Car = $900 = no dslr ...strong feelings of why am I here? Can't wait to get back home... to Korea

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battery, where are things? safe places  ...car is fkd.. fantastic

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I went with a travel buddy to Caversham Wildlife Park to meet up with some friendly Kangaroos as she had never seen one before. The last time i had been there was when I was very young. This is definitely the place to go if you want to interact with the Kangaroos, here you can feed them, pat them and they love being in photos. The area where you can play with the Kangaroos is a good size and you get to see the big Reds, the Greys and even some Albino Kangaroos. Caversham also has a large collection of other Aussie animals and the best one to view are the Koalas. I am sure that when i was younger I got to hold one at Caversham but I wasn't allowed to this time around. Holding a Koala might not be possible anymore, but you can definitely touch them and have your photo taken along side one which I think is just as good (better even as they have sharp claws that dig in). There are big aviaries full of birds that you can walk in. I'm not really a bird fan so I gave this a miss, but i am sure that they would have been great also. Caversham also has all kinds of little marsupials, and cute possums and even some flying foxes which I think are cool (My nieces birthday is coming up so I got her a flying fox complete with leather wings :) ) I didn't get to see my favourite animal (the Wombat) because it was hiding in its den, but i did get to see some strange Tasmanian Devils. The Devil was just running around in a big circle around his enclosure, i was watching him for about 10 minutes and it just ran around and around. A British couple were also amazed at this weird behavior and they said it must be battery powered on a track as it didn't look alive. I had a fantastic time looking and interacting with all the animals and it has made me appreciate the Aussie animals more. I see Kangaroos all the time when I am in the bush but you never get a chance to get up close to one as wild Kangaroos avoid human contact. Caversham is only 25 minutes from the city center and is great value for money. The cost is $17 for adults and $11 for kids and then you can stay as long as you like. Playing with the kangaroos and Koalas doesn't cost any extra which is great too. I would recommend Caversham for any visitor to Perth as it is the best place to see a kangaroo up close.

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So today really culminates my trip! 8 months of travel; 6 countries, a bunch of monkeys and a lotta, lotta memories.

I could write some utter shite about how it was a life-changing experience and blah blah (it was of course, if only because I achieved a life-long dream and not everyone gets to), and that if you're thinking of going traveling you should just go (honest, book it now!). But instead, I'll just write some travel tips that seem to make sense now I've done it.

Travel Tips for Asia

- Some people say dump the Lonely Planet - if you are on a tight schedule and need to know everything without trial and error, get the book. If you are not worried about unexpected or unprectable delays and want to get off the beaten track (probably more by error than judgement), by all means dump The Book.
- Try local sweets and fruits (only peelable ones, or ones you have watched been peeled in front of you). It's a real pleasure finding wonderful new flavours you like.
- On bus journeys, buy lots of provisions (fruits, biscuits, sweets) and share them around. In some countries it's common to do that anyway, but even if it's not a local custom it's a nice gesture to local people, and also to other travelers who might become friends.
- Explore shops and supermarkets - I love looking at all the brands and types of products I'm not familiar with and trying them out.
- Don't buy all your toiletries or travel gadgets at home. Adaptors, toiletries, cushions and eye masks can be picked up at a tiny fraction of the cost in cheaper countries.
- Do NOT buy the Lonely Planet at home. Pick one up for the country when you arrive; hostels/book shops/part exchange shops/street vendors will sell them at a tiny fraction of the cost. Do not be ripped off at home! (eg $40 per book, compared to $4.50 or less in Asia)
- Don't bring too many clothes, you'll be buying new ones in every country.
- Bring proper walking shoes, even if you're not inclined towards exercise. To see the best stuff you often have to walk, trek, climb or cave and having durable shoes that support is important. They don't have to be heavy-duty, Merrell are light as normal trainers and well worth the expense.
- Don't expect to pick up cheap shoes and trainers in Asia if you have bigger feet. They are small-boned nations, they don't cater for giant western feet (anything above a 6).
- Don't use the hotel recommendations from Lonely Planet; commonly they are ruined by their own success and have little interest in good service and competitive prices since the advert brings them regular business regardless. If there are touts at the bus drop ask for photos, prices etc and if it sounds alright most drivers will drive you there for you to look. If you don't like it fine, but you have a free lift and doubtless there will be plenty of other guest houses in that area to look at too. Chances are though you'll get a great guesthouse that will bend over backwards for you since they all also want to be in the Lonely Planet.


So the only question that remains to be asked is... where shall I go next time? :)

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Some pictures from around Perth, my new hometown. The province of  WA is massive: 2.5 million sq. km. for a population of 1.6 million. No wonder Perth is one of the most isolated cities in the world! There's lots of space around... and lots of beautiful beaches! Little by little I'm discovering new areas and new sites which I would like to share with photos.

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Finally after months and months of planning and years of dreaming about it, I am going back to the UK.  Its been 13 years since I have been to England.  This time I'm going to see a lot more, 13 countries in total.

