Tasmaania

17. Jan 2009

Welcomes from Tasmania! There has few things happened in these few days. Like we went shooting, we spent few days in Sydney and we came to Tasmania.

Because I don’t remember what I wrote last time, I have to check if I already wrote about some stuff, if I didn’t I’ll add some more stuff later.

Anyways…

Before going to Sydney we went shooting with Sam, Adam, Chris and Kaupo. We had quite fun day. Because kangaroos are mostly nocturnal animals, then we had to leave in the evening, Chris and Adam were working anyways, so we waited for them to finish. Left Jenolan after 5 pm and headed out, the place we went was like 100 km away from Jenolan. When we turned off from main road Sam showed us how to shoot and let us try. We had two guns with us, Magnum and 303, if I remember right and if it says anything to anybody. Magnum had optical zoom and didn’t have basically any kickback, but it was also quite weak. 303 had a kickback, but it also punched quite a hole in things too.

When we arrived there it was actually too light still, so we just walked around and went to see, if there’s any roos around the area, in the forest hiding from the sun. We were really bushwalking, guess it wasn’t real wise to put shorts on, but luckily I wasn’t the dumbest, Chris came with shorts and thongs :P, after we had walked a while he was scared shitless, because Sam was talking about snakes. We saw only few roos there, but missed them all.

We got back to the car and went too see if there’s any on Sam’s dads property and there actually were, first kangaroo’s blood was shed on our way there, first Sam got one, next by my hand followed by Adam. I didn’t kill the roo straight away, so I feel kind of bad, it jumped in the forest and we didn’t go to chase it, so it probably bled to death.

We reached to place where we got out of the car and went to see if there’s any around. And there actually was some just around the corner. Kaupo tried his hand, but missed that one, it was quite far actually. But right after that we saw another ones, Chris got that one, but he only shot it in its leg, so he had to finish it up, but got scared, which was quite stupid, because why did he even shoot it. So Adam finished it up. Moving on we saw one bigger group and because Kaupo hadn’t got any he could try again, this time he didn’t miss and dropped the roo right away, clean shot in the chest. Because it was getting dark we got back in the car and did some off-road driving and looking for roos, we found one, I shot it, but again it ran in the bush and we couldn’t find it, so it actually made me feel bad.

Moving on we started getting back to first place, shooting roos on our way, but because it was quite dark already we had to use the torch/spot light, looking for roos around and shooting them from the car, there we got quite a few of them, don’t even remember how many. We reached to the place where we suppose to be shooting at first place, but didn’t see any kangaroos, saw one wombat, but we missed that one.

We finished shooting and others wanted to go to Maccas, quite strange I know, in the middle of the night and like 150 km away. But half way there the tire went flat and we had to get some help. When we stopped I had to put the guns away and get all the ammo. Magnum was easy, but 303 wasn’t that easy, yeah well, at least I got the last shot :P. No, I didn’t shoot anything or anybody, just emptiness, tho scared me shitless :P. Here’s something to remember, if you don’t know the guns, don’t empty them in the darkness. After the incident Sam and Adam went to find some help, to get the tire fixed, didn’t take much time and we were on our way, but not anymore to Maccas, but we headed back to Jenolan now.

Because it was our last night at Jenolan everybody wanted to have a drink with us, but we got to Jenolan quite late, then like Lynett had already left. But Owen and other younger people were at his place and that’s where we headed too. Everyone were quite tired, so we had a drink and headed to bed.

Next day we finished packing our stuff, said good-byes and not good-byes (means we said that we hope to see some people someday again) to everybody. Owen took us to Katoomba, we got on the train and headed to Sydney. In Sydney we wanted to find one backpackers, that people in Jenolan were talking about, but we didn’t and we had to too heavy bags to keep looking, so we headed to Kings Cross, but not to the same place, but found one other. Wasn’t real nice, but anyways it was for one day.

In the morning had our breakfast, left our bags there and went to the city centre to find thongs and I needed new charger for my computer. The electronics store said that they need to know the voltage and stuff like that to get one for me. So I decided to try again next day. Looked around in Sydney to find thongs, which turned out to be not so easy, all stuff was either really expensive or shitty, mostly really expensive. But I needed thongs real badly, so I found ones that seemed to pretty good and so far I think they are alright.

