 ( 4:45 PM ) Matt |
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The Australia Adventure
The latest collection is now online - just short of 100 pictures from our epic adventure. Click here to visit the page.
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| ( 4:36 PM ) Eirene |
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Hello back at last to the dark warmth of dragon drop outof the cold of the english summer. I aam hoping however that we brought some of the nice weather with us and I shall send all our rain to the places that have had no rain since february ie Queensland. Had a good flight kids were very good and we all got lots of sleep. Got a last poem to wrap up our adventure
On the road
Map in hand
Striking out
Accross the land.
Places to see
Things that are new
The list is unending
Of stuff we can do.
So much to do
Left out of our tracks
Going to have to come back
And fill in the gaps.
So long and thankx for all the fish
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| ( 4:12 PM ) Matt |
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Coming Soon !
Tried to upload my watchcam photo's but due to connection problems, could not sort it out - will try again tomorrow (watch this space)
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| ( 2:35 AM ) Matt |
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Great few last days chillin in Mission Beach. Met a lovley couple from Dublin, and spent quite a lot of time by the pool or on the beach. Tropical rainforests - very nice. Lush, Massive trees, wierd plants, millions of bugs, spiders, animals birds and butterfls - Saw loads of magnificent Uliseys* (spelling may be a bit squiff there) Butterflys - Bright blue as big as your hand. It was a cassowary conservation area - but sadly we did not see any wild ones. Spent a night in Cairns - did not do or see much. Have now flown to Sydney airport =- The flight was 2 hours 13 mins. It was stranger thinking that the last month we have taken to drive the same. we are hanging out here for a few hours before catching a flight to Singapore. Sad that it's all over but I'm really looking forward to seeing starwars when I get home. (unless they have it on the flight (fingers crossed) tra for now.
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| ( 11:44 AM ) Eirene |
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well here we are at Mission Beach in the heart of Queensland tropical rainforest. Had a walk today through it so amazing the trees are so high and vast and the area is so lush. they say it is a forest and yet is is so incomparable to any forest I have ever been in. A wall of sound hits you before you enter. you can here the creaking of the crickets the singing or the cicadas the chattering of the birds and the trample of the enormous spiders spinning their enormous webs all comming together in one beautiful discordant symphony of nature. Before here we were at Bowen. went snorkelling and saw so many pretty fish and flourescent coral and didnt get eaten.Nearly sat on a tree frog while going to the toilet and met lots of lovely people who come there for the winter. comming home very soon. it feels like this has been the longest week ever. wrote another peom gona try and fit it in in the allotted time
shrubs and trees along the wayside
over the hill as far as we ride
I dont know how on earth you survuive
with no water there to keeep you alive
sparse bleak landscape
with red oxide earth
waiting till the rains come
brining life and rebirth
this was written between Bowen and before a notoriously deserted area as you can read
so long xxxx
.
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| ( 6:17 AM ) Matt |
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After fleeting visit to Rockhampton, we headed towards the coast to a small place called Yepoon - we stayed at a campsite near there. Also close was Emu park, and Captain Cooks monument 'The Singing Ship' (a 100' tall monument that sings in the wind)
We went on a day trip to the Kepple Islands. We got there in an open top boat - Felix loved that. The boat took us to one island, then to an off shore underwater observatory - here we got to see the reef without getting wet. corals and fish a plenty - even thought the wind was chopping the sea bed up a bit so visability was qiute poor but still impressive. We also went on a glass bottom boat ride over the reef, and saw all kinds of corals and things - this was great. We even saw some turtles that came to investigate what we were up to. - Here we spent on of the best days of our holidays so far. Spent the afternoon swiming, and hanging out on a beach on the island.
