Bye Bye Oz

Welcome to another episode of Harry Almonds strange expeditions around the world!!! I shall start from where I left off.

We went to the Zoo after leaving Brisbane. It was one of the best Zoos that I have ever been to. We visited the Crocozeium to watch the live daily show, it was a mix of Cheesy american and Oz humour. The Theme or story i believe was to educate people about Australias dangerous animals. If you had kids (Swann) they would enjoy it very much, thats probably why I thought it was so Good.

The Croc show was the big crowd puller (Check out the pic) but I was personally suprised at the Bird Show this was just as impressive. Oh well I suppose that you have to be there to apreciate it!

Dotted around the Zoo there was a number of the staff with random birds or Lizards for you to poke and look at. They had a new Tiger complex and the staff there were just walking amongnst the Tigers and playing with them like they were pet cats. Some of those guys have the best jobs in the world.

The Zoo felt alot more persoanl and smaller than I had anticipated you could easaily walk amoungst Kangaroos . On leaving the staff from the Zoo would stand outside and wave you off! All in all a bloody good day out!

After departing the Zoo we drove to a town that had no available camping, therefore we headed into the next town to try to find some there. By 8ish at night it became obvious that we would be ruffing that night, so we all pulled in at Dominos and had a family Pizza then headed off down some backstreet of a little town called Bedrum where J and I pitched the Tent and the girls and Tom slept in the van.

At 2:32 am I was woken by a bright white light, as per usual J just slept through it. I thought in this strange town we were being abducted by Aleins. Once i wiped my eyes though and poped my head out the tent I could see that it was Swan Security working on behalf of the council. A gentleman stepped infront of the headlights and roof spotlight to advise that we were not welcome on this property and that we had to take are gypsie ways elsewhere. We packed the tent headed back to the town centre 2mins away. Went to the public toilets and parked round the back in the Swimming pool car park. I dont know about you, but have you ever tried to sleep in the driving seat of a Mitsubishi Van! No good. To be fair Tom did provide a little light relief by letting me jump in the back for about a hours kip.

Parking in the Swimming pool car park seemed like a good idea at the time, there were amenities and we could hide from the aleins. Not A Good Idea!!! Bloody Ozzy's.

They only get up at the crack of dawn (5am) to go for a swim. So theres are Van parked across two spaces with numerous cars rolling in with Aleins getting out due to go for there swim. By this time I had had enough (do I sound mad?didnt think So), so I fierd up the wagon and Drove it to Noosa, everyone asleep in the back, oh and J in the front.

We arrived at Noosa and the first thing I did was drive to a campsite, no more arsing about, although when I look back it was rather humerous! Heres are campsite, as you can see we are tidy and know how to put up a tent.

In Noosa Tom and I revived some of the old skool days by hitting the campsite T T table! You Know it! What did we do here, Oh yeah went to the beach chilled out, Oh and went to the pub for a few more waters! Good little place, Quite beautiful!! Arrrgh back in the Van.

Rainbow Beach one of the Gateways to the infamous Fraser Island. Here we dumped the Van in replacement of this Wagon. Unfortunately I didnt pilot this one but our tour gide Terry or Tez as he liked to be known did! Tez bombed us over the water on the MantaRay boat to the biggest sand Island in the world where we headed up 75mile long beach (no guesses for why its named that) Stopping at Eli Creek to chill out before heading to Maheno Wreck and then on to Indian head to check out the main reason why there is a build up of sand on Fraser Island. Yes its because Indian Head (Named by Cook who thought it was part of the Australian Mainland. From Indian Head he saw smoke from the Aborigines, but in Cooks day they were known as Indians, hence Indian Head). Yeah Indian Head trapped all the sand. After that History lesson we headed to one of the most important parts of the Island Eurong. Why was this place so important? This is where lunch was served and we could pick up a few stubbies! After this we headed to Base camp in Dilli Village where we headed to a lagoon.

At the Lagoon I nearly drowned one of our team mates Em by dunking her into the depths of the murky green water! To be fair I hoped that she wouldnt come up and possibly take her friend with her! Only Joking girls! But yeah I was a little more careful of my drowning tendencies so turned to Anne! Tez cooked up (as described in the name of youthful slang) a sick steak then off to bed and up and off to lake McKenzie. Very attractive natural water hole with white sand in the middle of Fraser Island. Cooled off here then back in the wagon and back on the Manta Ray boat to the mainland to spend one last night in Rainbow Beach named after the coloured sands that arent actually rainbow coloured but actually a mixture of browns yellows and reds, who makes up these stupid names i am not impressed. I arrived at rainbow beach expecting to find the pot of gold, and all i did find was a good cafe that could make me a half decent Bacon sarnie for 3 dollars, Oh well thats Good enough for me.

Bloody hell this blog drags on!!!

Just having to check the map on google because I cant remember where I went next, I know that I am now in New Zealand, Rainbow beach... ...New Zealand. Aghh yeah thank god for the interweb or actually Bill bloody Gates. Rockhampton

No wonder I forgot it was just a one night stop off to let the crew relax and refuel before heading off again! One thing though we did happen to bump into a girl that we knew from Leicester in this random Campsite for those who know her (Hannah Parker) and for those who dont like my co padre J "No Worries".

