I met a couple of Dutch travellers flying home on Malaysia Airlines yesterday. One was a backpacker who had done an interesting camping tour from Alice Springs to Adelaide. The other one also had some interesting stories to tell. He had stayed for the first 2 weeks in a luxury hotel in Sydney and then, in sharp contrast, travelled around the country on a very tight budget. He used a car he had bought in Sydney for A$1800 and stayed in backpacker hostels. When he flew out of Cairns to join his flight home in Sydney, he just gave away the car for free to another traveller he had met there. The car had gone well for his travels and had not needed any repairs or manintenance.
Also heading home to Scandinavia at the weekend was a young Norwegian backpacker who had also had quite an adventure on the East Coast. She had rented a car with some other fellow travellers and also was on a tight budget. They slept in the car on 2 occasions including 3 consecutive nights at one location. However she had also spent 4 nights in a much more unusual location - an airport hangar! They had gone skydiving and somehow managed to be allowed to sleep next to the planes.
On a flight home to Christchurch was a friendly Chinese family with a very cute 8 year old daughter who was happy to answer all my survey questions (on behalf of her mum) to the best of her ability. They had been on holidays in Sydney.
Other visitors of note that I came across included:-
* An Egyptian lady here to visit her son. She had already been to Australia many times.
* An older English couple on a round the world journey who travelled by rental car in Tasmania and travelled by train from Melbourne to Adelaide and the Ghan train from Adelaide to Alice Springs. They were heading to Honolulu and then Las Vegas before going home.
* An American who had done Melbourne, Kangaroo Island (SA) and Cairns all in 6 days. He was on his way to visit a friend in New Zealand while the rest of his family spent some more time in the Cairns area.
Till next week.
Peter
Souvenirs Australia Warehouse
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Monday, April 6, 2009
From Dublin To Oz And An Avid Train Traveller
This week I encountered lots of Irish visitors who all seemed to enjoy their stay Down Under. They included a couple here for a family wedding in the Hunter Valley and to stay with relatives in Gosford. I also chatted to a young Irish lass who had been working here for the last few months.
On a flight to Christchurch was an American businessman from Colorado who works for a medical equipment company. I guess this is a busy industry to be in with fast advancing technologies and our ageing population.
Travelling to Malaysia were a Chilean guy in Sydney for just one night on business - that's what you call a quick business trip! There was also a Malaysian guy here to spend a week with his girlfriend in Sydney.
On British Airways back to London was an English guy who was in Sydney for a job interview and to visit a friend. He already knew that he had got the job (in the engineering field) and now had to get everything organized for the big move to Australia.
Also travelling home on BA was a German guy in his early 30's who had travelled over most of the country during the last few months. But, in contrast to most backpackers I come across, he had travelled mainly by train - on the Indian Pacific, the Ghan and the Overlander trains. He found train travel much more appealing and quite economical using a rail pass. That's something I need to look into myself. I quite enjoy rail travel but haven't done much for a long time.
Till next week.
Peter
Souvenirs Australia Warehouse
On a flight to Christchurch was an American businessman from Colorado who works for a medical equipment company. I guess this is a busy industry to be in with fast advancing technologies and our ageing population.
Travelling to Malaysia were a Chilean guy in Sydney for just one night on business - that's what you call a quick business trip! There was also a Malaysian guy here to spend a week with his girlfriend in Sydney.
On British Airways back to London was an English guy who was in Sydney for a job interview and to visit a friend. He already knew that he had got the job (in the engineering field) and now had to get everything organized for the big move to Australia.
Also travelling home on BA was a German guy in his early 30's who had travelled over most of the country during the last few months. But, in contrast to most backpackers I come across, he had travelled mainly by train - on the Indian Pacific, the Ghan and the Overlander trains. He found train travel much more appealing and quite economical using a rail pass. That's something I need to look into myself. I quite enjoy rail travel but haven't done much for a long time.
Till next week.
Peter
Souvenirs Australia Warehouse
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Missed By A Day and Another Stuck In Transit
I came across a lady from Brunei who had arrived in Sydney one day too late for the birth of her second grandson. Her daughter, who lives in Sydney, had given birth 3 weeks earlier than expected so it was quite a rush trip this time for her. All were well and happy.
