http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Tory/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Tory en-us Tue, 05 Jan 2010 04:33:33 +0000 Tue, 05 Jan 2010 04:33:33 +0000 I arrived in Hong Kong after a long over night flight from New Zealand. Guess what it was raining So I put on my coat collected my bag and boarded the train as per Sue's instructions as soon as I walked out of the air conditioned train the heat hit me the humidity in Hong Kong is stifling. Like nothing else I have ever experienced. After stripping down the layers to trousers and tshirt I found http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Hong-Kong/Kowloon/blog-195668.html This is getting hard to write as the 11th July feels so long ago and so much has happened since but here goes. I arrived in Townsville at 2pm thinking Penny would be just getting off the greyhound bus next to me but looking around there was no room for another bus. I asked the my Premier bus driver where the greyhound stopped and he replied 2km over near the ferry I then spun round trying to reme http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Queensland/Magnetic-Island/blog-195661.html My last day in Cairns was spent recovering from the night out with Sanne and the dive boat crew it was a fab night out and the next day I just concentrated on getting a Tan though I should sun bath at least once whilst I was away.On Tuesday I got up checked out and headed to the airport fate was having fun with me though I was meant to be getting a cab as it was only 5 more than the shuttle http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Rotorua/blog-191098.html Well it's been a long two weeks but a really fabulous time too. Last time I left you I was in Cairns so I'll pick up from there. After meeting Lucy for half hour to catch up I went and bought the ingredients for dinner. I met up with Marc a friend from Brisbane and cooked a chicken and bacon salad for him and Penny later Shaun and Adam came over a drink at our hostel. The next day was my last d http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Northern-Territory/Uluru/blog-190784.html Around the World in 126 DaysWell I opted out at 12.30am after being forced to down a few shots but the photos are ok. I also understand that lots happened after I left but I have no idea what accept for the odd rumor I have heard glad you all had a good timeOn a more serious note thanks for all coming and I'll see you all in a few months. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Essex/blog-155424.html After a tearful goodbye on Emily's part and a very very sad goodbye for Vicky we set of on our long adventure with hopes of excitement and fun for the next four months. We shopped then headed straight for the bar to celebrate.The flight was interesting there was a black guy next who us who let out a little chuckle every so often which we eventually found out was because he was watching Norbit. W http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/Los-Angeles/blog-156768.html We were both excited at a new adventure another country any the fact that life wasn't going to be soo rushed any more. To celebrate this we headed straight for the local backpackers bar under our hostel after having a quick roo burger on the roof of our hostel. Being very excited and in high spirits we went out in combats trainers no make up which to be honest is the norm for me and a vest t http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/blog-169686.html After a fancy lunch with the another glass of the correct wine I took a walk around the vineyard.Arriving off the plane we realised we were still and hour outside of Melboure so we boarded a shuttle and headed for the Central Business District. Guess what it was rainingWe managed to navigate the tram's to the hostel although we had to ask as the tickets are sold in 7eleven shops and the stops ar http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Victoria/Melbourne/blog-169692.html Brisbane Australasia Australia Queensland Brisbane By ToryJune 23rd 2007 Lunch TimeFeeding the elephant for the 5th time just so that I could get this pictureAfter being dropped at Brisbane airport and saying our goodbyes to the surf crew Linda Saskia Sanne and myself jumped into a taxi and headed for the city we had phoned ahead to Banana Benders Hostel who had a four bed dorm for 25 http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Queensland/Brisbane/blog-174902.html After our reunion Penny and I decided to get some grub we found a backpackers PJ Murphy's that did steak and mash for 5 if you bough a beer or wine. As good as this sounds it took 1hour 15min to actually get our food and we had to go and chase it up twice. But the food was good when it finally came.Thursday was a relaxing day planning the rest of my trip which although unlike me was needed as I http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Queensland/Cape-Tribulation/blog-185291.html After a long over night bus trip I arrived in Airlie beach with nowhere to stay I had this odd feeling that I needed to go to sleep I think it was because I had been sleeping sitting up all night. At the bus station there were minibuses to take people to their hostels. I approached the first driver who told me there were vacancies but it was 27 and 1km out of town the next one was for Backpack http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Queensland/Airlie-Beach/blog-180254.html I arrived at Rainbow Beach from Brisbane tired as I had tried to sleep on the bus but the girl next to me was from Essex also and would not shut up so I was forces to pretend I was watching 'Bend it like Beckham' so she would be quite. Unfortunatley I had got in to the film by the time she stopped talking and ended up watching it rather than sleeping yes I still think it's and awful film then http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Queensland/Fraser-Island/blog-179494.html I finally boarded my delayed flight from Melbourne to Byron Bay at about 8pm and spent the whole flight talking with a girls from Evans Head when I finnally arrived in Byron Bay gone 12 midnight but was greated by a friendly alright mate from a girl I later found out was called Sue I just fell straight in to bed and crashed out. Sunday I woke to sunshine Finally Sue intorduced herself and http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Byron-Bay/blog-172739.html Leaving Emily soundly asleep in Wellington after another full night parting Vicky headed for the south Island. Having picked up a friend in her dorm in Wellington Claire Vicky headed for Kaikoura full of excitement at the prospect of Whale watching she slept through most of the ferry but when she did wake the views were spectacular. Happy that the South Island was truly going to be more specta http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/blog-165022.html Our first impressions of New Zealand were not great after everything everyone had said about how great New Zealand was it just didnt seem that way to us.... We arrived at Auckland airport on the 20th May in the evening. We got a shuttle to the hostel which was nice but we couldnt say that much for the surrounding areas. While Emily was doing the washing Vicky left in search of an ATM machine http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/blog-163797.html After spending times in various places in Fiji we have come to realise that even thought this beautiful land with calm clear waters and white sandy beaches sun shining through out the day and stars glowing at night that there is more behind beauty of Fiji. While staying on the island Mana we noticed that though our accomodation was scarce we were living like royalty compared to the locals they http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Fiji/blog-157199.html