And so to the end of the road, Melbourne, we arrived in our customary late afternoon slot, and drove to St Kilda, where Tom lived for 3 months previously. Tom and Roz found a good hostel and I found a good hotel over the road, and after a quick change we headed to The Vineyards beachside bar for sunset. Tom then took us to Stoke House for dinner, before continuing onto The Espi for yet more drinks and live music. We heard 'Tantalum', five very made up and glamourous rock chicks, or as the guy in front of us described, "the Pussycat Dolls, with rock". We all agreed the lead guitarist was pretty amazing, and the rest held it together as a band, much like myself Chris and Rob at uni!
Afterwards we went to The Lanes, then Prince of Wales where $3 could buy all the pinball Tom could ever want!
Next day shopping, and a phonecall to Natwest to explain that 'yes there is heavy spending on my account, and, no, please don't put a security stop on it'. Dinner was Vietnamese, very nice before a few more drinks in Fed Square before The Crown Casino. Tom and Roz had never played blackjack in a casino before so we wandered round and found a suitable $20 table. I took it upon myself with my Vegas experience to play the role of Mickey Rosa. As I had explained to them previously the next 3 hours were a blur of 'doubling down', 'splitting' and '3 rum and cokes please'. They both picked it up very quickly and we all eased to green profits ($100 bills y'all). A night well spent!
The next day we met up with Ada and Chris, two girls who Tom used to work with, who took us on a tour of the Yarra Valley vineyards. They were lovely and knew some great winerys to head too. After an afternoon of sampling sparkling wines, reds, whites, ports, we left with approximately 14 bottles of wine, one of which a 3 litres bottle of Pinot Noir which I hope will survive the 3 month boat trip home (given we spent 2 hours this morning bubble-wrapping everything it should do!). We headed to Torquay that night so that we could head to Bells Beach the next morning. In the end this was extremely underwhelming but worth the trip never the less. It was also in Torquay where I sampled my first oyster, and quite enjoyed it....
Which brings me to last night, the last supper, which we had at The Prince. After some deliberation we settled on the 9 course taster menu with wine. This was one of the best meals I have ever had, every course was superb, including wagyu beef, lemon ale palate cleansers and Snickers dessert..... a great way to end the holiday leg of the holiday.
All in all a great trip, photos to hit Facebook sometime soon.
From Gate 9, Melbourne Airport, Liam Out.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
New Territory....
Once my arm was wrapped up in a sling we headed out of Sydney (previously the furthest I had been down the coast) to start the journey to Melbourne. We spent that night in Merimbula in quite possibly the cleanest and most authoritarian guest house I have ever stayed in. We met a guy who was on a medical secondment for 3 months, I not sure he'll last the week without breaking numerous 'house rules' (laminated).
We have spent the past couple of days in Mallcoota, a small coastal town famous for its large lake and rainforests. On the way we visited another National Park and a walk to the notorious sounding Snake Bay (although saw no snakes, probably no bad thing as the brown snake bite will kill you in 30mins). A couple in the carpark had just come back from a walk and bemoaned the lack of kangaroos, although at the time we were photographing the brightly coloured parrots. We symapthised and headed off, within literally 3 minutes of our walk we found a group of about twenty sitting and lying on the grass. They we unfazed by our presence and we sat within about 6ft of them for about 20 minutes, it was a fantastic moment.....
We found a nice beach caravan park just outside Mallacoota town, whereby Tom and Roz assembled their tent and I booked myself into a cabin. Dinner was a choice between The Tides restaurant (which we later found was closed) and the pub, so pub it was. After what seems another huge meal we played some pool. Halfway through, Tom, realising it was his round and his shot at the same time threw me his wallet. Unfortunately for Tom I was standing by the corner pocket of the pool table, and failing to take what Ricky Ponting would've found a tough catch, only managed to deflect the wallet into the pocket. We then watched in almost slow motion as the wallet turned on its side and fell further into the table. Roz then helpfully pointed out at this point that given they had to leave their passports with the Indian embassy in Sydney, Tom's ONLY WAY of catching the flight from Melbourne to Sydney was his driving licence, in said wallet. Once the landlord had stopped laughing he unlocked the side of the table, and using the cue as a lever we managed to recover the wallet after 5mins minutes of worry and laughter in equal measure.....
Yesterday we hired a motorboat to explore the lake, and then BBQ'd some kangaroo for dinner (pretty nice) before some beers in the cabin as an enormous rain storm set in for the night.
