Big red rocks

Sorry, still no photos - hotel net access remains expensive, so stuck to using net cafes.

Travelled up from Adelaide to Alice Springs on the Gahn train - more fantastic food while travelling through the middle of nowhere, all in complete luxury. I then headed outback to see a few rocks, admittadly big ones. Uluru (Ayres Rock) is probably one of the biggest letdowns in Aus, especially the sunset viewing which is just crammed with tourist buses, all having drinks parties. The Olgas was much better, as I had no expectations. For sunrise we avoided the crowds by getting close to Uluru, which was a much more plesent experiance.

It was a pleasently small group for the trip, 12 for the first 2 days after which one couple left us. However an ability to speak German would have been an advantage as apart fom an english family of 4, me and patricia from Austria the rest were all German. Still our driver/guide/cook Smiley did a fantastic job of getting the group to jell.

Highlight of the trip was palm valley, which we had to ourselves, a little part of the Jurasic in the middle of the desert. Even the flies (mostly) stayed away.

Late edit - photos of the trip now on Flickr, see link to right

Adelaide

worldtour_0661.JPG, originally uploaded by mark benger.

Sorry for the lack of updates recently, just not felt like typing.

I'm curently in Adelaide having taken the Indi Pacific train from Perth and have spent my time exploring the city, and for the last two days visiting Kangeroo Island, with its roos, koalas and seals.

Hello from Aus

worldtour_0158.JPG, originally uploaded by mark benger.

Sorry for the delay in updating this, but having finally got somewhere with a fast net connection I've been trying to catch up on the backlog of photos from Bali.

So after a month and a half of traveling I've finally reached Australia - to be precise Perth, the most remote city on earth, with noting to the west but ocean, and desert in every other direction.

It's winter here, which means that its about as cold as an English summer :) and all the ausies are staying at home, wrapped up in there only sweater, shivering.