Thursday, 28 June 2007
Thursday, 21 June 2007
Uluru Tour Photos
--> here <--
Yesterday night we arrived in Mission Beach. Again we heard people saying things like this: "Usually the weather is very nice at this time of the year." Well, usually :) They told us that we are lucky that it is - as an exception compared to the last two weeks - not raining today. However, the season should be dry right now.
As a result of the rough sea the ships and boats do not leave the harbor. So we do not know if we can do a Great Barrier Reef tour. To heck with it!* Meanwhile we will try to get some crocodile meat or kill an emu ourselves for dinner.
*[Afraid to say the h-e-double hockeystick word? - Lektor]
As a result of the rough sea the ships and boats do not leave the harbor. So we do not know if we can do a Great Barrier Reef tour. To heck with it!* Meanwhile we will try to get some crocodile meat or kill an emu ourselves for dinner.
*[Afraid to say the h-e-double hockeystick word? - Lektor]
Tuesday, 19 June 2007
A F---ing Big Country
That's the way the typical Outback-Australian would say it. And it's true: Australia is even larger than whole Europe. To get from the middle of the country (Alice Springs) to the east coast (Mission Beach) it takes us more than 24 hours with the bus - breaks excluded!
What we did the last few days:
Since we arrived in Alice Springs on June 13th, we stayed at the Scout Hall until yesterday. We got a lot more than we expected: a heater, a TV set (Australians call it "telly"), a kitchen with a stove. And the best was that it was free! Thanks again to the Outbackscouts and also thanks again to our host family in Sydney - the McBurneys - who lend us sleeping bags and a tent. This will save us a lot of money!
Alice Springs is a small city with about 28,000 inhabitants but also the largest city in central Australia (wiki). There is a hill from the top of which you have a nice view of the whole city. We were advised not to climb any of the other hills because most of the drunk people gather there, especially during the night.
Yesterday we finished the 3 day Uluru tour (link -> Photo Gallery -> 16th June 2007). It was expensive, but GREAT! Our tourguide Nat was - in my point of view - THE typically Outback-Australian. A three-day beard, very nice, very tall and, of course, very vulgar :)
He told us a lot about the Aboriginal culture, how they used to live before the white men came and which problems they have to face since they settled here. With this knowledge our group decided not to climb the Uluru, because Aboriginals do not like that.
We spent the nights in so called "swags" - some kind of sleeping bag cover - around the campfire with millions of stars above us. And some beer, of course! It was just the perfect combination of sight seeing, walking and having be.. uhm fun! ;)
However, my journey draws to a close. On the 27th of June I will leave Johannes in the most dangerous country and head for Honolulu, where I arrive on June 26th.
- Time to think -
The answer: date line (wiki). That was the reason why we decided to go east, and not west. You get an "additional" day, yeeehaw!
I will spend 5 days on the islands where ladies hide their breasts with coconuts. Then, finally, I depart on the 3rd of July and arrive on the 4th in Vienna! But until then I hope my image of the dancing coconut ladies isn't just a cliche.
What we did the last few days:
Since we arrived in Alice Springs on June 13th, we stayed at the Scout Hall until yesterday. We got a lot more than we expected: a heater, a TV set (Australians call it "telly"), a kitchen with a stove. And the best was that it was free! Thanks again to the Outbackscouts and also thanks again to our host family in Sydney - the McBurneys - who lend us sleeping bags and a tent. This will save us a lot of money!
Alice Springs is a small city with about 28,000 inhabitants but also the largest city in central Australia (wiki). There is a hill from the top of which you have a nice view of the whole city. We were advised not to climb any of the other hills because most of the drunk people gather there, especially during the night.
Yesterday we finished the 3 day Uluru tour (link -> Photo Gallery -> 16th June 2007). It was expensive, but GREAT! Our tourguide Nat was - in my point of view - THE typically Outback-Australian. A three-day beard, very nice, very tall and, of course, very vulgar :)
He told us a lot about the Aboriginal culture, how they used to live before the white men came and which problems they have to face since they settled here. With this knowledge our group decided not to climb the Uluru, because Aboriginals do not like that.
We spent the nights in so called "swags" - some kind of sleeping bag cover - around the campfire with millions of stars above us. And some beer, of course! It was just the perfect combination of sight seeing, walking and having be.. uhm fun! ;)
However, my journey draws to a close. On the 27th of June I will leave Johannes in the most dangerous country and head for Honolulu, where I arrive on June 26th.
- Time to think -
The answer: date line (wiki). That was the reason why we decided to go east, and not west. You get an "additional" day, yeeehaw!
I will spend 5 days on the islands where ladies hide their breasts with coconuts. Then, finally, I depart on the 3rd of July and arrive on the 4th in Vienna! But until then I hope my image of the dancing coconut ladies isn't just a cliche.
Friday, 15 June 2007
Thursday, 14 June 2007
Photo Update
in the following Albums:
Singapore
A Fine City
And new Album "Australia - Sydney" - temporary incomplete
Singapore
A Fine City
And new Album "Australia - Sydney" - temporary incomplete
Saturday, 9 June 2007
Cold, Windy and Rainy
You know what I am talking about? - Exactly: Sydney, Australia - the driest continent in the world!
Since we arrived here 2 days ago, we have seen overthrown trees, loads of rain and clouds - but not even a small part of the sun. And we have not experienced that much rain in all the "rainy season" countries we have been before!
Unfortunately, the Scout Camp this weekend was canceled because of the weather.
We are now staying at the home of a very, very nice family where every member is also a Scout. Their house is in the northwestern suburbs of Sydney.
