Viva la - well, Coonamble

G'day mates...I'm writing this with three days to go before Christmas. Now if you thought Pontypridd was an isolated area you want to try being here.

My friend Tegan, who I worked with in Newcastle in a function centre, kindly invited me back with her family for Christmas. Little did I know her family lives in the little town of Coonamble - 8 hours west of, well, everywhere. Coonamble's population is just over a thousand; and pretty much everybody know's everybody (including me it seems).


This place is so beautiful though. The nearest other town is a place called Dubbo, which is 3 hours south I believe, and it's quite limited here. There are two bar's, one school, a swimming pool, and a lake that is used for watersports. But too be honest, it's a ****** amazing place.

Unfortunately at the moment the weather is 48 degrees C, and we hear that it's going to be even hotter on Christmas day. Last night we were up until 2 am, and the weather at 2am was still in the mid 30's. It's such an insane place to be, but I wouldn't swap it for the world.

Hope you're all well.

Peace out.

And Up We Go...

Okay, so I kinda skipped a few places. Well a few thousand kilometres to be exact (they use km over here not miles so sticking with the theme...) and I'm in the northern Australian haven that is Darwin.

Calling this place out of this world would be an understatement to be honest. It's as vivid as it is brilliant. A art-noir culture embedded with deep art-decor shades of illucidity. Blah! Wow.

Thought I better come here before summer really sets in; during the months on December to March you can't bath anywhere in the Northern Territory because of jelly fish and shark infestations. During the milder months though this place is brilliant.

The place is scene as a bit of a fashion city, and more and more business is coming here every year. You can see it's growing. The great thing is though, the lack of tourists; and I mean that with no condescending tones. You can just chill out, take a look around, without having to look like you're out of place.

Motorcar Falls (above) is a sensational way to spend an afternoon, and I won't even begin to go on about the beaches. It's kinda way out there. I can't really label the place. It's just, different.

Not working here at the moment which is a nice break too be honest, been chilling out a lot. Feel like I could stay here a while; although the weather is getting hotter each week. Average temp of 36 degree C a day at the moment, which isn't that hot I've been told.

Got a feeling I'm gonna have to head south soon...

The large life in Newcastle.

It's a world far away from our own. Many think that the culture is all about beer guzzler's and beach bunnies; which is partially true, but what a lifestyle it is.

It's the laid back culturist seperatism that keeps Australia away from the US and the UK, and I truly mean that. It hasn't yet got the influential and political shadows of the Northern Hemisphere superpowers, and it's truly a haven for backpackers.

Coff's Harbour beachfront

I'm currently in Coffs Harbour, which is a stones throw (6 hours) from Sydney (trust my 6 hours is nothing over here. Wait until I get to Darwin). After coming through Newcastle I'm starting to immerse myself in a world that isn't really apparent unless you're involved in it; the backpacker scene.

Newcastle is arguably the music capital of Australia. Nobby's is one of the best beaches in the world for surfing, and the people here/there are great. I spent a couple of weeks there cleaning hostel rooms, before they asked me to start co-ordinating evening events. In effect I was getting free beer money and accomodation for organsing pool competitions and karaoke contests.

I've currently moved on to Coffs Harbour, and I'm actually working on reception in the YHA here (YHA is the safest hostel company around worldwide). Again, free accomodation. No free beer unfortunately but hey, I've saved enough money up to this point.

The beaches so far have been great. Been riding a shortboard a fair amount, and met some brilliant people (okay, female's mainly). Watch out for more pics.

Peace out...