1.5 Miles DOES NOT EQUAL 1.5km!!

Well we have ventured away from our cosy Hostel in Cardiff and decided to Rough it out in the Wilderness, Wales style! We have found a campsite online in Fishgaurd Bay which was about 1.5miles out of town. "yeh we can do that, no worries, piece of cake" we told each other. Now with an added 3Kg of a tent strapped to my back and another couple of Kg's worth of shopping in Joely's hands we started our voyage to the camp site!
We wound a way along a narrow round, just about being hit by cars as we walked sweating in the hot sun and reassuring each other that firstly this was the right way (we hope) and that it was too much further! After about 500m we decided to stop, have a rest and get phsyced up!! Booyakka!
We ended up getting there about 20mins later, just about dying (I was considering ditching my clothes on the side of the road to make it lighter) and we were greated by the friendliest camping manager dude! He was really nice made a couple of calls for us and had a general chittity chat!
Now at this stage we were pretty glad we were at the site and though we'd set the tent up while it was light. We picked our spot and hoped to it thinking that it was only about a 5min job between the two of us..well...after about 20mins of sticking tent rods where tent rods shouldn't be sticked :p we decided to read the instructions and after that point we had the tent up within two minutes! hooray!
We sat back for the rest of the after noon, chilling out and drinking pints watching the sun set over the beach! beautiful!
The tent was a pretty roomy tent although i am sure joel farted continuosly at 20min intervals during the night! the shower facilities at the ground are pretty sweet to, allthough i'm sure Joely wouldn't know, he hasn't used them yet...
Today we went for a huge walking trek around the area which was very senic, and its also the second sunny day in a row which is a miracle! Hopefully the rain can hold off for another couple of days, although knowing Wales it will probably rain this afternoon!
The plans (if you can call it that) are probably to head over to Ireland next seeing as we are so close and then maybe up to Scotland for some more camping, allthough that may change knowing us and we could end up in Sweeden!!
Anyways I am off, thats about as creative as my uncreative mind can get so enjoy!
Love to everyone!!
Ciao

(What Next?) Camping in Cardiff.

After comparing prices at 3 different camping stores - all situated in a line outside Cardiff Castle, we picked up a $AUD100 2 man tent. We've worked it out. If we stay in it for about 3 nights - then it pays itself off. Unless it rains and the rain seeps through - then we'll seek other accommodation and probably ditch the idea that was camping. We're camping in Pembrokeshire. Thats the region. In a place called Fishguard. Both of us are really looking forward to camping. Brad, if I'm to quote him, has proclaimed "I've always loved camping maaAAAN...there hasn't been a time that I haven't enjoyed it. Except for camping round the coast at Newcastle, it pissed down rain." The general idea is that we'll buy some really, really cheap cider out of plastic bottles, settle down in the warm grass, survive on microwave dinners and get creative. Read, write, draw, maybe a bit of singing, interpretive dance, it's just gonna be funky. Funky chicken!

I don't think we both realised how tiring it all becomes. Being in Cardiff at an awesome backpackers, where we could chill in a comfortable atmosphere, our body's have finally kicked in to say "just...just hold on a sec, ass hat, don't you realise your absolutely stuffed???" and started resisting real strenuous physical activity's. Even going for a simple walk in the park this afternoon was no small feat.

I'm missing raiding the cupboard. I'm missing cups of tea. But really, its like Saturday everyday over here. (Wait till we get jobs, that particular perception of mine is sure to change.)

Currently me and Brad have been moved out of a dormitory and now where into a private twin share room, where the only person I have to hear fart is Brad. Which is still alot.

Brads interested in Spain. Its a real good idea - cheaper, warmer - but then theres the annoying language (not one of my favorites anyhow). But supposedly, you can put up flyer's in public places advertising English lessons. We were told by a Canadian we met in Bath that people actually hire your services and really its like simply being paid to sit down and have a conversation. Plus, your client generally buys you a coffee. [What a perk!] (Thanks Evonne!)

Lovely Weather in Wales. So we spent it inside the National Museum. It was amazing. There was an Art Exhibition on and both Brad and I enjoyed it immensely. Why? Well there were same paintings by some of the worlds most renowned artists. We saw about 6 works by Monet, 5 by Pissaro, couple of Renoir's, one by Degas and one by Van Gough. Very, very impressive. Admission was free.

Joely is going for a world record - 10 days without a shower so far...

