Matt Hello all, Currently residing in Quilon, on the West Coast of India. Been having a great time so far and seen some interesting stuff - temples etc, as well as trains, my great grandfathers house and some interesting countryside. Going to cruise on the Kerala back wates tomorrow for 8 hrs - hard life isn't it! before arriving in Cochin. Hope you're all having fun whilst I'm sweating here in 28 degrees. Take easy y'all.

Matt Hello, brief update. Have spent the last 3 weeks on organic farm in Tasmania. In Hobart for the weekend and then back to farm for another week. Been doing all sorts of stuff incuding chopping wood, thinning apple blossoms etc. Top event so far was seeing the aurora astralis last night - for those not in the know they are the same as the northern lights but it is rare to see them in this part of the world. Take it easy all.

Matt Hey Glyn, bronzed definitely but adonis - still got some work to do (though not that much anymore). Currently about 45 mins outside of Hobart on Tasmania. Have just about been on the farm for a week and so far jobs have included apple blossom thinning, wood chopping, strimming, seaweed collecting, farm maintenance etc. have ing a great time though I did get snowed on for 6 hrs last Thurs which was not fun and quite unexpected. Going to be here for a bit, will possibly do a bit of touring around tassie but depends whether i can be bothered, getting sick of getting onto tour buses etc. Anyway thats about it for now - going to spend the rest of the day wandering around Hobart to see whats going on. Take it easy.

Glyn Hi Matt, it looks as though you are still having a great time down under. The weather sounds really good compared to ours, although it must be extremely tiring when you are inland and walking a lot during the day. It must have its benefits however, as I can imagine you will now look like a "Bronzed Adonis". Those little mozzies must like your aftershave or something if they keep coming after you in the night as much as you say, have you not got a mozzie net to sleep in? I have not seen much of the little fellow the 'Microbe' lately, he hasn't gone overboard has he? Hope you enjoy Tasmania and the rest of the trip, cheers Glyn.

Lynda Hellooo! I came, I saw, I looked! Lovely lovely pictures. *Especially* the ones from Vancouver...but I would say that, wouldn't I?! You are apparently having wayyy too much fun, and I believe this should not be allowed!! I may just have to come join you for a bit of world trekking... which may just be possible as I've had my application for VR accepted and finish on 26 November. Hurrah! Anyway, you keep on enjoying yourself! Catch you later, eh?!

Danny Hi mate, good to see that you are still alive and kicking. Some great pic's, surprised you haven't included any trains yet - maybe the stories of you being the proverbal train spotter aren't true afterall. Life in Hilton v.good and vik doing well. Was out for a run last sunday (7 mile sutton-on hill loop) and brought back memories of you plodding round - look forward to resuming the training regime when you get back. Not much changed in Hilton apart from the additional of yet another pub, the Hilton Brook, who now sponsor the football team I am playing for each sunday. Happy days as it means a corporate rate at the bar! Take care mate Dan

Dana Hi Matt Was dreaming about you and wondering how you were! Great to hear from you and your life seems just a tiny bit better than we are experiencing! Have just read Glyn's message re your wrist - he always did have a filthy mind. Take care and keep the messages flowing. Dana x

Matt 30/9/04 day 8 last day. Today we hike into Windjana gorge- only a couple of km but I really cant be bothered. Its hot and I want a shower. Theres no shade and the temperature is rising even at 7.30 am. We see some fresh water crocodiles and some bats hanging in the trees. We hike on some more taking a rest further up in the riverbed where the river has dried out. We walk back down the gorge to the bus, and have a well-earned shower out of the tap. Next we head down to Derby (thats right Im not kidding). Spend some time there having lunch before heading to the Boab prison tree. Time for a history lesson this tree was used as a prison in the days when Aborigines were being hunted down for resisting the white mans invasion of their land. In order to make it easier to control them overnight they were forced to climb into the tree and spend the night in there. Remember of course that there were a few of them all chained together. This meant that only one guard was needed to ensure none of them escaped. After visiting the Boab tree we resumed our journey to Broome where the trip ended. Most of us were staying at a place called the Last resort which the guide told us was rubbish I was hoping that the hostels name was not going to be that ironic but unfortunately it proved to be so. Bit of a dive as most of the hostels have been so far. The only decent hostels I have stayed in so far have been in New Zealand and Canada. Decided not to do any washing because there was a queue for the one washing machine. Had a shower and met everyone for dinner. Had an early night as was flying down to Perth the next day. newline

