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The Hulk goes Down Under!

a travel blog by The Hulk



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Magnetic Island

Townsville, Australia

Magnetic Island.... Only planned to stay here one night but would have loved to do a couple more, just to chill out and unpack my bags.. We stayed at Base Backpackers and it has to be said its one of the best hostels I stayed in all the way up the east coast. Its right on the beach and its almost like a resort!!

permalink written by  The Hulk on December 18, 2006 from Townsville, Australia
from the travel blog: The Hulk goes Down Under!
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Cairns and Cape Tribulation

Cairns, Australia

Cairns and Cape Trib were the final stops on my east coast travels. It was also the last I was going to see of the Oz Experience bus, as there was no more travelling to be done. We stopped off at a couple of places before we arrived in Cairns, the first one being a Crocodile Farm just outside Townsville. This was a very strange place and was run by some old bloke with a few cowboy types blokes helping him out. After watching all the crocs being fed we were offered the chance to hold a couple of snakes and a big lizard. They also offered the chance to get bitten by a snake!?! All you had to do was stick your hand in its little cage and it would bite your hand. Now this didnt seem very appealing to me but obviously there were a couple of mooks on my bus who thought it would be hard.. They didnt look to hard when the little snake drew blood!! I grabbed myself a croc kebab and made my way back to the bus.

An aussie Christmas!!

A little further up the road we stopped at Babinda Boulders which was a beautiful place up in the hills. The boudlers themselves were'nt that impressive as they were just pretty big granite stones but the views were really good. I also managed to spot a few more massive spiders on the walk too.

Cairns itself was alot smaller than I had expected and despite the cyclone season starting the weather was really nice.. We only spent one night at our first hostel as it was way out of town and not the greatest in general. The next day me, Alex and the 2 Fiona's hired a car and headed up to Cape Trib stopping off at Port Douglas on the way for a swim and a walk around.

Port Douglas

Port Douglas is another rich town where alot of wealthy people have holiday homes etc.. After a walk and a swim in the sea, thanks to a roped off area to stop the jellyfish, we went for a bite to eat at a small restaurant on the main street. My meal was alright but the waiter was a very wierd camp American and at the end of the meal i spotted a rather large caterpiller in Fiona's salad!! Having got a large slice off the bill for our trauma we made a hasty exit and continued our way up to Cape Trib.
The Cape is famous for being the only place where two natuaral wonders actually touch each other, the rainforest (the oldest living rainforest in the world) and the reef. It is an awesome place and despite its beauty its not crawling with tourists.. Granted the cyclone season had just started but that doesnt stop people going to United States. We booked into PK's hostel showered up and went for a nice meal. As Cape Trib is entirely rainforest there was a stupid amount of large bugs about. One of which took a particular fancy to my big toe during the main course, I looked under the table to find a 3inch green beetle getting jiggy with my foot!!
The next day me and Alex went sea kayaking. It was really good fun paddling around the mangroves and we got to see stuff at really close range like Black Tip Reef Sharks, a couple of different Stingrays, Turtles and a Dugong (like a manatee.. and no it didnt have grob rot!). Unfortunately no Crocs despite a big 4m one being reported seen around where I took the second photo below. This photo was to be the last I took as on the way back round the headland me and Alex managed to capsize in he big waves and the "dry" bag my camera was in wasnt particularly dry!!

permalink written by  The Hulk on December 19, 2006 from Cairns, Australia
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Christmas in Sydney

Sydney, Australia

It's not cold, frosty, raining or snowing it can't be Christmas!! Oh yeah, they have Xmas in the summer.. Wierd!!!
Having been on my travels for the past month I didn't feel at all Christmassy when I arrived back in Sydney.. There were decorations all over the place but it just didnt seem right. This was going to be a Christmas unlike any other I've had or will ever have..
Me and the Weeman had been invited to Etchell's family gathering for lunch and other festivities. After joining all our other friends for a few drinks 'out west' in Toongabbie on Christmas Eve we were lucky enough to be invited to stay at Lee's house. After a few drinks and some dunken antics on the walk home we went to be for a relatively early night. The next morning we woke up to be greeted with a lovely brekkie made by Lee's mum and a few festive drinks with Lee's dad (think it might have been a bit early for a whiskey!!).

