Today was mostly a planning, sitting in front of the computer, booking and phoning day.
The evening, however, was totally different! Both Andrew and Dee are members of the S.E.S (State Emergency Service) and they took me down to the station to show me around and explain about what they do.
Now, I may get some of the following wrong as it was a lot of info and I was still fairly jet lagged - but I think this is the gist. Depending on which state you are in the Emergency services work differently. In Victoria you have the Police, Ambulance, CFA (County Fire Authority) and the SES. They all work independently of each other. The police deal with the usual things they would in the UK and the Ambulance the same. The difference comes with the SES and the CFA.
Both are services work on a beeper system similar to the lifeboat service in the UK. They are all trained in different areas but with some skills that overlap - causing friction on certain occasions but generally getting the job.
The CFA handle fires (including bush fires) and the SES who deal with Rescues. This mostly means car wrecks but can also rescuing people and animals (Andrew rescued a dog from a septic tank once!) who are stuck/in trouble. They showed me the vehicles they have, the equipment they use (the cutters are powered by hydraulics and are capable are chomping through anything except maybe the axle of a car) and how the organisation works. I got to see photos of training and also some of the incidents they have attended. These have included cars so badly mangled that you couldn't even recognise it was a vehicle and a car that went into a petrol tanker killing the family.
The SES also do community awareness stuff such as free coffee/tea stops and danger awareness for long distant driving, supporting and awareness raising for bush fires and many other things.
And the most amazing thing? It's all voluntary. Every single member of the SES and CFA give up their time to do training (and train to the same standards as paid workers in other countries) and all carry a beeper so that as soon as the call goes out they have to stop and go. The members at Andrew & Dee's included, amongst others priest, a woodworker, a policeman and a student.
An eye opening and humbling experience!
Wednesday, 21 July 2010
Phillip Island
Wake up - my legs and ankles are back to normal - breathe sigh of relief.
After much faffing by me, Dee and I set off for the day to Phillip Island. The Island is attached to the mainland by a bridge - however it is very much shaped (and named) like the Isle of Wight. A fact obviously not lost on the recent locals as the burned out shell of the 'Isle of Wight' pub attests. It feels like a slightly bohemia/surfer vibe very much focussed on the laid back. They have massive motorbike rave there every year (a bit like the Isle of Man) and that sees the island packed out with people.
I had my first taste of shark (called 'flake') which was very tasty - almost tangy and better than fish due to the lake of bones! Headed to the wet and windy beach to take in the sea air and a stroll along the short pier, that comes complete with fish measuring plates so that you don't keep fish that are too small.
We went back inland to the animal park we'd passed on the way and spent a fun couple of hours getting acquainted with the residents. You're given a free bag of animal pellets on entry which certainly helps with the wallabies & kangaroos. Saw a Cassowary bird (sort of a cross between an emu and a prehistoric colourful turkey), Koala's (one of which was awake - they spend about 90% of the day asleep Dee says so was cool to see one chomping!), an Echidna, Wombat, Dingo's, several HUGE birds of prey, Emu's. Pelican's, various colourful varieties of bird and some rescued cockatoos. Also saw some Whistling Ducks (so called because they....wait for it.....whistle - I know, weird, but cool to hear!) which probably explains where the infamous wine got it's name.
After that we headed for what is, arguably, Phillip Island's main attraction - Penguin Parade.
Informative visitor centre keeps you busy, fed & watered before heading out of the doors and down the boardwalk to watch the Little Penguins come in from a day's/13 day's swimming and feeding. The little guys and gals surf in in batches of about 10, then to & fro and the beach for a while trying to decided if they got the time right, due to the floodlights on the beach, and the location right, due to the hundreds of large things in funny clothing staring at them. Eventually they seem to think all is good and waddle up the dunes, again in a more than leisurely fashion, to their waiting mates/chicks for a noisy reunion. dee and I decided it was either joy or nagging but whichever it was noisy and a wonderful scene to behold as these little things no higher than your knee waddle up and under the boardwalks. Some of them getting so far that there are warning signs in the car park asking you to check under your car lest some poor hen-pecked penguin has decided to join the ranks of the 19% divorce rate amongst their population, and your car seems preferable to their burrow.
After much faffing by me, Dee and I set off for the day to Phillip Island. The Island is attached to the mainland by a bridge - however it is very much shaped (and named) like the Isle of Wight. A fact obviously not lost on the recent locals as the burned out shell of the 'Isle of Wight' pub attests. It feels like a slightly bohemia/surfer vibe very much focussed on the laid back. They have massive motorbike rave there every year (a bit like the Isle of Man) and that sees the island packed out with people.
