My new (but old) blog

This will be my last post on this blog website as I decided to revamp my blog on another platform. As much as I like creating blog posts on Blogger, I wanted my blog to have a more professional feel. The good news, for me at least, is that I could easily transfer all my posts from this blog to my new one.

I hope that if you liked any of my posts on this blog, that you will follow me on my new blog: http://theglobetrottinglinguist.com. You will see how different it looks! I also have some new exciting posts coming up on Australia and France in the coming weeks so check them out too. If not, thanks for reading my blog anyway :)

Fraser Island: do's and dont's

As I backpacked my way down the East Coast, everyone around me was excited about arriving at Fraser Island. And why wouldn't they be? This exotic island, situated in the South of Queensland, has it all: beautiful sandy beaches, creeks, a historic shipwreck to explore, clear blue lakes that are perfect for cooling off in and plenty of scenic viewpoints.

Indian Head viewpoint

Sounds perfect, right? Sure, it's pretty idyllic but only if you forget the venomous spiders, dangerous currents, wild dingoes and the fact that you need to get around in a 4x4 in an island covered in sand! Having learned the hard way, I'm happy I can share my advice with you so you get the most out of this experience.

Do's

- Inform your family back home that they won't be able to contact you. You won't have a signal and if camping outside you will have no sockets available for charging phones anyway. Embrace the lack of technology, it's liberating!

- Follow instructions given by 4x4 companies regarding driving on sand. Ensure that you have a trustworthy driver who will follow these instructions. For example, as soon as you get there, you have to adjust the tyres for driving on sand. If you don't, you will get stuck and I believe you can end up puncturing the tyre.

Our 4x4 hire, great company!

 

- Take enough food and drinks with you for the duration. Beyond the arrival point, there are no shops and your tour group won't want to waste time going away back to the shop. Take plenty of water as it is boiling hot here and the last thing you need here is dehydration!


- If you really want to embrace the adventure of Fraser Island by camping. We stayed in a campsite near the Maheno Shipwreck. We even got to see local Aborigines who dance at this campsite and tried to play the Didgeridoo! They did this completely free and taught us their dances. Such a cool
experience!

- If staying in a tent, beware of creepy crawlies such as spiders and be prepared to hear dingoes outside your tent. Just don't be first to go out the tent in the morning and all will be fine!

 

- Take appropriate footwear, preferably trainers. The sand here is very hot and if you wear flip flops you will burn the soles of your feet. Trust me, I learned the hard way! Also, be prepared to walk a lot to get to the best places.


- Make the most of your time here. It doesn't strike me as the sort of place you would return to. You will need a couple of days to get the full experience.

Don'ts

- Don't do a tour with all strangers. We got landed with two girls who were moody and didn't really embrace the whole adventure. It ruined a little bit for us because it was awkward. If you can, go with friends or people you get on with.


- Don't attempt to be a rally driver or a show off in the 4x4. You get warned before going across how dangerous this can be. Unfortunately, there have been plenty of accidents there due to driving incidents. Take care especially if you are the driver; you have other people's safety to take into account.


- Don't expect to get from the ferry to the main part of the Island quickly. People get stuck often and several times en route. If you can, get out and help them. It will make it quicker and they will repay the favour when it happens to you. And it definitely will! Some of the best laughs we had were trying to help people get unstuck!

- If you listen to one piece of advice, let it be this: do not swim in the beaches on Fraser Island. It is really not safe. There are strong currents, jellyfish and sharks. If that's not a big enough disincentive for cooling off in the ocean, I don't know what is! However, the Champagne Pools are suitable for swimming in.


- Don't make a plan of exactly what to do, go with the flow and it will be a whole lot more fun. However, I do recommend looking up what your options are to save time. We decided to visit:

 

The Champagne Pools

 

Lake Wabby

 

Maheno Shipwreck

 

The famous Lake McKenzie

- I would say, however, don't visit both Lakes in the same day. To get to each one, you need to walk a good hour or more in the boiling heat and all on sand. There is little shade and once you start the walk, you can only get back the way you came. To see the Champagne Pools, you also have to walk along the beach from Indian Head as you can't take the 4x4 along it.

