Adios Aus.....

After 6 months of being away from home it has got to that time when we have to start getting ready to leave.....

We sorted out our Russian visa's....after much worry about them not being granted....and then we started the wheels into motion of leaving.....we did some last minute shopping at Paddy's Market for some warm clothes.....(its bloody cold in Moscow).....and arranged for a taxi to pick us up on Wednesday morning to take us to the airport...

We finally got a bit flustered when we realised that Laura had no room when we arrive in China on the first night.....after speaking to numerous tour companies about the problem and having no success we finally today got a bit of good news and had my room in Beijing changed from a single room to a twin room for the duration of our trip....so all good in the hood

So now it is down to 1 more day in Australia......we had a lovely day a few days ago....we went to the Botanical Park in Sydney by the Harbour and had a picnic sitting in the sunshine....it was a really lovely day and we just spent time together and had a good time.....then yesterday we went sunbathing in the local park....read our books and just spent more time together without anything to worry about...

I will certainly miss Australia....I have spent 6 months here and it will be sad when we leave, but it will also be a relief to be heading back home.....our first stop on the list is Beijing in China.....and from there it will be a train through to Moscow....6 days later we arrive in Moscow and then the next day we fly home.....back on the 14th of March 2009......after travelling half of the globe......

Certainly something to tell the grandchildren

Little Penguins, Great Ocean Road, Return to Sydney and Valentines Day

In Melbourne we had some money sent to us by our parents to get some food and to sort out our Chinese Visas......we used it for those things of course but we also had money left over.....so we decided that we had had a crappy time during our time in Aus and we deserved to have some fun......so we booked a day trip to Phillip Island to see the Little Penguins when they come in from the sea at dusk to their burrows....

We had a lovely day including a stop at a winery where we got to try some wines (6 to be precise).....and then we bought a bottle of something for Laura's Grandparents....after that we went to an animal park called Maru Fauna Park.....which was really weird because when we had first been in Sydney we had seen a piece on the news about a Fauna park that had burned down.....nearly killing the owners elderly mother.....luckily there was no animals killed only a Koala who got a burned nose.......it turned out that Maru Fauna park was this same park.....it had been rebuilt and was a prety good day......we handfed fed Wallabys and Kangaroos and had a good time there......then it was time to move on to Phillip Island

The island itself was really beautiful....and was full of wildlife.....we see wild wallabys and kangaroos and lots of sea life.......then it started to get dark and we had to go to the Penguin Parade.....we sat there for around an hour before we saw some movement down at the waters edge.....finally rafts of them started coming in (a penguin group is called a raft) and they made their way up the beach.....they passed so close to us that we could have touched them if we wasn't on a rasied platform.....they were funny and cute and beautiful creatures....both me and Laura loved them......but before long we had to go back to the coach.....we bought some pictures from the gift shop and then we left.....on the way home I watched Mad Max on the tour companys free PSP's.

The next day we had to get up early and meet the coach outside the Pint on Punt again.....it took us all along the great Ocean Road and we had a fantastic day.....we learned about the history of the road and why it was built and what interesting things had been done on it.....one of which was some of the filing of Mad Max.....freaky....we had another great day and got loads of photographs....to hopefully make up for the lack of photographs of Penguins

The day after that we had to get up early AGAIN!!!! and we had to go into the centre of Melbourne and say goodbye to it once and for all.......we packed our bags into the coach and took our seats.........13 hours later we arrived into Sydney.....it was that uneventful.....but took us much longer to do than it took you to read

We ended up in Sydney in the pouring rain looking for a taxi....we got in one and made our way to Hopetoun Street in Newtown/Camperdown.....the owner was friendly as she welcomed us in and we made ourself settled.....we have our own room and everything and it was really nice for us to be alone together finally after 3 months of sharing.......the day after we had our Valentines meal at the Sydney Tower.....it was great to finally get up there and see the view....we have some photos of us eating our meal and it was very posh...

They served Tuna, Salmon, Lamb and then a dessert made from Bounty Chocolate....it was lush....and above all that?....free wine......needless to say I got a little tipsy drinking not only my wine.....but Laura's wine too.....it was very nice :)

A few days later we had to try and sort out our Russian Visa as its only 3 weeks until we are there......time flies when you're having fun........we got it sorted eventually after being turned away the first time for not having the correct information.....I went back on my own and paid the money and they accepted them.....they will be ready on the 26th Febuary......and then on the 4th March we will be moving on to China......so in 12 days we leave for Beijing and then after 3 days there we jump on the train and go start the journey to Moscow.....then after 1 night there we are finally flying back to the UK......amazing.....

For now though our adventures continue!!!!

