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Français, Places

Deux semaines avec le diable – Introduction

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Malheureusement, le diable de Tasmanie est (lui aussi) victime des pratiques humaines qui sont généralement contre l’environnement (et non avec). Ainsi, pour des raisons économiques, sont utilisés des produits chimiques dans l’agriculture, qui déciment la population de diables à coup de tumeurs; c’est à se demander qui est le diable… De ce fait, pour être protégés, ils peuvent vivre dans un enclos à l’abris des pesticides et autres produits dont on nous vente les mérites depuis plusieurs générations.

Le point d’arrivée en Tasmanie a été par la voie aérienne – bien qu’étant la plus polluante, elle reste la moins chère – à Launceston, ville de 70 000 habitants avec qui au départ je n’ai pas accroché; jusqu’à ce que je découvre la Cataract Gorge Reserve qui est une réserve le long d’une rivière. Nous voilà donc au point de la fin du post précédent.

N’ayant pas sur moi les outils de cartographie, le plan de mon trajet ne sera pas inclus dans ce post, il faudra donc attendre un peu – patiente. Le trajet de cette partie se résume donc à Nord-Sud, en passant par la côte Ouest pour arriver à Hobart, suivi du trajet retour par la côte Est.

Places

Sydney and Manly

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My first impression of Sydney is confirmed, it’s a green city; but – to be honest – I did not see much from Sydney as I really enjoyed walking around Manly, a suburb north of Sydney reachable by Ferry boat (30 minutes) and Jet Cat (15 minutes). It looks like a small town by itself and I wouldn’t be surprised to hear that only people over a certain income or wealth can afford to live there.

There are many beaches around and hiking trails so it’s pleasant (and convenient) to walk and swim! I kept a track-log and will show you in the future. In fact, the little walk I planned became a forteen hours hike in some towns located North of Sydney.

This tour has been very instructive also:
How to clean a dog's business
There were more clever signs, but also less positive; I’ll say more later.

Then my visit to Sydney was limited to a walk around the harbour, opera house, botanic gardens: fantastic!, some parks and some shopping malls in Pitt Street where a 8-10 years old kid really surprised me – by playing some music in the street and asking for change in return. I even asked a police officer if that was common and he confirmed that anyone can get a permit for public performance – no age restriction.

In Sydney’s airport, I was “candidate” for a full security check so they looked for explosive traces on my clothes and my bags: I believe not too many people walk around an airport with a GPS and a backpack full of electronics in airports. New South Wales is behind for now as I left to Launceston (Tasmania) via Melbourne. Melbourne seems to be really dry; everything was yellow and I didn’t see many trees from the sky. In the airport, a sales lady in a store specialized in flying cow had so much fun with her toys that I couldn’t resist to laugh; I liked it! Then I was quite happy to have a memorable seat number on the place to Launceston (1A: sounds like first class upgrade! negative – this aircraft’s size is comparable to Luxair’s Fokker 50: four seats in a row and no space for more than 40 people). My first impression of Laucenston is not that great; but the marina was all-right and just outside the city there are fantastics trails, for example in the area of the Cataract Gorge.

I’m leaving tomorrow morning (very early) for an tour (which I found via the eco-tour label certification authority) that seems to be run by a very small company – last minute booking. I’ll be away for the next few days and probably won’t even answer to e-mails or approve comments (but no one comments anyway).

About my pictures, I did not upload too not many pictures yet; but unfortunately I took too many again! Already 1.7 GB of pictures are waiting to be sorted and geotagged, please be patient – and wait… until the end of my Tasmanian tour.

PS: please accept my apologies for any eventual (probable) mistakes on this post as I won’t have time to re-read it and even worse: I merged and split words and groups of words all the time while writing this post – and eating all you can eat sushi at mikaku for $13.50.

See you later, aligator!

Places

Sydney

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Tired; my luggage is delayed again (looks like I have full membership to the club of delayed bags, ask somekool for verification), grey and rainy, but hey! I’m there, and with a new telephone (that includes a manual in Arabic; no excuse to learn a new language!): Nokia E61; recommended by spoty for less than $300; it’s charging at the moment.
Sydney harbor bridge

My first impression: Sydney is very green, people seem to like trees as they are everywhere.