I had my first taste of shark (called 'flake') which was very tasty - almost tangy and better than fish due to the lake of bones! Headed to the wet and windy beach to take in the sea air and a stroll along the short pier, that comes complete with fish measuring plates so that you don't keep fish that are too small.
We went back inland to the animal park we'd passed on the way and spent a fun couple of hours getting acquainted with the residents. You're given a free bag of animal pellets on entry which certainly helps with the wallabies & kangaroos. Saw a Cassowary bird (sort of a cross between an emu and a prehistoric colourful turkey), Koala's (one of which was awake - they spend about 90% of the day asleep Dee says so was cool to see one chomping!), an Echidna, Wombat, Dingo's, several HUGE birds of prey, Emu's. Pelican's, various colourful varieties of bird and some rescued cockatoos. Also saw some Whistling Ducks (so called because they....wait for it.....whistle - I know, weird, but cool to hear!) which probably explains where the infamous wine got it's name.
After that we headed for what is, arguably, Phillip Island's main attraction - Penguin Parade.
Informative visitor centre keeps you busy, fed & watered before heading out of the doors and down the boardwalk to watch the Little Penguins come in from a day's/13 day's swimming and feeding. The little guys and gals surf in in batches of about 10, then to & fro and the beach for a while trying to decided if they got the time right, due to the floodlights on the beach, and the location right, due to the hundreds of large things in funny clothing staring at them. Eventually they seem to think all is good and waddle up the dunes, again in a more than leisurely fashion, to their waiting mates/chicks for a noisy reunion. dee and I decided it was either joy or nagging but whichever it was noisy and a wonderful scene to behold as these little things no higher than your knee waddle up and under the boardwalks. Some of them getting so far that there are warning signs in the car park asking you to check under your car lest some poor hen-pecked penguin has decided to join the ranks of the 19% divorce rate amongst their population, and your car seems preferable to their burrow.
Guilty Pleasures
Spent the morning on another walking tour around Melbourne. Mostly to the West of the CBD and exploring Fitzroy park. Great morning to do it as (for almost the only time that week) the sun came out and I strolled with my Hazelnut Latte through the green, the fairy tree, the model village, the street full of amazing (and occasionally political) grafitti.
Then I headed for my wonderfully cheesey afternoon spent visiting the sights of 'Neighbours'.
It was so much fun and, once I'd let go of the nagging embarrasment (lasted until we got on the bus!), I had a fabulous afternoon :) The guide was named Jerry (an Irish guy who'd been in the country for ages) and he clearly loved what he was doing which was very infectious - even for the Dad in front of me who was there to take the photo's of his wife and daughter who were the fans. The bus only holds around 15 people so the whole thing is quite a personal experiences. We had a family with small children, a few couples, friends and folks just travelling alone - they also came form all over the world - about half from Australia. Apparently the rumour about no Aussies watching it is false then....
We stopped off at the school where they used to film (and have changed location twice since then due to various reasons) then to the backlot of the studio, where we got to run around taking photos of the 'magical' bus stop, Grease Monkeys, Carpenters Mechanics and the new (not even on Australian screens yet) Erinsborough Motors. Alan Fletcher cam out to say "hi" and was very gracious and enthusiastic about seeing us, posed for photos, signed things and was generally a down to earth and top bloke :) After that we were whisked away to th street itself and reminded of some of the strange anomolies that happen there - like the fact that noone ever turns right out of the end of the road (Health & Safety!), and again got to run around taking photos and there were anecdots and explanations of filming aplenty. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys Neighbours (especially the ones who won't admit it ;)) as a brilliant afternoon.
After the excitement I headed back to Fed. Square and had a mooch round the Moving Images Exhibition. Yet another triumph in design and information - it contained so much and (you guessed it) was free, I could easioly have spent another couple of hours there. It has displays about the development of the moving Images in all areas - film, TV and Computer Games. With some 'Spotlight' sections focussing on Australian individuals, loads of interactive stuff (including old and new games consoles) and looks at the future there was something for everyone and loads for a geek like me - even if seeing an N64 under a perspex cover was a bit disturbing!
Then I headed for my wonderfully cheesey afternoon spent visiting the sights of 'Neighbours'.
It was so much fun and, once I'd let go of the nagging embarrasment (lasted until we got on the bus!), I had a fabulous afternoon :) The guide was named Jerry (an Irish guy who'd been in the country for ages) and he clearly loved what he was doing which was very infectious - even for the Dad in front of me who was there to take the photo's of his wife and daughter who were the fans. The bus only holds around 15 people so the whole thing is quite a personal experiences. We had a family with small children, a few couples, friends and folks just travelling alone - they also came form all over the world - about half from Australia. Apparently the rumour about no Aussies watching it is false then....
