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Oceania » Australia » Queensland » Cairns » Cairns City
November 3rd 2009
Published: November 3rd 2009
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We have been in Australia for 6 days now, picked up the campervan and sneeked into various campsites to use there toilets and showers😊

How did you get there i hear u ask.......here is the update

So we arrive in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Spent 6 days there, 3 days in Angkor viewing temples and temples and temples. More excitingly the temple where they filmed the opening scene of tomb raider where she picks a flower. ( Not that we really knew as it took us a thourgh read of the guide book to locate the tree!) Saw a waterfall and landmine museum. In the days we weren't at Angkor we spent relaxing and taking it easier, a novel experience for us. We played pool and 9 ball and slept in😊 But of course we visited a silk farm, handicraft centre and Mum L we saw the bats in the Palace gardens.

In Siem Reap and most of Cambodia the beer is cheaper than water, so you will be pleased to know Carina drank the beer, as well as eating the national dish of fish amok. Carina thought it was so yummy, mixture of coconut, various spices with rice, that she ate it 4 days in a row....with beer. Russ only managed 2 amoks then opted for pizza!

Got a bus to back to Bangkok, had to wait ages for the connecting bus at the border but another straight forward crossing. Stayed on Khao San Rd again and went to visit the Thai HQ of Scouting. One of the more random things we have done. We arrived, no one knew we were coming despite emailing someone there. Ended up meeting Rover Scouts and International Advisors who were practising there pitch to get the 24th Asia Pacific Conference. We watched it, gave feedback and then went to lunch with them! Oh and of course went to the scout shop.

Next day we flew down to Kualar Lumpor. Was a shock how expensive it was. Spent ages trying to find cheap room, but they dont exsist there. In KL we went on the skybridge that joins the two Petronus towers which we liked as was free, but only had a quick look at the views as we were shuttled back to the ground again. Walked around the city and went out to a footie stadium that Man U played at.

Got a bus down to Singapore, another easy crossing. Singapore made a lovely change. No need to barter prices down, or ppl hassling u for taxis or tuk tuks. Relief. Spent 3 days looking around. 1st morning went to Scout HQ for Cub award ceremony, and free lunch. Met lots of leaders and big wigs in the Singapore Scouting. Got invited to next years centernary camp in Dec and arranged to meet a group the following day. So we did. Met Scouts and Venture scouts in their den in a school. Their leader gave us a tour of the school and then spent ages discussing English scouting as this group was one of 2 groups that had 18 lion dance costumes in their hut. They do this to raise money, maybe we should adopt this as a fundraiser! They invited us and Scout in Feb 11 for a dance off, we may have to get practicing.
Everyone in Singapore very friendly and they gave us lots of badges and even a CD of the kids singing camp songs.

From Singapore we flew in to Cairns. Spent the first few days in hostel caught up on laundry and sleep before we got the van. Mitch, the mitshubishi van has kindly been carring our kit all the way up to Daintree and Cape tribulation (we like Mitch a lot😊 We have done lots of walks in the rainforest. Today we fed kangaroos and went on an WW2 boat/car 'Duck Boat' through the rainforest and then in to a lake. Tomorrow we are going to the Great Barrier Reef by catermaran to snorkel and see turtles(!!!) before doing some hard core driving up to Darwin and then down to Alice Springs.

Australia so far is expensive- food in sumpermarkets is more than England !!!!! can u believe it!!!!!
Whether - rained on our 1st day, the 1st time in 5 months, (you see it is following us around) but no where near as bad as we have had rain
Ppl - have a funny sense of humour, Aboriginals we have encountered swear lots and not sure if they are totally with it and their hygine isnt up to much....

Mitch (van) sadly no toilet or shower. 2 seats at front and seperate sleeping area. 2.3 fuel injected petrol engine, so he drinks a lot, typical ozzie. Has storage area in boot bit, with pump sink, fold up table, all cooking utensils, esky (fridge in disguise) 20l water tank, gas and 2 rings, but have to put on table to cook.
Oh and a tea pot, very important for the Andrews family member.

Carina n Russ

Dad A try to phone tomorrow before u go to work , good luck with xmas cover.







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13th November 2009

Australia
Hi Guys! It all sounds fab! Don't mention rain..we are having bucket loads today and all week-end apparently. Grrrr. (You know how I love my sunshine!) All is much the same here except that I have reduced my work hours back to 3 days. Yay! Sean is going to Australia and New Zealand on the 30th with Greenday. As always, lots of love and take care of yourselves. Love Jillie x x x

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