TravelStream™ news feed for member thai_ler on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/thai_ler en-us Copyright ©2010 TravelPod.com Thu, 12 Mar 2009 04:45:58 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/thai_ler/1/1230282420/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/thai_ler/1/1230282420/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/thai_ler/1/1230282420/tpod.html Thu, 12 Mar 2009 04:45:58 -0400 My Amazing Australasian Adventure!

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phillip island, Victoria, Australia

26th December - Boxing day

Today Billy and Aunty Liz went to see their friends, we were invited too but we said we wouldn't go as we thought they'd wan2 celebrate with their friends plus we didn't want to cramp their style. Also we cancelled on our friends yesterday (Might sound bad but I didnt want to see them on christmas cause I've always been with family on that day!). While we waited for our friends to get back to us we rewatched clockwork orange! Never seen it before so was good, makes me laugh that it used to be banned it doesnt seem half as bad as some of the things they let people watch these days! In the end our friends dint get bk 2 us until later on in the evening when Aunty Liz already got home saying they had a big one on christmas day - eithr that or they were getting their own back on us for not turning up! So I wasnt v happy. Doesnt exactly leave a good impression on me and Kim either.
But anyway I spent some 1on1 time with Aunty Liz cause Billy was playing music inside and Kimba went to bed. Was good cause I didnt get much time by myself with her and we had a right chat about all sorts which is good. I'll have to persuade her to come bk 2 England for another xmas!

27th December

After everyone was up in the morning Billy stressed his concerns about us finding work here in Sydney so we agreed that we'd move out in the new year. Billy gave us until the 5th to get some work and if not we should try someplace like Melbourne as might have more avaliabilty there. Me and Kim decided we wanted to stop off in Canberra on the way so began planning our new journey. New year new beginnings!

Aunty Liz and Billy took us both to the Clovelly Hotel for lunch today too and in the evening we went to Speccy and Jo's house to watch some dvds!

28th December

Today we all didthe walk to Maroobra, i already did the coastal walk from Bondi so it was good to go from Coogee in the other direction. It was very hot and was a bit concerned about the patches on the skin burning but it wasnt too bad. We went for lunch in the Maroobra hotel and then headed back to Coogee. Our friends came to Coogee but after the walk we were shattered so gave it a miss and decided to relax at home and begin lookin into our trip away.

29th December

We tried one last attempt in job hunting, i felt like we wasted so much time job hunting when we tried so hard and had nothing back. I probably could have spent more time with Liz and more time looking around the area if I had known there would have been no work at all. We met up with Hayley, her friend from home and Cheyanne and we went back to Glebe where the whole team were staying! Once again it was gr8 to see them all.

We had planned a secret santa, my victim was Bruce and I found a real funny book designed for children about 'wee and poop' (i'm not being silly - that's what the books about! in their terms!) and put his face on the little boy all the way through the book! He loved it. My secret santa was Alix..... he brought me some saucy underwear, easy tiger!!!

30th December

Mum's birthday!!!!!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/thai_ler/1/1230108540/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/thai_ler/1/1230108540/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/thai_ler/1/1230108540/tpod.html Thu, 12 Mar 2009 04:05:52 -0400 My Amazing Australasian Adventure!

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Coogee, New South Wales, Australia

CHRISTMAS!!!

Ho ho ho......

I had one of the best christmas's ever! I woke up later than I had planned cause of the Christmas Eve Cruise the night before, but I didnt feel too bad considering the amount of free alcohol i had drank, I skipped the bubbles though because my tummy still felt a little beveragely assulted. Kim on the other hand felt rough for wear. First thing she did was run for the loo bless her.

William came over which was brilliant, I was trying to work out how long it was since I last had christmas at nans with him but failed miserabely. Aunty Liz knew but I've forgotten now eek.

Breakfast was served! It was loverly! Aunty Liz made (i bet there's a professional name for it.. i'll try my best to describe it) salmon on some kind of toasted ciabatta bread, with poached egg on the second layer. So good!!!!! Kim made it down for breakfast although was so ill she couldn't eat it :S I guess fish on a poorly stomach's not most appatizing. I know she wanted to, she felt really bad cause she knew how much effort aunty Liz put into making it. Will spent brekki with us and then shot off cause he needed to go to his mums.

