the start of my great adventure!

middy, schnoor, stubbie???????

2007-07-24T12:04:28Z

so its been an eventful couple of weeks. Decided as soon as i got to perth that i wnated to leave again!
really like perth as a city but am far happier in small towns -as long as u have the ocean, a friendly hostel and the pub what else do u need?!
so started a tour up the West coast. Went to the Pinnacles and i was so disappointed! its hard ton get excited by a few rocks in a desert when u have about 3 or 4 tourist buses in the background! kalbarri was amzing though. Looking through natures window and the view -it was like being in a Pirates of the Caribeen film! went absailing in teh gorge and i was sooooooo scared! i shouted a few sweart words as i tumbled down the cliff!!!!
Monkey Mia -waht can i say? yes it is very tourist like and no its not mindblowing but i was impressed. the dolphins are treated very well there and it is kept as natural as possible. i had visions of the seaworld parks in spain with dolphins jumpin through hoops!!!!
now i am in a place called denham whcih is a gorgous little town-2 pubs, 2 supermarkets and teh ocean is right accross the road.
got a job working in the local pub. that an eye opener! still trying to get my head around the terms-middy, schnnor, tinnies- where are the pints of beer! but its fun and the locals are really friendly-even if i still havent got the hang of pouring a middy of beer!

middy, schnoor, stubbie??????? remains copyright of the author lindz24, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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a sad goodbye to the margaret river

2007-06-27T03:26:25Z

so its a long time since i've written but i have spent the last 6 weeks constantly working! after olive picking i moved to vine pruning-oh god i was crap! u have to deicide which vines to prune and keep for the next years growth. to cut a long story short it involves a lot of cutting, pulling out old vines and using a pair of secateers(like scisssors) u do taht for 8 hours a day and in teh end yr hand is like a claw!
am really selling this fruitpicking to u arent i?
but honestly i ahve had teh ,ost enoyable times in auz and met the most fantastic people while fruitcpicking. people from all difffernt countries with a variety of different reasons for being in auz.
also margaret river is such a beautiful place-even in winter the beaches that surround it such a prevellary beach are gorgeous-even so more when its stormy.
i cant iamgine ever working inside again- even when its raining and cold and u are standing by a row waiting to prune and it seems endless.
was so sad leaving and heading back to the city. but saw some fantastic sights along teh way. the gloucester tree(was to scared to climb as u climb 40 ft of the ground-made it half way tho! ) and blowholes were cool.
now in perth but heading up the west coast tomorrow. even perth with it being such a chilled out city is still to big for me now!
cant wait to get back to towns with 2 supermarkets, endless beaches and countryside-and one pub!

a sad goodbye to the margaret river remains copyright of the author lindz24, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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damn those olives!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2007-05-09T11:47:20Z

yeah so i left perth and headed opn the start of my new adventure-sown the West Coast. I visited a place called Bunbury anfd really wnated to swim with the dolpins. was gutted as i was teh on ly one and the tour needed 4 people. apartuntly 24 degrees is too cold for many people (a bloody lovely summers day in Wales!!!!!!!!!!!)
but drownt my sorows in teh pub and met some real aussies- they were very friendly and didnmt laugh to much when they asked me how i was travelling and i said by bus! (it means how are u in australian slang!)
next was dunsborough which has some beautiful beaches. then to Margaret river. before getting here we stopped at Augusta. We also stopped at a place where the Indian Ocean and the Southern Ocean meet. the waves and the rocks were amazing.
so yeah manged to get a job here-picking olives. oh and i thought garlic was hard!
my job entails holding a rake that vibrates and i have to knock olives into a net basket. the rake is rewally heavy and teh net basket doesnt actually work very well at all! also my supervisor is a lazy sod who just watches and does nothing to help me! i just keep repeating a mantra to myself- money, seocong working visa, money, seconmd working visa!!!!
and margaret river is really beautiful- warm weather, good wine (though i am up to early to drink it and not suffer all day with a hangover!)
dont know how long i am going to last (until i get sackerd for being too slow!) so yeah its 8pm and am off to bed! hope i dont dream of olives!!!!!!!!!!!!!

