My trips in kangaroo's country.

[Olly]

Ok. You asked - you get it!
Prologue.
Few years ago i met girl in internet when I was marriage. She live in Australia and married an australian man. We was a pen-pals. She is from St.Pitersbourg. They visited Russia for holiday and i invited them to visit my city. They spent a few days in my place. Was great!
So in a half year she invited us (me and my ex-husband) to visit them. I have never been abroad before and it was very excited.
FIRST TRIP.
My ex-husband speak good English but he worried more than me. I think I am braver or just crazy. 
When we arrived to Brisbane airport we couldn't believe that we on another continent!
My friends live in a little town 400 km to the North from Brisbane. We took a train on Roma station. I booked all tickets by internet from home and had no problems. Except one: I lost a charger of my camera in this train.
It was amazing holiday. I met a lot of people (friends of my friends). Some RW/AM couples. And one of greatest impression was I celebrated my birthday (Dec) in first time in my life under the palm-tree but not with my bum in a snow!
We visited some towns around and walked in Brisbane.
Here some photos and video from that trip.



The continuation coming soon....

[Olly]

 Australian nature. My photos from that trip.

[JayH]

Reading with interest-thanks Olly.Your English is fine -- Australian make fun of each other often!! It is part of our culture-- so please do not be deterred.

[Olly]

Reading with interest-thanks Olly.Your English is fine -- Australian make fun of each other often!! It is part of our culture-- so please do not be deterred.

Thank you. I am writing a second part. 

[Olly]

Second trip.

So my first dream to visit Australia was come true.
Next dream was to visit Sydney.
My divorce was very hard and I felt that I need a rest. I told my friend I want to visit her and she said "of course, welcome".
That time she prepared to pass exam in TAFE and had strong allergy from sugar cane. We have decided to meet in Sidney and spend time there.
Because of her exam she had not much free time. I walked alone in city . It was not hard. Sydney have a very simple train network. I took my local debit card and paid with it everywhere. Absolutely no problems.
Weather was beautiful but little bit cool in June. I enjoyed walks around Opera House.
Everywhere I has to speak with people they asked me: where are you from. Especially male sellers in shops:
- where are you from?
- Im from Russia
- Ooooh, your name is Natasha!
- NO 
Was so funny )))

In general I don't like a big cities. I hate Moscow and afraid to be there. Very big, very dirty city, too much people. My visits to Moscow is only the way from train station to airport by subway.
But Sydney is different. I felt very easy to be there, very friendly people, good transport. Everywhere the boards with street's names and I took a guide map.
So, it was a great holidays, good experience and good to raise level of my English.







About my third trip later.

[Olly]

Third trip.
February this year.
This trip was not for only visit my friends but to meet my man. He fulfilled my third dream of - to visit Surfers Paradise in Gold Coast.
It was the best holiday in my life. I found my love.

Have to notice, I used three airlines: Emirates, Aeroflot (russia) and Qantas (Aust). The Emirates is the best! The good prices and the best service. All tickets you can book and buy online.

All invitations for tourist visas sent me my friend. Only in last time i had interview by phon with embassy.

So if you have questions feel free to ask.

[Olly]

Some photos from last trip.

The Mt Tambourine. Beautiful view!



Bundaberg Ginger beer factory



Funny tourist's  buses in Surfers Paradise



And "aliens" 

[Olly]

And one funny video: Australian aboriginals

[Olly]

One thing I don't like in Australia! It is veeeery sloooow service. You have to wait 20-30 mins to get your order in restaurant. 

[JayH]

Hey--Olly-- keep describing your thoughts and reactions to what you have seen.Only one day to write is not enough detail!!. 

[Olly]

Hey--Olly-- keep describing your thoughts and reactions to what you have seen.Only one day to write is not enough detail!!.

Ok I will try 

[Hammer2722]

Really enjoying your TR Olly. I especially like your video log of the trip. I have always wanted to do something like this. I have an Austrailian friend who has invited me to visit him in Perth.We met In Ukraine 2 years ago and have been good friends since. Your TR is making it quite tempting to visit soon. 

[Gator]

Olly,

Thanks.  Interesting photos and travelogue.

See, your English is fine. 
 
Yes, you know Australia.  Wishing you the best as you start your new life.

[Olly]

Your TR is making it quite tempting to visit soon. 

You have to do it for sure. Trust you won't be disappointed. 

Wishing you the best as you start your new life.

Thank you very much.

[I/O]

One thing I don't like in Australia! It is veeeery sloooow service.

Yes, indeed...!!! It's because of the high award wages paid to table staff. 
 

Funny tourist's  buses in Surfers Paradise

http://www.aquaduck.com.au/gallery

[Olly]

Nice car on the Surfer Paradise streets 

[Anotherkiwi]

See - I told you that people would like your story! 

[Olly]

See - I told you that people would like your story! 

 

[Jumper]

Very Cool Olly!!!
 
thanks for sharing.


It's a place i've always wanting to go,but havn't.
 

[Manny]

One thing I don't like in Australia! It is veeeery sloooow service. You have to wait 20-30 mins to get your order in restaurant. 

Rather like Russia then. 

[Olly]

Rather like Russia then. 

In Russia much quicker.

[Muzh]

Olly, nice TR, videos and pics.

I did recognize a few trees in Australia as they also grow in Puerto Rico, but I'm mostly partial to the Flamboyant. Had one in our backyard.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delonix_regia

[Olly]

I did recognize a few trees in Australia as they also grow in Puerto Rico, but I'm mostly partial to the Flamboyant. Had one in our backyard.

Yes, it is poinciana tree. Very beautiful.

[SANDRO43]

Yes, it is poinciana tree. Very beautiful.

Also a haunting melody from the 1930s :

Poinciana is a song to music by Nat Simon and lyrics by Buddy Bernier written in 1936. The tune is based on a Cuban folk tune La canción del árbol ("The song of the tree"). Glenn Miller performed it in the late 1930s. Benny Carter and Bing Crosby both issued versions in 1944.

It was widely popularised in the 1952 film Dreamboat and subsequently became a standard covered by artists including Johnny Mathis, Vic Damone, Percy Faith, The Four Freshmen and Ahmad Jamal (as the first track on an eponymous album), and which featured again in the 1995 film The Bridges of Madison County.

At 0:50, after the WAC ad:

[I/O]

Also a haunting melody from the 1930s :

Being the only one here who'd remember that era?