Outback safari day 6

So much for that good nights rest, tossed and turned all night and when I started to get cold I had no chance. Best part was after we had breakfast and were cleaning up camp the sun started to rise and reveal the dingo tracks around and through camp! It was only the guide, sandra, ann marie and I sleeping not in tents this night so luckily I didn't have to fight off the dingos!! :-)
After a short drive we arrived at kings canyon! Another amazing and interesting rock formation. It was quite exhausting for me being on no sleep and didn't enjoy it to the fullest... In fact everyone says it's their favorite of the 3 places we visited in the red center. We hikes straight up to the top of the rim and walked for about 3 hours exploring many different and strange geology. I really liked the parts called the garden of Eden (out of place lush greenery and even a native fig tree) and the lost city (which looked like a couple hundred dome huts). Over all a great adventure this morning... Just tired and can't seem to get comfortable on the bus to sleep. I think that's about it for this leg, were currently headed for alice springs with part of another group headed the same way, where we get a couple days rest and start off for Darwin and kakadu with a new guide... Saying goodbye to a few people not doing the entire 2 week trip and picking up new people only doing the last half. We'll be having a little going away party for Kiwi and the others... Sounds like a goodtime at a "real" outback pub!


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Outback safari day 5

Woke up freezing! Didn't have the best nights rest either. Up and on the road by 6 to go see sunrise at the rock! First stopped at one lookout to see the first light of day and siloette then on to the real show. Not as impressive as the sunset but still one of those things that makes you smile and feel blessed to see. Same situation with the sun at our backs and as soon as it peaked up over the horizon, the rock glowed an amazing color. The rest of the morning was spent walking nearly the entire base of Uluru (ayers rock). It was interesting, the government gave the land back to the aboriginals but sneaked in a few hidden things that related to the tourism. If you don't know the aboriginals believe photos are magic and take a but of your life or soul with it. During the walk there was heaps of signs asking you not to photograph specific sacred sites and to honor their beliefs. And there's actually a hike/climb to the top of Uluru, which is one of the most sacred and everywhere it has signs asking people not to go up, but it's a huge marketing thing, our guide was saying when a tour company (like ours) stop allowing their passengers to climb up they see big drops in numbers. Sad, and since it's in the lease of the land they can't make it illegal or close it. I guess the view up top is pretty lame too, we're in the middle of nowhere...scrubby desert in all directions.
After another BBQ kangaroo lunch we headed to kata tjurs (the olgas) another very strange rock formation out in the middle of no where. This ones more like a bunch of rounded boulders and rounded mountains. I thought this was more impressive than Uluru. Had a very fun hike with sandra, ann marie, sarah, and emeile. Lots of joking and bonding... I need to keep in contact and go visit them!!
Rest of the day was basically driving to our camp near kings canyon... More hours of driving. Arrived after dark, threw together some spegetti for dinner and finally got a shower in. Had another night under the stars, which were even better!!! Milkyway extra milky! The night started out much warmer than last night so was hopeful I would get a needed good nights rest...


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Outback safari day 4

After our early start which wasnt actually that rough and I'm still going strong after 8 straight hours of driving, only dozed off a couple times. The terrain really hasn't changed at all...but we did see some wild dingos just after sunrise. From about lunchtime yesterday it's been rolling desert with little scrub bushes, random small trees and flies! It's awful, worse today then anything I've ever seen. And what's really bad is they go straight fir your eyes, nose and ears!!! And they love black, which all of seem to be wearing, they just swarm everyone is gross! Most of us bought fly net things fir our heads which was quite fun to eat while trying not to take it off. And the guide says this isn't bad, in the heat of the summer it's even worse! I got a pic of anna maria's back with about 50 flies on her. today our destination is Uluru! (aka ayers rock) it's the big red dome shaped mountain you might have seen picture of, guess over 75% of tourist that come to Australia head out here.
As you might be thinking we're driving a LOT this place is huge. Guess this whole trip will be about 5000 kms! (which is about 3200 miles, I think)
After a while visiting the cultural center at the rock that had a few displays explaining this areas aboriginal beliefs and stories how how it was formed we headed to watch the sunset and have dinner. We were situated so the sun was setting at our backs casting the bright reds and oranges on Uluru! It was beautiful! The BBQ was great and we even had a couple bottles of the bubbly. But the day wasn't over! Ha. We still had to setup camp... We slepted out under the stars which were amazing that night... Crystal clear sky and no city lights for hundreds of miles! It was incredible. Snuggled in between sandra and ann marie. Some people said they heard the dingos howling in the night! Scary.


