tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70422197997472376932024-03-19T13:10:47.400+00:00Backpacking ClaireAn Account Of An Incredible Gap Year.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042219799747237693.post-16508661570260503912012-08-04T20:40:00.000+01:002012-08-04T20:40:07.717+01:00Hitchhiking In Bulahdelah<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">So it was day two of our ‘epic’ road trip and we were still
less than three hours outside of Sydney and stranded in a layby in the middle
of nowhere. On the up side, we were able to finally call a mechanic and get an
opinion on our broken bus; that opinion was – it’s fucked!! We needed to
replace a fanbelt or something and it’s a really old car so they need to get
the parts, long story short it was going to take four days and $200 each to get
our baby back on the road. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So Ryan and
Kelly the two most responsible people on our trip, set of with the mechanic to
a nearby town. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">With the bus gone and only two, one man tents for shelter we
came to the conclusion that some of us would have to set off and find
civilisation, whilst the others stayed put to guard our stuff and fend for
themselves in the middle of nowhere layby. So off set all of the girls plus
Harry; our map said that there was a town called Bulahdelah around 10 miles
away so we decided to see if we could make the journey by foot. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">After about 15 minutes we decided that this was an
impossible task and stuck out our thumbs, a creepy man with a handlebar
moustache pulled up and asked if we wanted a ride, we asked him how far the
nearest town was and he said that it was an hour away (lie) and that he didn’t have
room for all of us so he would just take the girls!! Needless to say, there was
no way any of us were getting in that car! Then an entirely less disturbing French
man pulled up in a campervan and said that he would take us to town, but he
also didn’t have room so we left team Canada behind; as they didn’t really want
to jump in the back of a strangers van. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">We arrived in Bulahdelah 10 mins later completely intact and
thankfully not raped, we started trying to entertain ourselves, a task that in
this town is utterly impossible as there is literally just a chip shop, a bank
and a hardware store so we hung around by some public toilets waiting for the
Canadians to come and save us from boredom. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">We waited for hours, then when they came we got some food
and found out that the boys had come up with a complete cock n bull story about
that turkey, in actual fact they had – got lost, been picked up by the man who
owns the fish and chip shop, been given a turkey and wine by him as well as the
rotisserie and been dropped back by his wife!! This man has got to be the loveliest
man on the planet, because he then started ringing round for favours, trying to
find us somewhere to stay. He was unsuccessful but lovely none the less. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">I saw a sign in the hardware store saying “ farm work needed
– hiring two people in exchange for food and accommodation” so we rang them and
asked if instead of two people would they mind eight, and they shockingly said
yes but we had to stay in the shed! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Peter and Caroline the farmers picked us up in town and
dropped Harry back to the side of the road as he was sick of being a girl, they
then took us to their farm, fed us some delicious food and then set us to work
picking weeds, we then made our own bed in the shed, where we would be
sleeping. It was not the best of living situations as it was freezing cold and I
had to keep throwing lemons at Hanna to get her to shut up and stop snoring! Then
they had an outside radio system to keep the foxes away. It started blasting
out creepy music that sounded like what they played in Schindlers List when
they were rounding up the kids, I became scared that they might come and round
me up – thankfully I made it through the night and although very tired and cold
I had not been sent to a gas chamber!!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042219799747237693.post-30427230606903393882012-07-13T22:39:00.000+01:002012-07-13T22:39:09.762+01:00The Breakdown, P. Diddy and The Bush Turkey!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQiGPzuF8eRZK6KcwVz7PgTbeFofBBXZ4yBZMIHXeedYCEU2v9GBZBGCT1yxiWwXb9uzSVOItVhoqn5T76SSmx_7PFB6d8nx8m2WUdSYY_FO8Caom6k1CW7V8gsYj7A6T5YXVBLGyGwot7/s1600/206196_10150251141511567_683831566_8100906_495162_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQiGPzuF8eRZK6KcwVz7PgTbeFofBBXZ4yBZMIHXeedYCEU2v9GBZBGCT1yxiWwXb9uzSVOItVhoqn5T76SSmx_7PFB6d8nx8m2WUdSYY_FO8Caom6k1CW7V8gsYj7A6T5YXVBLGyGwot7/s640/206196_10150251141511567_683831566_8100906_495162_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">It is the first day on a road trip of a lifetime and we had
set of in the evening, we drove through the night playing drinking games and
creating ‘the list’ of utterly ridiculous tasks to complete on our journey:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Everyone must be sick from a moving vehicle<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Pick up some hitchhikers<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Drink 100 boxes of wine<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Stage a kidnap<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">5)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Get a pet<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">6)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Create a bus song<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">7)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Put a hand in a kangaroos pouch<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">8)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Kill something<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">We had drove for a couple of hours north and made it to Lake
Macquarie, were we settled by the shore for our first night’s sleep, if you
could call it that; we had 11 people and 11 backpacks in a Toyota Hiace. Three in
the front, Harry was on top of the bags (I think), Hanna and Jess in the first
row, me in the gap between the seats, Adam on the next row, and three more in
the back with 5 of us sharing one seat for a foot rest. This was truly the most
cramped night’s sleep of my life, and then it starts, Kelly, Hanna, Ryan and
Jere have got to be the most horrific snorers I have ever heard, it was constant.
