Claire Down Under

Singapore

2008-07-30T10:53:00.000-07:00

I decided to book into a hotel on the Orchard Road for my last two nights so that I could treat myself to a bit of well needed pampering. I got my hair done as it was so out of condition and bleached blond from the sun it looked a mess. I also had a manicure and pedicure and then spent the rest of my first day window shopping. Well ok I was looking for clothes but couldn't really find anything that I loved, plus I already had far too much stuff to try and cram into my rucksack.

Whilst I knew Singapore was renowned for its shopping I still couldn't quite get over just how many malls there were on one road. It really was quite incredible with every type of shop imaginable. All the food stalls were amazing too and I ate far too much, sampling the different types on offer.

My second day in Singapore I took the city sightseeing bus to the Indian, Chinese and Muslim quarters. Wandered along the river and of course went and checked out Raffles. The bar wasn't open unfortunately so I couldn't try a Singapore Sling, but I did treat myself to a necklace from Tiffany's instead.

I then headed out to the Botanical Gardens and wandered around the Orchid Garden which was truly stunning, before lying in the sun and reading my book. This would have been bliss had I not got bitten from head to toe and am now trying hard not to scratch.

I arrived home yesterday so am sat at home typing this, determined to finish my blog before I start back at work on Monday. It is lovely seeing my family again and I can't wait to catch up with friends over the coming weeks.

I now look forward to sorting through all my photos and remembering all the amazing places I have been, things I have done and people I have met. Plus starting to plan my next trip wherever and whenever that may be!

Melbourne!

2008-07-30T09:54:00.000-07:00

Well Melbourne is known for its shopping, restaurants and nightlife so I was looking forward to leaving Australia on a high. After months of sleeping in a dorm and after getting little sleep on the last tour I decided to book into my own room. Although that didn't go quite to plan when I went upstairs only to discover that it hadn't been cleaned. However after a few free glasses of wine and a meal it didn't seem to matter so much!

The next day I headed out to the Victoria Markets to purchase some souvenirs and UGG boots. After that I wandered into the centre to buy a pair of heels as with the weather being colder I could no longer wear my flip flops and my trainers were in desperate need of going in the bin. I then wandered along the Southbank, soaking up the atmosphere before taking the historic tram around the rest of the city.

After a lazy morning, breakfast and another spot of shopping Greg and I headed out of town for a scenic helicopter ride over the city, making use of the vouchers that I had kindly been given by work. We were worried that with the weather being a bit overcast that the visibility might not have been great but we were pleasantly surprised.

The flight was fabulous and we spent 20 minutes cruising over the outskirts of Melbourne, up the coast and over St Kilda before heading into the city itself along the Southbank and getting dropped off on the Yarra river. By the end of it we were both on a high and the photos were great.

That night for Anouks birthday I headed out to watch an AFL match. Not being a sport lover I wasn't too sure but was pleasantly surprised. Although we spent the first half chatting it did actually get quite exciting towards the end, especially when the local team won. After that I headed down to the Southbank for a few drinks to finish off the evening.

My last morning in Melbourne was spent having breakfast with Anouk, Dee, Trish and Carol Ann before heading to the airport to sadly catch my flight to Singapore.

Adelaide and the Great Ocean Road...

2008-07-30T09:08:00.000-07:00

I ended up spending the rest of my time in Adelaide walking along the river and visiting the Botanical Gardens - which were a little bit disappointing, before checking out remaining sights on the free city bus. That evening I caught up with friends and went to the local pub to listen to Adelaide's upcoming talent. Ok they weren't that great but for a Monday nights entertainment you really can't complain!

The next day I was up early once again. I should be used to these early morning starts by now, but with very little sleep I was feeling somewhat jaded. Very quickly my new bus group and I were making introductions as we started our journey to the Grampians and Great Ocean Road.

Yet again it was a lovely mix of people, from an Irish girl who had won an all expenses paid gap year trip around the world on Bebo for six months and was having her experiences filmed for the sight, to an English guy who had an obsession with seagulls and a girl who worked in PR for a charity.

The first day there was a fair bit of driving but we stopped off along the way to take photos of the vast amount of wild kangaroos roaming about near the road, as well as emus and other wildlife. By late afternoon we had arrived in the Grampians National Park and had a walk to the bottom of MacKenzie Falls and watched the sunset, before heading back to the hostel for a feast.

For the first time on tour we had a female guide and without being sexist you could really tell the difference. The food was superb and everything was thought through from the magazines and snacks on the bus, to the marshmallows to toast on the fire in the evenings. Her music left a little bit to be desired though and although I love nothing more than a bit of cheese this was just too much, even for me. The other point of difference was unlike the male guides she wasn't looking to get lucky at the end of the tour!

That night most of us headed to bed quite early, only to be woken a few hours later by people in our dorm having the most ridiculous conversation about topics such as 'what would your last meal on earth be and why'. Why indeed, it certainly wasn't necessary and I made my thoughts known the next morning at breakfast. Well you can't be friends with everyone!

Another early start as we spent the morning hiking the Grampians and one of the pinnacles, before visiting the cultural centre for a cup of tea to warm up. We then made our way to the Great Ocean Road stopping off at the Bay of Martyrs, London Bridge and Lord Ard Gorge, learning about the history of each along the way. We finished the evening watching the sunset over the Twelve Apostles - truly amazing. Although there are only nine remaining now!

One thing that I was a bit surprised about was that the Great Ocean Road is not all right on the sea front and parts of it wind through temperate rainforest. On our third day we stopped off at the Otway National Park to admire some of the native trees and ferns of the area. We then carried on along the Great Ocean Road stopping off at Apollo Bay, the lighthouse from the children's classic 'Round the Twist', Anglesea and Bells Beach, where Point Break was based.

I was particularly pleased with myself to spot a mother and baby humpback whale off the coast which we stopped and watched play for a while, before moving on to the koalas which were overhanging the road a few hundred yards in front.

Our last stop of the day was Torquay (home of Rip Curl and Quicksilver) for a bit of outlet shopping before arriving into Melbourne just after 7pm. It was another great tour but by the end of it I was quite pleased to be based in a city for a few days, catching up with old friends and having a well deserved lie-in!

Alice Springs to Adelaide

2008-07-20T22:28:00.000-07:00

Leaving my Irish friends behind (although I will meet up again with them in Melbourne) I headed off to Adelaide. Although I could have flown or taken the Gan (train), I opted to take a tour which stopped off at Coober Pedy for the night along the way.

As this was less of a tour and more of a means of getting from A to B I didn't really bond with the group in the same way I had on the other three tours. Nevertheless they were still good fun and as most of the time we were only driving anyway it really didn't matter.

After a full day of driving we stopped off just outside Coober Pedy at the Breakaways to take in the baron landscape which resembles Mars and as such has been used for a number of film settings, including Mad Max and Priscilla Queen of the Desert. It was so windy though that we didn't stop for long as we were literally getting blown about (as was the mini-bus whenever a road train passed us by).

Coober Pedy itself is home to 80% of the world's opal production with the locals living underground. Despite it being the largest town between Alice and Adelaide it is tiny with only a handful of opal shops plus a couple of restaurants and accommodation.

We visited an underground mine and learnt all about the opal production as well as looking at a typical underground home, which is kept at a constant temperature all year round with no need for heating or air conditioning. Whilst I loved the coloured stone walls I think I would go crazy with no natural sunlight.

That evening we had dinner at a local pizza restaurant but with fresh produce only arriving in Coober Pedy once a week it certainly wasn't the best I had ever tasted. Tinned mushrooms are not my favourite!

We too slept underground in a hostel which was cool but getting up at 4.30am the next morning to continue our journey to Adelaide certainly wasn't. There was little to see on route besides a salt lake so we managed to arrive into Adelaide in good time.

I now have a free day to explore the city of Adelaide itself. So far I have only made it to the shops to buy myself some warmer clothes as its freezing. However as the city is so compact I am sure I will fit in most of the sights before I head off in the morning for the Great Ocean Road and the Grampians.

Apologies for the lack of photos. I will try and upload these when I get to Melbourne in a few days I promise. Can't believe that in less than week I will be leaving Australia to head home via Singapore. It's a shame I won't have managed to visit the West Coast or Tasmania but there is always next time I suppose.

The Red Centre

2008-07-20T21:54:00.000-07:00

The final leg of my 10 day outback adventure was to the Red Centre taking in of course the sights of Uluru (Ayers Rock) and the Kings Canyon along the way.

On the first morning we stopped off at a camel farm (I decided not to have a ride but take pictures instead) before heading to camp just outside Uluru for lunch, passing 'Fooluru' along the way. I can't remember its official name but is nicknamed Fooluru as a few dosy tourists head out to the Red Centre and see a large rock and thinking that it is Uluru take photos and head back, never actually reaching the real thing.

We then headed to Kata Tjuta (the Olgas) for a hike through the 'Valley of the Winds' before spending sunset at a viewing point watching the sun go down behind Uluru and the rock gradually changing colour. Getting redder and redder before going a dull black/brown colour.

That night it was absolutely freezing (minus 1 to be precise) and I barely slept despite wearing all my clothes and a hat and scarf to bed. It could have been worse though as I bumped into my friend Anouk in the showers (I did know she was going to be at the rock at the same time) and when I got back to my camp all the sleeping bags had gone. I thought I was going to have to get in with one of the girls until my guide managed to borrow one off another group.

The next day was yet again an early start as we headed back to Uluru to do a base walk and watch the sunrise. I think this was even more spectacular than sunrise probably because we were so close to the rock itself and could really appreciate its vastness. It is still possible to climb Uluru but as it is against the Aborigines wishes our group decided against it. The photos are quite amusing as I am wearing so many clothes that I resemble a Michelin man!

Afterwards we headed to the cultural centre for a well deserved cup of tea and a look at some of the Aboriginal ladies from the local villages painting some traditional pictures.

That night we camped at Kings Canyon. Although slightly warmer I wasn't feeling that great so dosed myself up before clambering into my swag. It was probably a good thing as at least I wasn't kept awake by the howling dingoes like most.

I also decided to refrain from trying a whittchery grub (those horrible white fat worm like creatures that are eaten on 'I'm a Celebrity'). We stopped on the side of the road after collecting the firewood for that evening and started digging at the roots of the trees looking for a swelling where they live. We only found two, one which Zoe ate raw (tasted like egg yoke apparently) and the other which was later cooked on the fire and passed around (tastes like nuts when cooked allegedly).

Our last morning we headed for a hike up Kings Canyon. It is extremely steep to start and is affectionately known as 'heart attack hill'. The views from the top are yet again stunning although because of its vastness the pictures just don't d0 it justice. Along the route we checked out the 'Amphitheatre' and 'Garden of Eden'.

During our three days at the Red Centre we saw quite a lot of wildlife including a group of wild camels on the side of the road, ferrel dogs, wallabies (mostly roadkill) and eagles.

That night as is customary after a tour the group went out for dinner and joined in a didgeridoo competition before heading to the bar for a few drinks and a dance. After trying a didgeridoo for the first time the night before and realising I couldn't get the technique right I opted out and cheered on my mates instead!

Darwin - Alice Springs

2008-07-20T21:28:00.000-07:00

The next leg of my trip was from Darwin to Alice Springs. Whilst there is not as much to see in between it was quite breathtaking just to travel for hours on end through the outback and take in the scenery and remoteness.

This time our group was much bigger (24 of us in total) and as we were travelling by road we could go in a mini-bus rather than 4wd. We spent most of the afternoon at the Katherine Gorge which is part of the Nitmiluk National Park. Whilst we could take a river cruise or canoe along it I decided to just chill out and beside a short walk to the look-out I relaxed in the sun with the wallabies.

After a night in tents (we did have the option of swags but as it was starting to get colder we decided we would sleep in our tents with our swags as well. When you have the option you might as well take advantage of it!) we headed off to Mataranka.

Mataranka is a thermal pool surrounded by lush tropical forest. Although at 8am in the morning we were absolutely freezing we stripped off and jumped in - it was so worth it. Whilst the water was quite murky in some parts, with a few submerged logs along the way, the water was bath temperature and certainly warmed us up.

After that we headed to the Daly Waters pub for lunch, the Territory's oldest pub which is uniquely decorated with everything from underwear, to money and even flip flops. You really have to see the pictures to understand what a unique pub it really is. That night we camped at Tennant Creek.

On the morning of our third day we stopped off at the sacred site of the Devils Marbles, which balance precariously to take a few photos as well as one of the few surviving Telegraph Stations (and sight of the Peter Falconi disappearance) to get an understanding of what outback telecommunication used to be like.

That night the group went out in Alice for a few too many drinks and many of us were feeling a little worse for wear the next day. However as I quickly discovered there is very little to do in Alice itself with the highlights being the reptile centre, the flying doctors and Anzac hill with a view over the town. The mall in the town centre is eerily quiet with very few actual shops.

