tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7581081389614933212024-03-13T22:07:56.680-07:00WalkaboutBriBriGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06648362476389070293noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-758108138961493321.post-33269360648459267562007-12-08T17:05:00.000-08:002007-12-08T17:32:37.936-08:00Sydney - Full CircleWell mates that's it...<br /><br />It's hard to believe I've been here for over 6 weeks - on one hand it really doesn't feel all that long at all (there's so much more I could see), but then I start thinking about all the things I've done and seen and experienced and I'm pretty amazed at how MUCH there is to remember - WOW!<br /><br />I had one final meat pie (I really like these - there's must be someplace in Boston that makes them ;0) on Oxford (it's funny how much of this trip I remember by the food I ate - I mean that's nothing new for me I guess - but it's really been fun here - so much good seafood and new stuff like kangaroo and emu, then of course there was Thailand.... mmmm....)<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5141773999741926226" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1tANeH0-1I/AAAAAAAAAdw/lx87Lf5h3T0/s320/IMG_2012.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br />Then I headed down to the harbour for one more look @ one of the most photogenic spots on Earth. I laid down on some rocks at the very tip of the pennisula and let the waves on the rocks get me into a nice mellow place while I watched the myriad of boats that come with the harbour do their thing...<br /><br /><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1tAU-H0-3I/AAAAAAAAAeA/O6E4LT0x4_o/s1600-h/IMG_2028.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5141774128590945138" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1tAU-H0-3I/AAAAAAAAAeA/O6E4LT0x4_o/s320/IMG_2028.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1tARuH0-2I/AAAAAAAAAd4/bR-vazoU6gM/s1600-h/IMG_2021.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5141774072756370274" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1tARuH0-2I/AAAAAAAAAd4/bR-vazoU6gM/s320/IMG_2021.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Luckily some very loud Japanese tourists came along and woke me out of my trance just in time to get myself moving... I had a date @ 7:30 (how funny is that! It was newly opened stage version of Billy Elliot - it was amazing, the lead was a 12-14 year old kid, and let me tell you he could dance! <br /><br />Then a nice mellow night (watching dvd's of Will & Grace of all things ;0) It felt really nice to just be in someone's home, chilling out watching tv and being 'normal'... maybe coming home isn't all that bad... besides Christmas is right around the corner (there are Christmas trees up everywhere here to remind me) and I've got great freinds and a loving family to come back to.... doesn't get much better than that!<br /><br /><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1tAJ-H0-0I/AAAAAAAAAdo/kCrLG53_BBs/s1600-h/IMG_2010.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5141773939612384066" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1tAJ-H0-0I/AAAAAAAAAdo/kCrLG53_BBs/s320/IMG_2010.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><div>Besides, I'll always have great memories (not to mention LOTS of great pictures)... this is a part of the world I'm going to have to see again someday... would be nice to have someone along with me next time... any takers ;0)</div><div> </div><div>G'day & Cheers!!!<br /></div><div><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1tAGOH0-zI/AAAAAAAAAdg/aX7A8aGie3I/s1600-h/IMG_1999.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5141773875187874610" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1tAGOH0-zI/AAAAAAAAAdg/aX7A8aGie3I/s320/IMG_1999.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div></div>BriGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06648362476389070293noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-758108138961493321.post-6127427568024674492007-12-05T17:57:00.001-08:002007-12-05T19:27:05.418-08:00CairnsAhhh back to Australia... it really felt great to step off the plane to a happy faced Australian Sheila welcoming me to the country and MEANING it ;0) I love Aussies! Don't get me wrong, people are very polite in Asia and VERY friendly in Thailand... but it's just not the same super open, happy, laid back feeling you immediately get from Assies... nice ;0)<br /><div> </div><div>I got to Cairns before noon, so I had time to walk into town along a really great Esplande... it used to be a beach but they dredged it so much so ships could get in (especially during WWII) that its all turned to a big mud flat... the good thing about that is that when the tide is out its FULL of crabs...</div><div></div><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dcY4XIehI/AAAAAAAAAdM/mb8Wu2GNatU/s1600-h/IMG_1898.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140679082182736402" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dcY4XIehI/AAAAAAAAAdM/mb8Wu2GNatU/s320/IMG_1898.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dbaIXIefI/AAAAAAAAAdA/fnjfIj6M4FM/s1600-h/IMG_1900.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140678004145945074" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dbaIXIefI/AAAAAAAAAdA/fnjfIj6M4FM/s320/IMG_1900.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div>Even if you did want to take a swim (which you can't because it Box Jellyfish season [one sting can KILL you]) I think this sign would pretty much kill any notion:</div><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dbNIXIeeI/AAAAAAAAAc4/W3RuvddEAp8/s1600-h/IMG_1902.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140677780807645666" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dbNIXIeeI/AAAAAAAAAc4/W3RuvddEAp8/s320/IMG_1902.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div></div><div>I had a great big Aussie breakfast (lots of ham-like bacon, eggs, toast) walked around the town center and the back to the hotel to catch my Rainforest Tour! Our first stop was actually within the city limits to let us practice using binoculars (the 2 Hungarian guys with us needed it) - we had some great Agile Wallabies to focus on.<br /></div><br /><div><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dbBYXIedI/AAAAAAAAAcw/N72v6gdcJ4g/s1600-h/IMG_1905.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140677578944182738" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dbBYXIedI/AAAAAAAAAcw/N72v6gdcJ4g/s320/IMG_1905.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>Then we were off - the scenery along with way was brillant.</div><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1da5oXIecI/AAAAAAAAAco/nP3WxrL3EIk/s1600-h/IMG_1911.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140677445800196546" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1da5oXIecI/AAAAAAAAAco/nP3WxrL3EIk/s320/IMG_1911.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div><div>This plant's called a 'wait a while' - because it has these huge thorns all over it that it uses to cling onto trees and literally climb up them to the very top (they also grab onto your clothes and slow you down if you're walking through the jungle ;0) - the 3rd pic is another plant with even bigger spines on it...</div><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1daz4XIebI/AAAAAAAAAcg/t_pe1VY-B4Q/s1600-h/IMG_1915.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140677347015948722" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1daz4XIebI/AAAAAAAAAcg/t_pe1VY-B4Q/s320/IMG_1915.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1datIXIeaI/AAAAAAAAAcY/1pAYr2cV7FY/s1600-h/IMG_1916.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140677231051831714" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1datIXIeaI/AAAAAAAAAcY/1pAYr2cV7FY/s320/IMG_1916.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1daTYXIeWI/AAAAAAAAAb4/q_FKSjcY-cM/s1600-h/IMG_1944.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140676788670200162" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1daTYXIeWI/AAAAAAAAAb4/q_FKSjcY-cM/s320/IMG_1944.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div>And these giant fig trees grown down around other poor trees (to capture the sunlight at the top) and eventually encase it and kill it... it was enourmous... it goes Way up from here..<br /><br /><div><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1danoXIeZI/AAAAAAAAAcQ/OS0Yv-POp80/s1600-h/IMG_1926.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140677136562551186" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1danoXIeZI/AAAAAAAAAcQ/OS0Yv-POp80/s320/IMG_1926.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Alos lots of animal along the way of course (you've gotta love a tour guide who is so into his job he picks stuff up for you ;0) These are a skink and a green tree frog...<br /></div><div><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dae4XIeYI/AAAAAAAAAcI/xDtIkLZkIes/s1600-h/IMG_1928.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140676986238695810" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dae4XIeYI/AAAAAAAAAcI/xDtIkLZkIes/s320/IMG_1928.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dZFYXIePI/AAAAAAAAAbE/KC9hRCcUboY/s1600-h/IMG_1969.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140675448640403698" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dZFYXIePI/AAAAAAAAAbE/KC9hRCcUboY/s320/IMG_1969.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I almost stepped on this poor turtle..<br /></div><div><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1daY4XIeXI/AAAAAAAAAcA/sMcJaIyTXjo/s1600-h/IMG_1932.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140676883159480690" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1daY4XIeXI/AAAAAAAAAcA/sMcJaIyTXjo/s320/IMG_1932.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>Then after checking out this Water Dragon I took a very refreshing swim with the guide and found something on my own attached to my leg ;0)</div><div><br /> </div><div><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1daCYXIeVI/AAAAAAAAAbw/8avAZW29V_g/s1600-h/IMG_1948.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140676496612424018" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1daCYXIeVI/AAAAAAAAAbw/8avAZW29V_g/s320/IMG_1948.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dZsYXIeUI/AAAAAAAAAbo/MC6eyi1YIa8/s1600-h/IMG_1951.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140676118655301954" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dZsYXIeUI/AAAAAAAAAbo/MC6eyi1YIa8/s320/IMG_1951.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Just down the road I finally saw my 1st Platypus in the wild!!! It was so fun to watch them swimming around (they're underwater most of the time hunting for food - makes it fun to spot them coming up)....<br /><div><br /><div><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dZoIXIeTI/AAAAAAAAAbg/_vvIAFxe6H0/s1600-h/IMG_1954.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140676045640857906" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dZoIXIeTI/AAAAAAAAAbg/_vvIAFxe6H0/s320/IMG_1954.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Once the sun went down we got out the spotlights and started seeing the real action... that ant is huge and it's dwarfed by that spider...</div><div><br /> </div><div><div><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dZd4XIeRI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/EEowxNxKtOU/s1600-h/IMG_1963.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140675869547198738" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dZd4XIeRI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/EEowxNxKtOU/s320/IMG_1963.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dZiYXIeSI/AAAAAAAAAbY/7pvIZmIDxHc/s1600-h/IMG_1960.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140675946856610082" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dZiYXIeSI/AAAAAAAAAbY/7pvIZmIDxHc/s320/IMG_1960.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />That 'cricket' is as big as your fist and that little snake probably kill with a bite...<br /></div><div><div><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dZAIXIeOI/AAAAAAAAAa8/F8aIe4AoMGQ/s1600-h/IMG_1974.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140675358446090466" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dZAIXIeOI/AAAAAAAAAa8/F8aIe4AoMGQ/s320/IMG_1974.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dYrYXIeLI/AAAAAAAAAak/PouNbBxGiPo/s1600-h/IMG_1986.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140675001963804850" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dYrYXIeLI/AAAAAAAAAak/PouNbBxGiPo/s320/IMG_1986.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This was a Chameleon Lizard... very cool looking (it stand super still and twitches its big tail.. which looks a LOT like a snake to scare off predators... Thats a cycade (sp ?) on the right.. they make LOTS of noise... can almost drown everything else out...</div><div><br /> </div><div><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dYwIXIeMI/AAAAAAAAAas/JTe9V34VT38/s1600-h/IMG_1981.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140675083568183490" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dYwIXIeMI/AAAAAAAAAas/JTe9V34VT38/s320/IMG_1981.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dYTIXIeKI/AAAAAAAAAac/rjfWvyIlxog/s1600-h/IMG_1993.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140674585351977122" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dYTIXIeKI/AAAAAAAAAac/rjfWvyIlxog/s320/IMG_1993.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />There are some cute things around too of course... this is a possum.. saw 3 or 4 of them WAY up in very tall trees... couldn't find any Tree Kangaroos but everything else was fantastic... <div> </div><div><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dY6IXIeNI/AAAAAAAAAa0/BVcYoa2CiFo/s1600-h/IMG_1979.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140675255366875346" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dY6IXIeNI/AAAAAAAAAa0/BVcYoa2CiFo/s320/IMG_1979.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div><br /><div><div>And if that wasn't enough for me the next day I got to go dive the Great Barrier Reef... woohooo!</div><div> </div><div>These pictures are all stolen off the web (I didnt' want to spend the $60 to rent an underwater camer and besides I was too distracted by all the cool stuff!)</div><div> </div><div>These are some of the more interesting thigns I saw (but I saw LOTS of fish off all types and colors.. it was so cool - especially when the guide threw food every once in a while and you're surroudned by a column of big, little, huge fish...</div><div> </div><div>There were Giant Clams (we touched the outside to watch it close it's mouth) and Giant Sea Cucumbers (these are as long as your arm and all over the bottom)</div><div> </div><div><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dX7oXIeJI/AAAAAAAAAaU/6VzSqGEeS7w/s1600-h/Giant%2520Clam.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140674181625051282" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dX7oXIeJI/AAAAAAAAAaU/6VzSqGEeS7w/s320/Giant%2520Clam.