Melbourne

We was in Echuca until the 6th of February....we tried to work from midnight one night to 8am.....picking grapes with spider and insect infested vines......needless to say we didnt' last too long at that one.....we sat i9n the car until 8am waiting for the others to finish instead

After that there was no work for us, apart from making beds and cleaning the rooms (which we did to pay our way for the last few nights we was at the hostel)......after that we moved on to Melbourne, where we have been for 3 days now.....we are here until Friday 13th (ooooh!!)....when we will be moving back to Sydney....

We came to the Pint on Punt pub in St Kilda.....which is a lovely Irish pub with free breakfast and meals for $6 each night......the only bad time we have had here is when I fell down the stairs after missing a step.....I say falling down the stairs but 1 stair doesn't really count......

We met this really nice guy who is sharing the room with us (thats a good way to meet people).....he is from Southampton in England and he went to Winchester University....we played cards with him the other night and he let us drink his Vodka......best way to get into my good books if you ask me :P

Today we sorted our Chinese Visa....because its getting awfully close and we hadn't done them yet, so we walked the 1:30 hour walk to the place.....we got there and lined up for 45 minutes and it was all done....no money until we pick it up and its all good......we also decided that we was going to do a tour thing to go to Phillip Island (just off of Melbourne) where you can see the Penguine Parade......at around 10pm the Little Penguins all coem back from a heavy day of hunting and make the way back up the beach to their nests.....which is viewed by paying patrons.....a very good day out by the sounds of it....so we booked that....not only dio we get to meet more cuddly Koalas and some little Walabies and Wombats but we get Seals and Penguins too.....bonus.....and we visit a winery........and we get free wine too..........please see above comment about booze!!

We are going to be staying in Sydney with somebody we have met online, her name is Suzie.....she is kindly letting us stay in her flat for the final 2 weeks of our stay....its based in Newtown which is about 10 minutes away from where we used to live......so its all good

Other than that there is the obvious tragedy of the Victoria Bush Fires.....they have claimed the life so far of 130 people and its still rising each day......it has wiped out 3 villages and destroyed over 5000 homes.....it is the most devestating national tragedy ever......

Me and Laura are looking forward to coming home....not long now.....save us some snow everybody....we miss you all

Love Paul xxxx

An Epic Tale....For An Epic Koala

When you left me I was in Mildura.....the hell hole on earth....not Mildura as such but the hostel

Anyhow.....we worked in the dreaded garlic factory for 1 whole month.....dear lord Estee Lauder...then we decided that we had had enough....they were sucking every bit of money out of us that they could (bus every day we went to work $6)....and with the lack of funding that we was experiencing at the time (and to be honest....still are)....we couldn't afford to stay there.....plus the fact that we hated the jobs so much that we was actively trying to get fired in the end I think...

Anyhow.....we spoke to our room mate and she set us up with this guy in a place called Swan Hill....we had to arrive on boxing day though....thats ok we thought, we can get an early train there and maybe start work that day.....it all sounded perfect....

Anyhow....we decided we would go our for a meal for Christmas Dinner once we had sorted everything out, and so thats what we did...we went to the local working mans club for a dinner thing (even though we was hardly looking forward to it).....it was strange....the first course was prawns or lamb....naturally we thought we had a choice.....not so....we had both on one table and we had to swap if we didn't like it.......problem was neither of us really like prawns....strike 1

Anyhow....the main course come up....1 slice of lamb, 1 slice of turkey, 1 slice of beef, 1 potatoe, some green beans wrapped in bacon and a slice of lovely looking pumpkin....(???)

WHERES THE STUFFING? WHERES THE YORKSHIRE PUD? WHERE IS OUR DINNER?

Needless to say it wasn't hiding underneath the pumpkin....so we did what we could with the food and ate it....blessing our lucky stars that we didn't have any ominous looking prawns floating in our gravy.....

We finished our lovely meal in all of 5 minutes and then had to wait for the dessert....during which time Laura said...

"You know what would make this day better.....if you proposed"

Funnily enough before we had left the hostel I had put the ring in a Christmas cracker....but during the course of the meal changed my mind and took it out again.....so I indicated to the cracker and she figured I was joking.....she pulled it with me and while she was pre-occupied with reading the joke etc I took the ring out of my pocket and went down on one knee.....she looked at me and burst into tears............nice

I asked her if she would marry me and she said.........yes......woop!!!!

The waitress was walking past at the time and went to the bar to get glasses of their cheapest Champagne that she could find then a friendly person come over and took a nice picture of us.....then a barrage of waitresses come over to ask if they could see the ring......which was nice....it seemed to us that when you ask somebody to marry you verybody suddenly becomes very nice....Laura mentioned that we should get engaged more often....