Well we have free internet so we have to make the most of it... We went for a walk around Cardiff today and we have come to the conclusion that we both need an afternoon off because we are extreemely buggard, so joely keeps reminding me anyway, "my feet hurt, my back packs too big, this is too far" hahah but all is good!
I have had a blow out with my shoes so i managed to pick some new ones up today for about £10 ($25) which is awesome, they feel like im walking on sunshine, ooo! haha anways I have managed to get some more pics off the camera so here they are (click to enlarge)...

Joely on the bus from Bath to Cardiff

Me on the Bus from Bath to Cardiff

Shiny things in Cardiff

Singing in the rain - Bath

Stupid Umbrella!!!!!

It was cold and wet!!!!!!!!!!

"The Henge" as us locals like to call it

Were the F$£! are we?

Gatagai, Joely and meeee - London

Bath

Deep in thought?

Joely with his two best mates (the dogs)

Cheers - The start of a big night

Nathy Joely and me back in Syd

Who Farted?

Hotel room in Seoul after a 12hour flight

Our Hotel in Seoul

Korean advertising Billboard or Spain?

Bath was amazing (with the 2 minutes of sun!)

Well here is a quick post with some picks! I know joely has a huge post coming so i wont bore you to death lik ei know he will.
Bath was incredible, we had one sunny day which was awesome but then after that it was a constant downpoor! We have meet heaps of cool people in the week we have been here, all of them amazing (you know who you are haha)
We ventured off to stone henge as well and i must say its one of the most incrdible things i have ever seen it was great! It was raining for the first 20mins while we were there so we went back to the bus and murphy's law had it the moment we got on the bus it was sunny!! So we went back in lol...
Anyways i am in a hostel in Cardiff (Wales) and there is one computer however it is right next to the bar which has just opened so its not the best place to be on the computer! So here are the pics and i am off to get a pint!!
Love to every one
ciao

Joely Being an idiot ;)

Me being cool at bath :P

Joely, Mario and Brad (joel = Bliiiind)

Stone Henge!! Aweeeesssooome!!!

There is a building warmth to this trip.

I may have previously mentioned this but traveling here in the UK is frighteningly expensive. This has been on our minds - heavily influencing our next step that comprises our Journey. Today. We ventured from Bath. We took a 2 hour trip to Cardiff, the capital city of Wales, so yes...we're no longer in England, which i commented to Brad today - is a little odd. Back home, to travel this far it would take you to Newcastle - here, it's another country.

Let me start with Bath. The afford ability of internet constitutes how much you here from both Brad and I. Bath was amazing. It was a magnificent example of turning a single place into a universal tourist attraction by making it law for everyone to build using similar architecture, and the same honey coloured stone. Houses are connected and built the same way, which unlike Australia, where houses that replicate the very next house next to it, and so on and so forth can be irritating and distasteful, its an inspiring feat of design. (Brad will be the one who posts pictures of everything, for he is the keeper of the camera.) On the first night Brad said to me "Hey mate, wouldn't it be awesome to get pissed off our faces tonight" to which i replied..."Yes". Then he coined the phrase "Blind in Bath". To which we certainly accomplished. We each put down 6 pints of Cider (which is stronger than Beer) and amounts to almost 3 litres and I was left stumbling around the dark (but oh so beautiful) city streets arm in arm with Brad, trying to distinguish which way's home. God popped his head in to say Hello that night, (I've decided) because for some reason, when we stopped to look around, where did we find ourselves but on the very doorstep of the YMCA for which we were searching.

I GOT SMASHED.

We first went for a quiet drink in an empty pub. Bought some Cider on tap (the guy amusingly couldn't understand me...I was pretty much returning his level of confusion) Just smile and nod - (good advice.) Then we made our way to another, closer to the YMCA, choc-a-block full of people and yet, drinks stopped at 11. By this time though we were both extremely intoxicated and it simply would of been fine to end thew night there. Inadvertently catching up with two Italians from our room, we stumbled from 'The Pig and the Fiddle' to a night club (which I'm not sure how - same strange phenomenon as us turning up out the front of the YMCA: we we're just there.) I haggled a DJ to play Radiohead, completely unaware he was trying to Subtley get me to piss off. (When your that drunk, any form of subtlety just doesn't work - i need loud, clear expression.) Before my memory started to fade and then

POP! "OK Boys wake up" - I was back in the dormitory. Not only that but OH LOOK - SURPRISE, there was this neat pile of vomit directly on the floor adjacent to me. I don't remember doing it, and I remember actually looking at the bunk above me for signs of somebody who had slept there during the night. It took me about 5 minutes before I realised that in fact...it was mine. What followed was a very slow day. More sleeping really. An easy way to avoid the rain.