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dXyIXIeHI/AAAAAAAAAaE/Ewa3L2oLL6g/s1600-h/Bohadschia-argus1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140674018416294002" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dXyIXIeHI/AAAAAAAAAaE/Ewa3L2oLL6g/s320/Bohadschia-argus1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />These crazy unicorn fish were fun to watch - these Trigger Fish were fun too - they really beautiful and really big - unfortunately they're also really aggresive and have big teeth... they came right at me... bit me on the fin mostly, but one got uncomfortably close to my face one time... I left them alone ;0)<br /></div><div><div><div> <a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dX2oXIeII/AAAAAAAAAaM/re4yo-0_LbQ/s1600-h/fishesrt.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140674095725705346" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dX2oXIeII/AAAAAAAAAaM/re4yo-0_LbQ/s320/fishesrt.gif" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dXLYXIeFI/AAAAAAAAAZ0/PpChBkHZXU4/s1600-h/trigger%2520fish.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140673352696363090" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dXLYXIeFI/AAAAAAAAAZ0/PpChBkHZXU4/s320/trigger%2520fish.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>I also left the White-Tipped Reef Shark alone under his rock... wow they are big (I still can't believe how calm I stayed)...<br /></div><div><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dXYIXIeGI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/B_-2hT1szgQ/s1600-h/nwhi-shark2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140673571739695202" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dXYIXIeGI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/B_-2hT1szgQ/s320/nwhi-shark2.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div> </div><div>What an experience!!! </div><div> </div><div>That night I had some really good seafood dinner (including something called a 'bug' which is like a cross betwen shrimp and lobster.. yummmm then headed off to a really fun bar in town until the wee hours... now I'm going to dive in the pool and sip on something cool (its HOT here right now... I can't believe I'll be in snow soon ;0( ... before heading off back to Sydney...</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>BriGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06648362476389070293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-758108138961493321.post-153305026952351312007-12-03T05:09:00.000-08:002007-12-05T19:10:12.149-08:00Bangkok (#2) - Hong Kong (Macau) - SingaporeI had to cut things off a bit during my morning in Singapore (that was way too short a time to see a whole city, but it was good... more later) so I wanted to add a bit more about Bangkok - it deserves much more and it's also fun to compare/contrast it to my other "Asiatic" experiences...<br /><br /><br />All three cities are alike in ways but SO different in most others. I mean obviously they are all Asian cities so the local customs, exotic food with seafood and rice (mostly for me), doing everything on the left, the languages, etc are all crazy and weird and fun (and sometimes very trying) in the same ways so my overall impression of them is sort of 'lumped' together - but they really are all 3 vastly different places. Just the look of the cities themselves are so different...<br />Bangkok is a very spread out, huge city with skyscrapers every couple of blocks on a pretty much flat landscape. The streets are super crowded, messy and full of people going places during the day and full of people trying to sell you things at night. Hong Kong is very modern city (it feels a lot like NYC) packed with beautiful skyscapers all jammed together on busy (but orderly) streets because it is all built on a narrow, long piece of land between big mountains (which the city goes right up) and the ocean. Whereas Singapore while also a very modern city with two small central districts of skyscrapers is much more relaxed with large well laid out streets and lots of space - and while Hong Kong felt SUPER clean compared to Bangkok, Singpore feels absolutely sterile. There are so many signs about what you will be fined for it starts to get funny after a while - I mean this is the first thing you see when you enter the country (followed by a military guy with a MACHINE gun at the airplane exit)...<br /><br /><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dTYoXId3I/AAAAAAAAAYE/Hbv_RAgEUK0/s1600-h/IMG_1860.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140669182283118450" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dTYoXId3I/AAAAAAAAAYE/Hbv_RAgEUK0/s320/IMG_1860.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />But I digress... they were all very interesting places full of polite - usually friendly people and I had a great time visting them all - I would come back to Hong Kong anytime for fun, but if I really wanted another vacation here it would have to be an island somewhere off of Phuket somewhere... NICE..<br /><br />My last day in Bangkok turned out to be one of my best actually - I'd made a local friend by then so I was able to get a more personal tour ;0) It also meant I could travel using some of the more 'out the way' ways... like these canal boats full of people (super cheap) that go all over the city...<br /><br /><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dVd4XIeBI/AAAAAAAAAZU/1aoTu2FVC-8/s1600-h/IMG_1697.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140671471500687378" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dVd4XIeBI/AAAAAAAAAZU/1aoTu2FVC-8/s320/IMG_1697.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We went to a House of a rich silk trader that's been turned into a museum and checked out Thai artifacts and traditional archiecture which was very cool<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dVloXIeCI/AAAAAAAAAZc/qXmLZZLJJhI/s1600-h/IMG_1700.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140671604644673570" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dVloXIeCI/AAAAAAAAAZc/qXmLZZLJJhI/s320/IMG_1700.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And then he found me some "authentic' Thai dancing ;0) It was a great way to round off my trip there...<br /><br /><div><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dVXoXIeAI/AAAAAAAAAZM/vt-WJxsNFGw/s1600-h/IMG_1689.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140671364126504962" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dVXoXIeAI/AAAAAAAAAZM/vt-WJxsNFGw/s320/IMG_1689.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dVLIXId_I/AAAAAAAAAZE/LgYVeMwnH5M/s1600-h/IMG_1686.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140671149378140146" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dVLIXId_I/AAAAAAAAAZE/LgYVeMwnH5M/s320/IMG_1686.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div>Then I was off to meet my friend David (from Boston) in Hong Kong, with a night's stopover in Macau first for some fun...</div><div> </div><div>Like Hong Kong, this city is a 'special administrative zone', which means it's technically part of China, but follows it's own rules (which were Western - Capitalistic ones). You can see why the city is called the Vegas of the East... </div><div><br /> </div><div> <a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1devIXIejI/AAAAAAAAAdY/NyHTLnC1HM0/s1600-h/IMG_1718.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140681663458081330" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1devIXIejI/AAAAAAAAAdY/NyHTLnC1HM0/s320/IMG_1718.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dRkoXIdpI/AAAAAAAAAWU/iGv3QrglUcw/s1600-h/IMG_1723.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140667189418292882" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dRkoXIdpI/AAAAAAAAAWU/iGv3QrglUcw/s320/IMG_1723.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div>Unfortuantley there wan't any poker there (crap!) so we just walked around, played some blackjack (David made money and I lost mine as usual ;0) and soaked up the Vegas nightlife for a bit (its a LOT tamer and a LOT brighter than Vegas... and I think guys I go on my yearly trip to Vegas would be very dissapointed by the length of casino girl's skirts here)...</div><div> </div><div><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dRXIXIdnI/AAAAAAAAAWE/1aQBs44JgzU/s1600-h/IMG_1715.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140666957490058866" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dRXIXIdnI/AAAAAAAAAWE/1aQBs44JgzU/s320/IMG_1715.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div>Macau during the day is much different. When you go to the center of town you can easily imagine it's Portugeuse roots - not many of them around now (athough they're forced to have all signs in English, Portugeuse and Chinese there, which is fun)...</div><div> </div><div><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dRy4XIdqI/AAAAAAAAAWc/3wvp6YLwUgw/s1600-h/IMG_1729.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140667434231428770" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dRy4XIdqI/AAAAAAAAAWc/3wvp6YLwUgw/s320/IMG_1729.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dR4YXIdrI/AAAAAAAAAWk/AklU6z05Izw/s1600-h/IMG_1732.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140667528720709298" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dR4YXIdrI/AAAAAAAAAWk/AklU6z05Izw/s320/IMG_1732.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div>And after a hard day of sightseeing, you built up an apetite... I had the Duck... although Turtle soup sounded interesting....</div><div> </div><div><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dR94XIdsI/AAAAAAAAAWs/WaI9TI2A09k/s1600-h/IMG_1734.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140667623209989826" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dR94XIdsI/AAAAAAAAAWs/WaI9TI2A09k/s320/IMG_1734.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dSYIXIdwI/AAAAAAAAAXM/z1JMDI6ymvA/s1600-h/IMG_1771.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140668074181555970" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dSYIXIdwI/AAAAAAAAAXM/z1JMDI6ymvA/s320/IMG_1771.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div> </div><div>I'm glad I had the chance to see Macau... but I was very happy to finally get into Hong Kong..</div><div> </div><div>It looks a lot like some of the other cities in some parts (which means you still get all the good food and exotic/ strange stuff)...<br /></div><div><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dS-IXId0I/AAAAAAAAAXs/0ezbYoC7Ffw/s1600-h/IMG_1814.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140668727016585026" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dS-IXId0I/AAAAAAAAAXs/0ezbYoC7Ffw/s320/IMG_1814.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div> </div><div>But for the most part its a very modern... very Western place (they do a very cool lazer show every night, accompanied with some not-so-snappy music)...</div><div><br /><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dW6oXIeEI/AAAAAAAAAZs/mBzX2cXnEVU/s1600-h/IMG_1789.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140673064933554242" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dW6oXIeEI/AAAAAAAAAZs/mBzX2cXnEVU/s320/IMG_1789.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dWzoXIeDI/AAAAAAAAAZk/BtPxQLSIV1o/s1600-h/IMG_1788.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140672944674469938" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dWzoXIeDI/AAAAAAAAAZk/BtPxQLSIV1o/s320/IMG_1788.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dSvYXIdzI/AAAAAAAAAXk/MDkSLI5cUxc/s1600-h/IMG_1810.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140668473613514546" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dSvYXIdzI/AAAAAAAAAXk/MDkSLI5cUxc/s320/IMG_1810.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dTHoXId1I/AAAAAAAAAX0/oZJDfLuBi1Y/s1600-h/IMG_1833.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140668890225342290" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dTHoXId1I/AAAAAAAAAX0/oZJDfLuBi1Y/s320/IMG_1833.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Getting around there can be a bit tricky though... this is the line for the subway (luckily I had David with me so we got up there pretty fast ;0)<br /></div><div><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dSnYXIdyI/AAAAAAAAAXc/t7fvOlMFm48/s1600-h/IMG_1800.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140668336174561058" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dSnYXIdyI/AAAAAAAAAXc/t7fvOlMFm48/s320/IMG_1800.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div>After that stress it was time for some relaxation:</div><div> </div><div><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dSgYXIdxI/AAAAAAAAAXU/pbcIG-hi0bY/s1600-h/IMG_1772.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140668215915476754" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dSgYXIdxI/AAAAAAAAAXU/pbcIG-hi0bY/s320/IMG_1772.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div><div>Follwed by something I'd never done before... Horse Racing... it's very big here, in fact it's pretty much followed me around this entire trip (you'll recall i was there for THE horse racing event of the year in Melbourne...).</div><div><br /><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dSOYXIdvI/AAAAAAAAAXE/PQb3GxA6dLo/s1600-h/IMG_1751.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140667906677831410" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dSOYXIdvI/AAAAAAAAAXE/PQb3GxA6dLo/s320/IMG_1751.jpg" border="0" /></a> That's my horse NOT coming across the line first... I did win one out of 8... and it was a very fun experience... David had a little more fun as he was actually winning every once in a while... (luckily the exchange rate's ok here... so wasn't spending too much money).</div><div><br /><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dSDYXIdtI/AAAAAAAAAW0/QT5nH7ykngg/s1600-h/IMG_1741.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140667717699270354" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dSDYXIdtI/AAAAAAAAAW0/QT5nH7ykngg/s320/IMG_1741.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dSJ4XIduI/AAAAAAAAAW8/XktxZS3tHJU/s1600-h/IMG_1743.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140667829368420066" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dSJ4XIduI/AAAAAAAAAW8/XktxZS3tHJU/s320/IMG_1743.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>Had a great time there just walking around (got lots more pics for anyone interested of course)... we also did Tea @ The Pennisula hotel (which is THE high society thing to do) - it was great... i haven't had that much sugar for a long time and lots of stuff during the days... and thankfully the clubs here were great so our nights were nice and full and active as well..</div><div> </div><div>It was really great having a friend with me (especially one who knew his way around a bit).</div><div> </div><div>I had to say goodbye to David eventually though and headed off to Singapore... got in late and had a good sleep before heading out to explore the city for the day... Of course I had to start it off right (thats crispy baby squid salad... yumm):</div><div><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dUMIXId-I/AAAAAAAAAY8/VTT3_LOVL3Q/s1600-h/IMG_1895.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140670067046381538" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dUMIXId-I/AAAAAAAAAY8/VTT3_LOVL3Q/s320/IMG_1895.