eitch’s blog

I just had to do it:

Day 41, Tuesday, March 16 2010
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Today I enjoyed the city of Sydney. I went alone in the early morning and walked around the city centre of Sydney, loosing myself in the many streets. Every now and then I found a book store, into which I just had to go. It was interesting to see that every book store had a different assortment, with minor overlappings. For instance, one had more spiritual books, the other more language books, then another was only fantasy, horror and science fiction books.

I ended up in Darling Harbour, where I then went to the IMAX and watched Under The Sea and Avatar both in 3D. That was a good afternoon.

In the evening I met with Iris, but we didn’t do much anymore. We went to bed early, where I first packed my suit case and then read a bit. Once in bed I listened to a chapter of Harry Potther and the half blood prince.

Day 40, Monday, March 15 2010
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Our trip to the Blue Mountains was on this day. It started off with us having to find the Oz Experience office. It was on the other side of town and thanks to good instructions from Laurence at the reception and a quick train ride we were on time waiting for our bus driver. Our bus driver is called Jason. He is a strange bloke. It told us a bit too much of his private life, but he was nevertheless very informative and the day was quite nice.

The trip starts off with a long drive through the heavy Sydney morning traffic. Afterwards we went to a camp spot in the blue mountains, where were supposed to be able to spot kangeroos. Animals are not predictable, so we were not too upset that we didn’t see any. Jason said that he mostly does see them, but today we ran into bad luck.

I was actually not all too happy with this hunt, because I didn’t want to go to a spot, where I saw a mown lawn and maybe have an opportunity to see some kangeroos. For me it would have been better if we had extended the walks. After conferring with the guides at the hostel, they said that was how someone spoke who already had seen kangeroos. Other people would come to Sydney for three days and would want to see a kangeroo, so that was why this part was incorporated into the trip. I suppose they are right.

Our trip continued on to the Wentworth Falls walk. This is a beautiful little round circuit from the car park, which goes down a bit into the valley and gives a wonderful view over the blue mountains valley and the of the Wentworth Falls. It took us about one and a half hours to do the walk.

We stayed at the car park after the trip and then had our lunch their. Sadly I had not told them about me being vegan so all I had for lunch was lettuce, tomatoe and cucumber. They didn’t even serve some italian dressing, salt or any other kind of flavouring! That definitely was not good. I have definitely been served well, especially if I think about our Uluru trip…

The next and last walk consisted of the walk down to the base of the scenic railway, which takes one down a large set of stairs. In the early days, these steps were taken by miners, which would go down them in the morning and come up with the railway after their work ended. This walk was very nice as we walked through many crevices in the side of the mountain, had a beautiful view and also ended up with a view on to the three sisters. Here we stopped and our guide told us the story of how the three sisters came to be in the aboriginal world.

The last walk concluded our trip, and we started the trip back into Sydney. The trip was very nice, yet 100 AUD was not quite adequate for what we had. It was too little walking, but I suppose that is just me, who loves walking in nature…

The evening was concluded with a BBQ which was provided by the hostel.

Day 39, Sunday, March 14 2010
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This morning was my last couple of hours in Tasmania, which was quite sad since I had such a fabulous time… But oh well, swapped the pictures we made on the hikes and Monika gave me some good music which I had heard on the way to and back from Coles Bay. Most were australian interprest like: The Presets, Lisa Mitchell, The beautiful girls, The Temper Trap, Wolfmother, Xavier Rudd, etc.

As time was running out, I packed my bags into the car, and we then headed out. Monika took me up the wine route for a couple of kilometres where I was able to enjoy a beautiful view over Launceston and of the Vineyards which were on the highway.

As a last stop, we went to the gorge in Launceston, where I saw what I was going to miss, as there was no time left for me to walk around through the gorge and enjoy another nice hike.

