Went to London 8 years ago and only stayed 2.5 days there, this time round I have decided to explore more of UK and again very little time in London.
Let me share with you my 18 days trip to the UK this time.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
5 days 4 nights Margaret River, Albany and Esperance trip
Photos are finally sorted and uploaded...arrrghh what a tedious process. More photos coming up once I get them uploaded. These are just from my trip down south.
View the photos here
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Photos
I have downloaded all my photos finally...actually very fast by my standards cos I usually get bogged down by work and stuff after my vacation.
However I am still in the process of sorting it out and will update soonest possible..hopefully not months later cos by then it is time to post photos from my next trip hehehe.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Day 4 : Kalbarri & Monkey Mia
We had to depart at 715 am today but due to the cold weather most of us prefer to laze in bed. However as I did not get to shower the night before, I had to drag myself to the bathroom.
After the breakfast we went on the way south towards the Hutt Province which is declared as a country on its own and has their own sovereign. Prince Leonard 1 seems a bit of a eccentric and egoistic. There was a chapel in the compound with paintings of Jesus and His followers whom he proclaimed was his sons who lived in houses aroung the compound, pure weird. The only upside is probably getting an additional stamp on my passport that's all.
The whole place looks so deserted even though the no. of residents listed was ~ 20 but the only people we saw around was the Prince himself and his wife who is known as the Princess. Some of us can't wait to get out of his 'country'.
We then headed to Greenough Wildlife Park past Geraldton. We then had lunch there before heading south towards Perth.
Stopped at a bakery for a cup of coffee and get a chocolate eclair at the same time, it was delicious. After another toilet break we drove all the way to Perth.
We reached Perth city about 630pm and that marked the end of my North tour or should I say all my paid tours in Perth.
After the breakfast we went on the way south towards the Hutt Province which is declared as a country on its own and has their own sovereign. Prince Leonard 1 seems a bit of a eccentric and egoistic. There was a chapel in the compound with paintings of Jesus and His followers whom he proclaimed was his sons who lived in houses aroung the compound, pure weird. The only upside is probably getting an additional stamp on my passport that's all.
The whole place looks so deserted even though the no. of residents listed was ~ 20 but the only people we saw around was the Prince himself and his wife who is known as the Princess. Some of us can't wait to get out of his 'country'.
We then headed to Greenough Wildlife Park past Geraldton. We then had lunch there before heading south towards Perth.
Stopped at a bakery for a cup of coffee and get a chocolate eclair at the same time, it was delicious. After another toilet break we drove all the way to Perth.
We reached Perth city about 630pm and that marked the end of my North tour or should I say all my paid tours in Perth.
Day 3 : Kalbarri & Monkey Mia
Set my alarm for 6 am to catch the sunrise but decided to laze instead but finally got up as everyone in the room were up and running.
Managed to catch hold of the rising sun and I ended up being on the beach with just another guy living at the resort.
Came back to the kitchen to grab breakfast with the rest before heading back to the room to get my camera and shoot the dolphins.
By the time I got to the beach it was so crowded but still managed to get a front row 'seat'. They do swim very close to the shore and you are able to see their features clearly.
After the 1st feeding, the mother dolphins went off to the sea to feed their calves. By the time I head back to the beach again with another travel mate, the dophins were back having their 2nd feed. This time round as the crowd had lessen significantly I was able to volunteer to feed the one of the dolphins....yippee.
Majority of the group either went to the Aborogine Tour or went out to sea on a cruise. Only 1 of the guy and myself ended up in the resort and we had to do the checkout but it was alright as I get to shower and refresh myself.
We departed at 12 pm after everyone returns from their respective tours. We stopped over at Denham for fuel before making an one hour journey to see the Stromatolites at Hamelin Pool. Stromatolites are known to be the 1st living organisms on Earth and apparently you can only see these in 6 places over the world, out of which 5 are in WA and the other one in the Bahamas.. Great!
After lunch, we drove on for hours before arriving at Riverside Sanctuary where we are having a farmstay for the last night of our tour. It is a wheat farm with very few animals. The animals are kept as pets rather than sold for their meats. There are 2 emus, 1 ostrich and 1 sheep. The sheep thinks she is an emu as there are no other sheeps around. Whatever the emus do, the sheep will emulate, so funny. The overseer at the farm was telling us stories about the sheep at the campfire which we lit after dinner. Dinner was kangaroo shephard pie by the way which was baked by the overseer.
The farm opened its doors to campers, student groups and tourists etc. I think it is a pretty neat place, the sleeping quarters and the bathrooms were clean and tidy. The overseer was actively recruit a gal from my tour group to stay on the farm to help him for some housekeeping duties. It is a non-paying job but you get free lodging and meals.