We have spent the past couple of days in Mallcoota, a small coastal town famous for its large lake and rainforests. On the way we visited another National Park and a walk to the notorious sounding Snake Bay (although saw no snakes, probably no bad thing as the brown snake bite will kill you in 30mins). A couple in the carpark had just come back from a walk and bemoaned the lack of kangaroos, although at the time we were photographing the brightly coloured parrots. We symapthised and headed off, within literally 3 minutes of our walk we found a group of about twenty sitting and lying on the grass. They we unfazed by our presence and we sat within about 6ft of them for about 20 minutes, it was a fantastic moment.....
We found a nice beach caravan park just outside Mallacoota town, whereby Tom and Roz assembled their tent and I booked myself into a cabin. Dinner was a choice between The Tides restaurant (which we later found was closed) and the pub, so pub it was. After what seems another huge meal we played some pool. Halfway through, Tom, realising it was his round and his shot at the same time threw me his wallet. Unfortunately for Tom I was standing by the corner pocket of the pool table, and failing to take what Ricky Ponting would've found a tough catch, only managed to deflect the wallet into the pocket. We then watched in almost slow motion as the wallet turned on its side and fell further into the table. Roz then helpfully pointed out at this point that given they had to leave their passports with the Indian embassy in Sydney, Tom's ONLY WAY of catching the flight from Melbourne to Sydney was his driving licence, in said wallet. Once the landlord had stopped laughing he unlocked the side of the table, and using the cue as a lever we managed to recover the wallet after 5mins minutes of worry and laughter in equal measure.....
Yesterday we hired a motorboat to explore the lake, and then BBQ'd some kangaroo for dinner (pretty nice) before some beers in the cabin as an enormous rain storm set in for the night.
Sydney
We spent most of the next day travelling down to Sydney, arriving late afternoon just in time for rush hour traffic! Coupled with baffling one way systems it took some time to find the hotel, so we were a little late heading out that night. However by 6.30pm I had been re-united with Ian and Wally in Cargo bar, a cool harbourside bar. They were both doing well, Wally took great delight in plenty of 'you now work for the government' jibes, he hasn't changed at all! After a quick pizza stop we headed back to Cargo as the upstairs became a club by the time the bottom bar closed. We also caught up with Sonal, Vic and Mark, some people Tom used to work with, and it ended up being our most drunken night thus far (I cleverly ordered Sambucca's as we were leaving which I demanded everyone drank....why?....).
The next afternoon (the morning was a write-off) we headed out to Bondi to spend some time on the beach. We also saw some nice beachside sculptures, and, by about 4pm, we all felt much better. That night we went to the acquarium (great for lack of crowds, not great in the fact that the crocodile was asleep) and then back along the harbour for some food. Gievn the excesses of the previous night we took things a little easier on the alcohol front.....
The next morning we did the touristy bit, photots of the Harbour Bridge, Opera House and Botanical Gardens before leaving for Sutherland, where we were staying with Izzy and Andy, friends of Roz's from university. That night we enjoyed fine home cooking, a crate of Tooheys New, red wine and japanese whisky (very nice). Befoe leaving them the following day we headed down to Wanda beach after breakfast as the weather was great. Roz and I decided to go swimming; I swam in on one wave, and then turning around just caught site of a massive wave as it knocked me clean off my feet, dislocating my shoulder in the process. After my operation this was pretty upsetting and after a morphine derivative, two panadol, more morphine and about 2.5 hrs it was put back in at the hospital.....
The next afternoon (the morning was a write-off) we headed out to Bondi to spend some time on the beach. We also saw some nice beachside sculptures, and, by about 4pm, we all felt much better. That night we went to the acquarium (great for lack of crowds, not great in the fact that the crocodile was asleep) and then back along the harbour for some food. Gievn the excesses of the previous night we took things a little easier on the alcohol front.....
The next morning we did the touristy bit, photots of the Harbour Bridge, Opera House and Botanical Gardens before leaving for Sutherland, where we were staying with Izzy and Andy, friends of Roz's from university. That night we enjoyed fine home cooking, a crate of Tooheys New, red wine and japanese whisky (very nice). Befoe leaving them the following day we headed down to Wanda beach after breakfast as the weather was great. Roz and I decided to go swimming; I swam in on one wave, and then turning around just caught site of a massive wave as it knocked me clean off my feet, dislocating my shoulder in the process. After my operation this was pretty upsetting and after a morphine derivative, two panadol, more morphine and about 2.5 hrs it was put back in at the hospital.....
Friday, October 17, 2008
The Long And Winding Road to Sydney....
We left Coffs Harbour early Wednesday morning, after a finally discovering the reason for the lack of accomodation upon our arrival. Apparently there was some 'police/fire' interstate games, from surfing to sevens, netball to bowls. Probably explains the number of people walking around wearing police sports kit, and the rocketing crime rates in NSW, Queensland and Victoria this week...
