Sydney

The overnight bus to Sydney was a nightmare. About 20mins out, the bus broke down. After waiting for someone to come and try and fix it, which they couldn't, we were taken back to station to get another bus. In total, delayed by 3 hrs before we set out at all on the new bus. Trip took 20.5 hours in total, really tired after it, and didn't get much sleep at all.

Staying in King's Cross and it is as colourful as people say! Hostel we're in is away from the bars/clubs and everything else going on there though so we are able to sleep at nite! On christmas eve, did some xmas shopping, bought even more t-shirts, don't know how the rucksack is going to manage with all the clothes i've bought lately.
A lot colder in Sydney than it was in Brisbane, not getting good weather here last while, but meant to improve later in week.

Onto christmas day, first we went to mass in the cathedral near Hyde Park, all the Irish were out in force wearing their county jerseys, I even saw one from Leitrim! Cooked ourselves a steak dinner then in hostel afterwards(no turkey this year!) and went out to Bondi beach in afternoon for a while, was packed but, really cold there, not the weather for swimming. I say cold, but would have been warmer than jumping in at Garryvoe i'd say!
Didn't do much else for day. Most of the pubs are closed in city for day, so we're leaving the drink celebrations to tonite.

Today we went down to harbour hoping to see the start of the Sydney Hobart yacht race, but no sign of the yachts at all! Hunderd's of people waiting all along the quay's around sides of Opera House, but race start took place further out Sydney harbour, we could only see the boats in distance(should have looked up website I think!) Did a tour of opera house this afternoon which was pretty good, though not much on while we're here that'd be worth seeing! Gotta goto Coles now and get something for the dinner.

Happy christmas+ enjoy the celebrations at home
Kevin

P.S. Congratulations to Donal + Elaine on their engagement!?!

Brisbane

and a few more beers is what we've had. stayed in yha in brisbane, done up recently so mice enough room and air conditioning! Brisbane just another city really, nice park, the botanical gardens, where we've spent most of the time during the day, have read two books since we got here down there. best part of week was going to the "wet n' wild" water-park, about 1hr from Brisbane, really really good, been ages since we'd been to one, there was one ride we didn't go on, called the skateboard, but did all the rest.

were thinking about going to the australia zoo, but gave it a skip, thought it mite be a bit too similar to signapore zoo and nite safari we went to there.
tonite we're getting an overnite bus direct to Sydney, about 17.5hrs, going to be some trip i'd say, hopefully we can get some sleep and they show a decent film on bus this time, last one was crap.

christmas not too far away now, strange to be away for it, planning to head to bondi beach for the day like everyone else i'd say. bye for now, kevin.

Hervey Bay, Fraser Island

Since last post did two-day tour to Fraser Island, pretty good tour for price and what we did there. driving along beach in 4WD was cool, reminded me of Paris-Dakar rally with all sand-dunes (or sand-blows as they're called here). went on a guided tour option, rather than venturing out ourselves, glad we did to be honest,as guide was very good and was funny seeing other 4WD drivers getting stuck in sand! even had a double-bed in a permanent camp-site, no swags this time.

didn't do much else, hervey bay is a strange place, like some sort of retirement village in places, shopping in woolworths is lethal there, careful that u don't get run down by a pensioner driving a trolley! hostel we were staying in was cool, was like staying in an apartment, 3 double-rooms sharing a big kitchen and tv area, with massive sofas as well.

In brisbane now, doesn't look like there's much to do around, ah feck it, its xmas next week, think we should start winding down and have a few more beers.

kevin

Cairns, Mission Beach, Townsville and now Airlie Beach

Arrived in Airlie Beach this afternoon on greyhound! Its about 4hrs south of Townsville, heading on a sailing trip around Whitsundays in morning (2days, 1nite, sleeping on the boat!), have stocked up on sun-cream but I think its inevitable that I'm gonna get burnt.

See that I haven't put up a post since Alice Springs, too busy or sleeping to do it really ;) Cairns was class, after staying in Alice springs it was like staying in a major capital city somewhere! hostel was cool and organised our snorkeling trip and a day-trip to Kuranda with them.

