So Australia - the unknown land of the south, the land down under, the world's smallest continent, a nation of prisoners...Well against the ever increasing odds I actually made it here!
So to continue from where I left you; I am now the owner of a brand spanking new British passport. However, the best thing was the wait. It meant that I got to stay in Thailand for several extra weeks. In that time Thailand rose from a good country to an amazing nation in the strange world that is my brain. That is to say I say another side of this fine country, and began to experience a little more of the local culture.
As so often happens when travelling, you meet new friend in strange circumstances. I met Gary and Jo in the wake of a massive explosion that had filled the sky of Bangkok with thick black smoke. We were waiting for a train at a tiny café in the suburbs of Bangkok, as an impromptu valentines day parade marched by. There were strange dancers, dragons, and even beer trucks handing out glasses of beer. I’m still not quite sure what all this has to do with valentines day, but who am I to question??!
Well we did eventually jump on a train, which took the route of the old death railway to Kanchanaburi, where we met Gabi (an Aussie from Brissy) and Jane (one of the local bar owners). Kanchanaburi is very different to the islands of southern Thailand; but I can’t recommend it highly enough. We visited the humbling ‘Hellfire pass' where a huge number of POW’s died during WWII, walked over and kayaked under the infamous‘Bridge over the River Kwai', visited the crystal clear Erawan waterfalls, and I even rode through the River Kwai on an elephants head. But best of all we hired motorbikes and Jane showed us around - allowing us to explore numerous caves and temples, often only visited by the locals. Safe to say I am a well practiced beginner Buddhist now!
A phone call did eventually interrupt my fun informing me that my passport was ready. Just in time for me to get to Singapore for my early March flight to Oz. So I speed through Southern Thailand and Malaysia by a combination of bus, tuk-tuk and train. However, I did have time for a quick stop on the Island of Koh Samui to say hi to a mummified monk, oh and Kylie and Jim who were holidaying in Thailand :-)
So Australia... to my surprise I actually made it here, and began by spending 10 days in Cairns a rocking chilled town in north Queensland. Along with most of the town’s population, I spent my days chilling at the lagoon, before having a BBQ and heading the bar for the night. Meeting a great bunch of British lands and Swedish girls we decided that some diving at the Great Barrier Reef was in order. Now as many of you will be aware I have a particular aversion to waterproof killing machines, and well, fish in general. Hence myself and the sea are usually kept well apart. Diving and snorkelling changed all that, especially when swimming with ‘Willie’ a strange fish close to half my size. I’m not quite comfortable with sea creatures yet, but I'm actually willing to give it another go. On this occasion I did get away without any sharky encounters, but choose a few small jellyfish/sea-lice stings in preference to the fetching bright sting suit.
Gutted to say goodbye to Cairns and good friends, I really needed to get working and earning some cash. In light of Australia’s crazy current unemployment rate, and in light of the vast quantities of beer I consumed in Asia... I chose the hardworking option of tree planting in pretty much nowhere. So here I am in Ingham with a bunch of Korean travellers. We have a ‘troopy’ tuck that breaks down hourly (especially when driving through roads that are now rivers), and several other trucks that feel like they have jelly suspension (when I drive them at least). I am sleeping on a kitchen floor, and every so often a farmer drops pesticide on us from his plane. But it is awesome fun!!! I’ll probably stay here till the work runs out in a few months and maybe even save up for a share of my own truck, so what was once the Euro road trip can continue down under :-D
Ciao for now. Daves xxx
