Blogs from Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia, Oceania - page 55

I'm currently about 35,000feet above Alice Springs, heading North with nearly three hours to go before I reach Denpasar, Bali. Still rather terrified about customs and the nightmare stories I've heard, but I guess you only ever hear the bad bits hey? If this is the last diary entry I write before being set-up as a drugs mule, or VISA-violating criminal, then let me just tell you that the smell of freedom is good, well, it would be, were I not sat in an air conditioned tin can with another 300 or so people, all breathing, farting and BO-ing the same 'fresh' air. Joy. Wish me luck in customs, and if it's not forthcoming...goodbye cruel world.... read more

That's right! We're in Austria! We had a wonderful three months in Southeast Asia and loved just about every day of our seven weeks in Vietnam. We intended to head north from Sapa, Vietnam in to China, but decided that the rewards and challenges of travel in Asia had worn us down just a little too much for us to fully embrace our much-anticipated Chinese trek. Thanks to our flexible schedule and some very cheap tickets on Tiger Airways we have leapt ahead in our itinerary and are currently in the "red center" of Australia in Alice Springs. We will be here for about six weeks before visiting New Zealand and then returning to Asia to see the wonders of China. We know we are way behind and have tons of things ready to post in ... read more

This morning I headed towards Alice Springs, the long way. If I had a four wheel drive I could have taken the 100km Giles road and been in Alice Springs by lunch time. Unfortunately I had to take a 240km detour to stay on sealed and passable roads so I ended up getting to Alice Springs at about 3pm. Just enough time to have a walk round. I'm so far not that impressed. Not exactly the oasis I'd been expecting. The River Todd runs through Alice Springs in the same as the Avon runs through Tewkesbury, apart from one difference. There hasn't been any water in this river for several years. Severn Trent take notice, if they can manage with a dry river and not have any water restrictions I’m sure any UK water shortage is ... read more

No, dont panic. Despite the title, this isnt news of a tax on suncream bankrupting the Ozzie economy, nor worries that swear boxes are to be introduced into Ozzie bars and having the same effect. Just that Jo and I are about to finish our trip around the land down under. We've had about 8 weeks here now, and have decided to fly on after completing our 10,000th kilometre this week. We left you a few weeks ago in Melbourne. We only spent a day there as we'd seen a lot of it the last time around. We took the van for a great days drive down the Great Ocean Road heading westwards. It lived up to its billing as one of the worlds great drives, winding along the coast line up and down clifftop roads ... read more

The next morning we were woken by Dingos howling!!! Dangerous things those buggars!!! We were on our last stretch to Alice Springs...................... I had a great time these last few days seeing great things........... its been an experience! A huge train was passing though Alice Springs accross the main road in as we were arriving.... so had to wait- o my gosh the train are absolutely huge- pulling at least 50 containers I'd say!!!! The trains just run along the roadside- its great to see....... was hoping we'd get to see one...................... We dropped the van off- all was fine........................... this place is full of Abos- they scare me!! Checked into our hostel................ cool hostel! Made it safe and sound! God knows there we are heading next and how we are getting there! xxxx... read more