So, with a few minutes after two, we arrived at the airport. Sadly this was good-bye. I had immensly enjoyed the time with Monika in Tasmania, and was sorry to leave, but nothing is forever and I might see her soon, when she would be doing her next trip to Europe…

Day 38, Saturday, March 13 2010
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Today we had decided on doing the circuit around Frecinet National Park, to Wineglass Beach, Coles Beach and through the beautiful coast line. We were walking from one beautiful little place to the next, through thicker bush which was really beautiful, then again through more open stretches, and always having a glimpse of the water. It was a long hike, especially after the strains of the previous day. We made it after about six hours. We had lunch on Coles Beach where we watched the water crash onto the rocks on which we were sitting. It was really wonderful.

Once we had arrived back at the carpark and relieved our feet from the hiking boots, we started our trip back home. Once we had arrived in Launceston, we immediately drove to the burger place Burger Got Soul. Monika said they have wonderful burgers and even vegan ones, which I was not going to miss out on. We took the burgers back to Monikas place where we then ate them, while watching the eighth season of Scrubs. We laughed our heads off, while eating really good burgers. Thanks Monika for that idea, as this was another nice meal.

Day 37, Friday, March 12 2010
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In the morning we got up around 8:30 and then prepared to go out to the Frecinet National Park which is situated in the east of Tasmania. It was a two and a half hour drive to coles Bay. We stopped in the middle of the drive in Campbell Town where we had a little break. Coles Bay is just outside of the national park and we got there sometime in the early afternoon.

After paying the fee for the national park we decided on the possible routes. There are a number of different walks which can be done around in Frecinet National Park and many involve view of Wineglass Bay which is a really beautiful area.

Much discussion later, we decided on Mt Amos which was to be a very steep and difficult hike, yet wonderfully rewarding. The hike consisted of simple walkways and the very difficult climbs over stone slabs which were very slippery. Due to the fact that it was dry, we were able to walk up to Mt Amos, which took us about two hours. The view from the top was astonishing, but we did not stay long as we didn’t want to loose the day light and then walk in the dark down the steep stone slabs.

When the hike was over, and we were really tired, we checked in at the local YHA and went to the pub for dinner. There wasn’t much I was expecting from the pub, but I was really lucky because they had a wonderfuly curry which was vegan. So this was my second best dish since being in Australia. Monika wanted me to try some of the beers so she showed me what a Boags Premium tastes like. I quite liked it.

Day 36, Thursday, March 11 2010
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In the morning I got up, took a shower and then packed my things and headed out for a coffee with Vicky. Afterwards we got back, checked-out and it was nearly time for my flight to Tasmania. The shuttle bus picked me up at quarter past eleven. The shuttle picked some more people up and I was starting to get a little nervous as my time was running out. Finally we headed off to the airport and I saw that I had less than half an hour left to check-in. Everything did work out well and I was ontime to catch my short flight to Tasmania.

While waiting at the tasmanian airport for Monika to pick me up, an elderly lady took place on the bench next to me. We came into conversation and she told me, that she had come to Tasmania to watch her grandson shave off his long hair for a good cause. The grandson wants to raise 50′000 AUD for cancer patients. She said she found it good that he shaved off his hair for the good cause, but was secretly also happy because she didn’t like the long hair on him =)). I had to smile to myself.

Soon after her granddaughter in law picked her up, Monika also arrived. After a warm welcom greeting she took me to her place. She lives together with two other girls, Carmul and Nicky (Hopefully I remembered correctly…). Carmul is a teacher of art and was currently at home. Nicky was not there as she was visiting her grandmother who was very ill. THe house is a beautiful little home and was very inviting.

The three of us went to a vietnamese restaurant, where a table was reserved for us. I had the best meal at this little restaurant since I have arrived in Australia. It was a wonderful rice dish with shitake mushrooms and many vegetables. I really enjoyed it. We had a very nice and easy going conversation and I had a very good time.

Day 35, Wednesday, March 10 2010
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Brado’s backpackers is quite a nice place to be. The place itself is still pretty run down, but as Brad, Laurence and his crew only took over the place some 5 weeks ago, they are only just finding out what has to be done. I am deeply impressed by the friendliness of the place. Brad and Laurence used to be tour guides and now have decided to have a backpackers of their own. Because they are tour guides, Brad supposedly got Beaver his job, have firstly lots of experience on how bad accommodations can be, but also they have decided to keep the touring up by offering really wonderful tours of the city.

