Actually, Christmas day I rode the train from the platform 16 to Turramurra. We had a wonderful christmas lunch. Prawns, masquerading as shrimp. Then we had turkey, white potatoes, carrots, maybe sweet potatoes but really didn't taste like sweet potatoes, cauliflower and broccoli with cheese on top, and brussell sprouts. For dessert we had classic English pudding, which looked liked fruit cake with brandy poured on top and set fire to it. Then with the plum pudding we also had ivanilla ice cream and fresh fruit. Then we also had pimms. After lunch the young people went out to play tennis on the tennis court. Then they opened presents and there were lots of them.
Now in New Zealand. Spent all day boxing day traveling. Got to the train station and bought the ticket, found platform 23 and then they startted announcinthat the train was delayed for seven minutes and delayed another 9 minutes and delayed another 7 minutes. As it was getting close to 7 a.m. I was getting tempted to abandon going on the train. Finally, the train arrived and it just took 15 minutes to get to the international terminal. If you have a chance to fly on air Emirates take it. It is a very nice ride. The seats are comfortable, and they serve you a meal and water, and tea, and everyone has a tv to watch whatever movies they want to. I watched an Australian classic called Red Dog. There is one other Australian movie I've heard about called the Castle.When I got to auckland, had to race to the domestic terminanal to catch the plane to Christchurch.
Didn't see much of Christchurch. Went the next day to Arakoa a small seaside town in New Zealand. I swam with the hecter dophins, spent the night in a great little bed and breakfast and then helped deliver the mail this morning. Today I took off my splint and went all day without it until it was time to do some suit case wrangling. Now I have been trying to avoid big cushy coaches since I started these tours. I have finally arrived to the big cushy coach. We"ll see how the tour turns out. At least I wont be sleeping on the street which is what I was afraid of since the traveling is during the christmas new years holiday time and there are a lot of people out and about. But I have to say that the place is not a lonely planet. My wrist is really sore and stiff. I can't imagine being able to hold my weight with my left wrist. Its going to be a challenge. I love being in a hotel room, you get to watch tv, have your own soap and shampoo.Ahhhh civilization!
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Sydney, Australia
Arrived in Sydney. It's good to be back to the Sydney Central YHA. It's almost like going home. It's a place I am familiar with and sort of know the neighborhood. At least I can walk out the door and get back to where I came from. I get a lot of blast emails from various sources telling me how much gratitude does for you and how easy it is to be nice. Since I still have a splint on my left wrist it is still a bit of a challenge to get up into the top bunk of bunk beds. Since I was the 4th person in this room, I thought I would ask the girls if they would be willing to swap. No one was! Oh well, the good news is that I can get in the top bunk.
I had a little bit of dinner, pumpkin soup and a vegetarian tart with salad. I am not getting enough vegetables in my food plan at the moment.
Sydney was really celebrating Christmas eve last night. I went to Darling Harbour where they were singing Christmas carols around the tree. Even though I said at the beginning I feel familiar to Sydney, it was the first time for me to go to Darling Harbour. I missed the carols but arrived for the fireworks. What a great fireworks show. Then there were some street performers doing juggling acts. They also have this huge playground there and I was totally amazed at the number of children who were there playing at 10 p.m. Why weren't they at home all snug in their beds waiting for santa to come? I didn't ask.
St. Andrews Anglican Cathedral was having an 11 p.m. Christmas Eve service and so I went to church. Quite impressive choir and orchestra. They had trombones and those circular metal horns as well as trumpets and quite a large turnout. We heard a message about the birth of Jesus as a baby and the birth of God and sang Christmas carols. As we were leaving the church they gave everyone there a couple of gingerbread cookies. I was impressed! On my way back to the hostel I stopped in at the gelato store and got a cone. When I get back to Dallas and am complaining about the weight gain I will have no one to blame but the gelato stores. It is tasty though and much easier to avoid in Dallas as I am not walking by.
There were still lots of people out on the street singing and greeting everyone with "Happy Christmas."
On my way to my room I passed the tv lounge and they were showing the Ray Charles movie so I stopped in to watch from the middle to the end. Thank goodness their midnight commercials aren't as many as the ones in the usa.
