Australia shines - A truly memorable two weeks

Having just re-read my previous post I think there was a tinge of dissapointment running through it as I didn't feel Oz was really living up to it's reputation. However, I've just spent the last two weeks in probably the two most beautiful places I've ever seen as well as conquering a (hidden) fear of heights by skydiving at 14,000ft and doing a 90ft bungy!!

So after a day more in Surfers Paradise (that seems bloody ages ago), I made my way to Brisbane for a weekend of continiuous partying with the locals. A really cool little city with a bohemian feel that matches the laid back nature of the people who live there. Making my way further North I stopped off at the Australia Zoo (aka the Steve Irwin Zoo) where I think my camera almost exploded such was the amount of pictures I took of the place. A quick stop off on the beaches at Noosa gave me the chance to read a couple of books and relax.

It was after this however when Australia really came alight. I'd already booked myself on a trip for a self drive 4X4 safari along the sandy panes of the Island and so at 5am last week an Englishman, 2 Frenchman, a German, a Scot, two Norwegians and an American set off to camp on an island for two days.

Now the deal was we were to take the 4X4 jeep, buy a load of food and booze and spend the next couple of days and nights camping and wandering around this beautiful little island. It really was an adventure and apart from the occassional annoying moment where we got stuck in the sand, some of the memories I have will stay with me for a long time. Things like driving along the wet sand, with the sun shining and the stunning scenery before me. Also waking up at 5am to catch the sunrise will forever be etched into my memory. Perhaps the most stunning part of this particular trip was a little lake called Lake Waby. That picture doesn't really do it justice but the lake was a unique bluy/green colour and the sand dunes when you reach the top give off a sensation that you're in the middle of the desert. A really great couple of days.

So if Frazer Island was impressive, sailing on the Whitsunday Islands literally took my breath away. I won't ever forget how I was literally speachless when I stepped onto the viewing point and saw this . I didn't think or know places like this actually existed. After dragging myself away from quite honestly the best piece of scenery and landscape I have ever seen I went down to the beach itself and spent the next couple of hours swimming in the clearest blue sea and continually telling myself how lucky I am.

That's something I actually haven't mentioned on this blog yet. Every single day I wake up and I feel extremely fortunate. Whether it is witnessing a sunrise, visiting a historical monument or simply having to decide how I'll manage a hangover, the same feeling occurs every single time and I am truly grateful for the chance to be on this trip.

And so with Australia bursting into life I made a 10 hour bus journey from Airlie Beach up to Cairns and took in great scenery that seems to permeate Australia's roads. Stopping off just before Cairns in Mission Beach I went for a skydive. Now my nerves weren't reassured when we arrivied at the runway and all the instructors were recalling how drunk they were the previous night and how they were feeling truly awful that morning. The morning I was to trust one of these guys to jump 14,000ft out of a plane. I wasn't reassured either when Igor, my instructor from Moscow, wandered over and absolutely stunk of booze. Anyway, before I knew it I was freefalling at 200km an hour and having the time of my life.

With the adrenaline well and truly running through me I made the short journey to Cairns and went for a bungy jump. Now this was extremely frightening. With the sky dive you don't really have a choice. Once you're up there whether you like it or not the instructor will jump and as you are tied to him....you will too. However, the bungy is different and stepping on the edge of a platform and diving forward goes against the most fundamental human instincts. Nevertheless I did it and whilst I would say a sense of relief rather than elation came over me, it is still something that I'm glad I did.

And yet still there was more to come. Having got my PADI Open Water diving license in Thailand, I went for a couple of dives on the Great Barrier Reef. Whilst the first dive site was slightly underwhelming the second dive was sensational. The reef itself is like another world and the marine life under water so varied and and rich in colours and textures. I also saw a couple of turtles ambling along which only added to the experience.

So the Oz adventure is drawing to a close. It's been an exciting and relaxing 6 weeks and at points along the east coast I have truly been mesmorized and blown away by some of the sights this country can offer.

Thus a flight to NZ awaits me tomorrow where I will begin 3 weeks taking in the Kiwi Experience. From what I hear it can compete and possibly beat Australia for scenery, landscape and activities. If this turns out to be true I can't fail to have a good time!!

Until then...