We drove to a tourist beachside town called Forster-Tuncurry, and headed for the YHA. We rang the doorbell, no one answered. No one came. The place looked like it had recently experienced some kind of Chernobyl-esque disaster, we wandered around to see clothes still hanging from the lines, but no one had been there for some time. All very unsettling...
So we continued down the coast to Seal Rocks, an idyllic little beach camp, and dined in the supreme Pacific Palms bowling club (it was the only place still open for MILES). The food was great and we got take out beers for the beach later that night, when in Rome.....
Next stop - Sydney, 268kms.
We drove to a tourist beachside town called Forster-Tuncurry, and headed for the YHA. We rang the doorbell, no one answered. No one came. The place looked like it had recently experienced some kind of Chernobyl-esque disaster, we wandered around to see clothes still hanging from the lines, but no one had been there for some time. All very unsettling...
So we continued down the coast to Seal Rocks, an idyllic little beach camp, and dined in the supreme Pacific Palms bowling club (it was the only place still open for MILES). The food was great and we got take out beers for the beach later that night, when in Rome.....
Next stop - Sydney, 268kms.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Newsflash
So I read in the Sydney Morning Herald this morning that not only is the RBS share price as cheap as a cup of tea, but that I now work for the Government. At least that extra equity will keep the bank going for a few weeks I guess....
We off to the beach again this afternoon before heading down to Sydney for Thursday night, for my RBS reunion with Wally and Lawsey.
We off to the beach again this afternoon before heading down to Sydney for Thursday night, for my RBS reunion with Wally and Lawsey.
Gratfon, Coffs Harbour.....
After what seemed like the longest winding road through the country, we arrived in Nimbin, famous for its 'back to the land' culture and ideals. The town was very small, so we had a quick look in the museum (where we watched a DVD of the police drugs bust in April 2008) and grabbed some lunch before the journey down to Grafton, from where we would look to head into the rainforests.
We arrived in Grafton late afternoon and found a pub on the Clarence river with simple, clean accomodation. That evening Tom ate what I can only describe as the biggest steak I have ever seen (he would like me to add that he finished it too). Next morning we headed for Washpool, for an 8.5km walk through the rainforest (some was temperate rainforest, some dryforest), which was great news for my ankle athough it coped admirably. We ended the day sitting on the top of Anvil Rock, with stunning panoramic views of the landscape (Tom and Roz took some photos of the lego characters which have accompanied them since Cologne). That evening we dined in a deserted Chinese restaurant where I sample yet another variety of beer (so far Tooheys New, VB, Crown, Hahn, Blue Tongue, Coopers, Cascade, Little Creatures; Blue Tongue current favourite).
The next morning we looked to hire some canoes to explore Susan Island, although the hire shop was actually just someones house; someone who wasn't at home, so after breakfast by the river we decided knock that on the head and travel down to Coffs Harbour.
On route was The Big Banana, a banana theme park on the edge of the highway, It was voted the worst tourist attraction in NSW in 2007, so worth a look. It would seem there are many 'Big' attractions throughout Oz, the only criteria is that they need to be made of plastic, and bigger than the real thing. Pretty stringent stuff! We rode some tobogans which was fun before hitting the beach.
In true Aussie style we decided a beach-barbie was the choice for dinner. Midway through the first round of sausages we were approached by three local (and drunk) guys, who were facinated with the iPod, and also with the ability to grill crisps on a barbeque, which they seasoned with sausage fat and rum. We were forced to taste them. Not great. They were very amusing company and happily regaled the story of their friend, who had only minutes earlier been arrested for urinating in public in the vicinty of a family and their children. Whilst we found this hilarious, the mother of the children not so......
We then spent the rest of the evening drinking beers on the beach under the moonlight, beats a beer garden any day....
We arrived in Grafton late afternoon and found a pub on the Clarence river with simple, clean accomodation. That evening Tom ate what I can only describe as the biggest steak I have ever seen (he would like me to add that he finished it too). Next morning we headed for Washpool, for an 8.5km walk through the rainforest (some was temperate rainforest, some dryforest), which was great news for my ankle athough it coped admirably. We ended the day sitting on the top of Anvil Rock, with stunning panoramic views of the landscape (Tom and Roz took some photos of the lego characters which have accompanied them since Cologne). That evening we dined in a deserted Chinese restaurant where I sample yet another variety of beer (so far Tooheys New, VB, Crown, Hahn, Blue Tongue, Coopers, Cascade, Little Creatures; Blue Tongue current favourite).
The next morning we looked to hire some canoes to explore Susan Island, although the hire shop was actually just someones house; someone who wasn't at home, so after breakfast by the river we decided knock that on the head and travel down to Coffs Harbour.
