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By request – A point (or four) of clarification

Saturday, September 23rd, 2006

1. Andy Jones is not gay. That I know of.
2. He asked me to write this.
3. Yes, he is a middle child. I’m saying nothing more.
4. Andy – now please will you explain the concept of a Valley Day Out? Ta.

Posted in Australia, Travel | 6 Comments »

Australia – Final Thoughts

Saturday, September 23rd, 2006

Bit late with these final thoughts, I know, but in a way it’s good as it’s given me a chance to reflect and regroup my musings.  Or, that’s what I’m telling myself so I don’t feel guilty about leaving it too long again.  I’d be grateful if you could play along, thanks.

You know what?  I loved Australia.  Absolutely loved it.  Far, far more than I expected to.  Not that I didn’t expect to like it – far from it, I’d heard such good reports from everyone I knew who’d been there that I knew there had to be something in it – but there were countries I wanted to see more than Australia, fool that I am.

Right from the word go, it was wonderful.  I admit, this might have something to do with the amazing reception I got from Mike and Sheila in Perth – what a blessing it is to have such a huge, warm, welcoming family all over the world – but I don’t think it was only that.  Of course, I got to see the best of Perth and the environs, thanks to the marvellous tailor-made Rollos tours, but I think I would have fallen for it regardless.  Immediately, though cold (especially after the sultry mugginess of Asia), Australia seemed clean, well-ordered, with a good dollop of that famous laid-back attitude.  On the very first day, the people we were speaking to at the vineyards were funny, relaxed, interested and interesting.  They seemed delighted to welcome me to their country.

I’ve written earlier in these blogs about the wonderful sights of Perth, and these will stay in my memory forever, but a small incident sticks in my mind.  Things like this always endear a place to me, and, on the few occasions in my trip that it’s happened, I’ve immediately and irrevocably taken the place in question to my heart.  I was about to cross a road in the city centre, and had my map out to check I was going in the right direction.  A complete stranger came up to me, and simply asked, “Do you know where you’re going?” I did, but thanked him profusely for asking the question.  In fact, that’s one of my resolutions for when I get home, and if I could persuade just one other person via this blog to do the same, I’d be delighted.  If you see someone in your hometown with a map, or looking a bit lost, it takes just two minutes out of your day to check they’re ok, but I promise you, they will be grateful for a very long time to you.  Sometimes it’s the smallest things that can make someone’s day.  This will.

Sydney is the most fabulous city.  It’s jumped right up there with Paris and Hong Kong in the ‘cities I would live in’ league.  It’s both modern and historical, friendly, and … well… those sights bring a shiver to your spine, no matter how travel-jaded you are, no matter how many times you’ve seen them on tv.  Everyone seems to be happy in Sydney (maybe the council put happy pills in the water or something), and I think I would be permanently happy if I lived there as well.  Of course, the extra bonuses in Sydney equal, more than equal, the wonder of the city – my birthday, the BridgeClimb (I’ll say it again – DO IT DO IT DO IT), and meeting Andy – all mean that Sydney will always, always have a very special place in my heart, and I know for sure that I will be back.

Melbourne was of course wonderful because of the chance to meet up again with Alice and Hugh – the first people from my travels who I’ve met up with elsewhere, and on their home territory indeed!  Their hospitality was again outstanding, and I can’t wait to return the favour when they come to the UK (guys – get booking those tickets!).  Melbourne was also lovely because it reminded me of home, of Manchester.  Yes, it was cold and raining (so is Manchester), but the architecture, the trams, everything, made me feel at home instantly.  Add to this the whole Neighbours hysteria and, well, you’ve got yourself a pretty fine city.

And then the camper van – not only one of the highlights of Australia, but one of the highlights of my whole trip.  Everything – the freedom, the independence, the strangeness of the van, the singing all day long, the laughing, the camp sites, all conspired to make this feel like a holiday within a holiday.  It was incredibly nostalgic as well, reminding me of those much-loved caravan holidays as a child.  Crunchy Nut Cornflakes and everything!

Some of the towns we visited on the way up the coast showed a different Australia.  In many ways, the country reminded me of America – prosperous, happy, warm and friendly.  I guess this was perpetuated by some of the small, isolated towns we went to that were like small town America – some of them were more than a touch Redneck, and there were some curious stares in our direction as the strangers in town.  This, though, I guess is only to be expected, and I’m not so naive as to think that the same small-town mentality doesn’t exist in the UK – in fact, I know it does.

Still, this can by no way, shape, or form tarnish my view of Australia.  The people, the weather, the scenery, all add up to one big ‘WOW’ factor.  So I say this now – I know for most of you it is literally the other side of the world, but those hours in a plane will be more than repayed by good times and memories.  You’ll love it.  Trust me, I’m a converted Aussie-cynic.

Posted in Australia, Final Thoughts, Travel | 1 Comment »

Sydney – Another night in an airport

Saturday, September 23rd, 2006
I landed in Sydney airport at about 11pm, and, knowing I’d have to be back there by 6am to check in for my flight to New Zealand, decided it wouldn’t be worth heading out to a hotel or hostel. So, ... [Continue reading this entry]

Posted in Australia, Travel | 2 Comments »

Airlie Beach/Brisbane – “Heroes”

Saturday, September 23rd, 2006
We always knew it would be a long haul to get back down to Brisbane from Airlie Beach in two days, but it was the only option to us if we wanted to see the Whitsundays. I had an early ... [Continue reading this entry]

Posted in Australia, Travel | 2 Comments »

Whitsundays – Oh! You Pretty Things

Saturday, September 23rd, 2006
Initially, I wasn’t sure if we would make it up the coast of Queensland as far as the Whitsundays but, knowing how much I wanted to go there, Andy persuaded me it was possible, provided we drove for two days ... [Continue reading this entry]

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Rockhampton – Let’s Dance

Saturday, September 23rd, 2006
Welcome to my 100th blog! You should get a telegram from the Queen for reading this far. Rocking up to Rockhampton, we were very excited by all the cows that we were seeing. Let me clarify. There are more than two ... [Continue reading this entry]

Posted in Australia, Travel | 1 Comment »

Hervey Bay – Diamond Dogs

Saturday, September 23rd, 2006
Next stop along the road was Hervey Bay, chosen because it was the easiest place from which to get to Fraser Island. I had my first stint driving the Bowiemobile, and I’m glad to say I passed with flying colours. ... [Continue reading this entry]

Posted in Australia, Travel | 1 Comment »

Brisbane/Noosa – Absolute Beginners

Saturday, September 23rd, 2006
Back in Sydney, Andy and I had arranged to meet up in Brisbane once I’d left Melbourne, and had decided to explore the east coast of Queensland. Initially, we were planning to do this by bus, until we struck on ... [Continue reading this entry]

Posted in Australia, Travel | 1 Comment »

Melbourne – That’s when good Neighbours become good friends

Saturday, September 23rd, 2006
As I mentioned earlier, it was Alice and Hugh’s talk of Neighbours that was the clincher in me deciding to come to Melbourne. Not only the Neighbours tour, but the Neighbours Night. This is a weekly event, held at the ... [Continue reading this entry]

Posted in Australia, Travel | 1 Comment »

Melbourne – Gone Fishing

Saturday, September 23rd, 2006
The next day, though cold again, was dry and sunny, so Alice and I were persuaded to go fishing by Hugh, his brother, and their friend (also called Hugh). Was this against my better judgement? My first experience of fishing ... [Continue reading this entry]

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