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OUR HONEYMOON


After deciding to get married, we started to plan our honeymoon. As many of you will remember, our initial plan was to get married in 2005 when Ian graduated with his BA Degree from Southampton. However, after just a few months of engagement, we changed our minds and made plans for our Wedding on 15 February 2003 .... 2005 was too long to wait .... we were, though, going to wait until 2005 for the honeymoon. And at last the time is here. We are pleased to be able to announce that Ian has finished University with a 2:1 BA in Archaeology. An excellent result. Now for the honeymoon. So the planning took 3 years, with many places in the World put on the list. They are so numerous that I won't put them all down here, suffice to say they included the USA, Micronesia and Australia, all of which have stayed on the list, however the places we are visiting have greatly reduced from the original in order to have a reasonable amount of time in each. The itinerary is as follows:
Gatwick→Houston→Los Angeles		overnight
Los Angeles→Hawaii		1 week
Hawaii→Guam→Yap		1 week
Yap→Guam→Truk		7 days liveaboard diving, 4 days on Island
Truk→Guam→Cairns		overnight
Cairns→Sydney→Forster		4 nights
Forster→Sydney		5 nights
Sydney→Perth		5 nights
Perth→Darwin - 4WD trek		24 days
Darwin		2 nights
Darwin→Cairns		2nights
Cairns→Townsville		Barrier Reef & Coral Sea Liveaboard diving
Townsville		2 nights
Townsville→Sydney→Adelaide		6 days
Adelaide→Kuala Lumpur→Singapore		4 days
Singapore→Kuala Lumpur→Heathrow		Home


We missed the original connection so a restaurant called to us..... The menu at Houston Airport while we waited for our connection	We were greeted at the airport.. in true Hawaiian style	The kids' birthday present to Dad... real Hawaiian shirt and shorts!!
on Waikiki Beach	and paddling in the warm waters	not quite sure what to say about this one... I think you can draw your own conclusions!!
Visit to Pearl Harbour and the Arizona Memorial	the wreck is visible above and below the surface	The memorial
Then we went diving ... and here are some piccies	a very nice starfish
One of the 3 turtles
	On Wednesday we toured around Oahu
Hawaii 5 O	Pineapple Farm
Then we visited the North Shore Surfing Beaches - but there wasn't any surf at this time of year!

Japanese Temple	with Buddha	and Black Swan
On Thursday we took a flight to Hawaii Big Island to see the volcanoes
Up at 3am	Awake on Big Island	The Orchid Farm
in many colours	and varieties	and more...
Black sand beach	with turtles	and more turtles
Rainbow Falls	and again	in the volcano
over the edge	sulphur flow	heat from deep down
old lava flow	steam vent	crater in a crater
Next stop Yap
With the luggage	on the plane	Arrival in Yap

Dive Day 1 - Manta Ray Cleaning Station
They swooped in from everywhere		The Mantas were queuing up for a turn at being cleaned up
at one point...	there were five or six of them	waiting for their turn
Dive Day 2 - Yap Point
into the blue	with the sharks	who come when called
tuna	and more sharks
blenny		blue christmas tree
eel	fire dart fish	lizard fish
As dusk set in we set off for Rainbow Reef and the Mandarin fish who come out to mate... and they did!!

