December 2007-January 2008

Two good things were happening.

My sis was coming and i had a month holiday.

I left Alice 14 December direction Adelaide. My sis was arriving 16 December at the airport. That morning , i was nervous, it was more than a year ago, that i said goodbye to Belgium. The plane was on time, with my sis on. It was good to see my sister again , after so a long time.

We decided to spend the night in a hotel in the city. We had big plans for our trip, so we could use a good night sleep, after all the emotions and long flight. We discussed our plans, and the morning after, we were on our way.

The plan was to do the great ocean road, direction Melbourne. Our first night , we went to the beach , we even saved some Australian tourists from being bogged, funny sight, Australians rescued by European tourists. We thought to spend the night on the beach, but to much wind drove us in the dunes. It wasn`t such a good night for Anja, her swag was invaded by sand flees, while we were on the beach, so all night those little animals were attacking my sis who entered there new conquered territory.

The next days , we travelled along the coastline, saw a few shinglebacks escaping on the road, we were just wondering if it was always the same one we saw. We did some 4wd in the dunes, slept in the wild, slept in caravan parks, till we arrived at the Great Ocean Road. My sister saw more wildlife in those few days that i saw since i arrived in Australia, all kind off kangaroos, emus, birds, shingle backs, sand flees,kookaburra`s,etc. The only thing that was bothering us , was the bad weather we had.

Once we arrived at the Ocean road, we noticed it by the invasion of all the tourists , coming from all directions from the country or globe. It was a nice road, but civilisation has made it a bit to artificial. We went to a place were we could see some seals swimming and playing in the sea, while Anja again was invaded by animals, this time the flies wouldn`t leave her alone. We explored a national park in 4wd, where we found the most beautiful spot to camp. But it was taken by a lesbian couple, who probably planned a romantic evening in the wild. We did some night walking to magnificent waterfalls. Walked in the tree`s in a tropical forest, the only one in the south coast. Fixed the spring of the car with a rope, we lost some bolt on the way. And the wildlife kept coming, some ducks who were doing our dishes, a kookaburra who stole the pizza of my sis, a parrot who was interested in the interior of the car. We went to a sanctuary, we wanted to see a kaola, smile. There she had the chance to talk to a wombat, i never figured out what they were talking about.

Our next stop would be Melbourne, we were invited by Luke`s mom to celebrate Christmas and to have a fresh seafood meal.I think Anja was glad to spend a few nights in a real house, instead of being attack by the curtain in the car. The meal was unreal, fresh from the sea market. Sis even introduced cocktail sauce. We had a few relaxing days there, visiting Melbourne city. Discovering some night life together with Luke, Byanka and Tim (Luke`s brother). We met Rosemarie (Byanka`s mother). Tim brought all his diving gear with him, so we could even have a dive in the ocean. Moments where we thought we saw our life passing by in a few seconds. The second dive was more relax, the moment we really saw what was under water. The time was getting closer to move on. We were heading to seaspray, where Byanka`s dad had rented a house at the beach to celebrate new year. We stopped one night at Rosemarie`s place, wonderful lady, a place where Anja for the first time saw a real bed since here arrival in australia, even had to see a doctor. because her eye had decided to take some dirt back from the beach. We visited Walhalla, oldest mining town, on our way to Seaspray. First stop at grandma`s place to meet the rest of the family, picking up some gear , direction beach house. At the beach house, we had a few relaxing days, visiting the beach. First time i had a fishing rod in my hands. Swimming in the sea. Trying a total new barbie receipt,` chouck on can`, best chicken meat i ever ate. Thanks Lee,You take a whole chicken, throw some herbs in his body, put a can of beer up in his ... , and ready for the weber. But it was time to head back to Alice, Anja, had one more week to go before she had to return to Belgium.

On the road again, we took a complete other way to go back. Melbourne, Bendigo, Mildura, Renmark, the high country road, to catch up with the Stuart highway in Port Augusta. Back in Alice, we visited the reptile centre and other highlights of the city. Most of the time, we took it quite relax. Time to see the famous rock in the red centre. We spend one night at the Yulara resort, close to Ulurru and the Olga`s. Only a few days left of our holiday. We drove back trough running waters and boggy hole, Anja had even the privilege, to drive with Mrs Dee, my car`s name. My sis didn`t yet experienced a real bushcamp. So we spend the night at my favorite spot. Had a black pizza in the campoven, my bush skills weren`t so good that i thought. We didn`t hear the dingo`s howling that night, but the next day a big bull decided to rest a bit aside the track. The last days, we closed our holiday with a night out in Bojangles. Time to put my sis back on the plane. Me and Luke drove Anja to the airport, had a few beers and said goodbye.

Goodbye sis, thanks for a good holiday, and till soon.