Blogs from Australia, Oceania - page 4008

Since my last entry I have spent three awesome days on Fraser Island - the worlds largest sand island. I decided on a guided rather than self-drive tour staying in the Kingfisher Bay resort rather than camping. After two minutes on the island it prooved to be a very wise choice with torrential rain and skidding and sliding all over the sand. However, after a wet walk through the rain forest to Lake MacKenzie it soon brightened up. I guess it can't be sunny all the time. We crammed lots into the 3 days but the highlight for me was swimming in the crystal clear waters of Lake Birrabeam and seeing dolphins and sea turtles swimming off the coast of the Indian Rocks. Sadly no Dingo's were spotted but never mind. I still remember Dinky from ... read more

Well, I must apologise.For some reason the pictures don't seem to have come out so well this time, especially the ones of me on the train! I was there, honestly. Today's lesson is not to use the Kodak software. Travelling produces lessons on a regular basis - trying to see it like that saves stress anyway. If I get a chance I'll redo them. So, time for the East coast now. I admit to feeling a bit daunted by it, lots of youngsters everywhere (!) and loads of Brits apparently. It is low season up here in northern Queensland so things are (relatively) quiet - still a shock after the beautiful peaceful Flinders Ranges down in Southern Australia. I am coming to the conclusion that I am more of a mountains woman than a beach type ... read more

we promise we will write an entry soon... heres some more pics from the West Coast down to Margaret River...... read more

Ok guys, "watch this space!" there'll be pictures from all over Western Europe if I can use the net over there. I'm a little nervous... but i'm sure a 20 hr flight will calm me. See you soon Mel... read more

Foster's, rugby and crocodiles. Not to mention poisonous jellyfish and miles of parched desert. This is what I imagined would greet us as we stepped off the plane in Sydney. Instead we found an international city perfectly placed in the South Pacific. Four million people and a city to rival some of the world's greatest, but in the tropics. So while you were carving up your succulent turkeys, Mark and I were on the beach. And not just any sandy cove, but Bondi Beach, where every inch of sand is covered with locals and tourists with one thing in common...bare chests. Late nights in Syndey Harbor. Discovering local neighborhood restaurants. Fine Aussie wine. Jet Cat rides. Running into an old friend from yoga. We won't bore you with the details. But Syndey was a perfect place ... read more

We arrived in Cairns at 4.30am on a very sunny morning, and tried very hard to catch a few hours sleep on the benches at the airport until 8.30 when we could get a complimentary bus to our guesthouse. Lisa's luggage had been left in Perth so we couldn't do much that morning until her backpack was delivered later. We were pretty shattered after only 2 hours sleep so we didn't do much on our first day. We stayed at Tropic Days, a guesthouse owned by an Australian and his Irish wife. It was a lovely Queensland style house with very clean rooms and a good atmosphere. On the first night the owner's three daughters entertained all the lodgers with Irish dancing before all the guests took part in a quiz night. Next morning after a ... read more

Nou, het eerste echte weekend samen! En zoals jullie al weten is dat perfect begonnen afgelopen vrijdag! Ik had dus kaartjes gekocht voor Jacq voor het WK turnen, de finale van de dames. Ik hoopte al dat ze het leuk zou vinden, en dat was het gelukkig ook! Tijdens de wedstrijd zat ze op het puntje van haar stoel, en na de wedstrijd liep ze zelf al lopend allerlei oefeningen te doen. Tsja, jeugdsentiment he!! Maar het was ook wel een leuke avond. En zoals met alle sporten waren de Ozzies weer super-fanatiek, inclusief het “Ozzie Ozzie Ozzie, Oi Oi Oi” spreekkoor! Er was een Ozzie dame in de finale gekomen, en aan het eind van de avond had ze de bronzen medaille gehaald. Uiteraard ging iedereen volledig uit zijn dak. Zoals gezegd had ik vrijdagmiddag ... read more