I had contacted with Danielle also last day, when we arrived to Sydney, so she called us when we had had our lunch and wanted to meet up and take us to the beach. She picked us up and we headed to Bronte beach. It was awesome, doing nothing, just laying on the beach. I actually fell a sleep on there and now I’m bit burned, so its gonna be like 10th time I’m gonna lose my skin in Australia, defiantly not the last time either.

After that we grabbed our bags from the backpackers and went to Danielle’s place for a while, ate there and came back to the city with a train to go to new backpackers, the one that people were talking about, Onn was going to lead us there, when we got to the city. This backpackers was quite awesome actually, somehow cooler, maybe because of the weather, but it was also bigger and looked nicer. Turned out that Raphael, the one French guy that got fired was also staying there.

After moving in there we contacted Joe, who had just arrived from Tasmania and we wanted to meet up with him. We got to his place, chatted for a bit, had a drink and then people decided to go out partying. Took some taxis to Kings Cross, went into one club called Yu or smthing like that, danced for awhile, everyone were drinking, but I didn’t feel much like partying, so I was just chilling and checking out the girls.

Next stop was The Gaff, some people wanted to take a taxi again, but it was actually like 10-15 min walk, so we thought it was pointless and started walking there, everyone followed :P. There wasn’t much going on there, but in front of The Gaff there were people in latex and leather, turned out that there was S & M party next door. It was quite funny, haven’t seen quite anything like that anywhere. Joe and some others somehow got in there and said that it was crazy in there, but also heaps funny. Anyways, Onn got real drunk in there, so that she couldn’t stand up anymore and Raphael took her back to the backpackers. We headed to some other club, which was quite pointless and soon headed back home. That night we saw some crazy shit, S & M party, gays, transvestites, prostitutes and other weird king of looking people.

Today morning we woke up quite early, repacked our stuff, took shower and wanted to check out, but noone was there, so we left a message that we will come back later, we couldn’t wait because we had to meet up with Joe, so he could give us some of his videos he had made of us and his stuff about Tasmania. Did that, then headed back to the backpackers, to check out, we left our bags there for a while, to Raphael’s room, so he could give ‘em to us when we’re ready. We looked around the city for a while, Kaupo was trying to find a jumper and I got the charger. We headed to airport earlier, because we didn’t know how to get it and just in case.

I thought that our flight was leaving 5 pm and Kaupo didn’t check it also, so when we were there we saw, that we have 1 h till our flight, because the 5 pm time was arrival to Melbourne, so we were actually lucky. And instead of waiting hours in the airport we got almost right away on the plane. I spent my time sleeping on the plane, so I think it was well spent. In Melbourne we had dinner and I bought a book, because the one that I’m reading at the moment is almost finished. The book I got is made by Dalai Lama and some American psychologist, talks about happiness, haven’t read it much at the moment, but seems to be good book.

At the moment we are in Hobart, in some backpackers, but we were too late here, so reception was close and we couldn’t check in and all the other places we called were full. So today we are sleeping on a couch in the backpackers here and tomorrow we will see what we are going to do.

Later…

“Genius produces great ideas and concepts. Hard work produces the results.”
“Great things are accomplished with slow movement. Nothing is accomplished by standing still”
“Our words reveal our thoughts- manners mirror our self-esteem. Our actions reflect our character, our habits predict the future.” William Arthur Ward
“Success is determined not by what you get for reaching your destination, but by what you become reaching it.”
“Deal as gently with the faults of others as you do with your own.”
“Intelligently selfish people are completely unselfish because they know that it’s the best way to win big-time”
“Doing ordinary things in an extraordinary way will assure you of an extraordinary future.”
“Tact is the knack of making a point without making an enemy.”

19. Jan 2009

Here I am, still in Tasmania, tho couple of things have happened in these few days that are worth talking about. As I was saying last time that we didn’t get a room to sleep in and we had to sleep on the lounge of the backpackers. That we did, but it didn’t end so good as we thought, at least not for me, because I put my phone charging before going to sleep, but when I woke up in the morning it was gone. At first I was panicking, but soon I got to the understanding that I can’t do anything about it anymore, because I didn’t know who took it, so only chance to get it back was to go to the police.

