopefully!!! And of course im looking forward to Surf School. Learn a new skill.
Going to try to change my flight back and spend some time in Hong Kong. And then planning to head to visit Michelle in the Alps, if she will still have me!!!
Next blog will probably be from Australia, after my 24 hour flight, which is essentially another 35 hours travelling from when i leave home on Wenesday morning. Again, thank god for sleeping tablets!!!
Watch this space for my Oz Adventures!!!!
Tuesday, 18 November 2008
Billy's Ireland Update
Its been nearly a week now since i returned to Ireland, and its been a pretty hectic few days!!
I'm in Belfast now, typing this, having done a whistlestop tour of Ireland since last Friday.
Wednesday and Thursday last week were written off to sleep (slept all day, awake half the night. its my new mantra!!) Friday i went to Kilaloo to visit Olivia and Andrew. had a nice meal and a few cheeky vimtos there. Was lovely to see them again, its been over a year, if not a year and a half since i last caught up with them.
Saturday we watched Sex and the City, the movie, on DVD as i had been awake since 4.30am and was no use for anything else. Then i went to visit Emma and went out in Limerick with her, Geraldine and Karen. Lovely meal, lots of drinks. Lots and Lots of drinks. Didn't go to bed until 5am (was kind of testing a new reverse phsycology sleep pattern but it didn't really work out). Frealy conicidence happened. i met up with Janine and Nichola (and Ashling and Fiona) who i used to share a flat in Limerick with 10 years ago. They both live in the Uk. I havent seen them since we all left Limerick 10 years ago, and we all happened to be in Limerick on the same night. I havent been out in Limerick more than once in the last 10 years, so well freaky concidence Was really lovely to see them all again.
On Sunday, i took the train to Dublin to meet Laura. Died a death on Sunday night and conked out , thinking i would sleep for a week, only to wake up at 5.30am again. So was pretty wiped out again. We went to meet up with David at the Dundrum Shopping Centre and from there we went down to Greystones for a bite to eat. A bite to eat turned into a lovely meal, and rather alot of alcohol. Met up with Colette also, which was really lovely as i hadnt seen them since the wedding last year. We never made it back to Dublin, instead ending up sleeping on the couches and literally dying today!! there was more vomit involved - though thankfully no moving cars this time.
Got the bus to Belfast this afternoon and have more or less just arrived now. Get to see Alfie soon and catch up on all my post. Going for a bite to eat with Rachel and Ryan soon.
Its been really lovely catching up with friends, i know I'm bad at it!!! i have had a lovely few days, but I'm a little bit on the wrong side of tired now!!!
So that's my little Irish update so far. Will be back down home in the next day or so for my mums anniversary on Friday. And then its off to good old sunny OZ. Surf School awaits!!!!!
I'm in Belfast now, typing this, having done a whistlestop tour of Ireland since last Friday.
Wednesday and Thursday last week were written off to sleep (slept all day, awake half the night. its my new mantra!!) Friday i went to Kilaloo to visit Olivia and Andrew. had a nice meal and a few cheeky vimtos there. Was lovely to see them again, its been over a year, if not a year and a half since i last caught up with them.
Saturday we watched Sex and the City, the movie, on DVD as i had been awake since 4.30am and was no use for anything else. Then i went to visit Emma and went out in Limerick with her, Geraldine and Karen. Lovely meal, lots of drinks. Lots and Lots of drinks. Didn't go to bed until 5am (was kind of testing a new reverse phsycology sleep pattern but it didn't really work out). Frealy conicidence happened. i met up with Janine and Nichola (and Ashling and Fiona) who i used to share a flat in Limerick with 10 years ago. They both live in the Uk. I havent seen them since we all left Limerick 10 years ago, and we all happened to be in Limerick on the same night. I havent been out in Limerick more than once in the last 10 years, so well freaky concidence Was really lovely to see them all again.
On Sunday, i took the train to Dublin to meet Laura. Died a death on Sunday night and conked out , thinking i would sleep for a week, only to wake up at 5.30am again. So was pretty wiped out again. We went to meet up with David at the Dundrum Shopping Centre and from there we went down to Greystones for a bite to eat. A bite to eat turned into a lovely meal, and rather alot of alcohol. Met up with Colette also, which was really lovely as i hadnt seen them since the wedding last year. We never made it back to Dublin, instead ending up sleeping on the couches and literally dying today!! there was more vomit involved - though thankfully no moving cars this time.
Got the bus to Belfast this afternoon and have more or less just arrived now. Get to see Alfie soon and catch up on all my post. Going for a bite to eat with Rachel and Ryan soon.
Its been really lovely catching up with friends, i know I'm bad at it!!! i have had a lovely few days, but I'm a little bit on the wrong side of tired now!!!
So that's my little Irish update so far. Will be back down home in the next day or so for my mums anniversary on Friday. And then its off to good old sunny OZ. Surf School awaits!!!!!
Monday, 10 November 2008
My Last Day
It finally came, my last full day in San Francisco, and indeed the last full day of my US trip. I had a really cool chill out day, just wandering around all the bit i may have missed and generally enjoying the sunshine again after yesterdays fog. I walked the Haight Ashbury district, which runs from the end of Golden Gate Park and is really hip and funky and frankly odd in places. but its cool. Wandered down to the mission and castro districts for a nosey, i get the feeling they come into their own when the sun goes down. Had a wander around the shops one last time (though i may squeeze in one more trip tomorrow before i head to the airport!!!) and then i went to the cinema to see Body of Lies with Russell Crowe and Leonardo De Caprio. It was okay, nothing overly memorable about it!!
