AUSTRALIA... The BIG Continent

Should I “slip, slop and slap”???

This is Australia, mate!

A different World, different people, different expressions…

But just one word to describe it: AMAZING!

The World’s largest island and smallest continent - 25 times the size of the UK, but with just 22 million people leaving! The majority of the population (about the 40%) leave between Sydney and Melbourne and the rest within the south-east side of the continent.

Aboriginal where the first in living in Australia, but they have been literally kicked out to their natural environment when Cook first discovered the island in 1770.

There are three different time zones in Australia, so you’d better checked it out and change your time if you don’t want to loose your flight or miss your bus, as many people do!

“Aussy” are very laid-back people, easy going and always “no worries, mate!” attitude, They are blond, good-looking, surfers, cricket players, heavy drinkers… but most of all they are always ready to help you.

Don’t expect a white Christmas in Sydney or Melbourne. You’d better put your bikini on and spend the X’Mas Day having a bbq on the beach, while surfing or sunbathing after few beers with your friends. Officially, summer starts in December and Winter in June. But in Northern Australia there is a tropical climate which is very hot, rainy and extremely humid. Prepare to SWEAT here!!

The sun is a powerful beast in Australia and made ever worst by the ozone layer. To avoid the skin cancer, remember to always “slip, slop and slap”, literally slip on a t-shirt, slop on some sunscreen and slap on a hat!

Australia is a crazy continent and if you want some adrenaline, you just have to choose what you want do and where. You can either jump out an airplane for the first skydive of your life (from almost 14,000 feet!!), bungy jumping from a bridge,

kayaking in a dangerous river, or at least just choose the perfect day to catch your best wave while surfing.

And do not forget to open your eyes widely to see the koalas sleeping on a tree or some big kangaroos jumping around all together, or simply watching the different bats and birds on the trees or just the thousands of sheep.

There is so much to do here, so many places to visit, so many people to meet and so many kilometers to cover, that you’d better prepare your backpack, jump on a plane and let your unique and unforgettable experience begin… it will be the best trip of your life!

AUSTRALIA WEST COAST

So, where do I start to talk about this amazing part of the forgiven West Australia?

Of course with Perth, the most isolated city in the World… it is @ 5h flight from Brisbane,

means right on the other side of the continent.

Apart from the +40º in January and a very dry weather, the sky is always astonished clear blue with such breathtaking sunrises that you would never leave this place. Either going North or South, you will find an amazing nature with

One of my favorite places of Australia certainly is Margaret River, especially Surfers Point at sunset, when the sun disappears down in the Ocean the sky simply changes its colors thousand of times with a mix of red, yellow and orange among the dense clouds.

Isn’t it a dream come true?

Bushes all around, unbelievable routes with no one else crossing by

and a magnificent landscape by the sea or in land.

And during the day, the time just fly simply visiting all the wineries, the cheese farms, chocolate farm, jam farms… all natural products from this area, but the best is of course the free wine tasting!!!

This land is very calm and that’s why at night there is nothing to do and none in the street after 09pm.. Which is a bit strange for a Spanish resident.. But believe me, with all the things that you have to check out during the day, you will be so satisfied that to go to sleep early will be a pleasure!

GREAT BARRIER REEF

GREAT BARRIER REEF, the 7th wonder of the World

The Great Barrier Reef is the only “lively” thing that could be seen from the space, is longer than the Great Wall of China and is the 7th Wonder of the World… If you do not believe in these things, you’d better checked them out!

I have taken a sailing boat of 52 feet with just 11 people on board and - apart from the

thunderstorm during all the night and the 3 meters high waves - it has been an amazing experience that I definitively recommend.

It takes about 3 hours and ½ to get out ot the Reef from Cairns and we were snorkeling in different spots such as the 360 and the Lagoon, if you have ever seen one of those postcards with the dark blue Ocean and suddenly some light blue and green spots.. There you go, you are on a reef!

The ecosystem is extremely fragile and that’s why tourism is controlled and everyone has to pay a 20AUS $ tax. The Reef was proclaimed a national park in 1979 and is now center of interest of scientists, tourists, divers and enthusiasts.

There is a wonderland down there: corals of every single shape and color, huge big claims that open and close while you are passing over them, big fishes of all the imaginable colors and dimensions …and Nemo!!!!

While there, take care to stick the to rules that allow this magic underwater world to survive and just enjoy your private space, the feeling to be alone in the big ocean, the silence and the magician of all this wild wonderland.

The beautiful BYRON BAY

I am trying to find some words to describe Byron Bay…

honestly I cannot close it into just one.

It is simply incredible… vibrant…. amazing…

If I can describe it with some adjectives…I can tell you few sensations:

- the beautiful tan bodies of the surfers!

- walking barefoot everywhere

- smiles, food and wet boards after surfing

- surfing the waves during Christmas Day

- the beaches… kilometers with no one apart from you and your shade

- why everyone is blonde here????

- the sound of the brilliant white sand, soft like talco powder

- the lighthouse and the magnificent view from the top

- the beautiful light and the color of the sky at the sunset

- amazing running in the early morning with just the sound of the Ocean

- the little shops in the center

… but most of all… EASY!!!!

I found my Byron and… I like it!