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Trip Start Feb 09, 2008 Trip End Apr 03, 2008 Next
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  Cairns, Australia
Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Hello all,


I know that it has been a long time before I made this posting but we are too busy enjoying ourselves. The postings will be a collection of jottings that I made when I could find some time - it is presented as a loose diary. I hope that you will find some of it interesting.......


Monday 11 February 2008 - 18:48
Location: Miramar Hotel, Singaore


All travel arrangements were faultless - got the hotel at about 19:30 yesterday. Decided not to venture out but to have a meal and drink in the hotel bar. Just sat down in time for the start of the Manchester United / City match. Beer 2 for the price of 1! Met two couples from London - they are going to hire a couple of Rvs and tour NZ for a couple of months. Then introduced to a couple of chaps who are going to follow the England cricket team round NZ (tickets given to them by Chris Tremlett!) - turns out that one of the chaps lives a few roads from us in Chandlers Ford!!!


Visited Orchard Road this morning and sussed out the shops - this afternoon did the City Tour - was excellent. Will need to go back to the Raffles Quay area and to the Botanic Gardens - amazing orchids.


Monday 11 February 2008 - 22:38
Location: Miramar Hotel


Went out for a walk - went to Robertson Quay, Clarke Quay and Riverside Point. Fantastic array of restaurants on both sides of the river - reached them literally 5 minutes from the hotel. Let ourselves down this time - ate the most fabulous fish and chips at a Belgian Restaurant washed down with Stella Artois.


Tuesday 12 February 2008 - 23:08
Location: Miramar Hotel, Singapore


Walked along Singapore River - twice today! The lunchtime business lunches created a very different atmosphere to the night time. Went to the Riverside point shops - 4 levels od boutiques and local eating houses. Also visited the Merlion Park and the Thetres on the Bay before joining the locals at their New Year Celbrationsa at a nearby park. 20080212200802122Had a superb Thai meal tonight in 'Boat Quay' area where the old part of Singapore has the most vibrant restaurants of every type.


Wednesday 13 February 2008 - 23:24
Location: Miramar Hotel


Used the Hopper Bus today - went to the Botanic Gardens in the morning. Wonderful grounds full of exotic plants and trees - mostly from Asia. Took about 2 hours to see about half of the gardens..... Then went to Orchard Road (shopping centre) - found myself in an electronics shop - bought a new mobile phone (Price started at 1,100 Sing Dollars - Got it for 270 Sing Dollars (About £90 - and get the tax back!). Met up with Patrick and Nickie tonight (they had just landed from Sydney) - they are Brits who had been to Perth and Sydney (they had done the Sydney Bridge Walk the day before). Walked along the River Singapore and had a meal together.


Thursday 14 February 2008 - 17:28
Location: Miramar Hotel


Did the shops and markets today - all in China Town. Fantastic atmosphere particularly because of Chinese New Year around the markets. The market surrounds the Sri Mariamman Temple - roads closed and shops expand into the road - mixture of tailors, electronic shops and chinese clothing shops. Also went to the Handicraft Centre - not very inspiring except that the shops front a corkscrew effect passageway - therefore you could go to all 4 'floors' without having to take the stairs - you simply keep walking up the slope that circles a large central open space. Also visited the People's Park Complex which was the first shopping mall opened in Singapore in the early 1970's - this tended to be frequented by locals - the utensils used were almost exclusively chopsticks. Even when it opened it had air conditioning - this is essential for days like today which was hot and humid.


Thursday 14 February 2008 - 22:43
Location: Miramar Hotel


Had such a good time we returned to the market at Sri Mariamman Temple to see it in the evening - the New Year lights were great but the market had quietened down - no further purchases were made. We then made our way to our favourite restaurant - the Southbank Authentic Thai Restaurant (35 Boat Quay). Had the Chicken in Black Pepper and Rice with Samosas, and a Jug of Tiger Draft - and sat next to the river - great view, great food, great drink! Walked back to the hotel via the river and stopped at the 'kite flying' site - the 'kites' are incredibly sophisticated - made of several layers, stand about 1.5 metres tall by 1 metre, has a propeller at the back and powered by a battery that drives a portable DVD player. The guy there was the originator of this craze - there were 4 other 'kites' but non as versatile as the original. Spoke briefly to the guy - took some 6 months to perfect and requires at least an hour a day practice to be able to fly it so skillfully - loops, dives, swoops - even prepared to fly it over the river - must have great confidence that the battery was not about to give out....


