Mon - February 28, 2005

Monday, February 28, 2005 (Sydney - Australia)


Preparing our early departure for the airport tomorrow morning. The Sydney bus network is NOT its finest attraction. Reflecting on how much Australia has cost us. Our names in brightly coloured animals. Dive, dive dive!

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Sun - February 27, 2005

Sunday, February 27, 2005 (Sydney - Australia)


Another geographical milestone reached. Working out the myriad metropolis public transport options. A stroll through a tranquil garden. Taking a pair or scissors to our portraits. Theatrical Sydney. A trip around the harbour and a hands on approach to the opera house roof. Finally picking up a decent souvenir from Australia.

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Sat - February 26, 2005

Saturday, February 26, 2005 (Sydney - Australia)


A tier-eyed farewell is very hard but even though it was quick, it didn't diminish the pain. A brief recap on some of the events of the past few weeks. Another day and another airport but it does take long to fall back into budget traveller mode. A steak dinner is well-deserved. The seedy part of town but it's home nevertheless.

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Mon - February 7, 2005

Monday, February 7, 2005 (Lorne - Australia)


Getting ready to make those calls. The sheer rugged beauty of the Great Ocean Road. Walking through the forest canopy. The ever present problem of where to stay tonight. Behold - koalas in the wild. Revealing all to Sandy's side of the family - mine tomorrow.

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Sun - February 6, 2005

Sunday, February 6, 2005 (Warrnambool - Australia)


Give me that bloody anti-itch cream! Keeping track of our travel things. Those oh so very helpful information offices. The fly all this way South at this time of year - but are out to lunch at the moment! A powernap in an expensive hostel.

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Sat - February 5, 2005

Saturday, February 5, 2005 (Mt. Gambier - Australia)


Playing host to dozens of sand flea bites. The echidna beats the caves. Saturday night steak special before retiring to a comfortable motel room.

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Fri - February 4, 2005

Friday, February 4, 2005 (Adelaide [Willunga] - Australia)


Who's keeping track of the time anyway? If only petrol was drinkable. It takes a lot more than a few old'ish buildings to get our blood pumping. The shameless commercial exploitation of any interesting animal. What are we doing here? A simple meal is not so simple here but at least we sucked a few bucks from the slots.

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Thu - February 3, 2005

Thursday, February 3, 2005 (Adelaide [Willunga] - Australia)


Wish we could have stayed here longer. The chipped windscreen. Problems today would include: check-in; security checks; something to eat; a broken plane and nowhere to stay. Other than that, everything works our perfectly.

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Wed - February 2, 2005

Wednesday, February 2, 2005 (Perth [Fremantle] - Australia)


Star gazing into the brightly lit heavens. Who's hormones are playing tricks on them? A butcher and baker but no candlestick maker - or anything else for that matter. Paying less attention to the speed limits. It's confirmed - Sandy is human. The perfect town but still can't find that book!

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Tue - February 1, 2005

Tuesday, February 1, 2005 (Perth - Australia)


The hassle (and cost) of making changes to our flight itinerary. You want me to spend a couple of nights in Columbia? Mrs. Jeckle suddenly becomes Mrs. Hyde and I nearly end up thumping her as we are turned out into the streets! Now fugitives on the run, we head for the open desert to let things cool down. It's just a big wavy rock, really.

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Mon - January 31, 2005

Monday, January 31, 2005 (Perth - Australia)



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Sat - January 29, 2005

Saturday, January 29, 2005 (Perth - Australia)


Resting - whilst we still can. No savings - no custom! Time for an upmarket hostel. New software for the laptop. Our favourite little treat.

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Sun - January 30, 2005

Sunday, January 30, 2005 (Perth - Australia)


The luxury of a sunny summer's day in Perth's King's Park - bliss. The chicken, the whole chicken and nothing but the chicken - for dinner. And still they try to guess what the big secret is.

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Fri - January 28, 2005

Friday, January 28, 2005 (Perth - Australia)


All our prenatal worries put to rest at the nearby hospital. Our first child's first photo. More blood pumping. Confiding in a nun. Learning all we can about pregnancy.

