So, there we have it faithful bloggers, my Big Fat Aussie Adventure has finally come to an end. And what an adventure it has been......
There have been road trips, sharks, trees, rocks, caves, campers, helicopters, koalas, devils, beaches, sun, rain, wind, fun, straight roads and curvy ones, laughter, friendships, beaches, planes, trains and automobiles.
I have done things I never thought I would do and seen things I never thought I'd see, eaten beautiful food, drunk fabulous wine and met people from all over the world. I've driven over 8000km and flown even more. I have been brave, some may say foolish, and realised I am more than happy in my own company as well as a crowd.
This trip has made me realise that you can do anything you want to do it you put your mind to it. I may have been travelling alone but I was never lonely, knowing that good friends are always with you, wherever you are in the world and that new friends are out there to be found.
My Aussie Adventure may be over, but my travels are not. Coming home not only means I get to see my loved ones but also means I can work and plan for my next Big Adventure, destination TBA....
A really big thank you to all of you for following my adventures, I have had a blast posting my my daily yarns, and you were lucky to get away with the amount of photos I put on, I took over 4500!!!! And thank you to everyone that made my trip possible and also so memorable..
Now I know I have said this before, but I am going to say it again. To quote THAT song from the film in saw for the first time under the stars in an Adelaide park......
'I've had the time if my life.....'
And I plan to have many many more. Till next time bloggers.....
Lots of love xxxxxxxxxxx
Wednesday, 14 March 2012
Monday, 12 March 2012
So, What To Do In Hong Kong For 12 Hours.......
Only one thing to do, go to DISNEYLAND!!!!! OMG Shut up! Until 3 days ago I had completely forgotten about it and had no idea if itvwas possible, but after a little research I realised it was!
So after a really good first leg of 8 hours, with 3 films, 2 meals and a little bit of chillin, I landed in Hong Kong and began my quest to find Mickey and the gang.
I headed out through immigration, getting a Hong Kong stamp in my passport in the process, and headed for the info desk for some help. She said it would be quicker and cheaper in a taxi ($100 hong kong which is about a tenner) and only 20 mins, and they have luggage holding there too so my hideously heavy hand luggage would be safe. So with instructions to get either a blue or red taxi (better for tourists) I headed on my way.
No blue, 2 red with people in the queue, and 8 green taxis were waiting so green it was!! Bloody hell, if the roller coasters were not up to much at Disney I had the return journey to look forward to! The green ones are for the locals who are not afraid to take a risk with their life, but it all added to the fun, and his minimal English understood 'Disneyland' so it was all good.
After driving at the speed of sound, the Disneyland resort came into view. Palm trees lined the route to he entrance and as I bid farewell to the Asian Michael Schumacker, Disney songs magically played from the trees and surrounding foliage. A world wide formula that never fails to impress.
Bags checked in, camera clicking away and cheap ticket purchased, I ventured into the weird and wonderful world of the Chinese Disney experience.....
Now having been to the 2 American ones and Paris it is clear that the format is the same the world over, and it is here too, as far as the scenery goes! And even the sight of the Chinese in masks is not too strange as they do that everywhere they go, but what was strange was their behaviour! Now we all know they can have a weird sense of dress, and that they can be slightly loud and giggly, but what did shock me was how rude they were here! It must just be the Disney air as I have been to Hong Kong before and
everyone was wonderful! But here its all for one and one for all. No sincere apologies if they walk into you here, and the amount of people who blatantly stood in front of me when I was taking a picture mede me laugh!! Maybe it was the Minnie Ears and the poncho, but people in glass houses and all that.....
But nothing, not even the rain could stop me having a ball. I got all the big hitters, M&M, Donald and Daisy, Pluto, Pooh and Goofy. I got one other and I think its either Lilo or Stitch...
It wasnt really busy so it was easy to get pics, but they havent really caught on to the money making scam as they have a professional there taking your picture, who then gives you a ticket to pay and collect later. or you just give your camera to the other Disney employee who is there for that very purpose!! Bless!
There is one major difference here and that is the rides. They are all for kids! The only rollercoaster is Space Mountain and that is nowhere near as good as any of the others, my taxi ride was worse!
That said me, my poncho and ears had a fab few hours and after another Green taxi ride it was back to the airport, very damp but happy!
After eating a noodle soup that was so spicy I almost went blind, I settled in to use the
free electricity and wi fi which is where I sit now looking at the jumbo jet that is going to take me home.
I am going to sign off and try some pics now as I think my blueberry has a gremlin and the screen keeps jumping, so before I launch it through the window at the awaiting jumbo, I will say TTFN and my next post may be from the other side of the world.....
So after a really good first leg of 8 hours, with 3 films, 2 meals and a little bit of chillin, I landed in Hong Kong and began my quest to find Mickey and the gang.
I headed out through immigration, getting a Hong Kong stamp in my passport in the process, and headed for the info desk for some help. She said it would be quicker and cheaper in a taxi ($100 hong kong which is about a tenner) and only 20 mins, and they have luggage holding there too so my hideously heavy hand luggage would be safe. So with instructions to get either a blue or red taxi (better for tourists) I headed on my way.
No blue, 2 red with people in the queue, and 8 green taxis were waiting so green it was!! Bloody hell, if the roller coasters were not up to much at Disney I had the return journey to look forward to! The green ones are for the locals who are not afraid to take a risk with their life, but it all added to the fun, and his minimal English understood 'Disneyland' so it was all good.
