TravelStream™ news feed for member cchive on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/cchive en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:42:02 -0500 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cchive/1/1218945180/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cchive/1/1218945180/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cchive/1/1218945180/tpod.html Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:42:02 -0500 Chiv's on tour - To Rio and beyond!

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Fiji, Fiji

Saturday We somehow managed to get all our stuff packed. We originally started off with 16kg's each and 4 bags. We now have 26kg's each and 6 bags! We are not really backpackers with the amount of stuff we have! The term flashpacker has been used since we don't stay in dorms either! We arrived in Fiji - how hot! We don't think we will need our thermals anymore! We arrived at our accommodation Smugglers Cove to find it was lovely. Worth all the hassle of numerous emails to stay here - they tried to book us out to another hostel! Our first port of call was to the bar for a cocktail! Sunday - Thursday No rest for the wicked. We start our island hop today - we have no fijian cash but hope the cash point at the port works (the islands take cash only). We had booked an Island Hop called Tropical Awegasm which went to 6 islands. The resorts were Bounty, Wailai Lailai, Korovou, Sunrise, Manta Ray, Beachcomber. All were distinctly different: Bounty - was okay but very coupley. We did a day on a yacht here called Seaspray which was superb. We visited the Castaway film island - it was so beautiful. Wailai Lailai - We loved it for the summit walk but this is also where they dumped us in the middle of the sea to go reef snorkelling. Claire had already said she was nervous and was told not to worry it is guided. Claire lasted 30 seconds and Julie couldn't get back into the boat so she had to wait until they all came back to be man handled back on the boat! Korovou - We love for the fit locals and bag making man - he could plait better than Julie but this isn't very hard! Sunrise - We loved because blue lagoon was stunning and this is where they filmed Blue Lagoon and also because of Debra who was a man. Unfortunately we drank the bar dry for 2 nights running here! Sunrise is where we also had a proper introduction to Kava - Fiji's ceremonial drink - we discovered Alcohol and Kava don't mix. We were told they mix it to different strengths - the stronger stuff makes your lips go numb - this is what we were having. Debra kept on making it all night long - oh dear! From Sunrise we also went underwater caving - Claire bottled out at the entrance but Julie went cos Rob and Christian helped her when she had to go underwater to enter another cave. Manta Ray - Was too perfect for us but the food was superb! For dinner you got soup, a fish dish and a meat dish. The other islands except Wailai Lailai were nutrient providing only! i.e. not edible and not very much fresh fruit and nothing to buy to snack on! Beachcomber - The so called party island was alot of fun. One night was very busy and the second night was quiet. Claire managed to break her toe (we think, it still hurts now a month later!) and was also sick (she thought she was sober - bloody cocktails. Julie is finally teaching her the ways!!!) We also decided to give para-sailing a go, we had seen loads of people attempt to land and fail but we thought we would give it a go! We landed perfectly after a dunk in the ocean from the boat driver! Claire also had her ipod nicked which she's not very happy about!Julie also injured her ankle by being drunk before lunchtime - oh dear! We thoroughly enjoyed island hopping, met some lovely people and got great tans! Friday We stumbled into our friend Naj who we met in NZ - we didn't even know she was coming to Fiji! We spent the day in Nadi (pronounced Nandi) - this is a really nice place with good shops! We were planning on having a quiet and early night because we were leaving early the next day for our Feejee experience trip and we hadn't packed! A dinner for 3 turned into a dinner for 7 - we met a great guy called Steve who currently lives on the island and is building a golf course. We ended up at a dodgy nightclub and then invited everyone back to our tip of a room to continue the party! At 4am we managed to get to bed! We had a fantastic night and arranged for a repeat the next Friday. Saturday Today we got up at 6am - oh my god! We had to repack for the next 6 days but we some how managed it! We started our Feejee Experience trip today - we didn't know what to expect because Kiwi Experience is party party party! Our group was abit strange - a couple of the girls were very cliqish but all in all we did have a good time. Today we visited the sixth best beach in the world - we don't agree! We've seen better. We then went on a village visit where everyone was in church. That night we had to be rude and went to bed very early in our very own dorm room! It is really hard to choose a bed out of 16! Sunday Today we did a very hard rainforest walk and then went tubing down the river. Claire managed not to hit anything this time - woo hoo! but it was very cold because it was very cloudy. We then headed to Suva - the capital, but because it was a Sunday everywhere was closed so no night out for us :(((Monday Today we visited a 'posh' orphanage which is funded by the church and local businesses. We were then meant to go rafting but because it had rained so much it was unsafe to do. Instead, we had a coconut shaving competition which we lost! We had another Kava ceremony and made reed bracelets. Tonight we were staying at Voli Voli Resort - a resort in the making which was still superb. That night we had planned activities which were hosted by Sasha (another man!). They included another Kava ceremony, egg and spoon race, rugby ball under and over head, bottle passed between legs to each other and sexual positions musical statues! Julie went to have some more Kava with Con, a nice Irish Grandad. It was then time for a bonfire by the beach - Claire saw 2 amazing shooting stars (whilst Julie was busy at the bar!) and Jupiter and the Milky Way - so cool. We decided to spend another 2 nights here - where we did absolutely nothing except read and sunbathe! Thursday Today we joined our new group - they were abit more rowdier than the last group (they danced on the chair arms on a moving bus!). We went for an Indian lunch which was vile and then went to the natural mud and hot pools. These were great once you got over the thought of what was in there with you! Tonight we stayed again at Smugglers Cove and bumped into Con. We decided to go to Hard Rock Cafe for a treat. Friday Our last visit to Nadi to get souvenirs. We then prepared for our big night out - Naj wasn't supposed to be back until Saturday but had miscalculated and was back for our final night our in Fiji. Yeah! Another great night was had by all - another 4am finish! We will be very sorry to leave Fiji - we could of done with another week, or 2, or 3 or 4!!!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cchive/1/1220675100/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cchive/1/1220675100/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cchive/1/1220675100/tpod.html Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:40:12 -0500 Chiv's on tour - To Rio and beyond!