Weddings still seem to be a popular reason for visits to Australia. I spoke to an Irish woman here with her husband and their 4 year old daughter. They stayed with relatives in Gosford and attended her sisters wedding in the Hunter Valley.
On the V Australia flight to LA was a Canadian women who had been in Australia for almost a year with her husband and was going home for a short family visit. They were both working in Sydney and she was happy to advise that they had now received longer term Australian visas.
I also chatted to a young New Zealander who works for Emirates Airlines and had been stuck in transit in Sydney for 2 days. She was on her way back to Dubai (her base) after a family visit in New Zealand and had great difficulty in getting on a flight. Her Sydney stay was one night at the airport and one night in a motel nearby and was happy to finally get a seat on a flight. She was however not so happy to be due back at work on long haul flights within 24 hours of arriving in Dubai.
Other visitors I spoke to last weekend included a Canadian and her mother here to stay with relatives in Blacktown, an Aussie living in Singapore back for a stay at her own house in Neutral Bay and a 70's Kiwi couple in OZ for a family visit.
Till next time.
Peter
Souvenirs Australia Warehouse
Weddings still seem to be a popular reason for visits to Australia. I spoke to an Irish woman here with her husband and their 4 year old daughter. They stayed with relatives in Gosford and attended her sisters wedding in the Hunter Valley.
On the V Australia flight to LA was a Canadian women who had been in Australia for almost a year with her husband and was going home for a short family visit. They were both working in Sydney and she was happy to advise that they had now received longer term Australian visas.
I also chatted to a young New Zealander who works for Emirates Airlines and had been stuck in transit in Sydney for 2 days. She was on her way back to Dubai (her base) after a family visit in New Zealand and had great difficulty in getting on a flight. Her Sydney stay was one night at the airport and one night in a motel nearby and was happy to finally get a seat on a flight. She was however not so happy to be due back at work on long haul flights within 24 hours of arriving in Dubai.
Other visitors I spoke to last weekend included a Canadian and her mother here to stay with relatives in Blacktown, an Aussie living in Singapore back for a stay at her own house in Neutral Bay and a 70's Kiwi couple in OZ for a family visit.
Till next time.
Peter
Souvenirs Australia Warehouse
Monday, March 23, 2009
Sleeping At The Airport and Living In Mongolia
Last week I spoke to a traveller who had stayed on their own yacht on Sydney Harbour. This week it was the other extreme. I came across a Swedish girl in transit from New Zealand and had spent a night on the seats inside the airport. Hopefully she had a more comfortable rest when she got home.
On a Qantas flight to Frankfurt was a friendly middle aged German tour guide. He spends 4 months a year as a tour guide and takes holiday groups to Australia, New Zealand, USA and Canada. He has done this job for many years and has been to Australia around 25 times. In between tours he enjoys 5 week breaks at home.
Flying to Beijing was a woman who has been living in Ulan Bator (Mongolia) for the last 18 months. It was fascinating to get her insights into this country which I know very little about. One of the interesting things she said was that Mongolians in general tend not to show any facial expression when they speak. Her own background was also quite a mix. She was of German ethnic origin, was travelling on an American passport and had lived in Australia for much of her life.
Other travellers of note included a Dutch businessman and a Singapore guy who had both been to Australia around 20 times before and an English couple who had spent their whole 3 week stay with relatives in Port Macquarie.
Till next week.
Peter
Souvenirs Australia Warehouse
On a Qantas flight to Frankfurt was a friendly middle aged German tour guide. He spends 4 months a year as a tour guide and takes holiday groups to Australia, New Zealand, USA and Canada. He has done this job for many years and has been to Australia around 25 times. In between tours he enjoys 5 week breaks at home.
Flying to Beijing was a woman who has been living in Ulan Bator (Mongolia) for the last 18 months. It was fascinating to get her insights into this country which I know very little about. One of the interesting things she said was that Mongolians in general tend not to show any facial expression when they speak. Her own background was also quite a mix. She was of German ethnic origin, was travelling on an American passport and had lived in Australia for much of her life.
Other travellers of note included a Dutch businessman and a Singapore guy who had both been to Australia around 20 times before and an English couple who had spent their whole 3 week stay with relatives in Port Macquarie.
