Leeds, United Kingdom

Tue, 12 Nov 2013 22:36:26 +0000

Maleny, Australia

Wed, 06 Nov 2013 01:00:05 +1000

Cairns, Australia

Wed, 06 Nov 2013 00:46:36 +1000

Sydney, Australia

Tue, 29 Oct 2013 16:10:49 +1100

See that bridge behind me...I'll be on top of it tomorrow!

Posh!

Brisbane, Australia

Tue, 29 Oct 2013 10:48:07 +1000

Byron Bay, Australia

Sun, 27 Oct 2013 16:31:06 +1100

Surfing!

Proserpine, Australia

Wed, 23 Oct 2013 14:37:07 +1000

Cairns, Australia

Sun, 20 Oct 2013 21:24:29 +1000

Free food!

Darwin, Australia

Sat, 19 Oct 2013 19:20:03 +0930

Uluru National Park, Australia

Fri, 11 Oct 2013 11:00:00 +0930

Day 1 of the Rock, Rail and Kakadu Tour. It was an early start with the coach coming for us at 5.45. The hostel put on breakfast for free but I'd rather go hungry. There was cheap white bread, to be toasted, and a range of spreads. The spreads were left with lids off, flies all over and, worse than anything, there were crumbs in the butter! Good job I'd planned ahead and bought something from the supermarket the previous day. So the bus took us off to start our outback adventure. It was a long drive, along the Stuart highway. The guide gave us bits of information along the way, some of which I remember but I guess the story of Mr Stuart wasn't that memorable. We saw a dingo and some wild kangaroos en route. And a wedge tail eagle which was pretty impressive. We stopped at one point to collect firewood for later. This was just the beginning of us having to do half the work on this guided tour! During this task, we discovered a mulga ant hole and also discovered tiny spiky plant things that grip to you and dig in! You can't even pick them off because then they stick in your hand! Ouch. So the journey continued. The bus was nicely air conditioned and comfortable. The view out the window was just an expanse of open land, half red sandy desert, half green vegetation. Very dry. The tour guide was called Jason, an Australian who worked freelance to fund his travelling. He told us the story of how camels came to Australia, how there were millions of wild camels now, so many that they had to have a cull every so often, which was undertaken by a sniper in a helicopter. Not that the camels are dangerous but they breed at such a rate that they'll soon take over the world!!' Ok not quite but they drink watering holes dry, which then affect other wildlife. We stopped at a shop in Curtain Springs, the only place in the area to sell alcohol to take away. Therefore it was expensive. Despite the recommendation for the best port ever, named 'f***ing good port', I declined to buy anything. Onwards, and the next story was about Lasseters gold. Look it up, but basically Lasseter was convinced there was gold out in the outback, spent his life looking for it. He never found it but his bones were eventually discovered. The bones that will have been picked clean by all the hungry wildlife. We got to Yulara campsite not long after. Otherwise known as Ayers Rock resort. Everything here as two names, the aboriginal name and the explorer name. Or to put it in old fashioned terms, the blackfella name and the whitefella name. We had some lunch and checked out where we were going to be sleeping. Then it was time to move onto the rock itself. First stop was at the cultural centre, which explain the meaning behind the Uluru. Uluru and the land was given back to the aborigines in 1985 after much campaigning. This was conditional though, on the understanding that the aborigines would lease it back to the government for 99 years, to be kept as a National Park. Then the aborigine and rangers worked together, to explain the history and culture, to ensure tourists could still visit and learn but would respect the rock too. The rock is a sacred place to the Aborgines. It all comes down to their beliefs, culture, religion, etc and there are lots of mythical stories. For example, there are many holes in the rock which to the aborigines are evidence of their god, saying that each new hole is created by him. I prefer the scientific explanation of erosion but whatever makes you happy! The aborigines don't like people climbing the rock but there was already a climb in place and it was a condition of the lease that this remains. The climb is very steep with a metal chain/rail leading up and that's it. 36 people have died doing it, from falling, dehydration, heart attacks etc. it was closed when we went due to high winds. Word is that it's going to be closed for good within the next five years. So we had an option do a base walk, all the way around Uluru. Everyone wanted to do it so we set off, with Jason telling us it would take two hours. I don't know what speed he walks at (as he conveniently didn't join us!) but two hours is ambitious! Ok so we started off quite leisurely and took photos etc but half way I was knackered. Not so much walking but it was the temperature. It was about 37 degrees! After the walk it was planned that we'd drive to a viewing area to watch the sunset. As we plodded on, the sun was getting lower and lower, and every time we turned a corner, the end didn't seem any closer. We ended up doing the last half at a very brisk walk, not even looking up at the rock so it wasn't very enjoyable and pretty pointless. Bad planning on Jason's part I think, sending us on a walk during the hot part of the day, and with a deadline out of our control!! Also I later found out that the walk was 10k and the guidebook said to allow 3-5 hours and to finish it by 11am! Anyway we made it to the viewing area before sunset. A glass of champagne cheered me up a bit and I got some good photos. I had thought we were seeing the sun go down behind Uluru but the sunset was behind us, lighting up the rock instead. Nevertheless, it looked amazing and iconic. We went back to camp then for dinner. Unfortunately I was feeling the effects of undertaking a hurried walk in the hot sun, and felt dizzy and nauseous. A bit of dehydration and too much sun. I had to lay down on the bus and miss out most of the evening. I forced myself up later on in order to prepare my bed (a swag). Louise had kindly saved me some food for dinner and made me a burrito containing minced koala bear. Tasty! Oh wait, I've just been told that it was only beef. Oh well. Bed was in the form of the aforementioned swag. This is a thick roll, with a sleeping bag inside that cocoons you. We laid them on the sand and slept under the stars, around a campfire. The swags were comfy and warm, and it was a clear night with the stars shining bright. I was exhausted and was straight off to sleep way before the fire burnt out.