Etch came to pick us up around midday and we headed to the fun house. The weather was very hot and we ended up sitting out by the pool drinking Boddington's (Etch's dad and uncle are from Manchester) and numerous other ice cold beers. Then it was inside for lunch. It was a little different from what we are used to back home as there was no sprouts or xmas pudding but i was a feast and went down very well..

Strike an Xmas pose (me, Etch and the Weeman)

Once we'd let our dinner go down it was into the front room for what I'm told is a family tradition. One of the family puts on the Santa claus outfit and gives out the pressies! Much to mine and the Weemans suprise we were not to be left out and we got to sit on Santa's lap as well..

The lovely Etchell ladies

When all the presents had been handed out it was outside for the 2nd, and most famous Etchell family tradition, Street Cricket!! Now I've kicked a football around with my bro in the freezing cold on Christmas day in our new football kits but this was a little different. To go with the ashes it was to be the aussies v england (and wales for the weeman).
Its was a amazing day and it was really nice to have been allowed to see how they celebrate a family Christmas down here. Apart from the weather, street cricket and being by the pool, it was not that different from back home (except it was Etch getting the piss taken out of him all the time, not ME!!)..

Time for bed!!

permalink written by  The Hulk on December 25, 2006 from Sydney, Australia
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New Years and the Ashes

Sydney, Australia

New Years Eve. Location: Lowenbrau, on the Rocks, Sydney.
German bar, loads of food, steins of beer, loads of schnapps, awesome fireworks and a bit of dancing!! What more can I add.

January 2nd. Ashes 5th Test, Day 1. After sleeping for nearly all of New Years day as we didnt get in till after 5.30am it was destination SCG. Warne, McGrath and Langer's last ever test match. Having got up in the morning to torrential rain, the first I'd seen in the last few weeks, we thought we werent going to see much cricket. We headed to the ground anyway, unbrellas and jumpers were the order of the day. We arrived at the ground at about 10ish with the rain now just drizzle but not looking like it was going to stop any time soon.
After grabbing some pies for breakfast and some drinks we headed to our seats. Within half an hour the clouds just vanished and were replaced by clear blue skys and very hot sun!! Oh dear, with all the rubbish weather we had forgotten the sun tan cream!!! Error!!!
That was going to hurt.
Not a bad days cricket and England didnt perform too badly on the whole, got to see Warney and McGrath bowl in their last ever test and saw KP and Freddy hammer the ball about a bit. Despite the sunburn a pretty enjoyable day..


Oooh ahhh Glenn McGrath

Great bowling Shaaaaaaaannneeeee!!

permalink written by  The Hulk on January 2, 2007 from Sydney, Australia
from the travel blog: The Hulk goes Down Under!
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Happy Birthday...... The Big 3-0!!

Sydney, Australia

Oh well, I'm now officially on old git!!! 30yrs old....
Got up fairly early for a change and opended all my cards (thanks very much!!), which I was very suprised to get. Then me, the Weeman and his lady (Katie) headed down to Circular Quay in the city. Despite someone letting the cat out of the bag, mentioning no names Flaz, I wasnt really sure what the plans were or if they had come to fruition. So when we arrived at Circular Quay I was pleasantly suprised to see a load of our friends there. We were going jet boating round the harbour!
Offered the chance to wear waterproof poncho's we all kindly declined as it was a really hot day and we would'nt get too wet.... Or so we thought!! It was great fun and not only were we getting to speed around in the jet boat the driver gave us a bit of a tour too. We headed all the way out to Manly then in past the Harbour Bridge and Darling Harbour. So much for not getting wet. We were all absolutely drenched when we got off..

