AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS........or so

Hay all,

I can't believe I have to write this all over again. I spent 3 hours in an internet cafe yesterday evening updating the blog. When I went to view it I kinda deleted it instead.....stupid me....well here it I go again.

Brisbane - Hervey Bay

I left Brisbane last Tuesday after a mad week with Rory, was good to meet up with himself again. We had a few good sessions over the week to make up for all Rorys non-drinking days in Dundalk. On the Sunday we went for a morning cruise out on Morton Bay and got treated to a lovely BBQ breakie and Champagne, not bad for 9 o'clock in the morning. It was time for Rory to get back to work on Monday after taking a few days off to be my tour guide so I it was time for me to move on also. Next stop was Hervey Bay.

After my disaster of a train journey from Sydney to Brisbane I told myself that was it with Aussie trains...never again....but did I listen to myself. Of course not. I got the tilt train from Brisbane to Marybourgh west (just outside Hervey) The reason why I went back to the trains was due to the fact I would get up to Hervey in 3 hrs were as with the Bus it would of taking me 6hrs at the same price. Thankfully this journey was not as bad as my previous one but it did feel a bit weird, I felt like I was in the middle of a Senior Citizens party, I had a look around the carriage and I could'nt see any one that looked under 60. Ah well.

I can't write this without saying a bit about my hostle in Hervey Bay. It was class. The best hostel I have stayed in so far. It was right in the center of the town but you would swear you were in the middle of the country side. The rooms were split into 4 different buildings that were designed to look like forest cabins surrounded by ponds, tropical vegetation, palm trees and gum trees. Excellent.

Looking uo the garden of the Woolshed Backapackers in Hervey Bay

Apart from relaxing on the beach all week I also did a bit of cycling around the area, a bit of whale watching and a safari on Fraser Island. On the Thursday I went for a 27km cycle of Hervey bay, 27km and the name Colin Toner don't usually go well unless its in a motor propelled vehicle. Well I survived it, turned out to be quite enjoyable but my bloody legs (& bum bum!!) were in agony the following day, I did'nt mind that to much as it was a perfect excuse to lie on the beach all day. Is'nt life tough!!

I'm no Stephen Roche but I did good doing 27km in a few hours!!

Whale Watching
Saturday was Whale watching Day, now that was awsome!(now I sound like a yank). We spent about 2 hours out on the boat and it looked like it was a complete waste of time and a waste of $100, but just as we were about to head back to the harbour around 4 o'clock one if the customers spotted a few whales flapping their flippers. Within minutes we were over beside them, it was so cool been up so close to them, they got that close we were actually able to reach out and touch them. They put on a good show for us and it looked liked they did'nt want us to leave, they surrounded the boat for a good hour. Attention seekers.

A few photo's of the whales doing their thing.

Fraser Island
On Sunday I went on a one day safari of Fraser, I really should of doing a three day one but silly me booked the hostel and paid for the full week so i could'nt waste 2 nights I paid in the hostel. Still the one day safari was good craic and really enjoyable. Anyway Fraser Island is the biggest sand Island in the world at 1630 km². It is called K'Gari by the local Aborigines which means Paradise and that it certainly is.

As the island is all sand there are no roads and you have to use 4 wheel drive to get around. The highway is a beach called 75mile beach beacuse its 75miles long....makes sense! Its an offical highway, a beach oh and a Runway. Driving around Fraser is not the most comfortable way to travel, you really need to be fully strapped down to your seat. Don't do what I did and wait till you wollop your head of the bag rack before putting your seatbelt on.

We got to see a good few sights on the island in a short period of time. Starting off rallying up the highway to Eli Creek, this creek ushes out over 80million ltrs of fresh water daily. If you have water treating tablets you can drink as much of it as you want. After thatwe headed on up to the Maheno Wreck, stuck on the island since 1935 it is the main tourist attraction on the island. The ship is 3/4 covered in sand so basically what you see id the top deck of the ship. On up about 2 miles is the Pinnicles and the Coloured sands which are multicoloured cliffs of red, yellow, brown, yellow and orange sands is an array of spectacular colours. A great sight. After a bit of lunch (I now have a new found love for think pieces of cooked ham covered in salt...eeemm) we headed for a treck through one of the rain forests admiring the towering satinay and brush box trees, some over 1000 years old. Our final stop on the island was Lake McKenzie, the beach sand here is nearly pure silica and it is possible to wash hair, teeth, jewelry, and exfoliate the skin. So for one day on the Island we got around a fair bit but you would really need to spend a good few days on the island to really appreciate it.

The Highway - 75mile beach. Speed limit is 110km p/h [b]

[b]The maheno ship wreck. On the lsland since 1935.

Lake McKenzie, also know as a one stop beauty shop thanks to its pure silica sand.

Looking out towards the pacific ocean. Amazing sight.

Righty oh thats all for today. The plan for the rest of the week is to visit the Hunter Valley vineyards and then into the Blue Mountains for the weekend.

All the best

Colin.

Hay guys

Its Saturday 11th August, one month since I started out on this mad trip. I have to say its be really good so far. Of course there has been some frustrating moments and really annoying bus and train rides but sure thats all part of the adventure and really adds to it. So from London to Bangkok, Koh Samui to Sydney and now Brisbane, its been great. Chilling out in the Jazz Bars in London, haggling with the robbing feckers in Bangkok; sipping cocktails on the white sandy beaches in Koh Samui; enjoying scooners in Sydney and loving the laid back attitude in Brisbane....can it really get much better....still another two months to find out. However I do actually miss working - I know it sounds daft but being idle for so long can get a bit annoying so I've decided to leave LA out of the trip and head to New York after Fiji to try and work for a month or so.

