tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34213064434281283632024-02-18T21:57:09.862-08:00Jess in NZ and OZJess Burge Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14360017558807067614noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3421306443428128363.post-69847484655240404532012-02-07T16:30:00.000-08:002012-02-07T16:30:13.318-08:00Botany Bay and Canberra<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ8lim38kdoklIFFMTq2bvbPd1-qyvL0kEL2jKU07K2G4JjX6wnf30vDjRpVVpBZ7Tsvr6firad5KNTpc6dvUnP0CQATl7XJqbHO_UbiZC9ik4-lNIsoiCyEdKrbg-XZwdZSJfkdbP8UXz/s1600/DSCF2250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ8lim38kdoklIFFMTq2bvbPd1-qyvL0kEL2jKU07K2G4JjX6wnf30vDjRpVVpBZ7Tsvr6firad5KNTpc6dvUnP0CQATl7XJqbHO_UbiZC9ik4-lNIsoiCyEdKrbg-XZwdZSJfkdbP8UXz/s400/DSCF2250.JPG" /></a></div><br />
Nikki, Emma and Me at the Captain Cook Landing Site, Botany Bay.<br />
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In front of the Library after seeing the 'Handwritten' exhibition.<br />
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Parliament for a spot of tea with Julia.<br />
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Our last luncheon before Emma gets her wisdom teeth out.<br />
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Coming back to Sydney felt like de ja vu but also rather brilliant because I was getting to stay with my friends again. The jetstar flight from Cairns was only 2 and a half hours, but the taxi driver from Sydney airport was unbelievably rude telling me I should have got the train to Tempe, knob. After a few phone calls I managed to find the spare key and get into Nikkis house for a nap and a shower. When she got home we had a brew and a chat, then made dinner. The next day we went round to the other house and saw everyone. They found my skydive dvd rather funny. I found the bunny to have grown considerably. Then Nikki drove me and Emma out to Botany Bay in the evening where we saw the monument marking it as Captain Cook's landing site. It was all very beautiful and appropriate that at the end of my trip I should go where it all started. <br />
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The next day Nikki drove me the few hours across the freeway to Canberra. <br />
A few interesting things about Canberra, it was only built in the 1950s and was planned as the capital because before that time they didn't have one. It has a huge man made lake. It is still not complete because when they were building it they ran out of money. It's quite an odd place; when you're walking around it you sense the planned streets and the architectural design of a very young city. And as everyone there works in government they're all quite well off, and therefore drive expensive cars and dress impeccably. Well anyway, Nikki took me to the library where we saw this exhibition of handwritten documents from all sorts of people from Bach to Napolean, and Descartes to Dickens. Very interesting. Then we went to Parliament which has the worlds second largest tapestry and the Magna Carta, amongst other sacred stuff. Then we had dinner at Nikki's friends house, picked up Emma from the bus and went back to her parents for sleep. <br />
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The next day we went to the art gallery and had some lunch, saw the famous sheep staring at another sheeps bum, then it was time to return to Sydney, leaving Emma behind in Canberra to have her surgery :(Jess Burge Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14360017558807067614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3421306443428128363.post-23488576100856697012012-01-30T21:11:00.000-08:002012-01-30T21:11:59.873-08:00Cairns, Couch surfing, Crocodile and Cape Tribulation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0nY1B6m8GP66T3ymR7_BMKH2H9VYLJ-dUYo3wu-gN7v6K4Kb2EBvZj0_hgg_c96h1aX_5MlaqvMBZaK0rTnOTeAQpX1itKyVUznXwAnDHc87qj1Mt_N8STJA-vWkRj6OX3bfmq-DtOrY3/s1600/DSCF2170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0nY1B6m8GP66T3ymR7_BMKH2H9VYLJ-dUYo3wu-gN7v6K4Kb2EBvZj0_hgg_c96h1aX_5MlaqvMBZaK0rTnOTeAQpX1itKyVUznXwAnDHc87qj1Mt_N8STJA-vWkRj6OX3bfmq-DtOrY3/s400/DSCF2170.JPG" /></a></div>Getting rather close to a rather large crocodile on the Daintree River<br />
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I arrived in Cairns and got the bus to Kewarra Beach which took an hour. Couch surfing with a guy called Nevan. On my first proper day in Cairns me and Makayla, one of the other couch surfers tried to walk to Palm Cove by the beach but our path was blocked by a temporary creek which we didn't really want to walk through because of the jellyfish, so we went back to the beach and had a drink before catching the bus into Cairns, where I bumped into none other than Jenny and Sebastian down by the lagoon. Turned out the were going to Cape Trib the next day like me, so we were thrilled. Solway Lass is never over. Then me and Makayla had bbq in a tropical thunder storm, which was lovely, and had a swim, and then indulged in $3.50 Coronas. I got the bus back and got a good nights sleep before my early pick up the next day.<br />
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I walked to Kewarra Beach Resort, a rather flash place where we had our beer the day before, and hopped on the bus. We stopped on the way to Cape Tribulation and met the second bus load of people containing Jenny and Sebatian then we went for our little boat trip on the Daintree River. As you can see by the picture, we got incredibly close to a 4 metre crocodile who was big and fat because he'd just had lunch. We got to Cape Trib around 1pm and I had some lunch, and because it felt like the centre of the sun, I went in the pool and lay about for most of that day. I was also very lucky in my room getting a double bed. Yay! <br />
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The next morning I got picked up at 8am and I went for my hourse ride with one other girl. We went around the rainforest and then had a canter on the beach, then went back through some fields where we had a great view of Mount Sorrow, named by a rather sombre Captain Cook. That lasted about 2 hours, then I got dropped back at the hostel, and immediately jumped in the pool, then had lunch and guess who I should bump into? Only Harj meloves, from Whitsundays. Bless her, she's a love, so we swapped numbers and I'll probably meet her before she leaves Cairns. I was getting the bus back to Cairns so our reunion was only brief. I got back to Nevan's around 5.30, had a nap, naturally, then we made dinner with one of the other couch surfers, watched a movie, then hit the hay.Jess Burge Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14360017558807067614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3421306443428128363.post-87274536967414949242012-01-30T20:43:00.000-08:002012-01-30T20:43:16.803-08:00Learning to fly<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXZtkZhpsPxDd-n2RSDW8cWTrnuUbOlVJUMA42k03Olw4G1nXq-rMk3mpVzCuTtDCryF2MaGMHRGgp38-rENcWpWxdOb6ofXU9j2iaV45gJ0EXzWDWxNUTL-uX0Ob1mKz-KyUJtQj_VKhc/s1600/DSCF2145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXZtkZhpsPxDd-n2RSDW8cWTrnuUbOlVJUMA42k03Olw4G1nXq-rMk3mpVzCuTtDCryF2MaGMHRGgp38-rENcWpWxdOb6ofXU9j2iaV45gJ0EXzWDWxNUTL-uX0Ob1mKz-KyUJtQj_VKhc/s400/DSCF2145.JPG" /></a></div>My bizarre reunion with Cheskie at Mission Beach.<br />
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Leaving the lovely Airlie Beach was hard but I was looking forward to getting to Mission Beach. I got there at 6 and the greyhound driver literally ripped the top off my bag so now it is completely broken with barely 2 weeks to go. Ah well, it's so rubbish I was suprised it's lasted this long. So I got picked up and went to the hostel where I basically collapsed, still so tired from pulling all my muscles on the ropeswing and the night out in Airlie. The next morning was the oh so fateful day of... the SKYDIVE! But something rather bizarre happened before I even got in the plane.<br />
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I was in the second group so we went down to the beach to watch the first group landing. And as they walked past us I could swear I recognised one of these girls. They went back to the office and we followed them back up, and as we were in the office, me and this girl looked at one another and I said 'Are you Cheskie?' and sure enough, it bloody was you know. I was in a play with her at uni and I haven't seen her in a good 2 years, and apparently now she's living in Mission Beach. What a coincidence eh? <br />
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After that small bombshell, I got my harness on, and off we went in the bus. After about a half an hour drive we got to the plane and on we got. And then we were flying up and up and up, for 25 minutes, and then it was goggles on, door open and out they started to go. I was the last one out, and I can't tell you what I feeling watching everybody disappear out the side of the plane. And then, then, all of a sudden my feet were out and under the plane, head back, hands on straps, and....<br />
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WEEEEEEEE! I was flying. In the dvd, I look so entirely shocked, my eyes look like they're about the burst out of my face. We jumped at 14,000 feet and were in freefall for 60 seconds, then my tandem guy pulled the parachute, and pointed out the great barrier reef. After a few spins and 5 minutes, it was time to land on the beach. I tucked my legs up, hands under my knees and the ground came up so fast I couldn't believe we weren't going to crash, but I didn't land on my arse, merely stood up when he said, and I realised I was still alive.<br />