The evenings festivities started at the Australia Hotel for some croc, kangaroo and emu pizza plus some of their wide range of Australian beers. They have over 75 different types and I tried as many as I could.. Once we'd eaten enough aussie wildlife it was down the road to the Lowenbrau to carry on the fun. Martin took the fun a little too far when he emerged from the toilets without pulling up his trousers and was swiftly escorted from the premises. Not the first time he has been kicked out of a bar and it certainly won't be his last!!! Several steins and Jagerbombs later it was time to go home and begin to deal with being 30..

Me, Alex, Katie and Martin

Alex, Justin and Me...

permalink written by  The Hulk on January 13, 2007 from Sydney, Australia
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Big Day Out 2007

Sydney, Australia

Big Day Out Sydney 2007.. Awesome!! BDO for those that dont know is a huge music festival a bit like Glastonbury or the V Festival. Loads of quality bands on about 7 or 8 different stages.. Due to the amount of stages and different bands playing most of us Split up, I spent the entire day with Flaz and Big Dave and had a really good day. We managed to get to see My Chemical Romance, The Killers, Tool, Crystal Method, Muse, Jet, The Vines, The Streets, Evermore and highlight of the whole day was Kasabian who absolutely kicked ass!!!

Lee, Louise and Katie

The Main Stage filling up


Jet

Killers

permalink written by  The Hulk on January 25, 2007 from Sydney, Australia
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Put that in your pipe and smoke it Ricky!!

Sydney, Australia

Today we were heading to the 2nd final of the One Day Tri-Nation Series between Australia and amazingly England. We'd had tickets for this game for a while and seeing how the poms have played all summer I thought I'd be watching the Aussies v kiwis!! As I'd already been to watch us get beaten in the test match and the 20/20 I didn't think I could manage another gloatfest from the "convicts"!! Hopefully today's game would make up for it.. 3 wins on the bounce and 1-nil up in the final was pretty good reading..

Flaz and Martin stuffing their faces

Having still been in the pub at 5am the previous night watching the absolute rubbish that was the Wales v Scotland 6 nations game, didn't make for a good nights sleep. Alcohol and the fact we got beat by the "sweaties" made it a night to forget!!
Me and the weeman made our way to the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) a bit later than the others who went for a drink before the game, in need of no more drink we caught a few extra Z's. When we got there the weather was absolutely boiling and our seats, although were really good for the game, were in the worst possible place for the sun!! Luckily, unlike the ashes game I actually remembered to bring the sun block.
Lee, Martin, Flaz and Lauren were already seated when we arrived, Martin dressed in his ridiculous Barmy Army get up as usual. After 10 overs we were all struggling with the heat, me and weeman especially due to the previous night and we had to go and get some cold drinks and some shelter from the sun, unlike the England boys who after a shaky start looked to be doing pretty well.. The weather from then on got worse but the cricket just kept getting better and better!!!
After a couple of rain delays, one of which we got particularly soaked engalnd wrapped up their innings with a pretty good score thanks to another quality knock from the ginger maestro that is Collingwood. Having seen Glenn McGrath's last ever test match in the new years test, we now had the honour of seeing his last ever bowl in international cricket on Australian soil.. He got a couple of minutes standing ovation before he bowled it, then much to my dissappointment the bugger took a wicket and the crowd went mental..
The Aussies came out whacking us all over the ground for the first 5 overs then it all changed with a couple of quick wickets. A couple more big thunderstorms delayed the game a few more times, but didn't stop the English boys from showing those arrogant Aussies how to play! Having been out here for the entire tour and taking a bit of ribbing from all the locals about how poo England were, it was good to make them all eat a bit of humble pie!!!!

McGrath's final delivery.. hope he falls over!

Standing ovation for McGrath's last bowl


Bugger... He took a wicket!!!

