Just a quick update!
Im working in Sydney and will be until the boys land on the 21st of December which is only 5 weeks away now! Its a 10 week position and am halfway through now. Staying back at Nicks until the lads turn up but had been bouncing from place to place in recent weeks to try and save cash to spend over xmas and new year!
Looking into booking tickets for a New Years Eve cruise to watch the fireworks which will be an amazing way to see in 2011! Also booking up all of the things that the lads wanna do while there here!
Finally, the No-Shows, our 5-a-side footbal team, have made it to the play offs, so watch this space!! Best defence in the league may I add..............and im the keeper!!
Basically just having a great time between sunner days and big storms and quite alot of beer!
Will keep you all updated more through December what with my Bday, Xmas and NYE!
Monday 15 November 2010
Sunday 3 October 2010
Travels over and so back to "Normal" life!
As per usual...........sorry for the delay! Life has changed alot for me lately as im no longer back packing around but am back in Sydney, looking for work and its as if the last 3 months travelling never happened. However, I had an amazing time but now need to focus on accruing as much cash as possible for the lads arrival in mid December so that I can enjoy the full 4 weeks while they are here and not worry about anything! So the hard work begins!! But before that, this is what I got upto in the last 6 weeks.
25th August - Flew into Auckland after purchasing a return ticket to OZ (mentioned in my last post)
25th - 30th August - Auckland, Wahekie Island and Piha (North Island)
31st August - 3rd September - Wellington (North Island). Met 2 great lads from the UK in my hostel, Calum and Jon, who have been travelling for about 18 months now, they started from England, then through the US, Oz, now NZ and then doing Asia before heading home. Spent all week with them and had some big nights, also Tom was there (from my Oz travels) and we had a great week! Randomly they are going to be in Queenstown when I get there so we planned to meet up and do it ALL over again!
3rd Sept - Flew back into Auckland and had the worst flight of my life!!! After a windy take-off and terrible constant turbulence for the whole flight, we had a failed landing with the pilot pulling up at the last minute which was scary in its self, but then on the 2nd approach the plane got struck by lightening!!! However, at the time there was a massive flash to the left of the plane (it was a night flight too) and the most amazing BANG and so everyone on board thought the worst and most were screaming hysterically thinking we were going down!! The captain reassured us that all was fine and that it was a lightening strike, which is pretty standard in bad weather (supposedly)!!! We eventually landed with one of the bumpiest landings ive ever had and the planes passengers erupted in cheers of joy and clapping! Definitely the worst experience of my life, but only the start of bad things to come in NZ!
4th - 6th - Rotorua (North Island)
However, also on the 4th was the biggest earthquake, 7.1 on the Richter scale, NZ has had in 70 years in Christchurch on the South Island. I didnt feel a thing in Rotorua but was planning to fly into Christchurch on the 7th, so spent alot of that weekend checking that it would be ok to visit as alot of the city was shut down, including the airport. On the 7th I was told all was well to fly and landed as planned (no lightening this time) in the evening. As I landed at night I couldnt see much damage to buildings on my way to the hostel, but alot of roads were shut and by the time I went for a walk in the morning it was very obvious that its going to take a while for Christchurch to recover. Not due to the fact that every building had fallen, but as most buildings in Christchurch are over 20 years old, the mortar in the buildings brick work has struggled under the pressures of the earthquake and even though no damage can be seen the buildings are no longer structurally sound and so the estimate that 50% of the town will have to be pulled down and rebuilt, including some of its oldest and iconoc buildings, which is a real shame!
On the 8th of September I was woken up by a 5.1 aftershock which was very surreal, but also strangely intriguing as I did want to feel what it would be like. In my time in Christchurch there had been smaller aftershocks which were strange to endure but this was basically another small earthquake which went on for about 30 seconds and left me and my 2 other room mates literally bouncing and rolling around the room in our beds!! It was an amazing thing to experience!!
9th Sept - 9hour bus ride from Christchurch to Queenstown. The idea of a 9hour bus trip didnt please me at all, and the first hour out of Christchurch confirmed my fears. However...........as soon as we got out into the South Islands countryside and it was impossible to be bored! The scenery is absolutely stunning! Mountains, Lakes and just amazing vista's made the trip fly by. We stopped at 2 lakes along the way, Wanaka and Takupo, and if you look at my facebook pictures that ive uploaded you'll see what I mean!
9th - 14th - Queenstown!! Met up with the lads from Wellington and Tom, randomly was put in room next door to Calum and Jon and shared a balcony so basically together for the whole time there. We had some brilliant nights out, played some Frisbee golf (which I won), went on the luge they have at the top of the closet hill/mountain! Queenstown is an amazing place with everything you'd ever want to do! Great nightlife, lots of extreme sports (bungee etc) and amazing views as it surrounding by the local mountain range, called the Remarkables!!! And the names apt when you see them!!
On Sunday the 12th I had booked in to do the same day trip to Milford Sound as Tom. Milford Sound was once described by Rudyard kipling "the 8th wonder of the world" and when you see it you can see why! However.....after a MASSIVE saturday with the lads, the 7.30am start was not what the doctor ordered and as the trip to Milford was 3hrs in a bus, I was not looking forward to the trip! After an hours worth of sleep on the bus and some paracetamol again the NZ scenery saved the day and kept me well entertained until we arrived at Milford. It was a brilliant day and something im glad I did, as I was considering blowing it out in the morning when the hangover was in full force, but glad I didnt as if you look at the pics on FB you will see what I mean. Truly breath taking!