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div> </div><div>This was after my first drink actualy which was a Singapore Sling @ Raffles Long Bar... a great old colonial builidng and THE tourist thing to do... it was very sweet and good..</div><div><br /><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dTPoXId2I/AAAAAAAAAX8/aNLnDFEFcGQ/s1600-h/IMG_1855.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140669027664295778" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dTPoXId2I/AAAAAAAAAX8/aNLnDFEFcGQ/s320/IMG_1855.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div>It's a bit on the "clean' side there and there are signs everywhere telling you what not to do (they do let you chew gum now) and I did jaywalk... glad I didnt' get caught as I found out later its a $1000 dollar fine... woops... it also has a very Western (alomst like a big mall in parts) feel to it (it was an English colony after all):</div><div> </div><div><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dTfYXId4I/AAAAAAAAAYM/-5oFcXZcLKg/s1600-h/IMG_1863.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140669298247235458" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dTfYXId4I/AAAAAAAAAYM/-5oFcXZcLKg/s320/IMG_1863.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div>But because it's such a melting pot of culture (its a major port between all the coutnries in the region) and since it's made up mostly of Chinese and Malay people it still has some interesting things to see and do.. this also means that right next to a big ol' Christian church your likely to find a Muslin mosque or a Buddist temple or even one devoted to Hindism (like the great one below with all the Indian gods on it and some firewalkers inside - a great ritual to watch complete with some lively music that sounded a lot like jazz ;0)<br /></div><div><br /><div><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dT5IXId8I/AAAAAAAAAYs/N8BH8QG6_2o/s1600-h/IMG_1888.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140669740628867010" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dT5IXId8I/AAAAAAAAAYs/N8BH8QG6_2o/s320/IMG_1888.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dUEoXId9I/AAAAAAAAAY0/br--DKQtWRo/s1600-h/IMG_1892.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140669938197362642" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dUEoXId9I/AAAAAAAAAY0/br--DKQtWRo/s320/IMG_1892.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>I also hit the Asian Civilizations Museum... which had fascinating exhibits on all the majore Asian culutres... I like this Confusious like saying on the wall saying that while parents are alive children must not travel great distances... but I'm glad I don't adhere too strictly - although I'm sure Mom wouldn't mind ;0)<br /></div><div><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dTz4XId7I/AAAAAAAAAYk/4JfQbQaDtv0/s1600-h/IMG_1878.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140669650434553778" style="WIDTH: 345px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 229px" height="287" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dTz4XId7I/AAAAAAAAAYk/4JfQbQaDtv0/s320/IMG_1878.jpg" width="405" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dTsoXId6I/AAAAAAAAAYc/KLxGc0fXZok/s1600-h/IMG_1875.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140669525880502178" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dTsoXId6I/AAAAAAAAAYc/KLxGc0fXZok/s320/IMG_1875.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>There's also a really cool statue things spewing water into the harbor (its the city mascot) called a Merlion... ok.....<br /></div><div><div><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dTm4XId5I/AAAAAAAAAYU/aehnC0FdUBU/s1600-h/IMG_1869.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140669427096254354" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R1dTm4XId5I/AAAAAAAAAYU/aehnC0FdUBU/s320/IMG_1869.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>It was a nice chill city to wind down my time in this part of the world before heading back to Oz.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>BriGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06648362476389070293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-758108138961493321.post-77570463229527536182007-11-26T06:45:00.001-08:002007-12-02T20:29:28.804-08:00BangkokAfter being at (and in) the beach and being so relaxed it was strange to find myself in a HUGE, crazy, noisy, polluted city - luckily Bangkok was also still full of friendly Thais and good food. After a while the size and craziness of it starts to get a bit more manageable and things start looking much more interesting ;0) This is a street called Patpong, it was right next to my hotel so I hit in the night I got there (this is around midnight or so) on my way out dancing... people pretty much just use the sidewalks for everything from food to selling junk (very aggresively - that's the worse thing about Thailand), I don't think they really know what "zoning" laws mean ;0)<br /><br /><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0rcGAeE23I/AAAAAAAAATs/FhlHoFW8d_Y/s1600-h/IMG_1680.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137160320732945266" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0rcGAeE23I/AAAAAAAAATs/FhlHoFW8d_Y/s320/IMG_1680.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The next day I took a cruise up the Changii river (which is so crowded with boats it looks like a highway) which is a great way to get around as it gets you away from the crowd and give you really good views of the most interesting historical places in the city.<br /><br />My first stop off was the Temple of the Emerald Budda - it was a very large, ornate complex of temples and really fun to just get lost in... Unfortunately the temple with the Emerald Budda (which is really made of Jade and caused lots of wars for a few hundred years) was closed, but you can almost see it through the doorway... Down below were all kinds of Buddists burning incense, praying and making sacrifices (ok just leaving flowers and fruit)... this one picture does not do all the temples and ornate building justice... it was fantastic!<br /><br /><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0rctweE3AI/AAAAAAAAAU0/LR8lDF6OSOY/s1600-h/IMG_1598.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137161003632745474" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0rctweE3AI/AAAAAAAAAU0/LR8lDF6OSOY/s320/IMG_1598.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I also visited the Royal Palace which was very grand and (along with the other tourists) pestered the very formal stiff gurads in front of the doors for pictures...<br /><br /><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0rckweE2-I/AAAAAAAAAUk/PLKW7Vb793c/s1600-h/IMG_1624.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137160849013922786" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0rckweE2-I/AAAAAAAAAUk/PLKW7Vb793c/s320/IMG_1624.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0rcfweE29I/AAAAAAAAAUc/cm11CPf257Y/s1600-h/IMG_1630.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137160763114576850" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0rcfweE29I/AAAAAAAAAUc/cm11CPf257Y/s320/IMG_1630.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />After that (and my first Pad Thai lunch in Thailand.... which wasn't as good as Brown Sugar!!!) I headed for THE Bangkok temple... I can't remember what it was called right now but it translates as "Temple of the Rising Sun" - it was huge and the best thing was you could climb up for some great views of the city - by the way, those steps are LOTS steeper than you think..<br /><br /><div><div> <a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0rc0AeE3BI/AAAAAAAAAU8/PJQHr7ppWK8/s1600-h/IMG_1594.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137161111006927890" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0rc0AeE3BI/AAAAAAAAAU8/PJQHr7ppWK8/s320/IMG_1594.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0rcpAeE2_I/AAAAAAAAAUs/q7sUUG7aPsY/s1600-h/IMG_1608.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137160922028366834" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0rcpAeE2_I/AAAAAAAAAUs/q7sUUG7aPsY/s320/IMG_1608.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0rcbAeE28I/AAAAAAAAAUU/4TlAa6bQ-Ws/s1600-h/IMG_1644.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137160681510198210" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0rcbAeE28I/AAAAAAAAAUU/4TlAa6bQ-Ws/s320/IMG_1644.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0rcWQeE27I/AAAAAAAAAUM/bm7ffNjG850/s1600-h/IMG_1658.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137160599905819570" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0rcWQeE27I/AAAAAAAAAUM/bm7ffNjG850/s320/IMG_1658.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>The temple was right across teh street from the Temple of the Reclining Budda (with the largest reclining budda in the world in it) - this is one of the holiest sites in Thailand and was well worth having to wear full pants, long sleeve shirt and shoes all day in hot, muggy Thai weather so I could get inside... it was enormous (you can kind of get the idea from how high the people's heads are next to his feet)...</div><div><div><br /><div><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0rcSAeE26I/AAAAAAAAAUE/HZ4xlxsrjwk/s1600-h/IMG_1661.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137160526891375522" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0rcSAeE26I/AAAAAAAAAUE/HZ4xlxsrjwk/s320/IMG_1661.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0rcNweE25I/AAAAAAAAAT8/zlsz1xeAC4M/s1600-h/IMG_1663.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137160453876931474" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0rcNweE25I/AAAAAAAAAT8/zlsz1xeAC4M/s320/IMG_1663.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>There were also about 1,000 (maybe exactly) other Budda's spread around the temple - it was pretty fascinating...<br /></div><div><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0rcJweE24I/AAAAAAAAAT0/914wQBdhd78/s1600-h/IMG_1671.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137160385157454722" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0rcJweE24I/AAAAAAAAAT0/914wQBdhd78/s320/IMG_1671.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>There's so much more I could say about Thailand and Bangkok but I'm in Singapore now (I know I still need to get some pics of Macau and Hong Kong [which I like A LOT] on here - hopefully I'll find some internet time soon - it was hard there as I finally had a friend with me (David) so we kept very busy the whole week ;0)</div><div> </div><div>I'll try to do an update soon - for now I'm having a great time and looking forward to my 8 hours or so I have to explore this city - I'm off for a Singapore Sling ;0)</div></div></div></div></div>BriGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06648362476389070293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-758108138961493321.post-65603331306835455702007-11-26T06:40:00.000-08:002007-11-29T07:35:10.636-08:00Phuket, Thailand<div>I arrived into Thailand from the super hot deserts of Australia and walked out to super-hot and humid Jungle Islands... and it was fantastic! After a beautiful drive through jungle mountains (mostly populated by small villages) and up and down through gorgeous white-sand beaches - I arrive @ Patong Beach, got myself sorted at the hotel (I could afford a nice hotel with exchange rates of 30:1, so it was a VERY nice change from the hostels I'd restricted myself to in Australia ;0) and then I headed straight for the beach and dived into the nice warm ocean... this was only broken up for the next several hours with some beer and really good [and REALLY spicey... people weren't kidding] Thai food ;0) I had my favorite first - Tom Ka Gai soup... yummmmm.<br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div></div><div><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0rbzgeE21I/AAAAAAAAATc/QEI6jv6mKX4/s1600-h/IMG_1549.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137160002905365330" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0rbzgeE21I/AAAAAAAAATc/QEI6jv6mKX4/s320/IMG_1549.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0rb4weE22I/AAAAAAAAATk/iY48TTvPXOU/s1600-h/IMG_1546.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137160093099678562" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0rb4weE22I/AAAAAAAAATk/iY48TTvPXOU/s320/IMG_1546.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div>I was so relaxed that when it started raining I just kept on swimming (the water was actually warmer than the rain anyway ;0) and stayed out there until the sunset... it was really nice watching it go down over the Andaman Sea.<br /><br />I walked around a bit that night and absorbed some of the craziness of Thailand (probably Asia in general actually). Streets are super clogged up with cars, motorcycles, buses, bikes and people shooting across the road whenever there's a bit of a gap in the traffic - Oh and one little motorbike usually has 1-3 people on it, usually with the woman in back holding a baby up and playing with it while the taxi cab is litteraly right on the back of the bike going 30-40 miles/hour... The "sidewalks" (they're really more of the 'not black' part of the road most of the time' are just as crowded with people all jostling up the left side to go forward [generally] with just as many coming at you on the right). It's all very 'survival of the fittest', whatever thing is bigger - car, bus or crowd of people always gets the right of way. The crazy thing is that it works really well, everyone gets around and I haven't seen anyone get hurt yet - but I'll tell you, it's enough to make me wish I'd said yes to the guy who tried to sell me "smokes" in one darkish road I went down ;0) </div><div> </div><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0rbQgeE2tI/AAAAAAAAASc/ZgqRGwyctLs/s1600-h/IMG_1585.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137159401609943762" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0rbQgeE2tI/AAAAAAAAASc/ZgqRGwyctLs/s320/IMG_1585.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>I found myself in an interesting part of town after a nice fish dinner (prepared right on the sidewalk - makeshift kitchen, servers, tables & all - and it was the whole fish deep-fried and covered in delicious red curry sauce, yum) watched my first <strong>katoey</strong> show (female impersonaters dressed up in ornate outfits doing really good lip synching in the midst of some pretty stunning dance theatrics) it was very fun to watch but I still got to bed @ a reasonable time as I had to get up the next morning for my 1st scuba dive ;0)</div><br /><div></div><div>My first dive was @ Koh Dok Mai - it's this crazy little island literally just sticking up in the middle of the ocean. After some equipment and getting to know my dive buddy, we jumped in and I have to say that my course training all came back pretty fast... I was able to NOT slam into the coral below, control my breathing, and actually watch the fish - which were in the thousands all around me. Little ones, big ones - yellow, green, pink you name it swimming amongst huge red fan corals, white corals - I also saw 2 or 3 moray eels and these neat looking Scorpian Fish that look just like the coral there were up against (I didn't have an underwater camera so I found some pics on the web for the fish).