Fantastic, quiet tropical beach, - only us and a nice German family on a big picture postcard beach. Pure bliss. Whilst we were sat in our tropical paridise, I looked at my watch, and noticed that back home, it was about 07:30am - just about the time most people I knew were getting up for work. :o)
So -we headed north from there, and today - just got to a place called Bowen - on the coast of Australia just off the Bruce highway. Very nice looking from what we have seen so far - It's nearly 30deg's outside, Eirene and the kids have gone to the beach, and I'm sat in a little internet cafe, that's (for Oldschool Vital Readers) just like the cafe was, but a bit hotter and brighter. The owners pretty cool. Ahh well - can't stay here all day - sun to sit in etc. ! I can't believe that we only have a few days left. I'm just getting into the swing of things.
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| ( 5:28 AM ) Matt |
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On the back of Eirene's blog below (using unused internet credit!) we are on Bruce highway (the main road to Cairns) rignt on the tropic of Capricorn - you should be able to pinpoint us exactly. Another cool drive - saw wild Kangaroos (big grey's) and dingo's and horses. it's hot up here ! right - meter has run out.
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| ( 5:11 AM ) Eirene |
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well we have left the saftey of anuty beryl timmy and mels abode and continued on our way. Much thanks to them for all their hospitality and love and we hope to see them all again soon but where the water goes down the plug the other way hint hint to mel and tim to get their passports in orderand come and see dragon drop for real. Before we left we visited Gympie agricultural show and spent much time with felix getting on a tractor then off then on a lawnmower then off and so on . Watched some horse jumping and viewed the wide spectrum of people that Gympie has. Felix also tried to chat up three older women (age 9) carrying sweets but with no success better luck next time but a very good try. After Gympie we went on to 1770 where Captain Cook first landed on 24 may 1770. They were having their 'Fete de Cook' so everywhere was full so we ended up in gladstone not much there but factories smelting aluminium and a couple of power stations. Moving on swiftly we are in Rockhampton 26' 29'30' degrees on the tropic of capricorn. On to Yepoon and the kepple islands later. hope to see the reef and do a glass bottom boat tour.
I have written some poetry on the road it reads much more bleak then we feel so dont worry
The Outback
Passing places
A fleeting glance at the memories laid out for us to take
Changing in the blink of an eye
then undulating
Rolling on and on
the road snakes ahead and we follow where it leads,
Brain engaging only to follow another dormant line dot dot dotting ahead,
we pause before its tail to rest,
As stars close in
And twinkle how it is with scale to scare
And us so small cant even compare.
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| ( 1:20 PM ) Matt |
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What a fun packed day we have just had. Before I go on =- The spider that Eirene Mentioned last night was a huntsman spider. It was about 3 to 4 inches across, and stocky very mean looking (I'm sure you can find a picture on the net). I'm sure it's having a bit of a giggle at the visiting poms expense with it's mates. There are so many wierd creatures and bugs round this neck of the world. The front of the van now looks like a zoo display board of wierd insects. (A few caine toads are also smeared around the wheel arches..)
So Today - After a tip off from Eirene's Aunt, we went to a place called tin can bay - an inlet of the coast. We were told we could see dolphins there - and sure enough, a dolphin was there. I expected to see, at the most, a bit of a dolphin fin out in the bay, but in fact, it was right there in the bay. We waded in to our knee's and she came to check us out. She was nearly as interested in us (especially Felix) as we were of her. She hung out with us for about half an hour, and kissed my hand ! In the afternoon, we came back to Neerdie and headed out for lunch at a place called snowy oak (I think) . A quiet little place in the midst of rural Queensland with Eirene's Aunt. The owners of the place were nice - the garden was amazing. Loads of local trees - macadamia nut ( Super tasty nuts!) Giant Palms (Cuban Royals) as well as some massive golden orb spiders - big splindly spiders with a round butt. The make webs that look like they are made from gold thread.