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Outback safari day 3

Been driving all day! A couple short stops but no longer then for a quick pee, a bit of a leg stretch and one stop at a salt lake for a short walk out on the salt... The army used to use this area for bomb testing so we were warned not to touch any bits of metal poking out of the salt...
After a quick lunch in Glendambo (pop:30) and a few more hours of driving we finally made it to our destination, Coober Pedy. Possibly the oddest town I've ever been to and where we spent the night in the strangest "bunkhouse". Coober Pedy is the worlds largest opal mining site and because is so hot year round most people live underground! Our accommodation was basically a dug out cave. Felt like the Taliban or something living in the hillsides! We went on a pretty good tour of an old mine and were able to explore some of the old tunnels... Very interesting history and current operations, I guess there's no fear of cave-ins because if the rock composition, very similar to concrete. Just dig down and start picking away till you get rich! Giftshop had a piece of opal worth $250,000! It was about the size of a fist. Beautiful stuff! Afterwards we got a little lost trying to find a place where you can dig through rock piles looking for your own free opal...never found it. Met up back at the bus and headed out for a night of pizza and beers! The group is starting to finally open up and we had a great time. There's an Italian couple on there honeymoon (which is funny because all of our sleeping situations are share bunks, hostel style or camping) and another Italian that knows very little english so their always gabbering on in italian. There's a couple girls from Sweden that I guess would have toured tassie with if I starred a day earlier! An older Israeli lady and British guy both traveling alone. An 18 or 19 y/o belgium girl that is an easy target for a lot of joking around, but a good sport, very cute French assent. Anna maria from germany and there's Sandra from Switzerland, very sweet girl and been hanging out with her mostly. She's got a diamond in one of her front teeth, bling!
After pizza we headed to an underground pub for more beers and pool, foosball and poker machines, I tripled my money! Won a whole $3! Met another Aussie traveller that we brought back to the cave with us to finish off a couple bottles of wine. This guy, sandra, anna maria and I all stayed up till about 1am drinking in the srperate dug out kitchen area... Normally ok but we knew we had to be up around 5 and on the road by 6 sharp!



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Outback safari end day 1 and day 2

The drive up from adelaide was a wet one, raining cats and dingos! We even made a pit stop in Clare! I sent a txt to everyone but no one ran to see me, haha. It's amazing what a couple weeks with rain did to the valley! When I left it was dry as a bone and everything was brown... Loads of fresh green grass everywhere!
The past couple days have been spent exploring the Flinders Mountain Range and staying both nights in the old mill converted in ti hotel in the town Quorn. An old railroad station town fir the ghan(Adelaide to Darwin) but now just has an old steam train for touring the local area.
First day we hiked to the town of Dutchman stern... With a great view for miles! Could see near 360 degree view of eroded (is that a word?) round top mountains, spencer gulf and port augusta in the far distance. The hike back down was awesome, the sun was setting and all the kangaroos were starting to appear, lots of close encounters! When we returned to the hotel we met the south bound bus of the same tour made dinner and watched wolf creek (again! If you want to see a bloody horror flick about backpacking in Australia based on true stories check it out, if not stay AWAY!)
Day 2 was full of history, a new terrain and heaps of animals. Most of the day was spent in the wiapena pound, a horseshoe shaped mountain range... Learned of it's past as a sheep farm then grain and now nature reserve. Also learned a few of the aboriginal stories of how it was formed. It was a foggy cool morning so most of us passed on the mountain top hike on the advice that the view will likely be not worthwile. So we took a easy stroll along a river into the pound and a short hike to a lookout which wasn't bad as the mist did clear slightly.
After a BBQ lunch we went out seeking wildlife! On the drive we saw quite a few wild emus, heaps of grey and red kangaroos (was told the reds can jump nearly 15 feet high and cover about 25 feet of ground in a single "hop") even saw a guy with a couple camels. In the warren gorge we saw the elusive yellow tail wallaby!!! A crazy little kangaroo! Jumping around the rocks all nimbly wunbly... And they have very interesting colorings, dark faces, grey body, yellow legs and striped yellow and black tail, snuck up on one and got some great shots of it feeding. On the drive back to the "mill" say a few wedge tailed eagles feeding on road kill, huge birds! 6+ foot wingspan and capable of killing full grown kangaroos with a sneak attack, swooping down right into the back of their heads and knocking them out cold. After a beautiful sunset most of us passed out on the ride home from the days adventures. Back at the hotel our bus made dinner for everyone.... Feral BBQ! Kangaroo steak, emu patties and camel sausage... All pretty good. To bed early for a early start for nearly a full day of driving.


