Sydney Time Nearly Up

It's almost time to leave Sydney for Singapore.  Since returning from New Zealand most of my time here has been spent walking around the harbour and coast with a couple of guzzling interludes in the Rocks and in Woolwich.  There was a round of golf in North Turramurra where once again I showed my potential for being really bad at the game.

There was the Spit Bridge to Manly walk which is one of the best known in Sydney but there weren't many people on it when I did it.  The walk takes you around the northern shores of the harbour and ends in Manly on the coast.  There are great views all the way, lots of birds and I even saw the long tail of a blue-tongue lizard slip under a rock. 

View back to Sydney on the way to Manly

Once in Manly I refuelled at the 4 Pines where they serve pints of English style beer brewed on the premises along with top tosh (tucker, grub, food).  After that I took the Manly ferry back to Circular Quay with some great views of Sydney lit up in the dark.

The best walk I did was along the beaches from Collaroy to Manly on a superb sunny day.

Curl Curl Beach

Then there was the lorikeet photo sessions in the back garden.

Rainbow Lorikeets

Flying Lorikeet

And yesterdays fantastic walk around Barrenjoey Head near Palm Beach.

Palm Beach from Barrenjoey Head

Big thanks go to Les, Joyce, James and Helen for letting me stay here for a few weeks.

Kaikouri to South New Brighton

The final day of travelling took us from the crayfish capital of New Zealand to South New Brighton which is just outside the city of Christchurch.  This was the most scenic part of the entire journey.  We had a choice between carrying on down the coast or going slightly inland through another range of mountains.  The Rough Guide to New Zealand recommended the latter so that's what we did. 

It was a freezing cold misty morning when we left the Pacific coast town of Kaikouri to venture inland.  During the previous day we saw a lot of aerial photographs of the town which showed that it was nestled between the ocean and mountains but we had seen very little evidence of any snow-capped peaks, due to inclement weather.  As we ventured inland we were suddenly presented with unbelievable glimpses of the aforementioned peaks framed in the haze of a disappearing mist.

Misty Peaks

A lorry driver passed us coming the other way and for some reason he was waving his arms frantically as if to warn us of snow, landslides, icy conditions, killer sheep, rabid gangs of possums?  Who knows, but for a while he unsettled our minds and we came to the conclusion that he probably does that for a laugh to all the motorhome drivers he faces.  Twat!

More mist

This drive and the fantastic views went on for over two hours with no real dangerous driving conditions (or sheep or possums) and proved an ideal way to spend some of the last of the trip. 

View across the estuary to Sumner with shag in foreground

Our journey ended in South New Brighton which is on a spit on the estuary of whichever river runs out of Christchurch in to the sea.  After a 6k walk along the beach we got a bus in to the city to sample its delights.  We bumped in to a Sheffield United fan and a Barnsley fan in one of the pubs.  I had to break the bad news of a defeat to QPR and subsequent loss of manager to the Blades fan.

Picton to Kaikouri

It's election night tonight in Australia, after the rigours of one election in old Blighty this is one election too many for me.  So here is a quick report on the West Coast leg of my trip to New Zealand.

Most of the journey south towards Kaikouri was along the grey or even black beaches along the Pacific coast of New Zealand.  It was a particularly dull day.  When you are taking photographs it becomes more apparent just how dark it is.  The highlight of the day for me was seeing the seal colonies on the rocks, sometimes quite close to the highway so all you had to do was park up and see the big blubbery things lazing around on the rocks.

Blubbery Things

I don't think it was the right time of year to be in Kaikouri but it was a pleasant enough stay there with a walk along the coast and a wholesome organic meal served by a wholesome English wench, sorry, erm waitress.  We had a table of what turned out to be five brothers sitting next to us.  I mentioned that we were two of seven.  One of them said, on the way out, that they were five of nine but four couldn't make it due to international commitments.  I think he was lying and the Broughtons ran out winners by seven to five.

Nelson to Picton

We were promised shite weather again by just about everyone and his wife but the drive along the north coast from Nelson to Picton was littered with sunshine.  The journey reached its peak along the Queen Charlotte Drive where we had breakfast whilst perched above Mahau Sound.  The water was quite murky due to the flooding of the previous grey day.

Mahau Sound from Queen Charlotte Drive

At the motor camp site in Picton we introduced ourselves to Tom the Cat.  Tom was a bit of a poser as you can see by the photograph.  We gave him a saucer of milk which he lapped up after a three minute delay.  We awoke in the morning to find only his collar left on the table outside.  Alien kidnap?  No, Tom was alive and well, strutting around the campsite.  How the collar came off we'll never know. 

