Going round in circles........Tokyo Metro system

The Tokyo Metro and train system needs a mention of it`s own. The rumours are true - it`s very efficient and clean and puts the London Underground to shame. Signs and places are in English as well as Japanese, there are lots of routes, different companies own different lines and it takes a little while to get in the know about the best route. The first journey I took to my tour pick up point took me 1.5 hours. After a very pale grey line was pointed out to me on the map, my second journey was reduced by 40 minutes! But you still have to be prepared to set off early especially during rush hour which is an experience in itself.

Some of the notices that have been translated into English are hilarious: "Don't run for your train as getting stuck in the doors can be both painful and embarrassing". " Do not throw your cigarette down the toilet, the toilets are NOT ONE BIG ASHTRAY".
I have also never seen so many people across all ages sleeping on transport or anywhere they sit for more than 2 minutes - the Japanese must be permanently exhausted as they cat nap everywhere! One tiny, old lady even cat napped on my shoulder through 4 stations - my shoulder was just the right height for her head it seemed!

Konnichiwa!........(Japan)

I arrived in Japan after 24 hours of travelling and no sleep. I also have, thanks to this rotton cold, no sense of smell or taste combined with reduced hearing - I`m a very atttractive package at the moment! I`m hoping that normality will be restored soon so that I can at least taste the food here. I think it`s karma for enjoying myself too much and for sending evil thoughts to the mother who`s child screamed for practically the whole 10 hours on the plane. I think a double dose of Calpol would have helped the situation immensely for everyone. Despite being partially deaf, over tired and not feeling my brightest, I did manage to find my way to the hostel using the train and metro system ....two hours later I arrived - the airport is an hour away and Tokyo is a BIG city! So reasonably proud of myself as a result.

Weather: Cor Blimey! 29 degrees and rising and 74% humidity factor. I can`t decide whether I`m gradually melting or slowly suffocating - a period of adjustment is needed!

Leaving Australasia (boo!).....back to Asia (hurrah!)

I've really enjoyed the time I've spent in Australia and New Zealand and would like to return to the do the west coast of Oz and more of the South Island of NZ. My winter clothes have either been packed off to the U.K. or given to charity as it's back to 30 degree temperatures. So now for something completely different........Japan.

Action woman has been (temporarily) downed.........

I'm laid low a bit with a chesty cough and a bit of a cold. I can't believe it - well I can, I didn't have my scarf on whilst skiing and I felt the wind bite through when I went up to the top of the mountain on the ski lift. And I have been overdoing it a bit. But this is a good thing I'm telling myself as I dose myself with cold and cough relief. Why? Well, if you're going to feel a bit under the weather, then being laid low in Queenstown, NZ is not so bad as I can cough whilst I look at the wonderful scenary! Secondly, it's happened when I've got a few restful days and my immune system is now going to kick start in time for China. That's if I don't get quarantined at an airport because they fear I may have swine flu. I'll dose myself up, tick 'No' to every box on the 'have you had any of these symptoms' questionnaire and cross my fingers!

Aussie and NZ food......

I did have a pie in Oz - nothing special I'm afraid. But Australian cities are full of any cuisine you fancy and good quality coffee is a constant here. So you'll never struggle to find fantastic food in Australia. And they have the wonderful custard apple of course!
New Zealand is similar to Oz in what you can find and most restaurants have lamb on the menu, of course. But a curious sweet they have here is something called Strawberry Lamington. It's sponge dipped in strawberry jam and coated with coconut - really sweet, tooth rotting and tastes pretty awful to be honest!
In my favourite Queenstown, theres a great little place called Lick that does a fantastic leek, bacon and potato soup amongst other things for under 2 quid! And Fergburger is an absolute must here - you can't go back to a lowly McDonalds or KFC burger after having a locally produced prime beef Fergburger - it was so big it took me 20 minutes to eat it and was the business. Delicious!

Auckland....let's move on I think!

I had passed through Auckland twice on my way to other places before I got to spend any time here. So I was looking forward to exploring it a bit. After doing so, my personal view is;

A lot of the things to do in Auckland are actually outside of it and therefore you need to travel.