Snorkeling was good, was tempted to do an introductory dive as well but bottled it. We were out a bit further than green island so at outer edge of barrier reef, I thought the snorkeling in Thailand was good, but this was way better, got a bbq lunch and went to two different reef locations for those snorkeling/diving. Got sun-burnt,on back of my legs mainly, hard to avoid given that we were in/out of water all the time. Got a bit too close to barrier reef though and whacked my left knee off some coral, nicely bruised and cut for last few days.

Day after this took a day-trip to Kuranda high-up in rainforrest, disappointed with place really, nothing to it apart from endless tourist shops, don't believe everything in lonely planet. Trip there/back was best part though, on way up took a cable car up over top of rain-forrest, pretty cool seeing birds and stuff below us. On way back then, took a train going back down the valleys.

From Cairns, it was onto Mission Beach, well we got off there and were staying ~10km from it, in the rain-forest itself. Accommodation was these tiny little tree-huts dotted along forrest. Really at one with nature for a couple of days, would have been nice and relaxing apart from all the insects around. Worst were the flying beetles, which came out flying around about 7pm each nite, impossible to get off if they landed on ya, had to literally try and pick them off, not nice! Other insects were giant moths(talking > 6inches length here) and stick-insects, those buggers can move a bit too. On way back to hut each nite, family of frogs greeted us each nite. Bit of a show-down each nite, they froze when torch lite was shown on them, so walking by them u'd hope they wouldn't jump up on ya! So was a lovely adventure really, was a break from travelling for a while alrite like.

Then onto Townsville where we spent for 1 nite on sat. Pretty cool place and would have liked to have stayed longer if we weren't caught for time on way down to Sydney. Oh yeah, so much for cooking for ourselves, hostels in both Cairns and Townsville had deals with some pubs where u get a free dinner. The free dinner was real basic, but u cud "upgrade" it to something decent for $6 which was cool.

So yeah, thats it to date, sailing for next few days, have an overnite trip to Hervey Bay to look forward to after that, then a trip to Fraser Island, after that Brisbane for ~ 5 nites, and onto sydney. Impossible to find a stop-over between Brisbane and Sydney for days we want at moment, mite have to go direct, which will be some trip on the bus. So glad that we booked somewhere for Sydney though as its impossible to find somewhere everyone is saying. No worries, Kevin

Kakadu National Park, Ayres Rock (Uluru), Olgas and Kings Canyon

Being a busy bee last week or so taking in all above stuff! Kakadu trip was cool, involving crocodile spotting in billabongs, looking at aboriginal rock art, driving off-road in a 4WD for hunderd's of km's, hiking through park to waterfalls, and swimming in plunge-pools, spear throwing, learning about Aborignial culture. Weather was so hot and humid it was unreal, couldn't really get much sleep at nite as it was so warm inside the tent. Didn't want to sleep outside in swag, as too many insects and cane-frogs around for my liking! Worst part of trip were flies, there everywhere we went, except at nite-time, trying to have breakfast and lunch and flies going everywhere, wake first thing in morning, and u could hear them buzzing around the tent, should have invested in a fly-net! Group we were with though were sound out, met another irish couple on it who were dead on and are also heafing to Sydney for new years.

Got back from Ayre's Rock trip yesterday evening, but have to say best part of trip was the walk we did through King's Canyon! Early starts each day of trip, 4am, so as to start walks before sun got really hot. Has being in 40's last few days in Ayre's Rock, measuring 42C in the shade fri and sat. Saw the sun set and rise over ayre's rock and olgas(also more impressive than Ayre's rock!). Trip was exhausting due to early starts and long days and walks in heat. Were sleeping outside in swags both nites under stars (no tents this time), praying that the mozzies wouldn't get us! Never drank as much water in last few days. Finishing up in Alice Springs today and onto Cairns tonite. Some rest is called for me thinks, later, kevin.

Darwin

So, we arrived in Darwin thurs morn and were knocking down the doors of hostel at 5:50am to let us in, or at least take our bags off us!Lucky enough, someone came around the corner at 6am with a key!and also there was a bed free for us in hostel, someone didn't show up the nite before. slept till about 2pm, wrecked after flight, only left us sleep for ~1hr on plane, though they did give us free tiger beer.