The reptile experience was quite amusing though as after we had looked around we came across a guy handling some of the reptiles in the garden. Thinking he worked there we started to pick them up out of their boxes as well and have our photos taken with them, only to later discover that these were in fact sick and were being given some much needed sunshine. The organised handling session was actually going on inside.

Darwin and Kakadu

2008-07-20T20:41:00.000-07:00

Apologies for the lack of update and pictures lately but internet access in the Outback has been limited to say the least. When I did eventually find a computer it was so archaic that it took forever to even check my emails!

So much has happened in the last couple of weeks that I hardly know where to begin. I arrived in Darwin two weeks ago with no voice, (probably from partying too much up the East Coast) tired and stressed after almost missing my flight and then being delayed for over three hours after two unsuccessful attempts to take off while they checked the problem out!

By the time I checked-in it was too late to explore Darwin itself so I had dinner with my room mates before getting an early night as I was getting picked up at 5.30am the next morning (a start time that was to become all too familiar over the course of the next few weeks) to head off to Kakadu.

There were 10 of us on my first leg of the tour to Kakadu and somehow I had booked myself on the 'unleashed' trip which involved some serious trekking as well as camping in swags (a mattress and cover) under the stars and cooking everything on the fire.

The whole experience was amazing though. I made friends with three Irish girls (who were with me for the entire 10 days) as well as two Aussie lads and the six of us got on really well.

First stop of the trip was the Mary River. Unlike the Daintree River when we only saw a few crocs, this river was literally full of them. We cruised around in a tiny tin boat and were quite scared when the skipper started to antagonise them by banging his shoe on the side of the boat when we had got up really close, so that they snapped at us. At one point there was a huge splash and I really thought a croc had tried to jump in with us until I realised it was in fact a Baramundi fish which had landed on the lap of the girl in front of me.

That afternoon we headed to Ubirr to look at the Aboriginal rock art which dates back over 20,000 years as well as listen to some of the Dreamtime stories.

After a night in my swag we were up early to head to Jim Jim falls. Unlike all the other groups we actually climbed to the top and to say it was a challenge would be an understatement. It took over 5 hours to get to the top and back down again but the result was sensational with views over all of Kakadu. We then swam at the bottom of the falls but unlike some it was too cold for me to swim the whole way across (plus the guide said there may be fresh water crocs in there) so after a quick dip I hastily got out.

Next stop of the day was Twin Falls. You can no longer access the falls by foot so we took a boat across the gorge, before walking along the boardwalk. Whilst swimming is not permitted the sight was quite magical and we sat on the sandy banks and relaxed for a bit before heading back to camp.

Our third day was spent at the Warradjan Cultural Centre finding out a bit more about the aboriginal culture before having a hike at Maguk (Barramundi Falls) and cooling off in the plunge pools. Warmer than the day before I actually swam in these pools although wasn't adventurous enough to jump into one particular pool and then dive through a hole to exit it. Trish bless her thought it would be fun to try however couldn't dive under to get out so we spent a good half hour (or should I say the guide did) trying to haul her out. The video footage is priceless!

Whilst the camping experience was great fun with everyone pitching in to help prepare the food, wash up etc the 4wd experience was really quite scary. The waterfalls are only accessible by 4wd and at numerous points we literally thought we were going to topple over with the truck violently swerving from side to side. What made us even more nervous was that unfortunately whilst we were in Kakadu another tour bus overturned and one guy died. However thankfully we all arrived back in Darwin in one piece.

We had a small setback when the three Irish girls and I thought accommodation was included back in Darwin so we didn't book anything and being peak season there were only two free dorm beds. However with a bit of sweet talking we got a motel room instead (towels and toiletries included, which of course we took!). We then headed to the night markets for a wander round before hitting the local pub for a few drinks. A great end to my Kakadu experience.

Cairns, Cape Tribulation and the Barrier Reef

2008-07-06T18:18:00.001-07:00

I thought six days in Cairns would be ample time to see all the sights but time has flown by and I have struggled to fit it all in. I had a lovely afternoon with Paula and her friend when I first arrived, enjoying a sushi lunch and ice creams and catching up on all the news from back home.

The following day I spent a lazy day with friends at the lagoon, topping up my tan before making the most of the all you can eat buffet at my hostel in the evening and playing cards.

Thursday I set off to Cape Tribulation on a tour, stopping off for a walk and a dip at the Mossman gorge on the way and then enjoying an afternoon boat cruise along the Daintree river to spot the crocs sunning themselves. After that we headed up to Cape Tribulation.

Initially I wanted to go on a boat on my free day in Cape Trib out to the Great Barrier Reef but it was fully booked so instead I decided to explore the island, stopping off at the look out, walking along the beaches, dipping my feet in the watering hole (it was too cold to get in) and taking a board walk through the rainforest. The scenery in and around Cape Tribulation is so diverse and absolutely stunning. We were so impressed that our room even got up at 5.30am to sit on the beach and watch the sunrise. A well worthwhile trip.

Saturday despite a big night out in Cairns Yasmin and I got up early to do a free aqua aerobics class in the lagoon (shame on the others for not getting out of bed!). Was due to catch up with Jon on the Saturday morning but ran into him in the club which was a lovely surprise. That afternoon we all headed out to Palm Cove, a nearby beach for the day.

Yesterday Jon and I went on a boat trip to Green Island. The snorkelling off the island was amazing, plus I saw a reef tip shark. Jon did an intro dive but as I had only done mine a week beforehand I opted to just snorkel instead. We also spent a couple of hours on the island exploring and sunbathing before sailing back to meet up with the others for some goodbye drinks as next stop for me is Darwin. Can't believe I have finished my East Coast adventures. I have absolutely loved it and am sad to be leaving Cairns, but at the same time excited about what lies ahead.

Magnetic Island

2008-07-06T18:06:00.001-07:00

Keen to break up the journey between Airlie Beach (otherwise known as Scary Beach because everyone goes crazy after their boat trips) I decided to stop off at Magnetic Island. Plus as I had already done white water rafting and a sky dive, there was little point stopping off at Mission Beach.

Magnetic Island is a tiny little island situated 20 minutes by ferry from Townsville. It is very underdeveloped which makes the scenery so much more spectacular, with very few shops and accommodation. Chloe and I decided to stay at the YHA, which consists of wooden bungalows set amongst the forest. It was gorgeous and only a few minutes walk to the beach at Horeshoe Bay so we had some beers on the front the first night and watched the sunset.

The next day we wanted to explore the island, as well as try and catch up with friends staying in a hostel the opposite side to us, so we decided to hire a Barbie topless car (a little Moke). Driving round in it all day was great fun. We visited the different beaches as well as taking the well known Forts Walk where the Koalas reside. We were lucky enough to spot four. Plus they were really close to the path so we were able to take some great pictures too.

As I was meeting Paula in Cairns the following lunchtime I took the overnight bus which was once again packed, so I got very little sleep and arrived at 6am the following morning feeling quite jaded.

The Whitsundays!

2008-07-06T17:49:00.000-07:00

The Whitsundays boat trip was amazing. I spent three days, two nights on a classic sailing boat called Summertime with 15 others, cruising around the islands. The first day was a little bit overcast but that didn't stop us enjoying the gorgeous Whitehaven beach and spectacular views, as well as messing about on the beach taking photos. That evening despite our intentions of getting drunk, the sea air had made us all so tired (plus some were still feeling sick from the rough weather conditions) that we were in bed by 11pm.

The following morning we were up early to begin our day of water activities. I decided to do an introductory dive in Luncheon Bay, although as I was listening to the briefing I was getting more and more nervous. The instructor was great and while he taught the other three in my group their skills off the beach I was told just to float on the surface and practice my breathing. After a little while I had calmed my breathing down enough to set off. Although I was extremely scared and held the instructors hand the whole time I was amazed at all the fish and coral we saw and it is definitely something I am glad I experienced.

That afternoon I tried a spot of snorkelling at nearby Mantra Bay which was also absolutely stunning. Plus we saw a huge Mantra ray swim alongside the boat. The final day we went sea kayaking and saw three turtles swim alongside side us as well as loads of other fish and stingers.

When we were not doing water based activity we spent our time eating (the food was great and loads of it), sunbathing, warming up in the hot tub or chatting and watching the sunset. I spent my last night in Airlie Beach with everyone off the boat having far too many drinks and reminiscing, before catching the bus early the next morning up to Magnetic Island.

1770 and Airlie Beach

2008-06-25T04:06:00.000-07:00

To break up the journey between Hervey Bay and Airlie beach I opted to stop off at 1770 for a night. However the hostel was so lovely and the people there were amazing that I ended up staying for a couple of nights in the end.

We had dinner cooked for us for $5 each evening, a camp fire that we toasted bananas and chocolate on and a lovely beach that I spent two days tanning myself on. Plus I managed to avoid getting burnt.

As we were there on a Saturday night we decided to head to the one and only local pub after being promised a lively evening. It was hilarious. Beside the three of us, there were very few other backpackers in there and we spent the evening being chatted up by a mixture of lads who claimed they were 18 but were more likely 16 and a couple of guys in their late 40's and 50's. It was certainly different from the backpacker scene we are used to plus we got a couple of free drinks too.

The night bus to Airlie Beach was not so fun as for the first time it was packed so we didn't get a seat to ourselves and it was freezing. By the time we arrived at 6.15am in the morning we were exhausted and in need of a sleep on the beach.

The name Airlie Beach is a bit of an over claim as there really isn't a beach as such. Instead there is a man-made lagoon (similar to the Brisbane one but on a larger scale) for swimming in and a bit of nearby sand. Besides this there is not much to do in the day so when the weather is overcast like it was this morning, lying in bed is the best option.

It did clear-up however so I managed to catch a bit of extra sun and top up my tan in preparation for the Whitsundays boat trip tomorrow. As Airlie is known for its night life we have also checked out some of the nearby bars but am having a quiet night tonight as am not keen on having a hangover on the boat especially if the water is rough.

Still debating whether to do an intro dive or just kayak and snorkel but either way I can't wait. Fingers crossed the sun keeps shining. Will update you on the Whitsundays when back on Saturday.

Fraser Island

2008-06-20T18:30:00.002-07:00

I wasn't sure that Fraser could really live up to the hype as everyone says that it is definitely one of the most incredible and diverse landscapes that you will ever encounter. However they are right and I have just spent two amazing days on the island.

Fraser is the largest sand island in the world and to think such an array of vegetation survives in this sandy terrain is quite remarkable. From rainforests to freshwater lakes and sandunes.

The island is only accessible by 4WD vehicles and you have the option of either doing a self-drive and camping on the beach or taking a guided tour. Whilst I don't mind camping I was worried that I might be paired up with a group of young lads who just wanted to get pissed and party by the lake, so opted for the guided tour. What's more when I arrived into Hervey Bay I found out that my tour wasn't running and instead I had been upgraded to stay in a nicer resort on the island which obviously I was really pleased about.

The whole experience was fantastic. There were 13 of us in total and the guide was great so not only did we see all the main attractions but learnt about the history of the island and why it has such a diverse ecology too.

On the first day we went to Lake McKenzie, an aqua clear blue lake with fine white sand which was breathtaking. We also walked through the rainforests to see king ferns and huge trees as well as visiting Lake Birabeen which boasted a beautiful reflective surface.

On the second day we drove along the 'ocean highway' otherwise known as the 75-mile beach stopping off to see the bats, python and dingo along the way. We paddled in Eli creek, took photos of the Maheno shipwreck's rustic hull and saw various coloured sands.

After that we walked up to Fraser's renowned look out 'Indian Head' to watch the dolphins and whales in the distance before going for a dip in the Champagne Rock Pools.

All our meals were included in the trip so we didn't need to worry about what to bring as there is vary little on the island itself. In terms of accommodation we stayed in cabins on the grounds of the exclusive Kingfisher Bay resort and whilst basic they were warm and we got to watch the sunset in the resorts jacuzzi!

The 4WD experience was unreal with at points you actually bouncing off your seat or thinking the truck is going to tip. We saw a couple of vans who had become stuck in the sand and needed pushing/towing out. To think that there are no paved roads with the main route on the east side via the beach itself, with the tide washing under the wheels is something I don't think I will ever experience again.

I am now back in Hervey Bay catching up with washing, emails etc before catching a bus up to 1770 this afternoon reminiscing about the last two days.

Noosa

2008-06-20T18:30:00.001-07:00

Noosa is a stunning beachside town. I stayed at the YHA which is a beautiful colonial style lodge (now a listed building) right in the heart of Noosa Heads only 100 metres from the beach.

On my first day I went to Australia zoo. I wasn't sure as I had already been to Taronga zoo in Sydney and seen some koalas and tigers at Dreamworld but as was one of the Sunshine coast's major attractions (which has no doubt increased in popularity since Steve Irwin's death) I thought I should check it out. It was actually well worth it. There is so much more interaction with the animals than any other zoo, with the chance during your day to feed an elephant, stroke a baby crocodile, hug a kangaroo or walk a wombat. The shows were also really interesting and informative with loads to see and do, making it a great day out.

