http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/shazgp/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from shazgp en-us Sun, 27 Dec 2009 08:56:05 +0000 Sun, 27 Dec 2009 08:56:05 +0000 Ancient Angkor WatAs I touched down in Siem Reap in Cambodia I noticed the very green landscape dotted with wooden shacks and lakes. I opted to take a moto into the town for 2 my driver Li was a pleasent 28 year old guy who spoke broken English and became my best bud for the next 3 days.I had been overwhelmed with what I had seen on the journey the roads in the town were packed with motos and b http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Cambodia/North/Angkor/blog-286475.html SingaporeI thought Singapore would have ultra modern sparkling clean hostels...no it was a run down shoebox toilet doors broken and a busy noisy Little India below. I felt rather disorientated and lonely when I awoke realising Alysha was already at home but once I had asked the very friendly lady at reception where to go I was fine. She was so helpful and took me through a walking route of t http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Singapore/Little-India/blog-283256.html In love with Sydney once more...I love being back in Sydney and catching up with all of my friends and family. It feels like home and Irsquoll be very sad to leave I have a packed two weeks and had the best weekend. I went for coffee in a funky place called Glebe. Glebe is very cool lots of boutique shops bars and bookshops. They had a market on so after a wander we headed to the Rocks wh http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/Opera-House/blog-277668.html Perth Perth was a great laugh We arrived very late in the evening so Johnny was very kind and said we could all crash at his house so we all watched a wicked Aussie movie and of film for diving with Whale Sharks...awesome The following day we headed to a backpackers us girls getting a room to ourselves...nice Alysha and I set out to hit the shops to get suited and booted for our interviews we http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Perth/Perth-City/blog-278248.html The Animal Kingdom of WAAlong the journey Johnny took us to a little animal park in the middle of nowhere. Here we saw parrots crocs kangaroos emus lamas and your everyday farm animals. We even got to see a little Joey Kangaroo. He was so cute. Jeremy felt right at home next to his friend dolly and even got a little action with Gary the goat. We were given wheat biscuits to feed the animals w http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Kalbarri/blog-278240.html Playing with PinnaclesWe were 250km north of Perth pulling into Nambung National Park which in Aboriginal terms means lsquowindingrsquo and is home of the peculiar Pinnacles. It is a huge desert filled with thousands of limestone pillars that stand up to 4 metres tall. We had a a right laugh with the group running wild in this phallic playground. http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Pinnacles/blog-278231.html Dolphins at Monkey MiaMonkey Mia is famous for its Dolphins which come to the bay every morning to feed. So up at the crack of dawn we stumbled out the bedroom door to the beautiful aroma of stale beerhellippicking up the scattered playing cards and disguising our bloodshot eyes with sunnies we piled on to the bus. Arriving at Monkey Mia which is one of the most pristine marine environments i http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Monkey-Mia/blog-278227.html Dare Devil DenhamFrom Coral Bay we met our new tour guide Johnny plus a couple of Irish boys Kenny and Jerry who would be joining us on the trip to Perth. Our first stop was Denham. We turned the music up and sung our hearts out the whole day played hangman shared jokes and riddles did amazing art work on the windows and played a hundred rounds of shithead. We finally arrived at our hostel i http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Denham/blog-277079.html Whale Sharks at Ningaloo ReefIn March and April the huge spawning of the Coral on the Ningaloo Reef entices the worldrsquos largest fish the Whale Shark. They are gentle giants that cruise the ocean in search of plankton. They can grow up to 18 metres long but are more commonly seen between 412m. A 12 metre whale shark can weigh 11 tonnes and have a mouth more than a metre wide Now thatrsquo http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Exmouth/blog-270470.html Coral BayAfter relaxing by the pool in Exmouth for a few days we all hoped back on the Easyrider bus and jumped off at Coral Bay a paradise for snorkellers. It is a tiny town perched right on a gorgeous beach with a beautiful bay where you can get up close to the Ningaloo reef. Ningaloo stretches 260km along the WA Coast which makes it the longest fringing coral reef in the world. It was great w http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Coral-Bay/blog-275742.html