Brisbane with Ian Hiscock May/ June 2012

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Now Ian Hiscock is one of 2 twins from the Isle of Wight and they are or were both crazy as kids .

Ian moved back to his homeland Australia around mid 80´s and Ive not seen him since But thanks to Facebook we have been in touch the last few years .

We were going to meet up in Bali back in 2011 but it never happened but this time it was to be no problem

A short flight from Sydney to Brisbane and I was there , Ian picked me up in his big 4x4 and he was proud of it ! The bugger has nt changed a bit since I last saw him 25 years ago and it was if it was only the other month that we had seen each other .

Ian is a miner in Aus and earns a fortune ! His house is immense , a castle amongst castles and his partner Sherrie a typicla Aussie lass , great fun and bubbly just suited to Ian .

Their hospitality was great plenty of food , beer and laughter , we spent ages catching up and talking about the old days, this was weird , a real nice change to the last months of being annoymous around the world now to be amongst friends.

Obvioulsy we got drunk lots of times and went to a Aussie football match which is impossible to understand but a great day out .

I stayed about a week as Ian had to go back to his shift work and he drove me the 4 hours to Harvey Bay to my cousins Martin.

Ian was insistant that I returned before I left Aus so I did later .

It was again a funny feeling this time meeting my cousin Martin again . Cousins are vey close as kids but drift apart as adults I had nt seen Martin since the late 80´s and again as with Ian it was if we had only seen each other the other week .

Martin settled in Aus about 5 years ago with his wife Sarah and 3 kids Brendon, Blake and Leyton. A lovely house in a lovely area.

Martin is not a drinker but an outdoor fanatic , so this was great . lovley walks and climbing mountians Mt Walsh was a mega climb and shagged me to the bones but for him it was a day stroll

I spent most days cycling , exploring the bay , it was great I felt free and at home .

We used to go to the beach at dusk and watch the bats migrate to the frazer island , these bats were like flying cats , massive and the sky turns dark as millions of them just bugger off across the bay every dusk .

After a week or so it was time to leave , I wanted to go to surfers bay to see what was meant to be amazing beaches . So I got a train and off I went .

Getting a taxi is a nightmare in Aus , you cant get one of the street you need to order one, but difficult when your a stranger intown and have no number plus its middle of the night but I managed to copy the number from a passing taxis door , but then he asked me where I was and put the phone down on me when I said Im not to sure ! Aussies are nt the most politest of people !

Surfers bay is ok if I was 20 years younger and if it was summer not winter then it would have been a paradise .

Ian came and picked me up a few days later and off to Brisbane again !

Had a great time in Brisbane , full of food and beer , but soon It was time to move this time just across the water to New Zealand.

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Photos

Me and Ian
2 Isle of Wight boys in Aus

Bird
Some Aussie bird

Kangeroos
First time ever seen one

Cousins
Me and Martin

On top of the world
Yes literaly

Nearly the end of my trip
Scary

Amazing views
Long way down

Comments

[Inga]

amazing you are back to writing. may be you will finish blogging your journey after all :) great cousin you got, at least he presented great scenery, what was missing on your blogs about Australia. best wishes

[DrWho1967]

Thanks ! Yes I have been busy just lately here in Argentina ! Thanks for your comment : )