Looking forward to next 2 months.

Ciao for now.

The Gold Coast

Yesteday myself and Rory headed down to the gold coast. The coast consists of 57km of white sandy beaches renowned for their Surfing waves, high rise Skylines and of course an active night life. We chilled out on Surfers paridise were I actually decided to get the tugs on and jump into the water.....well not jump, slowly walked in. I was like a little child running in and out avoiding the waves. Its about all you can do when you can't swim. Thats another thing I have to learn when I get back.

Looking cool as always on the beach!!

The temperture over here at the minute is 30 degrees, hot and this is their winter. Hate to see what its like in the summer. Don't think I'd be able to hack it. However it does get pritty cold at night and the breeze at the beaches in the evening can get bit cold. Apart from that is great. Loving it.

One of the many many beaches along the gold coast.

On our way from Brisbane to the Gold Coast we seen plenty of bush fires, some pritty bad ones. It must get really bad here during the summer. One things for sure you'll make plenty of money as a fireman or helicoptor pilot.

Right thats the lot for today.

Talk soon.

Hay all,

Well arrived in Brisbane on Thursday morning after a really really long and uncomfortable Train journey from Sydney. My ipod was flat, for some reason my DVD player would'nt work, I had no head phones for the radio on the phone and to top it off I had to sit beside one of the smelliest feckers ever. Ah well, I suppose thats the beauty of travelling....makes interesting stories.

Anyway we did'nt waste to long after getting off the train. Myself and Rory got a bit of breakfast than headed for the Sunshine Coast, about a 45 minute drive from Brisbane. One of the main attractions we got to see was Underwater world, its was actually very interesting seeing Sharks swim beside and overhead along with coming face to face with Crocidiles.

On the moving walkway in the Shark Tunnel

Sharks swimming overhead in the Tunnel

On our way to the down we to the Sunshine Coast we passed Steve Irwins Austrialia Zoo, we did'nt have time to call in (and we were told its pritty expensive). Might get a chance to call in before I leave Brisbane. Hopefully.

Hay all,

If anyone reading this is still in Sydney or is planning on heading to Sydney anytime soon then I HIGHLY recommend a bar in the Rocks called the Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel. Its amazing. Not only does it provide its accomodation, a top class restaurant, a wide selcetion of world beers, it actually brews its own beers on the premises - right behind the bar. I know the likes of the Porterhouse and Messer in Dublin do this also but there is something special about this place, something different.

The outside of the Bar

When you walk in, for me, gives an instant reminder of the Beerkeeper. Its old world atmosphere, sandstone architecture, a large open fire, homemade damper bread with cheese and pickles, pork pies as well as the blackboard menues, its just amazing. No T.V.'s were on when we went in instead it was nice relaxed music in the background. Even on a busy night it seems to keep the music at a minimum. This is the kind of bar I would love to own. Certainly one of the best bars I've ever been to (well apart from the Beerkeeper!).

Standing with a pint of 'Three Sheets' one of the six micro brew beers that are actually brewed behind me in the Bar.

Photo taken in the Botanic Gardens at 4.30 in the evening. Gets dark pritty ealry over here.

A full Week in Sydney

Since arriving last Monday I've got to many of the sights, met up with a few Dundalk heads and of course did the Irish Pub scene, so it has been busy aul week in all. The city is very easy to get around and you can do alot of it on foot. On Wednesday I headed out to Bondi, or as its should be known as County Bondi. The Irish seem to have taken over this part of Sydney, you can even get 'McDonalds Irish Curry Chips' here, but its not as good as Sing Li.

The famous beach did'nt really seem to be that busy but Thomas, who's been here for over a year, assured me that in really good weather its really hard to get a spot on it.....a bit like port Beach. Chilled out on the beach till late evening and then headed to the Three Steps to get my first Irish Breakfast of my Trip, boy did it go down well. That evening myself and Nick headed to heaven, sorry I mean The Belgian Heritage Bar. This place is expensive but you get to taste some fine Belgian Beer. Great way to finish off the night.

Bondi Beach in the Background.

The famous County Bondi

No escaping Dundalk

I think its 12, maybe 13, I can't remember but its around that figure so far. The amount of Dundalk heads I have come across so far. Four of them I actually wanted to meet, the other remainder are guys I met in the Merchantile, O'Malleys and even in the Kebab shop at 3 in the morning. Its unreal. But can be good as most of them have been in Sydney for a year or longer and of course they know the best places to go. Gav, who worked with myself in Oriel, brought me to the best pub I've been in so far on the Trip - The Lord Nelson. A small Micro-Brew pub ocated in the Rocks. Excellent spot and you can even see the Stills were they actually brew the beer. Just round the corner of this bar you have the Merchantile, I'm told its an Irish Institution in Sydney. We finished off the night here with the famous Shaylee Wild playing. She's a bit like the MerryMacs back home. Thomas was able to tell me the entire set list before she would begin, the same jokes, the act, the same routine and yet people come back week after week for it.

Thats herself.

The photo is a bit out of focus, but you can still make it out. Having a few beers in Merchantile Fiona, Thomas, Myself and Gav. A good nights craic.

Thats about it for now.

Talk soon. Feel free to leave a comment below.

Ciao.