Blogs from Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia, Oceania - page 53

I am now in the capital of Australia, Canberra. So many people told me to not bother coming here as its boring etc, but it is lovely here. Yesterday I went to the national portrait gallery and made scrummy spinach pasta and chicken :) The journey from Wollongong to Canberra took about three and a half hours by coach. The route was straight first of all then suddenly all we seemed to be doing was climbing higher and higher on this massive hill, lots of twists and turns and very steep drops! I had to shut my eyes on some parts! Today I hired a bike for the day so I could get about easier and ride alongside the lake. I'm pretty worn out as I've nearly ridden most of the Canberra it seems! So many ... read more

Despite all the advice that i was given to avoid Canberra like the plague, I'd decided that Oz's Capital city deserved at least a look in for a day - boy, was a day enough!!! I hate to admit it, but most people were right about city - there really isn't a lot to see or do here. Unlike Adelaide, which is a large city with a small country town feel, Canberra is just plain small!!! I got into the city in the early hours of the morning, had a few problems checking into my Hostel, which is becoming a regular thing as i arrive before most people have had a chance to check out, so started the day a little later than i had planned. In spite of this, i still had enough time to ... read more

December 22nd Blackheath Canberra (Wamboin, C's 'farm' out Queanbeyan way) Well the frequency of van/combie spotting has reduced to a rarity. Seems it was just a northern NSW (from Coffs to short of Brisbane) thing. Ahh, the love… Christmas tree farms ($20/tree) and fruit and veggie stalls litter highway 31. Ah I’ll miss those home grown cherries, avos and mangoes… but thank the heavens for the end of jumping ant (yoooow!) territory and tic terrain. I will NOT miss them, bless their little souls… Reflection from 14/12. I learned a lot from Miss K and her amazing capabilities with ‘The Tardis’ she’s been calling home for a year or more now. Amazing how she’d always be bringing something new outa there! Condiments, clothes and cool stuff just kept a-coming they did. Spending time with her ... read more

The proposal Simple really - have a white christmas. Then it became a bit more complex - lets stopover in Bangkok for a few days. Finally, it got really complicated - we've got time to visit Morocco, and shop in Marrakesh. Its taken a bit over a year for Elaine to plan this trip - in part because we needed to use frequent flyer points for the air legs out of and back to Australia, and we knew that if were didn't book these as soon as the flights we wanted opened, we were not going to get a good outcome. We are now on the final countdown, with all the bookings completed, other preparations made, and just under a fortnight to go before we head off. Our plans include visiting Thailand, England, Austria and Morocco. ... read more

Dear Diary, (that's all of you people...) It is officially one month to D day. I am sitting in my very small college room lamenting about the price of beds in small rooms all over England, and in Paris and New York. I think i have begun this fine art of travelling down to its bare bones, but i think there is still alot of meat, and unnecessary (but tasty) fat to go. What do i mean? Well i am, as most of you know, obsessively organised: case in point - a diary entry 1 month out, (yeah i know, as i said obsessive but i figure that most of you won't read it till i go - so there.) But even i have been finding it a bit of a struggle to get on top ... read more