More Sunshine

Next stop: Isle of Pines 

On this island there was a lot more to do! We purchased a half day bus tour with this really friendly local guy and there were quite a few people from our cruise ship with us which gave us a chance to get to know the other people. 

He took us around the island and stopped at a few different locations giving us plenty of time to explore and soak up the culture. We visited some Tiki statues by the waterside ( I can't quite remember what this was a tribute to) we went to the beach and we saw a local fishing boat, we visited a church (it was the first Christian church when it was brought here by the French) 

My sister heard there was caves here and was delighted when we were taken there (they were pretty awesome) and the last stop was the French prison. 

Once the tour was over he took us back to where we started we saw the rest of the people from our cruise scattered all over the island. Like on Maré the local people who live here had come to set up markets and food stalls and many of the native kids were swimming with us at the beaches. 

Alysha and Jason went snorkelling again but this time I decided I would only swim and soak up the sunshine. Emerson had the same idea as me! This island was amazing, the people were friendly and it was so rich with culture. The only thing I didn't like was the French prison, but they're pretty depressing places anyway! 

Paradise found

Second stop: Maré 

When looking up what there was to do in Maré there wasn't much to do except walk around the beautiful island and to go swimming and snorkelling at the picturesque beaches. As soon as we got off the boat we were greeted by native people, dressed in bright coloured mumus and singing happy island songs! It was so amazing! Their energy was captivating! 

We caught a bus to the other side of the island where we were to go swimming and relax (I was looking forward to having a nap on the beach in the sunshine!) 

The thing about small islands like this is when a cruise liner comes in the whole island comes together to set up stalls and markets (food, clothing and souvenirs) which then adds to their economy. Along the beach there were bbqs set up cooking all kinds of meats and people selling cold drinks and coconuts. There was music, people dancing, everyone having a great time. The atmosphere was amazing! The local people were so hostpiitipal and friendly and the kids were absolutely gorgeous. 

The best thing about Maré was that we went snorkelling off the beach, something that is quite rare. The corals and tropical fish that we saw was incredible! The tide was strong so we just let it carry us out over the coral. Coming in was a bit hard though and I got stuck 

in a rip! 

Once I had my swim I drank a coconut and the guy even made me a spoon out of the shell so I could scoop out the flesh. It was delicious! 

Unfortunately I lost most of my photos of this island when I broke my phone (I lost a lot of photos :( ) so I can't upload any but if I ever get my mums and sisters copies of theirs I might be able to. I've attached what ones I do have though. 

Back again

Chris and I decided that I would come back to his place for a little while until I decided on what to do next. At this time though his bathroom was being renovated so I went to Cambridge for a week and stayed at the YHA. 

I was just getting over the flu and had very little energy so I didn't really do a lot, except rest. I made a really good friend named Rose and we spent a lot of time together. As Chris works in Cambridge we met every day for lunch and one night for shopping and dinner. I went back to his on the Friday 6th March and ended up staying there for the remainder of my holiday. As I was due to go on a family holiday at the beginning of April I decided to head home early and get over my jet lag. After an emotional goodbye I left London on the 17th of March and arrived in Perth on the 18th. My parents met me at the airport and I went back to their place for the next couple of weeks. I had terrible jet lag which stayed with me for quite a long time. I came down to Perth to visit some friends and go to the doctors and my parents and I took a red eye flight to Sydney on the 3rd of April.

We arrived early on Easter Sunday and as we could not check in until 2:30pm for the cruise we spent the day at Circular Quay and waited for my sister Alysha, my brother in law Jason and nephew Emerson to meet us. Finally we were able to board the cruise liner the "Carnival Legend" and set sail for our cruise to New Caledonia and Vanuatu. 

The cruise was to go for 11 days with the first three days sailing to our first destination in New Caledonia. The first couple of days we spent learning where everything was as it was a huge boat! We looked at the shops, ate in the restaurants, sat by the pool, Emerson went to "kids club" we went to quiz nights and just started to relax. The most exciting thing about this cruise was that it was the first time my parents had left the country! My Dad is turning 60 in October and it was their 40th wedding anniversary in January, so it was a special time for both of them. It was also my mum's birthday on the 7th of April and we got to celebrate in style as it was also the Captains dinner! 

First stop: Noumea

We were all really excited to get off the boat (especially me!) unfortunately however, there wasn't much to do in Noumea. New Caledonia was much like the English settlement here in Australia only it was settled by the French (and their prisoners) The weather was humid (although after spending 6 weeks in the UK during winter I was glad!) and we caught a hop on, hop off bus that took us around the town. We went and looked at the shops, the markets (I was super excited to buy actual tropical bananas!) the French speaking museum, and sat by the sea. To be honest it was a dirty place that smelt really bad (from the pollution) it was extremely expensive, there was graffiti everywhere, the people weren't friendly and it felt oppressed (I blame the fact the native people had lost their identity) There was a park with tiki statues honouring their culture and it was a local hangout for drug users and teenagers and that made me sad. I try to keep an open mind when going to other places, especially when it's so different from our culture, but I just found it quite depressing here! 

Seaside views?

I went from one extreme to the other; green rolling hillsides to a pebbled beach with the waves crashing and the gulls sqwaking. I made my way from Blandford Forum to Brighton on Friday the 27th on three buses. I like travelling by bus, it's good thinking time.

When I got to Brighton I took a taxi to my hostel and once the concierge had given me the brief I was to take my linen to my room and make my bed. Right. This was new! There were no sea views like was promised and the room was really basic, the worst I'd had!  But at least for the moment I had the room to myself (even though there was someone's stuff there I was told he won't be staying) there was free wifi and breakfast, so I wasn't complaining too much (well, don't ask Chris he might disagree) 

I decided to come to Brighton because it's the Gay capital of Britain and I am the best fag hag of all! 😉

I won't bore you with the story of how my first night in Brighton was the worst one of my trip and probably my whole travelling experience but it got better. I packed my things up and searched online for another hostel, only being a Saturday they were all booked out. I found another hostel across town who seemed to have a vacancy and checked out of the dive I was in. I lost my money too and I had paid until Tuesday but I just wanted to get the hell out of there. It was pouring with rain and there was really strong winds so I had to get around by taxi. 

When I got to the other one I had booked for the 28th of March instead of February!  This one had no vacancies what so ever! I had little to no sleep the night before and I wanted to cry. What is wrong with me? I can't even book a hostel! But the guy was really cool he let me chill out there until I sorted out what I was going to do. I ended up finding something right across from the pier and ended up paying a fortune but it's only money in the end. At least this new place was nice!  

The next day the weather was good so I ended up going to the famous Brighton pier, only to find out that everything was closed because it wasn't Summer! They had some markets set up along the sea side which was pretty cool. After that I walked up to the Royal Pavilion and went to the Museum and just walked around the town. I ended up walking into The Lanes shopping district which were like these streets done up like a market place. They were really cool! 

Once I checked out of the YHA I went to a new hostel called Sea Dragon, which was where I had gone the day before. I met some really cool people! I wished I had of gone there straight away, but I guess that's the risk you take with mobile apps! Once I got settled in I went to another shopping area I was told to visit the North Laine which there was a second hand antique store, which was the biggest I'd ever gone into! 

At first I got off to a bad start with Brighton but I learnt to enjoy it. It sort of reminded me of Melbourne, with its quirky, alternative and unique attitude. If only the weather was better I think I would've enjoyed it so much more! I will definitely go back though in the Summertime :)