The next day I headed off into the national parks at Noosa Heads to walk along the headlands to the various secluded bays and also try and spot a koala in the forested areas. Sadly I didn't. Good job I went to the zoo!

Unfortunately it started to rain in the afternoon so I was unable to enjoy the beach so instead wandered around the lake and shops before leaving for Hervey Bay.

Brisvegas!

2008-06-20T18:30:00.000-07:00

Ok so I was warned that Brisbane didn't have that much to offer but with a population of over 1 million people I thought there must be more to it than what I had heard. I decided to stay in a hostel right in the centre just behind the main shopping district. Whilst this was great in terms of location the hostel was the worst yet, dirty and in need of a makeover. Needless to say it had just been taken over by Base. Not as bad as Hot Rocks in Rotorua but a close second.

During the short time I was in Brisbane I think I covered off just about all of its main attractions with the exception of the museums which didn't interest me. I headed over to the South bank adorned with cafes, shops, market stalls, an artificial beach and nice walks along the river which was by far the highlight. Next stop was the Botanical gardens which were sadly very disappointing.

The shopping area was great with all the main stores and malls situated on one street, but I hadn't really come to Brisbane to shop. Well if I had any space in my rucksack I might have.

The next day I headed out to Mount Coot-tha to admire the views over the city and surrounding area but sadly even that was a bit underwhelming and after less than 24 hours I was ready to continue up the East Coast.

Springbrook National Park and Whale Watching

2008-06-13T22:03:00.001-07:00

Whilst I knew that I was unlikely to beat my hot air balloon ride I was determined to make the most of my time at Surfers and so yesterday took an Eco trip out to the Springbrook National Park. First stop was the Natural Arch, a magnificent natural arch (funny that!) and waterfall cascades which were really impressive. We then headed on into the heart of Springbrook for a walk to Rainbow Falls and Twin Falls. The track to Rainbow Falls was shut as the track was unsafe however our guide assured us it was fine as long as we were careful. Trust me to slip just as we are crossing the actual waterfall and land on my bum!

After a picnic lunch we headed up to a spot called ‘the best of all lookouts’ quite a claim, yet the view was incredible. You can see as far as Byron Bay with clear views of Mt Warning and the surrounding terrain.

Before heading home we stopped off at a glow worm grotto. Not as impressive as the Waitamo caves in New Zealand as the grotto was tiny in comparison, yet still worth a short visit. The day trip was really informative and it was nice to see a bit of the surrounding area rather than spending all my time on the beach.

Today I was once again up early (I am in need of a lie-in!) to go whale watching. We headed out into the sea via the Gold Coast Canal and were shown the homes of the rich and famous and the areas best architecture.

It took about an hour before we were far enough out to spot a whale and the ride was very rough, with quite a few people suffering from sea sickness. Humpback whales are the 5th largest of all great whales and the most surface active. Unlike dolphins they are found in much smaller pods typically between two and fifteen. Today there were three of them (Sadly not Migaloo the albino whale) that we watched play in the water.

I couldn’t get over just how massive they are, shaking the boat as they swam past. Whilst they kept surfacing about every three minutes they only jumped once (I missed it) and flipped their tails twice. However it was still a great morning seeing these amazing animals in their natural environment. I think it is incredible the crew can spot them amongst the waves within such a vast area.

Am off to Brisbane tomorrow but don’t plan on staying long as have been warned there is very little to see and instead I should just stay a night and continue up the East Coast. I will keep you posted.

Hot Air Ballooning and Dreamworld

2008-06-13T22:03:00.000-07:00

I am absolutely loving Surfers Paradise. Whilst it is a lot more commercial than Byron Bay and the coastline is lined with high-rise apartments and hotel blocks there is so much more to do. The first afternoon I spent wandering along the beachfront and mooching round the shops. My hostel is right on the beach front which means I can literally roll out of bed onto the beach – great!

Friday I was up at the crack of dawn to go hot air ballooning. The flight was meant to be at sunrise but we were a little late taking off as we were waiting for the fog to clear. What was meant to be a 30 minute scenic flight turned out to be a full hour as some of the others had paid for an hour so we managed to get the extra half hour for free – bargain!

I was a bit worried at first just how smooth the flight was going to be but was pleasantly surprised and before I knew it we were over 4,000ft high cruising over the hinterland. The views were spectacular and with the fog parting to reveal the national parks below it was truly magical.

Landing was equally memorable but for a completely different reason. As you can’t steer a hot air balloon you have to rely on wind direction and experience. Well this time the pilot didn’t time it quite right and whilst we avoided the tress we landed in a field surrounded by barbed wire, a creek and with no obvious access. It took over an hour for the truck to find a way in and even then we had to navigate ourselves across the fields and creek to the bus. This was easier for some than others. The poor Indian couple in their late 70’s really struggled.

After that we headed over to O’Reillys vineyard for a champagne cooked breakfast before being dropped off at Dreamworld. We were initially a bit worried about not having enough time as we were two hours later than planned due to our landing. Nevertheless as there were no queues we managed to fit everything in.

I was a bit of a wuss and whilst I was prepared to do a sky dive, rides which tipped you upside down were another matter. Instead I watched Ali on those rides and took the photos instead.

As well as the rides we had a tour of the Australian Big Brother studio (we couldn’t go in the house as the contestants are currently in there) and watched a tiger show. We also had our photos taken with a koala and the kangaroos. This has certainly been my best day in Australia to date and it will take some beating!

Byron Bay!

2008-06-11T01:16:00.000-07:00

The last few days in Sydney were spent frantically finishing off my work, as well as attending the opening of the Sydney Film Festival and after party, watching Sex and the City and having leaving drinks with friends from work.

Saturday morning I frantically attempted to pack everything up and clean the flat before having a farewell meal and catching the bus to Byron Bay.

Only a couple of slight hitches, firstly I found out that the post office isn't open on a Saturday and leaving everything until the last minute I had a box of work clothes and bits and pieces that I needed to ship home (thank you Anouk for agreeing to send it for me!)

Secondly a 12 hour bus trip is not pleasant at the best of times but combined with a dodgy stomach it is a recipe for disaster, leaving me feeling quite jaded by the time we arrived in Byron.

The weather was lovely on the Sunday when I arrived so I spent the day walking up to the Cape and around the lighthouse, via the various beaches which was bliss - although I didn't spot any whales or dolphins unfortunately. By about 4pm it had started to rain though so headed out early in to town to enjoy some live music at the Beach hotel.

Monday the weather was dire so it was the perfect opportunity to take advantage of the pressie Hausmann had given me as a leaving gift and head up to the exclusive spa resort for a massage and use of their facilities - bliss! Afterwards I wandered round the grounds (set amongst the rainforest which leads down onto the beach) before heading back to Byron for a spot of shopping.

Tuesday took a day trip to Nimbin which was very entertaining and the guide was hilarious. Was a little surprised to discover that Nimbin really did only just consist of a few shacks/shops but nevertheless the characters on the streets definitely made up for it. Stopped off on the way back at some eco dudes house to be greeted by this guy in a filthy dressing gown and wellies who showed us round - very surreal! and then went on the Minyon Falls. Made it back in one piece which is more than can be said for some of the lads at the back of the bus that didn't look to clever after one too many cookies!

Left Byron early this morning and headed up to Surfers Paradise. The weather has picked up so have spent a lovely day on the beach and wandering around Surfers acquainting myself. I can't quite get over how quiet it is as most of the hostels seem to be less than half full and whilst the people I have met along the way have been lovely and great for nights out no one so far is on the same/similar timescale as me.

I intend to pack as much in as I can over the next few days, starting with a sunrise hot air balloon ride over the national parks tomorrow and a trip to dreamworld.

Farewell to Sydney

2008-05-31T19:19:00.000-07:00

In less than a week I will be saying goodbye to Sydney. I can't quite believe how quickly the last three months have flown by. I have absolutely loved living in this amazing city and who knows one day I might well return.

The last couple of weeks have been extremely busy at work as I have been organising a series of beer and food matching masterclasses and last Wednesday and Thursday I flew down to Melbourne for the first two. They went really well (although I am glad they are over), plus I also got to stay in a lovely boutique hotel and enjoy a morning off taking in the sights of St Kilda . Wasn't too chuffed about my flight home being cancelled due to industrial strike action though and having to get up at 5am to get an earlier flight. Especially as was up drinking until gone one. Nevermind at least I made it back to the office in time to post my bottle of beer to the queen. I even made a friend with her chief clerk inthe process. Lets just hope it arrives in one piece.

Last weekend I went to visit the northern beaches, spending the afternoon at Palm Beach or Home and Away's Summer Bay beach as it is probably better known. Unlike a British tourist attraction it is very peaceful and not built up at all, just acres of golden sand. Although I did find Alf's beach club and take a few photos. Well you have to really. It was a bit run down though and could do with a lick of paint to say the least.

Yesterday Anouk and I went over to Manly and did the 10.5km walk to Spit. The weather was glorious and the scenery was beautiful. I am not surprised that it is one of Sydney's most spectacular walks. I was quite tired afterwards though and have decided to take it easy today. Plus really need to start thinking about packing everything up, as leave next Saturday for Bryon Bay. So my next update will be beach side from Bryon. Fingers crossed the weather is ok as it is officially the first day of winter today!

Sydney Harbour Bridge, The Rocks Market and Bondi!

2008-05-20T00:07:00.000-07:00

Yet another busy weekend in Sydney. I went running on both Saturday and Sunday in the Botanical gardens which made me feel very virtuous after a boozy Friday night, although am not convinced that you can see any difference. Afterwards I headed over to the Rocks market soaking up the live music and pottering round the stalls. Bought a few prints which I now need to ship home somehow. Well it seemed a good idea at the time.

Afterwards I walked over the Sydney Harbour bridge and went up to to the lookout. I did debate briefly doing the bridge climb but after I didn't really enjoy the one in Auckland I couldn't see the point in wasting $200. Plus you can't even take your camera up with you. Saturday night I headed out to China town with Anouk and was going to test out the rides at Luna Park but the weather wasn't great so gave it a miss.

Sunday was a lazier day as spent the day have a leisurely lunch with friends in Bondi before curling up on the sofa to watch 27 dresses. I did get a fright though when the police rang the doorbell interrupting mid film. The girls across the way thought that they had been broken into, but it transpired the wind had blown the window off the hinges and smashed the glass.

Sydney Update!

2008-05-15T20:19:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I have been pathetic of late with regards to updating my blog, namely because work has got busier what with liaising with celebrity chefs, attending photo shoots, commissioning desk gardens and trying to arrange delivery of a luxury lager to the queen - oh the world of PR is so glamorous!

Anyway the last few weeks the weather has been much nicer after the dreaded downpour finally ended so I have been able to get out out and about.

Over the Anzac weekend (bank holiday weekend to celebrate those who fought in the war) I went to the aquarium with a friend which was actually quite impressive as far as aquariums go, especially as I managed to blag a couple of free tickets from work. The shark tunnels were definitely the highlight. Took the monorail there which wasn't worth the effort, but felt it should be done nevertheless. I also saw Billy Elliott at the theatre again which was fantastic and nice to see it in happier circumstances.

Finally got round to visiting Manly and spent a lovely day walking round the Cabbage Tree nature reserve to Shelly Beach and then to North Head, before catching the ferry home. I still need to go back though and do the Manly to Spit walk before I leave.

I have also visited all the local bays over the last few weeks. I caught the bus down to Watson's Bay and had fish and chips at the infamous Doyle's (the take-away not the restaurant) which was lovely, even though a seagull did nick a chip right out of my hand, catching me unaware. I have also been to Rose Bay, Double Bay, Rush Cutters Bay and Elizabeth Bay. To think there are that many bays within half an hour from my house is quite remarkable. However it has kept me fit, especially now that the local pool has closed for the winter.

Unfortunately I have also had not such a nice experience whilst living in Sydney as I was burgled a couple of weeks ago whilst in the flat. Although I was really scared it was only afterwards that I realised what had happened. I was late home from work so came straight in and started making tea for Sam and I. All of a sudden there was a huge bang in my bedroom and the radio alarm clock came blaring on. I went in to discover the alarm clock, lamp and all my books had fallen off my bedside table. I thought it was a bit weird but put everything back and carried on making my tea. Sam came home ten minutes later and noticed that they had climbed in the bathroom window knocking all the contents of our shower unit everywhere. Fortunately they didn't take much, just my English phone (so apologies if you have sent me any texts which I have ignored), Sam's camera and her tobacco and randomly my hand towel. The police were lovely though and the window has now been fixed so hopefully they won't be back anytime soon.

Seen a couple of great girly films lately which has been a perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon and can highly recommend both Made of Honour and Ps I love you. I have also visited Sydney's trendiest new bar The Ivy - much more contemporary than the English equivalent and definitely more of a place to drink rather than eat. Also went to a dog show in Kings Cross with some very interesting costumes (I mean actual canines rather than some of the rough looking prostitutes). We didn't stay for long but nevertheless it was very amusing. Speaking of prostitutes there doesn't seem to have been as many of late lurking outside our flat and think there may have been a police crackdown.

