World
Tourer - Travel Information -
April to May 2013
Video
Postcards -
Travel Archives -
My Lifetime of Travel -
Photo Index
16th May 2013
Today I drove up the coast North from Cairns as far as Mossman which
was a bit further than I had planned. I went to the entrance of
Mossman Gorge but did not go in as I did not have time. I returned
visiting Port Douglas (grossly overated in my opinion - similar to
Noosa but without the beach),
Rex Lookout, Ellis Beach,
Palm Cove and Trinity Beach. For me
the pick of the bunch was Palm Cove and I may even look into moving
there when my current lease expires.
View From Rex Lookout
Palm Cove Beach and Jetty
Wallaby at Trinity Beach
----
15th May 2013
On Sunday I did walk into Cairns again but I found a short cut so it
was only about sixteen kilometres return and I actually did it quite
comfortably. Tomorrow I am renting a car and going for a trip up the
coast to have a look at the beaches (there is no beach in
Cairns city) - I plan to drive up to Port Douglas and then come back
down the coast - I may even go to Kuranda if I have time.
Gateway Resort Pool
Cairns Beach Cairns Esplanade Lagoon
----
5th May 2013
Today I went on my Sunday "Long Walk" and it turned out to be longer
than I thought. I walked into Cairns to the man made Lagoon/Swimming
Pool on the Esplanade. I thought it was about 5-6 kilometres each
way but by the time I got into Cairns I was feeling a bit tired and
considered getting the bus home. I persevered and walked back to the
Cairns Gateway Resort (where I am staying) - I had a look on Google
Maps to see how far it was as I was sure it was further than
anticipated and according to Google it was more than 9 kilometres
each way! I don't think this will become my regular Sunday walk as
18 kilometres is more than I am comfortable with.
----
2nd May 2013
Yesterday I signed the lease for three months on a Studio Room at
the Cairns Gateway Resort - I will probably be staying for a lot
longer than that but there was no need to make the lease time
longer. I must admit that I am missing Asia even though I have been
feeling very relaxed here.
----
26th April 2013
Cairns suits my clothes just fine with daily average temps about 30
C - I have been to Cairns many times before but I have never lived
here as a resident. The Cairns Gateway Resort's location is slightly
better than I thought although it is still a few kilometres out of
town. There is a local shopping centre a few hundred metres away
which includes an IGA supermarket and a large shopping centre a
couple of kilometres away -
Stockland Cairns.
My Studio Room is right next to the swimming pool which is good -
the only internet on site is Tomizone, a service that is useless - I
signed up for a very expensive $20 for 24 hours and the service was
only available for about one hour during that period. I have since
got a mobile broadband modem which gives me access anywhere there is
mobile phone coverage and so far it is working as expected.
----
20th April 2013
On Wednesday I am flying to Cairns as it is too cold in Sydney for
my liking (as I type it is 15 degrees C (feels like 5) and raining with a strong
wind). I will be staying at the
Cairns Gateway Resort initially and
perhaps long term if I like the place.
----
16th April 2013
After a few fine, warm days the weather in Sydney has turned wet and
cold (it was unseasonally warm when I arrived) with a hint of winter
in the air. Hopefully I will be moving North to Cairns sometime
soon.
Bundeena Cockatoo Having Breakfast
Pair of Lorikeets in The Back Yard
----
12th April 2013
Back in the "Land Down Under" after more than four years in Asia - I
arrived in Sydney yesterday morning after flying from Bangkok via
KL. I will be spending a day or two just relaxing before I sort out
what comes next. Whilst I love Asia I think I will enjoy a break for
a while.
----
4th April 2013
Now in Saigon after a terrible train trip from Nha Trang - I have
travelled by train in Vietnam many times (inlcuding the overnight
sleeper train between Saigon and Nha Trang several times) but last
night was different - I think that Vietnam Railways is letting their
stations, trains, carriages and rail lines just deteriorate without
any improvements or even maintenance (as an example the station at
Nha Trang used to be air conditioned and now it's not - it used to
have a toilet now it doesn't - it used to have tv screens and an
electronic board displaying all train arrival/departures times,
still there but no longer working). Once my train left the station I
noticed three major differences since my last trip - 1) The cabin I
was in was dirty and had several small cockroaches running around
(this was on the SE3 in a soft sleeper, air conditioned cabin - the
most expensive) - 2) The noise inside the carriage was deafening,
like an echo chamber - 3) The ride was very rough with the train
lurching from side to side as well as up and down. I think I managed
to get about one hours sleep on the seven hour trip. No more train
travel in Vietnam.
Once I arrived at Saigon Station I walked to my hotel (150
metres) booked in and went straight to bed.
----
3rd April 2013
As the sun sets slowly in the West this weary traveller leaves the
beach area at
Louisiane Brewhouse and heads for
Nha Trang's tourist area for a last circuit of the bars and
restaurants prior to catching the overnight train to Saigon.
I have spent my last two days in Nha Trang being a tourist - staying
in a hotel in the tourist precinct and testing several restaurants
and bars that I have not been to before - as well as lounging around
the swimming pool and beach area of Louisiane Brewhouse on Nha Trang
beach for several hours each day.
Previous Page