Is it worth it?

Absolutely. If you are visiting the East Coast, you can't let this adventure pass you by. As long as you drive safely and think responsibly, then there is nothing you need to worry about. Let me know in the comments if you have been or are intending to go.

Why Aix-en-Provence surprised me

Back in 2006, my University told me I was off to the city of Aix-en-Provence for a year as part of my studies. Luckily, we had Google by then so I could search a bit more about it for example where it was. I must confess my first thought was out of all the exciting places in France how did I end up here? By the end of my year, I had done a 180 degree turn!

La Rotonde fountain decorated for Christmas

Information about Aix

Aix is situated in the South of France, about 45 minutes drive from Marseille. It is a medium sized town full of historic buildings, fashionable shops, pretty monuments  and parks dotted around the city and represents typical French culture. It is a University town and is also popular with tourists especially when the warmer months roll in. This city has a reputation for being posh and expensive, with it's exclusive bistros and boutiques. However, it caters for all with reasonably priced cafés, shops like Monoprix and bars. Shops are open until late in the evening but are completely closed on a Sunday; you will be lucky to even get a loaf of bread!

Fountain of Albertas

Things you can't miss

1. The Cours Mirabeau is a historic and beautiful street located in the centre of the city. With trees scattered all the way down it, it is perfect for strolling around on a warm day, doing some shopping, people watching or sampling some typical food in it's cafés and restaurants. At any time of day or year, it is a flurry of activity you will not want to miss out on! At Christmas, there are markets dotted along the Cours with many wonderful goodies on offer such as Lavender soaps or sugared almonds.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. A visit to a French town would be incomplete without the Hôtel de Ville, which is a situated in a pretty little square which is unsurprisingly called Place de l'Hôtel de Ville. This little square also comprises the Clock Tower, the Post Office and has markets on different days.

 

 

 

3. Aix is the city where the famous painter Cezanne was born. You can visit his house and studio, follow his steps around the city using the C shape studs in the streets and visit the cemetery where he is buried. Aix has many possibilities for culture such as the Granet museum or Natural History museum. It has 3 cinemas, one of which shows subtitled French films, and a theatre.

 

 

4. French cuisine is renowned the world over and is best sampled in one of the many restaurants offering delicacies and specialities. It is best to walk down the Cours Mirabeau towards La Rotonde and as you get to Le Bistro Romain, the streets behind are full of restaurants. I also recommend the restaurants at Place des Cardeurs.

 

There are plenty cafés and stalls for sampling salty and sugary crêpes, although the Nutella one is the one I recommend. Another speciality is the "sandwich steak frites" - a baguette with a long burger, thin fries and topped with mayonnaise or ketchup. Who said French cuisine was healthy?

 

5. Aix is called the City of the Thousand Fountains as everywhere you look, another one appears. The Fountain Moussue on the Cours Mirabeau is an unusual warm water fountain that is covered in moss. In the Old Town, the Fountain of Albertas sits in a pretty little square in front of an old mansion. On Rue du 4 Septembre, the Quatre Dauphins sits in the middle of a picturesque street. Each fountain has different stories associated with them and are all still functioning.

 

 

 

6. Parc Jourdan is good for sunbathing or chilling with a book. However, it is often filled with students who can be a little rowdy. Nearby, there is also La Torse which is nicer for a picnic and where you see French families playing at the weekends. It has pretty trees I have only ever seen here and a cute little stream. I love a good park!



 

7. One of my favourite places for relaxing in Aix is the salon de thé Orienthé where you sit on cushions on the floor and sample yummy exotic teas full of flavour. It's like being in Morocco!

 

The one thing lacking is Aix is the nightlife, or at least it was in 2006. There were very few nightclubs or bars with atmosphere and as a student that is what we were looking for! We tended to stick to 3 places: O'Sullivans, O'Neills and IPN. It's suitable however if you are just looking for a quiet drink in a bar.

Why I ended up loving Aix

- Aix has a sense of enchantment, history and magic about it. There is no way you can be unaffected by it's charm.

