Mar 2007

so yeah after the disappoint of melbourne i was eager to start my trip of great ocean road. was going with a small tour company and had a good laugh.though some of the people on our tour seemed to think that included in the tour was the gurantee of good weather! (it rained two days!!!)
stopped at all the main points. saw the 9 apostles (well i counted 9!) that was realy strange -had read so much about them it was wierd actually being there and seeing it through my own eyes.
stood with the rest of the tourists taking pictures and then i thought-shit i am not actully seeing what is in front of me. so i put the camara away and just looked.
there are some things that are just too big or to magnificent that taking a photo of them would not do them justice.
also i didnt just wnat the same picture that every other traveller has in auz.
after the great ocean road the next to come was a trip taht would go from adedilede to william creek, coober peddy (god so excited!) up to ulru and alice springs. camping in swags, in the desert. middle of no where- no rest for the wicked!!

so after tasmania i was feeling tired, and sad for leaving this gorgeous place. but also eager to head to melbourne and expereience the live music, and great social scebe that thiis city prmosed to offer.
this may not be a popular view but i actually didnt like melborne at all.
maybe its not the city itself but the fact that as my trip progresses i have learnt what i love and the types of places that i can really feel that i can be myself.
i mean melbourne although attractive and clean- It had some lovely buildings and shops. it was just another city.
i visited the usual backpacker scene-st kilda (stayed in a horrible 10 bed dorm!) and did the complusory neighbours nite (met my hero karl kenady and toadie-yes i am that sad!)
but apart from that i was disappointed. maybe i'm just not a city person! melbourne left me feeling lonley in a big confusing place and although melbourne was friendly it still had the quick moving attitude of cities that i really hate-so i was happy to leave and start a tour that would take me along the great ocean road, to adedelde up to coober peddy through to ayers rock and Alice Springs.
Visiting remote places away from traffic, crowds of people and hungry jacks sounded like heaven to me!!

i was not expecting that tasmania would be the highlight of my trip so far!
please do not leave australia wihout visiting this place.
i started off in the city of Hobart which is extremely quaint with cobbled streets, a beautiful harbour and just a realxed atmosphere that i had not experienced whlist in sydney. the people are also so friendly and were only to happy to give directions after i got lost! i wnet to salamanica market which is held every wkend and is full of local crafts, jewellary and lovely food!!
i then started my tour and visited Port Arthur. this was a place where many of the first settlers were sent who commited crimes such as petty theft. people as young as 9 years old were sent to this centre to rehabiliate them and to teach them a trade to epuip them for life. Mnay did have a better life after port arthus but amny more suffered years of emotional and physical abuse in the prisons and ayslm that was at the base. it was realy moving to read their stories.
I also visted wineglass bay whcih is one of the most beautiful stretches of beach taht i have ever seen. At cradle mountain we sayed in gorgeous accomodiation in huts an d walked around beautiful lakes.
i saw the tasmanian devil and learnt how 70% have died recently due to a horrible face cancer that has wiped them out. luckily attempts are being amde to conatin the disease.
anotehr highlight was seeing faIRY PENGUINS AT BICHINO. a non highlight was a run in with a tiger snake taht i had when i stopped to go to the loo in the bush!!!!
tasmania really is a hidden jewel-u feel taht u ahve really travelled out of australia and not just an hr on a plane. if i have time i am going to revisit and its also inspired me to go to new zealand whcih is also supposed to be very simalr-if not better than tasmania.
if so i cant wait!