I know I am not in the usa because the department stores haven't been open late at night or early in the morning with christmas sales. I am going to my cousins for Christmas dinner. He has just called to tell me which train to take. I go across the road to the central station and buy a ticket on the north line and call when I get to Gordon and then his stop is Turramura. Should be interesting. I have no memory of meeting his 2nd wife. She was his first wife's caretaker when she was dying of cancer more than twelve years ago. Both of his children are in the USA for Christmas and I don't know where hers are. I am pretty sure he told me when I was here before that she also had children from a previous marriage. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
I had a little bit of dinner, pumpkin soup and a vegetarian tart with salad. I am not getting enough vegetables in my food plan at the moment.
Sydney was really celebrating Christmas eve last night. I went to Darling Harbour where they were singing Christmas carols around the tree. Even though I said at the beginning I feel familiar to Sydney, it was the first time for me to go to Darling Harbour. I missed the carols but arrived for the fireworks. What a great fireworks show. Then there were some street performers doing juggling acts. They also have this huge playground there and I was totally amazed at the number of children who were there playing at 10 p.m. Why weren't they at home all snug in their beds waiting for santa to come? I didn't ask.
St. Andrews Anglican Cathedral was having an 11 p.m. Christmas Eve service and so I went to church. Quite impressive choir and orchestra. They had trombones and those circular metal horns as well as trumpets and quite a large turnout. We heard a message about the birth of Jesus as a baby and the birth of God and sang Christmas carols. As we were leaving the church they gave everyone there a couple of gingerbread cookies. I was impressed! On my way back to the hostel I stopped in at the gelato store and got a cone. When I get back to Dallas and am complaining about the weight gain I will have no one to blame but the gelato stores. It is tasty though and much easier to avoid in Dallas as I am not walking by.
There were still lots of people out on the street singing and greeting everyone with "Happy Christmas."
On my way to my room I passed the tv lounge and they were showing the Ray Charles movie so I stopped in to watch from the middle to the end. Thank goodness their midnight commercials aren't as many as the ones in the usa.
I know I am not in the usa because the department stores haven't been open late at night or early in the morning with christmas sales. I am going to my cousins for Christmas dinner. He has just called to tell me which train to take. I go across the road to the central station and buy a ticket on the north line and call when I get to Gordon and then his stop is Turramura. Should be interesting. I have no memory of meeting his 2nd wife. She was his first wife's caretaker when she was dying of cancer more than twelve years ago. Both of his children are in the USA for Christmas and I don't know where hers are. I am pretty sure he told me when I was here before that she also had children from a previous marriage. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Friday, December 23, 2011
Hamilton Island, Great Barrier Reef Airport
I'm leaving Queensland for New South Wales. I am beginning to sound like an Ozzie, I know the names of the states. So I left the hostel in Airlie Beach this morning around 9:45. A bus picked me up to take me to the dock to catch a boat called the Whitsunday Cruises to take the boat to Hamilton Island airport. So instead of planes, trains and automobiles its coaches, boats, planes and trains. I will take the train in from the airport back to the central YHA for a two night stay. Christmas day I am going to lunch at my cousin's house in Turramura. It is a suburb of Sydney.
It was a great sailing experience out of Airlie Beach. We met at the Able Point Marina at 8:30 on Thursday morning. We walked to the boat and had to surrender our shoes. There were 12 passengers on board, a captain, a cook who doubled as sail helper and his girl friend who also doubled as cook. It was a 52 foot sail boat called the Iceberg. The sleeping accommodations were cosy. Which means there was just enough room to lay down. Thank goodness there was a small fan over my head other wise it would have been very hot. I was the only American on board. There were 3 couples from England, two austrians, two french, and one swiss woman. One of the austrians spoke no english and neither of the french or swiss spoke english. The younger of the french women spoke a little english and the swiss woman spoke and understood enough english to know what the people on the boat were saying.
