Vegas

The lack of updates is mainly due to sheer laziness. Most of the day is spent by the pool and then we've been up till 3 or 4 am each night.

Surfice to say Pinar has gambled us into the poor house!

More pics soon

California's favorite

I remember from the last time I was in LA in about 2002, that Newcastle Brown Ale was really popular, with most bars and hotels selling it on draught.

It must have got even bigger as we saw loads of these delivery trucks driving round LA and west Hollywood.

I can't think of anything less likely to be successful in America, but there you go...It was pretty strange walk out of the hotel into the morning sunshine and bumb straight into this!

hands and feet

Walk of fame

The walk of fame on Hollywood bvd is pretty good fun, but it runs for miles as the steet itself is huge. However, after you've gone past the main bit with starts for Elvis, the Beatles and all the big movie stars you can't help but think they're struggling a bit.

About 80% of the stars at the top end of the street I've never even heard of and stars for the likes of Jack Klugman (TV's Dr Quincy) and Henry Winkler (AKA the fonze) seem a bit of a stretch!

Hollywood

The sign (much smaller than it looks in all those movies) and a famous diner off hollywood bvd where we went for some coffee.

celebrity love island

Pinar on the set of some lame-ass TV show I've never heard of.

strange day(s)

Because of the date line that runs across the pacific we have had May 25 2006 twice.

We actually landed before we took off!

It's a 10 hour flight from Fiji to LA, but because of the time difference we set off at 11.20 pm and landed at 3pm on the same day.

We're staying in Hollywood, but have dredful jet lag after our groundhog day.

leaving the little island

Bye bye Fiji

We're leaving Fiji tonight and we are not happy about it, off to LA in a bit, we've had a great time here.. and I think we'll want to come back here again.. the people are friendly the weather is lovely and the islands are beautiful... and the food is nice too..

Anyway going to go now... we'll try and put some photo's on in LA if we can.

Last day in Fiji

We went over to another Island today (well an atol to be exact), although this one was much smaller.

Unlike bounty where we went the other day, this one (south sea island) was only about the size of half a football pitch.

Standing in the middle (with a bottle of Fiji Gold beer) you could easily see the sea on all sides. It was a bit worrying at first as you think that any big wave will swamp the whole place. All they have there is a hut that serves as a bar and a dive school - that's actually a bit grand as it's just all the gear scattered around on the sand.

Pinar seems to have conquered her feer of boats as for this one you can only get the main boat in so far, before jumping on a small (very small) landing craft to get ashore. This island was too small to even have pier so the boat lands on the sand. A bit like saving private ryan but hot and instead of bullets you just have to dodge the people with weaker constitutions!

We relcutantly fly to LA tomorrow night so we'll have to say goodbye to the south sea paradise after getting VERY comfortable here.

The climate is perfect but the only thing is the insect and sea life are pretty aggresive. Any bug or fish that can bite, scrape, nip, bump, tear or sting will have a good crack. The mozzies took a real toll on poor pinar, but left me well alone! Conversely, when we were underwater anything that could bite had a good go at me and left her alone, which I think is far more scary. She is covered in mozzy bites and i've got scrapes, cuts and fish bites all over, the most unerving of which was made by some weird fish that swam right up to my inner thight, but thankfully no further!

Pinar's posts

For some reason everything comes up as posted by Ross - The last three were by Pinar.

Jackson Browne

I forgot to say Bruce, that on our Boat back from the island, they were playing Jackson Browne, I was bobbing around to that I must say.... or maybe that was just the waves.

Ross says he must be big in Fiji, and maybe you should catch his next concert here, it would be much warmer than the arena and probably cheaper!

Happy Birthday Jen

Glad to see we were on you living room wall, and hope you had a great birthday :)xx lot s of kisses from ross and I.

Castaway

We've had a great day today, we've been out to the islands, we went to bounty island (and yes it is like the advert).

Were they filmed celebrity love island, the island is absolutely lovely, the white sand clear sea, and the snolking was fantasitic. We saw some great fish and coral.

We walked around the island to the love island part, but it was a bit of a wreak, but the beach in that area was brillient. Ross went kyaking while I sun bathed (again)... :) Ross got bit by some coral and rushed out in case the sharks could smell the blood, Ive never seen him swim so fast haha

We got on boats again.. and for the first time I was fine (but I was taking tablets) buts as long as im not ill i'll take anything.

