From the sleepy town of 1770 on the East Coast of Australia is a thrilling adventure to be had. 1770 is slow and I was feeling rather upbeat and wanted to do something a bit crazy. The tour driver was going through a list of things to do when the words “zero gravity” made my ears prick up.

The Aerobatic flight is something you have to do if you are travelling along the East Coast of Australia. Considering what it is involved it’s an absolute bargain!

Experiencing zero gravity is one of the things on my bucket list and I was thrilled to tick it off. It is the strangest feeling being completely weightless and just start rising off your seat. Incredible! Not only do you get to feel zero gravity several times but you do some pretty awesome adrenaline pumping twists and turns over the scenery below.

If that wasn’t enough you get to land on the beach above, go for a swim, play on the sand and eat fresh oysters straight from the rocks. You literally have the whole place to yourself.

The Aerobatic flight is great value for money, an incredible experience and I would highly recommend that you do it if you are in 1770 and have an afternoon spare.

Ask at any of the hostels to book you on or check here for more details.

Finally, a recording from one of the flights made it into Rude Tube’s Top 100. If you are just about to eat dinner or are generally just get queasy easily I wouldn’t recommend watching this. What goes down must come up… in negative G’s anyway…

This photo was taken in Nimbin, Australia. I like the message, particularly effective on broken glass.

Cheddar, Mozzarella, Edam and the Neighbours Tour. Yes all types of cheese! It’s loveable, fun and let’s be honest; it’s Neighbours!

Although the Neighbours Night and Neighbours Tour are two separate events, I would suggest you do both for the full Neighbours experience.

Let’s start from the top shall we…

As you sit on the bus on the way to the infamous Ramsay Street you can’t help but get excited. It might be the knowledgeable, enthusiastic tour guide (Gerry, legend) or it might be the clips from old Neighbours episodes (request the weddings and deaths video, strangely hilarious), either way you are pumped and ready to go.

Being on Ramsay Street is a bit surreal and it’s strange to think how excited everyone gets about seeing a street. As you can see from the picture below I got a bit excited about seeing the Kennedy’s house.

You also get the chance to meet one of the cast. We had the pleasure of meeting Kate Ramsay (Ashleigh Brewer). The tour guide asked the group if everyone knew who she was. I must admit I haven’t watched the show in a while and had no clue. Out of the fear of being mobbed by outraged fans I smiled and nodded with everyone else who of course knew who she was. It wasn’t a particularly rushed affair either which was nice. Everyone had the chance to get their picture taken and ask questions or generally pick up Ashleigh. N.B Ask their permission first.

The Neighbours Night is where things get really interesting. The build up on the night is manic with screaming fans and such a fun atmosphere. You can’t help but be sucked in to the hysteria.

When Karl Kennedy (Alan Fletcher) arrives the room explodes. The man has been doing Neighbours Night for six years and has not lost any of his enthusiasm. Everyone in the room (myself included) had the pleasure of meeting Alan. As I extended my hand to greet the man my outside voice boomed “pleasure to meet you” where as in my head I was screaming like a little girl “oh my days it’s Karl Kennedy!”

I know right. I should be embarrassed. I’m really not… it was Karl Kennedy! The man is charismatic and has such an energy about him which you certainly get to see when he performs in his band; Waiting Room.

If you are in Melbourne this really is a must see. I would highly recommend both tours but if I had to pick one I would go with the Neighbours Night.

Both of these tours can be booked exclusively through Bunyip Tours.

Enjoy!

In the last six months I have seen and done many things. Fraser Island ranks incredibly high on my list of favourites. It doesn’t matter that I ate my own body weight in sand or lost my flip flops (why did you have to leave me?), Fraser Island is incredible!

Fraser Island has so much to offer and is a must see if you are travelling the East Coast of Australia. Lake McKenzie rivals the beaches of Whitehaven, Lake Wabby has beautiful emerald water and the views from Indian Head are stunning. Throw in Dingos trying to break into your camp and more sand then you can shake a bucket and spade at and you have an incredible experience.

You’ll also never have a better chance to watch the stars. It’s as quiet as you want it to be and you can see every star in the sky. I spent hours one night watching shooting stars. I made a lot of wishes that night, let’s hope they come true.

Anyway enough banter. Watch this and be jealous…

Flight to Melbourne, $280. Neighbours Tour, $50. Balancing on my head holding the Ramsay St sign between my feet outside the Kennedy’s household, Priceless!

