That's all Folks.........

With just a few hours to go before our flight home it's time to bring the blog to an end. Our last evening was spent back in Chinatown, sat outside in a busy eatery, hot, sweaty, drinking cold tiger beer and eating very hot food.
Highlights of the holiday have been many but my own personal favourites have included Kangaroo Dundee,  the hot air balloon flight, scuba diving the barrier reef, Uluru, seaplane over Sydney, and Gardens in the Bay.
Amazingly, despite being a group for over 4 weeks there were no cross words between people in our tour party. Even MORE amazing was that me and Mrs C spent every day together too and she hasn't stabbed me, and we are still getting on!
Thanks for reading the blog.....Over 1600 views now.....see you all soon..cheers ian x

Cloud Forest Dome

Gardens by the Bay

We have just returned from a fantastic and exhausting day at the amazing Gardens in the Bay Singapore. A huge futuristic and awe inspiring eco garden, it takes your breath away with its beauty and imagination. From the Supertrees which rise majestically into the sky to the two domes housing a vast array of plant life it is hard to take it all in. The pics don't really do it justice.....its just a truly magnificent thing and knocks the Eden Project into a cocked hat. You can see more about it at www.gardensbythebay.com
 We return back to the UK tomorrow afternoon. ...its been a great holiday but we are both looking forward to seeing our family and friends soon
Hopefully I will manage another post or two before then
cheers all Ian x

Gardens by the Bay

The Supertrees

Inside the Flower Dome

Lego plants...no need to water

Huge waterfall in Cloud Forest Dome

Mrs C in the dome

Park Royal hotel

Singapore

Well we eventually arrived in Singapore and are staying at the swanky eco hotel Park Royal. ..All plants and water inside and outside which is very nice until a porter drops your case into a lagoon....happened to a guest but thankfully not us!
We are conveniently located next to Chinatown which is very happening and we have bravely eaten there the two nights since arriving....The food is authentic and spicy....The chilli chicken was HOT on the way down and even hotter exiting the next day. ....I've got an arse like the Japanese flag.
We have been exploring and walking lots.....A visit to Raffles hotel, a cruise on the Singapore river, all in hot and humid weather.

Interesting menu in Chinatown

Personally I prefer milk and sugar in my porridge

On Singapore river

That's a strange place to park a boat!

Mrs C outside Raffles with her new mate

Sydney from the air

Started our last day in Sydney with a seaplane flight over the city....Mrs C was feeling quite nervous about the whole thing but was much happier when she found out I was the copilot! As it turned out her fears were unfounded and the whole experience was amazing.
We spent the afternoon in the Royal Botanical gardens where we ate ice cream and wandered slowly about.
We have our farewell meal with all the posse tonight before an early morning flight to Singapore and the last 3 days of our holiday. ....

Ready to go

Cool......I'm copilot

Nik looking slightly nervous methinks

Bondi beach

Quite a view

Huge spider attacks Opera House

Big bamboo

Royal botanical gardens

Clark Investigates

Having seen these signs in numerous toilets throughout Australia our intrepid reporter seeks for himself why the toilet seat squat is outlawed. .......

The verdict......

No 2 's. ......good height means high velocity and a good splosh on entry......splashback limited. ......A hit!
No 1 '. ......very tricky for aiming purposes. ...High likelyhood of pee on legs, toilet seat and floor, especially if intoxicated.....A miss!
Overall....worth doing once in your life but probably not on a regular basis

Sydney Times, Arts Review, Madame Butterfly

By our new Arts  Correspondent Ian "Digger" Clark
G'Day mate, the wife informed me she was taking me to the Opera House to see some musical thing called Madame Butterfly. ...well I was watching the Aussie Rules on TV but she promised me a case of Fosters so I put on my strides and off we went. I knew something was wrong as soon as it began cos they were singing in Italian. Fortunately there was a translation on a screen above the stage or I would have been as lost as a blind dingo in the Outback. The story goes something like this....bloke from America goes to Japan and cops off with tarty geisha girl. Has a good time then does a runner home. When he returns 3 years later she gets all upset cos he's married someone else and she claims her child is his (that old chestnut). She's as mad as a cut snake but rather than hit him for child maintenance she kills herself. As I said to Mrs C at least there was a happy ending. Not a bad night out really and better than watching England play cricket......Mrs C had a tear in her eye at the end but I think it was her contact lenses playing up. All well and good here in Oz.....goodnight all x x

A day in Sydney

Nik and I not on top form first thing today but after a quick breakfast we strolled round for a guided tour of Opera House. Unfortunately it didn't include looking backstage but was followed by lovely brunch. We then set out for a days exploring,  taking in the Rocks area full if cafés and hip shops and then Darling Harbour where all the boats are moored.  Also walked onto middle of harbour bridge and through central Sydney.....my feet are worn to their stumps!
Mrs C currently washing our smalls in the sink before we head out again for some nosh.....not sure about alcohol though..may give it a miss tonight.
We have managed to get tickets at opera house tomorrow night to see the Opera Madame Butterfly....Nik very excited at this.....will let you know what I make of it......