Hope everyone at home is fine.. but i'd be lying if I said I was ready to come back

The Island(s)

Not much to add at the moment, as we've been a bit lazy the last couple of days. This part was always intended to be the R&R part of the trip so instead of running around seeing loads of sites we've just been lying round the pool and beach.

Fiji is exactly as you'd expect it - hot, tropical and a very nice place to sit around drinking beer and eating seafood. Fiji is actually a chain of more than 300 islands and atols and were staying at nadi.

The climate here (along with Oz) is probably the best we've had because it's hot (but not so hot that it cooks you) and it doesn't have the humidity of places we went in South east Asia. It's normally a consitent 30 odd degrees.

We're off on a boat trip tomorrow so Pinar is squrilling away here various pills in preparation.

We thought by this stage we might be getting sick of all the travel and sleeping in different beds but it's actually turning out the opposite. We've been nervously looking at the schedule and slowly dreading the flight back to England.

Still, it's not over yet...to the bar.

eggs

Around where we were staying near the volcano all you could smell was egg.


There was smoke and hot pools everywhere, but then agian I didn't mind when we used them for a mud bath and spa!

volcano

This is a picture of the inside of the volcano, from above.

This is one of the most amazing things I've ever seen, other than the smoke and water that comes out of the ground around here.

Just to clarify things - I'm not scared of flying I just get ill!

Sea plane

With Pinar being afraid of flying and suffering from seasickness, a float plane might sound like a nighmarish combination for her room 101. But we decided to take a trip into the crater of an old volcano near rotorua in the centre of North Island.

It was a bit nerve wracking getting on but we both really enjoyed it. There are five seats inside the tiny little plaine which, worryingly was much older than both of us (built in 1950) and uses lake rotrua as a runway.

We both really enjoyed it and pinar now want lessons to fly one after overcoming her fears, and various ailments (she was nearly sick just looking at the boats in Sydney).

Land of the long white cloud

We've not been able to update for the past week as we've been right out in the sticks .

We hired a car at Auckland and headed out to explore the North Island (thanks to QR for giving us the right ideas about where to go).

I had imagined a suitably large 4x4 or a jag, but when Avis turned up, all they had left was a bog standard ford fiesta so that had to do. Living in London has slowly eroded all the pleasure out of driving, but getting a car in NZ really give syou back all the enthusiasm for it. Miles of emply roads and amazing scenery held you grind out the miles and although the speed limit is 60 mph, there's no one else on the road to stop you going as fast as you want.

We stopped at various motels as we travelled and among other things we went caving, kyaking, bush walking, and took a sea plane ride into a volcano.

NZ is a brilliant place and we also got to do a few mauri cultural tours and saw loads of geysers, mud pools and thermal vents.

We also had a mud bath and a spa in water from a volcano. Hopefully more later as we're now at the airport.

A word about our last hotel, which was by far the best we've ever stayed in, and the NZ people who are easily the warmest and most polite of any country I've been to.

Auckland

The city of sails.

New Zealand

Got here from Oz and the weather was terrible, but thankfully it's cleared up now.

We've been all round Auckland today seeing the sky tower, Underwater world, Mission Bay (beach) and loads of other places.

This is the place that's most like England that we've been to (apart from the extinct volcano's and 'lord of the rings' scenery) - in terms of Auckland and the people it's really like the UK.

We head off down south tomorrow in a hire and we'll be sorry to see the back of the luxury hotel we managed to blag here, which is easily the best we've stayed in so far.

One note about the breakfasts - I think it must be a big deal for Kiwis as the menu for petit dejunier was almost 3 pages long! The best one I saw was called the Kiwi slammer, which included everything you'd expect of a full english - plus steak and chips!

Never thought I'd see a steak breakfast but there you are - and just so you know it wasn't only a boast on the menu, the guy behind us was eating it.

Ice bar

On our last night went to a bar where everything is made of ice, including the furniture and the glasses.

It was minus 5 in there so they give you two pairs of gloves, a parker coat and ice boots. I wanted to just go in with my T-shirt on like back home.

Moon coming up at Manley beach

Went here to see the surfers in a competition. You have to get a ferry from sydney harbour and we ended up staying quite late.

It's just like Whitley Bay really...apart from the freezing weather, gangs of youths, drunkards and boarded up shops!

Blue mountains

Some amazing scenery and a lot of climbing....about 2 hours north of sydney

The blowhole

We went to the Kiama (spelling?) blowhole with the kids, which is a good hike from Syndey.

It's basically a rock formation next to the beach and when the tide comes in the hole fills with seawater, which is then blased up as a jet when the waves fill the cavity below.