and then we had dinner .... and this is the restaurant!
Dive Day 3 - Yap Caverns
Clown Parrot fish	Clear tubeworm	Lionfish
Nudibranc	Whitetip	------ The next day we rested from diving and went kayaking in the Mangroves
Next stop - Truk Lagoon (Chuuk)
Before Truk 25m was normal - 35m was deep Now 40m is normal - 55m is deep!!
Blue Lagoon Resort	Blue Lagoon Resort Beach stretches into the Lagoon	Heading out to join Thorfinn
Thorfinn; home for the next 7 nights	Our first sunset on Thorfinn	On the deck ... the hot tub!!
the actual diving took place from the smaller diveboats	1807 - Sankisan Maru	1907 - Ubai Maru
1907 - Unkai Maru	1907 - Unkai Maru	2007 - Emily Flying Boat
2007 - Rio de Janeiro	2007 - Rio de Janeiro	2007 - Rio de Janeiro Bottles on deck
2007 - Rio de Janeiro	2107 - Fujikawa Maru Our Guide - trying on the gas mask!	2107 - Fujikawa Maru Ahoy there captain!
2107 - Fujikawa Maru The big gun	2107 - Fujikawa Maru	2107 - Heian Maru
2107 - Heian Maru Unexploded shells	2107 - Heian Maru crockery	2207 - Yamigiri Maru more unexploded shells
2207 - Yamigiri Maru Tomato Clownfish	2307 - Kiyusomi Maru Bottles and tins	2307 - Kiyusomi Maru
2307 - Kiyusomi Maru	2407 - Kansho Maru	2407 - Kansho Maru
2407 - Kansho Maru	2507 - Betty Bomber	2507 - Betty Bomber ----------------------
2507 - Betty Bomber the propeller	2507 - Betty Bomber	It was on one of the above wrecks, at approximately 52m, we met one of these fellows (Unfortunately our cameras aren't rated to that depth) It was 3½-4m long and had a good look at us before disappearing. It was a very interesting set of decompression stops wondering whether it was going to appear again!! --------------------
Chuukese dancing on deck	After the dive, a soak in the hot tub on deck was just what was needed	Some of the guys on board
Next Leg of the Journey ... Australia
One night stop at the Cairns Colonial Club	The plane from Sydney to Forster wasn't exactly big!	We stayed with Diane & Don in Forster ------ Mitchell & Lara visited from Newcastle for a barbecue on Sunday
Crowdy Lighthouse	Wonderful beaches around Forster	and another
The Green Cathedral	Views around Forster	and more... FANTASTIC
... and then back to Sydney ...
We arrived back in Sydney on Tuesday evening..		...and stayed with Kerry & David ¬on our way to climb the bridge.......
And we climbed the Bridge		And after we needed a Beer!!
At Darling Harbour	Lunch at Nicks ... We finally tried "bugs"... yum!!	Palm Beach... where "Home & Away" is filmed
	View from the Newport Arms	Lunch with Mia (who we have since heard now has a little brother!)
Going to work in Sydney!! What a perfect start to the day	Ian and the Opera House	Opera House and Bridge
Between the heads	The Heads - Entrance to Sydney Harbour	View over the Harbour
Sheep Shearing	Ian & Roos	Zoe & Koala
Sleepy head	Our last night in Sydney with friends Julie and Mia	Julie Clayton Jeff... ...let there be light
David & Kerry as we wave goodbye from the bus	Then off on then next leg of our journey....	Flight No QF577
Next stop ... Perth
Dessert at the Duxton Hotel	The Clock Tower
But I wonder where!!!		View from the wharf
View from our hotel window	The wharf	On the way to Rottnest Island
a skink	Osprey's nest	ride to the big gun
Zoe & the big gun	Ian & the big gun	whale watching .. and we did see them .. albeit in the distance
making friends with the Quokkas	Very friendly Quokka	"Are you trying to take a picture of me ... let me look into the lens ..."
Visit to Freo	Chamber of Commerce	Maritime Museum
Whaling boat	the sub
