The Wright Journey

Gallery: pisotoa school trip

sophie_991 — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 10:05:00 GMT

sophie_991 — Thu, 7 Jun 2007 05:16:00 GMT

It has been a really hectic last few weeks, I have just come back from a really amazing holiday with the Dixons.

They arrived at the village and met everyone, it was really surreal and I think all the kids got very over excited, especially as Annabel and Jonathan had brought loads of pens, pencils, colours, etc. We went on a trip to see the cows which was also weird having Daisys parents in the back of the cattle truck along with the whole family!! After all the excitement of the arrival of “Padres de Daisy”, we took a well needed week off.

We went to an amazing eco hotel near here, they lit candles all around the resort at night. It was on a estuary, so to get to the beach you had to row over to the beach and pool, I rowed over…getting daisy wet!!

Went to the copper canyon, took a train through the canyon, lots of cacti, waterfalls, bridges etc….fantastic views!! The best was the view from our hotel, the hotel was on the top of the canyon, looking down….so vast and much bigger than the grand canyon!! However train was very steamy and hot…and we were falling about all over the place!! Finally stayed in beautiful hotel in El Fuete, where Zorro was born (we heard the whip crack at night…zorros ghost…joking)…. Not sure if this is actually true..as dad…you say he was born in California (I think different).

Village is great fun…have had to put up with few problems, Yosari, a very naughty little girl attempted to help with the washing of our clothes( in the outdoor basin, yes we do have to scrub our clothes) and daisys top seems to have miraculously disappeared!!

The kids in the primary school have gone a little mad…and hyper…at the end of every class they demand me to sign my name on their arms…and if I don’t I get chased all the way home (puzzling).

One really naughty boy called Aron has been allowed to come back to class after a severe talking to from his parents. The second class that were really bad now seemed to have turned over a new leaf and are trying to learn(most of the time)!

We went to a chariade in the next door village, all the cowboys are being bucked around by the biggest bulls, its so scary. As soon as they are off, other cowboys jump into the ring to catch the bull, but most of the time the steaming, stamping bull charges at them and they have to jump up the railings…adrenaline rush I think!!

A common event has been the regular slaughtering of cows outside our house. One morning I woke up, ventured to the toilet (which is outside) only to walk into a butchers shop, meat hanging everywhere, the chainsaw slicing through bones, people queuing up for their meat, and Alberto covered in blood and veins chopping up meat. As if that wasn’t enough outside our window, the stomach was sliced open and the contents (grass) tipped out (stinking), and when we left for school the skin was being pinned up to dry and the skull was lying there covered in blood!! Im sure if I wasn’t here and to eat meat was necessary I would be a vegetarian by now!!

A shocking family event has been that the daughter Viviana came back last weekend with a boy, (that no one had met, the parents didn’t even know she had a boyfriend) and announced that she had just got married in Tijuana!! Esther and Alberto are shocked, and Hunberto doesn't like him at all. Its all rather tense around the house….but she seems to be happy!! I forgot to mention, she is my age 19!! Talking of doing this yound here, a girl on the bus the other day asked me if I had a baby, I said that I was too young, and she was shocked that most people in England don’t get married or have kids until late 20s (with some exceptions).

The time has gone so quickly here, only another 4 weeks left, and I think I will be sad to leave….everyone here is so friendly and I really have got lots of favourite kids…who Im going to miss!! After being away with Annabel and Jonathan, I must admit I couldn’t wait to come back and see everyone and have a laugh with all the pupils, perhaps not Yosari, as she is far to cheeky!!

Home soon x x

Gallery: Mexico Ixlan

sophie_991 — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 02:31:00 GMT

Week 1 complete...

sophie_991 — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 03:12:00 GMT

What a week,

Whoever thought that rice pudding for dinner would have been a treat...followed by quesadias and refried beans!! Or that cold macaroni with frankfurters and shredded pork fat could have been delecious!! We are being fed...its all pretty yummy but beans for breakfast lunch and dinner...is um hard!!

And if i hear another couckoldoodaloo or an ehore...i might be forced to....???

It has been a very eventful week, started teaching and the second class is extremely naughty and refuse to learn...we end up just playing hangman to keep them quiet..but it still helps them learn.

Very keen bean carlos in the first class, who loves to shout out the answers..but has terrible pronounciation, we have to fight back the giggles, but he is so interested! he is definitely my favourtie!!We have taught them how to say, i have finished...

