Hi everyone sorry for the delay in writing a blog it's been a bit hectic and we have not had chance to get to a computer. Hope all is well back at home and everyone is okay.

Our last few days in Ko Tao were great I managed to have a go of the trapeze swinging, it's a 1 hour class and they teach you to swing with your legs holding the bar and spinning in the air, then they teach you to spin and be caught by a professional artist. It's so much harder than it looks and scary cause it's quite high up. I did the classwith Laura the girl we had met when we arrived glad we ended up doing it it was great. We were quite excited about arriving in Australia and looking forward to it now it was close (especially looking forward to it not being as humid as we were constantly sweating)! Chilled out on our last night in Ko Tao and left early the next morning heading to Bangkok, an 11 hour bus/boat journey, arrived in Bangkok (again) and met with two girls who we had met in Ko Tao who were heading home next morning, had a few drinks and next morning waited to get our flight to Sydney.

Flight was fantastic really good food, plenty of wine, choice of films and games to play, it was only 9 hours so it went really quickly. Arrived in Sydney it was FREEZING we stil had our summer gear on everyone else was wrapped up in coats etc and there we were in little dress and Joe in shorts an t-shirt. We had booked a hostel online already much more expensive than we had been used to and it was the cheapest one online aswell. Arrived at the place waited to check in, room not great but for the money (40 australian dollars about 20 quid) it was fine it was a double bed with a single on top bit grubby but bearable! One of Joes mates from the postoffice called Joe also had been in Australia for 1 year so we called him as he was back in Sydney and arranged to meet him next day. Luckily in the day when the sun is out it is quite warm just at night it goes cold. We were about 10 minute walk from Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge the opera house is huge, the harbour is really impressive especially at night when it's all lit up. One major difference than Asia is everything is so expensive, even food/drink etc. We had been told that if we headed up to Cairns (about 3000 miles) and worked our way down the coast we wopuld be following the weather as it's much hotter up there. After checking prices of hostels we would be paying at least 70 austalian dollars for a room slightly cheaper if we went into a dorm but not much, we have been spolit with the rooms only being a tenner and under! We bought food from the supermarket and cooked in the "communal kitchen" where theres TV etc and you can use all the facilities in the kitchen.

We met up with young Joe who has been woking out here for the past year making jis way down the coast, we went for a few drinks, Joe should have been catching his bus a 6pm but he ended up missing it so we sneaked him into our room to leave his stuff and we went out drinking, it's a standing joke that everytime he comes out with us he ends up staying the night no matter where we are Dresden, Sydney etc (haha) We had a great night ended up missing our train back and chtting with sydneys homeless people we have got some great photos! Joe stayed the night with us then caught his bus the next day to Byrom Bay where he is doing a skydive!

We went to a travel plan place to look at options of transport up the coast etc. flights were quite expenisive up to Cairns, got loads of info about trips etc to do while here in Oz. We decided to have a think about it and by chance when looking for somwhere to get some prices for campervans we passed a place to ask directions and they hired camper vans too. Madonna (the rep) called to check and there was a company that needed a van taking from Sydney to Brisbaine by the 18th September and it would only be 20 dollars a day (a tenner!). We snapped up the offer the vans should be 75 - 85 dollars a day normally! We were really excited it's a hightop van with fridge, cooker, microwave, toaster etc. You have to pay a one way fee of a hundred quid but it still it a really cheap deal! We signed the agreement and next morning went to collect the van. What we thought was drive the van as far up the coast as we could get then bring it back to Brisbaine by the 18th then see if they have another van that they would like us to bring back to Sydney for then. When we arrived to pick up the van turns out ...... they made a mistake the girl was new and got it wrong and they said we could have it for three days any more then we would have to pay full price, we both refused as we had signed contracts and we argued with them that it was not our problem they had made a mistake. Cut a long story short we only had to pay them an extra 35 quid and we have the van till the 18th Sept result! Their mistake our gain!

When we saw the van we could not believe it is great sleeps 5 peopl so loads of room, brand new aswell hardly been used! All equipment included chairs etc etc. So here we are on our road trip 1st night we checked onto a campsite just past Newcastle at a place called Stockton on the beach. Slept like a log! The campsites are about 20 - 30 dollars a night when you are driving there are rest stops every 50 - 100 km with toilets etc so we have been pulling up on them closing the curtains and cooking tea, glass of wine etc its great!! We have stopped at some beautiful places especially the national parks, the weathers great really sunny but not humid.

Few nights ago we met a trucker who was on his break and we got chatting, he ended up inviting us to stay on his land for free at a place that we were heading to anyway, so next morning we set off and arrived at his "ranch". We met the family and ended up staying for lunch and then dinner aswell, he lives with his wife, 13 year old son and a guy who rents the caravan at the end of the garden. His house is a typical australian ranch type house on stilts with an acre of land. We had a crazy time he makes his own 95 percent proof alcohol, he hypnotised the chickens, we had a go of a huge motorbike round the ranch with the guy from the caravan who only has one arm, we helped fell some trees, they cooked great food for us we had our first barbie with them. Anyway they asked us to stay the next night with them too so we did, they let us use their hot shower (wonderful) and made a fuss of us it was great. Next morning we left Darrell said if we want a lift back to Sydney he will pick us up in his truck on his way past Brisbaine so we may be travelling back in a truck thats 55 meters long!

Anyway we arrived in Byron Bay this morning which is a little sufers place we are staying one night then heading up the coast again. We are going to Steve Irwins zoo in a couple of days and then diving the great barrier reef ( in the day obviously). The campervan is great and we are having a brilliant time.

Hope everyone is good back at home lots of love to all Gem & Joe xxxxxxxxx