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A bunch of who'd just done the dive went to the bar to wait for our dvds, and to celebrate Australia day and the still being aliveness with a few drinks and a sausage sizzle. I bumped into Cheskie there and took a photo of us so I had proof it had actually taken place. After we got out dvds, we got a lift back to the hostel. After the massive adrenalin rush I suddenly felt really tired, and because I couldn't think why not I had a nap, then made dinner and sat in the lovely air conditioned tv room to watch the Australian open, Nadal v Murray. Nadal won, which was lovely.Jess Burge Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14360017558807067614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3421306443428128363.post-62665169586715136032012-01-30T20:25:00.000-08:002012-01-30T20:25:46.079-08:00WHITSUNDAYS :)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiABZUg0wkW-n4OjfQ6qlkxoFeILr0790OGvYB9gcv70jXsWn1Cc219vNrsdhTmJBPYGauG9sKDp56Ll2lYBZzrh03obdGD6Ih5vjqL5nZasibWAy3jSK-4PdG3tVIP-bFtwNATR-iHnTY5/s1600/DSCF2059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiABZUg0wkW-n4OjfQ6qlkxoFeILr0790OGvYB9gcv70jXsWn1Cc219vNrsdhTmJBPYGauG9sKDp56Ll2lYBZzrh03obdGD6Ih5vjqL5nZasibWAy3jSK-4PdG3tVIP-bFtwNATR-iHnTY5/s400/DSCF2059.JPG" /></a></div>Lying in the hammock on the Solway Lass as we sail towards Whitehaven Beach.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyXeBvdsyeiVbAWtrodLI9mhzbBlW5aXN0eD2Gef5H85kR0GBtkQ7j9EzA4fCvi9qrv55mTjah5E_JbytiVyNoU-QsuwjbtZ_bHlbPEUvWxHe1PTdvZ3_BGldV7HYGChC17a-6tDdIVYXk/s1600/DSCF2080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyXeBvdsyeiVbAWtrodLI9mhzbBlW5aXN0eD2Gef5H85kR0GBtkQ7j9EzA4fCvi9qrv55mTjah5E_JbytiVyNoU-QsuwjbtZ_bHlbPEUvWxHe1PTdvZ3_BGldV7HYGChC17a-6tDdIVYXk/s400/DSCF2080.JPG" /></a></div>Jenny, Caroline, Sebastian, Harj and me on Whitehaven Beach.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwCU6s-53kpGH54n1NOwPQiBdbJOT0r2Fa83tl7oc9ililEIn3ibE1nVBifgBmWCRGeeTCxSxIv25wW6QsGHD4viQKsbTUKSeQrAg4OostkHuTW09j06dmj0lkrMh6-DKn6l9ovtTnG6uz/s1600/DSCF2138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwCU6s-53kpGH54n1NOwPQiBdbJOT0r2Fa83tl7oc9ililEIn3ibE1nVBifgBmWCRGeeTCxSxIv25wW6QsGHD4viQKsbTUKSeQrAg4OostkHuTW09j06dmj0lkrMh6-DKn6l9ovtTnG6uz/s400/DSCF2138.JPG" /></a></div>Ropeswing = Classic.<br />
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After a 16 hour overnight bus trip I arrived in Airlie Beach where it was so humid you could feel the sweat sprouting out of your pores. I had a couple of days to kill before I got on the Solway Lass, so I minly hung around the lagoon, swimming when the heat got unbearable and lying in the sun. I'd lost my sunglasses so I got a couple of pairs for $25, bargain me loves. Then I went and checked in for my trip around the Whitsundays where I was given a little black bag because you weren't allowed to take bags with zips onboard, or alcohol. <br />
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The next day I put my stuff in the luggage storage at Peter Pans and cracked out the mosquito bands. We got on the Solway Lass around 7pm, and went out to sea, where we had some food and a few drinks and a chinwag. In my room there were 4 beds but only me and Harj, a lovely English woman who used to work for the BBC and told me she was instrumental in making BBC iplayer happen, and thus, I was in love with her. <br />
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Our first day on the Whitsundays was a day of first for me. In the morning I went SCUBA DIVING, for only $60. In my little group was John and Andrew, the Canadian fellows, and we went around for about 30 mintues and got just below 10 meteres. It's something I never really thought I would do but I enjoyed it so much, I really want to do it again. I also learnt that SCUBA stands for Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus. Then after an amazing lunch and a load of jumping off the boat and ropeswinging, we went snorkelling and I saw a TURTLE. That evening after dinner and beer and the cardboard box gang (picking a box off the ground using your mouth, no hands and only feet on the ground) we heard some splashing from the side of the boat and we looked over and this DOLPHIN was playing in the water really close up. And that was an awesome awesome day.<br />
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The next day we went for a little bushwalk and saw some aboriginal cave art, licked a green ants arse which tasted very strongly of lime, did a whole load more ropeswinging and snorkelling, then ended up on this beach watching the sunset, being brought beer and food by boat by the crew, which was lovely. That night on the boat we had a ridiculous relay race, which my group lost but who cares!? We still got some free champers. Then we all chilled out drinking and staying up late chatting on the deck. <br />
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The next day was our last and we woke to a big downpour which made breakfast hazardous, but it cleared and by the time we got into port, none of us wanted to leave, and Jenny actually had a cry because we'd all had the best time and everyone got on so well. But we met up that night for a meal and some dancing, and I had a lovely salsa with Sebastian, a jive with John and some weird mix of both with a random Sewdish guy who bought tons of drinks for us all. Which was lovely. <br />
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Overall, the Whitsundays on the Solway Lass has been the highlight of my trip so far. We all said it was a holiday from our holiday and I couldn't fault a single thing about the crew or the ship. We got turks heads (little anklets that you have to cut off) so everytime I see it I remember what an amazing time I had and how lucky we were with the weather and each other. Miss you guys xxJess Burge Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14360017558807067614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3421306443428128363.post-80217159441451569542012-01-30T19:46:00.000-08:002012-01-30T19:46:35.639-08:00Brisbane and Noosa<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjekCKA-gQbN90q0OgkXLL-G3JEaXYDG6bvfTG1eV3EYP2kOK6onqJoKwiBXc9hk1FCiaGcXtmnjDgiatwhPepv7-4jl9okN5Pu0ezMj2jAnyG8MCN1W5yEvae37NlLrPbqDldGWKTaQ27F/s1600/DSCF2037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjekCKA-gQbN90q0OgkXLL-G3JEaXYDG6bvfTG1eV3EYP2kOK6onqJoKwiBXc9hk1FCiaGcXtmnjDgiatwhPepv7-4jl9okN5Pu0ezMj2jAnyG8MCN1W5yEvae37NlLrPbqDldGWKTaQ27F/s400/DSCF2037.JPG" /></a></div>Me and Steve at Australia Zoo<br />
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Brisbane! Though the weather was rather rubbish I managed to have an ok time. The hostel was an old colonial building about 20 minutes walk from the centre. I had a lovely afternoon walking round the cultural centre, looking round the art galleries and museums staying out of the humidity and the rain. I also got the city cat ferry one day and went to New Farm Park, which turned out to be quite boring so I went back to the city and walked home. Not much else to report about Brissie.<br />
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I changed my buses and decided to go to Noosa stopping for a trip around Australia Zoo on the way. On the bus I met an English girl called Grace and we ended up walking round the zoo together, seeing the big Crocodile show with Steve Irwin's wife and children. It rained literally the entire time and the bus was half an hour late, so by the time we got underway to Noosa, we were all soaked to the bone, and everything in my backpack was damp. We got to Noosa and had to wait in the rain for the shuttle bus to the hostel. After I ate and dried off there was nothing else to do but get drunk in the hostel bar with some locals, one of which was a German man that hypothesized that the sun didn't cause skin cancer but it was more likely to be the result of washing powder. Interesting... Well, the next day it rained even more ferociously and so I just stayed in the hostel and nursed my hangover popping out for a pizza sometime in the afternoon. Shame I didn't get to really see Noosa as I only went there because everyone said it was lovely. Rather disappointing.Jess Burge Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14360017558807067614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3421306443428128363.post-69839853074904596912012-01-14T00:43:00.000-08:002012-01-14T00:43:18.127-08:00Surfers Paradise and Hot Air Ballooning<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinovb7bWUGBVz4MJMezW4jynNv5sfuwecImF3he6EfuE6-iGrXWFysNpIX5BvSXRl2nNR5RripP2nJroph9tvQzRoYIqyPZiuaL6QoDwXwrXkUZESnO53lDtgo1_PiZUtu2ba2_0sbrzLK/s1600/DSCF1937.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinovb7bWUGBVz4MJMezW4jynNv5sfuwecImF3he6EfuE6-iGrXWFysNpIX5BvSXRl2nNR5RripP2nJroph9tvQzRoYIqyPZiuaL6QoDwXwrXkUZESnO53lDtgo1_PiZUtu2ba2_0sbrzLK/s400/DSCF1937.JPG" /></a></div><br />
The high rise coast of Surfers Paradise from the main beach.<br />
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Hot Air Ballooning over the Gold Coast.<br />
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After my last night in Byron Bay spent dancing under a full moon by the sea to the sound of furious bongos, I left for Surfers Paradise. I can honestly say that it is the worst place I've been since I've been away. Not only was the hostel disgusting, with cockroaches in the bathroom and a virtually non-existent mattress, but the town was cheap and nasty, filled with casinos, and binge drinking teens. As you can probably tell, twas not to my tastes. So I stayed on the beach buying nothing but food as the only thing I wanted to take away from that place was a tan. <br />
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Luckily most of my second day in Surfers was spent going on a Hot Air Balloon ride. It's been one of those things I've always wanted to do and I wasn't disappointed. I got picked up at 4am, and was shocked to find Asian couples being the predominant customer, but a few more people arrived that actually spoke English and didn't ignore me entirely. After a couple of hours drive we got to a random field somewhere with the unmistakeable sight of 2 large hot air balloons, already blown up and waiting for us. After a quick safety talk we were loaded on and off we flew.<br />