After driving at the speed of sound, the Disneyland resort came into view. Palm trees lined the route to he entrance and as I bid farewell to the Asian Michael Schumacker, Disney songs magically played from the trees and surrounding foliage. A world wide formula that never fails to impress.
Bags checked in, camera clicking away and cheap ticket purchased, I ventured into the weird and wonderful world of the Chinese Disney experience.....
Now having been to the 2 American ones and Paris it is clear that the format is the same the world over, and it is here too, as far as the scenery goes! And even the sight of the Chinese in masks is not too strange as they do that everywhere they go, but what was strange was their behaviour! Now we all know they can have a weird sense of dress, and that they can be slightly loud and giggly, but what did shock me was how rude they were here! It must just be the Disney air as I have been to Hong Kong before and
everyone was wonderful! But here its all for one and one for all. No sincere apologies if they walk into you here, and the amount of people who blatantly stood in front of me when I was taking a picture mede me laugh!! Maybe it was the Minnie Ears and the poncho, but people in glass houses and all that.....
But nothing, not even the rain could stop me having a ball. I got all the big hitters, M&M, Donald and Daisy, Pluto, Pooh and Goofy. I got one other and I think its either Lilo or Stitch...
It wasnt really busy so it was easy to get pics, but they havent really caught on to the money making scam as they have a professional there taking your picture, who then gives you a ticket to pay and collect later. or you just give your camera to the other Disney employee who is there for that very purpose!! Bless!
There is one major difference here and that is the rides. They are all for kids! The only rollercoaster is Space Mountain and that is nowhere near as good as any of the others, my taxi ride was worse!
That said me, my poncho and ears had a fab few hours and after another Green taxi ride it was back to the airport, very damp but happy!
After eating a noodle soup that was so spicy I almost went blind, I settled in to use the
free electricity and wi fi which is where I sit now looking at the jumbo jet that is going to take me home.
I am going to sign off and try some pics now as I think my blueberry has a gremlin and the screen keeps jumping, so before I launch it through the window at the awaiting jumbo, I will say TTFN and my next post may be from the other side of the world.....
The Day Has Arrived - Homeward Bound.....
You may have noticed, faithful bloggers, that I have been avoiding the subject of my adventure coming to an end, but I can avoid it no more. Today is the day that My Big Fat Aussie Adventure begins its ending (if you know what I mean) and I head off for good old Blighty.
So after a great final day yesterday and all my bon voyages said (apart from Mandy who very kindly offered to take me to the airport, bless her) I watched my final sunset of the trip from the Hutsons garden and a stunning one it was too (the garden and the sunset) then went to bed.
So it was up early to try and cram the last two months into my holdall and hand luggage, a feat I managed with some things left behind and lots of cramming. I just hope they don't want to look at my bag, I've got no chance of packing all back in again.....
After a wee bit of housework to leave the Hutsons home as spick and span as I found it, Mandy arrived to take me to the airport. So with a heavy heart, but one filled with fantastic memories and thoughts of my loved ones at home, we headed off. Although heading home, my Adventure was far from over as I still had my flight and 12 hours in Hong Kong to fill.
Unlike my outward journey all those weeks ago, I arrived with not much time to spare so it was bags on scales (I was 3kg over but I smiled and distracted the check in lady so I dont think she noticed.....) and a quick sit down for some last minute facebooking before realising that my flight was going to start
boarding. The last 3 flights I have taken have been domestic, and I completely forgot that I needed to go through immigration. So I rushed in, had my bags selected (the law of sod) as they mistook my turkish delight liquer for perfume and my pandora candle for something even more suspicious. So after some explaining it was all systems go to the boarding gate.
I was the last person to board as as we took our seats it was clear the flight would not be full so I managed a row to myself. Which was a bit of a touch as most of the passengers were wearing face masks or coughing, sneezing and hawking up everywhere.
So my blog is not yet at an end, neither is my journey. I am still many thousand miles from home and have 12 hours in Hong Kong to fill and take pictures of so until Hong Kong its TTFN and keep blogging on.......
So after a great final day yesterday and all my bon voyages said (apart from Mandy who very kindly offered to take me to the airport, bless her) I watched my final sunset of the trip from the Hutsons garden and a stunning one it was too (the garden and the sunset) then went to bed.
So it was up early to try and cram the last two months into my holdall and hand luggage, a feat I managed with some things left behind and lots of cramming. I just hope they don't want to look at my bag, I've got no chance of packing all back in again.....
After a wee bit of housework to leave the Hutsons home as spick and span as I found it, Mandy arrived to take me to the airport. So with a heavy heart, but one filled with fantastic memories and thoughts of my loved ones at home, we headed off. Although heading home, my Adventure was far from over as I still had my flight and 12 hours in Hong Kong to fill.
Unlike my outward journey all those weeks ago, I arrived with not much time to spare so it was bags on scales (I was 3kg over but I smiled and distracted the check in lady so I dont think she noticed.....) and a quick sit down for some last minute facebooking before realising that my flight was going to start
boarding. The last 3 flights I have taken have been domestic, and I completely forgot that I needed to go through immigration. So I rushed in, had my bags selected (the law of sod) as they mistook my turkish delight liquer for perfume and my pandora candle for something even more suspicious. So after some explaining it was all systems go to the boarding gate.
I was the last person to board as as we took our seats it was clear the flight would not be full so I managed a row to myself. Which was a bit of a touch as most of the passengers were wearing face masks or coughing, sneezing and hawking up everywhere.
So my blog is not yet at an end, neither is my journey. I am still many thousand miles from home and have 12 hours in Hong Kong to fill and take pictures of so until Hong Kong its TTFN and keep blogging on.......
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