Anyway, after the campfire we all went to bed as we have a long way to go as we leave for Perth tomorrow.
Managed to catch hold of the rising sun and I ended up being on the beach with just another guy living at the resort.
Came back to the kitchen to grab breakfast with the rest before heading back to the room to get my camera and shoot the dolphins.
By the time I got to the beach it was so crowded but still managed to get a front row 'seat'. They do swim very close to the shore and you are able to see their features clearly.
After the 1st feeding, the mother dolphins went off to the sea to feed their calves. By the time I head back to the beach again with another travel mate, the dophins were back having their 2nd feed. This time round as the crowd had lessen significantly I was able to volunteer to feed the one of the dolphins....yippee.
Majority of the group either went to the Aborogine Tour or went out to sea on a cruise. Only 1 of the guy and myself ended up in the resort and we had to do the checkout but it was alright as I get to shower and refresh myself.
We departed at 12 pm after everyone returns from their respective tours. We stopped over at Denham for fuel before making an one hour journey to see the Stromatolites at Hamelin Pool. Stromatolites are known to be the 1st living organisms on Earth and apparently you can only see these in 6 places over the world, out of which 5 are in WA and the other one in the Bahamas.. Great!
After lunch, we drove on for hours before arriving at Riverside Sanctuary where we are having a farmstay for the last night of our tour. It is a wheat farm with very few animals. The animals are kept as pets rather than sold for their meats. There are 2 emus, 1 ostrich and 1 sheep. The sheep thinks she is an emu as there are no other sheeps around. Whatever the emus do, the sheep will emulate, so funny. The overseer at the farm was telling us stories about the sheep at the campfire which we lit after dinner. Dinner was kangaroo shephard pie by the way which was baked by the overseer.
The farm opened its doors to campers, student groups and tourists etc. I think it is a pretty neat place, the sleeping quarters and the bathrooms were clean and tidy. The overseer was actively recruit a gal from my tour group to stay on the farm to help him for some housekeeping duties. It is a non-paying job but you get free lodging and meals.
Anyway, after the campfire we all went to bed as we have a long way to go as we leave for Perth tomorrow.
Day 2 : Kalbarri & Monkey Mia
We started today on target and departed for the Z Bend Gorge where we had to climb up to the lookout and then it was downwards towards the riverbed. However midway through we stopped to do abseiling.
Initially I wanted to try but I was wearing my Teva and was worried I won't be able to grip to the rockface. So I went down to the foot and ended up being the official photographer.
Once everyone was done, we walked down to the riverbed where we stayed awhile. Most enjoyed the sun there but there were a lot of flies.
Next, we drove 20 mins to the Natures Window, a rock frame that framed the river below perfectly. After the hike, we had lunch there.
After lunch we departed for Shark's Bay. Unlike the south where you can stop for some sightseeing every few hours, up north most of the stops after long hours of driving are toilet stops. It took us 4 hours from our lunch stop to Shark's Bay.
And it is the best part of our trip as we will get to the most Western point of Australia - Denham and feed the dolphins at Monkey Mia.. From far we can also see Dirk Hartog Island where the first white men landed in Australia. A lot of 1st here as you will see.
Enroute to Denham and Monkey Mia, we stopped by Shell Beach where the whole beach are filled with cockles shell. Next up was Eagle Bluff where we get to see the ocean views.
We stayed in a resort in Monkey Mia called Dolphin Resort which is by the ocean, so cool. Like the resort a lot, if I ever come back to Monkey Mia again, will definitely stay here again.
For dinner we had fried noodles with stir fried vegetables and chicken cooked in teriyaki sauce, yum. After dinner we went for a stroll on the beach which was very dark but we get to see a sky filled with stars, make you want to camp on the beach tonight. Really beautiful!
Tomorrow we will be able to check out the dolphins feeding session while others go for their cruise. And if I can wake up early I will definitely consider going to watch the sunrise.
Initially I wanted to try but I was wearing my Teva and was worried I won't be able to grip to the rockface. So I went down to the foot and ended up being the official photographer.
Once everyone was done, we walked down to the riverbed where we stayed awhile. Most enjoyed the sun there but there were a lot of flies.
Next, we drove 20 mins to the Natures Window, a rock frame that framed the river below perfectly. After the hike, we had lunch there.
After lunch we departed for Shark's Bay. Unlike the south where you can stop for some sightseeing every few hours, up north most of the stops after long hours of driving are toilet stops. It took us 4 hours from our lunch stop to Shark's Bay.
