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You can lose everything, but nobody will take away what you saw and what you experienced...
............ 
Mar 17, 2009 07:00 PM Port Artur & devils - Tasmania
The best and fastest method to travel around this island is to rent a car. There are competitive companies offering cars from 29 AUD per day. They tempt you - be prepared to pay also some taxes and insurance.
Port Artur is probaply the most important historical monument of Tasmania. It is former British penal colony - there is a lot of remains, museum and romantic ruin of the church.
But you have to pay hefty 28 AUD for entrance...
I was driving about two hours between rolling hills to get there. On the way I stop at the park to see tasmanian devils - little animal known only here. Nice, sunny day...
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Mar 16, 2009 07:00 PM Lord Howe Island to Tasmania
Only 350 people live on Lord Howe. The number of tourists on the island at a time is limited to 400. They are coming mostly buying packages (flights+lodge) - it is cheaper but sill very expensive for the backpacker. Camping on the island is unknown and forbidden. Life goes slowly...
They have one liquor store, one small museum and only two computers in the museum for public internet access - it is expensive / 3 AUD per 20 min/ and they are closing at 3 pm.
It was raining heavily in the morning in this p[aradise so I was sendind my e-mails and worrying about my afternoon flight.
But at 11 it was already clear, my Dash 8 arrived and I flew to Sydney /some passengers travelled without luggage because the overload of the small aircraft (they will check your weight before fligh)
From Sydney I took cheap Virgin Blue flight to Hobart. Welcome to Tasmania!
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Mar 15, 2009 07:00 PM Beautiful Lord Howe Island
It is cloudy today. 25 kms from Lord Howe Is you can see another phenomena - Balls Piramide - sharp rock rising from the sea to the 250 m! They offer boat tours to see this only-in-the world such a place hostin tousands of seabirds. It takes 3,5 hours includind round-the-Howe loop.
Sorry, the wind is too strong, waves are too high. I decided to climb to the higher point of Lord Hove - Mt Gower -rising 870 m from the sea level. It is serious climb, not a walk so you must go with a local guide. it takes 8 hour round trip. We started at 7.30 am. After 1 hour using ropes we reached the cliff. Then rain came. After next hour of climbing I was completly wet. In such a moment You must answer the question: what is the reason to go to the top? To became a wet hero? Clouds are around - visibility almost zero. I decided to wait under the cliff i the shelter. After 1 hour still rain. I returned down. Bad luck!
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Mar 14, 2009 07:00 PM Paradise in the Pacific
Can you see Lord Howe on your map? The Lord Howe Island is only 11 km long, with an airstrip and settlement in the middle. On the north there are little hills covered by lush tropical forest. East side offers high, picturesque cliffs and a beach where hordes of friendly fish long up to 1m (kingfish) are coming to be feeded from your hands. On the south There are two high, steep peaks - rising to 777 and 870 meters. OIn the west side there is beautiful lagoon with corals and color fish - you can go there to snorkel or to see this unique world from glass bottom boat.
I was climbing to one of the lowes peaks - Mt Eliza - 147 m for the great views. National Park covers most of the island and they have well-mainained trails so you can walk all day around assuming that you will have enough power in the tropical heat. Paradise. But very expensive for the backpacker - they charge 40 dollars per 2-hours boat tour!
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Mar 13, 2009 07:00 PM To Lord Howe Island...
This is little, lonely and rocky island in the Pacific some 500 km east of the Australian coast.
They have very short airstrip... Only little Dash 8 turbo-prop plane can land here.
Why I am heading there? It is one of very few islands on the UNESCO world heritage list. They put it there because of beauty of the landscape and the unspoiled nature..
After 2 hours flight I saw a rock rising from the blue ocean - really great view! We made a turn around the island, so I saw beautiful lagoon and we landed in the on the short and narrow runway between the geen hills.
The airfare is high, Dash 8 can take only 30 passengers - but now I know that is was worth - that's very special place!
