Hi Everyone!

Hope you are all enjoying the new year...I am currently back in Brisbane, but only for one night, before I head to Fiji tonight on a silly o'clock plane. Met up with Will Croxford (from the village) yday as he is in Brisbane too - very strange seeing faces from home! Flew up here from Sydney yesterday where I have been for the past 7 days - absolutely loved Sydney - was gorgeous weather as well which made a nice change. Came directly from Byron Bay where we had had torrential rain for 3 days - not quite what I envisaged of the Australian summer! Still managed to get in some great nights out and walks in the day- just got very very wet in the process!

Sydney made up for the bad weather though - beautiful blue skies and sunshine. Was staying in a very basic (but really sociable) hostel that I'd managed to book in Byron Bay for 17$ a night which is a bit of a bargin for Sydney (usually about $30 a night) so I can't complain - at least there weren't bed bugs although someone did steal my toothpaste!

Was pretty hectic ( in a good way!) most of the time in Sydney as had lots of people to catch up with from various points of my travels - saw Sarah my housemate from uni which was lovely and stayed on her sofa for one night (I'd managed to find myself bedless one night as I'd booked my accomadation wrong!) It's amazing what you get for your money in Sydney - shes staying right in the heart of the city in a flat with 5 others that has views over the harbour, free internet, a huge indoor pool, gym, sauna, squash courts etc etc for $120 all inclusive a week -I soon understood the appeal of living over here! Discovered some fantastic markets too - Glebe market was like a dream for me - lots and lots of goregous vintage clothes etc at very cheap prices - unfortunately no room in my bag so I couldn't buy anything but I could be tempted to live in Syndey on the basis of this one market! Paddy's market was also great - got a pair of sunglasses for $10 plus the fruit and veg was so so cheap - on a sunday they sell boxes of nectarines for about $2 - a bit cheaper than the supermarkets where everything is so expensive! Went for a day trip to the blue mountains - most people do tours but me and my friend Jon (who I've been travelling with for the past three weeks) decided to save some pennies and got the train out there ourselves - we left at 7am and had got in about 4am the previous evening (every night is a party night in Oz!) so we were probably in no fit state to cope with the mammouth walks around the mountains but we managed to cover a amazing 18k that day - needless to say I was pretty exhausted by that evening! I've never walked so much in my life as I have in Oz - missing my little clio! Public transport is pretty expensive so we all walk everywhere - will be nice to have some beach time in Fiji! Blue moutains were brilliant though and well worth the tiredness - they really are beautiful!

Have loved every minute of Sydney - definitely a very me city - lots going on, nice weather and gorgeous beaches - manly is really beautiful. Very surreal reaching the end of my Oz adventure - have had such a fantastic time but its gone so quickly! Met lots and lots of great people - its got the point now where I know more people than I don't when I arrive in an area - think doing the Oz experience bus has helped with that as its a really sociable way to travel. Have also learnt(!) to surf (in the rain!)- on oz bus you stop for the night on the journey from Byron Bay to Sydney as its such a long journey at a surf camp - I managed to stand up a few times but also injured my back when I tried to do an impressive fall but forgot I was in shallower waters!

Looking forward to Fiji - think I'm going to try and have a bit of a alcohol detox while there - you can see how Oz gets its reputation as one full on party for travellers - I haven't had a night in the whole time I've been away - needless to say I'm permantly tired! Its been worth it though!

Changed my flights to go to S.America - just in the process of deciding whether I want to do a tour or not - i'm reserved on one and think its probably a good idea (I know you want me to mum!) but I'm still indecided..got about 5 hours to make up my mind as need to confirm my place!

Right internet time is running out so must love and leave you all again...

Will probs be in Nz next time I write!

Much love lu xxx