We went back to the hostel after a less than satisfying meal (but a fun one all the same)....then we found ourselves sitting on a bench drinking wine and strongbow and having fun with our room mates (one of which was already very drunk)......it was a good day in the end....but totally not Christmas without lashings of food and family


We woke up at 3am in the morning and got ready, we got all of our bags together in the dark and we made our way out to the front after saying goodbye to all of our room mates (all but the one who was passed out unconscious)......we made our way to the front and got in the taxi.....which happened to be a 12 seater van thing.....but to be honest we needed it for the amount of stuff we have.....we went down to Westpac and withdrew the money for the first weeks rent at this new place and we started for the station once more......then Laura let out a muffled shriek.....she had left her necklace on the bedpost......so we had to go all the way back for it......it was all ok and she got her necklace back.....then we went to the station to get the bus to Swan Hill.......it left at 4:15am and we arrived into Swan Hill at about 7am.....we got a phone call and was told that we would not be picked up until 10am.....not too bad.....we was expecting 12/1




We got picked up at 10am and was driven around the corner to the local shopping centre.....they wanted to go shopping......good start......we met up again at 12:30.....a whole 5 and a half hours after we arrived....nice

We got driven there and it turned out to be a hole in the ground in the middle of nowhere........and we was staying in a caravan........and the roof was falling in........also the caravan park had no phone network coverage and no internt either......not even a pay phone to be seen........Laura was not best impressed......after a tearful talk she told me she didn't want to stay here....and to be honest I didn't want to either......after working out that we wouldn't be able to get a refund in normal circumstances for the week that we had already paid for......I did some quick thinking and got my acting skills out of the box they have been lying dormant in for years.....


I walked into the office nearly in tears (I know....amazing acting).....and told them that Laura had just got a phone call from her aunt in Sydney....and she told us that her uncle had had a heart attack and had been rushed into hospital....this had obviously very upset Laura.....but the problem was the only money we had was the money we had given for rent.......the nice people said we could have a full refund.....so I was very pleased about that......problem was there was no other busses out of Swan Hill that day.....so we had to stay for the night.....no problem....or so we thought...


There was a storm that night.....and the caravan rocked as if it was on the sea....the wind blew so strong we thought the roof was going to cave in......and the rain was so hard surely everything would be soaked when we woke up.....needless to say the caravan held (though for how much longer we will never know)....


We woke up bright and early and packed everything together.....we got our full refund and got out of there as quickly as we could do......we ended up at Swan Hill station with all of our bags.....and nowhere to go.....but thats the fun of adventure isn't it?


We ended up calling a very friendly sounding hostel in a place called Echuca.......we found out how much it would cost to get there ($13 each) and we decided to throw caution to the wind and go......we had to wait until 5 but we was well used to waiting at Swan Hill station after the day before......then I spoke to the station master and he said you can get on this train that leaves at 1:15 and be there by 3:20......bonus!!!!


We left and jumped on the train for one stop then we had to get a bus for the rest of the journey.....it was fun and they put a movie on for us so it was nice and relaxing.....we ended up in Echuca and had the owner (a friendly woman named Melissa) come to pick us up from the station....we liked the hostel right away.....we knew we had fallen on our feet here.

A few days later we was offered a job picking apricots (which we did and enjoyed somewhat).....it invilved climbing trees and picking the fruit on big ladders (very tall ladders that Laura found daunting).....after the work finished on New Years Eve we rushed back to the hostel and got ready to leave for the night......we had found out the day before that we could get to Melbourne for FREE!!!! if we arrived after 6pm.......so thats what we did......we spent a lovely night in Melbourne and watched the fireworks at midnight and we had a couple of drinks in a restaurant too which was lovely.......then we had to sleep in Melbourne station because we had no other place to stay....which was interesting....

We got our train the next morning and arrived back in Echuca on New Years Day....it was all very nice to be doing something other than sitting around the hostel not being able to drink (tis a dry hostel you see).......about a week after that we was offered a job working in a Tomato Packing Factory......we accepted and we started work.......7 days a week (average 8 hours a day).....all on our feet......as you can imagine by the time the day was over we was slightly tired.....we was threatened with being fired if we didn't speed up.....so we did :)........and then a week later Laura felt very ill so we had to come back to the hostel.....later on when she felt a bit better I got a phone call from Helen (our agent).....who told us that they didn't want us back........so basically we was fired for Laura being ill.......ho hum their loss....

And now we have 7 weeks left before we come home....which is all good and we are excited about it......the next big thing to plan for is my mums 50th, then Lauras 21st and then University.....AHHHH!!!!

But for now the travel blog continues.....I shall update soon

Lots of Love

Paul xxxx

Mildura Backpackers.....Oasis????

We packed up our stuff in Sydney (it took us most of a week) and after many hours of heaving and pushing we finally had the bags full (to capacity).......then the day come where we had to leave the dreaded flat behind......the flat that now somehow seems like the Oasis that this place promised......privacy being the main feature we are lacking here....

