Sunday, April 29, 2007

The One in Perth and Freo

As we catch the taxi to Alice Springs airport we get chatting to 3 Irish guys who are sharing our taxi.... Only turns out that two of them know Dermot Lavelle; Illusionist.... what a small world!

We land in Perth and are met by Geoff (my Dad's cousin) who we will be staying with. Geoff gives us a quick tour of the city before heading up to his house, and we relish the chance to just chill out. It's been a whistle stop few days.

The next day, H and I catch the bus into town, and do a few chores, before jumping on the open top bus around Perth. It's such a small city, but I like it. It's a sunny day, but the wind on the bus makes the commentary a bit tricky to hear!

On Saturday, we head out early again, and only just make our Ferry to Fremantle. I've heard a lot about Freo and I'm not disapointed. A fab small town, full of coffee shops, and houses with fancy facades. We catch the tram around the city - our driver is a hoot! It's audience participation, and we go the full route with him.

From here we go and have a drink, and then walk up to the Fremantle Prison. The Prison only closed in 1991 and it's shocking the conditions that the Prisoners had, even within my lifetime. The cells are small, there is no plumbing - a bucket was the only toilet, and for most prisoners they spent 8 hours a day outside in the yard. They didn't have electric points in their cells until the 80's, and were only allowed a shower 3 times a week. Considering the temperature that Freo reaches in the summer this is inhumane!

We jump back on the tram, and can almost recite the commentary along with the driver so jump off down the front and head to the Little Creatures Brewery for a yummy pizza and a pint of the good stuff.

From here, we go and look around the Freemantle, and E Shed Markets, before jumping back on the ferry and heading back to Perth.

Every night since we've been here the sunset has been spectacular, but different every day. the first night saw the whole sky turn an Orange colour, and tonight the sky was lilac and pink as we came back towards the skyscraper landscape.

Sunday sees us waking up to torrential rain, but the sky clears, so we grab our macs and head in on the bus and walk up to Kings Park. We spend a pleasant couple of hours dodging the showers and walking through the Botanical Gardens, the Walkway through the tree tops and up the DNA tower.

Geoff comes to meet us with his friend John, and we go and visit Jane and her mum in South Perth. We have areally pleasant afternoon chatting over a cup of tea, and then head back to drop John back and discuss the train set that Geoff is going to build in his garden!

It's been a great few days, and nice to catch up with family - (and reminisce over a few old photos!)

Thursday, April 26, 2007

The One with the Flies and the Swagbags

We arrived in Alice Springs and the heat hit us as we stepped off the plane... as did the flies. We were instantly doing the wave of Australia - the fly swat.

We were staying at the funky Annie's Backpackers in Alice Springs and were delighted to see that it had a swimming pool. We headed into town first, however, where most things were shut as it was a Sunday afternoon, and then we cooled of with a dip in the pool before dinner.

We had an early start on the Monday morning for our 3 day trip into the Red Centre with Mulga's tours. We had a minibus with 19 fellow happy campers, and a trailer on the back which had swags on the top. This would be a great start for our Australian Adventure.

It's a popular misconception that Alice Springs is right next to Uluru when actually it's several hundred km away! We had a lot of driving to do, but luckily Panky (our driver) had good tunes blaring from his ipod and we were soon whizzing along the straight road, with nothing but bush as far as you can see. This was the REAL Australia - the one I had come to see!

Our first stop of the day was at a camel farm. Needless to say I was a very happy bunny. Australia actually has the largest amount of feral camels. They were used for exploration and then let go where they bred in huge numbers. H and I had a 5 minute trot on a camel called Phantom, and even Sarrie came out to say hi to his relatives!

Back on the bus we headed to Kings Canyon - our first hiking venue of the trip - and the first bit of the walk was another steep rocky staircase... my breathing at the top was proof that I had been sitting on my bottom in Sydney for too long.

Kings Canyon is where Priscilla Queen of the Desert was filmed, and is really beautiful. We headed round and saw some Ghost Gum Eucalypts. The Aborigines used the white powder from the bark as a sun screen and in times of drought the tree can cut resources to some of it limbs, drawing back the goodness from them then blocking them off and killing them. Tourniquet-ing itself - what great self preservation.

We went for a dip in the Garden of Eden waterhole. The cold water was really refreshing, but more importantly added respite from the flies. People had told me had told me how bad they were, but nothing prepares you for them. I'd thought, how bad can flies be?.... but seriously, these a flies with a mission to get in your face and stay there... FOREVER!

After our swim we walked back to the top of the canyon and lay on our tummies to peer into the base of the Canyon. Panky also showed us the Ippi ippi plant. Aborigines use the costic white liquid from this like a glue. the put it on cuts to help heal them, and also use them in women's coming of age ceremonies.