 

- It's proximity to other cities nearby such as Marseille and Nice. A drive to the beaches around Marseille is definitely worthwhile.

 

- There is always something happening here. It is rare to see the streets of Aix empty.

 

- Everything you need is within walking distance and it is easy to navigate around. It's also a very safe city.

 

- Although it is a popular student city, the residences are a 15 minute walk away so the city centre is not overrun by them.

 

- You won't get away with speaking English here without making some attempt at French!  They don't cater for tourists and expect tourists to join in on their culture.

 

- No matter what time of day, time of year or weather it is a simply stunning city. It's pretty buildings will leave you in awe.

Will I be returning?

 

 

Hopefully within the near future, I'll get to go back and revisit all the good memories.

The South of France

With 96 departments, you could spend years exploring all the wonderful and very different regions of France. It's fair to say this country has it all; historic cities full of interesting monuments, cute little villages,  pristine beaches, ski slopes and not to mention it's culinary delights that make it famous the world over. What more could you hope for? And yet, what puzzles me is that it's a country that I have rarely seen featured in blog posts. Of course, posts about Paris are abundant. You may come across the odd post about other big cities but what impressed me the most about France are the hidden beaches, castles and quaint little villages. The South is where I had the opportunity to do my year abroad and I certainly made the most of visiting many interesting places.


Lac de Sainte Croix

This lake is one of many in the region of Gorges du Verdon situated in the south-east of France. It is the most popular lake and offers many chances for aquatic adventures such as swimming, canoeing and hiring a pedal boat. Perfect for when the temperature is soaring high.

I also recommend visiting Moustiers Sainte Marie which is a pretty little village situated in the Canyon area. It does involve a walk up a very steep hill! However, the views are definitely worth the climb.

You could easily spend a couple of weeks in this region visiting the many villages and lakes without getting bored.  I only got to spend a day here and would love to return and explore further. See this website for further details: http://www.lesgorgesduverdon.fr/en/history-verdon.html

This was probably one of my favourite places in the whole of France, although it is definitely crowded with tourists, particularly in the warmer months.


Pont du Gard

If you have read my post about Segovia, you will know I'm a bit of an aqueduct geek. It's an inexplicable obsession but maybe it's the fact that they were built by Romans or that such a beautiful structure was used for the important task of transporting water. On this particular aqueduct you can walk across the middle part of it to the other side of the bank. You can not imagine how delighted I was by this!

This aqueduct sits on the River Gardon and is surrounded by magnificent banks where you can sit and listen to the water streaming down the river. It is such a peaceful environment and the best part is that it's not crowded with tourists, at least it wasn't while I was there. You can take your time strolling around and taking photos. The tranquillity is such that you won't want to leave! In summer, there is a River rendez-vous where beaches are set up and you can swim in the calmer sections or sunbathe. To be honest, I don't like it turning into a sunbathing spot as it is listed as a World Heritage Site and should be well conserved for future generations.

 

 

 

Hope you have enjoyed reading this post. There are certainly plenty more hidden gems up my sleeve to be revealed in the next few blog posts. Vive la France!

 



Backpacking Australia: Noosa and Moloolaba

If you want to experience real Aussie life on the East Coast, then Noosa and Moloolaba are right up your street. Not only will you get a real insight into the local culture, the pristine beaches are not worth missing out on. These towns are typically less frequented by tourists and backpackers which is an added bonus.

Noosa

 

Viewpoint from National Park 

After Rainbow Beach and the Whitsundays I thought the views could not get any better. For a panoramic view take a walk up to the National Park. The hill is steep so I recommend not doing it when the sun is at it's hottest. The Park extends right down to the coastal area and in this area you can spot a lot of different wildlife including koalas in their natural habitat.

Noosa has many different beaches for strolling along, watching surfers or simply relaxing. The Main Beach is the closest one to the town but is pretty busy during the summer period. The other beaches are less crowded so worth visiting. Pay careful attention to the information about where it is safe to swim or surf. The good thing about the Main Beach is it is patrolled by lifeguards.