We have adopted a posse of 10 little girls that follow us everywhere, play loads of clappin games and colouring in. They are all absoloutely stunning! We cant get rid of them till about 9 at night, when esther our mama sends them home...after feeding them however.

Two boys have taken quite a fancy to us, and wont stop asking us if we want to go horseriding, they now want to take us for coffee (thinking it might be their idea of a second date) we have declined.

I heard tremendous squealing the other day and went to see what it was, and found a pig being slaughtered, blood everywhere and all the senouras washing away the blood and slicing off the head and trotters. If it wasnt essential that I eat meat here, I would be a vegetarian instantly!!

Went to a fiesta yesterday in the nearby village, lots of beer drinking and starring! As we walked back a bull appeared, staring at us and refusing to budge, terrified we clambered into a nearby field to escape being charged at and stamped to smithereens. As we made our way back to the road, we had to clamber over barbed wire, i managed to fall into it, but came out with only a few scratches down my legs! What an adventure.

Went to beach on saturday with the family. Now not a normal day at the beach, woken at 6, "mi ninos, mi sophie mi daisy" jumped into the back of a truck (where cattle normally go) and off we drove in the pitch black for the bumpiest most uncomfortable two hours of my life. Arrived at the beach, corralles, which is stunning. Dead cow hanging off a tree and all the villagers gathering round to get a good slab of meet! mmm. then went to the families friends house, fish for breakfast lunch and dinner. I am so glad we are not staying in a fishing village! No swimming as too cold, but enjoyed watching the locals play dominos and attmepting to speak spanish with bibis friend (thats the daughter, who is our age).

Think thats about all the dramas for the week, hope everyone is well.

oh and p.s. there is a little lizzard that lives in our room, we havent named hime yet.

lots of love x x x

HOLA!!

sophie_991 — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 03:27:00 GMT

Well im in my little village in the middle of nowhere...and oh my gosh is all i can say

arrived...my spanish is still not good but i understand a lot more than I can say. Our room is really quite nice...we have double beds, but there is a cow skin hanging out the back we can see it from our window.

Our family is really really nice...the boy humberto is 15..cheeky and loves football we brought. and the mum is all cuddly...mi ninos...mi ninos..tu casa...the girl is our age and works in the city nearby, she has already asked if we want a mexican novueo (dont think thats how you spell it) but its boyfriend...I have politely declined, no gracias!! I think her cousin has already asked if he can take me on a personal "horse ride", not sure what that means!! everyone is so so friendly though.

all the little kids are surrouding me now...asking questions and smiling...like loads oh my all starring!! te illama...mucho gusto ,mucho gusto...all giggling and hiding behind one another!! its very sweet.

but we are actually going to be huge when we leave..the food is amazing..tortilas..chocolate milk...eggs and bacon..WOW!!

yesterday we went on horses to the other village where two other girls are...we thought we would just go on our own horses...but two boys jumped on the back and rode the horses for us...it was um...interesting!! also went to a fiesta kind of thing..where their were cock fights, the chickens died...and all the mexican men were staring and trying to dance with us.

Today we went to the school for the first day..just introuduced ourselves etc and they were all really shy!! just sending an email and then off to get learning and sort out some lesson plans.

shower-pour water over ur head!!

so so strange..cant beleive im gonna be here for 3 months, surrounded by true tequilla drinking mexican cowboys!!

Gallery: The Incas

sophie_991 — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 09:13:00 GMT

Machu Picchu

sophie_991 — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 08:32:00 GMT

The Inca Trail

We were very nervous to begin with having been told..how hard it is and how unbearable day two is etc etc.. and being very unfit..having being lying on beaches for three months...we were very worried

However...it was not that bad at all...infact amzing and we were both so glad we did it...what an experience..I just wished I could go back in time and see all the incas working on their cities..all bustling around etc...

Well our group was....how should i put it..interesting!! Two smashing girls from lewisham who we chummed up with..an ozzy party dude and few strange, odd balls who decided to be friends for the four day trek and not even say goodbye on the last night..but anyway!!

Our tour guide Ozzy was the best! And we sung the whole way..throughout the whole four days (except when gasping for breath) He was hillarious, having spent time in england he came out with all these funny lines, plays on words and random jordy lingo! He kept a really good pace and was great at handing out many a coco leaf to chew!