Remains of Batavia	Carlton Cold at Joe's	Harbour at night
And last day in Perth ... river wine cruise ... yum	cheers	home from home!
	and this was just one vineyard!!!
7am start and we are off on the next leg to 4WD Trek up the West Coast from Perth to Darwin
Day 1 Home for the next 10 days - quite a long drive today to reach Kalbarrie for our first nights stop	On the way we stopped to see The Pinnacles	here's one that looks like a koala!!
This is only a little one	Then on for another few k's before we stopped for lunch	First night stop at Kalbarrie Backpackers
Day 2 Zoe abseiling in Kalbarrie National Park	Ian abseiling in Kalbarrie National Park	One of the girls "just hanging around"
Ian in the Gorge at "Z bend"	Zoe negotiating a rock ledge	Getting out of the gorge
Natures Window	The "Dunny" ... the outback toilet	On our way to Monkey Mia we stopped at Shell Beach
It is made up of millions of these little cockle shells	We passed through Denham on the way to Monkey Mia which is on the other side of the peninsula	Dinner at Monkey Mia
Day 3 Ian feeding the dolphins	Then a boat ride to spot more dolphins ... and we did dolphins chasing the boat	Ian in the drag net
--------------- Next stop .. Hamlin Pool .. to see the Stromatolites	Jim, our driver/guide, found a Thorny Devil for us to see	"It's a long straight road"
We stopped the night at Warroora Sheep Station .. ..where the horses came to meet us..	..as we sat around the camp fire	Day 4 Sunrise at Warroora Station
Then we were off to Coral Bay, where we spent the day snorkelling from a glass bottom boat and fish feeding before Quad biking over to Turquoise Bay	At Turquoise Bay	Quad Biking
Then we headed off to Exmouth where we stayed for 2 nights	Day 5 Stefan, Ian and I spent all day diving. 2 on the Ningaloo Reef and a twilight dive at the Navy Pier (including my deepest entry from 3 metres up! The marine life was exceptional... sea snakes Wobbegong sharks, potato cod, black tip sharks, manta rays, frog fish amongst others. Unfortunately no photos as the housing flooded.	Day 6 We headed off for another long day's drive to Karijini National Park, where we were going to bush camp Collecting fire wood for our first bush camp
unfortunately it rained so we went to a camp site - at least the cooking facilities were under cover First nights camp!!	Day 7 At Fern Pool ... what does he look like! All he needs is a raincoat and deckchair!!	Fern Pool
On the way to Circular Pool	Circular Pool	River crossing
In the gorge... Then off to set up our first bush camp	Day 8 Termite Mound	More walks in Karinjini National Park Look at the view
It's a long way down there	At the top....	We headed off to Spa Pool And at the bottom... went for a swim ... its a bit cold!
...but she's in at last	...and its not too bad after a while	Hammersley Ranges then off to set up our next bush camp
Day 9 After a long drive (about 20k) we reached out next stop 80 mile beach - we couldn't decide if it was suppose to be 80 miles wide as well, the tide went out so far you could only just see the sea!!	Sunset on 80 mile beach	Barbecue at 80 mile beach
Day 10 and sunrise the next morning	a white peacock at one of the roadhouses we stopped at	At our lunch stop we met this chap, John Ellis, who is cycling around Australia 5 times .....
He started in 2001 and has completed 3 circuits already	And then we were at Broome where we stay until Thursday	We went to see the Pearl Luggers
And another one	And then the museum	Part of a sea plane sunk in the war in Broome