This post was guest authored by Keith & Amy Sutter from GreenAroundTheGlobe.com. They are currently traveling the world for a year documenting efforts in sustainability.

Expanding on Amar’s experience in Kuta, Bali I wanted to showcase what else Bali and the nearby Gili Islands have to offer as part of a trip to Indonesia.

Our first stop after arriving at Bali’s Ngurah Rai Airport was Ubud. Ubud is Bali’s artistic and cultural center and is only a 90-minute taxi ride from the Australian packed party scene in Kuta. One great way to see the surrounding countryside outside Ubud is a day-long bike tour. The tour starts with breakfast overlooking an active volcano, Mt. Batur, then heads out on a 25K downhill ride that snakes its way through picturesque rice paddies and local villages. The destination is a delicious traditional Balinese lunch. Be sure to try the smoked duck, it takes all night to make but it is worth it!

Another great way to experience Balinese culture is to take a cooking class. We took a half-day class that started with a visit to the Ubud local market. Besides learning about the local spices and vegetables, the chef also told us about collecting delicious (his opinion) rice paddy eels on his days off. I was thankful that eel was not on the menu later in the class after getting a close up look at the ones in the market.

After getting your dose of Balinese culture and food be sure to hit the famous beaches. If you are avoiding Kuta, there are plenty of other great options. We first traveled three hours by bus from Ubud to the port town of Padang Bai. If you are interested in scuba diving this is a great place to spend a day or two. The diving right off the beaches is excellent, and you also have access from Padang Bai to the WWII USS Liberty wreck. The wreck is unique in that it is in very shallow water allowing nearly an hour of bottom time to explore and swim through the large pass throughs.

From Padang Bai you can easily get to the Gili Islands via the fast ferry. DO NOT make the mistake we did by taking the slow ferry. Spend the extra $35 per person and take the direct fast ferry, which gets you to the Gilis in two hours vs. the nearly 12 hours it takes to go door-to-door on the hot, frustrating and extremely slow ferry. For the Gilis, if you are looking for a quiet and secluded island, head to Gili Air, the easternmost of the Gili Islands.

We stayed on the eastern shore of Gili Air and the snorkeling 15 meters from the beach was some of the best we had seen since our time at the Red Sea in Dahab, Egypt. The beach was nearly deserted all day, making for great relaxing days spent reading and soaking up the sun. We ended each night with dinner at Biba Beach Café, which is run by an Italian ex-pat who serves up fresh pasta and very crisp thin crust pizza. Taking in a blazing red sunset over delicious pasta may not be the most authentic Indonesian experience but it is amazing nonetheless. All of this is a world away from the non-stop party of Kuta, so be sure to get a taste of both Balis before leaving Indonesia.

This picture was taken in the Kanchanaburi Memorial. A War Cemetery designed by Colin St Clair Oakes, it commemorates 5,000 Commonwealth and 1,800 Dutch casualties of war.

Is it wrong that as I am sat in the Crocoseum watching the Crocodile feeding, I wonder if the reptile will get the better of Terri Irwin? Probably, but hey it would make for an interesting show!

Coming from Asia, Australia Zoo on face value can seem like a bit of a letdown. I’ve strolled into bear enclosures, walked tigers and put a snake down my shorts. In Australia they tend to have health and safety laws. It makes watching a tiger show from 20 metres away, behind a glass wall seem a little dull in comparison.

I feel that Australia Zoo isn’t really about that though. It’s about one man: Steve Irwin.

The Wildlife Warrior, was and still is, a national icon and the Zoo is a testament to his life’s work. Australia Zoo currently houses over 2000 animals and employs 600 staff. From the staff I met I could tell they loved the work they do.

I can’t say that I knew much about Steve Irwin but having done my research I can see why he was loved and respected so much. A whole host of awards, medals, honours, a professorship along with the foundations, charities and services he either founded or supported just goes to show how deeply he believed in environmentalism and conservation.

The 28 hectare zoo boasts a great array of animals, has a great family feel and has enough shows and attractions to make a great day of it. You can get to the zoo from places such as Brisbane or Surfers Paradise.

Money Saving Tip: Go to Australia Zoo from Noosa!

Australia Zoo runs a free bus service to and from the Zoo from the bus station in Noosa. Ask at any of the hotels or hostels to reserve you a spot. You only have to pay the admission price.