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Mar 12, 2009 07:00 PM Day on the Great Barrier Reef
I stay in Cairns in Caravella Backpackers - they have easy booking via internet and they provide free transport from the airport.
Many competing companies offer day excursions for the snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef. I took a catamaran departing at 8 am and retutning at 16.30.
They took me to two places on the reef... I did snorkel here years ago, but these were new sites and what you can see under the water is just wonderful.
They provide snorkeling gear, breakfast and lunch are also included. Snorkeling you have to protect your back from the strong sun... Great day.
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Mar 11, 2009 07:00 PM Micronesia to Australia...
Chuuk - Federated States of Micronesia. On the main island - Weno there is an old Japaneese lighthouse - not in use now but they say it is great view from there. I wanted to go and to see. Sorry - it is on ptrivate property and there are different owners of the access road - the do not agree let you go through! That's Micronesia!
On the hill nearby there is catholic St Francis Xawier High School - they welcome visitors. Nice Father Bill took me to the roof of the building for the great view. The lighthouse is also visible in a distance. Once it was Japaneese military communication center - it survived American bombings and now is is valuable peace institution.
In the afternoon it was the time to say goodbye to Chuuk. I took a flight via Guam to Cairns in Australia - quite ne w route!
It was 11 pm when I landed in Cairns. Customs are screening here in details for food, wood and shells - dont bring them to avoid the talk I had!
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Mar 10, 2009 07:00 PM Chuuk lagoon... Micronesia
They are selling taro, breadfruit and bananas (1 dollar per bunch) on the bumpy and dusty streets of the capital of Chuuk. Chuuk was German, then Japaneese and during the 2nd world war US forces took here the revenge for Pearl Harbour destroing 40 Japaneese ships sheltered in the lagoon. Today the lagoon full of wrecks is divers paradise.
But I do not dive - it was always to expensive for the backpacker like me. I snorkel - it is also great. I went by the speedboat to the island of Dublon where in the past was located German and Japaneese administration - there are still historic remains to see. The sail was bumpy (no benches in the boat so you sit just on the floor) but the place was interesting. On the way I saw other, little palm-covered islands. I have been to the primary school on Dublon - kids are great here - we took a lot of pictures. And I saw also how they make baskets - weaavings are very nice on Chuuk. Very hot and humid but great day on Micronesia. Do you know what is love stick - the Chuck is famous for the love sticks!
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Mar 09, 2009 07:00 PM Hopping via Micronesia
I know very well this flight. Years ago I started from Hawaii to Make a hop to Majuro then the next one to Kosrae, then another to Pahnpei and next to Guam. Then I changed flight to Yap, next hop to Paaplanu and onward to Manila - Philippines. It ia a great way to visit the islands of Micronesia.
But years ago I missed Chuuk Island, so today I fly Majuro to Chuuk. I did four hops - because the Continental 957 is landing also in American base on Kwajalein...
I landed on Chuuk. Can you imagine huge, blue lagoon surrounded by silwer barrier reef with a dozen or so high, green islands inside? That' s State of Chuuk - the member of Federated States of Micronesia. I landed on Weno island - it is colorful and lively. Speedboats zip back and forth from here to the other islands. Chuuk has also opinion to danderous after dark (Lonely Planet) so I stay in the evening in the hotel, but so far the people are nice to me...
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Mar 08, 2009 07:00 PM Island to island... Majuro Atoll
Pacific. Rebert Reimers Enterprise is very strong on Marshall Island - they have boatts, shops, boats, hotel. They also built a 3-rooms cottage on one of the island surrounding Majuro Lagoon. You can stay there far from the noise of the capital for just 20 USD per person (bargaining necessary). There are good snorkeling and kayaks for use.
To get there you have to take their motorboat. The boat goes along all these little, palm-covered motus - islets so it is by the way very picturesque excursion...
Well, it is the time to go onward from the Marshalls - tomorrow I plan to fly to Chuuk Island on Micronesia...
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