We stopped off at the school where they used to film (and have changed location twice since then due to various reasons) then to the backlot of the studio, where we got to run around taking photos of the 'magical' bus stop, Grease Monkeys, Carpenters Mechanics and the new (not even on Australian screens yet) Erinsborough Motors. Alan Fletcher cam out to say "hi" and was very gracious and enthusiastic about seeing us, posed for photos, signed things and was generally a down to earth and top bloke :) After that we were whisked away to th street itself and reminded of some of the strange anomolies that happen there - like the fact that noone ever turns right out of the end of the road (Health & Safety!), and again got to run around taking photos and there were anecdots and explanations of filming aplenty. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys Neighbours (especially the ones who won't admit it ;)) as a brilliant afternoon.
After the excitement I headed back to Fed. Square and had a mooch round the Moving Images Exhibition. Yet another triumph in design and information - it contained so much and (you guessed it) was free, I could easioly have spent another couple of hours there. It has displays about the development of the moving Images in all areas - film, TV and Computer Games. With some 'Spotlight' sections focussing on Australian individuals, loads of interactive stuff (including old and new games consoles) and looks at the future there was something for everyone and loads for a geek like me - even if seeing an N64 under a perspex cover was a bit disturbing!
Monday, 19 July 2010
Outward Flight
So, jet lag is firmly being squashed - although the fact that's it's winter and getting dark at 5pm is NOT helping at all, never mind, it's now 6:20 on Monday and tiredness has not begun so must be getting somewhere!
Just to warn you that I won't be putting any photos up in the posts (as it takes too long) and have decided to use Trip WOW 's amazing slideshow feature to upload some of my favourite doings. There's a small thumbnail of it up at the top of the sidebar and it will open up in it's full glory when clicked.
So the flight....
Arrived at Heathrow after a rather frantic dash out of school and to the train (which included an OCD run back up the stairs to check I'd locked the door and a lovely Moroccan taxi driver checking I'd got my passport and tickets) followed by an almost un-eventful (there was nearly an event when a smell of burning enveloped the train, after 15mins the driver decided to stop and see if it was something serious.....apparently not) couple of train rides.
Spent 3 hours mooching round and then boarded the first flight - destination Hong Kong
SLEPT: 4 Hours
WATCHED: 4 episodes Glee, 4 episodes The Big Bang Theory
ATE: Beef stew w/veg
Pork Congee (Pork in very watery rice)
SPOKE TO: Great Chinese Guy - Lecturer in Industrial Engineering in Hong Kong, Bristol & London. Flies with Cathay Pacific a lot and gave me tips about getting snacks etc - also about how to get out into HK when at the airport.
When I disembarked I was slightly concerned to see my name on a board at the end of the gangplank under 'Adelaide'. Turns out my next flight was a 2 parter but they were wondering if I would like to leave on an earlier plane that went directly to Melbourne. Great Customer Service but I couldn't see Dee being thrilled by the thought of picking me up at 6:20am so I declined and ventured on.
For the first time ever my lower legs & ankle swelled up (and took 'til waking up at Dee's on Sunday to go down) which was fairly disconcerting but they didn't hurt so felt no reason to worry....much....
Got out into HK via Airpot express and then free bus transfer to a hotel by Harbour. Hot & Humid despite it being 7pm and dark, loads of people around admiring the stunning light show created by the skyscrapers and buildings on the other side of the harbour. Managed to scare some Spanish and Chinese by slipping down some steps whilst trying to get into a photo from my 'gorrila-podded' camera but other than that no major incidents.
Got the ferry across to HK Island. Ferry costs HK$2.50 (25p). In order to have the change I had to buy a smoothie that cost HK$32 (GBP 2.50) - odd? Ferry was a H&S inspector's nightmare/dream come true but got me to other side whilst enabling new views of the harbour.
Got the Airport Express back from HK Island and then onto the next flight.
SLEPT: 3 Hours
WATCHED: 1 episode Big Bang Theory, Meet the Robinsons, Date Night (v.funny) and Invictus (brilliant performances)
ATE: Past w/chilli tomato sauce. Yoghurt, Fruit, Pastries.
SPOKE TO: Lady travelling with her family. They were form Adelaide but had spent 4 years, in the not too distant past, living in Sutton Coldfield.
We all had to disembark at Melbourne. Suffered a major case of de-ja-vu when re-boarding to same seat as the same people were sitting to my right and I'm fairly certain it was exactly the same plane!