Sunday 17 February 2008 - 15:37
Location: Mercure Welcome Hotel, Melbourne


This log is for three days!


Friday 15 February found us getting ready for the evening flight from Singapore to Melbourne. We spent the afternoon visiting Shopping Malls and walking along our favourite walk by the river. The flight was in the evening - all the arrangements for picking us up from the hotel and the air flights were perfect.


Saturday 16 February. The flight was on time and the transfer was perfect. We arrived at the hotel at 08:30 - we were tired and got little sleep on the overnight flight. The receptionist was most helpful and was mindful to orgnise a room for us as quickly as possible. We dropped of our bags and went for a walk through China Town - we thought that Melbourne looked aweful and drab (this we found out was completely wrong but put it dwn to very low grey clouds, sleepless night and the fact that 08:30 is early in Melbourne). By the time that we had checked in (the Receptionist had taken my mobile number and rand to say that our room was ready ay 11.00 - very helpful! - we were in the middle of a free round Melbourne Bus rip at the time) - we checked in and dropped our bags and then went out for lunch. We shared a Pizza just down Swanston Street - it was sooo tasty! Yum! Afterwards we took the free Tram that goes round Melbourne, but halfway round we both nearly dropped off to sleep so we got off and went to the hotel for an afternoon nap! Ah! We woke up at six in the evening suitably refreshed and went to explore the restaurants - there are some lovely ones - especially on the South Bank. Had a beer in an Irish Bar and ate on a cafe on the waterfront.


Sunday 17 February - had a fantastic night's sleep - felt really alive today. Had a really great walk round Carlton Gardens and Fitzroy Gardens were there is Cooke's Cottage (shipped from England) and the Conservatory where there is a collection of the most beautiful plants. Took the Bus to Queen Victoria Market (the biggest market that I have ever seen) and spent a couple of hours looking around - it was just starting to close down as we left. Then took the bus to South Bank just in time for the Arts Market - there was some lovely things there.


Monday 18 February 2008 - 15:12
Location: Mercure Welcome Hotel, Melbourne


Sunday 17 February - evening - went to a superb Chinese restaurant in China Town. Fortunately chose to share a beef black pepper dish and a small special rice - the portions were huge - we just managed to finish it. Also had a bottle of Chardennay at a good price (rare in Australia) at 16AUS$ (less than £8).


Monday 18 February - weather up to 34 degrees Celsius again - perfectly blue sky. Bit of a lie in but then enjoyed a walk to the Melbourne Maritime Museum to see the Tall Ship - Molly Woodside. Then walked the South Bank before a trip on the Tourist Bus and City Circle Tram to circuit the city. Finally a trip round the many shops to search for shoes - ended up getting a handbag..... Now getting ready for a 5 course silver service dinner on a moving tram! apparently the suspension has been enhanced to ensure that the wine does not spill. We shall see.......


Tuesday 19 February 2008 - 12:31
Location: Mercure Welcome Hotel, Melbourne


Monday 18 February - evening - had one of the best meals ever - on a tram - moving around the streets of Melbourne - even went to the beach area (but in the dark). Started at 8:30 in the evening and finished at 11:30! 5 course meal (I had Kangaroo for the first time - a sort of cross between beef and veal) - the food was first class. The chef was Italian descent and sang along with some of the tunes that were playing. The inside of the tram was opulant - almost like a mini version of the Orient Express. The drink flowed...... started with Champagne (several glasses), then an excellent Red (Cabernet Sauvignon) (several glasses) and finished up with a Port (for Lionel) and a Baileys (for Sue) - this caused a heavy head in the morning......


Tuesday 19 February - had to get up at 06:45!!! - just had some cereal and fruit for breakfast. Went on a tour of Melbourne - the most interesting part for me (Lionel) was passing a part of the Formula 1 Grand Prix circuit - they were already preparing it for the race to be held on 16 - 19 March. Some of the Grandstands were already built. The Botanic Gardens were huge therefore remarkably tranquil. Also visited the Shrine of Remembrance - special annual ceremony was taking place to mark the invasion of Darwin in 2nd world war. The afternoon trip to the Penguin Parade is to start in 30 minutes.....


