The Budget

Duncan and Rhian

Date: 15/06/2000

From April 1999 we were travelling, the experience was amazing and well worth it. We travelled to Singapore, Bali, Australia and New Zealand.

Singapore was a baptism of fire on the humidity stakes but well worth a visit. It is reasonably priced and there is plenty to see; including a great diversity of cultures, museums and general architecture. Two highlights for us were the National Museum (including the Farquhar Gallery) and Raffles Hotel. Yes, we had a Singapore Sling at Raffles. We also went looking for Farquhar Street which has been relegated to a pavement!

Bali was beautiful, if not a little run down in places. The temples are everywhere and amazing, but so are the street sellers and mangy dogs.

Australia was our main port of call. It was only possible to stay so long because of the generosity of so many people, mainly Rhi's relatives Samantha and Peter. We travelled down the East Coast from Cape Tribulation to Adelaide. Then we went to Alice Sprigs and Uluru. Then it was back to Brisbane for Christmas and New Year. We also worked in Brisbane for 3 months. It is a very beautiful, diverse country, but don't underestimate its size!

New Zealand was our final leg of the trip. In two months we managed to see most of the highlights. James also joined us for three weeks which was great fun.

Since arriving home and recovering from jet-lag and end-of-holiday-blues we have both got new jobs myself as an analyst programmer and Rhi as a quantity surveyor. We are now living together in Oxfordshire and enjoying the sensation of being paid money again.