Matt 25/9/04 Day 3 - up again at 5am phone alarm works even when turned off damn. Uncomfortable night in swag been bitten by god knows what about 30 times on each arm. Went for walk into cathedral gorge very nice all had to sing national anthem or a song before left except the English boy hiding at the back (called Stuart). I did a wonderful rendition of the chorus to Wonderwall. Back to truck and then to airstrip for those doing the helicopter ride over the bungles. Temp in shade 37 degrees, temp in sun 48 degrees WTF! walking around in bare feet nutter. Back to camp and dinner. Another night in the swag. 26/9/04 day 4 Again spent most of the day driving down towards a place called parry farm, stopping in swimming holes along the way oh its such a hard life. Arrived at parrys farm (for you twitchers out there a bird spotters paradise). Cracking campsite with showers, toilets and swimming pool nice. Watch out when you go to the toilet though theres frogs in them thar bogs. newline

Matt 23/9/04 Another early start to the day got up at 4.30am and banged around a bit I wasnt trying to wake anybody up honest. Picked up at 5.30 by Chris who is going to be my guide on a trip through the Kimberleys. Yippee second person on bus can choose which seat I want. Gradually go round picking everybody else up and finally leave Darwin at about 6.30am. Today involves a lot of driving. We are heading to Katherine where first stop is for a swim well thats what the brochure says. Arrive Katherine have a swim excellent. Lunch good and back on the bus for another drive all way to lake Argyll biggest unnatural lake in Oz I think. All held back by a little dam, populated by plenty of barramundi farms. Saw a kapok plant and interesting fact when the seed pods open they contain a fibrous material which was used for stuffing mattresses in our house it was used for incubating chickens and ducks. Arrived at camp has showers luxury youll understand why later. Somebody had to light the fire ME I am the fire starter thank you Ray Mears. Temperature recorded today 38 degrees. 23/9/04 Question Why is it a creek and not a stream?? newline

Matt 19/9/04 day 2 today we leave Uluru and head towards kings canyon where we are going to have a walk etc. Ayers rock closed because of high winds so cant walk up it. So went to the cultural center instead. Eventually found it was impossible to go for walk up Ayer's rock so we had to settle for the walk around the base only 8 kms in the searing heat and swarming flies. Not bad walk though quite interesting seeing the places, which have special significance for the aborigines but cant take any photos though. After lunch headed to kings canyon another long drive. Arrived at camp after bumpy ride to find that theres not enough tents and one of the SIS (safari in style) customers wants a tent to themselves (well they did pay for it). Here comes the best bit, hostess quote to me and Ricky are you two in a tent, well you cant have it. The SIS needs a tent so you two can sleep in swags and then walked off. Theres customer service for you. Anyway after a load of b****in SIS gets tent me a Ricky not bothered either way, and two other people end up sleeping in swags. Life is definitely too short.

Matt 16/9/04 Arrived in Uluru gosh a bit warm here what. Temperature pretty high around 30 degrees again. Checked into my dorm if you can call it that more like a cell. Sharing with 3 other people 2 Japanese girls and an English bloke. I think Fletcher had more room in his cell in Porridge. Had a burger for dinner that was absolutely gross considering the price I paid for it. Spent the rest of the day reading until later in the evening when went out for a few drinks with the bloke I shared a room with.

Matt 13/9/04 Arrived in Melbourne feeling spiffing of course and spent the next couple of days contracting a cold etc. Had already booked my onward trips to Uluru etc but must admit I could have done with a good rest. However spent a couple of days wandering around Melbourne again and catching up with jacko before heading off to that big red rock in the middle of nowhere.