We cast off and went sailing. The first place we stopped Brandon put us in the dingy and took us to an island and dropped us off. We walked across the water, in the sand. The sand was very coarse as it was made up of crushed coral. After an hour and a half He came back and got us and then we put on our stinger suits. Stinger suits are to protect you from jelly fish and other creatures that are present in the sea now that can cause harm and then we went snorkeling. It was a better experience than I had at the great barrier reef out of Cairns. Of course I was worried at first. I even wore a life jacket. Worried on two counts that I wouldn't be able to do it and worried that the Cyclone that was reported on the weather was coming to get us. And the Australian saying "No Worries" was actually accurate in this case. Brandon stayed out on the dingy around us as we snorkeled, the water was relatively calm and no cyclone showed up to ruin our day. Then we got back on the boat and went to another spot to snorkel. This time I took the life jacket off and again had no problem, seeing the giant angel fish, the parrot fish, the beautiful brain coral, the yellow fish with bright pink spots all over it. There was hot pink coral, red coral, blue tipped coral and all sorts of other fish darting around. The coral and the fish are in very shallow water. The snorkelers are not allowed to wear fins in this area because they damage the coral. Its time to board the aircraft.
It was a great sailing experience out of Airlie Beach. We met at the Able Point Marina at 8:30 on Thursday morning. We walked to the boat and had to surrender our shoes. There were 12 passengers on board, a captain, a cook who doubled as sail helper and his girl friend who also doubled as cook. It was a 52 foot sail boat called the Iceberg. The sleeping accommodations were cosy. Which means there was just enough room to lay down. Thank goodness there was a small fan over my head other wise it would have been very hot. I was the only American on board. There were 3 couples from England, two austrians, two french, and one swiss woman. One of the austrians spoke no english and neither of the french or swiss spoke english. The younger of the french women spoke a little english and the swiss woman spoke and understood enough english to know what the people on the boat were saying.
We cast off and went sailing. The first place we stopped Brandon put us in the dingy and took us to an island and dropped us off. We walked across the water, in the sand. The sand was very coarse as it was made up of crushed coral. After an hour and a half He came back and got us and then we put on our stinger suits. Stinger suits are to protect you from jelly fish and other creatures that are present in the sea now that can cause harm and then we went snorkeling. It was a better experience than I had at the great barrier reef out of Cairns. Of course I was worried at first. I even wore a life jacket. Worried on two counts that I wouldn't be able to do it and worried that the Cyclone that was reported on the weather was coming to get us. And the Australian saying "No Worries" was actually accurate in this case. Brandon stayed out on the dingy around us as we snorkeled, the water was relatively calm and no cyclone showed up to ruin our day. Then we got back on the boat and went to another spot to snorkel. This time I took the life jacket off and again had no problem, seeing the giant angel fish, the parrot fish, the beautiful brain coral, the yellow fish with bright pink spots all over it. There was hot pink coral, red coral, blue tipped coral and all sorts of other fish darting around. The coral and the fish are in very shallow water. The snorkelers are not allowed to wear fins in this area because they damage the coral. Its time to board the aircraft.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Ai
Hi I am in Airlie Beach. While you might think it is pronounced air when the natives say it it sounds like early beach.
I took the midnight bus up here. We left at 12:25 and arrived around 11:30 this morning. That gave me time to figure out where I am supposed to go tomorrow and to time how long it will take me to get there. So it's approximately 20 minutes down hill so it will take me more than 30 minutes to walk up hill to catch this boat for a two day one night cruise. I was just watching the weather tonight and their is a cyclone in the area. I hope it moves away because I want to snorkle tomorrow. Oh well, I hope it works out. I had swordfish tonight for dinner and it was quite good and boysenberry ice cream.
I had a massage this afternoon. Talk about sticker shock. The last massage I had was in Lovinia, Bali, Indonesia and it costs 120,000 rupiah which is about $10 usa, today's massage $80.
Tomorrows trip will only have 12 people on board. It should be interesting. I am looking forward to seeing the white sugar sand beaches and the crystal blue water.
I took the midnight bus up here. We left at 12:25 and arrived around 11:30 this morning. That gave me time to figure out where I am supposed to go tomorrow and to time how long it will take me to get there. So it's approximately 20 minutes down hill so it will take me more than 30 minutes to walk up hill to catch this boat for a two day one night cruise. I was just watching the weather tonight and their is a cyclone in the area. I hope it moves away because I want to snorkle tomorrow. Oh well, I hope it works out. I had swordfish tonight for dinner and it was quite good and boysenberry ice cream.