And it is the best part of our trip as we will get to the most Western point of Australia - Denham and feed the dolphins at Monkey Mia.. From far we can also see Dirk Hartog Island where the first white men landed in Australia. A lot of 1st here as you will see.
Enroute to Denham and Monkey Mia, we stopped by Shell Beach where the whole beach are filled with cockles shell. Next up was Eagle Bluff where we get to see the ocean views.
We stayed in a resort in Monkey Mia called Dolphin Resort which is by the ocean, so cool. Like the resort a lot, if I ever come back to Monkey Mia again, will definitely stay here again.
For dinner we had fried noodles with stir fried vegetables and chicken cooked in teriyaki sauce, yum. After dinner we went for a stroll on the beach which was very dark but we get to see a sky filled with stars, make you want to camp on the beach tonight. Really beautiful!
Tomorrow we will be able to check out the dolphins feeding session while others go for their cruise. And if I can wake up early I will definitely consider going to watch the sunrise.
Day 1 : Kalbarri & Monkey Mia
Woke up at 5+ again to get ready for my North trip. Feeling very tired as I didn't sleep well yesterday and the journey from Esperance to Perth was a very long trip and I didn't nap on the bus because I was reading a book.
The bus used today is more like a van, more comfy but due to the limited seats it is quite cramped. Changed my seat from the last row to a single seater, sweet....lot more leg room.
First stop was Pinnacles, I last went there like 13-14 years ago and it is slightly different, they spruced up the place abit. Ran into 2 gals from my trip down south as we will be on the same itinerary for the first 3 days. On the fourth day, I will head back to Perth while they will continue on to Broome, very far and many days away.
After Pinnacles, we went sand boarding at Sandy Bay, doing it for the first time and initially I was quite afraid of the heights but it was really not so steep to start with. Only went for 2 rounds as the tedious part is lugging the boards up the sand dunes after coming down, really tiring. Was all soaked in sand, they got into my clothes, mouth, camera, everything. We then had lunch there before moving on to our destination for tonight - Kalbarri.
Our guide aimed to reach there before it grew dark so we can see the sunset and also the coast at Port Denison. Quite excited to be near the ocean again. We passed by Geraldton on our way up north and it is surprisingly quite a beautiful town for a mining town, I would love to own one of the huge houses overlooking the ocean, drool. Apparently the weather is a cool 24 degree year round, sounds great!
By the way, the weather up north is very different from Perth. While the latter is cold and rainy, the north has been very hot so far, temperature wise it is not exactly very high as it is still windy but it is already too hot for my liking....arrggghhh.
Reached Kalbarri on target and we got to view the coast before the sunset. Once we checked into our hostel, we started on preparing the bbq and it was an easy affair as everyone helped out and we were able to finished all the cleanup before 9pm and also allows for me to enjoy my tea while writing this entry.
Tomorrow we will head to Monkey Mia, although I am looking forward to the scenery but I am already dreading the hot weather, my nose is peeling despite the moisturizer and sunblock!
The bus used today is more like a van, more comfy but due to the limited seats it is quite cramped. Changed my seat from the last row to a single seater, sweet....lot more leg room.
First stop was Pinnacles, I last went there like 13-14 years ago and it is slightly different, they spruced up the place abit. Ran into 2 gals from my trip down south as we will be on the same itinerary for the first 3 days. On the fourth day, I will head back to Perth while they will continue on to Broome, very far and many days away.
After Pinnacles, we went sand boarding at Sandy Bay, doing it for the first time and initially I was quite afraid of the heights but it was really not so steep to start with. Only went for 2 rounds as the tedious part is lugging the boards up the sand dunes after coming down, really tiring. Was all soaked in sand, they got into my clothes, mouth, camera, everything. We then had lunch there before moving on to our destination for tonight - Kalbarri.
Our guide aimed to reach there before it grew dark so we can see the sunset and also the coast at Port Denison. Quite excited to be near the ocean again. We passed by Geraldton on our way up north and it is surprisingly quite a beautiful town for a mining town, I would love to own one of the huge houses overlooking the ocean, drool. Apparently the weather is a cool 24 degree year round, sounds great!
By the way, the weather up north is very different from Perth. While the latter is cold and rainy, the north has been very hot so far, temperature wise it is not exactly very high as it is still windy but it is already too hot for my liking....arrggghhh.
Reached Kalbarri on target and we got to view the coast before the sunset. Once we checked into our hostel, we started on preparing the bbq and it was an easy affair as everyone helped out and we were able to finished all the cleanup before 9pm and also allows for me to enjoy my tea while writing this entry.
Tomorrow we will head to Monkey Mia, although I am looking forward to the scenery but I am already dreading the hot weather, my nose is peeling despite the moisturizer and sunblock!
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