damn those olives!!!!!!!!!!!!!! remains copyright of the author lindz24, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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chilled out perth

2007-04-23T10:15:54Z

so i got to perth feeling really nervous. not liking melbourne i didnt know what i was going to think.
i love it.
Kings Park has got to be one of the most beautiful gardens i have ever seen-so many differnt types of plants, flowers and the view of perth is breathtaking.
perth reminds me of sydney -but without the constant pushing! people are friendly and ask u if u are lost!
northbridge( backpacker central) is still able to retain a really chilled out vibe with amazing restaurants and good live music.
Scarbough beach has got to be one of the most beautiful beaches that i ahve seen so far-espcially at sunset.
fremantle is like a little british town with cobbled streets, old taverns and has a really fab market. Fremantle prison is another highlight that should not be missed.
Cottleshoe beach and Rottonist island were also highlights-saw a Quokka on Rottonist (which does not look like a rat! -the first settlers thought that it did and named the island after one! it actually quite cute!! )
so am a little bit sad taht i will be leaving on wed and heading down the west coast-going to bunbury(dolpins),maraget river (mmm wine)
walpole, and albany. am really excited by this next part of the trip. and will probably end up back in perth to make some money for the next part aftre that!!

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alice springs

2007-04-11T09:13:01Z

so u know the story. go on tour, spend a lot of money, end up with no money, time to work!
thought alice would be the perfect place.
its a small town and although pretty there is really nothing to do so no temptation to spend money!
got a job in a hostel chnaging beds, cleaning kichen, vaccaming and toliets(lovely!!!)
met some lovely backpackers-nice hearing peoples stories from around the world and places taht they ahve visted!
but for the minority of backpackers this is for u.
please b nice- strip yr bed,
do yr dishes
and most important- please PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
do not block public toliets with toliet roll and sanitory towels. ( think of the poor bugger that has to unblock it!!!)
so alice has been a good a place as any to ahve some thinking time about what to do next.
have booked a flight to perth for next tues-yee ha!!!
its another city i know but have hopes it will be better than melbourne. also looking at tours that go both down the west coast to espance and up to broome. if anyone has advice on places that i should definetly visit along the way please let me know!

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adeliade to ayers rock

2007-04-11T09:02:51Z

so next i was headed from adeliade through some of the most remote regions of australia. this for me was hwta i was really lookig forwad to-outback australia.
some of the highlights included- William Creek. Population 8 people, flies 1 million! have never been so thnakfuul for a fly net!!!
a very strange "town" in the middle of nowwhere! the William Creek pub had a lot of character with very friendly staff. for a fee of 2 dollors u could leave yr stamp on the pub- as a result there were hundreds articules such as bank cards, driving licences, photos,bras, pants and passports left from all over the world! (leaving the last one on the list may have been done in a drunken haze!)
Coober Peddy-not what i expected. i thought(call me stupid!!) that u wouldnt be able to see this underground town from above ground. that there would be a litle trap door to climb down into the hostel!
but it was still a fastinating place- the church and tour of an underground house a must! also looked for opal and no luck!!!
Kings Cayon- the first part of this walk-heartattack hill-they call it that for a reason!!!!! but worth the climb -especially with the waterhole at the end.
Ayers Rock- this was the pinnacle of the journery i guess. i was hopeing that it wasnt just going to be a hyped up place full of tourists with camaras.
wierd, beautiful, enhanting, alien like.
thats the way i would describe the rock. seeing the rock change from orange too a deep red at sunset was beautiful.
equally camping out under the stars in swags and being awoken by the suns rays over and witnising this over the rock made all the flies, dust and hot journ on a bus more than worth it.
was so gutted when this part of the trip ended-met some lovely people, had some laughs and saw some amzing sights along the way.
being in the middle of nothingness really does make u realize how insignificent u really are. thats strangely a comforting thought as it makes u re evaluate alot and hopefuly for me it will make me worry far less about things i have no control about.
sounds corny but i really do feel taht this part of the trip was a real jounery that has changed me and that i will remember forever.

adeliade to ayers rock remains copyright of the author lindz24, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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great ocean road

2007-03-31T03:49:27Z

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!!

