Back to work lad.. and update

Well what I have been up to... contrary to popular belief I’m still alive and still in Oz.
It’s been a long time since I put a post on here and as you can guess I’ve done a fair bit between Yunnan and getting back to Australia.

I went back to yangshuo to meet up some friends from the time spent there earlier in the year and was happy to find them all in good health and enjoying life as much as when I left. A few have moved on like myself to other things but many of the faces I knew from my previous visit were still around and it was great to bump into Bon, Kev, and Donna who I knew from Hong Kong and whom were in town for a week climbing.

I helped out a bit at china climb and it was good to meet some of the new staff and catch up with friends. A few beers were had some climbing was done and Sonia joined me for a few days and we were able to get out to do a few routes together. Dan and Tyson were still around as were many of my other friends and I really enjoyed meeting up with everyone, I feel this is a place that will keep calling me back, it hold lots of great times and memories for me, and many more yet to come I hope.

Back in Guangzhou I spent a fair bit of time wandering around the city and trying not to get lost which is fairly hard. I think this is the most disorientating city I have been to as many streets look alike and have lots of flyovers and roads all over the place so you can’t see so many of the landmarks for orientating yourself.

Sonia and I stopped in a really nice apartment which she had found and there was even a pool in the building so we spent a few evenings swimming, we went out for dinner a few times with some of her friends and spent Halloween in a Reggie bar called Cunion. This had a really cool band playing and has good music most nights.

We did intend to go and see a free concert but it was rained off and the only thing we achieved was getting soaked in torrential rain & thunder storm that lasted almost an hour. However we did go to the circus which was great fun and worth the 150yuan even if just for the black bear riding a Harley style bike around.

As this was China and Guangzhou is known for its variety of cuisine, (Sonia tells me the only thing that fly's that they don’t eat is a plane and the only thing with four legs they don’t eat is a chair) we spent a good few nights eating out but most of the time cooked in the apartment, lots of hotpot was had and I miss the Chinese food now I’m in Australia. Despite a large Asian and Chinese minority in Melbourne the food just isn’t the same although it’s still good.

I have been back in Melbourne just over two weeks now and have (after sending many e-mails) found a job. It’s not as good or as well paid as I had hoped but this is because of the restrictions on my visa the market downturn at the current time and also because I can only do temporary contracts. However its work and it pays money so I can’t complain.

I’ve got an old bike for $140 that gets me around the place fairly well, although I did get told off by the coppers for not wearing a lid one day, almost told them to stop being so bloody stupid and do something useful for a change, fortunately I remembered that I’m not in China anymore . They have funny laws over here like wearing seatbelts in cars, lids on bikes, only cross the road at crossings and all that stupidness. Phew how can anyone have any fun with all these laws flying about? Next they will ban all walking as you could trip over...

I’ve found some accommodation at last, about 4km outside the city centre (CBD) in a really nice old house sharing with three others. It’s not bad for $800 per month including all bills, its fully furnished etc and is bang next to a train station which can have me within 500m of work within 10 minutes so that a bonus. It’s also not very far from a bouldering gym so I can try and get strong again and rid myself of the bit of a belly that I have from all this good food I’ve been having over the past couple of months.

I’ve spent the past couple of weeks or so sleeping on Maria’s sofa which is comfy but the situation isn’t really ideal even more so now I’ve found work. she’s been really good putting up with me for so long as my only contributions have been towards food, cooking and tidying up the place so I think she will be pleased I’ve sorted out some place, and will be moving Wednesday.
I just hope I can find more work after this contract finishes, and I can save some cash before heading back to the UK for the summer months. I figure after the winter I had last year I deserve a couple of summers in a row. Melbourne appears to be a nice place to spend the time. It has lots of really good markets with local produce and you can’t do better than the sales on Sunday when they clear all the food extra cheap as they don’t open Mondays, last week we got 2kg of sausages for $10, winner.

