On my way to Australia!

Gallery: perth

moley — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 11:37:00 GMT

Gallery: australia

moley — Sat, 11 Aug 2007 20:29:00 GMT

Perth

moley — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 10:31:00 GMT

Hi all, thought I would update you on my travels etc. I travelled to Perth to see the sights but most importantly to visit some very dear friends. First stop was Laura and Tigger, who very kindly not only picked me up from the airport also poured wine with a flourish! Next day was Laura's leaving do from work.... she is on a working visa and is due to leave Australia the end of September. Great to meet Tigger and catch up on the family news. Will hopefully see them when they pop over to Sydney before they leave for England.

Laura and I then went on a short tour of the Swan valley. This is a wine growing region around Perth. We did some wine tasting but it appears that most of the place is closed on Mondays, yep and that was the day we visited!!

So on to wednesday when I was picked up by Claire Pipe. Great that she was still around with her and families imminent departure for England. They also live outside Perth in a very quiet little town. Good again to get the news and gossip about you all at Basildon! Having not seen any wildlife since I got here, Claire took me to a local wildlife park where I was attacked by a snake, frightened by the emus and general felt a little unsafe, Claire did laugh. I spent a couple of days with the Pipes then Claire, bless her cotton socks, dropped me of at the airport. four hours later (very large country) back to Sydney, I have now got a job and start the 27th August, Claire advices I keep my head down for a week or two.... she might be right will let you know how it goes.

Here at last!

moley — Thu, 2 Aug 2007 11:24:00 GMT

Dear all, well here I am in Sydeny Australia. 14 hours by plane from LA. Got sat in the middle of two guys who didn't say a word to me all the flight...the guy on the right having taken a large amount of pills just before takeoff went straight to sleep the other one just watched his tv. They soon tured the lights out on us which was a shame as I was in the middle of a Stephanie Plum story (number 13). We settled down under the blankets and tried to sleep with the A/C blaring! when both guys were asleep I was very sneeky and turned the A/C off, which was great!!!

Around 0400 they served breakfast and did the business of getting us ready to land. the last 30 minutes being the longest in the world esp when your anxious! we landed as planned at 0600 and trouped to immigration. The immigration guy took my passport stamped it and handed it back.....all without saying a word....within 30 secs! So I guess I'm now a resident of Australia. This was the bit of the process I was anxious about but in the end turned out to be the easy bit!

Through the gate and Dina is there as promised. Great to have a hug and welcoming smile. We step outside of the airport and I realise that although Dina had warned me, its freezing! So of we go to her place just passed Botany bay.

So how have I been passing the tims so far? well all the things new immigrants are supposed to do, getting a new bank account, joinig medicare, getting a tax file number.......trying stay out of the clutches of direct line DO NOT EVER USE THEM!!! just ask Sandra, so sorry Sandra. After more then 90 days traveling....sightseeing haven't got round to doing any yet. Have seen the bridge and opera house in the distance but will go soon!

I have a job interview next week at one of the children's hospitals in Sydney and then hopefully look for a place to live....so you all have somewhere to stay and Dina can have her privacy back! Then maybe get a car and I guess its getting on with the business of living!

Will post pictures when I can as I'm writing this at the library and they dont have the software to let you post pictures.

Panama city

moley — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 05:00:00 GMT

Panama city is a very odd place! Three main areas, the banking district, the posh marina area and the very very dodgy area. Our taxi driver last night locked all the doors all of a sudden and told us it was dangerous with gangsters! Our hotel is just around the corner from, you can guess, the dodgy area!! Jorge and myself had to sign a disclaimer as we left the tour group two days early to travel to Panama city on our own , as we had booked passage on a little boat to travel down the canal. I felt like Michael Palin going through the locks! they were built in 1914 and they are still in use today!

I am here until wednesday then I fly to mexico city then straight to Los Angeles. Were I will stay at the Beverly Hills Hilton, I know, I got carried away! After the hotel here, believe me I will need it! I hope to leave the bed bugs here. As I had to pay for a room when we got here have decided to stay on in a single which is very nice, 42 days sharing is enough!

We are of to dinner tonight (posh area!). I think it will be the last meal as people will be leaving on tuesday as that is the end of tour day! Not sure if there will be tears for the group, but I will miss Rob and Jorge.

