Well we have arrived in OZ and experiencing what we came to OZ for, getting pissed up in their cool bars!!!!

We touched down in Perth and walked outside, and (it was around 4am) and it was a bit like England, bloody cold. THe airport was cool with loads of numbers for backpacker holes, we decided on City and Surf (where you swap between the staying in Perth City Center (where we are now) or Scarborough beach - where we are heading on Xmas Eve).

We took our cab into city and got dropped off and then basically slept as we had had no sleep for 24hrs. Me and Jules went into town in the afternoon, it was cool, bit like Covent Garden in some place where there some bloody funny Aussie Buskers, one of who had his own sword swallowing gig, where he equaled his world record. Anyways we had decided in Malaysia that we were gonna have a big one in our first night in Perth, so got back and started in get ready.

I also decided to shave all my hair off, and I'm proud to say the deed in done (great job Chaney, not one knick) - I am a baldy, the girls reaction when I whipped off my hat in the pub was worrying, Marie couldn't stop laughing. But all in all it feels great and cool on the old headski. Chaney has taken some piccies so hopefully he send them in soon....

Anyways the night was spent in the Mustang Bar where there was a live band, who covered some cool songs, and place rocked. I stayed until around 2.30 and it was still rocking when I left. Within 5 minutes of being there me and the guys had been invited to an Xmas Lunch with a Kiwi and his buddies and a Chelsea fan even bought me a beer - wonders will never cease. We got Shane our Kiwi friends to take a picture of all us, and he got the Aussie Fuzz to get into the Pic. Me and Marie then spent 45 minute sitting with 4 ZZ Top Members who were bloody cool. All in all a Fantastic night, friendly people and decided that the Aussies are mad....

Chaney and I will be doing it again tonight - we have decided to split from the girls tonight and have large lads one... We have got the Rum in too start the night off with a bang.

Anyways, Marie is pestering me too use the PC so I'm gonna sign off. Chaney has just got some piccies developed (not any of me as a baldy yet though) so they should be on www.roadtrip2001.net soon if anyone want to take squiz!

Anyways, Hope everyone has a Fabtastic Christmas.

Lots of Love

Bhav

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~ 26/12/2001 ~

Had a chat with some pissed up ozzy last night and he told me that the English blow goats !! When I agreed and told him that I often enjoy blowing the odd goat - he left...?

Strange that eh? #Guy

Julia...

Dear all - hope you all had a great Xmas and pigged out on plenty of Turkey and Xmas pudding. More on our unusual Xmas in a bit!!

We landed at Perth Airport at about 3.30am on Friday morning (21st Dec) - absolutely stupid o'clock!!! The flight wasn't too bad (the food on Quantas was so much better than BA!!) but my bites were killing me, so I didn't get much sleep. After passing through immigration, passport control and customs (where Stuart got stopped everytime - he's obviously got that look about him - they even searched his bag!!), we found an information board at the airport giving lots of details about hostels. We phoned a few, but considering it was nearly the middle of the night, they weren't answering!!! So, we waited until about 7am and finally managed to get an answer from one hostel. Venturing outside to get a taxi, we discovered that early morning Oz is very similar to early morning England - bloomin' cold!!! Not what we were expecting!!

We made our way to a hostel in Northbridge (about a 10 minute walk from the centre of Perth city) and finally managed to get some sleep. That night we celebrated our first night in Australia in true British fashion - drink, drink and more drink!!! The pubs in Perth are really good (quite like the ones at home) and we ended up in a bar called the Mustang (bit like Chicago's, but far less cheesy!!), where we had a picture taken with the local police and Bhav managed to get us invited to someone's house for Xmas dinner. Stuart also met a fellow Wycombe boy and I did my usual trick of leaving my purse in the toilet!!! (don't worry Mum, I found it again!!).

The next few days, I spent "discovering" Perth city - they have a free central bus service, so I visited Kings Park (a bit like Hyde Park I imagine) - fantastic views of the city, but a very steep upwards climb to get to the park itself!! Brilliant water displays too - we are thinking of having a picnic there soon. I also visited the Perth Mint (where until really recently, they were "making" the majority of Western Australia's gold) and found out what my weight in gold is worth. Mum - you'll be pleased to know I'm fairly valuable. I am worth AUS$ 1,092,455 in gold. I also saw a gold bar being made - a really incredible sight to watch.

