TravelStream™ news feed for member vicky.mcneil on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/vicky.mcneil en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Mon, 04 Aug 2008 01:39:12 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/vicky.mcneil/australia_2007/1217827740/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/vicky.mcneil/australia_2007/1217827740/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/vicky.mcneil/australia_2007/1217827740/tpod.html Mon, 04 Aug 2008 01:39:12 -0400 My Trip to Australia - 2007

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Queenstown, South Island, New Zealand

Hi all well I've made it to the south Island.

after Taupo we visited the national park but the weather was rubbish so we didn't do to much.
Thursday 31st July we reached Wellington good old windy, wet, wellington!! We spent the afternoon with the crew off the bus looking around the Te Papa museum which was a good afternoon.
That night we met up with Rich who we met on our last Stray trip, we had a few beers with him and he let us stay at his god bless him! it was really good to see him again.
Friday 1st August we spent the whole day traveling back to Auckland so pretty boring day, Charles, Helen and Vanessa will know all about that LOL.
Saturday 2nd August, we arrived in Queens town, it really is a spectacular city and really good being back. We spent most of Saturday afternoon looking round the shops and planning our next few days here!
Sunday 3rd August.
Today myself and Kerstin booked a trip to the Cardroma ski resort and had snow boarding lesson LOL. I LOVED IT!!! We had so much fun and I even learnt how to stop without just falling over LOL, we also learnt some moves to like floating leaf! I'm defo gonna have a go when get back home!
Today, well i booked my flight home wohooo!!!
Kerstin did her sky dive I just hung around town. We're off to Dunedin tomorrow for a few days maybe pay a visit to Cadbury factory!
Love lots Vicky xx x
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/vicky.mcneil/australia_2007/1217310600/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/vicky.mcneil/australia_2007/1217310600/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/vicky.mcneil/australia_2007/1217310600/tpod.html Tue, 29 Jul 2008 01:02:58 -0400 My Trip to Australia - 2007

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Taupo, North Island, New Zealand

Hello all, well finally made it to NZ, the weather isn't great but we're having a great time!
We're in Taupo at the moment where i did my sky dive the last time i was here!

We arrived in Auckland on the 24th and spent 2 days there just looking around the shops and went up the sky tower, the views are amazing up there.

Saturday we jumped on the Stray bus, our driver is Rob and he's as mad as! We were meant to spend the night at Hihai (hot water beach) but the weather warnings were so bad, so we headed straight to Raglan.
Once at Raglan the power was out so we sat with candles and a fire. There's only 7 on the bus so we all hung out together. We prepared dinner by candle light then we all went to the pub to watch the all blacks match!

Sunday we headed to Rotorua, we left 2 boys at Raglan as they never came back! We visited the Whaka village (thermal village) and spent the night at Base Hot Rocks! We're just making the trip up as we go LOL.

Monday we got up and spent the morning at the Polynesian pools, before heading to the Zorb! It was too cold and wet so we watched Marc, I guy off the bus do his Zorb. That evening we headed over to Uncle Boy's, he's built a new house for the backpackers, it's very different, Rob told him that i was there 4 years ago so he pulled out the photo album, and i found the picture of our group from that time!

This morning we left there and just went to the shopping mall before reaching Taupo,no skydives today as the weather is bad! Off out with the crew tonight so expecting a hangover LOL.

will put pics on as soon as cam.

Lots of love xx xxx xx
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/vicky.mcneil/australia_2007/1216956180/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/vicky.mcneil/australia_2007/1216956180/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/vicky.mcneil/australia_2007/1216956180/tpod.html Fri, 25 Jul 2008 00:03:53 -0400 My Trip to Australia - 2007

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Apia, Upolu, Samoa Western

Last entry now everyone, this is my time in Samoa. I'll have the 15th July again as we crossed the dateline so gained a day. when I write my entries for NZ i wont have the 23rd for the same reason. Hope I haven't bored you all too much! Love and miss you all Vicky xx xxx xx