Back at the bus, and we headed to the campsite where we would be staying the night, The clouds that had been dogging us all day cleared after dinner to give us a great view of the Milky Way, and the Southern Cross. We sat around the Campfire enjoying each others company before heading to bed in our swag bags!

I have never slept out in the open before and it was a great experience. The swag is like a mattress in a waxy waterproof zipped outer - think more comfortable waterproof sleeping bag! Plus although we had to get up at 4.30am on Day Two, the sight of the stars filling the sky made it all worthwhile.

We slept as Panky drove towards Uluru, and stopped with views of Mount Conner (or Fool-uru as it looks like Uluru) for an amazing sunrise, and breakfast before the flies got too friendly. We cooked toast over a gas cooker - eating al fresco certainly gives you an appetite.

We headed off, singing loudly along with the radio, only to find 10 minutes down the road that we had left Julia behind! She had been in the loo and looked very relieved to see us... it was a pretty deserted road.

With the James Bond theme blaring we got our first sight of the big red rock itself, and I just couldn't keep my eyes of it. It seemed apt that the music changed to " we will ROCK you!"

We weren't going to get up close and personal with Uluru until this afternoon, and so headed first to the Olgas - or Kata Tjuta which means many heads on account of its look!

This is a traditional place for male Aborigines - the women are not allowed here. It was really beautiful - in fact I think I preferred it to Uluru itself - and today I had a fly net - I may look geeky, but it was a lot more enjoyable than the alternative. I got rather snap happy so there will be lots of photos of red rock to bore you all with when I return!

After another fight with the flies for lunch - it's a real art to swat flies off your sandwich and get the aforementioned item in your mouth before they return - we were off to Uluru for a visit to the cultural centre, and then a drive around the rock. The kangaroo sign had been defaced to look like the Roo was ski-ing. It was quite funny, but sad for those who had not seen a kangaroo sign yet!

That evening we prepared dinner in the car park while watching the sun set. Sadly, it was to cloudy to see the colour changes on the rock, but it was fantastic to look up from chopping the veggies and see one of the most well known landmarks in the world. It was during one of these moments that we noticed that the butternut pumpkin I was chopping bared a remarkable resemblance to Uluru, so we also created a brocolli tree and carrot olgas - playing with your food is fun!

We ate Camel meat Chilli con Carne while the sun set, and the silver top Saga tour sipped Champagne next to us. I think we had the better deal - hot and sweaty but certainly satisfied.

That night we drove down the road then turned off the road and into the bush swerving trees before stopping in a clearing and heading to get firewood and set up a campfire. We played games around the fire, before rolling out the swags and praying that the clouds would bring rain!

We headed off in the dark the next morning, and due to the clouds we weren't heading with the hoardes to the sunrise point, but headed to the sunste point so we could actually watch the sun rise and not be surrounded by other people. We had breakfast as the sun rose, and took the obligatory million photographs.

Then it was time for a walk. We walked around the whole base of Uluru - 9km - learning about the aboriganal sacred sites and the stories that go with them.

Then it was back on the bus and heading back to Alice Springs. We all went out together for one last shin dig. H and I are off to Perth in the morning, to continue the adventure.

Friday, April 20, 2007

The One with Nights Out and Goodbyes

I can't believe it... it's time to leave Sydney. We've been here almost 3 months, and now it's time to get back on the road!

Not before a few more fun time however. We headed out with the hostel for a night out at the legendary Scary Canarys. Fancy Dress - Cowboy evening. We only knew we were going about 1/2 before we left but still managed to get some hats! We were out with Mike (our Landlord and H's Boss - left) and Joe, seen here with our Housemate Katie.

We had to say goodbye to Lincoln and Rach as well, so had them around for a tip top dinner - toad in the hole, with mash and veggies, and Onion Gravy, followed by Treacle Sponge and Custard. It was a team effort, and surpassed all expectations. I know you all won't care about knowing my dinner plans, but trust me... it was stupendous!

Finally, it was time for my last week at work. The guys at Centrica (free plug!) have been great. They openly didn't have much for me to do, but I managed to read 10 books in the 7 weeks I have been working there and perfect my tea making skills. After 7 weeks, it was only my penultimate day when I finally managed to make the perfect cup of tea for my boss Roland- at least I had a target to complete during my time there!

Joking aside, I actually really enjoyed my time there, especially my desk buddy Phil!

On my last day at work we went out in Sydney - first for drinks at the Opera Bar, looking over the harbour, and then to a couple of posh cocktails bars, which sadly I can't remember the name of, as the cocktails were rather strong. It was a great send off - keep in touch guys!