The furthest I have travelled on my own is New Zealand and the longest I have been away from home is only three weeks, so this should be a whole new experience for me. 

I fly this afternoon-Im so nervous-I hope I havent forgotten anything

Spent the weekend obsessively packing, trying to pack the perfect pack-as light as possible, I need some clothes, hope I have enough.  I just know I am going to be cold, its only 11 degrees in London tomorrow, and it will be raining. :( oh well, am sure I can find something to do.

No photos today, but hopefully will put some up in a couple of weeks or so

London here I come!

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If my mate is in Penang then i'll be flying back to Perth today, otherwise i'll already be there :P

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Bonjou Mon Amie,

I'm leaving TOMORROW! this is a very shocking thing to remember (because i forget and then it hits me again) less than 24 hours until i am on a plane on my first leg Perth - Singapore! I am very lucky getting to fly Sg Airlines (my favourite) because that was part of my parents birthday present for my 18th.. I feel very blessed! (especially since i would not ever have been able to afford it myself). The other part, VERY EXCITING, is what i am writing on as we speak... new laptop!!! its gorgeous!! if anyone is about to go traveling i would recommend the ASUS EeePC. Its smaller than the average handbag. lovely and space saving and FAST since it has no hard drive and its half the price of almost anything on the market. GRANDE!

anyway, less about my nerdyness. I'm almost packed, it was like a giant jigsaw puzzle trying to fit 6months worth of clothes into one bag.. i have a lot more respect for those backpackers who used to annoy me by taking up all the room on the train with those DAMN BAGS hahahahahaha!

*note: I wrote this and then completely forgot about it in my total excitement of packing and stresses of saying goodbye

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final breakfast, overstay visa.. sing transfer, home

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pre-trip, tiger air and holiday expectations

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storms, pitch black, no visibility... but home at last

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I'm all packed.

Farewell to Mike and Alana, and here's to re-seeing them again soon.

I take an early bus to the airport for my early flight.

All is peaceful.

I hate leaving a country I feel a part of. So far this has only happened to me in Korea and Nepal outside of Perth.

I board the plane. We take off and I take my final glance out the window, saying goodbye to the land of the morning calm again.

In Singapore, I find I have a slight delay and get online to discover Winnie propping up MSN. She entices me downtown for free cake.

I deliberate over the invitation for so long, looking at the clock on the wall. I eventually get the balls to say yes when I realise that said clock isn't a clock... it's the airconditioning thermostat.. oops.

I sit in the airport, waiting for my chariot to Perth.

It arrives, we depart, and then next thing I see are the endless lights of Perth as we approach.

When can I leave again?

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The decision was made.. I was leaving Perth for a while.

Being a single man again, I decided some months ago that I should take the opportunity to disappear into the sunset back to Korea. Improve my Korean, live the life, and then decide where life will take me again in a year or so.

However, I somehow developed a new relationship in the middle of my decision-making.. so plan B. Hmm.

Luckily for me, my new girlfriend is Korean.. and going back to Korea at the end of the year.. what a relief huh?

Nayoung is from a little country town slash city.. Donghae. Population circa 100'000. One of my other good friends is from there as well, and that's actually how we met, but that's another story. Anyway, it was like a blessing (or curse?) ..miracuously, a job became available in Donghae so I jumped at it, signed the paperwork, and started processing my visa.

Firstly, the Korean embassy in is Canberra, so it's not as if I can just walk in. Secondly, they were very efficient when I went to Seoul to study.

Maybe that efficiency was a one-off though. This time it was terrible and kind of worrying.

I had a flight to catch November 15, a job to start November 16, and I had sold my house.. but I didn't have my work permit on November 12.. I was becoming a little concerned.

I rang the embassy on Friday to be told it was being processed. I rang again on Monday to make sure it had been added to the outgoing mail.

"Oh, we're just processing right now."

"It's a X-ing sticker" I'm thinking to myself, how long can it take.

Long story short.. I was so happy when my passport arrived back on November 14 with a shiny new visa in it.

I would be living in Korea.

I fly tomorrow.

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Penguin Island is really something to do if you gonna stay in Perth for a while. It is not that beautifull as Rottnest Island, but still very nice to see and to experience. You can take the ferry to the Island for 15 dollars, what includes a look in the 'discovery centre' at the island. In there you can see the little penguins during feeding time etc. For the more adventure-type: you can also walk to the island. There are some sandbanks between the island and Rockingham. It's a 700 meter walk trough the water. It depends on what time it is, and how hight the waterlevel is. In the morning it is a pretty easy walk. After 2 pm you'll have to swim the half of it. It is really quiet at the Island, a nice beach were you can go snorkeling (bring your own). A nice place to stay for a day. You should go there if you got the time for it!

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You can go to Perth Zoo for 18 dollars. You can walk around the zoo for about 3 hours and you will see all Australian wildlife by doing a 'bushwalk'. You can also see the asian and african part of the zoo. They have got different themes in the zoo: africa, asia, australia, south america, plants etc. A nice place to go one time, especially with children. But also for adults a great place to go.

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