I sat on top of my backpack slowly rocking and crying waiting for the sun to
rise. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ZMZWEgzkuJaSAH-ALBproro0uzbdM_BMukjkctjQzlLup9ZUKfabQlLEcOrcCFQEuI_XY7Itc5qsSlAl9jcW0iENTXHgfWpxf4_kux14DTYZJYRal82yI2MvwpSkCdrPfWPa1C173Ro3/s1600/282431_10150251141341567_683831566_8100905_5826004_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ZMZWEgzkuJaSAH-ALBproro0uzbdM_BMukjkctjQzlLup9ZUKfabQlLEcOrcCFQEuI_XY7Itc5qsSlAl9jcW0iENTXHgfWpxf4_kux14DTYZJYRal82yI2MvwpSkCdrPfWPa1C173Ro3/s640/282431_10150251141341567_683831566_8100905_5826004_n.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">When the sun finally rose I was grumpy as shit, and was then
presented with a knob (processed chicken and ham flavoured tube of meat – that doesn’t
contain any ham) and cheese sandwich, yummy. We got all of our stuff together
and set off on our journey heading towards Port Macquarie. Around an hour into
our trip the front of the bus makes a huge bang and the engine starts to cut
out so we pull over, this seems relatively normal as we usually have to stop
every 30-60 mins to let it cool down, but we couldn’t start the engine again. We
made some signs on a towel, asking for a mechanic but no one would help us, we
also tied someone to a tree, just for shits and giggles. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">After an hour we admitted defeat, and thought that we
were here for the day as it was a Sunday and no were was open, so we pushed our
car into the nearest layby, this was our new home until that bus was fixed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">So this was it, we were stranded in the middle of
nowhere, literally miles from civilisation in a layby. We had limited food,
water and alcohol and it was beginning to look a bit bleak, so we formulated a
rather silly plan of action. Jere and Harry would hitchhike to the nearest town
for supplies, the girls would set up camp and Adam and Ryan would go for a
drunken hunt in the forest to see what they could find. Jere and Harry left
first, and then Adam and Ryan; dressed in stupid hats and armed with a pocket
knife and a box of wine they headed out to the forest. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Me, Clare and Jess decided to collect some
fire wood and ripped down a tree with our bare hands, which was more to pass
the time than anything else. </span></span><br />
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</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">After a couple of hours, Jere and Harry returned with
some people who asked us to watch their budgie for them whilst they took the
boys to town, which was apparently 12miles up the road. Task number 5 had been
achieved; we had acquired a pet budgie named P. Diddy that we looked after in
our bus for an hour or so, until they returned with no food or water but $60
worth of wine! <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7CHB0hLaJBgWjjggFAONtaY3YQFTFy1s7Gp5__CU1_oC5E8mfU66_jGt8GyfP7eXpSa6vFtlI6jN0ossFL2YlrhDQ6S-XHyzKWRspZT1jZe74IZ3bxwbsy1U-5byfkTkD-Eb9C7vzzyQw/s1600/223014_10150251146071567_683831566_8100987_3852599_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7CHB0hLaJBgWjjggFAONtaY3YQFTFy1s7Gp5__CU1_oC5E8mfU66_jGt8GyfP7eXpSa6vFtlI6jN0ossFL2YlrhDQ6S-XHyzKWRspZT1jZe74IZ3bxwbsy1U-5byfkTkD-Eb9C7vzzyQw/s640/223014_10150251146071567_683831566_8100987_3852599_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">In that hour we had received a rather worrying text from
the guys in the forest, Ryan wrote “we are lost, and I have been stabbed by
Adam, but we are ok” he then turned off the phone! As the sun began to set we
all began to worry about the guys in the woods, as it was a massive forest full
of wild animals and they had promised to be back before now. I was especially
worried, as I knew that Adam was terrified of being in a forest at night
because of The Blair Witch Project, so a group of us headed into the woods
after them. We walked for an hour screaming their names to no reply; they must
have gone in deep. When it got dark the boys convinced us that we had to go
back in case we got lost as well. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">We were all panicking and discussing what to do next,
should we call the rangers or wait till morning? Then we received another text “we
are lost, but we have caught a bush turkey and have found a road we will be
back soon” after the initial relief that they were ok we all thought “how the
hell did they catch a freaking bush turkey”!! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">When they finally returned; they had apparently been
picked up by some local Christian farmers who spoke to them about scripture and
then took them to their farm, where they were having a party. They plucked, stuffed
and half cooked the turkey, gave the boys a rotisserie and some booze patched
up Ryan’s hand from were he had been stabbed and dropped them back at camp. I
can honestly say that this day was genuinely the most bazar day of my life so
far, and it was also the first time I realised that Oz is very different to the
UK – in the UK this would not happen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042219799747237693.post-69293037562009072482012-07-05T15:31:00.002+01:002012-07-05T15:31:47.476+01:00Last Nignt In Brado's<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpVLWj-yNOXggo8aM_irh8VFTX4lcVLtYDPGVADSUzxyg6wZf-Rw2nIGmT08nnfgi70UPuE4v0To9rEFYb-aevF2olLVJqyD_YWCzY9aR56qZD97p_qCc1BAB_VrqUAREIg0aOMnLBeXdr/s1600/263521_2051138190456_1004534571_32299223_621191_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpVLWj-yNOXggo8aM_irh8VFTX4lcVLtYDPGVADSUzxyg6wZf-Rw2nIGmT08nnfgi70UPuE4v0To9rEFYb-aevF2olLVJqyD_YWCzY9aR56qZD97p_qCc1BAB_VrqUAREIg0aOMnLBeXdr/s640/263521_2051138190456_1004534571_32299223_621191_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">So; since my trip to The Blue Mountains, life had been
relatively uneventful, just, life in The Cross, Selling light bulbs in the week
and heading to Bondi and out on the lash on the weekend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a great time but not much eventful to write
home about. I became bored of this lifestyle; after all I am supposed to be
traveling! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Around a month after the trip
