Page 4 of selfman Travel Blog Posts



After having said good-bye and farewell to Digby, Alison and Kimmy-chops, I was the only person for most of the itinerary down to Cairns in the same shuttle bus service I came up to Cape Trib. Before moving gradually down to Brisbane, I had planned another 4-5 day's stay with my former house mate Cheong (a little north of Cairns), who just settled here at a catered dormitory a few days ago for doing an additional MBA at university here. He showed me around the campus, and together we strolled around Cairns. Life is very laid-back here, and one can see many Asian faces in this city. The next day we visited the annual fair / exhibition of Cairns... loads of things to see and do and eat there! hahah. Particularly night-life here is great! Fire-dances ... read more
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My vacation time has started just the day after I have submitted my last exam for MBA. A few weeks before I organized a 2 week's stay for wwoof-ing (= willing workers on organic farms) at an organic fruit farm amid the rainforest at Cape Tribulation (http://www.capetrib.com.au). When I arrived at Cairns I was very pleased by the pleasant climatic conditions here.... similar to the Mediterranean! A bus shuttle service took me and a few other relaxed guys up to Port Douglas first, and then to Cape Trib. First we enjoyed Port Douglas for 1/2 a day, and then headed northwards on a winding road deeper and deeper into regions of no (or nearly no!) human civilization. I was welcomed at Digby's and Alison's place and shown my lodge (with veranda and own bathroom) where I ... read more
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Oceania » Australia » Queensland » Stanthorpe June 30th 2008

After having finished all my assignments and exams for this semester with an HD, it was definitely time for some reward! Although this would be my last bush walk for the time being, I looked forward to it very positive and eager. It was supposed to a 2-day walk around a huge area. The outward journey was very adventurous: we passed and crossed many riverbeds and many farm gates with our huge 4WD. I just thought: if anything of our cars would breaks here, we would be lost in no-man's land. great! ;-) ... but our drivers were experienced, and we had a really enjoyable and adventurous drive to our camping ground, where we first had to scare away the cows grazing there. After some cosy chat and dinner at the open fireplace, the very cold ... read more
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Asia » Malaysia » Selangor » Batu Caves April 24th 2008

After Wei-Sheng and I have decided just not to mention at USQ administration that we would be abroad for a few days more than officially allowed in our student visa, at short notice we booked a flight with Air Asia for a reasonable price from Colangata to KualaLumpur. At first, arrived at KL airport, I was overwhelmed by the heat and humidity and those friendly bustling people all around the airport in KL. We took the bus to KL city to meet Anthony, with whom we would stay for a few days, - just across "The Pyramids", a huge shopping centre and adventure park. I was very impressed of life on the streets in this mega city. At first I could not cope with this chaotic system, but after 2 weeks I liked it more and ... read more
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Oceania » Australia » Queensland » Fraser Island February 29th 2008

At end of February we set out to fetch Max, returning from Malaysia, from Coolangata airport. Afterwards we went for lunch in a Korean restaurant at Gold Coast and had a good stroll at the beach front and border to NSW (Tweed Heads). In the afternoon we drove to Brisbane for some shopping. There I temporarily had to say good-bye to the guys. I took the bus to Maryborough for my final destination: Fraser Island, the big sandy island. As I arrived very late in the afternoon in Maryborough, I quickly tried to find the hostel that LonelyPlanet recommended. When I arrived there, this was just a pub, and the crowd there told me that this place no longer offers accommodation. OK, first: have a few drinks with these guys in order to digest this shock!. ... read more
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Oceania » Australia » Queensland » Glasshouse Mountains NP February 24th 2008

Vor langer, langer Zeit gab es eine Familie an der Sunshine Coast, nördlich von dem Ort, an dem nun Brisbane liegt. Der Vater hieß Tibrogargan, die Mutter Beerwah. Beide hatten viele Kinder die sich um sie scharten. Der älteste Sohn trug den Namen Coonowrin. Tibrogargan, der Vater, stellte eines Tages fest, dass der Wasserspiegel des Ozeans stärker als sonst anstieg und bat seinen ältesten Sohn, Coonowrin, seine schwangere Mutter zu einem sicheren Platz zu geleiten. Doch der feige Coonowrin war so voller Angst, dass er floh und seine Mutter in stich ließ. Ausser sich vor Wut über die Feigheit seines ältesten Sohnes schlug Tibrogargan diesen so fest, dass Coonowrin’s Rücken brach und fortan als Buckeliger in der Welt leben musste. Nachdem die Gefahr vorüber war, bereuhte Coonowrin sein Verhalten und bat seinen Vater, seine Mutter und ... read more

Oceania » Australia » Queensland » Toowoomba February 21st 2008

As I recently drowned my cell-phone in a waterhole, pictures may follow later on. Azisa invited me to come over with her to this festivity. Although we were no greenhorns (as students), we were pretty much greenhorns when it came to this kind of dance: be warned! bushdance is NO dance style of the indigenous people here!instead, it is a modern form of ancient 18th century British pair dances with a country band! We had soooo much fun when hurling across the dance floor... and I recognized that I have to improve my stamina. Overall: very jolly!... read more

Oceania » Australia » Queensland » Maroochydore January 18th 2008

Here it was: A relaxing weekend.... at least for me. Wei-Sheng (who had to take an IELTS at UQ near Mooloolaba), Kae-Thong and I drove to Mooloolaba for 2 days. On the first day we visited famous "Underwater World", with its great translucent "tube" surrounded by water, later on enjoyed the beach and the surf, and in the evening together with guys with other nationalities we cooked dinner in our hostel. Here I was offered really delicious Japanese food. The next day we brought Steve to his test centre and crossed fingers for him. Late in the afternoon we headed towards Brisbane for some shopping in China Town there, and some amazing food at Sunnybank. Those two days just passed too quickly!... read more
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Oceania » Australia » Queensland » Toowoomba January 11th 2008

The performance was just delightful and in a relaxed atmosphere..... immensely light and sensitive performances... just listen to the last jazz-piece (at videos section)... great! Once a week now I go practising and rehearsing piano at USQ now. They offer quite a few pianos, which are well tuned. This makes me more confident when playing pieces for 4 hands with my new partner Nigel ;-)... read more
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Oceania » Australia » New South Wales » Sydney » Sydney Harbour January 4th 2008

For NewYear's Eve, Robert and I agreed to meet again in Sydney before he finally wanted to leave for New Zealand. As mode of transport I chose a Greyhound coach, travel time approximately 19 hours. ufff. Although the bus driver sometimes acted as a knowledgeable tour-guide, and passing through different vegetations and cute villages was very impressive for me, I arrived pretty exhausted at central station, Sydney. Fortunately Robert booked ahead a YHA hostel pretty close to the station. On the first day I explored the near vicinity and the inside of the Opera House on my own, and on the next day Robert and I investigated pretty much of Sydney central city, including a fully-automatic toilet in the central park... funny! Together with another couple from Rosenheim that Robert had invited, and Lisa, our Scottish ... read more
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