It holds the prize for the rudest bus drivers so far who seem to view tourists as a pain in the butt rather than helping to keep the Auckland economy buoyant.

And perhaps because I've seen a lot of attractive cities on my travels, compared to them Auckland could do a lot better as major city in my view. Sorry Auckland!

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/PocketGem/NewZealandAuckland#

I need a holiday to get over this holiday........(North Isle Activities, NZ)

For those of you who know that my preferred 'exercise' on a Friday night is lifting a glass of wine whilst ploughing through some Pringles, you'll be flabbergasted to know that in a 5 day period, I did the following:

4km of hiking

2 hours of horse riding - across mountains and valleys, even a bit of a gallop and cantor. The views were fabulous.

100m abseil into a cave - with a 1.5hr hike out of it.

3 hours of skiing - the conclusion being that I'm not a natural skier although I did enjoy my lesson.

It felt as if every muscle in my body ached by the end and after a long Saturday night, even my eyelid muscles were aching! But I have noticed that I now have a tiny bit of definition to my arms. Weyhey! Action woman strikes again but I do think I need to slow the pace down a bit before I hit my China tour.

Message to brother.....I don't think there are many more activities left now that I want to do where I need to name you as next of kin, but will reserve judgement as I think that China as a country may be classified as a dangerous sport in itself.

The Haka!............(North Island, NZ)

As part of our tour, we were taken to a local Maori marae to see performaces of the traditional Haka, Poi dancing and songs by local Maori people. We were then taught the Haka and Poi dancing - but tradition meant that only the boys in our group were allowed to learn the Haka. The girls had to learn to dance and sing with Poi which are small, soft pom poms on string. Boo! We wanted to learn the Haka! But then we heard that, originally, poi were rocks on leather or string. Young warriors used these to help them train their arms and wrists so that they could use their weapons to take a human skull straight off with one swipe!

Great fun to learn and as we could watch the boys do the Haka, we could pick it up anyway. The guys on our tour were able to practice their new found skills in the pub that weekend watching the Australia v NZ rugby game. NZ won.....and some of us ended up getting back to the hostel just in time for breakfast and to catch our bus leaving at 6.45am!
Now the Haka is a much better thing to do rather than belly dancing on a wet Saturday afternoon in the supermarket. Should stir things up amongst the frozen pea section don't you think?
http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/PocketGem/NewZealandMaoriHakaPoi#
http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/PocketGem/AudraSTravelVideos#5379237470956157922

Phew! One hectic week..........Northern Island, New Zealand.......

I've had a hectic week travelling around the North Isle as follows....

Hahei:
After leaving Auckland, we travelled south easterly to the Coromandel region to stay at Hahei, a small coastal town, taking in some quite lovely scenary and a bit of natural hot water pool bathing along the way. A two hour walk to the beach coves here and back got the muscles warmed up - great going down, a bit tough on the legs coming back up!

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/PocketGem/NewZealandHahei#

Rotorua:
Rotorua is geo thermal and the town and area is littered with boiling springs, bubbling mud, geysers and sulphuric steam venting from thermal pools. Its name means two lakes in Maori and the town famously smells of rotton eggs due to the sulphur escaping. The locals are used to it apparently. Strangely though, when you bathe in the pools the smell of sulphur is really strong but it doesn't linger on your skin afterwards.

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/PocketGem/NewZealandRotorua02#

Waitomo:
Waitomo Caves are situated about 2.5 hours south west of Auckland. There are over 300 underground caves scattered about the area. As they take along time to open up at ground level, there is little danger to Joe Public but I believe that local farmers have lost the odd cow here and there!
Now as you have probably gathered by now, I have some bouyancy to dealing with heights. But I have never understood why peope want to go caving. To do the same under water, is my idea of a complete nightmare. It's the whole enclosed space thing I suppose that freaks me out a bit. That's why, when the opportunity arose to go caving here which included a 100m abseil into the cave - twice the height of my bungee jump - well, I just had to do it or at least try. Going down was huge fun! The hour and a half getting back up and out was a lot tougher, espcially the 30ft vertical ladder at the end! Superb experience though and we even got to see glow worms breaking up the darkness when we turned off our helmet lights to see them.