to the Blue Mountains some people were taking that bus on an epic road trip up
the coast – so we decided to join them. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">If you are following this blog regularly I will give you a
quick rundown of the people going on this trip, as I will be mentioning them a
lot:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">There is Me and Adam: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the only couple on the trip.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS497Ja0YI-vBd4LTJ9dmqhZvhlj-lPJgJdhWVaHJ2rFXG30OcOQYflFByA77wFnBNAbVh0hOG0RrHPVnhJVTXyyq8FpGpT900STTvyjgRZ-sgYcQBVFMaCapFwNDP6bcGL6Scd4lNxd9R/s1600/261874_242905512391155_100000151230762_1144419_4660093_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS497Ja0YI-vBd4LTJ9dmqhZvhlj-lPJgJdhWVaHJ2rFXG30OcOQYflFByA77wFnBNAbVh0hOG0RrHPVnhJVTXyyq8FpGpT900STTvyjgRZ-sgYcQBVFMaCapFwNDP6bcGL6Scd4lNxd9R/s640/261874_242905512391155_100000151230762_1144419_4660093_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Ryan: Is a small man, with a very large and eccentric
personality.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS99jJIk-PKdX0girrz2sbLZ_rmPOz0J7kdtOJK0bs89xwRrlm8X50ZjqUKMY3Zpvfr2F7R1MtYQFz58WwPnJRb3GEPq16BKptsmdydRgc3UnbtCnF6EDbAPf2NA3EuPGH8QSqJGqhy-Sl/s1600/268657_2038504634625_1004534571_32280120_611825_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS99jJIk-PKdX0girrz2sbLZ_rmPOz0J7kdtOJK0bs89xwRrlm8X50ZjqUKMY3Zpvfr2F7R1MtYQFz58WwPnJRb3GEPq16BKptsmdydRgc3UnbtCnF6EDbAPf2NA3EuPGH8QSqJGqhy-Sl/s640/268657_2038504634625_1004534571_32280120_611825_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Jere: A Finnish ‘manly man’ who is way too loud and loves to
drink way to much – but in a good way.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnUPrWnL2frwk6qC_NnErL6eDVdGe0mSLoby2KtDgZKnHiWVItEFlemkxxMw9EXMoxgMgWEyogWVoGjt_ZQF5uyeu-NKYkqhhp_vdAMFiXk41JQrEPHDea8geN_BgEmne8WpWuRApP6Ncz/s1600/271025_10150692122455414_757760413_19558823_789654_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnUPrWnL2frwk6qC_NnErL6eDVdGe0mSLoby2KtDgZKnHiWVItEFlemkxxMw9EXMoxgMgWEyogWVoGjt_ZQF5uyeu-NKYkqhhp_vdAMFiXk41JQrEPHDea8geN_BgEmne8WpWuRApP6Ncz/s640/271025_10150692122455414_757760413_19558823_789654_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Arwel / Harry: Is lovable – His real name is Arwel but someone
said he looked like prince Harry – so he rolled with it and I never knew it wasn’t
his name for months.</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Hanna / Jess / Steph: Are team Canada, Hanna is the mother
hen, Jess is just awesome and Steph can sing.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHyIKRsaCh178UywrWF1XIP0ktsGgjrAyy2CmbYIPlMVw6-FqXIg9Hga1kXvT_K0hyphenhyphenWrmer5DiVtdT84ETT8gjftcHBQ-_DtTBfSrpstoUdFm6Jh9t2mGAzaMOKr6XRKoYyi92TInf84qq/s1600/285542_10150313131045851_507645850_9676414_1659886_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHyIKRsaCh178UywrWF1XIP0ktsGgjrAyy2CmbYIPlMVw6-FqXIg9Hga1kXvT_K0hyphenhyphenWrmer5DiVtdT84ETT8gjftcHBQ-_DtTBfSrpstoUdFm6Jh9t2mGAzaMOKr6XRKoYyi92TInf84qq/s640/285542_10150313131045851_507645850_9676414_1659886_n.jpg" width="476" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Kelly: Is our driver and the sensible one – unless she has a
drink!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Clare: Is blonde Clare, I’m brown Claire – not to
imaginative as it just corresponds to our hair colour</span>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Katy: very cool eccentric girl with awesome hair.</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Our last night in the Hostel was pretty ridiculous, we were
all very drunk and it was our last night so we ‘urmm’ let loose. I had acquired
a master key at some point and could access every room in the hostel – this resulted
in, me finding Adam cuddled up I my bed with Harry, me trying to raid every
room in the Hostel to finally settle in some poor girls bed (who then just
joined me at 5am, as though this was normal) and another girl who has a tendency
to wet the bed, well, she peed her friends bed. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">We wake up in the morning slightly bleary eyed and ready to
start our adventure, but there is just one big problem. We are waiting for the
car to be picked up in Bondi as it was being held there until the registration
had been paid off. So at around 5pm, after we had completed the very complex
task of figuring out how 11 people, 11 backpacks, 2 giant teddy bears, tents,
cooking equipment, food and a kite board would fit into a Toyota Hiyace, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>we were on our way; and so a road trip of a
lifetime begins.</span> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">I just wanted to do a post dedicated to all of the fabulous locals that live in The Kings Cross area in Sydney, it most probably holds the largest population of colourful characters in a small area on earth; From the weird and wonderful to the slightly scary you can find them all here, this is my small rundown of the best and arguably the worst characters to see:<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">My favourite is the black transvestite, whose name is apparently Kelly Fabuloso!!! He / she can be seen on Darlinghurst Road form around 12pm until 12am, usually on the bench outside of the Sugar Loaf, sporting a spectacularly tacky dress but always looking fabulous - of course. This is my favourite person always happy and usually dancing he / she once proposed to my friend Harry as he looks kind of like prince harry, and apparently he / she was apparently the princess of Nairobi cast out from the family, as he / she fell in love, he / she was then abandoned at the altar and is now on the lookout to marry a prince!! On a separate occasion he / she also told me that he / she had been a runner up on Australia’s Next Top Model!!! Love it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">There is of course the old lady, who randomly joins peoples tables in bars and has a little rant - oh how I miss her, my favourite line from her was “F**k you lot, I’m going to be late for my taxi to Darwin” as she left the bar! That is one expensive taxi ride.