Crikey...that's a bee-u-ty! (Oz - Part 2)

---

Hey folks, so we last left you as we were getting ready to go to Fraser Island and what a trip it was...

So up bright and early, we get shown a briefing video on how to drive these 4.5 tonne beasts and the do's and don't as a few guys just died on the island as they were ripping it down the beach and flipped the car...! That is exactly what you want to hear before you join 9 other randoms and trust them behind a wheel! Luckily only 5 of us could drive and only 4 really drove and that including Jit and I! So we were all set to go, we were all pretty nervous about driving, but luckily the only Aussie bloke on the trip Andy decided to man up! So glad he did as i was the next experienced driver! A quick ferry across and we were driving on the biggest sand island in the world. More sand than the Sahara desert...and no i am not making that fact up! It was wierd to see a massive forest/jungle which has all grown from the sand...pretty impressive. We had a great group, we had 2 Dutch, 2 Canandians, 2 Aussies, 1 from Hertfordshire and then of course we had the Irish who showed me a few things about boozing! Jit and I have made a pact we are going to Ireland when we get back to get our alcohol tolerance back!

Our first stop was Lake McKenzie and this lake in pics (google it) looks like someone has photoshoped the hell out of it to make it look like paradise, but as we walked up through the forest we were in sheer amazement, the lake actually looks like that. No snazzy cameras needed this was the real deal!Brilliant shades of blues and greens and water so pure you can drink it....and we did, we filled our water container up with the water and it lasted us the 3 days. We are so backpackers now! After we hit the beach and drove down the "highway". It was an amazing experience to be blasting down the beach in this 4X4, everyone had already started on the beer and goon (Australia's answer to Hobo Juice...AKA White Lightning for the folks Wine1) so it was a great laugh. We stopped of to see the famous japanese ship wreck before setting up camp. Everyone pitched in on the cooking front with yours truly looking after all the meats...!He cooked 9 massive steaks...I had sausages! We had a great laugh that night and we ended up heading down to the beach...it was pitch black and getting there was an experience but getting back was even crazier...I'm sure Kay will explain... Well how do i put it simply! Uuuummmm Jit was drunk and had no clue what he was doing, well there is a surprise! Trudging through knee deep soft sand with Jit hanging onto my shoulders for dear life was an impressive challenge...i am proud to say i succeeded! The stars again did not fail to impress, the milky way in all its glory...a very funny and drunken night.

The next day was Kay's turn to drive and she did great. Come on! Getting through some of the toughest driving on the island. Who is the best driver...Folks you would have been proud! There was this one point where i had to get everyone to get out to make this 4.5 tonnes thing lighter (honestly i only needed to get Jit out but it was fun getting everyone else out too and making them walk) and then had to put the car into low gear and than into second gear and slam on the gas to get through the sandiest of sand. I tell you i had the shovel ready as it looked like I was not going to make...i swore the whole way through and screamed when i got through...highlight of this trip! We hit a few more of the lakes and swimming areas and a great viewing cliff called Indians Head. I took over the wheel and had a blast driving on the beach through a creek called Eli Creek which is notorious for wrecking the cars, but Super Jit made it through no problems. He even washed the car for us as we went through this river! That night we were invited to stay at an Aborigional camp which was fun. We had a camp fire set up and got to feed wild dingos and I learnt how to play the Digaridoo...! I had roasted marshmallows after like 20 years! Fraser Island was great fun, but all great things come to an end and so the next day we headed back to land and to continue the Australian dream. There was sand everywhere

We got back to Hervey Bay and booked ourselves on a whale watching tour. It was up bright and early to get the boat and it didn't disappoint. We found two whales which we followed for 2 hours or so, or was it the other way around. They were so curious, the more noise we made the closer they came...amazing creatures and to be that close to them was magical! I screamed like a complete looney and it worked...and before Jit says it, the whales were probably wondering who the midgit was screaming like an idiot! Great creatures though...you could truly watch them all day.

Our next stop was Noosa...this is where all the old rich people come to retire in Oz and you could see the place had money...amazing houses, fast cars and loads of nice places to eat...so we thought as it was MY BIRTHDAY we would splash out on a seafood dinner. Funny how we end up in the most expensive/plush place in Australia! Jit style hey! We found an amazing place and ordered a Lobster seafood platter and it was huge. What an amazing meal! Check the pictures out, they say it all. I love seafood but i had to stop at one point because i thought i was going to fall asleep...no joke, i was drooping at the table! The next day was My birthday woo hoo! so we were up bright and early so that Kay could take me to the Steve Irwin Zoo. I was excited until the cheeky police woman points at Kay and tells her to pull over....you guessed it, my darling other half got a $200 speeding ticket. It was so funny because I had to shout at her to pull over and she comes out with "why, why do you want me to pull over, why it she pointing at me"....urrr because you've been done....SPEEDING! oops! I have to admit that is exactly what happened, however i had just come of the roundabout wondering if Jit had given me the right direction was under the 60km/h speed but oh no it is school time and i was in a school zone where i supposed to be doing 40km/h!!! There was 5 cars infront of me and out of all of them it was the brown foreigners who got the ticket...not bitter at all! That put a little downer on the day but it was all good as we anticipated a nice quiet day at the zoo....OH NO! It just so happens that Steve Irwin's daughter Bindi shares her birthday with me...so 56 million kids were also at the zoo. Rugrats galore! Even still it was a great day, and one day which I really missed home and my family and friends...purely for the fact that I would have gotten more presents!!! Hey you know what i was planning...i was trying to get everyone there in someway or form...P.S. thanks for everyone that sent a message and card!