</div></div><br /><div><div><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0rlxQeE3CI/AAAAAAAAAVE/FjsQ2YbJaNA/s1600-h/IMG_1558.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137170959366937634" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0rlxQeE3CI/AAAAAAAAAVE/FjsQ2YbJaNA/s320/IMG_1558.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0rmCAeE3EI/AAAAAAAAAVU/ti7DBmjGMUE/s1600-h/moray2_.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137171247129746498" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0rmCAeE3EI/AAAAAAAAAVU/ti7DBmjGMUE/s320/moray2_.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0rmJQeE3FI/AAAAAAAAAVc/FyOjBDiw4kc/s1600-h/Scorpian%20Fish.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137171371683798098" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0rmJQeE3FI/AAAAAAAAAVc/FyOjBDiw4kc/s320/Scorpian%2520Fish.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div>After that we had a break as we headed for the Phi Phi Islands (which were in the Leo DeCaprio film 'The Beach' - terrible movie, but man - location, location, location. The islands were really something to behold as we came up to them - we actually dived the two smaller Koh (islets) next to them.</div><br /><div><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0rl4weE3DI/AAAAAAAAAVM/gR1OPoa11xY/s1600-h/IMG_1563.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137171088215956530" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0rl4weE3DI/AAAAAAAAAVM/gR1OPoa11xY/s320/IMG_1563.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0rbvQeE20I/AAAAAAAAATU/NqzNmJxGwyI/s1600-h/IMG_1564.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137159929890921282" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0rbvQeE20I/AAAAAAAAATU/NqzNmJxGwyI/s320/IMG_1564.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div>The last dive was the best - I was finally totally relaxed and able to just drift around with the current and watch then get in nice and close to the sea wall to see all the little fish. There was some minor embarrasment on the 2nd dive when I jumped in and realized my weight belt had come off (you're supposed to hold on to it when you jump... woops) so they had to go all the way back to the boat to get me another one [guess I'm not THAT fat after all ;)] - however... while we were all waiting we were looking below us and a big ol' Leopard Shark swam by!!! It was very cool looking, kind glad we weren't right down with it though ;0) Also saw a Lionfish on that dive which was really fun to watch...</div><br /><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R07XdweE3HI/AAAAAAAAAVs/4jAD2KDEDLI/s1600-h/Leopard_shark.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138281131103542386" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R07XdweE3HI/AAAAAAAAAVs/4jAD2KDEDLI/s320/Leopard_shark.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R07XiAeE3II/AAAAAAAAAV0/3CEjWrUEvqQ/s1600-h/lion-fish-big-01.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138281204117986434" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R07XiAeE3II/AAAAAAAAAV0/3CEjWrUEvqQ/s320/lion-fish-big-01.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div></div><div>I made it back in town that night just in time to get down to the beach for the 1st night of the Loy Krathong festival. It's held on the 3rd Lunar Cycle in November of every year to celebrate a river/water goddess. People on the beach all bought these giant square shaped cloth baloons with an open flame on the bottom - when it fills up with hot air it eventually (with some gentle pushing) floats off into the sky where it joins up with hundreds of others and just floats off until it looks like they're joining the stars... it's very nice... of course I had to buy one - Mine is one of the 3 next to the full moon ;0) They also sell fireworks that you shoot off from your hand (like roman candles.. it was lots of fun)</div><br /><div><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R07bdQeE3JI/AAAAAAAAAV8/Av3NI8nwiAI/s1600-h/komloy-2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138285520560118930" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R07bdQeE3JI/AAAAAAAAAV8/Av3NI8nwiAI/s320/komloy-2.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0rbfgeE2wI/AAAAAAAAAS0/lFmcA8thbWA/s1600-h/IMG_1583.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137159659307981570" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0rbfgeE2wI/AAAAAAAAAS0/lFmcA8thbWA/s320/IMG_1583.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0rbbgeE2vI/AAAAAAAAASs/UPSuBkNTkcA/s1600-h/IMG_1584.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137159590588504818" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0rbbgeE2vI/AAAAAAAAASs/UPSuBkNTkcA/s320/IMG_1584.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /> </div><div></div><div>After that I sat and had a great and SPICEY squid salad and watch some traditional Thai dancing and more fireworks...<br /></div><br /><div><div><div><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0rbngeE2yI/AAAAAAAAATE/tRJM1bBuh2Q/s1600-h/IMG_1573.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137159796746935074" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0rbngeE2yI/AAAAAAAAATE/tRJM1bBuh2Q/s320/IMG_1573.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0rbjgeE2xI/AAAAAAAAAS8/gPk2r99oCDI/s1600-h/IMG_1576.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137159728027458322" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0rbjgeE2xI/AAAAAAAAAS8/gPk2r99oCDI/s320/IMG_1576.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The next morning I hung out on the beach for a few hours - NICE...</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>BriGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06648362476389070293noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-758108138961493321.post-34870222576118034082007-11-22T06:37:00.001-08:002007-11-22T06:45:46.697-08:00PerthI got into Perth from Yulara with just enough time (5 hours) to grab a shuttle to the city and check it out.. It was great.. the people there are very freindly and it's a big, modern clean place.. I liked it the best next to Syndey I think... a welcome change from Alice and Adelaide ( a little too rough for my tastes...)<br /><br />I took a walk around town... there was a cool statue of roos with a bigger statue containing all of the important metal ores in the area (the mining of which had really built the city)<br /><br /><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0WUeQeE2qI/AAAAAAAAASE/tujv99po7GA/s1600-h/IMG_1521.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135674197624019618" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0WUeQeE2qI/AAAAAAAAASE/tujv99po7GA/s320/IMG_1521.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Then I walked up a hill and got a great view of the city... it was a hard walk so I had to take in a bit of beer (or bitter as they call it here... yuck.. i have found least bitter one I can ;0)<br /><br /> <a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0WUiQeE2rI/AAAAAAAAASM/bqqBOMrgEnk/s1600-h/IMG_1527.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135674266343496370" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0WUiQeE2rI/AAAAAAAAASM/bqqBOMrgEnk/s320/IMG_1527.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0WUpweE2sI/AAAAAAAAASU/k2Sh5CLRWa8/s1600-h/IMG_1530.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135674395192515266" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0WUpweE2sI/AAAAAAAAASU/k2Sh5CLRWa8/s320/IMG_1530.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It was a nice sunny day, I ended it with another beer (yes I've been drinking a few of those here) at the Brass Monkey and then got out to the airport to head up to Phuket!!!BriGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06648362476389070293noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-758108138961493321.post-64563686129806465032007-11-22T05:57:00.001-08:002007-11-22T06:37:24.516-08:00UluruEARLY the next morning (well at least I got 4 hours of sleep) I got on board a tour bus and headed down the highway toward Uluru...<br /><div><div><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div>Not too much to see along the way (although I still found myself fascintated by the red sands of the outback.. in between taking 15 min catnaps...). We stopped off a camel farm (used for racing actually) so I could see what I'd eaten the night before ;) I also a dingo up close (which looked like the nicest house dog you could imagine... pretty ferocious in the wild though).... and some wild horses along with way (they call them Brommies out here)....<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0WOjAeE2ZI/AAAAAAAAAP8/_xzFhZStgns/s1600-h/IMG_1325%5B1%5D.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135667682158631314" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0WOjAeE2ZI/AAAAAAAAAP8/_xzFhZStgns/s320/IMG_1325%5B1%5D.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0WOnQeE2aI/AAAAAAAAAQE/msMSO_sXlnc/s1600-h/IMG_1329%5B1%5D.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135667755173075362" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0WOnQeE2aI/AAAAAAAAAQE/msMSO_sXlnc/s320/IMG_1329%5B1%5D.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0WOrQeE2bI/AAAAAAAAAQM/ZddNfQJayJQ/s1600-h/IMG_1339%5B1%5D.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135667823892552114" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0WOrQeE2bI/AAAAAAAAAQM/ZddNfQJayJQ/s320/IMG_1339%5B1%5D.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>We got into Yulara (next to Uluru - Ayer's Rock) just in time for me to get down there and take a hike around the base of it (the Aboriginals had closed the climb to the top down to the heat... it was only in the 90's... I think they take whatever excuse they can to keep people off of it... they see it as a sacred place... which is also why there are signs all over the place saying not to take pictures of the rock - hopefully I didn't steal any soles or whatever from the rock, but I did take a few pics ;0)</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0WQXgeE2mI/AAAAAAAAARk/lLi48cgLhJs/s1600-h/IMG_1462.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135669683613391458" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0WQXgeE2mI/AAAAAAAAARk/lLi48cgLhJs/s320/IMG_1462.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div>There were some very cool formation in the rock as you got closer to it. Including some that looked like very familiar objects...<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0WPkAeE2cI/AAAAAAAAAQU/qAN4tQ0To3Q/s1600-h/IMG_1363.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135668798850128322" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0WPkAeE2cI/AAAAAAAAAQU/qAN4tQ0To3Q/s320/IMG_1363.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0WQOQeE2kI/AAAAAAAAARU/9YBPTo6WLxI/s1600-h/IMG_1451.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135669524699601474" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0WQOQeE2kI/AAAAAAAAARU/9YBPTo6WLxI/s320/IMG_1451.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0WQSgeE2lI/AAAAAAAAARc/M0BQ7wvDYjc/s1600-h/IMG_1452.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135669597714045522" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0WQSgeE2lI/AAAAAAAAARc/M0BQ7wvDYjc/s320/IMG_1452.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>It's funny - the aboriginals had all these really intricate stories about the creation (or dreamtime as they call it) incorporating spirits of animals (which are really people) into the rock formations around them... such as the giant bad tempered lizard Lungkata below).... but they seemed to totally ignore what I think is obviously a huge whale... maybe they hadn't made it down to the ocean by then... </div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0WSAgeE2oI/AAAAAAAAAR0/WnkrBU85Vvs/s1600-h/IMG_1375.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135671487499655810" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0WSAgeE2oI/AAAAAAAAAR0/WnkrBU85Vvs/s320/IMG_1375.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0WP9AeE2gI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/ZGLQuiDCXDE/s1600-h/IMG_1409.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135669228346857986" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0WP9AeE2gI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/ZGLQuiDCXDE/s320/IMG_1409.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div>There are very few rock paintings by the aboriginals as they used materials that were easily washed away by rain and really depended on oral storytelling more than pictoral ones anwyay... but there were a few around...</div><div> </div><div><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0WPsweE2eI/AAAAAAAAAQk/5QujO8WEjfc/s1600-h/IMG_1398.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135668949173983714" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0WPsweE2eI/AAAAAAAAAQk/5QujO8WEjfc/s320/IMG_1398.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div></div><div>I also found some "real" monsters along they way... that is one NASTY bug !!!</div><div></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0WQBgeE2hI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/9oxaHYAWvJE/s1600-h/IMG_1411.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135669305656269330" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0WQBgeE2hI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/9oxaHYAWvJE/s320/IMG_1411.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div>I finally found myself in an ancient waterhole that had been used for thousands of years by animals and aboriginals alike for thousands of years and had a quick nap before hooking up with the tour bus for a trip back out to watch the susnet on Uluru... it was MAGNIFICANT ;0)</div><div> </div><div><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0WQKQeE2jI/AAAAAAAAARM/itE4P1de3hU/s1600-h/IMG_1447.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135669455980124722" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0WQKQeE2jI/AAAAAAAAARM/itE4P1de3hU/s320/IMG_1447.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0WQFgeE2iI/AAAAAAAAARE/G7NbOot9ptI/s1600-h/IMG_1443.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135669374375746082" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0WQFgeE2iI/AAAAAAAAARE/G7NbOot9ptI/s320/IMG_1443.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div> </div><div><br /> </div><div><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0WQbAeE2nI/AAAAAAAAARs/xwY3rkW0MvY/s1600-h/IMG_1472.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135669743742933618" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0WQbAeE2nI/AAAAAAAAARs/xwY3rkW0MvY/s320/IMG_1472.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Then we headed back to the Outback Pioneer Hostel and I took a dip in the pool and had some kangaroo for dinner - the backpackers were all singing drunken country songs at the bar so I made it an early night...