We stayed in Bath for 2 more days and we met an interesting German traveller called Svenja (Sven-ya) and two Canadian girls from the tour bus to Stone Henge. Evonne and Rita. We had a jolly old time with them chatting about national differences and peculiarities of the British.

Struggling with my back pack we got onto our delayed bus trip to Cardiff and I wrote 1 postcard on the bus between divulging more Harry Potter. The Hostel we're currently at is brilliant. Its actually pretty close to a Hotel except that I share my room with other snorers and farters.

Next I want to detail my trip to Stone henge (if you could be bothered to continue reading.) I must say that for me it was probably one of the Seminal moments of the trip. Ever since I was a kid its been something totally compelling. I have always wanted to visit it - and it was really only sheer luck that we realised once we got to Bath how close it actually was. Well typically, after standing on the edge of a book store trying to hide from the rain, the purple van pulls up (yes purple) and everyone desperately - and without etiquette, jumps on, elbows raised with many a joke concerning "How lovely it is today." [Sarcasm]. 1 hour trip there - about the same length back. (CHUCKLE!!) It was absolutely pissing down rain. And me and Brad were the only 2 people on the bus who didn't have some form of Spray jacket or rain coat, or an Umbrella. Just lovely Australian surf jumpers that act like wearable sponges in the British weather. To our surprise our tour guide lent us a big colourful Microsoft umbrella which lasted about 2 minutes on the beaten track before a big gust of wind tore the spires from its home and flopped, propelled by the wind across my face. We were there for an hour, but our tour lasted for about 10 minutes. So ironically, we race back to the bus get on chat for 2 minutes and *PLAY "Here comes the Sun" by The Beatles NOW!* and we're kicking ourselves - but you know what, our lovely tour guide insists to let us back in and so thats what happened. Reentering Stone Henge - this time with sunny pictures we got another Stonehenge experience and I must conclude - 2nd time was the best.

Do-A-Da Cha Cha.

Are we there yet, are we there yet!

Bloody Kids on buses! They should have there on private booth with sound proof glass! Little shites!
Anyways i only have 5mins so i am going to post up a quickie.
We made it to Bath today and i don't know what to say! Its Amazing! All of the buildings have a hint of Romanism (if thats a word) all of the streets are clead and the architecture is amazing!
The people seem freindly and the Hostel we are staying at is awesome!!
Even though we are in Bath Joely still doesn't get the hint and he hasn't had a shower or changed his clothes yet, maybe is saving all that for when we get home?? Apart from that all is going good!
2 mins to go so i am off
Love to all of my fans out there, haha ;)
ciao

Enjoying myself.

Echoing Brads post, I too sit here with a chilly current of air filtering from the wet cobblestones that make up both sides of a gray speed hump that hosts roadway to a varitey of European beauties: of course, im referring to all the silver Mercedes and black BMW's.

Moving on moving on. We met a guy from Hungary the day we checked in to this newer hostel called JOURNEY's HOSTEL WATERLOO. He speaks like an American thanks to the NY scholarship he holds. The three of us left the hostel and did our 20 minute walk into London yesterday afternoon and followed our dry noses into quaint (wooden themed, ooh yes) London Pubs to wet our whistles. Believe it or not, (actually its totally believable) the cider here is cheaper, and a lot more people drink it. The 3 main variety's are Bulmers (Really Good), Magners (Unique and also very good) and the ol' reliable Strongbow (bout the same as home really, but probably etching forward in taste.)

A Pint will cost you 3 pounds 50. which if you do the mats, a pound is $2.30 thats $5.75 Australian. (MUM & DAD, I may be asking you for more money in the end....HO HO HO!!!!)
We did a little bit of a crawl. About 6 pubs. had mostly half pints of horrible British Beer.

I said to some of you back home, before leaving that "...I shouldn't generalise, but Poms are an ugly country." You know what? By and large, im not going to take back that statement. Generally they are. I do know a few nice looking ones. Some back home. And Ive seen a few here. But as i said, 'By and large'. Come to mention it, Lily Allens playing and if I recal, she's quite unique. 'KNOW-I-MEAN'.