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melbourne

2007-03-30T06:28:44Z

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!!

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Tasmania

2007-03-15T03:02:29Z

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!

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still fruitcpicking in mildura!!!

2007-02-19T06:54:51Z

god its been a hard few weeks here whcih is the reaosn whyi havent updated the blog in a while!!
have finished at the garlic farm(am sad to say!) oh my god it has to be the worst job taht i have ever had! its noyt just smelling of garlic but it the way that u are treated at teh factory. u are not a person, but a number. a dog that is told to WORK, WORK, WORK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It was hard actually adjusting to that- also to being the only person there taht could speak english! u canm imagine the hous went quick! then i ahd a job at a farm pickingplums which was really good and know i work at a grape farm.
i have nevr been so hot in all my life. 44 degree heat. every single muscle in yr body aching! fingers cut. u think u cant pick anymore grapes buit as it is paid by what u pcik u have no choice! have i put anyone off?
no its not all bad-i prmoise! u get to work outside. u go home feeling tired but tired because u have worked hard. there is no computer or office in sight. its away from every single piece of modern technology u can think off.
yeah my time here-strange really. enjoyed it as have met some great people. seen the country. drank gon!(the cheapest most vile wine i ahve ever tasted!!)
but am looking forward to the next part of my adventure. tasmania. begining of march for 11 days. then a tour that goes from melbourne to alice springs. cant wait to visit Coober Peedy(a town where epoepl live underground because it gets to hot)
so yeah when any fellow fruitpickers think that they cant possibly work for any longer just think of the reaosn why u came here. what u have left behind and what u want to achieve.
honestly it does motivate u to work-most of the time!!!!

still fruitcpicking in mildura!!! remains copyright of the author lindz24, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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fruitpicking in Mildura

2007-01-08T07:26:08Z

so its jan the 3rd. i feel all sluggish from heavy few weeks in sydney drinking and living in the city.
am so looking forward to leaving!
am heading on a bus to Mildura which is on the NSW/Vict border.
am out to find my fortune(yeah rite!) fruitpciking!
17 hrs later i arrive and glad to get of the bus. pass thro Canberra and stop for an hr. please do not spend anytime at this place as i was bored after that!
arrive at the working hostel Oasis Backpackers-so strange to be out of the city. there is feield upon field of vines and lots of farms dotted around.
before i even settle in i find out that i am peeling garlic- teh one thing i did not wnat to do! but i think hey give it a go.
its actually not that bad-i mean the smell u get used too, and its inside a warehouse because when i say taht its hot here-i mena that it is hot!
also the other backpackers at the hostel are really nice and from all over the world.
this is my fifth day now and i am starting to settle in.
Milduara is actually a really pretty town and its so nice to be in the countryside.
so yeah its a milion miles away from Sydney-the nightclubs, fastfood resturants, clothes shoping!
but i strangely like it-even if i smell like garlic!!!!!!!!!!!!

fruitpicking in Mildura remains copyright of the author lindz24, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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christmas in sydney

2007-01-01T11:28:38Z

can't believe that its New Years day and this time last night I was waiting for the second set of fireworks at the Harbour Bridge!
Sydney at New Years-what can i say? Amazing!
we had set out to get our spot at 11am and what a spot!
a perfect view of the bridge and what a gorgeous day! i think it was through a joined grioup effort taht we kept the forecasted rainclouds away.
the hours leading up to the first set of fireworks at 9apm actually went quite quick- spent the hous talking, playing games, talking to fellow travellers and ok, well, yes i did induldge in a few glasses of wine but hey its new years day!
the atmosphere was electric and as we approached 9pm the excitement started growing.
the first set wnet of with a bang(sorry for the pun) but hey, this was just the warm up act. as the sun went down the bridge looked even more magnificent. AS 12pm approached everyone rose to tehir feet-this is what we had bene waiting for for the last 12 hours! then the countdown, 5,4,3,2,1......
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The fireworks were breathtaking-every single colour u could think off- and there was a giant lite up image of a coathanger on the bridge.
in every direction the sky was lite up. I started singing OLd Langs Eye, then realised i didnt actually know teh words as usually teher is a family member tehat is with me that sings it for me! but hey i gave it a go!
what a day, what an evening!
a New Years i will always remember and also it finalised the end of my first part of travelling in Australia. an amazing and scary first part. am so looking forward now to moving on to the next part and experiencing a whole different side of auz- Mildura-fruitpicking,country hot, a million miles away from the fast moving, bright lights of sydney.
wish me pwb lwc!!!

