MERRY CRIMBO FROM THE GOLD COAST

This was my first Xmas away from the UK, & have to admit that no one does Xmas like us! Obviously, China is a non starter as they don't believe in it but Japan well they needn't bother as its soo poor & Vietnam well they do try as most of they cater for the Westeners & Australia they are trying but not hard enough!!!! There's no Wham, John Lennon, Cliff Richard or Slade when you go into the shops sad but I missed it!

Anyway, I went to the Gold Coast for Christmas week & stayed with Debs & her family. I stayed at a 5* resort where Debs parents have an aparttment there, not bad for a backpacker here is the website www.xanaduresort.com.au

We actually drove up to the resort, 1000km well Debs mum Sue did & we left at 4.30am I was shattered. Christmas was nice but different actually it wasn't hot & I didn't even get to the beach. I went to the gym in the morning which was good as a month on the beer doesn't do your wasteline any favours hence why you haven't seen any beach photos of me!!!! Instead of the usual turkey & Christmas pudding we had the typical aussie meal, well not quite a bar-be but prawns & barbacue chicken which was really nice. Missed my friends & family then, as no matter how nice people are its good to spend Xmas with love ones, at night we went to meet more of Debs relations in Brisbane though I kinda wish i had spent it with the fellow packpackers in Sydney where everyone would have been in the same boat!!!

You can all laugh at me, as the majority of the time over Xmas it rained, was a little windy & the sun didn't come out! last year it was 45 degrees...... Debs was good & took me a few places & I always made sure I got drunk in the evening!!

Seemingly, the more you work your way up the Coast the warmer it becomes so I may have to get to Cairns to work on my tan!!!!

Hope everyone back home & my fellow travellers had a Very Merry Christmas & once I can work out my stupid camera to download photos I show you more of my travels