JUST THE 2 OF US … <2009.6.30>

… we can make it if we try – just the two of us, you and I!

Inspired by this song, led by a strong will and huge cup of adventure spirit – my girlfriend Carmen decided to take a break too and join me now on OUR travel.



I am more than grateful for that and looking forward for a real great time together to explore the rest of the world! The stars already forecast us a good fortune:



(Translation of Carmen`s fortune telling on the day of departure: LOVE: Sometimes you have to travel far to realize how close you are to someone. Try it out!)

So here we are - at the beginning of a 5 monhts trip, starting here at Melbourne in Australia.



Let`s explore the city!

Melbourne has so many facet`s it`s hard to decide where to start. So we took the tourist shuttle which stops at ALL sights.
From the war memorial ...





and the Botanical Garden ...



via the center point of the city - the Federation Square ...





with its impressive St. Pauls Cathedral ...





to the Fitzroy gardens - with the original birth house of Captain Cook ...



the National Libary ...



and finaly the new developed Waterfront City



Impressive are the combinations of ancient & modern, strict & crazy which you can find in good harmony at every corner







Finishing this day with dinner with our friends and hosts Nong & Thanthep at one of the hipe restaurants at Brunswick street.





The next day led to Melbournes prime beach area - St. Kilda. Not only famous for its nice beach, as well for good food (specially sweets & bakery) and bustling bars on the weekends.





One of the hidden gems are the pinguins which can be found even in this area...



The round up our Melbourne experience we visited the highest building in Melbourne - the worlds highest rural building (only flats) - the EUREKA building. With its 300m height, you have a breathtaking few over the city and its suburbs.





And for the absolut thrill - you can try the CUBE - which is an horizontal glas elevator, which transports you outside of the building to let you "fly" over the city!





Together in 7th heaven

Melbourne at Night <2009.6.17>

70days later and more than 14.000 km on the road I reached the end of the first stage on my Australian trip – Melbourne.



Looking forward meeting my good old friends Nong & Thanthep who will give me shelter over these days and show me around.

Melbourne is such a contrast to everything I saw so far!
Here black is still in fashion and the speed is minimum twice as the rest of whole Australia. But beside the hustle it has a lot to offer – for everyone.

Just a stroll during the night hours can show you charm of the capital of Victoria.














Time to say goodbye (for a week) to Oz and heading back home for my beloved granny`s 90th Birthday!

So no worries &
I`LL BE BACK

THE GREAT OCEAN ROAD <2009.6.14>

Here I am – on my way from Adelaide to Melbourne – driving along the coastlines and chased by dark mystic rain clouds. But with the deep diesel-power of Jacqueline and my luck with the weather god, we always managed to escape the bad weather front !



I left over the Adelaide Hills famous for the great wines and the old German town Hahndorf.



After I filled up my stock with delicious smoked sausages, I continued down to coast via the Murray River – the sweet water source of the entire region – until Mt. Gambier. Famous for its deep blue crater lakes, which invites for walk at the rim or picnic at the lake.





Further 400km south the coast awaits me now one of the most famous sight of Australia and the most beautiful coastal roads – the great ocean road.



This is a stretch over several hundred kilometers of coast lines with all kind of lime stone formations and cliffs. The most famous ones are the 12 Apostles, London Bridge and Loch Ard Gorge.









Don`t miss the other ones up west which easily can compete with those famous 3.






Another highlight is Cape Otwell and its National Park featuring Australia`s first light house with its spectacular views from top.









I liked most, that here you can find many wild Koala`s hanging around up in the gum trees waiting to be spotted.



So I stayed here overnight where I could camp just below that mates - they are soooo cute!





If you are lucky - you can even spot one of the rare night active brown bandicot`s:



Are you into rainforests or Jurassic Parks? Than the Cape Otway Fly – a Top Tree Walk in 50m (longest & highest in the world) height will thrill you and gives you the feeling of being back 300mio. years in time.







Leaving this place with great impression - I can`t better describe this drive as a …



… Real Great Ocean Road