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">I cannot forget Animal – king of the pimps! One morning me and some friends popped out for some breakfast and found ourselves at a table full of pimps and a Marilyn Monroe impersonator, I was asked if I wanted to be a stripper and ride on his bike – I politely declined. You will recognise Animal if you are from Sydney he is the crazy looking dude on that Harley. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">The crying girl – I have never met or seen this one, but I have heard her repeatedly outside of my window at night time just screaming “its night time, its night time” …. Yes we F*****g know it’s night time and we are trying to sleep. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Finally there are the classics who I will never forget: man with singing deer robot, man dressed as old pregnant lady, prostitutes, and junkies and of course Terry Tibbs. I love and miss seeing every one of these people every day – they are all just so god damn intriguing to watch. The Kings Cross locals are awesome.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</script>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042219799747237693.post-27138216049729392242012-06-25T22:07:00.002+01:002012-06-25T22:07:35.520+01:00The Blue Mountains<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Whilst living in Sydney I made two visits to The Blue
Mountains; the first visit was an innocent affair, me, Adam and Martjin caught
a train from Sydney to Katoomba, and then walked down to the three sisters. The
Blue Mountains do look incredible – not so much the three sisters which is
essentially a rock formation, but the sheer vastness of it all; Bushland that
stretches for miles on end. Walking down to the base level at the bottom can
take hours but you will see some truly stunning scenery; cascading waterfalls,
a possible koala and beautiful bushland. There is a train that takes you back
to the top again and I would suggest that you take it, because I didn’t and the
walk back to the top was arduous and, funny enough, not as enjoyable as the
walk down.</span> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">My second trip to The Blue Mountains was not nearly as
innocent a little visit. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><a href="http://backpackingclaire.blogspot.com/2012/06/blue-mountains.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042219799747237693.post-1285871062777600662012-06-20T22:48:00.001+01:002012-06-20T22:48:34.355+01:00Roommates<br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjruZwJI2N5C5uM52-nSlQ2ec-D5Lue6ThVXgV_VzYknDMiSA8n_O_sEB9c7201o8emg5hLr63E7_lif9eEn7hs12B05OVlJ5H_JzG385P9rgGAZ6M6qs62WNfNGzWpPW5NeuiHARXnkTB0/s1600/262365_242908965724143_100000151230762_1144481_6611683_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjruZwJI2N5C5uM52-nSlQ2ec-D5Lue6ThVXgV_VzYknDMiSA8n_O_sEB9c7201o8emg5hLr63E7_lif9eEn7hs12B05OVlJ5H_JzG385P9rgGAZ6M6qs62WNfNGzWpPW5NeuiHARXnkTB0/s640/262365_242908965724143_100000151230762_1144481_6611683_n.jpg" width="640"></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">After a few days of living in the hostel we were told that we
were going to be moving into a smaller room, as our room was having its door
fixed. We were going to be moving into that room with our new long term roommate
Dee, and our on again, off again roommate Martjin. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just thought that I would post about these
two people as I would be living with them for a considerable amount of time,
and they will inevitably become a part of my travels. Soo how do I describe
Martjin and Dee - well I think that I will start with Martjin. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><a href="http://backpackingclaire.blogspot.com/2012/06/roommates.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042219799747237693.post-32966736229036021192012-06-14T23:23:00.000+01:002012-06-15T12:25:27.621+01:00Anything But Clothes<br>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">On my second day living in Brado’s “the party hostel” I felt
slightly embarrassed about the night before, I mean I did get really really
drunk and have to get carried home – and my boyfriend did, kind of throw up all
over the hostel. I tell myself that “Today is a new day, and I will not embarrass
myself”. The next thing I know the cleaners come into the room to find me
huddled in a blanket, looking like death asking me what I plan to do about
Adams sick – and now I’m embarrassed already! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Other than the sick issue my day goes without a hitch, I spend
another day being all touristy and doing touristy things around Sydney. Upon
return to the Hostel Tom and Liam tell us that everyone is going out and that
we can’t wear clothes!! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></div><a href="http://backpackingclaire.blogspot.com/2012/06/anything-but-clothes.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Sydney NSW, Australia-33.873651 151.2068896-33.8868345 151.1871486 -33.860467500000006 151.22663060000002tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042219799747237693.post-66892789306442636752012-06-11T23:40:00.000+01:002012-06-15T12:25:49.581+01:00Selling Lightbulbs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">When a potential employer asks me “what is it you were doing whilst you were in Australia?” I like to reply I was an Energy Consultant advising CEO’s of mega corporations on energy efficiency, or I was part of a direct marketing team focusing on energy efficiency within the B2B market or maybe I was simply a lighting specialist. From any of these “job descriptions” you may think that I was doing something clever, important and high paid – you would be wrong. Although each description is technically correct it in no way describes the job at hand. Let me take you back to my first day:<br><br> </span><br>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><a href="http://backpackingclaire.blogspot.com/2012/06/selling-lightbulbs.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Sydney NSW, Australia-33.873651 151.2068896-33.8868345 151.1871486 -33.860467500000006 151.22663060000002tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042219799747237693.post-38287548375109175702012-06-02T15:26:00.001+01:002012-06-15T12:26:35.576+01:00Kings Cross – Brado’s Backpackers and Goon!!