Will stay on touch with Calum, Jon and Tom but they are all off to travel Asia next, so have fun lads if your reading this, and look forward to catching up back at home!!
Sept 14th - Flew to Auckland
Sept 15th - Flew back into Sydney!!! Travels over!!! 10 weeks round Oz and NZ Done!!!
Since being back I have been staying in Nick and Kerryn's spare room, but as Kerryn has a friend coming to stay for 2 weeks as of this afternoon (4th Oct) I am moving into a hostel for a week while I look for a more permanent place to stay.
Workwise im currently helping out with an office move in North Sydney which isnt ideal but its $$$ in the pocket for now, but I do have a role more up my street starting on Oct 12th working for the property management company Jones Lang Lasalle. I'll be doing data analysis there and hopefully it will lead on to more work with them as they have mentioned a few projects they have coming up which they need help on.
Also been on a good few nights out with the lads back in Sydney, had a day at the races which was good fun as I won enough to pay for the day and also me and the lads have started A 5 A SIDE team, currently called "The Pandas" but soon to be changed to "The No-Shows", as we only had 3 people turn up on time for our first match. Somehow............we won 6-0!!! Im the keeper due to my dodgy knee and if you want to keep a track on our performances, use the link below.
www.intrinsicsports.com.au/dyn_twr.asp?comp=714
Will update this again soon, but until then hope your all well and speak soon!
25th August - Flew into Auckland after purchasing a return ticket to OZ (mentioned in my last post)
25th - 30th August - Auckland, Wahekie Island and Piha (North Island)
31st August - 3rd September - Wellington (North Island). Met 2 great lads from the UK in my hostel, Calum and Jon, who have been travelling for about 18 months now, they started from England, then through the US, Oz, now NZ and then doing Asia before heading home. Spent all week with them and had some big nights, also Tom was there (from my Oz travels) and we had a great week! Randomly they are going to be in Queenstown when I get there so we planned to meet up and do it ALL over again!
3rd Sept - Flew back into Auckland and had the worst flight of my life!!! After a windy take-off and terrible constant turbulence for the whole flight, we had a failed landing with the pilot pulling up at the last minute which was scary in its self, but then on the 2nd approach the plane got struck by lightening!!! However, at the time there was a massive flash to the left of the plane (it was a night flight too) and the most amazing BANG and so everyone on board thought the worst and most were screaming hysterically thinking we were going down!! The captain reassured us that all was fine and that it was a lightening strike, which is pretty standard in bad weather (supposedly)!!! We eventually landed with one of the bumpiest landings ive ever had and the planes passengers erupted in cheers of joy and clapping! Definitely the worst experience of my life, but only the start of bad things to come in NZ!
4th - 6th - Rotorua (North Island)
However, also on the 4th was the biggest earthquake, 7.1 on the Richter scale, NZ has had in 70 years in Christchurch on the South Island. I didnt feel a thing in Rotorua but was planning to fly into Christchurch on the 7th, so spent alot of that weekend checking that it would be ok to visit as alot of the city was shut down, including the airport. On the 7th I was told all was well to fly and landed as planned (no lightening this time) in the evening. As I landed at night I couldnt see much damage to buildings on my way to the hostel, but alot of roads were shut and by the time I went for a walk in the morning it was very obvious that its going to take a while for Christchurch to recover. Not due to the fact that every building had fallen, but as most buildings in Christchurch are over 20 years old, the mortar in the buildings brick work has struggled under the pressures of the earthquake and even though no damage can be seen the buildings are no longer structurally sound and so the estimate that 50% of the town will have to be pulled down and rebuilt, including some of its oldest and iconoc buildings, which is a real shame!
On the 8th of September I was woken up by a 5.1 aftershock which was very surreal, but also strangely intriguing as I did want to feel what it would be like. In my time in Christchurch there had been smaller aftershocks which were strange to endure but this was basically another small earthquake which went on for about 30 seconds and left me and my 2 other room mates literally bouncing and rolling around the room in our beds!! It was an amazing thing to experience!!
9th Sept - 9hour bus ride from Christchurch to Queenstown. The idea of a 9hour bus trip didnt please me at all, and the first hour out of Christchurch confirmed my fears. However...........as soon as we got out into the South Islands countryside and it was impossible to be bored! The scenery is absolutely stunning! Mountains, Lakes and just amazing vista's made the trip fly by. We stopped at 2 lakes along the way, Wanaka and Takupo, and if you look at my facebook pictures that ive uploaded you'll see what I mean!
9th - 14th - Queenstown!! Met up with the lads from Wellington and Tom, randomly was put in room next door to Calum and Jon and shared a balcony so basically together for the whole time there. We had some brilliant nights out, played some Frisbee golf (which I won), went on the luge they have at the top of the closet hill/mountain! Queenstown is an amazing place with everything you'd ever want to do! Great nightlife, lots of extreme sports (bungee etc) and amazing views as it surrounding by the local mountain range, called the Remarkables!!! And the names apt when you see them!!
