On from Ularu

So since leaving Ularu and the big ol' pebble we went on to Alice springs- just to let you know that this seems a lifetime ago- and in to alleged civillisation again.
Lets just say Australia has lots of problems. For a start there is a complete lack of respect for law in the outback. Yes I know this is the outback but there have been instances of people blowing up the police HQ because they didn't like the rossers interfering with there lives. Yes the outback the place where until a couple of years ago you could still buy explosives alongside you milk and bread. Whilst on the lines of corrupt Ozzy life if you are interested look up current corruption in queensland police. The sunshine and goldcoast police are in the shite for corruption, drug dealing and drinking confiscated liquor down in the police HQ.
Anyway back to the point- Alice springs has a large Aboriginal population- some of these people only came in contact with forigners bout 40 years ago and still refer to the time before trousers. The Australian 'white' people have treated the aboriginal people like shit and there fore these people haven't been intregrated into society v. well. They have food coupons and housing provided and still use the bush as a source of food, life etc and so the majority don't have jobs and sit about not doing anything all day (I don't think the 'white'people want to employ them either). It's a bit depressing. They have low literacy rates, bad health care and are generally left to their own devices. This is all in a westernised country as well. It was all a bit uncomfortable. Money running out will continue later ......

Essex Girls, moths and scorpions.

So the Kings Canyon Hike was actually pretty good. That evening we stayed at a campsite. ;-). Lets discuss the facilities. We satyed at the same place- Yulara base camp and 'resort' for 3 nights I think. So when we stopped earlier in the day at a toilet break and on the north south border off we all went excited at the prospect of a toilet. Hole in the ground is what we found. Ok so needed the loo it'd be good enough. Checked under the seat to be sure I was safe alls good. Then there cam a shout from the lads loo next door. Greg had found a red back purched behind the lid- didn't check there did I.
Once at the camp we had proper loo's tres good. That evening alls well, there isn't a multitude of flies just silly moths but you can cope with them. Then they found a scorpion in the girls loos! Yuck. Next morning the moths had decided that moth suicide was the game and were dead in their thousands all over. Over the few days there were more spiders, moths and huge lizzards- but the lizzards are pretty cool.

We were woken really early 5am to go up to the look out over kata tjuta and ularu so off we went and once the sun had risen we were greated by fresh blueberry pancakes - hard life living in the outback.
That day we walked the vally of the winds which is through a small area of Kata Tjuta- it's probably the best of all the walks as it is a bit hilly but also there were some amazing views and just a general nice hike.
Now for the Essex Girls rant: So they booked a tour which stated camping, hiking etc and they brought suitcases- not so bad ok. Then they moned like hell about the accomodation, wore plimsoles for hiking hills with lots of shale and slippy bits without doing up their laces. So we were all walking happily along- not fast- and we had to keep stopping and waiting for them to catch up and moan abit more. They always wanted people to do things for them and didn't help with anything. Proper little princesses! AAGGHH.
After the vally of the winds we went on operation budgie smuggler. For any of you who don't know budgie smugglers are the tiny mens swimming trunks that Ozzies seem to be obsessed with.
So operation budgie smuggler was a plan to sneak in to the 5 star hotel at yulara resort rather than use the crap communal pool. We thought that Rob the guide was joking and had some deal with the hotel but I'm now not too sure. So we did a reconosonce (spelling???) around the outside of the hotel and were shown the side and main entrances and then over a period of time we were dropped off in two's and three's to sneak into the pool side. It was quite nice and there were free fluffy towels and everything which is excellent after 5 months of crappy travel towels.
Operation budgie smuggler over then we went back to the base camp for a proper barbie and to watch the sunset over ularu.
Our final night we sneaked up to the lookout with our swags and slept at the lookout - at the top of a hill so that we could watch the sunrise over ularu for a final time without having to get up.
Just a quick note- the Essex girls didn't come to the lookout and stayed down in the camp and tried to sleep early which was silly cus everyone stayed there drinking and it was quiet on the hill. HA HA HA.

So on the final morning we walked around the base of Ularu which was good- it's a flat walk but a suprising 9km around the base. It was quite good and Rob told us some of the creation stories before we set off. We walked at our own pace this time- no waiting for moaners... Yippie.

just to let you all know we didn't eat bush tucker actually we were fed like kings. Our proper outback evening we had paella (can't spell) and we also got things like steak, pasta, fajhitas etc. Well done Rob our guide who was awake V early ever day, cooked drove and even drank with us at night- god knows when that man slept.

Post photo's soon.
Toodle pip. Hol

Something Positive??????

