After mulling over the destinations on our Greyhound Bus Timetable we decide on Rainbow Beach, sounds nice, so this is our next stop. Surprisingly the coloured sands are not the most impressive feature in this tiny place. Pre-booked Frasers Backpackers Hostel, another good choice. Our room was ensuite with a balcony. On our arrival we clocked a notice announcing a free introductory guided walk by Matty Mudcrab. His name alone was enough incentive for joining the tour. Turns out he was terrific, one eighth Aboriginal with an impressive repetoire of native bird calls. Walked up through woods until we came to [View Full Entry]

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They call Queensland the Sunshine State, lets see. back on the Greyhound bus we discover that there's one hour time distance between New South Wales and its northern neighbour. Queensland hasn't adopted daylight saving therefore it gets dark earlier in the evening. Whits that aboot!!! betcha the farmers have something to do with it, same as wintertime back home, it's garbage!!, live stock cannot tell the time. Their start to the day is surely based on sunrise, so it doesnt matter whether it is five of six in the morning, farmers still have the same amount of daylight hours to work [View Full Entry]

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Just corrected a couple of spelling mistakes from my last blog, no I haven't got a shoe fetish!!! I wrote that we ate sannies, instead of sarnies. I also mentioned that not a sole boarded the ferry, should've read soul. Actually, that is also a flatfish. I haven't got a fish fetish either. Hoping the weather improves as we travel north. Our Greyhound Bus ticket allows unlimited stops on one way travel between Sydney and Cairns, so we are giving Newcastle a try for a couple of nights. We arrived at the Backpackers By The Beach Hostel, late afternoon following a [View Full Entry]

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Scheduled overnight train journey to Sydney takes 11 hours, typically it took 12 hours. Arrived at Central Train Station at 8 in the morning with no accommodation booked, although we did have a few places in mind. Ended up picking the Ambassador Hostel at Kings Cross 'cos they offered to come and pick us up. True to form, had to change accommodation after one night when we were awakened by the deafening sound of a workies hammer tool vibrating through the walls. The inside of the building next door is being demolished!!! anyway the hostel is a bit grubby and too [View Full Entry]

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Left South East Asia on a 9 hour flight from Bangkok to Melbourne. On arrival, it looked like we would never get out the airport, almost 2 hours waiting for luggage and getting through customs. Eventually boarded the Skybus to Southern Cross Station for 15 Australian dollars each, just under 7 pounds. This also includes a free shuttle to your accommodation, so after a short hop on the bus, we were dropped off at the Miami Hotel in Hawke Street. This place is a cross between a hotel and hostel, I think most people would be happy with the hostel but [View Full Entry]

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After flying from Hanoi back to Thailand we used the direct bus service from Bangkok Airport to the city. It drops you off close to the Khao San Road, and costs 150 Baht each. In this famous, some would say infamous road, backpackers from around the globe gather amongst a congested mix of bars, restaurants, cheap guesthouses, and stalls selling fake I Ds, designer clothes, counterfeit DVDs, and CDs. Not forgetting the obligatory tattoo parlours, hippy gear, body piercing, and hair braiding. We didn't fancy staying right amongst it, so we tried an area nearby called Rambutri. Turned out great, little [View Full Entry]

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Ever since watching the French movie Indochine starring Catherine Deneuve I've wanted to visit Halong Bay. Before then, I didn't even know it existed. It looked absolutely amazing during the film when they showed a junk sailing in the mist, amongst the numerous limestone islands, which jut vertically out of the tranquil water. The lead male actor escaped capture by hiding with local fishermen in one of the remote lagoons. This is a must see movie for anyone planning to visit this natural wonder. As expected, all the travel companies in Hanoi advertise trips to Halong Bay, mostly 1 night, 2 [View Full Entry]

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MERRY XMAS EVERYBODY Travelled once more on the sleeper bus for the last leg of our Vietnam Trip. It Takes around 13 hours from Hue to Hanoi. Settled into our comfy reclining seats, then DISASTER!!!! Eileen left her MP3 in the large rucksack and mine must've accidently been left on, so it needed charged. The driver decides to play a crap Vietnam version of Chris De Burgh type of music, loudly on the radio just to wind us up. The coach stopped quite a distance from the centre of Hanoi , then we were packed into mini buses to complete the [View Full Entry]

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Our next journey north takes 12 hours, so we booked a Sleeper Bus, which set off at 6 Pm, and arrived in Hoi An next morning. The bus is brilliant!, it has 28 reclining seats complete with pillows, and covers. We also have it booked for Hue, and Hanoi. Travelling overnight has added bonuses, it saves on accomodation and arriving first thing gives you a whole day to explore your new location. The bus company always drops you off at a mystery hotel, this one we didn't fancy, so off we went on moto bikes to one recommended in a blog. [View Full Entry]

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Left the cold evenings of Dalat behind as our bus descended through fabulous scenery to the valley below on our way to the beach resort of Nha Trang. The first few days here came as a bit of a bonus, the weather was great, but only a week before, this was not the case. The coast of Vietnam was subject to a Typhoon, which had caused flooding, and a fair degree of damage. After a 6 hour journey, we couldn't be bothered traipsing around looking for accommodation, so we simply walked 10 yards to book into a hotel when the bus [View Full Entry]

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