On Sunday the 12th I had booked in to do the same day trip to Milford Sound as Tom. Milford Sound was once described by Rudyard kipling "the 8th wonder of the world" and when you see it you can see why! However.....after a MASSIVE saturday with the lads, the 7.30am start was not what the doctor ordered and as the trip to Milford was 3hrs in a bus, I was not looking forward to the trip! After an hours worth of sleep on the bus and some paracetamol again the NZ scenery saved the day and kept me well entertained until we arrived at Milford. It was a brilliant day and something im glad I did, as I was considering blowing it out in the morning when the hangover was in full force, but glad I didnt as if you look at the pics on FB you will see what I mean. Truly breath taking!
Will stay on touch with Calum, Jon and Tom but they are all off to travel Asia next, so have fun lads if your reading this, and look forward to catching up back at home!!
Sept 14th - Flew to Auckland
Sept 15th - Flew back into Sydney!!! Travels over!!! 10 weeks round Oz and NZ Done!!!
Since being back I have been staying in Nick and Kerryn's spare room, but as Kerryn has a friend coming to stay for 2 weeks as of this afternoon (4th Oct) I am moving into a hostel for a week while I look for a more permanent place to stay.
Workwise im currently helping out with an office move in North Sydney which isnt ideal but its $$$ in the pocket for now, but I do have a role more up my street starting on Oct 12th working for the property management company Jones Lang Lasalle. I'll be doing data analysis there and hopefully it will lead on to more work with them as they have mentioned a few projects they have coming up which they need help on.
Also been on a good few nights out with the lads back in Sydney, had a day at the races which was good fun as I won enough to pay for the day and also me and the lads have started A 5 A SIDE team, currently called "The Pandas" but soon to be changed to "The No-Shows", as we only had 3 people turn up on time for our first match. Somehow............we won 6-0!!! Im the keeper due to my dodgy knee and if you want to keep a track on our performances, use the link below.
www.intrinsicsports.com.au/dyn_twr.asp?comp=714
Will update this again soon, but until then hope your all well and speak soon!
Tuesday 24 August 2010
Oz travel over........New Zealand next!
Im currently sitting in Brisbane international airport slowly letting my heart rate get back to its normal pace! The reason for the mild heart attack was when checking in for my flight to New Zealand I was told by the guy at the desk that he couldnt check me onto the flight as I only had a 1 way ticket and therefore under NZ law couldnt let me board!!!! After my initial disbelief the only way to solve the problem was to buy a return ticket from the Flight Centre at departures and then show the print out to the guy so I could board. So 20 minutes and $300 later I was able to check in and make my way through security to the departure lounge and the internet terminal I sit at now! I've bought a flexible ticket that currently leaves Auckland for Sydney on Weds 15th of September, which gives me 3 weeks in NZ and ample time to see the sights.
Anyway, after nearly a month since my last update, I should really update you with my activities! As im pushed for time (as always, sorry) i'll do it in a date line like I did last time!
So.....when I left you I was getting a bus overnight to 1770 on 1st of August!
2nd August - Arrived at 9am just outside 1770 in a town called Agnes Waters. Had a nice relaxed day in a very chilled backpackers in the middle of nowhere. A good place to recharge our batteries after Airlie beach!
3rd August - Caught an early greyhound bus to Hervey Bay, which is the town that most trips to Fraser Island run from. As soon as we arrived Tom and I booked a 3 day trip to Fraser and because of the early pickup (7.30am!!!) we had an early night!
4th - 6th August - Fraser Island was AMAZING!! On a par with the Whitsundays but totally different. Fraser is the largest sand island in the world, and as it says is TOTALLY made up of sand. We chose to do a guided tour rather than a self drive, as we'd heard horror stories about trying to drive in the sand inexperienced. We were in a 4wd truck that could hold about 40 people but only 20ish had booked on our tour and so we had loads of extra room, which was good as the terrain was terrible at points and you literally felt like you were on a roller coaster at times. The other people in our group were great, and the evenings at the lodges where we stayed were great fun both nights. I wont write much else about the trip other than to say it was amazing, and you will see what I mean when I get time to put the pics up on facebook!
7th - 9th August - We just made our greyhound bus to Brisbane by 3 minutes and were the only 2 people on board, so chilled out and watched a film on the drive down. As it was a Saturday we had a big night out in "The Valley" in Brisbane (where all the bars and clubs are) and then had a VERY lazy Sunday dealing with the hangovers!!
9th - 11th August - Me and Tom caught a train this time to Surfers Paradise. Even though i'd been there before with my mate Trystan, Tom hadnt so we headed there for 2 days. Unfortunately it didnt stop raining for the 2 days and was a real wash out, so the highlight was the all you could eat pizza night for $5 at the hostel! We definitely got our moneys worth!!!!
11th - 15th - The weather when we left was much better and so filled us with hope while travelling down the coast to Byron Bay. Byron Bay is renowned in Australia as "THE" party town, and even in mid winter its pretty spot on! After a big first night on Wednesday, neither of us could face a beer on the Thursday so went to the cinema instead an saw Inception (Brilliant film - Go see it!!!). Then after the night off the booze we got back into it and had a great weekend.
