The twelve days of travels...(well for me any way)

The beach at surfer's paradise.
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So its the twelth day of my travels so far and I thought it was about time I updated the blog.  So much has happened in this time so im going to try and remember as much as I can.  I should probably start with the flight to Australia, not much to say about it except it was really really long. There was plenty of terbulance to keep me alert though, at one point I woke up thinking I had slept the whole way and we were touching down, only to find out that it was only about three hours into the twenty two hour flight and we were encountering quite severe turbulance.  However, the thing that got my adrenaline pumping more than that was when the airhostess began spaying the plane and the guy next to me told me it was to prevent insects coming onto the plane in Australia!  Thank God the hostess later explained it was just to quarantine the plane.     James came to meet me at the airport which was a huge relief and was very nice to see him.  For the first two nights we stayed at David's (James' uncle) in Mount Colah (suburbs about an hour outside of Sydney), which reminded me alot of the houses in Ramsay Street, very cool! I was lucky enough to arrive on the 31st and have a New Years eve to remember... James' auntie had been offered an office overlooking Darling Harbour for the night and invited us all along.  On the inside the room in which we stayed looked like a regular office with desks etc but My God what an amazing place it must have been to work...the office actually had a balcony with, in true aussie style, a bbq on it and the most fantastic view of the harbour.  So, in unique style, we got a fab view of Harbour fireworks which really were spectacular.  The next day we caught a ferry from Circular Quay to Watsons Bay where we ate at the famous Doyle's fish restuarant which definately lived up to expectations.  Amazing setting on the beach, beautiful food and lovely atmosphere.  So thank you Peter for a lovely meal!! Afterwards James and I went to the Sydney Aquarium where we got to see huge sharks, crocodiles (both of which I only ever want to see on that side of the glass) and dugongs (I didnt know what they were either! But found out they are a type of sea cow.)  The Dugong was quite the joker and burst out of the tank when James was least expecting it and gave him a fright hehe.

View of the Harbour bridge from Circular Quay.
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The next three nights were spent at Paul and Katie's (James' uncle and auntie) in Beecroft (40 mins out of Sydney)  During this time we caught plenty of trains and explored the city more.  A highlight was visiting the museum which had a wildlife photo exhibition with some very striking and touching photographs and a skeleton museum which had reconstructed skeletons of all sorts of animals, dinosaurs and humans.  We could even get on an exercise bike and make a human skeleton cycle which thinking back was pretty creepy but seemed cool at the time.  We also had a short stint on Bondi beach that was long enough for me to realise it is very packed with plenty of posers flexing their muscles.  The biggest highlight of all though was the Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb.  Donning fetching overalls in scorching heat we climbed up through the steel framework of the bridge whilst the tour guide told us plenty of interesting facts about the bridge and the city.  Then at the summit of the bridge, with dry mouths and jelly legs we took in the amazing view of the harbour, the Sydney Opera House and the surrounding city.  Amazing!  Definitely something we'll always remember.    We also spent an entire day at the cricket...those who know me will know this is not exactly my prefered choice of past time but James (in true form) thought otherwise and earlier on in the trip got me all excited when he told me he had bought me a suprise new year's present before presenting me with two tickets to go and watch Australia v South Africa in none other than....cricket!  Knowing I practically hate a sport where the players stop for lunch and tea it was blatently obvious who he had been thinking about when he bought this so called present!  So off to the cricket we went on an absolutely boiling day.  The seats, although according to James were very good, were in direct sunlight for the enitire duration of the game, seven hours!  (we managed six and a half).  Considering this was my first proper exposure to the Australian sun, at points I felt like I was roasting in the pits of hell (dramatic I know lol).   Having said that the Australians definitley know how to enjoy themselves at a cricket game creating a very good atmosphere in the grounds.  I even started paying more interest in the game and gained some sound cricket knowledge.  Id even go as far as saying I enjoyed the game, well I definately hate it a little less any way. James' highlight was definately the attempted streaker who got no further than the barrier before around six police officers dived on him/her.   (James thought it was a woman but we got told it was a man).

Sydney Opera House taken from the ferry to Doyles.
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Tuesday 6th of January:  The day we got the van...we travelled accross Sydney to pick up our camper van and as soon as we saw her we instantly fell in love!  Shes a builders white van which has a bed in the back and a kitchen in the boot and the word "campette" in bold blue lettering written on her side.  As long as she keeps us on the road we think she is truely beautiful.  So that day we said our farewells to James' family who had kindly put us up and hit the road with twelve days to travel  aprox 2,700 km to Cairns.

Doyle's scrummy fish restaurant at Watson Bay
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It was apparant right from the beggining of the journey that we were going to drive through some amazing scenery like rolling hills and forests, over wide rivers, along beatiful coastline with white sand and clear blue sea. Gorgeous views that we will never be able to justify with words or even photographs (cos they always turn out pretty blurred when we're moving)  It was also apparant that we were going to pass some creatively named places like 'Dead mans creek', 'Devil's pulpit forest,'  and a particular favourite, 'Bald Knob's Creek' hehe.

View out of camper van in Byron Bay
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The first night was spent in a campsite at Raymonds Terrace .  The campsite was pretty rural and near a creek.  Sorting out the bed we got eaten alive in a frenzy whilst we were searching for our insecticide, fumagating the van and learning a few lessons about camping in australia...I wasnt too fussed with the spiders in the toilet block either and had to shower with my eyes closed!

The next day we stopped in a town called Taree which reminded me of a set from an American horror movie...except more populated with very friendly people, in fact every australian we've met so far has been very friendly and chatty.  We moved onto Coffs Harbour which is a series of beaches along very pretty coastline, we stayed in another campsite in the town (this time we were practically pros and there were less bugs).  The next morning we lazed on the beach and had a dip in the sea in the lovely hot weather before hitting the road again stopping at a couple of places....Woolgoola, where we bought some fruit and Yamba...where we ate the fruit as cocktail on a beautiful beach, before hitting our destination...Byron Bay..which is one of my favorite places of the trip so far...

Sarah's excellent parking in our beautiful van!
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Staying at the bay was like being transorted back to the sixties and living like hippies...every one was so chilled but the vibe was still electric and we spent the evening sitting on the grassy banks watching the sun go down over the sea, listening to fellow backpackers and campers strum their guitars whilst now and again catching the tune of the live bands in the bars behind us.  As I sat there soaking up the atmosphere I couldnt help but realise how lucky we were to experience this place and this trip...it was truley magical.  The place didnt lose any of its feel the next day and James and I enjoyed our early morning  dip in the clear sea.

Morkel bowling for SA against Australia
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That day we drove to Brisbane...where we spent the night at a beach there before making our way to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctury  which was definately worth the visit.  We got to see crocodiles, a bird of prey show (the eagles were massive), we lay amoungst the kangaroos  and of course there were plenty of koalas...which were soooo cute.  Our favourites were the koalas in the kindergarten because they were a bit more lively and comedy to watch.  We watched a koala presentation which was pretty interesting and later I got to cuddle a koala!  The first koala I tried to cuddle was a very naughty boy!  He smelled very bad indeed, and scratched my shoulder!  Worst thing was when I pointed out to the keeper that he was trying to poo on me and she just shrugged it off!! However...the second koala was a little two year old female called Zap and she was truely the cutest!!  She cwtched right into me and James and I had a photo taken with her. Very cool : )

James racing against death.
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After Brisbane we headed to Bargara, James used to live in the neighbouring town of Bundaburg when he was little and as this concludes my first twelve days of travelling Ill let James take over from here...