Brisbane

I had two stints in Brisbane (due to the fact I visited Cairns) I stayed with Matt Doherty (Doccers) who plays for my home club Trentham and is currently in Brisbane playing for the Uni. I shared his room at Brisbane Backpackers.

Brisbane was probably the least productive place i have visited in terms of getting out and about seeing the sights of Australia most days were spent recovering from the night before. I did discover the many drinking areas of Brisbane such as the Valleys, Southbank, Caxton Street and the West End (where I stayed). The most memorable day other than the 1st Test Match was experiencing a true "Sunday Session" a true Australian event where everybody seems to just get on it! It was like a bank holiday in the UK. I spent the said Sunday in the Boundary hotel on there roof top sun deck slurping firengines (vodka and cherryade to me and you).

The nicest part of Brisbane was defiantly the South Bank. The Aussies really do have it sussed when it comes to public open spaces again lovely public swimming pools, lush grass areas and BBQ's all spread out along the river bank... a few hours where spent here enjoying the sun. I also managed to conquer another fear of mine that being rollercoasters and screamed like a girl when I rode the Green Lantern coaster at Movie World.

The First Test

Basically all of the lads in the hostel congregated nice and early we got suitably drunk on boxes of wine (GOON) and headed to the stadium where the lions fans completely out sung and drunk the Aussies.The only downside being it was like being at a Wales home game.... the welsh were everywhere!!!

I had average seats and was sat next to an Aussie women who felt the need to pat my head every time Australia scored needless to say she was suitably rewarded with "SHE FELL OVER" when Curtley Beale missed the last kick of the game!!!! ahahahahahahaah BRILLIANT!!!

Big shout out to Doccers for sorting me out and all of the rugby lads playing for the uni!!!

Pics FYI

Cairns

Cairns

Having spent 4 nights in Brisbane (blog to follow shortly) with a friend from back home I decided to take a trip to Cairns. I booked return flights for $200 with jetstar. The two hour flight was over soon enough and I arrived at Gilligans Backpackers Hostel in the center of cairns at around 9am.

Cairns is extremely laid back place and fortunate enough to have sun while the rest of Australia is experiencing its winter in full. Gilligans is best described as a club 18 to 30 hostel, great night life, on site pool, gym etc and my nights out I always finished in Gilligans.

Fortunately the South Sydney Rabbitohs were in town playing the Titans so I ventured to the stadium to watch my first ever rugby league game. Great atmosphere and great game! I ventured back to the hostel took advantage of the happy hour and arranged to meet Chris and Tom (along with their friends) who I originally met in Bangkok, a great night was had by all!!

A quick hostel change meant I was now on the Cairns Esplanade. A great public park area with BBQs, swimming pool, wifi and to quote Lonely Planet "lots of bikini clad women" what better place to stay. Although seriously what a great place to chill out, relax and recover from the night before?? 

I decided to have two productive days and booked day trips with new friends Tilly and Hilda

For one of those I caught the train along the "scienic railway" to Karunda. Karunda is a small town originally used as a holiday destination in the summer by locals to escape the heat... Most people visit by train and take the cable car back down. The views looking out over the rainforest and ocean were amazing!

The second day I spent at the Great Barrier Reef and plucked up the courage to do a scuba dive. WOW what an experience... To say I was nervous was an understatement and I am so pleased I did it! Kneeling on the ocean floor looking up and around at the reef and fish was AWESOME!!!

Finally the last night in cairns meant I could do what I do best. PARTY!!!! After a trip to the bottle shop for some Bundaberg and coke a few card games everyone was ready for a big night at Gilligans!

Cairns was amazing made even better bumping into pals Chris and Tom (who were the first people I met at the start of my trip... Pretty mad thinking about it).

Role on the first test match.

Pics FYI peace and love Jack

Perth

Perth

Saying goodbye to SE Asia was hard the great people I had met the cheap booze, great weather, crystal waters etc. My first port of call in Australia was Perth which is the largest city in the state of Western Australia (WA).

In brief WA is massive!! It would be the worlds 10th largest country if it stood on its own and with a population of only 1.8 million people it was certainly different vibe from the busy and bustling streets of Hanoi, Bangkok and Hong Kong. Upon my arrival the first thing I noticed was the cold and rain!!! Yes RAIN!!! Instantly feeling disappointed I had to really work at Perth before I started to enjoy the place. My first four nights I stayed in the CBD. The hostel was full of FIFO workers from the gold mines of which WA is famous for.... This made meeting like minded individuals hard but I did find a few drinking partners from the UK both on there one week break from the mine.

I then spent my remaining time in Perth in Mindarie at a family friends home who offered to put me up! This was brilliant...home cooked food, great bed, free use of the washing machine and fabric conditioner (by now most of my clothes are pretty shabby)!!  But best of all home made Staffordshire Oatcakes with a full English Breakfast amazing!! Once again a big thank you to Simon and Jane for your hospitality!

Daytime:

With the use of a car (thanks simon) I drove both to the North and South of Perth and explored its huge open beaches such as Cottesloe, Scaraborough and Mullaloo. All of these beaches are accessible from the Ocean Reef Highway.

I also explored Freemantle and visited the prison which was built by convicts and then used as high security prison right up to 1991. The prison was closed due to its lack of running water and wait for it... Foul drainage system. Prisoners had to "slop out" their toilet buckets into drains in the exercise yard which up until the early 1970s had no cover from the 40 degree heat whatsoever. It also performed executions by hanging. The tour was really good and very informative.

Saturday I visited whiteman park with simon and his family. I walked through the kangaroo enclosure and even managed to feed some before before looking other native animals along with a sheep shearing show which was actually really good and funny!