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/PocketGem/NewZealandWaitomoCaves#

Tongariro National Park:
The Tongariro National Park is one of a handful of sites in the world that has dual heritage status for both natural and cultural values. It also sits on a major fault line and has 3 volcanoes, only one of which is classified as dormant. This hasn't stopped the Kiwis building a ski and activity resport on and around them! And a lot of sites were used in this area for filming the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/PocketGem/NewZealandTongariroNationalPark#

Wellington, capital of New Zealand:
There is a pub in Wellington that's called the Welsh Pub and is dedicated to all things Welsh. Hurrah! A must see for me. Our tour leader spoilt the moment somewhat by telling me the building used to be a block of toilets!
What can I say about Wellington? Nice city with a lovely harbour, not spectacular, fairly small with a population of just 320k people, can get round it in a day easily. Oh, and as I discovered, some of the pubs and bars are open until 6am!

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/PocketGem/NewZealandWellington#

North Island, New Zealand......away for 6 days now...

I have a 6 day road trip booked with nine other people of different ages and nationalities around the North Isle. This is going to be an active tour I've been told with a fair few activities to do and lots of exercise. Plus proper hostels and dormitory sharing. Thank goodness I've decided to go back to Queenstown for some R&R as I think I'm going to need it! But I'm looking forward to seeing some lovely scenary and more of New Zealand.

She flies through the air again!....(Kawarau Bridge, Queenstown, NZ)

Queenstown is where bungy jumping was conceived and founded. And it was something I felt I just had to do. On the morning of, it was freezing cold but I wasn't nervous as I'm an experienced skydiver you know. :-))

Then when I was bound by the legs attached to a huge piece of elastic over a 43ft drop, I realised that a small physical difference to my skydive was going to make a massive pyschological difference to a bungee - no one was going to take me with them, I was going to have to jump off by my own steam!

It's unnatural to want to throw yourself off the top of a canyon and your brain is screaming that fact at you as you stand there on a tiny ledge. The longer you leave it I was told, the worse it gets. So on the first count of 3, I trusted that they had done their job properly and jumped.......

.......I screamed all the way down of course! When the boys in the boat came to 'rescue' me at the bottom, the first thing one of them said to me was "I like your boots!"And as I hung upside down like a large bat waiting to be pulled into the boat, all I could think of was that famous Wenglish phrase 'Nice boots those shoes'!

Pics link below as proof and yes, I do have a DVD of this moment too!

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/PocketGem/NewZealandBungeeJumping#

Please take your stance..... eyes wide open in amazement, mouth open in awe.....(Milford Sound, South Isle, NZ)

By the time the third local person had asked me whether I had been to see Milford Sound which is about 3.5 hours south of Queenstown, I got the feeling the place was a bit of a 'do not miss' moment. They call it the 8th wonder of the world here and although it has not been afforded that accolade, it must be a good contender.

It is fiordland with sheer cliffs rising vertically from the ocean and waterfalls tumbling down the mountains. 60 years ago they cut a road through a mountain to gain access to this stunning area without any modern tools available to do so. And I can see why they went to all that pain. It is magnificent.

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/PocketGem/NewZealandMilfordSound#

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/PocketGem/AudraSTravelVideos#5379230241073766674

Don't make me leave, please!.......Queenstown, New Zealand.....

Queenstown was so named because 'it was fit for Queen Victoria' - such an understatement for this little town nestled between a gigantic range of mountains.I have used the word spectacular to describe scenary I have enjoyed along the way to date - believe me I used the word prematurely - the scenary and landscape in and around Queenstown is so utterly exquisite that I'm not ashamed to say that it made me cry.