I've bought Harry Potter, yes. I have previously stated this. And so far, so good. In fact, its shaping up to be one of the bloody bests. Remember the average one...Order of the Pheonix. Even Chamber of Secrets, well Im only up to chapter 3 or 4 and so far im excited. (Not to mention a little heartbroken and shocked.)

Ooooh...Funny thing that I have to share with you. We came back from a huge treck this morning and I came down from my room with my Harry Potter book to get a bit of it under my belt. Sitting in the common room is 4 other poeple (all the other occupants of the common room) and they we're all.......ALL reading Harry Potter. I had to interrupt there fanatical concentrations to point out that funny fact. A fact, which Im pretty sure, (through reflection on that particular moment) they already had discovered. I laughed.

Heading to Bath tomorrow. Brads still under the assumption it's a place to actually wash yourself. In this light, he has taken to not washing himself at all. Eagerly in anticipation of reaching the roman influenced city to wash his Londonny muck all away.

Please leave your comment. Persevere through the security features (they not that hard) and let us know you've read our comments. I hope you've enjoyed the pictures. Rachel. If your out there anywhere (Rachel is my sister admiring fans) I will try and grow a Beard. I was actually hoping that some of my chin stubble would make it out through the pictures taken of me at London Bridge today. Obviously the megapixels arent high enough.

LOVE YAS!!

Londons Floooooding!

Hey Hey everyone,
Well apparantly Londons flooding, we are about a 5 min walk from the city and there is no sign of it here. A little drizzle while we walk maybe, or should a say a little downpour, but no floods, so hopefully it can hold off until we hightail it out of London to Bath!
Anyways i am freezing my genitalia off witing this, im sitting next to a door and 200km/h wind is gusting through so i am going to make this breif.
Joel smells like 3 dead monkeys and a mouldy glass of milk thats been sitting under a bed for 5 weeks, but i suppose you get that when you don't shower, i suppose thats maybe why the girls keep running from him?
All is good, missing everyone back home, you know who you are, haha!
Also by huge demand from the public (mainly Rach) here are some pics, took me a little while to work around the security system but i got there, lol.
love to everyne
ciao

Notice: Your session will end in 5 minutes.

Yes the nature of accessing the internet while your backpacking is allways through timed sessions in Internet Cafe's or Hostel Foyer's.

Currently I have 5 minutes so Ill make this one a quickie. We're heading to Bath. Another large city of England steeped in Roman History.

YAADA YAADA YAADA. Oh shit I dont know what to write. Umm....Im missing everyone back home. Heaps. Its one of the biggest things that suck here. Also my dwindinling amount of expenses I can afford.

This morning Breakfast was included in the hostel price. This comes in very very handy. One less meal we have to skip if you know what I mean.

Im going to hed out. I hope whoevers reading this leaves a comment.Love Joel. BYe bye

Monopoly Travels...

Well where to begin..We got up at the crack of dawn this morning, around 9am and headed for the big city, saying good bye to our shite hostel forever!!
I reackon we have just about ventured to everyplace on the monopoly board except goal (all though that still may come yet) and me and joely are struggling to find where this place is that you pass go and collect £200 from??
We headed through trafalga square and leicster square (spelling is shocking Sorry) today which was pretty awesome, very heavily crowed with tourists though, pfft bloody touros! We also went through picadilly and mayfair which are pretty swanky parts of the city, very niiice!
We headed from Picadily all the way accross the river to out new hostel in Lambeth North, which is near waterloo, and it was about a 4000000000km treak with our huge back packs on (joely just about falling fowards!) it was unbelieveable, and let me tell you london has no shortage of stairs!
We finally got to the hostel, which a can safetly say is bloomin awesome! Its unbelievable, clean, spacious, and has alot of cool people and as well as that the staff are so friendly. The hostel is located near the big ferris wheel thingy (it has a name but i cant remember it at the moment) and near big ben and all of the touristy things which is handy. Its also in an area which has alot of parks and trees and is very green which is pretty sweet.
After checking in we headed down to the local pub and had a feed, Joely got a pretty decent burger with chips, but i decided to go the more traditional option, Shepards Pie!! It was awesome and what made it even better was washing it down with a pint of cider! Sweeeeeet!
We are staying at this place for 2 nites and then heading to Bath! How you ask? No bloddyidea but we at least have accomodation booked!
Anyways enough of my ramblings, all is now going alot better since we are out of the craphole!!!
Love to everyone
ciao

Oh God!!!! Our Hostel...this area.

