Hello!!! Well it's been a while... sorry about that, we've just been having so much fun!

So, first of all a quick update on our last few weeks in SE Asia and then on to our first two weeks in Oz.

As we said we went to Semporna in Borneo to dive (well I dived and Dan sunbathed!). The diving at Sipidan is rated to be some of the best in the world and it was totally amazing! As you saw from the pics we were diving with turtles and sharks (small ones and not dangerous... but still very cool!). Sipidan is a small island surrounded by a reef which has a 600 metre drop off wall - which means you can't see the sea bed when you're diving - for any of you that dive you have to go there. From Borneo it was on to a week in Bali.

Bali is another very beautiful country. We spent a few days in Ubud, a lovely town with lots of art galleries, nice shops etc. Generally a nice place to hang out for a few days. We visited temples (of course!) and also went to view the volcano - having decided against climbing it... still too soon after our mountain adventures in Borneo!!

Then it was to the coast for a few days. We chose a quiet place on the East coast, with black sand beaches. The coastline was stunning, black sand and huge rocks, set against the back drop of rolling greenhills and paddy fields...it was a very relaxing way to end our Asian journey...

And then it was on to Oz! First stop was Perth to see Sophie and meet Phoebe and Craig. We had the best time - but not long enough... Phoebe is a gorgeous little girl, with a lovely personality. It was so lovely all spending time together. They live right by an amazing beach, check out the pics. I can see why Sophie didn't come back to England!

Craig took Dan out fishing for a day - and I think Dan realised what real work is... none of this sitting in an office!! They were up at 3.30am and didn't get back until 7pm...Sophie and I spent the day shopping and going for a nice lunch! We had BBQs in the evenings and drank wine, went to visit a national park and saw loads of kangaroos and koalas (and got lost in the dark and I walked into a spiders web and totally freaked out - there are so many things that can kill you here it's not funny!).

Too soon it was time to leave, but we'll definitely be back to visit again.

Next stop was the Northern Territory. We booked on a 7 day tour, that took as from Alice Springs to Darwin, stopping at various national parks including Uluru (Ayres Rock), Kings Canyon, Katherine Gorge and Kakadu. We camped along the way which was great fun. The first night we slept out under the stars. It has been amazing. Uluru was spectacular especially at sunrise. It was really good to travel by road from central Australia which is a semi arid zone, so really dry up through the outback and into the top end of the Northern Territory which is tropical with wetlands. The transformation in the scenery and environment is amazing - although we've covered a ridiculous number of miles and neither of us want to see a bus again for a while!

The last two days we've been in Kakadu National Park - where we've seen crocodiles and went swimming in some of the most spectacular natural settings you could every imagine swimming in.... The swimming areas are not open in wet season because of salt water crocodiles and although this is now dry season, I have to admit to being pretty nervous at first!! And there are still probably fresh water crocs in there and although they assure you that they are not dangerous you can't help but freak out a little bit!

And tonight we fly to Melbourne, where we'll spend a couple of days and then drive the Great Ocean Road to Adelaide, stopping at a winery and somewhere nice for dinner on the 16th as its our first wedding anniversary.

Promise to get some photos up soon... Shula and Dan xxx