I had a massage this afternoon. Talk about sticker shock. The last massage I had was in Lovinia, Bali, Indonesia and it costs 120,000 rupiah which is about $10 usa, today's massage $80.
Tomorrows trip will only have 12 people on board. It should be interesting. I am looking forward to seeing the white sugar sand beaches and the crystal blue water.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Daintree Rain Forest/ Cape Tribulation
I am back from the Daintree Rain forest and Cape Tribulation. I stayed at the Beach House YHA. Youth Hostel Association is what YHA stands for. It was right on the beach. Could not go swimming in the pacific ocean because it is stinger season and you have to wear a stinger suit or there has to be a stinger net around the beach. A stinger suit is black nylon or polyester and it covers you from head to toe and your hands and your neck. Stingers are the highly poisonous box jelly fish, and all sorts of other creatures that live in the sea at this time of the year in australia.
Bathing suits are what we americans call the suits we swim in. New Zealanders call them togs. My son in law from south africa calls them swimming costumes, Australians call them bathers. Sometimes its confusing. Americans call rubber sandals flip flops, australians call them thongs.
The Daintree rain forest is a world heritage sight as well as the Great Barrier Reef. They are the only two world heritage sights that are right next to each other. The forest is older than the amazon. It is several million years old. I went on a night hike through the rain forest looking for critters that are asleep during the day. We saw fire flies, phosphorous stuff on a log that attracts fire flies when they are mating, giant crickets with white knees and very long antennae, giant spiders, a tree with heart shaped leaves with tiny silica spikes on the leaves (not something you want to run into ever). Apparently it takes about 6 months for that silica to get out of your skin once its lodged in there and its very painful according to the guide. We saw red shiny fungus, looked kind of like red raspberry sauce.A komodo dragon.
Then today I went on a jungle surfing safari. That was good scary and turned out to be a lot of fun. we were on platforms sliding between trees over the tops. I was scared at first and then finally got used to it. Actually might have been better than trying to figure out where to step over tree roots and on slippery rocks the night before in the rain.
Had ffor lunch chicken braes salad. Actually the first chicken breast salad I've had in months. This was somewhat different. It had pump in, feta cheese and anise seed as well as fresh spinach and a lemon dressing.
The bus picked me up at 12:50 to come back to Cairns. Our first stop was the Daintree Ice cream factory. Four flavors for $6. Blue berry, coconut and then two flavors have never heard of before. The fruit was from the farm that the daintier ice cream factory resides on. I have made blueberry ice cream and it just is not a strong enough flavored fruit. It doesn't have much flavor.
Another highlight of the return trip was a stop at the wildlife park where we saw a cassowary, wallabies, kangaroos and both salt and freshwater crocodiles. Back in the bus and on to Mossman creek where we had an hour to take a dip in fresh running mountain stream, very chilly.
It was a great 24 hours.
Have charged my battery on my iphone. Discovered am going to have to delete some pictures off my ipad in order to add the latest ones. Never in my life did I think I was going to take more pictures and videos than the ipad could handle. I still have a month of travel left before I get home. I am going to have to buy another digital container for pictures. My mind is drawing a blank of what they are called. Have charged the battery for the camera, am charging the ipad now. Will probably have to leave with it only charged to 79% as its time to get a cab to take me to the bus station to catch the midnight bus to Airlie Beach. It's an 11 hour trip and it seemed smarter to go during the night so can legitimately sleep for at least 6 of those hours. I have washed and dried my clothes and repacked. I have found some cheese that was left in the kitchen along with some bread and butter so had grilled cheese sandwiches for dinner. So am ready to go.
Bathing suits are what we americans call the suits we swim in. New Zealanders call them togs. My son in law from south africa calls them swimming costumes, Australians call them bathers. Sometimes its confusing. Americans call rubber sandals flip flops, australians call them thongs.