I have also booked my trip round Oz and leave at the beginning of June. I am going up the east coast before flying from Cairns to Darwin to see Kakadu and then going all the way down the red centre via Ayres Rock and Uluru to Adelaide. Then I will do the Great Ocean Road to Melbourne before flying home via Singapore. It will be just over 7 weeks in total and I can't wait. Unfortunately I don't have enough time to do Perth or the West Coast but I can always come back I suppose.

Anyway better get on with some work now but will write again soon I promise x

The Last Two Weeks

2008-04-20T22:41:00.000-07:00

Time seems to have flown by and I can't believe two weeks have gone past without me updating my blog. So what have I been up to? Well work wise I had a launch for a new luxury limited edition beer last week at Cafe Sydney, which was very swish and nice to be able to enjoy a three course lunch at one of Sydney's top restaurants and not have to pay for it!.

Last weekend I met up with a friend and spent the afternoon at the Surry Hills food and music festival, wandering round the different market stalls and soaking up the atmosphere. Then Sunday Sam and I thought we would have a coffee and wander round Paddington, but the weather got the better of us and we got absolutely drenched on the way home.

In fact the last two weeks have been overall quite wet and miserable. Yet I am refusing to buy a coat as can't see the point of shipping loads of stuff back. So instead I am wearing a hoodie and waterproof to walk to work in. Very classy!

This weekend I went up the sky tower to admire the views of the city (as surprisingly it was a nice day on Saturday) and then yesterday I did the Coogee to Bondi coastal walk with a couple of friends and a lovely little terrier dog. However Bella (the dog) decided that after walking to Bondi and getting drenched along the way, she was too tired to walk back. No taxi driver wanted to take our wet dog back to Coogee so in the end Dan ran back to collect the car and Sam and I decided to get the bus home. We didn't expect the bus drivers to also refuse a wet dog too and only eventually, with a lot of persuasion, did we eventually get home.

I also went out with a few girls from work on Friday night which was nice, for a free cocktail and pizza evening, being held in a trendy bar in Kings Cross. Although there wasn't enough free booze for our liking. That said by the time I got home I was feeling quite merry.

Last night I went to the opera house to see Paul Potts (winner of has Britain's Got Talent). I managed to get some great seats and Paul was amazing. Although he did get quite nervous during his impromtu chats between songs.

The Zoo and Red Bull Flugtag

2008-04-09T00:39:00.000-07:00

Saturday 5th - Sunday 6th April

I decided to make the most of the weather and head out on the ferry to Taronga Zoo on Saturday. The zoo is in a fantastic position, with views right across the Sydney harbour. When you arrive you are taken up to the entrance by cable car over all the animal enclosures, which is great. I spent most of the day wandering around and was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't overrun by little kids. All the animals looked so happy in their spacious surroundings (especially the penguins and seals in their brand new enclosures). I am not sure what my favourites were, probably the dingoes or the meerkats, but they were all lovely.

Sunday Sam and I met with some friends from New Zealand and headed to the Botanical Gardens to watch the Red Bull Flugtag, where contestants attempted to create their very own flying machine. Needless to say the majority immediately nosedived, but it was fun to watch. Although I think everyone had the same idea as apparently there were over 50,000 people crammed into the gardens to spectate. By 2pm Sam and I had had enough and decided to treat ourselves to a spot of lunch on the harbour instead. Oh its a hard life!

Mum and Dad

2008-04-09T00:06:00.000-07:00

Friday 28th March-Tuesday 1st April

I had a lovely few days with mum and dad. I treated them to a night at mine when they first arrived which dad was especially excited about. So much so that I couldn't tear him away from prostitute watching out the window. Kings Cross (where we went out for dinner on the Friday night), was nothing in comparison to the view from my bedroom!

Saturday we headed off to the Blue Mountains. Being economical I booked the three of us into a room at the YHA as I had heard that it was quite nice. The room consisted of a double bed and a single bunk on top. Dad got more excited about this than the prostitutes (yes I know it's hard to believe) and insisted on sleeping in the top bunk (providing of course that someone made his bed!).

We spent the whole day walking round the major attractions such as Echo point and the Three Sisters, before going back up the valley on the scenic railway. Everyone had warned us that it was like a dodgy fairground ride, which took you almost vertically back up the cliff face. I thought they were exaggerating, but it was really quite unnerving.

The next morning after a full breakfast we set off en route for Wentworth Falls. Well that was the idea, however the train driver managed to over shoot the stop and by the time we realised it was too late. As the trains back were only every hour we decided to change plans and head to Glenbrook instead and search for the kangaroos. It was a long walk but worth it as we saw two of them (plus a joey in the mums pouch). We also saw a 6ft (well it was huge) goanna. Dad got some good pictures of it, but I was more interested in the Roos I'm afraid so haven't got any to show you.

Monday we decided to be real tourists and took the sightseeing bus around Sydney. After we finally got on the bus (after realising that from Paddington to Bondi they only go 6 times a day) we had a lovely day. Lunching in Darling Harbour, mooching round the rocks and observing the bats in the botanical gardens.

It was hard going back to work on the Tuesday but even harder saying goodbye. But I am so pleased they came over and experienced my life in Sydney. At the moment, as I write this they are about to go snorkelling off the Great Barrier Reef (Well mum is. As dad can't swim he will be staying firmly on the boat.) I look forward to comparing photos when I get back.

Sydney!

2008-03-18T17:25:00.000-07:00

Apologies for the lack of blog updates but the last week has been manic. Since arriving in Sydney we have successfully found a place to live and moved in! Its a cute two bedroom furnished flat in central Sydney. The housing market is crazy here which means there is very little available and wanting something furnished for only a three month let is all the more difficult. Still we did it and besides the prostitutes who reside outside it's very nice.

As for a job I got offered a two month contract position for a PR agency 15 minutes walk away, starting Tuesday. I'll be working on Sony, Fosters and a new gym. I do need to spend time reading up on all the media now plus get some work clothes.

Sydney is a great city and I am sure I will love it. So far I have been to Bondi Beach, seen the Opera house, Harbour bridge and botanical gardens but have yet to do any more sightseeing. Mum and dad are over next weekend though so am intending to cram a lot in then, including a trip to the Blue Mountains.

Will update my blog with more news soon xx

Market day

2008-03-12T17:58:00.000-07:00

Saturday 8th March

Spent my last full day in New Zealand pottering around Christchurch. Walked along the river and watched the punting. Also visited the botanical gardens and the arts and crafts market, filling up on food from the various stalls.

We even treated ourselves to a Pimms as the weather was so nice, although the barman clearly wasn't sure how to make it and asked if we wanted it with Coke! That evening we had a lovely farewell meal with a few glasses of wine.

It was sad saying goodbye to New Zealand as have had such an amazing time, met so many great people and experienced so many different places and things. However I am also looking forward to beginning my new adventure in Oz. Especially as Sam has decided to come with me so we are going to be looking for jobs and a place to live as soon as we get there.

Some New Zealand phrases - 'Sweet as', 'Awesome' Kia Ora'

Kaikoura

2008-03-12T17:43:00.000-07:00

Friday 7th March

Had an amazing day trip to Kaikoura today, home of the crayfish, hence it's name (kai meaning to eat and Koura meaning crayfish). Kaikoura is situated about three hours out of Christchurch and it was an absolutely gorgeous day.

I had been recommended the trip by friends I had met on the north island so was really excited about swimming with dolphins. The boat trip itself is about 4 hours in total and during this time you spend about half an hour in the water with the dolphins and the rest of the time following the pod around the ocean.

We were lucky on our trip because as well as seeing a pod of 200 Dusky dolphins that we swam with we also saw several Hector dolphins, one of the smallest and rarest in the world which are only spotted on 5% of trips.

Actually swimming with the dolphins was an amazing experience although tiring at the same time as you had to swim out in your wet suit flippers and snorkel as quickly as possible and then try and keep up with them. The first time I didn't manage to catch them but after that I managed to get right in amongst them as them swam around and underneath me. You can become quite disorientated though as Jas found out when she managed to swim to the wrong boat after one swim.

By the time we got back to shore we realised that there was no bus for another 4 hours (not exactly the most frequent service) so instead decided to finish off the day with a walk to the seal colony to watch the seals sunbathing on the rocks metres away from you.I did get a bit close to one whilst having my picture taken which he didn't take to kindly too and hissed at me.

We then had fresh scallop sandwiches at a beachside cafe and watched the albatrosses before heading back to Christchurch.

Christchurch

2008-03-07T21:16:00.000-08:00

Thursday 6th March

Today was a bit of a nothing day as we travelled to Christchurch which is a long drive with not that much to see along the way. Had it been clearer we should have been able to see Mount Cook, New Zealands highest peak at 3,754m but sadly we couldn't.

We did stop off at Lake Pukaki, a glacier lake and Lake Tekapo which was beautifully blue and housed the church of the good shepherd on it, the oldest church in New Zealand.

Christchurch itself is the largest city in the South Island, home to 400,000 people and is very English with neo-gothic buildings and botanical gardens. Jasmine and I decided to take a quick wander around when we arrived to get our bearings before cooking dinner and watching a film.

River Boarding

2008-03-07T21:02:00.000-08:00

Wednesday 5th March

Had a lie in today which was bliss. Well it would have been had there not been two 18 year old chavs in the room, high on god knows what, who accused me of stealing their phone. Not nice and made Jasmine and I feel quite uncomfortable about leaving our stuff in the dorm.

This afternoon was river boarding. I started to get a bit apprehensive on the way there when the guide checked that everyone was a confident swimmer and enquired which of us had used flippers before as the rapids were quite tough. After kitting ourselves out in full wetsuits, body boards and flippers we had a twenty minute training session in an eddy where they could assess how confident we were on our boards and maneuvering. They picked out one Swedish girl as someone they needed to keep an eye out for, but somehow thought I was going to be ok. Little did they know..

We headed out towards the first rapid and I was desperately trying to navigate myself and my board and keep up with the others. I kept falling off and going under but the real trouble happened when I approached the third rapid went in completely the wrong direction to the rest of the group (I still don't know how) went over some rocks on my knees and completely got swept under. Fortunately one of the guides saw me and dragged me out and to the front of the group where I held on to the lead guide for the rest of the rapids pathetic or what. In the calmer water I was fine though.

It was an incredible trip and I am still glad I did it but I am covered in bruises and am still aching days later! We also got to ride on jet skis, a huge slide that you boarded down into the river, swings and rock jumps which were great fun.

Milford Sound

2008-03-07T20:20:00.000-08:00

Tuesday 4th March

Took a day trip to Milford Sound today. We were pre-warned that the coach journey was going to be a long one (eight hours in total) but it was well worth it. The scenery along the way was absolutely breathtaking once the sun had burnt through the clouds and the the sounds themselves (or to be precise they are actually fjords but were named incorrectly) were amazing. We stopped off at a mirror lake, which made up for the one in Matheson we couldn't see the other day, before arriving at the boat at midday. We had a hot buffet dinner before wandering up on deck to take in the views and hundreds of photos. It was such a nice day that the seals were all sunbathing on the rocks which was cute.

20 minutes off shore we stopped at an underwater observatory which is like an aquarium except the fish are in the ocean instead of a tank. It was incredible how clear the water was and just how many different species of fish you could see.

On the way back we stopped off at a couple of waterfalls before arriving in Queenstown just before 9pm. Most people were up for a big night but the travelling had taking its toll on me (plus I wanted to be on top form for the river rafting) so by midnight, after a rendition of total eclipse of the heart I headed to bed.

Queenstown

2008-03-02T22:50:00.000-08:00

Sunday 2nd and Monday 3rd March

En route to Queenstown today we stopped off at Puzzleworld and tried out loads of optical illusions and mazes which was great fun. Just outside of the city we stopped off at the bungy HQ where quite a few people off the bus did a jump or signed up to do the Nevis high wire the next day which is 134m! The other popular option is a canyon swing. Neither of these appealed to me mainly because I don't like the thought of diving head first into water or onto rocks so it wasn't something I signed up for. There are plenty of other activities to keep you busy in Queenstown though so I know I won't be bored.

After having a famous Ferg burger for dinner the evening was spent getting horribly drunk with the bus. We started off playing drinking games with vodka redbulls and then moved on to teapots of cocktails. I have no idea how much I drank but I think I had too much sugar more than anything as have been feeling sick all day today. So much so that Jasmine and I decided to postpone the mad dog river rafting and spent a leisurely day by the lake instead which was lovely. Having an early night tonight as off to Milford Sound in the morning.

Wanaka

2008-03-02T22:31:00.000-08:00

Saturday 1st March

The rain finally caught up with us today. As we piled on the bus at 7.30am it was pouring and it didn't really ease off all day. Our first stop of the day was Lake Matheson or the mirror lake as it's more commonly known, because of its great reflective images. Sadly there wasn't any point walking down to it today as we wouldn't have been able to see anything.