15th - 17th - Headed back into Brisbane on the Sunday and went to the Gabba to watch the Brisbane Lions lose (AFL) and then on the Monday went to Steve Irwin's Australia Zoo. Brilliant place and I finally saw Kangaroos and Koalas!!!!! After being in the country for just over 5months i'd been able to prove that that didnt just exist on postcards are they are real! The croc and bird shows at the zoo were great too!
17th - 23rd August - I flew to Melbourne on my own as Tom was now back in Sydney sorting out things for his imminent departure as his oz visa runs out on August 26th. As I know quite a few people in Melbourne, I spent my first few days having lunch (Santino - Ex fitch colleague), dinner (Mike and Yvette - Ozzie friends from home), and drinks (Dom & Jon - New Friends since arriving) and then on Friday my pal Trystan arrived from Sydney, and we had an excellent weekend!! Great fun and never stopped laughing!! We also went to see my AFL team, the Geelong Cats, win at the Etihad stadium which was brilliant! I even learnt the team song to sing along at the end!
23rd - 25th August - Both myself and Trystan had afternoon flights out of Brisbane but he was going back to Sydney and also decided that he would be heading home to the UK the week after as his trip to oz, as much fun as it had been, had to come to an end at some time (as he was only on a normal holiday visa). So if your reading this Tryst, it was great catching up over here mate, we had some quality weekends. READ THE BOOK and i'll see you next year when im back.
I headed back to Brisbane for a few quiet days of recovery and to get myself sorted for my trip to NZ.
So that gets you up to date! Im flying to Auckland in 45mins and will do my best to update my blog while im over there! As I mentioned above, my return flight currently leaves 15th September, and i'll be heading back to Sydney whatever happens to stay with Nick and Kerryn initially at there new place just outside Sydney. Im going to be looking for work, similar to before hopefully, for up until mid December when 2 of my mates, Ron and Robbie, are coming over which I cant wait for!!!
1 last thing; Tom - Just wanna say a massive thanks if your reading this! Travelling down the coast with you was great mate, your a star!! I'll probably see u in NZ but if not, enjoy NZ and Asia and stay in touch and we'll have to catch up when im back in the UK!
Hope your all ok at home, and Happy Birthday to my Grandad Frost for tomorrow!!
Anyway, after nearly a month since my last update, I should really update you with my activities! As im pushed for time (as always, sorry) i'll do it in a date line like I did last time!
So.....when I left you I was getting a bus overnight to 1770 on 1st of August!
2nd August - Arrived at 9am just outside 1770 in a town called Agnes Waters. Had a nice relaxed day in a very chilled backpackers in the middle of nowhere. A good place to recharge our batteries after Airlie beach!
3rd August - Caught an early greyhound bus to Hervey Bay, which is the town that most trips to Fraser Island run from. As soon as we arrived Tom and I booked a 3 day trip to Fraser and because of the early pickup (7.30am!!!) we had an early night!
4th - 6th August - Fraser Island was AMAZING!! On a par with the Whitsundays but totally different. Fraser is the largest sand island in the world, and as it says is TOTALLY made up of sand. We chose to do a guided tour rather than a self drive, as we'd heard horror stories about trying to drive in the sand inexperienced. We were in a 4wd truck that could hold about 40 people but only 20ish had booked on our tour and so we had loads of extra room, which was good as the terrain was terrible at points and you literally felt like you were on a roller coaster at times. The other people in our group were great, and the evenings at the lodges where we stayed were great fun both nights. I wont write much else about the trip other than to say it was amazing, and you will see what I mean when I get time to put the pics up on facebook!
7th - 9th August - We just made our greyhound bus to Brisbane by 3 minutes and were the only 2 people on board, so chilled out and watched a film on the drive down. As it was a Saturday we had a big night out in "The Valley" in Brisbane (where all the bars and clubs are) and then had a VERY lazy Sunday dealing with the hangovers!!
9th - 11th August - Me and Tom caught a train this time to Surfers Paradise. Even though i'd been there before with my mate Trystan, Tom hadnt so we headed there for 2 days. Unfortunately it didnt stop raining for the 2 days and was a real wash out, so the highlight was the all you could eat pizza night for $5 at the hostel! We definitely got our moneys worth!!!!
11th - 15th - The weather when we left was much better and so filled us with hope while travelling down the coast to Byron Bay. Byron Bay is renowned in Australia as "THE" party town, and even in mid winter its pretty spot on! After a big first night on Wednesday, neither of us could face a beer on the Thursday so went to the cinema instead an saw Inception (Brilliant film - Go see it!!!). Then after the night off the booze we got back into it and had a great weekend.
15th - 17th - Headed back into Brisbane on the Sunday and went to the Gabba to watch the Brisbane Lions lose (AFL) and then on the Monday went to Steve Irwin's Australia Zoo. Brilliant place and I finally saw Kangaroos and Koalas!!!!! After being in the country for just over 5months i'd been able to prove that that didnt just exist on postcards are they are real! The croc and bird shows at the zoo were great too!
