Catseye

Friday 29th June - Sun 1st July - Fraser island self drive adventure We got off to a bad start as our land rover wouldn't start to get on the ferry. The rather useless tour company pushed us on assuring us it would work on the island (although they previously told us that push starts are impossible in the sand). We had to push start in the sand 3 or 4 times a day. Once from very deep, soft sand. It was hard work but I really enjoyed it as I felt like we were in 'Little Miss Sunshine'. We were really lucky with our group which was made up of four irish and three germans (my heritage) and us two. Our group was really lovely and everyone mucked in with putting up tents, cooking etc. ... read more

Monday 11th June - Sydney - Happy birthday to the queen in oz - why is it a different day here? and happy birthday to Carla our roommate who was crowned Queen of the Scubar the other night. She forced 20 bucks on me for finding her coat so I forced a beautiful birthday cake on her - even. Tuesday 12th June - We went out to Bondai Beach which is smaller than I imagined (isn't everything) and it has beautiful pink sand and amazing surfers who are as good as I'm sure we will be very soon! Wed 13th June - Port Maquaaarieeee - As the Chinese embassy has finally agreed to let us leave Sydney we were off to Port Maquarie, although we nearly weren't allowed on the bus because I cant pronounce it. ... read more

Sat 26th May - Weird day as we haven't slept for two days. Arrived in Melbourne. Explored the city and took our strange spaced out state as an excuse to buy new clothes for the first time in 3 months! I bought a very beautiful dress and other incredibly cheap clothes on Bridge St - it all felt like a dream so perhaps Bridge St does not really exist. We were sitting in the hostel bar when a party bus arrived and suddenly it was Stylus or somewhere cheesy in Leeds first year all over again. Sun 27th May - We watched Japanese children doing an amazing dance in Federation square and I joined in with a traditional dance. We also went to an exhibition of Centre Pompidou videos I liked Bruce Nauman especially. I really ... read more

Wed 9th May - Sat 12th May - Time Travelling Our last night in the US. We went our dinner with Kate who I knew from Brighton (amazing coincidence) and saw the worst comedy in the world 'PLEASE, laugh, I'm a career waiter! You people are killing me!' We spent twelve hours in which we time travelled forward two days to Wellington. I think that makes us younger. Very spaced beautiful sushi and sake numbed the pain of the longest day ever. Although the pub called Kitty O'Shea's wasn't impressed that I have the same name as the pub!! the cheek. Sun 13th May - Lovely day exploring Wellington. It feels like Reading but in a pretty place. Was in a simulated earthquake at te papa museum however this did not prepare me enough to wake ... read more

Mon 30th April - Wed 2nd May - Cancun - Spring Break Three beautiful days on the beach in Cancun. ThThe water here is a beautiful turquoise colouir and its as warm as a bath to swim in! Our hostel feels like a treehouse. Its all made of wood with hammocks outside. It's still crazy hot but there's a breeze by the sea and at about 5pm its perfect for swimming. We went out with a gaggle of australians to Senor Frogs - I can't repeat what it was like coz of the old 'what happens in ....stays in....'. We spent a beautiful day on the isla mujeres - all the activities are too expensive for backpackers but we lay in hammocks and watched a big group of tourists successfully find this guy on his honeymoons ... read more

Sat 28/04 - 8 or 9 hours on a bus now feels like nothing to me. Its so relaxing and some of the scenery has been incredible. High mountain ranges as we were leaving the capital. Areas of jungle almost like the rainforest. So many tiny thatched huts. The whole bus had to unpack their bags on a dusty road today and show the contents to army soldiers with scarily big guns. Campeche is beautiful and very peaceful. Were staying on the main square where bands play in the evening. Its just like the north lanes. Sun 29/04 - A very relaxed day exploring Campeche. I taught a little mexican girl in the hostel Poi. We sat on the seafront for hours watching the sea and then a beautiful sunset.... read more

fri 27/04 - So I want the map to show all the places so some of these entries are going to be ridiculously short. We spent one night in the tackiest/kitschest pink hotel next to the bus station. We felt like we were on the run from the law! Streets are very bustly and dirty - felt just like the kingsland high street! I miss hackney. there was no veggie food here.... read more

mon 23/04 - crazy day being treated like someone important by the british council. Interviewed on ibero 90.9 radio and for Paso de gato magazine about the edinburgh fringe. Ate in a very fancy restaurant where they give you two types of sangrita with your tequila. tues 24/04 - we went out to see the Guadelupe shrine. the image of the virgin mary appeared as an oil painting on this guys apron and a very funny conveyor belt moves pilgrims past it, as if you tins in a supermarket. We also went to see the tlateloco ruins where they used to play football to decide who got the honour of being sacrificed to the gods. Its also where an unknown number of students were massacred in 1968. We went out to the pyramids at Tetouhican and ... read more

Thurs 12-04 After two days on a train and a plane and spending a night back in the good old upper east side we arrived in Mexico City. Straight away I was struck by the colours, the bright light and the smell of the heat. very welcome relief after the very long winter. Our hostel is in the best location I have ever stayed in. Its right on the main square with a roof terrace looking out across the cathedral. everyone go to Mexico city and go to the mundo joven hostel. Fri 13-04 Changed our plan because all advice seemed to be against travelling north in mexico - instead were going to go along the carribean coast down to Cancun. We met Jesus he was a barrell of laughs- his friend is crazy about ireland. ... read more

Tues 10-04 Today we headed 400miles north to Montreal. The train ride was beautiful - we passed so many lakes- although it was the slowest train ride of my life - we could have walkd there faster. The hostelling international has a really nice buzz about it. Lots of socializing and events. Wed 11-04 We explored the city- the port and old montreal are really lovely. its nice to see a touristy place so outof season. we watched glass blowers and thought it looked like a good job. they drink beer- they create glass things. thurs 12-04 We snuck into Colombia uni to prepare our talk for the montreal fringe. very difficult to engage brain again. there was a crazy amount of snow falling and it just kept coming. pub crawl with people from the hostel- ... read more