I guess I will start slowly slipping into a different lifestyle now I’m working but I will try to save as much money as I can.
Firstly as I don’t know how much work I will get in OZ.
Secondly as I don’t know what I’m going to do after returning to the UK and need to build a cushion whilst I figure it all out.
Thirdly I’m starting to think it may just be a temporary return as I have many things pulling me in different directions, there’s still so much I want to see around the world and so many places to go. With luck I’ve found someone who I can go and see them all with... this may just be the start of the adventures.

Now I just need the money to make it happen so if you happen to know the lotto numbers for this upcoming weekly draw do be so kind as to tell me. More posts will arrive as i will undoubtedly feel the need to let you know how sunny it is here whilst you sit in the gloom of a British winter but you have proper ale... however i recall seth saying he found Abbott or somthing of the like over here... lad, please tell me where.

Back in China

yep back again. I just can't stop away from the place. After a fine time in Oz and a few days RnR in Melbourne and crashing on Maria's couch, a few beers and some absinthe, it was time to head back to china.
After all i had a girlfriend i hadn't seen in almost four months, a handful of good friends to meet back up with and the promise of a trip to Yunnan and the Snow mountain.

Unfortunately the trip to Yunnan was crammed into a small space of time and we spent most of that on the road getting to and from our destination but it supplied a huge amount of quality vistas for us to feast our eyes upon and a yearning to go back for more. I have just added a number of photos to the flickr site.

We set out from Guangzhou by train to Kunming, unfortunately this wasn't booked far enough in advance so we had no seat or bed or anything reserved, except for the joys of overcrowded Chinese railways on national holidays... I could see this would be a fun journey, although we did manage to find just about enough room to stand for several hours until we finally made it into the dinning car once it opened.
We decided to eat slow and keep our seats. we payed a little extra and spent until near dawn sat drinking beer and dozing in the dinning car until a few free sleeper spots became available and we got some much needed sleep before our afternoon arrival.

From Kunming a couple of buses, fairly uncomfortable buses, took us to Dali when were spent the night in a wonderful hostel and awakened to see the sun rising above the mountains which cast exquisite shadows and reflections in the lake.
We spent the day driving around until our departure via bus and then mad speedy taxi van to take us to Zhongdian. with a brief stop in Lijiang to refresh.
We spent the next two days walking to and from Meili snow mountain Yunnan, i just wish we had time to spend a month here. but everyone else needed to get back to work so with great sorrow we made our way back and this time made sure we had a more comfortable journey and adequate space to relax in... well besides a mad taxi driver determined to break all land speed records and almost coming undone on one or two of the many corners which would result in a new air speed record for such a vehicle as a several hundred feet drop to a muddy river would await the unfortunate... however the driver would most likely remain unaware of this as he was too busy talking on his phone to pay attention to such trivial things as death. perhaps the next life would be better to him. Personally i like mine as it is thanks.
We also had time to take in the pleasure of the largest buddhist monastery outside of tibet (Songzanlin) .. a most pleasent way to while away a couple of hours.

I'm now sat back in Guangzhou sorting out my money so i can book a flight back to Oz and head off to see some friends in Yangshuo where this out of shape mess i call my body can enjoy some climbing for the first time in several weeks, hopefully it should help get me back into some form of fitness.

Time to be leaving.

Well after Sydney we headed to the Blue mountains. we went west via Penrith then north to Richmond and along the Botanists way, stopping to partake in some home made apple pie.

After this refreshment we continued on to Bell and then south to mount Victoria and then arriving at Katoomba late afternoon where we sorted out accommodation and I got a few nice photos of the three sisters which i will put up later.

whilst at Katoomba we went to the Scenic park, which has a cable car, Sky car, and funicular railway which is at about 52%, so steep.

A great morning was spent on these which provide access and views of the rain forest below the sandstone walls and the Katoomba falls.

The blue mountains getting their name from the blue hue which comes from the eucalyptus trees.

From the Blue mountains we headed for the great western highway back down to Penrith then to Wollongong.

The the sunny day that heated the car to extremes as we trundled down the highway past pebbly beach which was well worth the 8km detour along an unmade rd through the bush to view the parrots and wallabies playing in the evening light on the grassy fringes of the beach as the temperates dropped to a more bearable level and we made for the picturesque town of Batemens Bay.

