http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Hats/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Hats en-us Sun, 06 Dec 2009 11:14:34 +0000 Sun, 06 Dec 2009 11:14:34 +0000 The rest of my time in Australia flew by similar to my time in Singapore and Malaysia. I ended Australia in Cairns where the weather was lovely and I stayed in a nice hostel called Bohemia Resort. I did a couple of day trips from there including a days snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef and a trip into the rainforest and to some stunning waterfalls. The snorkelling was great fun I even spotte http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/South-West-Thailand/Ko-Tao/blog-291445.html I can't believe I've not done my blog for my entire time in Australia sorry folks been having rather a good time I arrived in Melbourne at the end of April and stayed there for almost a week. I was staying in St Kildas which was a really nice area and the hostel was always buzzing which meant I met lots of awesome people. I had a day trip along the Great Ocean road which was fun and got to see http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Queensland/Airlie-Beach/blog-271132.html 'East As' as it's known on the kiwi bus has been one of the highlights of my trip. It's a four day three night trip around the east cape of north island but I rather fell for it so extended my trip by four nights. There were only seven of us on the bus and luckily we all got on well so had lots of fun. Our bus driver Rex was in his seventies and such a laugh to be with. He'd obviously been d http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/blog-268130.html I've moved up to the North Island in the time it's taken me to write this so rather alot's happened I'll try not to ramble Franz Josef was fantastic one of my best days here. The weather was rather pants but me and my friend Beth sung our way through it in a vague attempt to keep spirits high I know the comments I'll get for writing that. It was an amazing experience being on a mountain o http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/blog-264911.html Wow time is totally flying and I can't believe how much we're fitting into each day. Since the last time I wrote we've ventured down to the south island where the climate is slightly cooler I've been bitten to death by sandflies have made many new friends and am enjoying the spectacular scenery amongst many other things. I spent my final day in Taupo doing the Tongariro Crossing with Craig. http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/blog-261138.html I can't believe how much I've done in a week. I started the kiwi experience early last Thursday and have enjoyed every minute so far. I started at the Bay of Islands more specifically Paihia. We stayed in a little hostel called the Pipi Patch which was basic but had a great bar and was a short walk from the beach. I made friends with two girls called Victoria and Laura on the coach and we spent http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Bay-of-Islands/Paihia/blog-258209.html Not even a week has passed since my last blog but I leave tomorrow for the kiwi experience so I thought I'd better update now as I don't know when my next chance will be. Unfortunately I currently have tonsilitus so I'm pumped up on antibiotics and pain killers to try and calm my HUGE tonsils which are choking me The doctor said that they were the largest ones she's ever seen is that something http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Auckland/blog-255266.html Two weeks have slipped by since I last did a blog sorry folks Lets hope I can remember what's been happening The weather here is gradually becoming more autumnal with more rainy days than sunny ones but I've still been able to go to the beach and do everything I want to. When I arrived in Auckland I compiled a list of around 12 activities that I wanted to do and I'm happy to say that it's n http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Auckland/blog-253216.html Well I'm now half way through by time in Auckland which is rather scary but Fiona reminds me that I'm not allowed to mention that On the up side the cricket has improved yay I went to Eden Park last Friday with Olivia from school and one of her friends who happened to be back in Auckland on that day. It was really good fun we paid a little more to get seats in the shade with back rests which http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Auckland/blog-248446.html I'm getting a slating for being a 'pomme' out here at the moment I wish our cricketers would improve pretty rapidly They're playing a one day international at Eden Park tomorrow which hopefully I'll go to but the weather forecast isn't great and the friends that I'd go with would have to get off work. I forget that not everyone's on a long holiday like me I went to Auckland museum last Thursd http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Auckland/blog-246029.html I can't believe I've been here a week already as everyone warned me time's flying The weather here's really hot and sunny we had a drop of rain on Sunday but that was it. I went and explored the centre of Auckland on Saturday and decided I really liked it. It's very clean and the people are so friendly I even managed to make friends with a lost monk The shops aren't too bad and I managed http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Auckland/blog-243627.html SingaporeI arrived in Singapore on the 28th and I couldn't believe how hot and stuffy it was. The flight though 12 hours long was not too bad. I had some good films and the food was actually very nice I had a treat of spaghetti bolognaise waiting for me when I reached the house that I was staying at not very typical for the area The house belongs to some friends of my aunts and was lovely. Th http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Singapore/blog-241586.html