Slumdog millionaire



Brisbane Quayside



Botanic Gardens, Brisbane

Brisbane Quayside

Had a great time living the millionaires lifestyle but decided to travel onwards and upwards after about 10 days or so. Was great watching movies in an in-house cinema, going to my own private gym in the house and ducking and diving in and out of the pool after I'd finished my work.  But one thing I can say for definite, is that money doesn't buy happiness.  The host was lovely and had a fantastic time, but was unhappy with the goings on in her life, despite the wealth and fancy lifestyle around her.  I know some of you have told me you don't believe me that I was staying there even after the link I sent, but I will post up some pics when I get near a decent computer.

Sometimes it's hard to leave these people and places, as you tend to fill a bit of a void in their lives. Yes, you work for them but you also befriend them and on most occasions you end up giving them an extra ear to listen to with their problems, or a fun night out which they may not have had in ages, or just solely for the company of someone else to talk to. Some of the stories that you end up hearing...my God, I could write a book! On all of our HelpX, everyone has wanted us to stay longer as they grow a bond with you and they enjoy the company of having others around.

So off it was up to Brisbane for 3 days to meet friends. What a great wee city. Not as busy as Sydney - much slower pace of life without the rat-race.  I managed to meet up with cousins I never knew I had. A few months back my cousins came over to Ireland searching their family tree and called upon my parents house and they found out I was travelling up the east coast of Oz so we swapped emails and I finally got to meet them and try and fill in some holes in the family tree.
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Mind you, I was pretty awful at it - I think Brian was wondering if I knew who anyone was in my family.  He would say..."So, what do you call the names of the children of your father's brothers and sisters?'... and I was like..'Emmm...not really sure, that person lives in Africa and has 2 or 3 kids, but I don't know their names'??? I mean, I think I met my uncle from Africa once when I was about 5, so that doesn't really count in my book - I completely baffled the poor man. I'm sure he wished I never got in contact. It was worse when he asked me the dates of birth and exact year of my brothers and sisters...I was sweating at this stage - think I gave him the wrong year for that too!! Talk about feeling like a complete tit at times, but I did enjoy listening to them, eating nice cake and getting to see another side of Brisbane for free.

So where am I now? Sydney, that's where. Plans to travel by bus/train further on up the coast were shelved as it's knackering doing the HelpX all the time and people want you to stay for up to 7 days at least, so I'd still be making my way up there in the year 2025.  Decided to fly back down again and join in the celebrations for Australia Day here in Sydney but if I get a chance will fly up to Cairns for a few days before I leave. Have paid work here also which starts on Monday, which is great, as Oz burns a huge hole in your pocket. If it hadn't been for HelpX I'd have had to leave here weeks ago. Have managed to make arrangements with the lovely Strongy and Stace  (who I met in S.America) to go to Uluru in mid-late February.

Have also booked my flights out of Sydney and into Bangkok, Thailand for 4th March. Even if I wanted to stay more in Oz, I couldn't as my 3 months visa is up and they'll be kicking me out of the country. Me, being me, booked the flights, had a look at the time I arrive in Bangkok and felt like slapping myself in the head. Arrive at midnight, so rather than try and find somewhere to stay (as I'll be by myself again on the road) I'll be slumming it up with the have-nots in the local airport - as long as it isn't like my airport sleep or lack of it in Santiago, then I shall be grand.

My plans?? Hope to spend about 3 days in the city of Bangkok - so far everyone is telling me it's a hole, so will then maybe try and find my way to Phuket. No idea how I'll get there, but will cross that bridge closer to the time. What will I be doing in Phuket?? Well, if I told you all you'd be thinking that it wouldn't be your idea of travel...more like torture, but is just right up my street, for those who know what I'm like. So you'll just have to wait and see!

Surfers Paradise, Queensland

The pool in the millionaires house I stayed in

Kitchen area

Jetty at the bottom of their garden

Boat



My new relatives I found from Brisbane - Judy, Brian and Joe Blaney with me!



Brisbane City from Mount Coogtha lookout

I took myself on a mangrove walk around the city - stunning!