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Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Saturday We flew to Oz today. Today all we did was land, hire a car and find our apartment which was on the Gold Coast - an hour away from the airport! Thanks Mum and Dad!It was nice to have an apartment with Sky Movies, Air Con, Bathroom of our own, our own very fridge.....!!!Sunday No lie in for us :( We had to pick Mum and Dad up at 7am so we left at 5.30am - oh my god! Today we actually didn't do anything - we looked around the Gold Coast and had yummy fish and chips! Monday Today we went to Steve Irwin's Brisbane Zoo - not that impressive though the animals have loads of space which is good. We now know first aid if a snake bites us - which with Oz having 11 most venomous snakes could be very handy to know! We also drove to some hills - Julie wasn't impressed and got back in the car! Tuesday Today we went to Surfers Paradise - the weather wasn't great so no sunbathing. Instead we wasted 1.5 hours at the doctors for Claire's sore arm (Claire got a lump on her elbow and a graze which didn't heal and just got bigger!). She was non the wiser and had a bill for $120 with antibiotics!! (Julie still thinks its a worm!!!) Wednesday Today we went to Warner Bros. Movie World. Brisbane has numerous theme parks along one road. We managed to get mum on the Scooby Doo Ghost Ride telling her it was a harmless ghost ride! We didn't know it went fast and backwards!!! Sorry Mum! They also had a Shrek 3D movie which Claire had seen in the US but Julie hadn't. It's really for kids but we had a good time! The best ride which we went on 3 times was Superman - it goes sooo fast. We even managed to get Dad on this one once. We managed to cool down on the water ride where we got absolutely drenched. We reverted to our childhood and had a photo taken with Batman and Robin!!! A great day was had! Thursday Today we went into Brisbane itself - a typical big city. We had a look around and came back. The parking in the centre is ridiculously overpriced!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cchive/1/1225949460/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cchive/1/1225949460/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cchive/1/1225949460/tpod.html Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:39:30 -0500 Chiv's on tour - To Rio and beyond!

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Apollo Bay, Victoria, Australia

Thursday - Friday Today we decided to do the Great Ocean Road. A very beautiful scenic drive along the coast. On this road, there are the 12 Apostles - Victoria's best known rock formation. Columns of rock just off the shoreline gradually being eroded away by the elements. We then started our 800km drive to Adelaide. We stayed in a very backward town - Mt Gambier. They have the worst Christmas decorations ever!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cchive/1/1226122440/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cchive/1/1226122440/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cchive/1/1226122440/tpod.html Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:38:56 -0500 Chiv's on tour - To Rio and beyond!