Till next week.
Peter
Souvenirs Australia Warehouse
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
From Marla to Sydney Harbour and Kangaroos
Another fascinating bunch of travellers leaving Sydney last weekend. Here are some of the most memorable.
I chatted to a New Zealander who had been working for 3 weeks straight at Marla. I had to admit to him that I had never heard of the place. It's actually on the main highway north of Coober Pedy in South Australia. His occupation was a surveyor and he had worked in many remote parts of Australia. Just to get home to Christchurch was a 2 day expedition for him - Marla-Coober Pedy (road) - Adelaide (air) - Sydney (air) - Christchurch (air).
My next interviewee was a Chinese woman with an American partner whose form of accommodation for their 2 week stay in Sydney was their own yacht on Sydney Harbour. It beats paying a hotel bill and think about the view!! They had owned the boat since 2001 and made regular trips back to Sydney since then.
A Finnish gentleman on his way home had just attended a sporting related conference in Canberra. The most interesting part of his stay was when he decided to walk back to his hotel from the Brumbies Rugby game at Canberra late one night. He came across a kangaroo jumping through a park and suburban streets. Actually this can be quite a regular occurrence as I learned during the 25 years that I lived in Canberra.
On a British Airways flight home was an English couple who had spent 2 weeks in Sydney and the Blue Mountains after a 7 week continuous voyage on a P & O crusie ship from Southampton. They'd had a great holiday and their journey home was going to be much quicker.
Other interesting visitors this week included a Kiwi living in France who was in Sydney to run a
1 week course at a university, an older Russian women from St. Petersburg here for only 4 days for a UN/Government conference, a Scottish guy here with his girlfriend to fulfil his duty and visit her relatives in Sydney & Perth & and a friendly young Italian backpacker who spoke about her camping adventure tour in Central Australia.
As always, till next week.
Cheers
Peter
Souvenirs Australia Warehouse
I chatted to a New Zealander who had been working for 3 weeks straight at Marla. I had to admit to him that I had never heard of the place. It's actually on the main highway north of Coober Pedy in South Australia. His occupation was a surveyor and he had worked in many remote parts of Australia. Just to get home to Christchurch was a 2 day expedition for him - Marla-Coober Pedy (road) - Adelaide (air) - Sydney (air) - Christchurch (air).
My next interviewee was a Chinese woman with an American partner whose form of accommodation for their 2 week stay in Sydney was their own yacht on Sydney Harbour. It beats paying a hotel bill and think about the view!! They had owned the boat since 2001 and made regular trips back to Sydney since then.
A Finnish gentleman on his way home had just attended a sporting related conference in Canberra. The most interesting part of his stay was when he decided to walk back to his hotel from the Brumbies Rugby game at Canberra late one night. He came across a kangaroo jumping through a park and suburban streets. Actually this can be quite a regular occurrence as I learned during the 25 years that I lived in Canberra.
On a British Airways flight home was an English couple who had spent 2 weeks in Sydney and the Blue Mountains after a 7 week continuous voyage on a P & O crusie ship from Southampton. They'd had a great holiday and their journey home was going to be much quicker.
Other interesting visitors this week included a Kiwi living in France who was in Sydney to run a
1 week course at a university, an older Russian women from St. Petersburg here for only 4 days for a UN/Government conference, a Scottish guy here with his girlfriend to fulfil his duty and visit her relatives in Sydney & Perth & and a friendly young Italian backpacker who spoke about her camping adventure tour in Central Australia.
As always, till next week.
Cheers
Peter
Souvenirs Australia Warehouse
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Weddings, A French Hostel Intern & Redundancy Holidays
There were more wedding related visits amongst those heading home last weekend. I chatted to a German resident travelling on a Canadian passport who was staying with relatives in the Lake Macquarie area of NSW and exploring possible locations in the Hunter Valley for her upcoming wedding. She has family & friends in Australia and Canada and had decided to hold the wedding here. So no doubt there will be a few Canadian visitiors arriving for the event. I also came across an English couple who had been in Sydney to attend their daughters wedding.