Matt 29/8/04 time to join the boat first things first though have a cooked breakfast. Taken down to the harbour about 10 km away to join the biggest ever Maxi yacht. Christ is that how big it is how are we going to fit on that?? Ah it gets bigger the closer you get, that is until all of you are standing in the galley/hatch. Only 17 of us on the boat for this trip including 4 crew, so theres a little bit of space for me anyway. Everybody was doing the I dont know you so Im not going to talk to you bit until lunch time when things started to get a little more social. First day spent sailing out to some of the islands where we were able to snorkel or dive if necessary. Spent some more time having a swim off the boat as well, not too deep around here only 40m. Then set sail for our night mooring just off of Whitehaven beach the whitest beach I have ever seen. Day two spent the morning on the beach playing a bit of football and volleyball, then off to our next port of call for more snorkeling. Stayed on the boat this time as it had started raining and was cold. It was decided that we would meet up with another boat and moor up together for the night have a bit of party you know yeah right. Our boat was what you might call a pretty quiet bunch not too prone to getting pissed and quite happy having a bit of decent conversation with a few drinks. The other boat were pissed by 3pm when we met them the drinking games had already started and one bird had had so much she fell over twice once nearly down the hatch. Clever girl its only dark, were in the middle of the sea and its deep. The only advantage to meeting up with the other boat was that we found out that ours was a lot more spacious and was twice as long hooray. However when on our boat we were allowed to shower once a day on theirs they couldnt shower at all for three days. Also try going to the head (toilet) in the front of the boat when its bouncing along through the waves an experience I can tell you especially when you have to watch whatever it is in the toilet whilst it is mashed up and pumped out just to ensure it doesnt get clogged. Highlight of the trip was being able to sail the boat very very cool. Unfortunately rained all day on the last day but I still managed to get sun burnt. Everybody on boat pretty cool and in general had a good time though at the night out afterwards there was some serious b****ing going on god get a life youve been out around the Whitsundays, seen some great beaches etc and now your b****ing because you felt youd been dumped on the beach whatever lifes too short. In Airley now for a couple of days and then down to Fraser Island. newline

Matt Hello there, am finally updating the website albeit a long time after I should have done. 26/8/04 Anyway hot air ballooning how cool is that. Had a very early morning start (4.30am) as need to balloon whilst its not too hot, otherwise difficult. Spent an age getting to the ballooning site along with the 76 other people who were going up yep I know I thought that there would only be a couple! Finally got to the launch site as it was getting to day break saw the balloons inflated which was quite cool though a lot of the Japanese thought it would be clever to get nice and close to the flames???? And finally the launch. Luckily enough I was one of the first people to go up so I got to see the sunrise, others didnt. Twenty people per balloon with one guy flying. Have to admit that I was a bit nervous about the height and it took a few minutes before I looked over the side. Didnt seem too bad but when you consider that the side only came up to my waist I thought I was going to fall out. Spent about half an hour or so drifting about with the very slight breeze at approximately 3000ft. And after that it was down again to let us who had only paid for a half hour off and let a few more people on. Nice soft-landing as well no being dragged across a field even better. After that spent some time in the bus chasing the balloons until it was time for the flight to finish and then lucky us we got to fold it up and put it away I thought we were paying for this??? The champagne breakfast yippee. Nothing like champagne bacon, eggs and toast. Now for the serous bit time to flog the punters some photos of their trip in a balloon hang on a minute the computers not working. Excuse me punters do any o you know how to get this computer to work we want to sell you some pictures. Suffice it to say nobody bought any pictures that day. Then embarrassing moment number 3 I got on the wrong bus to wrongville with the wrong ticket at the wrong time (I know youll love that Gazza). Ended up outside a supermarket in the middle of nowhere what fun! Managed to get back to Cairns and decided the day was still too young to be enjoyed and went back to bed. Spent the evening in the Internet café looking for the lyrics to wonderwall amongst other things. newline