Food was amazing, however I did eat something funny..and was very very sick in the airport (spare the details) our cook even managed to russle up a cake half way up the mountain...not knowing it was nicoles birthday!! now thats talent!! Porters were fabulous too, they carried all our bags..camping equip food etc etc...and they ran the whole way! We spent a lot of time shouting..´porter on your left...porter right´..they were all so sweet you just wanted yo wrap them up in cotton wool and take them home.

Lots of walking, we walked 45 k in total..first day was a breeze! We were terrified for the second day, up hill constant for five hours! I wont lie it was hard! but, surprisingly were two of the fittest. And were the front of the group! We completed day two...was hard...but high fives at the top 4200m and we were both extremely proud!

Seeing Macchu Picchu on the final day...was undescribale..the camera..doesnt even show how amazing the view was! And i say...Bloody Incas...bloody steps!! But they were amzing...and what they built was....i have no words

oh and last night out in cusco bumped into all my old mates from london...very very random!!

off to mexico...too my little village in the middle of nowhere

Gallery: Cuzco

sophie_991 — Tue, 3 Apr 2007 09:45:00 GMT

and Bolivia

sophie_991 — Tue, 3 Apr 2007 09:04:00 GMT

Had an amzing time in La Paz apart from the altitude sickness..blue lips!

Was a massive culture shock...but we soon got use to it...and went a bit mad on the alpacca wool hats...jumpers and socks...very cosy though! They may be cool now but I think we will look a little strange on our return! a little too kitted out!

Took a bus trip to Tiwanaku...an old inka ruin, interesting but also a little tedious having to spend 45 mins listening to the guide describe in spanish AND english!! bought some lil figurines...which i also think I will regret on my return!

Had some great meals out...!1.60 for a set menu in a really beautiful restaurant. very cheap and around half a penny for a packet of oreos!

Jumped on a bus to Copacabba, a pretty town by lake Titicaca, and got a boat over to Isla Del Sol, walked around the island...and saw some of the best views I have ever seen. The pictures do no justice...the lake was VAST! huge...however it was freezing and the food appauling..none of the places to eat even had a menu..they kind of made up a food and a price and that was that. Experienced the extreme immaturity of public school boys (wanting to buy a guinea pig..and set it free, as it is traditional dish), only to find out that one of them is going to Newcastle..NO!

Left Copacabba and passed through the border into Peru, which was rather exciting, one foot in Bolivia and one in Peru..WOW! Had to cross the River and they put the bus on a plank of wood to get it across (ever heard of...a bridge).

The bus ride from Puno to Cuzco, was extremely scary..woman getting on and off trying to sell EVERYTHING! I almost threw up when one came on..opened up her bag of goodies!! and pulled out chicken something..hacking away at the neck and bones with what I am sure was a machetty(i know you dont spell it like that)..tearing of wings and legs! and handing it to the Peruvians on the bus with some boiled potatoes thrown in a brown paper bag and some dodgey green gooey balls! the smell...was...odoursome! FOUL!

but we made it and Cuzco is absoloutely beautiful, one of the best cities I have been to so far and the buildings are amazing.

Had many mad nights out here, trying very hard to avoid being hassled by William, our new found friend(pickpocket) trying to sell finger puppets. Met a south african...who lives 5 mins from me in london...small world!

Seen lots of Inka ruins...too many...although they are amazing and the Incas are v.v.clever...its all about astronomy and the sun, stars and the southern cross!

Very nervous for Macchu Pichu...apparantly it is very hard...and has turned out to be very very expensive!

adios...and if i failed to mention that no hot showers and Daisy cut my hair with swiss army knife(another useful one Hugh)and a nit comb! oh and no loo paper in the loos! Oh the luxuries of home!! oh and the cheese as Llama Cheese, which tastes like cheese soaked in paintstripper wine! Cant wait for a home cooked meal, hot bath and my own TOILET.

Love S

Gallery: Chile

sophie_991 — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 07:25:00 GMT

Gallery: Bolivia

sophie_991 — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 07:25:00 GMT

Santiago and Pucon

sophie_991 — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 08:13:00 GMT

Arrived in Chile, Santiago,

Didnt get off to a very good start as Daisy´s bag had taken its own personal around the world trip. Our first Spanish used, was an attempt to get a taxi to our hostel, which surprisingly we managed...