Alice Springs, Australia

Thu, 10 Oct 2013 11:00:00 +0930

We stayed at Annie's Place hostel in Alice Springs. Seems a typical cheap style hostel, all colourful, with a general air of youth and scruffiness. It had a bicycle theme, with old bikes and wheels hanging everywhere as decoration. We stayed in a six bed dorm. One other occupant was an Austrian girl called Sandra. It turned out she was on our tour starting the next day. Sandra had just finished training to be a primary school teacher and was 22. And couldn't believe I was ten years older than her. Ha! The hostel had a pool so we hung out around that for a while as we were exhausted from the flight. Later we took a walk into town to get a few supplies. It all looked a bit rough, sort of a hick type town, houses that had front yards surrounded by ominous metal fencing, and containing general rubbish, but specifically piles of car tyres. The day ended early when exhaustion overcame us.

Sydney, Australia

Thu, 10 Oct 2013 07:43:54 +1100

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Wed, 09 Oct 2013 08:00:00 +0400

This was just a quick 2hr refuelling stop. The airport is massive and full of posh shops, gold jewellery everywhere. Had a quick wander around but that's all there was time for before resuming the journey on the freshly refuelled airbus. I was in the same seat , 64k, a window seat. Louise was somewhere else. So I had what sounded like a German mother and daughter next to me. It was such a long flight. Felt a little claustrophobic a few hours in. Nowhere to go, no way to escape, stuck in a flying metal box for hours! Watched a good film though - 'Now you see me'. Slept quite a bit too.

Heathrow

Tue, 08 Oct 2013 19:28:52 +0100

Airey Ball's OZ Adventure

Leeds, United Kingdom

Maleny, Australia

Cairns, Australia

Sydney, Australia

Brisbane, Australia

Byron Bay, Australia

Proserpine, Australia

Cairns, Australia

Darwin, Australia

Uluru National Park, Australia

Alice Springs, Australia

Sydney, Australia

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Heathrow