g'day,

right so im in australia and i can see why people stay so long, its a beutiful place. i landed in sydney and went to my hostel which was really funky, shared a room with 10 other people and therefore had to get drunk in order to get any sleep!

Sydney is expensive compared to asia and for somethings its more expensive than home! i stayed for a few days saw all the sights and then decided that i was spending too much (to be fair there isnt much to do in sydney apart from the nightlife) money. I arranged to meet with a friend i met in vietnam and we drove up to newcastle. it was a beutiful drive we went through the blue mountains and the scenery is stunning.

Newcastle is equally pretty, its an old industrial town but the majority of the heavy industry has gone now and its become a major residential area. the main pulls are the amazingly clean beaches and great surf. an hour drive into the hills takes you to the hunter valley vineyards, we went round the other day, its a great way to get drunk for free! dad would be very jealous! went to the tullock, lindemanns and loads of other well known wine producers and the wine they sell at the cellar door is the stuff you cant buy in the shops and its tasty stuff!

ive been trusted with my friends car to drive around while they are in work ! its good fun the aussie drivers are a bit mad they weave in and out of lanes undertaking and beeping like mad its like a big race (australians are hyper competitive in everything they do).

im leaving for byron bay soon to kick back on some more sweet beaches! its spring time over here and its already about 35 degrees!! nice. and the best thing is..... not a grain of rice in sight! thank the lord.

hope all is well at home and its not too cold and wet for you ! ha ha !

take care all.