christmas in sydney remains copyright of the author lindz24, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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skydiving in Wollongong

2006-12-28T08:25:28Z

oh my god, oh my god, oh my god, oh my god-did i say taht already?!
i cant desribe to u how emotional today was!
so i had spent teh week laughing about skydiving-winding up the family-saying i was going to jump alone (i jumped tandem-u think i wnat responsibility over pulling the cord!?)
but when it came to it i was actually .. well... bricking it!!!!
so i met my instructer who reasssued me taht teher was nothing to worry about and taht we were only climbing 14,000 feet, we would be freefalling over the ocean and he went through the intsructions. arms accross my chest at first, kneel at teh door of the plane and when he signalled just fall out-yeah-easy-really!!!!!!!
and i did what i usually do in those sitautions-didnt really listen but pretended that i did!
i was jumping in an area called Wollongong-which was 2 hrs east of sydney, over a gorgeous beach. the conditions couldnt have been better- the sun was amazing,the sea an amazing aquamarine colour.
as we ascended over the ocean i literally felt my head would explode with the scenery!
the instructer pointed a mini camara in my face and asked me how i was feeling-oh u know, fine i mean jumping out of a plane may be normal for u luv but jumping out of bed hard enough for me these days!
then it was time-one, two, three....
ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, f@!!!!!!@@@@@@@@%%%%%%%%%%%%%**************k!
rushing through the air, the water below me.. am going to die!!!!!
then the paracute opened and we drifted over the ocean - i got to control the reins!!! i did a few spins!!
this is WHY i came to auz!!!!
then time for landing, the sand rushing to my feet, then solid ground.
how do i feel!
i want to do it again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

skydiving in Wollongong remains copyright of the author lindz24, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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xmas on bondi

2006-12-26T23:26:45Z

hey guys!
so yeah christmas on bondi-i did the typical backpacker xmas day but hey i'm in sydney, its xmas and it had to be done. it was so strange xmas morning-i mean at home its cold, usulaly raining, no one leaves the house, u watch tv all day, eat lots and drink. fall aleep at 9pm watching vicor of dipley!!! here i was on a bus at 12pm on the way to bondi beach. the streets were packed with people-i mean all the shops were open.even clothes shops!!! when we got to the bneach i was expecting hundreds of thousands of mad, drunk backpackers when actaully it was quite civilised! the beach was full but u could find a place to sit. there was lots of families having picnics. the policy on no alochol on the beach was very strict and there was police checking bags as soon as u got there which was good because a lot of alcohol, and backpackers on a beach doesnt mix well! it was a very surreal day-i mean i was there with a pair of shorts on, an xmas hat watching a guy dressed as santa on a surf board and an australian tv show filming him! so yeah i may be in the background to that!!! am glad i did it but not the expereinece i thought it wouldbe! also as much as it was nice to have sun, i was pining for some snow, (or rain) and dark mornings! spending time with my family and playing with my nieces toys!(sorry ellie!)
so yeah-xmas in the sun cool but at teh risk of sounding extremely chessy- there is definetly no place like home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Come all ye faithful!