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Back on the road! Outback day 1

Well I'm back on the road again, with a fresh spider bite!! Worries me a little since I'll be in the outback soon, aka middle of nowhere! I dont think it was one I'd those deadly ones because it only itches and is swollen at this point. But I'm keeping a close eye on it!
Spent the last few days in Adelaide! Had a pretty good time, I'm basically down to my last couple hundred dollars after paying for all my tours so I found all the free stuff Adelaide had to offer,.. The free bus and tram made it so easy to get around. Botanical gardens were a highlight, quite a few flowers were actually in bloom. Also spent a lot of time at the central market, reminded me of the big open markets in Europe. And couldn't pass up Chinatown for a couple lunches of noodles (laksa was my fav) bubble tea.
Finally got all my travel plans arranged and paid for. So this morning I started a 14 outback safari from Adelaide to darwin(basically straight up the center of the country), with a lot if camping and hiking. From Darwin I fly to cairns and start part 3 of my holidays!!! So I've booked quite an action packed trip on the east coast! First is a couple days exploring the daintree rainforest up on cape tribulation, with a cruise of croc infested waters! Then I'll take a 5 day scuba diving course, 2 days of training in cairns then 3 days living on a boat out on the great barrier reef!!! Should have about 9 dives total, most excited for this and was my budget buster! Then I'm off sailing the whitsundays for a couple days, which is an archapelaco (sp?... A big group) of about 75 tropical islands... Awwww.... Then I'm off to Fraser island on a camping safari! Not sure what to expect but everyone says it's a must do kind of thing. Then a few days exploring Brisbane, byron bay, nimbin then back to Sydney to head home on June 23rd!
Don't worry I'm taking heaps of pictures... Already have about 8 gigabytes!!!! I need to make a backup, freaks me out only having one copy.
Might not have Internet for a couple days so till then wish me luck!

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Back to the mainland!

So I'm back in Adelaide, took the first bus I could after I arrived in mebourne on the ferry, and in a short 11 hrs I was here.... So to recap, boarded the ferry about 6:30pm Sunday, arrived in Melbourne about 7am, made my way to the bus station in the tram, and caught the 9am bus to Adelaide arriving at about 7:30pm. A total of 25 hours in constant travel!!! Makes me wonder why I didn't take the 3hour flight for about the same money, hahaha
Ferry ride was a little disappointing, food was expensive, beer was about the same(which is crazy expensive everywhere) and the entertainment made me cry, first I played some slots in the casino and lost then watched "Marley and me" in the cinema... Saddest movie EVER, totally know how it had to end but thought some how it would end happy. Not much else to do so went to bed... Well to be correct I went to chair.
So I've been exploring Adelaide the past couple days, have my next tour starting Saturday and am very excited! Been trying really hard to get my final tour arranged but Im running out of money and the tour costs basically exactly as much as I have left... But it doesn't include all meals!! And I still have a couple days here and there I need to pay for a room. So I have to cancel one of the parts... But they all are basically top of the list things. Tour the Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation. 5 day great barrier reef scuba diving course (3 days living on a boat, includes 9 dives). Sailing around the Whitsunday island. 4wd safari on Fraser island. Already cancelled 2days at surf camp :-p.
So we'll see what happens, it's all so awesome I can't pass it up, but it's expensive travelling, I don't know how some of these people do a year or two backpack... Seriously I've met a lot of people that have been here since last year!