View from our room at the Cable Beach Club Resort	Dinner at the Sunset Bar - what a view!	At the Backpackers in Broome
cheap champagne!!	and after an iced coffee for Ian	and a friendly frog!!! And he is a real one!
Cable Beach Club	Cable Beach Club	Then it was Thursday and we left the luxury for the tents again
Day 14 When Jim arrived to pick us up at 7am we had a new transport	We have done a few kms since we left Perth...	...and we have a few more to do before we reach Darwin!
We were on our way to Windjana Gorge to camp for the night. On the way we stopped to see the Prison Boab Tree where they keep Aboriginals who were being transported to Broome to dive for Pearls	A rather large dinosaur dropping ..... otherwise known as a termite mound	The entrance to Windjana Gorge
	The river only usually flows during the wet	This is as near as I'm getting!
me too!	Their freshies and suppose not to be THAT dangerous....	.... but I don't like the look of those teeth!!
Around the campfire	Then we had some bush games ... pick up the packet in your teeth but your knees and hands must not touch the ground!!	Carmello in action
Day 15 We headed off to Tunnel Creek where Pidgeon, an aboriginal freedom fighter, lived until he was caught and killed near the cave	Tunnel Creek	There was quite a walk through the river inside the cave. We did wonder what else was in the water ... there were bats hanging from the roof of the cave. Then we had a long drive to our next walk and camp site at Bells Gorge
Bells Gorge, where we had a lovely swim	some of the girls	Day 16 We had a long drive to Drysdale and the King Edward River. On way we chatted with a local
Drysdale	..and a phone in a fridge!	But in the bus for the rest of the journey to our camp site at King Edward River
Our camp for 2 nights at King Edward's River	...and sunrise over our bath for the next 2 nights	Day 17 We had a long bumpy ride to get to Mitchell Falls and the Plateau ... it was a 2 hour walk up to the top pool..
...but it was very worthwhile when we got there	four of us took the easy way back down..	and what a fantastic view of Mitchell Falls we got ..... if only there had been some water flowing .... it had finally dried up last week!!! -------------
Day 18 We set off early heading back to Drysdale and our campsite at Miners Pool. On the way visited an Aboriginal Art site Miners Pool (bath)	The site	Some art
open air dunny	some more art	Day 18 Now we are on the way to El Questro ..just how much space do you need!
On the way we had to cross the Pentecost River at "Bluey O'Malley's crossing"	The crossing.... we just had to watch out for salties.... (salt water crocs)	Stefan's chilling out!!!
It was another long drive, but once there we headed off for a walk and a swim	El Questro Gorge	and the Swimming Hole
Day 19 We got up early to see the sunrise...	...and I gave it a helping hand	Then we made tracks to the next stop at Kunnanara, but on the way we visited the Spa Pool The water was 34°C
Day 20 We left camp early and headed off to the Bungle Bungles	Into the Gorge.. we did the dome walk and the start of Piccaninny Creek ----------------------	Then we did a helicopter flight over the Bungle Bungles
Fabulous view from the air		We then walked into Echidna Chasm Ian in Echidna Chasm
Zoe in Echidna Chasm	Day 21 Turkey Creek Roadhouse and some interesting petrol pumps!	About 20 minutes out of Turkey Creek we had a radiator hose burst... Jim got a lift back to Turkey Creek, while the rest of us sat under a tree.
Day 22 A long drive again today after Jim got the hose temporarily fixed Before we left we took a group photo around Aki's tent - it was her birthday!	we has a short walk into the Hidden Valley	Great view
Bush fire not far from the town	an interesting stop at at roadhouse where a few microlites were filling up with gas!!	At Lake Argyle
It was 38°C up here!	Lake Argyle is the largest manmade lake in Australia	Dorothy and John
Day 23 Crossing the border		At roadhouse, Ian spotted this sign
...and then this one!!!	Fabulous sunset	Our final night around the campfire playing spoons
Marc was the champ!	Day 24 We took a helicopter flight over Katherine and this is one of the gorges	Katherine River
And again	Katherine River	Swimming in Katherine River
the final lunch at Katherine	Bower Bird waiting for a mate	And then we were in Darwin, where we arranged to meet for.. The Last Supper
	Darwin Monday 05 September View from our hotel	the swimming pool
Chilling out! The 3rd floor balcony is ours	Next stop.. ..Cairns.. 06 September 2005 Up at 03:30 for a 06:00 flight Although arriving early we booked some things to do for today and tomorrow	As we hadn't had much time to sleep ... we finished off the beer from last night at the airport!
We booked a trip up to Kuranda by Skytrain	From the cable car we saw some kids being taught how to throw a boomerang	Looking back down
Looking down on the rain forest		Baron Falls
Baron Falls	The Baron River	There were walks through the rain forest at two stops on the way up
Above the rainforest	There we are ... high above the rain forest	At Kuranda... ...seats are made of old rails
Kuranda Hotel	Kuranda Railway Station This was our route back down	All aboard
The Train	The view	07 September Visit to the Rainforest
The Barron River	Ian and Davies Falls	The Rainforest
Strangler Vine	Afternoon visit to Hartleys Creek Stroking a baby croc...	Getting wet
Feeding time	This young lad has a python round his neck... think I'll give that a miss!	And a lovely little koala
This little chap had a preference for rubber shoe soles!	Tomorrow, 08 September, we get on the boat for the Barrier Reef diving with Mike Ball Dive Expeditions	We were welcomed on board by the Captain and Crew
	... and after we found our rooms we had supper	09 September We travelled overnight on boat to the dive site for a couple of dives at Steve's Bommie.
Dive Brief ... It's a bit early!!	---------- 0909 Steve's Bommie
Fire Dart Fish ----------	Clownfish Clownfish ------	Zoe
Flashing Clam -----		Jack
Fusiliers	Squirrelfish	Coral
--------- 1009 Challenger's Bay