2006-12-23T06:26:03Z

in an attempt to get into the christmas spirit, i decided taht i needed to go to see a carol service-and what better place to go than the opera house! also a good excuse to put a dress on considering i have lived in my walking boots, vest tops and combats for teh last 7 weeks!!!
and the opera house didnt disappoint. the location couldnt be more perfect- it was beautiful. the harbour at night is a mix of music, lights, every nationaity under the sun and the atmosphere was buzzing!!!
the opera singers had amazing voices-very famous aussie singers that i obviously didnt know! we did the typical dumb tourist thing and took photos- a scary old woman told us off!!!
i couldnt resist joining in and singing silent night( i think everyone around me now have to see a psychtarist for psychological disturbance!)
anyone who was anyone was there-even father christmas himself- and yes i did have a photo with him-i have evidence-he exists!!!!!!!!!!!
it is going to be very wierd being away from home, family, friends this year -i am looking forward to bondi beach (well u have to rite?) and new years eve on teh harbour but am going to miss home like crazy. cold dark evenings, christmas dinner, vicor of dipley!!!
want to wish everyone who is reading this family, friends, other travellers -past, presenta nd future
merry christmas and have a happy, healthy safe and lucky new year
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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wedi blino!!!

2006-12-19T23:31:49Z

hi guys so yeah decided a few weeks ago as well as needing tio make sure taht i dont run out of money and also because i was getting quite restless, i decided to trya nd get a job. bene working in a warehouse on and off last couple of weeks. i have to say taht it is the most difficult job taht i have had. i mena the work it self is quite easy-packing boxes, and putting pamplets in order of page number but its been so hard to stay awake! work starts at 630am but have to get up at 5am for the bus! also the factory is very hot and i coem hioome not only very dirty but also smelling of serious BO!!!!!!!!!!
sounds starnge but ahve actually enjoyed it as i ahev met soem australain people-because did u know atht no actual australains live in sydney!!!
anyhow its all good prepartion as i ahve arranged to do fruitpickinga fetr xmas-i live sydney on jan 3rd and head fopr milduara which is on the NSW /Victoria border! know its going to be seriously hard, hot work but looking forwrad to seeing real auz and being in the country! also gives me some tiem to save some cash for my next set of travels -hopefully to melborne and then taz!
anyhow gmtv (britsih tv morn show) filiming in sydney today so going to do my best to get on the box!!!!!look out for me!

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bridgeclimb-i did it!!!!!

2006-12-15T06:22:21Z

oh my god.
thats is all i can say.(yeah rite!)
breathtaking.
the one thing i wnated to do when in sydney was the bridgeclimb. I had been winding my mam up about me doing it for months beofre i came-saying that i was going to absail down the front of it(by the way u arent aloud to do that mam!)
i thought yeah this will be a piece of cake-am bit of a thrillseeker!
but must admit even i was scared when they started strapping us all up in a belt and expalining all the safety techniques. alos the hieght taht u climb too etc. didnt help taht teh group taht i was in the guy was really scared of flights and was a lovely shade of green.
felt like saying to our tour guide-let me out!!!
but honestly it is not scary at all-why? because u are so blown over by the scenery. the opera house looks even more magnificent, the harbour water that day was glistening green. it was fuull of sailing ships and yahts and the people looked like little ants.
the first bit of the climb was very steep up very narow steps -think everyones bum muscles had a good workout taht day!
our guide was great-told us about teh history of the bridge- the year it was built, how many people it took to build it, and u know non important information like how many people died building it! only 2 poeple fell off(very reassuring when u are at the top looking down at god knows how many racing cars under your feet)
sounds stupid but i felt really emotional. nearly had to use the communal tissue that the guides give u at the start! i mean yeah this IS a beautiful city-even with the skyscrappers and raods, and traffic. have got my photo of proof and a chessy certificate to mark the day.
next skydiving- 14,000 feet.
sorry mam!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

bridgeclimb-i did it!!!!! remains copyright of the author lindz24, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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me tipsy?!