After brekki aunty Liz began on lunch :D lobster, oysters, big ol' prawns (we got to throw a shrimp on the barbie!!!!!! hell yes!! can't get more australian than that!) potato salad and fresh tuna salad. It was gorgeous!

We also watched bad santa (i admit i fell a sleep through some of it but watched the important bits!!) and clockwork orange which i missed some of cause i fell a sleep again :-o. I spoke to nan and grandad then mum and ken and then dad and christine and nan after they got their troops together :). It was great. It was so strange being away from home but such a rememborable experiance both being with Liz and being in australia!


]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/thai_ler/1/1260517560/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/thai_ler/1/1260517560/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/thai_ler/1/1260517560/tpod.html Thu, 12 Mar 2009 03:45:07 -0400 My Amazing Australasian Adventure!

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Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia

On our way back to Sydney we stopped off at Coffs harbour.

The bus left us at the coach stop wehre all the hostel buses come to pick up backpackers to take to their hostel. A man asked if we had booked acommodation and we said No and that we're fine and we gathered our bags together etc. Then Kim tripped she brought attention to us and the same man came to ask again! Luckily she did it becuase we started talking and he said that we were miles from the actual harbour and if we're only there for the evening we'd be better off that end of town rather than where we were!

He ended up takin us to the YHA hostel so we could freshen up and leave our bags there to have a look around which was fantastic, before getting something to eat and then making our way back to the coach station for our 12.00 bus to Sydney.
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Coogee, New South Wales, Australia

12th December

We arrived back to Sydney! It was raining and we didnt know what buses would get us bk to Coogee so we got a taxi. We met Aunty Lizbeth outside of her work so that we could borrow her key to let ourselves in to the house. After a quick hello and lots of hugs we took the bus three stops up the massive hill (it really is huge!) and to our new home!

13th December - 14th December

We had finished unpacking and sorting thought some of the stuff we left behind. Its facinating what you think you'll need and end up chucking out when you see it again. Maybe it's just a travelling thing? Not entirely sure.. but it's good! After a few days to unwind from the journey back to Sydney and catching up with Aunty Liz and Uncle Billy it was time to get looking for Jobs. Because we hadn't got one for a big amount of time in Brisbane I was in the red and was determined to find some work. Both me and Kim made our CV's ready to send to people.

Its great being back in Sydney i love it here, it's great seeing Aunty Liz again too cause I didn't get to see her for long really before we left for Cairns. Aunty Liz also brought both me and Kim a crate of Bubbles for our birthdays!!!!!!!! Can u believe it?? mmmmm.

15th December

Today was job hunting day! We put on our glad rags and looked around Coogee town centre for vacancies anywhere we could. We noticed a few vacancies in Cafes so had to print out some CV's to hand around (Billy later did this for us). We also met up with our friend Sarah!! She's staying with her partner in Sydney center - They've been in Sydney for a month and neither of them had any luck getting work so far. Apparently becuase it's so close to christmas, and because most backpackers in my situation want to spend new year in Sydney for the fireworks - jobs went ages ago. Me and Kim then spoke about whether we'd be wasting our time but decided it was worth a shot! Back at home Me aunty Liz Kim and Billy just catch up it's really nice cause I obviously haven't ever spent much time with them other than when they come over to the UK and that's obviously not often.

16th December

We went into Sydney to speak to our work agency, we told them our situation and their only reply was that there was no point looking for work until the New Year. The woman was quite rude actually, she obviouly had a day of the same thing. Just a shame she pissed on our fires. Nethertheless we looked around a few of the main streets and asked around a little bit and then called it a day. I didn't have much luck but at least i tried. We're not fussy about the kind of jobs avaliable, but now it's getting close to Christmas most bar work over the period will be filled - we want to get our RSA's (Responcible Service of Alcohol certificate to proove to employers that your responcible in serving alcohol Lol - they're quite fussy about people having it over here - everyone who works with alcohol should have one) in the new year so that if we cant find anything this side of christmas, we'll be able to look for more after. Especially if this woman's right about no jobs until after NewYear.