</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>BriGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06648362476389070293noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-758108138961493321.post-112077351113215692007-11-22T05:37:00.000-08:002007-11-22T05:57:05.206-08:00Alice SpringsI got into Alice Springs in the center of the outback just in time to grab a rental car and head out for a small drive into the mountains of the outback... I first went to the Ormistead Gap... it was pretty cool.. but the best thing about it was a huge water whole surrounded by rocks with crazy lizards all over them... when you get to close they stand up on two legs and run away upright, it was really funny to watch (I have a video for later viewing ;0): <div><div><div><div><div><div> </div><div><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0WGYQeE2SI/AAAAAAAAAPE/M_Cr4PI841U/s1600-h/IMG_1250.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135658701382015266" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0WGYQeE2SI/AAAAAAAAAPE/M_Cr4PI841U/s320/IMG_1250.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0WGhQeE2UI/AAAAAAAAAPU/z1gQgbcGR-U/s1600-h/IMG_1264.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135658856000837954" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0WGhQeE2UI/AAAAAAAAAPU/z1gQgbcGR-U/s320/IMG_1264.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0WGdweE2TI/AAAAAAAAAPM/2MWgDcc5yoI/s1600-h/IMG_1259.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135658795871295794" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0WGdweE2TI/AAAAAAAAAPM/2MWgDcc5yoI/s320/IMG_1259.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div>Then I continued on down the road ) - I didn't have enought time to get out to King's Canyon but it looked great from the distance...</div><div> </div><div><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0WGmweE2VI/AAAAAAAAAPc/X-T6HramArE/s1600-h/IMG_1267.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135658950490118482" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0WGmweE2VI/AAAAAAAAAPc/X-T6HramArE/s320/IMG_1267.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div>I wasn't too bothered though as I'd seen a lot of the outback at this point.. I was however pretty hot.. so I stopped off at a large water hole (tried to tell myself that crocodiles weren't found this far into the outback) and took a very refreshing swim in it ;0)</div><div> </div><div><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0WGxQeE2XI/AAAAAAAAAPs/EgW0h2IEEEQ/s1600-h/IMG_1275.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135659130878744946" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0WGxQeE2XI/AAAAAAAAAPs/EgW0h2IEEEQ/s320/IMG_1275.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />After my cool down (and a nice big ol' Magnum Ice Cream from the gas station) I headed back towards the "city" stopping off at the Ocre Pits where aboriginals used to get different colored clays to paints their bodies with:</div><div> </div><div><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0WGrAeE2WI/AAAAAAAAAPk/x16NnHGjC0w/s1600-h/IMG_1271.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135659023504562530" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0WGrAeE2WI/AAAAAAAAAPk/x16NnHGjC0w/s320/IMG_1271.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div>And then I ended the day at Simmon's gap and was lucky enough to find some rare Black Footed Rock Wallabies drinking from the water hole there... they were very skitish... fun to watch!<br /><br /><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0WG4weE2YI/AAAAAAAAAP0/6j71ho9J-6w/s1600-h/IMG_1300.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135659259727763842" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0WG4weE2YI/AAAAAAAAAP0/6j71ho9J-6w/s320/IMG_1300.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>After the sunset (which mean I had to drive VERY slowly so not to hit all the marsupials around) I went back to Alice Springs, took a shower and hooked up with my Irish friend and a few other girs @ a crazy bar where I ate Camel pie (really... it tasted a lot like Venison) and then got a little too drunk and ended up dancing with them to bad 80's songs ;0)</div><div> </div><div>Alice Springs (or The Alice) was fun and it was great to see an "outback town"... but the aboriginals who make up 20% of the popoulation are pretty scary there.... it's mostly the alcoholics who have been kicked out there tribes and have nowhere else to go.. which means lots of desperate, not to happy, drunk people lurking around in the dark... I drove all the girls home in my rental car then ran from the droppoff back to my hotel... fun to visit but more for the country around it...</div></div></div></div></div></div>BriGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06648362476389070293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-758108138961493321.post-40807714750491504982007-11-21T03:59:00.001-08:002007-11-22T05:21:55.990-08:00AdelaideI stayed 2 nights in Adelaide... I don't know if it is because I was out on a beautiful island full of exotic animals, basking in the ocean & sunlight the day before or what, but I just wasn't into it the first night... I went straight to bed.<br /><br />The next day, however was a different story ;0) I walked around the town taking in the small, dustry frontier town scenery... with lots of big ol' victorian buildings to break it up... and found my way to the royal botanical gardens - here I discovered they had a planting of the Wollemi Pine ( a tree only discovered a few years ago in the blue mountains and thought to be extinct from the time of the dinsosaurs... pretty cool). I also also checked out the rainforest exhibit, which is one of the coolest (and hottest, humid places I've ever been) - this pic was taken from the biggest rose garden I've ever seen ;0) <div><div><div><div> </div><div><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0V_PAeE2GI/AAAAAAAAANk/PAWp1WL8zEA/s1600-h/IMG_1160.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135650845886830690" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0V_PAeE2GI/AAAAAAAAANk/PAWp1WL8zEA/s320/IMG_1160.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0V_ZweE2JI/AAAAAAAAAN8/ohWlgHXuoOo/s1600-h/IMG_1151.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135651030570424466" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0V_ZweE2JI/AAAAAAAAAN8/ohWlgHXuoOo/s320/IMG_1151.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div>I also stopped off at the National Wine Gallery and learned about the differnt varieties of grapes, then did a small wine tasting with some backpakers from Israel and Tokyo... it was fun. Of course by this point my appetite was up... so I had a nice oyster lunch...</div><div> </div><div><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0V_TAeE2HI/AAAAAAAAANs/p4cVSi-k9OQ/s1600-h/IMG_1162.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135650914606307442" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0V_TAeE2HI/AAAAAAAAANs/p4cVSi-k9OQ/s320/IMG_1162.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div>Eventually, I made my way to the South Australia museum and after having some coffee in a cafe surrounded by massive whale skeletons... had just enough time to check out the exhibit on Abiriginols and their way of life.. it was great exhibit (lots of video documentary from the turn of the century) - not one word of all the horrible things that happened to them with colonisation which I found a little odd. This is a pic of a human skull that the aborignals used to use as a way to drink water... damn)....</div><div> </div><div> <a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0V_WgeE2II/AAAAAAAAAN0/HRUrMxJ3_aM/s1600-h/IMG_1167.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135650974735849602" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0V_WgeE2II/AAAAAAAAAN0/HRUrMxJ3_aM/s320/IMG_1167.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div>I had a nap and then I went out to a big dance and had fun until 7 or so in the morning... it was great! Some of the 'shows" they put on even shocked me a bit... ;0)</div></div></div></div>BriGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06648362476389070293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-758108138961493321.post-81399085671337094752007-11-21T03:52:00.000-08:002007-11-22T05:37:47.085-08:00The Ghan<a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0WCyAeE2KI/AAAAAAAAAOE/B5pG1OwA8o4/s1600-h/IMG_1169.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135654745717135522" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0WCyAeE2KI/AAAAAAAAAOE/B5pG1OwA8o4/s320/IMG_1169.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div> </div><div>After 2 hours of sleep (:0) I took the Ghan Train from Adelaide up to Alice Springs (in the very center of Australia - and the very center of the outback). It's called the Ghan in recognition of the Afhanistan guys who came over on their camels and helped chart the early tracks through the center of Australia... It was different from the Indian Pacifc in that when I went to sleep looking at flat red desert puncuated by arid trees and sagebrush looking bushes, that's exactly what I woke up to... </div><div> </div><div><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0WC7QeE2MI/AAAAAAAAAOU/myofZ0fvH2g/s1600-h/IMG_1205.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135654904630925506" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0WC7QeE2MI/AAAAAAAAAOU/myofZ0fvH2g/s320/IMG_1205.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div>but let me tell you, it was a great sight to watch go by out the windows. The only thing that wasn't as good was the lack of animal life... didnt' see see any kangaroos or emus this time (I was really looking for dingos anyway ;0). But the red sand and dried up salt lakes were great to see.</div><div> </div><div>I made some buddies from Ireland and we looked for animals together (we also all had the same guide book which was funny):</div><div> </div><div><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0WC_QeE2NI/AAAAAAAAAOc/E4OIfF0XiAA/s1600-h/IMG_1211.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135654973350402258" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0WC_QeE2NI/AAAAAAAAAOc/E4OIfF0XiAA/s320/IMG_1211.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div>One of them saw a kangaroo early in the moring, but the only thing I saw were these "camel melons" growing in clumps by the tracks... they look very succulant (and therefore very out of place in the outback) but I learned later that they were brought over in the saddles of the Ghan camel guys and taste REALLY bad.. so bad that no animal in australia will touch them.. at least that keeps them from spreading...</div><div> </div><div><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0WC2QeE2LI/AAAAAAAAAOM/2jKxP8lVzQE/s1600-h/IMG_1193.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135654818731579570" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0WC2QeE2LI/AAAAAAAAAOM/2jKxP8lVzQE/s320/IMG_1193.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div>I was also able to see lots of the Spinifex grass (which grows in round clumps and is essentially made of silicon... that means glass). This stuff was very hard on the early exploreres and their horses... I tried touching it and was instantly stabbed by it with a sliver of glass... ouch that stuff is nasty...</div><div> </div><div><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0WDRweE2RI/AAAAAAAAAO8/BuR9-QBp_UM/s1600-h/IMG_1226.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135655291177982226" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0WDRweE2RI/AAAAAAAAAO8/BuR9-QBp_UM/s320/IMG_1226.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div>I think the coolest thing on the trip were all of the dust devils we saw....</div><div> </div><div><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0WDMgeE2QI/AAAAAAAAAO0/n90US2bBJ9M/s1600-h/IMG_1225.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135655200983668994" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0WDMgeE2QI/AAAAAAAAAO0/n90US2bBJ9M/s320/IMG_1225.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div>And the world's oldest river (the course has remained unchanged for millions of years.. you can see why it really hasn't changed much from this pic ;0)</div><div> </div><div><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0WDJQeE2PI/AAAAAAAAAOs/s-L8COQjhD8/s1600-h/IMG_1217.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135655145149094130" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/R0WDJQeE2PI/AAAAAAAAAOs/s-L8COQjhD8/s320/IMG_1217.jpg" border="0" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>BriGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06648362476389070293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-758108138961493321.post-86097808368490487512007-11-16T16:54:00.000-08:002007-11-16T18:08:11.307-08:00Indian Pacific to KI & Adelaide<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133619030003079010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rz5HTweE12I/AAAAAAAAALk/4MB-rpqi-qI/s320/IMG_1001.jpg" border="0" />I've been in numerous taxis, on a train, on numerous bus rides, on a ferry and driven all in the last 3 days... phew... it was worth it though - I've seen so many great things!<br /><br />I started my journey from Sydney to Kangaroo Island on the Indian Pacific railways. I purposefully took the train so I'd see the country and boy did I. The trip started out through the beautiful Blue Mountains and then wound down into verdant green hills, broken up with farmhouses, sheep & cows... I sat and talked with a Dutch couple (who are going around the world looking for shipwrecks) and watched out the windows for Kangaroos (we saw lots! - couldn't get any good pics though).<br /><br /><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rz5GkweE10I/AAAAAAAAALU/mxxpJYqzOd8/s1600-h/IMG_0978.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133618222549227330" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rz5GkweE10I/AAAAAAAAALU/mxxpJYqzOd8/s320/IMG_0978.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I went to sleep that night and when I woke up I was in the brilliant red desert of the Outback - it was great! To be honest, my first thought was that if Scotty transported me there I wouldn't be able to tell if I was in OZ or in Wyoming - until, that is, you spot kangaroo, emu, wedge-tailed eagles (which have a huge wingspan, can't really tell in the pic) and flocks of brillant white cokatoos with bright red bellies instead of the normal antelope ;0)<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rz5HyQeE15I/AAAAAAAAAL8/0aWSXb8wwg4/s1600-h/IMG_1008.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133619553989089170" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rz5HyQeE15I/AAAAAAAAAL8/0aWSXb8wwg4/s320/IMG_1008.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rz5HtAeE14I/AAAAAAAAAL0/px9e-Yaeo_g/s1600-h/IMG_1006.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133619463794775938" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rz5HtAeE14I/AAAAAAAAAL0/px9e-Yaeo_g/s320/IMG_1006.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rz5HngeE13I/AAAAAAAAALs/Vb-AVRCsTiE/s1600-h/IMG_1003.