G’Day Mate! Travel to Australia, April 25th
I cannot believe that I got to go to
Australia! It is a major thing on my
bucket list and of all the places I have been, it is one that I actually
visited in my dreams. My other trips
were planned because someone else was going there or because it sounded fun,
but since I never saw myself in Southeast Asia they are not places I have
dreamed of (or even thought of). Australia, on the other hand, is probably on
many people’s bucket list. Check!
So I plan the trip with Courtney (this
was trip A, we planned trip B and C and then came back to trip A), one of my
young friends. We vacillate between India
(too crowded and dusty) and Maldives (too romantic), the Thailand beaches (too
many choices) and Australia (just right). We hear horror stories about the cost
of Australia so try to talk ourselves out of it, but in the end- Koalas and
Kangaroos win out. We book a fairly cheap flight which entails three countries
and an over night stop (one thing I have learned in this deal is travel is fun
but flying cheaply-sucks) and we decide beaches over big cities. The east coast
is our destination partially because of our Aussie friend Diane and partially because
of The Great Barrier Reef. We fly into the Gold Coast and stay at the Marriot
Surfer’s Paradise (thanks for the Marriot points big brother) and meet up with
Diane’s wonderful son and his girl friend after beating our jet lag with the
local XXXX Gold lager and the resort lagoon (yes, I said lagoon- complete with
salt water fish and a waterfall). Is it bad to be in a city and spend all day
at the hotel resort? We have a wonderful meal at a place called Brooklyn’s
Depot https://www.facebook.com/brooklyndepotau
where I found out that they do not have “Shrimp on the Barby”. Actually, the Australians do not have shrimp-
they have prawns (which are really shrimp but they do not call them that). This was a bit disappointing as Courtney and
I had predetermined we were going to ask for “shrimp on the barby” everywhere
we went.
Day two we get on a train, then a
plane to Cairns, Australia and the Great Barrier Reef. We walk around the
little town that does not have a whole lot to offer besides the reef, some
restaurants, cute shops (and surprise- all I am drawn to are shop that have
cool things from SEA and India) and a manufactured lagoon because people cannot
swim in the ocean due to the stinger jellyfish. For approximately one month I
have been stressed out about these jellyfish. Not because I was afraid of being
stung and not because I found out there was one species that if stung by it a
person would feel panic and could die- but because of the dreaded “stinger
suit” people have to wear to protect themselves from the microscopic
beast. My mind takes me back to a
mission trip to a little hell on Earth town in Texas that has 100% humidity, is
over 100 degrees resting and where I have to shower with teenagers in an old
middle school gym. After working on a wheelchair ramp for the whole day, I was
expected to wiggle into my Miracle Suit (a swimming suit that promises the
wearer will be “10 pounds lighter in 10 seconds” because of the wonderful
spandex-like material it was made out of) to shower. Well, one can imagine how
hard it is to put a suit on with those promises after sweating profusely for
eight hours. That was my last mission trip. I digress, anywoo, I am not looking
forward in trying to get into this stinger suit.
The next day we wake up early and head
out to the Great Barrier Reef. I am so
excited. I have found that snorkeling is my favorite thing on earth and to do
it in the biggest, most beautiful reef on our planet is mind blowing. We cruise
for about an hour, chat with the staff, get our safety lessons and await the
commands to dive in. With the price of the tour a free scuba dive is included.
I forgo the wet/stinger suit (yea- all that worry for nothing), strap on the
weights, put on the tank and go down to see if my claustrophobic self can
handle it. Between my horrible head cold (my ears were still clogged from
flying) and the tiny panic attack that starts, I have to just say no to scuba
and enjoy life on the surface. It is beyond beautiful. We dive for about an
hour and come back in for the next stop. For dive two I pay $20.00 to dive with
a marine biologist. I am the only one who takes him up on his offer so I get a
one on one tour of the ocean. I hold a
sea cucumber, touch coral that I am allowed to touch, see a shark and don’t
panic because he does not and then—I am directed by the deep water photographer
to the sea turtle-right there to my left. I swim towards it and see the beauty.
WOW! The perfect day. My cheeks hurt from smiling. We have one more day in Cairns and get some
advice on what to do next. One of the crew suggests we “go croc spotting down a
river on jet skis”. We considered it for about eight hours and then after
playing the “oh crap I fell of the jet ski and now I am missing my left foot”
scenario over and over in our head, we decide to rent a car and go on a road
trip.