We travelled to the other hostel (the one we are staying at has one in the city, and a sister hostel on the beach) in Scarborough for Xmas. The beach is about 15 mins away and the nearest bottle shop and grocery store 15 mins in the other direction. You can imagine us struggling home with 3 bags of food each plus enough beer etc to see us through the Xmas celebrations......what a sorry sight we were!!

Anyway, Xmas Eve was spent in the Stamford Arms - the local pub. It was quite a good night, but Stuart and I came back at about 11.30pm as we were pretty tired. On Xmas morning, we swapped Secret Santa presents (except it isn't really a secret anymore!!!!) and opened up card/presents from home. Marie's mum had sent her a snippet of hair from various animals on the farm - not a pretty sight at 10.30am in the morning and something I am sure that immigration/quarantine definitely would not have let through if they'd known about it!! Katie - just to let you know that I wore my Xmas knickers yesterday!!!

We went to the beach at lunchtime, but boy was it windy - far too windy in fact that we came back after about an hour. Apparently at about 8/9am, the beach and sea are great, but no way am I likely to make it down there for then!!! Stuart had a swim and the sea was fantastic - really clear blue.

After getting back to the hostel, we started on the BBQ - and that was our Xmas lunch.....sausages, steak and salads. A very different experience to the traditional UK Xmas. The Australian's don't seem to make as much of it as we Brits do, so it was a bit of let down, but it was good to experience a Christmas on the other side of the world. We rounded off the day by playing Monopoly, where Stuart and I managed to clear Bhav and Marie out of funds......much to their disgust!!!!

It's now Boxing Day but to be honest, it feels just like a normal day!! No roast beef for us - I've just had Vegemite on toast, but it was a poor substitute. On a brighter note, after a very expensive visit to the Chemist, my bites are 100% better and nearly all gone. To top it off, I don't think I've gained any more bites for about 3 days now - result!!!

Well, hope everyone is ok - we are back off to Perth city for New Year, so I'll write then to let you know how they celebrate NYE in Oz!! Take care and write soon.

JULIAxx

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~ 02/01/2002 ~

So what did you get up to for New Years Eve? Did you behave - dare i ask.

It is bloody hot here, and the swimming pool might just be in order today to cure the remnants of the hangover that i have.

Anyhows, most of what i c ould tell you has just been emailed to you, other than to say that we had a stormin' new year, and were all on form.

Stu has asked me to send you a picture of the type of camper van that we are hoping to get, so please find it attached.

Hope you both had a good new year, and pinch, punch first of the month and all that!

love marie

It's a HUGE whiteboard with wheels!! Now where's that marker? Yay! #Guy

Just to let everyone know - we have bought a van like the one above now!! It's an old bird (1977) but has plenty of room, a fridge, a camping stove, loads of storage, roo bars, roof rack (with ladder up for van surfing - actualy thinking about it... never again), a sink, power points, 12 months recovery, parts and labour cover - even a VCR!! We are picking it up in a few days once we can sort the cash out and it's gone through its service, I can't wait to get on the road... #Stu

Stu (who must've sprained his wrist with this one)...

Xmas in Oz was a dream holiday destination for me a few years ago - now I'm here and living the dream. To be honest though, Xmas is about family and friends - and I have to say that Xmas is nothing unless they're there. It's just another night out drinking, but that's not all bad now is it...

We moved from Perth City center to a near by beach area called Scarborough (I know, I know) for Xmas. Crystal clear waters, like nothing else I've seen, but little bit cold and definitely a strong current prevented any relaxing dip. Every time you went in it would be a fight between you and the next wave that come crashing down every few seconds - wicked fun, and bloody good exercise...

We had been reliably informed that everything shuts early on the 24th and 25th, so we stocked up on Emu and VB beer from the Offy. Christmas eve was spent in a pub down the sea front - it looked just like any other English boozer, but with a great beach outside. After getting suitably drunk we crashed out eagerly awaiting our secret Santa presents that were due in the morning.

If any of you follow the route we have taken in the future, and go from Asia to Australia - be prepared for a small culture shock. I have to say that after seeing, and getting totally involved with the very different way of life in Asia - Australia was like going home... Holiday over... You're going to have to find work at some point out here!!!

After Xmas, we just kept on drinking. We got to know the others staying at our hostel

- Beaney, enjoy Loughborough you clever bar steward

... and spent a while ambling round with them. There was a good pool hall down the road where B and I could show off our obviously superior pool talents.