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Tassie day 6 and 7

I'll catch you up on the end my tasmania tour. (currently in Adelaide, but I'll post another about getting here.)
After a morning of fighting for the shower, haha, only 2 showers and like 15 girls! We had the morning free to explore the town of strahan, I headed straight for this park with a hike down a stream to a waterfall, with the promise of platypus! We had a couple hours, enough to do the hike, walk around the old mining town and get a coffee or what ever... I spent the whole freaking time camped out hunting myself a platypus... And guess what? NO PLATYPUS!!! No coffee, no climbing to the lookout looking for south America (haha, I guess from this town if you head exactly west the first land you come to is S America). After a short bus ride we stopped at a beach to dip our toes in the southern ocean, a couple of the girls got soaked when a big wave came out of nowhere... Too bad they didn't have a spare pair of jeans and shoes, not to mention it's cold and rainy today. Next stop was the hently sand dunes, looked just like the dunes in oregon until we explored a little and found all the different tracks... Tons of tasmanian devil tracks! Very surprised, very cool. Passed on the quad tour... Was cold and rainy and they were a little expensive. After hiking around a while, learning about the flora and fauna we ran down this really steep part back to the bus and fried up a few sausages for lunch. The rest of the day was bus travel through very interesting (sometimes a little hillbilly scary) small town and made our way to the cradle mountain region. Made it just at dusk, which was perfect because that's when the animals come out! I got up close to a wombat! Think of a cross between a teddy bear and a potbelly pig... Very cute. Also saw lots of mini kangaroos. And watched the sun set... Couldn't get a good picture tho... No one could, weird. The bus driver dropped a few of us off early to walk the rest of the way back to the camp ground to see if we could spot any night activity. Not the safest thing, there was a full moon but that was about it! I did happen to take a picture of a mystery creature, I say it was that assumed extinct Tasmanian tiger! Saw a few other things, no positive identifications but assume either wombats or wallabys. Made it back to the cabins safe just in time for stew and played cards and drank beers, girls were drinking the goon (box wine)... Also a few possum sightings on the way to the bathrooms.
Next day we had almost the whole day to explore the cradle mountain area. Started with a hike around dove lake with great views of the cradle mountain! It was actually clear most of the day so I got some great shots of the peaks! Was told a cloud usually parks right in front. Finished the loop around the lake just in time for a lunch break! Hopped on the free shuttle bus back to the lodge for some coffees and hot chocolates, then anna, sabina and I headed out to do another hike while tatiana and amanda stayed warm in the lodge. Tariana was the Swiss girl and I had to laugh at what she wore for the hike... Very posh, white coat with fir hood and was carrying a designer handback instead of a backpack. The sign for our hike said it took an hour, we figured that was taking your time so we did it quickly since we barely had enough time before we had to meet the rest at the bus. By the way the rest of the group that didn't do the lake walk (easy hike) did the monster 5 hour up the mountain and back down trek that included a few points where you had to use a chain to pull yourself up. Well it took us just about an hour and we kept up a good pace. It was a beautiful day and thoroughly exhausting! We all basically crashed on the bus making our way to devonport for the night, just in time to watch the sunset next to the lighthouse. Saw a few aboriginal rock carvings. Ordered pizzas for dinner and played drinking games all night! Tina (the American) drank way too much and ended up puking in the middle of her dorm room! Haha, and kept saying "I'm so wasted, this is umm like the most wasted I've ever been" oh you know the type. Pretty sure she finally pass out waiting for the shower.
The next morning was sad, I was parting ways with everyone, my journey was over, didn't even get back on the bus! All the girls didn't understand I was leaving now and got back on but all ran off to give me one last hug... Very sweet. Instead of heading back to launceston and coming right back I was going to take the 12 hour night ferry tonight that leaves from here back to mainland Australia. So I tied up my bag around back of the house using my cool metal backpack netting and headed into town. Had a McD's breakfast... Walked around town, tried calling mom like 10 times but she never answered... It was mothers day here, but a day early there. Went to a movie to pass the time, star trek, it was freaking sweet! I only got about 1/2 of the inside jokes or references they made about the old movies and lots if camios of old cast. I'd give it two thumbs up! Way up. Spent the rest of the day basically exploring the whole town (it's not that big) Then I made my way back to the ferry terminal around 6ish to board.