2006-12-08T04:22:42Z

had a fab time at the hunter valley. the drive from sydney was breathtaking-we passed fieldd upon field of vineyards and beautiful rivers and mountains. afetr morning tea, we arrived at our first winery. here the tour guide demontsrated teh correct way to taste wine. u are first supposed to twirl the wine in your glass, then smell the wine-get your nose right in it! and take in all the aromas. then taste it taking time to swirl it around the pallet of yr mouth. never realised it was such a science!!! anyhow the HUnter valley produced some of the best wines in the world. we visted the most famous in the region called the drayton family winery. the guide explained theer what the difference was between wine in oak, and tin casets and the differencve in the wine making between the green and the red grape. so now i am ofically an expert!!! was quite tipsey by the end of the day -so all the extra knowledge I had aquired quickly disappeared!!! got me in the modd for fruitpicking after xmas tho- i mean hey it is goin to be hard, 6 days a week, hot lots of spiders, cockroches but a glass of wine watching the sun go down in the mountains-that sounds like a far trade!!!

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Surfs up dude!!!!!

2006-12-05T12:04:24Z

am really scared but have booked to go to surf camp the weekend!!! bascially i am goin to a beach just east of sydney and am goin to be given 4 lessons of surfing!! get to stay in a cabin in a forest with 40 other people! and no the sea is not shark infested so i should be fine! but me, surfing?!!! what if i cant get up on the board? what if the all laugh! but to come to aus and say u didnt surf would be unforgiveable!!! but tahts the whole point isnt it? doin things that u would never ever do at home! so wish me luck!
also goin on a wine tour to the hunter valley tomorrow! very civilised i get to sample 43 differnt types of wines. cheese, wine, choclate, wine...... yum!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Surfs up dude!!!!! remains copyright of the author lindz24, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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my first cockroche!!!

2006-11-28T10:14:35Z

hi all! yuk! a huge cockroache just ran past my foot. but i contained myself with my usual sense of grace and did not scream- there are far worse things i will encounter along the way!
not been up to much last couple days between trying to sort out banks and getting a job and gettimng no where!!! its so competative here-can u beleieve taht u need a degree to make a coffee!!! also this man said to me today -we do not employ your kind-travellers!!!!! not happy bunny!!!
anyhow took a break and went to darling harbour-wow taht was an eye opener all the rich people walking around in their
suits! felt like a scruf in my thongs!! (sandals!) anyhow my plan for this week is to go to palm beach - its the beach where they film home and away! but not just taht its supposed to be gorgeous. went to a pub that does crab racing again last night- very surreal but good fun! also getting used to asking for a scooner and not a pint! dont think they quite understod when i asked for a snake bite tho!!!
anyhow of to bed-glad i sleep in a bunk-can cockroaches climb ladders?!!!!!!!

my first cockroche!!! remains copyright of the author lindz24, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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there was fire in those hills!!!

2006-11-24T23:19:25Z

i have just returned from the mountains and i am in absolute awe. It is one of the most beautiful places taht I have ever been.
seeing the three sisters standing together overlooking the rest of the mountains and embracing the space around me, made me feel an inexplainable sense of peace.
I shoudl explain -the three sisters are 3 rock formations that stand together. the story about their formation comes from aborginal folklore. The story is that the father of the daughters went away into the mountains and a mounster came to attack his daughetrs. Before the mounster reached the daughetrs the father managed to turn his daughetrs into stone to protect them using a magic wand. but then he got chased by the monster and dropped the wand and to this day he is still looking for it to change them back to humans.
i had decided to stay in the mountains for a few days as it vwas one of my must sees while i was in auz. i had also been experiencing withdrawal effects from not seeing any mountains such i have been here!
however since i had booked the trip there had been bush fires and i was nervous of still going! but i was not told not to go by my travel agency and had been looking forward to the trip all week! anyhow it all worked out fine -all i saw was some distant smoke and a few fire engines. also went to the Jevolen caves and these natural formations were amazing. they are underground and they are the most unsual shapes and colours. because of the bush fires alot of people were afraid of going and so there was a small party of us. we managed to be able to access a cave that is rarley shown because of this whcih was very special. i cant explain everything atht i saw that weekend otherwise i would be here all day but my best memory seeing the three sisters at night, lite up, with bats sweeping accross them and the ambers of the fire in the distance. i could defintely live here!!!

there was fire in those hills!!! remains copyright of the author lindz24, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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yes i am out of the city!!

