Travel Guides and Stories

Sunset—Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House. My first time writing a so-called travel journal... not sure how to start (guess this will just be a travel log). Back in August 2011, my wife and I discussed where to go for the October holiday, and finally settled on Australia. After about a month of paperwork, we set off on September 25th for a 13-day journey. I’m not one for sentimentality—just wanted to relax, take it easy, and enjoy the trip... Pudong Airport – check-in – customs – board the Qantas flight (thank goodness we went a month early or we’d have been stuck due to the Qantas strike!) – overnight flight – Sydney Airport. That’s when the real Australian trip began. If you’re going to do a travel log, at least do it right. Look at the local kids: end of winter, start of spring, and they’re already out practicing surfing.

Checking out prices, a little stunned~

Parking fees

The birds here aren't afraid of people

TAXI~ On the water

This guy's car is "booming"—with a subwoofer, cruising around.

Pretty happy with our Sydney accommodation—two-story attached villa, fully equipped, like living at home.

The kid actually tried to use a candied apple as a weapon~~~

In Sydney, aside from the must-have photo at the Opera House... nothing else really stands out, feels much like any other foreign city: open parks, churches... Just going with the flow and relaxing.      Next stop, Cairns—up at 4am to ride a hot air balloon at sunrise. It was awesome—this was my favorite photo from the whole trip.

The city’s public pool—put on my brand new sky-blue swim shorts and joined the locals for a soak... learning to enjoy life like they do. Not bad at all... and of course, checking out the pretty girls.

See that plane above? Stunt show?

Kids in diapers still go swimming...

Aussies really know how to live

Little beauty on the boat—so stylish~~~

Suddenly spotted—a turtle (Great Barrier Reef)

Spent a whole afternoon relaxing on the beach... so comfortable, so enjoyable.

Aussie kids are natural-born water sports lovers.

Off to the Gold Coast next... so much beach I’m numb—maybe there’s something wrong with my attitude? The waves here are strong, the sand is fine... not much else to say.

Honestly, after a good dinner, running on the beach with the locals and walking barefoot in the sea is really comfortable.

Two snaps from Brisbane... Australian cities don’t feel as atmospheric as European ones.

Melbourne—personally, I quite liked it. Grab a coffee, sit on the steps of the city square, watch people, birds, and the Rugby World Cup on the big screen, soaking up the sun. My wife took our son shopping; I just waited in the square.

The bus driver—probably Chinese?

Trams are everywhere here

That’s the end of my “流水账” (travel log) for Australia... Time was still early, so we headed on to New Zealand’s North Island for a few more days. There are so many beautiful and well-written guides for Australia and NZ out there, so I won’t go into detail. Fellow travelers, this is just a newbie’s post—don’t be too picky, just relax and enjoy.      Kids’ section ~~~~~~~ Blue ~~~~

Triangle briefs

Looking straight ahead

Pointing but not looking

Here comes the wave ~~~ Mom and child are too busy to care about getting wet

~~~ Green ~~~~~ Saw the grass... running wild, loving it... no one around to fine you!

~~~ Colorful ~~~~ Must have watched too much Ultraman lately

The flowers of the motherland blooming in a foreign land

Even Ultraman can swap hands

Provocation ~~~~

That pose... whose kid is this...

People are happy... birds are even happier... here for the food

Watch out for bird spit ~~~~

Performance art? Zombies~~~

During the Rugby World Cup, even dwarves joined the fun

An owl sat next to me... staring, speechless

How can you go to Australia and not see a koala?

Heading home... a few extra photos of New Zealand’s pastoral scenery

See those crowds of cows? Spectacular~~~

Proud alpaca~~

Pastoral scenery

<img src="https://p1-q.mafengwo.net/s1/M00/18/17/wKgBm07FAMzH2OnAAAPicbcA0