 

 

Noosa main beach

 

 

The one thing I wanted to do at Noosa was to visit the Everglades but we never got the chance; my time in Australia was quickly running out and there was so much more I wanted to see. The Everglades are situated on the Cooloola coast and are waterways that allow for lots of aquatic adventures such as canoeing, kayaking or doing a boat tour. For those interested in nature, it is the perfect opportunity for seeing local wildlife.

 

Although there a few suitable hostels for backpackers, we ended up staying in an apartment on Noosa hill as it was just as cheap for a group. Our apartment had a pool, sauna and steam room and allowed for even more relaxation. However if you are on your own or in a small group, a hostel is definitely better and will allow you to meet new people.

 

Mooloolaba

It wasn't my choice to get off the Oz Experience bus at Mooloolaba but my friends had heard great things from their Aussie relatives. At first, it just looked like a little town to me and I wondered what was so great about it. Mooloolaba has a calm and relaxing atmosphere where people are happy strolling around, checking out the many shops along the Esplanade or sipping a drink at one of the many cafés and restaurants. If you are looking for a wild nightlife, this is not the place for you.

 

The beach is a hub of activity and is full of young Aussie teenagers and families making the most of the warm summer months. Typically, there are more people in the sea wave jumping than relaxing on the beach. This is where I noticed that the locals head to the beach not purely to sunbathe but to swim in the ocean. The beach here is very safe and is also patrolled all year long.

 

The Surf Club is great for eating out at a reasonable price and has many typical Australian dishes such as chicken parmi, roasts and many different types of seafood.

 

 

 

Source: http://www.mooloolabatourism.com.au/aboutus

 

I recommend visiting the nearby Australia Zoo, you can get a Greyhound bus from Mooloolaba. This is not a typical zoo; the enclosures are big, the animals look well cared for and the majority of animals are native to Australia so are as close to their natural habitat as can be. The crocodile show at the Crocoseum is fun and at least you are at a distance from them! Watch out for the birds flying all around you during the bird show.

 

 

 

 

If the Northern Beaches are for adventure and excitement, the Sunshine Coast is perfect for some relaxation and getting in tune with the local life. Even if you can only spend limited time there, be sure not to miss out!



Adventure stories from Australia part 2

When you are travelling, it is important to make the most of your time and to embrace new challenges. As mentioned in part 1, I used my time in Australia to get over my fears and take part in many new adventurous activities. Each time I emailed home, I had wonderful and exciting stories to share with family and friends.

Skydiving

What better way to see the world than jumping out of a plane at 14,000 feet? Particularly when the views on offer are those of the Great Barrier Reef. You can do a skydive in many locations in Australia and I chose to do mine at Mission Beach in Queensland. This was, hands down, my best experience in Australia.

 

Mission Beach, Australia

We got picked up at our hostel early in the morning and were taken to the skydiving centre. Here we got allocated our tandem instructor - this is when you are praying you haven't got the newbie young instructor or the one that looks slightly crazy. After being suited up and safety procedures explained, we got on our plane. I would say the plane part of the journey is the worst. You sit on a little bench facing the back of the plane- my crazy instructor decided it would be a great laugh to sit right at the very back next to the pilot, and be the last to jump! Maybe he thought I was as mental as him! The plane is tiny and as you see it climbing altitude, it begins to quickly sink in that you are about to do a sixty second free fall before your parachute opens!

 

Me right at the very back

 

As you reach the correct altitude, a little doorway opens and this is when the fear sets in. If you are first to go, you are extremely lucky as you don't have to see everyone else fall out the plane. Then your instructor gets you to shimmy up to the door ( a bit difficult when you are attached very closely to him!). Sitting at the doorway edge is the scariest part because you now have no control. Before you know it, you are freefalling from the plane and this is the thrilling part of the skydive as you feel like you are falling for quite a while.

 

 

More out the plane than in!

 



 

Then, the instructor activates the parachute and you are yanked back upwards. This is when you have time to appreciate your surroundings, the weirdest thing ever is that from up here you see the curve of the Earth. After a couple of minutes, it's time for the dreaded landing moment. You might not think it's that a big a deal but this part terrified me because a day before my skydive a girl at our hostel ended up with a broken leg because she had not carried out the instructions about landing. What you need to do is really lift your legs as high as you can to allow your instructor to land first.

