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Priya&Tim

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Trips:

Cheeky Round The World Trip

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Airlie Beach and The Whitsunday Islands

Mackay, Australia

Despite their reputation and the slating we just gave them on Hervey Bay; we stayed at Koalas because its more of a resort and is the best place to stay at in Airlie. Their units all have a kitchenette and a bathroom and air con and a TV, so again we felt we were back in South East Asia! Just as Hervey is the gateway to Fraser Island, Airlie Beach is the gateway to the Whitsunday Islands.

However, instead of a sailing trip around the islands which is what everyone does, we thought we would do something different went fishing. This alternative to sailing is also thanks to our travelling companions, Stace and Kirst who gave us a voucher to use with the best fishing charter there is town! The great thing was that we were also able to still see some of the islands while we were fishing. The views are stunning and the islands again reminded us of Vietnam. This was also my (Priya's) first fishing trip, so I found it to be a great day, if not a little smelly as we were using pilchards and squids for bait! We saw some turtles and beautiful eagles so that was quite cool! We caught five fish between us but unfortunately we could only keep one for cooking as we were fishing in the protected waters of the barrier reef. It cost $5 to get it prepared, cooked, and served with some chips at a local Fish & Chippy which was definitely a tasty bargain. We had to buy Priya's fish but we shared them both out so we could both enjoy "our" fish. It was a really good day out and we did something that we may not have otherwise got involved with.

The next day was Valentines day, so on the day of lurve....we spent some time on the internet and got our laundry done! We did make a little effort and went out for a meal at one of the indian restaurants, but to be fair, we had our treats the before and it was certainly worth it! Anyway, we couldnt have a late night, as we needed to get up at 4.30am the next day to get our backsides on the bus to Cairns; our final destination up the East Coast.

permalink written by  Priya&Tim on February 15, 2007 from Mackay, Australia
from the travel blog: Cheeky Round The World Trip
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Hervey Bay and the Largest Sand Island in the World!

Gold Coast, Australia

Hervey Bay is a the gateway to the worlds largest sand island. Its a thirty minute ferry ride to Fraser Island and is the ultimate 4x4 driving experience as it is the only way you can get around on the island! When we arrived in Hervey we were not too sure about which company to go with and whether or not we ought to be in a large group of people or by ourselves, so after much debating and listening to others who had already done the tour, it seemed that we were in the right guesthouse to do it from. Everyone we spoke to said they had an awesome time, and that people werent stupid while they were out there, because the guesthouse we were with didnt have the madpartyanimal reputation as next door at Koalas did! Also these guys are the ones that have been doing the tours for backpackers the longest and were surprisingly the cheapest too! So we booked ourselves in for the 3day 2night trip and met the group on the second night of our stay in Hervey after we had been given our brief. It had to be said, the group looked like a good mix of people and us girls felt safe in the knowledge that we had a higher ratio of guys to girls in the group so if we got really stuck in the sand, we had the manpower if not the brains!!!

We soon set off on the third day and picked up our supplies of food and drinks, then got the ferry across and got on our way! First stop, was to get our watertank filled from one of the campsites and then head out to Lake Wabby. An emerald lake next to a steep sand dune! You could litterally slide down the dune and splash into the lake and swim with the catfish, who tickle your feet and legs when you stand still! Strange to find freshwater on a sand island....

We stuck together with the other car from our guesthouse so that when we got to our first campsite and it poured it down, we got the tarp up between the two cars and got a couple of Barbies going! Awesome....it was such a good atmosphere and we set ourselves up so quick and helped each other out, so we were dry, happy, eating well and even had some music going; whereas the seven other koala cars that pulled up on the same camp site arrived in the dark, couldn't get their tents up because of the rain and the wind, and kept hovering around us for our food - dear or dear!