Instead despite a few breaks for something to eat we headed to Wanaka, home of the 5th largest lake in New Zealand. That afternoon some of the group went clay pigeon shooting but I decided to potter around the town and sort out my flight as with only 48 hours before I was due to fly I was getting a little apprehensive. Thankfully I finally spoke to someone helpful and have managed to book myself a flight for the 9th March instead.

We went out for a curry for dinner and were stuffed after failing to finish the set menu. We then decided to pop to the bar opposite the hotel after being told they were having a Bogen theme night. This we discovered was a heavy metal party with everyone dressed up in god knows what. After downing our drinks we made a quick exit as dressed in shorts and summer tops we looked distinctively out of place. The next bar we tried didn't fare much better either with a group of rowdy locals smashing glasses and getting thrown out. So much for a Saturday night in Wanaka. Let's hope Queenstown is better!

The Glacier

2008-02-29T20:09:00.000-08:00

Friday 29th February

The forecast was heavy rain today so I was a little apprehensive as to how I was going to cope hiking on the glacier. We were all kitted out in waterproof coats and trousers, hats, gloves, boots and spikes before embarking on the climb. It was a full on day, eight hours of walking in total (six of which were on the glacier).

Sam and I chose a slower group as we didn't want to race to the top, although in the end we proved faster than the middle group (after the guide told one woman she wasn't fit enough to come on the full day hike and suggested she turn around with another group after a couple of hours). She must have been really disappointed as with the half day climb you only get to see the muddier ice.

We had a couple of brief stops for lunch and a mid-afternoon snack but as it was so cold we had to keep moving. It didn't help when we had had to wait for half an hour in a crevasse while the guides cut out steps for us all. Fortunately it didn't rain much and the sun even came out at one point.

I am really glad I did the hike as the scenery was stunning plus you got a real sense of achievement at the end. I was exhausted though and had two huge blisters on my heels plus a couple of bruises from where I slipped in a crevasse (much to Sam's amusement).

The girls and Dave cooked us bangers and mash for tea (as they did the heli hike the day before) which was really appreciated especially as it meant the rest of us could have a quick dip in the hot tub beforehand.

I had a couple of cheeky drinks but then decided to head to bed. The others weren't far behind after deciding that the possum who ran in the guys room last night and started eating their rolls was not about to make a return visit.

Franz Josef

2008-02-27T20:06:00.000-08:00

Thursday 28th February

Everyone more or less made it to the bus on time this morning. Some of the guys were still sporting their outfits from last night and a couple of the girls were being sick, but we headed off on time an hour up the road to the Bushman centre. Here you can learn a bit more about New Zealand's wildlife, in particular the possum as well as sample a possum pie. No one however was up to stomaching that and opted for the more traditional breakfast instead.

We arrived into Franz Josef, New Zealands glacier region around lunchtime. There are over 60 glaciers in the surrounding national park including the Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers. It is one of the only places in he world where glaciers descend into rainforest (the only other being Patagonia).

We went for a quick walk to view the glacier that we will be walking up tomorrow. I couldn't decide between a heli hike (an hours scenic helicopter ride followed by a two hour hike) or a full day hike, but in the end opted for the more challenging walking option. The weather forecast for tomorrow is not great though, so I hope we still get some good pictures.

Decided to spend the afternoon catching up on emails, cooking a meal and soaking in the hot tub. Was going to have an early night however some of the bus are keen on doing the naked mile at midnight so I might have to stay up for that just for the amusement factor. And before you ask no I won't be participating!

Fancy Dress

2008-02-27T19:45:00.001-08:00

Wednesday 27th February

Woke up completely bitten by sand flies today. We were forewarned about them but no amount of insect repellent seems to put them off - little buggers!

The jet boating along the Buller gorge was great fun. It was another glorious day and although the boat wasn't as fast as the one I went on in the Bay of Islands it was smaller, which meant it could do loads of sharp turns and spins giving everyone a complete soaking which certainly woke us up. The scenery was also breathtaking.

After being picked up we head up the coast for a short walk to the beach and a bite to eat as we were ravenous as hadn't eaten anything all day. After lunch we stopped off in Greymouth to get outfits for tonight's party which was fancy dress. The whole bus had to agree on a theme and as it was Dave's birthday (one of the guys in my group) we won the vote and everyone agreed to 80's (although a couple of people vetoed it and went in bin bag costumes instead which was the second choice). We had great fun picking out outfits and couldn't wait to get to the hostel to start getting ready.

We all met at 7pm for a group dinner, an assortment of BBQ food, pasta salads and venison casserole before heading off to prepare. I chose a lovely pink dress, home-made green leg warmers and purple headband. The evening was really good fun, some were worse off than others though, with Dave having to be put to bed at 11am.

By the time we decided to get to bed (after too many snakebites and random shots) we realised that it probably wasn't such a good idea that we hadn't bother to hire duvets for the night. I at least had a sleeping bag liner but some didn't even have that and had to make do with a damp towel as a cover. Needless to say we had very little sleep.

Broken Bus

2008-02-27T19:24:00.000-08:00

Tuesday 26th February

We set off today with a new driver (Mangee) who would be taking all of us through to Queenstown. The first time we have had a driver for more than a couple of days. After taking a dislike to the last driver for being so patronising we were a bit apprehensive. However within minutes of getting on the bus I knew we were in safe hands as his favourite song is 'Total Eclipse of the Heart'. He is really into his cheese and we have a daily sing-a-long which is cool.

Today however didn't go quite to plan as after stopping off to buy bits for a picnic lunch the bus broke down on the side of the road. A mechanic turned up a couple of hours later only to discover we needed to get a new part which was going to take hours.

After finishing off our picnic roadside instead of on lake Rotoiti (claimed to be one of the most stunning views in New Zealand) we began to get a bit fed up. Most of the bus decided to sit inside (despite it being really hot), however we thought it would be more fun to wave at the cars and get them to honk their horns. Juvenile behaviour I know, but we had nothing better to do and it paid off when a guy in a meat and alcohol van came back for us after dropping off his deliveries to give the 10 of us a lift up to the lake (after we checked with the driver of course). It was hilarious as the van was pitch black so we had to keep the door open so we didn't get too claustrophobic. The others were eventually shuttled up to the lake in a mini bus but at least we arrived in style (ahem).

The lake lived up to expectations and was absolutely stunning. Most of us went for a dip but I chickened out as it was just too cold for me. After a seven hour wait the bus finally arrived to collect us and we pulled into Westport at 9pm. The driver cooked us up a BBQ so we didn't need to worry about food and we decided to head to bed early as there was big night planned tomorrow!

Nelson

2008-02-27T19:10:00.000-08:00

Monday 25th February

Despite best laid plans I didn't manage to make it over to Abel Tasman today as by the time we had surfaced, had breakfast and unsuccessfully tried to ring home it was too late to catch a bus. Plus after spending a while on the coach yesterday the thought of another 3 hours drive on our day off wasn't very appealing.

Instead we wandered along the coast to Nelson's beach, which was also beautiful, sunbathed and paddled in the sea before heading back to the hostel for a thai takeaway. It's a shame that we couldn't stay longer really to do a bit more exploring around the national park but with still so much to see it was time to move on.

Drunken Antics

2008-02-24T14:03:00.000-08:00

Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th February

Tried to sort out my flight today but after over half an hour on the phone the lady at Qantas, as she went to take the payment realised that actually she couldn't change it as it was a paper ticket and I needed to go to an airport instead. As if it's that easy. Have given up for now but will ring Trailfinders instead to see if they can help me.

Met up with Jasmine and her two Irish friends who are living out in Wellington. We had a lovely day lunching at a deli, wandering round the harbour and then we took the cable car up to the botanical gardens. The gardens were lovely but we seemed to have more fun in the children's playground much to the amusement of the locals.

Went back to the girls flat for dinner and several bottles of wine. It was so nice enjoying the little things like reality tv, music and a comfy sofa. It was midnight by the time we had polished off four bottles and headed out to town.

I think I should have gone home then but even at 2am when Jasmine bailed because her foot was still sore I decided to stay out drinking with the others. After that it becomes a little blurry but I think I got in around 4am, fell asleep in my dress and woke up ten minutes before the bus left.

Sam was ringing me to check I was ok (as I was not sharing a room with the others) and they laughed hysterically when I finally emerged looking really dishevelled. A three hour ferry ride was not really the best way of spending my morning, but fortunately it was smooth so I got a bit of sleep and managed to look a bit more human by the time we docked in Picton.

The weather was really overcast and muggy plus the air con wasn't working on the bus so by the time we arrived in Marlborough at a winery (yes I did try the wines albeit hungover) we were really hot and bothered.

The hostel at Nelson is lovely though. Had a good roast dinner and an early night ready to explore the Abel Tasman national park in the morning, providing the weather is ok. Ironic really that Nelson is meant to be New Zealand's sunniest city.

The Hurricanes

2008-02-22T15:21:00.000-08:00

Friday 22nd February

Spent the day exploring Wellington today or more accurately you could say that Sam, Jas and I soaked up the atmosphere by having a leisurely breakfast, a bit of retail therapy and visiting the Te Papa museum.

The museum is actually really impressive. It is THE museum of New Zealand and being free of charge we were told it was well worth a visit. The building itself is huge and there are loads of different exhibitions within it. These range from one on volcanoes to sea mammals and the maori heritage.

We then had to rush back to the hostel as we discovered that the bus was dropping people off at the rugby stadium and to save our legs we were keen not to miss out. Ok so I am the least likely person to attend a rugby game (especially as I have absolutely no interest in the sport at home). But as everyone was going I didn't want to miss out. New Zealands team the Hurricanes were playing against Australia's Reds. The game was actually quite enjoyable with loads of entertainment and a great atmosphere. Which probably helped by the fact that the Hurricanes actually won. Afterwards we headed into town for a few too many jager bombs lethal stuff...

River Valley

2008-02-21T19:51:00.000-08:00

Wednesday 20th and Thursday 21st February

After leaving Taupo we stopped off for a short walk (well it was compared to yesterday anyway as it was only two hours) to the Tara-naki falls within the Tongariro national park. The waterfalls made a perfect spot for lunch and we had all brought our swim stuff after hearing that there were hot springs. Where they got that name from I have no idea as the water was freezing. It didn't stop the lads from having a quick dip though.

Wednesday nights accomodation was an adventure lodge literally in the middle of nowhere where you can swim in the river, golf, kayak and horse trek. The location was amazing and the weather was so nice we just lay out by the river sunbathing and taking in the views. The flying ants did start to annoy you after a time though.

Arrived into Wellington around 7pm so quickly checked in before heading down to the harbour area to watch the locals take an evening dip in the sea and look around the town. Looking forward to exploring more tomorrow...

Tongariro Crossing

2008-02-21T13:55:00.000-08:00

Tuesday 19th February

I still don't quite know what possessed me but I got up at 5am this morning to tackle the Tongariro Crossing, one of the top ten one day walks in the world. The walk is 12 miles in total and is regarded as challenging due to the steep climbs of the devils staircase and the red crater. The scenery is stunning and was used as the backdrop to the Lord of the Rings including the famous Mount Doom.

After an hour and a half bus journey we started the walk at just gone 7am. It was windy but really clear which made the views of the emerald lakes absolutely breathtaking and a well deserved lunch spot by the time we had tackled the steep ascent. Matt decided to do the walk alone and did what should take 8 hours in 4. We on the other hand took a much steadier pace and made it in 7 hours which wasn't bad going, especially as Jasmine twisted her ankle on the way down and poor thing still has it bandaged up now.

The walk was well worth it but by the end we were exhausted and delighted when the bus finally came into sight. My legs were so sore afterwards and I was sporting a few blisters too.

Adrenaline Junkie

2008-02-21T13:14:00.000-08:00

Monday 18th February

Was up really early this morning as was going caving or to be precise black water rafting. This involved abseiling down into the caves, taking a zip wire before jumping onto a rubber ring into the freezing water and I mean freezing. The water was really deep as jumping off the rocks into the ring I went completely under. We then floated in complete darkness through the glowworm caves which were magical. After stopping for a pit stop of a cup of tea and a flapjack we continued scrambling through the caves stopping every now and then to look at the rock formations and the odd eel. After over four hours underground we had to climb out of the caves through a couple of waterfalls. The experience was amazing and something that I would definitely do again.

After a quick bagel and hot soup to warm us up we were back on the bus and on our way to Taupo. Taupo is known as being the adventure capital of the North and is also the cheapest place in New Zealand to skydive. I really wanted to have a go and although was scared and tired from the caving thought I would be disappointed if I turned it down. I was only going to sign up for 12,000ft but after being told that when you are that high you really don't know the difference and 15,000ft is the highest you can jump, I thought what the hell and signed up for the whole thing (including a DVD, photos and a t-shirt). Nine of us were squashed into this tiny plane and as we took off I started to get a bit apprehensive and kept asking my instructor if we were properly strapped in. The good thing about skydiving is when it comes to your turn to jump your instructor literally takes hold of you and pushes you out the plane.