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Tassie day 5

Today was an early start... Up at 5:30 to start the second 1/2 of my trip, up the west coast of Tasmania, spending a lot of time in the cradle mountain NP. First stop was in Mt. Field NP seeing a couple water falls, Russell falls was great, and also saw the biggest trees in Tasmania (perhaps all of Australia) on the tall trees walk through very old growth forests (+2000 yrs old). Next we headed to lake st clair, had a hike before lunch, got to know Anne a little better, a german girl who was travelling after being a nanny in Sydney for the past few months. This hike also beginning my frustration with the platypus!!! (still elusive!). Hiking, over lynch and on the bus I was starting to meet and make friends with my new group. So far I know Anna(Germany), dan(uk), tina and amanda(WA,WI =USA), there's also a couple from the UK, a couple Chinese girls, a girl from the Czech republic, a Swiss girl and a few japanese ladies. And carl, our crazy goofy dreadlocked bus driver... Much more interactive than erica (who happens to be his girl friend) so far I feel very lucky to get another fun group! After a lunch of tuna salad wraps we hit the road... Weather on the west coast is much more random, much more wet but have had luck with hikes, it did drizzle but cleared. Made a stop at the franklin river, in franklin gordon NP for a great hike and lots of exploring... The franklin is one of the last rivers in the world that starts and ends untouched entirely in a national park, pure mountain spring water!!! No human contamination, no farm runoff, no dams, very clean... In fact a few people filled up their water bottles, however it's stained brown from the tannins in the roots of the button grass that grow in the area. It's very damp here causing tons of different mushrooms to pop up everywhere. Our next stop was a beer run in the ugliest town in Australia, Queenstown. It was an old mining town that's refining process back in the day released toxic gas and created acid rain killing all of the surrounding old growth forest and wildlife, leaving the ground posioned! they said until recently not even a single blade of grass would grow (infact their footy field is still gravel). We stopped for the night in Strahan, a sleepy fishing village. Had a Aussie/Asian dinner, beers, goon and finished the night with ferris bulers day off. We all were very tuckered out, to bed by 11


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Tassie day end of day 3 and day 4

Like i said the end of my day 3 was the end of the tour for everyone but me in the tour group so there was a plan to all meet for dinner and drinks. Most of us were at one hostel but Sivan was at another and was suppose to meet us at 7 but we never met up... Later find out that she basically went up one staircase while we went down the other... :-( she even went looking for us down where all the resturants were but didn't find us, so she didn't get to say goodbye to everyone. We had some great indian food, service was a little iffy, then we went to murphys irish pub for beers and a little live music, said goodbye to trine and anna (Denmark) then Ross(uk), christina(Germany), katinka(Netherlands) and I played pool till like 3 till they kicked us out...at one point a fight broke out between a few fishermen, I almost get in the middle of it, a little scary, funny thing tho they got kicked out and by the time they passed the window outside they were best buds again arms over each others shoulders.
The next day (day4) I had a free day in Hobart.., I slept in, did a little laundry, wondered the streets and around dinner time met up with Ross again and headed out. luckily with a well timed email and my amazing iPhone, Ross and I were able to meet up with Sivan for dinner! I thought I wasn't gonna be able to say goodbye. She was gone all day at a cruise along the coast so I thought I would try to run into her when it came back by waiting at her hostel's front desk but no luck. However half way through my burger I got an email that she was still in town and really wanted to meet up, she joined us, Ross left early and her and a I talked over a couple beers, even discussed current affairs regarding Israel and the USA. So at least I got to say goodbye and get a big hug! A good night for tommy.