We're staying in one of the worst Hostels in Britain. The area we're in is in a simple word: shit. Thankfully, you slip on a chunky red double decker bus and it throws you dazed and blinking into Kensington or Soho. Both really nice places.

Can you imagine this Hostel that we're at has no COmmon Room. No kitchen. And only 3 showers. 1 of which I can assure you, blocks by a build-up of pubic hair, so you can stand in what you've just washed off your body. Its nice. Hmm..

I think I just caught a bed bug. One jumped on my face and now its mocking my attempts at trying to scratch it off.

Currentl;y we have 3 nights left at this hostel. If everything goes to plan, we will cancel there in a matter of an hour, stay simply tonight, then pick up accomodation at Bath. Another lively and historical city in England. We just hate this area. Its depressing.

I bought the new Harry Potter book today and I will start reading it when i find a cool comfy place that has atmosphere, not this dark, dank, flea-infested backpackers with a crazy cleaner lady.

(SOME COOL FACTS IVE NOTICED ABOUT ENGLAND.)
1Lots of Black people. Not negroes, they sorta look like that, but British.
2They have these Chicken/Pizza shops with ridiculously cheap meals.
3Drinking isnt as big overhere. Probably because its so available, the public dont place as much importance on it. I mean you can buy grog from any local convenience store. Even the pubs in this area arent what I imagined.
4We got laughed at today for our accents in a suburb called Kensington. We said G'day and that amused the guy.
5Ive actually got this real pathetic facial hair. Sly moustache and daggy sideburns. (Wait for one of Brads close-up pics.)
6I've barely brushed my teeth, I keep losing my toothbrush and then finding it again. Currently ive lost it.
7Met 2 cool Aussie chicks. They've been helpful.
8Apparently the place we're staying at is horrible. Another american backpacker agrees.

Single Serve everything on a Plane.

Helloo everybody,

A big thing for me, I've made it out of Laurieton, quite a leap to land bruised ankled here in England. Come on, one big pat on the back for me. (Aahh Thank you.)

Currently I sit in a dodgy, asian run side alleyed internet aaahhhh......(looking for the right word here) cafe....No, lounge.....No, pseudo covenvience store...maybe. Im in Soho. A relatively cool part of London, with an Edge of Sydney 'Rocks' and British charm. I've so far been a bit surprised at the lack of Britishism in Britian. Like George Street Sydney.

First night we stayed at the 2nd best Hostel in London. It was called Palmers Lodge. And although we had doubts on its quality, comparisons with No.8 hostel (where we are now) show that we just didnt understand how good we had it. The No.8 hostel is like a carpeted Public toilet with bunk beds. We've even got a mad squatter with some deal with the hostel as a cleaner. Some Black Women who sparodically you'll find backing up and down the stairs, ass out, with her buckets taking 4 step increments, grabbing her buckets, placing them at her feet, then taking a further 4 steps and then repeating the whole damm proccess. She shouts random shit at you like "Leave your backpacks at the stair" - which cause's people to snigger, especially close-knit Aust. backpackers like ourselves (Brad and I.)

I got sick on the plane. The actual visual interpretation of being sick on a plane. Vomiting into a paper bag. Turns out they didn't microwave the Pizza properly. Cold shivers.....then VOMIT. All I needed was for one of you to pat me on the back and tell me it was alright. Brad. Where was Brad you ask? Asleep. Dreaming of Addlestone Cider. WHERE WERE YOU??

Korea was a one night stopover. The toilet in our room was almost as big as the Spa in my bathroom back home. The shower had a funny silver nob you had to correleate with the bath tub to get it running through the overheard nozzle. Hotel was 5 stars. You could tell from the ridicolously large painting in the foyer that looked llike it could of been painted from any old sod down at a Pysch. ward.

Im getting that post-alcoholic beverage thirst - for Water. Or something sensible.

Appreciate the time you've taken.

Keep reading friends.
JOEL.

COuple of piccies from london

The Night Before Sydney...

Well, here it is, the first anticipaed post!
Its about -500 here in Blayney, Joely is nodding off to sleep like a pansy, and there is a soft humming of Joan Armatrading playing in the background. As I sit here typing this knocking back a stones ginger beer thinking to myself what life would be like without lighbulbs...haha yeh so im not a writer ok, lol anyway tommorrow we are getting up at 6am to catch a train to Sydneyland to start the first stage of out eppic voyage to the United Kingdom of America, should be a fun trip. Anyway I am sure you will read more of my fantastic posts at a later date...