Anyway we moved onto Brisbane. Kay's friend Man kindly offered to let us crash at his house which was such a relief as we got a bed after being couped up in the campervan...and we had a great time just chilling with Man and his brother...just some much needed lounging time. Man did take us to see the city at night which was great, as so far in Oz everything looked really run down and all the towns are like something our of a Western movie, but Brisbane has skyscrapers...! After two days we said our big thank yous and farewells and prepared for the mammoth drive to Sydney. Man thank you so much for everything you truly were the perfect host and when will certainly be meeting up with you and Erin for drinks and dinner! Say hi to your bro for me as well!

It took two days but we finally made it to Sydney. We decided to use public transport to get around. Public transport, whats that! We took a bus into Sydney and to our surprise the first thing we crossed was the Harbour Bridge with the great Opera House on our left. It was so surreal. This was the stuff we see on TV...not in real life!!! We made it! We wondered around the streets for a few hours exploring all the different areas before we made our way to the Botanical Gardens which leads to the Sydney Opera House. Jit thought it was like London...old buildings maybe, but i am sorry nothing beats London! For some reason, the whole of Sydney RUNS! Everyone just runs, everywhere. On the streets, in the parks....it got to the point where we just stood still for a minute and looked around and more people were running than walking...very wierd! You actually feel the need to run as well. Anyway we walked around to the Opera House with the view of the Bridge in the background and I'm sure the pics speak for themselves. We were "wow'ed". The Opera House is pretty yellow! and is much bigger than I expected. Jiten Patel you always sound unimpressed by things...he was and it was great! We took a ferry to get some postcard-esque pics and walked across the Harbour Bridge at sunset perfect but unplanned timing before meeting Veronique our French buddy we met in Thailand, who lives in Sydney. We went out for a few drinks and finally tried some Kangaroo, WOW, skippy makes for a juicy meal. Here HereSuch good meat. We also tried Emu which was pretty good too. Skippy was betterIt was great to meet up with one half of the "Frenchies". Missed the other half though!

The following day we made our way to the Blue Mountains and the 3 Sisters. It was a good drive and had some amazing scenery and to be honest the mountains do actually have a blue tint to them...there was an explanation given to us by a real patriotic Australian, but he or his explanation wasn't important enough to remember!!! (Meow) A little harsh Jit don't you think!

Our last stop in Sydney was the infamous Bondi beach. As it is winter, it was pretty quiet but still hot/warm! We walked along the and caught all the surfer dudes in action before having some fish and chips (oh come on you know you got to do it) on the beach yummy yum yum!....before heading to Melbourne....another 2/3 day drive....nice! We stopped off at a few places along the way and the drive was nice and scenic as we took the coastal route. We whizzed past Melbourne to drive the Great Ocean Road, which is supposed to be one of the best drives in Australia, and boy did it deliver. Went beyond my expectations...every corner of a cliff we turned proved to have a better view than the last. It was great. Winding roads, massive waves crashing, we even saw loads of whales doing thier migration, and were blessed with a double breach by a mother and her baby. It was fantastic. We watched these whales for like an hour and it was great, just playing around in the ocean as you do...truly amazing! We saw wild Koalas just hanging out in the trees and all in all it was a great drive. So good it took us 3 days to do it.

It was then onto our final stop in OZ, Melbourne. This place is so much like London its wierd. So multi-cutrural, I could not spot an Australian! lots of shopping and just has a similar vibe about it. We explored a lot of the small city walking through the small alleys and discovering some nices cafes...did a little winter shopping at New Zealand is going to be cold, so getting those Long Johns in order!!! We finally had our gourmet Kangaroo Steak woo hoo! which was amazing and I even got to have a Nandos!!! Months without my favourite food is tough, but in Melbourne, well lets just say they have a Nandos on every corner!!! I have heard nothing more from Jit than 'I miss Nandos' or 'Nandos would do well here, they should have a Nandos here, Kay why don't they have a Nandos her?!.

Wow what a whirlwind. Australia done. Time is really flying now. I mean we are just whizzing through countries. Australia was a fun place, loads to do, and it was a relief to be away from Asia at first, but now we are done here, we really are starting to feel the call of Asia again. Vietnam i am coming back soon, i promise! But it's on to New Zealand cannot wait, cold weather, glaciers, sky dives, bungee jumps and lamb, lots and lots of lamb roast lamb dinner...when we flying!. 10 weeks to go until we arrive back folks....keep counting them days I am!...until next time, G'day! Love and kisses to all!

---

Comments

[Imran Khan]

Wow
I am so jealous guys, you are living the life right now and i hope you are enjoying it to the max. The pics look great and its really nice to see you with those huge smiles which tell the story even better than the hillarious blogs which i seriously think should be published no joke! I wish i was joining you guys on the feast in the pic above which looks as if it was just for Jit, but the food looks mean and tasty, i can taste it right now mmmm. Its gonna be hard getting used to London when your back but it will be really nice to see you guys and hear all the wonderul stories about the trip. God bless and have fun.

[anonymous]

these are lovely keertiand jit love mum and daddy

[Manisha]

Hey guys - sorry I'm late, just catching up since I was away from computer for ages coz of the wedding/honeymoon. You sound like you're having a wonderful time - Your pics look fab, and you guys have tanned soooooo much! Anyway i'm sure you're having lots of fun. Take care xxx