While there we took a look at a Kombi (VW camper). The asking price was 3K and it said it would sleep 4. It would sleep 2 at a push and was 3 years older than me!! After laughing that one off we took a 40 minute bus ride out of town to see a 1981, Toyota Coaster.

Now this van is the one 4 us!! It is about the size of a couple of transit vans stuck together (big), sink, storage space, roo bars (big cage thing on front), work surfaces that will be great for a gas stove and plenty within our price range. After today (new years hangover recovery), we are going to knuckle down and buy one, with the help of a mechanic that can tell us what the score is for a reasonable fee.

For new years we headed back into the city - we discovered a hostel with 4 dorm beds left that has a pool!! It's not big, but it does the job... Bhav and Skippy went out to investigate other hostels down the road(leaving me a Jools wondering what had happened to them after half an hour). Bhav came back looking whiter than a ghost staring in a Skooby Do episode - turns out a HUGE pitbull had growled at him from the back of a pickup. Marie took great delight in explaining how he screamed "MUMMY", and then used her as a human shield...

Last night consisted of a pub crawl that started before the pubs opened (don't ask). After that, and after explaining the difference between a Mange Tout and a Manage au trois to Bhav, we (invariably) ended up in the Mustang bar. Originally I wanted to go somewhere else coz it was the 4th time I had been there in under a week of being in the city (good bar - no women). As it turned out - it was a bloody good night out, great music, plenty of booze and we met some cool ozzies that let me sit down whenever my legs gave up. (Was a big problem last night, don't know why)... With the customary Kebab on the way home, just after Bhav sung the whole of Wonderwall with a busker at the top of his voice to the passing masses, we went back and collapsed in the lobby of our hostel. I got threatened to be kicked out for lobbing stuff, Bhav had to walk away (the moral winner) from a fight he started outside by saying Happy new year to some fat loser - all in all I could have been back in High Wycombe.

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I can't wait to get to see the real Oz, all we need is a van! You will have a few more pictures soon - I hope you are all well and had a spectacular Christmas and New year,

stuE

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~ 03/01/2002 ~

Dear all - hope you are all well and didn't suffer too much with NYE hangovers!! I have just written a long email about our NYE shenanigans, but managed to delete it, so I'll just summarise it by saying - it was fun, there was beer, Bhav sang Oasis with a busker on the way home...nuff said!!

Anyway, onto the big news of the day - WE FOUND AND BOUGHT A CAMPERVAN TODAY!!! We went to a used car place in Carlisle (Perth) and found a fab van.......sleeps 4, two stereos, fridge, stove, sink, plenty of cupboard space, roof storage, and plenty of extras that made Stuart and Bhav well happy. As soon as we get a picture, we'll post it on the web site (www.roadtrip2001.net) for you all to have a look at. We are chuffed that we have got a van so quickly and it was only the second one we looked at. We get to pick it up on Tuesday (after it has been serviced etc) and then we are spending a few days cleaning and sorting it out, and the we're on the road!! Where to?? Not sure yet, but we're all pretty excited!!

This afternoon, Stuart and I also opened bank accounts - there is just no stopping us!! We are now members of the Commonwealth Bank and all for free!! A bit worrying is the name of the account.....Woolworths Ezy Account......yep THAT woolworths (combined with Safeway)....very strange!! To celebrate our achievement, Stuart and I went to the pub for a couple of beers...any excuse!!

We are off to the WACA ground tomorrow (West Australian Cricket Association) to see the cricket....not sure who is playing and I have no idea of the rules, but the good weather means Marie and I have the opportunity to top up our tans whilst the lads watch men in white trousers run around a large "pitch"...sounds pretty odd to me!!

At the w'end we are probably off to Fremantle to spend a few days soaking up the sun there. It is renowned for it's Cappucino Strip with loads of cafe's to sit and people watch. We are hoping to visit Rottnest island too where the beaches are fab and the water even bluer than Scarborough. Just rememebered...it's snowing there in the UK - hope you don't think I'm rubbing it in......!!!!

Well, hope everyone is ok - will send another update soon, once we have the VAN!!!!

Take care JULIAx

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~ 09/01/2002 ~

Dear all - how is everyone???!!!!

Well, we've definitely had a good few days since I last wrote - nothing too strenuous and living the life of riley really!!!