<br>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">So after we checked out of the Hostel with the no alcohol policy and out of his uncle’s house with a compulsory alcohol policy we had dwindling funds. At this point you might say that we were hobo’s with around $100 each, Adam with no job and me with one but not getting paid for over a week. So I got onto the internet and found us the cheapest hostel in Sydney – Brado’s Backpackers. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Brado’s was situated in The Kings Cross witch from what I heard was the red light district of Sydney – and if you ask a local the most dangerous, disgusting place around. Sounded awesome so that’s where we went. Coming out of the train station at Kings Cross I can see why the locals might think the place horrible, streets lined with night clubs, strip joints and fast food restaurants, heroin addicts and Sydney’s local crazies pouring out of every brothel; there was transvestites in fluoro pink tutus and a prostitute singing “let’s talk about sex baby, let’s talk about you and me” either very sad or a genius PR stunt – not sure which. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></div><a href="http://backpackingclaire.blogspot.com/2012/06/kings-cross-brados-backpackers-and-goon.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Sydney NSW, Australia-33.873651 151.2068896-33.8868345 151.1871486 -33.860467500000006 151.22663060000002tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042219799747237693.post-64461308997842405032012-05-23T17:38:00.000+01:002012-06-15T12:26:57.745+01:00Charity Collection<br>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">So when we landed in Sydney we had approximately $500 between us – for a year- this is very bad times. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we joined TAW (Travellers At Work) and applied for every job under the sun I heard back from the first job within the hour and then from another later in the day. So off I popped to the tacky Chinese shop to buy an interview outfit; a black dress – blazer and shoes. We are now down to $450 this had better be worth it!! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">So interview number 1 The Green Guys Group – it’s my first meeting with Ben, he asks me some sales questions – I give good answers – I get the job. I hot foot it across town to Zest Marketing. Now I was really excited about this job as I studied Marketing and they were asking for an Account Exec. This was an extremely miss leading job title to say the least. There is me and another girl in the interview room – both in high heels. We get chatting and find out that we are both backpackers – her name is Hope. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">In comes a man in shirt and tie – he has the crazy eyes, but I let this go. He starts asking us if we drink and what are strong points are, not two questions that usually go together but OK!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">He then asks us to walk with him down to Central Station with him as that is where his team is working. This is not sounding too much like an interview for an Account Exec. So I and Hope follow this man with the crazy eyes down to Central Station – a 15 min walk in heels. On the way my concerns that this may be a crazy man are confirmed when he is laughing wildly at his own jokes and making some odd noises in general. Then I realise what this is. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></div><a href="http://backpackingclaire.blogspot.com/2012/05/charity-collection.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042219799747237693.post-6867969361596645712012-05-20T16:13:00.000+01:002012-06-28T14:43:18.079+01:00Pubs - Pubs & Other Drugs!!<br>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">So in a bid to escape from the terribleness that was a hostel with a no wine policy we head to a relative of my boyfriends that can remain nameless, alright for the purpose of this post I will call him Steve. So Steve’s house was the very opposite of a Hostel with a no wine policy in fact when around Steve, it very much compulsory that you drink wine; for Steve you see is an alcoholic. </span></span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></div><a href="http://backpackingclaire.blogspot.com/2012/05/pubs-pubs-other-drugs.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1Sydney NSW, Australia-33.873651 151.2068896-33.8868345 151.1871486 -33.860467500000006 151.22663060000002tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042219799747237693.post-67777714054197720552012-05-19T17:32:00.000+01:002012-06-15T12:28:02.119+01:00Sydney - Crap Hostels - And a Dirty Abbo Man<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">So after an awesome time in New Zealand we touch down in Sydney – and to get me in the mood I watched Reef on the plain (it’s a film about people being eaten by sharks in Oz) bad idea! Anyway we land and get in a shuttle bus to the hostel that we had booked. We are spending our first few days in Sydney in the YHA on Glebe Point Road in Glebe. </span><br>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Glebe is an awesome area not exactly central but only a 30 min walk to the centre and with constant buses. The area has a cool artsy hippy vibe – with vegetarian restaurants and cool cafes – bookstores and boutiques line this street. The locals would not look out of place at a festival. </span><br>
