Australia - Melbourne to Brisvegas

Following on from our Christmas day on St Kilda beach, I had the opportunity to do something i had dreamed of doing for quite a while. Go to the ashes in Australia. This is basically one of the most important things i had in mind before i left home and was a fixed date in the calendar. I was a bit gutted that i didn't see any cricket in Perth but our change of plan was definitely the best decision. So boxing day, early doors we headed to the MCG with most of the other residents at the hostel and what seemed like half of Melbourne. 85,000 people at a cricket match is essentially unheard of and walking into the stadium you really did feel butterflies. And so much more was to come. By midday with the Australian batting line up in a complete shambles things couldn't be better. Never did i dream i would see their entire innings and see England bat all in one day. I have just been chatting to an Australian couple over dinner and its nice to be able to give someone else stick about their national team. All in all it was an excellent time to be a Pomme down under.

Next day was another must do for any self respecting English person and a trip to the neighbours night to meet the cast. Despite how corny i was expecting it to be it was kind of cool. We went with Tom and Paul two guys we met on Christmas day and it turned into a really fun evening of which i have very little recollection. I have the photo and signature evidence of meeting Dr. Karl Kennedy, and also the very lovely Sky Mangle. It turns out Dillon, Stingray and Boyd all live together so they were all there as well. Normally Karls band plays but for some reason he didn't that night which was a bit annoying but the rest of it was great although we definitely were cheated out of the trivia prize. Next day was a bit of a mission though trooping around Ramsay street and some other parts of the neighbours set with a massive hangover. It was ok but the street is nothing like i expected, its really small in real life and just a normal residential street. The tour was pretty short so we managed to get to the cricket again for midday and see us rub salt in the wounds and take another 7 Australian wickets. Immense

That was pretty much it for Melbourne apart from seeing the penguins in the harbour. Melbourne without a shadow of a doubt is the best city i have ever been to, no word of a lie although Sydney does run it close. If i don't end up back there someday i will be very disappointed.

Next up Sydney for the most iconic new years imaginable. For this special occasion Jon and I were joined by Jamie who had managed to leave the arctic conditions of the UK and join us for a couple of weeks. Sydney like Melbourne is great, and we were blessed with the most perfect weather you could hope for. Seeing the opera house and bridge were must do's of course but the real reason as i said before was the fireworks and new years party. Most places fill up fast and we kind of left it a little late but we joined Tom and Paul headed to the only free patch of ground in a tiny little park with about 1,000 others. Quite a few beers later the 10 hours or so of waiting went by fairly quickly and although it wasn't the best view it was definitely the best new years i have ever had. Nicely followed up the next day by a trip to the world famous Bondi beach to soak up some rays and sleep off the after effects from the night before. Bondi was rammed but the good feeling abounded and it was a really pleasant way to spend any day.

Three days in Sydney was pretty much it and saying goodbye far too quickly for what i would have liked we flew to Cairns in the north of Queensland. It was here that we had to amend our plans as the flooding had cut the roads between us and Brisbane as well as the access points to Fraser island. This was gutting to be completely honest as this was the number 1 thing everybody said to do in Australia. Not to be too downhearted we made the most of the north of Queensland heading up to Cape Tribulation and Daintree national park via Port Douglas. Despite the hundreds of slow down for Cassowary signs we saw hide nor hair of them or any other animal for that matter. Queensland's great and the beaches are truly spectacular but the signs everywhere warning of the crocodiles and jellyfish mean you cant go swimming. Its like being given the best dinner in the world and being told you cant eat it. Oh well there are plenty of other activities and happily for me at least the clouds stayed away long enough for me to tick off another of my things to do before you die and i did a skydive. The whole experience was immensely surreal as we kept being delayed and delayed, then it was all go go go and over in the space of five minutes. We freefalled 11,000 feet in 60 seconds before doing the final 3,000 parachuting down. Honestly it is hard to describe the rush, im glad i did it as a tandem as i am sure i would forget to open the schute while looking around. The feeling is incredible and pretty much all consuming so it is very difficult to concentrate on doing anything else. A real highlight and a big thanks for the amazing Christmas present to everyone who contributed.

From Cairns we had a long drive down to Airlie beach in order to take a trip to the Whitsunday islands and the great barrier reef. Having had to change all our plans at the last moment we had nothing booked but managed to do it the same morning we wanted to leave, so we had a mad rush to get the ferry to long island. The resort was pretty decent and made a nice change as it was only the second place where i have had a pool since ive been away, with the added bonus of a hot tub and turtles swimming just off the beach. One day on the island and one day on the reef was all we had time for. Im not going to lie the reef was a bit disappointing although I did see some cool fish and some anemones etc. The area of the reef they have their big pontoon on has had two typhoons recently which pretty much annihilated the coral. Still a good day out followed by a pub quiz at the resort which is a good way to end any day.

Unfortunately for us that concluded Australia. On flying into Brisbane we had intended to drive down to Byron bay but the weather/lack of accommodation rendered that pointless and left us with 4 days to kill in Brisbane. Its not the greatest of cities and when the weather is wet there is very little to do in Australia and even our trip to the cinema was cut short when they turned off the film and told everyone to leave before the city was cut off by the rising water. We did manage a trip to Australia zoo which descended into farce in the heaviest rain i have ever seen. Despite this we did manage to go and pay homage to Steve Irwin at the crocoseum and see his wife and kids do a show. It was good but it must have been awesome if he had been there. Looking around the zoo you realize what an amazing guy he actually was and how much he did for wildlife but also Australia as a global icon.

Due to the nightmare situation we found ourselves in Jon and Jamie bailed early so as not to waste any more of their holiday and headed for Hong Kong and fortunately for myself i managed to change my flights and left the next morning. Rumours abounded about public transport stopping and the airport being cut off, so with no desire to spend anymore time in Brisbane i took a cab and got the earliest flight i could and now i am here amongst the temples and rice terraces on the paradise island of Bali.

Hope everyone at home had a great Christmas and new years. All the best for the rest of the year!!!