i should really rap up whats happened in oz first before going on about the new year. Well since port maquarie we have making our way up the east coast and our travells got better and better every step of the way. We stayed in surf dude capital byron bay, where we spent far too much time on the beach and sarah got chatted up by a 44yr old man (ha ha aha ah ahah). moved onto surfers paradise (more like benidorm and vegas together) where we gayed it up. Brisie was a well deserved rest from scummy hostels as we rented our own studio (wahoo luxury). We got caught in a category 2 cyclone and a bolt of lightning struck only metres away from us. Noosa national park where we finally got away form the busy urban life and chilled out with the animals at Australia Zoo. Next was a brief stop in colourful rainbow beach. We met a couple of english lads and reminised about amazing times in New Zealand and the kindness of strangers. Town of 1770 is the most underated place in OZ with cheap tours, accomodation and beautiful scenery. We rode our own mini harleys with 40 others in this great town, what a thrill. Next was Airlie a boring town but the gateway to the whitesunday islands. On a pirate ship we sailed round too whitehaven and snorkled in some of the best coral in the world as well as drinkin a bit too much goon (boxed wine to you and me). In magnetic island we shared an A framed hut with many creepy crawlies as well as a few rainbow lorakeets. hiring a moke go cart was a real highlight. quite mission beach with a weird, ginger, bearded and homeless man in the hostel nicked our bottle of water.... how dare he! lol. Cairns our final destination where i achieved a lifelong dream of snorkling on the great barrier reef. Sarah participated for the first time and she loved every minute... apart from seeing the shark swim by.

Now we are back in Sydney with my aunty sue. we have spent approximartely 10days with her over the xams period. We have climbed the sydney harbour beach, watched the start of the sydney to hobart boat race from beautiful manly, visted bondi beach (which is a bit of a shit hole) and today we are going to the harbour to watch the fireworks tonight to bring in which will be another great year with my AMAZING girlfriend. Its sad to say goodbye to what has been a lifechanging year but it will not be difficult as years gone by as i know the next year and the ones to come can only get better for me and everyone in my life. I'm full of so much optimism and positivity something i will and must carry with me always.

Its 31c today and its so weird it being warm the last few months but it's fab. We are both ready for the summer but we are coming back jan 28th smack bang in the middle of the winter and i know we are going to go from beautiful summer to a crap english winter. ozzies are such nice people constantly smiling and asking how you are. I also thought i could never find a niation that drinks as much as we do or as early as we do. Today i've seen so many ppl in the pubs prior 10am abd they aren't all hobos or alcholics either its just very accepted here. So i have been welcome with open arms lol

Anyway I hope you all are having fun and a great NEW YEAR. I would love to here from you all facebook me ppl or mail. I knida miss you goffy lot!!

r xxxxxxxxxx

so this is a quick 20 minute update of whats being goin on

New Zealand was just amazing we both loved every minute of it. I have never felt so calm, peaceful in my whole life. We did so many great things and seen some of the most spectacular scenery, every nuk and crany is crammed with beauty. The van was amaxing our own freedom to go anywhere. Top place was Queenstown where we both will defo visit again.

But unfortunately all good things must come to an end, we finished in Christchurch being spoiled to death by Fiona a friend of my Aunts who gave us great food, wine and comforts in her lovely home. We were both sad about leaving New Zealand but anxious to meet and great OZ

As we flew into melbourne we were surprised at how big this city is. it is MASSIVE. cross between beauty of San Fran, busy New York and had its own style with Cafe on evey corner. I think we thought it was gunna be all like neighbours a small suburban paradise where everyone knows everyone ... not really. We really liked the week we spent here. We stayed above an irish pub between the city and the beach suburb St Kilda its a big gay/lesbian area which we didn't know till we got there. The hostel was old and crowded but our room was just a room and that will do. Sarah disliked it but for our bedget to strtch we have to stay in hostels now till mostly the end. We staying in double rooms which are hard to come by so we pre booking four yrs in advance.

Anyway, highlight of melbourne has gotta be neighbours night and tour! we went to some of the outdoor sets and ramsey street itself (which is soooooo small!). We met the actor who plays Max Hoyland who is so arogant and up his own arse you cannot believe. We watched the old scott and charlene wedding on the way too! at the neighbours night we met a couple of irish girls who i wish i got their e-mail addy cause so funny. one was scarred of cows and her dad was a farmer and the other of butterflies. Anyway we drank met 4 neighbours stars (connor, dr karl, max, stingray) and watched dr k band play some great brit songs which we missed so much. its been ages since we heard some of the great indie songs. one of the best nights EVA got in 1am

next day 5 am me and sarah started 12hr journey to sydney to see my aunty sue. started to go up the east coast now. Hated newcastle its coalville by the sea!!! we hated three days there not to mention the cockroach infested hostel we stayed in. now we in pretty town port maquarie koala capital. beautifil beaches which we explored on some very girlie bikes \(which were brights orange!)