17th December

Today we tried our jobhunting luck in Bondi Junction - it's only 5 mins up the road by bus so isn't far away at all. We had been looking on the net too as the team at Ozintro reccomended it to us. There were some vacancies about so we handed out some CV's, it was perfect opportunity to do some christmas shopping. It's so strange celebrating christmas here because it's so warm, and it's hard to describe but the whole atmosphere's different. Maybe because it's cold at home we have more of a festive spirit. Can't put my finger on it?

18th December

Coogee, Bondi and Sydney down - East Gardens to go!! Sarah and Gypsy still havent had much luck although Gypsy managed to get a job in Telesales for a insurance company. The pay sounds quite good but there's no more vacancies there unfortunatly :(. Feel sorry for sarah cause she's been looking for ages, mind you me and Kim have been all over the place to find a job and haven't had any luck yet.
We went to East Gardens - It's like Bondi but on the other side of Coogee... We had the same responce there, no one reas really interested and we couldn't see any signs in windows or anything. Nae mind!

We got home and an Indian with Liz and Billy mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. The Indians are nice out here. Liz and Billy also introduced me and Kim so vegitarian Pizzas that are actually REALLY nice. Kim's never had anchovies before and since Auntie Liz made her try one she loves them. I like them but not that much........... lol....


19th December - Kimberley's Birthday

For Kims birthday me Sarah and Gypsey organised a picnic in the Botanic Gardens. I took Kim into the City and she was surprised that Gypsy was there (he was meant to be working but had the day off which is awesome). It was really nice cause the sun was out - sarah got burnt :-o. After the picnic we went over to the birds and fed them. Its brill cause these birds land on you, plus there cockatiels and not pigeons lol!

20th December

Another job hunting day

21st December

Aunty Liz and Billy have no work so they took me and Kim to see their friends new apartment, we also went out for a pub lunch which was really nice. I had loads of fun.

22nd - 23rd December

Back to bondi armed with more CV's, complements from Billy. Billy also said we could get the RSA certificates now incase we find something straight away so helped us book one for 24th. After we'll celebrate!!!

24th December

Christmas Eve!!!!!!!! EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!! So excited, almost christmas. Been waiting for so long. Plus it's my first christmas with my aunty Liz. I've always commented on the picture I have of her wearing short shorts and a christmas hat and now it'll be me :) hehe.

First off me and Kim had to go into the City for our RSA course. It's so easy to do - just boring. I wont bang on too much but we both passed! Kim had her spelling corrected :-o!

After, our friends phoned us to let us know that everyone had arrived back to Sydney - and that they all have tickets for the ChristmasEve Cruise. Sarah really wanted us to go because we're really close to her now and despite us saying no cause we can;t afford it she brought tickets for us. Which is really really nice considering that they're not cheap. We hurried back to Aunty Lizs and got ready for the night. We arrived at the Darling Harbour for a drink and then the boat arrived. It was huge, it's a massive party boat. Inside was tables of beer and wine and a buffet table with pizza and the boat played loud music and sailed up and down the river passed the harbour bridge and the opera house. It was loas of fun, it was fantastic catching up with all of our friends too. A few of them we hadnt seen since we left Cooge the first time. After we boat docked back into the harbour we all left to the Gaff for our free drinks, and then back home for some sleep before CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/thai_ler/1/1228893120/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/thai_ler/1/1228893120/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/thai_ler/1/1228893120/tpod.html Thu, 12 Mar 2009 02:45:13 -0400 My Amazing Australasian Adventure!

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Nimbin, New South Wales, Australia

Aaaaaaaaaahhhh Nimbin!

I don't know if anyone's heard of Nimbin - but it's basically Australia's version of Amsterdam - minus the prostitutes behind glass windows (...I hoped). I heard it's a town full of tiedye and hemp lovin hippies, something completely different to the other towns in Aus - and instead of having to go by yourself ppl recommend you take a day trip there!

Gypsy and Sarah recomdended Jim's Alternative Adventure Tours so that's the one we did - it's quite cheap and you get on the bus outside your hostel, drive to Nimbin via a country pub with loads of Maccadamia nuts you can eat or take with you (I'm not sure if you were really allowed to take them but I did..), and spend a few hours in Nimbin. After Nimbin the bus driver takes a detour to Minyon falls, a world heritage forest and some place owned by a hippy called paul recher which is described as a 'hippy heaven'. He really is a hippy.... talks complete shite. Maybe it's a message from Jim's tours telling you if you take drugs, this is what you have to look forward to... mind you, he seemed like he was enjoying himself when he dived into his lake stark bollock naked infront of the whole tour trip. :-o.

