http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Suziepaul/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Suziepaul en-us Tue, 22 Dec 2009 23:29:16 +0000 Tue, 22 Dec 2009 23:29:16 +0000 Famous people and Labour Day Leaving LA via Mulholland Drive and the huge mansions of the Hollywood Hills we encountered holiday traffic along the beautiful Pacific Coastal Highway and stopped over in a grim motel in the OK town of Ventura before getting to the heaving and expensive Santa Barbara. The town was full of interesting things to see but also felt homely and classy we strolled down the http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/blog-452741.html La La LandAs soon as we got off the plane at LAX we struggled to get to grips with the change of pace and scenery after only a minute of being in the taxi whilst still in the airport we were pulled over by traffic police a stark reminder that our road trip around the US would be a lot different to Australia or New Zealand.We hung around with our friends KP Sam and all stayed in downtown LA w http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/Los-Angeles/blog-452690.html Cook Islands The Jurassic Park soundtrackWe powered up the North Island of New Zealand and stayed with our friend Alisha who we had traveled with in China and after a pleasant stay in Auckland we jetted off to the Cook Islands and as we flew onto the island we got a chance to view its beauty by air from the sprawling emeraldgreen lagoons to the dramatic mountainous centre of the island cue Pa http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Cook-Islands/Rarotonga/blog-450831.html Heading NorthWe left for the east coast and after another fantastic drive through the countryside we arrived at Kaikoura where we had booked ourselves on a dolphin encounter for the following day but as it was such nice weather as we arrived at midday we decided to move the encounter forward to that afternoon which worked out perfect weatherwise.As it turned out there was a pod of over 700 dol http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/blog-450822.html Tackling the West CoastThe last time that we traveled through the west coast of the south island we had terrible weather and so decided to skip through it fairly quickly so we were lucky that this time the weather was amazing especially considering that it has the highest average rainfall for the whole country and we witnessed the incredible views along the drive from Queenstown to the township http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/blog-450791.html Weather and windscreensOn the drive from Lake Tekapo to Mount Cook the onceclear skies began to change and we drove right into a storm meaning we decided to skip hanging around and head straight for Queenstown in the hope that the weather was better down there.The weather in Queenstown was great and we drove into the pretty town with its gorgeous mountain views centrepiece of the vast lake and r http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Queenstown/blog-448761.html New ZealandLanding in New Zealand we were excited at the change of scenery albeit a familiar one and after arriving at midnight we were just excited mainly about getting some sleep. We stayed in a great cosy hostel just outside the town centre and it was nice to have a couple of days back in Christchurch to revisit some of our favourite sites such as the pretty botanical gardens and alwaysinte http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/blog-444196.html Final stretch of the coastPassing through the tropic of Capricorn was a good indicator that the weather would turn and almost immediately we noticed the once allblue skies had turned cloudy we had our first splashes of rain on the windscreen and the longsleeved clothes started to make an appearance during the dayWe got the last space available in one of the few campsites in Denham and set off http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/blog-444189.html Snorkelling Swimming and SunbathingAfter the relaxing time in Broome we had a fair bit of driving to do to get to the next stretch of coast and it turned out a fair bit of driving through featureless barren landscapes and stopping in quiet roadhouses or industrial towns and an overflow site on a golf course but after a few days of constant driving we finally made it to the Ningaloo Reef Cape http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/blog-441908.html Back to civilisationKnowing that we had a good four days in Broome and no driving for a while we were looking forward to settling in a campsite and seeing all the sights at a leaisurely pace. Well one caravan park tried to charge 40 for a camping spot effectively a piece of grass and a toilet and everywhere else was full so we ended up staying in the overflow site of a youth centre the whole ti http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Broome/blog-441391.html The Kimberley DriveThe drive from Katherine to the Kimberley region was really picturesque with its constantly changing scenery it made the journey through the small towns of Australians northern outback a really enjoyable experience. One minute we were driving through a rugged hilly area the next through a vast endless plain filled with bizarre shaped boab trees and other random plantlife and e http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Northern-Territory/blog-436650.html Exploring the Northern TerritoriesFinally we got our campervan and home for the next month. After a mess up by the rental company we spent two nights in Darwin making the most of the great weather and things to do as well as the 3.50 meals at the pub and headed off for Litchfield National Park.Altough being so close to Kakadu Litchfield was a world apart with its easily accessible sights comp http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Northern-Territory/blog-435816.html Touring the Top EndThe train journey on the famous Ghan up to Darwin offered incredible views of the Aussie outback and a really unique experience but unfortunately possibly the worst nights sleep ever due to the notso reclining seats and noise of the train.So it was with a fair bit of exhaustion we entered Darwin and the very next morning we hadn't planned this very well at all were back on a http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Northern-Territory/blog-434772.html Swags snags and a load of big rocksWe stepped off the plane at Alice Springs tiny airport to the scorching heat and clear skies that we had long since forgotten after a winter in Melbourne. We also were filled with trepidation as it had been a while since we had travelled and since then we had settled down in our nice flat and had money coming in so it was going to be a complete change again.The http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Northern-Territory/Alice-Springs/blog-422541.html Autumn and Winter in MelbourneWe managed to fit a bit more into the final couple of months in Melbourne despite the fact that we were working fulltime and triyng to save for the rest of our trip. We paid a visit to Melbourne Zoo which had an excellent collection of bears lions tigers and monkeys all in a huge natural setting with plenty of wandering space for both us and the animals.We also to http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Victoria/Melbourne/blog-422509.html Birthdays and VisitorsJust in time for Suze's birthday Jane and Betty came to stay for three weeks to celebrate it and spend some time exploring more of Melbourne and its surrounds. We spent Suze's birthday on the beach with a big bbq a spot of cricket and some swimming in the sea in nearby Elwood which was a very Aussie birthdayAfter spending a week or so around Sr Kilda we went down to the Gr http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Victoria/Melbourne/blog-422477.html Settling downWe spent all of January fruitlessly looking for jobs. The economy was shaky and nobody wanted to hire Brits so we consoled ourselves by taking up jogging around Albert Park and relaxing on the beach as well as going out with friends around Melbourne.We both had numerous interviews with agencies and in between stopping businessmen getting mugged ask Paul... and seeing Suze's aunty a http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Victoria/Melbourne/blog-422472.html Happy Christmas MelbourneArriving back in Melbourne felt a little bit like coming home. Not only did we get the opportunity to spend Christmas with Suze's family they also made us feel really part of the family even as far as buying us some presents to open on Christmas Day morningWith Suze's Aunty's family all being GreekMacedonian it gave the holiday an even more interesting feel if having http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Victoria/Melbourne/blog-422459.html Touching down in OzAlas We arrived in Sydney excited to be back in Australia and in familiar territory. We stayed in Base in the middle of the city and started out by seeing the usual tourist places such as the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge can't get tired of those views and we head to Darling Harbour for some food in the evening and a quiet stroll. We also had the opportunity to a little http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/blog-408307.html Party island woopAfter another grim boat ride we found ourselves in Ko Pha Ngan famous party island and home of the original 'Full Moon Party' which we had timed our trip to be able to go to. Upon realising that we had fairly nice accommodation but cold showers for another four nights we hired a hog and head down to the town of Haad Rin where most of the action was concentrated. The main beach http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/South-West-Thailand/blog-408038.html