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The previous day I had been informed that only last week a hot air balloon had crashed and all aboard had died, so you can assume I was somewhat nervous. Gradually we got up to 5000 feet, above the clouds and over the fields, the spectacular scenery doing away with all my fears. And even though we were so high up, in basically a big wicker basket with nothing to strap us in, I was calmly flying over NSW. 'Bloody bliss' I thought. <br />
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On landing we nearly ended up in a tree, then knocking a stubborn cow over, but we touched the ground with a soft bump and waited for the balloon to deflate. The 'driver' pulled this cord and opened a widening circle of fabric at the very top of the balloon to let all the hot air out then pulled another cord so the whole thing lay on it's side. Then we all started jumping on the thing to get the air out, roll it up and put it away in a huge bag. Spent, we got in the van and drove to breakfast, it only being 8am by this time.<br />
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O'Reilly's vineyard was an hours drive away, and getting greeted by a cold glass of champagne and a huge breakfast was just the ticket. For the first time in my life, I declined free wine tasting. Afterwards, we had a wander, and then it was time to get back on the bus, a 2 hour drive, and back into bed at Surfers by 11. What a splendid morning.Jess Burge Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14360017558807067614noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3421306443428128363.post-46369126489390048532012-01-09T20:50:00.000-08:002012-01-09T20:50:30.616-08:00Leaving Sydney and Byron BayJanuary 6th, I left Sydney from Central station after having a lovely meal in China Town with Jeny, Emma, Kirby and Nikki. Felt like crying on the bus but I didn't, because it's the last adventure, yay! <br />
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So after the overnight bus, I arrived in Byron Bay, and met up with Yvetta. We went for a little walk around on the beach and had a drink, then said goodbye, perhaps forever this time. I think we're going to keep missing each other up the east coast but oh well. The next day I walked up to the lighthouse, stood on the most easterly point of Australia, came back down and went to the beach for a swim. It was glorious, not too hot but lovely. I finished my book too, The Kitchen Gods Wife, by Amy Tan, which I strongly recommend me loves :)<br />
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On my last day in Byron, I went on the "Happy Coach" to Nimbin. If you know about this place, you know what we did and I refuse to make further comments, except that my mother at a most inopportune time. <br />
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The next morning, I got the bus to Surfers Paradise, a large town by the beach with several high rise apartment buildings. Not sure I like it all that much. It has the drinking clubbing thing going on. But my Hot Air Balloon is tomorrow morning, which will be lovely.Jess Burge Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14360017558807067614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3421306443428128363.post-54537700659790751662012-01-02T17:27:00.000-08:002012-01-02T17:27:27.168-08:00One of the best days ever<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_2F58bk8keiJ31nEHUTFg3gdVTfW5UDswF3X0sRWXuoH1WyT9zBoysnBme9HJBU0ShblxoIMlwAfva-UReb8tSdO7fv98c_25w_ajlQ_ie6HUtXbCNu96zuD4DEwEzG-g3zypYvjAPqAB/s1600/DSCF1886.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_2F58bk8keiJ31nEHUTFg3gdVTfW5UDswF3X0sRWXuoH1WyT9zBoysnBme9HJBU0ShblxoIMlwAfva-UReb8tSdO7fv98c_25w_ajlQ_ie6HUtXbCNu96zuD4DEwEzG-g3zypYvjAPqAB/s400/DSCF1886.JPG" /></a></div><br />
Nikki, Emma, Troy and Me having lunch.<br />
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Swimming at Coogee Beach.<br />
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Building the castle and fort surrounds.<br />
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January 2nd 2012, yesterday, was awesome. We didn't get up till late and when we did Nikki came round and drove us out somewhere for a lovely lunch, consisting of nachos and dips with turkish bread and coffee at Badde Manners. Then we decided we wanted to go swimming in the sea and that we all needed to go shopping in preparation of this. So we went to this huge factory outlet in Birkenhead and did a good spell of shoppng for 2 and a half hours. Troy was the most ridiculous person to shop with, trying nearly every pair of shorts on in the shop and generally dillydallying petulantly, but it was funny. He ended up buying, amongst many other items, a pair of pink shorts. More on them later. I bought a backless nude coloured swimsuit and a blue bikini which lacks a decided amount of fabric, but not to worry. It was rather funny that there were no changing rooms in the shops so all of us got behind this rail of clothes in the corner and tried them on anyway. I mean, who cares really if you flash them a bit?<br />
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So we headed not to Bondi Beach but Coogee Beach, the one along from it, meeting Kirby who had the towels. Me and Nikki went and got fish and chips and brought them back to the beach. I had opted for my swimsuit and Troy was wearing his pink shorts. After eating we went for a swim, but on getting in the water, I immediately discovered my swimsuit went seethrough when wet, and all we could do was laugh and get right in the water so no-one could see. It was quite choppy but we got out of the surf and had a swim. It was getting dark so we got out and joined Kirby in his task: making a castle with fort surrounds. This went on for quite some time, and when it got really dark, us girlies left the boys to it and went back to Nikki's for showers. There was sand everywhere. Everywhere!<br />
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Well we had a nice cup of tea, got lost a little bit on the drive back to Emmas because of the didgy iphone GPS, but got back safe and sound. Troy's pink shorts had dyed his underwear and his legs pink. He's trying to bleach them but to no avail so far. <br />
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And that was a splendid day.Jess Burge Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14360017558807067614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3421306443428128363.post-70136872192145168322012-01-01T04:51:00.000-08:002012-01-01T04:51:32.292-08:00Manly, Milton and New Year<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic5yDhT-eHcu7A05ncAR_tZmMu96I6TO6MPmelEtwQQpBIaPD8wPld8b1prl8PJzoKX5pZrF5l0BssCjosON95IrdFFU1pCiOEnlwvzcJJbAe4djOI-3GfpGBSNW3pyQCOQYmfZDxW0EJT/s1600/DSCF1818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic5yDhT-eHcu7A05ncAR_tZmMu96I6TO6MPmelEtwQQpBIaPD8wPld8b1prl8PJzoKX5pZrF5l0BssCjosON95IrdFFU1pCiOEnlwvzcJJbAe4djOI-3GfpGBSNW3pyQCOQYmfZDxW0EJT/s400/DSCF1818.JPG" /></a></div><br />
Yvetta and Me at Manly Beach.<br />
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Nikki, Scott and Me on Narrawallee Beach, near Milton<br />
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On the way to the Harbour Party on New Years Eve<br />
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After coming back to Sydney from Katoomba I met up with Yvetta. We met up at Circular Quay then took the ferry across the Manly. The weather wasn't great so we didn't swim, but we watched some surfers do their stuff before heading off on a 10km walk round the coastline, following the Manly Scenic Walkway. We got a bus back to Manly and the ferry back to Circular Quay and said goodbye. I'll probably see her again, seeing as she's stalking me. <br />
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Nikki was going back home to Milton to see her dad so I went with her. Milton is a lovely little town near the coast about 3 hours drive south of Sydney, set in gorgeous green fields not unlike south wales that it's named after. 'What a nice place to grow up' I thought. We spent a few nights there with her dad and brother and did lots of things.. I can't remember what order it was so I'll just list them: meeting the next door neighbours Bob and Ann, going to Narrawallee Beach and my bikini proving to be next to useless in the surf, snooping around all the cool little shops in Milton, meeting Fran, getting my blood pressure taken and finding it to be extremely low indeed, and enjoying the beautiful views. Oh and a brief stop in Kangaroo Valley. <br />
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When we got back Scott came too and we had a cup of tea and a kip before Nikki drove me over to Emma's house. I'm now staying here with her boyrfiend Kirby and flatmates Troy and Jo. It was New Years Eve and we all had tickets to go to Luna Park even though they're worth about $300, but Emma, Kirby and Troy work there so we got them for free. It was awesome. Free rides, amazing view of the harbour bridge, lots of fun. The fireworks were so impressive, I just kept saying 'wow' all the time like someone with touretts. EEeeeeeh but it were dead good. <br />
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Eventually we got home, walking what felt like half the city and across the harbour bridge at 2 in the morning, witnessing some HORRENDOUSLY drunk people. At one point there was a huge crowd of us trying to get up some steps but the police were blocking us, then the mob mentality took over, and people started scaling the wall and pulling people over in this joyous great escape moment. There was a Kiwi drinking a Monteiths who particularly enjoyed himself shouting 'fuck you punks' to the coppers. But we got back around 3am and went to bed. <br />