EasyRider Broome to ExmouthTuesday morning feeling ill from the previous nightrsquos antics we met a group of 10 for our journey down to Exmouth. We did a huge group shop as we were going to have 3 days in the outback with no luxuries such as a supermarket. All the necessities were on the list including chocolate and booze. Our driver Rob was a new by a young guy who was very relaxed and le http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/blog-270457.html Broome and Cable BeachBroome was a melting pot of Aboriginal Chinese Japanese Indonesian and European Pearl divers and today the Pearl Industry is still thriving. Broome is only a small town but has become paradise for travelers along the West Coast. It is a very very relaxed placeso much so that everyone lives by lsquoBroometimersquo where things happen slowly itrsquos almost backwards http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Broome/blog-270454.html Dreamtime StoriesLionel our guide is one of 5 children. He is a descendent of an aboriginal clan in Kakadu and has had sme wired and wonderful things happen to him over the years.Here is one of his storiesHis older brother Jimmy went to a boarding school in an old childrenrsquos orphanage. One day he broke into a room whilst exploring and he came across some beautiful coloured stones. Their you http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Northern-Territory/Darwin/blog-266995.html Kakadu National ParkOur Kakadu Tour started with the Jumping crocodile Cruise. Before boarding the boat we all had the chance to hold a black diamond snake. Sharlene was in shakes and I was pooing my pants. They feel like rubber and are so strong trying to wrap their bodies around our necks Aaah We had already been on a crocodile cruise in the Cape Tribulation and so expected to see a couple of http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Northern-Territory/Kakadu-National-Park/blog-270431.html The Ghan and Katherine GorgeAfter a true hangover day at the pool relaxing with those from the tour it was time to say goodbye and move on once again. We were heading North to Darwin via the Ghan. The Ghan is a luxury train which travels from Adelaide to Darwin over 3 days. It is a must whilst in Australia as you truly get to appreciate the sheer size of this country and see the sparse landscape f http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Northern-Territory/Katherine/Katherine-Gorge/blog-270444.html LITCHFIELD TOURWe woke up 5 minutes before we were due on the bus after a massive night out still drunk as skunks We boarded the tour bus happy as Larry to be greeted by silence and miserable faces. We squeezed to the back and used the time to catch up on the events of the previous night. I donrsquot think anyone was too impressed as our voices got louder and louder as cackles increased to hy http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Northern-Territory/Darwin/City-of-Darwin/blog-266989.html Mulga Family Tour Alice SpringsBoarding the tour bus we greeted our new family for the next three days. Although it was early morning everyone was in high spirits despite the fourhour journey we had ahead of us. Our guide Scotty was a great character. He kept us entertained throughout and as we got to know him told us stories about his life living in Alice Springs and shared his passion of t http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Northern-Territory/Alice-Springs/blog-270091.html My special day in MelbourneI wake up early to a surprise placed on my bed. Sharlene had bought me a pedicure set something much needed and a couple of balloons. A lovely surprise. Thanks SharleneWe started the day with a walk around the city taking pictures of the funky artwork we'd seen a few days ago. We fooled around in the park enjoying the slide tunnels mouse wheelThe wind suddenly pick http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Victoria/Melbourne/CBD/blog-267006.html The Great Ocean RoadAlysha and I left Sydney via the Country link overnight train which was effortless and surprisingly comfortable. We arrived in Melbourne early in the morning and made our way into the suburbs of Glen Waverly to meet Casey one of Alysha's friends she has made at work. Her family were kind enough to put us up for the night so we unloaded all of our bags and headed back into th http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Victoria/Melbourne/City-Centre/blog-262609.html Harry's Cafe de Wheels and a night trail through SydneyEmma wicked Scottish chick I work with is on a round the world trip with her boyfriend Gary and I decided that we would go on a stroll after work to the Botanic gardens to play with our new cameras. Little did we know it would turn into a midnight trek around the cityWe enticed Garry to join us by saying we would be stopping at the famous http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/Sculpture-by-the-Sea/blog-248762.html