The one minute freefall feels like forever and during this time the camera woman is trying to make you do different actions and expressions. I however was so concerned with holding on that I didn't release my hands at first and had to be tapped again to remember what I was meant to do. When the parachute finally comes out and you slow down you can take in the scenery. It was a beautiful day too so could see for miles across the lake. Which is in fact the largest lake in Australasia and big enough for the island of Sinagpore to fit within it apparently.

Waitomo

2008-02-21T13:03:00.000-08:00

Sunday 17th February

The next stop off was Waitomo (wai meaning water and tomo meaning cave) a sleepy village which is only visited because of its network of over 300 caves. Before reaching Waitomo we stopped off at Te Puia a thermal park. However we were not aware that it was a paid for activity or that there was nothing to do around the park as we really didn't fancy going on a tour of it. Instead we opted to walk down to the BP garage and have breakfast there.

I think we were generally all a bit grumpy today as as the day progressed we got more and more annoyed with the driver for failing to tell us what we were doing. This came to a head when we arrived at Waitomo and discovered that the dorm rooms she had promised were no longer available and we were placed in twin rooms instead. Being an odd number I ended up checking in on my own. Not really a problem but not very sociable either. Five minutes later one of the guys from the bus turned up. He looked round the room and quickly discovered it was only a twin and by the time I had come back from dinner he had dissappeared. Obviously too much for him to handle...

Lazy Day

2008-02-21T12:57:00.000-08:00

Saturday 16th February

The only drawback of deciding to travel round New Zealand on an organised tour is that you really don't get anytime to yourself as you are up each morning either exploring, doing activities or travelling to the next destination. Whilst this is fine most of the time it is nice to have a DIY day to sort out your washing, pop to the shops and stuff. I therefore decided to do just that.

I also wandered to the Kurai Park opposite the hostel to check out the boiling mud and sulphur lakes (or more accurately in some cases ponds or puddles). I then spent the evening chatting to the new arrivals in my room and attempting to play cards with two Norwegian girls. Which proved quite interesting when it came to communicating the rules.

White Water Rafting

2008-02-15T18:23:00.000-08:00

Friday 15th February

Rotorua (which literally means second lake, but is more commonly referred to as Sulphur city, due to its geothermal activity) is known for everything water related including white water rafting. Being the wimp I am I was very unsure about this especially as the particular stretch of river is a grade 5 because of a 7m vertical drop waterfall that you go down. However Sam and I eventually agreed that we would do it together. Setting off in the raft everything seemed ok at first, although the instructor quickly realised that neither Sam or I were very co-ordinated and despite following instruction Sam managed to whack her face with her paddle and is now sporting a bruised nose and eyes and I going down the waterfall hit my chin on my knees and made my lip bleed and swell up. After that we were both a bit over cautious and stopped paddling before we were meant to choosing to hold on instead. The guide decided to push me over board as punishment. It was a good afternoon though and I am glad that I did it.

We spent the evening at the spa where we watched the sun set whilst relaxing our aching bodies in the hot water. A tough life hey!

Luging

2008-02-15T18:08:00.000-08:00

Thursday 14th February

En route to Rotorua we stopped off at Karangaheke Gorge for a secenic walk and a chance to stretch our legs. We spent lunch in Matamata, home of Hobbiton where you can take tours of parts of the Hobbit film set. Apparently though it is quite overrated so we settled for a few pics of the sign instead.

Arrived in Rotorua mid afternoon where we had a chance to quickly dump our bags before heading off luging. We went up in cable cars to the top of a huge hill where we then spent a couple of hours racing down on luges, which is basically like sledging on tarmac. You then get a chair lift back up to the top to do it all again. It was great fun though and highly amusing.

The evening was spent indulging in a bit of Maori culture where we went to a Maori village (or should I say a recreation of one from the 1600's) were told about their heritage, learnt the Haka dance and had a traditional Hangi meal (which was quite similar to a British roast dinner). Decided to stop off at the local nightclub on the way back which was very entertaining as due to it being Valentines day there were guys dressed up as sperm and condoms promoting safe sex. I would rather have not had a room over the club though as didn't sleep until gone three despite downing far too many shots beforehand.

Sun Burn!

2008-02-15T17:55:00.000-08:00

Wednesday 13th February

Before heading out of Auckland we stopped off at Mount Eden (one of the volcanic mounds that I had yet to go up) to take a couple of pics of the views of the city before making our way to the Coromandel Peninsula.

The Coromandel Peninsula is known for having some of the North Islands best beaches and scenery and it certainly didn't dissapoint. The weather was gorgeous and we spent the afternoon chilling out on the beach. Well I did. There was an option of kayaking to Cathedral Cove (known for its impressive limestone arch) however with my track record of all things kayak related and bearing in mind that I even managed to get into difficulties with a swan peddalo, I decided to give it a miss.

There was also the possible option of stopping off at the hot water beach where dependant on tides you can dig a hole in the sand and create your own thermal pool. However unfortunately it wasn't low tide so there was little point in stopping.

I did however get a little bit burnt on my back today so have been sporting some unusual red blotchy patterns. I have learnt my lesson and will make sure that I get someone to apply my lotion in future.

Sunbathing

2008-02-12T10:41:00.001-08:00

Tuesday 12th February

With the bus not heading back until 4pm we spent the day sunbathing which was lovely and great to have an opportunity just to chill out. We weren't even hungover either as had had a relatively tame night out, just a few drinks on the beach (which apparently is illegal). Nevermind.

Managed to get a room back in Auckland with just the three girls I had made friends with which was superb as for the first time in nights I actually got some piece and quiet. So am now wide awake and am writing this just before I catch the bus south to Mercury Bay. Will try and add some photos tonight but as you can see from my lack of them they take ages to download and can be a bit tempermental.

Jet Boat

2008-02-12T10:29:00.000-08:00

Monday 11th February

Forgot to mention that yesterday on the way up we stopped at a honey factory for breakfast. One Japanese guy we were travelling with bought himself some toast but seemed to think the honey pots on the table came with it and pinched one as a souvenir. However the bus driver discovered him with it and was less than amused and confiscated it. Hilarious.

Was not quite sure as to which bus to choose to travel with at it seemed that everyone had a difference of opinion. In the end I opted for Kiwi as they were offering 35% off and the Magic and Stray buses always seem empty (whereas the Kiwi ones are packed everyday). Whether this proves to be a wise decision I am yet to discover but so far I have met some lovely people (and my age too). However they have been at the end of their trip so will have to see when I head south who I end up with.

Today I went on a jet boat around the bay through the 'Hole in the Rock' one of the Bay's famous attractions (and yes it is just that) as well as stopping off at some of the other islands. It was great fun and we saw dolphins and allegedly a whale (but not convinced at that). As the boat goes so fast you are hurled up in the air most of the time. For the girls this is fine but the lads were a little sore after it.

Decided to make my own dinner tonight in the hope of conserving money but have a little yet to learn in the art of economising I think (although the hostels are as basic as anything). I opted for a ready made salad and added some blue cheese and melon. Delicious but not overly cheap in comparison to the others packet pasta and sauce. Well I enjoyed it, despite a few laughs.

Bay of Islands

2008-02-12T10:16:00.000-08:00

Sunday 10th February

Ended up seeing Katie and Dave last night (Vicki's sister) which was lovely. We met for coffee then went over to theirs for dinner together with a friend that I had met on my day trip. We had a lovely evening (their place is beautiful with stunning views of the city) and to have a home cooked meal was a real treat.

Was back by midnight though as had an early start up to the Bay of Islands. It had started to rain too so was wasn't quite sure how much I was going to see today. However by the time we arrived the rain had stopped which meant we could explore a bit.

Pahia (where we were staying) is known not just for its beautiful coastline but as New Zealand's first permanent English settlement where the treaty between the Maoris and the Brits was signed in 1840. Somehow myself and a couple of girls I met managed to sneak in for free and see where the treaty was signed and the 35m war canoe saving us $12 in the process.

That evening we had a BBQ at our hostel then headed out for a few drinks with the German lads that we were also sharing with. We didn't have a choice really as the other guy sharing with us the girls had had the misfortune of sharing with before and not only did he have a personal hygiene issue he also snored uncontrollably. They weren't joking either and despite the guys rattling his bunk bed to try and rouse him he wouldn't stop. In the end one guy got up grabs him and shakes him whilst shouting 'Look mate none of us can sleep here please be a bit more ******* considerate'. Well it certainly did the trick for a bit and I managed to drif off to sleep.

Bridge Walk

2008-02-08T19:08:00.000-08:00

Saturday 9th February

Today I decided to take advantage of the free trip around Auckland. Well you know that I am never one to turn down a freebie. First stop was the Auckland Harbour Bridge where in the hope that a few people will pay for a bungee jump they take the group of you on a walk underneath the bridge (strapped in by harnesses) for free. I wasn't brave enough to do a jump although you never know by the time I reach the South Island I might have changed my mind. Iwas also put off by the fact that one German guy wasn't weighed correctly and actually went for a full on dunking in the sea, which wasn't the cleanest. The walk was great though and it gave you fab views of the city.

After that we headed over to Devonport, a part of the city which has numerous Victorian and Edwardian buildings and had fish and chips on the front. We then walked up Mount Victoria, one of 48 volcanoes in Auckland. Although unlike yesterday this was more of a grassy cone.

It is a bit overcast today and have decided to head north in the morning to the Bay of Islands and save some of the activities like swimming with Dolphins that I had contemplated doing here for elsewhere, where the setting will be nicer. Otherwise I am worried that I won't get to experience everything that I want to see.

Rangitoto Island

2008-02-07T20:54:00.000-08:00

Friday 8th February

My new found friend and I went over to Rangitoto Island today, a volcanic island just off the Auckland coast. It takes about an hour to walk to the summit where you get the most amazing views. Plus there are also some cool lava caves which we explored on the way back down.

Rangitoto island erupted from the sea around 600 years ago and now has an array of lush vegetation, rugged lava crops and sandy coves. The weather was boiling though which made the ascent quite tough going but the views were well worth it.

I sensibly stopped off for suntan lotion on the way there and was fascinated to discover that they didn't sell anything lower than factor 30. Which is good for me, but also just shows how strong the sun is and how they won't tolerate the baby oil brits abroad bathers.

Everybody here is so friendly (not that they weren't in Japan I just couldn't communicate with them) from the shop assistants to the bus drivers they all want to chat to you. I just hope that when Helen leaves in the morning I meet some other friends to carry on my adventures with.

Auckland

2008-02-07T20:38:00.000-08:00

Thursday 7th February

Well I finally arrived in New Zealand, exhausted from the 12 hour flight time and transfer in Brisbane. Plus when I landed it took over an hour and a half to get through immigration. There was quite a hoo hah going on actually as they kept opening new lines but instead of directing those who had been waiting ages they stupidly decided to choose those who had just arrived. However everybodies complaining and shouting didn't seem to help matters (I however restrained myself from joining in) and by the time I arrived at baggage reclaim the carousel had stopped and there were only a few bags left on it.

I swiftly headed to the tourist office to arrange some accomodation for the evening. I was so tired by this point that I did consider staying in a cheap hotel just to get a room to myself but thought if I did I would never meet anyone. Instead I set off for my hostel.

I was put in a room with 8 beds (4 sets of bunks) however only two were occupied and I had no idea when the others would be back but by the time I had a shower and checked my emails Helen one of my roomies had arrived. She was lovely and despite being seven years younger than me we got on great and headed down to the harbour for drinks.

We came back about midnight by which point my other roomie (an Irish guy) had returned but as he was already asleep and left early the next morning I didn't chat to him. Another Indian guy arrived about 4am and left at 9am so we are currently waiting for our next load of roomies to arrive...

Fish Market!

2008-02-04T21:57:00.000-08:00

Tuesday 5th February

Got up at the crack of dawn today (OK it was 5.30, the time I used to get up for work but that now seems ridiculous!) to go the fish market. Tsukiji fish market is Japan's oldest and largest which has been around since 1923. 2,300 tonnes of fish are delivered to the market each day and it is certainly quite a spectacle.

I arrived just before 7am and although most of the trading, or should I say bidding war between all the restaurants had finished (except in the fruit and veg warehouse next door) it was still buzzing with activity. Situated along narrow passages, weaving in and out of the market were hundreds of makeshift stalls with fishermen selling everything, from the largest tuna I have ever seen, to god knows what else. People were carrying around their wicker baskets pushing and shoving to make sure they got the best cuts of fish.

Once you have had enough wandering around the wholesale market (plus dodging all the men on their electric carts off loading another few boxes of fish) you can meander along the outer stalls to buy everything from fish knives and crockery, to fish and veg in smaller quantities. You are also encouraged to sample the fish at one of the many sushi restaurants. The queues outside some of them was quite staggering for just gone 7am. However I just couldn't stomach a sushi breakfast, so quickly walked away.