Thursday 21 February 2008 - 07:56
Location: Melbourne Airport


It's just go, go, go. So little time - had to write this up waiting for plane at the airport - once arrive at Alice Springs will be going on a half day tour....


Tuesday 19 February - afternoon. Had a great trip to the Penguin Parade - stopped at a couple of interesting places on the way. Firstly at Warrook Cattle Farm where Sue fed a kangaroo - he was amazingly docile (not surprising as it was very hot - well above 30 degrees celcius). Then the Koala Conservation centre where we got up close to a couple of Koalas - they sleep for some 14 hours a day - the two that we saw were sleeping.... The main event was watching the penguins - happens at sun down - they group together at the sea edge and form 'rafts' and then waddle up the beach - the seagulls (boo) sometimes swoop at them and they run back into the sea. Watched this for about 30 minutes and then went on the Board Walks we were were within touching distance of them - they formed a procession up to their burrows. It is amazing that this is absolutely a natural thing that happens daily and the pattern of their path is very similar.


Wednesday 20 February - 12 hour tour to and up the Great Ocean Road - actually constructed in the 1940s as a tourist trail. Saw some superb views - lovely coves, beaches and forests. Actually rained this morning and was cold (about 20 degrees celsius) - by lunchtime the sun was shining but the wind was cold - did not get any higher than 20 degrees.


Thursday 21 February 2008 - 19:00
Location: Aurora Hotel, Alice Springs


Started the day at 05:30 to get the air transfer coach for a 08:45 flight - could not work out how it was to land in Alice Springs at 10:00 - learnt that Alice Springs in a strange time zone GMT +9.5 hours. Flight near perfect (only landed 5 minutes late) and getting through the airport and transfer to hotel could not be easier. Hotel is great and had plenty of time to settle in and even get a swim before the afternoon trip.


The afternoon trip was fairly local - education on the air (teaching over two way radio - now using the internet), the Telegraph Station (the reason why Alice Springs was established - gave a great view of natural Alice Springs environment) (By the way the guide reckoned that it was 46 degrees celsius at this time - even too hot for me [Lionel]). Visited what I thought was going to be a disappointing part of the tour but turned out to be the best - the Alice Springs Reptile Centre. Introduced to various large lizards and snakes (a lizard is a snake with ears!) - but the fum bit is that we could hold them. Then came the snake - I held one of those too and even Sue held its tail for a photo. Finished up on the Anzac Hill with a great view of Alice Springs.


Now to get something to eat.


Saturday 23 February 2008 - 11:33
Location: Desert Gardens Hotel, Ayers Rock


Friday 22 February - Started the day at 06:00 - not even enough time for Sue to open her Birthday Cards (any case it was not her birthday in UK yet). Today was a coach trip from Alice Springs to Ayers Rock and a trip to the other 'rock' - Kata Tjuta for a walk, see the sunset and have a barbeque...... Coach tour was good - saw a Dingo - a sort of alsation wolf and an Emu (Parkinson was nowhere in sight!). Got to Ayers Rock at 13.15 but room was not ready until 15:00 - the start of the next tour - so Sue still could not open her cards. The tour was good - incredibly hot - about 40 degress plus even at 16:00 on the day. But the wind was getting up - gloom for the barbeque and the following day.... The sunset at Kata Tjuta was good, but the wind was too strong for the usual barbeque so went to one that was on the resort. This was great - met up with people from France, Germany and Spain - seems hardly any British on this tour. The 'sparkling wine' (which proved to be Champagne) did flow freely...... Got back at 22:00 to finally check in - great room and Sue finally opened her birthday cards.


Saturday 23 February - started today at 04:30 for the sunrise over Uluru - slight headache - can't think why..... Only 1% experience the sunrise in the rain - and we were nearly in that catagory. Although the rain had mostly cleared before sun up the cloud hadn't so the sunrise was not spectacular. A tour into the Uluru was fascinating and we did momentarily go onto the Rock. But the temputature is cool probably something like 22 degrees celsius - actually had to wear a sweater today - so different to yesterday.....


Now enjoying a bit of R&R before the sunset over Uluru tonight - not holding out much hope.


Regards,


Lionel and Sue.

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