Throw another shrimp on the barbie!

Wednesday 14th February

Its officially 3 months since I left a very autumny Sheffield and embarked on my worldwide adventure. I have been in Australia for 2 months and I have had a wonderful time. I would first like to thank my dear friend Fiona who is up to her eyes in work work work right now who put me up for a few weeks in the Dandenong Ranges, who I shared some fantastic experiences with, cooking some taste popping meals, chatting and geeking and playing tourist. I would also like to give big virtual hugs out to Aussie Mummy and Daddy Forsyth who made me feel so at home over Christmas, took me in and ensured I was well looked after. What wonderful people their hearts are so in the right place. Of course I miss Molly the dog who I became really good friends with too – so Molly this is for you: Woof woof woof woof slurp. So I depart Australia after seeing New South Wales, Melbourne and Victoria, spending new year at Uluru – The Red Center and travelling down the East coast of Queensland. I’ve met some great people on the East Coast and shared some fantastic times. From walking in authentic rainforest, to diving the Great Barrier Reef and Stradbroke Island, to camping on the largest sand island in the world, not to forget the torrential rains around Rockhampton, and the magic of Coconut bowling on Magnetic Island. Not bad for 8 weeks and 3 weeks of that monging doing website work. I want to come back one day and do the West Coast (WA) and Northern Territory – Darwin down to Perth trail, sleep in a swag and dive with Shark Whales off the West Coast. One day. So as I depart Australia for the second time in my lifespan, I give you a song – everyone sing along with me: Once a jolly swagman camped by a billabong, Under the shade of a coolibah tree, And he sang as he watched and waited ’til his billy boiled “Who’ll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me?” Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda Who’ll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me And he sang as he watched and waited ’til his billy boiled “Who’ll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me?” Down came a jumbuck to drink from the billabong, Up jumped the swagman and grabbed him with glee, And he sang as he stowed that jumbuck in his tucker bag, “You’ll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me”. Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda “You’ll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me” And he sang as he stowed that jumbuck in his tucker bag, “You’ll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me”. Up rode the squatter, mounted on his thoroughbred, Down came the troopers, one, two, three, “Where’s that jolly jumbuck you’ve got in your tucker bag?” “You’ll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me”. Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda “You’ll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me” “Where’s that jolly jumbuck you’ve got in your tucker bag?”, “You’ll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me”. Up jumped the swagman, leapt into the billabong, “You’ll never catch me alive,” said he, And his ghost may be heard as you pass by the billabong, “Who’ll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me”. Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda Who’ll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me And his ghost may be heard as you pass by the billabong, “Who’ll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me?”

Just Because…

Tuesday 13th February

Today’s weather report – Its the coldest February in 4 years here in Brisbane, with inches of rain on the sunshine coast and gold coast. It reminds me of a wet weekend in London. Brisbane reminds me of London full stop. There’s a south bank that looks like the South Bank in London, a 1960s concrete montrosoty, global stores including a Borders books which is exactly the same as the one in Oxford Street. Communters rushing around thinking the world will stop if they stop. I am getting entangled in urban life and I don’t like it. I feel stressed. Is it making me feel homesick? I don’t know but I feel wierd today. Is it because I know I am leaving Australia on Thursday? Is it because I know my parents are now in Auckland and I am wanting to see them. Is it because this is the most unfriendly hostel on all of my travels lacking character and atmosphere. Is it because I ran out of tea bags at lunch time today, is it because I have been on the road 12 weeks now (3 months). Or is it just because? It’s because. I bought another 50 tea bags anyway.

Back to Brisbane

Monday 12th February

Time to depart the idilic life of Stradbrook Island back to the concrete apartment blocks and the traffic choked centre of Brisbane. Last night I was unable to get a bed at the hostel but they’d freed a few up this morning. Unfortantly I had to take an 8 bed mixed dorm. Someone is not going to get much sleep tonight. Back in Brisbane the heavens decided to open all afternoon. Needed milk for my tea of course so took myself off shopping. Not as busy this time around which felt much better. Hostel room is as expected, scanky. If it wasn’t for the free internet I would be going elsewhere. At least tomorrow and the following day I am in a 6 bed female dorm. There just seems a strange smell everywhere and no one seems to know how to clean up after themselves. A huge contrast from Straddy thats for sure.

