Finding Family Down Under

The 26th of November saw us flying to Perth from Alice Springs. I was particularly excited about this for two reasons. 1 - I got to see James as he flew here to start his trip with me and 2 - we were to meet and stay with uncle Lewis and auntie Mary Burnett for the duration of our stay. The last time I saw Lewis and Mary was in the summer of 2005 when they came over to the UK and stayed with Mary's sister in Southend. Now I was in Perth being given big scottish hugs by my wee auntie and uncle!!!! What a joy to see them.

The time we spent in Perth was excellent but not because of it's tourist attractions but because of the family I discovered that I have here. Lewis and Mary have 2 children, Don and Rhona. Don has two daughters Jaimie and Callie. Rhona has twins, Asha and Cohen. The time we all had together was unforgetable. Discovering I have a whole additional part to my family has been one of the best parts of my travels. We all look similar, laugh at the same things and talk alot!!!

I can't wait to plan my next trip to Perth and hope that they will all try and come to the UK ASAP! Thank You for such a wonderful time Burnett Clan! We miss you tons xxxx

Awesome Uluru

When we first arrived in Alice Springs I didn't like it. I felt unsafe. I think this is because we were warned about all the alcoholics around the place but this soon wore off after a sunbath and swim at the hostel. That night we also meet up with Stef and Pierceaser who are good friends of mine from home. They are also traveling for a few months and our paths crossed whilst in town. Was so lovely to see them.

The next day we headed out to Uluru with a great tour guide called Spud and a slightly better bus than the East Coast tour! Over the next 2 days we had champers watching Uluru change colour at sunset, listended to our guide play the didg around an open camp fire and made friends with some wild ozzy's and an american!

I nearly missed Sunrise at Uluru though. We pulled up at 5am I think and as we were picking spots for the best pics a Hungry Horse attack came on (for those in the know you can imagine my horror, for those who aren't you don't want to know!) Well with no convenience in sight I ran to the nearets plush looking coach I could find and found myself pleading with the driver to let me on. All I could imagine was all the Japanese tourists belonging to the coach wondering why some English girl was on board causing such a stench! How I managed to make sunrise I don't know but let's just say I wasn't that bad in India!!!! Poohie!

Pretty Port Douglas

Having finished our East Coast Tour we headed for Port Douglas just north of Cairns. Here we chilled out and caught up with the original Team Canada, Wendy who had been back to Melbourne for a while.

Whilst we were here we went Jungle Surfing in Cape Tribulation (swinging from trees like monkeys) and snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef. We wanted to Scuba Dive but because we flew out within 24 hours of diving it wasn't possible but snorkeling was just as impressive even if the waves were a bit choppy and scary!

The Parrott Fish lodge where we stayed turned out to be a real find having $10 champagne Happy Hours and a bar tender Josh who also cooked! One night he cooked esp for us ladies rusteling up a Corona Chicken with Pancetta, cherry toms and mushrooms! I thougth we were backpacking but here we lived like Princess! It was bliss.

Whitsundays With Love

The Whitsundays was my favourite trip of my travels so far. It was such a stunning place in all weathers and we just had the best time on the Boomerang yacht! The crew were excellent and a lot of funny with Max being a brilliant chef cooking us up Nachos and dips ready for us when we got back from snorkeling. We spent 3 days and 2 nights in total on board.

The 2nd day we headed for the beach where after managing to get some postcard pictures it poured with rain!!!! Dancing to YMCA on deck that evening made up for the bad weather and watching Kate run around with Franchies speedos over her shorts was a real treat. The biggest fright was going to bed and finding a crew member, Trevor, already lying there with my sunglasses on!!! Stacey couldn't breath for laughing so much.

Our final day saw us pulling down sails in attractive green and yellow anoracks but still keeping the chic in sailing by wearing our sunnies!

Ristricted Access

So we have been out on a ranch and in the bush for the good part of last week hence the lack of blogging.

Fraser Island was beautiful but a bit of a wash out. It rained nearly the whole time we were there : ( We left Rainbow beach after 2 days of being on Fraser but not before we had been sea kyaking! Being taught by the very healthy and strong instructor 'Byron', the girls and I were treated to a morning of beautiful views. We didn't see any dolphins or turtles but that did not matter! I however had to share a kyak with the crazy italian on our bus Francie who refused to row!! After much telling offs and demanding I was named Capitan Unchino (spelling?) which translates into English as Captain Hock! Nice!

It was onto the ranch at Kroombit. The 1st night we arrived we had to cross dress for the evenings events. We all made spectacular men with eyeliner tashes and bad outfits. The men beat us by miles, stuffing socks into bras and painting eyeshadows on. It was hilarious. It got better when we had to ride the machincal bull! Katie polvolting herself over the bull having overestimated it's width was the highlight of the evening! Sore heads we rose the next day to go Goat musting on horse back, take part in goat rodeo and clay pigeon shooting. Kroombit was totally crazy and everything you expect from and Ozzie ranch! We all had an excellent time here.