I’m about to leave for a small walk in Manly and get some food; then most likely this evening I will go to bed early 🙂

See ya later, aligator!

Français, Places

Luxembourg – Dubai

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Via:
– Francfort où une femme chargée de la sécurité chantait en hochant la tête plutôt que de regarder son écran pendant ce temps certains laissaient passer des bouteilles d’eau à travers les maillons de la sécurité.
– Koblenz, il y a plein de châteaux a visiter dans le coin!!

Dubai c’est le supermarché du monde. et à ma grande surprise cela à l’air abordable; ce n’est pas comme Luxembourg où tout coûte (deux fois?) plus cher sous prétexte qu’il y a moins de taxes. Mon téléphone cellulaire se meurt; les plus chers ici sont dans les $300; abordable. L’omelette que je viens de manger par contre, va certainement être facturée un bon pourcentage de la valeur du téléphone; mais le service est excellent – so who cares? Le wireless est compris dans le prix de l’omelette 😛

À très bientôt pour la suite des aventures.

Places, Stuff

Vancouver, here I come!

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Booked my flights 🙂

From: Luxembourg (LUX), Sunday, october 30th 10:40
To: Frankfurt Int’l (FRA), Sunday, october 30th 11:30

From: Frankfurt Int’l (FRA), Sunday, october 30th 12:25
To: Vancouver Int’l (YVR), Sunday, october 30th 13:50

From: Vancouver Int’l (YVR), Sunday, october 13th 11:10
To: Trudeau (YUL), Montreal, Canada, Sunday october 13th 18:54

From: Trudeau (YUL), Montreal, Canada, Friday, october 18th 18:40
To: Frankfurt Int’l (FRA), Saturday november 19th 08:00

From: Frankfurt Int’l (FRA), Saturday, November 19th 09:20
To: Luxembourg (LUX), Saturday, November 19th 10:00

If you travel on the same flight(s), we could discuss a bit 🙂

Places

Perth to Adelaide

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They said: Australian adventures to wild places – untouched and uncrowded! It was true!

Day 1

Dog Cemetery! Wave Rock

Clayton, our guide, picked us up in a hostel in Perth Northbridge area at 6:30 in the morning. We were 15 in the group, with some people from Great Britain, South Africa, Germany, Sydney, Japan and Iran.

We headed into York – and travelled across a varied landscape – the oldest inland town in Western Australia where I had my breakfast in a Cafe, before going Wave Rock near Hyden. We stopped and saw the dog cemetary on the way.

It’s 15m high rock with different colors, it’s about 350 km from Perth. Very impressive place where we stopped for lunch.

After we went south to the Fitzergald River National Park, where we unpacked our tents and installed our bush camp. This huge national (3300 square km) park is located along lovely coast. We had a hike in this biosphere, we had to clean out shoes before, in order to avoid the spread of dieback. Unfortunately it was too late for a swim, but I enjoyed the place.

I shared my tent with Michael, an Iranian guy who is very nice, and I slept very well.

Day 2

Lovely sweeties! Sailing boat in Cape Le Grand National Park
a beautiful idyllic beach in Cape Le Grand National Park a beautiful idyllic beach in Cape Le Grand National Park
a beautiful idyllic beach in Cape Le Grand National Park My friends, we're going to have seafood for lunch today!

We left the national park and went to Esperance along the coastline. Then we went to Cape Le Grand National Park, where we unpacked the tents some meters from a beautiful beach. We had to share the place with two lovely kangaroos who were here. I had a wonderful swim there.

In the afternoon, we hiked the Frenchman Peak, from where I really enjoyed the beautiful landscape.

Camping facilities were excellent; they even had some showers

Day 3

I enjoyed walking from 7:00AM along the coast, then had a swim on one of the lovely beaches.

Then we went back to Esperance, then headed to Norseman and reached the Eyre Highway, ready to cross the Nullarbor plain. Nullarbor name origins is from latin for ‘no trees’. Eyre is dedicated to John Eyre, the European explorer who explored this area from east to west.

We stopped and played in a salty lake, then we camped in the bush.

Campfire

Day 4

We stopped at the first petrol station, where we could take an enjoyable shower.