Tom the Cat from Picton

Picton will always remain special for the chip shop where we were offered our chips in 'scoop' quantities.  I was being quite conservative and suggested we just go for the two scoops.  But no, Les took one look at the size of the scoop and opted for three scoops.  Three scoops turned out to be enough for about eight people.  It was a big shame that Tom isn't too fond of chips.

Lake Rotohiti to Nelson

Day 4: It pissed it down like you've never seen before, it was as grey as a grey thing that was shaded in grey, it was horrible and wet and even more grey.  And I was driving, so no photographs were taken of this particularly drippy day on the NZ trip.

However, it had a happy ending as the Rough Guide to New Zealand came up trumps, not for the first or last time.  It guided us to the Sprig and Fern in Nelson which had lovely pints brewed by a local company.  They had nice fires going in what was apparently a converted villa in a normal suburban street.  We were informed that there are five Sprig and Ferns in the area.

Nelson is a city so after three of four jars we sought the solace of an Indian restaurant where a fine meal was consumed with plenty left over for doggy bags.

This, if I remember rightly, was the day some sad and lonely road worker shook his head at me in the middle of nowhere.  It was wet and grey, as I may have mentioned, and this bloke was in the middle of a forest on a road having to do the old stop and go sign duty.  He was having a mare with his sign as the wind kept blowing it over.  He held us up for five minutes, looking like the grumpiest man on Earth, before finally turning the sign around to green.  He then moved over to the other side of the road just as I had moved in that direction, so he shook his head at me.  I, being me, wound my window down as I approached him and enquired "Got out of the wrong side of the bed this morning?" to which his reply was so full of rude content that it won't be printed here.

Westport to Lake Rotohiti

The weathermen promised dirty work was afoot but we got up on Day 3 and it was grey but not raining.  We left the west coast of New Zealand and headed back inland through thick timber forests; some standing, some chopped.  In comparison to what we had seen the previous two days this was not spectacular scenery but still quite pleasant.

Lake Rotohiti

Lake Rotohiti is quite special though.  I went for a walk by the lake as it was getting dark.  The woods around the lake are full of bellbirds which make a very pleasant sound.  It was all you could hear around the lake as everything else was quiet, there certainly weren't any people around.

Hanmer Springs to Westport

On the second day Les was driving and after stalling old Ludwig the Campervan on about five occasions we left Hanmer Springs.  It was a significantly cold night in the motorhome in Hanmer Springs, especially as we hadn't discovered little luxuries like the fan heater and the big air conditioner and heater on the ceiling.  Hanmer Springs apparently had hot springs but we never dipped our toe, preferring instead the warm glow of one of the local pubs.  I was pleasantly surprised to be offered my drinks in pint-sizes. 

Les and Stanley head up the pass

It was a hard job getting going in the morning and I was certainly kitted out in hat and scarf for the drive ahead.  The morning was crisp and the scenery spectacular as we headed up Lewis Pass. 

We drove over the mountains until we popped out the other side and ended up camping in Seal Colony near Westport (didn't see in seals).

An icy lake on St James Walkway near Lewis Pass

Kiwi Land

I only have 15 minutes to write this so I will first tell you that the flight in to New Zealand was spectacular with a great view of the Alps.  The first days drive was through some great countryside from Christchurch to Hanmer Springs on the edge of some snow-capped mountains.  The first night was bloody freezing even under umpteen blankets and quilts.  Good stars again though with the milky way viewable. 

Wednesday's drive was through beautiful mountain country until we settled at a camp near Westport.  We had a walk on the beach which is a couple of hundred metres away.  It is a lot warmer here.

The motorhome which I am tempted to call Ludwig (Campervan Beethoven) is really good.  They ended up giving us a six-berth so we have lots of different sleeping options, I'm on that bit above the driving area.

I have been surprised at the birdlife as a lot of the birds are the same as in Britain; blackbirds, starlings, chaffinches and goldfinches as well as the usual house sparrow have all been seen quite regularly.  There are a lot of buzzards of some type in the mountains that I do not recognise though.

Anyway, time is nearly up.  If I can find another two dollars I will try and get some pics on here.

Early Start for NZ

Just been told I have to get on a train at about 4am tomorrow morning.  It's 9.30pm as I write, what ever it says on the blog.  If there is one thing I have to whinge about is the complete lack of lie-ins I have had so far. 