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Today was my first day in 2012 and I did nothing.Jess Burge Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14360017558807067614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3421306443428128363.post-48147537291669443002011-12-29T19:35:00.000-08:002011-12-29T19:35:55.510-08:00Sydney and Christmas in Katoomba<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhThPHOhOOIit8PBiMK62dPdqsD_b4Nasg_lx54O3Qq_0Mw7CNJqQGGNJBWHnnE0L3LpDqGdKIJVX4-4b9VvWHYonU6T6mazOo13tSaZ7XXmz1yygqwpPFMO95YJhyphenhyphenIBNU5cPwC-hsIC9Un/s1600/DSCF1714.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhThPHOhOOIit8PBiMK62dPdqsD_b4Nasg_lx54O3Qq_0Mw7CNJqQGGNJBWHnnE0L3LpDqGdKIJVX4-4b9VvWHYonU6T6mazOo13tSaZ7XXmz1yygqwpPFMO95YJhyphenhyphenIBNU5cPwC-hsIC9Un/s400/DSCF1714.JPG" /></a></div><br />
Sydney Opera House<br />
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Echo Point, lookout of the 3 Sisters and Jamison Valley<br />
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Me, Nikki and her brother Scoot walking in the Jamison Valley<br />
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After a 10 hour overnight bus ride I was fianlly in Sydney. I'd arrived a bit early so I slept on the floor of the greyhound terminal waiting for my friend Emma to come pick me up. She came, we hugged, drank coffee, got accosted by a tramp after our money, then got the train over to Nikki's where I slept and showered. Nikki, Emma and all of their housemates were in this installation piece down in the Rocks that evening, so I got a lift in and wandered round, taking in the Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House and some light festival entertainment such as Zumba Fitness, Silent Disco and 2 teenage boys playing Billy Jean on the flute, which was lovely. <br />
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The next day Nikki took me into the city where we had sandwiches in Hyde Park before seeing the cathedral, the city art gallery, the David Jones Christmas windows, and the QVB. On the way to picking Emma up for Christmas Eve festivities, we got baking supplies. Nikki planned on making truffles and I wanted to make some shortbread biscuits. We got Emma and her little bunny and went back to Nikki's where we had dinner whilst watching the Aussie classic, The Castle and started baking round about 10. To my astonishment, there were no scales so I devised a rough estimate of the ingredients using a pen on the packets. They worked out fine with a little teasing, and thus we had around 50 shortbread biscuits. We still haven't eaten them all.<br />
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The next morning Nikki made blueberry pancakes. I got a call from my mother to wish me happy Christmas , which was lovely, because it was still their Christmas Eve and they were all rather inebriated. Bless. We packed and got ready then set off for Glenbrook to see Nikki's family for Christmas lunch. Coming into the Blue Mountains, I felt I was beginning to fall in love with Australia. We got to Glenbrook andhad a lovely lunch with Nikki's family (her Gran even bought me some Ferrero Rochers) and ended up having a bit of a bushwalk, even spotting a pregnant skink. Around 5, Nikki drove over to Katoomba where we stayed at Bob and Sue's place (family friends also there at lunch) along with Nikki's dad and brother. Enjoying the view of the Blue Mountains we talked and ate a bit, then Sue demanded we watch Fargo as the majority of us hadn't seen it. Then off to bed, wearing clothes from the ragbag Nikki's friend had left in the boot of her car. <br />
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The next morning, Nikki and her brother and dad and I went to Scenic World and saw Echo Point, the 3 Sisters, and the Jamison Valley. We went down on this little train which was incredibly steep, proclaiming itself the steepest railway in the world, then we walked round the Valley and went back up in the gondala. We met Bob and Sue for lunch in the Common Ground Cafe run by a little sect in the community that are Christian but don't believe in Jesus and are more or less communists. Well, anyway, they make nice food. Overall, Katoomba was pretty wonderful; a small town in the heart of the stunning Blue Mountains with a good deal to see and do. <br />
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Then we drove back to Sydney which seemed rather smelly after all that tropical fresh air. But we didn't stay long.Jess Burge Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14360017558807067614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3421306443428128363.post-45068805601297423632011-12-29T15:08:00.000-08:002011-12-29T15:08:21.429-08:00Melbourne, Mark and Moving On<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7KGKgAJQZZrpyLYF6YI1A0iG3W9LkxE7cxwL2GffPgDWvGEjq_lX7LUjm1fLAXEM4YgeGAnGb7R829bw8muxPdWM-zT3Vv6KUQ6vChy_zdBdEU0brhGu-LsNdPTY5C5GXSJb8INgsLNkG/s1600/DSCF1701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7KGKgAJQZZrpyLYF6YI1A0iG3W9LkxE7cxwL2GffPgDWvGEjq_lX7LUjm1fLAXEM4YgeGAnGb7R829bw8muxPdWM-zT3Vv6KUQ6vChy_zdBdEU0brhGu-LsNdPTY5C5GXSJb8INgsLNkG/s400/DSCF1701.JPG" /></a></div><br />
Mark, 34, from Adelaide, stands just over a foot taller than me. <br />
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Flinders Station near Federation Square. Look at all the people!<br />
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Melbourne from the War Memorial<br />
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My final train ride across Australia was the Overland Train running from Adelaide to Melbourne in around 12 hours. Alanna was also on the train but sat in a different carriage. By some stroke of luck I ended up in Red Premium and got restaurant service, which was lovely. I sat in my chair waiting for whoever it was that would be put beside me to arrive. And in walked a 6"6' ginger man weeping his little heart out, and plonked himself down next to me. I promptly gave him a hug and tried to talk to him but he continued to sob for a while. He got himself together eventually. Turns out he was 34, had lived in Adelaide his whole life and was moving that very day permanently to Melbourne. So we got chatting and by the end of the trip, him me and Alanna who had joined us from Red Service, were jolly good friends and arranged to meet up before I left Melbourne.<br />
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I stayed at Nomads that night but due to its shittyness I moved to Alanna's hostel, Hotel Discovery. On the first day Alanna and I went to the market and bought food for that night, then got on the free bus service and went around Melbourne stopping at the waterfront, the Botanic Gardens and War Memorial. We had to get out in the Arts District and walk home by Federation Square and Swanston Street. I made stir fry for us both but there was a bit of drama as the rest of our food which we were saving for the next night got chucked out by some flashpacking scallywag because they wanted to use the pans. As you can read I'm still not quite over it. I mean, what kind of backpacker chucks food away? <br />
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The next day we met up with Mark at Parliament and we walked the mean streets of Melbourne for a few hours and ended up in an "Irish" bar for a pint before saying goodbye forever. Alanna and I went back to the hostel and ate before meeting up with a friend of hers who took a bunch of us to some secret bar thing called Madama Brussels or Bruge or something which had a nice view but was pretty lame due to the amount of yuppies that frequented the place. We had Pimms though, which was lovely. <br />
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On my final day I went to the library, had a curry, wandered the city centre, said goodbye to Alanna perhaps for forever, then walked to the station, where I boarded my overnight bus to Sydney.Jess Burge Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14360017558807067614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3421306443428128363.post-77032886024346154372011-12-28T15:11:00.000-08:002011-12-28T15:11:43.512-08:00The Ghan, Adelaide and Couch Surfing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ2eNxEf64HdTn8AZdvRACxeVPU-GY1Rc4rziKp4aOw06H2TZi1yKV24b0VYmANbTfHnn3OmNq_5r3Cwj3XyooGKguxUS3e3xati81Gcqv29yQfKbJ0DvkfSRj0_cFuD5681fl6PpfdBMH/s1600/DSCF1587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ2eNxEf64HdTn8AZdvRACxeVPU-GY1Rc4rziKp4aOw06H2TZi1yKV24b0VYmANbTfHnn3OmNq_5r3Cwj3XyooGKguxUS3e3xati81Gcqv29yQfKbJ0DvkfSRj0_cFuD5681fl6PpfdBMH/s400/DSCF1587.JPG" /></a></div><br />
The Ghan runs from Darwin to Adelaide, I got on at Alice and it took 24 hours. <br />
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Jari and Me on the epic night out in Adelaide<br />
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The Ghan was a pretty standard train ride really. I was sat next to a nice German who hadn't read that we weren't allowed alcohol on thee train so I helped him dispose of the evidence. Jens and Toby were a few seats back and that was cool but there were literally no seats left free so I spoke to them rarely. They were talking to this Cnadian called Alanna, more on her later. <br />
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So we arrived in Adelaide, got our luggage, of which mine yet again was the smallest, and Jens, Toby, Alanna and Me popped into a taxi. Alanna and I got some lunch, $5 pizza, can't go wrong, and I got a call from Jari, the girl I was couch surfing with. She came and picked me up and drove me back to her house in Adelaide Hills, where I slept, washed and got fed. That night I met up with the Germans (Jens and Toby) and Alanna, which was fine but I had to get the train back in. Oh, and by a stroke of genius I remembered my old friend Yvetta was back in Adelaide so she came out too.<br />
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The next day Jari took me out to Hahndorf, a little German town in Adelaide that's very pretty, and so it proved. We had a lovely coffee and cake in one of the little cafes and I bought my first souvenir: a miniature music box that played Somewhere Over The Rainbow. We also shopped in Op Shops for stuff to go out in that night, and I got a right bargain. For $10!!!! a lovely dress with some Italian label. I later found a shop of this label in Melbourne, walked in and found the dresses were worth $3-400, so my little dress, which now has burrito stains down the front, was quite the discovery.<br />
