Monday, August 25, 2003
I made it safely to Adelaide and returned my rental car today with only a large dent in the rear bumper thanks to an unseen low concrete pole in a parking lot somewhere between Sydney and Melbourne. Last Saturday was spent driving under sometimes buckets of rain but during a clearing period, I was lucky to see a koala cross the road before me and make it to the other side unharmed. So, now I know that the road signs about it are not just there for decoration. :-)
Only one full day left and then I'll be on the plane back home...
Only one full day left and then I'll be on the plane back home...
Thursday, August 21, 2003
I'm in Melbourne, wondering what to do with my day since potential rain is ruling out most outdoor activities and I've already been to the Museums I was most interested in. Ah well, that's when you really start to discover what's normal life like in a city. I may jus avoid the rain at the movies or better some shopping centers and art galleries. We'll see. I hope the weather will clear tomorrow for the trip toward Adelaide along the Great Ocean road.
Friday, August 15, 2003
Back in Sydney after Alice Springs and Uluru.
I should be on the road to Melbourne at this hour but my car rental with Hertz fell through because I didn't have my original driver's licence, only my international one. It wasn't a problem the first time with Thrifty and I didn't think it would be with Hertz. Frell. I'll have a car tomorrow. So, today I'm stuck in Sydney. Stuck I tell you!! *g*
The tour to King's Canyon, Uluru and Katja Tuta was interesting and done with a friendly group. Surprisingly, in that semi-arid zone, we were treated to some rain on the night we were camping so instead of a night spent under a starlit sky, we made a hasty retreat into the tents. Too bad because you can really get a beautiful starlit sky there with no city lights to hamper the view. Thankfully, the sky had cleared the day after for the actual visit to Uluru and the sunrise wasn't hidden by clouds like the sunset had been. I thought Uluru seemed more impressive from a distance where you really get that feeling of a big rock in the middle of nowhere but I still enjoyed taking the walk around it.
Next, if the car rental gods are with me, are the Blue Mountains and then Melbourne.
I should be on the road to Melbourne at this hour but my car rental with Hertz fell through because I didn't have my original driver's licence, only my international one. It wasn't a problem the first time with Thrifty and I didn't think it would be with Hertz. Frell. I'll have a car tomorrow. So, today I'm stuck in Sydney. Stuck I tell you!! *g*
The tour to King's Canyon, Uluru and Katja Tuta was interesting and done with a friendly group. Surprisingly, in that semi-arid zone, we were treated to some rain on the night we were camping so instead of a night spent under a starlit sky, we made a hasty retreat into the tents. Too bad because you can really get a beautiful starlit sky there with no city lights to hamper the view. Thankfully, the sky had cleared the day after for the actual visit to Uluru and the sunrise wasn't hidden by clouds like the sunset had been. I thought Uluru seemed more impressive from a distance where you really get that feeling of a big rock in the middle of nowhere but I still enjoyed taking the walk around it.
Next, if the car rental gods are with me, are the Blue Mountains and then Melbourne.
Saturday, August 09, 2003
The weather has been cooperative so far but it started to get colder today and rain is announced for tomorrow. I've been walking around so much that I might just take the day off so to speak and rest before the trip to Alice Springs on Monday and the two day tour to Uluru (Ayers Rock), which promises to be long and tiring.
I've seen quite a bit of Sydney, beside the unavoidable Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Ferries are a practical way of moving about the Harbour to reach other suburbs in this ever stretching megalopole. It's a beautiful place but sometimes, the 'paradise' that the Sydney Harbour seems to be gets caught up with the harsh reality of human habitation with signs warning of dangerous swims after periods of heavy rains due to the pollution of the water. Kinda kills the fantasy a bit.
I've seen quite a bit of Sydney, beside the unavoidable Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Ferries are a practical way of moving about the Harbour to reach other suburbs in this ever stretching megalopole. It's a beautiful place but sometimes, the 'paradise' that the Sydney Harbour seems to be gets caught up with the harsh reality of human habitation with signs warning of dangerous swims after periods of heavy rains due to the pollution of the water. Kinda kills the fantasy a bit.
Tuesday, August 05, 2003
Made it to Sydney in one piece without breaking the car. No animal was harmed during the trip, no human either. I found my way to the hotel in Sydney without getting lost. All in all, yay me!! :-D
Saturday, August 02, 2003
Fed kangaroos today. Also held an adult koala to have my picture taken and could have spent hours watching the baby koalas (called joeys) in their mothers' embrace. So so cute.
Weather was sunny again and warmer. Very enjoyable.
Tomorrow is a test day. I'll be picking up my rental car and then attempt to drive to the rendez-vous point for a picnic with friends. Afterwards I'll head off toward Sydney.
Weather was sunny again and warmer. Very enjoyable.
Tomorrow is a test day. I'll be picking up my rental car and then attempt to drive to the rendez-vous point for a picnic with friends. Afterwards I'll head off toward Sydney.
Friday, August 01, 2003
Hardly managed a quick glimpse of Brisbane yesterday before I had to crash on the bed for a well deserved nap and then an 11 hour long night. Accomodation is welcoming but the absence of heating at this time of the year leaves the houses chilly and except for the bed with the help of several layers, it's bloody cold there.
Woke up early for a rainforest tour. I had been warned that the weather could get chilly in the rain forest and had dressed accordingly. Weather forecast predicted a 20 degrees Celsius temperature. At first I thought I might not have dressed warm enough but actually it turned out just fine. The day was sunny and dry and we warmed up very quickly. Quite a pleasant day to take that sort of trip. The sight from the tree tops where we had climbed up using wooden gangplanks and ladders was quite stunning.
Woke up early for a rainforest tour. I had been warned that the weather could get chilly in the rain forest and had dressed accordingly. Weather forecast predicted a 20 degrees Celsius temperature. At first I thought I might not have dressed warm enough but actually it turned out just fine. The day was sunny and dry and we warmed up very quickly. Quite a pleasant day to take that sort of trip. The sight from the tree tops where we had climbed up using wooden gangplanks and ladders was quite stunning.
