Hong Kong-Brisbane-Straddie
'Wild' with Reese Witherspoon hiking the Pacific Coast Trail, that's the movie that I didn't finish when I landed in Hong Kong and it wasn't on on the next flight. Anyone want to tell me how it ends.....?
Anyway I land in Australia where the whole immigration thing is super automated and you get a ticket from one place then go to another but don't lose that before leaving as the customs man wants it. He looks for maybe a blink of an eye at the paperwork and says
EXIT
Pointing left in case I really didn't understand him! Welcome to Australia.
Anyway I catch the train into Brisbane City, it's 0700 the work rush hour and yet it feels like there are people missing. Brisbane feels like a big city but with the people missing.
People here are very friendly or I looked really confused. 5 different people stopped to ask if I was OK was I lost do I need a hand, as I walked around with my map out.
I think I confused them more with, my answer
'no I am not lost, I don't where I am trying to go, so I can't be lost!'
I like Brisbane as a city and as walked up down the streets past Anzac Square, Queens Street Mall, the old Post Office, round the edge of the river, into the gardens to Uni and eventually to South Bank. I a person who hates walking had been doing the worst kind, aimless walking and actually it was quite enjoyable.
Following a near death by hot dark chocolate and banana bread I head over to catch up with Stacey who said I could borrow her car while she beavers away at work.
I popped off towards the coast to Manly and then Luta (I think) to walk in the mangroves and stave off the jet lag. Stacey looked after me as tried not to fall asleep too early over our Thai dinner and then the next morning dropped me off at the train station to make my way to the Cleveland Redjet for Stardom Island, aka Straddie!
Felt home from home on the fast boat over the view reminded me just of heading to Cowes.........
Straddie is the second largest sand island in the world ( the first I am heading to today) only a third of that is habitable or has settlements on it the rest is either mined or you need a permit and a 4WD to go to. On the E coast of Australia Straddie is fairly exposed with some nice little surf spots and some ridiculous current as we discovered when went surfing. It is also a great spot from which to the migrating whales breaching the surface......though with my eyesore they just looked like white caps!
What a beautiful island, a beautiful location and a fantastic wedding. So honest and true to Jo and Dale, with details that constantly surprised and touched you.
Firstly thank you for my new sunglasses - winner they weren't included in my original 9kg packing
Secondly thank Jo's dad for the most memorable father of the bride's speech ever, FACT!
Finally, thanking for inviting me and providing a rare opportunity for a great bunch of us to get together
To have the Briscoes, the Bellgrooves and the Hickmans together was fantastic and I look forward to our next adventure, crappie knows when.
On Sunday will dispersed our different ways and as Little Libby and Simon waved me off I begun another episode of travelling alone.
I travelled alone a few times in, y life but the older I get the harder it is I haven't worked out why and it is really only day one of travelling but that eager go everywhere say yes to everything definitely doesn't come as easy.
Fist stop Rainbow Beach..........can only be good.
Anyway I land in Australia where the whole immigration thing is super automated and you get a ticket from one place then go to another but don't lose that before leaving as the customs man wants it. He looks for maybe a blink of an eye at the paperwork and says
EXIT
Pointing left in case I really didn't understand him! Welcome to Australia.
Anyway I catch the train into Brisbane City, it's 0700 the work rush hour and yet it feels like there are people missing. Brisbane feels like a big city but with the people missing.
People here are very friendly or I looked really confused. 5 different people stopped to ask if I was OK was I lost do I need a hand, as I walked around with my map out.
I think I confused them more with, my answer
'no I am not lost, I don't where I am trying to go, so I can't be lost!'
I like Brisbane as a city and as walked up down the streets past Anzac Square, Queens Street Mall, the old Post Office, round the edge of the river, into the gardens to Uni and eventually to South Bank. I a person who hates walking had been doing the worst kind, aimless walking and actually it was quite enjoyable.
Following a near death by hot dark chocolate and banana bread I head over to catch up with Stacey who said I could borrow her car while she beavers away at work.
I popped off towards the coast to Manly and then Luta (I think) to walk in the mangroves and stave off the jet lag. Stacey looked after me as tried not to fall asleep too early over our Thai dinner and then the next morning dropped me off at the train station to make my way to the Cleveland Redjet for Stardom Island, aka Straddie!
Felt home from home on the fast boat over the view reminded me just of heading to Cowes.........
Straddie is the second largest sand island in the world ( the first I am heading to today) only a third of that is habitable or has settlements on it the rest is either mined or you need a permit and a 4WD to go to. On the E coast of Australia Straddie is fairly exposed with some nice little surf spots and some ridiculous current as we discovered when went surfing. It is also a great spot from which to the migrating whales breaching the surface......though with my eyesore they just looked like white caps!
What a beautiful island, a beautiful location and a fantastic wedding. So honest and true to Jo and Dale, with details that constantly surprised and touched you.
Firstly thank you for my new sunglasses - winner they weren't included in my original 9kg packing
Secondly thank Jo's dad for the most memorable father of the bride's speech ever, FACT!
Finally, thanking for inviting me and providing a rare opportunity for a great bunch of us to get together
To have the Briscoes, the Bellgrooves and the Hickmans together was fantastic and I look forward to our next adventure, crappie knows when.
On Sunday will dispersed our different ways and as Little Libby and Simon waved me off I begun another episode of travelling alone.
I travelled alone a few times in, y life but the older I get the harder it is I haven't worked out why and it is really only day one of travelling but that eager go everywhere say yes to everything definitely doesn't come as easy.
Fist stop Rainbow Beach..........can only be good.
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