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Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Saturday Today we arrived in Adelaide very late. Sunday We decided we like wine tours, so we booked another one! This time we went to see the Barossa Wine region. It is the best known wine region in Australia and has wineries such as Wolf Blass, Penfolds and Jacobs Creek. We drove over the actual 'Jacobs Creek' - woo hoo! We didn't rate this wine tour as much as the hunter valley one but it was still good to do and we resisted buying any wine! Monday Today, we explored Adelaide and found there is nothing to do! Why have we driven 800kms to get here?!?We have decided Adelaide has alot of freaks! On the bus, a couple sat down opposite us and swopped knives and screwdrivers!! They were trying to be discreet and we really hope no one gets murdered today! So, we spent the day getting up to date on the blog - we hope you are all grateful! Tomorrow, another wine tour with our friend Melinda from South America! Yeah! Only 5 more nights in the campervan - yippeeee! Our backs can't last much longer without a proper mattress!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cchive/1/1225427160/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cchive/1/1225427160/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cchive/1/1225427160/tpod.html Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:31:10 -0500 Chiv's on tour - To Rio and beyond!

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Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Friday - SaturdayToday we head to Melbourne - only 900km's to get there! Sunday Today we went to St Kilda - Melbourne's most famous seaside suburb. Surprisingly, there was also a market on - oh dear! We seem to be attracted to them! We did plan to spend the afternoon on the beach but the weather changed so we went to do our washing instead! Tonight, Julie made an enemy with a cocky 5 year old! He was throwing sticks at the ducklings so she went to tell him to stop it and he told her no! She then went and found his mum. The child now hates Julie and constantly pulls faces at her and shouts abuse at her through his window! Monday Today it rained all day so we did nothing! Tuesday Today we were going to Philip Island but got a text from a friend of ours who we met in South America, Faith to say she had the day off. Today is Melbourne Cup Day (a race day) and they get a Bank Holiday for it! So, Philip Island was postponed and we went for a BBQ and got drunk instead! It was so great to see Faith and catch up. WednesdayHANGOVER!!!!!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cchive/1/1225340460/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cchive/1/1225340460/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cchive/1/1225340460/tpod.html Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:26:01 -0500 Chiv's on tour - To Rio and beyond!

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Katoomba, New South Wales, Australia

Thursday Today we did a self-guided cave tour and headed off to see the Blue Mountains. The weather was alot better. We headed for Scenic World which is where you can either go on the Skyway, Railway or Cableway or all three to see the three sisters. The three sisters are a rock formation which towers over the Jamison Valley. The story goes, that the three sisters were turned to stone by a sorcerer to protect them from the unwanted advances of three young men but the sorcerer died before he could turn them back into humans.We chose all three rides - a bargain at $28! The skyway goes from the mountain side to the other and wasn't here the last time Julie visited. We then went down to the valley floor on the World's most vertical railway - it was quite a shock when you go down, it really is vertical! We had a nice walk around the rainforest and came back up on the cableway - the world's steepest cable ride.That night we stayed in Katoomba - a lovely town in the heart of the blue mountain region.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cchive/1/1225253820/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cchive/1/1225253820/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cchive/1/1225253820/tpod.html Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:21:15 -0500 Chiv's on tour - To Rio and beyond!

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Jenolan Caves, New South Wales, Australia

Wednesday Today we were heading towards the Blue Mountains - a very scenic area 90 minutes outside Sydney. The weather however turned and you couldn't see 10 ft in front of you. For this reason we decided to go 2 hours further into the national park and see the Jenolan Caves -these caves are the most extensive and complex limestone cave systems in the world and took shape 400 million years ago. There are numerous cave tours you can do - we chose two and were gobsmacked by the formations we saw. We definately recommend this as a must do in Sydney. Julie cheekily asked if we could camp in the car park over night and they said yes!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cchive/1/1224561840/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cchive/1/1224561840/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cchive/1/1224561840/tpod.html Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:17:01 -0500 Chiv's on tour - To Rio and beyond!

