Doug and Bec

Blogger Becca Obviously I don't need to die. I've found heaven and it's called Villa #16 at Bundarika Villas, Phuket, Thailand. (http://www.bundarika.com) Seriously, I have NEVER stayed, maybe even SEEN, a place like this.... Our plan for this trip was to get away, right away and just forget about all things school and relax. We did not want to be pressured into seeing Thailand, going out and about when all we wanted to do was nothing. I think by the end of this we will have achieved that. We arrived into our KL hotel last night just after midnight and left again at 5am, ready to catch our 7:30am flight to Thailand. It was pretty excruciating but that's what happens when you don't book an airport room when the Grand Prix is on. Arrived into ... read more

Blogger Dougo So we get home from school today and look out to see a kite sitting on our balcony. Boris the Brahminy Kite or Chil in Bangla.... read more

Back to Melbourne for a day and then off to the Arapiles Ranges camping with Bec’s brother, Owen. It was great to get away from cities again and out in the wide open spaces. An outdoors nut, Owen wanted to show us how to rock climb and abseil. Two days we learned the ropes (no pun intended) and challenged ourselves to break through the fear. We were due to stay 4 nights, but the forecast of rain is not a good thing for rock climbers. So back to Melbourne we went.... read more

Blogger Dougo So, I am sitting on the couch, trying to ignore the pile of homework books that need marking before tomorrow and I pick up my laptop to read the write-up on the AFL prelim final between St Kilda and Hawthorn. Having just watched the game at a mate's place next door, I thought it might be nice to hear what the critics have to say about a very one-sided game of football. Next thing I feel is the sofa shake. Not a huge shake, just a wobble. It went on for about three or four seconds and then that was it. Just long enough for me look around and see the reflection in our photos moving from side to side. We jumped up and ran next door to see if our neighbours felt ... read more

Blogger Bec and Dougo Has there ever been a bigger tribute to the manufactors of outdoor gear than the streets of Cusco?? North Face, Quecha, Kathmandu, Mountain Designs, Macpac, Berger, Doite, Deuter, Osprey: scruffy backpackers cheek by jowl with popcorn eaters (luxury tourists), Cusco is a heaving mass of outdoor consumerism. And it ain´t in the shops folks, it´s on the back/feet/scalp/chest/pocket of every gringo that you pass on the overcrowded streets. Jungle - check. Mountain - check. Ancient Incan ruins - check. Spanish cathedrals - check. You want it, Cusco has it and it seems that every tourist on earth wants a piece. Including us! Cusco, the Inca heartland and capital, is where our Inca Trail journey really begins and we are in the thick of it all proudly prowling the streets decked out ... read more