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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.

Here I am in Sydney! I made the 32 hour journey from Goa to mumbai then onto Sydney. I was so sad to say goodbye to India but on the other hand I was ready to leave. Such an amazing country with so much to see exhausted me.

Arriving on the 29th of Oct I got the shuttle bus to the Wake Up! hostel where I met Team Canada! Wendy was on my bus and staying on the same floor as me so we hung out for a bit as Stacey, Debbie and Kate weren't due for another 2 hours. On returning from the supper market the 3 of them jumped out on me from the lifts and there was lots of screaming and hugging. I am sure people in reception thought we were insane not to mention poor Wendy!

With full bellies from a decent pasta dinner and heavey eyes we returned to the hostel. I went upstairs to call Gemma and James. Whilst on the phone the girls appeared out of the lift suggesting drinks?!?!?! Were they mad? There was no way I could have gone for a drink even if I had wanted to. I was beat. Kate said "are you sure cause we found something that might persuade you to come out" then from round the corner appeard a little Jenny, rucksack and all!!!!!!!!! I screamed so loudly that I woke the floor up and got told off!!! Not caring and hugging Jen within an inch of her life I burst into tears of joy (they don't call me soft as s*#t burnett for nothing). Needles to say we went out for drinks (goodness knows how). What a wonderful surprise and the most amazing end to a drained day. So glad to have you here Jen! Me thinks this is going to be the trip of a life time as it has already proved to be.

Goodbye to the 2 L's

What an amazing time we have had! Leaving Anjuna on the 25th of October we headed for Arambol further North. A minging hangover and a hot day saw me pretty fed up whilst having to lug my backpack across the beach! Lesley and Nicole went accomodation shopping and scored highly. A basic room with a firm bed and the most spectacular view of the ocean allowed my soar head to mend. We even saw Dolphines out in the ocean from our porch! Bliss!

Yahoo and Ellesie (not their real names but we couldn't pronounce them properly so made these ones up!) showed up one last time to try and persuade Lou to go south but we were staying put(old Yahoo was smitten with Lou!). Nicole then spotted a rather fine example of a man on the beach the following day. Egging her on she chatted him up and that's how we landed ourselves a dinner date with Mr Scotland and his mate Onslow! The evening was spent laughing and giggling at the most random stuff ending with Nicole snogging Mr Scotlands face off! Nice!

3 nights later and I was preparing for my next leg of the journey. Goa to Mumbai then Sydney. I was so sad to leave the 2 L's as I had one of the most memorable times of my life. Talking none stop for hours in the sea and sharing Pacorra's. Girls, thank you! It was truly amazing.

Goan Dream

My last day in Varanassi was a scary one. A nasty local kept following Mel&I around and even attempted to grope us. As he did I turned around and thumped his shoulder. He didn't get the hint and kept following us making us feel terrible and quie scared so I took my Birkenstock off, raised it above my head threatening to hit him with it shouting "GO AWAY! LEAVE US ALONE AND GET LOST!" Everyone turned to look & laughed as he ran away covering in his head fro protection. Wether at him or me I am not sure but he got the message. Looking back it's funny but at the time we were so scared.

An over night sleeper train took us back to Delhi which was the most fun I have had in ages. We all got the giggles at having to sleep in bunck beds and generally laughed all the way to Delhi.

Now I am in Goa with the lovely Lou&Lesley. I randomly bumped into Lesley on the beach. We have stayed in this shack type room for the last two nights sharing 2 beds between 3 of us! Only cost us 5 quid a night though! Needless to say after an amazing day of sunbathing, a massage on the beach and a trip to the flea market we all got wasted watching the sun go down whilst the aging hippies palyed there crazy music. Iwas a night to remember. Oh yeah and Lou has managed to find her foreign man, surprise surprise.

xxx

Nearly Over :(

I survived rafting! So much water went in my mouth I thought I might die but no! I still haven't been ill! WooHoo! Needles to say my Delhi Belly Diet has not gone according to plan but I am not moaning.

Leaving Orchha we headed east to Khajahro (sorry re spelling) which wasn't the nicest of places. Everyone hasseled us none stop but to a degree where your private space was entered and no was not taken for an answer. The guest house was crawling with bugs too. Yukk!

Onto the Ken River in Panna National Park. What a change of scene! Beautiful lush jungle where we stayed in this wicked outback lodge (Jen you would have loved it!) Here we went Tiger spotting. Sadly I didn't see any Bengal tigers and was a little dissapointed however the safari was excellent and the nature nothing what I expected.

Next place was Chitrakott (might has well be renamed shitrakoot) which is meant to be where Rama(Hindu God) spent 11 of his 14 years in exile. Although not the prettiest of places (beyond a joke) the people were much nicer here and we taught our waiter how to say "Cuppa Tea" which he responsed "but I not a cuppa tea" You had to be there I suppose! Next was Allahabad where the three sacred rivers meet and all join into the Ganges. This is where Kumbe Mela is held every 12 years ad is one of the largest religious gatherings on earth (Dad rekons he is going in 2013 but I don't think he will handle the dirt&bartering!!!!)

Now in Varanassi where at 5:30am this morning I was sat on a boat on the Ganges watching the sun rise whilst the ghats filled with Hindu worshipers coming to take their daily soak. AMAZING! Needless to say I wasn't the best person to have a conversation with but I enjoyed the views through my crust filled eyes enjoying every minute, quite moving really.

Have just had a massage (an expereince needing a post of it's own!) I am stressing a little that I still can't upload pictures. Internet just isn't powerful enough :(

Hope everyone is well. xxx