It was a fun trip though the tour guide Ivan picked us up last leaving us to have the two seats right at the front of the bus next to him, he was crazy himself - we drove through a town called Lismore which he described as strictly catholic and on his way through he blasted one of Monty Python's songs out of the bus at the catholic children, tut tut.

Nimbin itself really does look like a street of tiedye, if you go into the nimbin museum you'll notice all sorts of people asking you if u want anything illigel. Even a old woman there that bakes hash cookies :-o.


]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/thai_ler/1/1228805820/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/thai_ler/1/1228805820/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/thai_ler/1/1228805820/tpod.html Thu, 12 Mar 2009 02:05:13 -0400 My Amazing Australasian Adventure!

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Byron Bay, New South Wales, Australia

We left Brisbane to Byron Bay after a sad goodbye with Grant, will miss him loads :(.

We arrived in Byron Bay a few hours later, after being reminded to move our clocks forwards one hour since we've changed states! Awwww, that means we've travelled all of Queensland and are back in New South Wales.

We checked into our hostel - was strange checking into another backpackers after living a month in a uber nice apartment. Nae mind. It was a really nice backpackers - one of the prettiest and relaxed we've been to. It has a really nie cafe/restrant/bar onside it which was nice!

We only had 2 nights booked in Byron bay but I think that's enough time to see evrything there unless you like the surf! There's a lighthouse which is worth a look at, and it has a town centre like the majority I've already seen but I did like it there.

We had a trip to Nimbin with Jim's alternative tours booked and then another Greyhound the next day down to Coffs Harbour to spend the evening there before changing coach to Sydney!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/thai_ler/1/1226726160/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/thai_ler/1/1226726160/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/thai_ler/1/1226726160/tpod.html Thu, 12 Mar 2009 01:56:57 -0400 My Amazing Australasian Adventure!

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Moreton Island, Queensland, Australia

Grant, Kim, Joe, Michelle and Myself all went on a trip to Moreton island for the weekend. Here's the lowdown - what we done and about the island!

It's simular to Fraser Island - I reccomend it to anyone with a 4x4 and to those who love an adventure and enjoyed Fraser. Moreton island is less commersialised, the only difference is that it has a resort on a section of the island near where the ferry comes in, but if you don't want to stay at the resort you can ignore it even exists and carry on without it. (For example... we didn't know it exsisted until the day we were leaving when we stumbled across it then realised how big it is and that the island actually DOES have shops and restrants and other activities!)

We took the ferry across to the island in Joes 4wd intack with two tents, sleepings bags, and whatever else we'd need. Just as the ferry docks into the Island you can see several ship wrecks just off the beaches. In a strange possibly morbid way they look stunning.

The first stop was Mt Tempest, it had a 2k walk to the top for a fantastic view - it wasn't until we were half way we realised Mt meant Mount, and that we were climing a mountain, not a hill! But the view was worth it. We could see the entire island from the mountain, which is located in the middle of the island. It's nice to see because you get to see how big the island really is, and can gather a rough idea as to what is it what direction. It's beautiful, it's a shame because you can't capture what it really looks like on a camera.

After we caught our breath we walked back down, and decided on our next stop. The Blue Lagoon.

The blue lagoon was gorgeous, although to start with there was loads of people, eventually they left (they must have been a part of a trip) so we had most of the lagoon to ourselves. We had snorkles so snorkled around for a little while before moving on.

We continued our journy north to Cape Moreton, which has a Lighthouse ontop of the cliff. We parked up and walked up to the Lighthouse - we could see tutles off the coast in the Sea. We picked a really nice day as everything looked so blue.

Next we wanted to find a spot to camp in, we decided on a campsite with toilets (haha), we looked at two campsites then decided to stay at the second (Comboyuro Camp Area) near the Bulwer Wrecks. We pitched up and walked down to the wrecks, by now the sun was setting, it looked gorgeous. Took lots of photos. We also found a beached starfish, we tried to throw it back but the waves kept bringing it back in, poor thing. We got some pictures with it though! On the way back to the tent Joe was crab hunting. It was hilarious, Michelle swooped them out of the sea and Joe was picking them up. He see's himselve as a pommy (he pretends he isn't) version of Steve Erwin.