But in the morning we still had to find a place where we could sleep next upcoming nights. We walked around awhile, looking for other backpackers, where they might have room for us. Found one where they had room, but still we said that we will look around a bit more, because we saw one next to this one. But when we reached there they said that they don’t have any room for us. So we got back to the last one and got room for 2 days, because we wanted to sleep long next day, we hadn’t slept well for ages. After moving in we decided to look around, find the police station. We got there, I told them all I knew, but they told me that the chance to get my phone back is quite slim. What ever, worth of try anyways. I am still bit mad what happened to my phone, but it only a phone, I can buy a new one, tho that was quite new. Trying to cheer up now.

Anyways on happier topic, we kind of booked the test to make our license, kind of, we wanted them to contact us, because we didn’t want to pay with credit card. Don’t remember the date, but it was in the beginning of February, so we have over 2 weeks time till then.

At first didn’t know what to do, but now we have found lot of things we actually wanna do. We visited the visitor information centre here in Hobart and saw lot of cool things to do. There are lot of tours around here to see different places, but I don’t like doing tours that much, rather explore by myself. Because there are lot of cool trails all around Tasmania, we are going to visit them, or at least some. At the moment the first place we are going is Maria Island, which is pretty much inhabited island, where backpackers and hikers go. Next one is the Wineglass bay and areas around there. At first we thought about going on trails near Port Arthur, but Kaupo wanted to go to Maria Island, so I agreed with him, maybe some other time then. Besides these three there are 2 more bigger trails, one is in South Tasmania, not very popular one, and people have to fly in or out there with plane, depends where you start. But there’s one real popular one in north, but I read that you have to pay to do that and there are limits how many people can get on it a day, so we have to book it. Maybe we will do it after we have our licenses. So we will try to spend our 2 weeks on the Maria Island and Wineglass Bay, we are heading out on Wednesday this week.

We have been looking around in Hobart now past few days, also doing some shopping, for the hike. Kaupo is trying to keep his bag as light as he can and spend as less money as he can, but I’m not on the same opinion. Tho I agree that keeping bag light is wise, because it’s easier to move around, but still I think there are things that are needed, like Kaupo wanted to go on a hike at first without gas stove (making fire is not allowed in many national parks) and pot. I also got myself a mat, because last time we did the Six Foot Track we slept on real hard ground, so I think it’s wise to have something like this. But I am getting worried about things not fitting in my bag. Oh, I also got one waterproof bag, which can be compressed, to get the air out and make everything more compact, use less room, maybe this will help, we’ll see, but maybe I just have to throw few things out.

We still have to figure out where can we leave some of the stuff we don’t need next few weeks, to keep our bags as light as we can, because there’s gonna be lots of food that we will be carrying with us, also I think we need to get one more gas for our gas stove and get food for our trip.

Over and out…

31.Jan 2009

It’s been quite some time again since I have wrote anything, but it is not because I haven’t had any time, well maybe a bit that too, but I couldn’t have anyways because my computer haven’t been with me. What I am trying to say that we have been kind of out of civilization for almost 2 weeks. Now I have few things to write about, not so much, because we have been doing lot of walking and looking around, it is a bit hard to put views and sights into words.

So we left Hobart on 21st of January, got on the bus and headed to Triabunna, which is the place where the ferry goes to Maria Island. Had to leave quite early and the bus ride took couple of hours. We couldn’t of made it on the morning ferry no way, so we got there after that one had left and had to wait for the evening one for 4 or 5 hours, so we were just chilling there getting some sun.