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133619369305495410" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rz5HngeE13I/AAAAAAAAALs/Vb-AVRCsTiE/s320/IMG_1003.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We stopped off that morning in an old mining town called Broken Hill and I had time for a quick 1 hour tour - it was what you'd expect from a small frontier town (touristy now of course). We also toured the Royal Flying Doctors headquarters for the area - they actually fly doctors out to people all over outback and its a free service... don't tell Hillary.<br /><br /><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rz5GxAeE11I/AAAAAAAAALc/7rbm_oLNWoQ/s1600-h/IMG_0995.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133618433002624850" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rz5GxAeE11I/AAAAAAAAALc/7rbm_oLNWoQ/s320/IMG_0995.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><div>This all kept me very enteratained until I pulled into the Adelaide train station and jumped on a bus to get me down to Kangaroo Island.<br /><br />I got there just in time for sunset. I made freinds with the car rental guy and we sat and had a beer watching it - he gave me some great pointers on where to go (early) the next morning - then (in exchange for a ride to the airport in the morning) he took me on a nocturnal tour of the area looking for penguins, possums and lots of wallabies (he sidelights as a tour guide) - it was fantastic ;0)<br /><br />My first port of call the next day was Seal Bay - the tour guide took us right down onto the beach among them! They actually aren't seals, but Australian Sealions (this is because they have 4 feet, unlike seals which only have 2 and 2 flippers). It was great to watch and learn about them - the little pups were very fun to watch. There was an awful lot of fighting going on between the "teenage boys" in the group though and they have BIG teeth ;0)</div><div></div><div><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rz5H9AeE17I/AAAAAAAAAMM/KU0bU3iRIEo/s1600-h/IMG_1039.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133619738672682930" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rz5H9AeE17I/AAAAAAAAAMM/KU0bU3iRIEo/s320/IMG_1039.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rz5H3weE16I/AAAAAAAAAME/KV5TPqH9V80/s1600-h/IMG_1032.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133619648478369698" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rz5H3weE16I/AAAAAAAAAME/KV5TPqH9V80/s320/IMG_1032.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><div>After the seals I had lunch (a great fish sandwich recommended by my friend) and went to a secluded beach to eat it with a huge beer. The water was the clearest blue (azure I think ;0) I've ever seen and it was warm enough for nice long swims... although I have to admit I never went in past my knees and dunked down (way too many stories at this point about sharks and crocadiles on deserted beaches) I kept my eyes on the water at all times ;0) [at least Sealy the Dead Seal wasn't around this time] - there were also some really neat rock formation @ one end of the beach with some cool looking birds hanging out on them.</div><div></div><div><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rz5IQAeE1-I/AAAAAAAAAMk/SlJoxIJc17I/s1600-h/IMG_1062.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133620065090197474" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rz5IQAeE1-I/AAAAAAAAAMk/SlJoxIJc17I/s320/IMG_1062.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><div>I stopped off @ Litte Sahara and played in the huge sand dunes and a Koala Sanctuary - this Guano scared the hell out of me when I was walking around looking at things like the termite mound...</div><div></div><div><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rz5IIgeE19I/AAAAAAAAAMc/U0MwNSoOKyQ/s1600-h/IMG_1047.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133619936241178578" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rz5IIgeE19I/AAAAAAAAAMc/U0MwNSoOKyQ/s320/IMG_1047.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rz5IDAeE18I/AAAAAAAAAMU/wABQu1ApU0A/s1600-h/IMG_1046.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133619841751898050" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rz5IDAeE18I/AAAAAAAAAMU/wABQu1ApU0A/s320/IMG_1046.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rz5IZAeE1_I/AAAAAAAAAMs/9uy5U_07TLA/s1600-h/IMG_1076.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133620219709020146" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rz5IZAeE1_I/AAAAAAAAAMs/9uy5U_07TLA/s320/IMG_1076.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rz5I7weE2EI/AAAAAAAAANU/Al7tUTsjL-Y/s1600-h/IMG_1131.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133620816709474370" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rz5I7weE2EI/AAAAAAAAANU/Al7tUTsjL-Y/s320/IMG_1131.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rz5IhweE2AI/AAAAAAAAAM0/FQGCdUu2AGI/s1600-h/IMG_1083.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133620370032875522" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rz5IhweE2AI/AAAAAAAAAM0/FQGCdUu2AGI/s320/IMG_1083.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div></div></div><div>Then I headed down the coast & saw Admiral's Arch, which is fantastic enough on it's own, but just happens to also have a colony of Australian Fur Seals that call it home! They were fun to watch, but and I spent a little too much time there (I didn't get to the platypus ponds I meant to stop by on my way back) - see if you can spot the seals in the pic... there were LOTS more of them on the other side of the arch.</div><div></div><div><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rz5IoweE2BI/AAAAAAAAAM8/GOkfYdNFHA0/s1600-h/IMG_1097.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133620490291959826" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rz5IoweE2BI/AAAAAAAAAM8/GOkfYdNFHA0/s320/IMG_1097.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><div>Just around the bend are the Remarkable Rocks - these are huge boulders left over on top of a magma bubble. Really neat to walk around in... </div><div></div><div><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rz5IxAeE2CI/AAAAAAAAANE/UAWeG_lu_dM/s1600-h/IMG_1113.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133620632025880610" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rz5IxAeE2CI/AAAAAAAAANE/UAWeG_lu_dM/s320/IMG_1113.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rz5I2AeE2DI/AAAAAAAAANM/6BpA-_CApqU/s1600-h/IMG_1123.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133620717925226546" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rz5I2AeE2DI/AAAAAAAAANM/6BpA-_CApqU/s320/IMG_1123.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><div>It was a long drive back and then (after a quick beer with my friend) a ferry ride back and a longer bus ride to Adelaide (I was glad to get here - I was so tired that I went straight to bed - on a FRIDAY night!!!). I did see some dolphins playing in the ferry's wake though...<br /></div></div><br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rz5JBQeE2FI/AAAAAAAAANc/I6L3BuXZGe0/s1600-h/IMG_1135.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133620911198754898" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rz5JBQeE2FI/AAAAAAAAANc/I6L3BuXZGe0/s320/IMG_1135.jpg" border="0" /></a>BriGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06648362476389070293noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-758108138961493321.post-49668629298413226122007-11-13T01:09:00.000-08:002007-11-13T02:31:42.774-08:00Sydney (The End of a Great Visit)Sydney WOW, what a great city.... its lots of fun and full of friendly Aussies... has a very NYC feeling to it (It's super multi-cultural, open 24-7 and fast paced). I'm glad I stayed in Melbourne first and relaxed a bit before heading here - I was ready for it though - its really a beautiful harbour city and the clubs are GREAT ;0)<br /><br /><br />Even better, the sun finally came out on Saturday so I was able to really enjoy it. I took a ferry up to Manly beach on Sat. and watched the waves roll in with a freind - he took me to a place that night that only serves chocolate... I had one of the best chocolate lava cakes (or chocoate souffles as they're called here) I've ever had. I stayed until the sun set wandering down at the beach hunting for tidal beasties - I'd about had my fill of crabs, spiders and strange squirting things on the rocks when out of nowhere a bunch on Fairy Penguins came strolling up out of the water to their rooks.... it was SO great to finally see them out in the wild! (I couldn't take a pic as the flash in bad for their eyes, but they are damn cute ;0)<br /><br /><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rzl25Zd6SLI/AAAAAAAAAJk/tyjeWVED9T4/s1600-h/IMG_0894.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132263978826352818" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rzl25Zd6SLI/AAAAAAAAAJk/tyjeWVED9T4/s320/IMG_0894.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Not that everything on the beach was cute - I saw these bizzare and disgusting jelly doughnut looking anemones and I think this might be a funnel web spider (only the MOST deadly one in the world... yeah)<br /><br /><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rzl2v5d6SJI/AAAAAAAAAJU/lGY9WVMkDnc/s1600-h/IMG_0898.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132263815617595538" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rzl2v5d6SJI/AAAAAAAAAJU/lGY9WVMkDnc/s320/IMG_0898.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rzl20pd6SKI/AAAAAAAAAJc/68aYZeydGAM/s1600-h/IMG_0897.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132263897221974178" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rzl20pd6SKI/AAAAAAAAAJc/68aYZeydGAM/s320/IMG_0897.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>I also got some nice views of the city from the ferry on the way back and watched some people on racing sailboats... they got so close to the boat I was sure they were going to hit it, great fun to watch.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rzl3GZd6SNI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/Crj5cfYlMBw/s1600-h/IMG_0885.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132264202164652242" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rzl3GZd6SNI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/Crj5cfYlMBw/s320/IMG_0885.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rzl2oZd6SII/AAAAAAAAAJM/8btjcfE2yTs/s1600-h/IMG_0916.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132263686768576642" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rzl2oZd6SII/AAAAAAAAAJM/8btjcfE2yTs/s320/IMG_0916.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div><div><div> </div><div>I also finally made it out to THE city beach (Bondi) and watched the surfers for a while, it looked very fun (you can see all the surfers in the 2nd pic).</div></div></div></div></div></div><br /><p><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rzl3y5d6SWI/AAAAAAAAAK8/bHYNeNT0wL4/s1600-h/IMG_0855.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132264966668831074" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rzl3y5d6SWI/AAAAAAAAAK8/bHYNeNT0wL4/s320/IMG_0855.jpg" border="0" /></a> </p><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rzl3u5d6SVI/AAAAAAAAAK0/fSVV43cAWbo/s1600-h/IMG_0858.jpg"></a><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rzl3m5d6STI/AAAAAAAAAKk/k_5tgeOl8T0/s1600-h/IMG_0859.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132264760510400818" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rzl3m5d6STI/AAAAAAAAAKk/k_5tgeOl8T0/s320/IMG_0859.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rzl3q5d6SUI/AAAAAAAAAKs/5Ki9yM6mu5g/s1600-h/IMG_0858.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132264829229877570" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rzl3q5d6SUI/AAAAAAAAAKs/5Ki9yM6mu5g/s320/IMG_0858.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><p>It so happened that "sculptures by the sea" was happening that day... it was a bunch of artists showing there stuff right on the seacliff walls... very dramatic (the mow-hawk look is very "in" here):</p><div><div><div><div><div><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rzl3dZd6SRI/AAAAAAAAAKU/cl-yGKdbUGM/s1600-h/IMG_0861.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132264597301643538" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rzl3dZd6SRI/AAAAAAAAAKU/cl-yGKdbUGM/s320/IMG_0861.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rzl3ZJd6SQI/AAAAAAAAAKM/TKm7dQTAYoQ/s1600-h/IMG_0867.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132264524287199490" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rzl3ZJd6SQI/AAAAAAAAAKM/TKm7dQTAYoQ/s320/IMG_0867.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rzl3Qpd6SPI/AAAAAAAAAKE/PnuNXOpMfUU/s1600-h/IMG_0869.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132264378258311410" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rzl3Qpd6SPI/AAAAAAAAAKE/PnuNXOpMfUU/s320/IMG_0869.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rzl3LJd6SOI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/Yvt_7UPciNQ/s1600-h/IMG_0872.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132264283769030882" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rzl3LJd6SOI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/Yvt_7UPciNQ/s320/IMG_0872.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I went back to Bondi yesterday (another 80+ day) with a freind and he introduced me to Aussie beach delicicies - Lychee Martinis and Sydney Rock Oysters... yum. I also went for my 1st swim, which was warm and wavy (and devoid of all the Blue Bottle Jellyfish I'd seen the first time I went there - one of them got me that day when I was walking down the beach... ouch).<br /><br /></div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rzl2kJd6SHI/AAAAAAAAAJE/x9P0LAQTKk0/s1600-h/IMG_0924.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132263613754132594" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rzl2kJd6SHI/AAAAAAAAAJE/x9P0LAQTKk0/s320/IMG_0924.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>I wasn't all bad in the rain though... I went to the aquarium (one of the best I've been to - reminded me a lot of the one in San Fran that Uncle Curtis and Aunt Terri took me to), especially the underwater tunnel with a huge gray nurse shark looming overhead (this revived my fear in sharks nicely [not to mention the story my friend told me about his surfer buddy who was eaten by Hammerhead Sharks in his home town not far from Cairns])... ahh well - there are worse places to end it all I guess. </div><div> </div><div><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rzl3-pd6SYI/AAAAAAAAALM/ne5BabKy4I4/s1600-h/IMG_0823.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132265168532294018" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rzl3-pd6SYI/AAAAAAAAALM/ne5BabKy4I4/s320/IMG_0823.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div>I also went to see "Let it Be" @ the Sydney Opera House! It was a great show, good song/ singers and I got to hear some Beatles music I'd never heard before. This is the "wing" I was in, the accoustics were amazing...<br /></div><div><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rzl33Jd6SXI/AAAAAAAAALE/QVTPO_ra5rE/s1600-h/IMG_0854.