Pinar's relations and ross dealing with miscreant child

We stayed with some of Pinar's family at their house which is abour 3 hours south of sydney.

This let us see some of the beaches and winerys out in the country. Shell Cove seems lika a really nice place to live, and the houses are far better than the boxes they put up in England.

Many thanks to mehment and Astrid (if you're watching!)

Sydney skyline and wine tasting

Last supper

Splashed out on our last day here, with a seafood dinner on Darling harbour.

Sydney is probably the best place we've been food-wise and they've really got the al-fresco thing covered. If you choose to eat really late they bring out heaters (although you don't really need them) and watching the world go by is a real treat.

We polished off 2 bottles of wine with this, hence the stupid, bong-eyed expressions!

My input- at last

Hi everyone,

We're just at the airport for yet another flight... but only two hours this time to Auckland.. the amount of travel sickless pill ive taken is unbelieveable haha

Anyway we had a lovely time in Sydney... eventhough I had been before it felt different this time.. we went to all the usual sights, ate some lovely food but also cut down on our expensive meals and got a kebab instead.. much cheaper and just up my street haha

We went to visit my cousin and kids for a night which was down on the south coast.. It was brillient seeing them, and we went to several sights around there too which I hadnt seen before.

The blue mountains once again were as good as the first time I went, it was misty at first but all cleared up and we got to see the 3 sisters and walked for miles.. I would say Ive lost loads of pounds from all this walking, but guess what I havent far too much eating (cant help myself) hehehe

Anyway must dash

Pinxx

Toronga zoo

Great place, but it was another boat trip to get there. Thankfully, I didn't need to hold a bag for her this time, although at one point.....

Sunset in OZ

Pinar was actually awake, which is a miracle in itself.

Pinar's mate

opera house

The opera house is pretty spectacular from the outside and just as good inside.

We did a tour to the top and even saw some of the performers rehersing for the lastest shows.

Pinar wanted to go and see the bellet there last night, but I managed to talk my way out of that one....close call though!

Sydney

I can now put pictures on again as we're at the airport ready to leave Australia. We're a bit gutted to be going and were thinking of extending this one a bit, but then decided against it for the sake of messing about.

Anyway, we've been mega-busy here going all round New South Wales, so I'll try and add a few more pictures before heading off to New Zealand in a couple of hours.

Premiership passions

I see (through the wonder of the internets) that big Al managed to notch a penalty in his testimonial - did anyone use my ticket?

On the subject of football, I thought that the supposed huge global audience for the premier league was always a bit of a myth talked up by Sky, but this trip has proved to me that it's true.

Where we always seem to talk about the Spanish or Italian leagues every country we've been to so far has shown live Premier league games, regardless of the local time. When you mention you're English the premier league is the first thing people want to talk about, especially in teh Asian countries.

It will give me no end of amusement to know that when I'm sitting at the Gallowgate end next year, that millions of people in Singapore, South Africa, Thailand and Australia will be watching just as avidly.

Blue mountains

Been for a trek through the national park around the blue mountains today so we're both knackered.

It's about 3 hours north of sydney and I'm hoping to put some pictures on soon because the scenery is amazing. It's a bit like table moutain in SA, although it's far more unspoiled and the woods and hills seem to just go on fore miles and miles.

The only funny story is that I lost my train ticket for the journey back, so Pinar was happily gloating about that as that's usually her trick.

Luckily she managed to sweet talk the police who let us through without having to pay again.

wide open spaces

Not had much time to update as we've been traveling around the last couple of days.

the main thing that strikes us is the vast size of the country - while a 3 hour train jouney in England will take you pretty much the length of the country (well London to Newcastle anyway) it doesn't even get you out of the state here.

Among other things we've been wine tatsting at a winery, exploring the bush and been to a place called woolengong

Sydney

Hello people,

We're in Sydney at the moment, and the sun is shining :) so i have a huge smile on my face..

We are tired though.. all this flying is taking a toll on us, but hey were on the other side of the world so who cares :)

We went to the opera house and harbour bridge today... lovely clean roads ahhhhhh totally different to Bangkok.. and you dont get bothered every two minutes.. not saying I didnt like Bangkok.. it was just very different

Can you believe there was a huge fire in Pattaya the day after we left.. Ross and I must Jink a place as Taba Heights had a bomb after we left.. as long as were not there when it happens.

Anyway gonna go, hope everyones well and thanks to all the people who have commented on our blog, we cant put anyother photos at the moment, but we will as soon as we can..