Tuesday 15th July Apia Samoa

Arrived late in Samoa, once at our hostel we both headed for our room, it was a 3 bed dorm which was really nice, Kerstin sat on her bed and fell right through it LOL. I was a bot more cautious but the slates definitely moved. We were in bed for a while before the other person came in, he spent most of the night on the floor as he kept falling through the bed every time he moved. We eventually woke at 8 for breakfast which again consisted of fresh fruit. After having a look around the town of Apia we went back to the hostel. A girl named Hannah arrived and we pre warned her about the bed. That night Kerstin decided to put her mattress on the floor, Hannah decided that she was going to remove all the slats off her bed and but the mattress through the frame, it looked like she was sleeping in a giant cot!

Wednesday 16th July Savi'i Samoa

We got a taxi to the bus station the morning and rode to the wharf to catch the ferry to Savi'i. The bus was pretty much the same as the bus in Tonga, it's so much fun being on them. Once on the Island of Savi'i, we stayed at Ta nu beach Fales. it was Paradise, we were welcomed with fresh coconut which i drank straight from it! I then had a dip in the sea, it was beautiful and warm!
Before dinner we met a group form inverkargill who were on holiday so we sat with them at dinner and exchanged stories etc. Kerstin and I also got chatting to a lovely couple from Auckland Victoria and Daniel. After dinner we just read in our fale and looked at the stars!

Thursday 17th July Savi'i

Woke up to a glorious morning, so I went for a lie down on the beach for a while.
about mid morning we had a walk through the vilage just to have a look around, the sun started to get strong so we headed back to the Fale and had a nanny nap. At dinner we got chatting to a German couple and again exchanged stories.

Friday 18th July Savi'i

In the village we found out that there was a Lava field so Kerstin and I decided to have a walk there. We walked for over an hour before getting there but it was amazing! There was church ruins there which were creepy and also virgins grave. Legend has it that a Chiefs daughter was buried there before the volcano erupted. When it did the lave flowed around the grave as she was so pure! (from the photo's though it just looks like the lave as caved in, but i like legends). On the way back from the lava fields the rain came down quite heavy so we took some shelter under a tree. Just across the road was a tyre garage and the guys in there invited us over there out of the rain. We stayed there for about 5 mins before deciding to carry on. just as we left the bus pulled up so we jumped on that.

Saturday 19th July Upolu

We headed back to the mainland today, we decide to go back to the seaside inn, as the food and staff were really nice. We had a different room this time with comfy beds LOL! Before leaving Savi'i we had breakfast with Victoria and Daniel. Some cats were scrounging around so Dan got rid of them for us but they kept coming back. Then a guy who worked there picked up the cats and threw them over arm onto the beach, the tide was really far in so we all guessed they landed i the sea. A few seconds later the cats appeared soaking wet, it was so funny!

We had sinner at TG's next door, I had a seafood platter with chips and salad, it was sooooooooo good.

Sunday 20th July

didn't do much today, we bumped into Hannah and caught up with her. we also chatted with Eddy one of the staff at seaside inn.

Monday 21st July

We ate breakfast with Hannah this morning before heading to the bus station to go to the Robert Lewis Stevenson museum (the guy who wrote Treasure Island and Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde). At the station we met a couple from Australia, they just arrived off a big cruise ship! We ended up catching a cab with them to RLSM.They gave us a tour round the house which was rebuilt due to a cyclone but was impressive never the less. After the tour round we were given a fresh coconut and there was some Samoan dancing. (they had put it on for the people of the cruise ship but we gate crashed). Eddy was doing a tour there so he came over and chatted to us for a bit.
RLS tomb was at the top of a mountain called Mt vave (i think), so we decided to go have a look. OMG it was a killer, after 55 mins we reached the top and what a view!! After resting we walked back down and got a cab back into town.

