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Published: August 25th 2006
Can't you see I'm sleeping
Can't you see I'm sleepingUpon arrival in Sydney, and essentially back to the western world, I was worried I may still be behaving the Bangkok way. For example, would I attempt to haggle over Tim Tam biscuits in the supermarket - trying to persuade the baffled shop assistant to give me her 'best price'? That wasn't the case at all, but it did take me a couple of days to adapt to the friendly Australians who always offer a helping 'where ya looking fa dall?' when I stood looking lost. They genuinely wanted to help, but I regarded them with the same suspicion as the Tuk Tuk drivers who slide up to you in Bangkok and say, 'I take you everywhere for 5 baht' (in other words to my mate's tailor/gem/useless tat shop). Once I was over my initial hostility and also realized that unlike London is OK to smile and talk to people on public transport - without being regarded as a asylum escapee - I rediscovered my love for Sydney.
The city is small enough to wander around and I really enjoyed just walking about, having leisurely Cappuccinos in cafes and browsing the trendy shops of Glebe and Newtown. I had surfing
Whitehaven beach, Whitsunday
Whitehaven beach, Whitsunday Islands lessons at Bondi, cuddled a Koala at a wildlife park (although the selfish like runt wouldn't wake up) and went to watch an Aussie movie at 2pm on a Monday afternoon - aaah the bliss that is being unemployed!
The one hang up I had from Asia is the cost of living. There you can do every tour on offer and eat out for breakfast, lunch and dinner and still have a few baht left over. The same style of living in Australia soon had my bank balance screaming for mercy, so it was time to prioritize. I'm lucky enough for this to be my third trip to Oz, so instead to re-doing my favorites from last time (Great Ocean Road, Fraser Island and Byron Bay) I decided to visit north Queensland and check out the Whitsunday Islands, which so many people I know have raved about.
From Airlie Beach we set sail on a beautiful 74ft sailing boat called Enid to the Whitsunday Islands. Now Enid sounds like someone's frail old granny, but when the boat got out on the open water and we were nipping along at a 50 degree angle in the water, while clinging
Sunset on Enid
Sunset on Enid on with our finger nails, it was Enid who had the last laugh. For three days me and my 12 ship mates: sailed to beautiful beaches with sand as white and fine as flour; snorkeled with the most colourful coral and fish; had dolphins chase the boat; and slept on deck with the Southern Cross and Orion twinkling overhead. By the end no-one wanted to leave. We did consider a mutiny, but I had the rest of north Queensland to explore - plus the skipper was about 18 stone and not to be messed with.
From the Whitsunday's I moved north and spent some time in Port Douglas, checking out the rain forests of the north. Then it was on to Townsville and Magnetic Island. Magnetic Island is a tranquil place, with deserted sand coves and walking trails through the forest, just 8kms off Townsville. I spent the day there exploring one of the secluded trails through the bush. The only problem was it was a bit too secluded and I couldn't get that bloody film, Wolf Creek, out of my head. For those who haven't watched Wolf Creek the general plot is: backpackers get mutilated. I therefore did the walk at double pace, while holding a rock, and in true bad horror movie style checked over my shoulder all too frequently.
I guess that's the curse of travelling alone - being alone when you don't want to be. In every place I've been to I've met some great people, but they end up being '5 minute friends' because everyone is moving around so much. That's why I'm very glad that I have another visitor from home meeting me in Auckland at the end of the month - don't forget to bring me a jar of Marmite Oli!
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mum
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marmite
Have you not found the famous Aussie vegemite? I finished your squeezy Marmite and it was very good! I am now even more desperate to visit Queensland