The ferry we got onto was quite small actually, but I think for this purpose it is enough, because there isn’t that much people using it anyways. Ride was quite scary because when we got onto the sea the waves were huge, tho good thing is that anyone didn’t get seasick and we even managed to see one dolphin jumping out of the water next to the boat. It doesn’t seem to be much, but it gave me much energy and made me calmer, made me feel that everything is going to be real good (not that I have had any doubts :P)

When we got on the island it turned out to be smaller than we thought and we already had booked the return ticked out of the island for the next Tuesday, so we had to spend 6 days on there. Didn’t bother me much, we had enough food for that and we weren’t in no hurry to anywhere either. We spent the first night in Darlington, which is the place where usually people go and from where they usually don’t make much further. There was few houses there, rangers cottage, BBQ area and was possible to take hot showers, so it was actually still quite civilized.

Next day we headed up the island to campsites away from Darlington. On our way we passed the Painted Cliffs, which was actually quite interesting, cliffs made of sandstone. And there were waves on the cliffs, which looked like they would have been painted, from there the name too. We reached to the first campsite, which seemed to be quite boring so we headed to the next one, after we filled our bottles with water. Next campsite wasn’t that far of it, so it was a easy hike and it was more interesting too than the first one.

That was the place where we stayed for like 3 days. There was awesome beach near by, so we spent one day just chilling there, getting some sun, swimming in the sea (tho the water was freaking cold), doing nothing. Next day was just a lazy day, Kaupo got little too much sun last day, so he didn’t want to get much sun. He was just chilling in the tent and later he went for a run too. I was walking around and just enjoying life. Later that day went to the very end of this side of the island, to see the Haunted Bay, which was actually further than I thought, so when coming back ran little low on water, then I decided I never go anywhere without enough water and right now I’m thinking it was wise decision.

Since we didn’t have much need to know the dates and days I have already forgotten, what did we do when. But anyways, when we started coming back we used different way, so that we could climb up to one mountain, the Mt. Maria, which is over 700 m high. We left our bags in the bottom, in the bush and climbed up. It was quite a climb, but the view was awesome and also the feeling, after you have done it, something you have to experience yourself. We got to Darlington in the evening, set up our tent, ate and got to bed. Next day we climbed one other mountain, the second biggest, The Bishop and Clerk, which was over 600 m. It was just amazing, made me feel real good and happy. Tho this day was the Australian Day, the day when everyone goes to parties and gets drunk, but I think we spent it in much better way.

On 27th of January we got once again on the ferry, but this way heading the other way, back. I think the Maria Island was quite good when wanting to save money, but also real good experience. I think the money part is important for Kaupo, because when he is going to school, then he can use it for that or just buy the stuff he wants in Estonia, but for me the money is the way to get experience here, tho still gotta choose wisely on what experience to spend it on.

Since the bus to Freycinet only went once a day and that one quite early, then we couldn’t get on it and we had to spend a night in Triabunna, in the local caravan park. In there we met this cool Australian guy, who told that Melbourne is the best city and spoke a bit about his travels in Vietnam and other places. It was really interesting. Later on we taught him a card game, but he had little hard time understanding, because he had already had quite a few beers. One Dutch girl also joined us to play cards and we had really good time. The Dutch girls were heading to Maria Island for a day and then to Freycinet too. The Australian guy was coming on the same bus with us.

So next day we got on the bus and headed to Coles Bay. Had to switch buses at one point, but otherwise everything went smoothly. Got off in front of the Coles Bay visitor centre and then headed towards the walking track. And so it begun. Since there was everywhere written that the water is hard to find in the park, so I got 3 litres of water and 2x600 ml Gatorade and hoped that there will be enough water somewhere to make food, but turned out that I was wrong. The first camping place had some water, but there were some things living in it, but we didn’t know what, so we kept away from it just in case.

The next day we had hard day ahead of us had to climb a mountain with our bags, about 600 m, which was quite challenging, but I was comforting myself that it gets me fit, if I am going to go to Tibet. The next campsite in the Wineglass Bay didn’t have any water, so we had to rely on our own water, save as much as we could.

We were so low on water that we didn’t cook any food in the morning, because there wasn’t any water to spare. Good thing was that next day was the last day in the bush and the water was basically behind just one more mountain. Night was really hot, I didn’t sleep well because of it and the morning was terrible too, didn’t feel like doing anything, but as we were low on water we had to keep going. Positive thing was that we had sea next to us, so we could cool us off in there, plus the little cooler breeze from the sea.