Need to finish packing but cant be bothered. The bags weigh too much i know that much so i can fight with Aer Lingus again tomorrow evening in Heathrow!!!
All in all its been a fantastic 34 days in America. For the most part, i loved every minute of it. Even the days when Gordon was driving us all insane!!! I'm sorry to be leaving, even though i know i have Australia and New Zealand to look forward to. I know i will have fun there and it will be amazing too, but a part of me has always wanted to spend more time in America and nearly 5 weeks just isn't enough for me I'm afraid!!
I'm sure by the time i get over my jet lag and have readjusted to being back in Ireland with its November weather and all that entails, it will be time for me to head off again!!!
Signing off for now!!!
Need to finish packing but cant be bothered. The bags weigh too much i know that much so i can fight with Aer Lingus again tomorrow evening in Heathrow!!!
All in all its been a fantastic 34 days in America. For the most part, i loved every minute of it. Even the days when Gordon was driving us all insane!!! I'm sorry to be leaving, even though i know i have Australia and New Zealand to look forward to. I know i will have fun there and it will be amazing too, but a part of me has always wanted to spend more time in America and nearly 5 weeks just isn't enough for me I'm afraid!!
I'm sure by the time i get over my jet lag and have readjusted to being back in Ireland with its November weather and all that entails, it will be time for me to head off again!!!
Signing off for now!!!
Sunday, 9 November 2008
Fun Night Out in San Francisco
Had such a good night out last night. Went to a couple of clubs in SOMA (South of Market Street). The first one was called the Cat Club, kind of 80's music. Well funky and a very mixed and interesting crowd. Good fun though! Then we went to Bootie, a mashup club as they call it here. Its where they mix music together to make even better music. I loved it!! it was so good. Back in the UK its called bootleg apparently. Little old me had never heard of it before last night. Apparently it was invented by two English blokes, affectionately calling themselves Bastard. They were there last night playing and it was well good. I never would have thought that i would enjoy that kind of music but it was well cool. Bootie has apparently been voted the best dance club in SF for the last few years running. My mission is now to find bastard in the UK and covert the masses!!! Thanks to Tom for taking me to these places. I never would have found them, or even considered them without you!!! Didn't even get too drunk really, so have a clear head today for my last day in San Francisco. Going to head up to head up to Haight Ashbury today as i never got there yesterday due to the fog!! I'm gutted to be leaving tomorrow. I so love it here!!!
Foggy Golden Gate Park
On my second to last day in the US, i went to Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. It was one of the main reasons i wanted to return to SF as i hadn't looked around it properly when i was here a few weeks ago. The day started bright enough, if a little cooler than the last few days. Then the fog rolled in from the bay and you have never seen fog like it!!! well cool.
Kind of made the whole day a bit better really as it gave the parka whole surreal feel to it. I did get wet, a little bit, but it didn't actually bother me!!! Rain mac got used for the first time on this trip. Think tomorrow is supposed to be a better day, back to sunshine!!
Went to the De Young museum first. Designed by Herzog and De Muron who designed the birds nest stadium for the Olympics recently. Beautiful building!!! They had an exhibit of Yves Saint Laurent Haute Couture which was pretty cool, if a bit way out there. There also had an exhibit of architecual sculpture which had me well happy for a few hours. i wasn't allowed to take photos though, so bit of a bummer there.
Went across to the academy of Sciences next. Its just reopened after being rebuilt and it was packed. Guess the fog and rain didn't help as everyone was looking for shelter. it was well cool, just way to packed too be able to really enjoy it. They have an indoor rain forest, and a planetarium, and an Aquarium all under one roof, along with lots of other exhibits and stuff. The roof is entirely covered in grass and is the Living Roof. Apparently its about as green as any building can be!!!!
Back at the hostel now, killing a few hours. Going out tonight with Tom to explore the delights of San Francisco which should be a laugh!!!
Pictures are on facebook.
Kind of made the whole day a bit better really as it gave the parka whole surreal feel to it. I did get wet, a little bit, but it didn't actually bother me!!! Rain mac got used for the first time on this trip. Think tomorrow is supposed to be a better day, back to sunshine!!
Went to the De Young museum first. Designed by Herzog and De Muron who designed the birds nest stadium for the Olympics recently. Beautiful building!!! They had an exhibit of Yves Saint Laurent Haute Couture which was pretty cool, if a bit way out there. There also had an exhibit of architecual sculpture which had me well happy for a few hours. i wasn't allowed to take photos though, so bit of a bummer there.
Went across to the academy of Sciences next. Its just reopened after being rebuilt and it was packed. Guess the fog and rain didn't help as everyone was looking for shelter. it was well cool, just way to packed too be able to really enjoy it. They have an indoor rain forest, and a planetarium, and an Aquarium all under one roof, along with lots of other exhibits and stuff. The roof is entirely covered in grass and is the Living Roof. Apparently its about as green as any building can be!!!!
Back at the hostel now, killing a few hours. Going out tonight with Tom to explore the delights of San Francisco which should be a laugh!!!
Pictures are on facebook.
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