If you go to Australia Zoo be sure to check out the Crocodile feeding and the Tiger show.

Anyone else go to Australia Zoo? What did you think?

If you ask anyone what kind of music they listen to you will never get a straight answer. In all fairness you wouldn’t get a definitive answer out of me either.

If you have ever shared a dorm room with me you will know two things; I am notorious for skipping tracks after 30 seconds and I stick songs on repeat for ages.

The first thing I do in the morning is put on music. It’s a ritual of sorts. I constantly find myself charging my mp3 player as it is always on. Music is a big part of my life; it is a great source of inspiration. My only regret is that I never learnt to play an instrument.

Nevertheless I thought I would share with you the songs that have been keeping me going on the road these last few months.

They are all associated with people or moments. Who or what, I’ll never tell…

What songs remind you of travelling? Leave a commet.

Wouldn’t it be great if an international travel company gave you the trip of a lifetime, spending the summer travelling across 8 countries which includes Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Brazil and the US? Wouldn’t it be even better if you could do all this for free? That’s right free!

As STA’s World Travel Intern programme comes back around again this year I caught up with one of last year’s winners; Lindsay Clark.

Hey Lindsay, from your blog looks like you’ve been really busy, what have you been up to lately?

I’ve been limping around the Highlands of Viti Levu because I keep kicking rocks while hiking. I’m hanging out in Fiji, trying to create a volunteer-based project for a community I’ve grown attached to: Nakavika. Who knows if it can come together or if we must reformat the whole deal, but I’ve spent the last two months trying…all while having a grand time with some fun kids.

What would be the highlight of your time as a STA Travel Intern?

The highlight was the job itself, but I could also say the lion sightings in East Africa or the sky dive in South Africa. The real thrill came when I returned to my hotel room and put together something that encapsulated the stellar country I was in. To continuously think, "I’m getting free travel" in exchange for some stories and videos…that was the best.

Your video was incredibly entertaining. Do you have any advice for this year’s applicants?

Make something you would willingly watch over and over…and as would a stranger. Don’t settle with for first video you create…let it be a first draft and make it bigger and better from there. I made 9 drafts before the final video came to be. Think about the first 10 seconds of your video and whether it would draw in someone with ADD. Use less common music that appeals to most people – get people bobbing their heads involuntarily. Remember that the position is about being an inspiration. Don’t calm the viewer down…pump them up. And by applying for the WTI, it’s implied that you love travelling. Saying it even once is redundant, and what time you have to impress the judges is vital. Don’t waste it saying things they can already guess about you.

Finally, a lot of my readers dream of travelling and never get round to doing so. What would you say to them?

Even for the weathered nomad, clicking the "submit" button or giving the travel agent the go-ahead is the hardest moment in planning a trip. You’re supposed to have that choking feeling when you think, "This could be a really bad idea." I’ve never regretted a trip I’ve taken. I’ve regretted time spent bored.

And to reiterate what everyone says:
- It’s never the right time, so go now.
- The vast majority of the time, you don’t miss much at home.
- Travel when you’re young and can handle an Indian sleeper train car or a nasty bout of Giardia.

If you want to get more information or better yet apply, click here or check out the video below.

Below is the Top 50 Travel Twitters. It is a mixture of media, corporate and independent travel blogs offering tweets on anything from green travel to cheap flights. I don’t believe that the number of twitter followers equates to a better Twitter and as such the list below is very subjective and not in any particular order.

I personally follow each and every one of these Twitters. If there any gems I have missed leave a comment. Finally, as these lists take considerable time to compile, if you found this useful, please re-tweet.

1. EverywhereTrip
2. AlmostFearless
3. MatadorNetwork
4. Gadling
5. NomadicMatt
6. NomadicNotes
7. TravelFish
8. NewYorkology
9. LATimesTravel
10. HotelChatter

11. Heather Poole
12. Twitchhiker
13. TravelChannel
14. Tripology
15. TravelEditor
16. FodorsTravel
17. GuardianTravel
18. CNTraveler
19. Travelzoo
20. FrugalTraveler

21. RoughGuides
22. Black_Tomato
23. TravelRants
24. Soultravelers3
25. HappyHotelier
26. Deliciousbaby
27. itravelnet
28. TravlandLeisure
29. Nomads_Hostels
30. TravelingGreen

31. EguideTravel
32. Kathika
33. LonelyPlanet
34. TheTravelEditor
35. Hostelworld
36. AdventureLive
37. Traveldudes
38. VacationTribe
39. TripAdvisor
40. Crankyflier

41. TravelSavvyMom
42. Galavanting
43. Jetsetlife
44. Wanderluster
45. Vagabondish
46. Elliottdotorg
47. ARoadRetraveled
48. TheTravelTart
49. TwavelTweeter
50. EWanderlust

The Twitters below didn’t quite make it into the top 50 however I still feel that they deserved a mention.

