Vash Down Under.
Aug 22nd 2006 | 7:19 pm
#91
Forum Regular
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 211
From: Cooma, NSW
Re: Vash Down Under.
Brilliant Vash, what a fantastic read, really enjoyed everything!
Best wishes,
Sara
Best wishes,
Sara
Aug 22nd 2006 | 7:44 pm
#92
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,217
From: Poole, Dorset
Re: Vash Down Under.
What a fantastic read. I really enjoyed it all and the second installment was well worth the wait.
Aug 22nd 2006 | 9:10 pm
#93
......in the sand !
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,421
From: Perth, WA :)
Re: Vash Down Under.
I've just sat down and read the whole thread - what a great read ! I totally agree with the others who commented on the style of presenting your trip : the readability was fab.
I'm pleased Mrs Vash enjoyed the trip - you were fairly confident that you would.
Good luck with your plans on returning.
I'm pleased Mrs Vash enjoyed the trip - you were fairly confident that you would.
Good luck with your plans on returning.
Aug 22nd 2006 | 9:48 pm
#94
BE Enthusiast
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 465
From: Shropshire
Re: Vash Down Under.
Amazing stuff, two places we've yet to see: Tasmania and Adelaide (I was in Adelaide as a baby and don't remember it!). This thread has definitely influenced me to put these two places on our list of places to visit. Photos are amazing. 
Aug 23rd 2006 | 12:02 am
#95
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 380
From: Darwin, NT
Re: Vash Down Under.
Originally Posted by Vash the Stampede
Well, I took literally hundreds of photos (about 730 Mb in total!) during my brief trip home, but I'm sure you don't want to see them all. 
For those who may be interested, my camera is a Canon Powershot A620, and my photos were taken at a resolution of 3072 x 2304.
I've had to crunch them down to 640 x 840 for the sake of uploading them to this thread, so the quality has suffered a great deal - but I think they've served their purpose.
Many thanks again to everyone who's contributed - particularly all you Tassie-lovers out there!
This is Vash the Stampede, signing out... for now.
For those who may be interested, my camera is a Canon Powershot A620, and my photos were taken at a resolution of 3072 x 2304.
I've had to crunch them down to 640 x 840 for the sake of uploading them to this thread, so the quality has suffered a great deal - but I think they've served their purpose.
Many thanks again to everyone who's contributed - particularly all you Tassie-lovers out there!
This is Vash the Stampede, signing out... for now.
Sue
Aug 23rd 2006 | 2:14 am
#96
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 308
Re: Vash Down Under.
Yes - even more so than I had expected. I could have cried during the train journey to Birmingham New Street; the grinding tedium of countless terrace and semi-detached houses (all virtually identical, with no character, no driveways, and no front lawns!) was extremely depressing. 
I know how you feel. I lived there for a while - awful place.
In your 2 years til you return you should try to live somewhere like Devon, Dorset etc. Much nicer parts of the U.K.
Aug 23rd 2006 | 2:27 am
#97
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 336
Re: Vash Down Under.
Originally Posted by Vash the Stampede
Here follows a brief account of Mr & Mrs Stampede's recent holiday in Australia.
We left home on the evening of July the 28th, taking a taxi to Walsall train station, a series of trains down to Gatwick, and a taxi to a local B&B.
Mrs Stampede's holidays had already begun, but for me it was the last day of work. By the time we reached Gatwick (four hours later) it was about 22:30 and I was very tired. I do not enjoy travelling by train in the UK.
We spent the night in our B&B, and had a good solid breakfast the next morning. A courtesy bus took us to Gatwick Airport (5 minutes away) where we checked in our baggage and settled down in the departure lounge.
Our flight was divided into three sections: Gatwick-Dubai; Dubai-Singapore; Singapore-Melbourne International (Tullamarine). Each stage of the journey was 7 hours long, with a 1-2 hour wait in between. This helped to break up the trip, and gave us time to stretch our legs.
We flew with Emirates (whom neither of us had used before) and I would definitely recommend them to anyone. Service was excellent, seats were comfortable; cabin crew were well-groomed and courteous; in-flight entertainment was great; food was of a high standard, and arrived at regular intervals.
During our stopover in Dubai, we refreshed ourselves with beer, cider and a bowl of chips at a pub in the airport; it was called The Irish Village, and looked completely out of place with its surroundings.
We left home on the evening of July the 28th, taking a taxi to Walsall train station, a series of trains down to Gatwick, and a taxi to a local B&B.
Mrs Stampede's holidays had already begun, but for me it was the last day of work. By the time we reached Gatwick (four hours later) it was about 22:30 and I was very tired. I do not enjoy travelling by train in the UK.