Weeman enjoys one of the rain delays

permalink written by  The Hulk on February 11, 2007 from Sydney, Australia
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Kia ora from New Zealand

Christchurch, New Zealand

Having spent nearly 5 months in Oz I thought I might as well head over the Tasman and come to see the sheep loving kiwis for a couple of weeks before I make my long journey home!!
After having a such a good time doing the east coast with Oz Experience I thought it was only right that I should do NZ with Kiwi Experience.. As I'd only left myself a couple of weeks to tour NZ I decided I would just do the south island. I left a very wet and rainy Sydney early morning and flew into Christchurch just after lunchtime and to my surprise 30+ degree heat!!! This isnt the New Zealand i was expecting, those extra jumpers and waterproofs I bought before I came out could be a waste of money!!

Having dropped all my bags off at the hostel on Cathedral Square I went for a little walk around the city..... After a good 15mins I decided there wasnt much to it and went back to my room. The Cathedral and a few other buildings are pretty nice, also the river through the middle of the city is really picturesque but all in all it is a fairly dull place. Shopping wise I would put it on a par with Wrexham!!

After a couple of beers in the bar at the hostel I decided it was time for an early night, my bus left at 7.30 the next morning and couldnt afford to oversleep!!!


permalink written by  The Hulk on February 26, 2007 from Christchurch, New Zealand
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Whale watching

Kaikoura, New Zealand

After leaving Christchurch early doors we headed north up the coast to a small town called Kaikoura. The weather had changed from the warm clear blue skies from the previous day to low cloud and rubbish drizzle. Looks like the waterproof I bought yesterday will come in handy after all!!

Kaikoura is famous for its marine life and I decided to go for a little boat ride for some whale watching.. When we arrived at the centre I decided it would probably be a good idea to purchase a couple of sea sickness pills, didnt want to make a plum of myself on the first day by yacking everywhere!!

No its not the Loch Ness Monster!

After a couple of minutes out of the harbour I realised the pills were a very sound investment! The boat was all over the place and was quite funny initially but when you realise your going to be on the boat for nearly 4hrs the fun goes quite quickly. Waves and buffering aside the trip was really good. We got good views of 2 huge Sperm Whales, a pod of 500/600 Dusky Dolphins playing around the boats, loads of Fur Seals and a couple of massive Wandering Albatrosses. With half my memory card full of rubbish pictures of water, and me feeling very sick we headed back to Kaikoura.

With the weather still pretty shitty we decided to just head back to the hostel (Aptly named the Lazy Shag, after the sea bird obviously!!), watch a couple of DVD's and get ourselves some quality fish and chips, or fush and cheps as they like to pronounce it here!

permalink written by  The Hulk on February 27, 2007 from Kaikoura, New Zealand
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Home of the Ring

Nelson, New Zealand

We left Kaikoura at a fairly pleasant hour and headed further north up the coast to Nelson. The weather upon leaving was pretty much the same as the day before and I was begining to feel a little depressed as I had visions it was gonna be like this for the whole of my trip. I need'nt have been so downbeat as by lunchtime the weather was starting to look up and there were even patches of blue sky. Then when we arrived in Nelson it was beautiful, warm and sunny. Not really suprising when I was told later that it has both the most sunshine and warm temperatures for the whole of NZ


Nelson is known as the geographical "Centre of New Zealand" and we took a little walk up a stupidly steep hill on the outskirts where there is a monument to celebrate the fact. The view from the top was really good and you could get a full 360' view of the surrounding countryside plus the citys of Nelson and Richmond and out over the bay to the Abel Tasman National Park. At the foot of the hill is a large playing Field where the first ever rugby match in New Zealand was played. With rugby being THE sport in NZ it is a pretty special place so I thought i'd get a piccie. This proved tricky because there was a group of small children playing cricket and i didn't want to appear to be taking an unhealthy interest in them!

The original home of NZ Rugby

With a full roast dinner included in our lodgings we headed back to make the most of some good food! You have to take advantage of these perks when travelling, supernoodles just dont seem to cover it!! After the meal and a few local beers, me and a some of the girls headed into town to see the jewellers that made THE ring from the "Lord of the Rings" film then onto a cool bar with a load of pool tables where I proceded to give a masterclass with the cue..

mmmm.. precious!!

permalink written by  The Hulk on April 10, 2007 from Nelson, New Zealand
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