Antipodean Adventure

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Greetings from Oz. Just a few lines to bring you up to date. After a spendid couple of days in Singapore where we were royally entertained by Bill and Astrid, and had unlimited use of their washing machine, we landed in Adelaide. It's a splendid city, not too big and everything conveniently placed. We had some culture, visiting the Art Gallery where the Tate's Turner exhibition was on display, and at the other end of the cultural spectrum saw a comedy show at the Fringe which coincided with our arrival.

We then had a road trip along the Great Ocean Road to Melbourne. Driving for the first time in over 3 months was quite novel but at least they drive on the left! The scenery was spectacular and small towns along the way pretty and the red wine very quaffable. The weather has been good, just one day when it got extremely hot, 40 C and windy. It's an unpleasant combination, like walking into a furnace, there is no sweating your skin just feels very hot. Fortunately next day was a much more manageable 25 C.

We've had an interesting 3 days in Melbourne, much bigger and more cosmopolitan than Adelaide, and tonight we fly to Christchurch NZ. Tomorrow morning we pick up a camper van and begin our tour of South Island.

It is worth recording that after 116 days on the road Ann and I are still talking!

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Photos

Botanical Gardens, Singapore
With Bill and Astrid

Raffles Hotel
How did these two likely lads get in ?

Raffles hotel
Ann was allowed one "Singapore sling"!

Outside Art Gallery, Adelaide
Lovely wide open tree-lined boulevards in city centre full of beautiful old buildings, many now part of university.

Goolwa Beach
Early morning walk

The Blue Lake, Mt Gambier
In the crater of an extinct volcano this lake turns from grey to blue each february.

Iain by Grossman's cabin, Torquay
View over farmland reminded us of home

Melbourne skyline
Blend of old and modern buildings seen from river Yarra cruise.

Ann in Royal Botanical Gardens, Melbourne
Botanical gardens seem to be a recurring theme!

Comments

[Michael]

Australian Food
Hello Ann and Iain - pleased to hear that you're still talking after all these adventures. It really does seem as though you are having the trip of a lifetime. Are the Aussies practicing eating Humble Pie - what with the Ashes starting only a few months away. We must make sure that we are all back in the UK for that. Best wishes from another in the southern hemisphere.

[Ray Lawry]

Hi from Ray and Ali
Good to see you are having a fantastic time. Ali is envious of the Singapore Sling at Raffles and I want a Belam pie- I bet Ann had more than one of them!It's a few degrees above freezing here and Ali is really fed up with me because the central heating has packed up (she owns loads of jumpers- stop moaning) Happy travelling.

[Sue Connolly]

Hi
Just got back from a fab time in Sri Lanka we loved it but I couldn't live out of a bag for 6months that's for sure!!!! Glad you are still enjoying things time is speeding by now and still talking!!!! Keep posting lots of love Sue and Grahame xxxxx

[Gill and Rob]

Looking good
Thanks so much for the postcard you sent via Gina (not seen it yet but she told me about it)! Glad you are enjoying OZ and NZ - I must admit I would rather be there than your Indonesian travels. You both look really well, travelling must agree with you. Take care - where next? xxxx