Anyway, flying to Christchurch on the South Island where Les and I pick up our mobile home for the seven days we are in New Zealand.  We have agreed not to try and cover too much so it looks like half an island, probably the top half.  I will be upset if I don't see a penguin or two.

I don't think there will be a PC in the motor home so this could be my last blog for a while.

A Day in Sydney

I decided to have a day out in Sydney today.  It was another corker of a day with no clouds, well, there were some clouds, look at this...

Photo of Sydney City from Woolwich Pier

After catching the ferry from Woolwich I had a gander around the shops near Circular Quay before retiring to the Heritage Cafe, a Belgian beer bar and then the Australian Hotel in the Rocks.  Here are a couple more pics from today.

Sydney Opera House, as if you didn't know.

View from ferry in Circular Quay

We're off to New Zealand tomorrow, early doors, for a week.  Don't expect to hear from me until Wednesday the following week!

More Warrumbungles

New album out?  Helen, Joyce and Les in the Gamilaraay caves.

Wattle, a national flower of Australia.

The Warrumbungles

I have just made it back from a great trip up north to the Warrumbungles.  The Warrumbungles are a range of mountains and hills that was once a huge volcano.  It is about 500 kilometres from Sydney so the drive was a bit of a long one but seeing as it went through the Blue Mountains it wasn't too bad at all.

We, which is I, my brother Les, his wife Joyce and friend Helen, stopped in a one-room cabin with no electricity.  It had a log burning stove, great for cooking porridge and toast in the morning.  Situated in wood, below a craggy tor, Craggibungles was about as wild a place as I have stopped in.  The toilet was outside and everything you put down there was composted below, as are most of the public lavs in the reserve car parks dotted around.  The sky at night was nothing short of astounding, and they have lots of observatories dotted around as it is such a good place to view the stars.

Kookaburras

Down below the cabin in the woods were a plethora of animals including kangaroo, pied currawong, crimson rosella, kookaburra, ravens and up above were huge wedge-tailed eagles with a wing span of two metres.

Pied Currawong

Dead Trees

Me sat in some Gamilaraay (aboriginal) caves

We went on few walks around the Warrumbungles and one or two in the surrounding areas.  This area has had a lot of rain over the winter and many of the creeks were flooded.  This stopped our progress to the Pilliga which is a massive area of wilderness even further north.  One particular creek was so flooded that we couldn't drive across the road.  The weather we had was fantastic, getting quite warm in the afternoons, every day was sunny with brilliant blue skies.  The nights were cold and Les enjoyed having a good burn up outside while the wood-burning stove was keeping it snug inside.  Les and I were on the top bunk so middle of the night visits to the outside loo were kept to a minimum.

Heading back down the track from Craggibungles

Foggy Landing

Made it to Sydney OK after a fog threatened to divert the plane to Melbourne.  Les was there to greet me and we immediately got stuck in the early morning traffic.  It was a bit cold early doors but soon warmed up and has been a nice day.  Already had a couple of Hahn's in the local pub.  We're off up north tomorrow, another early start, cold weather gear out of the case.  There is no electricity where we are going so you probably won't hear from me until next Saturday!

A Few Photos From Thailand

Here is Coops with his faithful dog Winston.

And here is Mrs Coops

He ain't heavy, he's my Buddha.

A large bee coming in to land at Pollen Central

Where I stayed, House of Coops with Mrs. Coops land in front where she grows rice.

Leaving Thailand

Just grabbing a few minutes online in the airport in Bangkok.  I had an interesting day yesterday and could well have been engaged by now as some women heard there was a foreigner in town. 

Anyway I survived and made the six hour journey back to Bangkok through a couple of storms.  I had a little walk in  to the countryside on my own after I had missed Coops' early morning dog walk, his dog is called Winston.  It was Coops' birthday so a few of his mates came round to celebrate and quite a few Changs were supped.

My next stop is Sydney where I am hoping I get a day rest before the next leg.

Thailand

I'm going to make this short and sweet as I'm on a slow connection looking out over a rice field somewhere in north east Thailand.

I've had a fantastic few days here.  After the hussle and bussle of Bangkok it is very peaceful up here.  Mr and Mrs Coops have been fine hosts and the people around here are very friendly.  The food has been excellent and I've had one too many Chang Classics (beer).  I've taken many photographs but I'm not even going to attempt to upload them now.

Hopefully I will be able to add more details when I reach my brother's house on Friday morning.