Due to it being famous as a centre for extreme sports and where bungee jumping all started, I feared that it was going to be a bit of a theme park and have a slight 'kiss me quick' feel about it. How wrong could a person be about the look and feel of this town? It has really great restaurants and coffee houses, the people are so friendly and rightly proud and enthusiastic about their landscape, it has lovely little shops where I could spend a small fortune and all with the added bonus of being able to go and scare yourself witless, sorry, push your own fear boundaries with the many activities on offer. But the real find was a wine shop which is like sitting in a room of a big, old English country house with leather chairs and sofas. They give you a smart card and there are 80 different wine optics around the room grouped into grape type and whites and reds. You can take a 25cl taster and if you like it, there are two further option for a half glass or full glass. On top of this, they provide cheese and salami boards so you can nibble whilst you try what you like. And it's open from midday until 10pm. Absolute bliss and beats the pub crawl that the younger backpackers go on hands down.This is one of the most beautiful and peaceful places in the world to me and the impact it had on me from the moment I stepped off the plane was immense. I don't and didn't want to leave. So much so that I've decided to spend the 4 days I have left in NZ at the end of my Northern Island tour here as I just love this place so much and very much hope that I can come back again and again.

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/PocketGem/NewZealandQueenstown#

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/PocketGem/AudraSTravelVideos#5379399726755122658

I'm in New Zealand!......

Spent just one night in Auckland (will be returning in the future), where the local backpacker bar had a fish racing competition which involved live fish, metal gulleys and straws - just don't ask! It would probably have the animal rights people up in arms over cruelty to goldfish. But is was a really good laugh!
The next morning I headed off to Queenstown which turns out to have a population of just over 10k rising to a grand 45k during peak season. It is also renowned for activities that push your boundaries and this is where I am going to do a bungee jump.
It is worth the trip just for the views and scenary you see coming into land at the airport - it is quite unbelievable and we had the benefit of seeing it bright sunshine with the snow glistening on the top of a mountain range called the Remarkables. If I thought it was cold in Oz, then it was quite clear on arrival that I would need a very warm jacket, hat, scarf and gloves. So I have to go shopping, again. :-))

Losing things......

Before you travel, no one tells you that you need rather a large continguency fund to replace the things you lose, get stolen or break. So far, my tally appears to be (as far as I've realised as constant moving addles the brain):
1 x vest - stolen by a Cambodian maid.
2 x scarfs - lost/left in a bar
4 x Sunglasses - 3 x broken, 1 x lost.
1 x dress - left in Singapore
Driving licence - god knows where it's gone. I think it could be sitting in a post office in Brisbane.
1 x watch - fell off in a taxi (realised afterwards)
8 x other items of clothing/underwear - after being laundered in Asia in the equivalent of Ganges river water, they fall apart, lose colour or just lose the will to live on you.
Documents and passport - these are constantly on a mission to disappear within my bag or rucksack - I know they are in there somewhere but the pesky things are so good at hiding from me at the wrong moment.
Dignity - lost about half a dozen times so far.
Being self conscious - every day, major exception being when I watched having a wee by women in a Cambodian loo! I was pre-warned it may happen but it was still a shock!
Brain cells - doing well, only a few million so far.
Sanity, consciously and unconsciously - ongoing problem. :-))

Anyone planning to travel long term - you have been pre-warned.

Sidney who? Not Sidney who, Sydney Australia!....

By the time I got to Sydney, I knew 6 people who are living here - the power of travelling and meeting people.
Melbourne has a perfect street plan and grid whereas Sydney is a bit of a hotch potch of areas and has grown organically and by accident or necessity. So it took me a bit longer to get my bearings here, especially as there are many transport options ranging from expensive to free. But once done so, it's relatively easy to get around and see the main sites. So I got to see the Sydney Opera House (by day and by night) and the Harbour Bridge which have been a goal ever since my father showed pictures of them to me when I was a child.
Special mention here goes to: Cousin Amanda - such a trouper to come down from Brisbane - Mark and Rob who took me out on the town in my one and only party top and helped me to lose a few million brain cells (through alcohol), my new scarf (it was sooo nice and warm!) and probably my dignity. But a superb brekkie and the sights of Bondi Beach made me forget the inevitable hangover the next day. And also to Emily, who has an amazing story to tell of personal triumph over adversity. Thank you so much for your great company.
Where do I go from here? New Zealand.