I even went for a run around the bay which was nice as it rained a little that evening.

From Batemens we headed via Tilba Tilba, a nice historic town which is almost unchanged for over 100years. We stopped at Lake entrance that night and the following day went past 90 mile beach, then along the Gippslands highway to the Mornington peninsular. and up via St Kilda into Melbourne city.

last night we indulged in a wonderful gastronomic delight on Lygon st, with Melbourne's latest resident and old friend Maria.

Today mum flys home and this time next week i will be in China again, for more adventures although not in an automatic. I need a while off driving after the past 6 weeks and 8000km.

Latest news from Down Under.

Well after the Great Ocean rd we spent a few days in and around Adelaide. we hired yet another car for two days, this was a little Toyota Yaris,

We went to Mt Lofty and Hahndorf which is a major tourist attraction in the Adelaide Hills est in 1839 and as you can guess by Germans.

We stopped on final night at Mt barker and the following day on the 7th flew to Brisbane.

After two days sampling the delights of this wonderful city we headed down the car in the latest hire car. unfortunately i ended up with an Automatic Toyota corolla. as all the smaller cars with a clutch and proper gears were out. So once again i find myself having to put up with this annoying car without a clutch.

We headed down the coast past surfers paradise, which was once nice but is now a bit tainted by high rise and commercialism. past Burleigh heads, and stopped at Byron Bay, and on departing the following day we visited the lighthouse and most easterly point in Oz, Cape Byron, so I'm told.

We then travelled thorough several national parks, one of which named Guy Fawkes, and visited Ebor falls, then made for Kempsey where we stopped on the night of the 10th.

The 11th was spent driving the remaining 400 or so km to Sydney via the Pacific Highway and Port Macquarie where it would have been nice to linger a bit loner however we needed to get to Sydney where we were splashing out and stopping at the Waldorf, its only $120 or so per night.

We visited the Opera house and Botanical gardens today and then got the ferry over to Manly which was really nice and we had a late lunch of fish and chips. unfortunately the beer wasn't up to much to wash it all down with but the food was great and the views stunning as we came back into the harbour at sunset, getting great views of the bridge and opera house.

Tomorrow we intend to head to the Blue mountains , and then its back to Melbourne.

Back in Oz, The great Ocean road

Well after over 4000km in an automatic in New Zealand i decided to jump back in yet another car....
Thank god it was a manual, otherwise this time i would have driven it into the Ocean. being so close.
After a few days in Melbourne which we saw lots of rain but also some of the great parks and buildings of this historic city, including James Cooks cottage, we decided it would be nice to travel the Great Ocean Road which traverses the south of Victoria into the Southern Territories, taking in some breathtaking views and seascapes.
We headed out of Melbourne on the 1st and went south west before a small detour to Queenscliff and Pt Lonsdale, we then took up the great Ocean road proper at Torquay and sped along the coast through Anglesea, Airleys inlet, Lorn and onto Appol Bay on the edge of cape Otway National Park, where we stopped for the first night.
The next day was spent going through the national park and up the coast to where the clouds broke long enough for us to see the twelve Apostles. well only seven of them actually, the other were hidden from view.
We continued along dodging rain past two mile bay, the Arch, and London Bridge although these you need to rely on the imagination to see even when the clouds lift as they have log since fallen into the sea, which is eroding the coast at an alarm rate.
We made it to Warrnambool hopeful that we may spot some of the Southern right whales which are visible at this time of the year around the cost but unfortunately we were not to be that lucky.
after a stop of at Port Fairy we headed north and inland to the Grampians National Park, which pleased me somewhat , although unfortunately climbing would be of the cards on this whistle stop visit i could at least check out the area for a return visit.