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span><a href="http://backpackingclaire.blogspot.com/2012/05/so-after-awesome-time-in-new-zealand-we.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042219799747237693.post-39766635555096503352012-05-19T13:11:00.000+01:002012-05-23T13:03:13.329+01:00Goodbye Memoirs Of A Backpacker<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGzjfkreIa9Fe6pxeG_oikQZKhcFfmmE-PHTw2g8AfjrFLZISgkBQ3SmrwGzCLlXIKCpWHXGAVG1WN2ZMnhQlHZjX9CGTahA2Qjz_oNdcAOECWu6HuviVpjyTCPJl-AQk3H49Gn8svyHBX/s1600/222669_221117231236650_100000151230762_1024821_7364397_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGzjfkreIa9Fe6pxeG_oikQZKhcFfmmE-PHTw2g8AfjrFLZISgkBQ3SmrwGzCLlXIKCpWHXGAVG1WN2ZMnhQlHZjX9CGTahA2Qjz_oNdcAOECWu6HuviVpjyTCPJl-AQk3H49Gn8svyHBX/s320/222669_221117231236650_100000151230762_1024821_7364397_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ok so I am not finishing this blog however I have decided to change the name of it. Two reasons number one Memoirs is difficult to spell and number two – and probably the main one as reason one is lame – is that I want to make this blog a bit more personable and to do that I need a personal name. For now it is goodbye to Memoirs Of A Backpacker and hello to Backpacking Claire! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Let me know which name you prefer?</span> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</script>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042219799747237693.post-69621535638389464202012-05-16T00:36:00.000+01:002012-05-23T13:04:34.156+01:00The Bucket List<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>After reading Adventurous Kate’s – Problem with the bucket list I became inspired to make my own. After taking Kate’s advice I have eliminated all of the stuff that I should want to do and am only keeping what is the most important to me. I have an aim to complete all of his in the next 8 years.</strong> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><o:p><a href="http://www.adventurouskate.com/my-problem-with-bucket-lists/">http://www.adventurouskate.com/my-problem-with-bucket-lists/</a></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Drive route 66 – America</strong>. I have not been to the states yet and this is high on my list. I want to have a real, All American road trip from LA to Chicago. I just need to learn how to drive.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>See Christ The Redeemer</strong> – Brazil. I want to chill out in the Rio sunshine and see a true Carnival; I always imagine this city to have the most amazing atmosphere.</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>See The Northern Lights</strong> – everyone thinks that I’m nuts but Iceland is sounding incredible to me, gorgeous scenery, volcanic geezers and the world’s most beautiful nights sky – it doesn’t sound so crazy to me.</span> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>See The Great Wall Of China</strong> – it’s not so much seeing the wall but that I loved Asia so much the first time around that heading to China seems only natural.</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Tokyo </strong>– This city intrigues me, a mixture of old Eastern Asia and the Modern West all set amongst the backdrop of Mt. Fuji – sounds amazing. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzEjRBpCHuYVcKx98pOdxc6xqxS0-f8WLe03eczDxHz87i1r8U_O3DR4fEu4w2VI19e57wCpOcuv3kvYzPYdhR1F8R0eUqTvwQ6S7tqpc2Fn3D5iFMntLIHGJg0d3Z7pXLLex3pTvi2iHL/s1600/mt+fuji.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzEjRBpCHuYVcKx98pOdxc6xqxS0-f8WLe03eczDxHz87i1r8U_O3DR4fEu4w2VI19e57wCpOcuv3kvYzPYdhR1F8R0eUqTvwQ6S7tqpc2Fn3D5iFMntLIHGJg0d3Z7pXLLex3pTvi2iHL/s320/mt+fuji.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Dive The Great Barrier Reef</strong> – I don’t know how I managed to spend 9 months in Oz and not do this – but what can I say I spent all my money on Goon. I will be heading back to Oz later this year so hopefully I can cross this one off soon.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Travel The UK</strong> – you may think this odd; but why take the time to see the rest of the world but not explore what is in your own back garden. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">If you like this list please let me know if you have anything on your own list:</span></strong> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</script>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042219799747237693.post-3626081799880871332012-05-14T22:15:00.000+01:002012-06-15T12:28:29.629+01:00Coromandel and Hot Water Beach<br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGwCNZWZ6_2YRpBK83dzdAaM_3qVpCJTRSx9-KH2j8xgi5Qv5UX-NWCHNr69ihsJJ0KLcQMt13EA7wRi_JYGJTunU-Epow_zkOftxdx19V-UqPH9UL9CshePSh2Q2B8Eoc8xpIyGslSwEf/s1600/NewZealand-CathedralCove.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGwCNZWZ6_2YRpBK83dzdAaM_3qVpCJTRSx9-KH2j8xgi5Qv5UX-NWCHNr69ihsJJ0KLcQMt13EA7wRi_JYGJTunU-Epow_zkOftxdx19V-UqPH9UL9CshePSh2Q2B8Eoc8xpIyGslSwEf/s320/NewZealand-CathedralCove.jpg" width="320"></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">So after a couple of lack lustre days back in Rotorua we decided to head to up to the Coromandel it is a cluster of beaches on the north with amazing sights such as Cathedral Cove and Hot Water beach. The only problem was that the weather was horrific rain, wind and was bitterly cold – but sights have got to be seen no matter what the weather, and hopefully Hot Water Beach lives up to its name!</span></span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><a href="http://backpackingclaire.blogspot.com/2012/05/coromandel-and-hot-water-beach.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1Coromandel, New Zealand-36.761287 175.4981278-36.812171000000006 175.41916379999998 -36.710403 175.5770918tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042219799747237693.post-75108561548429384582012-05-10T17:10:00.000+01:002012-06-15T12:29:03.098+01:00Zorbing<br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQsZzjZjMFHmJoqMHKpAADRxQFjKq-Fld2QO8toLcvXMNvu2B8Sjt_vGP6mdK8xdHVRYwwttdN8KONPtTIy2qQRX_0ROeXUGTV5kfskliq5xNss3wgNyGjF5H6aApakeWog9t5PpbS9IBn/s1600/Zorbing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQsZzjZjMFHmJoqMHKpAADRxQFjKq-Fld2QO8toLcvXMNvu2B8Sjt_vGP6mdK8xdHVRYwwttdN8KONPtTIy2qQRX_0ROeXUGTV5kfskliq5xNss3wgNyGjF5H6aApakeWog9t5PpbS9IBn/s320/Zorbing.jpg" width="320"></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">So after an amazing time chilling in Taupo’s hot pools we head up beck up to Rotorua to go Zorbing. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity and you just have to do it when in New Zealand – right – wrong. </span></span><br>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></div><a href="http://backpackingclaire.blogspot.com/2012/05/zorbing.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Rotorua, New Zealand-38.1368478 176.2497461-38.3366778 175.93388910000002 -37.9370178 176.5656031tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042219799747237693.post-78855513088350171742012-05-09T00:37:00.000+01:002012-06-15T12:29:39.957+01:00Hot Water Falls<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGgQ9MAj6c4girWcnKiQIdKGH0cgglb07Abqa1q1SWT_bIh4cBS-5OIeARd4V3zPiZhTPcGxvjiBZxvMN4Ij6YxY7qHmJdS6jAb1tCZnkTyqBiPsMvD84XsFcfnmEKNWnSCNELI6qAkCeM/s1600/223362_221120497902990_100000151230762_1024897_3078345_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGgQ9MAj6c4girWcnKiQIdKGH0cgglb07Abqa1q1SWT_bIh4cBS-5OIeARd4V3zPiZhTPcGxvjiBZxvMN4Ij6YxY7qHmJdS6jAb1tCZnkTyqBiPsMvD84XsFcfnmEKNWnSCNELI6qAkCeM/s400/223362_221120497902990_100000151230762_1024897_3078345_n.jpg" width="300"></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">So after the amazing day at Franz Joseph scaling the glaciers we had to start the arduous task of hotfooting it back up to Auckland to catch a flight because we didn’t really think of flying out of Christchurch. If you are going to be traveling NZ - fly into one airport and out of the other!</span><br>
