Gay Newcastle

Gay Newcastle is almost a contradictio in terminis. Newcastle has one (1) LGBT party venue: The Gateway Hotel. I went there on Saturday.

Newcastle, New South Wales

When I told other tourists, travellers and backpackers I include Newcastle, NSW in my Aussie tour, I was declared nuts. “Nothing there” and “bogan” (hillbillie, chav, marginal, …) where the most heard comments. But Newcastle is included in the Lonely Planet top ten of secret gems and Luke showed me around.

Not so gay Australia II

One reads about gay youth kicked out by their parents for being gay, but this is the first time it happened in my circle of friends.

Magnetic Island, Townsville and the Great Barrier Reef

Honestly, Townsville has not much to offer. Cairns is apparently the place to be Reefwise. But I didn’t know that when I booked. So here I am.

Brisbane

After a couple of hours of sleep and with a slight headache I started sightseeing Brisbane CBD. CBD stands for Central Business District. Brisbane has a interesting mix of old buildings and sky scrapers. Brisbane is also a major shopping city.

Going out at The Beat Mega Club, Brisbane – clubbing early is possible!

Local communications and media boy David was so kind to take me out on Saturday, after Wicked. He took me along at The Beat, a very trendy club at the junction of Ann Street and Brunswick Street. That is the club area. You see bars next to clubs next bars next to clubs.

Wicked at Brisbane's Queensland Performance Arts Center (QPAC)

Wicked, the untold story of the witches of Oz, is both a prequel and a sequel to The Wizard of Oz. So it’s basically a “quel”. It’s funny and dramatic, spectacular and very well produced. Go watch it!

Uluru, Kata Tjuta and ripped shorts

On 18/02 I did a one day tour, visiting Kata Tjuta (The Olgas) and Uluru (Ayers Rock). A very touristy trip, but a must when visiting Australia. This nature’s eccentricities are not only beautiful; they are also part of Aboriginal life and culture.

The Red Center is green

Today – Thursday 17 February – I did the West MacDonnell tour. I got see gorgeous gorges, splendid splits and gasping gaps. I found the Red Center to be very green, which is due to the excessive rain which has hit the area last winter (our summer) and present summer (our winter).

Alice Springs

I did make it to Alice Springs and I have my luggage. At the moment, I’m at Haven Backpackers (= hostel). I can’t do the three-day Rock the Center tour, but I will see Uluru on Friday and see some neighbouring canyons and creeks tomorrow (Thursday).