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Thu - January 27, 2005

Thursday, January 27, 2005 (Perth - Australia - SPECIAL)


The ups and downs of the pregnancy roller-coaster - that is, if Sandy is really pregnant at all. Good doctors and not so good doctors. Just how long can we keep things a secret - particularly from tenacious siblings? A T-bone tops off the day.

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Wed - January 26, 2005

Wednesday, January 26, 2005 (Perth - Australia)


Caged birds roam freely. Going after the goanna. Desert creatures on display. actually, it's us that are in captivity here. Ten minutes in Perth and we're already in trouble with the police. Setting rumours in motion and watching the sky light up.

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Tue - January 25, 2005

Tuesday, January 25, 2005 (Curtain Springs - Australia)


Catching up on events since the journal blackout. How to get free medical care in Australia. Gambling pays off with a very nice meal. The village in the rain forest and being awarded a boomerang. A mysterious upgrade. A different idea of what budget means. The majestic Uluru.

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Mon - January 24, 2005

Monday, January 24, 2005 (Flight from Cairns to Uluru – Australia - SPECIAL)


!!! THIS IS A SPECIAL LOG ENTRY !!!

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Tue - January 18, 2005

Tuesday, January 18, 2005 (Atherton - Australia)


Time to slow down again. The picturesque town that would fit on a postage stamp. Visiting natures wonders and renting cars.

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Mon - January 17, 2005

Monday, January 17, 2005 (Atherton - Australia)


Up into the highlands again and back onto the waterfall trail. The hot spring that wasn't that hot. Narrowly escaping death from the claws of a vicious monster (or not, as the case turned out to be). When the guidebook fails us again. More good fortune at the cash register.

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Sun - January 16, 2005

Sunday, January 16, 2005 (Innisfail - Australia)


Grey skies weren't going to put a damper on our fun at the park. The ingenuity of the aborigine people shines through - and they dance good too. On the waterfall train - until the rainy season started.

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Sat - January 15, 2005

Saturday, January 15, 2005 (Innisfail - Australia)


Do we dilly dally in Tully? Not a Cassowary to be seen. The price has to be right or it's no deal. There's always another place to stay if you look hard enough. Cheerful at the checkout. Marijuana Monopoly.

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Fri - January 14, 2005

Friday, January 14, 2005 (Tully - Australia)



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Thu - January 13, 2005

Thursday, January 13, 2005 (Tully - Australia)


Yet another swift change of plans. Distracted into not taking photos! Armed and dangerous - with maps and brochures. Following the brown signs. If only we were all at one with nature. I never did get that soothing kiss. The quieter of the two. Fruit picking and white water rapid rafting.

Posted at 11:11 PM     Read More  

Wed - January 12, 2005

Wednesday, January 12, 2005 (Townsville - Australia)


Always the last to rise. Value for money and we learned all about Australian wildlife too. Encounters at the Reef HQ and topping off the day with an IMAX experience.

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Tue - January 11, 2005

Tuesday, January 11, 2005 (Townsville - Australia)


Shouldn't we be exhausted or are we just too frugal? How much for a simple breakfast!? Heading back to whence we came. A premium view. Shopping for a birthday present.

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Mon - January 10, 2005

Monday, January 10, 2005 (Airlie Beach - Australia)


Where did all the strength go. Making our way around the Great Barrier Reef. What happens when you panic 25 meters beneath the surface of the water? Teaming marine life of the S. S. Yongala. Conditions exceeded our ability to continue with the diving as we kept running away from the cyclone. Sailing home to calmer waters.

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Fri - January 7, 2005

Friday, January 7, 2005 (Oceania – Great Barrier Reef – Australia)


A new place and a new hostel. The waterfall that didn't and the tour guide that did. The size of an ocean.

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Thu - January 6, 2005

Thursday, January 6, 2005 (Airly Beach - Australia)


What does the middle of nowhere sound like? On the road again with the first stop being 'lost-ville'. Dive package sorted.

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Wed - January 5, 2005

Wednesday, January 5, 2005 (Flight from Melbourne to Townsville - Australia)


Having to learn how to write again after so much downtime with this journal. A bit of a summary of what has happened to us since leaving Thailand. Something about the Ball family members. Our Ozzie adventure fires up with a trip up to Queensland. More family members waiting for us in Townsville.

Posted at 05:10 PM     Read More  


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