The Daintree rain forest is a world heritage sight as well as the Great Barrier Reef. They are the only two world heritage sights that are right next to each other. The forest is older than the amazon. It is several million years old. I went on a night hike through the rain forest looking for critters that are asleep during the day. We saw fire flies, phosphorous stuff on a log that attracts fire flies when they are mating, giant crickets with white knees and very long antennae, giant spiders, a tree with heart shaped leaves with tiny silica spikes on the leaves (not something you want to run into ever). Apparently it takes about 6 months for that silica to get out of your skin once its lodged in there and its very painful according to the guide. We saw red shiny fungus, looked kind of like red raspberry sauce.A komodo dragon.
Then today I went on a jungle surfing safari. That was good scary and turned out to be a lot of fun. we were on platforms sliding between trees over the tops. I was scared at first and then finally got used to it. Actually might have been better than trying to figure out where to step over tree roots and on slippery rocks the night before in the rain.
Had ffor lunch chicken braes salad. Actually the first chicken breast salad I've had in months. This was somewhat different. It had pump in, feta cheese and anise seed as well as fresh spinach and a lemon dressing.
The bus picked me up at 12:50 to come back to Cairns. Our first stop was the Daintree Ice cream factory. Four flavors for $6. Blue berry, coconut and then two flavors have never heard of before. The fruit was from the farm that the daintier ice cream factory resides on. I have made blueberry ice cream and it just is not a strong enough flavored fruit. It doesn't have much flavor.
Another highlight of the return trip was a stop at the wildlife park where we saw a cassowary, wallabies, kangaroos and both salt and freshwater crocodiles. Back in the bus and on to Mossman creek where we had an hour to take a dip in fresh running mountain stream, very chilly.
It was a great 24 hours.
Have charged my battery on my iphone. Discovered am going to have to delete some pictures off my ipad in order to add the latest ones. Never in my life did I think I was going to take more pictures and videos than the ipad could handle. I still have a month of travel left before I get home. I am going to have to buy another digital container for pictures. My mind is drawing a blank of what they are called. Have charged the battery for the camera, am charging the ipad now. Will probably have to leave with it only charged to 79% as its time to get a cab to take me to the bus station to catch the midnight bus to Airlie Beach. It's an 11 hour trip and it seemed smarter to go during the night so can legitimately sleep for at least 6 of those hours. I have washed and dried my clothes and repacked. I have found some cheese that was left in the kitchen along with some bread and butter so had grilled cheese sandwiches for dinner. So am ready to go.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Cairns, Australia
Hi- back from dive,snorkeling, sitting around on a boat trip. Can I just say that I am sick of packing. Not unpacking but repacking. I completely emptied my suitcase and backpack looking for these bandages the hospital cut for me the other day. I must have left them at the hospital because they are in neither container. And it's pretty annoying because my splint rubs the v between my thumb & pointer finger and also the knuckle of the pointer finger. It is worse since they cut it down or opened it up so I can get in and out of it without assistance now.
I went to the movies today. I saw "Ides of March" with George Clooney. It cost me $16.50. That seems like a lot of money for a movie.
It's very weird here. The Cairns YHA I am staying atnis right across the street from the mall. A week before Christmas and the mall is closed at 5 p.m. On Sunday. Actually, I don't know if it's been open at all today.
Cairns is pronounced cans. In the morning I am going on an overnight excursion to Cape Tribulation and to the Daintree rain Forrest. I wonder why predictive text wants Forrest capitalized? Anyway, it's supposed to be spectacular. And will be going on a night hike to see the creatures that are awake at night. There are two night activities to choose from, the one I am going on or tp go look for crocodiles. I saw crocodiles at Katherine gorge, Kakadu canyon and Litchfield. They are very large reptiles. I also some in a pen in india.
I discovered the night markets tonight. They are right next door to the best gelato I think I have ever had. It took a lot of will power to not have another dip tonight. It's very smooth and creamy.
This afternoon I also went to the "lagoon". It's a public swimming pool and free to the public. Unfortunately, it was grey, cloudy and overcast and the water was pretty cold. I waded around in it for awhile. It's only 1.5 meters deep at the deepest part. I don't know how deep that is in feet. However, it's a very cool setting. It looks out over the harbor where the boats come in from the reef. So when you are looking across it, you get the optical illusion that it is as big as the harbor. Although there is a changenin color from turquoise pool to dark blue ocean.
