More kitesurfing

I had another go at kitesurfing today - and actually managed to get up onto the bord, for all of 4m

Off roading to the waterfalls

Yes I managed to dodge all the crocs in the NT, so I'm now dodging crocs and cane toads in Queensland.

I decided to change my itenery, since I'm fed up with honeymoon hotels, and rented a small 4x4 and headed north from Cairns to Cooktown via Cape Tribulation - and there's very little tarmac from Cape Trib to Cooktown, just a dirt track through the rainforest, just my idea of fun. On the way back I took the inland route, and climbed down some lava tubes, before ending up here in Port Doglass.

Note to self - Trailfinders do very good hotels for couples and familys, next time go backpackers.

PS some photos now up on Flickr

Jumping Crocs

worldtour_1423.JPG, originally uploaded by mark benger.

Got out of Darwin for the day today to visit Litchfield National Park, for a look at termite mounds, waterfalls and a dip in some croc free pools, followed by a cruise on the Adelaide river (which gets no nearer than 3000km from the city of the same name) to see some big crocs get teased out of the water - at least they got fed for their efforts.

Remind me never to get too near the river in the NT

Desert to tropics

worldtour_1333.JPG, originally uploaded by mark benger.

Another two days of luxury train travel, from the desert heat of Alice Springs to the tropical heat of Darwin, stopping to take in the spectacle of Kimberly gorge from the air mid way.

PS if your reading this, please leave a comment, just so that I know I'm not being ignored.

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.