Then, we crossed the 90 Mile Straight: Australia’s Longest Straight Road (146.6
km), then the road turned left (private joke :>).

We stopped at Cocklebiddy to visit the Cocklebiddy Cave, the largest cave in the Nullarbor, where we had a swim in the undergound lake. The water seemed quite cold first, but once in, it was a real pleasure! Swimming is darkness is first weird, then very funny.

Then we saw the real Nullarbor plain, then went through Madura to fill the tank. we bushcamped in the middle of nowhere. At this point of the trip, I really realized how big and uncrowded this continent is.

Day 5

We visited the old Eucla, some picturesque ruins of a telegraph station, opened in 1877. It’s surrounded and inside sand dunes.

Later, we saw the Nullarbor cliffs, where we could see dolphins swimming in the sea. Later we saw the famous wombat/camel/kangaroo road sign. Then, we crossed the dingo fence in Yalata Aboriginal lands.

In the afternoon, we arrived in Fowlers Bay, near some huge sand dunes, where we’ve been playing in the sand (jump, run and sand boarding). I still had sand in my ears two days later.

Day 6

We stopped near Ceduna, then we went for a cruise on a boat, where we swam and saw the dolphins and sea lions. In the evening, we stopped in the town of Streaky Bay, where we ate and slept

Day 7

We visited Murphy’s Haystacks, a very old amazing rock formation. We had lunch in the outback, near a salty lake, where I ran around. In the afternoon, we headed into Port Augusta, where we had our first traffic light since the first day! In the late afternoon, we arrived in Adelaide, after over 3500 km of travel, which is more than London to Moscow

Places

Perth

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Bell Tower Pelican Sunset in Freemantle

I decided to spend the first days in Perth, where I planned to recover from nonexistent jet lag, and to see some local people who have been waiting for me for a while. I also chose that city because it’s supposed to be the sunniest city of Australia, and also the most isolated big city in the world. I *really* enjoyed that place. People are relaxed and peaceful there.

View on the CBD from South-Perth across the Swan river

I walked around shops to get camping and backpacking stuff; I was impressed by the choice and price.

Near the CBD, a new old fashion church

Urbanization is a bit weird when you come from Europe, but I enjoyed and realized how cosmopolitan, modern and vibrant the city is.

I spent almost four hours walking and looking in the City Business District in Hay Street and Murray Street Malls.

I bought a hat, sunglasses, a phone prepaid card, some electric stuff, first postcards, then had a swim in the hotel’s swimming pool. Temperature was between 29 and 34 degrees during the day.

Cycle paths are common in Perth

I had lunch in the food court in the Carillon arcade, where you can choose between all sort of food (American, Italian, Asian, …), where I ate some Chinese cooked vegetables.

In the afternoon, I walked to the Swan Bell tower, then followed the cycle way along the Swan river, and went up to Kings Park, where we have a view on the city and the river. A part of this walk wasn’t so funny, where the cycle path went along the Freeway road, but it’s wasn’t that bad.

I walked up to the Park, and could see how local people enjoy the outside life. I spent almost half an hour to look around the CBD. Then I walked through the 17ha Botanic Garden, which has more than 2500 plant species from Western Australia. I spent all the afternoon in this park, and enjoyed the swim back at the hotel!

Peaceful people in Kings Park

I also visited Perth Zoo in South Perth, using the ferry across the river, where we can see attractive plants, Australian wildlife (including koalas and kangaroos). I spent a whole day there.

Here's another lazy kangaroo

Next day, I went to Freemantle, suburb on the Indian Ocean, where I had my first swim in the sea. I visited the town as well, had my lunch in the market. For the evening, I ate in a sushi bar in Perth.

Next day, I saw my friends, and the following day, I left with the-traveller for 7 days of adventure to Adelaide.

