http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Els Bels/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Els Bels en-us Sat, 26 Jul 2008 09:35:52 BST Sat, 26 Jul 2008 09:35:52 BST Hi everyone after a long period away from the blog I am back in action I had a fantastic Christmas and New Year with Mum and Dad visiting Sydney Melbourne and hot hot Ayers Rock and was sad to part ways as they left for home in January while I continued my adventures to New Zealand.Fresh from the airport I met Kate and Laura friends I met back in Malaysia in September. They had done all th http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Auckland/blog-258823.html After breakfast on Saturday morning we walked to the Joffre lookout point to see the view from the top of where we walked yesterday. Straight into bus no packing away needed to drive to Knox Gorge a fairly long way away but I put my mp3 player on for some good tunes The gorge wasn't too difficult a walk but fairly long and winding over stepping stones across the river we got to the end wher http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Karijini-National-Park/blog-223164.html Photos are herehttpwww.facebook.comalbum.phpaid13481l37127id510918332httpwww.facebook.comalbum.phpaid13483laa4e5id510918332httpwww.facebook.comalbum.phpaid13484lc0bf9id510918332Perth Zoo httpwww.facebook.comalbum.phpaid13485l932b2id510918332Barrier Reef httpwww.facebook.comalbum.phpaid13594l9169cid510918332 Up notsobright and early for the st http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/80-Mile-Beach/blog-223146.html I was so tempted to sleep in the hammock outside the room on Sunday night like Carol would have been a good idea because the room was SO HOT Had actually broken into a sweat by the time I clambered up into the top bunk whilst trying not to wake Dirk up who was underneath a ladder would have helped. Didn't sleep so well and we were up chatting until late so I had a bit of a liein i.e. not g http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Broome/blog-222841.html The next morning I sat up in the front of the truck with Ian and made sure we had some good tunes We went to Windjana Gorge first thing which was just next to our camp. Couldn't believe that we were standing over what was once a big reef thousands of years ago. We spotted a few fossils in the rocks and walked down to the riverbank where there was a handful of crocs what's the name for a group o http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Derby/blog-222780.html After our unexpected bog experience it was lovely to have a bit of a liein. In complete contrast to the mudsplattered states we were in the day before we relaxed round the pool in the morning while Ian went to rescue the bus which had been stood in the mud overnight. We all cheered when he finally came back avec bus Set off again in the afternoon after thanking the Parry Creek people for their http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Gibb-River-Road/blog-222769.html Tossed and turned in my sleeping bag in the early hours then woke up properly around 4.30am to realise why I was restless we could hear what sounded like rain but was in fact a huge wind storm directly overhead really strange. It felt and sounded like it was just about to pour it down with rain like the storms in Malaysia but no rain came I unzipped our tent just as Elizabeth's tent cover http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Wyndham/blog-222759.html Up even earlier today 5.50am to be in time for a slightly more hectic breakfast than what we'd been used to with Jim. Makes sense to be up quickly to make the most of the day but we were almost treading on eggshells with Ian to make sure we packed everything away properly My tentmate Chelley had lent me her earplugs for her slight snoring problem I woke up only being able to find one of th http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Kununurra/blog-222749.html More photos here...httpwww.facebook.comalbum.phpaid12463la5708id510918332Herehttpwww.facebook.comalbum.phpaid12463la5708id510918332And herehttpwww.facebook.comalbum.phpaid12466l2b568id510918332E After our disturbed night's sleep we struggled awake at half 6 when the sun came up I'll get used to these early mornings eventually and set off for Hidden Valley nam http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Bungle-Bungles/blog-219308.html Very comfortable night's sleep in our swag bags although we kept close together in case there were any wandering snakes or spiders Was woken by squawking cockatoos around 6am What a wakeup call Was weird waking up and looking left and right to see the surrounding trees Cornflakes and vegemite on toast for brekkie before packing up our things and heading to Joe Creek in Gregory National Park. http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Northern-Territory/blog-219295.html Not quite enough time spent in civilisation to post all my pictures but you can find them herehttpwww.facebook.comalbum.phpaid12461l4e9ccid510918332E On Friday I packed up my things at the Banyan View Lodge spent a few last minutes enjoying the free internet and headed up Mitchell Road to the YHA hostel which I decided to move to on the last day as we were being picked up from the http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Northern-Territory/blog-219292.html ...and hello Darwin eventually more on that laterI waved Claire and Emily off from the Royal Hotel on Sunday morning and had a day and a half to myself in Bangkok. I walked to the reclining buddha temple up the road which was pretty impressive even after seeing quite a few temples over the last few weeks I took the chance to jump in a tuk tuk little motorised taxi where the drivers have no http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Northern-Territory/Darwin/blog-216126.html Up fairly early on Sunday to do last minute packing for the beach and set off on a hot coach drive down south to Ko Samet. We were given lunch in a banana leaf which looked exciting... until you opened it and there were all sorts in there everything from a lotus leaf to pork bits So we were quite happy to stop off for some fast food. We reached the jetty a few hours later and lugged our bags ont http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/East/Ko-Samet/blog-215784.html Had a terrible night's sleep on the floor on Tuesday night and it was absolutely freezing in the hills compared to the usual Thailand humidity Woke up hearing a banging noise and was convinced that a rat was rustling about right next to my head Discovered later that the banging was Chiara hitting her torch on the floor every ten minutes as she was sure there were multiple rats by her bed She ha http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/blog-215763.html ... The lion sleeps tonight... well that's what I was hoping as we set off for the jungle yesterday morning It was a really long hot journey in our little vans broken up only by a stop at the mall for essentials roll mat and armfuls of chocolate Thankfully Leisha and Michaela who had been trekking last week gave us the advice to take a roll mat and to eat at KFC because we stopped at a r http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/blog-215686.html We set off to the resort on Thursday to relax after the temple stay. Was great to see an air conditioned room and nice beds but no jacuzzi bath as I'd hoped After a bit of a rainstorm in the morning we were all glad to see the sun come out in time for us to relax by the infinity pool and have a bit of a read and a sunbathe Reading 'The Memory Keeper's Daughter' at the moment which is great. I http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/blog-211058.html We struggled awake at 5am on Monday to offer food to the monks who came past the ecohouse. Each of us placed rice curry or biscuits inside their containers and we all knelt down while they said a prayer of thanks. Then we poured water over a nearby tree and said another prayer to remember people who are sick or who have died. Back to bed for a couple of hours before breakfast Had a quiet morn http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/blog-210815.html We went to the elephant park in Ayutthaya yesterday morning. Very excited to see the elephants wandering around when we arrived. Claire and I rode on a female elephant called Lamduan We rode for quite a while down the road crossing the streets. At the end of the road we met up with the other people having a ride for the elephants to have a breather. One of the other elephantsrsquo trunk came http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/Central/Ayutthaya/blog-210804.html I can't believe that a month ago I was setting off from England It feels like ages but at the same time the past few weeks have flown.Yesterday morning we set off for Lopburi Province and headed to the monkey town Little bit scary seeing all the monkeys roaming free one was even sat on a man's head for a picture so we kept close together and near the guides who all had sticks We narrowly miss http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/Central/Lopburi/blog-209012.html After a long 2 hours travelling to Singburi from Bangkok a good chance to get to know people I hadn't chatted to yet we reached the Twin House ecohouse which will be our home for the next three weeks fourth week is beach week on Koh Samet. It's in the middle of nowhere but it's very quiet and peaceful with a nice little garden in between the dining area and bedrooms. Was anxious to get a bo http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/Central/Sing-Buri/blog-207925.html