1009 Pixie Pinnacle

1109 The Cod Hole
	Zoe and the File Fish
12 September Lizard Island to Cairns	Super Sport	The Crew
The Gang	We left the boat and waited on Lizard Island for our plane ride back to Cairns .... where we met the Islands namesake →	Lizard of Lizard Island
13 September Cairns to Townsville where we picked up Spoil Sport for the Coral Sea trip .....	.....but as we didn't meet the boat until 8pm, we went White Water Rafting on the Tully River for the day	.....and yes, we did get very wet, great fun though
Here's the route	We're not worried .....	... ahh
...hold on tight	...where are they?	and we survived
	-------- Then we joined Spoil Sport The first sunset
1409 Aims Bommie
1409 Dead Calm free fall!
1509 Yongala The wreck	One of the residents	Pufferfish and friend
	Sea snakes are a common inhabitant of this wreck	Clownfish on top of the wreck
1709 Coral Cay	The ride ashore	Pulling the boat in
One of the Islands inhabitants - A hermit crab	...and then it was time for champagne with another one of those fabulous Australian sunsets..
1809 Scuba Zoo Today was Shark feeding day	Best view was from the top of the cage	...and the sharks came in
... about 15 of them	Feeding Frenzy	...and then they came back to the boat for desert!!!
1909 Wheeler Reef the final day on Spoil Sport .... and we had 2 dives on this reef before heading back to Townsville..	Nice reef but a serious problem with "Crown of Thorns" attacking the coral	Buffalo Wrasse
Shell	Crayfish	Clam
	Zoe and camera -------------------
Spoil Sport	The Crew	The Gang
and finally.... the luggage	Townsville for 2 nights then next stop Adelaide	On the plane
We had a very nice room at the Stamford Plaza on the Executive Floor	We thought these guys were interesting in Adelaide City	and I nearly walked off with this little beauty
Wandering around the City and Ian romantically gave Zoe a single rose...	Train service was very good	and a visit to the trains
This reminds me of the Hogwarts train ----------		And, of course, a visit to the Maritime Museum
... which was very interesting		and the boat from above ------------
There were some good accounts of passages out to Australia	...and some great boats	Our time in Adelaide wouldn't have been complete without a wine tasting trip...
...and we did...taste loads	well, not quite that many!!!
	We had lunch on the "Proud Mary" and a trip up the "Murray River"
that's the paddle
		This one is called "Marion" and you can do liveaboard River trips on her
	------------------	And we visited the Museum
and found this old steam engine	and the excavation of a drydock ..... Ian was in his element ... he would loved to have got down there in the mud!!! ======	there was some nice architecture too ---------------------
Now we're nearing the end.... how can it have gone so quickly	Next stop Singapore	I tried to convince immigration that I was happy to stay as long as they wanted but they said I had to go ... oh well
So here we are in Singapore	A very pretty butterfly on a glass door --------	Hold on tight ... here we go
We took a trip over to Sentosa Island by cable car	View over Sentosa	----------- First stop the butterfly enclosure ... with terrapins
and lots of beautiful butterflies		..and pretty bridges ------------
Then the aquarium Nautilus	Piranha	big moray
	leafy sea dragon	------ Then Ian fancied a cuddle... with the snakes
... Zoe wasn't as keen	and a lizard	cheers
Singapore from Sentosa		Back on the mainland .. by the fountain
Chinatown ---------------	Going Shopping	We had a boat tour around Singapore harbour on the Chinese Junk "Cheng Ho"

--------- and we visited Kusu Island -----------------------	and we saw a canoe race in progress	Our Last night and there was only one place to go The Long Bar at Raffles
for Singapore Slings	....and here they are Singapore Slings at Raffles	and us enjoying them
	Raffles	View of the swimming pool from our room
...One final look around the shops	And that's it Singapore to Kuala Lumpur Kuala Lumpur to Heathrow	A wonderful 3 months in some fantastic places who could ever have wished for a better HONEYMOON
	And now BACK TO THE REAL WORLD!