From the outback to the Bush, Carnarvon Gorge was our next stop. Just imagine "Iam a celebrity, get me out of here" with canvas tents and you have our next 2 days. Bugs the size of your hand and Cookabaras that are so loud they sound like monkeys. The Kangaroos live here too and came right up to the grounds being only feet away from us. It was amazing but I had a few freak outs when things crash landed on my head & walking into spider webs! Gross! We did a 15-20k walk through the gorge and then our guide had a little hissy tiff when we suggested he didn't prpear our lunch with his dirty hands! Yuk! After his sulk in the bus he was ok.

Leaving here we travelled 10 hours on our lovely squashed bus to Airline Beach where we are now and about to get on a racing yacht called the Boomarang! We sail for 3days and 2nights round the whitsunday islands which I can't wait for. Sorry this is so brief but time is restricted. For more insight do visit www.thegirlsareaway.blogspot.com and Jen's blog (link is on the girls blog) I know, I know, this is a cop out but they are much better at blooging than me!!!! ;)

Laters,

Jules xxxx

What's with the early mornings?!?!?!?

6am we were stood outside the Oz Experience office in Sydney!!! 6AM! What is the world coming too?!?!? I was still trying to get over my 5am night out. Our trip up the East Coast began and we headed for Arrawarra, a place so remote it's not even in "the book". This was home to Mojo Surf Camp where we were greated with the most beautiful site of fit, toned and tanned male bodies. Totally worth the 6 hour drive we had just endured. An example of one of these specimens can be seen here heading into the surf. What a treat!!!

Once our eyes had adjusted to the glare of beauty around us we noticed the beach was also stunning. We were then joined for a walk by the Surf Camp dog "Mojo who quickly became friends with Debbie! That evening was drinks round the camp fire on the beach. I loved this. The guy playing guitar&singing made a really rude song up about Stacey, Jen and I. Ask Jen to play it to you when she gets home, hilarious!

Day 2 at Surf Camp and we were woken up at 6:30am. What is wrong with these Australian folk? Weirdos! Brekkie was yummy but I def was not in my wet suit! Priceless. I am surprised I wasn't harponned in the sea! I didn't look much better on a board and considering I was the only one not to have stood on my board whilst it was in motion topped it off. Despite the failure I had an amazing time and really enjoyed surfing. I am better at skiing but would not turn down another oportunity to surf again. Teaches me right for laughing my head off at the thought of Miss L surfing. She did very well (but still cracked me up in her wet suit!!!)

That evening we spent in Brisbane then another 5:30am get up to drive to Rainbow Beach near Fraser Island where we venture to tomorrow. We were meant to go sea kyaking this afternoon but it's been postponed until Friday. Thank goodness cause the weather is rubbish and I am knackered from the early mornings. Do comment on our blogs when you read them as we love hearing from you all. Much love. xx

Cocktails and Blue Mountains

We have done so much since we arrived in Sydney that's it's all been a bit of a blur.

We have toured the city, been out for chinese where Jen nearly fell asleep in her chilli beef, gone to "the zoo the zoo the zoo, we went to the zoo the zoo the zoo"(bloody song has been stuck in my head ever since!) been out for swanky drinks at Iceberg down at Bondi beach, visited the Blue mountains and sang bad karaoke in an old mans pub followed by a night of drunken dancing with Team Canada until 5am this morning!

Stacey's work kindly gave her vouchers for Iceberg as they didn't feel she would gel with roughing it like a backpacker to well. We all dressed up, boarded the 380 bus to Bondi(classy ladies that we are) and ended up at the end of the line. The bus driver had totally forgotten to tell us where to get off after being asked to do so. We couldn't believe it. All dressed up stranded in the middle of Bondi. We made it there in the end and what a treat it was. Positioned on the cliffs over looking the ocean and the beach we sat drinking bellinis and eating cheese&biscuts. Very posh! We had such a lovely evening and the bus ride home was just as amuzing remonising about school and getting myself into trouble with secrets as usual!

A visit to the Blue mountains was embarked on with our tour guide Wild Bill! He was an Australian version of Billy Connelly. What he didn't know about the moutains wasn't worth knowing and he made our day so enjoyable. Katie even won first prize for her aberigional drawing on a bit of bark, rather artistic I must say. A few treks and some lovely lunch later we were due to ride the stepest train in the world. My face said it all at the end. I was petrefied but well worth it.

I took the girls to Uliveto for breakfast this morning as this is somewhere I visited often with Alex when I was last here. They all really enjoyed themselves and loved the food. Stacey's friend Sara also came with us which was nice.

We leave Sydney tomorrow am at 6:20! to start our east coast tour. I am so excited but not about the time I have to get up. The girls did there Bridge Climb this afternoon so I am back off to the hostel to see how they did.