Straddy Island III

Sunday 11th February

Dive dive dive. I was up again at 6am – my body alarm clock keeps waking me up at this unearthly hour. My dive wasn’t until 11am. 2 dives in total, one at flat rock (because its….flat) and one at Shag Island because of the birds. Both dives endured strong currents and I did feel quite queesy on the boat whilst having our rest between dives. However I made both dives all good. Great experience, seeing turtles and many other fish life. Visibility wasn’t too bad neither was the water temperature at about 26 degrees. (Outside temp was 31 degrees). Nice. A relaxing evening playing scrabble with my newly found friends before I found myself drifting off into the land of nod.

Straddy Island II

Saturday 10th February

I really like this hostel, many of the people here are staff of the dive centre. Met a lovley girl my age from Singapore and a friendly couple from Cheshire as well. The hostel is so clean and not full of pretentious travellers. Phoned the parents to wish them well on their trip to New Zealand. They are deep in snow there so fingers crossed they can get to the station to get down to Heathrow. Can’t wait to see them next week. Word of mouth is always the best advice, so off to Brown Lake I went, a lake that is full of tea tree oil. After enduring a 3km walk to get there (avoiding the spiders and snakes) I went straight in to give myself a pamper. Lovely. Some silky skin and hair hours later I emerged for a spot of lunch and a lovelyh 3km walk back. The sun was at its best, not too hot not too cold. A delicious day. Gave my lovely Kiwi friend Mel a ring tonight to say hi and confirm my arrival to Kiwiland on Thursday. I am most excited after hearing her gorgeous Kiwi accent.

Straddy Island I

Friday 9th February

Getting away from Brissy and the monotony of the East Coast backpacking trail to hit Stradbrook Island for some diving and relaxation. An hours train journey costing under $5, and ferry (YHA discount) for $12 took me to this lovely quaint place. The hostel was very clean, a million miles from the City Backpackers in Brisbane. Armed with a map, Tevas, swimming gear and a towel I headed forth for an afternoon stroll of about 8km up and down and round and round breathtaking beach scenary and gorge walks. What an amazing afternoon. The hostel is definately a “home away from home” with a delightful monging area with soft sofas. As its not backpackers hell there are not many people here so its really friendly in a “not in your face” way. There is a dive centre on site so I have booked a dive for Sunday – Hurrah!

City Life

Thursday 8th February

Off to Brisbane today on the 8am coach. I’ve got into a routine of going to bed early and getting up early so to catch an 8am coach was so easy for me. I was wide awake at 5.30am. The kitchen unfortantly didnt open until 7am so I sorted out a few of my photos whilst in bed. Waving goodbye to the Nottingham girls I set on my way, my last leg on the Greyhound bus. My ticket cost me about £100 to travel from Cairnes to Brisbane within 45 days and stopping off whereever. Its the easist way to travel in Australia. I’ve really enjoyed it. I must admit however the drivers aren’t quite as friendly as their neighbouring kiwi Intercity drivers but more friendly and helpful than National Express thats for sure. I’ve not really heard many really positive things about Brisbane so 1 day and 1 night will allow me to stock up on food for the island (I have a bit of pasta and rice but need veggies to go with it). Later in Brissy Arrived at the City Backpackers hostel – near to the train station and painted bright orange. Free wireless internet though OMG. Bu the worst hostel I have stayed in. The room was dark and dingy and there was porridge oats all over the floor. The kitchen was an absolute mess as well. The lounge is ok though and there are nice views over Brisbane. More of a younger lot here. It’s ok but I did go and check out the YHA next door but they are doing it up so that looks just as bad. However seeing a familiar face or two in there was grand, people who I had met in Airlie Beach, Rockhampton and Hervey Bay. Rock on YHA’s.

