TravelStream™ news feed for member fdaussie on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/fdaussie en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Thu, 23 Apr 2009 23:10:06 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/fdaussie/1/1239465600/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/fdaussie/1/1239465600/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/fdaussie/1/1239465600/tpod.html Thu, 23 Apr 2009 23:10:06 -0400 Leaving home...NJ to Australia

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia

I wanted to do something different with this trip to Australia, so we decided to explore the "top end" of Australia. Auntie Laurel, my mother, Anthea and I (both moms and both daughters) caught the red-eye flight from Sydney to Darwin. We arrived at about 4am, and just crashed in our hotel. The next morning, we got up nice and early to go to the wharf and feed the fish. There were thousands of fish waiting for their feed of bread from the tourists. It was pretty cool, although I expected they would be brighty colored tropical fish, and they were the opposite; big grey ugly fish, but a cool experience none the less. I guess this is a good time to talk about how hot and humid it is in Darwin, and the whole "Top End", is was 100 degrees and above the entire time, and so sticky humid. YUCK!

After feeding the fishies, we rented a car that we would use for the next 6 days. We then headed off to explore what Darwin had to offer and ended up taking a ferry boat across to a nearby island. There was nothing much on the island but a big outdoor beach bar with live acoustic music by two quirky guys with guitars. We had a few beers, and listened to the tunes for the two hours until the next boat arrived to take up back. Now being this hot and sticky, and surrounded by all of this beautiful blue ocean, you'd expect that we would at least be able to hit the surf here... NOPE! Deadly jellyfish and saltwater crocs inhabit these waters, so no swimming is allowed here either. Its really such a tease, and almost painful not to be able to cool off.

That night we watched the sun set over Mindl Beach in Darwin. It was amazing! What a beautiful site, and I took some amazing photos. Mindl Beach has to be one of the choice spots for watching the sunset because we were not alone there.... About 50 ppl came out with their cameras to join in the experience.

Afterwards, we went back to the hotel to get all dressed up for dinner. The food was fantastic at this thai/ Indian restaurant in Darwin. We made the most of it because as you will read later, this was the last taste of decent food and being respectably dressed for the next 5 days...The next day our deep bush excursion was to begin. H
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/fdaussie/1/1239292800/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/fdaussie/1/1239292800/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/fdaussie/1/1239292800/tpod.html Thu, 23 Apr 2009 23:01:18 -0400 Leaving home...NJ to Australia

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Montville, Queensland, Australia

Now there is a tradition that when we leave the beach each trip, we head to the nearby town of Montville. Now, I grew up in Montville, NJ so it is fitting we visit Montville, Australia. It's a great little artsy town at the top of a mountain with fabulous views. There was just more shopping and eating here, but what else do you do on a good vacation! Afterwards, it was the 2 hr drive back to Brisbane.

My mother is staying with her sister, and I am staying at my cousin Antheas apartment, so the next day we just did our own thing before getting on the plane for our Bush Walkabout in Darwin, Australia.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/fdaussie/1/1239552000/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/fdaussie/1/1239552000/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/fdaussie/1/1239552000/tpod.html Thu, 23 Apr 2009 21:53:39 -0400 Leaving home...NJ to Australia

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Mooloolaba, Queensland, Australia

My great aunt (Auntie Maude) lives close to Mooloolaba, so whenever we come we always get a beautiful beach condo apt for a few days and spend some time catching up and soaking in the sun. Unfortunately, this trip it was rainy and overcast for most of it, and we didn't even get to go for a swim in the ocean. My cousin Anthea's best friend who has been living in London for the past few years had actually flown back to Brisbane the same day that I did, so him and 2 other guys also came to the beach. We had two apartments - one for the party animal kiddies... lol, and one for the "grown ups". Antheas friend Adam, who will from now on be referred to as "Old Man River" brought his fishing boat down, so Anthea, Fendl, Mick, and I all went down to the river for a boat cruise and fishing day. None of us caught a darn thing unfortunately, although Anthea and I had a nibble, and I caught a tree on one of my casts. We had a great time though, and it was sunny for those few hours!

The rest of the Mooloolaba trip consisted of shopping and eating. We had a great big seafood feast the last night we were there..mmm, mud crab, sand crab, prawns, etc.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/fdaussie/1/1239462000/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/fdaussie/1/1239462000/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/fdaussie/1/1239462000/tpod.html Thu, 23 Apr 2009 21:49:03 -0400 Leaving home...NJ to Australia

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Brisbane is where my moms side of the family is from, and where my only first cousins are from, so whenever I get to catch up with them, its fantastic. I don't have much family in the states at all. People always grow up sharing holidays and special occasions with close cousins and aunts and uncles, but not me - mine live on the other side of the world! We had a nice barbeque to welcome us, and the next day we were off to a fantastic beach town called Mooloolaba.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/fdaussie/1/1239033600/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/fdaussie/1/1239033600/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/fdaussie/1/1239033600/tpod.html Thu, 23 Apr 2009 21:48:18 -0400 Leaving home...NJ to Australia

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Our cousins picked us up from the airport, and the first stop before we even went to their place, was a good old Aussie meat pie! A meat pie for those of you who have missed out on this pleasure in your life is like a personal Chicken pot pie but beef instead, and boy is it delicious. It's the staple food down under, when you need a quick meal on the go. That flakey pastry, with that oozy chunky brisket type filling, yummo!

Our cousins live on Bondi Beach in Sydney, which is one of the top 3 beaches in the world. Depending on who you talk to, it can arguably be #1. What a way to start this journey. On night one, my cousin Marc took me to a friends place, who lives in EASILY a 20 million dollar house on the Sydney harbor. You walk out through the kitchen where the entire back wall opens up with those sliding glass doors and turns into an indoor/ outdoor living space. There Sydney was in all its glory with a 180 degree view of the city including the Opera House and Sydney Harbor Bridge... breathtaking.

After arriving at 8am, I stayed up until 1:30am that night in order to beat the jet-lag, which was a successful maneuver. After having a good night sleep, the next morning we did a bit of shopping in the outdoor markets down by the beach. I bought a shirt, and some vintage rolling stones cover posters. We then all trekked off to get manicures and pedicures because that night we were celebrating our cousin's 50th birthday party. We got all dolled up and went to this really nice/ trendy pub where we partied the night away with a dj and salsa dance teacher. Good times indeed.

Unfortunately, that was the end of our stay in Sydney, and the next morning we were off to Brisbane to visit with the rest of our family. I will be returning to Sydney in Mid May for another couple of days before I head to London, and start the European part of my adventure.
]]>