I was thinking about going to the botanical gardens today but ut wasbgrey, cloudy and misting so went to the movies instead.
After cape tribulation, I am coming back to cairns for about 6 hrs., gathering up my stuff and getting on the night bus to Airlie beach. The bus leaves at 12:25 am. I am hoping the seats will recline a little so I can sleep! It's an 11 hour trip no matter how you go. And what is in Airlie beach. It's the starting point for a cruise in the Whitsunday's. Apparently the whitsundays are famous for white sugar sand beaches and crystal blue clear water. So I am going to see for myself. The pictures I have seen on the brochures tell you that. And a woman from the Vietnam trip said the whitsundays are fabulous. So I will be there two days and then on or back to Sydney. I think I am having Christmas dinner with my cousin although I haven't heard from him lately.
Souvenir shopping is an interesting experience. There is lots of clothes and jewelry. Lots of T-shirts, towels, bottle openers, bracelets and stuffed animals. Being in Australia there are boomerangs and small didgeridoo's but I don't see many things for boys. I guess the boomerangs could be for boys.
I am still carrying a roll of toilet paper I bought in india. It's half used. When I have needed it I didn't have it with me, when I have had it I didn't need it!
I went to the movies today. I saw "Ides of March" with George Clooney. It cost me $16.50. That seems like a lot of money for a movie.
It's very weird here. The Cairns YHA I am staying atnis right across the street from the mall. A week before Christmas and the mall is closed at 5 p.m. On Sunday. Actually, I don't know if it's been open at all today.
Cairns is pronounced cans. In the morning I am going on an overnight excursion to Cape Tribulation and to the Daintree rain Forrest. I wonder why predictive text wants Forrest capitalized? Anyway, it's supposed to be spectacular. And will be going on a night hike to see the creatures that are awake at night. There are two night activities to choose from, the one I am going on or tp go look for crocodiles. I saw crocodiles at Katherine gorge, Kakadu canyon and Litchfield. They are very large reptiles. I also some in a pen in india.
I discovered the night markets tonight. They are right next door to the best gelato I think I have ever had. It took a lot of will power to not have another dip tonight. It's very smooth and creamy.
This afternoon I also went to the "lagoon". It's a public swimming pool and free to the public. Unfortunately, it was grey, cloudy and overcast and the water was pretty cold. I waded around in it for awhile. It's only 1.5 meters deep at the deepest part. I don't know how deep that is in feet. However, it's a very cool setting. It looks out over the harbor where the boats come in from the reef. So when you are looking across it, you get the optical illusion that it is as big as the harbor. Although there is a changenin color from turquoise pool to dark blue ocean.
I was thinking about going to the botanical gardens today but ut wasbgrey, cloudy and misting so went to the movies instead.
After cape tribulation, I am coming back to cairns for about 6 hrs., gathering up my stuff and getting on the night bus to Airlie beach. The bus leaves at 12:25 am. I am hoping the seats will recline a little so I can sleep! It's an 11 hour trip no matter how you go. And what is in Airlie beach. It's the starting point for a cruise in the Whitsunday's. Apparently the whitsundays are famous for white sugar sand beaches and crystal blue clear water. So I am going to see for myself. The pictures I have seen on the brochures tell you that. And a woman from the Vietnam trip said the whitsundays are fabulous. So I will be there two days and then on or back to Sydney. I think I am having Christmas dinner with my cousin although I haven't heard from him lately.
Souvenir shopping is an interesting experience. There is lots of clothes and jewelry. Lots of T-shirts, towels, bottle openers, bracelets and stuffed animals. Being in Australia there are boomerangs and small didgeridoo's but I don't see many things for boys. I guess the boomerangs could be for boys.
I am still carrying a roll of toilet paper I bought in india. It's half used. When I have needed it I didn't have it with me, when I have had it I didn't need it!
Friday, December 16, 2011
Pacific ocean-Australia
Here I am again in the Pacific ocean off the coast of Australia. We are way out cause you cant see the coast anywhere. Just blue choppy water everywhere. And i do mean choppy. I tried again to snorkle this morning and was taking water in my snorkel and again got a tow in from the rescue boat. I have a friend in Dallas who says "nothing stops you"! Choppy water stops me. It scares me to death. I guesss this gives me a reason to come back to australia. They say the weather was beautiful last week, the waer was smooth the sun was shining.