Can't remember if I wrote about the hostel BBQ in the last note, but basically when we arrived in Fremantle on Sunday, the hostel we are staying at was just about to go to the park (on the beach front) for a BBQ. So we duly tagged along and had a BBQ in the park...great stuff. We played rounders and cricket (I managed to get myself caught out twice when batting....durrr) and Bhav and Stuart also had a game of football (and subsequently ached all day long the next day!!!!!!!). It was a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon and the most exercise we've all done since being out here!!!

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On Monday, we actually got up early and caught the ferry to Rottnest Island. So called because a German/Dutch passer by thought the Quokkas (marsupials) were rats....these Quokkas are like 5 times the size of a rat (sorry Mum!) and very tame...they kept hovering around us when we were eating lunch and one decided to climb up Stuart's leg!!! Anyway, this island is absolutely gorgeous. ....everywhere you look is a postcard scene.....it has the bluest water I've seen and the beaches are lovely. I have had some more pictures developed and Stuart is going to scan them in today, so make sure you check out the website (www.roadtrip2001.net) for a look at these beaches/water. Perfect!!!

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We hired bikes to take a trip around the island as it is only 11km long. As there is hardly any motor transport on the island, bikes are the best way to sightsee. Riding bikes was an experience in itself.....Bhav was very funny (and very slow!!) and on top of the pain caused by the football on Sunday, he was in agony afterwards! Obviously the beer in the pub garden afterwards helped to ease the pain, of course!!! We didn't get to see very much of the island as we had to return the bikes early, but Stuart and I may go back to cycle around the rest of the island. It really is the most beautiful place and I would definitely recommend it to you all (if I can come too!!!).

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Yesterday was a pretty good day for me............we went shopping!! And proper clothes shopping too!! Stuart is actually a pretty good shopping partner (I've probably ruined his street cred now!!) and was quite a spender himself. Jo - you would have been proud of me........trousers, a top and nearly some trainers, they just didn't have my size. As I said, I also got some pictures developed including the ones of NYE....some cracking pictures and definitely worth a look on the website, even if only to see Bhav attempting to drink Whisky and coke out of his belly button!!!

Today we are hoping that Lloyds have transferred money into Stuart's account here so that we can go and pick up our van. After kitting it out we are off on the road and I'm not sure if we'll be able to get to PC's as much to keep in touch. So don't forget me and make sure you keep those emails coming. First stop is probably a small mining town called Parabadoo where Stuart has some relatives. Apparently it is very hot and there are even more flies than here in Perth so it should be an experience!!

Hope everyone is ok....take care,

JULIAxx

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~ White Van Man ~

- the cockpit and kitchen sink view!! (notice the yank style gear stick)

- The double bed and stereo wall (with vast selection of MP3s to play)

- THE BEAST / The Queen Liz / The Phantom Tapper, call her what you like but you have to respect the old dear....

'I love it when a plan comes together... get in the van B.A!' #H. Smith

Hello the web site...

Ok - quite a lot has happened in the last week, but most of it is not all that interesting to read about I'm afraid. Firstly and most importantly, we have got the van (as you can see from the picture above). It's a Toyota Coaster, 1977. It has The Works inside, even a CB radio and VCR. It sleeps the 4 of us without any real discomfort, in fact it's a better than a lot of places we stayed in Asia.

We spent the next few days shopping and fitting out the van. It took me all of half an hour to have the back ripped out and a new stereo fitted. There are 2 big home speakers fitted into the rear wall that give out just enough volume to annoy an entire RV park and with my endless supply of MP3s ranging from the darkest heavy metal, to the lightest funk and dance music - we're laughing.

We stopped in Fremantle for a few days - some time was spent in a hostel and a night in our first camp site. After we had cleaned up and kitted out the van we set off up North towards Paraburdoo. Paraburdoo is a mining town inland from Exmouth, my second uncle (I think that's it, Dads cousin...?) lives up there. We just missed them in Perth as they were down for the New Year and they had not yet received the card I had sent them from Malaysia. I have never met Derek or Carole before and other than a few e-mails, I know little about what has happened since Derek shipped out of Pomey.

Derek'n'Carole - Can't wait to see you, I hope you'll have enough air-con to go around for a few days. Due to certain developments, we're not going to be able to re-introduce you with a real accent for at least another week or so. Read on...

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Our first destination which involved any real driving was Cervantes - next to the awesome Pinnacles Desert.

He actually wrote 'dessert', which is a DAMNED big ice-cream if you need a camper van to traverse it <*thinks*> Now I WANT to go!. #Guy