Anyhow....we called a taxi and it arrived late......so we jumped in and it took us to the coach station where we waited for our coach to start boarding.....meantime I bent down with my backpack on my back to get something out of another bag.......this made me dreadfully unbalanced and so I ended up upon my arse.....rolling around like some kind of upturned tortoise.....in the middle of a busy Sydney street.....needless to say Laura found it slightly gigglesome....I on the other hand........did too :P

We got on the coach and started the dreaded journey across *seems like* half of Australia....to a small place called Mildura.....along the way we stopped in Canberra (the capital of Australia) and Wagga Wagga (haha funny names!!!!)....eventually at half past 8 in the morning with a snoozing Laura upon my shoulder I saw the first sign for Mildura......and the last place we had passed through seemed to be nothing but a dusty little village with a petrol station and a fat dog....

Anyhow we were met when we got off of the coach by a large hairy man called Dee J....who was nice enough....he helped us to load our bags onto the bus that he used to bring us back to the hostel......first impressions were good....there was a pool, a bar and a large bar area......then we was taken to a room and said there should be two beds in there.......there wasn't....so I had to follow Dee J around while he tried every apartment in the block trying to find a room with 2 beds in it....finally we found one.....and it had 4 other girls in it......so I am the only guy.....but as Laura said....the previous room we had been in was all boys.....so slight relief there.....

We have an air conditioning unit....which I am very impressed with....and an en-suite bathroom....and we have kind of settled in now having been here for 5 (seems like a month) days

The room mates we have are pretty ok....mostly....ok maybe not....one of them seems nice enough but the rest are stuck up and just slightly rude (slightly is a slight under-exageration).....they just....yeah well...don't let me get into it....GAH!!

Me and Laura on the other hand don't care....we have been spending a lot of good quality time together....drawing, playing cards, doing crosswords.....all those things that bored backpackers seem to do....reading has also played a big part in our time here.....and (you better be proud of her)....Laura has finished a Thomas Hardy book (the most boringest books in the world)....woohoo!!!!

For now I will sign off....but send our collective love to all those people out there in England-land....we miss you like jelly tots

Always yoru faithful weirdo

Paul xxxx

Laptop Blues

Our laptop has broken....so we cant get online....which sucks monkeys really

Not only that the flatmate we have been sharing with has been a complete arse and not given me all of my money back that I paid for bond....he says its because I paid for the furniture from his previous flatmate.....so I'm out $50...which doesn't sound much but it is when you're as skint as we are atm

Anyhow.....on a principle matter we decided to sell the furniture and leave him up the proverbial creek without a paddle......serves the little gay right for messing with us

I am on his laptop atm.....he is out at work so I stole it to check emails and put the furniture on gumtree.....an extra little poke at him from afar....and we are keeping the flat key too.....you know.....just in case :)

We are off to Mildura soon and we have free internet there.....so thats all good...we will be earning again...woo

The plan is to go to Mildura.....then come back to Sydney for New Years....then back to Mildura to work for a couple of weeks and then on to Alice Springs....where Ayers Rock is....and then fly up to Cairns and slowly work our way down the coast until we get back to Sydney sometime in mid February......so thats all good also

Anyhow....thats us for now....we will have free internet soon so...woop woop

TTFN for now

Paul xx

Bye Bye Bike....How I Hardly Knew Thee

Today I done gone sold my bike

Yes thats right....I advertised my cherished push bike upon Gumtree.com.au and there it was gone.....sold like a thief in the night....gone to a new home....pastures new as it were....through the pearly gates.....ok not quite that far.....just down the road actually to Lewisham

$80 has now gone into our *to be named fund* for whatever we decide to spend it on.....so now thats around about $120 (I think) and Laura has just set about to counting it....

We had a lovely day today....went to a nearby town called Burwood where we looked around the shops and Laura bought some stuff for our travels....including a hat, some three quater lengths and a space saving bag that you put clothes in and then roll up....it sucks all the air out so leaves more room for stuff....very good

Then we went for our farewell to Burwood and Sydney meal (for now at least) at a small restaurant that sells Souvlaki (YUM) and Laura had a steak sandwich....it was all very nice and yummy....and a feast fit for a king topped off with milkshakes and pancakes smothered in caramel and banana slices.....was yum but we felt fat and flup afterwards

Then we come back to the flat and chilled out for the rest of the afternoon.....its all very clean here at the moment because we had a bit of a whirlwind cleaning effort last night.....swept, mopped, dusted, washed up, wiped sides, cleaned toilets, took bins out.....all for people who are going to be taking our place here.....bloody nice arent we?

Thats about it for now....will update when something fun or interesting happens......so probably write again when we are in Mildura :P

Love Paul xxxx