We felt quite safe here as Santiago and Chile is the most affluent country in South America, and there is very little crime. There were good services, public transport and shops, however still expensive for the cheap cheap cheapness we were expecting.

´Personal oppinion' Santiago was a city, much like any other normal city and did not really have much to offer. We ventured up a rather pretty hill, called Santa Cruz, which stuck out like a sore thumb, being rather stunning grassy flowery hill in the middle of a dirty smoggy city.

We decided to leave Santiago ASAP becasue the real beauty of Chile is the north or south of the country...not having much time we decided to go south to Pucon.

After a ten hour overnight coach journey, with very little sleep, we arrived in Pucon. It was beauiful, a sasmll town in the middle of mountains and volcanos. There was no snow apart from on the top of the volcano, and clear blue skies, the town was in a valley surrounded by mountains.

It was an actionpacked few days, mountain biking for 5 hours killed us, we were almost in tears our bums hurt so much. But the waterfall we got to see half way through was so worth it. Climbing tot he top of it...I found a special place with the water cascading down by my feet...had a moment... ha aha

We also went horse trekking, which was not such a good idea after the bike ride and also lasted 5 hours, but stunning scenery, and galloping in the mountains on horseback with cowboy stirrups was not to be missed.

The hot springs, were great for nursing our aches and pains, boling ht waters, that although lovely for 10 minutes, after that i was wishing i was in a bath at home and could just turn the cold tap on...so it was in out..in out!

Im loving the way all the places I visit are so diverse, everywhere is in its own league of beauty...and the best part is there is so much more to see.

In Bolivia at the moment, it is a serious culture shock compared to Chile, read more the find out.

Sophie x x x x x

FIJI

sophie_991 — Sat, 17 Mar 2007 23:33:00 GMT

BULA!! That means hello/cheers/welcome is Fijian.. and you say it to everyone you pass.

Had an amzing ten days in Fiji, I could have stayed there forever, it was like paradise, and all the fijians were so friendly and happy, always smiling and wanting to chat.

Arrived at the Beachouse, after a really crazy taxi ride there, or should I say rollercoaster ride. The dorms were really big, new and bright and we were sharing with some really lovely boys from Harrogate!! The whole resort was just amazing, pool, beach, hammocks, restaurant (and for those of u who watched celebrity love island, it was where the second one has just been filmed). Whilst here we went horse riding up the mountain, with tony, who even took us to his family home and introduced us to his whole family, galloped along the beach (i was a little petrified as never had done before and thought i might land a splattered mess and ruin the beautiful beach, but i didnt).

The best part was visitng the fijian village. An extremely bumpy ride in the back of a 4WD, (if i can call it that, more like a battered truck)took us to the village,We went through rivers and up steep hills (that looked like landslides) and everytime we managed to,with some luck,pass these trecharous obstacles, the driver would hoot and give a thumbs up. It worried us a little, but we made it back, despite getitng stuck in a river and having to remove a few stones to get moving again. ARGH!! My bum was so sore after horseriding and the bouncy truck ride didnt make it any better.

But we finally arrived, they all greeted us, flowers in our hair, and had a Kava cermony. Kava is the local traditional Fijian drink, made from a root plant, dried, crushed and mixed with water. It tastes delicious (like muddy water), and you all clap, shout bula and down your coconut full of kava...so it goes on...until the cup is passed to you again....again and...again!! and you cant say no as it is disrespectful. We ate a wonderful lunch, which looked a little unappealing but was actually delicious. Then the chief showed us round the village, we visited the school, and i have never seen such cheeky children (we all wondered where the teachers were).... laughing jumping about, dancing, pulling faces. Finally we arrived back at the main hall, there were guitars and everyone was singing, to our horror they all pulled us up and made us dance (fiji style) to the music, was embarrassing at first with the whole village watching but it was really fun, and of course the most gorgeous one, picked me to dance with. He smelt and little bad,dont worry im not going to run off with a fijian now, mum and dad.

After a aweosme time at the beach house, making a good group of freinds, with some irish girls, we decided it was time to move on... and see some of the islands. As we were a little strap for cash we decided to just visit one. Bounty Island. Which was small, green vegetation, clear turquoise waters, huts on the beach... you can see why everyone goes there for their honeymoon. We went there with the boys from Harrogate and had an unforgettable time, snorkling was amazing, despite a few jellyfish, and we managed to canoe around the whole island (really built up my biceps). We had drinks on the beach at night, looked at the stars and were sung to by a fijian guitarist, who couldnt sing, but was romantic all the same.