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132265039683275122" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rzl33Jd6SXI/AAAAAAAAALE/QVTPO_ra5rE/s320/IMG_0854.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />For my last day in Sydney I took a bus tour out to the Blue Mountains (so named because the oil from they eucalyptus trees gets fried by the sun and makes a bluish haze over everything)... they're beautiful mountains with a huge canyon in them (which, along with angry aboriginals, wasn't a pleasant discovery for the early settlers (convicts). There are some great rock features there called the 3 sisters (which aboriginal tales say were the 3 daughters of a witch doctor who had to turn them to stone to protect them from a monster - which devoured him before he had the chance to turn them back to flesh...) The best part is you get to take a VERY steep tram ride straight down the mountain and walk around the bottom (and play Tarzan in the vines) - after taking a cable ride over the valley floor - with glass bottoms... there's NOTHING below you for a long way down ;0)</div><div> </div><div><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rzl145d6SDI/AAAAAAAAAIk/H8ckJsLLFzA/s1600-h/IMG_0949.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132262870724790322" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rzl145d6SDI/AAAAAAAAAIk/H8ckJsLLFzA/s320/IMG_0949.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rzl1zpd6SCI/AAAAAAAAAIc/w6YBmLU2WlY/s1600-h/IMG_0958.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132262780530477090" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rzl1zpd6SCI/AAAAAAAAAIc/w6YBmLU2WlY/s320/IMG_0958.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rzl1pJd6SBI/AAAAAAAAAIU/KayBsqH9D3k/s1600-h/IMG_0967.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132262600141850642" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rzl1pJd6SBI/AAAAAAAAAIU/KayBsqH9D3k/s320/IMG_0967.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rzl1epd6SAI/AAAAAAAAAIM/2_2bYI_Vl1M/s1600-h/IMG_0969.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132262419753224194" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rzl1epd6SAI/AAAAAAAAAIM/2_2bYI_Vl1M/s320/IMG_0969.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div>On the way there we stopped off @ a wildlife park and I was able to finally "cuddle" a Koala - they're cute but my friend Andy was right - they smell like stinky eucalyptus... the snake was a little too cuddle for my taste ;0)<br /></div></div><div><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rzl2UJd6SGI/AAAAAAAAAI8/xJYRxSfWQVw/s1600-h/IMG_0935.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132263338876225634" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rzl2UJd6SGI/AAAAAAAAAI8/xJYRxSfWQVw/s320/IMG_0935.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rzl2NJd6SFI/AAAAAAAAAI0/Y-u8-m5tbtw/s1600-h/IMG_0937.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132263218617141330" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Rzl2NJd6SFI/AAAAAAAAAI0/Y-u8-m5tbtw/s320/IMG_0937.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It was a great way to end my time here - its been fun and I met some great people... I am looking forward to my train trip out to Adelaide through the outback tomorrow though...</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>BriGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06648362476389070293noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-758108138961493321.post-54612645917539995482007-11-07T00:19:00.001-08:002007-11-07T00:28:49.052-08:00SydneyMelbourne & environs were great - but was very excited to move on to Sydney... and rightly so - what a beautiful city. Got out the first night for some drinks with the local crowd - which (of course) turned into a much later night than I expected - the fact that it was a Tuesday night is a great indication of how fun it's going to be here ;0)<br /><br />I walked around the next day and walked across the Harbor Bridge to get some shots of the Opera House.... I'll wait for a sunnier day and do pics from the more scenic side... it really is neat to see such an iconic piece of work:<br /><br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/RzF1Pl5cHoI/AAAAAAAAAH8/Ap_rNnIJB40/s1600-h/IMG_0769.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130010361283223170" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/RzF1Pl5cHoI/AAAAAAAAAH8/Ap_rNnIJB40/s320/IMG_0769.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/RzF1M15cHnI/AAAAAAAAAH0/Q3mdVNWP_OU/s1600-h/IMG_0757.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130010314038582898" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/RzF1M15cHnI/AAAAAAAAAH0/Q3mdVNWP_OU/s320/IMG_0757.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />If you hunt around this pic you'll see what passes for pigeons in Sydney - they're fun to watch & beautiful but really make a racket.<br /><br /><br /> <a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/RzF1Sl5cHpI/AAAAAAAAAIE/MnUCJAcY_0g/s1600-h/IMG_0778.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130010412822830738" style="WIDTH: 257px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" height="214" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/RzF1Sl5cHpI/AAAAAAAAAIE/MnUCJAcY_0g/s320/IMG_0778.jpg" width="277" border="0" /></a><br /><br />On the way back I stopped off at a 150+ year old observatory - they had to completely re-map the sky for the ships to navigate once they got down under... it was quite a job... took them 50+ years...<br /><br /><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/RzF1KF5cHmI/AAAAAAAAAHs/SQiyNruYlaA/s1600-h/IMG_0755.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130010266793942626" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/RzF1KF5cHmI/AAAAAAAAAHs/SQiyNruYlaA/s320/IMG_0755.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I'm hoping for more sun tomorrow....BriGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06648362476389070293noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-758108138961493321.post-2102417884290157152007-11-06T23:56:00.000-08:002007-11-07T00:19:25.466-08:00Great Ocean Road<a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/RzFymF5cHlI/AAAAAAAAAHk/VzaKklAT-mU/s1600-h/IMG_0701.jpg">After spending a few days back in Melbourne relaxing I hit the road with a friend I made (it was really nice having a local guide ;0) and drove down to the Great Ocean Road... it was a spectacular, windy drive.</a><br /><br />And of the way I spotted these in the trees right next to the road:<br /><br /><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/RzFyiV5cHkI/AAAAAAAAAHc/zxwBGHgyMzg/s1600-h/IMG_0700.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130007384870886978" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/RzFyiV5cHkI/AAAAAAAAAHc/zxwBGHgyMzg/s320/IMG_0700.jpg" border="0" /></a> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130007449295396434" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/RzFymF5cHlI/AAAAAAAAAHk/VzaKklAT-mU/s320/IMG_0701.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br />That was very cool - there was a whole tribe of them - about 8 or 9 in all!<br /><br />There was some "not so cute" animal life along the way as well - this guys was about as big as the top of your finger (and my friend said they tend to jump when they attack)!<br /><br /><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/RzFx3F5cHfI/AAAAAAAAAG0/_gH-QQCUjaw/s1600-h/IMG_0726.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130006641841544690" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/RzFx3F5cHfI/AAAAAAAAAG0/_gH-QQCUjaw/s320/IMG_0726.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Continued on down - stopping off for the occasional fish & chips and ice cream... great sites along the way:<br /><br /><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/RzFxa15cHZI/AAAAAAAAAGE/sWtL2vgMYJA/s1600-h/IMG_0715.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130006156510240146" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 278px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 198px" height="232" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/RzFxa15cHZI/AAAAAAAAAGE/sWtL2vgMYJA/s320/IMG_0715.jpg" width="322" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/RzFxhF5cHaI/AAAAAAAAAGM/FQzkRZ3PkDE/s1600-h/IMG_0711.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130006263884422562" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 209px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 145px" height="122" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/RzFxhF5cHaI/AAAAAAAAAGM/FQzkRZ3PkDE/s320/IMG_0711.jpg" width="146" border="0" /></a><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130006341193833906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 210px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 180px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="179" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/RzFxll5cHbI/AAAAAAAAAGU/KcJx0UOSd6k/s320/IMG_0718.jpg" width="196" border="0" />Until I got to the highlight - the Twelve Apostles (there are only 6 or so now - they keep falling down) - they were worth the drive:</p><p><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/RzFxq15cHcI/AAAAAAAAAGc/97hNluv5fK0/s1600-h/IMG_0719.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130006431388147138" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/RzFxq15cHcI/AAAAAAAAAGc/97hNluv5fK0/s320/IMG_0719.jpg" border="0" /></a> </p><p>After dinner I drove back down to catch them @ sunset - and got an extra suprise - if you look very hard at the 2nd pic you'll notice little dots... those are a huge flock(?) of penguins, they came in and scrambled up the beach - it was great...</p><p><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/RzFxw15cHdI/AAAAAAAAAGk/SuaKbA9kXYs/s1600-h/IMG_0733.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130006534467362258" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/RzFxw15cHdI/AAAAAAAAAGk/SuaKbA9kXYs/s320/IMG_0733.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/RzFxz15cHeI/AAAAAAAAAGs/5igQ3XgeEYw/s1600-h/IMG_0735.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130006586006969826" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/RzFxz15cHeI/AAAAAAAAAGs/5igQ3XgeEYw/s320/IMG_0735.jpg" border="0" /></a></p>BriGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06648362476389070293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-758108138961493321.post-52759479858576115822007-11-02T19:01:00.000-07:002007-11-02T20:37:12.935-07:00Tasmania - wow!I flew into Hobart - a really cute fishing village (more tourist now I think) right on the ocean which is famous for it's outdoor Salamanca market (it wasn't óut' that day though)<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128432437543312386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/RyvaIV5cHAI/AAAAAAAAAC8/XJkz34yhsWM/s320/delete+these+pics_bri+005.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><br />After buying some provisions at the índoor' Salamanca market & having some good fish & chips (made with a blue eye Travalla fish that Taz is famous for), I headed down to Fortesque Bay for my first night camping... the van was great - although it was a little top heavy, which made driving in the wind a little challenging (learning to drive in Wyoming helped out ;0)<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128433481220365330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/RyvbFF5cHBI/AAAAAAAAADE/JZi9DStvqjg/s320/delete+these+pics_bri+007.jpg" border="0" />I didn't get there until sunset, which it turned out was a good time to try to find penguins... the ranger told me about a rookery that was just down the beach... he gave me a special red film to put over my flashight to keep from blinding the birds and I was off. Let me tell you, it was dark... there was no moon and it was a stormy night so no stars... this also meant the ocean was pretty crazy, big waves crashing all around, which was a little unnerving at night.<br /><br /><br />When I got to where the penguins should be I camped out on some rocks - I was pretty sure I was in the right place becasue it stank... I was expecting that from what Bella had told me... well I was getting pretty relaxed at one point (even lying on a rock) when a huge wave came in... just about got me and sent me scampering up the hill as fast as I could (in the dark) - as I jumped over the rock behind me I came face to face with this site:<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128435010228722722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/RyvceF5cHCI/AAAAAAAAADM/WDXsjcFfMAo/s320/delete+these+pics_bri+006.jpg" border="0" />It was Sealy the Dead Seal... guess that wasn't penguin poo I was smelling... well if any penguins were coming i'm sure my yell scared them off. Needless to say - I was pretty unsettled at this point. There were some dark woods behind me and dead things around me and huge waves coming in... I got myself under control and waited another 20 minutes but when it started raining I decided I'd had enough and headed back... ah well there will be more penguins...<br /><br />The next day I hiked up to the Freycinet cliffs, it was a spectacular walk and a great view from the top.<br /><br /><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Ryvdf15cHEI/AAAAAAAAADc/04ROMJ_Wc68/s1600-h/delete+these+pics_bri+009.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128436139805121602" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Ryvdf15cHEI/AAAAAAAAADc/04ROMJ_Wc68/s320/delete+these+pics_bri+009.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/RyvdbF5cHDI/AAAAAAAAADU/VJ_sHVtjbdY/s1600-h/delete+these+pics_bri+008.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128436058200742962" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/RyvdbF5cHDI/AAAAAAAAADU/VJ_sHVtjbdY/s320/delete+these+pics_bri+008.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />It was spectaular & VERY high up from the water on a sheer cliff face... so very cool. At one point I looks back into the bay and say a whale jump!!! I stayed for another 1/2 hour with some fellow hikers looking but we never saw it again...<br /><br />It was hard to leave that place, but I moved on and drove down to Port Arthur in the afternoon. It was a fairly nortorious penal colony for 50 years or so... pretty harsh conditions there - so lots of history to learn about. It was able to turn some convicts around with skills and release them (most didn't go back to Europe though - in fact 1/3 of all Tazzie's had relatives there).<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128436792640150626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/RyveF15cHGI/AAAAAAAAADs/FzYdDRMPm0Q/s320/delete+these+pics_bri+011.jpg" border="0" /><br />That night I headed up to Freycinet National Park - I got there after the sun went down so was able to see lots of Wallabies standing by the road - sort of like seeign deer and night, you the brakes and hold your breath, lukily I didn't hit any... lots of dead one on the road though... the next morning I was able to see what they really looked like in the parking lot for the hike site... they are really cute - these come up to your waist or so:<br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/RyvekF5cHLI/AAAAAAAAAEU/ZsuotNuVlQg/s1600-h/delete+these+pics_bri+017.