D&A picked me up at the airport - very grateful to see them :) It was about 30min drive to their house in Pakenham and got see some of Melbourne's impressive structures (including the 'millenium wheel' that had to shut about 4 days after opening due to a heat wave making the metal buckle!) from the ring road before heading out.
The first thing I noticed was that almost all the houses are 1 storey - giving the impression of a much wider and open space. Also they are built in several specific styles all next to one another, this is not just restricted to the estates either. D & A's is really open plan with 3 bedrooms and 3 sitting areas with a great island in the kitchen area.
They have a black lab named 'Jetta' and a rainbow lorakeet that can whistle & talk called 'bird'.
Dee cooked Kangaroo steaks for tea and while we ate a kookaburra squawked - couldn't get more idiosyncratic! I also saw my first spider - not sure if it was 'something that could kill me' but Dee was taking no chances and it ended it's life under a shower gel bottle.
I managed to stay awake until about 7:30 when I finally gave in and crawled into bed. Am attempting to conquer jet lag quite quickly by forcing myself to stay awake......
Just to warn you that I won't be putting any photos up in the posts (as it takes too long) and have decided to use Trip WOW 's amazing slideshow feature to upload some of my favourite doings. There's a small thumbnail of it up at the top of the sidebar and it will open up in it's full glory when clicked.
So the flight....
Arrived at Heathrow after a rather frantic dash out of school and to the train (which included an OCD run back up the stairs to check I'd locked the door and a lovely Moroccan taxi driver checking I'd got my passport and tickets) followed by an almost un-eventful (there was nearly an event when a smell of burning enveloped the train, after 15mins the driver decided to stop and see if it was something serious.....apparently not) couple of train rides.
Spent 3 hours mooching round and then boarded the first flight - destination Hong Kong
SLEPT: 4 Hours
WATCHED: 4 episodes Glee, 4 episodes The Big Bang Theory
ATE: Beef stew w/veg
Pork Congee (Pork in very watery rice)
SPOKE TO: Great Chinese Guy - Lecturer in Industrial Engineering in Hong Kong, Bristol & London. Flies with Cathay Pacific a lot and gave me tips about getting snacks etc - also about how to get out into HK when at the airport.
When I disembarked I was slightly concerned to see my name on a board at the end of the gangplank under 'Adelaide'. Turns out my next flight was a 2 parter but they were wondering if I would like to leave on an earlier plane that went directly to Melbourne. Great Customer Service but I couldn't see Dee being thrilled by the thought of picking me up at 6:20am so I declined and ventured on.
For the first time ever my lower legs & ankle swelled up (and took 'til waking up at Dee's on Sunday to go down) which was fairly disconcerting but they didn't hurt so felt no reason to worry....much....
Got out into HK via Airpot express and then free bus transfer to a hotel by Harbour. Hot & Humid despite it being 7pm and dark, loads of people around admiring the stunning light show created by the skyscrapers and buildings on the other side of the harbour. Managed to scare some Spanish and Chinese by slipping down some steps whilst trying to get into a photo from my 'gorrila-podded' camera but other than that no major incidents.
Got the ferry across to HK Island. Ferry costs HK$2.50 (25p). In order to have the change I had to buy a smoothie that cost HK$32 (GBP 2.50) - odd? Ferry was a H&S inspector's nightmare/dream come true but got me to other side whilst enabling new views of the harbour.
Got the Airport Express back from HK Island and then onto the next flight.
SLEPT: 3 Hours
WATCHED: 1 episode Big Bang Theory, Meet the Robinsons, Date Night (v.funny) and Invictus (brilliant performances)
ATE: Past w/chilli tomato sauce. Yoghurt, Fruit, Pastries.
SPOKE TO: Lady travelling with her family. They were form Adelaide but had spent 4 years, in the not too distant past, living in Sutton Coldfield.
We all had to disembark at Melbourne. Suffered a major case of de-ja-vu when re-boarding to same seat as the same people were sitting to my right and I'm fairly certain it was exactly the same plane!
D&A picked me up at the airport - very grateful to see them :) It was about 30min drive to their house in Pakenham and got see some of Melbourne's impressive structures (including the 'millenium wheel' that had to shut about 4 days after opening due to a heat wave making the metal buckle!) from the ring road before heading out.
The first thing I noticed was that almost all the houses are 1 storey - giving the impression of a much wider and open space. Also they are built in several specific styles all next to one another, this is not just restricted to the estates either. D & A's is really open plan with 3 bedrooms and 3 sitting areas with a great island in the kitchen area.
They have a black lab named 'Jetta' and a rainbow lorakeet that can whistle & talk called 'bird'.