On route was The Big Banana, a banana theme park on the edge of the highway, It was voted the worst tourist attraction in NSW in 2007, so worth a look. It would seem there are many 'Big' attractions throughout Oz, the only criteria is that they need to be made of plastic, and bigger than the real thing. Pretty stringent stuff! We rode some tobogans which was fun before hitting the beach.
In true Aussie style we decided a beach-barbie was the choice for dinner. Midway through the first round of sausages we were approached by three local (and drunk) guys, who were facinated with the iPod, and also with the ability to grill crisps on a barbeque, which they seasoned with sausage fat and rum. We were forced to taste them. Not great. They were very amusing company and happily regaled the story of their friend, who had only minutes earlier been arrested for urinating in public in the vicinty of a family and their children. Whilst we found this hilarious, the mother of the children not so......
We then spent the rest of the evening drinking beers on the beach under the moonlight, beats a beer garden any day....
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Byron
Ok, so I'm not really travelling, but have been invited as a guest writer on Tom and Roz's blogs, so here goes....
After 3 days, 4 flights and 5 onflight films I finally arrived in Byron Bay on time Monday lunchtime, with a plan to cover the coast line to Melboune over the next three and a half weeks. I was greeted at the airport by a very brown, but also hungry looking Tom and Roz, armed with smiles, flip flops and a Renault Megane which will be our chariot over the next few weeks. I intend to fatten them both up before sending them off to India.
Home for the past 5 days has been the Arts Factory Lodge, a bohemian settlement about 10mins from the beach. The majority of guests have dreadlocks, half a campsite strapped to their back and a mantra for us all to treat each other like brothers (some very amusing grafitti about the place, my favourite being "When I wear my funny spacesuit, the trees talk to me'). So needless to say my wheely suitcase and neatly cut (and washed) hair was quite unique....There has also been no shortage of guitar playing, although it does appear that no-one can actually play the bloody things properly, let alone sing. I was tempted to thrash out Wonderwall, but settled for a game of pool instead.
We spent the first few days almost exclusively on the beach, enjoying the scorching weather, and enjoying a little less the financial headlines and the current RBS share price. At this rate my holiday will be longer than I first planned...
Last night we saw a couple of bands, The Botanics who spent half an hour tuning up, only to play two songs and then disappear for an hour. They seemed to be a big deal although none of us could work out why, we thought thwy were pretty shite. We moved on to the Northern to see a much more funky country band, Smokey and Itchey, who were great, so good as to inspire a fight later in the evening. We also got to play pool with The Tazman, a man who spoke only in soundbites and Nelson Mandela quotes. He was making a film about man's relationship with nature..... definately a local celebrity..... We all had a great time, and discovered Cougar whiskey and coke gives you a great night, and a cracking hangover.
We're leaving today, heading towards Coffs Harbour and some National Parks, via Nimbin, the home of eco friendly infrastructures and more love and peace.......
After 3 days, 4 flights and 5 onflight films I finally arrived in Byron Bay on time Monday lunchtime, with a plan to cover the coast line to Melboune over the next three and a half weeks. I was greeted at the airport by a very brown, but also hungry looking Tom and Roz, armed with smiles, flip flops and a Renault Megane which will be our chariot over the next few weeks. I intend to fatten them both up before sending them off to India.
Home for the past 5 days has been the Arts Factory Lodge, a bohemian settlement about 10mins from the beach. The majority of guests have dreadlocks, half a campsite strapped to their back and a mantra for us all to treat each other like brothers (some very amusing grafitti about the place, my favourite being "When I wear my funny spacesuit, the trees talk to me'). So needless to say my wheely suitcase and neatly cut (and washed) hair was quite unique....There has also been no shortage of guitar playing, although it does appear that no-one can actually play the bloody things properly, let alone sing. I was tempted to thrash out Wonderwall, but settled for a game of pool instead.
We spent the first few days almost exclusively on the beach, enjoying the scorching weather, and enjoying a little less the financial headlines and the current RBS share price. At this rate my holiday will be longer than I first planned...
Last night we saw a couple of bands, The Botanics who spent half an hour tuning up, only to play two songs and then disappear for an hour. They seemed to be a big deal although none of us could work out why, we thought thwy were pretty shite. We moved on to the Northern to see a much more funky country band, Smokey and Itchey, who were great, so good as to inspire a fight later in the evening. We also got to play pool with The Tazman, a man who spoke only in soundbites and Nelson Mandela quotes. He was making a film about man's relationship with nature..... definately a local celebrity..... We all had a great time, and discovered Cougar whiskey and coke gives you a great night, and a cracking hangover.
We're leaving today, heading towards Coffs Harbour and some National Parks, via Nimbin, the home of eco friendly infrastructures and more love and peace.......
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