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/PocketGem/AustraliaSydney#

Dear Brother, no need to worry but you're down as my next of kin (sent by text).....(Sydney)

It's not something I thought I'd ever do, but after speaking to people during my travels that had done it, skydiving went on the 'maybe if the opportunity arose' list. A weather forecast for Sydney of 2 days of clear, blue skies and Sydney Skydivers not far from my hotel triggered a decision in me - although at 7am the morning of, I was questioning my own sanity. Three hours later, I was throwing myself out of a plane at 14,000 feet (attached to someone more experienced of course), then there was 20 seconds of free falling down to just over 5000 feet - it felt like 2 minutes before that chute opened! - then we floated back down to terra firma over the fields and roads. Yes, I have a DVD to remind me of the moment. Yes, I did a fair amount of screaming and for somebody who likes to have control over her environment, putting my life totally in someone else's hands was a major challenge for me. But it was totally and utterly brilliant and I'd do it again.

Check out my very unflattering jumpsuit!

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/PocketGem/AustraliaSydneySkydive#

"I'm an Audra too!"........(Melbourne airport)

When you have an unusual name you come to terms with the fact that people mishear and get it wrong. As a child it makes you stand out, as an adult I've got used to being called Andra, Audrea, Andrea, Auda, etc. and spending a good deal of time informing people that if they insist on calling me Audrey, then I'm going to have to kill them.
What you don't expect is to rock up at some airport across the other side of the world to where you live and excitable airline staff to shout "You're an AUDRA! How GREAT, I'm an Audra TOO! LOOK Marg, LOOK Dave, look at her passport (waves my passport around), she's an AUDRA!". And then go on to question me as to why I think I'm called it - her father liked an actress called Audra Lindley too it seems, she was in a film called Splendor in the Grass - whilst I listened to the huffs, puffs, coughs and moans from passengers behind me trying to check in for a rapidly approaching departing flight. Ah, bless! I've found a friend. We need to stick together us Audras, we're a rare breed!

Multi-cultural Melbourne.....(Australia)

Melbourne promotes and prides itself on being modern, cosmopolitan, multi-cultural and artistic and it is all that. Similarly to other Australian cities, the city centre is small and accessible with great transport links with the suburbs spreading out for miles around it. It also has the impressive Eureka Skydeck, the world's tallest residential building, which allows a 360 degree view of the city, 88 floors and 300 metres up. This is an attractive city, lots of artistic things going on with great bars and restaurants, and everything works to plan which for long term visits or living is what you want. And it's well worth seeing. I easily slotted in and was mistaken for a Melbournite a few times by other tourists - which was part of the issue for me - it was like being in the U.K. I guess I've got used to be slightly at odds with my environment and when you don't have to try to make yourself understood or seek out information, you don't need to interact with the people and therefore the heart of a city. If you gave me a choice between Ho Chi Minh city and here, I'd still go for HCM, I believe. Maybe I'm pining a bit for the madness of Asia. China may rid me of that feeling!

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/PocketGem/AustraliaMelbourne#

Hey man, why's my fur, like, pyschedelic?....animal facts (2)

Koala bears only spend about 4 hours a day awake. There are over 900 different kinds of eucalyptus tree in Australia of which koalas will only eat between 8-40. So you could say they are fussy eaters. But there is apparently something in the eucalyptus trees they do eat that causes a drug like/hallucinogenic effect on them. So basically, koalas can only be awake for 4 hours a day as they are permanently stoned.

Simply stunning....Great Ocean Road (Victoria, Aus.)

Praying that it wouldn't snow, we set off on our trip along the GOR after a nights stay in a hostel. The local pub next door was a worrying mix of 'The League of Gentlemen' ("Are you local?") and the pub from an American Werewolf in London. Maybe our imaginations were running away with us but, as I ended up being put in a cabin attached to the pub for the night, the group were laying bets as to whether they would see me at breakfast!