Our first stop is Paronella Park. A castle, a love story, a waterfall, an old
suspension bridge and over 150 types of beautiful tropical plants make for a
nice tour. http://www.cairnsattractions.com.au/explore/family-attractions/paronella-park.401.html
We stay there so long the rest of our
touring adventure is just taking in the sights of the Glass House Mountains
(and trying to remember to drive on the right side of the road). Through rain,
hairpin turns (thank goodness Courtney “I drive like a granny” is at the wheel)
we make it back to the hotel in one piece not sorry that we miss spotting
crocs.
Another plane, another train and
shuttle bus takes us to our last location- Sunshine Beach. Here we meet two of
the nicest people on the planet- Jo and Ronnie- friends of a friend- who put us
up for four nights. This part of the trip we were more like locals. By now we
have our lingo down- “How you going?” is the greeting of choice, and G’Day
rolls off the tongue like we have been saying it all our life. Besides the
talk, we have a car! Diane loans us her
car and off we go- well off we go after about 30 minutes in the middle of the
street trying to get the damn thing into reverse. Jo finally figures it out for me- and off we
go to Steve Irwin’s Zoo. I would rather call it a wild life center because I
really do not like zoos but I had to go to pet koalas and kangaroos. Oh and see
a croc or two-- and an albino Burmese Python and many other animals too
numerous to name.
We go to Umunde market, four beaches,
five small towns, a drive in the mountains, shopping and even take in a movie-
and find a Target (same logo not the same store!). I learn that Australians are
most helpful and some of the nicest people we’ve met. I learn that to them my
accent is exotic (ironic ay) and that this is most definitely a place I could
live. All in all, I am glad this was the choice we settled on. It was nice to
go somewhere I could have a conversation with everyone and where the beach was
just a block away and the mountains a few miles.
G’Day mates- time to go have a
stubbie.
Reflections so far:
1. As
I finished this blog entry I am in my office (waiting for kids to arrive so we
can finish the yearbook- I do not know how I ever got talked into this!!) and I
am looking out the window. In the
distance I see the Swedagon Pagoda- it is amazing! The phrase “same, same but
different” really applies to this place. Yes, it is in South East Asia, yes-
rice is a major part of the food offerings, but some how it is different. There
is a calm I have not found anywhere else. I am reminded of this calm as I look
out my window at this beautiful golden pagoda.
2. I
was taken back when I walked into a shop in Australia to get a coffee. I
started to speak and the shop owner said, “My, where are you from exotic
lady?” Me exotic??? I always am the one taken in by an English or
Aussie accent. I guess when you are out of your country you are not the norm.
It is so weird having someone think that an American accent is exotic.
3. Another
thing I learn about Americans not being the center of the universe is that
while we celebrate the year 2015, many other countries are celebrating the year
77 or 2072. I know this should be
obvious because this date is based on a Christian calendar, but I guess I never
thought about it. Much like the map of the world, much depends on your
perspective and if you have grown up with only one world view (that is not
worldly) it is hard to take yourself out of the center.
4. As
I reflect this week on the beautiful nation of Nepal my heart aches. The town of Kathmandu has so many historical
buildings and temples and to think that they have been damaged or worse-destroyed
is unthinkable. More importantly, to think of the people who are having to find
loved ones among the rubble and rebuild their lives. The poor of the poor who
had nothing and are yet somehow suppose to recover from this. After visiting
last year and staying with the family of friends, I cannot imagine what my new
friends there are going through. One is a doctor and I imagine he is working
24/7. His mother helps run a NGO that sponsors a school in the northern part of
the nation. She does not even know the effects of the earthquake on the lives
of those she loves. My prayers for Obin and Bija and the nation of Nepal.
5. I
am ready to come home. I will miss the
kids here, I will miss the culture, I will miss the time to explore other
countries, I will miss my maid--but I miss my kids, my family, my friends and
my dog more. Much like Facebook presents a beautiful picture of everyone’s
life- in this blog I have not wanted to dwell on the homesick pains and the
feeling I am missing out on normalcy. I
like normalcy. Our electricity went our
about 12 times in one day last weekend- that is not normal. June 8th
I will be closing this door and have no idea what’s in store. A little welcomed
boredom perhaps.
That’s al for now- enjoy the pics-
Next week I will tell of my road trip to Bago where we went to see a 127 year
old snake (no- I never thought in a million years I would ever say that!). Trish
We are off (the best we have after 10 retakes!)
And the picture to end all pictures! Sea Turtle!!!!
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