From Rock "Beef Capital" hampton we headed to passed the Tropical line of Capricorn and into uncharterd waters. No we didnt we just went to Airlie Beach. Shit this place was wet and bastard hot. Rain Rain. This place is the Gateway to some of the most spectacular Island of the Coast of Queensland. they are Known by the name of the Whitsundays! So amazing are theses Islands that Tom J and I never went! The girls did they enjoyed it very much! We just chilled out in the Lagoon recharged the batteries and got wet!

After this we banged on past Townsville and up to Innisfail. Now lets take the Last four letters of this towns name and you may have some idea of its tourism value! To be fair we were visiting some friends who were doing a spot of the old fruit picking! we got Pissed all of us in a three bedroom motel, told off by reception in the morning, or rather Em took the flack, and off to Cairns. Lovely little town would have been good to spend a couple more days there but you know what its like planes to catch places to see people to meet and strange beer to drink. So far not impressed with the Kiwi Piss. Aucklands good, thinking of investigating other areas so I will update you soon. Hope you enjoyed this very long edition of Chin Around the World.

Take Care Everyone. Quote of the day

I can't think of anything that excites a greater sense of childlike wonder than to be in a country where you are ignorant of almost everything.

Bill Bryson

This ones for David William Hayse

But why, oh why, do the wrong people travel, when the right people stay at home?

Noel Coward (I would like to highlight this persons surname)

The New Year

Wheres Wally Waldo Wolly (however its spelt as it is different all over the world) ...

...here he bloody is.
I thought that I would add this one above as it has been a while.

Sydney was fun the fireworks for new years the Christmas eve reunion with Paul and Jack in the Gaff (If you want to see pictures of that just go via the link on my page marked "Check out their pics". They don't have pictures on their blog but if you click their link "Our photos" it will take you to their pictures check under Sydney).

Hope you understand that, my camera has started to fail me and was out of action during Christmas Eve.
Spent the majority of our time in Sydney in Bondi, this was a good place to be as I could easily get around the city plus spend days on the beach when needed. Christmas day was like no other. Woke with a hangover that's the only similar thing to previous years cured it with a fry up, that was Christmas Dinner! Then waited for the clouds to clear so that I could sit on the Beach!!! I suppose the best part was spending it with friends, oh and the beach!!!

New years Fireworks bang! bang!

I spent time in Sydney checking out the Opera house, drinking in the opera bar which is just below the opera house with fantastic views of the coat hanger bridge! The bar wasn't as expensive as you may think. Other than that general dossing around the city and checking out the aquarium (best one that I ve seen).

Now I am travelling up the East coast in a tin can with Captain "Geoff" Chaos (Jay) the "Monkey" (Tom) Co-pilot (Me) and two stow aways (Em & Anne a couple of teenage English girls). So far the automatic Mitsubishi has held its own quite well, Fancy a look!

On the way out of Sydney we stopped at Palm Beach aka Summer Bay where we walked along the beach remembering days of Bobby Fisher and Sam! I actually had a Ice Cream from the Surf Club!!! Wow "Harry Cringemas" just one of those new names that came up during Christmas via Tom Thumb. I didn't see any of the stars but what I didn't know is that I would see one later on in my travels! After that we headed up the East Coast until it got a little too dark and everyone was tired. We pulled up in some random town pitched our tent behind a bush on the local park and got some kip!!!

After that we headed to Byron Bay, nice little town but slightly over populated with Ozzy holiday people. Things were a little expensive here but the camp site was cheap and waves were excellent for body surfing!! Body surfing whats that?? Its the art of catching the wave with your body and riding it all the way into shore, no shit I here you say! Well the fact that I am actually shit at normal surfing means that "yes" the dynamic chin is excellent at body surfing soon to be called chin surfing!

After this we went to POT/Bum central also known as Nimbin for those who don't know its a little town that 20 or so years ago had a legalise marijuana hippy festival thingy. Most of the people got so stoned that they are still there and the police seem to turn a blind eye. Place was just ever so slightly strange misty and I think most people were paranoid, I wonder why that might be? Altough Tom seemed to fit in quite well! (Anne & J in a Nimbin Cafe)

Anyhow bolted out of pot central for the bright lights of Las Vegas Australia aka Surfers Paradise on the Gold coast, This place was far to commercial but the waves were even better here!!! We spent that night out for Toms Birthday at the Hard Rock Cafe then carried on into the night with a few waters! Tooheys water!

Oh shit cant be arsed to go back and edit the Byron section but on the walk round Cape Byron towards the most easterly point in Oz we (Anne & Kate left) saw that really tanned girl from Home & Away. Anne teenage blonde (actually brunette) Shouts "that's Jessie from Home & Away" (I think Jessie is her name) I held my face in my hands as the over cooked Home & Away cast member turned to look at us with her hands over ears form the shrieking of super fan Anne.

Back to the real world. We left Surfers and I am now located in Brisbane , doesn't seem to be that much to do but I am sure if i was here a little longer I would soon fit in! Off to Noosa + Oz Zoo soon that should be more up my street!

Shit Yeah!

R.I.P G.B

Check out my super photo of a frog in the camp site Loo.