Cruising to Oz and From NZ to Bathurst

Apologies for the last few weeks break in updating my blog.

This weekend I came across many people leaving Australia after literally only a few hours stay in the country. They were mostly American citizens who had cruised from Honolulu to Sydney, arriving in the morning and on a flight back in the other direction in the afternoon. Hopefully they will spend a little more time in our country next time!!

I came across 2 American couples who had visited children who were now living here. One of these couples had their home living arrangements well worked out. Each year they spend the cooler half of the year in Arizona and the warmer season in North Dakota. That certainly makes for a comfortable climate all year round.

It wasn't only Aussie revheads that headed to the Bathurst car racing last weekend. I chatted to a New Zealand couple who had split their Aussie visit between Bathurst and Sydney. While the male really seemed to have had a great time at Bathurst, his partner appeared to have enjoyed the shopping expeditions in Sydney much more so.

Other travellers included US businessmen who had spent time in Sydney and Melbourne, a NZ woman in Sydney for only 3 days on business and a young American guy who spent his whole stay in an on-site van in a caravan park in Cairns.

Till next time.

Peter

Souvenirs Australia Warehouse

One Method of Car Disposal and a Unique Place to Sleep

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

Thai Honeymooners, a Russian in Bangkok and a very young Italian backpacker

Came across plenty of the regular NZ businessmen heading home for the weekend but also some other friendly people such as a young Vietnamese lady visiting her cousin who lives in New Zealand. She had a good few hours in transit in Sydney so went into the city and fulfilled her main desire of seeing the Opera House close up (and of course the Bridge and our great harbour). I also met a New Zealander of Chinese origin who is currently working in Hong Kong. She chose to spend her day in transit with some friends here.

On a Thai flight I met a Thai honeymooning couple who had spent 10 days in Melbourne and Sydney and the husband had listed virtually all expenses by listing them on a sheet of paper. This careful accounting even included items of less than $5. Maybe the Thai tax office allows deductions for honeymoon expenses????

Another Thai flight included a Russian who was currently living in Thailand. She works for an online hotel reservation businesss and was here to try and sign up some hotels for their web sites.

Yet another passenger flying Thai was a very young Italian backpacker travelling on her own. She was only 17 and was as confident as an experienced traveller many years older. She had spent 3 months in Australia, then off to Fiji to get another Aussie visa for her second stay here. And of course she had a great time down under!!!

Leaving on SQ was an Aussie who had been living in China for 9 years and came back to spend a week with the family and to literally just 'hang out on the back verandah' of the family home.

Other visitors heading out included Indians studying and working in Oz, a Japanese businessman here for a few days and a Thai who attended a conference in Cairns.

Till next week.

Peter

Souvenirs Australia Warehouse