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So went out and Alanna came too, and we didn't get back till 5 in the morning. There were some fights in the streets because Adelaide turns out to be rather rough actually, and I think some guy got his ear bitten off. Ce la vie. <br />
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Then I think I left Adelaide. Yes I definitely did, on the train. Couch surfing was a really good experience and Jari was great to hang out with, though I was rather disturbed she turned out to be 19, looking after me and all. It would have been nice to stay for longer but adventure calls and I was on the train again, bound for the mean streets of Melbourne with some rather interesting accomplices...Jess Burge Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14360017558807067614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3421306443428128363.post-92177020299767520892011-12-27T16:16:00.000-08:002011-12-27T16:21:10.606-08:00Alice Springs and Uluru Tour<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMBtxItlluX8QJTIHw3p-DYisc9gVEDQME-8f1dcDQSFkrwwXvwHmkvdWfdfm9hzoP64QmFj6cw5Q6zvWaUfYhiVx52irP074DhdrjmeSOjgRSbrezzdur_4eoZmfRgmwpgAasAKh9rV5Q/s1600/DSCF1463.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMBtxItlluX8QJTIHw3p-DYisc9gVEDQME-8f1dcDQSFkrwwXvwHmkvdWfdfm9hzoP64QmFj6cw5Q6zvWaUfYhiVx52irP074DhdrjmeSOjgRSbrezzdur_4eoZmfRgmwpgAasAKh9rV5Q/s400/DSCF1463.JPG" /></a></div><br />
Adventure Tour group at Katatjuta lookout. We seem to be having a rather nice time, don't we?<br />
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Ayers Rock at sunset. <br />
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Kings Canyon after walking up "Heart Attack Hill".<br />
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I later found out that it was 41degrees when I arrived in Alice, so no wonder I felt like collapsing carrying all my stuff to the hostel. Fortunately for our tour group it was nowhere near as hot. On the first day we drove out to the camp and went to Katatjuta, a similar rock to Ayers Rock but far more complex. To walk around it you cannot even start out if the temperature is 36 degrees or above. We started at 35 degrees and walked a 6km track to the lookout point. This was the hardest walk of the tour but I was completely fine. Drinking water was essential, so inevitably needing the loo all the time became the main topic of conversation. At some point that first day too, I rode a camel for $6. Bargain. <br />
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Then we went to the camp site and had a bbq for dinner, kindly organised by Rachel, our superb tour guide. There was beef, kangaroo which I thought was delicious, and then camel sausages. It was quite bizarre to eat camel when I had ridden one hours earlier. Yummy though. <br />
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Then we drove over to Ayers Rock for the sunset, which was beautiful. At that moment I got a real sense for how aeseomly old Australia is. To think it's been there for millions of years was astonsihing. There were a lot of tourists, many of whom were not on the el cheapo tour like us, but had champagne and loads of food accompanying this visual extravaganza. Luckily for us, as we were passing a table we saw there was some wine left and raised our voices saying "oh would you look at that, they've gone and left some wine in the bottle" to which the kind waitermanboy said we could have it. So we drank that there and then, and because the waitermanboy was feeling generous, being so close to christmas and all, he gave us a whole bottle for free! Well I thanked the gentleman and wished him a merry day and we ran off back to camp where the wine was consumed gratefully. Then we got into our little swags and lay under the stars praying it wouldn't rain. It didn't but we still had to get up at 3.45am, but it was worth it to see the sunrise at Ayers Rock.<br />
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Ayers Rock. It was gorgeous, better than the sunset because all the colours in the sky came to life and undulated quietly before us. We were offered the chance to climb it but it's extremely sacred to the aboriginals and extremely dangerous (somthing like 1/36 die either on the rock or afterwards) so we declined, and opted for the 10km base walk instead. That was done by 9am. I don't think I've ever achieved so much before 9am in my life. Then we wnt to the cultural centre, no biggie, then back to the resort for lunch. I didn't think I'd need by swimmers but there was a pool and some of our gang went it, and I thought, sod it, I'm hot and bothered and I want to swim, so I went in in my shorts and top not giving a hoot. <br />
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Then we went to our camp and had dinner. Some of us were rather bored so we played poker with forks, knives and spoons. We were on the swags that night too but this time it rained... unbeknowns to me however as Andrew told me the next morning I was the only one in our group not to wake up. I was lying there, face to the rain, blissfully unconscious whilst everyone else sought shelter. I love this fact. <br />
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On the final day, we got up at 5am, breakfasted then left camp for Kings Canyon. We had a lovely 6km walk round there though the weather was rather dull, overcast and raining from time to time, but we had fun ambling along and taking photos. After that we had lunch then drove home, many of us sleeping after our exertions*. That night we all went to Anie's Place for dinner, $5 meals, can't go wrong, then there were about 6 of us left at the end of the night dancing in Bojangles. What larks Pip!<br />
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On the way back to the YHA me and Andrew found a shopping trolley, and well, cos it would be rude not to, he pushed me all the way home in it. The next day a bunch of us were on the Ghan, including the 2 German guys, Jens and Toby, more on them later. In fact, ust more later, I can't be bothered at the moment, and we're leaving for Milton now.<br />
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*I had to look this up in the dictionary.Jess Burge Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14360017558807067614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3421306443428128363.post-73001993388198583042011-12-10T01:28:00.000-08:002011-12-10T01:28:43.864-08:00Indian Pacific, Adelaide, Coober Pedy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhTsT3F5Nlb33AQLaJJscO4Nt-UlFUzXc5Rkt7erd_7I3_BZiPMbUwkN8mDEd4pBLRkug_vIq-HGZ_CcyLr0m-HRvC5HH3vlE4xGo7nllnD_rn1kD8TRVpPnOPLM8WOCPNZzXTCr1-TKJ_/s1600/DSCF1387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhTsT3F5Nlb33AQLaJJscO4Nt-UlFUzXc5Rkt7erd_7I3_BZiPMbUwkN8mDEd4pBLRkug_vIq-HGZ_CcyLr0m-HRvC5HH3vlE4xGo7nllnD_rn1kD8TRVpPnOPLM8WOCPNZzXTCr1-TKJ_/s400/DSCF1387.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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On the Indian Pacific, about a 40 hour journey, I was sat next to Martin, a nice German, and we ended up staying in the same hostel and bumming round Adelaide with Yvetta who we met in our room. Crossing the Nullabor Plain was rather epic and showed just how massive Australia is. Adelaide is really nice. One day we got free bikes and cycled to the beach and back,was about 25k so we got a good bit of exercise. I said goodbye to Yvetta and Martin, not knowing if I would see them ever again but hoping I would. <br />
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Then I got the overnight bus up to Coober Pedy, arriving at 4 in the morning, at 22degrees. I was the only one staying in the underground dorm room with no door, but was too tired to be creeped out. In the morning I went to make breakfast but found my bag infested with ants, so I had to wash everything and buy a new cool bag cos they got in the lining, the buggers. Had a wander around and saw the spaceship left behind by the film crew for "Pitch Black", and talked to a nice Greek guy on his porch for a bit and ended up having a beer with him later on down the pub, as there wasn't much left to do except talk to the locals, and miners who all seemed very Australian. Then on getting on my second bus up to Alice Springs, who should I find but Yvetta! She'd made a decision and followed me up to Alice. So here we are. Got my tour the day after tomorrow round Uluru and Kinfs Canyon. It's so hot here, I keep having to drink water. Still not feeling 100%, this virus is taking awhile to go away. Not sure what I'm gonna do in Alice, might go on a star gazing tour tomorrow night, and try and get used to the heat.Jess Burge Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14360017558807067614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3421306443428128363.post-56721787827378491432011-12-03T15:55:00.000-08:002011-12-03T15:55:29.555-08:00AUSTRALIA!!I know, I know, I haven't blogged in 4 months, and that's because I've been rather busy taking care of 3 little girls in Perth. Being a nanny is rather hard work, but I love these kids, and today, I'm leaving them. <br />
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Above, Tiana, Kayli and Lara, my little monkeys. I will miss you!<br />
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Yesterday was a great last day in Perth. Me and the family went for a lovely meal by the beach, and they presented me with some fantastic leaving gifts, including a travel bag, mosi net, mosi repellent and an iPod shuffle!! Spent most of last night getting music onto it. How generous is that!? And then we went onto the beach and swam in the Indian Ocean and it was gorgeous, 36 degrees roughly, and I do believe I caught the sun.<br />