2006-11-21T00:29:33Z

hey so left yha yest. oh my god i am not exagetratting -(god my spelling is bloodly awful!!!) i thought my back was going to brak and i swear to god its those bloodly conatcts! my bag is already broken-being held together by duct tape! was really hot to but got to the guesthouse taht we srae staying till until xmas/new year. its a nice house in an area called glebe. its 15 mins from sydney iand is like a studnet area. lots of scruffy people so felt at home!! lots of international people at the house-germans, amercians, canadians. am still the only welsh girl tho! god knows what the accent will be like after a year. everyone seems nice but have a confused look when i speak to them- tell them its normal!
today thought shoudl try and get a job so rang this "charity" that sells wrist bands. went to the meeting! the guy was called calvin, looked like a secondhand carsales person and he smelt of BO. It was obvious that this so called charity was corrupt. walked out and told him in my own sweet way i wanst going to be involved! not lowereing my morals for any money! going to the blue mountains for a few days and tehn will come back and re think job hunting. cant wait to see the bush and stay in this hostel that is supposed to be eco friendly. also meet some otehr people interested in wlaking. only walking people do in sydney is to the pub or to the office!

yes i am out of the city!! remains copyright of the author lindz24, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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kings cross eh!!!

2006-11-19T04:42:14Z

surpised myself and directed myself to kings cross today. this is the red lite district of sydney where all the postitities hang out and is full of sex shops.
actually i was a little disappointed. its literally just a poor suburb with a few sad passed out homeless drunk people. no dramas. no different to any town in wales. a few knickers shops and thats about it! must admit was impressed by the huge coca cola sign that is the landmark of the cross. there was also the elizabeth bay house which is one of the oldest houses in auz. it was beautiful. it housed poets and bohemian artists at one time. poor burgers lived there with no electricity! glad i made the trip as it was nice to get out of the city. i just thought i wish some of these yuppirs from the city would make the trip and realise how lucky they bloody are!

kings cross eh!!! remains copyright of the author lindz24, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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taronga zoo

2006-11-19T04:33:15Z

went to taronga zo yest. was a bit dubious about it as a general rule i dont like zoos but teh animals were so well cared for. i was like an excited kid in a sweet shop!! kangaroos, koalas, walabies, wombats, snakes, and animals i had never heard off.
there was also elephants, lions, tigers, and this big ugly lizard thing-i have never seen anything as ugly in my life- wel maybe on a night out in swansea!!!
took the ferry to the zoo-the view was amazing- u could see teh whole of sydney-the bridge, harbour, the opera house-wel worth the visit for that.
we then went to a famous cheap italian called mamas house where they do the best lasenge i have ever tasted for 4 quid. yum! then went clubbing and sambled druneburg and coke which is rum and coke-very nice and Tooleys beer(also very nice!!)
god i am a civilised lady arent i?!

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city life!

2006-11-17T06:39:29Z

well i've been in sydney for less than a week and have already decided that i have no desire to live in a big city. i mean yeah sydney is exciting-the opera house, the harbour,circular quey.... but i could be in any other city like london, New York etc. think i am in a bit of culture shock-everyone is in such a rush, phones are glued to every ear, converstations involve busness lunches and who is hot in town. its borning...... got quite disillusioned other day and forget why the hell i decided to come.but spoken to a few people at the hostel i am staying at -real travellers who wnat to see real australia and i feel more postive today. booked a trip to the blue mountains for next week, am moving to a place called glebe whcih is very bohemian and retro. goin to sit back and relax and decide how long to stay in sydney. orginal plan till xmas but may leave before and head for fruitpicking. the thought of office work here depresses me far to much! goin to glebe market tonite and went to bondi beachj the other day where all the cool surfers hang out. was quite smug- as a m8 of mine thats been there said- we have much better beaches in wales!

city life! remains copyright of the author lindz24, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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