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Published: January 30th 2008
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Hey guys,
Once again I have left it way too long since my last entry. Sorry, it's all Facebook's fault! Anyone else suddenly realise they haven't actually emailed anyone in months, let alone phoning home????
Anyway, things are still great down here. Sun is shining (when is it not?) and the surf is great! For those who either have not got facebook or are socailly out of the loop, I finally own my own kayak and have great fun messing around in the ocean and river catching waves and whitewater.
So Tom and I had 4 weeks off the other month (xmas holidays) and decided that we would go explore the east coast for a while. What a fantastic trip. We started off by getting the train form Perth - Adelaide which took 2 days and 2 nights. It was a great trip however sleeping (or trying too) on reclining seats not much larger than plane seats is certainly interesting and not recomended!!!! We did it cheap and vowed never again. There were benefits, however. Beer was one and being able to move around to other carts to stretch legs was fab. It was great just to sit
back and watch the scenery whiz past.
After a most fabulous sleep IN A BED, and a day in Adelaide (not much to report on there), we flew up to Alice springs. I was expecting something similar to the towns in Rabbit Proof ·Fence, but as pleasently surprised to find it lush and green and very pretty. Fab swimming pool too. From here, we met our tour guide and proceeded to Uluru (Ayres Rock) by mini bus. We travelled with an interesting group of all ages and nationalities but very accepting of one another.
Due to the extreme heat, we were not permitted to climb up Uluru but enjoyed a great walk around the base instead. Later that evening, we arrived back at sunset and watched as the rock really did change colour to a fantastic deep red. Unfortunatly due to the weather there were heavy clouds to the sunset was as spectacular as we had hoped, but it was good all the same. A sleep in a swag (like a waterproof sleeping bag) and then an early start to watch the sunrise over the rock. Well, what can I say...I pissed with rain...all morning! I did mean that
we got to see rain on the rock though which hardly ever happens.
Over the next 2 days, we visited Kings caynon and Kata Tjita. some of the most beautiful landscape I have seen. Who siad the Australian desert was all sand and scrubb?????
After Alice, off to not so sunny Brisbane (Toms home town) to meet his family for Xmas. A lovely quiet time exploring Brisbane, playing table tennis, taking the dog for a walk. We also managed to sneak in a trip to Movie World with a friend of ours from the west coast and a climb up Story Bridge. A day up to visit the family holiday home on the coast proved wet, wild and windy. Strange weather for summer. Speaking od weather, we were supposed to go sailing in the Whitsundays but there were reports of typhoons, storms... it didnt look good. So after a week of eating, eating, oh and eating, we flew up north with the expectaions of really, really bad weather to party hard for New Years Eve in Airley Beach, one of the Whitsundays coastal towns. The weather was fantastic!! Apparently the storm blew over the day before we got
Adelaide
$3 pints of Coopers!!! there. How great was that! A groggy start on Jan 1st 2008 and out of the hostel onto our friends catamaran for 7 glorious days of sailing. We made our way to Hamilton Island, up over Hook island, stopped off at Thomas Island and eventually down to Mackay. Those most splendid days involved nothing more than fishing, swimming, snorkling, sailing and drinking!!!! Clear blue skies, white sandy beaches, tropical fish and coral and great winds perfect for sailing. We had intended on catching and eating our own fish. I mean, you're in the middle of the ocean surrounded by coral reefs..plenty of fish right???? NO. In the seven days we were out there we caught 1 fish werth eating with the spear gun and Tom did manage to catcha fish with his line, but it was no longer then my middle finger!!!! Good job Tom. Oh, and we lost all out whitsunday pics. The waterproof camera bag isnt quite so waterproof if you haven't done the bag up properly!!
From Mackay to Sydney where we did the usual tourist stuff. The opera house, bridge, the Rocks and Bondi beach. A fun place to be with loads to do.
Sydney to Melbourne to visit Toms aunt and uncle. Not much of a fan for Mel. but that may be because we were only there for one day. They have a beautiful botanic garden though.
A train from Melbourne back to Adelaide. Not nearly as long as our first train trip and far more beautiful with rolling green hills and lush woodlands. Some of it looked very much like England. Go figure.
One very, very drunken night in Adelaide and HOME!!! A fantastic trip, but man it was good to be home.
So there you have it. Four weeks on the east coast and loved evey minute of it.
I hope you are all well.
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Dan
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Life sounds tough down under! I've spent all evening with cannabis plants, but have just about got rid of the munchies now. ;-)