24.02.2006

Wherever the ocean meets the sky,

there will always be memories of you...

It is already one year since you went away from here.

I still can't believe it. How could that happen?

Why you?

SBRNREDEEHRREN I ...

SHT... HEH4R

Back in Newcastle...

My trip is finished and I am back in Newcastle right now to enjoy here the last weeks of my Aussie experience. It is unbelievable how fast time went by, I am already 8 months here and in a few weeks I will be back home in Germany.

Arrived here in Newcastle I bed myself at the house of my friends for a few days.. and now I am already living in my own apartment. Funny story...I went out with my friends to a party. I didnt know anybody at the party, I just went with them... So I had a few drinks and a chat to one of the girls living in that house. She told me that they have a free room in their house and are looking for a new flatmate.. Perfect timing- I just had a short look at the room and moved in the next morning... Going to a party, get drunk with people u dont know, ...this is the best time to do some business.... So, I am living right now with two other girls together. One from Fiji and the other one from the UK. They are lovely. I am really happy that my search for a new home worked out so well and fast...

BTW: Big kiss and hug to 521a Hunter St... Thank u so much for your help... I mean, u got so much in trouble coz of me, but u still let me sleep in your house and supported me!!! THANK YOU!

Canberra

Hey everybody.. back home again. The last stop of my Aussie travel was Canberra- the capital city of Australia. I just stopped there for a day. With a population of about 300,000 Canberra is not that big, but I thought I should have a look at it.
So, I just walked a bit around, visited the Old and the New Parliament and had a look at the "Aboriginal Tent Embassy".

What is the "Aboriginal Tent Embassy"? Yes, that's in fact what I asked myself as well. I never heart of it before, but when I was on the way to the Old Parliament directly in front of the Old Parliament House I noticed many tents, signs and a burning fire- I was standing right in front of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy. I didn't really know what exactly it is about, so I stopped there and spent a bit time with the Aboriginals listening to their story about their past and reasons for demonstrating for about more than 34 years against the Australian government.







The Aboriginal Tent Embassy was established in 1972, and although has been pulled down and rebuilt over the years is currently standing. The land on which the tents are situated was originally Aboriginal land with numerous artifacts being found on the site. The Aboriginal flag first received recognition at this point. Next to the Embassy there is a fire which has been burning for many years, which the Aboriginal Tent Embassy and people will not let go out.
The Tent Embassy calls on all Aboriginal Sovereign Nations to "stand up against the illegal occupation of our country and continue to resist the oppression of our people." It says that "until there is true justice for our people, these issues will not go away and we will continue to resist."

Great Ocean Road- Melbourne

After flying out of Perth and staying one day in Adelaide


my Great Ocean Road trip from Adelaide to Melbourne started. Actually I planned to visit the Grampians National Park, but if u have read the blog before u know what happened. This plan had to be skipped, because of bushfire... But on the Great Ocean Road trip I met a couple of nice people. And 0ne of them was a dutch girl. Actually dutch and german doesnt really fit together, but in this case... It does!!..

On our way to Melbourne we passed the Blue Lake and stayed in an old prison, where we slept in old cells,
saw the London Bridge, 12 Apostels, did a cave walk... I will put some pics on it later if I am back in Newcastle...










For the rest of the week we stayed in Melbourne, did a bit sightseeing, checked pubs out, went to the Casino and unfortunately did a lot of shopping.

I just can be glad that i dont live in Melbourne, I dont wanna know how much money I would spend for shopping each day... One night we went to the Casino, and after spending half of our money for playing "Dance Dance Revolution", we played a bit Roulette and u cannot imagine... WE WON!! Actually Kelly did- I had this "one second imagination" in my mind of number 23 and forced her to put her chip on this number...and we won... $105... great night!!! ...23- single life, simple life...

What else happened? Ah, not to forget.. We stayed the first day in a really crappy cheap hostel. And the next morning I had many bedbugs bites all over my body... really big, itchy bites, which look like huge mosquito bites... First, I thought they were mosquito bites, but after my foot got really swollen and I had all over it huge water and blood blisters, we decided it would maybe be better to see a doctor. So we went to the hospital and I got Antibiotika and other stuff... It looked horrible, I would put a pic on my homepage but it is just disgusting. But it's getting better... I can already walk without any pain and the blisters are just big bloody things on my foot...

But all together: I really enjoyed my time in Melbourne. Special thanks to Kellie, Noriko and Chie for the great time. Big kiss and hug to Kellie... Thank u so much for the shirt. I love it! And thanks for your support in Melbourne, going to the hospital and stuff. I had a really good time with u there. I wish u all the best and enjoy your time studying in Adelaide. I am sure u will be fine. I will see u in Amsterdam!!! Stay the way u are!!! U are awesome...

Trip up to Exmouth, Karijini National Park

Back in Perth for a few days- waiting for my trip starting up north. And guess what happened? No, the shark attacks of last week here in Perth was not enough- my trip up to Exmouth got cancelled one night before it should start... I was really disappointed, but they offered me another tour- same thing, just without Monkey Mia and one day less up to Exmouth but then instead of that a 5 day camping trip to the Karijini National Park. Of course I accepted the offer- especially because I saved $300... So, I was glad to save money and I happy to skip Monkey Mia and go to Karijini instead.

Next day my tour started and u dont believe me. We were just 3 people on the bus. One Canadian girl and a girl from the UK. Perfect group... We pretty much enjoyed our private
We pretty much enjoyed our private guided tour up to Exmouth. We saw turtles, Pythons, went climbing, walking, did abseiling and
saw beautiful things like the Pinnacles, Kalbarri National Park and the Ningaloo Reef.

Arrived in Coral Bay we had the chance to swim with Reef sharks. They were huge (1.5 -2m) It was pretty scary but amazimg!!!

But unfortunately there was that nasty cyclone coming down from Broome. Guess what's his name? Of course "Cyclone Rich"-I am serious about that.... So, we never reached our final destination Karijini. The cyclone got stronger (stage 4) and went straight to the area we planned to go... No Karijini, no billabongs, no waterfalls, no camping... our tour got cancelled... Again... it really seems like I am currently a bit unlucky...










So, we had to go back to Perth.... On the way back we stopped at the "Hutt River Province". Nobody of you probably knows, but there is a country in Australia, the Hutt River Province. It is a legal country in the middle of Australia. It is not that big, just Prince Leonard living there with his wife and his 2 sons... weird, but a quite funny story...

On the way back the girls and me decided to hire a car and go up north for a couple days by ourself...So we went up to Lancelin, where we surfed ( yes, thats me on the pic- I am getting better!!!...), relaxed in the sun and celebrated "Australiaday", before everybody of us flew out of Perth for going his own way...

All in one: I had a really great time here in WA. All people I met were so lovely and all the things I saw incredibly beautiful. WA is in fact different from the Eastcoast. I just can say: If u have the chance to go there, then go!!!! You won't regret it. It's worth to go.... AMAZING