’11 OZ PHOTO SERIES PT1
SINGAPORE – AUSTRALIA – INDONESIA – UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
So that’s the end of my second proper solo trip and was great to see what all the fuss was about over Australia. It’s probably one of the most popular destinations for backpackers and I can see why!
TRIP STATS:
- 7 months
- 4 Countries
- 4 New Countries
- 10 Flights
SINGAPORE
I love to break my long haul flights up as much as I can and Singapore seemed a good call. It was my first city in Asia but being clean and organized it was a far cry from what is to be expected of Asian cities. Saying that, something about me loves the chaos!
’11 OZ Photo Series Reflection Post
EAST COAST
After a not so great day in Perth I immediately made plans to head for Cairns on the east coast. From here I’d meet my best friends for the entire trip south and have all sorts of unique experiences. From scuba diving at the Great Barrier Reef to partying in Magnetic Island and sailing around the Whitsunday islands to Fraser Island, I was falling in love with this backpacker life fast!!
’11 OZ Photo Series Reflection Post
RELATED READ: HAVING THE TAJ MAHAL ALL TO MYSELF
SYDNEY
From here we continue south stopping off at Fraser Island, Bryon Bay and finally 3 weeks on Bondi Beach in Sydney. Here we would enjoy more activities than I would imagine; Christmas eve cruise around Sydney Harbour, Xmas day at a festival on Bondi Beach Guetta at Shore Thing on Bondi Park for NYE and finally England winning the ashes at the SCG!
MELBOURNE
Finally we arrived at Melbourne, a city I would absolutely fall in love with but it wasn’t without it’s drama. Sneaking in to the Melbourne Open Final and then getting deaths threats by a few junkies on the tram.
ROAD TRIP TO AYERS ROCK
It has always interested me to visit Ayers Rock and myself Ben and the girls rented the worlds smallest campervan for a few weeks to make the trip. We seen plenty and even had to call on the help of some locals when we ran out of fuel!
RELATED READ: GLACIER, ICE SHEETS & THE NORTHERN LIGHTS
BALI & GILI T
I then made back for Melbourne where I hung around for another 3 months before heading off to Bali and Gili T where we searched and searched for a few weeks on the beach away from the drink…it didn’t go quite to plan.
WEST COAST ROAD TRIP
After returning from Indonesia, 4 of us rented a campervan to check out the west coast. I’d get as far as Exmouth and need to head back but the others would have to drive. That was until they hit and cow and had to make other arrangements!
DUBAI
As usual, I spilt the long flight home and took the opportunity to visit some friends in Dubai and got treated like a king, what a way to end my trip.
RATINGS….
- PEOPLE – 9/10
- BACKPACKING – 9/10
- WEATHER – 9/10
- THINGS TO DO – 9/10
- FOOD – 8/10
- VALUE – 8/10
- BEACHES – 8.5/10
Tony’s last stand
SUMMED UP….
- MVP (most valuable player) – Everyone in Urban Central hostel
- LVP (Least valuable player) – Casey Dean
- HIGHLIGHT – Too many
- LOWLIGHT – The junkies in the tram
- VISIT AGAIN – YES
- RATING – 8.5/10
FINAL THOUGHTS
I usually like to ask myself the same question every time I get back from a trip.
“Looking back would I change anything if I were to do it again?”
If I’m honest no but there is a part of me who would have wished to see a bit more; attractions, hikes etc as opposed to just going with the flow. But like anything in life the boozie backpacker is a phase that needs lived out in order to get it out of their system.
As for the rest, the time I had was purely down to the people I met along the way, most of which I keep in contact with to this very day!
NEXT UP
Off to Asia for what was meant to be just a few months but turned into 2 years! Click to read!
SAFE TRAVELS, DS x
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This is the reflection post of The Oz Photo Series, click to see episode 1.