One of these tours we did today. This was a tour which took us down to the city, and into the Royal Botanical Gardens. Sadly the weather had changed and we were once again under cloudy skies with a few drizzles and some rain during the day. Nevertheless the view was really beautiful. Our walk took us down to Wolloomooloo Bay. On the way there, we came down a flight of stairs, where Brad, or Forest for which he is better known, told us about the TV show Underbelly. Underbelly was written on the grounds of the true stories which brought about the murder of 32 people. These murders were all conducted in cocaine related situations. The first season of Underbelly told the story of cocaine in Melbourne during the 1990’s. Two more seasons had been shot which told the beginning of how cocaine came to Australia and this originated in Sydney during the 1970’s and thus certain scenes were shot at theses stairs.

We carried on walking along edges of the botanical garden which looked out onto the harbour. The walk carried on, and we then came to the spot where Mrs McQuaries Chair is situated. This chair was once cast out of the rock there by Gouvernour McQuarry because his wife used to walk along the shore and enjoy the view at this place.

Our walk then carried on through the gardens and we ended up on the east bank of Farm Cove, giving us a splendid view of the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Had the weather not spoiled the view, then we would have had a postcard view of the two beautiful attractions.

We carried on walking and then sat under a larger tree, where Forest then told us a gread deal of how Australia came to be found in a extraordinary secretive mission by Captain Cook in 1770 and then colonized in 1788. He told us how the English landed with a fleet of 11 ships and how they then first told the aborigines to piss off, but because they could not, they began the slaughtering and thus the destruction of a race of people who have survived against all odds in the harshest environments on the planet. A race which has managed, over about 100′000 years, give or take a few, to have survived the deadliest fauna and flora in the world. No race has managed to live as long, not even to have started as long ago. One of the cruelest acts was to not classify them as humans until 1965, before which they were classed as part of the australian fauna and flora!

It is sad to hear all these things, and always reminds me of all the other races which had to undergo similar destruction: native North Americans, native Africans or the native South Americans, the descendants of the Mayas! Nevertheless it was mesmerizing to listen Forest speak and it was really nice to feel the empathy which he has towards the Aborigines.

After a long time of speak, we broke the talking and headed off as first the weather was about to collapse on top of us and we were going to be late for lunch. Lunch was held in Sydneys oldest pub and it is filled with information and pictures of the discovery of Australia and the start of the colonization with the arrival of the fleet of 11 ships.

After lunch we headed off to the Harbour Bridge. We walked up the old stairs which takes one up to the pedestrian lane on the bridgt. It was quite a view from there, but we then carried on to the top of one of the four corner pillars. The pillar is a small museum of the building of the bridge and at the top one could enjoy a wonderful view over Sydney.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge marked the end of our tour of the city and everyone dispersed in different directions. The evening was easy going, and we soon turned in for the night as Iris would leave for Adelaide early the next day and I would leave for Tasmania around midday.

Day 34, Tuesday, March 9 2010
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The previous night we had decided to get up early and watch the sunrise. Beaver had told us that the sun would rise around 4:45. I was going for 6 ‘o clock, but we all thought Beaver knew what he was saying. So 4:30 everyones alarm went off, we all complained and swore about the early hour and how pitch black the sky still was. Nevertheless, we marched over to Leslies place and started to wait for the sunrise.

As I had expected, half past 5 came and there was still no glowing of the rising sun. Only shortly before six the sky started to brighten. That was when I also realized that the sun would rise right behind a bunch of trees so I left for the beach to have a less obstructed view of the sunrise. Sadly that would not be the case, as firstly there was a big amount of clouds right on the horizon which seemed to grow and since 6:20 came and there was no sun, we had to give up as we still needed to have breakfast, pack and get in the bus so that we could leave by 7 ‘o clock.