This evening I am off out for a farewell meal with Caroline and Gareth in Shibuya as tomorrow evening I will be saying goodbye to Japan and heading off to New Zealand, so I won't be updating my blog for a couple of days I'm afraid.

I have had an amazing few weeks and have seen so many places and experienced so many different things, it will be sad to leave Japan behind. I also can't thank Caroline and Gareth enough for letting me stay at the weekends, to recharge my batteries before heading off exploring again. I am however looking forward to ditching the thermals in favour of some warmer weather though.

Tokyo at night

2008-02-04T21:31:00.000-08:00

Monday 4th February

Was very proud of myself today as managed to communicate successfully with the guy in the post office that I wanted a price list of sending things back to the UK via seafreight. After a few charades like actions I went away happy and headed to the shops to purchase a few momentos. Unfortunately though most things are quite heavy so tried to be restrained, especially as this is only my first stop.

However my successful streak didn't last long as I failed miserably for the second time to buy an international phonecard and was wrongly recommended to buy one that can only be used with Japan so am still none the wiser. Nevermind I will be in New Zealand soon where my mobile should work yeah!

The afternoon I spent wandering around Roppongi Hills (where Daniel works). It is an amazing complex which took 17 years to build by property magnate Mori Minoru at a cost of 280 billion yen. It includes everything from a cinema, hotel, shops, restaurants, art gallery, offices and even a rice paddy on the roof apparently. My favourite bit was the pet shop for the designer minature dogs with the most ludicrous amount of outfits and accessories plus even a cake counter with fancy treats for the pooches. Apparently there are also places in Tokyo where you can pay to take a dog for a walk for an hour. In the UK it's the other way round!

I met Daniel after work and we went for dinner before going to look round the UBS art exhibition. Situated on the 52nd floor the view of the city at night is quite incredible, with the vast amount of high storey buildings and neon lights. Besides an old cemetry there is no visible open space remaining. The exhibition was good too with some really interesting pieces, plus some which in my opinion looked like they had been done by a five year old, but that's art I suppose.

Odaiba

2008-02-03T22:38:00.000-08:00

Sunday 3rd February

Caroline, Gareth and I decided to venture out to Odaiba today which is on the sea and consists of a number of attractions including a man-made beach, amusement park, shopping malls (including one just for women) and even random things like a replica statue of liberty!

We took the monorail there with views of the famous rainbow bridge (a 918m suspension bridge) but as it was heavily snowing visibility was a bit limited, but it was still a good trip. We then headed to the aquarium which was quite small but still nice to look around. We didn't spend long by the penguins though as it was far too cold. Why anyone would want to spend the day at Disney today (which is in Odaiba) I have no idea.

We then went for a bite to eat and wandered around the shops before heading back as one of Caroline and Gareth's mates they met travelling was coming to stay for a few days too.

Crepes!

2008-02-03T22:21:00.000-08:00

Saturday 2nd February

Explored the parks of Tokyo today. Started off in Ueno which was actually a bit of a disappointment. There were a few street entertainers which were fun to watch and a pagoda but other than that not a lot. The lake was covered in dead reeds which wasn't very attractive and I decided against the zoo after hearing bad reports that the pandas are mis-treated. Instead I opted to join the queue of kids buying a crepe. Well I wished I hadn't bothered. Although they looked fab in their fancy coned paper and pink spoons they actually consisted of 80% squirty cream, 10% dry chocolate cake and then a bit of banana and chocolate sauce. A few mouthfuls was enough and I threw it away and headed to the Imperial Palace.

You can't actually go in Tokyo's Imperial Palace as it is still occupied however you can wander around the expansive grounds and there are some great photo opportunities too. It was just relaxing to sit and watch the world go by. Plus with it being a Saturday there were actually some other tourists.

I also went to visit Yasukuni-Jinga Japan's most controversial shrine as it is a symbol of all those who died for their country including the soldiers in the first and second world war. However it was actually quite peaceful with protestors obviously diverting their attention elsewhere that day.

On the way back I stopped off at the Tokyo International Forum after Daniel telling me that the reason I wasn't impressed the first time was that I hadn't gone into the main hall itself and from the outside you can't see how the glass structure resembles a ship. Well I'm still not sure its worth anyone making a special trip to see it but at least I can say I have seen one of Japans finest modern architectural buildings.

Big Buddha

2008-02-03T17:33:00.000-08:00

Friday 1st February

I was a bit dubious at first about just how impressive this Buddha (Daibutsu) was going to be. However you emerge from the trees to see it stood there weathered over time and at 11metres tall it was still quite something. Plus you could even climb inside it which reinforced just how huge it was.

I also visited a few of the must see temples including Tokei-ji, which was originally founded as a nunnery and known as the divorce temple. This is because up until mid 19th century (when women were given the legal right to seek divorce) it was one of the few places where women could seek refuge from their husbands and be granted a divorce after 3 years.

A number of the temples were also preparing for the Setsubun festival on Sunday where soybeans are thrown to drive away goblins and then eaten to wish for good health. I also saw Mount Fuiji today from a shrine set at the top of a cedar forest which was cool. Although I was out of breath when I finally reached the top.

On way back I stopped off at the food market a type of foodhall/deli which puts to shame anything back in the UK. I wasn't exactly sure what I ordered but most things were delicious with the exception of the chicken livers...

Preparations for Valentines day are also in full swing now. But unlike in Europe the 14th is the day when only the men receive gifts. Not just from their wives/girlfriends/admirers but from every women in their lives including collegeagues etc. Then on March 14th it is the mens turn to buy gifts (typically white) for the ladies hence the name 'white day'. An excuse for the shops to make more money in my opinion.

Kamakura

2008-01-31T00:01:00.000-08:00

Thursday 31st January

Got the Shinkansen back to Tokyo where I headed off to Kamakura, a town situated about an hour away famously known for its big Buddha. What I found quite interesting was that unlike the UK, the food on the trains in Japan is highly regarded, with people keen to try out the bento box of the area. I decided however to opt for a Starbucks instead.

Kamakura is a really cute town with the main shopping streets lit up with lanterns and most of the main attractions accessible by foot. I visited a couple of shrines and temples today including one set admidst a bamboo forest which was impressive. The rest I plan to cover off tomorrow before heading back to Tokyo for the weekend.

Kegon Falls

2008-01-30T23:38:00.000-08:00

Wednesday 30th January

Woke up this morning to discover bright blue sky and loads of snow! Nikko is a world heritage city so spent a lovely morning wandering around the sites from the red laquered sacred Shin-ko bridge (allegedly built to represent a buddhist in the 8th century who was helped across the river by two snakes who formed a bridge then vanished, likely story..) to the Tosho-gu shrine and Rinno-ji temple.

Wandering along the lake to the Gaman-ga fuchi abyss where 50 buddhas were all lined up covered in snow was a pretty amazing sight (photos to follow I promise, but not of the Onsen as Robin requested you will be pleased to hear!)

I then took a bus about 40 minutes out of Nikko to Lake Chuzenji and the Kegon Falls. I got very twitchy as the route consisted of loads of hairpin bends (mum you would have hated it) and what with all the snow I was worried we would skid.

Sat 1300m above sea level it was absolutely freezing, although the views of the lake and the waterfall were well worth it. Plus I made friends with a nice French lady so had lunch and walked around together which made a change.

With feet like iceblocks from wandering around in all the snow I made my way towards Karuizawa where I was intending to visit the Asama-Yama volcano. I should have questioned myself when a Japanese lady on the train befriended me and said that there wasn`t much to do North of Tokyo in the winter except ski, but I pressed on nevertheless.

Well she was right. Karuizawa although beautiful was isolated (there were very few skiers their either, despite the fact that the train drops you off at the foot of the slopes). Plus the route to the volcano was shut in winter for the first time as a trial due to lack of demand (great!).

With little else to do beside admire their Christmas decorations (yes they keep them up until Spring apparently) I headed to bed deciding to leave as soon as possible in the morning. I bet the locals were thinking stupid Gaijin (foreigner)...

Owakudani Volcano

2008-01-29T04:30:00.000-08:00

Tuesday 29th January

The best way of discovering the Hakone region is to buy a pass which gives you access to a route which includes bus, pirate ship across the Ashino-ko lake, cable car, funicular tram and train. The scenery was amazing and if it had been a clearer day and not so overcast from the snow and rain I would have been able to see so much more.

Nevertheless it was a great day and due to the lack of tourists I got my own cable car up to the Owakudani volcano where I got out to walk up to the viewing deck and see where all the hot springs originate. My ears popped on the way up as it`s a height of 1044m.

After completing the sightseeing tour of the area I decided to warm up and stop off at another onsen (especially as I knew the format). It was set in the trees and was really relaxing just to sit and unwind for half an hour. The rain was actually quite refreshing too, when sat in a bath of hot water.

After that I set off for Nikko arriving just before 7pm. I was warned that things shut early in the town but wasn`t quite expecting to arrive at an almost deserted station with no way of knowing how to get to the centre, or anyone who spoke any English. After a while I managed to relay to a taxi driver that I hadn`t a reservation and could he just take me somewhere. And here I am in a basic but clean inn (recommended in the guide books with free internet access). However as everything was shut I had to settle with dinner from the 7/11 store. Lets hope I do better tomorrow night.

Onsen Initiation

2008-01-29T04:09:00.000-08:00

Monday 28th January

About an hour an half out of Tokyo is the region of Hakone, a popular weekend break location for the Japanese. I was originally intending to stop off at the Fuji Five Lakes first, but due to the amount of snow was aware that I was unlikely to see much, and it would have been too dangerous to climb nearby.

Hakone instead offered a number of attractions which I would experience tomorrow (as you need to start early to fit it all in).

Before arriving I did stop off at the camera shop as some of you may have noticed the distinct lack of photos. Unfortunately I seem to have mislaid my USB cable so have had to order another which should arrive next week fingers crossed.

The plan for today was to visit a theme park onsen (a Japanese hot spring bath) which Daniel told me about. This included a coffee, green tea and red wine filled baths as well as slides and other attractions. However feeling it might be more fun if this was experienced with a few mates I instead decided to opt to stay in a traditional Japanese Ryokan instead, which included use of their onsen in the price.

Accommodation in a Ryoken consists of an empty room with rice straw matting (tatami) and a low table with cushions around it in the middle. Assembling my bed from the bits and pieces hidden away behind the sliding doors was amusing and I felt a bit like princess and the pea, not sure how many mattresses were optimum to lie on top of each other for a good nights sleep (whatever the answer I didnt achieve it).

As for the onsen after checking into my room I wandered nervously downstairs. I had read the rules (which said no towels or tatoos to name a few) so thought I knew what to expect as walked inside to wash before getting in. However it seemed everyone did possess a small cloth or towel of sorts to cover up as they wandered between the baths and were looking oddly at me strutting around without one. I therefore quickly beavered away to fetch mine....

Swan Pedalo's

2008-01-27T03:02:00.000-08:00

Sunday 27th January

Have had a lovely day today wandering around KitchiJogi (a town about 15 minutes train journey from Caroline's house). We spent the day with a couple of Caroline's friends from school walking around the park, mooching in the market stalls, lunching and even decided to race each other on the lake in some childlike swan pedalo's. Needless to say Caroline and I managed to get stuck in a tree, much to the amusement of the others on the lake.

KitchiJogi has also got some great shops too so we did a bit of furniture shopping (for Caroline of course. Don't worry I'm not intending on shipping any sofas back to the UK).

I now need to spend a bit of time working out my route for next week so that I know where I am heading tomorrow

The Lock-up

2008-01-27T02:44:00.000-08:00

Saturday 26th January

Met up with Daniel today which was lovely. We took the train about an hour out of a Tokyo to Mount Takao. After stopping off for a bowl of Ramen we spent the afternoon climbing the mountain (don't worry it wasn't too strenuous), yet the view from the top was fab. Sadly had it been a bit clearer we could have seen Mt Fiji, yet we could still see a long way.

It was really nice to catch up and it made a nice change to have a companion on my sightseeing trips. It was also great to quiz Daniel on all the weird and wonderful Japanese cuisines and cultures that I have been experiencing over the last week or so yet have had no idea of what they were.

Caroline and some of her friends were going out to a themed restaurant for dinner so I tagged along too. Well it certainly was something completely different to what you would experience back home. Situated in a basement of a department store you wander in through a series of tiny alleyways where things jump out at you, the floor moves and all you can hear are screams and weird noises. By the time you reach the reception everyone is a little unnerved as to what we have actually turned up to.

The restaurant itself contains a series of small rooms set behind bars, where we sat crossed legged on the floor (Japanese style) after being led in by handcuff. The drinks are served in test tubes, needles and other weird objects (although none of us could quite work out how this related to the jail theme). Everything else seemed quite normal after that until half way through dinner all the lights went out and weird music blared out and guys in masks kept creeping up on us. Although I am glad I have experienced such an evening I don't think I will be repeating it again in a hurry. So the Alice in Wonderland and Ninja themed restaurants will have to wait.