BudTravel
Worldhum
Xebidy
WorldReviewer
Wandermom
TravelMuse
HipCompass
GreenTravelHub
AwayBlog
GoGreenTraveler
Karasw
Velvetescape
Foxnomad

Alcohol, anonymity, exotic locations and a lack of inhibitions; it’s going to happen. Holding hands you stumble back to your hostel, stealing glances, the occasional kiss and then it occurs to you; where do we go?

Hostel sex is one of those topics that a lot of people cringe at and yet the amount times I have been woken from my sleep just goes to show; someone is having hostel sex!

Outdoors

If you don’t mind the great outdoors this may be the one for you. Abandon the hostel altogether and head down the beach. There may also be somewhere in the hostel that could be suitable like a garden or rooftop.

Possible dangers: Sand getting in places it isn’t meant to be.

Showers

A favourite in a lot of hostels, the showers offer privacy provided you keep the sound down. Use the girls, it smells better apparently. For extra comfort check if the hostel has a disabled shower. It tends to have more room and handy ledges.

Possible dangers: Slippery when wet.

Kitchen

Most hostel kitchens close after a certain time so provided you can get in you shouldn’t be disturbed. There is the potential that you might be interrupted by someone sneaking in a for midnight snack. But seriously, people eat in there and from what I have witnessed backpackers have no qualms about eating and preparing food on the kitchen surfaces. Is this really the right thing to do?

Possible dangers: That isn’t mayonnaise.

Laundry Room

Normal people don’t tend to do their laundry at 2am making it an ideal hideout. For added thrills try turning on the washing machine.

Possible dangers: Security cameras. Some hostels have been known to have weekly viewings of the shameless acts of debauchery.

Storage Cupboard

Not exactly built for comfort but it serves its purpose. Unless you are short might be advisable to give this one a miss. They don’t tend to smell nice either. Better make it quick.

Possible dangers: Broomsticks, linen, bleach and other such objects falling from the shelves.

TV Room

This really does depend on the hostel. Some TV rooms are used more than others and some more open. I would hope that you would be wise enough to use your own judgement. More practical than some of your other options; crank up the volume to drown out any sounds and use the sofas for comfort.

Possible dangers: Insomniacs.

Dorm Room

This should really be a last resort and should only be used if the timing is right. Here’s a clue: if there are people in the room, it’s the wrong time! People are not above turning on the lights and shaming you or throwing things in your general direction. Return from a night out early and you should find the room empty.

Possible dangers: The girl who left her camera and has come back to get it.

It has come to my attention that some people are using this as a checklist…

Glad I coud help.

I’m on the edge. My heart beats harshly against my chest as adrenaline surges through my body. Not even my pride can stop me from admitting that I am petrified. Fear grips me and I am immobilised. Unable to do anything. What the hell am I doing?

Having decided that one day of tubing was enough I wanted to see what else the surrounding areas of Vang Vieng had to offer. A short tuk tuk ride away was the Blue Lagoon. Taking a break from the usual idle pastime of watching friends in a lie down bar, I thought the Blue Lagoon sounded like a pleasant idea.

After a rather bumpy ride through some picturesque countryside we arrived at the Blue Lagoon. There are some caves close by so off we went exploring donning some trendy head torches. Deep in the caves we tried turning off the lights and walking round in the pitch black. I wouldn’t recommend it.

Making it safely out of the cave the Blue Lagoon awaited. There is a tall tree right above the lagoon and as we approached there were some people jumping off the tree. Seemed like a good idea to me!

I paced up the length of the tree manoeuvring to the top with ease, edged along to the overhang and took it all in. Then it hit me. This was not a good idea.

Amar you are afraid of heights. What part of this did you think was a good idea? I was stuck. My pride wouldn’t allow me to back down and yet my fear wouldn’t allow me to jump. I tried counting down; 1, 2…3….3…..3…….3…nothing. Time started to drag and even worse I was standing in between where some ants were and where they wanted to be. The length of a fingernail, these red ants were painful little nippers. The painful bites would make most people either want to jump or at the very least fall out the tree. Still nothing.