17th - 23rd August - I flew to Melbourne on my own as Tom was now back in Sydney sorting out things for his imminent departure as his oz visa runs out on August 26th. As I know quite a few people in Melbourne, I spent my first few days having lunch (Santino - Ex fitch colleague), dinner (Mike and Yvette - Ozzie friends from home), and drinks (Dom & Jon - New Friends since arriving) and then on Friday my pal Trystan arrived from Sydney, and we had an excellent weekend!! Great fun and never stopped laughing!! We also went to see my AFL team, the Geelong Cats, win at the Etihad stadium which was brilliant! I even learnt the team song to sing along at the end!
23rd - 25th August - Both myself and Trystan had afternoon flights out of Brisbane but he was going back to Sydney and also decided that he would be heading home to the UK the week after as his trip to oz, as much fun as it had been, had to come to an end at some time (as he was only on a normal holiday visa). So if your reading this Tryst, it was great catching up over here mate, we had some quality weekends. READ THE BOOK and i'll see you next year when im back.
I headed back to Brisbane for a few quiet days of recovery and to get myself sorted for my trip to NZ.
So that gets you up to date! Im flying to Auckland in 45mins and will do my best to update my blog while im over there! As I mentioned above, my return flight currently leaves 15th September, and i'll be heading back to Sydney whatever happens to stay with Nick and Kerryn initially at there new place just outside Sydney. Im going to be looking for work, similar to before hopefully, for up until mid December when 2 of my mates, Ron and Robbie, are coming over which I cant wait for!!!
1 last thing; Tom - Just wanna say a massive thanks if your reading this! Travelling down the coast with you was great mate, your a star!! I'll probably see u in NZ but if not, enjoy NZ and Asia and stay in touch and we'll have to catch up when im back in the UK!
Hope your all ok at home, and Happy Birthday to my Grandad Frost for tomorrow!!
Saturday 31 July 2010
1 Month Travelling........Sorry for the delay!
Like it says in the title, Sorry for the delay! As much as I do have down time while travelling, this is the first time i've been in an Internet cafe since leaving Sydney! Im in Airlie beach at the moment until 11.55 tonight and then im on an overnight bus to a town called "1770" (its named that because its the year and place that captain cook landed). I havent got too long so will put a brief over view of what ive been upto below.
1st July - Left Sydney. Flew via Melbourne and landed in Darwin at 1am on 2nd July.
2nd July - 5th July - Stayed in Darwin main town. 32/35c days everyday and pretty cool party town for backpackers.
5th July - 10th July - Hired a campervan and travelled round 2 of the local National Parks - Lichfield and Kakadu. Both were amazing and had a great time. The stars at night were amazing. Saw crocs up close on a boat tour but still havent seen a kangaroo or koala!!
10th July - 13th July - Flew from Darwin to Brisbane and met my old personal trainer from the gym in London and we travelled by train to a place called Surfers paradise. Its a really cheesy seaside town like you get back home, but it was just what we were after for a weekend away!
13th July - 19th July - Trystan headed home and I headed back to Brisbane and stayed in a hostel in the week and then at an old colleagues place at the weekend. Also caught up with my sisters friend Claire who currently lives and works in Brisbane and also a guy I worked with at the bank in Sydney. My time in Brisbane was great except for my camera breaking! Ive since bought a replacement!
19th July - 23rd July - Got a bus for 2hours up the coast to a place called Noosa to meet up with Nick and Kerryn and Nicks family who were there for a week on holiday. I stayed in a local hostel dorm but spent most of my time with them on walks, meals and fishing trips! It was a brilliant few relaxed days with the Yaxleys!!
23rd July - 26th July - Spent in a small town down the coast from Noosa called Mooloolaba.
26th July - Flew to Townsville to meet Tom, a guy I worked with at the bank in Sydney who's travelling the east coast before his visa expires on the 26th!
27th July - Lazy day in Townsville so caught a ferry to Magnetic Island. Cool little island and good to tick off the list of places to go!
28th July - Caught a 5 hour bus to Airlie Beach, which is the gateway to the Whitsunday Islands. So we booked a 2 day 1 night trip that afternoon and had to be up and out by 7 to catch the boat at 8.30!
29th Jily - 30th july - The boat trip. 1 word - AMAZING! The crew were fantastic, and loved their jobs which rubbed off on all of us on board. It was a 22 person boat (+ the 3 crew) but only 15 people had booked so we had loads of room on the 23m Siska. The Siska, our boat, has sailed round the world twice and also won the Sydney to Hobart (in Tasmania) race, so its a great boat! The islands there are so picturesque and the coral and see life is astounding! We spent the 1st day sailing, with a stop to snorkel or scuba dive (I just went out in the little life raft with the deck hand), and then we stopped overnight at a small bay off hook island and had a great night with everyone. Again the stars were amazing! On the 2nd day we sailed via Whitehaven beach, and that was better than all of the hype i'd been told. Its a beautiful place and will be something i'll always remember! To finish the trip off we sailed back and just overall had a great time, finished off with an "after party" meal and drinks at a local bar with the crew and other passengers. It was a great way to finish the trip and met some brilliant people.
31st July - Mostly spent in bed hungover due to the night before but did venture out at night for some drinks with some guys from the boat trip.