While walking up the Wineglass Bay beach I saw dolphins swimming right there, just incredible feeling, this time there were 3 of them, I just stopped for a bit and enjoyed just being near these fabulous creatures. In the end of the beach we had a swim before heading up the big mountain, the last challenge. Wasn’t actually that hard anymore, because the bags were heaps lighter, but still with every step it got harder and harder, and the water was just like vaporizing. On our way up we made a stop by the Wineglass Bay lookout, before heading to the car park where we could get fresh water and just relax for a moment. We talked with one of the tour guides also there and he said that the creatures in the water in Cooks Bay were mosquito larvae’s, nothing dangerous.

After we had filled our bottles we headed back down the mountain, to the town. As soon as we got out of the car park one car stopped by us and asked if we wanted a lift to town. It was pretty awesome of them, so we didn’t have to walk down there in all that heat. They told us that last two days it has been the craziest heat in ages, that usually it is not that hot, they said it has been around 40 degrees, which was surprising, because it actually didn’t seem to be that hot.

We got to town and were thinking what to do, actually were going to make some lunch, when that Dutch girl, that we met in Triabunna walked past us. We had a little chat and she said that she is staying in the backpackers in here and there should be some room left in there. So we decided to go check, because no buses were going anywhere at that moment anymore. In the reception they said that there are no backpacker rooms available, but we can stay in the tent, so we did. While we were setting up our tent, we saw that the guy from Triabunna was also there, what a coincidence.

We had our lunch after we had set up the tent, then headed down to the beach, chilled there for awhile, had a shower, had dinner, got some beers and chilled on the beach again.

Next day was Saturday so there were no buses going anywhere, so we had to hitchhike. Was kind of weird and had to wait for quite some time, but got on the car back to Hobart. Now we are back here in our hostel, where we left our stuff. We got us rooms for 2 days. After we had settled in we went to have a big nice pizza and later on went to the movies to see the “Yes man”.

Don’t have much plans at the moment, so won’t talk about that at the moment.

I know that I have already written quite a lot, but there are few things I started to think about when I was out there. One thing, which I don’t know why came up to my mind, bit weird, but at that moment felt really important was the animal that I would be (not like to be) or that I were in previous life or what ever anyone wants to think. Tho I didn’t think of any specific animal, I thought of what kind of animal. So I am guessing, that I would be a bird that is closely connected with the water or which is doubtable, fish that dreams of flying :P. I’m guessing that it is because I am quite often thinking about flying and also that I am into the water and water animals.

Another thing that I started thinking was that travelling isn’t actually so easy, it is harder than it seems to be. Maybe when you are staying in the city, having one job and spending your time and money on drinking it might be easy, but not the way we have been travelling. Just carrying your stuff all the time and trying to think one step ahead, but not planning everything ahead, is quite tiring sometimes, also because you basically don’t have anything guiding you, to base your travels on, especially if you don’t want to have another touristy trip.

Thing that has been bothering me for awhile is if I should stay in Australia for a longer period of time or just leave in the summer like Kaupo is planning to. I haven’t made any specific decision yet, but I think I will stay here for a longer, I don’t know yet how long or how I can do that, but there are different ways, but I’m not gonna talk about it yet. At the moment I have basically anything back in Estonia, other than my friends and family, but I can’t let that to stop me learning and experiencing stuff. Little selfish I know, but there was a quote little back about, so I hope that lot of good things are going to come out of it. I still haven’t forgotten anyone and I am thinking coming back to Estonia for a while, not sure exactly yet when, but I am guessing either this summer with Kaupo, or maybe if I am going to do the Tibet and/or Thailand trip then probably by next Christmas. I think staying here gives me more time to travel and learn things, but also save some money, to make my one dream come true one day, this is setting up my own company.

Real quickly about things I would like to do here in Australia and/or when going to New Zealand:
*motorbike license
*diving/ divers license
*bungee jumping
*snorkelling
*fishing
*see wild marine animals
*sky diving (maybe, but not tandem)
*learn to surf more

Quite a lot of stuff here now, but there has lot happened, so just wanted to share it, so that everyone would know that I am alive and well and happier than ever :P.