Beans, beans, beans

2008-01-27T02:30:00.000-08:00

Friday 25th January

Got up extremely early this morning to visit Hiemji castle en route back to Tokyo. With a bit of time to spare before the castle opened I decided to treat myself to a cake and cup of tea. I already knew the tea was going to be a disappointment as the Japanese only have coffee mate (the horrible creamy stuff in plastic cartons) however the cake looked lovely. Biting into it I was gutted to discover what I thought were currants were actually red beans (similar to kidney beans but sweet) ughh! I have since discovered that they are a speciality of the region and are in everything, so will be avoiding these again at all cost.

The castle was stunning. Set on the hillside 15 minutes walk from the station it is referred to as the 'white egret' . The castle is one of the few surviving medieval castles in Japan which didn't burn down at some stage and is so impressive it has been used as the backdrop for many films including James Bond 'You only live twice'. Due to the lack of tourists I managed to get my own private two-hour guided tour which was nice.

Got the shinkansen back to Tokyo. I love the way they run like clockwork and are rarely late. Also if anyone is inconsiderate enough to throw themselves in front of a train their families are fined severely as a result.

Caroline and I went out for dinner to a Yakatori restaurant (which literally means meat on a stick) before coming home to watch a DVD with tubs of ice-cream. Bliss!

After a crash course in history I have decided to take in a few more geographical points of interest next week so watch this space...

Shrine Island

2008-01-24T02:11:00.000-08:00

Thursday 24th January

I know I go on about the weather but it went and snowed today. Arriving at the Peace Memorial Park with snowflakes falling around me was quite something.

Hiroshima (which means wide island) is obviously known for one thing and that is literally the only reason sadly why you would visit the city, as there are very few other attractions. For those of you who don`t know, on the 6th August 1945 an atom bomb exploded above the city killing around 140,000 directly, or from burns, wounds and radiation. The park houses a museum, a remembrance hall and a number of statues as tributes to those who died. Plus the A-bomb Dome, one of the only buildings to survive (albeit a shell) the attack. Very harrowing yet informative at the same time.

After an intense morning I headed over to Miyajima (otherwise known as shrine island) for a bit of light relief. As we disembarked the ferry we were greeted by deer who roam freely and are surprisingly tame.The main shrine on the island is the Itsukushima Jinga where its gates appear as if they are floating, dependant on the tide.

The island is also known for its oysters so not one to miss out decided to order a portion of baked ones for lunch. Although I have eaten oysters in the past they were a bit more than I could stomach today and leaving behind a taste of the sea in my mouth I wished I hadn`t bothered.

Travelling back on the tram I couldn`t help but observe that the city rebuilt itself remarkably quickly after the war ended and there really aren`t any obvious signs, even on the outskirts. I also noticed that outside of the capital the Japanese are definitely not as fashion conscious! I also discovered that the masks that I had thought were to prevent pollution are actually worn when you have a cold. If that is a case maybe we should adopt them in the UK, at least that way we may not spread bugs around the office as freely.

Off out to find somewhere for dinner tonight and maybe if I am really lucky someone who can understand me too. Until next time...

En route to Hiroshima

2008-01-24T01:53:00.000-08:00

Wednesday 23rd January

Before heading off to Hiroshima there were still a few sites that I still wanted to see in Kyoto, especially the Nijojo castle, which had been shut yesterday. The castle with its double moats, massive walls and watch towers took 23 years to complete and is quite an impressive building to look around.

It would have been more pleasurable however if it hadn`t been raining. OK I know I moaned about being cold yesterday but it is better than being soggy. One amusing sight to behold is that a large majority of the Japanese cycle to get from one place to another and due to the amount of traffic on the roads and the size of the roads themselves, they opt for the pavement, weaving in and out of the pedestrians. However when its raining they try and juggle riding the bike in one hand, with holding an umbrella in another - very amusing. Even those guys who think they are too cool for school possess an umbrella but its clear (as if that makes it any more manly).

After the castle I headed to the Kiyomizu temple built next to a waterfall which when you take a sip cures all illnesses according to the legend. The final stop of the morning was the Toji temple famous for its 5 storey pagoda (the tallest in Japan).

Trains weren`t quite as frequent as I would have liked as the rail pass is only valid on certain trains, which unfortunately meant an hours wait. Thus arriving in Hiroshima after the tourist info had shut damn!

Nevermind I managed to locate a map and navigate my way to the main shopping district where some lady took pity on me struggling to work out what street I was on and directed me to a hotel. The only downside was there were only smoking rooms left. Bring on the smoking ban is all I can say.

Temple-tastic

2008-01-24T01:33:00.000-08:00

Tuesday 22nd January

It was bitterly cold this morning and despite being wrapped up in many layers with scarf, gloves and hat I was still freezing. First stop of the day was the Imperial Palace (you can only look round the palace as part of an organised tour and there are only a few a day). I was hoping as a result that I might meet some fellow travellers, but no such luck, as was joined by a handful of Japanese, a couple of American couples and a German couple neither of whom wanted to engage in any conversation.

The palace itself (built in the mid 19th century was interesting, especially the history behind it and the gardens were stunning. Funny enough the palace is no longer used due to it having no source of power and on a day like today I`m not surprised.

Next stop was the Heian Shrine, similar in size to Tokyo`s key shrine (Meiji Jingu) however it is set in much nicer surroundings. The stepping stones across the lake were used as a backdrop to the film Memoirs of a Geisha apparently.

I then spent the next couple of hours on a walking tour of the eastern part of the city (along the Philosphers Path) stopping off at the Nanzenji Temple, Eikan-do Temple, and Ottoyo Shrine before finally winding up at the Ginkaku-ji Temple. Set at the top of the hill this was the far the most impressive of them all. Known as the silver pavillion for obvious reasons.

I spent the evening exploring the Gion district famous for its Geishas and Maikos ( trainee geishas) However due to the weather I only spotted one on the street inviting people inside and too shy to venture in any other establishments on my own I gave it miss and stuck to the covered market stalls with the pretty lanterns instead. Much safer..

Kyoto!

2008-01-24T01:23:00.000-08:00

Monday 21st January

It took longer than anticipated to arrive in Kyoto as by the time I had navigated my way around the maze that is Tokyo station, reserve a seat and find the platform it was 3pm before I arrived in Kyoto, only to discover an equally large station with no directions or anyone who could understand me to point me in the direction of the tourist information. I have since discovered that the Japanese don`t speak as much English as I thought!

The lady at the tourist info (when I eventually found it) was very helpful though and booked me a room for the night and gave me an armful of maps for navigating myself around the city.

However as most of the attractions shut at 4pm in the winter there was no point venturing far so had a quick bite to eat and decided to set off early the following morning to explore instead....

Robert Downey Junior

2008-01-20T03:27:00.000-08:00

Sunday 20th January

First stop of today was Harajuki, known for its funky boutiques along the interestingly named Takeshita street and the strangely dressed individuals who stand around dressed in who knows what waiting to be photographed. Someone has to do it I suppose and it is good to gawp at.

Afterwards we wandered around Yoyogi park which is beautiful in itself, before arriving at the Meiji Jingu Shrine, a memorial to the Emperor Meiji who died in 1912 and his empress Shoker. The shrine is filled with hundreds of small wooden plaques left daily by visitors with messages asking for good health for their families. There was a wedding going on at the time which was interesting to watch.

We then went to one of Tokyo's top hotels for lunch, the Park Hyatt. Dining on the 52nd storey we had amazing views of the entire city plus ate like kings. For only £30 we had a glass of champers, as much as you can buffet for starters, main meal (we all had lamb chops) followed by as many desserts as you can manage. My eyes were bigger than my belly and am feeling rather full still sat here writing this.

The toilets themselves were a sight in their own right with automatic toilet lid, heated seats, and buttons for everything from a bottom massage to a wash and dry! On our way out of the hotel we bumped into Robert Downey Junior - first celeb spot of my trip!

We then were planning a quick look around the sword museum but unfortunately it shuts early on Sunday so headed home instead via Shinjuku station (the busiest in Japan with over 60 exits, Clapham is nothing in comparison)

Am off to Kyoto tomorrow..

Love Hotel Hill

2008-01-20T03:06:00.000-08:00

Saturday 19th January

Spent the morning wandering around the district of Shibuya known as Love Hotel Hill. Yes it is exactly as it sounds.. Due to the fact that a number of Japanese households are very large, accommodating all the extended family, there is little chance for any privacy. As a result a number of hotels have sprung up offering 'rests' for a maximum of a three hour stay day or for the night. Caroline and I found much amusement in the signs, however couldn't quite pluck up the courage to venture inside any to take a look (although according to the guide book one can do!)

Stopped off at a local Japanese fast-food restaurant for a bowl of noodle soup - very filling, before heading to Asakusa to visit the Kannon Temple. The temple is beautiful and one of the oldest surviving temples in Japan (founded in the 7th century, although had to be rebuilt following the earthquakes).

Just outside the temple there was a large crowd gathered around an incense bowl where the Japanese were wafting the smoke over each other and rubbing it in their hair. I have since discovered that the smoke (aka the breath of gods) is known for is curative powers.

Also visited the Asakusa Jingo Shinto Shrine, the pagoda (2nd highest in Japan) and wandered around the market stalls (Nakamisi-Dori district). Had my first sweet saki. Although it warmed me up it was too sweet even for me so won't be having a coconut based one again in a hurry. Coincidentally I also saw the only other two backpackers off my entire flight here taking in the sights of Asakusa.

Next stop was Ginza, the shopping district with all the exclusive department stalls (known as the place where silver is minted). One of the attractions of the area is allegedly the Tokyo International Forum, an impressive glass building which resembles a ship. Or so they say! After what felt an age trying to locate it, due to Japan having very few street names, we finally came across it and wish we hadn't bothered. So for any of you planning to visit Japan a tip from me - leave this one out as it isn't worth it.

After all the excitement for the day we headed back for munchies and movies

Hachiko the dog statue

2008-01-20T02:53:00.000-08:00

Friday 18th January

Woke up with a bit of a fright this morning as was convinced it was two thirty in the afternoon - the joy of jet lag! Eventually got out of bed around 11am and spent the afternoon wandering around Shibuya and reading up on the sights of Tokyo and the surrounding areas. Was pleased to discover that Starbucks have the names of their drinks in both English and Japanese so with a bit of pointing I could successfully order my regular Chai Tea Latte.

Met Caroline after work and wondered around Omote-Sande, Tokyo's exclusive shopping district, just a shame I haven't the money or the space in my bag to buy anything. Another time maybe.

Also visited Hachiko, the dog statue (one of Shibuya's top attractions and meeting places). The statue was built in memory of a faithful little dog who used to walk with his owner every morning to Shibuya station and await his return. The dog continued to stay at the station for ten years following the owners death at work in 1925 and as a result the residents of Shibuya built a statue in the dogs memory when he finally passed away.

2008-01-19T07:04:00.000-08:00

Arrived Safely!

2008-01-18T18:45:00.000-08:00

After a long 10 hour flight (plus an hour delay to put a new wheel on - always reassuring) we finally touched down at Narita airport. Fortunately the guy sitting next to me had a screen that didn't work so he was moved, giving me a lot more room which was nice.

Managed to find the bus station absolutely fine although couldn't quite understand that there were at least 5 buses before mine so kept being turned away before mine eventually showed up. Caroline's school is in Shibuya and she had warned me in advance that there are very few street names and not many Japanese are confident enough to speak English so I was a little apprehensive about finding it.

I got off the bus a little disorientated but with my map and directions I was able to navigate myself to the school successfully, pick up keys and head by train to Carolines without any mishaps. Caroline has a lovely spacious two bed house just outside Shibuya (the main shopping district) - much bigger than I was expecting from what I had read about Japanese accomodation.

The afternoon I spent trying to get myself acquainted to the area before Caroline came home. We then went to a Japanese pub for the evening (izakaya) with 14 teachers which was good fun. Having a set men was an eye opener where I got to try everything from boiled Yam/radish (not so nice) to tofu, some cheesecake thing and pumpkin and raw tuna on crackers. Things seem surprisingly good value for money too - £15 for dinner and drinks.

I was introduced to my first Japanese cultural differences of the evening too whereby you take your shoes off on arrival and place them in lockers and walk around in socks. When you go to the toilet flip flops are provided. You also never tip in Japan (although very occasionally some restaurants include service charge apparently).

Almost There..

2008-01-14T14:11:00.000-08:00

Having spent the day looking at everything I am planning to take with me and the size of my rucksack, I have no idea as yet quite how it is all going to go in. Think I will wait until tomorrow before I tackle it as can't face it tonight!

Less than 48 hours to go now before I arrive in Tokyo and start my adventure
Will write soon
Claire xxx

Planned Route

2007-12-24T08:32:00.000-08:00

Leaving Date

2007-12-24T07:35:00.000-08:00

16th January 2008