By the time we got back to camp it was almost dark, so we changed and sat on the beach, we all saw shooting stars!! Think they were the first ones i've ever seen. Also saw the space station thinking it was a star, Joe took the piss out of me and Kim for it because apparently everyone knows that it's a spacestation and not a star :-o.

In the morning we went to a bay called Honeymoon bay! It's a little excluded bay in the north of the island, we got there early so nobody was there apart from us lot. We all went for a swim. Kim was anxious about coming into the sea and when i eventually pursuaded her a MASSIVE wave came (:-o) and took her sunglasses off so she couldn't see anything, she wasn't happy bunny, but luckily Michelle some how found them :-o.

After that we just drove around the island to look at the rest of the touristy things, more wrecks, some big sand hills, a swamp (it stank), another trek that we all passed on, and we even managed to find a place people actually live. It was tiny, but they had a pub!!!!! How cool is that!!!!

That's when it all started to change!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The sun started to go in, and the winds picked up. We were driving back to the side of the island where the Ferry comes in when it started to rain. We all looked over towards mainland, and noticed the big black cloud hovering over Brisbane. And the lightening that followed! This is when we found the resort so we wanted to have a quick look to see what was there. Michelle found out they had dolphin feeding so wanted to check that out. Some how, judging on the weather, i think it would be cancelled tonight. Which it was. We made our way back to the car because it started thundering, the storm was coming over quite quickly.

We were lucky because we had some fantastic weather the day before and at the start of the day, and we only had to wait an hour or so for the Ferry back to Brisbane! :) x
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/thai_ler/1/1259389140/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/thai_ler/1/1259389140/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/thai_ler/1/1259389140/tpod.html Thu, 12 Mar 2009 01:35:17 -0400 My Amazing Australasian Adventure!

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Surfers Paradise, Queensland, Australia

Trips to Surfers Paradise

We wanted to see a few of the towns around the Surfers paradise like Southport but we were put off when a couple of people said that there was literally nothing there, and that they are just like any another industrial town and that we'd be better off spending more time in Surfers if we wanted to see what the Gold coast was really about.

Other than surfer's paradise the gold coasts famous for it's themeparks and that's about it. - Me and Kim brought tickets for Warner Brother's Movie world and Wet 'n' Wild, we also went to Dreamworld as it's another themepark - We didn't go to White Water World as it's exactly the same as Wet 'n' Wild - and lets face it once you've been to one water park you've been to them all.

Warner Bro's movie world was good to go to because everyone's heard of Disney world and it's nice to see what Warner Bros had at their themepark! Instead of Pinnocios and Mickey Mouses there were Salvester's and Tweeties, and Shreks and Scooby Doo's running around. It was a nice day out - the rides are really good too. Superman ride was TERRIFYING, I'm scared i'm turning into a wuss with rides now, I need to spend a few days at Alton Tours when I get home to sort myself out lol.

I went to Surfers Paradise when it was full of Schoolies................. We don't have Schoolies at home, but basically Australians call it Schoolies when the kids have finished school for the Summer. The kids that have left school all go to the Gold coast for 2 weeks holiday - so there's police and children EVERYWHERE. It's got a big town centre tht backs onto the beach - it's a good day out - So other than screaming teenagers, Surfers paradise was quite nice. :)
That's about it for the Gold Coast.. next stop is to Leave Brisbane and make our way back to Sydney.
xxx
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/thai_ler/1/1237265640/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/thai_ler/1/1237265640/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/thai_ler/1/1237265640/tpod.html Thu, 12 Mar 2009 01:18:22 -0400 My Amazing Australasian Adventure!

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Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

The storm we saw begin at Moreton island quickly became a big storm that turned Brisbane into a Natural Disaster Zone!!! We're lucky we had Grant there as we were trapped there until the weather cleared up. We could have moved on but we still had so much to see, like Noosa, the Australia Zoo and the gold coast - and we couldnt see any of that atleast until the storms had eased up.

In the mean time we took the time we lost finding out prices for the east coast. It worked out to be cheaper for us to get a train from Brisbane to Surfers Paradise to do waht we wanted to do instead of Leaving Brisbane and living in hostels down the gold coast. Plus we got the chance to spend more time with Grant which was fantastic.