Tuesday 22nd July

today we visited the sliding rocks. very impressive we spent a while there before going back to the hostel and getting ready to fly to NZ.
The airport was a night mare, check in opened a hour late, then we were meant to be flying at 9:30pm but never boarded the plane till 10:15pm. We eventually took off at 11pm. NZ here we come!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/vicky.mcneil/australia_2007/1216952400/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/vicky.mcneil/australia_2007/1216952400/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/vicky.mcneil/australia_2007/1216952400/tpod.html Thu, 24 Jul 2008 23:21:26 -0400 My Trip to Australia - 2007

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Tonga, Tonga

Here we go part two Tonga!

Arrived in Tonga late on Saturday 5th June so we didn't get up to much we were very much looking forward to our beds!

Sunday came and it's not a great day in Tonga as nothing opens as it's a religious day. We did however go for a walk with Jo who we met, she's from Australia to the bakery.

Monday 7th July

We got a ride into the main town today and booked a flight to get us off the mainland to a Island called Eua. We then had a walk around and had a look at the Royal Palace, we then visited the market and got some supplies. We caught the local bus back, that was an experience, it was packed full people sitting on other peoples laps and music booming out, such fun though! After dinner Jo invited us over to the yellow house at Toni's, we stayed in the green house and there was a blue house too! We had a few drinks with Jo and a good old chat before heading to bed! '
Tuesday 8th July Eua
Didn't get up to much this morning just hung around the green house as waiting to go the airport.
Once at the airport we were told it was a 8 minute flight to Eua. The plane was tiny, I sat at the back and Kerstin sat up front in the co-pilot seat!!! We stayed at Tania's place, it was beautiful. After we had checked in we went for a walk to have a look at this giant tree, it was like something off Harry Potter! We also visited a smoking cave, we had to walk through the forest and it was wet and slipy, we had to hold on to ropes to help us down and back up, I felt like i was taking part on the Krypton Factor or something! I loved it!
Wednesday 9th July Eua

This morning Kerstin and I decided to have a walk into town, we walked for about 20mins before hitching a lift. The town was really small but we had a look in what shops there were and then had a walk around the wharf. That night we watched the film 300 before going to bed.

Thursday 10th July Eua

We both got up early this morning in the hope to see some whales. As it was Tonga time, a bit like Fiji time (nothing runs to time) we ended out on the boat about 11am. The water was quite rough so we started to the west of the Island and the boat just kept coming out of the water because of the waves and crashing back down, so we turned around and tried getting round thew island the other way, it was calm for about 20mins then It became rough. We then just rocked in calm water for a while and did some fishing. It was an unsuccessful day though as we saw no Whales and caught no fish!
Whilst on Eua we met a Guy, he was from the UK, so me and him decided to go for a walk to the rock gardens. We hitched a ride with four blokes in the car with about 4 dogs and a shot gun, i was a little nervous but glad Guy was there. They told us they were hunting wild pig! After 15 mins we jumped out and started walking, after about an hour of walking there was still no signs of the rock garden. Guy and I spotted some locals and asked for directions, we were told it was another 2 miles away. I thought that it didn't sound too bad it's just like walking twice round the block at Nan and Granddads. We carried on walking then, after about 2 mins the local man and his wife picked us up and drove us there, showed us around, then drove us back to where we were staying.
We had a take away for dinner but it was lamb curry with cassava, i didn't eat much of that though!

Friday 11th July

This morning we flew back to the mainland. We sorted out our washing and gave it to Toni's wife Leni.
Me, Kerstin, Guy and Johann's, heard a brass band playing so we decided to try and find it. After walking for about 10mins we came across a school playing field and a group of lads aged about 16 + practicing a routine with the instruments. They were preparing for the Kings coronation. They waved at us whilst we sat and watched them for a while, they were really good and after they finished we all clapped! We all then hitched a lift into town. We got chatting to the driver and found out he was a prison guard at present the jail has 62 prisoners, which is a huge amount to the Tongans. Usually they only have 10-12. Alot are in there from the riots of 2006 and serving 11 years for arson.
That evening a group of us from Toni's went to the Good Samaritan Inn for a dinner show.There was about 200 people there. They served a buffet of roast pork (the whole pig was on the table, i heaved), raw fish with rice, chicken curry, beef curry, yam, cassava, salad. After we all had eaten the entertainment began. Then they opened the dance floor open and Jo, Kerstin and I had a dance, it started to rain but no one cared and we all just carried on!