1st August (TODAY) - Checked out of the hostel by 10am and have spent the day lazing by the beach in the sun. Its about 28c today so trying to stay in the shade cos its roasting!! Going to go to the marina at about 4pm to see the Siska come back in and get some "action" pics and then will probably spend the rest of the afternoon either back on the beach or in a pub watching the AFL (my team, Geelong Cats, are currently 2nd in the league) and trying to pass the time until our bus trip at 11.55 tonight!
So thats been my last month, so you can see why its been hard getting to an Internet cafe! Im sorry theres no pics on here but its so difficult to add them into the blog thats it alot easier to just add folders on facebook, so keep you eyes peeled for new albums over the next week!
I'll try and keep on top of this from now on.........but ive said that before so no promises!
Hope your all well!!
P.S Ive even got a tan!!!
1st July - Left Sydney. Flew via Melbourne and landed in Darwin at 1am on 2nd July.
2nd July - 5th July - Stayed in Darwin main town. 32/35c days everyday and pretty cool party town for backpackers.
5th July - 10th July - Hired a campervan and travelled round 2 of the local National Parks - Lichfield and Kakadu. Both were amazing and had a great time. The stars at night were amazing. Saw crocs up close on a boat tour but still havent seen a kangaroo or koala!!
10th July - 13th July - Flew from Darwin to Brisbane and met my old personal trainer from the gym in London and we travelled by train to a place called Surfers paradise. Its a really cheesy seaside town like you get back home, but it was just what we were after for a weekend away!
13th July - 19th July - Trystan headed home and I headed back to Brisbane and stayed in a hostel in the week and then at an old colleagues place at the weekend. Also caught up with my sisters friend Claire who currently lives and works in Brisbane and also a guy I worked with at the bank in Sydney. My time in Brisbane was great except for my camera breaking! Ive since bought a replacement!
19th July - 23rd July - Got a bus for 2hours up the coast to a place called Noosa to meet up with Nick and Kerryn and Nicks family who were there for a week on holiday. I stayed in a local hostel dorm but spent most of my time with them on walks, meals and fishing trips! It was a brilliant few relaxed days with the Yaxleys!!
23rd July - 26th July - Spent in a small town down the coast from Noosa called Mooloolaba.
26th July - Flew to Townsville to meet Tom, a guy I worked with at the bank in Sydney who's travelling the east coast before his visa expires on the 26th!
27th July - Lazy day in Townsville so caught a ferry to Magnetic Island. Cool little island and good to tick off the list of places to go!
28th July - Caught a 5 hour bus to Airlie Beach, which is the gateway to the Whitsunday Islands. So we booked a 2 day 1 night trip that afternoon and had to be up and out by 7 to catch the boat at 8.30!
29th Jily - 30th july - The boat trip. 1 word - AMAZING! The crew were fantastic, and loved their jobs which rubbed off on all of us on board. It was a 22 person boat (+ the 3 crew) but only 15 people had booked so we had loads of room on the 23m Siska. The Siska, our boat, has sailed round the world twice and also won the Sydney to Hobart (in Tasmania) race, so its a great boat! The islands there are so picturesque and the coral and see life is astounding! We spent the 1st day sailing, with a stop to snorkel or scuba dive (I just went out in the little life raft with the deck hand), and then we stopped overnight at a small bay off hook island and had a great night with everyone. Again the stars were amazing! On the 2nd day we sailed via Whitehaven beach, and that was better than all of the hype i'd been told. Its a beautiful place and will be something i'll always remember! To finish the trip off we sailed back and just overall had a great time, finished off with an "after party" meal and drinks at a local bar with the crew and other passengers. It was a great way to finish the trip and met some brilliant people.
31st July - Mostly spent in bed hungover due to the night before but did venture out at night for some drinks with some guys from the boat trip.
1st August (TODAY) - Checked out of the hostel by 10am and have spent the day lazing by the beach in the sun. Its about 28c today so trying to stay in the shade cos its roasting!! Going to go to the marina at about 4pm to see the Siska come back in and get some "action" pics and then will probably spend the rest of the afternoon either back on the beach or in a pub watching the AFL (my team, Geelong Cats, are currently 2nd in the league) and trying to pass the time until our bus trip at 11.55 tonight!
So thats been my last month, so you can see why its been hard getting to an Internet cafe! Im sorry theres no pics on here but its so difficult to add them into the blog thats it alot easier to just add folders on facebook, so keep you eyes peeled for new albums over the next week!
I'll try and keep on top of this from now on.........but ive said that before so no promises!
Hope your all well!!
P.S Ive even got a tan!!!
Monday 28 June 2010
So Long Sydney!!!
So just over 3 months into my Oz adventure and it's time to say goodbye to Sydney and more importantly work! I've loved the job at Bankwest, it was a perfect role and time frame, but working on average just under 50hrs a week for 9 weeks and only occasionally not having to go in over a weekend has meant that now that my last day is tomorrow.......I cant wait!!
The job has introduced me to alot of people, and not just people who will be good work contacts in the future but people I would love to stay in touch with after I move on and even once Im back home too. The cash i've earned from this job (just under $10k!!!) will mean that my travelling is funded for quite a while (hopefully), so all in all the Bankwest job has been great!
