So this one deserves its own entry. An early start, picked up at 7.30am along with 11 others and we headed north over the bridge out of Sydney. Just over 2 hrs later we're arriving at our first vineyard of the day. In the distance a plume of smoke can be seen from a bush fire, currently being battled (later that day, after we had left, the fire would get close to Cessnock requiring some people to be evacuated, but all was ok the fire services got it under cont...

First couple of days in Sydney, been really busy making the most of the hop on hop off bus pass I have to get around and see as much of the city as possible. It's even hotter here than in Fiji! The bus also went out to Bondi beach so spent a couple of hours there in the afternoon. Hotel is one road back from Darling Harbour, there's a pedestrian walkway over and under two major roads to get there, also straight up the road in the other direction is a supermarke...

A final free week in Fiji. This week was spent just relaxing. I spent five days at bamboo travellers on the beach at Wailoaloa. Chatting with other travellers, reading my book, swimming in the sea or the pool. Did another day trip, this time only out to South Sea Island (the first one on the ferry's journey) for some more snorkelling as there's not much to see off the beach at Wailoaloa. For my last couple of nights I moved to the Hilton on Denarau, a fantastic...

This weekend I finished my second stint of volunteering. This time on a care project in Nadi Fiji. Now I start 5 weeks of independent travel, covering five countries (including Fiji). Have moved from host family to a hostel, Bamboo travellers (Charan's recommendation!). Waking up in the morning I can see the beach and sea out the window along with blue skies and bright sunshine, the sun gets up here soon after 6. The task each day is to not get sunburnt! No real...

Week 4 on the care project and with all schools and kindergartens finished for the year (they have their long break now, not going back to the new school year until end of January) we start holiday school. Organised (?) by projects Abroad in one of the local settlements for kids from 5 to 14 yrs to come to. It's in their community hall, think wooden shed with corrugated metal roof, no tables or chairs, it's a sit on the floor job. We have limited supplies and l...