Saturday 12th July

both of us was undecided about what to do today so we looked at the lonely planet and decided to do the walk in there. We saw the British ambassadors house (was), the royal tombs, The Royal Palace, some impressive churches. At the Palace a Karva ceremony was taking place due to the Kings brothers birthday. The grounds were full of nobles and dead pigs! After walking around for a while we decided to sit on the grass outside the prime ministers house and have lunch. We saw a police escort so we knew the king was in town, he was riding around in a London Cab! \

Sunday 13th July

We both attended church this morning at the Basilica church, it had a circus tent roof.
We sat on the pews and then got asked to move as that was where the choir sat. The service was in Tongan but we just followed everyone else. The singing was amazing it almost lifted the roof, the choir had a brass band to accompany them whilst singing the hyms. After church we just chilled in the green house as again nothing else to do on a Sunday!


Tuesday 15th July

This morning both of us went on Toni's tour around the Island. He taught us alot about the produce they grow there, such as yams etc and showed us a double headed coconut tree! We saw blow holes and even got a glimpse of a Whale Calf breaching the water! Toni then took us to both Captain Cooks and Abel Tasmans landing sites. We also went to the beginning of time!
Back at Toni's we got our stuff together as were were flying out to Samoa.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/vicky.mcneil/australia_2007/1216949520/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/vicky.mcneil/australia_2007/1216949520/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/vicky.mcneil/australia_2007/1216949520/tpod.html Thu, 24 Jul 2008 22:18:14 -0400 My Trip to Australia - 2007

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Nadi, Viti Levu, Fiji

Hi all this is gonna be a big one so apologies for that.
I've had the best time whilst traveling around the pacific, i wont fill you in of the in betweens of my last entry and now. I'm currently in Auckland NZ on the road again tomorrow.
Here goes:

Thursday 26th June 2008 (Nadi Fiji)
Arrived in Fiji, and the heat hit us straight away. We were quite tired as we'd spent the night in Auckland airport after leaving Sydney. We stayed at the Sky lodge, it was a really nice hostel. We had a explore around before showering and having a few drinks by the pool, before hitting our beds ready for a tour of the yasawa islands.

Friday 27th June 2008 (tour begins- sunrise lagoon nanuya lailai )
We jumped on the tour bus to take us to the port to catch the catamaran to take us to the islands, it was a huge yellow bus that looked like something out of the Malibu advert LOL. Our vessel was Tiger 4 (thinks it's a great name). After 5 hours on the boat we boarded a long boat to take us to the resort.
We had dinner waiting for us and then was shown our dorm room. The entertainer guy there was called Queen, he was as camp as Christmas but we loved him! We went and chilled on the beach for a few hours before dinner. We all had to introduce ourselves name, where from etc, then Queen made us sing our national anthems from our respective countries. Kerstin and a guy called Mike were only 2 from Scotland, but they did a good job!
There was about 20 of us from England and we sang our hearts out we even did the instrumental LOL. Then it was lights out, we played guess what song I'm listening to on my ipod with our dorm mates which amused us for a while.