We stopped at a wonderful place in Halls Gap. Brambuk Backpackers. and the owners were only to happy to inform me of the area and climbing and hikes, they also came up with a few things for mum to do whilst i did a small walk up to the pinnacle viewing point over the valley in which we were stopping and back in time for a cup of tea and to drive via Mt Gambia, which is a town situated on an old Volcano and even has some magnificent gardens in a sink hole,

and then onwards to Kingston, a very quiet town but home to the largest lobster I'm likely to see.
Today we drove from Kingston to Adelaide which on appearances seems a most pleasant town where we can spend a few days before flying to Brisbane on Sunday the 7th, and most likely some more driving. but providing its not an Automatic i don't really mind.
I will get the photos onto flickr when i get a chance, I have photos of New Zealand on their already.

north Island and back to Christchurch.

well after the south island we headed from Picton to the north Island. on the 20th of august.
The 3.5hr ferry trip across from Picton was nice and calm and we even got a few nice views of the surrounding bays.
After arriving in Wellington we wasted no time and drove north to lake Taupo, going past mount Tongariro ( Peter Jackson's version of Mordor from J RR Tolkien ) although it was sat in clouds when we past so we didn't see much of it. After a day on the road we decided to have takeaway for dinner so we went to the Chinese although it's not exactly what i have become accustom to.

The following day we went past the rest of lake Taupo and visited Huka falls on the way up to Wai-o-Tapu park which consists of a number of thermal springs and bubbling pools spewing forth among other things H2S which gives it that distinctive rotten egg smell.
We went on to Rotorua (sulpher city) and then on to Tauranga where we stopped that night.

From Tauranga on the 22nd we went to Auckland which neither of us thought that much of although it has a wonderful museum with lots of info on the Maori history in New Zealand. A trip around the Victoria Market is also worth while and a few gifts were picked up before negotiating the disastrously feeble road network to retreat south.
The road system appears to be designed and carried out in good British form being over budget and time and seems nowhere near completion. (well done)

From Auckland we headed south and drove down the picturesque west coast to New Plymouth where we arrived and found that the rain which had followed us all day had caught up and decide to continue until the following day, The hostel was however really nice and the fish and chips for dinner from across the road went down a treat.
The next day it was still no better and Mt Taranaki / Egmont had to be experienced from the pleasures of the free museum which gives a full 360 view of this mythological mountain of Maori legends which created and raised the land around it into the New Plymouth area.

We set off fully informed from the museum at new Plymouth and headed to a little town just north of wellington by the name of Plimmerton. The hostel had great sea views being all of 20ft away from the beach on the other side of the road, and was a great springboard to launch into Wellington and onto the ferry to Picton the following day.

We were back once again at the Sequoia lodge in Picton, The one with the free chocolate pudding and again as before the weather was crap. in fact so much so that the road to the south was washed away, as was some poor souls cows. well not all of them but a good few went for a swim from which they would never return. So needless to say the road was out and plans of getting to Christchurch and stopping long enough to do the whale watching were looking decidedly dubious. That's what over two months rain in two days can do to things. However all was not lost and a second night and a second helping of chocolate pud was had as we awaited news of the road opening, and had to dry the car out from the flooded car park where it went for a small paddle the night before. ( I said i was going to put it in the ocean but the rain got to it first)

All was not lost, we made it to Kaikoura later on the 27th and were rewarded with a great sunny day which allowed us to see a few seals drying themselves from the soaking they would have had the past two days.
The sea was an ugly brown from all the rain run off and floating debris and we found a nice hostel to stop at until we could go whale watching the following day.

The morning of the 28th came and we were greeted by great views out to the south Alps and rolling surf of the west coast, we spent about 3 hrs on the water and spotted two sperm whales which made the day well worth while. That afternoon we headed back to Christchurch via a nice little town known as Sheffield sat in a very pleasant spot about 56km west of Christchurch in a spectacular place with great vistas. After the small detour we arrived and then prepared to fly out on the following day.

There was just enough time on the 29th to drive up and around the port hills south of Christchurch for some magnificent views of the city when the low clouds permitted, before we handed the car back and awaited the flight to Melbourne, which i can report landed safely with all on board and no bags were lost en route. Hurrah.

Now we just have to sort out what were going to do in Oz for the next three weeks.