I was very sad to leave fiji, as it really was beautiful and i would definitely go back there...perhaps with a boyfriend..or for my honeymoon... as it is to unspoilt and too beautiful for words.

I am in Chile at the moment, and despite an intial hicup of daisys bag taking its own personal adventure, we have settled in well, practicing spanish and trying to speak spansish...and making signs...and speaking in english. No we really are trying! Cant wait for inca trail. Heading down south to a town called Pucon tonight as there is not much in Santiagao!

Hope everyone is well, miss you all and by the way i am still living "Fiji time", which is just about as chilled out as anyone can get, so dont expect any updates too soon.

LOVE SOPHIE, chow,

Gallery: FIJI

sophie_991 — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 22:02:00 GMT

Gallery: Whitsunday Islands

sophie_991 — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 14:17:00 GMT

Gallery: Ayers rock

sophie_991 — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 14:04:00 GMT

Ayers Rock (Uluru) and Cairns

sophie_991 — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 13:39:00 GMT

After finally arriving in Cairns a week late, we felt we deserved a little good luck! The weather was fantastic and we were staying in luxury hostel, complete with gorgeous pool, with waterfall, huge room with double beds and very clean! As the weather was so lovely and we felt we hadnt seen much of the Great Barrier Reef in the Whitsundays, we decided to postpone our flight to Alice Springs and do a bit of snorkling!

I certianly did not regret this, amazing fishes, bright blue starfish and weird corals! Daisy even saw a small basking shark! Really was spectacular! After an excellent night out in Cairns, where we went to a wacky bar, bumping into some boys who were in our dorm in Airlie Beach, here there was dancing on tables and swinging from the beams!!

I loved Cairns and the weather made up for the rain that had swamped us and soaked us!

We left Cairns eventually, and arrived in Alice Springs, only to be greeted my swarms of flies and 53+ degree heat! A shock! Our hostel was not really up to scratch, a downgrade from Cairns would be an underestimation!! But we were up at 6 the next day for our three day tour of Uluru! Unfortuneately my alarm failed to go off fro the second time and we had 15 mins to pack and check out, RUSH RUSH RUSH!! but we made it!

Our tour guide Brian, was absoloutley insane, he introuduced himself as 'Im not one to go on tours, I only do adventures'. Uh oh We thought, but he highly entertained us, with dressing up as a withered old man, having spagetti races (if he could open 5 packets of spagetti and put them in the pan in uder 15 seconds), which he managed) and greeting us and 4.30 in the morning with shouting squeakly 'MORNEEEEING'!

We saw the sunrise and sunset over Uluru and the changing clours 'faces' of the rock, however when watching we were surrounded by many people on SAGA holdays with champange and parma ham treats, we made do with a previously purchased can of coke and pizza flavoured biscuits! YUM!

We decided not to climb the rock, after Brian telling us that only the highest men in the aborigianl tribe were allowed to climb it and how sacred the rock was to them! WE thought it disrespectful, and did the 3 1/2 hr bush walk instead, where we saw fantastic rock paintings and were attacked by swarms of bloody irritating flies! One dutch guy in our group did climb and deeply regretted it as at the top someone had written in black marker pen his name and the date, he was disgusted and jerome realised how disrespectful many people from the west are.

One of the highlights of the trip was sleeping out under the stars, although a little scared at first of all the bugs, looking up at the milky way and spotting shooting stars was more than a magnificient experience. However, one night i awoke to a scabbling, I turned on my head torch, only to be face to face with two ferral cats (smaller than cats we know, in england) poking about in the bin, well the torch scared them off. But we still heard them meowing nearby! Also the howling of the dingoes at night was worrying, Me and Daisy were very paranoid they were coming closer and closer and the prospect of being eaten by dingoes was definitely present!!