gunna go 1 minute left .... at least the net is free now !!!

r xxxxxxxx

i have been here around 3 weeks now and i love this country! me and sarah have rented a campervan and we have been travelling around this beautiful country for the last two weeks. It has something to offer everyone. from adrenaline junkies I want to do a skydive but because i've had a really bad ear infection (did you know green stuff can come out of your ears too?) i havent been able too. I shall be doing one in Queenstown a little later on tho. you can fling yourself off everytging anyway possible. Only kiwis would come up with the idea of puttiong someone in a great big plastic ball fill it with water and shove you down a slope! i didn't partake in this fateful activity but i did witness quite a few people do this.

next you have your culture and the maiori past of this country. Very intresting. We have been to a few museams (most of which sarah has hated) which have contained alot about the history. Here in Wellington they have an amazing museam Te Papa massive and very interactive. We stopped on the way in the middle of the kauri forest to see this really old tree. I bet your thinking whats the big deal, but its so big you can't comprahend and its about 2000 years old.

We have been so lucky with the weather here. Its been beautiful for early spring. In Napier, a very odd place or as sarah would say 'up its own arse' on the east cost, it was 25c blazing sunshine. There we went wine tasting at five different places. I have never tasted that many wines we rolled into our campsite so pissed we got a take away and because we were in the middle of nowhere the only thing we could do was fall asleep! we went on a trip and these two americans so fucking up there own arse they didn't even want to speak to us but thats a whole other story.

Then there is the most spectactular scenery. from the bay of island and ninety mile beach in the north to the Rotoura thermal mud pools and lake taupo in the middles and wine country in the east. Me and sarah have camoped right on the beach in one place in the most gorgeous bright blue sea. We have both said that this country is so beautiful its how we have imagined fiji not new zealand.

There is so much more to say about a kiwi encounter, huka prawn park where we went prawn fishing, bathing in a mud pools and mineral pools, eating cheese until i felt sick, playing with a frisby at sunset on bailyes beach, spectaclar camping spots, russell, but i will leave you with a couple of great quotes

rachel ' how much petrol do we have left'
sarah ' emmmm..... around 2 1/2 / 5 of a tank'
rachel ' so half a tank then???????'

sarah ' why are you standing right outside the door (of our campervan)'
rachel 'well i'm not gunna stand the other side of the cliff am i'

well i've done some stupid stuff too i nearly got run over today after falling over a hump in the road. camping is so much fun and the freedom is amazing. We both are losing weight too from doing so much stuff. sarah has never looked as happy and i have never felt so happy or relaxed its great. Anyway i have to go i'm on a timed computer. someone needs to ban these things!

get in touch with me peeps i'd like to know what the summer had brought for you
R xxx

So we flew to fiji on the 25th August and we both were so excited. After a long and exhausting flight (we couldn't sleep) we caught a taxi at 6:30am to dee's homestay. This was exactly what it says on the tin someones house, but dee and her family were so amazingly friendly and welcoming. Everything was pretty basic but we had a clean comfortable bed to nap after the shit flight and when we woke up they made us breakfast and tea. Dee had just got a TV and DVD brand new and it seemed like the whole community was coming round to watch it with me and sarah! We watched around 4 films but it was really cool to get to know the family. Guess what the idea to stay here was sarah's because it was cheap and the rave reviews about dee (she had some crazy hair spiky afro!). Sarah is really getting into the swing of things and i'm so proud of her as she continually steps out of her comfort zone that she is so used too!

The next day we said goodbye to the family and went off to the airport where the mango bay resort was supposed to pick us up. we got there early but After 1 1/2 hrs of waiting for someone to turn up which way beyond the flexible 'fiji time' we called the resort that basically said 'we didn't see the point of picking just two of you up'. even tho i booked this 1 1/2 weeks prior. We decided to try and catch the local bus but when that didn't show up either we thought sod this we will get a taxi. We managed to haggle a good rate 33 GBP for 1hr 45min ride (i wish the taxi drivers at home were that generous). on the way there me and sarah just thoguth how beautiful the island looked so green with loadsa bays and beaches. makeshift rugby pitches everywhere.

We arrive at the mango bay 3miles from the main road. It is raining hard at this point. We get there and we get our room. We booked a twin shared bathroom because it was cheaper and people were raving about this place so we thought it would be of a good standard. The room was filthy dirty sheets, curtains and floors and it was so small. When we complained the owner said this wwas perfectly adequate for backpackers... erm if your a backpacker thats a pig yeah maybe. Even the dorm rooms looked cleaner nicer and had more room. we got another room for a little more a beach side bure. It was beautiful with outdoor shower and comfy double bed great for the next 9days.