The captain of the boat says this is what the weather forecast is for the next 10 days. So it wouldn't make any difference if I came back later other than my ears might be in better shape. The Polish guy Eric who has been checking the people in and out of the water was somewhat irritated with me. He told me yesterday that if I wanted to go in today he would get someone to go in with me as the open water instructors are free now that there class is done. He said it was rougher today than the first day and you know he was right. Thank goodness they were watching and could come and get me.
Another lesson in living in the moment. Enjoy the boat ride, someone is fixing me 3 meals a day and i don't have to do anything but eat, sleep, enjoy the view, finish reading the Lee Child book about Jack Reacher. It's disappointing that I am not getting to dive. But as the guy in Indonesia said, "It's your holiday." and I do want to come back on my feet and not in a box. That would ruin my day and everyone else's....
I can live vicariously through the other divers. The strong snorkeler said it was too choppy for her as well.
Tomorrow I am going on an excursion to the rain forest and to Cape Tribulation. Then I am going to airlie beach to a 2 day one night sailing excursion in the whitsunday's. Hopefully, the water will be calm there and there will be beautiful fish there.
The captain of the boat says this is what the weather forecast is for the next 10 days. So it wouldn't make any difference if I came back later other than my ears might be in better shape. The Polish guy Eric who has been checking the people in and out of the water was somewhat irritated with me. He told me yesterday that if I wanted to go in today he would get someone to go in with me as the open water instructors are free now that there class is done. He said it was rougher today than the first day and you know he was right. Thank goodness they were watching and could come and get me.
Another lesson in living in the moment. Enjoy the boat ride, someone is fixing me 3 meals a day and i don't have to do anything but eat, sleep, enjoy the view, finish reading the Lee Child book about Jack Reacher. It's disappointing that I am not getting to dive. But as the guy in Indonesia said, "It's your holiday." and I do want to come back on my feet and not in a box. That would ruin my day and everyone else's....
I can live vicariously through the other divers. The strong snorkeler said it was too choppy for her as well.
Tomorrow I am going on an excursion to the rain forest and to Cape Tribulation. Then I am going to airlie beach to a 2 day one night sailing excursion in the whitsunday's. Hopefully, the water will be calm there and there will be beautiful fish there.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Pacific ocean, Australia
Hi- I am sitting on a boat in the pacific ocean occasionally getting to snorkel on the great barrier reef. I am on live aboard boat with a dive group called pro scuba. This was one of the prime reasons I wanted to come to Australia. I even remembered to bring my dive card. S you might be asking yourself why isn't Jean diving. The answer to that is that I couldn't get my ears to clear when I went diving in The Gilli Islands in Indonesia and when I got to Australia and had paid for the trip and was talking to their staff they suggested that I go see the dive Dr. At the 24+ medical clinic. I did and he checked my ears when I was holding my nose and blowing out and the ear drum was not moving so I have a temporarily unfit to dive problem. Fortunately, their are 5 other people on the boat who are also snorkelers.
Yesterday,the first time in the water I didn't use my common sense. It was apparently on the blink. The water was very rough and I got in anyway. I was very scared. I ended up waving my arm with the distress signal and they came and towed me back to the boat. It was challenging to swim in the rough water, challenging to see anything in the rough water. It was grey, cloudy and raining.
The second time in the water ni stayed close to the boat and was in the water about 10 minutes. The third time, I went out with one of the dive instructors and we went out to the coral and saw some beautiful fish. Some of the same fish we saw in Indonesia. I guess they followed me here.
Now this morning it is raining again and the water looks rough. So I am writing instead of struggling in the water. Pro-Scuba is a pretty professionally run group. They take no more tha 32 people out at a time. If you are a diver or are getting your dive certification you can do it on board. You have the opportunity to dive 11 times, snorkel 9 times. Snorkelers do not snorkel at night in the dark. They check us in as we get in the water and check us out as we get out of the water. There is a lookout on the top of the boat looking out for all the people in the water. This is apparently stinger season and so we are all wearing a full body suit that covers your hands, head, neck, and legs with a strap under your foot. This is really when I miss Jim. He was a great dive buddy. You never dive alone. I would really like to have a snorkel buddy. There is a woman from Germany who is here with her brother who has befriended me. There is another German girl that I might team up with who also got scared yesterday in the rough sea. She doesn't speak as much English as the first one. I don't know anyone's name.