Gallery: friends and family

moley — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 02:27:00 GMT

80 Days

moley — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 01:42:00 GMT

Hi all, thought I would write about today as its my 80th day in the Americas! Phileas Fogg would probably turn in his grave about the length of time its taken me to get this far! And who would be my Passepartout? I would nominate Sandra as she is the one who helped me the most with my visa, stopped direct line from taking me to court and continues to be my backup plan! So thanks very much Sandra!

As to what I have gained from this little trip. I left a great bunch of people behind in England, friends and all my family. I left a great job to go across the other side of the world....just to see whats there! I wont miss the stairs in my flat as I can have accidents anywhere. I have met some great new friends who I will see all again soon. I hope the ones in England dont forget me and will find me again sometime in the next few years. Fully intend to get an address ASAP just so you all have somewhere to stay. I intend to visit you before you forget Moley!

I have leant to write e-mails from internet cafes where the letters have disappeared from the key boards! I know that group work has never been so funny or terrible. No role play! So all in all there have been some great moments, sad moments and there are yet things to come, Australia in 10 days time. Have now got friends there, Dina are you sure!!! and look forward to seeing what life has in store for me in the future.

Panama

moley — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 12:38:00 GMT

Hi all, arrived eventually into Panama. The only crossing so far that looks as if you have actually changed country.We crossed the border over what once was a railway bridge where the rails are still in place with planks (that have not been nailed down)added for your comfort. Its about 300 yards long and if you pass a local going the other way you have to step onto the middle of the crossing onto the railway sleepers and where you can see the river 150yards below. We got over to the other side with incident except Rob had to chat to a guy who wanted to talk about Manchester united. Rob was feeling very hungover and a little scared about missing a footing! He was polite all the way across. So to the immigration booth, where we were told the lady had gone for her lunch and would be back at 1300. Our watches said 11:30. Dan then informed us that we had lept into the future as Panama is an hour ahead of Costa Rica! We then got a little bus to the water taxi to take us to an island (yep another one!!) Boca del Toro. On the carribean coast with beaches that can only be reached by water taxi. Still they were good fun if only to see us all get burnt again!

Gallery: panama

moley — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 08:39:00 GMT

Costa Rica

moley — Sat, 7 Jul 2007 02:19:00 GMT

Hi all, now in Costa Rica. We crossed the border from Nicaragua through a small door where we had to pay a dollar, this was the local tax to get to the immigration office! We then had to line up and wait for hours at both the Nicaraguan exit and the Costa Rican entrance. Thankfully once there it all went smoothly. Private transport to Monteverde. This is in the mountains and the adventure capital of Costa Rica, lots of companies offering; horseback riding, canopy tours, zip lining white water rafting and all sorts of other crazy adventure tours. Which of course I didn´t do!! I did get on a horse though, they are great horses as they follow the same path twice a day and will only go fast if you give them a big nudge! We went to group dinner here and then decided to make a night of it. Rob, Jorge and myself paid 3000colones (3 pounds) to get into the local night club and the drinks were very cheap.(90p a bottle) The rest of the group decided that they couldn´t (wouldn´t) pay the cover charge. The night club was very funny .... it felt like being at a disco at a wedding! Lots of really good salsa dancing going on, decided not to show them up and stayed drinking instead!! We then went to La Fortuna the next day.....slight headache, again another adventure place with the above and much more. Bungy jumping, hot springs, waterfall climbing etc yep didn`t do any of them I`m turning into the lazy tart I`ve always wanted to be!!

Gallery: costa rica

moley — Sat, 7 Jul 2007 01:38:00 GMT

clicker

moley — Thu, 5 Jul 2007 08:58:00 GMT

This little story is about the clicker. A small device I bought from Boots the chemist, which nobody else on the trip has ever seen before. Those of you that know why I am called Moley will remember that I took one to the Dominican Republic. I no longer am allowed to keep it as it gets passed around a great deal. Rob is the one who is addicted to it! He has shocked most parts of his body 'all for the sake of science'. I do not want to know where it has been now! I feel that everyone should get a clicker before they travel anywhere a. because it stops mozzy bites itching b. it causes a great deal of fun!