Noosa Heads and Roast Dinner

Wednesday 7th February

Ding ding, another ding ding, ring, ring ding ding. Alarms went off left right and centre from 5am onwards. I need not have bothered setting mine thats for sure. Phoned the hostel up at a pit stop and got a bed for the night. Hostels release beds after people have checked out otherwise they save them as people usually stay longer than they first anticipate. The hostel is lovely. It’s a Heritage Trust building right opposite the but station (but tucked away up a drive way). A domesticated morning took me through the delights of the washer and washing line as I was down to my last pair of pants (that’s trousers not pants or thongs or briefs) and everything was covered in sand. Lovely. I realised how scancy some of my things have got, so treated myself to a pair of half price shorts. Bargain. Noosa is lovely, the Australian Riviera, very pretty with bouteques clothes shops, pristine clean, a bit like walking down Kings Road in Chelsea but smaller and by the sea side by the sea, without grumpy english serving. Very quaint. The beach also very clean, lots of surfing lessons going on. Didn’t really appeal to me – bit too much of a money spinning backpacker thing for me. If I could use it elsewhere fair enough but doubt I would. Going to stick to the diving. Right at the head of Noosa sits a gorgeous National Park with a number of differnt walking tracks. I took a round loop from an easy graded hour (3km) round to a more moderate 4km track through the bushland. A good 7km I returned to base. A most enjoable walk though I didnt spot any Koalas which was a shame. Back at the hostel I bumped into the Canadian woman who I’d met at Magnetic Island. She was telling me how she had to fly from Airlie Beach (Whitsundays) to Brisbane due to the weather being so evil. The cyclone is still present up north. I was very very lucky to get out when I did. 5 minutes later I met the three lovely girls who had been in the other van at Frazer Island. The hostel is so nice, so nice infact that they invite everyone for a free drink and a welcome talk. It’s like being in a hotel. Warm and friendly and so quaint. We all decided to treat ourselves to the hostels $10.90 roast (roast you say in Australia??). Well after 3 days of camping food why not. And it was a roast and a half, very enjoyable, savouring every mouthfull and for just over £4 who can complain. I have found that hostels in general do very good food and this one was no exception. We were all sat outside on the balcony soaking in the atmosphere of this delightful place. This is what a hostel should be about. A younger dutch girl commented how there were older people in the hostel. It was very much like that a really good bunch of people of all ages. If I had longer I would have thought of staying another night but I knew that Noosa would eventually wear thin on me for its pretentiousness although very nice gets a bit tiresome after a while. I am in my first ever 12 dorm room, but I am plesently surprised. I was packing my bags whilst a Japenese guy was playing Mozart on the grand Piano in the room. Such an Idelic setting.

Frazer Island III

Tuesday 6th February

Our last day on Frazer Island. I was the first up at 5am, so got breakfast all ready for the rest of the guys whilst they took down the tents. I also made sure I got my cup of tea this morning, and sure enough half the group then wanted a cup of tea too – see its catching this tea thing. A full day ahead to vist 4 freshwater lakes and drive down the 75 mile beach. Along the way we helped people who had got stuck in the soft sand, dig dig dig, push push push, bump bump bump. But all in the name of beautiful fresh water lakes where you would find no where else. Well worth it. The treat of the day was the last lake – Lake McKenzie. Pristine white sands trickled down to the most gorgeous postcard shot of a turquoise blue lake. Although a little busy as it was the most popular lake on the island it was easy to see why it was so popular, so perfect. A perfect ending to a fantastic 3 day trip. Back at the hostel a shower was the first thing on the agenda, a nice long hot shower. Yum! I was unable to find accomodation for tomorrow night in a place called Noosa, though my coach is booked down the coast to Noosa Heads. So I am off again to a place where I haven’t been before where no one is expecting me. All in the name of travel.

Frazer Island II

Monday 5th February

Here I was driving along 75 mile beach at 6am in the morning in a 4×4 white sand streching as far as the eye could see. Where else could you do that at 6am in the morning? What fun it is to drive on a beach at 6am in the morning. Even if I didnt get a cup of tea today. The early start was necessary due to the tides. We had to get to a place callee Indian head before 7am. Even with my driving we made it. I did however let the swedish guy who had army training take over in the soft sand as we along with other 4×4s got stuck in the sand on several occasions. Rather than bump bump bump it was dig dig dig! A 2km walk along pristine beachs to a place called champagne rock pools was a little dispointing because the tide was in, so our group headed back for an early lunch en route avoiding the dings. The Island is full of “be dingo aware” signs as they can be vicious. We saw a couple along the way but they were just keeping themselves to themselves. The afternoon was bump bump bump up the sand tracks to another lake where we were able to relax in a natural paradise of water and rainforest. This unspoilt island wilderness was just stunning. The group dynanics were working out quite well – this can either make or break the experience. Lucky for us it made it. However I am the only one who drinks tea and I haven’t had a cup all day. I was having withdrawal symptoms even though I am back on the decaf. The first thing I did was get the water boiling when I got back to base camp for a nice cup of tea. You guys stick to your beers or whatever I want a nice cup of tea. Arrr that’s better – I am now alive and kicking again.