Log Book - Australia

Wednesday, 26 May 2010 00:42 Last Updated on Friday, 13 August 2010 17:34 Written by Maxime

Nous quitterons l’Australie contents d’avoir découvert de nouveaux paysages mais frustrés de n’avoir pas pu aider d’association. Après la scène que nous avons vue à Alice Springs, et qui nous a montré le traitement que pouvaient recevoir certains Aborigènes, nous voulions absolument aider cette communauté. Notre aide sera restée un rêve. Après des mois de contacts avec l’association de Cathie Freeman, nous avons obtenu son autorisation pour aller les aider sur le centre de Palm Island (une île que les Australiens « blancs » ne recommandent pas parce qu’elle est peuplée d’Aborigènes…).

Cependant, nous sommes restés sans réponse du centre sur l’île. Ce n’est pas faute d’avoir insisté ! Mais rien. Ce sera pour une autre fois, assurément. Même si, jusqu’alors, nous avons toujours trouvé des associations ou des communautés à aider, il n’est vraiment pas facile de trouver des lieux où notre aide sera la bienvenue. Même avec Internet et la magie de Google. Il y a bien les « grandes » associations, mais elles n’ont jamais vraiment souhaité travailler avec nous.

Et puis, notre volonté est d’aider les communautés laissées pour compte, que personne n’aide. Voilà pourquoi en Australie, En Piste Pour Le Monde n’a rien pu faire !

Mais nous allons nous rattraper en Afrique du Sud dès vendredi en allant rejoindre une communauté qui a besoin d’aide pour structurer un projet sportif. Ils ont la volonté, les athlètes, la pêche, il leur manque juste quelques moyens pour mieux se structurer. Voici quelques photos des enfants de cette communauté, pour vous donner une idée.

Log Book - Australia

Tuesday, 25 May 2010 04:04 Last Updated on Wednesday, 26 May 2010 00:15 Written by Delphine

Log Book - Australia

Sunday, 23 May 2010 00:00 Last Updated on Tuesday, 25 May 2010 23:24 Written by Delphine

I am sitting below a coconut tree on the beach of Townsville (the capital of North Queensland) and I want to share with you the nice experience we had in Magnetic Island… We spent 2 days on this island where an eucalyptus forest occupied more than 80% of the land! And in Australia, the word “eucalyptus“ goes always with KOALA. That is why we decided to visit this small island located at 8 kilometers of Townsville’s coasts.

The 19th of May, 6:00 am : After a noisy night (as we slept in a rest area for truck drivers), we woke up early in order to take the first ferry to Magnetic Island. Our backpacks were well prepared (we decided to pass an overnight in the island and leave our van on the car park of the ferry company) and we were ready for 2 days of walking in Magnetic Island. Our plans were: 30 kilometers on foot, discovery of the wild beaches and the Australian wildlife.

7:30 am: we arrived on the island with a small problem: Maxime’s backpack licked, the bottle of water emptied in his bag! So we had been obliged to put all our stuffs on the ground when we were in the quay to let them dry under the sun. All the people were looking at us… At least, they laughed a lot.

8:30 am: we started our bushwalk after having bought a new bottle of water (it’s essential with this tropical climate). We lost our way for 45 minutes in the forest, but it was a good opportunity for us to meet wallabies in their natural environment…

12:00 : we arrived to the campsite!

2:00 pm : To the beach! We spent the afternoon in Horseshoe bay with a wonderful weather. The only thing frustrating in Australia is that you cannot swim wherever you want: there are water stings and crocodiles. So you have to swim inside the area limite by a net.

5:30 pm : We assisted to a very nice sunset on the beach.

Then, we spent a nice evening drinking a beer at the bar and eating the«backpacker’s favourite meal »: pastas! (I should have count how many kilos we ate duirng our worldtrip!). Then on the way back to the tent we met a couple who said “buenas” to us. We answered them “ola” with a big smile, so happy to hear Spanish. Then the women took me by the arm and asked us if we spoke Spanish. We said “yes” and discussed about 20 minutes in Spanish with 2 persons from “El Salvador”. It was such a pleasure for us to speak this language we haven’t heard since we left South America.

For more pictures of Magnetic Island, click here.