Darwin a nice relaxing, very easy going place and fitting in nicely here, booked a trip to Kakadu Park for tomorrow morn, 3 days, 2 nites in park, meant to be really good, also sorted for trip to Alice Springs and Ayres Rock next week, all booked through our friendly hostel staff here at Chilli's Backpackers!

Noticing change in spending money though straight away here, compared to Asia, things priced very similar to home. Beer is good though, mite stay away from the bitters i'd say. Weather, well, really warm, thats all I can say, only difference between here and Bangkok, is that no clouds here, at all, well ok there is some cloud, maybe 2 clouds. Trying to upload some photos at moment, so hopefully can show them soon. Later, Kevin

Singapore

Singapore was really good, so easy to get around the city on their metro,even with backpacks! Really clean city too, stayed in Chinatown, a hell of an improvement on previous chinatown's we've seen in Thailand/Malaysia. Down by the Singapore river area is nice, went on a boat trip up the river, seeing the sights.

We were told by so many people to head to the zoo, and yesterday we spent most of the day there as well as going on the night safari. The night safari is brilliant, going around on a tram in darkness so close to the animals. Some parts u can walk yourself as well. Only problem we had with last few days was weather, thunder/lightning storms every-day. Not as warm though as we thought it'd be. Today we took it easy and just went to a science museum here, thiough we left half way through as we were wrecked from the zoo yesterday!
Tonight we fly to Darwin around 11pm, going to be a long nite as I'm not sure if we can check-in to hostel when we get there, might have to stay in airport.

Later, Kevin.

Kuala Lumpar and Melaka

Since last post, travelled to Kuala Lumpar and stayed 3 nites there. impressive city with monorail/metro/skyscrapers. lots of traffic again. 1st sight u see coming in is the tv tower and almost adjacent to it the petronas towers. hotel was grand(ya get what u pay for) staying in chinatown. Sight-seeing trip included the KL tower, petronas towers, national museum, an aquarium and a butterfly/insect park!! View from KL tower was class, able to go around and have 360deg view of city. thought eiffel tower view was better, more to see in Paris.

Big disappointment with petronas towers, weren't able to go up to viewing area, all tickets for day we wanted to go were sold out by 9am(something lonely planet didn't tell us, get there early to avoid disappointment!)And it was our last day, still ticket girl didn't give in to that nor saying "we came all way from Ireland to see this specially" ;)

Biggest thing over last few days though were Sinead's results coming out on Friday, and brilliant news, she's PASSED, no more accounting exams, fully qualified now, she'll be on more money than me pretty soon i'd say! Had a good nite friday celebrating!

Travelled to Melaka yesterday (~2hrs south of Kuala Lumpar). Spending 2 nites here, then leaving for Singapore in morning. Nearly done with asia now, seems to be flying by, heading to Darwin on 21st. Melaka is a nice enough town, similar to Penang a good mix of a lot of asian people. Not upto much here, taking it easy for a few days, before we've to brave another capital city! Later, Kevin

Penang

mini-bus trip to penang yesterday was some experience, driver trying to make up for being slow in getting out of Krabi, drove like an f-ing maniac, was driving in middle of road for most of it, dodging bikes and cars on both-sides of the road! hotel, though its same rate as one we stayed in bangkok, is much nicer and decent, have a proper toilet and shower, there's actually a shower basin!and trurning the tap for hot water, actual warm water came out, 11th floors up imagine!

Penang is nice but not much to it, will do us for a couple of nites anyway. Food, room-rates similar to thailand, but beer more expensive. heading to kuala lumpar in morning (via another bus) for 3 nites. were meant to be heading up to Cameron highlands but plans changed as bus strike at moment with company that runs it. prob goin to stop off in Melaka now instead before Singapore.

Woke up with another bite on my leg this morning, and I thought the ants mite be gone, and got bitten this afternoon by something on my arm. christ i'm wrecked and its only 5pm, time for a nap before heading out I think. later, kevin

Back from Ko Lanta

Weather was better than forecasted and way hotter, so much so that I got sun burnt, had a nice relaxing time in Ko Lanta, hotel had its own beach (though a bit rocky), good bar and nice restaurant as well as pool. Went on a day trip to a small island 40km south of ko lanta called ko rok. something out of a postcard, really white sand, and in the middle of a coral reef, trip also spent snorkelling with the fish-ies on the reef, pretty cool and can't wait to go again on the great barrier reef!