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So after 4 months nannying and working in Mt Henry Tavern, I have feretted enough money away for a rather amazing trip. First thing, I'm taking the Indian Pacific train to Adelaide, so I'll be seeing a lot of countryside and sand and not much else. And I won't die of boredom now I have an ipod, a book, a deck of cards and hopefully nice people keeping me company. <br />
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Anways, I'm OFF! Tata for now.Jess Burge Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14360017558807067614noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3421306443428128363.post-33171842031905483352011-08-02T06:00:00.000-07:002011-08-02T06:00:45.232-07:00Mt. Cook, Lake Tekapo, Chrristchurch, and goodbye NZ!After a messy old week in Queenstown it was time for me to leave. Unfortunately due to terrific horizontal rain I never left the hostel in Mt. Cook, though I'm told it's very beautiful. Lake Tekapo was a lot more sunny, with an absurdly turqoise lake, an old church, and a random statue of a dog. Then onto Christchurch for the last few nights. On my first nights there were a few aftershocks but after that there was nothing. I walked into the city centre, what was left of it. They were bringing down a big office block using one of them ball chain things, and everyone crowded round taking pictures, analysing the work. You could see Christchurch was a beautiful city and it still is, but it was odd walking around the place with hardly any people when it should be full to the brim of activity and life. Instead, it was a ghost town. <br />
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I can't believe my time in NZ is over. As I write this, I'm already in Perth, 2 times zones away. I will go back to NZ, I still have to do the far north, and of course, a cheeky trip to QT! <br />
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So I'm sat in Perth in the suburb of Manning. Today the current au pair Lilie took me around the city and we had lunch with her friends. I bought some new boots as I wore mine out in NZ. I opened my bank account and also handed my CV into the little cafe round the corner, fingers crossed for a second job, as I think I might need one. <br />
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Tomorrow, I'm going to walk around Manning, get to know the little universe I'll be inhabiting for the next 4 months, perhaps hand a few more CVs out. I'd really like to work in a pub. Why oh why could that be? Then I want to get to know the bus a rail services, as I was completely confused today. Then I might go to Freo the next day, as that's where my audition is and I've heard it's the nicest part of Perth. Plans, plans, plans. <br />
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The kids are really lovely, and have taken to me quite well. Tiana the eldest was "unusually friendly" so I hope it bodes well. <br />
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Well then, that's that. Perth is very nice, and it's lovely to be warm again, though they all say it's cold at the moment. Think I'm going to need sunblock. <br />
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Night xJess Burge Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14360017558807067614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3421306443428128363.post-70432386937113816362011-07-26T17:04:00.000-07:002011-07-26T17:04:01.288-07:00QueenstownI had a pretty eventful week in Queenstown, it has to be said, and now I'm in Mount Cook I kind of miss it already. The bus ride over was excruciating because of the hangover, but it was worth it ;) It's cold and won't stop raining so I won't even be able to see Mount Cook at all, so hopefully the weather will be better in Tekapo. <br />
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Random thought: Piano Man, frisbee golf, skimming stones, Cowboys, playing pool, finding out about Rutger hehee!, when the snow came, closing my NZ bank account for good and having an absolutely fanbloodytastic time. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjj_YPWDqb0pOhPmNteieNubBMCm_5uTEwm5EGL64QKziTIL9LpZFpPnkSKBHbVWW46HwssPOE-RDVM4iq0vOvUUTnmHvt89lbsKvdqgJoO43luSwBjxbqXfsOMyLxUjeO2DYKehibPoE-/s1600/DSCF0928.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjj_YPWDqb0pOhPmNteieNubBMCm_5uTEwm5EGL64QKziTIL9LpZFpPnkSKBHbVWW46HwssPOE-RDVM4iq0vOvUUTnmHvt89lbsKvdqgJoO43luSwBjxbqXfsOMyLxUjeO2DYKehibPoE-/s400/DSCF0928.JPG" /></a></div>Above: Anna and I.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDdEhP3VZhE6vzbj9c1Sx3W5oAoCwJg2FeuQfMccGZziuvmc4hbCPjf6pgsT-ebPbfkMeU3HRXg3CFhQ4ONgAjpC4MZ6iuyAAidoajoXAAsn_3vuk7olT-7ZCtfKarFoPU-_duvb8iejlv/s1600/DSCF0953.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDdEhP3VZhE6vzbj9c1Sx3W5oAoCwJg2FeuQfMccGZziuvmc4hbCPjf6pgsT-ebPbfkMeU3HRXg3CFhQ4ONgAjpC4MZ6iuyAAidoajoXAAsn_3vuk7olT-7ZCtfKarFoPU-_duvb8iejlv/s400/DSCF0953.JPG" /></a></div><br />
Above: Me and the International Man of MysteryJess Burge Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14360017558807067614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3421306443428128363.post-43892831485218940602011-07-21T16:08:00.000-07:002011-07-21T16:08:43.510-07:00Milford Sound and Queenstown so farThough Milford Sound (technically not a Sound but a Fiord because it's been created by ice) is really really close to Queenstown, there is not road through mountain range, so getting there is a long affair. From Queenstown, I got the tour bus and we drove down to Te Anau then back up again on the Milford Road, the most scenic road in New Zealand, and therefore the world. The drive itself was as amazing as the boat trip. It just builds and builds and gets more and more dramatic until it "explodes all over your face" (Kiwi Experience guide Ringo). If you can believe it, there is actually a parrot that lives out there called the Kea and we were lucky enough to see one. Ringo said it had the intelligence of an 8 year old Kiwi child, or a 12 year old Australian child. <br />
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The 2 hour boat trip was incredible, taking us all the way out to the Tasman sea past stunning waterfalls and the odd seal. Even though it rained and the sky was quite overcast, it is easy to see why Milford Sound has been voted the most beautiful place in the world. It is amazing. Though it's sounds a bit peculiar, it actually reminded me of the film Avatar the way the mountains come soaring out of the sea and the waterfalls appear to float. My pictures do not do it justice. <br />
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On the drive back, we watched The Hangover and I tried not to be sick on all the windy bits. <br />
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Yesterday was my first proper day in Queenstown so I took advantage of the sun and went up the Skyline Gondola and had a couple goes on the Luge. In the evening I met up with Harrison and Thomas for a few drinks around the town. Today we're going to have a Fergburger, have a look around the art galleries and then go play frisbee golf in the park. All in all, it sounds like it's going to be a fun day. Plus, it's really sunny again. Yay!Jess Burge Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14360017558807067614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3421306443428128363.post-84012753409257572602011-07-17T23:22:00.000-07:002011-07-17T23:22:34.002-07:00WanakaHaven't done all that much in Wanaka, but I did a big walk around onmy second day and took loads of photos. I also just spent the afternoon in the Cinema Paradiso watching the last Harry Potter movie, which was awesome. Kind of glad to be leaving here even though it's so beautiful.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFx7cm3GjwrusnqV_vjm-UtB3y0ksAyiwVsxp7lTLncGt9tdDQuaXGo6ztCfh_RJZQ8pj2XC9342cGraSz1ETK_Iiusogadf4ytuYmQuTvs2HmupRnIAnGJIOmrPyr1garCHHtk63S9DPk/s1600/DSCF0721.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFx7cm3GjwrusnqV_vjm-UtB3y0ksAyiwVsxp7lTLncGt9tdDQuaXGo6ztCfh_RJZQ8pj2XC9342cGraSz1ETK_Iiusogadf4ytuYmQuTvs2HmupRnIAnGJIOmrPyr1garCHHtk63S9DPk/s400/DSCF0721.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Ia-UDi4kkpeKdcOSX4QZvhIfKdmKGKafTmJkBeEW2Z7Ufr38-GRcW0kq_Iwbv6s_7ir0CIVGZiicfAkrgwnLJZVtr9xNPaDhs_GGnfWb_on0jHZ7dP2AkxNEuxlaiX8_KF-Zki2HzuvI/s1600/DSCF0751.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="299" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Ia-UDi4kkpeKdcOSX4QZvhIfKdmKGKafTmJkBeEW2Z7Ufr38-GRcW0kq_Iwbv6s_7ir0CIVGZiicfAkrgwnLJZVtr9xNPaDhs_GGnfWb_on0jHZ7dP2AkxNEuxlaiX8_KF-Zki2HzuvI/s400/DSCF0751.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggIMGQRDyF7xkV0rsuCozc1JMOrmGkp9JLCJbVsjXoPYYHKfX76HEZcKeLpEubsjzvemj9FODYj77hA_urkuIPd17N6sAJ5iPqTk4pzHPrid_jBF_CmZ7C7sNa1wCY5XaGUFHrI0lPqCe1/s1600/DSCF0768.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="295" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggIMGQRDyF7xkV0rsuCozc1JMOrmGkp9JLCJbVsjXoPYYHKfX76HEZcKeLpEubsjzvemj9FODYj77hA_urkuIPd17N6sAJ5iPqTk4pzHPrid_jBF_CmZ7C7sNa1wCY5XaGUFHrI0lPqCe1/s400/DSCF0768.JPG" /></a></div>Jess Burge Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14360017558807067614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3421306443428128363.post-20941571725370835292011-07-15T21:48:00.000-07:002011-07-15T21:48:27.020-07:00Fox Glacier, Lake Matheson and a bit moreAfter doing the tour of Franz Josef I decided to cancel my glacier walk on Fox; it was too much out of the rest of my money to spend on something I'd kind of already done. But I walked up to it anyway, then went on down to Lake Matheson then got a lift back to the hostel off some French guys. Sweet as. <br />
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In Fox I also bumped into Myf and Elliott again which was really lovely, getting pissed in front of the fire. Jamie also turned up and we had a lovely night pissing oursleves watching VHS episodes of Absolutely Fabulous (gin and tonic Eddie, gin and tonic!). Now I'm in Wanaka, after a really beautiful drive down and I'm probably going to do free stuff, which means walking. I bought a Pumpkin for less than $2 so I think I will be living off them for the next fortnight. My fundings are in a drastic state of affairs, and now I think I really should have hung onto the money I transferred into my Australian bank account as I won't be needing in there. C'est la vie. There is such a thing as being too organised. <br />
