Posts Tagged With: Ann Horan

Day 14: Port Douglas

Posted on December 30, 2011 by annhoran

I am having such fun with my pink laptop, writing the blog, checking emails and keeping in touch.  In Kuranda, my American friends drew my attention to a market stall where the vendor was selling natural spa products.  The scent from the stall was “to die for”.  I bought a small tub of body scrub which left my skin feeling incredibly soft and healthy since.  Pre-Internet days, I would have had to fill my suitcase with a lifetime supply of these lovely Australian products.  Instead, I took the website address and will order online.  Before you ask, I left the web address with the other half of my luggage in Cairns but I will share it when I am reunited with my belongings.

Today was a free day to explore Port Douglas, a lovely sea side town at the start of the beautiful Four Mile Beach.  The town was busy with Australians on holiday.  A more remote part of Four Mile Beach was closer to my hotel.  It was accessed via a 5 minute pathway through a forest.  The path was rather spooky; not sure if I was more worried about human or animal predators, snakes or coconuts falling on my head.  I didn’t hang about long.  The beach itself was stunning and well worth the risks.

Ann x

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Packing and Unpacking

Posted on December 29, 2011 by annhoran

This holiday involves a lot of packing and unpacking, as I move from location to location.   I remembered a story told to me by my friend Colette, of a work colleague, Joan who packed her holiday wardrobe in labelled plastic bags, a separate bag for each type: tops, shorts, underwear etc.  Great tip, it works.

Today we cruised out to the Great Barrier Reef.  That created an additional packing challenge due to luggage restrictions.  I had to divide my luggage in two and leave one half behind to be collected in 3 days’ time.  Now I know how little luggage I really needed.

The Great Barrier Reef lived up to expectations.  I went out in a glass bottom boat (twice), a semi-submersible boat and enjoyed the beautiful fish and coral through an observatory window.  Then when my fellow travellers put on their wet suits, snorkels and air tanks, I headed for my deckchair and relaxed in the sun.  Water is just not my thing 🙂

Arrived in Port Douglas tonight.  Amazing hotel but more on that tomorrow.

Ann x

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Kuranda (a village in the Rainforest)

Posted on December 28, 2011 by annhoran

This morning, while waiting for my pickup from the hotel, I met a really nice American Mum (science teacher) and daughter (flies jet planes for the US Navy). These were my travel companions for the day.

We were part of a large group who took the scenic train ride into the mountains above Cairns to the Kuranda Rainforest. On the way we gazed at the scenery and listened to the amazing story of the hardships endured by the navvies (many Irish, English, American and Italian) who built the railway in the late 1800’s. Upon reaching Kuranda, we were handed our schedules for the day: shopping, BBQ lunch, guided tour of the wildlife park, display of Aboriginal sports and exhibition of Aboriginal dancing, a trip through the rainforest in an Army Duck and finally journey back by Skyrail (apparently the longest cable car ride in the world).

Highlights were the Army Duck through the awesome (word borrowed from my kids) rainforest and the Skyrail trip over the tops of the trees right back to Cairns. The forest was dramatic, nature at its rawest and most beautiful. I took a lot of photos – hopefully they give some sense of the amazing scenery.

Ann x

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Day 11: Tropical Storms

Posted on December 27, 2011 by annhoran

The holiday moved to a slower pace today. I arrived in the Tropics and the seaside resort of Cairns. As I start to write, I am lounging by the pool, drinking a delicious fresh orange juice. Later, I will head out to explore and go for a swim. Or I might continue lounging by the pool.

The trip here was uneventful. Compared to the long haul flight, 3 hours to Cairns felt like a short bus ride. The views on landing were spectacular – luscious green mountains and clear seas. The air as we walked from the plane was hot and humid but you acclimatize quickly. I met a man with a boat while we were waiting for our luggage. He wears T shirts like Stephen’s so I took the name of the shop. If you keep your side of our bargain Steve, I might visit that shop.

I did go out and explore but not for long. I could hear thunder and loud cackling in the trees – giant bats! I headed back to the hotel and the heavens opened. Our afternoon storm had arrived. Dramatic and thankfully short lived. You would love it here, Lucy. I stood under a tree and photographed the bats for you ……. creepy.

Ann x

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Boxing Day Sales

Posted on December 26, 2011 by annhoran

 

Today I was booked on two tours but decided to skip one.  The penguins will have to wait until my next trip.  The question is did I abandon the penguins because (a) I was tired (b) I wanted to do my laundry or (c) I heard about the great Melbourne Boxing Day sales?  The truth is all of the above.

The city tour was good.  We stopped for an hour at the Melbourne Botanic Gardens.  I am becoming quite an expert on botanic gardens.  If I ever decide to try out for Mastermind…..  on second thoughts, my levels of general knowledge might be a problem.  The gardens were beautiful.  Reminded me of the lovely line from a poem about being “closer to God in the garden than any place else on earth”.

Australians love abbreviations.  Monica’s friend, Peter offered to meet me in the “arvo” of the 24th December in Melbourne.  Unfortunately, I wasn’t due to arrive until the evening (“eve”?) so that didn’t work out.  We saw the Melbourne Cricket Ground on this morning’s tour where a big match between Australia and India will be played today.  They call that the MCG or just the “G”.  We passed the DFO’s (direct factory outlets) on the bus but I resisted the temptation to check them out. 