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Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Tuesday - Thursday Over the next three days, we simply drove 700km to get to Sydney. These days were officially the worst days weather in October for the last 16 years! It went from 28 degrees to 11 degrees in 2 hours! We had hale the size of golf balls nearly coming through the windscreen and unbelievable torrential rain where you couldn't see a thing! Claire was driving at this point which is quite rare because Julie does all the driving - she wasn't impressed! It has never been so cold! At this point we hate the campervan - we went to bed with thermals, nightmare, jumpers, 2 pairs of socks and hat and still froze! Friday We arrived at our campsite 15km outside Sydney and it is glorious weather so far. Today we simply did our washing, tidied the van, wrote the blog and planned the next few days in Sydney. SaturdayToday we decided to do a harbour cruise because Julie has never done this. We found an old fashioned sail boat and booked it. We then discovered the literature was incorrect and it was $10 more than advertised and instead of unlimited alcoholic drinks it was 1 alcoholic drink! Julie wasn't very impressed as you can imagine! We tried to cancel it but ended up negotiating the $10 back and 4 alcoholic drinks each which seemed okay since we were only on the boat for 2 hours!! It was a great cruise in the end around the Opera House area. We met a family from London and the mother had the same top on as Julie. We love M&S!!! Later that day we walked around the outside of the Opera House, which is now a world heritage site. Not sure if we agree with this! We passed on climbing the Harbour Bridge because it was extortionately priced and ladders were involved! Julie's worst fear! Sunday Today there was a large craft market on - so we couldn't not go! We spent far too much money but there were cool presents bought! In the afternoon, we visited Manly - a laid back beach area where we had a superb chocolate fondue and then felt very sick afterwards! Monday Today, we met up with a friend from South America - Symmie. She's an Investment Banker and doesn't have much time so a quick lunch is all we managed. It was great to catch up though! We then went to see the fruit bats in the botanical gardens of which there are hundreds. Management hate them because they destroy the vegetation but they still hang around. They were really cool to see. Tonight we did a ghost tour. We've done one in Edinburgh which was superb so we thought we would see what Sydney had to offer! This was not alot! The tour guide managed to lose 2 of the party and didn't seem to care! They obviously have very little history with the oldest house being dated 1816. It was still something different to do and we got to see the bats circling over the harbour bridge - very cool! We got back to the campsite at midnight, knackered! Tuesday Today we got up at 5am :((((. We were going on a Hunter Valley Wine Tour - the Hunter Valley is the oldest wine region in Oz. We went on a boutique wine tour which visited three wineries - Iron Gate, Audrey Wilkinson and another one! We discovered we like Sweet Shiraz - it is superb with chocolate cake! The day was great fun and Julie managed to stay upright!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cchive/1/1224388740/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cchive/1/1224388740/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cchive/1/1224388740/tpod.html Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:04:01 -0500 Chiv's on tour - To Rio and beyond!

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Byron Bay, New South Wales, Australia

Saturday - Monday Today we headed to Byron Bay but made a stop at Nimbin. Here the phenomenon started in 1973 when it had a festival and some of the attendees never left! Here's where you can buy Marijuana and openly smoke it in the cafe. Within 2 minutes we had been asked if we wanted any! We don't quite understand how they lawfully get away with it. Nimbin had a nice feel to it and was very hippified!We then went to Byron Bay - a beautiful place in New South Wales. Saturday and Sunday we didn't do much except chill. On Monday, we decided to walk to the lighthouse and the most easterly point of Australia. The lighthouse was built in 1901 and is the most powerful lighthouse in Australia. The walk was along the cliff face so you could watch the surfers. We also spotted dolphins, whales and turtles which we were later told was quite unusual.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cchive/1/1224302160/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cchive/1/1224302160/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cchive/1/1224302160/tpod.html Sun, 09 Nov 2008 23:59:29 -0500 Chiv's on tour - To Rio and beyond!

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Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Friday Today we headed towards Brisbane - on the way there we passed a Ginger Factory that did tours. We thought it was ginger bread but no - it was ginger! It was really interesting and we tried lots of different things with ginger in them. However, ginger is quite rich and Julie's stomach could not handle this!! We spent the night in a campsite in Nerang, 10 minutes away from Sufers Paradise. We didn't actually go into Surfers Paradise because we have seen it. Instead, we went to the cinema to see Max Payne which was a bargain at $8 each. Thank god it was cheap because it was the worst film we've ever seen!
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