The next day we had some rain at lunch but otherwise it was OK, and again had a similar set up for camp as the night before. This time though, we had a beautiful clear night, and the stars made it that much more spectacular! It reminded us of Ha Long Bay in Vietnam. During the day we checked out Indian Head, which is one the high clifftop viewpoints on the island and definately worth the walk up! From here you could see sting rays, and turtles and if you were lucky you could see a shark or two. By the way, if you think you can swim around Fraser Island, think again, like much of the East Coast you cannot swim by the beach, as there are stingers (jelly fish), reef sharks (the vicious ones), sting rays, and the rip tides and undercurrents are just so strong that you wold be swept out to sea within seconds, thats if you havent already drowned from being attacked from sharks or stung by jellies! Nice! Aaaanyway, after Indian Heads, we went to the Shipwreck and Eli Creek, the largest on the island. Tim also drove the 4x4 and loved every second but soon appreciated the difficulty of driving in the sand after he got stuck in it!


On the last day of the island, we headed back down to the bottom of the island and stopped off at the largest and most beautiful lake in the island. Lake Mackenzie, a crystal blue freshwater lake with the finest white sand you can imagine! Again, we had beautiful weather so after 10 mins of sun soaking, it was incredibly refreshing to jump in the lake and play some volleyball! After a few hours here, it was time to head off and get back to Hervey Bay. So we made our marmite sandwiches on the way back and ate them while the car was in motion too - funny as well as tasty as this was probably the first meal we had which didnt contain sand!!! Goodbye Fraser Island - a wonderful place and a fantastic experience! Before we all went our separate ways, we got together in the evening and went to a steak and grill reastaurant in the evening and had a few drinks. We were really lucky with our group, and if we had the chance to do it again, we would. There is so much to see on Fraser Island, from its beautiful lakes, to the rainforest walks, and camping with the dingoes was pretty good fun!


permalink written by  Priya&Tim on February 11, 2007 from Gold Coast, Australia
from the travel blog: Cheeky Round The World Trip
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BrisVegas!

Brisbane, Australia

Brisbane - Everyone that we spoke to were not that impressed with Brisbane as it was just another city and when you're on the East Coast, all you want is the sun, sea, sand and surf! So, we were not expecting much; but we quite enjoyed the place as soon as we got there so we decided that we would extend our stay for another two nights. For Tim and I, Brisbane was the third city we had visited in Australia so we wanted to give it a chance, and anyway I had my eye on doing the Koala Sanctuary which is nearby!

We were staying at the Palace Central Backpackers which is basically as central as you can be in Brisbane! We had arrived around midday but it was an early start from Byron, so we jumped on the internet before checking in and then when our room was ready we promptly fell asleep! Still not used to the backpacker life! We went out for dinner (thank you Aporto's!) and watched the football at this cool little venue; basically Brisbane has a some bars and restaurants in the middle of their shopping lanes, between all the shops and malls. You might think this would be the right mix for noise and idiots drunkurds in the street, but it wasnt like that at all, there was a really relaxed attitude and everyone was just out for a laugh, so there was a good atmosphere for the football match!

The next day, we wisited the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. Basically this is Australia's biggest Koala sanctuary for injured or endangered koalas, ie, those that have no home left due to the bushfires or those brought in by locals that have been injured from falls etc... The sanctary is definately well run, and you almost get the feeling that you've walked into a small zoo with the amount of carers there are and all the other residents, from freshwater crocs, to emus, and various farm animals. Along with the koalas the other stars of the show would be the reserve full of kangaroos and other marsupials! So finally in one afternoon, we were able to more that fill our quota of Australian wildlife that we wanted to see! We arrived just in time to see a presentation on koalas and their lives, and then we went around all the various paddocks they had set up for their wallabies, birds, koalas, reptiles and farm animals. We then got to walk with the kangaroos and even sit with them and touch them. But it has to be said that my personal highlight, was getting to hold two koalas and rub noses with them! Tim and I also really enjoyed the Birds of Prey Exhibition in which we got to see Australia's largest eagle. All in all, this was a fantastic day out and we would highly recommend it. The staff were very informative and you really got to learn so much about these wonderful creatures in such a good and open environment!