 

 

 

The moment we landed, all of us wanted to do it again straight away. It passes much quicker than you think and is the most thrilling experience I have ever had.

 

 

Tips for doing a skydive

 

1. Listen to your instructor; they are in charge of your safety. Remember they do this several times a day on a daily basis and have plenty of experience.

 

2. Pick your location carefully. Unless you are planning to do several skydives, location is everything.

 

3. You can pay for another instructor to jump alongside you and take photos as you fall. Personally I would save my money as your own instructor already has a camera attached to his wrist. My friends paid for the extra photos and to be honest theirs aren't that different from mine.

 

4. Don't scream all the way down as you will cover your instructor in drool. Remember he's in charge of your safe landing!

 

5. Wear suitable clothing and footwear. For girls, it's not a great idea to wear a tank top unless you want all your pictures to be pretty revealing! Stupidly, I wore a tank top and sandals - D'oh!

 

6. Thank your instructor - it may be their job and their hobby but they have just risked their life for you.

 

7. Embrace the moment and enjoy. It's a fun once in a lifetime experience and very worthwhile. You won't regret it!



Humanity is not doomed

You know those conversations where you want to shake someone for a comment they make? I recently had this feeling when discussing the topic of Cecil the lion with a group of friends.

The general conversation followed the lines of why this story had caused such an uproar when it is something that is happening every day. Don't get me wrong; we were all very saddened and disgusted to hear of this brutal killing. However, by the same token what about all the other animals that are poached or endangered by humans? Because they aren't famous, they matter less?  I believe these issues should be reported more frequently in the media to raise awareness. While the readers may not want to read about it every day, we should be given more regular information about the extent of the problem. Bizarrely, I came across this picture today which sums it up perfectly (don't scroll down if easily distressed)
 

 

According to WWF, there are 99 species that are endangered, vulnerable or of concern. To top it off, animals on this list (as well as many others) also face other forms of torture at the hands of humans. What is most shocking is that all of these dreadful things happen for the sake of a hobby or for earning money. I can't blame as much the people in poor countries who make a living from poaching, as long as there is a demand for those items poaching will happen. In this case, it is down to the government to create better job opportunities so that they don't have to earn money in this way. I can't abide those who do it for a thrill, there are many other ways you can seek thrills without having such a negative impact. 

As we were finishing our conversation, I noticed a friend had been really quiet throughout. So I asked him if he didn't agree with our arguments. His response? He thought it just as appalling as the rest of the group but believed there was nothing he could do to help. This is probably a pretty standard response, but if you believe enough in a cause there are always things to be done.

What can we do to help?

1. Social media is one of the most powerful ways of having an impact. I recently read 2 blog posts I found on Twitter that rapidly changed my mind on riding elephants and swimming with dolphins.

2. Adopt an animal, a great way to involve children in caring for animals.

3. Donate money. I know that there are so many causes out there and we can't donate to all of them. If this is the issue you care most about then you can donate a monthly amount, every little counts. If like me, there are more charities you are very passionate about, why not swap your donation about? The best way is every 6 months change which charity you will donate to. I always make sure I have a balance between charities for animals,  helping people with illnesses and natural disaster emergency funds.

4. Sign any petitions that come your way and then share them via social media. It might help, it might not but at least you know you have tried. If everyone had the same mind set as my friend, nothing would improve.

5. Change how you live. Research what your products are made of, buy from eco-friendly companies, use less paper and recycle more, don't use products tested on animals and take steps to help reduce climate change.

6. Participate in raising awareness campaigns. The website dosomething.org has many campaigns that you can join to help make the world a better place. There are plenty of other websites that have campaigns, for example for animal protection check the WWF or PETA website.


7. Finally, and most importantly.....

Don't make excuses. Whatever the issue that concerns you, there are always ways and means of having an impact. Whether you can only do one of the things above or all of them doesn't matter, the important thing is making a contribution.