Hello y'all out ther.
Sorry for the lack of communication from us both but we haven't written anything for a while due to a lack of positive comments to share.
So eventually we moved on from Sydney on the 4th of Jan to melbourne and had a wander around there for a few days- t'was ok. Then moseyed on down to Adelaide and in to a horrid, HORRID hostel in 43 degree heat and no aircon- Ok we thought lets open the window for some breeze. The window opened on to a consevatory like corridor so that really helped.
So after scorching weather in adelaide we commenced our trip to the red centre.
Off we set on a 6 day tour throught the outback towards Alice Springs.
First stop Coober Peddy a mining town where the majority of people live in caves cus it's so hot. Very strange place but we got to sleep in a cave and see a cave house and go into the opal mines, which was pretty cool.
Then onwards (just to point out we drove bout 10 hours the first day and bout 6 the next- Oz is huge) to the middle of nowhere to camp out in our swags. If you don't already know a swag looks like a body bag with a camping roll in the bottom. So we camped out under the stars which were excellent, in the middle of the dessert for a night and pee'd in bushes! Yuck! Alright for the blokes.

The next morning was shit as we all woke to be covered in millions of horrid flies so we made a hasty retreat.

We then travelled for hours and hours on the bus to some mountain ranges had a look at the huge vastness of the place and drove on for hours and hours again. The next day we hikes up heart attack hill in kings canyon and down into the waterhole, which for once was actually full as it had rained loads in the last few weeks.

Just to let you know the desert doesn't look deserty- it's quite green at the moment and covered in trees and some evil spiky grass called spinifex.

More later......

So now for my small world story. This evening we met up with a lad who i used to go to college with bout 8 years ago. Knew he was here and so on. So he was telling us that a couple of months ago he was really skint and that his mum had said that her mate who lives in Oz would put him up if he was ever in trouble. So he had to make this really awkward call to this woman he didn't know to ask for a free room for the night. He was on about this woman called Liz who is English but her husband is an Ozzy. Turns out its Kev's mum. It just clicked when he mentioned his mums friend who had been here couple of years who was called Liz and I presumed she was from GY.
Weird.

HOT

Hello up there in the cold wet northern hemisphere, hows the torrential rain? So in the land of Oz it's becoming hotter by the day. It's been around 40 degrees today- a little too hot for our liking, it's meant to be slightly better tomorrow.

SO Sydney is very much like a nice city at home, similar to London but a lot smaller, and less grubby. It actually has old buildings including Victorian shopping malls ( namely the Victoria Building and the Strand) which are really posh and spangily. It is also pretty clean and everything is easily accessible if your willing to walk in the heat. The only thing that is a bit discouraging is the copious amounts of tramps and odd bods. You'll be walking the street when some old man is talking to himself and another's asking for cash. There seems to be more here than home (Even though I hear GY is building a new homeless shelter near fremo) there are also more here than in the Dam which last time I went was full of tramps and odd weirdo's.

So the best bit is the odd wildlife, which you know is there but don't expect to find in the city, like cockatoo's, parakeets and some odd ugly bird who's name I don't know- lets call him Jeremy for want of a name.

So along with Jeremy and the others trawling the City streets at all times are the Bats. Bloody huge bats- flying foxes to be exact. They are HUGE. In the daytime you can see them hanging by their hundreds in trees in the Botanical gardens and then at night they come out and swoop around the city. Approx 7:45 at the mo. They're an amazing sight.

Ben has seen a pod of hump back whales as well- I was too lazy to go and meet him and so being the lazy moo I missed out. The only thing that we haven't liked so far in the way of creatures is the fly's. One of the first really hot days seemed to wake the buggers up and they were every where. Thankfully this seems to have calmed down now.

So in our last 3 or so weeks in Sydney we have pretty much covered the main sites- not that there is that many, but it's quite a nice city to have a wander in. So we've been to Harbour bridge and the Opera House and frequented the beaches of Bondi and Coogee a few times. We have also been to the grungy areas Newtown and Kings Cross. So we're covering it. No point of rushing when we're staying over Christmas.

We're living in the Newtown area which is the 'odd' place to be with grungy goth's and lesbians on every corner, but it seems to be ok and at least it has some life in it. We're both working in a call centre which is tedious but the money is ok and we can choose the hours that we work. They didn't tell us off the other day for missing a shift after drinking too much and over sleeping. He HE HE.

Can think of anything else to tell you all apart from its BLOODY HOT and we quite like it here so see you all never!

Toodle Pip

P.S Here are some of our pics including the odd Jeremy Bird and a wonderful sign for the outside of a church.

JOB

Yippie I have a mind numingly dull job in a call centre whip de woo for me!!!!

Corporate whore

So have moved to a new hostel today- lots cheaper and only just up the road. Actually when I say that I mean a bloody huge hill which is a right arsehole and kills your calf muscles. The hostel is up for sale and therefore has hardly anyone staying in it apart froma big fat sweaty man in a string vest who is allegedly the caretaker. MMM, glad i'm not there alone. It's a bit fusty too as there doesn't seem to have been anyone in the room for a while- i'm expecting the residents to be spiders. But it has a swimming pool and an excellent sun deck with great views of the sea. Today has also been sunny which is a nice change after the days of drizzle.
Have had an interview for a telesales job today so will find out tomorrow if I've got it. $18+ an hour which at the current shit exchange rate is nearly 400squids a week if i do 40 hour - WHY DO I TEACH BRATS????????????????????????
Hemmmm, going to sit a the beach tomorrow doing diddely squat and possibly drink beer. See ya have fun