Dee cooked Kangaroo steaks for tea and while we ate a kookaburra squawked - couldn't get more idiosyncratic! I also saw my first spider - not sure if it was 'something that could kill me' but Dee was taking no chances and it ended it's life under a shower gel bottle.
I managed to stay awake until about 7:30 when I finally gave in and crawled into bed. Am attempting to conquer jet lag quite quickly by forcing myself to stay awake......
Saturday, 17 July 2010
Arrivals..
Just a quick note to say I arrived safe and sound. Met some very helpful people along the way, had an incident with an automatic tap, and observed some very interesting conversations.
Am currently in Melbourne at Dee's house desperately trying to stay awake past 8:30pm so jet lag isn't too much of a problem. Have already tasted Kangaroo and encountered my first spider (genus unknown) so things are looking exciting!
Managed to get out of Hong Kong airport for a quick trip into the city - photos to follow.
More tomorrow!
Am currently in Melbourne at Dee's house desperately trying to stay awake past 8:30pm so jet lag isn't too much of a problem. Have already tasted Kangaroo and encountered my first spider (genus unknown) so things are looking exciting!
Managed to get out of Hong Kong airport for a quick trip into the city - photos to follow.
More tomorrow!
Wednesday, 16 June 2010
A Whitsunday Quandry
I manged to find the underwater housing for my digital camera on eBay - whoop! For about £50 cheaper than anywhere I could have got it over here, so that's one thing of the list.
One of the last activities I'm trying to sort out is what to do on my full day in the Whitsundays.
I am torn bwtween these 2:
Whitehaven Express - $140
Cruise to Island with walk to see lookout point onto Whitehaven Beach
Cruise to Whitehaven beach. Spend time there and have BBQ
Cruise to bay for snorkelling
Possibly some whale watching.
OR
EcoJet Safari - $299 (or possibly less if I meet up with 2 others/they have a space on a ski)
3 hour Jet ski tour around Northern bay (not near Whitehaven)
Chances to see secluded beaches, rivers, jungly stuff and ski through them.
Only 15 people tour with stops for snorkelling etc
Lunch back at the resort
Whitehaven seems to be the place to go and definitley something you want to see, however some of the reviews for other tours say stuff about rough sea and bad weather - which wouldn't really affect the jet ski but wouldn't be much fun on the boat!
Apparently the BBQ is good stuff and you definitely get to the beach.
The Jet ski is expensive too - although if I do manage to share a ski that would be better - but maybe then I wouldn't get to drive it.
I really like the idea of the excitement and adventure of the jet ski, getting closer to the nature, and seeing places people usually don't see.
Hmmmmm......
One of the last activities I'm trying to sort out is what to do on my full day in the Whitsundays.
I am torn bwtween these 2:
Whitehaven Express - $140
Cruise to Island with walk to see lookout point onto Whitehaven Beach
Cruise to Whitehaven beach. Spend time there and have BBQ
Cruise to bay for snorkelling
Possibly some whale watching.
OR
EcoJet Safari - $299 (or possibly less if I meet up with 2 others/they have a space on a ski)
3 hour Jet ski tour around Northern bay (not near Whitehaven)
Chances to see secluded beaches, rivers, jungly stuff and ski through them.
Only 15 people tour with stops for snorkelling etc
Lunch back at the resort
Whitehaven seems to be the place to go and definitley something you want to see, however some of the reviews for other tours say stuff about rough sea and bad weather - which wouldn't really affect the jet ski but wouldn't be much fun on the boat!
Apparently the BBQ is good stuff and you definitely get to the beach.
The Jet ski is expensive too - although if I do manage to share a ski that would be better - but maybe then I wouldn't get to drive it.
I really like the idea of the excitement and adventure of the jet ski, getting closer to the nature, and seeing places people usually don't see.
Hmmmmm......
Friday, 4 June 2010
2 Flights booked...1 to go
Have managed to book my flight form Alice Springs to Cairns. One of the most important to do early as there are only about 3 flights a day doing that route directly and REALLY need to fly that afternoon or it mucks up the scuba etc. Booked with Qantas.
Went to book the flight I found from Hamilton Island (out of the Whitsundays) to Sydney and found a cheaper one operated by Jetstar than the one I found previously by Virgin Blue. Quite a bit cheaper even with the extra AUS$10 so I can have luggage so feeling pretty smug. it also leaves 5mins later than the the other one and gets in earlier...loving the logic.....
All this thanks to the great website "I want that flight"
Salty Sea Dogs Kayaking finally replied to my email and it turns out their website is out of date. They now do tours everyday so am all booked up for the morning before I leave - and they assure me ll have no trouble catching the ferry to get to the island on time. Fingers crossed :)
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