I have been in Melbourne for 4 days now! we found a place to stay, not realising it was in the middle of ChinaTown, and also that it was Chinese new Year! But we had an excellent view of the celebrations, banging firecrackers, drums and violent dragons! we even watched the Karaoke, which was hillarious and we picked up some very catchy tunes, however we wernt to sure of the words!! ha ha

I prefer Sydney a lot more to Melbourne, as although Melbourne is lvoely it seems rather similar to London! but I shouldnt be quick to judge so we will see! We went yesterday to the oldest prison in Melbourne- Where Ned Kelly was hanged, and are off this afternoon to the Melbourne Museum, which 'so the guide book says' is very modern and hitech!

Must be off and expensive internet! Thanks for all the comments! they are great!

Not long left in Australia now, time has flown by, we leave on the 4th of march, fiji for ten days and then fly to south america..a rather daunting prospect!

Much Love,

xxxxxxx

Whitsundays!!

sophie_991 — Fri, 2 Feb 2007 17:53:00 GMT

hello everyone!!

Just got off a boat in the whitsunday islands!! Basically it was supposed to be wicked sailing around all the amzing islands....but unfortuneately the weather has been horrendous!!

We had sheet rain for three days straight and leaks in the boat. I tried to have a sense of humour, but it failed when the boat engine came on at 5.40 in the morning, and by the time I was off the boat I couldnt wait to have a shower and leave Airlie beach (mainland resort)!! Despite the weather the snorkling was amzing, this little yellow fish followed me all around my snorkel, right in front of my mask, we became firm friends!! Saw a sting ray and lots of beautiful corals (funky) and crazy fish!! picutres are pretty good!

However, the weather hasnt subsided and pouring rain, gushing left right and centre! We were supposed to leave tonight on a bus but the resort is cut off from everywhere! nothing in or out!! Everyone is in the same boat, so it was a hectic rush to find accomodation, eventually found a 15 bed dorm!! and no one can do anything becasue its raining cats on dogs so everyone is sitting inside. BORING!! a few laughs have been had though!!

Met a lovely hippy, who has been preaching peace and love, and has told me all about crystals (im quite into them and balancing my aura)JOKING!! and her mad friend, who thinks he is a pirate, and officially let me become a member of the IPA, international pirate association!! funny

so it is all very hectic here!! cant wait to leave...if ever possible!

Love to everyone and keep me posted!! pictures on their way (australia day was wicked fun, massive party on the beach and everyone wearing aussie everything)

PEACE & LOVE (as liz the hippy would say)

xxxx love from a very wet and soggy sad sophie!!

Gallery: AUSTRALIA

sophie_991 — Wed, 17 Jan 2007 18:44:00 GMT

Christmas/New Year/Zoo

Christmas/New Year

sophie_991 — Wed, 17 Jan 2007 18:21:00 GMT

G day guys!! How ya doin? jokes i dont really speak like that!!

Ive been putting all the photos on facebook and stuff and sending u little individual messages to show how much i miss u all but this is just to say all the crazy stuff ive been up to in the last month!!

At the moment my parents friends have gone away for a week and have kindly let us stay in their house...which is so so massive plasmas..6 bedrooms...pool...jacuzzi...massive garden and just immense! but it is a little big for two..we are just chilling around the pool etc.

Yesterday went to the aquarium and saw sting rays the size of a double bed and huge sharks...and i saw NEMO, DORY, BUBBLES (from finding nemo) and MAMBO (from happy feet) which was cool!

I havent written about my new yr and christmas etc for a while as have had a stomach bug..making me not only sick and blurghhh but also very lathargic and not full of my super funny sophie humour to entertain you in my emails..so here goes!!

I arrived in Sydney about a month ago and to be honest the weather hasnt really be superb..only just started to get better! I think I already said how I almost got deported because of the apple my mum had put in my bag! I laughed when they found it in my bag at security...but I tell you they didnt find it one bit funny! so I put on my straight face and apologised a lot..and smiled sweetly etc! I got let off with a warning and my name in the aussie system..oh well better here than in mexico!!

Ive been to Bondi Beach quite a lot which looks amazing, so packed with people, surfers, pumping music...but not much sand and beauty but it looks cool. I stayed with my aunt when i first got to sydney and she has been great sorting me out like a second mum..taking me for blood tests etc. But..on the subject of her house...and every house in oz...there are cockroaches and a lot of them! I tell you now that those of you who knew my fear of bugs I have certainly learnt to overcome the goddam hideous creatures!! A huge one (half the size of my hand) was in mine and daisys room...it kept on scuttling behind the cupboard every time we tried to get the bugger (this was at 12.00 at night) we were jumping, waiting with the light on, flip flops at the ready to kill the beast until 3.00, eventually we gave up and went to bed! It was tricky sleeping with such a tremendous bug in the room...but we managed!!