On the bus we soon realized that this ride would not be as cool as we had hoped. The people on the bus were definitely not my case. All grumpy, no fun and looked at us as if we were idiots. This was thankfully soon solved by Beaver receiving a call telling him that his management managed to get a bus for us. It was on the way so we soon drove there, dumped the Oz guys and we all rejoiced when we were back on a bus type which we had come to love and respect!

So, after getting some fuel, as the bus was practically dry, here I am, writing these final words and getting my diary finally up to date! Let’s see what the rest of the day beholds, as sadly this is the last day of the 14 day trip from Cairns to Sydney with ATA. All we are actually doing today is driving down to Sydney and then Beaver will drop everyone off at their hostel.

After being dropped off at our respective accommodations and getting settled, we all joined at Brado’s hostel, where we then went out to have our last dinner together. It was a sad moment, and what made it worse, was that Beaver, althought he had promised, didn’t show up. After some goodbyes, we all turned in. Vicky, Ju-Hee, Sin-Lee, Iris and I were the ones to stay at Brado’s backpackers, where we also shared the same room.

Day 33, Monday, March 8 2010
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We were planning on seeing the sunrise over Byron Bay at the light house, but since it kept on raining, we skipped that. We went for breakfast at this nice little turkish place at around 8 ‘o clock and afterwards headed up to the light house to enjoy the view.

The view wasn’t as good as it could have been because there were still many heavy clouds in every direction one looked and it even started to drizzle again. So sad as the look out was promising. I don’t know how many still functioning light houses still exist, but the one at Byron Bay definitely still worked and one could see the light revolving on its axis in the top part of the light house.

After enjoying the view, everyone got back into the bus and we started to drive to Surfs Camp, where we would be learning to surf. On our way to Surfs Camp, the bus decided to go crazy. Something messed up the fuel intake so the bus was sometimes going 60km/h and sometimes again 100km/h. We just made it to our destination, but we definitely ditched the bus. Beaver decided we would be going with the Oz Experience guys who still had enough seats left in their big 39 seater.

After getting a tour of the camp, and settling in our rooms we were ready for our surf lessons. THe surf lesson started with us being told about the Love and Safety rules. These rules are pretty basic and one would think of them anyway if one had any common sense: Don’t pee in the wet suits, don’t have another surfer in front or behind you, take care of the equipment, a fist in the air for help etc.

After this we were given a wet suit and a surfboard. Now came a rather bad part. We had to drag or rather carry our surfboard pretty far up the beach as there were many people at the close side of the beach already in the water and also learning to surf. Two people took two boards under each arm. I went with Joha and everyone else paired up as well.

Halfway along the beach Iris had enough. She was so frustrated that we had to carry our boards and actually gave up! I wasn’t close enough to know what was going on as I was wrestling my board myself but I only saw that she had walked back. Sorry Iris, but that sucked!

Anyhow, after we finally made it to a nice spot, or better a spot where our instructor was happy, we put our boards into a half circle. The lesson now continued with us learning to lie down on our board at the right spot. The next step was paddling. Now came the hard part; standing up. We were first taught the more advanced way to stand up, but practiced an easier, yet longer way more as this would probably help us stay longer on the board.

After testing all this on dry land and that a couple of times so that we were really drilled, we recollected the safety rules and then hit the water. My first tries were miserable, then I managed to stay on the board a couple of times and then the last few tries consisted of me starting to stand up, nose dive the board and fall face first into the water. All in all it was a wonderful first go at surfing and I hope that there will soon be another chance for me to exercise some more.

After our dinner, we all joined at Leslies place where we chatted a bit, some had a couple of beers and we admired the wonderful night which once again allowed us to examine the star filled sky whice also showed the Milky Way. We all tried to make some nice photos of the Muilky Way and the starts but this is definitely difficult to achieve satisfactorily.

We even had the chance to see a diamond python which was curled up behind one of the kitchen’s. It was a beautiful snake and we also took a couple of photo’s of it.