After that we went into Gympie, a gold mining town that has recently started mining again (Gimpy gold has just floated - looks like a good stock!) interesting tidy small hilly town. and spent the late afternoon at a really nice park with a lake in the middle, feeding wierd birds, ducks and geese, and black swans with bits of bread and playing on the playground (well that was more Felix, but I had to join in) One of the best sunsets I've seen in my life - the whole sky went golden and pink, before it dozed off into violet. The new moon - faces in the other direction (I think)
Spent the evening chatting with Beryl and Mel, and now a bit of a sleep.
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| ( 12:20 PM ) Eirene |
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well we have made it so far as to Neerdie to my Aunty Beryls (nana's sister) and her octaganol shaped house. right of the highway that we have been folllowing so far. Really enjoyed Byron Bay such beautiful beaches and people and it seems all VW Camper vans that Oz has. Met three lovely lads that werent scared by people with kids so chjilled for a night with them then the next day went to watch them catch some waves and stand on the most easterly point. After we hit the road and ended up in Maroochedore on the most plush campsite ever. Ah luxery showers that are warm and wash all of you at once instead of having to choose which bit you want wet first. Fel;isx got to got on a cho cho train in ginger land and as we settle here in neerdie for the night with promises of dolphin petting in the morning I just hope that that big hairy spider is really more scared of me then I of him and he stays where he is over ther on the ceiling. Ciao for now.
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| ( 8:30 AM ) Matt |
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Done a fair few miles (or should I say Kilometers) over the past few days. Stayed a while in Forster - that was a nice place. Got to see some glow in the dart mushrooms - pretty odd sight. First unpoluted view the souther skys - amazing. Clearly visable milky way, - a huge rash of stars.We followed Forster with another cool drive up the pacific highway again - That road just keeps getting better. Stopped off in a Koala breeding sanctuary called 'billabong'. Got to pat a koala ! the Koala that we patted hid a baby in her pouch, who came out to say hello to us all - the warden says that it hardly ever does that. Also got to feed some wallebys and kangaroos. boing boing boing.
Trecked up to Nimbin As Eirene says it's a very green place;
Imaging a Glastonbury festival that has set roots since the 1970's, then put a sleepy wide road down the middle, liberally sprinkle hippies and psychadellic shops and you got Nimbim. It's nice, but there is a bit of wierd vibe there - somethings going on that you can't quite see on the surface, but you know it's there. Bit like a Steven King novel waiting to happen (credit to Eirene for that line!). Interesting though non the less. This morning we left Niumbim and headed through the tweed valley towards Byron bay. The Tweed Valley is Mother Earth showing off. Lush green sub tropical vegitation, amazing mountains and hardly any cars or people.
We are now in Byron bay. Plenty 'surfer types' and bronzed bodies. ( I'm still fairly pasty white, but have got a pink nose.) Loads of backpackers - a pretty chilled vibe to the place. Great beach. Well - I'd better head back to camp. Macadamia Nut Satay snags on the barby ! Thanks for following so far :)
PS - (mum!) The boys are fine - Felix did have chickenpox, we had him checked out, and is his same old self, now - (a bit spotty)..
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| ( 7:50 AM ) Eirene |
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hello everyone especially Maria
Happy birthday to u darlin hope that you had a fantastic one with lots of fun and happiness and did lots of things that I wish I was there for . 24 is a avery good age and I thougherly recommend it. At the moment we are in Nimbin, for those who do not know about nimbin you can look it up on nimbinaustralia.com. It is beautiful place and very green. We have been away from a computer for aa while free camping on different beaches and doing my first bbq. Stopped at a very odd place called little Italy today for an expresso and to see the aboriginal museum???????? but it was closed and also went to see the BIG BANANA. If you have the opportunity to I would highly advise against it. It isd pants and full of flies but on the upside did see a huge lizard [it was running away too see even lizards were leaving the place. Hope to get to Byron Bay tomorrow and chill and dive a bit there so write again soon and love to all there. by the way felix has chicken pox oops........
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| ( 8:52 AM ) Matt |
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We are here !
(rushing this blog cos the internet cafe shuts soon and I've got loads to say).