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And now, some photos.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLx8yOeg_Q-cm9GBSk8AmyTpwquqp3OuZqgO0nmjc_tGzf62I3gyfH05Mw5r-4hqDMwubR5jISmWwzrepoZBjkvgdb2JWvrDf7dWj7kkj71Iy3H6GZxu1uyPWSSOJ311uGEpu4sanVwqUR/s1600/DSCF0674.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLx8yOeg_Q-cm9GBSk8AmyTpwquqp3OuZqgO0nmjc_tGzf62I3gyfH05Mw5r-4hqDMwubR5jISmWwzrepoZBjkvgdb2JWvrDf7dWj7kkj71Iy3H6GZxu1uyPWSSOJ311uGEpu4sanVwqUR/s400/DSCF0674.JPG" /></a></div>Above: View of Mt Tasman and Mt Cook reflected in Lake Matheson.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh25LpFpT82FwkSsOXQoCVKSUP-qs29qgYJBygTLVr2B_Ujjr9yiR5KGbDrmys4ZFp_C7BZOmLe1yjfzIttIKRGL0Xq-8_fXPpwsluJ2eolU93b6XcAA6nF9cEPbVTNK9m1Gu83UBKvOUqy/s1600/DSCF0688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh25LpFpT82FwkSsOXQoCVKSUP-qs29qgYJBygTLVr2B_Ujjr9yiR5KGbDrmys4ZFp_C7BZOmLe1yjfzIttIKRGL0Xq-8_fXPpwsluJ2eolU93b6XcAA6nF9cEPbVTNK9m1Gu83UBKvOUqy/s400/DSCF0688.JPG" /></a></div>Above: Bruce Bay, people write on the stones and leave them tacked by the beach.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiziU1RjMqKb-IFJKu-ISHEQWuJm_nanvpLLkP8uWBIxsSu2xXJaa2fRdoihWdBYiB9CKlyMR1acG48IQU8jnpnKeRbdFvcncoqGtJPX0EHtHqpP0Rq9vF5AxpTPdpVW_Hh6JCSsaV8FIPM/s1600/DSCF0712.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="108" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiziU1RjMqKb-IFJKu-ISHEQWuJm_nanvpLLkP8uWBIxsSu2xXJaa2fRdoihWdBYiB9CKlyMR1acG48IQU8jnpnKeRbdFvcncoqGtJPX0EHtHqpP0Rq9vF5AxpTPdpVW_Hh6JCSsaV8FIPM/s400/DSCF0712.JPG" /></a></div>Above: WanakaJess Burge Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14360017558807067614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3421306443428128363.post-23610527440457580692011-07-14T00:08:00.000-07:002011-07-14T00:08:29.639-07:00Punakaiki, Hokitika and Franz JosefAfter leaving Nelson, I went to Punakaiki and saw the Pancake Rocks. The only way to describe the sea would be roaring. Constant roaring. About a mile out the sea was so choppy the surface was covered in foam that washed onto the beach and stuck there like white jelly. I also did the Truman Track which leads to an outlook and then a little beach.I got down there and saw a little seal on its own so I took photos but got too close to it because I scared it and it attacked and I ran away. That night I went to the tavern and ended up getting some drinks off this aussie chap and chatting to him most the night. <br />
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Next day I got the bus to Hokitika, a rather boring little town with not much to boast about. Whilst there I experienced a huge lightening storm that shook the whole hostel, lots of hail and rain. I also met a lovely aussie couple, Myf and Elliott. More on them later.<br />
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After 2 nights in Hokitika I went to Franz Josef and bumped into Paul (med students friend from Nelson) and met another Bristol lad, this one was nice though, Jamie. The second day I went on a guided tour of Franz Josef Glacier with Myf and Elliott, and though we had rain, fog, hail, lightening, thunder and avalanche, it was an awesome day. After we got dinner and dried off I met Myf and Elliott for a drink, and bless them, on the walk my gloves got wrecked, they had bought me a pair of lovely woolen gloves. So sweet. They left for Fox that night and I just hung around with Jamie watching crappy TV.<br />
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Next day I went for a walk around Franz Josef with Ivy from my room, then got the bus to Fox. The bus driver showed me a camera that had been lost by the owner and said 'Do you know Myf and Elliott, cos this is their camera?' so I took it off his hands, and gave it back to them when I saw them in Fox, which is where I sit now, in Ivory Towers.<br />
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Due to slight funding issues, I have cancelled my Fox Glacier walk, opting to spend my money on other things, such as Milford Sound. I have 2 nights here in Fox, then I'm onto Wanaka, which I hope is as gorgeous as everyone says. <br />
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It's funny how you keep bumping into folks, and I didn't think I'd see Myf and Elliott again, but I'm glad I did. I think Jamie's coming down to Fox tomorrow, so I should see him around. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Slqb8evMzhw0FRkLNgUEfHDg2e_bbqvimEXljeTB-NJpVpmIQqQou8JoVMTjFbqSTGXd_IjO7t-tymTx5nAz9WJsAjqTaU0J7gdOtW1AZ_1xEpaiFs2wxJBJaBP6ADYkYAkk59TY6r6J/s1600/DSCF0531.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Slqb8evMzhw0FRkLNgUEfHDg2e_bbqvimEXljeTB-NJpVpmIQqQou8JoVMTjFbqSTGXd_IjO7t-tymTx5nAz9WJsAjqTaU0J7gdOtW1AZ_1xEpaiFs2wxJBJaBP6ADYkYAkk59TY6r6J/s400/DSCF0531.JPG" /></a></div>Above: Anthony, aka sugar daddy.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPnmLqlZA5rKVicg_gO3Bf7Z_U4RkNgaWiREjxJ0sc8Uz13Qk4-6Zv2cCoPLaHuNRxmt6daQBrnnpI8e7ShapsKgMDBh09gkw0SBSu1H3_g5LJd9jSy3xJ2Apk0tKGszgxBHnA0wttCh18/s1600/DSCF0549.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPnmLqlZA5rKVicg_gO3Bf7Z_U4RkNgaWiREjxJ0sc8Uz13Qk4-6Zv2cCoPLaHuNRxmt6daQBrnnpI8e7ShapsKgMDBh09gkw0SBSu1H3_g5LJd9jSy3xJ2Apk0tKGszgxBHnA0wttCh18/s400/DSCF0549.JPG" /></a></div>Above: Pancake Rocks, Punakaiki<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwhfbcD5odfv60wr52QcPu2wZPb-l2-JSkTFeqpaZo3t8TQk6HSikB_tnSv2bLl3t_cJHL62HUkHb3hp_osQ7IClaV1dUj0YnTWPkeLpQO7X7AbJgBfeAnfwEQxNIAKQw2caPIBvEee6ZT/s1600/DSCF0585.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwhfbcD5odfv60wr52QcPu2wZPb-l2-JSkTFeqpaZo3t8TQk6HSikB_tnSv2bLl3t_cJHL62HUkHb3hp_osQ7IClaV1dUj0YnTWPkeLpQO7X7AbJgBfeAnfwEQxNIAKQw2caPIBvEee6ZT/s400/DSCF0585.JPG" /></a></div>Above: Seal of Doom<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglOLV8kFIl13y-L4_neTHRfZYPi0-Xf0qN5Sj2YzyJU2XUs4jsLUp63P-6zHfdwvrhTwZDPWEUU0E0ObTsohYnNyWcKcbCzDZujZVFq2PaujS19InDe8PwhuhiE-PIA6p4SoEgDFy8049j/s1600/DSCF0611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglOLV8kFIl13y-L4_neTHRfZYPi0-Xf0qN5Sj2YzyJU2XUs4jsLUp63P-6zHfdwvrhTwZDPWEUU0E0ObTsohYnNyWcKcbCzDZujZVFq2PaujS19InDe8PwhuhiE-PIA6p4SoEgDFy8049j/s400/DSCF0611.JPG" /></a></div>Above: Erm... so that's a faultline.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpPSc0fxqE6cZ6bARH0atx7sYknkZWjkbHFJg7a43_XYBWKlZQNAZBWyTh7zh_IOvoN3-DWI3m5vr4uW0NdX16I-7m4Q7AIN374pXi13PZt1b2f0PPWTdxd9vvYGoNzflAl6VFWhhp6nxr/s1600/DSCF0631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpPSc0fxqE6cZ6bARH0atx7sYknkZWjkbHFJg7a43_XYBWKlZQNAZBWyTh7zh_IOvoN3-DWI3m5vr4uW0NdX16I-7m4Q7AIN374pXi13PZt1b2f0PPWTdxd9vvYGoNzflAl6VFWhhp6nxr/s400/DSCF0631.JPG" /></a></div>Above: Me in front of Franz Josef Glacier<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJabUPkegpXLiwLzGUvIw4ysSeFe_Oz7wgGKwpGE8S3fUJNXZarAyNta9FWBlexZmN6A2guEF5qmNP2c2MaKpPruEoZ7NdnSKp1G95wxqu2aSym3jACZaRj0tvM4ab4-hWfBrOT88T1LaA/s1600/DSCF0636.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJabUPkegpXLiwLzGUvIw4ysSeFe_Oz7wgGKwpGE8S3fUJNXZarAyNta9FWBlexZmN6A2guEF5qmNP2c2MaKpPruEoZ7NdnSKp1G95wxqu2aSym3jACZaRj0tvM4ab4-hWfBrOT88T1LaA/s400/DSCF0636.JPG" /></a></div>Above: Franz JosefJess Burge Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14360017558807067614noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3421306443428128363.post-15593079379887974452011-07-09T00:30:00.000-07:002011-07-09T00:30:55.155-07:00Good bye Nelson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn4B_ijbFJwHQzgmJHHx6MTR40bGkXS8PSQF4z2-OqdtMtoal4DxZrdUjRjlaVrYjaZTqX3CA5uxHrjGdc6ky3W5FtUA33Fq8embS1uzubcJvMxJ-FfS56hQsvV-wvAEvOWay_jzb7Jni6/s1600/DSCF0461.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn4B_ijbFJwHQzgmJHHx6MTR40bGkXS8PSQF4z2-OqdtMtoal4DxZrdUjRjlaVrYjaZTqX3CA5uxHrjGdc6ky3W5FtUA33Fq8embS1uzubcJvMxJ-FfS56hQsvV-wvAEvOWay_jzb7Jni6/s400/DSCF0461.JPG" /></a></div><br />
Crusaders v Sharks (with Christy, Vanessa and Romy)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNMCCGUF5hrCYD1mC-q5A25lKVRy5MNN8tRdT5ps1jjzjXPRiUFIXNZiRaRv7_zolbjuwE0_r65s40JSwx7X-YTIbFpsLYgLM1YL_dqWsJk-qhw5fPFNKfwYrr2KvwZKXn46mhxHyMycUG/s1600/DSCF0503.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="104" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNMCCGUF5hrCYD1mC-q5A25lKVRy5MNN8tRdT5ps1jjzjXPRiUFIXNZiRaRv7_zolbjuwE0_r65s40JSwx7X-YTIbFpsLYgLM1YL_dqWsJk-qhw5fPFNKfwYrr2KvwZKXn46mhxHyMycUG/s400/DSCF0503.JPG" /></a></div><br />
View over the sea to Abel Tasman from Boat House Cafe<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3uei1Gs-JpyfT87vGzQ7JjSzKL5fUuLlFtNQ9Rsu0wj0OOqgfmqyoSBJvaah46z8MUfj1gZauwAXW33Ozc-vZFl2pTBOk5szIWlPIUlCLGEIdlnlpEWeX5400-mOVXUKegTJ_Vt72aJAT/s1600/R0015897.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3uei1Gs-JpyfT87vGzQ7JjSzKL5fUuLlFtNQ9Rsu0wj0OOqgfmqyoSBJvaah46z8MUfj1gZauwAXW33Ozc-vZFl2pTBOk5szIWlPIUlCLGEIdlnlpEWeX5400-mOVXUKegTJ_Vt72aJAT/s400/R0015897.JPG" /></a></div><br />
Me and Nadya.<br />
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I'm too hungover to write anything coherent so here's some random memories from my 3 weeks in Nelson.<br />
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Arguing over Jenga and red wine with Nathan about his BNP political views.<br />
Hugging the lovely Christy everyday when she got back from the apple picking place.<br />
Pizza with Vanessa and Romy.<br />
Baby Luke and the fact that he never cried.<br />
Anthony coming in carrying sugar and me shouting 'Hello Sugar Daddy!'<br />
My supposed obsession with bacon. <br />
Pascal stole my bacon.<br />
My roommate Andy eating snickers very loudly.<br />
The dogs Ukon and the other one.<br />
2 hangovers.<br />
Going to watch the rugby with Louisa.<br />