A few weeks later the weather began clearing up and it was my birthday! 22 at last :) or maybe not at last.. i keep forgetting i'm 22 and keep telling everyone (by accident) i'm younger. For my birthday Kim planned to meet up with Jen and Kim - we made a meal around Grants apartment and watched a few films. By the time Grant got home the girls were ready to set off back to their hostel and me Kim and Grant went over the road to the StoryBridge Hotel for a few bevvys :). It was such a different birthday being away from my loved ones but i still had an amazing time - anyway i dont supose I'll have another birthday somewhere like this! So i'm grateful.


]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/thai_ler/1/1256874480/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/thai_ler/1/1256874480/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/thai_ler/1/1256874480/tpod.html Thu, 12 Mar 2009 00:15:34 -0400 My Amazing Australasian Adventure!

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Stanthorpe, Queensland, Australia

We walked into the Brisbane Travellers at Work to find a job in or around Brisbane, we found a pub job we wanted so asked for that one. The woman said that we'd be waiting for 3 weeks but in the mean time there was a vacancy for two people at a local farm to do fruitpicking type jobs. Because we already had been looking for fruitpicking jobs (possibility to extend our visa) we jumped at the chance.

The only problem was that it was 2.10pm and the bus to Stanthorpe leaves at 4.00pm - we had two hours to get bk to the other side of Brissy, to pack, tell Grant what we're doing, and get back for the coach. The woman in the office wasn't that helpful, I think all she was bothered about was getting a bonus for filling the vacancy, but at least we managed to find some work!!!

Stanthorpe

Arriving in Stanthorpe we made our way to the Hostel, was quite scary on the coach as it was dark and it looked like we were just in the middle of nowhere!!! We met the hostel manager who quickley shown us around and took us into the office to take our work details, visa etc and explain the rules and what'd happen next.

We had to get the bus to the farm at 6.30am to start work at 7.00am. The first two days were hourly paid which is good because it lets you get used to the job etc before being paid per tree etc (or as i call it.. fruit commision). We weren't actually picking fruit, turns our we were thinning apricot and stonefruit trees (what's a stonefruit?? lol). Also we didn't realise but we were meant to be given gloves and some kind of sheers for the trees, but in fact we were only given a ladder. Lol..... great stuff!!

The pay rate is simple.... 50c - $1.50 per tree - depending on it's size. Keeping in mind that in a row of trees priced at that set amount, there's bound to be outrageously huge $1 trees. It is possible to earn $200 a day, but remember - that means on average, you need to thin (propperly - beause they check it all!) 200 trees.

Also the heat gets extreamly warm, you're in the middle of a field all day, with no toilet, kitchen or storeroom facilities.. just you, 2 litres of water (you need to make sure u have otherwise you'll dehydrate) and you're ladder!!!!! Even though some of the ladders are faulty.. as Kim realised when she fell off the top of an apricot tree. And then got tutted at by the supervisor Allan... because it's obviously seen as stupid that a girl with the wrong equiptment and a faulty ladder could possibly fall 5 feet to the ground LOL.

So anyway, me and Kim decided to team up, double the amount of trees and twice the motivation. Its better to work that way as you can keep your ladder to one side of the tree instead of going all around it and wasting time, also with a friend working along side you you're more likley to keep up the pace. We managed to earn $640 (including tax deduction) in our first week.

The hostel wasn't bad - it did it's job. There's nothing much else to Stanthorpe as its only got a small town center (which isnt open on sundays - which is our only day off). We shared our room with Korean boys who couldnt speak much english, and being the only fluent english speaking people in the hostel we found it difficult to make friends .

Also my whole head blistered because of the sun/heat - so when that happened that's when I wanted to chuck in my hat (not that i had one.. which is why my head blistered lol)

One other bad thing about the type of work there at the time we came to Stanthorpe was the weather - if it rains, you don't work. Simple as that. We were laid off three times because of bad weather (rain we class as spitting in the UK) so all in all we decided our first week - would be our last!

Don't get me wrong - our experiance doesn't meant fruit pickings bad, our friends have gone to Stanthorpe and they love it there - granted they're on a different farm and in a different hostel - but you get good and bad in every place you go to, it's just chance. Unless you know people who have done it before and reccomend a place.
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