Before we left Brisbane for Hervey Bay, we also took a walk through their parklands which had a boarded walkway through a rainfrest area. This was nice as it led you through to the Nepalese Pagoda which was given to Brisbane after an Asia-Pacific Cultural Expo. We also got to visit the man-made beach, which I kid you not, really is a beach with a salt water lagoon and a freshwater pool on the other side. They even have a lifeguard! Ths was probably one of the most bizarre things we have seen in a city so far for sure! Overall score for BrisVegas - Two Thumbs Up!



permalink written by  Priya&Tim on February 6, 2007 from Brisbane, Australia
from the travel blog: Cheeky Round The World Trip
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Back on the road in Byron

Byron Bay, Australia

No messing around with our first trip back travelling. After a 10 hour bus journey to Byron Bay, we found ourselves transported back to the lifestyle of Koh Tao! We liked this little surfer town, the beautiful beaches and (apparently) excellent surf all gave it a very relaxed feel. Really friendly locals, plenty of cafes, and small hippy shops and loads of surf shops just made this is a perfect location for relaxing and taking it easy!

Unfortunately it was just a shame that we were still a little homesick from Sydney and all our friends - it took a little while for us to settle back into the backpacker frame of mind, especially since we threw ourselves into the deep end and stayed at a party backpackers in a dorm! To be fair, the girls we were sharing with were really nice, and we all had a little giggle. It was just weird to think that only a few days ago, Tim and I were stil working and leading a very different life in Sydney.

Byron Bay though, as we've said, is a very nice little beachside town. Excellent soft sand with clear blue seas, and we were fortunate enough to have plenty of sunshine, which meant plenty of time to bake in the sun! Besides we had a lot catching up to do on the sun-tan front compared to all the other travellers in the backpackers! We strolled to the viewpoint at the far end of one side of the beach and got some amazing views of the beach and the lighthouse - which apparantly sits on the most easternly point of Oz. We also found ourselves the nicest fish and chips restaurant and treated ourselves to one of their renowned gourmet dishes! Fish and Chips! Yummy!

Next stop....Brisbane.

permalink written by  Priya&Tim on February 3, 2007 from Byron Bay, Australia
from the travel blog: Cheeky Round The World Trip
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So long Sydney

Sydney, Australia

And like that our time in Sydney is over. After approximately 4 months in this beautiful city it is time for us to leave. Both Priya and I have said goodbye to the working life - again! Wished Trish all of the best in Melbourne and packed our things up. With only one thing to do.... Go for a slap up meal at cafe Sydney care of my brother and sister in-law. Thanks for that one Paul, the food was fantastic and it was a fitting end to our time in one of the greatest cities on earth. You could argue that since we were in Melbourne we have not really travelled. However, every traveller will know that it is an expensive business and without the required funds to enjoy the countries that you visit, you are always worrying more about the bank account than where you are off to next. Sydney has given us an opportunity to be able to enjoy the rest of our trip, whilst at the same time experiencing a different lifestyle to what either of us had experienced before. As I have already said, Sydney was a great place to base ourselves for such a long perid. Special thanks need to go to our longest-term housemates; Nitya and Vidya, who were an absolute delight to live with; and of course, to the friends we have made along the way in Sydney too who have all kept us entertained and made sure we did not go too long without going out for a few drinks. And finally to our house at 97 William Henry Street which made us feel like we had a home away from home.

With the room empty and the bags packed (again) we were ready to start travelling Australia proper. First stop up the East Coast, the backpackers paradise known as Byron....

permalink written by  Priya&Tim on January 30, 2007 from Sydney, Australia
from the travel blog: Cheeky Round The World Trip
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Blue Mountains

Blue Mountain, Australia

With time fast running out in Sydney we realised we had to start getting out more (other than the pub and cole's!). With this in mind we decided to spend our last Sunday living in Sydney in the Blue Mountains. After some research we realised that the best and the cheapest way to get there was by train and then to use the free bus system that they have to get around the place.