We spent the night in our B&B, and had a good solid breakfast the next morning. A courtesy bus took us to Gatwick Airport (5 minutes away) where we checked in our baggage and settled down in the departure lounge.
Our flight was divided into three sections: Gatwick-Dubai; Dubai-Singapore; Singapore-Melbourne International (Tullamarine). Each stage of the journey was 7 hours long, with a 1-2 hour wait in between. This helped to break up the trip, and gave us time to stretch our legs.
We flew with Emirates (whom neither of us had used before) and I would definitely recommend them to anyone. Service was excellent, seats were comfortable; cabin crew were well-groomed and courteous; in-flight entertainment was great; food was of a high standard, and arrived at regular intervals.
During our stopover in Dubai, we refreshed ourselves with beer, cider and a bowl of chips at a pub in the airport; it was called The Irish Village, and looked completely out of place with its surroundings.
Aug 23rd 2006 | 5:10 am
#98
Thread Starter
Fighting my corner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 11,948
From: Adelaide, South Australia
Re: Vash Down Under.
Thanks again for all the lovely comments, everyone.
I've visited Devon quite a few times during the two and a half years that I've been in the UK; it's a beautiful place, and reminds me of Tassie in many ways. But unfortunately there doesn't seem to be much in the way of employment opportunities, and I doubt that we could afford the house prices.
Originally Posted by jugsy
I know how you feel. I lived there for a while - awful place.
In your 2 years til you return you should try to live somewhere like Devon, Dorset etc. Much nicer parts of the U.K.
In your 2 years til you return you should try to live somewhere like Devon, Dorset etc. Much nicer parts of the U.K.
Aug 23rd 2006 | 5:19 am
#99
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 465
From: Shropshire
Re: Vash Down Under.
Originally Posted by Vash the Stampede
I could have cried during the train journey to Birmingham New Street; the grinding tedium of countless terrace and semi-detached houses (all virtually identical, with no character, no driveways, and no front lawns!) was extremely depressing.
Reading your travel exploits have really brightened up my day.
Aug 23rd 2006 | 6:22 am
#100
Thread Starter
Fighting my corner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 11,948
From: Adelaide, South Australia
Re: Vash Down Under.
Originally Posted by Britishaussie
Yeah, know what you mean. The most depressing place on earth. We're not too far from you, in Stafford, and quite regularly visit your neck of the woods. Hubby and I get depressed when we see rows and rows of "3 bed semis" which seem to dominate the landscape, particularly in the midlands. I know Australia is guilty of building hundreds of identical suburbs but at least they look more appealing than the UK's endless rows of ugly terraces and semis. Weather like we're having today makes it even more depressing - FFS it's supposed to be summer!
This is the house I owned back home in Australia...
It was a gorgeous little cottage, on a quarter acre block.
And this is our house in the UK, which Mrs Stampede bought several years ago...
I don't know the size of that block, but it's a hell of a lot smaller than the quarter acre I enjoyed in Australia. I guess I didn't realise just how much I'd be giving up when I came to the UK.
Reading your travel exploits have really brightened up my day.
Last edited by Vash the Stampede; Aug 23rd 2006 at 6:24 am.
Aug 23rd 2006 | 6:24 am
#101
Brisbane bound
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 389
From: Brisbane
Re: Vash Down Under.
Thanks for putting in the effort Vash that was an entertaining read
btw how did you end up in Birmingham, I thought all the Aussies in the UK were in London?
Martyn
btw how did you end up in Birmingham, I thought all the Aussies in the UK were in London?
Martyn
Aug 23rd 2006 | 6:55 am
#102
We're here and it's fab
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 221
From: North Lakes, QLD
Re: Vash Down Under.
Excellent thread. So informative. A budding travel writer in our midst!
Aug 23rd 2006 | 7:43 am
#103
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,365
Re: Vash Down Under.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, its all great, but where the hell are you in these photos 
Aug 23rd 2006 | 7:56 am
#104
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,260
From: Berkshire, UK
Re: Vash Down Under.
Originally Posted by Margaret2
Yeah, yeah, yeah, its all great, but where the hell are you in these photos
Aug 23rd 2006 | 8:03 am
#105
Thread Starter
Fighting my corner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 11,948
From: Adelaide, South Australia
Re: Vash Down Under.
Originally Posted by tin
Thanks for putting in the effort Vash that was an entertaining read
btw how did you end up in Birmingham, I thought all the Aussies in the UK were in London?
Martyn
btw how did you end up in Birmingham, I thought all the Aussies in the UK were in London?
Martyn
I found London a fascinating place, but very stressful and far too expensive - so when an Aussie mate of mine invited me to visit her in Birmingham, I jumped at the chance....
I've been in the West Mids ever since.