The night before we left, H and I headed to the Aussie Stadium to watch the Waratahs, in a close game of Super 14. You just can't beat rugby, and it was only when I was watching it that I realised how much I missed it - the buzz of pre match, the give aways, the matchday entertainment - and unlike Vic Road fireworks at the start of the game - can't imagine stadium control in Watford allowing that one in a hurry!

And then it was time to pack everything back in the rucksack and get back on the road. To be honest it felt like starting over all over again, complete with the excitement and anxiety. Sydney was great, although I couldn't live here forever, and yet I will be really sorry to say goodbye.

Sunday, April 15, 2007

The One with Summer Bay

With time running out in Sydney, we used our weekends to pack in the rest of the sites. Having already visited the mecca of soaps in Melbourne, it was now time to pay homage to the other great Australian soap, and head to the outskirts of Sydney to Palm Beach, better known as Home and Away's Summer Bay!

The bus took ages to get there, but H and I were catching up with Lincoln and Rach, and soon were rrecognising the wooden fences from clips on the soap.
We finally arrived at Summer Bay, and I was relieved that I actually recognised it ... it has been a while since I watched the show!
We walked along the beach (excitedly singing the theme tune - there is video footage of me doing this, but I'm not brave enough to publicly share this with you all!)
Then we headed up to the Surf Club. It actually is a working Surf Club but they have the Summer Bay sign on it for filming.
Then we wandered further down the beach enjoying the late afternoon sun.
That evening we met up with Andrew (Skippy) - who was my supervisor in the Cardiff Rugby Club Bar. He's moved back out here, adn this was the second time we have caught up with him. The five of us had dinner together, managed to break the picnic table we sat on by having 3 on one side and none on the other... randomly, with cameras and
purses on the tipping table, the automatic reaction of all of us was to rescue our pint glasses!


We had a very pleaseant evening watching the sun set over the harbour which was filled with boats, and then headed back on the bus, which was now full of loads of teenagers catching the bus into town for a saturday night out!... I'm getting old!

Monday, April 9, 2007

The One with Ramsay Street

With the bonus of a 4 day weekend, H and I were back on the road, and took a flight to Melbourne to visit our mate Darren who we met in Ilha Grande, Brazil. Not quite a stranger this weekend... we had known Dazza all of 3 days!

I had been looking forward to this weekend for ages, and Melbourne certainly didn't disappoint - it's a much nicer city than Sydney - smaller, more spacious and it has a more European feel.

On the Friday, we spent the day touring the city itself. We ambled throught he streets of China Town, and visited Fitzroy cottages home of Captains Cooks house. This is not the house where he lived in Australia, but his family home, belonging to his parents which has been shipped over to oz brick by brick! Fitzroy gardens is also home to the Fairy Tree (which I renamed the Fairy Stump for obvious reasons), and a random miniature Tudor village which had been sent as a gift by Lambeth Council as thanks for the food parcels sent by Melbourne during the war... ???!!!!

We saw Federation Square, the central focus point of the city, which looks remarkably like the Jewish Museum in Berlin, and headed down on the tram to St Kilda for a well earned cuppa on the pier looking on at the city. I really love it here. We also had a wander around Luna Park - which reminded me of Margate, complete with its wooden rollercoaster.

The next day, we head into town early, by getting the train from Batman - I kid you not!. Today, I will fufil a must see of Australia... a visit to the hallowed tarmac that is Ramsey Street (or Pin Oak Court to its actual residents). Mock me, call me sad, but years of watching Harold, Madge, and Paul Robinson, I couldn't come to Melbourne and let this opportunity slip by!

I don't think Dazza was quite as enthusiastic as H and I, considering by his visable cringe as the bus emblazoned with NEIGHBOURS pulled up to pick us up. I on the other hand was practically bouncing, especially as a video of Jason's "Too Many Broken Hearts" was playing on the TV screen on the bus, and was shortly followed by Craig McLaughlin's "Hey Mona" - this took me back!

We headed first to Erinsbrough High, and then to the hallowed street itself. It's crazy, but it seems really small, and it was very odd, to see all the houses , just as you see them on the TV. Sadly, I was one of the geeks who knew who had previously inhabited the houses. Signs of a mis-spent youth perhaps? From here we drove to St Kilda and stopped outside Luna park, when Janelle jumped on our bus!

Sadly for her, she was hungover, and no one really had many questions, so again I looked like a right geek asking loads of questions and trying to make her feel wanted... especially as she had got up on a staurday morning to see us!