We arrived at 10.00am to a beautiful but quite chilly morning. The first thing we needed to do was get on the bright red double decker London bus, which was to be our form of transport for the day. Through the course of the day we saw and learned many things. The first was that a chilly morning can quickly be replaced by a very hot mid-day and afternoon. The second was the fact that the Blue Mountains are so-called because of the natural oil vapour that the Eucalyptus tree's give off into the atmosphere. This then, creates a blue haze when the sun is shining. I thought that this was a bit of cheek in all honesty, as the mountains themselves were beautiful but sadly not blue.

Finally we saw an array of awesome scenery and stunning landscapes, the most photogenic of which being the (quite) famous Three Sisters. There is an Aboriginal story which gives rise to their name which unfortunately fails to stick in my memory but they are nonetheless a beautiful sight. Even Priya realised this after we had spent almost an hour trekking to get to the face of the rocks and she didnt realise we were at the base of them until the penny dropped five minutes later!

If you are ever in the Sydney area then a trip to the Blue Mountains is really worthwhile. If you are a "walker" then it is an absolute must. Be warned though that some of the treks can last for 5 days. We just did most of the short walks around the immediate area and saw some nice little pools and waterfalls and walked around the Blue Mountain town of Katoomba. Both Priya and I had a really good day out and it gave us a sense of adventure in preparation for hitting the road again, which without realising it was a matter of days away!

permalink written by  Priya&Tim on January 29, 2007 from Blue Mountain, Australia
from the travel blog: Cheeky Round The World Trip
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Melbourne Once More

Melbourne, Australia

I took the opportunity to visit some family friends in Melbourne in the weekend just gone, as I didnt get the chance to see them the first time that Tim and I visited! So on the Saturday I made my way over and got to the train station to be met by my Uncle Pat and Aunty Yvonne who have been in my life since the day I was born! They recently came over to Melbourne from Basingstoke as their sons and their families now live here in Australia. I've grown up with these boys not that they're boys any more! So Im really looking forward to seeing them all again! In the evening I met with another Aunty and her daughter, Tesse and Elizabeth and we had a nice dinner before heading over to see Aunty Yvonne and Uncle's son Brian. The whole family were together and so we had a good time catching up. Mum and Dad, I have a few photos of everyone, so it should bring a smile on your face and you can see how quick the kids have grown up!!!

Sunday, we went to the market and Aunty and Uncle also took me to the Indian District for a lite bite at lunch before heading to their other sons' place, Mark. We also went out for dinner at a Thai place in town - I think we've mentioned it before in our blog but Melbourne does have some awesome restaurants and they really are not that expensive! On Monday, Aunty, Uncle, myself and Brian's kids Nathan and Justin, we all went to see the Austalian Open courtesy of Brian's lovely wife, Jessica! (Thank you so much Jess!) We had our corporate seats and got to watch both the mens and one of the womens quarter finals! I had an excellent day out and the boys kindly got me a huge souvenir in the form of a giant inflatable tennis ball! Not sure how I'm gonna carry that home yet!!! It was a shame that we had to leave but I had to get to the airport and most importantly I had to get back to Tim - I missed him so much!!! And besides, he needs me to make his cup of tea in the morning!!!

permalink written by  Priya&Tim on January 23, 2007 from Melbourne, Australia
from the travel blog: Cheeky Round The World Trip
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The Great Bondi to Coogee Walk

Bondi, Australia

Theres no rest for the wicked as they say; after the fun at Christmas, New Year and the all the rest, it was time to work off some those excess pounds. We met Trish a little later than planned (as per the norm!) in the city and got ourselves onto the beloved 333 prepay bus to Bondi Beach and got off by the cliffs. This was the first experience of Bondi for Tim, and so he was quite taken by just how many people can fit into one beach! I showed Tim where I worked for a month - now he could appreciate the view I had! From where I sat, I could see the entire length of the beach and getting there at before 8am meant that I could see Bondi for what it really is. And it is a beautiful beach with some fantastic waves! However, add in hundreds of tourists, even thousands on some days, and it can seem quite claustrophobic and a place where if youre not a sun worshipper, you just dont belong! Anyway, we chilled here for a while and soaked up the sun before we walked the whole beach, trying very hard to avoid geting sand in people's faces as we tried to make our way from one end of the beach to the other; and up the steps to lead onto the ocean walk to Coogee Beach.