Due to the fact that the project im working on is nearing its conclusion, the Bankwest team were all taken out last Thursday to a great restaurant/Steakhouse in the city called "Chophouse". Its a great venue and well known for its amazing steaks, so I went for the wagyu beef steak and I dont think I've ever/will ever taste another steak like it! Absolutely amazing! It wasnt cheap, but being a work dinner it was on the company, so that steak plus many other bottles of top drawer red wine were consumed. After the meal the hardcore lot (as it was a Thursday after all) moved on to 2 more bars and I rolled in to bed at about 3am!! I also rolled into work the next day with a hangover too, but I wasnt the only 1!!! Unfortunately for me this meant going out on my last Friday night in Sydney with all my old and new Sydney friends (that I'd arranged in the week) was going to be hard work! However, as it was my last night and didnt want to be a whingeing pomme, I sucked it up and went out! It was a great night and didnt end well into Saturday morning, but it was a great send off and wanna thank everyone for coming along if your reading this. You've made my time in Sydney extremely bearable (even enjoyable at times) and when I head back I'll be in touch!
So looking forwards, my first stop on my trip round Oz is Darwin! As Darwin is extremely north, I firstly need to fly from Sydney to Melbourne (I take off at 1.20pm Thursday) and then fly on from there to Darwin (8pm take off) and will land in Darwin at midnight! I then have the weekends accommodation sorted in Darwin itself and then as of Monday plan to head out into Kakadu national park, Australia's biggest, and stay there through the week. I'll be taking lots of pics so dont worry about that, bt will probably put most on facebook as its alot easier than uploading them on here. I then have a flight to Brisbane booked for 1.30am on the next Saturday (the 10th July) and land around 6.30am. The main reason to jump across to Brisbane is to meet my old Personal Trainer from London, Trystan, who is randomly over here in Oz doing the same thing as me, so once we meet up around 10am we will be jumping on a train down the coast to a place called Surfers Paradise for a long weekend, staying in a 5* hotel (we got a cheap deal). So I can see that being good fun! Trystan has a job just outside Sydney so when he heads back on Tuesday I will go back to Brisbane and stay in the city in the week and with an old Fitch colleague at the weekend. Im also gonna try and catch up with my sister's friend Claire who is over here as she lives in Brisbane too.
After all of the above it will be Monday the 19th of July, and where I go after that.........is up to me!!! So i'll keep you all posted on what I get upto, and also what I decide on doing after! I'll probably head north up the East coast, but we'll see.
A final Thankyou for all the help and hospitality i've received in Sydney! Its a great place and im sure i'll be back to catch up with you all soon.
So long Sydney...............Hello Darwin!!
P.S No need to mention the football really, but at least I dont need to keep getting up for the 4.30am games now!!!!
The job has introduced me to alot of people, and not just people who will be good work contacts in the future but people I would love to stay in touch with after I move on and even once Im back home too. The cash i've earned from this job (just under $10k!!!) will mean that my travelling is funded for quite a while (hopefully), so all in all the Bankwest job has been great!
Due to the fact that the project im working on is nearing its conclusion, the Bankwest team were all taken out last Thursday to a great restaurant/Steakhouse in the city called "Chophouse". Its a great venue and well known for its amazing steaks, so I went for the wagyu beef steak and I dont think I've ever/will ever taste another steak like it! Absolutely amazing! It wasnt cheap, but being a work dinner it was on the company, so that steak plus many other bottles of top drawer red wine were consumed. After the meal the hardcore lot (as it was a Thursday after all) moved on to 2 more bars and I rolled in to bed at about 3am!! I also rolled into work the next day with a hangover too, but I wasnt the only 1!!! Unfortunately for me this meant going out on my last Friday night in Sydney with all my old and new Sydney friends (that I'd arranged in the week) was going to be hard work! However, as it was my last night and didnt want to be a whingeing pomme, I sucked it up and went out! It was a great night and didnt end well into Saturday morning, but it was a great send off and wanna thank everyone for coming along if your reading this. You've made my time in Sydney extremely bearable (even enjoyable at times) and when I head back I'll be in touch!
So looking forwards, my first stop on my trip round Oz is Darwin! As Darwin is extremely north, I firstly need to fly from Sydney to Melbourne (I take off at 1.20pm Thursday) and then fly on from there to Darwin (8pm take off) and will land in Darwin at midnight! I then have the weekends accommodation sorted in Darwin itself and then as of Monday plan to head out into Kakadu national park, Australia's biggest, and stay there through the week. I'll be taking lots of pics so dont worry about that, bt will probably put most on facebook as its alot easier than uploading them on here. I then have a flight to Brisbane booked for 1.30am on the next Saturday (the 10th July) and land around 6.30am. The main reason to jump across to Brisbane is to meet my old Personal Trainer from London, Trystan, who is randomly over here in Oz doing the same thing as me, so once we meet up around 10am we will be jumping on a train down the coast to a place called Surfers Paradise for a long weekend, staying in a 5* hotel (we got a cheap deal). So I can see that being good fun! Trystan has a job just outside Sydney so when he heads back on Tuesday I will go back to Brisbane and stay in the city in the week and with an old Fitch colleague at the weekend. Im also gonna try and catch up with my sister's friend Claire who is over here as she lives in Brisbane too.