Pinxx

A land down under

So, now we're upside down.

Arrived in Sydney after a moster journey that left us with horrific jet lag. It was a 2 and a bit hour flight back to singapore, then a sprint through the terminal to make the connection. Another eight hours on the flight, and a four hour time difference really took it out of us, especially as we've not yet been able to sleep on any of the flights.

We got here after almots 12 hours traveling and because of the time difference we'd been awake for well over 24 hours straight. Still, back to normal now and Sydney is a really impressive city.

Just been doing all the toursit stuff first taking in Darling harbour, the opera house, the huge bottanical gardens and park, the Tyne bridge's bigger brother and the city centre.

I was really struck by the size of the harbour bridge, although it looks almost identical to the Tyne version, it's far bigger - plus the weather is a lot better!

Feeding time

Here's Pinar feeding the crocs with a bit of chicken ( I think)

You stand on a brige over their pool and slowley lower down a bit of meat on a kind of bamboo fishing rod. Pinar nearly got dragged in!

It looked like chicken they baited the hook with, but i'm not so sure. Apart from the crocs, tigers and a few elephants the only other animals we saw was a huge enclosure of fluffy white bunies.

I fear that was the food supply for hundreds of hungary carnivores.

Safety first

Safety aint really a key consideration on the roads in Thailand. I managed to snap this while we were en-route to the south coast through the car window.

Think it's a hilarious photo.

4 people on a mopehead on teh motorway. they were pulling some speed as well....I notice who gets to wear the one helmet as well.

Blogging from 30,000 feet

Firsly, not sure this will even work as I'm currently in the air somewhere above the south china sea - heading for Australia.

Singapore airlines is the first one I've used that lets you use your laptop and get high speed wireless web access in the air. Pretty cool as I'm getting very bored with flying already.

So, secondly when I said we were going to Padyang, of course I meant Pattaya - think it must have been a flashback to nam!

It was great to see a bit of rural thailand after the chaotic busstle of Bangkok, bit a 6 hour trek in a battered old volvo left us ( well me) looking like Mick Dundee after a few days in the bush. Pinar slept for most of it but I'm saving that for another post.

The scenry was fantastic - like something out of the heart of darkness - and we stopped at a tiger and crocdile breeding centre on the way. Quite why they choose to breed literally thousands of these two animals isn't clear but going in there is like visiting a ginat ikea for James bond baddies, especially all the croc pool!

It was tainted a bit as teh place seemed to add on some strange victorian circus act-type shows for the less liberal minded tourists and had some horribly anacranictic stuff like elephants walking tightropes or playing basket ball.

Perhaps they enjoy it, who can tell, but it left me feeling a bit uneasy - Still, at the end of the day I saw an elephant walking a tightrope. Accepting for cartoons I doubt I'll see that again.

Images from Thailand

The marble temple and a view from the sky tower - the countries highest building. leaving Bangkok tomorrow for Padyang on the coast. Going via tiger temple so that should lead to some good pictures.

Check in luggage

This is what happens when you trust an airline with your bags!

This case has actually done more miles than me as it got sent to India by mistake (thanks Virgin). It then got sent back to London then back to Joberg and finally back to capetown where I got it back.

Thankfully nothing missing or damaged.

Bangkok

Just a little note from me too... Bangkok is really nice.. the thai food is lovely.. always talking about food hey.. hehe the people are slightly strange but the sights are amazing..

A comment about our engagement.. Ross has finally got his woman more like hahaha

Love yous

Pinxx

Heat induce madness

For those of you who are following this and haven't yet heard - we're now enegaged.

Must be the heat or the booze or the long hours....whatever it is she finally got her man!

Sorry for those of you I couldn't call direct but after spending all my money on a ring....phone bills are now getting worryijngly large.

Bangkok 2

Still no more pictures I'm afraid. The internet here isn't as fast as it has been in other countries and we've had almost no time to upload.

By way of a quick update, we're having a real good time and staying in a top hotel - the exchange rate is about 67 bat to one pound so everything is really cheap. To give you an idea beer is about 80p per pint and a full meal in one of there top places costs around 13 pound for 2.

Doing all the tourist stuff like river boat tours, the royal palace, the emerald budda and it's all really different to places we've been before. Surprisingly, things vary massively from country to country in South East Asia. Not like Europe where each nation has it's own variations but realy are pretty similar in terms of shops food and so on.

Bangkok

We havent got a way of putting photo's but we are in bangkok at the moment, really hot and nice food... so crowded though!