The walk itself is very relaxing, but it is a long one, and before you know it you are overlooking the cliff tops and looking straight over the edge to see nothing but the sea and its vastness! Then of course you can head off and find yourselves some little lookoutpoints. After we crossed some more cliff tops and a huge old graveyard, we found ourselves in an abandoned cove. The scenery along the whole way is stunning and its surprising to know that its all only a stones throw away! We finally got to Coogee, a little cold and tired! The little workout was certainly much needed! But then it was time for home to get changed and treat urselves to a curry and a couple of beers for our hard efforts!

permalink written by  Priya&Tim on January 6, 2007 from Bondi, Australia
from the travel blog: Cheeky Round The World Trip
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New Year in Sydney - worth the wait

Sydney, Australia

After arriving in Australia on the 16th of September suddenly it was new years eve. Now one of the main reasons that we chose Melbourne over Sydney to call our home was the opportunity to be in Sydney for new year. Was it worth it? YES! Would we do it again, not very likely. We knew what to expect but you do not really expect it until you see it. Priya, myself, Trish, and our housemates Nitya and Vidya arrived at 6.00pm and already the crowds were absolutely crazy, we managed to find a place selling cases of wine and a seat (the floor) in Sydney Harbour so we were prepared for the next 6 hours.

It got busier and busier, and we got a little more tipsy every hour. At 9.00pm they put on a show for the children. This was supposed to have a Wizard of Oz theme but we could not work it out, still it broke the waiting up and it was a good display in its own right. Anyway, after a few hour-long round trips to the toilets and our Friend Trish feeling ropey 10 minutes before the magical midnight hour the display started. It was in a word fantastic.

It was a 360 degree firework display with rockets launched from boats, bridges and skyscrapers all in the setting of one of the worlds best cities.


We loved it, the crowds loved it and the atmosphere was unreal. One million people transfixed for a good five minutes - great stuff. As I said before, we will never do it again as you get to see more on the tv without the hassles but I would recommend everybody who gets the chance to do this once. What a way to start 2007!

permalink written by  Priya&Tim on January 3, 2007 from Sydney, Australia
from the travel blog: Cheeky Round The World Trip
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Catching up with Tim! - Another year older.

Sydney, Australia

That time has arrived - I have officially aged another year but mentally regressed - at least thats what I tell myself when I look in the mirror and see that I'm am now getting wrinkles and have acumulated a hundred more grey Hairs, yes thats right, more grey hairs!!!! Arghhhh!

Despite missing my family and friends so much, I did actually have a wonderful time for my birthday! I was even working for the day, but it was nice to have Tim meet me for lunch as he had a week off for the holidays....lucky so and so! And when I got home, I was presented with the most beutiful flowers I have ever seen in all my life - it puts the Orchid Garden in Singapore to shame! Beautiful turquoise(brithday colour and gem) and purple/blue orchids (fave colours and flower) and pink lillies (fave flower #2) - Tim must have done his homework because he deinately gets 10 out of 10 for effort and result! I also got taken out by Tim and Trish for a birthday meal at Manly down the local chippy! Really, thats where we went! Actually it was called GarFish and its basically a renowned chippy as it is a gourmet seafood restaurant specialising of course in Battered Fish and Chips amongst other things! Yummy! Then it was home to bed after a couple of glasses from my bottle of champagne from Tim! Moet and Chandon none the less - I guess this one is a keeper!!!!

permalink written by  Priya&Tim on December 27, 2006 from Sydney, Australia
from the travel blog: Cheeky Round The World Trip
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