Back in Krabi now, just off ferry, and getting bus ~6.30am tomorrow to Penang in Malaysia, bye bye thailand!

Bangkok -> Krabi

Since last update, got back to Bangkok in one piece and got some sleep on train this time. Spent two more nites there, took in National Museum, golden buddha and vimanmek museum (palace built by Rama V).

Woke up on Monday(5th) with 10 bites on my legs of some kind, think there may have been something in the bed as Sinead had some too(but they liked me more ;). Headed off on early flight out of Bangkok to Krabi with Nok-air (nok is bird in Thai apparently), funny though as pilot was irish.

Krabi is some relief from Bangkok, just a quiet sea-town. No tuk-tuks anymore thank god, instead we have an endless choice of boat-trips being offered our way, at some stage I feel we may have to give in and actually go on one as there's f-all to do here otherwise!

Heading to Ko Lanta for 4 nites tomorrow morning, should be nice, though weather forecast is poor, warm, but very overcast and maybe some rain! Through hotel here, have arranged transport from Krabi to Penang in Malaysia, via some bus of some kind, be interesting to see how that goes, that'll be next Monday (12th).

Money-wise, still can't believe how cheap things are out here, no probs with getting good grub and a few beers at nite without breaking the bank. Thats all for now, later, Kevin

Chaing Mai (trekking + cooking course)

Spent today doing a thai cooking course which was really good, cooked a load of different dishes and got to eat them all as well, stuffed now.Must try some when I get home ;)

3 days before that were spent trekking. Was really good, lots of walking and also had an elephant ride as well as some bamboo rafting. Stayed in forrests overnight high up in mountains in log-cabins. Evening were spent haveing a few beers around a camp-fire. Guide also gave us some of his home-brewed rice whiskey, pretty strong stuff! Walking was tough sometimes because of the uphill bits but also the heat/humidity. We were in a group of nine in total, 2 german couples, 2 dutch girls and a french guy. Really good to be out in the middle of a forrest and away from the motorbikes/taxis! Tomorrow evening, overnight train backj to Bangkok for two more nites, then flying onto Krabi!

Later, Kevin

Ayuthaya -> Chiang Mai

Yesterday, left Bangkok and set-out for Ayuthaya (ancient capital of Thailand). Breaks journey somewhat for trip upto Chiang Mai. City itself is an island, which you've to take a small boat to get to, a bit like the Cork-Cobh car-ferry, but without cars and capacity for about 8 on boat(plus driver's dog).
Rented bikes to go around island for day, visited a load of Wat's, can't really describe them, will have to put up photos for ye to see. Bikes were a good way of seeing city, very flat to go around. Another very humid and warm day, but overcast. Was a welcome trip from Bangkok, much quieter roads and not as many tuk-tuks!

Waited at train station then for overnight train to Chiang Mai, train was an hour late, which we passed the time trying to avoid getting stung by swarms of mosquitos!
Train journey was a bit of an experience, took 12.5hours, and trying to get some sort of sleep was tough! Made it though, and got to guest-house which is nice as it has a shower, though not designed for people taller than 6ft! Some rest needed today, heading off on a 3-day Trek in morning. Kevin

Bangkok

Warm,humid,overcast.pretty crazy tring to cross any kinda road here, just have to go for it!did the touristy thing today, headed to Grand Palace and Golden Buddha. Things are pretty cheap here though, paid 100baht for a green curry last nite for dinner! Booked train for heading North to Chiang Mai tomorrow, train is overnight, and we're going to travel first to Ayuthaya first in morning, and spend day there. Will prob come back down to Bangkok for a couple of more nights ~2nd nov.
Time to get something to eat...

Rail Map South East Asia

http://www.seat61.com/Thailand.htm#Singapore

The Plan ...

... is as follows:

1. Cork -> London -> Bangkok (overland to Singapore)
2. Singapore -> Darwin (overland to Alice Springs to Ayres Rock)
3. Alice Springs -> Cairns (overland to Sydney, in Sydney over xmas/new year)
4. Sydney -> ChristChurch (overland to Auckland)
5. Auckland -> Hawaii
6. Hawaii -> San Francisco
7. San Francisco -> Home.

flying out 24/10/07, back 27/02/08!