AUSTRALIA

G'day mate.

Land of Kangaroos, Vegimite, 'rad' surfing, Steve Irwin and fish 'n' chips- I bet Aus as got nearly as many chippys as the UK, I would actually like to find out the numbers and compare.

My parents were out in Aus cruising around in a campercan so I arranged for them to pick me up at Sydney airport.

Australian immigration is probably the strictest in the world. I timidly stepped in to the 'something to declare' queue with my 'Cadburys fruit and nut' bar. Apparently I needent have bothered as it was processed and packaged but the form did say no fruit or nuts so i was only being honest. Anyway, after my escape from the law, I then bought a bottle of  water with a $50 bill to get some change for the phonebox and I called my Parents to let them know that I had landed. The Campervan couldn't make it into arrivals because of an height restriction so I trecked down to departures and awaited them there. 

The airport official outside departures, incharge of watching people drop off holiday goers, was obviously hired straight from a physciatric institute. He sported an elluminous orange vest and continued to inform me that I couldn't be picked up from there, only dropped off. I asked what was the difference, told him my situation but eventually decided to ignore him and stay there anyway. He hung close to me, I guess waiting to pounce on me the second my lift arrived. Lukily my dad pulled up just as he was distracted by a double parked taxi, I saw that as my get away and dived into the kitchenet shouting "drive, drive, drive!".

I was planning on spending two weeks in Australia and had already spent the last week with the 'Lonely Planet' planning an eventful trip up to 'Fraiser Island'.

We headed up the coast, kind of beach hopping. We spent most of the time on the road stopping every other night at a campsite to refill water, do laundry etc. The other nights we just slept by the road troubled with my mums fear that we were going to get crashed into by another vheical whilst we slept. 

The beaches in Aus are beautiful, they continued the whole of the coast almost, 20 mile long beaches in areas. We would stop off at various 'must see' places like, spectacular beaches, national parks, nice towns and so on. A few places that I had down as 'must sees' were, 'Mcleans' which is a small town that is very proud of its Sottish heritage, all of the lamp post are decorated with a different clans tartan. You could also get 'Hagis' there. I just thought that it sounded like a quirky place. After going there I decided that I really liked it and think I may of found my future retirment place- Scotland with Sunshine- but then again Aussies are just like English with a worst accent, so I'm still searching for my place to live. 

Another stop along the way was a small place called 'Ainsworth'. We stayed on a campsite there right next to 'Lake Ainsworth'. The lake as got natural tea tree oil in it that drips off the trees around the lake. After a swim there our skin felt great. I also enjoyed a long run on the beach there- I did go running everyday but that one was my favourite.

We set off again heading north bound for Australia Zoo, made famous by Steve Irwin. It was a great zoo, the animals were just roaming around free, no cages- just barriers. It really hit me that this should be the only way zoos are. We were there for the daily show that was hosted by Terry Irwin, it was a good show of elephants, crocs, birds, snakes and humour. After the zoo we headed up to 'Noosa Heads' were I met up with a friend I used to work with, I stayed there for a few nights whilst my parents headed up to 'Fraiser Island' via 'Harvey Bay'.

The next day my friend had off work so we ventured out for the day. We first went to a waterfall and trekked through the forest until we thought we had best turn around and head back before we ended up getting lost and spending the night in the Aussie Outback. On the way back we sopped at a few places in the car, first being a huge market on the outskirts of a town that I can't quite remember the name of, there were stalls selling all kinds of new, funky, handmade little trinkets and clothes. Throughout the market were bands playing all sorts of music and instruments- off-course the 'Didgareedoo'.

After the market we stopped for lunch in a lovely little town- really old english kinda feel, then headed backed for the night. 

My parents picked me up the next day and we drove the  miles back to Sydney. I'm now heading back to Thailand via Singapore.