Time started to drag and a small crowd had started to form as they casual ate lunch and gazed up at the idiot who was stuck in a tree. The tuk tuk drivers had also gathered on the small bridge to have a giggle. My audience even started to either taunt me or offer words of encouragement. The longer I stayed up the less likely it was I was going to jump. After an hour it was time to go. I either had to jump or climb down. It pains me to say it, I climbed down. I sat in the tuk tuk all the way back in stunned silence, embarrassed at my inaction. A tree had bested me. I burnt with humiliation and I swore this wasn’t over.

This isn’t the end of the tale. Fast forward to a couple of months later, a tour in Queensland stopped off at a waterfall. You could either swim at the base or better yet jump off the waterfall. This was my time for redemption.

I didn’t think, I just climbed, scrambled up the rocks and mud right to the top. Standing on the edge peering down, the cascading water seemed to slow and I could hear each thud against my chest. No. You are not getting me again. Jump.

Next thing I know I am deep in the water kicking upwards. I break the surface like an Olympic diver winning a gold medal. The cards read; 10, 10, 10. I bloody did it! I had finally redeemed myself.

A lot of people don’t have an irrational fear of heights and would quite happily jump off a cliff or ride a rollercoaster. I am not one of those people. Jumping off that waterfall was a personal triumph, my own victory over my personal demons.

My leap of faith was quite a literal one but what jumps have you made recently? Buy that one way ticket to Australia, tell that person you love them, go for that dream job, and write that book you never started. Don’t get stuck in a tree.

Jump.

Maybe you’re about to set off on your travels or maybe you are just day dreaming at the moment. It’s good to have reliable resources to use.

I give you the Top 10 Travel Websites!

Gapyear.com

The ability of this website to inform is not merely down to its content but also due to its large membership base and very active forums. It is especially good for meeting fellow travellers.

Travelfish.org

A great site for anyone travelling to Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia or Malaysia. Fantastic source for independent and current travel advice for this part of the world.

Hostelworld.com

Need to book a hostel anywhere in the world? Look no further.

Tripadvisor.org

Long established site featuring independent travellers’ reviews on the best places to stay.

Couchsurfing.org

Originally a source for backpackers to bag a sofa for the night, this website has bloomed into a social network allowing you to meet locals in different parts of the globe. Geared more towards the younger generation but gaining interest from the older folk.

Lonelyplanet.com

The granddaddy of travel information, this is a must. Be sure to check out the Lonely Planet Thorn Tree for advice, hints and tips.

Blacktomato.co.uk

Need inspiring, Blacktomato.co.uk is the place to go. Try hitting the ‘panic button’ for instant inspiration.

Visaexpress.co.uk

Where are you from and where are you going? Comprehensive and up-to-date visa information and requirements.

Worldtravelguide.net

A massive source of information from city breaks to skiing holidays. If you can’t find it here you weren’t looking properly.

Seatguru.com

You’ll be on a 747 for 12 hours so you’ll want to be comfortable right? Check out Seatguru.com showing you the best and worse places to sit on different aircraft.

Iwantoneofthose.com

The wild card I threw in here. When you go travelling what you really want is really cool gadgets. Whether you actually need them or not is another matter.

That’s all folks.

After a huge hippy festival in 1973, Nimbin earned itself a place on Australia’s map. With a population of 352 and an unemployment rate of 18 percent this sleepy former dairy town relies heavily on tourism.

If you are in Byron Bay and fancy a day away consider doing a little trip to Nimbin. It’s a tiny town and would take you five minutes to walk from one end to another. You’ll see plenty of free spirits, with dreadlocks roaming around in a bit of a daze or just chilling. There is also a strong smell of marijuana you just can’t escape.

Be sure to check out the museum. Despite being small and rather quirky there are some pretty powerful messages and ideologies on display.

The main attraction for a lot of tourists is the cookies. Be careful though, there is a police presence in Nimbin.

Also be careful if you’ve never had a cookie before. When momma said don’t eat it all at once she wasn’t joking. You may just end up wandering off into the middle of nowhere with a local to talk about your feelings, why the five eyed dog is singing to you and why your new pet rock doesn’t love you anymore.

Peace.