Darling Harbour

Sydney bridge

Brunch at the Sydney Opera House

Sydney

I am writing this post at 830pm from my bed at the 4 Seasons Hotel in downtown Sydney. ...Nik and I are both totally exhausted but I know you won't be giving us any sympathy lol.
It was a struggle getting up today for the flight to Sydney. We have been on so many internal flights we feel like old hands at it and even Nik,  the world's worst flier seems a bit calmer at takeoff and landing....her nails only draw a bit of blood now as I hold her hand!
Lovely hotel only 5 minutes walk from Sydney bridge and 10 from the Opera House. Barely had we arrived before we went on a boat for a cruise around the harbour with food and an unlimited bar again. .....The views of the city were amazing. By the end of it the combination of food, booze, anti sea sickness tablets and lack of sleep took their toll so we disembarked for a look at the Opera House before a very slow walk to where I am now.
I hope you are all enjoying the blog.....Some days it's a struggle to do it but it gives a nice feel for the place. Just looked tonight and had over 1300 views so cheers for that. ...A very tired Ian x

lazy Sunday in Melbourne

The morning was spent meeting Craig Mills who lives out here. ...We had a nice catch up over a light lunch and then Nik and I wandeered about fairly aimlessly until we found a nice bar on the river for a few beers......This turned out to be a BIG mistake as at 5PM we went onto an old fashioned tram car for a ride around Melbourne. ...The meal was lovely. ..steak and sticky toffee pudding with unlimited drinks.....by the time it finished about 730 we were all pretty well pissed,  and this was compounded by another few in the bar at the hotel. Oh deary me! Early start tomorrow for flight to Sydney....its going to me messy....

Ever so slightly pissed

Meal on a Melbourne tram

Drinks on the Yarra river

Melbourne

Melbourne

We arrived in Melbourne yesterday evening staying at the Crown Promenade a swish hotel on the banks of the Yarra river. A quick change and  we went for a walk along the waterfront which was heaving with people, and celebrations for the Chinese New year. Had lovely meal and vino and slept through alarm this morning before heading out for a quick look at the city. It was yet another scorching hot day in the high 30s. Enjoyed a trip on an old tram which circle Melbourne and a look at Victoria market.
Then on bus at 2pm for long ride to Philip Island to see the penguin parade. On the way we stopped at an animal sanctuary where we saw roos and koalas.  Philip Island is a headland controlled by the state where over 35000 fairy penguins live....but they live in burrows like rabbits anything up to 2km from the sea and up steep rock and cliff faces. Every night as dark descends the penguins that have been out at sea feeding come ashore and return to their burrow.  They come ashore in groups of about 20 to 50 at a time and there are viewing platforms set up to watch them with subtle lighting so you can just make them out....They are very cute.
 No photos are allowed as flash upsets them so no pics sorry but it was too commercial. .....There were 4000 people there and this happens every night! Long drive back arrived hotel midnight. 

Obligatory Koala photo. .......

Mrs C gives defensless Joey karate chop

Nobbies point at Philip Island

Seen in Melbourne

Aussies quick to stick knife into England cricket team.....

Who the fuck shits squatting on a toilet seat?

Answers on a postcard please

This holiday is hard work

Mrs C feeling the strain at Thala lodge

The Great Barrier Reef

Well Thursday dawned and much to my relief the weather was great. ...There is a cyclone to our North in the Cape York Peninsula and one to the south at Brisbane and the sea here was flat calm! We went to the reef via a huge catamaran and it quickly became apparent that we were not alone.....of the 450 passengers I think 400 were Chinese. It's Chinese new year at the moment and they do enjoy going abroad to celebrate it....what's wrong with staying at home to do it? We hadn't gone the 20 miles to our pontoon on the reef before Nik had a word or two with them about general manners.....oops!
Anyway we disembarked onto the floating pontoon which was massive......The weather was great and we went up in a helicopter to get a birds eye view. Then it was lunch......We were surprised there was anything left after our oriental friends had attacked the buffet! A trip on a submersible thing viewing the reef followed and then I had a scuba and Mrs C had a snorkel. It was great but tinged with a bit of regret that we couldn't take it all in at a more leisurely pace and without the crowds.
Then it was back to Port Douglas and home........off on 4 hour flight south tomorrow to Melbourne and the big city life...We would love to stay at Thala Lodge a bit longer but maybe we will return there on day..........

Tour guide Pamela gives briefing

"Watch out for the box jellyfish,  the sharks and the greatest danger of all. ...A boat full of Chinese"...Also note stylish hat and wine in hand

Awesome

Anna and Keith

Lost for words...

Our pontoon and boat at barrier reef

What a view

Yours truly survived his dive

Interesting fact no 456

Ageing a coconut tree. ....The tree produces a new frond (leafy thing) every month and with each new one an old one falls off producing a line on the trunk. .thus 12 lines = 1 year.....simples