We have pretty much seen all the sights and it has all pretty much become an everyday viewing..the opera house, the bridge, the zoo, harbour!! the harbour and the view into sydney on the ferry or from a height is absoloutely fantastic and I think it is the opera house which really makes the harbour look so amazing!

So...my parents came out on the 17th of december and we drove up the coast to a place hawks nest. Was beautiful and we practically had the beach to ourselves, the dolphins came right up to the shore, miles of huge sand dunes (almost as if we were in a desert) and for those geog buddies, sand dune succession was very obvious. At the dunes we would have sun downers in the dunes with all the families we were with, like drinks and stuff and watch the sun go down!! pretty!! but then the bugs would come out...nooo!! Me a daiz went canoeing a bit around the bay, splashing around. We went kola hunting in the trees but didnt see any. But we did see a dingo. Dingoes are wild dogs (quite small) that have been known to eat humans, but actually if you follow rules i.e. dont leave food, dont run away and dont feed them! Daisy got really burnt here... see the picture on facebook! which was not funny..she peeled and was in agony for days! but slowly and surely she is starting to bronze a little, although she thinks she looks dirty!! ha ha Bugs here were the worst, see the pics, spiders like mini tarantulas a cicadas the size of my finger! The first night there I was so freaked out by all these giant bugs. First one massive flying buzz thing flew into my hair, then another bug was on the wardrobe in my room!! I was on the verge of tears and off to bed. I went to the loo and checked all 8 corners of the room for bugs..there were no bugs. I sat down on the loo, reached for the toilet roll...and lo and behold..yes there was a SPIDER...i screamed and ran out...bursting into floods of tears!! but as i said im adjusting to the weird and wonderful creatures of this country and preparing for even worse in south america!!

For christmas day...we were near byron bay in a really amazing posh lodge (those of u who did geography, we learnt about one for a case study on eco tourism... so mrs adams would be impressd) The highlight of the stay was not only the 8 starters if seafood on christmas day but also me and daiz have a possum right on our balcony..see photos and seeing a wallaby! ( well it was christmas). My mum filled my stocking with a few travel essentials, trek bar, tangerine, travel bag, energy shake..and aa silk dressing gown(that was the best)!! well u know my mum... ha ha ha. Daisy had loads all wrapped up..eyeliner, suncream...knickers..soaps, cathkidson stuff, clarins creams!! so i just wished my self a happy christmas and muched on my oh so wholesome trek bar!

The best part of the holiday was Fraser Island...another Mrs Adams favourite!! Ecofriendly tourism casestudy..superb!! Its one of the few completely sand islands..with a vast variety of ecosystems and microclimates. Lakes that are stunning, the sand has so much nutrients in that it is kind of squidgy, you can use it for exfoliating, and I tell you it does wonders for all that dull jewellry..sparkles and shimmers rather nicely! Despite having rubbish weather, we went on a fourwheel drive tour, which was so bumpy we were flying all over the place and our heads nearly smashed the ceiling! While in the 4W drive we stopped off, the two rangers were talking about the one and only koala on the island! A german goes 'iz ee not a beet lonlee?', everyone was wondering why only one koala was on the island (how bizzare), anyway so we got back in the 4W drive. The ranger says, 'see if use guys can spot the little fella', so everyone is looking up in the branches, my parents with their beady eyes (so so desperate to see one, they went on numerous hunts). All of a sudden the ranger goes there he is, there...my parents jumped up cameras waving hoping to get a good snap of the animal...there was a cuddly toy koala in the tree with a backpack on. It was the funniest thing ever!! Me and Daisy also went in a tiny plane around the Island..which was amazing, so much to see, so many different forests, colours, sand, lakes,water, it was such a view!! The best part was I got to sit at the very front, with a steering wheel in front of me...next to the pilot! who was so hot...scott...in his pilots uniform!! wow!! Its a shame but you cant swim in the water here, dangerous sharks, jelly fish, stingrays and rip currents! but the swimming pools were gorgeous..so it didnt really matter!

