First stop: London and Cardiff

My European adventure starts in London and Cardiff. This is day one.

After 24+ hours on the plane and crossing a number of time zones, I finally arrived in London Heathrow at around 6am. Tired but mainly excited, I hopped off the plane to an uneventful experience through customs and finally exiting the airport via the Heathrow Express. Thankful for the advise from colleagues who have lived and travelled in London, my train ticket was pre-paid in advance.

One of three pre-paid tickets received by mail.

Paddington Station, London, England

I got off Heathrow Express at Paddington Station, where my connecting train to Cardiff was departing at 9.30am. There was a buzz in Paddington Station as it is a major interchange, connecting local and country trains. I was also met with an added buzz of the Olympics, volunteers greeting the world's media as London was preparing to host the Para-Olympics. It was very exciting as I remembered my own experience with Sydney in 2000.

The first thing off my list was to buy a local SIM card. Vodafone is a massive carrier in the UK, and the man from the convenience store gave me the impression that Vodafone in the UK was very reliable.

Second was toilet and that in itself was an experience. I was not prepared for what was waiting for me when I descended from the platform. To enter, you had to pay! Before entering I spoke to the attendant who informs me that I can actually take a shower. I just had to pay 11 pounds at the baggage check-in. After 24 hours on the plane, I could not think of anything else better than this. A shower at Paddington Station!

At 9.15am, fresh from a shower, I made my way to the train carriage. I was on the quite carriage, sitting on a reserve seat near the window. I watched as trains come and go, leaving a trail of people behind.

Doctor Who Experience in Cardiff Bay, Wales

One month prior to my travel, I decided that I would attend the Doctor Who Experience in Cardiff Bay, Wales. I was informed (or warned) on numerous occasions that Wales was in another country, and travel from London to Cardiff Bay would take at least three hours by train. Unfazed, I planned my first day around this.

The thing is, I love Doctor Who. I was not going to miss this opportunity to see sets, costumes and, perhaps, secretly hoping to run into the cast and crew. My session was at 1pm, hoping it was plenty of time to get there from London and back.

Cardiff Bay, Wales

When I arrived at Cardiff Bay Station, I enquired about a locker to store my luggage. There was none at the Station but I was told the closest one was at the Tourist Information Centre not too far away (10-15 minutes if you get lost!). Being a Sunday they closed early so I had to collect my bag by 3.30pm. With some time before my DW session, I decided to get on the Hop-On, Hop Off bus.

Here are some photos:

Sad to say, I did not spend that much time in Cardiff Bay. Part of me was hoping to run into the cast and crew of DW. Maybe next time...

Summer of 2012

In August 2012, I followed the European tourist trail. I have been back for a few months now, with Christmas and New Year in between. I haven't really had the time to stop and think about my trip. I feel that the stories I have shared with family and friends don't do justice to the amazing experience that I went through. This is the first real opportunity I have to sit down and finally commit it into words, and hopefully allow other to share in that experience.

The other day at work I smelt coffee and it transported me back to Mykonos in Greece. I don't know why the smell of that particular coffee brought me back to Greece. The memory of meandering down cobbled lanes, trying to find Little Venice towards the windmills. The funny thing was, I didn't have coffee in Mykonos.



Mykonos, Greece

Little Venice, Mykonos, Greece

It is perhaps time to document in my blogs my two months travels across Europe.

Highlights

• Two months, twenty countries
• Western Europe - Swiss Alps, Rome, Venice, Mykonos and Amsterdam
• Eastern Europe - Gallipoli, Istanbul, Sarajevo, Plitvice Lakes, Budapest 

Most Memorable

• Swiss Alps - Lauterbrunnen, Murren and Jungfrau
• Colosseum and Roman Forum 
• Mykonos - white houses, blue doors
• Gallipoli - history coming to life
• Istanbul
• Sarajevo - history so recent, happening in my lifetime
• Dubrovnik -
• Plitvice Lake - Long, eight hours walk
• Budapest - exploring this unknown (to me) city
• Amsterdam - well...!

I hope you get enjoy reading about my experience and the photos that come with them.

Journey to the Centre...

In June 2012, my good friends Alexi, Nito and I travelled to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. A ten days road trip which started from Sydney via Broken Hill and Coober Pedy and then back again.

What many people do not appreciate is just how big Australia really is. What we were attempting was a huge amount of driving for a very short amount of time. Our schedule meant that we were driving 8-10 hour days, depending on which leg of the journey we were at. A four day journey one way. Added to the challenge, June in Australia is winter which meant shorter driving days.

Whenever I mentioned this road trip to my colleagues at work, many of whom enjoy road trips across this vast country-continent of ours, I was met with scepticism that we could do this in that short, limited period of time. And to do it safely. Ten days is not enough time to enjoy this.

But we were determined, keen for this road trip of a lifetime.

We decided to break up the trip in this way:

Day 1: Sydney to Dubbo
Day 2: Dubbo to Broken Hill
Day 3: Broken Hill to Coober Pedy
Day 4: Coober Pedy to Uluru
Day 5 and 6: Explore Uluru and surrounds
Day 7: Uluru to Coober Pedy
Day 8: Coober Pedy to Broken Hill
Day 9: Broken Hill to Dubbo
Day 10: Dubbo to Sydney

While out initial research had just going via Wagga Wagga and Mildura, further research and enquiries lead us to go via Broken Hill. This was more direct, less country towns.

Alexi, Nito and I divided the responsibilities to ensure that we were prepared for this road trip. One of my task was to enquire about the best route to take and suggestions about how to this safely.

These were some suggestions we took on board, many of which are common sense, but it was good to be reminded. Better to be over prepared than not.

1. Do not drive at night - a car travelling at 100km/h in the dark and kangaroo/cow/animal on the road will not have good outcome.
2. Rotate drivers every two hours - Stop, Revive, Survive.
3. Bring lots of water - keep hydrated.
4. Ensure the car is in good working order - bring spares.
5. Bring a satellite phone for Emergency - we may be driving for hours and not see other vehicles.

Here are some photos from our trip:

Broken Hill, NSW

Cooper Pedy, South Australia

Uluru-Kata Tjuta, Northern Territory