Hong Kong

So, I've left Australia... Bit gutted about it really. Can't describe how I feel really, I've left a wonderful country and left behind a shitload of cool people that I may never ever see again. Staring out of the window on my flights didn't help, beautiful beaches, the Great Barrier Reef and amazing and diverse countryside making me feel pretty shitty about finally leaving Oz after almost a year.... Well, I finished off the east coast on Sunday evening and got a bit wasted in the Woolshed (surprise surprise)... Enjoyed a couple of easy nights in Cairns with Tai before setting off to Cairns airport at 4.30am. My first flight was down to Sydney, and 3 hours later I was back onto another plane bound for Hong Kong. Another 8 1/2 hours passed and I touched down in H.K. Was dark when I got here so I got straight on a bus to come and meet my Great Uncle who lives in Tai Po (an hour north by bus of the main city). Enjoyed a lovely Chinese meal of course cooked in-house, and now I'm shattered and need bed. I've been awake since 4am been travelling for about 18 hours...

Hong Kong is 7 hours ahead of the U.K., and 2 hours behind Australia. My phone doesn't work here, there is supposed to be a Vodafone carrier here but my phone doesn't work at all, so I probably won't be able to use it again until I get home on Saturday.

Tomorrow is going to be a big day of me wandering around completely clueless on the streets of busy Hong Kong City, so I need to get some shuteye.

Steve.

x

Fraser, Kroombit and Whitsunday Islands

Hervey Bay was the next stop; its the main place where you can access Fraser Island, which is the worlds largest sand island. I did a 3 day/2 night 4WD camping trip thing with several other random people from this hostel. Hervey Bay itself is a bit of a shit place, although its nowhere near as bad as Alice Springs I guess. There is a huge stretch of beach here and to be fair to it, it probably looks better around here when its not so windy and with less cloudage in the sky.

So anyway, Fraser Island was amazing. I've uploaded all my pics, they are featured on the main page of my photo gallery, the link of which is on the right, so go and look in awe.

After returning from Fraser Island, I spent a night in Hervey Bay before catching the Oz bus up to Kroombit, a cattle station near Rockhampton. Rockhampton is the beef capital of Australia (I think) and we learnt how to crack a whip properly, catch, brand (thou not with a real hot poker of course it was just a cold one!) and milk goats in the rodeo! It was a bit strange but hey it was interesting to 'get involved'..... Also rode the mechanical bull and I didn't come off straight away. Go me.... I have a couple of videos of me on it and they are quite funny, when I upload them I shall post them here.

After Kroombit, erm, we went and played some lawn bowls in the afternoon on our way to Airlie Beach. Can't say I was keen on playing lawn bowls but it was actually quite good. Pretty skillful game I think.... Well after a mediocre performance from all us newbies, we headed up to Airlie Beach which is the town next to the Whitsunday Islands. Tai came down from Port Douglas and we were booked onto a 'Maxi Sailing' boat called the "Condor"

This boat was built in 1981 and has won every major racing competition in the world twice, thou she retired in the 90's I think she is still pretty quick I'm told! From the pics (again on the main page of my SmugMug front page) you can see how far the boat tilts when we are sailing... We did a 2 day 2 night trip although it was more like 1 full day and 2 nights, and did a bit of snorkelling and went to Whitehaven Beach (one of the top ten beaches in the world) Didn't do much else which was a bit disappointing, no hiking or bushwalking on the islands but the food was good and it was nice to get involved with the sailing side of things.

When we got back from the Whitsunday Islands, it was then off to Townsville which is the port for Magnetic Island. Magnetic has some lush beaches and you can do some diving from here amongst other stuff, but I threw a wobbley when we got to Magnetic and the next day the weather was awful so I didn't do anything on Magnetic at all!!! Oh well....

Next day we headed north from Townsville up to Mission Beach, which really is just a little beach with a few places to stay and a tiny town. Although I had a lovely serve of Kangaroo steaks at Scotty's hostel. Again the weather was rubbish so I didn't even go to see the beach properly!

Next up; our BBQ at a lake in the Atherton Tablelands and Millaa Millaa Falls, followed by a return to Cairns after our sad last day of the Oz bus! But this can all come another time!

Countryside, Surfing, and Bad Weather in Byron

Ok, so I've left Sydney, we stayed over at a place called 'Barrington Top's for the first night. Ate pizza and relaxed in a hot tub outside with a few drinks... It was in the middle of nowhere, felt great to be there after a few days in a busy city.