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span><a href="http://backpackingclaire.blogspot.com/2012/05/hot-water-falls.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Taupo, New Zealand-38.6856924 176.0702098-39.0823339 175.4384958 -38.2890509 176.70192379999997tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042219799747237693.post-63765429177736331212012-04-30T20:15:00.000+01:002012-06-15T12:30:02.214+01:00Glacier Walking<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSUJQZeLPifwDifGjaTqx5NMv6P1HuML6biYxoVmMbFbhawcpUXNKR6FAZiJtagMLDNcchc5vPkjluyBCV0fa0_XiQY_MDfOLB-lM-8qKjjcoI7yVZVb1avBuo3bN_OupWeokQPkL_GFuw/s1600/228116_221116774570029_100000151230762_1024795_3926032_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSUJQZeLPifwDifGjaTqx5NMv6P1HuML6biYxoVmMbFbhawcpUXNKR6FAZiJtagMLDNcchc5vPkjluyBCV0fa0_XiQY_MDfOLB-lM-8qKjjcoI7yVZVb1avBuo3bN_OupWeokQPkL_GFuw/s400/228116_221116774570029_100000151230762_1024795_3926032_n.jpg" width="400"></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We wake-up in the morning, tired and aching from the day before but are excited and ready for another action packed day. Today we are climbing a huge ice glacier up a mountain. </span><br>
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span><a href="http://backpackingclaire.blogspot.com/2012/04/glacier-walking.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Franz Josef Glacier, Westland National Park, West Coast 7886, New Zealand-43.4666667 170.1833333-43.558861699999994 170.0254048 -43.3744717 170.34126179999998tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042219799747237693.post-65045461056216693012012-04-29T20:35:00.000+01:002012-06-15T12:30:57.445+01:00White Water Rafting And UFO Sightings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu3nBv7Ba7PXcDYfggLR1vsCX2gqBldPhCacdafOpOvr_T9AbhHR5J1SU5Qqvylg1AdhnfGzCIFwPBdL82ulHAcWscA0y8A-IelOPip3wc6dR5eAf5TtM6ls-5iStFhIpAyVbp5gTvopp6/s1600/227356_221116657903374_100000151230762_1024791_5838081_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu3nBv7Ba7PXcDYfggLR1vsCX2gqBldPhCacdafOpOvr_T9AbhHR5J1SU5Qqvylg1AdhnfGzCIFwPBdL82ulHAcWscA0y8A-IelOPip3wc6dR5eAf5TtM6ls-5iStFhIpAyVbp5gTvopp6/s400/227356_221116657903374_100000151230762_1024791_5838081_n.jpg" width="400"></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br></span><br>
<span style="font-size: large;">So we arrive in Queenstown – New Zealand the adrenalin junkie’s paradise. The whole place is picture perfect, an awesomely cool town with a backdrop of snow-capped mountains. I don’t know why but the whole town reminded me of something from a Tony Hawk game, it just had some sort of cool Americana skater town vibe.</span><br>
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span><a href="http://backpackingclaire.blogspot.com/2012/04/white-water-rafting-and-ufo-sightings.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Queenstown, New Zealand-45.0311622 168.6626435-45.0760497 168.5836795 -44.986274699999996 168.74160750000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042219799747237693.post-2653736770421028492012-04-24T08:59:00.000+01:002012-06-15T12:31:37.938+01:00The Day I Climbed A Mountain And Lost My Pride<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYssymv5IHBLwRtECMNcyrDMiQfGVaJtgLEoZVNVJOtHro1R05faW8f9LnKKOnhFCI8YcmmvoAuRX6CqQjK7QEdlZXxhW_RVIoPERYH2uC-uFgJsr_Kx_Ip1rUv4Of6i0XJ8e3PqC-Tl9a/s1600/230399_221116707903369_100000151230762_1024793_4477315_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYssymv5IHBLwRtECMNcyrDMiQfGVaJtgLEoZVNVJOtHro1R05faW8f9LnKKOnhFCI8YcmmvoAuRX6CqQjK7QEdlZXxhW_RVIoPERYH2uC-uFgJsr_Kx_Ip1rUv4Of6i0XJ8e3PqC-Tl9a/s400/230399_221116707903369_100000151230762_1024793_4477315_n.jpg" width="400"></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We arrive in Wanaka buying our Easter Eggs on the way I got a Crunchy, Adam got a cream egg. Anyway we arrive and are all set and excited for skiing – except there is one tiny little problem! There’s no snow : (</span><br>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><a href="http://backpackingclaire.blogspot.com/2012/04/day-i-climbed-mountain-and-lost-my.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Wanaka, New Zealand-44.6968866 169.1314258-44.787184599999996 168.9734973 -44.6065886 169.28935429999999tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042219799747237693.post-45902211293861834492012-04-23T16:23:00.000+01:002012-06-15T12:32:05.950+01:00The Crazy Man<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimtxqdPm7ebytRpbdUazwPKOlXs3MatxAxY7YLiUkBFWk-d5rJICvrKopuJ88Ddd6L_AHdhkyV0Tp6Ly8AWQWzKcoEi71CQkrOVOl6rdnpk1G7L0UkaS4iQ-WZsbO63yvfLg_t1XZDjgYK/s1600/Creepy+man.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimtxqdPm7ebytRpbdUazwPKOlXs3MatxAxY7YLiUkBFWk-d5rJICvrKopuJ88Ddd6L_AHdhkyV0Tp6Ly8AWQWzKcoEi71CQkrOVOl6rdnpk1G7L0UkaS4iQ-WZsbO63yvfLg_t1XZDjgYK/s400/Creepy+man.jpg" width="400"></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">So during our many swaps of the campervans we decide to stay at this random farm just outside of Christchurch to wash all of our stuff – just in case!</span><br>