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Tassie day 3

Oh it's a lttle sad, tonight is the last night with this group, have a free day in Hobart tonight then back up the west coast with a new group... And a new driver, oddly enough I met him last night, he's erica's boyfriend.
Last night wasn't much of a party persay but we did have a lot of fun. There was a pool table at this house and the proved to be a real party starter... We all were pretty bad so it was always a surprise who was going to win. After a few games dinner was ready, spegetti tonight... And more games after , till underbelly came on. That's a tv show I have been watching the whole time I've been in Australia and last night was the final episode. Later in the night we started to play Uno... But with strange rules, like if you gave multiple of a number (no matter color) you can play all of them (sometimes changing color) and the other odd rule was if you had a matching card (say a green 7 was played and you also had a green) anyone no matter who's turn it is you can play it and then the person next to them is up... Very confusing and fast paced... And if multiple "draw" cards are played on top if each other (even the wild draw4) it all added up for that one person. I finally gave up around 11:30 but heard the guys come to bed round 2:30!!!
Up by 7 for the adventures if the day! Mainly Port Arthur and the Tasmanian devil park. So basically Australia began as a second chance for British convicts to serve time then be given back freedom and become settlers. Tasmania was the place where the bad or repeat offenders were send, port arthur being the "prison" where the worse were sent. Lots of history lessons and exploring of the old buildings, most walked around with Sivan, but also Trine and Anna (from denmark) and always seemed to bump into Maki (the always goody Japanese girl, remember michinio?) after a couple hours we got a free boat harbor cruise showing us the island where the boy convicts were sent to live (at age 7 you could be tried as an adult for simple things like pickpocketing and sent here) and also the island were they buried their dead. Over all it was a little boring but showed how aweful it once was here and the small crimes that got you sent half way round the world to serve time for. After a quick lunch and loading up the bus we headed for what I might call the highlight of the trip as far as wildlife. It was the Tasmanian devil conservation park, which began with a pair chasing each other round and round till the keeper brought a little wambat over for their lunch and the real fun began! They make the crazyest noises, like a grawling scream... Can't imagine camping in the woods and hearing that late at night, would freak me out! Can understand why they call them devils! The rest of the park was filled with native animals, all a little lame till we got to the kangaroo and wallaby... Umm petting zoo? It was freaking amazing!!! Kangaroos up close in their natural enviornment! Got some great photos!
Just got to Hobart and ready for a drink! I'll talk to y'all later!
Here's a pic I took with my phone of one if my new friends!


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Tassie day 2

Had a Great sleep, quick shower and breakfast then loaded up bus and headed further south down the east coast for our major hike for the day, Wine glass bay! First stopping off at a surf blowhole... Always fun. We had a couple of choices, a major hike to the top of the mountain, near 1500 foot climb with quite a bit of scrambling up smooth granite and sliding back down but would have a 360 degree view OR a hike 1/2 up the mountain to a lookout then back down to the white sand beach. I chose the easier hike with beach. It was actually a moderate hike, but a good challenge. I walked most of the way with Sivan the girl from isreal. Haha a little flirting going in. She says she's famous back home and can't believe I've never heard if her... Says I'm the poparatzi with my nice camera. She's fun. The whole hike there and back took about 3 hours with about 1/2 hr hanging out on the beach... Sivan got hit by a small sneaker wave when she got close to dip her toes in... She wasn't happy with me laughing at her all wet. It was thoroughly exhausting. A short trip to a picnic ground for lunch, sandwiches, and a visit to the info center we started on a long drive to our place for the night a couple hours further south. First stopping at a bottleshop for a little booze, then Sivan and I got an icecream (her vanilla was a bit meaty ?, or so she says LOL)

Tonight is erica's (bus driver/guide) last day after 3 years so it's going to be a party tonight.

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Down under the land down under

Day 1 Tasmania (may 3):
Night before flew into launceston from Sydney, a short 2hour flight. After the flight landed there was a fruit and food check that involved a beagle which actually sat on my bag which got me worried, but ended up being the bag next to mine... Thought "oh great what did I pack?". Headed outside to find a shuttle into town and what much, was the last to fit on the shuttle into town, next bus, 30 minutes! Made it to the hostel ...Backpacker hub...but was a bar down stairs that i think was having strip club night, there was a cover charge so I didn't check it out but there was Loud music till late, plus it was hard to sleep cuz so excited.
Next AM met bus at doorstep, met erica the driver and introduced to rest of group that has been traveling together for 3days already, I will continue on with new diver and group once I get to Hobart where they finish their trip. a great mix of people... A few Korean girls, a couple girls from denmark, a couple Italian girls, a couple girls from Germany, a few guys and girls from japan, a girl from isreal, a guy and his mom from Austria, an older Australian lady and a couple of English guys. All very nice and friendly... Small enough group everyone is becoming close, friendships forming fast. Morning drive was a little rough, winding roads and a bumpy bus. A few people were actually getting a little car sick, but I did well. Totally different terrain... Similar to Oregon but no evergreens, all gumtrees but much more mountainous than anything before. Our first stop was at St columba falls, claiming to be tasmanias biggest, over 90 meters. It was beautiful. Was a nice walk down to the base and when we got back lunch was just about ready... Aussie BBQ! Burgers prepared by the guide. After lunch we drove a couple hours to our next stop, the bay of fire. Named because the original explorer that found it saw many fires burning along the beaches at night as he was approaching, some say it's because of the orange/red lichen that grow on the rocks here... Spent a couple hours exploring tide pools and climbing on the rocks. Took a few amazing pictures. Found a weird alien pod... Maybe a shark egg... Don't know. Back on the bus for a couple more hours driving, stopping for a few shots of the setting sun and arriving at the house in bicheno where we would be staying for the night to unload quickly then we all headed to a special place to watch the little (fairy) penguins come up the beach... Only saw a few but they were damn cute. Guess it's the wrong time of the year, earlier they say hundreds come up and rust here. Headed back to the house were dinner was just about done, rice, chicken & veggies. Played a little ping pong.... But it turned into a 8 or 9 person game where we all were rotating around the table taking a single shot then the next person hits it and round and round you go... Later turned into elimination and got real exciting. A little chatting and drinking then bed time.



