http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Derek--and-Joan/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Derek and Joan en-us Mon, 28 Dec 2009 16:45:34 +0000 Mon, 28 Dec 2009 16:45:34 +0000 Saw the pelican feeding at San Remo and some good views on the IslandCalled in at Pin Oak Court Vermont the street that is used as 'Ramsay street' for the outside scenes in Neighbours http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Victoria/Philip-Island/blog-421928.html Hello allBack after a 4 day trip along the Great Ocean Road staying for 1 night each at Apollo Bay Port Talbot and Warrnambool.We travelled back along the inland route via ColacAfter we spent 1 night in Melbourne Joan and I went to Phillip Island for 1 night to see the fairy penguins as they came up the beach at dusk back to their nests. No photos allowed so it doesn't frighten the penguins as th http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Victoria/Great-Ocean-Road/blog-421919.html Travelled around city centre and visited National Trust properties. Reciprocal aggreement here so free entry.Melbourne Gaol and Como House are NTLots of interesting covered lanes in the city centreDerek Joan http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Victoria/Melbourne/blog-419016.html Arrived Melbourne and met at airport by ClaireGreat to see her again after more than 4 monthsClaire showed us around on first 2 days then she has been at work since so we've been around the city and out to the western suburbs to meet Tom and Joyce Boone Joan's cousinsClaire has 4 days off so going along Great Ocean road on Saturday to tuesdayDerek and Joan http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Victoria/Melbourne/blog-419010.html Had a couple of nights in Singapore on the way to Melbourne We flew from London to Singapore on the new A380 Airbus Business Classgreat seats with lie flat beds fully horizontal rather than at 30' angle. Stayed at Swissotel Merchant Court. Good hotel in great location alongside river at Clarke's quay.Walked from Clarke's Quay to Raffles and around Marina Bay on first day and Chinatown on second mo http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Singapore/Chinatown/blog-419003.html Hello allWe've just arrived back in Australia on a trip to see our daughter Claire who emigrated to Melbourne in February 2009We travelled via 2 nights in Singapore and had a great flight on the new A380 Airbus.We were originally booked with Emirates but got an offer on Singapore Airlines that saved us a lot of money even allowing for the cancellation charges to Emirates. We could have flown direc http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Victoria/Melbourne/blog-415381.html Just a few photos http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Singapore/blog-339934.html Hello allWe are at Auckland airport now awaiting our flight to Singapore for 2 nights stopover.After we left Russell we drove across country to the west coast.Went via Kawakawa that had some very strange toilets built out of all sorts of bits and pices left over from tiles etcThen had lunch at Rawene on the Hokianga harbour a lovely cafe The boat ShedVisited Clendon House across the road one of http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Auckland/blog-339603.html Hello againJust back to Arcadia Lodge after about 10 hours sightseeing and having our evening mealCaught the ferry from Okiato the old capital before it moved to Russell and then on to Aucklanddrove a few km to the Waitangi treaty grounds where the Maori and the English signed the treaty in 1840 agreeingf equal rights to the MaoriHad a great guided explanatory tour with Vern a full bloodied MaoriO http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Bay-of-Islands/Russell/blog-338801.html hello alltravelled out of Auckland on the 23rd and drove the scenic route up to Whangerei pronounced 'fungeray'Had rain and showers most of the way but arrived at a loveley BB Lupton Lodge.Andy and Karen great hosts very helpful with local knowledge. Drove around Whangerei Heads the next day to see lots of quiet secluded bays and great sights.yesterday moved on to Russell via the coast road.we http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Whangarei/blog-338438.html Hello allhaving a busy time in AucklandGave the presentation this morning at 08.30 local time so a small but select group in the audienceseemed to go okConference dinner tonight and then off to Bay of Islands later tomorrowweather has been good warm and dry but forcast for end of week is heavy rain in the northIt's Labour weekend this weekend so don't know how that will affect usI've posted the http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Auckland/Central/blog-337125.html Here are a few more http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Queensland/Whitsundays/blog-336700.html Hello againWe said goodbye to Australia yesterday and arrived here in Auckland after good flights from Whitsunday Islands via BrisbaneWe left in temperature of 30' and arrived in Auckland just after midnight 3 hrs time difference forward with only 9' outsideMight not see much use for the shorts and t shirts for the next few daysWe had a fantastic time in the Whitsunday IslandsOn wednesday we http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Auckland/Central/blog-336262.html Hello all Arrived Hamilton Island yesterday to Reef View hotel about 09.45 and got room by 10.30 so quite lucky. Check in usually not until 2pm. Went on a golf buggy down to the Marina where all the shops and restaurants and cafes are. The hotel is great with a fantastic view from our balcony over Catseye Beach. Walked up steep roads to One Tree Hill late afternoon. An Aussie couple were getting http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Queensland/Hamilton-Island/blog-334080.html Hello allHad a restful day on thursday around town and on the beach then went up to Mossman Gorge Daintree River and Cape Tribulation yesterdayTook the Kuku Yulangi Aborigine cultural walk yesterday. Really interesting telling us about how they use the trees and plants in the rainforrest. Some will feed you and others will cause nasty skin reactions blind you or even kill you.Took Bruce Belcher' http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Queensland/Port-Douglas/blog-333100.html Hi everyoneWe've moved on to Port Douglas now and have had a chance to get into an internet cafe to put some photos on from Uluru previously known as Ayres RockDerek Joan http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Northern-Territory/Uluru/blog-333093.html A very quick hello to all as we wait for our plane from Uluru to CairnsHave had a great time saw the sunset and sunrise over the Rock and walked the Valley of the winds todayA great place to come but only once as it's expensive and apart from seeing Ayres Rock and the Olgas there's not much else to doGot seats at the window on the flight so hope we take off the right way for the viewfotos to follo http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Northern-Territory/Uluru/blog-332111.html Hi allJust finished packing to leave early monday morning to fly to Ayres Rock now known as Uluru.Checked in on line but all window seats already gone so got 2 aisle seatsHope people at window let me look outHad a great meal last night at The Waterfront overlooking Opera House and the BridgeGreat food and fantastic location all as a present from Claire Rachel and Matthew for our wedding anniversa http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/blog-331035.html G'day from SydneyWe've had a busy 4 days since we arrived here and no time for the blog until nowHad good flights from KL to Sydney via Singapore only delayed because someone didn't make the flight to Sydney from Singapore but their luggage did so we had to wait whilst it was unloaded.Lots of security at the airports which is reasssuring and didn't cause any delays. Much quickewr operation tha http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/Opera-House/blog-330312.html Hello allJust in transit from Kl to Sydney via SingaporeHad a great time in KL Met Teresa Chow who was one of my registrars in Liverpool during her trainingHad dinner with her and husband Chit then they took us to the night market in ChinatownSunday took the hop on hop off bus and went up the Kl towerVisibility was quite good given the heat and humidityVisited the National Mosque and spent some ti http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Singapore/Changi/blog-329021.html