A financial story: When we were waiting at the "Customs Counter" at the airport, a women spoke to us. After a while she said that she thinks she has probably a little bit too much money with her, but she does not want to declare it. At first we could not believe it, then we said that we can not take it. Eventually we took the 100 AUD she gave both of us. Thank you, Ex-Austrian lady from Switzerland !
There is also news from Singapore: They put our "Boom Chicka Boom" performance (wacht it!) and also some snapshots of the whole camp (watch it too!) on YouTube.
Since we arrived here 2 days ago, we have seen overthrown trees, loads of rain and clouds - but not even a small part of the sun. And we have not experienced that much rain in all the "rainy season" countries we have been before!
Unfortunately, the Scout Camp this weekend was canceled because of the weather.
We are now staying at the home of a very, very nice family where every member is also a Scout. Their house is in the northwestern suburbs of Sydney.
A financial story: When we were waiting at the "Customs Counter" at the airport, a women spoke to us. After a while she said that she thinks she has probably a little bit too much money with her, but she does not want to declare it. At first we could not believe it, then we said that we can not take it. Eventually we took the 100 AUD she gave both of us. Thank you, Ex-Austrian lady from Switzerland !
There is also news from Singapore: They put our "Boom Chicka Boom" performance (wacht it!) and also some snapshots of the whole camp (watch it too!) on YouTube.
Monday, 4 June 2007
Singapore - a fine city
Alright, there are a lot differences between Vietnam and Singapore :)
First, Singapore (Album) is very, very clean. That may be a result of all these signs ("Sign" Album) which tell you what you must not do and how much you have to pay if you do it anyway.
The MRT is Singapores subway . The payment system is cleverer than in Austria. You have a card ("ez-link") which you just hold in front of a sensor. A gate will open and then you can walk to the subway station. Topping up the ez-link card is possible with cash and at cash machines. And of course you have to pay a fine of 500 S$ (about 250 Euro) if you eat or drink in the MRT...
We spent 2 days and 1 night with the Singapore Scouts! We were very lucky because they had a camp last weekend which we joined.
On Saturday we did "Dragon Boating" with the local Rovers. Quite exhausting, but of course we - the Austrian Pioneers! - soon took over the first row which is the most important because all the others have to keep time with rowing with you. HARRR :) (Sorry, sometimes manliness makes me crazy ;) ) [Army people... - Lektor]
After the Dragon Boating we took a bus to Camp Christine - a Singapore Scout Campsite. Compared to Austrian Scout Campsites, there are a lot of "unneccessary" things like air conditioned bedrooms, concreted lanes and bathrooms. But compared to the rest of the city, it is a very natural place. And of course, the "Saints Scouts" (the Scout Group which we joined) did NOT sleep in A/C bedrooms :)
After a night bicycle tour and a few hours of sleep we took part at their final "amazing race" (we would call it Stadtgelaendespiel). Similar to our scouting games (Gelaendespiele) the patrols had to solve quests at different places. EDIT 1652 GMT+8: Sarah just informed us that our patrol, the Panthers, won!
In the evening they had their final camp fire. Of course, Johannes and I did a short performance: We sang the "A boom a chick a boom" song (I have absolutely no idea if you really spell it like that).
The whole weekend with the Singapore Souts was just GREAT FUN!
Thank you very much, Sarah - aka Wingkei ;) -, Stephanie, MJ (abbreveation for a chinese name I can not remeber), Grace, Derrick, Gabriel, Sherman and all the others whose names we unfortunately can not remember!
German: "Pfadfinder sein macht Spass!"
Chinese: "Tong Zi Jun Hen Hao Wan!"
Singapore: "Scouting is fun!"
First, Singapore (Album) is very, very clean. That may be a result of all these signs ("Sign" Album) which tell you what you must not do and how much you have to pay if you do it anyway.
The MRT is Singapores subway . The payment system is cleverer than in Austria. You have a card ("ez-link") which you just hold in front of a sensor. A gate will open and then you can walk to the subway station. Topping up the ez-link card is possible with cash and at cash machines. And of course you have to pay a fine of 500 S$ (about 250 Euro) if you eat or drink in the MRT...
We spent 2 days and 1 night with the Singapore Scouts! We were very lucky because they had a camp last weekend which we joined.
On Saturday we did "Dragon Boating" with the local Rovers. Quite exhausting, but of course we - the Austrian Pioneers! - soon took over the first row which is the most important because all the others have to keep time with rowing with you. HARRR :) (Sorry, sometimes manliness makes me crazy ;) ) [Army people... - Lektor]
After the Dragon Boating we took a bus to Camp Christine - a Singapore Scout Campsite. Compared to Austrian Scout Campsites, there are a lot of "unneccessary" things like air conditioned bedrooms, concreted lanes and bathrooms. But compared to the rest of the city, it is a very natural place. And of course, the "Saints Scouts" (the Scout Group which we joined) did NOT sleep in A/C bedrooms :)
After a night bicycle tour and a few hours of sleep we took part at their final "amazing race" (we would call it Stadtgelaendespiel). Similar to our scouting games (Gelaendespiele) the patrols had to solve quests at different places. EDIT 1652 GMT+8: Sarah just informed us that our patrol, the Panthers, won!
In the evening they had their final camp fire. Of course, Johannes and I did a short performance: We sang the "A boom a chick a boom" song (I have absolutely no idea if you really spell it like that).
The whole weekend with the Singapore Souts was just GREAT FUN!
Thank you very much, Sarah - aka Wingkei ;) -, Stephanie, MJ (abbreveation for a chinese name I can not remeber), Grace, Derrick, Gabriel, Sherman and all the others whose names we unfortunately can not remember!
German: "Pfadfinder sein macht Spass!"
Chinese: "Tong Zi Jun Hen Hao Wan!"
Singapore: "Scouting is fun!"
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