Log Book - Australia

Tuesday, 18 May 2010 02:41 Last Updated on Wednesday, 26 May 2010 00:17 Written by Maxime

We could not miss the opportunity to see the Great Barrier Reef by coming to Cairns. Everything here pushes you to go there. And apart from being the departure point to go visit this natural wonder Cairns doesn’t offer you that much interesting thing to do. After doing some research to get the best deal we could find, we have chosen to go with Ocean Spirit. Romain, Marie and I we decided to get the offer with the diving initiation and Delphine didn’t want to do it.

Ready to dive!

The Ocean spirit’s staff was really great and made our diving experience unforgettable! Besides, we had a great lunch on the boat. And we had the chance to dive together with Romain & Marie. So it was really unforgettable to discover the under marine world, we even had the opportunity to see Nemo (clown fish). While we were diving, Delphine had the opportunity to discover the corals and all the fishes.

Here's what you can see just by snorkelling

Finally, we were a bit disappointed as we only had the opportunity to do once the diving and once the snorkeling and we had to go back to Cairns. So, if you really want to enjoy the Great Barrier Reef you’d better take a 2/3 days excursions.

Did you know it? Larger than the Great Wall of China and the only living thing visible from space, the Great Barrier Reef is one of the seven wonders of the natural world.

Log Book - Australia

Thursday, 13 May 2010 02:54 Last Updated on Wednesday, 26 May 2010 00:21 Written by Maxime

Central Australia, Uluru, Kings Canyon… We didn’t know one of those names before going to central Australia. Now we can tell you that we will never forget them because it was a wonderful trip we lived there. The silence of the desert and the beauty of the natural landscapes made us love our 5 days in the desert.

Day 1: Alice Springs here we come!

We took our plane in Sydney to reach Alice Springs. As soon as we arrived we were seeking a car to rent. By doing so, we met to French guys: Marie & Romain. We discussed a bit a realized that we were going to the same places at the same time so we decided to share a rent-car. We had our first night in the tent in the Australian desert and we could feel the cold of the desert nights!

In Alice Springs we also saw the misery of the Aboriginal people and the way the “white men” treat them. We saw an Aboriginal trying to steal a bottle of whisky while we were at the supermarket. The men quickly catch him and beat him in front of us. They even asked him to be on his knees to ashamed him. That was awful and we will never forget this moment as we were literally shocked.

Marie & Romain.

Day 2: Holy Uluru

On the second day we discovered the biggest rock in the world in Uluru. Ayers Rock is 3,6 km long and rise a 348m from the surrounding sandy scrubland (867m above sea level).
We walked around “the rock” during 3hours and discovered Aboriginal sacred places. We could imagine how impressive this culture of more than 40 000 years old still is. We were disappointed to see that there were no Aboriginal people guided the tourists. Only white men. Who could possibly guide better than the Aboriginal on their own land?

At the end of the day we enjoyed the sunset on the rock. A really unforgettable performance.

Day 3: The Olgas.

We got up at 5AM to enjoy the sunrise and what a landscape!
Once the sun rise we could warm ourselves and get a breakfast. Then we went to Kata Tjuta (The Olgas), a striking group of domed rocks cluster together to form small valleys and gorges. Kata Tjuta means “many heads”. We went walking through the Valley of the Winds which offered us wonderful view of surreal boulders.

To end the day we headed up to Curtis Spring a free camping area where we were allowed to make fire. So we went with Romain in the surrounding desert to find wood fire. We made a very agreeable fire and cooked pastas in it (well, we didn’t find any kangaroos while hunting!).

In every moment of the day the show is different.

Day 4 : Kings Canyon.

In the morning, after making fire to make coffee, we went in the direction of Kings Canyon.
After 400kms in the desert, without seeing anything but wild camels, we discovered the canyon which is one of the most spectacular sights in central Australia.
We walked in the Kings Canyon Rim and discovered the Oasis Garden of Eden.

Original morning cofee!

Day 5: Already the end.

We had 4 wonderful days in Central Australia. The landscaped are from another planet and allowed us to feel the magnificent Aboriginal Culture. In Addition, we met people again and had the chance to share great moments of happiness with other people.

Log Book - Australia

Monday, 10 May 2010 06:59 Last Updated on Wednesday, 26 May 2010 00:31 Written by Delphine