After all of the above it will be Monday the 19th of July, and where I go after that.........is up to me!!! So i'll keep you all posted on what I get upto, and also what I decide on doing after! I'll probably head north up the East coast, but we'll see.
A final Thankyou for all the help and hospitality i've received in Sydney! Its a great place and im sure i'll be back to catch up with you all soon.
So long Sydney...............Hello Darwin!!
P.S No need to mention the football really, but at least I dont need to keep getting up for the 4.30am games now!!!!
Sunday 6 June 2010
Sorry its been so long!!!
First of all...............a massive apology for the long wait on this update! Ive just been so busy with work and then come the weekends (when i'm not working) we've all been heading out for nights on the town!
Firstly.....the job! I really landed on my feet. I went into Hays recruitment on a Wednesday morning and by 3pm the same day I was offered the job at Bankwest and started on the Friday (30th May)! The role is support on a project where the bank are reviewing alot of critical assets and all of these reviews and the outcomes have to be tracked and completed by the 30th of June, which is when the job will end for me. So its perfect, 2 months hard work and then I'll be able to up sticks and use the $$$ to see Australia. Its alot of spreadsheet work and is right up my street and enjoy it but am doing 50+ hours a week at least! My Boss Bernie is a great guy and recently had a baby boy, Tom, which was interesting having to look after things while he was off for a few days. Also because of the large workload Bernie got 2 more support staff on board, an English guy called Tom and an Irish girl called Marita. Tom's a good lad and also a fellow Liverpool fan and we catch up quite abit out of work and hope to stay in touch both here in oz after the job and back home as Tom is on the same visa as me but his one ends in August so will be heading home soon.
Outside of work we've been having great nights out! Normally for me on a Friday drinks start at work................in the kitchen!!! Its an aussie thing that on a Friday at the end of the day everyone has a beer or 2 after work in the office! I think its great and always a good way to start a Friday night......and cheap too!! Its been a good way to get to know all the work people too, and as the reviews on the project are being carried out by external companies its been a great way to meet lots of new people too! Not really sure what else to say about the nights out as they all seem to have blurred into one.......but they've been good fun!
On the house front, we're all moving out of Nicks flat! Nick has decided to move in with his girlfriend and the other flat mate, Dylan, has decided to head back to his mums place so they have ended the contract and we all have to be out by next Friday, the 11th!! Due to this, me and Lee have been looking for a place and actually found a guest house in a place called Glebe, which isnt far from where we are now and its perfect as it a "pay as you go" place, so we are gonna stay there for one month which will be around the time my Bankwest job ends then I think I'll go travelling for a while after that! Lee will stay in Sydney though as he has just got himself a job based in the middle of the city!
The world cup starts this week and its gonna be hard work catching games as they kick off at silly o'clock in the morning here (the first England game is on at 4.30am)! Also this weekend coming is a long weekend as we get Monday off for the queens birthday, so even though I wont be getting paid (cos im on a contract) its going to be good to have a nice long weekend and watch some real football at last rather than AFL or Rugby!!!
I probably wont update this for a while again but when I go travelling around Oz i'll make sure I do update it more regularly! I promise!!!!!!! And maybe even some pics too!!
Sunday 16 May 2010
Work Hard, Play Hard!!!
Sorry for the delay on updating the blog but for the last 2 weeks since starting the job at Bankwest ive been doing about 55hrs a week and having pretty packed weekends (which include working)! The job is great, very tight deadline and TONS to do but luckily the work isnt too taxing.....at the mo! When I find more time i'll update you all with what ive been doing there but im really enjoying it and have met some great people because of it too. I report directly to the project manager, Bernie, and he has been off since Thursday because his wife gave birth to their first child (Thomas Eric Armistead) which has meant alot more work/pressure has been pushed my way, but its been great!
Another great thing is that i've now got a blackberry on a contract so can stay in touch with the world alot easier and its not breaking the bank as have a great deal! Its a pretty addictive gadget but worth its weight in gold! If you want to call or text my number is +61420708818.
Weekends and nights out have been excellent lately!! Meeting lots of people and had a few pretty bad hangovers but all worth it.....sort of! Not sure what next weekend entails but think it will be quieter than the last 2......at least I hope so!
Lee's gone away with work for the week so its just me, Nick and his other housemate Dylan until he gets back next Sunday!
Thats it for now, going to watch the Monaco grand prix and then get a well deserved sleep before I start another long week at work.
P.S Sorry for no pics lately. Took my camera on my walk to work today and will put them on Facebook when I get a chance.
Another great thing is that i've now got a blackberry on a contract so can stay in touch with the world alot easier and its not breaking the bank as have a great deal! Its a pretty addictive gadget but worth its weight in gold! If you want to call or text my number is +61420708818.
Weekends and nights out have been excellent lately!! Meeting lots of people and had a few pretty bad hangovers but all worth it.....sort of! Not sure what next weekend entails but think it will be quieter than the last 2......at least I hope so!
Lee's gone away with work for the week so its just me, Nick and his other housemate Dylan until he gets back next Sunday!
Thats it for now, going to watch the Monaco grand prix and then get a well deserved sleep before I start another long week at work.
P.S Sorry for no pics lately. Took my camera on my walk to work today and will put them on Facebook when I get a chance.
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