There was a young French girl on her way to New Zealand who had done a 3 month intern job at a backpackers hostel in Melbourne. Her duties were mainly reception and bar work. After her Kiwi holiday she was planning to do similar work in Perth. I hadn't realised these sorts of employment opportunities were available to working holiday visitors.
A pleasant young Polish couple were on their way home after a package tour of Australia visiting Uluru, Hamilton Island, Gold Coast & Sydney. It's not very often that I have come across tourists from Poland. I also chatted to a French couple here for 2 weeks with friends in Sydney.
Redundancy holidays are probably becoming more common in the current economic environment. I ran across an English couple in their 50's who had both recently been made redundant. They decided to have a 3 month holiday Down Under while they contemplated their future. Their stay involved around 35 different overnight stops in South Australia, Victoria, NSW, Tasmania and South East Queensland and they had a most enjoyable time.
Till next week.
Peter
Souvenirs Australia Warehouse
There was a young French girl on her way to New Zealand who had done a 3 month intern job at a backpackers hostel in Melbourne. Her duties were mainly reception and bar work. After her Kiwi holiday she was planning to do similar work in Perth. I hadn't realised these sorts of employment opportunities were available to working holiday visitors.
A pleasant young Polish couple were on their way home after a package tour of Australia visiting Uluru, Hamilton Island, Gold Coast & Sydney. It's not very often that I have come across tourists from Poland. I also chatted to a French couple here for 2 weeks with friends in Sydney.
Redundancy holidays are probably becoming more common in the current economic environment. I ran across an English couple in their 50's who had both recently been made redundant. They decided to have a 3 month holiday Down Under while they contemplated their future. Their stay involved around 35 different overnight stops in South Australia, Victoria, NSW, Tasmania and South East Queensland and they had a most enjoyable time.
Till next week.
Peter
Souvenirs Australia Warehouse
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Travelling With Truckies and a Hippie From Way Back
The two most interesting characters that I chatted to last weekend were both travelling home to the US on Qantas.
The first was a middle aged American women who had been to Australia many times before, on some of these occasions to exhibit show horses. She had many friends living here and some of them are truckies. Much of her stay on this trip was spent travelling with truckie friends with overnight stays being sleeping in trucks on the road side. One road trip she made was with a load of bricks from Wollongong, NSW to Gladstone, QLD. Her Australian stay was vastly different to that of the typical tourist.
The second character was a softly spoken American guy in his late 60's with a very long grey beard. He had done the Indian Pacific train trip across the country and spent the rest of his time in hostels in different parts of the country. His leisure activities were minimal and all that he could mention were reading and relaxing - certainly no mention of sightseeing or partying. He just reminded me of the classic 'hippie' type from the 1960's. In fact my 18 year old colleague who was nearby referred to him as a hippie before I made any such reference or comment!! I didn't realize that teenagers today would know what a 'hippie' type was as it's not such a commonly used term nowadays.
On a Qantas flight to Europe was a very friendly French businessman who spoke great English and had enjoyed his stay here. I also chatted to a sociable Swiss woman and a number of British tourists.
Till next time.
Peter
Souvenirs Australia Warehouse
The first was a middle aged American women who had been to Australia many times before, on some of these occasions to exhibit show horses. She had many friends living here and some of them are truckies. Much of her stay on this trip was spent travelling with truckie friends with overnight stays being sleeping in trucks on the road side. One road trip she made was with a load of bricks from Wollongong, NSW to Gladstone, QLD. Her Australian stay was vastly different to that of the typical tourist.
The second character was a softly spoken American guy in his late 60's with a very long grey beard. He had done the Indian Pacific train trip across the country and spent the rest of his time in hostels in different parts of the country. His leisure activities were minimal and all that he could mention were reading and relaxing - certainly no mention of sightseeing or partying. He just reminded me of the classic 'hippie' type from the 1960's. In fact my 18 year old colleague who was nearby referred to him as a hippie before I made any such reference or comment!! I didn't realize that teenagers today would know what a 'hippie' type was as it's not such a commonly used term nowadays.
On a Qantas flight to Europe was a very friendly French businessman who spoke great English and had enjoyed his stay here. I also chatted to a sociable Swiss woman and a number of British tourists.
Till next time.
Peter
Souvenirs Australia Warehouse
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