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[beep]ing car! Ok I'm over it ;-)

What a stress! And waste of money, I totally think i went about that the wrong way...so instead of just hanging out in Adelaide and selling my car I thought it would be a much better choice to just go back to Sydney and sell back at an agreed 40% of the purchase price... Thinking it's be less stressful, no paperwork hassels, get to do a mini-road trip getting there seeing a couple cool out of the way things and in the end have a good time... Well I'm not sure I did the right thing. So I think I last left you in Canberra... Had a pretty good nights rest, got up early and hit the road headed to Sydney. Wow was the fog bad! Reminded me of the fog in grants pass. After a couple hours of uneventful driving I began to enter the suburbs of Sydney and gave Murray (the car dealer) a call. Said he was busy this afternoon and as long as I got there by 2:30 everything would fine. Informed me I needed to get a pinkslip and wash/clean the car before I returned it. Pinkslips are a pre-sale safety inspection to basically prove it's roadworthy and your not ripping off the other person. Cruised around the town of Liverpool and found a Tyre shop that sign said they did the inspections... Great, easy! Thinking only another $30 or so and I'd be set... Wrong! Both rear tires were too bald to pass... What luck I'm at a tire shop that had cheapo retreads for $50 a piece. Ok all set... Just need a carwash... No do-it-yourself places to be found but for $30 I found a place that did an amazing job! Washed the outside, shined up the tires, hand dried, vacuumed and wiped down the whole inside! ....but... It took freaking forever! It was actually funny, they kept pulling cars outside and I started to think mine got lost or something coming down the wash tunnel... Can't really take a wrong turn on a track. Plus they were having a special on hand polishing and all the cars ahead of me got that... So by the time I finally got my car back it was too late to make it to the dealer... Grrr... It was like 2 hours! Gave Murray a call, he said he was busy tomorrow, I said I had a flight and he said to call him in the morning and we could arrange something... At this point I had a feeling I may be totally screwed. So I started looking for a hostel as close to the dealer as possible so getting to the lot at a moments notice wouldn't be an issue. What a pick!! Hahaha I think I found the old folks hostel! Not to mention it was on the approach path for the airport like a mile away! Haha When I made dinner there was a couple of oldies in the kitchen that had to have been in their 60s and a couple more already eating. Slept alright, awoken by the morning flights and also in the middle of the night was jarred awake by someone's night terror scream, but it was all 20something guys in my room and this was very little girl like hahaha. Shower was great! Had some hot water issues past couple days. Even got a shave in, figured my tassie trip might involve a little roughing it so better get a good shower and shave in while I got the chance. Called up Murray again and said we could meet at 11 after his daughters netball game... No clue what to do for 2 hours. Made a few calls, confirmed my tassie trip, called mom and called Megan... Went for a walk to find an Internet cafe but was in a very ethic part of the suburbs, just weird shops and resturants... Mix of Greek, Italian, Vietnamese and Pakistani... I think, also a little Portugese, Korean and Lebanese... Food smelt amazing but couldn't afford. Never did find Internet. But wasted enough time so I headed to the car lot... Perfect timing! And all was right with paperwork and got my cash and headed for downtown! A free man! Can't believe how much it cost me to get it here and for the services! Was a pretty long drive, filled up 3 times (each time $75+, gas is about $1.20 a liter, so about $4.50 a gallon). But I feel liberated!
And at the moment am on my flight to wild Tasmania!!! :-) with a grin!


-- Post From My iPhone