Next day, up to Surf Camp where we'd learn to be awesome surfers at the 'Mojo Surf Camp', its in a place called Arrawarra(?) just above Coffs Harbour; (home of the 'Big Banana'). We did some evening surfing and although I was brimming with confidence I couldn't manage more than a second or two of standing up. Its a lot more difficult than it looks and its all about technique! Many a time I crashed out underwater!! Feeling quite gutted at the end of the session just before dusk, I hit the beers along with everyone else and just sat around a campfire after dinner.

The next morning we got to go surfing at 8am, high tide was at about 9am and the water was so far up the beach, well, there wasn't really any beach left! With more frustration I kept getting swept off the board! The waves were harder to judge than the evening before, but in the end I did manage to stand up! Wa-hey! Several more tiny mistakes later, I got the hang of it and managed to stay on the board until the shore a couple of times. Its such a cool feeling and despite being pretty tired and full of salt water I just wanted more and more of it!

After drying off and packing up we set off for Byron Bay (driving past the 'Big Shrimp' on the way too). I'd only heard great things about this laid-back little seafront town, but that evening after a quick walk and tour of the little town the weather started to get a bit crummy.... A disappointing night on the piss (place was full of locals and hardly any backpackers in sight!) and the next morning I was (typically) in a bad state of hangovers! The weather hasn't gotten any better (rain and cloud!!!) so there is NOTHING to do here as the only things you can do (surf, lie on the beach, go for walks) you can't, because of the weather!!!

Spent a few days in Brisbane with a couple of brothers I met on the Oz bus (or BrisVegas as its locally known!) and we spent a few days eating a lot and generally getting stuck into a fair share of cider... Not much else to do in Brisbane really. Weather was getting slowly better.... Heres hoping for good weather further up north.

Steve Irwin has died!

I just got a text from my friend Tai who is still up in Port Douglas... The legendary Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin got stung today whilst diving off the coast, at would you believe it, Port Douglas. Crikey!

More of it here: http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2006/09/04/1157222051494.html?from=top5

R.I.P. Steve Irwin.

Return to Sydney

So I haven't done much in Melbourne, although today we went for a nice lunch (again?!) and had a look at a little bit of artwork in shop random shop nearby. Last night I met up with Sara & Stuart whom I met in Port Douglas, they've been to New Zealand and randomly are in Melbourne staying with Stuart's 'sis before they fly out to travel Asia. So we met up for a drink and a good little chat. I missed the last tram back into the main city centre so I had to walk home. Unfortunately I took a trip to Hungry Jacks for food. Blergh!!!

In a few hours I'll be back in Sydney, although I do want to spend longer in Melbourne, its such a cool place full of nice people but I have to get a move on. Will be meeting up with the old flatmates Karine & Jess, I can foresee a messy night in Darling Harbour occurring and maybe a trip to the old 'local' bar; Pyrmont Bridge Hotel (24 hour pub, such a dive but you just can't resist a bar that's open 24/7)

Will stay in Sydney for a few days to see old friends from when I last spent several months there working, also will finally take a trip to the Botanical Gardens and take some nice photos. Hoping the good weather follows me when I land in New South Wales.

Again, haven't time to upload any photos onto this space, all apologies!

Lots of love, have a nice weekend,

Stevie.

x

Melbourne

I spent around half a week in Australia's 2nd largest city which is capital of, and located in Victoria (south east Oz)

Stayed in some cool hostel (Nomad's) near the centre of the city, and didn't get up to much except for eating and drinking. The food is great, not pricey compared to Sydney, and there are many many many bars, cafes and clubs around. Met a guy from Leicester, Nick (PLUG ALERT: Nick's a good 'multimedia photographer' go see his website www.nickkind.com) and also some other cool peeps in my room, including a Swiss girl; Larissa, who I spent a lot of time wandering around the city and the Botanical Gardens with during my first few days. The weather was surprisingly nice too despite being spring. Melbourne is usually cold as its deep along the south part of Australia.

The city is pretty full-on with its sports, the Melbourne Cricket Ground, their local Rugby (League) and also the Telstra Dome (AFL) are all dotted around closeby to the city centre. A wide river winds itself throughout the city centre and the buildings are very colourful and a great change to the rest of the cities I have seen so far. Be they old or new, most look like they have been coloured in by a big crayon or something. Also there are random bits of architecture and art dotted around, like the big clamshell purse! There are a few good shopping areas in this place and its easy to get around on the trams or buses.

I wish I had spent a lot more time here, I should have flown to Melbourne after a few months in Sydney as I think this is a nicer place. More of a laid-back atmosphere, its more European and diverse... and its cheaper too! I didn't even get to experience St.Kilda, the 'beach' area which I have been told is a great place.