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128437312331193522" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/RyvekF5cHLI/AAAAAAAAAEU/ZsuotNuVlQg/s320/delete+these+pics_bri+017.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />The only living thing you really see while you're driving around are echidnas... which are very fun to watch - they're slow and bumbly - don't worry about cars or anything much with all those spines... so you do see some of them squishes once in a while as well...<br /><br /><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Ryve6V5cHPI/AAAAAAAAAE0/35Bh5fJgVAU/s1600-h/delete+these+pics_bri+021.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128437694583282930" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Ryve6V5cHPI/AAAAAAAAAE0/35Bh5fJgVAU/s320/delete+these+pics_bri+021.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It was nice hike up a mountian and then down into Wineglass bay (descibed as one of the top beaches in the world -and I could see why):<br /><br /><div> <a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/RyvefF5cHKI/AAAAAAAAAEM/axD0RxJIFTw/s1600-h/delete+these+pics_bri+016.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128437226431847586" style="CURSOR: hand" height="169" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/RyvefF5cHKI/AAAAAAAAAEM/axD0RxJIFTw/s320/delete+these+pics_bri+016.jpg" width="215" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128436951553940610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/RyvePF5cHII/AAAAAAAAAD8/tZU5Crzskv0/s320/delete+these+pics_bri+013.jpg" border="0" /><br />On the topic of hiking - Tazzie's are really proud of their weather and how frequently it changes... every one of them made some kind of comment to me about 'the Taz hiking outfit' which is a weatherproof coat on top shorts on the bottome and layers to add/remove... it was true - I would always start off bundled up (freezing) and end up in as little as possible (sweating)... then it would suddenly shift back... it was pretty crazy.. these are typical "'beore/ after' pics:<a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/RyveXV5cHJI/AAAAAAAAAEE/QHFQiBQ5q70/s1600-h/delete+these+pics_bri+014.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128436861359627378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/RyveJ15cHHI/AAAAAAAAAD0/huvw6BIg-_w/s320/delete+these+pics_bri+012.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/RyveXV5cHJI/AAAAAAAAAEE/QHFQiBQ5q70/s1600-h/delete+these+pics_bri+014.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128437093287861394" style="WIDTH: 261px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 167px" height="176" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/RyveXV5cHJI/AAAAAAAAAEE/QHFQiBQ5q70/s320/delete+these+pics_bri+014.jpg" width="212" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br />The beach was so cool - the biggest, most perfectly formed waves I've ever seen... all the way up and down a huge beach... didn't do too much wading though - besides the water being freezing cold there were these blue bottles floating in it which I was told packed quite a wallop if you got stung by them... <div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128436728215641170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/RyveCF5cHFI/AAAAAAAAADk/SgMhDxn4RoA/s320/delete+these+pics_bri+010.jpg" border="0" /></div></div></div><br />I did get wet a few times though and collected some beautiful shells (including one that shoudn't have touched as it looked like it might be a Cone Shell - which if the little animal is alive inside can deliver a poison toxic enough to kill you - I was pretty sure it was hollow before I picked it up... its a great shell, what can I say).<br /><br />Then it happened! I spotten some dolphins very close to the beach - that was cool enough, but then they did something I would never expect... they rode the waves in like body surfers! I was really neat to watch - they did it all the way up and down the beach as long as I was there... at first I thought they were having fun... but I think they must have been using the waves to hunt somehow - I"m attaching a movie, don't know how well it'll work:<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwvPWjMOmr7XurcnNgKoDqxygaxEVsQG3VxvhB67ltk0PzDcFakwxXRys5GmELvgxBUwW3CjDTDn9kC21Q_fg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />The next day I drove up the coast (which was great with the big waves) to St. Helen's and then across a rainforest (which huge ferns and very windy mountain roads)... the views were really great- everything there is so amazingly green:<br /><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Ryvepl5cHMI/AAAAAAAAAEc/QM4rVrGSoNg/s1600-h/delete+these+pics_bri+018.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128437406820474050" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Ryvepl5cHMI/AAAAAAAAAEc/QM4rVrGSoNg/s320/delete+these+pics_bri+018.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I stayed in Mole Creek campground and the next day I explored a wetcave with a river running through it - it also had glowworms in the ceiling! They turned off the lights and it looked like green stars covering the to of the cave... very cool. When I cam out of the cave I felt like was coming out into jungles a dinosaur might have seen:<br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/RyvfAF5cHQI/AAAAAAAAAE8/erS0x4S2zBU/s1600-h/delete+these+pics_bri+022.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128437793367530754" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/RyvfAF5cHQI/AAAAAAAAAE8/erS0x4S2zBU/s320/delete+these+pics_bri+022.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I also went into a animal reserve and was able to see soem Koala Bears and my first tasmanian Devils - which are so cute you can't understand why they're called devils - until two of them come together that is - they ALWAYS make these aggresive screams at each other and bear their teeth - usually ending up in one chasing the other away... super aggresive - they were really fun to watch, I stayed for 2 hours watching them...<br /><br /><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Ryve0V5cHOI/AAAAAAAAAEs/yNLCKkUn3kc/s1600-h/delete+these+pics_bri+020.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128437591504067810" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Ryve0V5cHOI/AAAAAAAAAEs/yNLCKkUn3kc/s320/delete+these+pics_bri+020.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/RyvevV5cHNI/AAAAAAAAAEk/rYDtCdn6-c4/s1600-h/delete+these+pics_bri+019.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128437505604721874" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/RyvevV5cHNI/AAAAAAAAAEk/rYDtCdn6-c4/s320/delete+these+pics_bri+019.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I drove on that night to Cradle Mountian - as i was taking a shower (the first I'd had in 3 days so one of the best ever ;0) this guy came trapsing into the shower with me - I about dropped the shampoo on my toe... it was fun to watch afterwards though (its a quoll). I seen on the night before with her baby clinging to her back in the trees, but it was dark and hard to get a pic...<br /><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/RyvfEl5cHRI/AAAAAAAAAFE/oZSeoz0wXuk/s1600-h/delete+these+pics_bri+023.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128437870676942098" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/RyvfEl5cHRI/AAAAAAAAAFE/oZSeoz0wXuk/s320/delete+these+pics_bri+023.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I started my hike the next morning with the intention of making it to the lookout for Cradle Mountian (how picturesque is that):<br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/RyvfLF5cHSI/AAAAAAAAAFM/k6oFTEb4eow/s1600-h/delete+these+pics_bri+024.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128437982346091810" style="CURSOR: hand" height="143" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/RyvfLF5cHSI/AAAAAAAAAFM/k6oFTEb4eow/s320/delete+these+pics_bri+024.jpg" width="215" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Then I saw snow in the distance so decided I could at least hike to that.... I played a little...<br /><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/RyvfP15cHTI/AAAAAAAAAFU/gR3PodMYOs4/s1600-h/delete+these+pics_bri+025.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128438063950470450" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/RyvfP15cHTI/AAAAAAAAAFU/gR3PodMYOs4/s320/delete+these+pics_bri+025.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />At this point I realized that it was only 2-3 hours or so more hiking to get to the summing so off I went - I'm SO glad I did, it was spectacular on top! The end bit was pretty challening, jumping from boulder to boulder and pulling yoruself up foot by foot - at the to I hunkered down between to huge columns of stone and had some lunch...<br /><br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/RyvfaF5cHVI/AAAAAAAAAFk/sQC1es8nw-g/s1600-h/delete+these+pics_bri+028.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128438240044129618" style="CURSOR: hand" height="171" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/RyvfaF5cHVI/AAAAAAAAAFk/sQC1es8nw-g/s320/delete+these+pics_bri+028.jpg" width="211" border="0" /></a><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/RyvfUV5cHUI/AAAAAAAAAFc/xgG-BcXbSj4/s1600-h/delete+these+pics_bri+027.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128438141259881794" style="WIDTH: 297px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 190px" height="150" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/RyvfUV5cHUI/AAAAAAAAAFc/xgG-BcXbSj4/s320/delete+these+pics_bri+027.jpg" width="181" border="0" /></a><br /><br />By the time I made it down (and did a hike around a lake) the sun was starting to go down, which meant it was the perfect time to see more kangaroos/ wallabies... the one thing I hadn't seen at this point was a wombat, so I was on the lookout. I heard some rustling in the bushes and waited for a few minutes and sure enough this one eventually came down to the trail (its about the size of a dog).<br /><br /><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Ryvfel5cHWI/AAAAAAAAAFs/kbxHF5rMyt4/s1600-h/delete+these+pics_bri+029.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128438317353540962" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/Ryvfel5cHWI/AAAAAAAAAFs/kbxHF5rMyt4/s320/delete+these+pics_bri+029.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><p>They are pretty much blind - so it didn't suprise me too much when it walked right up to my shoes! This in sniffed back and forth for a few seconds (never looking up to see what it had run into) and took a nibble on one of my shoelaces... well that enough so I finally made a movement back. That startled it pretty bad - but the crazy thing is it came at the shoe for more - I guess my shower helped... I backed up the trail and it kept coming after me - I was laughing the whole time ;0) It finaly got the idea and went back off into the bush..</p><p>The next day was a long (6 hour) but very scenic drive back to Hobart to catch my flight up to Melbourne.</p><p>Tasmania is, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful outdoor experiences of my life - it could only have been better with some of you there with me...<br /></p><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/RyveCF5cHFI/AAAAAAAAADk/SgMhDxn4RoA/s1600-h/delete+these+pics_bri+010.jpg"></a> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>BriGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06648362476389070293noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-758108138961493321.post-11671311299005724542007-10-27T17:27:00.001-07:002007-11-02T19:01:27.092-07:00I'm in Australia!!!!Hey Everyone! I was so psyched to finally get here - can't tell you how nice it was to get off that plane (could have been worse though, I was able to flirt a little and get a window seat [she had to call it in as a favour] - I don't know why but older African American women find me cute for some reason;0)...<br /><br /><div><div></div><div>Melbourne is a beautiful city - lots of things to see and do as you walk around... unfortunately the first day it 'pissed down rain' (forgive my Aussie) but it's gotten much better. The waterfront down by the river is great and it's really a well desgined city, lots of very funky architecture. </div><div><br /></div><div>I ran into my first bit of wildlife on the street...</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128422773866896306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/RyvRV15cG7I/AAAAAAAAACU/G5jIqE1kvJc/s320/delete+these+pics_bri+001.jpg" border="0" />The next day I walked around the northern part of town and ended up @ the Royal Melbourne Zoo to get an idea of what kind of animals to keep my eyes open for.... what a great zoo!<br /><div></div><div>Then I wandered down to St. Kilda and ended up walking down to the beach looking for penguins, didn't see any but had fun wading around in the water... it's not exactly warm but it'll do. It was a great day. Had my first bit of seafood for lunch...</div><br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/RyvR9F5cG8I/AAAAAAAAACc/fqlu3B7vbg4/s1600-h/delete+these+pics_bri+002.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128423448176761794" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 185px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 131px" height="140" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/RyvR9F5cG8I/AAAAAAAAACc/fqlu3B7vbg4/s320/delete+these+pics_bri+002.jpg" width="213" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/RyvSHl5cG-I/AAAAAAAAACs/jiO6FdXoZuw/s1600-h/delete+these+pics_bri+004.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128423628565388258" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 141px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 104px" height="154" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/RyvSHl5cG-I/AAAAAAAAACs/jiO6FdXoZuw/s320/delete+these+pics_bri+004.jpg" width="207" border="0" /></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128424006522510322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 219px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 158px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="182" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_riBCSQVJ4Ho/RyvSdl5cG_I/AAAAAAAAAC0/aaeQ29bNkeg/s320/delete+these+pics_bri+003.jpg" width="248" border="0" /><br />Of course I've been getting out at night as well - the clubs here are fantastic, we need to bring these DJ's over to Boston (not to mention the clubs themselves, better than anything we have...) - been having lots of fun. Almost too much I guess, I woke up this morning all relaxed and ready to head to the airport only to be told that it was daylight savings time and I was an hour behind! Woops :0) </div><div> </div><div></div><div>I made it though - am waiting at the airport for my flight down to Tasmania, can't wait to see the mountains!</div><div> </div><div>By the way - if you want to see where I am (if I've gotten to an internet cafe to update it) click on the link under the map ;0)</div>BriGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06648362476389070293noreply@blogger.com1