Nicaragua

moley — Sun, 1 Jul 2007 07:31:00 GMT

The Sandinista National Liberation Front (Spanish: Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional) is a Nicaraguan political party founded on the broad leftist principles of the popular front. It led a revolution that in 1979 overthrew the Somoza political dynasty. Following their seizure of power, the Sandinistas ruled Nicaragua for roughly 11 years from 1979 to 1990, during which time they established democratic elections^[1] and a national constitution, among other sweeping reforms. Their organization is generally referred to by the initials FSLN and its members are called, in both English and Spanish, Sandinistas. Opposition to the Somoza government was inspired by what Sandinistas termed the anti-imperialist struggle of Augusto C. Sandino during the thirties, decades prior to the "Nicaraguan Revolution".

a short history of Nicaragua which is a very short one but gives you an idea of what the country has gone through! We arrived in Leon after a very long bus ride from Honduras. Leon is a town in which the sandinista revolution is celebrated. The town is very old with the oldest church in Central America, I said a prayer for all us dodgy catholics! We then went on down to Granada on the shores of lake Nicaragua, that sounds really easy! We used a road that in places had been washed away so it become a dirt track the dust was horrific, the driver was very good. I was pleased he actually carried a gun under the seat because the road was very dangerous. The locals had placed ropes across the road to act like a gate so we would have to pay a fee to cross! He just drove through. We had to avoid pigs, cows, horses, people, other cars and of course the scary locals! It took about 4 hours so the arrival into Granada was wonderful.

It is very much like a spanish town and very hot with lots of thunder and lightening ! very scary as I was in the swimming pool at the time. We met John the street artist who sang us a song about the freedom of women in Nicaragua using all our names.

We then went to the island of Imetepe on the lake of Nicaragua which is really two volcanos added together. I have a great tan now! we swam in the lake which is very odd as it had great waves. we then headed for Costa Rica which of course is another story!

Gallery: nicaragua

moley — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 06:24:00 GMT

Gallery: volcano

moley — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 04:59:00 GMT

Bay Islands Honduras

moley — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 03:33:00 GMT

Here I am on the Island of Utila which is part of the Bay Islands which are just of Honduras. It took, 6 hours in a van from Copan. Then we got on a boat for over an hour to take part in the most horrific sea crossing you can imagine, Sandra you would have not made it!! We are now joined by seven new people all of which are American and very excited. the rest of us being English or from singapore are all relaxed and quiet now, they must think we are very boring! Four of the Americans are on Honeymoon thats two couples not the whole four that would be too much even for Gap! The main group have gone on a boat trip after the last one I have decided to stay on the beach and pool to relax. We leave here tomorrow to travel 12 hours then a wee sleep then another 12 hour journey

Volcano

moley — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 04:48:00 GMT

Hi Guys forgot to tell you about the volcano I climbed on Sunday! We got on the bus in Antigua and spent 2 hours going uphill in an old american school bus they can only use 1st or 2nd gear going up hill. Our bus driver as usual on this type of trip was carrying a very large gun for our protection there atre still rebels in the hills in some parts of Guatemala. So to the volcano, we had to walk 3km up hill. Jo and I cheated and rode a couple of horses, Jo is a great rider should me how to handle the American bridle. so we get to the top and boy it was hot molten lava everywhere, no health and safety in Guatemala they just said not to get to close as it would melt your shoes!!! the walk down in the dark and rain ( did get to use our head tourches which was funny as they only give you a little circle to walk in!)was not as funny but you cant have everything!

First hangover!

moley — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 06:57:00 GMT

Well I guess it had to happen at some point! Had a real headache this morning after going out with the group for a little drink in Panajachel on the shores of lake Atitlan. This is will be the last one as its horrid in the heat! Saying that though it was very funny even the South African ladies had a few too many. I managed to get up and dance with most of the creepy Costa Ricans! Did manage, of which I'm very proud of, to Salsa, it must have rubbed of on me after all! will add bad pics just soon as we get back to Antigua tomorrow. It will be the end of one tour and the start of the next tour. We lose 7 people and 7 will join, to on down to Panama. Will miss them, especially Jo, Ingrid and Mieke.

perfect day so far!

moley — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 08:59:00 GMT

In a small wee town called Flores Gautemala. Yesterday Jo and I decided to swim in the lake outside the hotel. We sat in the water which was teeming with fish and looked across the further bank. It was beautiful, the sun was shining and we were in a lake Gautemala! then two small boys came and joined us in the water, it was great to see Jo having so much fun she has been desperate to chat with the kids. The older of the two boys( he looked about 8 ) encouraged Jo to get up on a wooden plateform, he then pushed her into the water I have not laughed so much in ages!

We visited Tikal today as you can see by the pictures, in the middle of the jungle and a little scary as the howler monkeys were howling to bust a gut! and yes yet again they would have peed over us only the guide moved us on in time!

Gallery: guatemala

moley — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 08:31:00 GMT