Saturday 28th June (Bay of plenty Matacawalevu)
Jumped back on the catamaran this afternoon to head south to our next tropical island. We headed to the Bay of plenty resort. as we were approaching the island on the long boat, the staff were standing on the shore singing their welcoming song and a tray of ice cold drinks.
We shared a dorm room with 2 girls form Poland Ola and Monique, and Jason a guy from Canada. There were a German couple too but were flash packing in a double room. Again we spent most of the afternoon relaxing and taking in the view. At dusk we went into the village and watched the boys from the village play a game of 7's rugby, it was a very nice sight to see, but we also enjoyed the game LOL. At dinner we had a Mongolian style BBQ, where you put everything raw on your plate meat, veg, sauce etc then Duncan the chef put it all in a wok style BBQ and cooked it for us. After dinner we had a few drinks with the other guests to start the celebrations for Kerstin's birthday. WE also had a lesson from Jacob in Fijian.
Sunday 29th June (Kerstin's Birthday White sandy beach Naviti)
We spent tour morning at Bay Of Plenty whilst Kerstin opened her cards and presents. We had a lovely breakfast of bread and fresh fruit. We had a walk into the village and we were invited into Jacobs house, where he old us about the village in which he lived, about the different tribes, where the Fijian rugby captain lived & showed us some war clubs his father had carved.
That afternoon we arrived at white sandy beach, again we were welcomed in. We made real good friends here especially James, Laps and Bruce the last 2 are staff. At dinner we got chatting to said people and had some drinks with them for Kerstin's birthday. We then went to the beach and built a fire and laps brought his guitar along. Me, Kerstin and James then sat in the hammock looking at the stars before going to bed at 3am!
Monday 30th June (White sandy beach)
Not much happened today, people came and went and we just sat and read our books in the hammock.
After dinner we were asked to go out onto the sand whilst the staff entertained us. They sang and danced for us, then we were told that the guests were going to join in! It was so much fun, we learnt the Bula dance! We then had a game of musical statues but in pairs so if one of you moved both were out. Laps was my partner and Bruce was Kerstin's. we both came head to head but we let Kerstin win (LOL) as it was her birthday . The staff also made Kerstin a cake as we never told them the day before.
Tuesday 1st July (White sandy beach)
Had pancakes and fresh fruit for breakfast, we then hired some snorkeling gear and headed to honeymoon beach, the other side of the island. My lens came out as soon as i put my face in the water so I didn't snorkel for long. a little girl from the island about 2 came and sat with us and started building sand castles so i played with her for a while before deciding I'd had enough, so we got up to leave and she started crying really loud. I tried taking her back to the village but she got even louder so i dumped her with some other people on the beach and me and Kerstin went back to the resort.
After dinner we had the same entertainment as the night before, except for we did the limbo, i was rubbish. We then again lit a fire and we all sat round it chatting away till the small hours again, but i didn't want to go to bed as we were leaving for our last island waya lailai.
Wednesday 2nd July (waya lailai -waya lailai island)
Arrived at waya lailai this afternoon, we spent the morning packing at swinging in the hammocks. Waya lailai was so beautiful but packed out with backpackers which was a bit of a shame! Once arriving at waya lailai we were in time for tea and coffee so i grabbed a cup and a biscuit! Friday nights there were Fijian night, where we had traditional Fijian food and then a Karva ceremony, that stuff is disgusting! They then sang and danced for us.
Thursday 3rd July
Today we had a walk along the beach and visited the village. We were invited in and we learnt how to weave from banana leaf, we made a bracelet each and a bookmark, i made a ring too! We also brought some other stuff too! We got back to Nadi late afternoon and stayed at the Sky lodge again, before heading to Tonga on the 4th.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/vicky.mcneil/australia_2007/1208073720/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/vicky.mcneil/australia_2007/1208073720/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/vicky.mcneil/australia_2007/1208073720/tpod.html Sun, 13 Apr 2008 04:10:42 -0400 My Trip to Australia - 2007

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Bondi, Australia

well again alot has happened since the last entry and most of ya know what i've been up too, and you've all seen the photo's LOL. New Zeland was excellent and can't wait to go back in august. Me, Laura and Kerstin are all living in Bondi now it's great fun, we live by the beach. works going really well too, been offered to stay which is looking likely! As ya all know it was my birthday last weekend, our friends Kat and Victor came up from Melbourne we had such a great night, Saturday we went out for dinner by circular quay (by the opera house) for those of u that don't know sydney, it was great then we went to Minus 5 the ice bar it was a fun experience and Jamee and Brent joined us to. Think we all had a good time. On sunday me and laura met kat and victor for lunch we went for sushi, it was really good.
this is just a really breif account of what i've done cus i've been really bad and not kept up with it. expect another entry in 6 months LOL.
love and miss ya all
xxx xxx xx
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/vicky.mcneil/australia_2007/1201327200/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/vicky.mcneil/australia_2007/1201327200/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/vicky.mcneil/australia_2007/1201327200/tpod.html Fri, 25 Jan 2008 19:01:30 -0500 My Trip to Australia - 2007