South Island with Mum

Mum arrived at Christchurch on the 11th about 11:30 pm so nothing was done apart from heading to a hostel to sleep.
The following day on the 12th it dawned grey and raining so we just spent the day going around firstly the cathedral, it was only a short distance from where we were stopping and built using local stone and timber it took some 50 odd years to complete ( due to lack of funds) from when the few settlers established the town back in 1850's to about 1906ish, and then after a cup of coffee we got on the old Tram, after a bit of a high step to get on, and set of at the wonderful speed of about 20kph around an inner city loop. We got of to have a look around some craft shops and then took the tram back to the quaint little regent street and walked back just avoiding the latest downpour.
On the 13th we left Christchurch and headed down the banks peninsular to a beautiful little place called Akoroa, which has some wonderful old building and a picturesque lighthouse, for which it seemed to remain sunny. After elevenses we got back on the road and headed south to Dunedin, where we arrived late and had to search around for a hostel eventually finding the YHA which was converted from an old hospital build in the 1800's and designed by some architect who's apparently built many similar buildings around the town.
Also this is home to a cadburys chocolate factory and a magnificently grand and ornate train station.
the next day was a much more pleasant dawn and we left Dunedin heading south again down the east coast to the Catlin's, an area of great beauty which runs across the south coast to Invercargill. As far as towns go this one should probably be avoided except for its only apparent redeeming factor, the beautiful Queens park and botanical gardens.
From Invercargill we headed north and slowly climbed the foothills and up the valleys to Te Anau, a most attractive town by a crystal clear lake, with snowy peaks, and unfortunately snowy roads which prevented us from making the journey onwards to Milford Sound.
We stopped at a modern and well equipped hostel and waited around on the 15th hoping for an improvement from the snow which much to our disappointment didn't happen. When the road was closed for the 3rd day this being the 16th we packed up and headed to Queenstown where i meet back up with a friend to reacquire some climbing gear that had been misappropriated due to mutual error and I took mum to explore the little settlement of Arrowtown which was established in the gold rush when many Chinese migrated to test their luck and their fortunes, most of these came from Guangdong so must have had a real shock when they experienced the cold and snowy winters which must have been a real hardship when one looks at the shacks and the remains of the little village they setup just outside the main town. A late lunch was had in Arrowtown and we headed back to Queenstown hoping for the clouds to rise so we could get a view of the town by going up the gondola, this unfortunately wasn't to happen and to insult us a bit more it decided to snow.
The 17th dawned and we headed north Past the much quieter town of Wanaka and up highway 6, and with the aid of chains to get through some snowy sections of road we made it to Haast after some spectacular views from the snaking road of the lakes and surrounding countryside and it appeared that on the west coast we had well and truly left the bad weather behind us and made our way over to the Franz Joseph Glacier which unfortunately isn't a patch on what it used to be but then what glaciers are nowadays.

We left the Frans Joseph behind us and headed up what is apperently one of the most scenic sections of highway on the south Island heading past "the road kill cafe" at Puka as the locals call it. Renowned for its possum pie. Yum Yum.
It was a bit to early for lunch but i picked up a pair of trousers for the princely sum of $1 (bargain) and we headed up to Pancake rocks which is well worth seeing. we were then left with a good few hours of driving to go before getting to the north coast at Motueka, where we spent the night and today went to the Able Tasman National Park, we were once again blessed with beautifully sunshine and spent the better part of the day heading by boat up the coast past sandy beaches clear waters granite boulders, one in the shape of a split apple, and also fur seals and cormorants, which were sat sunbathing not a care in the world.
Tonight we are stopping at Picton before getting the ferry across to the north Island tomorrow. It must be mentioned that the Hostel is one of the best yet, it even has free chocolate pudding and ice cream, gets my vote although with all this driving and sitting around I'm liable to start getting fat. mind you i could have a shave and a hair cut which would probably make me a few pounds lighter.
Well thats the first week traveling with Mum, an Automatic car (which im growing to hate) and about 2500km. will this car survive... i may just have to dump it in the ocean..