Travels of a Zen Dog

Canada - here I come

rory2034 — Mon, 8 Jun 2009 23:39:00 GMT

One day to go before I set off on my second long trip - this time to Canada. I fly into Toronto and will spend 2 months exploring the eastern side of the country, some on my own and some with the Moose bus. I chose the Moose bus because I had had such good experiences with the Magic bus in New Zealand and the Groovy Grape bus in Australia last year. Along the way I will meet up with some friends that I made on my trip last year and hopefully make lots of new ones.

Right better go and finish my packing.

Clothes - check

Camera - check

Ticket - check

Money - check

.........now where did I put that passport?

Venice & Padova

rory2034 — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 15:21:00 GMT

Singapore

rory2034 — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 08:25:00 GMT

Brisbane to Sydney down the East Coast

rory2034 — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 08:22:00 GMT

Working as a conservation volunteer in Australia

rory2034 — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 06:53:00 GMT

I wanted to do something other than just travelling whilst away so I joined Conservation Volunteers of Australia(CVA) for 2 weeks. We spent the first week working at a wetlands site near Mount Tamborine clearing away non native plants and trees. The second week was spent at Beaudesert doing much the same but this time in a small valley. The 2 groups of people I worked with were really fun to be with and although the work was sometimes tiring there was lots of free time available. The 2 team leaders Laura and Justin were both great people and made the 2 weeks very enjoyable. I will take away a lot of memories from my time with CVA - Ceo "go go shin" Chul breaking the log bridge and playing 99 and liar card games with everyone. I will miss all the new friends that I have made - but I hope to see them again in the future and I know that we will keep in contact.

Cape Tribulation & the Daintree rainforest

rory2034 — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 01:27:00 GMT

Left Cairns at 7am for the trip up to Cape tribulation. During the day we visited Mossman Gorge, did a short walk through the rain forest and went on a river cruise looking for crocodiles. We were lucky to see a newly hatched croc as well as a full grown male known as scar face (it had scars on its face!). I stayed in a hostel called Crocadyllus for a couple of nights. It was set in the middle of the rain forest and surrounded by all kinds of trees and wildlife ie gekkos in the toilets and a forest dragon on the tree outside my room. The beach was just down the road from the hostel and I spent a morning there with Larry a local dog who followed me all morning. Nice to get back amongst nature after spending time in the cities.

Next I go back to Cairns for a couple of days then take a 30 hour bus journey to Brisbane where I will start my conservation work. Looking forward to that but could do without the bus journey.

Alice Springs to Cairns by Desert Venturer Bus

rory2034 — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 01:26:00 GMT

Not having enough of travelling by bus I decided to travel from Alice Springs to Cairns by the Desert Venturer bus. The journey takes 3 days 2 nights and covers 2067km, much of it along dirt roads. Picked up by the bus at 5.30am on day one from outside the hostel. Sarah, Louise and Jean from the groovy grape trip are also doing the same trip along with 28 others. We drove for 800km before stopping for the night at a "small" 150kmx50km cattle station. The station has a pet kangaroo called Mary who is very partial to ice cream and beer at night and tea and toast in the morning. Left at 7am on day 2 and continued the drive through the outback stopping for a BBQ at lunchtime. That night we stayed at a pub. After the bar closed I went back to the bar owners house for a few more drinks and left somewhere around 3am. The last day involved a 6am start to allow us to get to Cairns at a reasonable time.

I really enjoyed the trip, and although flying would only taken a few hours you wouldn't get the same experience. Unfortunately the service is finishing at the end of August after running for 7 years due to increased fuel costs and cheaper flights.

Melbourne to Alice Springs by Groovy Grape

rory2034 — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 01:24:00 GMT

Cities

rory2034 — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:02:00 GMT

Spent a few days in each of the cities of Canberra, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. After visiting them all they seem to blur into each other. I visited all the botanical gardens and markets, walked around the streets and saw all the sights, and although nice as cities go they could be anywhere - I dont feel like I have discovered the real Australia yet. What made up for it though were the people I met along the way - making new friends and seeing old ones again.

Tasmania

rory2034 — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:01:00 GMT

One of the places I had most been looking forward to visiting was Tasmania. I went there 15 years ago and really enjoyed it so I wanted to return to see some of the places that I missed first time round. Arriving in Launceston I hired a car and set off for Penguin to see some more of my ex-family. It was so good to see them again and after staying a day with them I continued to Cradle Mountain. The weather was perfect for a walk there, which is not usually the case - the mountain is usually covered with cloud. Continued on to Strahan on the west coast then Hobart and up to Wineglass Bay in Freycinet National Park before returning to Hobart. I drove 1200km in the week that I had the car and I think that I have now seen everything that I want to see in Tas, but I am sure that I will return one day.