Splendid few days we have had - since the last blog, we visited Sydney Aquarium - the have one of them under water glass tunnels, where we saw loads of sharks, giant turtles, Manta rays and other massive fish. They had loads of specimens - mainly barrier reef / Australian, but who needs more. We saw Tuna schools, baby manta's (look like cartoon fish - massive eyes and very cute) Duck billed platypus and Felix loved the pat pat fish pool - got to touch a starfish. A blue one. very good. Did a tour of Sydney, went on the monorail - great views of the city. Great city. very laid back.
Got out motorhome yesterday - it's MASSIVE. It's better than we expected and we love it. Spent the fist night (last night) just outside Sydney in the 'bush'. Not 'a bush', the 'bush'. Woke up in absolute nature - that's what I was after :)
Today we drove about 360km's north up the pacific highway - what a fantastic, fascinating picture postcard road that is (beats the M60 any day!) and landed at a camp site (pictured above) in Forster, near Nabiac. Set up the van (plugged it in and stuff) and wandered to the beach which yiou can hear from the site - Superb. It's nice. Eirene is now cooking satay chicken on the barby so I had better scoot back to the van... think tranquillo.
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| ( 10:56 PM ) Matt |
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[First - Message for Tinanana - Thanks for the mail yesterday, but I noticed that you used my outlook express to send it. I'm worried that you may have downloaded all my emails for that day, preventing me from downloading them from here. If you click on an email link on a web page, it will automatically launch outlook express. Don't worry about it though ! but please try not to do it if poss. Thanks Eirene sends you big squishy hugs and kisses by the way.]
It's now early morning, and we are getting ready to go out. Had a proper Ozzy day yesterday. Went to Hillsong in the morning, followed by coffee / breakfast at this really nice outdoor cafe. Chilled out in a Sunday style for the afternoon, played with the kids, followed by a proper Ozzy barby ! shrimps, snags and steaks. Superb. Washed that lot down with a few redbacks (nice one JR for recconding them!) and a few Crown Golds (David over here reccomended them :)
Today we are going back into Sydney, to visit Sydney aquarium - to see the Sharks !
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| ( 1:02 PM ) Eirene |
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Had a beautiful day today. Everyone is saying how good the weather is for this time of year . For us it basically means that it was like the height of english summer except with out the rain. Went into Sydney enmasse and by ferry to Manly which the kids loved. Ate fish and chips on the beach and shopped in Manly shops. Ate Manly ice cream and bought Manly things (swishy ribbon on a stick for felix new rainbow hair snood for me and a stripey hat for matt). Saw the oprea house in all its glory and a stretch porshe carerra not to mention so many brides that we thought it must have been a convention. so here ends our first day full of apple cinnamon rasin and honey toasties. night night or if you are not here mornin.
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| ( 11:33 AM ) Matt |
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Finally in Sydney. Had a very floaty day - not sure if it's sleep dep or jet lag - took it easy and did not much more than driving from the airport and playing in the local park with the kids (27 deg C - very nice!!).
The kids were absolute stars - put up with the epic trip really well. Staying with Eirene's cousin and family in a really nice burb of The city till the 7th of May. We are planning to do the 'tourist thing' round sydney tomorrow - the opra house, etc.
It's now night time, and I have just seen the southern stars for the first time in my life. David (Eirene's cousin) has showed us how to find south with the southern cross. Going to sleep now.
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| ( 12:10 PM ) Matt |
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(After a 14 hour stint without a ciggy!) We finally get to Singapore. What a massive airport this is. We are only here for about 2 hours, so it's a quick one -
- laded amid a full on tropical electrical storm. Wandered thru the airport - looking for a place to smoke a ciggy. Went to this covered catus garden outside where I got hit by a wall of total hunidity and 28deg C temperature. Like walking into a green house. Would like to have checked out Singapore a bit more, but I'll get a snapshot from the airport I guess. Next leg, onto Sydney. bye for now !
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