Back in the city we headed to the MCG for our first taste of AFL - otherwise known as Aussie Rules. We watched Richmond v the Sydney Swans

I knew nothing about this game, but this is THE stadium to watch it in (and as you already know H and I like stadia!) Basically it's a game for 17 men per team (believe me, it looks like there are hundreds of them running about the pitch... we kept trying to count how many per side and our estimates ranged from 16 - 19!)

You can run with the ball, but must bounce it every so many metres. You can punch the ball to fellow team mates and kick it. If you catch it cleanly the opposition have to get back 10 metres or so from you. Basically you need to kick it between the posts.

It's all very strange and H and I were baffled for most of it, plus I annoyed everyone around me by asking questions (Ironically there aren't too many "rules" in Aussie Rules and no one gets sent off or sin binned!), but it is very watchable, and the fans go mad. They all wear baseball caps and the funny little vest shirt things, and there is a really crap song for each team, complete with oom pah pah type music, which everyone sings! Hysterical!

We finished off our second night in Melbourne with dinner in St Kilda, watching the sun set behind the palm trees.

Sunday morning and we were off in Darren's jeep for a trip down the Great Ocean Road to see the Apostles.

It made me laugh that we started off the day driving down St Albans Road and then on the M1! It was Easter Sunday, and H and I broke our chocolate fast with a very chocolatey breakfast in Geelong. It really felt like we were on holiday as we sat and relaxed in the sunshine!

We drove through with the Ocean lapping on our left, enjoying the views. It was a lot of driving, and even i got behind the wheel! But it was great to be on the road again, and we sang along to the Police as we drove - "Message in a bottle" will always remind me of the Great Ocean Road.

About 4pm we reached The Apostles, and battled with the hoardes for photographs. Back in the jeep we reached London Bridge for sunset, and chilled out as the ocean lapped the quiet beach below.

Then it was a mammoth trip back to Melbourne on the dark roads, stopping to see an echidna crossing the road on the way!

Last day in Melbourne, and we venture once more into town. This time we visited the old Melbourne Gaol where Ned Kelly had been hanged. The cells were small, and all contained a death mask of its former occupant complete with the dastardly stories - including the woman who had been paid to look after babies, and instead killed and buried them.

We then headed to the funky Brunswick Street, for a quick look in the funky shops, and second hand book stalls, before a very yummy dinner. We went and colelcted Darrens dogs - Hamish adn max, adn took them for a walk, before heading to the airport for a flight back to Sydney. It will be really hard to go back to work tomorrow after such a fantastic weekend.

Thanks for having us Dazza! We had an awesome time!

Sunday, April 1, 2007

The One in Wollongong

The good thing about travelling is making random friends, and also the gumption that allows you to turn up on perfect strangers doorsteps and stay for the weekend! We put this to the test this weekend as we went to stay with Jessica's friend Nick and his fiancee Kristy. (I must add that he invited us to stay and we didn't turn up unannounced!)

We caught the train down from Central station and got off at Fairy Meadow (what an excellent name for a station) Here we looked at every moving car with interest waiting to see who was looking for two lost English Girls!

Before long Nick turned up, and put us at ease straight away. He drove us to his house via the beach and a quick tour of Wollongong. Here we met Kristy, and their little black labrador puppy Gus!

We drove up to the Thirroul art fair, then up to the Scarbrough hotel where we had a yummy lunch overlooking the sea. It's so nice to have a chilled out weekend!

After lunch we headed up to Bald Hill to watch the hang-gliders taking off, and for a good view of the coast and the spectacular Ocean Cliff Road - the new road which wiggles out over the sea.

We dropped Kristy back at the house and headed down the coast to Kiama - home of the blowhole, and then to the beach at Gerringong. Nick went in for a dip, and H and I sat and enjoyed the late afternoon sun.

We watched a father with his kids - who couldn't have bene more than about 8 years old. He was teaching them about swimming in the sea; picking them up and throwing them through the upcoming waves - teaching them to dive through them the way Joe had taught me at Bondi. I was envious of these children, being taught how to feel safe in the water and more importantly how to read the surf. They were body surfing the waves with more ease than I had with a board. I am already years behind on understanding the ocean... I will need a lot more practice before I can feel confident in the water here... and I'm a strong swimmer!

After Nick's swim, we drove to Gerroa and saw the 7 mile beach, a huge crescent of white sand - beautiful!

Back at the house we had a barbie and chilled out together. What a wonderful way of life these guys have down here!

The next day we headed down the beach and enjoyed a coffee, before catching the train back to Sydney. Turning up on strangers doorstops proved to be a big success, and hopefully even after only a day and a bit in their compnay, Nick and Kristy will now consider us friends! - Thanks for your hospitality guys!