Unplanned and spontaneously we decided that a trip across to Tasmania was needed in order to finish up the Australian part of our trip. For anyone who is thinking about coming over here. Do it! It is like a smaller version of the mainland; with beaches which kick other parts of Australia's butt. It was just unfortunate that we only had a week to see a bit of it. Staying with people that we had met in Africa meant that we had a real know how and where of this particular part of the island. Our first major trip out was to see a Tasmanian Devil. I couldn't believe it when I did. It wasn't at all like Taz as we know it! More like a giant rat come rabbit with teeth! They do make the ... read more

...one and a half months of camping and I was seriously ready for a bed. One of the best things about travelling has to be the people you meet. Yes some are crazily weird and look like they have never been home, or simply can't remember where home is. But some are simply lovely and will meet you for one night on the Mekong Delta and 3 months later you arrive in the Blue Mountains and they put you up in their house (which has beds!!) and feed you! Luckily I was with the latter! The Blue Mountains are a two hour train trip up from Sydney, so with our packs at the heaviest they have been so far; what with a tent and two chairs strapped to the side of them, we jumped on the ... read more

Who would have thought after a 6 hour flight you could still be in the same country!? However I live to tell the tale! We arrived in Brisbane and I can't tell you how strange it was to finally see someone I knew after nearly 5 months! An almost a sigh of..."ok you can look after me now" and how looked after was I! It was brilliant to be back into the land of family homes; not only to know your things are safe without you having to sit on them but also you can wash your clothes in a machine you know maybe only 4 or 5 people have used and not 4 or 5 thousand! Anyway I digress... Brisbane you have redeemed my faith in Australian cities; it had a feel not inlike a ... read more

Arriving in Bali at midnight after a good flight from Singapore, sleepy eyed and needing rest, the last thing we wanted to see was a man stating we now all had to pay $25 visa entry. Oops didn't plan that one! Luckily we dug deep into our pockets and grumpily handed over the cash... We had arranged a lift from the airport and again I had to answer to a board that vaguely represented me... my Indonesian name is Hannaliki Knowler! The first place we stayed in was on the Kuta/Legian border just tucked down one of their many gangs (backstreets). Driving through town at now 1:30am I could already pick up Kuta's vibe. Lots of people hanging around the streets etc with a big surfing fraternity...should be good. Hotel very basic; couldn't really complain for ... read more

It was actually like being on the French/Swiss Alp border over the last week. We arrived after another crazily long and scary harpin mountain coach drive to a town which looked like a miniture French toy town! Beautiful scenery on the way up, watching the locals with various wild and wacky looking fruit. Although slightly cooler at a height of 2400m, it was still mad heat during the day for what should be building up for Christmas weather! We decided to spend the first few days "doing the lonely planet". Which included various cathedrals, temples and gardens. However we also went to see the reccommended Crazy house; designed by the daughter of the man who took over the reigns of Vietnam after Ho Chi Minh. She still actually lives and works in the house. It was ... read more