Meeting Tess and Cat the medical students.<br />
That Irish couple.<br />
Going to the market with Caroline and bumping into Paul Johnston, my god that lamb kebab, and then the epic search for the hat, which we found for $5.<br />
Pascal's habit of talking in his sleep. <br />
Watching Grey's Anatomy on TVNZ.<br />
German guy called Oliver and his snail biscuits.<br />
Other German guy that made bread with mushrooms and pumpkin inside :/<br />
Buying my bowling alley shirt, and my granny jumper. <br />
The Asian Invasion.<br />
When Anthony put the baby in the corner and I inevitably quoted Dirty Dancing.<br />
Reading The Passage, and Sense and Sensibility. <br />
When I found out Anthony had never heard of Jane Eyre. Still outraged.<br />
My unfruitful quest to buy the book Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier. <br />
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Now then, Punakaiki.Jess Burge Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14360017558807067614noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3421306443428128363.post-90670614152910570692011-06-16T22:44:00.000-07:002011-06-16T22:44:25.616-07:003 Weeks in NelsonI came to the conclusion that I had more time than money and so I asked Antony, the hostel owner, if he had any work going for free accomodation. And do you know, it turned out he needed another pair of hands around the place. So I'm living in this hostel for the next 3 weeks and limiting myself to $100 a week before going off round the south island again. After that, I'm going to Australia, Perth, the suburb of Manning to become an au pair, which means I'll probably be doing some cleaning, cooking, teaching, childcare, and probably a heavy heavy dose of growing up. <br />
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It just so happens, after a google of Perth theatre societies, that there is a rather close one called Harbour Theatre in Fremantle, a bus ride away from Manning, and they're putting on a production of JANE EYRE!!! and so I emailed them, and now I have an audition! What's it called when everything just fits together at the right time? Wish me luck. <br />
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A very helpful lady at the Inland Revenue helped me fill out my forms so apparently I've now filed for my tax back. Of course, they won't even look at the documents until I leave the country and then it will take a large amount of time to get processed. And then, there's always the slim chance of actually getting my money from Solberge, but let's not hold our breath. Then, and only then, will my overdraft come close to being paid off. <br />
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I'd like to thank David Butler for his councel over facebook. That is my personal online chat record: 2 hours, and we had a lovely catch up, and I promise to come to Edinburgh when I'm back. Butler and Burge Reunite! <br />
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Anyway, I did not feel the earthquake so please don't worry. Nelson is safe and leafy and lovely and my home for the next 3 weeks.Jess Burge Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14360017558807067614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3421306443428128363.post-37916127967686365432011-06-13T22:38:00.000-07:002011-06-16T22:46:25.809-07:00Wondrous World of Wearable Art and Abel Tasman National Park<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMHGIgLIsPCX8gXvMKsN2oWaYtA25Pr5gkou9TDyePlAt0XJxStQkvBjRtgjuC8kdPdM8JyolU0LrnmgoPYrXVdaMJxG1-kACIzshDRIafpbBgmYCnGUc463d2dDqZOn0Pzo5rjN6OX0Kz/s1600/DSCF0418.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMHGIgLIsPCX8gXvMKsN2oWaYtA25Pr5gkou9TDyePlAt0XJxStQkvBjRtgjuC8kdPdM8JyolU0LrnmgoPYrXVdaMJxG1-kACIzshDRIafpbBgmYCnGUc463d2dDqZOn0Pzo5rjN6OX0Kz/s320/DSCF0418.JPG" t8="true" width="320px" /></a></div>Above: Only Fools and Horses car in the Wondrous World of Wearable Art, Nelson. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbuP8wqluwTS2XIAKzkltYAn6f7rMitAwYAyPE3wGBI-l-UvZqJQQpQ3fnjDf-xGN8d4uYZ5UKfAJUjm6pJQW-rQlW6G2sbHBEzsL0K7yLV4Se-gBFMx1Em6DW7LGozZEXDSNVTBJwO7Oo/s1600/DSCF0452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbuP8wqluwTS2XIAKzkltYAn6f7rMitAwYAyPE3wGBI-l-UvZqJQQpQ3fnjDf-xGN8d4uYZ5UKfAJUjm6pJQW-rQlW6G2sbHBEzsL0K7yLV4Se-gBFMx1Em6DW7LGozZEXDSNVTBJwO7Oo/s320/DSCF0452.JPG" t8="true" width="240px" /></a></div>Above: Abel Tasman National Park, view of Onetahuti. <br />
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Got the Abel Tasman Coach Line from Nelson to Marahau and arrived at 10.30ish. I left my stuff at the iSite and went off on the track. After about a 4 hour trek I got to Anchorage where I stayed the night in a hut and got half eaten by Sandflies. Bastards. My feet are now in one of Dantes circles from hell. I am seriously considering amputation. Anchorage Bay was pretty gorgeous and I was sat on the beach for ages, not another soul in sight. I did think I might have to stay in th hut all by myself which would have been awfully surreal and my mental health would have been affected had not 2 Germans come along in a kayak. That's probably the first time I've been relieved to see a German. We chatted until it went dark; all the time I was thinking "Don't mention ze war!" I didn't. They were awfully nice, and lent me a torch so I could read <em>Brideshead Revisited </em>before turning in for the night. <br />
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I got up at 8 and started off at half past. Somewhere on the way I must have lost my old black cardigan. Alas! old friend! It was in appalling condition anyway with far too few buttons and far too many holes to be considered useful. Ah well. I walked to Barks Bay and met a blonde photographer Kiwi lad and we had a spot of lunch with these ducks watching us the entire time. We were going opposite ways so we parted, and I walked the last stretch to Onetahuti, another beautiful long beach. The Marahau Water Taxi picked me up at 3 and I was out of there, gladly saying adieu to the evil, pure evil Sandflies. Chance would have it I met the photographer boy again being picked up at Anchorage, or was it Torrent Bay? Je ne sais pas. It turned out most of the people on the water taxi (ALACK! Not the fit guy I was sat next to) were going back to Nelson or Motueka on a bus, so I got on it too ($9 to Nelson) and so here I am again, in the same hostel, in the same dorm room, in the very same bed. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia0hnRmTGFESiPWAdLewZ4n9oEbbPXSY7-R_VePtKgltNckrOBH-DTjEcBdSZ3aFb5zKVfXPdEDMUyfNA_qS3jXuWtrHA4c73FfPze0V2mQn1S6qESl-D6RfZztLlR1Zg2D9LZ6rGhkUYV/s1600/DSCF0455.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia0hnRmTGFESiPWAdLewZ4n9oEbbPXSY7-R_VePtKgltNckrOBH-DTjEcBdSZ3aFb5zKVfXPdEDMUyfNA_qS3jXuWtrHA4c73FfPze0V2mQn1S6qESl-D6RfZztLlR1Zg2D9LZ6rGhkUYV/s320/DSCF0455.JPG" t8="true" width="320px" /></a></div>Above: View of Trafalgar Street from the Cathedral Steps, Nelson. <br />
I really like Nelson and I'm tempted to ask the hostel man if I can work here for free accomodation. I just had a wander around today, and now it's sunny again Nelson is all the prettier. I went to Inland Revenue and got the forms for getting my tax back, but it turns out I worked across 2 financial years so this might prove tricky to get any money at all. I also had to go to the cinema because I left my mobile there last night and I only found out because they'd rung my mother from it and she facebooked me. Well done mum. The battle of technology has finally been won...ish. <br />
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Further plans: might join the Stray bus as it looks cheaper than getting the Intercity, plusit'd be easier to meet people. I did feel rather isolated in Abel Tasman, and given the time of year, the hostels aren't very busy. I might try other hostels to work for in Nelson if this one doesn't need me, just for a couple of weeks, the 3-4 weeks travelling, then staying, perhaps in Dunedin before going for my flight in Christchurch. <br />
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Oh, and a little dicky bird told me the Cobar staff were reading my blog and there has been "talk". Haha, you devils, I miss thee! Hope you're all well. My little voodoo do---sorry my little doll of Paddy got his hair wet so I might have to shampoo it at some point. He's quite a hit with the ladies...Jess Burge Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14360017558807067614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3421306443428128363.post-10066063964455837522011-06-10T19:54:00.000-07:002011-06-10T19:54:05.848-07:00NelsonNelson, though unluckily rainy for me as it is the sunshine capital of NZ, is a lovely city. It also has the "centre of NZ" which I went to and overlooked the whole city. Beautiful, if rainy. <br />
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Today I went to the Wondrous World of Wearable Art, which rather randomly also has a large collection of classic cars including the Only Fools and Horses 3 wheeler, Austin Powers' Union Jack car and the car from the Back to the Future movies (I sat in that one). The rest of it comprised of this uncanny fasion show of dolls wearing frankly weird stuff. One of the dresses was the shape of a pregnant woman, other were made of metal coils wrapped around the wearer. I saw one bikini type top made of bath taps. Another dress was of giant sized upsidedown roses. Some were made of wood, other plastic and there was section of clothes made out of glow-in-the-dark material. It was all very theatrical and clever and I wish I could have seen one of the shows that they put on. Probably wasn't worth the $22 and the long walk but it's so rainy here now there's not much else to do. <br />
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Tomorrow I'm going to Marahau and from there I shall figure out how to do the Abel Tasman and if there is a way of getting to Golden Bay in a day.Jess Burge Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14360017558807067614noreply@blogger.com0