View the gallery
Near the CBD, a new old fashion church Small park in Barrack Street Bell Tower Cycle paths are common in Perth View on South-Perth from Kings Park View on the CBD from Kings Park Peaceful people in Kings Park Flowered clock Water jet in Kings Park Botanic garden in Kings Park Botanic garden in Kings Park Botanic garden in Kings Park Fires are very common, he's a proof sweet little birdie! Artistic dinosaur Public BBQ place in Kings Park A straight line of grass that cuts the Park. You can imagine how big it is: 400 hectares (1000 acres). Tree in Kings Park Nice tree in Kings Park I love those trees! Tree branch Grass Tree in Kings Park. They grow about 1.5 cm per year, making this one about 75 years old. Aboriginal people had many uses Grass Tree's Nice plant in the eucalyptus family Yet another tree, still in Kings Park Fashion house, between Kings Park and the CBD And their car :p I was impressed, but when I came back to Luxembourg, I saw this one in a supermarket, only EUR 9999.99 ... I like those new old style buildings :) The only highway I saw in Australia Don't remember this church's name, but it was close to Terrace Road Here's again this funny church :) Kangaroo's statue drinking a fountain's water. In real size Small house in front of the CBD Nice tree in near the Esplanade Let's take the ferry to visit Perth's zoo, and see local wildlife before going to the outback On the other side of the swan river, he welcomed me :) View on the CBD from South-Perth across the Swan river Nice palm tree, let me visit local species now in the zoo. Pelican and duck Pelican Local birds are free to leave the zoo, if they could fly :O Nice palm trees Look at this bamboo, I wish mine could grow this big... err I'm not so sure it might cause a problem in my living room :) So cute! Penguins. Yes, there are some in Australia. Let me be a little more diplomatic before talking to him :P Kangaroo! The first one I saw :) and here's a wallaby. I like them better than kangaroos, they are so cute and peaceful. Lazy kangaroos. Here's another lazy kangaroo This wallaby is my friend Sweet little animal :) In fact, they usually relax in the shade in order to escape from the heat during daytime. A very small marsupial First koala I met Sweet little animal. But please, don't listen to them. I was surprised how this one came to visit people. Later, in the outback, I realized that people don't scare them. SIGFOOD! Mhhhh that's nice :) Little wallaby watching me a Dingo! I had the chance to see some in the outback too, but I have the courage to get close to them (: Rainforest simulator Freemantle's beach, located south west from Perth. Freemantle's beach. OZ's flags Freemantle's church and traffic lights. Radio Nova's van Those birds are the same as our pigeons here. People hate them. Marine Museum Perth's city Mall by night View from the plane while flying from Adelaide to Perth View from the plane while flying from Adelaide to Perth Sunset in Freemantle Sunset in Freemantle Sunset in Freemantle Bell Tower Here's the CBD again! Don't know the name of this plant, but it does really look good! It's not a man, it's only modern art. No comment :P Bye bye Perth from the airport, while waiting for boarding into plane to Singapore.

Places

Trip to Perth

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The flight was very long, but everything went alright: Thanks Qantas for providing me a place with a lot of space (near the exit door), I could move inside the plane without bothering anyone. Even check-in and boarding was quite easy, I expected it to be very stressing, but it was well organized. There was a French guy going to Sydney for business who sat down near me for only a week! He left the plane in Singapore, where we arrived at 6:00 AM after 11 hours of flight. I walked a bit in Singapore’s airport: I never saw a so well organized and clean airport in the past. We took off to Perth at 7:30 with a British man who’s been reading his book all the time, possibly even faster than anatsuno, I was really impressed. I didn’t sleep at all during the 18 hours of flight.

At around noon, we landed in Perth, I fetched my bags, went through the immigration and custom services. I was a bit scared, looked at what happened to other people (deep baggage inspection). They just asked me if I had anything to declare, they looked at my passport, asked me if the address on my passport was still correct; I answered "yes", and they just let me go in without any further questions and wished me a happy holiday in Australia.

I took the taxi to go to Perth’s Central Business District, where my first hotel was. It took about 30 minutes, and it did only cost about 30 Australian dollars.

The hotel wasn’t bad at all: swimming pool, sauna, spa, fitness room, 5 minutes walk from the mall, quiet room. I tried the shower first, then I put my summer clothes on and walked a bit around, just bought some sun screen. Then I went back to the hotel, had a swim, tried the fitness for a few minutes, and went back to my room where I unpacked my stuff. It was around 7:00PM. I just tried how good my bed was, then it was 2:00AM, and decided to remove my clothes and get in it. I woke up at six in the morning, full of energy; no problem with jet lag.