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Christchurch, New Zealand

Well, it's been a while. Before leaving Melbourne me, laura, Kerstin, Kat and her partner Victor went out for the evening at the docklands, we had a lovely meal and had a firework display, which no one knew about LOL, but a great night.
We arrived in Sydney on the 1st of December and we stayed at Doc and Lachlans unit in Cronulla which is suburb of Sydney, it's a lovely little place. I found myself a job at a pharmacy and am really enjoying it, the staff have really welcomed me and invited me to the Xmas party where we went bowling.
Xmas came and went and we spent it in Newcastle with our friends Jo and tom (Laura met them in Oz 2006 but I'd like to call them my friends too) and Jo's uncle Frank. We had Xmas day at Franks friend Jill's house and everyone made us feel really welcome and made Xmas that bit more easier being away from home!
NYE what a great night, me, Laura, Jo & Tom spent it on the harbour a great night was had by all of us with dancing and the fireworks which you've all seen on face book.
Me and Laura stayed in a place called Glebe for about a month in a place called rooftops, our room mates Nicola and Gillian we're really friendly and hopefully will meet up again with them.
Me and Laura have now got our own apartment in Kings ford sharing with a Korean girl named Susan she is lovely. we are both really happy there. Monday Kerstin came back to join team GB and we all spent a few days together, Thursday Jo & Tom met us at our local for a pub quiz and their friends Ash and Mags joined us too, we had a fun night, coming 4th out of 10 teams which i was pleased with LOL. (thanks to a little help from mom & laura's magazine LOL).
Friday me and Kerstin said goodbye to Laura as she flew back to the UK for Laura's wedding, i hope all have a great day. Me and Kerstin flew in to Christchurch on 25th at 10pm. This morning we started our tour with Stray, we've headed to Kaikoura where this evening we will swim with seals.
sorry this is such a long entry but thought it was about time i caught up with it.
still missing you all very much
xx xxx xx
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/vicky.mcneil/australia_2007/1196153040/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/vicky.mcneil/australia_2007/1196153040/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/vicky.mcneil/australia_2007/1196153040/tpod.html Tue, 27 Nov 2007 03:54:28 -0500 My Trip to Australia - 2007

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Melbourne, Australia

Well, from Darwin we caught the train to Alice Springs, it took us 23 hours which is longer then the flight from the UK. Finally made it to Alice though & stayed at the Alice Lodge Packer's, it was great, it was fun and friendly & would stay there again for definite! Whilst in Alice, we visited a kangaroo sanctuary, it was so good, the joey's were really cute. We also visited Uluru (ayres rock) it was so surreal seeing the big red rock up close. It was a long day though.
Tuesday we headed down to Adelaide with heading bush tours, we had a overnight stay at a place called Coober Pedy, which is a underground town where they mine Opal, we stayed in a underground Hostel, which i think used to be a mine, it was cool. We did a mining tour too. Once in Adelaide we caught up on our sleep and had to get a postcard for my Aunty (LOL).
Thursday, we jumped on yet another tour with Adventure tours and started our trip to Melbourne along the Great Ocean Road. It was so much fun, we met some great guys, Mike, Chris, James, Lorenzo & Rich. Our tour guide Adam was much fun too.
We arrived in Melbourne Sunday and we all went out. Met back up with Kerstin & Kate too, it was really good to see them again! Yesterday we visited the Casino, and met with Kat! we're here in Melbourne til Saturday when we fly to Sydney, so our holiday is over for a while, whilst we get work and a place to stay. but I'm sure we'll continue to have much fun.