What can I add to what's been said in all the travel books about the Great Ocean Road. Even in intermittent sunshine, the scenary is spectacular, wild, untamed and gorgeous. My pictures do not do it justice but I managed to get a great one of the sun setting over the famous Twelve Apostles (see link below) which made the whole trip for me.

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/PocketGem/AustraliaGreatOceanRoad#

Some facts for the pub quiz.....or how to ensure people avoid you at parties....

What makes a kangaroo a wallaby? It' all about size apparently - wallabies are roos which are under 20kg.
Groups of kangaroos are called mobs.
Female kangaroos can put their pregnanicies on hold, usually during times of low food and drought - how useful would that that be as a human, eh?
Kangaroo farts are methane free - they have a special bacteria in their stomachs which stops them producing harmful methane - they are therefore one of the most environmentally friendly animals on the planet!

I had a bit of time on my hands on the bus!

Fancy a bit of a hike?....Grampian Mountain range (Victoria, not Scotland)

Just been to the Grampian Mountains, a spectacular range that over 450 million years ago was a seabed. This was a time when a degree of fitness was needed and I found that the last two month's diet of regular alcohol had taken its toll. Although tiring, I managed over 8km of hiking over a 24hr period, up steep and rocky mountains. At times, I did think my lungs were going to pop at times as our guide was an ex-athlete who was like a gazelle over the rocks and rock faces. But we were rewarded for doing so with some breathtaking views and scenary. And we were so lucky with the weather as it had been forecast to be rainy and snowing. It was chilly but the sun shone. Our next stop in this region featured a waterfall and a walk in and over a rainforest track. Aching but appreciating how a bout of really good exercise makes you feel, I've made a mental note to get a fitness plan in place when I get home that does not (only) involve the Wii!

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/PocketGem/AustraliaGrampianMountains#

Great Ocean Road here I come..... (Victoria, Australia)

About to embark on a 3 day road trip from Adelaide to Melbourne through the Grampian Mountains and along the famous Great Ocean Road. Means lots of fresh air and exercise, which is sorely needed by my body! I've also been promised some spectacular scenary - how exciting! Hope the weather holds out.
In the meantime, I attach a few videos I've managed to load up from my time in Asia which are a bit of fun.

Monsoon Rain at Koh Phenang:
http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/PocketGem/AudraSTravelVideos#5379415835853941810
My motocycle ride to Sam Hill
http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/PocketGem/AudraSTravelVideos#5379408485375158482
View from Sam Hill. For some reason, I forgot to turn off the video so it drifts of at the end- blasted amateur film makers, eh?!
http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/PocketGem/AudraSTravelVideos#5379418673088931074

Bejesus, she's eating what?!..Adelaide, Australia

If you are in a rush you can walk around a lot of the major sights in Adelaide city in about 3-4 hours. When I landed there it was really quiet for a major town and smaller than I expected. It has some nice cafes and restaurants and some really lovely parks and walkways. Traditional stone architecture and wooden balconies on buildings take you back to the early 1900's. There is a street with what seemed like a disproportionate number of karaoke bars, so I guess karaoke is big in Adelaide! If I manage to get back this way, hopefully it will be summer and I can enjoy the beaches and a large amount of vineyard tours. :-))

Adelaide is also where I first ate kangaroo. We dined at a place that proclaimed itself as being voted the "Worst Vegetarian Restaurant in Adelaide". There were two Irish guys at the next table whose faces were a picture of horror when my meal was announced as it arrived. Kangaroo meat tastes like fillet beef, is particularly good with a sweet chilli relish and, apparently, has very little fat to it as it is all muscle. So a lot more healthier than your average cow steak. One minute I'm feeding them and the next they're feeding me! What?! Oh come on, I had to try it!

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/PocketGem/AustraliaAdeleide#

Feeling tired....Hit me with a Jager Bomb please...

Jager Bombs are 1 part Jagermeister (pronounced yager-meister), a 35% proof herbal liquer, mixed with Red Bull and are very popular over here. A potential heart attack in a glass... and my cousin, a qualified doctor, 'force fed' them to me on my last night in Brisbane. It was messy.