Anyway after all the problems we had a great nine days there. You could so as little or as much as you wanted. I did snorkling, scuba diving, sea kayaking, a day visit to a remote island, midnight bonfires and drinking games. I got so drunk one night stayed up till 3am round the fire and stars it was so amazing. The place was gorgeous especially in the sunshine which we sae most of the time.

On the last day we hitched a lift to the next hotel to get money. The owner told us it was perfectly safe to hitch rides in fiji... erm alright. So we got in this tourist coach full of chinese tourists. They were so nice, they gave us water and asked loadsa questions. When we got out they took a picture of us it was very strange. One very random moment of the trip that has to be remembered.

I have so much more to say about fiji and the many people i met but i think it gunna be for another time. I hate these timed computers. In Aukland getting a camper tommorow to explore this beaustiful country. It so much like england its weird. We watched cora veira isn't even dead yet. anyway i will update soon !

rxxxxxx

its three days until we leave the land of the free and can say that me and sarah cannot wait. I wanted to make one last entry in this blog about general observations of american culture and its people considering we've been here a long time i think we've gotten to know it quite well

Firstly nearly every American we have met has thought we are loaded cause we are british. dude we are travelling around the world you don't have to spend a fortune to do it and we don't want to. Also cause of this whenever they mention a price for something the words after are always ' well you guys can aford that.' A classic example was this guy in Santa Monica and this guy was homeless and he asked as we went passed 'do you have a spare $100' like being dead serious not joking. i don't think anyone has got that kinda money

next a lot of them are geographically challenged which is so funny. Some didn't even know where england was let alone where sheffield is. Someone thought from our accents we were from Austrailia. next question after where we are from 'is that where/near where the beetles are from?' i think they associate england with the beetles which is strangely stereotypical. but then i spose some english wouldn't know where some major cities are in the states you know. A lot also have been to london like its the only place. Also don't even go there with explaining the difference between England, Great Britain and UK. Actually i had to explain that to Sarah so I can't say thats an American thing

I sound like i'm slagging em off they do have some great characteristics. They will talk to ANYONE. get on the bust they will strike a conversation with the bus driver and the person next to em. Had some really nice people talk to us in palm springs one gay man has offered to show us around Joshua tree national park which was great. In all places we have gone they want to talk to us which is so refreshing nice and welcoming to what i feel people in england ignore each other and go on with there lives. The British have landed in our motel here and we went to the pool where this massive family took over. Not one word toward us in 5 hours. There kids nicked our ball and siad nothing.

We have met a wide range of people from small towns to big cities. The lady in Bishop in the motel was funny. Have you ever had a coversation with someone where you know they taking the literal meaning of what your saying and you are of them and its that awkward silence. well she was talking about room rates and high taxes and she said of its really high in ... its ... and i said 'oh really your joking right' smiling and laughing and she looked straight at me no emotion and she said 'why would i be joking' and then i asked about the 4th of July which seemed a little sore spot as she got un over the year before, which wasn't what i expected. It was just plane awkward

here in palm springs we met a couple who were very into the church in fact one of the first things they asked was ' After 7/7 did everyone flock to church to pray for the souls of those who died' erm... none of the people i know immediatly did. Another comment they made is that she got the imporession that people were not as spiritual as people in the states. fair enough but i come from a different background and far as i'm aware only maybe a 3-4people i know go to church regularly as in more than easter and xmas. there must be people who do but it was so awkward i don't think they quite got the message that me and sarah are not church goers and how can they speak for a nation and how can i.

Big phrases here at the moment 'good job'. Every frickin thing is a good job. If i here the word good job again its to late. plus i am saying like all the damn time. food is obviously massive. me and sarah eat 2 meals a day brekkie and dinner/lunch and we have gained so much weight. I drink so many soft drinks i think i've permantly damaged my teeth. the food can be so good tho. We finally had a chinnese out of the box today it was sooo good.

This sounds like one big moan but we are so ready for Fiji now. We have met so many intresting people from cowboys to surfers from motel mexican workers to many gay men lol. We have seen so many sights from the grand canyon to the salt lake from disneyland to gay pride in San fran from Santa Monica beaches to Yosimitee national park. We have been so lucky and i am so greatful but i am ready to move onto the beautiful island of fiji!

rxxx

p.s. I HAVE LOST MY MOBILE PHONE, I AM REPLACING IT IN TWO MONTHS IN NEWZEALAND WITH THE SAME PHONE NUMBER. i looked at the phone at the bus stop after 5 minutes ride on the bus it was gone. some bastard nicked it even though it is completely useless