We were back in Sydney for new year...and saw charlotte in the land downunder which was lovely and very sereal!! New year, we had a really good spot near the bridge so we could see the oprea house, which is stunning at night, the crowds were huge, the area we were in was mad and crazy because it was the only area allowed alcohol! Lots and Lots of people! although we felt and little lonely not being with our friends for new year..we met some kiwi guys and some german girls and managed to have a good night! Fireworks are a must see. they were going off from all directions, the bridge, the opera house and the buildings behind us, you didnt know where to look.

Since then we have been staying in a hostel, mixed dorm, but lucky for us we didnt have any smelly, ugly, geeky german boys, but two funky sweedish girls (who came in every night at 6) and couples. the hostel was nice and very central. I went to the zoo..which we loved..so many cute things..lions, ducks, monkeys, giraffes arrr so cool!! and think i already mentioned the largest aquarium in the world!

We have been out for a few clubs and bars, some with my cousin and her bonkers mad friend annie (she wears a thong on the beach, and swears like a trooper, but she is great). Clubs here are great, really good music. Australians dance a little weird though...they like to shake their shoulders alot!! ha ha. Went somewhere called havana last weekend..with crazy dance music and loads of gd looking guys...but all pretty boys in their low cut t shits, earings, shoes and funky belts and girls in tiny dresses!! but music was good and this band from the uk played....which was wicked!!

but for now just chilling around the pool catching some rays enjoying the space before we a crammed back into a dingy hostel!

We are planning over the next month and a bit...to go to ayers rock for a few days, up to the whitsundays to do a bit of sailing/diving and then down to melbourne (apparantly very cosmopolitan and mad partying)..so thats the plan...although maybe a bit ambitious on our budget!!

Gallery: SAN FRANCISCO

sophie_991 — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 16:34:00 GMT

SAN FRAN

sophie_991 — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 16:30:00 GMT

San Francisco

An eventful three days in San Fran begun with us wondering if we were in America or not, with Japenese/Chinese and Koreans everywhere from the moment we stepped off the plane, from checking passports to actually sharing a dorm with two girls from South Korea. However it did mean that we ate a very scrumptious meal in China Town…so good that we had to walk home with our trousers unbuttoned and passed out fully clothed at 9pm. Actually we passed out the night before (due to jet lag) and woke up at 10 for a midnight Oreo milkshake and monterry jack melt at Louis 24 hr diner..which we couldn’t even begin to finish the portions were so huge. We confess, we returned the next morning for a short stack of blueberry pancakes..yummy!! (lets contest to the other meals we could not finish)

NB: Pak and Jack, frequently popped up on every trip from Heathrow all the way to Australia. We never spoke but got hysterics every time we saw them.

Despite being extremely jet lagged we managed to spend a long day, walking almost everywhere in the city and even up the Coit tower where we saw some wonderful views over the Pacific Ocean and the whole of San Fran!! (P and J were here) Infact we pretty much ticked off the majority of the tourist checklist with a little help from ‘BoNITA’ and Kent our newly found gansta friends, who even offered to cook us dinner ‘chicken and rice’ and to take us to a PaRRTAY to REGGAE!! (We gratefully declined). When approaching the pier where our ferry to Alcatraz departed from we were greeted by a ‘Riot’, ‘Protest’, chanting and shouting ‘BOYCOT HORNBLOWER’, Typical Yanks. But we went anyway. ALCATRAZ is a prison on an Island where some of the most famous gangsters spent most of their time, Al Capone ‘Scarface’ and the ‘Birdman’ (P & J were here). We visted Golden Gate on a bus- a long bridge..need I say more, also passing Laguna and driving down the hill where princess diaries was filmed.

Daisy bought a camera so soon you can see the rest of our snaps. It was a bit of an ordeal though, especially when the Turkish selling it pretended he was Abramovich’s cousin and Tarkans brother!! (Touch wood it wasn’t a dodgy deal)

We loved San Francisco however Daisy’s phobia of ‘drugged up tramps’ was tested a little and was constantly grabbing my arm and watching her back (excellent travelers technique)….no thats not fair I was being aware of the potential hazards…sensible I thought!

That’s about all apart from the shops were amazing, (Bloomingdales/Macys/Juicy) but we were good and didn’t buy anything (apart from a few things from Victorias Secret)

p.s. dad- thanks for the wheels for my bag- Daisy went blue when she had to pick hers up and fell over backwards on the tube.