I even managed to squeeze in a game of golf although I wasn't up to much the municipal course was fantastic and complete with resident kangaroos and parakeets. Check out the video what a great swing!!!

I spent one Sunday watching the Western Force play the Waratahs at the Nib Stadium obviously complete with numerous beers. Thanks joe for your company!!

Nightime:

Most nights in Perth for me centered around the Northbridge area. The bars were not packed and the vibe was quite chilled the pick of the places had to be The Shed and Mustangs both sort of western themes places but rammed full of students. A good Irish pub was  also visited after watching my first live basketball game; Australia v China at the Perth Arena. Thanks again Simon for the tickets.

I had the pleasure of watching the Lions smash the Western Force at the Subiaco oval (most of the aussies left after 70mins ahhahaha) which was followed perfectly by a curry... Awesome.

Overall Perth was a massive shock to the system at first but Australia is a much more civilised country than any of the others I have previously traveled. I have basically been holidaying for the last two months and Australia is like the UK but with sun (in my opinion) therefore making my traveling experience of Aus more real life because SE Asia was just mental. I can 100% see why people move to Aus... Massive open beaches and parks great weather and I can't wait to start exploring the east coast and watching more lions games.

Peace and love pics FYI

Jack.

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

The city has the hustle and bustle of all other SE Asian cities but still carries the advantages of being a fairly recent former British colony. By this I mean Hong Kong has all of the things that I've being taking for granted back in the UK. Such things are; English road signs, being able to flush a toilet, being able to flush toilet paper, warm showers etc. The

The city is amazing the skyline itself is mind blowing. My days were spent using the MTR "Mass Transit Railway" to explore the areas of Wan Chai, Kowloon, Mong Kok (where there is a whole street devoted to trainers "Sneaker Street) and Causeway Bay. Jamie had visited before and knew his way around pretty well. The highlight of my stay other than the rugby was taking the tram to the top of "The Peak" and being above the massive sky scrapers looking out across the harbour from a 360 viewing deck was again amazing!!! We also has dinner at the top at Bubba Gump shrimp house (based on the film Forrest Gump) waiters came to your table when you displayed a "Stop Forrest Stop" sign pretty funny! All of this whilst looking out over the HK skyline AWESOME!

Our last night in HK and for me SE Asia was spent at Aqua cocktail bar looking out over the harbour from the 19th floor and watching the laser show. This followed by dinner in Soho and then drinks in Lan Kwai Fong was unreal. Lions fans everywhere with crazy up market night clubs made for a great night! My newly acquired paisley shirts went down a storm as did the numerous vodka jellies....

Game Day: Lions v Barbarians
I had to meet Adam a friend from the rugby club who had our tickets  and a few bits from home for me. We started in Champs sports bar then pub crawled through the CRAZY Wan Chai before heading to the amazing HK Stadium. The atmosphere wasn't the best as it wasn't a sell out but we smashed the Ba Ba's which is all that matters. The no booze in the stadium rule overcome by Adam pouring mass amounts of vodka into a plastic coke cup again awesome. After the game we headed to Wan Chai had food and partied the night away BRILLIANT!!

Pics FYI.

Hanoi and Ha Long Bay

Hanoi

Returning from the Sapa tour to Hanoi I had two days go and see the sights before being Joined by my friend from back home Jamie. Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam and in my opinion it seemed to be as busy and bustling as any other major city in SE Asia. However the only difference being that Hanoi is controlled a lot more by the government/police. This can be seen/experienced every day at midnight when policemen are ferried around the streets of Hanoi in a little sooty and sweep van to close the bars and usher the drinkers back home or to their hostels.

I stayed at a modern hostel in the French Quarter of Hanoi which was packed full of narrow shops and bars etc... my favourite being the Vietnamese coffee shops. I spent the 2 days walking around the city and ventured to the lake, central market and cathedral. I steered away of the popular prison tour because I felt had seen enough about death and torturing people at my previous destinations. Due to the police the night life is pretty tame, everyone sits around on the small plastic chairs drinking cheap beer until midnight and then cops come and send you home. I was no different and found a few cool places to drink with a Swedish guy Martin before heading back to the hostel by motorbike taxi (this was stupid error) long story short the driver pickpockted my phone, however I did manage to keep hold of the Sombrero I acquired earlier in the night so all was not lost!! Must have been a funny scene me on the back of a moped with a 2 ft sombrero on. Ah well lesson learnt I suppose.

Ha Long Bay

Jamie's arrival led to swiftly booking a Ha Long Bay cruise. One of the seven natural wonders of the world it had to be done. We settled on a mid budget trip which included the four hour bus journey to and from Hanoi  to Ha Long City and one nights accommodation on the boat with food included. The trip was amazing and we visited caves, Ti Top Island and a pearl harvesting farm. The island was the best part for me... after climbing the 200 steps to the top of the islands viewing point we suitably cooled off with a swim accompanied by sea eagles. A truly amazing sight. The food on board was also excellent and included fresh prawns, clams and crabs. Although the return cruise to Ha Long Bay was blighted by a thunder storm it was still impressive to be in Ha Long Bay. Needless to say with Booze being expensive on board the smuggled bottle of rum also helped me to feel terrible as well as the said thunderstorm.

Upon return to Hanoi we had another night to kill before leaving Vietnam for Hong Kong. After a brief TV interview with a local vietnamese TV channel we spent the evening around the old quarter in small bars with live music and loads of Gin and Tonic and Rum and Cokes. Overall Hanoi was great but the lack of sights and early finish time made it my least favourite place in Vietnam but Ha Long Bay was defiantly the best!

As always pics FYI. Peace and Love JH