Connect 4

After a gruelling God-knows-how-many hours flight I finally landed in Bangkok. 

One thing I noticed on the flight was that even though everyone bar me seemed to be asleep, no one was snoring. 

I think I have found a cure for snoring.  Simply sleep with your upper torso upright or bent slightly to the right.  Make sure there is hardly enough space for your knees; ideally, get someone to sit in a reclining seat in front of you and make sure they they send it as far back as it will go.  Lastly, ensure there is enough bollocks (e.g. flight entertainment brochures, toiletries, headphones, duty-free magazines) stuffed in to the back of the reclining chair.  Hey presto, a quiet's night sleep!

I don't think I have ever had a feeling of instant sweat quite like the one when I stepped out of the airport and in to Thailand's drippingly warm weather.  Obviously I had just met up with Coops as well but I will put the blame on the climate.  I thought Coops was sporting a Hitler moustache but on closer inspection I saw it was a scab.  Apparently, on the previous night, whilst prowling the streets of Bangkok, Coops made a close inspection of the concrete pavement and came off worst; "MY HANKY WAS DRIPPING IN CLARET" he said.  Coops talks like that, he shouts a lot.

Here is the view from my hotel window.  I used a different setting on the camera which enhanced certain colours.

As for my first night in Bangkok, well, I am sat here writing this drivel at 11.43pm local time after spending only about two of the last 36 hours asleep.  The only thing I am going to say about tonight is the eight games of Connect 4 in a bar earlier will be the most unforgettable games of the counter dropping battle of wits I have ever had.

Waiting around in the airport. Looked at my luggage receipt. It say 'Broughton Bangkok'.

The Only Game in Town

Too excited to sleep past six in the morning.  Woke up, checked in online, played 23 games of solitaire and lost every single one of them.

I checked the in-flight movies and surprise, surprise, Qantas are showing Australia (the film with Kidman in).  On the good side, Clash of the Titans is on, I love a good greek myth.

Not Long Now

School is now officially out for summer. 

The predicatable drinking onslaught on the final day after the kiddies had gone home was as messy as ever.  The 'Out of Order' signs I made went down well as plenty of people were definitely out of order on many occasions.  Cookie disappeared somewhere along the line and was then spotted trying to get back in to the Hare and Hounds in Sheen the following morning at 10.30am!  I just happened to be driving past and couldn't resist shouting "Haven't you had enough?".  It is a moment that will live with me forever.  Apparently he was trying to retrieve his lost bag.

After a spending spree yesterday afternoon I feel I am now equipped for anything the Australian and New Zealand winter weather can throw at me.  New jacket, trousers that turn in to shorts at the flip of a zip, warm socks and some new boots.

Confirm - Reconfirm

Work is now only a distraction. As I write there are only two half days to go but my mind is elsewhere. Just received an email from Coops confirming my room at the Ibis Hotel in Bangkok. At first glance I thought that we were sharing the room and there was just one double bed. I thought this may be a sign of the dangers to come but I was relieved to see that the room is mine only. Phew.

As with any major trip there are quite a few things to do before you can relax. I have bought a new suitcase, with wheels. It's good that I have finally caught up on the suitcase wheels thing. Now I too can be one of those annoying people that traipse up the road pulling a suitcase with noisy wheels. One tip I saw about luggage was to tie a ribbon around the handle so that you can spot it straight away at the luggage retrieval area in the airport. What if everyone did that? And what if everyone had a cheapo Dunlop suitcase with wheels from Sports Direct? I'm going to tie a used snot rag around my case handle, no one would touch it then and it would be immediately noticeable as it came around the conveyor belt with the bogies snagging against the belt.

I have bought some books for the trip; some to read, some for information. The two books I have bought to read while hanging around airports or while flying are by Richard Dawkins. So I will be gathering even more reasons to be anti-religion. Strangely enough I have bought his first book 'The Selfish Gene' and also his most recent book 'The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution'.

One thing I had to do as far as flights are concerned was to reconfirm my outward flight to Bangkok. I actually don't get this. I have bought a flight and paid for it and yet if I don't reconfirm with the airline more than 72 hours to go before the flight, my seat may be cancelled. The chances are that it will probably not be cancelled but is seems there is slight chance it could be. OK, I go to the bike shop and order a bike and pay for it. Two days later I go and collect it but the bike shop says "Ah, but you didn't phone us to reconfirm that you want the bike". Anyway, it's done now but I still have to do it again for all subsequent flights.