Vicky x
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/vicky.mcneil/australia_2007/1194948420/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/vicky.mcneil/australia_2007/1194948420/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/vicky.mcneil/australia_2007/1194948420/tpod.html Tue, 13 Nov 2007 05:14:55 -0500 My Trip to Australia - 2007

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Darwin, Australia

Well we got to Darwin Sunday evening, what an eventful flight, I managed to spill orange juice all over myself and had to change seats, then Laura opened her nuts and they flew everywhere, then to top it all i squirted red sauce all up the back of the chair, we felt like naughty school kids. Michele said he is never traveling with us again. LOL. Darwin is very hot and humid! Today we went to Lichfield national park, it was lovely, we swan in pools after we got out of one and safely on the bus we got told that we were swimming with fresh water croc's! apparently though they are more scared of us and if we saw one it would be a privilege! Heading to Alice springs so will be saying goodbye to Kerstin and Michele for a few days but they join us in Alice Springs in 5 days time! It was sad saying goodbye to Ozzie Kat Sunday but we'll meet again in Melbourne!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/vicky.mcneil/australia_2007/1194495300/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/vicky.mcneil/australia_2007/1194495300/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/vicky.mcneil/australia_2007/1194495300/tpod.html Wed, 07 Nov 2007 23:40:07 -0500 My Trip to Australia - 2007

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Broome, Western Australia, Australia

Well we finally made it to Broome, arrived Monday afternoon, what a great time we have had too! We jumped on the bus Saturday 27th at 7.20am & met our drivers, Gregg & Enzo! Gregg was training that's why we had 2! There were 3 girls on the bus who were Kate, Kerstin & Kat, who have now all become great friends! That day was a really long day. We stopped off at a place called the Pinnacles, which was good.It is sacred land to Aborigines as many died there so that no longer visit that sight. Sat evening we stayed in a place called Kalbarri, we went for a meal at a place called Finlay's would definitely recommend the seafood platter! Enzo bet me a pint that i would not be able to finish it but i did, i paced myself out! I was the first girl in 4 years that Enzo has taken there to finish the whole plate LOL! We met up with another bus heading south, & met a girl called Charlotte, she was lovely & hopping to met her again in Sydney! We went to a pub which had a really good band playing so we all had a dance! Sunday soon came round and another early start, plus the clocks went forward too! We headed to the Kalbarri gorges think it was called the Z bend. we did alot of walking before going to Natures window which was amazing! after that we headed to Denham & shark bay, the water was lovely, we also paid a visit to ocean park, again would recommend that! We stayed at the Shark bay resort, ( i think) which is run by a brummie yay but he's a villa fan! i thought i would end up sleeping on the bus but lucky for me he wasn't working that night! Monday was yet another early start, Enzo was worse for wear as the had a gentle mens club on at the pub in denham, we went to see the stromatolites which looked like rocks, but there were cool for the fact that they are are ancestor's. Then we headed to Coral Bay, we had a party on the bus to celebrate us reaching the tropic of Capricorn lol! We spent the next few days in Coral bay just chilling by the pool or on the beach, we went on a glass bottom boat had a look at some coral and fish to . Thursday, we all went to the beach to watch sunset as it was our last night in coral bay. Friday, we jumped back on the bus and met our new driver Paddy! WE also met some new people, Dave, Kate, Cat, Marja & Neils.we headed to Exmouth & turquoise bay! We went to a night club lol, it only opens on a Friday til 1am and everyone goes there! Saturday night we went to Karijinni, slept in a tent, we shared ours with a little mouse, and the shower & toilet had a snake & spider, so i didn't shower that day lol! Sunday we stayed in place called Pardoo, & we stayed at a cattle station had another BBQ & i tried Kangaroo! It was really nice! There was a baby calf there too, only 4 weeks old! Monday we left and headed to Broome, it was like paradise, civilization, proper beds and a swimming pool!
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