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span><a href="http://backpackingclaire.blogspot.com/2012/04/crazy-man.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Christchurch, New Zealand-43.5320544 172.6362254-43.7162454 172.3203684 -43.3478634 172.9520824tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042219799747237693.post-77632727120128087152012-04-22T18:00:00.000+01:002012-06-15T12:32:57.703+01:00Bed Bugs!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOcykvnXMMdGw8CsgF_iesrea1c9d3ETG10fcPuOQSN1-c0BNxym881J5v4yF7wb9tisEHVb1HVpg9MuPb7Jpt69PC1Ukhr1cy1RBRqrOIM54YZsVqEvuXQ99tfsLoqzgKOqzcb8jFfc-i/s1600/230908_220899187925121_100000151230762_1022790_7964790_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOcykvnXMMdGw8CsgF_iesrea1c9d3ETG10fcPuOQSN1-c0BNxym881J5v4yF7wb9tisEHVb1HVpg9MuPb7Jpt69PC1Ukhr1cy1RBRqrOIM54YZsVqEvuXQ99tfsLoqzgKOqzcb8jFfc-i/s400/230908_220899187925121_100000151230762_1022790_7964790_n.jpg" width="400"></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br></span><br>
<span style="font-size: large;">So around the time that I was in Christchurch is around the time that I first discovered that bed bugs are real!</span><br>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I had always thought that they were some sort of mythical creature like unicorns or dragons and that the saying “night, night don’t let the bed bugs bite” was kind of like the warnings of the Boogy man i.e. fictional. They are not and oh boy, do the bed bugs bite!</span><br>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><a href="http://backpackingclaire.blogspot.com/2012/04/bed-bugs.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Akaroa, New Zealand-43.8036657 172.9682621-43.8953452 172.8103336 -43.711986200000005 173.1261906tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042219799747237693.post-46742571274027410642012-04-21T12:49:00.000+01:002012-05-23T13:11:30.960+01:00Christchurch A Ruined City<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0yupv-xevSQ3bfzl6NjLpUOYW_M9vzcmUZyUQhPvqDwFdtrHku0bv_TkACHMqhsJHeKKdypXgt2f6bxW1Fyw4VPo0rYClLCz0uPZetQa_JuhRrnbuuephKckG1_UW4Gb2qeGJqoeN0zCn/s1600/227399_220900421258331_100000151230762_1022816_7247495_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0yupv-xevSQ3bfzl6NjLpUOYW_M9vzcmUZyUQhPvqDwFdtrHku0bv_TkACHMqhsJHeKKdypXgt2f6bxW1Fyw4VPo0rYClLCz0uPZetQa_JuhRrnbuuephKckG1_UW4Gb2qeGJqoeN0zCn/s400/227399_220900421258331_100000151230762_1022816_7247495_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">After 3 fabulous days in Kaikoura we decided against all advice to go to Christchurch; it can’t be that bad right? Oh it was, it was shocking. On entering the city we found we could go no further than the outskirts as the centre was closed off. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Even the outskirts were affected I saw a church turned to rubble the sides fallen off people’s houses, all their possession’s destroyed. The most shocking thing that I saw was the side of someone’s house had fallen off and you could see a fully furnished nursery. The cot was full of rubble.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It was sobering to think what must have happened here. At home we never really think about the effects of a disaster because it is always so far away, seeing it makes me wonder if I could actually ever cope with such a tragedy!</span><br />
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<a class="twitter-follow-button" data-show-count="false" data-size="large" href="https://twitter.com/memoirsofabackp"><span style="font-size: large;">Follow @memoirsofabackp</span></a><br />
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</script>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042219799747237693.post-58334174911107739722012-04-21T02:04:00.000+01:002012-06-15T12:34:04.432+01:00Kaikoura And Playing With Seals<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0OpCy5aerjWi8J41aSLGxB9nmG0supeAVRUHZah39qEe0td-AnfcI8QYOEUem1mmZnkr1vutnVNPasK6jsJGO51Vr5vVIVp-3qg4vVQNhXnWvax6NNtSlrPnlYD_2GTAo-uOxTI6k7TUG/s1600/223277_220900284591678_100000151230762_1022813_2324101_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0OpCy5aerjWi8J41aSLGxB9nmG0supeAVRUHZah39qEe0td-AnfcI8QYOEUem1mmZnkr1vutnVNPasK6jsJGO51Vr5vVIVp-3qg4vVQNhXnWvax6NNtSlrPnlYD_2GTAo-uOxTI6k7TUG/s400/223277_220900284591678_100000151230762_1022813_2324101_n.jpg" width="400"></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We have no plans and no clue - about what where doing and where we are going on the south island; so to get a tip off from a guy about heading to Kaikoura - this was a God send, otherwise we would have missed this little gem!</span><br>
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><a href="http://backpackingclaire.blogspot.com/2012/04/we-have-no-plans-and-no-clue-about-what.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Kaikoura, New Zealand-42.4008174 173.681386-42.7760564 173.04967200000002 -42.0255784 174.3131tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7042219799747237693.post-4228674847408074772012-04-20T16:59:00.001+01:002012-06-15T12:34:26.296+01:00Wellington<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdQ874eYwkAFZCBh4fwUGyYxBsC3UaWgJGE2OrBiGt02MWTH-pGBYHzKW4N8ct_spLUafKUXL_YXQIupIXkLyAqPdNMvX3Qh9Fe0tnnA9K0sZXG0T-A5V_yMG-zEKtGMhS-x2qnRuF4iYI/s1600/228383_220899571258416_100000151230762_1022799_4087380_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdQ874eYwkAFZCBh4fwUGyYxBsC3UaWgJGE2OrBiGt02MWTH-pGBYHzKW4N8ct_spLUafKUXL_YXQIupIXkLyAqPdNMvX3Qh9Fe0tnnA9K0sZXG0T-A5V_yMG-zEKtGMhS-x2qnRuF4iYI/s400/228383_220899571258416_100000151230762_1022799_4087380_n.jpg" width="400"></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We travelled to Wellington over two days stopping at some place with a black sand volcanic beach that was covered in sticks it was Magic! </span><br>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We got to Wellington for Adams birthday. We spent the day at Wellington Zoo which is a shockingly good zoo considering its size. They had new born chimps they were adorable, they also had the most ridiculous sign posts I have ever seen in my life, “Don’t feed the monkey, the monkey will die” accompanied by pictures.</span><br>
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><a href="http://backpackingclaire.blogspot.com/2012/04/we-travelled-to-wellington-over-two.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Wellington, New Zealand-41.2864603 174.776236-41.4773693 174.46037900000002 -41.095551300000004 175.092093