Adventure Travel & Backpacker Expo Sydney

Today I went down to the beautiful Darling Harbour to check out the Travel mania that has swept through Sydney this weekend. My focus was on the Adventure Travel & Backpacker Expo but it was easy to get distracted with Mind Body and Spirit as well as two other festivals going on around there.

My greatest surprise of the day was to get into the Expo at around 3pm (closes at 4pm) and see that it was already time to start celebrating the success of the day. However, my sources inform me that the whole expo is like one big backpacker travel party. Good people, travel on the brain, beers and other beverages flowing and generally a great vibe throughout the whole place.

The expo is run by  http://www.myadventureexpo.com/and sponsored by Myexpotravel (http://www.myexpotravel.com/) aswell as TNT Magazine and YHA Australia. The goal of the event is for people interested in travelling in Australia and Around the World, who have a focus on Adventure and Backpacker style travel to connect and learn more about what’s on offer. And man was there a lot on show!

From overseas work to Incredible India, Bungee Jumping in New Zealand and Volunteering in schools in Africa. You had the latest in backpacker accessories, the best in accommodation and backpacking locations around Australia as well as the cream of the crop for Travel agents and guides. Throw in some competitions, live music, 1000′s of brochures, lollies and FREE giveaways and you’ve got the traveller’s dream day.

My favourite stand was definitely the crew from Cairns! They set up a bar and the tunes were pumping out all day. Win friends and influence people with FREE Beer, these guys are on to a good thing.  I was also very impressed with an up and coming group, DragonBus. www.dragonbuschina.com was launched last night and they will be offering a hop on/ hop off bus service in China. You also can’t miss the fun teams at TNT Magazine and TravelManagers for their down to earth vibe and great advice (Contact NickBowditch for all the best deals!)

I really took away from this Expo just how little I know about Australian Travel and the many wonderful places that this great country has to offer. I have been to some of the “must see” destinations in the world- Eiffel Tower in Paris, Taj Mahal in India, Pyramids of Mexico and Oktoberfest of Munich. Sadly though, I have not seen Australia’s Great Barrier Reef or Ayers Rock. I haven’t even been to some of our major cities like Hobart, Adelaide or Darwin. It was definitely a bit of home truth for me and Australia is now at the top of my travel list!

The event is on again tomorrow, 8 November 2009 at the Exhibition & Convention Centre (Darling Harbour). Grab a few mates, cool down with a beer and you can start planning your next big adventure!

For FREE ENTRY visit: http://mytraveladventure.com.au/free-sydney-expo-ticket/

Japan- My first ever trip- Age 1.5

Dad and I return- 19 years on

In a Kimino at age 4. The Japanese culture and the travel bag would stay with me

 

This is a recent letter from my Dad to my brother about the VERY FIRST trip I ever took.  It’s amazing to read about my parents travel experiences with me. At the age of just 1.5 years old, I was already on the traveller’s path.

 

Dad is my guest blogger this week!

 

 

 

 

 

Re our trip to Japan when you were very young, in 1989.  This is what I remember:

 

We flew on Japan Air lines (JAL) 747 from Sydney – Tokyo – London. The Tyo – Lon sector was about 12 hours via the North Pole and we saw some great snow and ice covered lands and mountain sights en-route from the plane’s windows.

 

We stayed in the Shinjuku area west of Tokyo in a Ryokan ( traditional Japanese Inn) complete with Rice-Paper screen doors and a wooden bathtub with a saucepan to wash water over yourself with  No shower).  I wasn’t too keen on it but it was an experience.  I remember walking to find the beer can vending machines I had heard about and came back with a couple. They were all over the place as were machines dispensing cold coffee in cans. I saw many people cycling around. We met some people who had travelled from Canada in the recreation section of the Inn.

 

On the  day after our arrival, the representative from our Japan freight agent (Tokyu Air Services) looked after us for a whole day and evening and took us on a trip to the Temple at Asakusa, one of the features are it’s giant Red lanterns out the front and markets leading up to it.  There was a also a religious procession in the streets nearby that we stood and watched.  I have some recent photos of the temple as I went there in 2008 with Emma.

 

We also went to Akihabara – a shopping district specialising in electrical items.

 

During the time in Tokyo, we travelled on the underground system which was very clean and efficient and had a meal in a another area of Tokyo. Mum might remember where? Many local Japanese people wanted to touch Emma as she had bright blond hair and it is supposed to bring good fortune!

 

I  hope my recollection helps you.

 

Cheers

Dad

xo

What a legend!

 My dear friend Rich has just returned from one of the most incredible experiences of his life. Climbing Mt Kilmanjaro.

 

I am so inspired, amazed and unbelievably proud of the groups achievements. The amount of effort and time that went into the planning, organisation and practice for the trip is incredible. Not one thing was overlooked in the preparation for the big trip and it was a true success.

What I think is so incredible is that they organised the trip themselves. Although going with tour guides and having a prominent charity as the beneficiary, the rest was done by them. Flights, tour group planning, travel to and from the mountain, training, equipment, website, charity communication and fundraising. IT’S INCREDBILE!

 

I have always thought that oneday I would climb a mountain and last year when I saw Mt Kilimanjaro as I drove through the open plains of Tanzania, I knew this was the mountain for me. I am so happy that I now have a close friend who has done the trip before me and this has filled me with such an eagerness to get there and do it.

 

My friend Jarred and I are planning to do an 8 week trip next year in December with one of the main goals being to CLIMB KILI!

Again, what an achievement! Really. Congratulations team!

Here are a few words from the group and, most importantly, details on how to sponsor and donate to the charity “Help for Heroes.”

 

“Kilimanjaro 2009 – Many thanks from all the team for your support. We made £2000 for Help For Heroes which is brilliant. Of the team, Ian, Andrew, Brownie and Jo made Uhuru Peak at 5895 meters. I made Stella Point at 5756 meters and Kathleen and Pete…… made Gilmans Point at 5685 meters. Not bad when Everest base camp is at 5200 meters. Cricket played at Stella Point.

www.aimhighchallenge.com (19,344 feet to be precise)

Or if you want to be the one to push us over the £1400 mark for H4H then this can be done at http://www.justgiving.com/aimhighchallenge“