Cairns tomorrow.

Ann x

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Happy Christmas

Posted on December 25, 2011 by annhoran

Today’s tour was the Ocean Road.  Torquay for morning tea.  Then on to Bells Beach, a world famous surfing beach and film scene.  Torquay, according to our driver Colin was originally called Swampy Creek but nobody wanted to live there so they changed the name.  Colin had a nice quirky sense of humour.

We drove for hours along Ocean Drive always on the look out for wild koalas in the trees and kangaroos in the fields.  The coastal views were superb.  Miles and miles of cliffs and beaches, like the Cliffs of Moher but many times over.

Christmas in Melbourne feels very low key.  None of the excitement or the madness of home.  I did hear John Lennon’s Happy Christmas (War is Over) but only the once.

Lunch was a take away fish and chips on the beach at Apollo Bay.  The tour included a lot of photo stops.  I felt like a Japanese tourist but then most of my fellow travellers were Japanese or Asian so that explains that.

As a Christmas present, I treated myself to a helicopter ride over the off shore rock formations known as the Twelve Apostles.  Wow!

Happy Christmas All.

Ann x

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Time Traveller

Posted on December 24, 2011 by annhoran

Today I flew from Perth to Melbourne and lost 3 hours. In total, I’ve lost 11 hours since leaving Dublin. When I fly from Sydney to Los Angeles on 18th January, I will cross the international date line and regain the hours by travelling backwards in time. That should confuse the body clock.

A minor difficulty in travelling solo is what to do in the evenings. I try to be security conscious and not to walk alone at night (Mum, read this). Last night I visited the pub on the corner next to my hotel, for dinner. The pub is called the Fenian and a traditional group called the Clan were playing. It was funny to watch Australians and other nationalities dancing a weird variation of the Irish jig 🙂

The flight to Melbourne was smooth and arrived early. I am impressed so far by Quantas. I saw my first Tiger Airways plane today. It looked remarkably like a Ryanair plane – not surprising when you know who founded Tiger Airways. My hotel in Melbourne, the Rydges is lovely. I went straight to the rooftop pool on the 22nd floor for a swim and then around the corner for a lovely Italian meal.

Ann x

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Day 7: Perth City and Swan Valley

Posted on December 23, 2011 by annhoran

Day 7 and I haven’t mentioned my hair yet. I love it here but my hair doesn’t. It makes this clear by impersonating a bleached straw nest perched on top of my head. If I lived here, my options would be to shave it off or grow a ponytail. End of hair moan. Thought it best to get that out of the way 🙂

Busy day today. Two tours. 7.20am start for a city bus tour of Perth and Freemantle. Really enjoyed King’s Park where we wandered through the botanic gardens and strolled along the treetop walkway. Highlights for me were the Banksia and Pioneering Women’s gardens.

The afternoon tour to the Swan Valley involved cuddling furry animals (Wombat, Kangaroo and Koala) and tasting local produce: two of my favourite things, wine and chocolate. My new friend for today was a Brazilian girl who lives in Spain and markets cosmetics throughout Europe and the Middle East.

Tomorrow I fly to Melbourne

Ann x

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Day 6: Rottnest Island

Posted on December 22, 2011 by annhoran

Today was the first of my organised trips in Australia.  Up early and on the bus to catch the Rottnest Island ferry.   The ferry journey was 2 hours including a stop to pick up passengers in Freemantle.  It was very enjoyable.  Lovely to be out on the open sea.  The views were wonderful and I met some nice people: a French geneticist who shared some interesting facts about his work and 2 girls from Ireland (Sligo and Athlone) with their work colleague from Sri Lanka.  I tuned into their conversation at the point where they were discussing the Sri Lankan’s plans for an arranged marriage.  At 25, she felt that she had run out of alternative options.  Her Irish friends tried subtly to suggest that 25 might be too young to decide.  On the way back, I chatted to a lady from Sheffield who travels the world and had served in the British Army in Iraq.

Rottnest Island is one of the most stunning places I have ever been.  Included in my trip was a bus tour of island and a delicious lunch.  A very relaxing day.

The photos speak for themselves.  I included one of me so that you know that I am not the victim of an identity theft.  This is really me having a great holiday.

Ann x

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Niamh was right

Posted on December 21, 2011 by annhoran

 

When Niamh told me about her trip to Australia, a story that stood out was how a couple of days into her trip, she took most of her clothes, parceled them up, took them to the post office and sent them home.  Then she went out and bought some new ones.  I know this feeling.  Today I looked into my suitcase.  Nothing to wear.  So I found a great department store on my way to the beach…..

You might think that being on holiday is easy.  This morning I had to do my laundry, reconfirm my trips for Perth, tidy my room and go clothes shopping before I could head to the beach.  I was exhausted!

This was one of the few days when I am totally free in Australia.  So I took a train to the beach – Cottesloe and had a carefree day.  I wasn’t sure how to get from the the train to the beach – no worries, I followed the crowds of teenagers.  The beach was beautiful.  Deep blue sea, white sands, very clean, nice cooling breeze.  Heaven.  I was planning to have a take away for lunch but then spotted a beachside hotel and had salmon and salad instead.  Very nice.

Ann x

The photos are one for Finbar, follow the crowd, the beach and my lunch

 

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