It's a bit like going to dance camp. You have certain times to dive, someone else is doing the cooking and cleaning up and you are there to have a good time. Every body else on this trip is from Europe. Most of them are German, some Swiss, and a couple from Holland and me. Traveling by myself hasn't been too bad. There are some disadvantages and advantages. You canto on the tours you want to but you do t really have anyone to discuss your decisions with.
Yesterday,the first time in the water I didn't use my common sense. It was apparently on the blink. The water was very rough and I got in anyway. I was very scared. I ended up waving my arm with the distress signal and they came and towed me back to the boat. It was challenging to swim in the rough water, challenging to see anything in the rough water. It was grey, cloudy and raining.
The second time in the water ni stayed close to the boat and was in the water about 10 minutes. The third time, I went out with one of the dive instructors and we went out to the coral and saw some beautiful fish. Some of the same fish we saw in Indonesia. I guess they followed me here.
Now this morning it is raining again and the water looks rough. So I am writing instead of struggling in the water. Pro-Scuba is a pretty professionally run group. They take no more tha 32 people out at a time. If you are a diver or are getting your dive certification you can do it on board. You have the opportunity to dive 11 times, snorkel 9 times. Snorkelers do not snorkel at night in the dark. They check us in as we get in the water and check us out as we get out of the water. There is a lookout on the top of the boat looking out for all the people in the water. This is apparently stinger season and so we are all wearing a full body suit that covers your hands, head, neck, and legs with a strap under your foot. This is really when I miss Jim. He was a great dive buddy. You never dive alone. I would really like to have a snorkel buddy. There is a woman from Germany who is here with her brother who has befriended me. There is another German girl that I might team up with who also got scared yesterday in the rough sea. She doesn't speak as much English as the first one. I don't know anyone's name.
It's a bit like going to dance camp. You have certain times to dive, someone else is doing the cooking and cleaning up and you are there to have a good time. Every body else on this trip is from Europe. Most of them are German, some Swiss, and a couple from Holland and me. Traveling by myself hasn't been too bad. There are some disadvantages and advantages. You canto on the tours you want to but you do t really have anyone to discuss your decisions with.
Friday, December 2, 2011
Indonesia
HI
I am in Indonesia now. Today we left Lovina and have arrived at this fabulous hotel called Strawberry Hill. The reason this is a fbulous hotel is because it has tv that works, internet i the room as well as the restaurant, a seperate shower as well as a bath tub, a balcony, soft shhets.
This is actually the first hotel we have stayed in here that has tv that works.
So i arrived in Ubud, Indonesia. The monkey forrest is there. Let me back up, I went to the emergency room in darwin, australia the day i left and they xrayed my wrist. it sounds like it's not healing exactly right but it is healing and the good thing is they took off the plaster cas and put on a removable hard plaastic splint. That means I have been able to go swimming, and snorkeli \ng and get in the waterfall. It has made this trip so much moe enjoyable. For the past 3 nights we have been in Lovina. Yesterday, we went snorkeling. The fish were so colorful, the water was so beautiful. Crystal clear turquoise, and when you look past the coral the dark blue was beautiful as well. There was one fish that reminded me of some wild colored tennis shoes. we saw purple tipped coral, electric bluefish, lightturquoise colored fish, needle nose long skinny fish, nemo-clown fish in tow colorations. I had forgotten how beautiful the fish are since it has been so long since I have been diving, snorkeling or to the ocean like this. The snorkeling guide on my boat was so thoughtful. Our first snorkel was from the beach and the second one was from the boat. I was not sure I was going to be able to get back in the boat from the ocean with only one useful hand. He had the boat driver pull the boat up very near the dead coral. So in effect iwas able to get back in the boat with a minimum of help.
We were snorkeling at Pulau Menjangan in Bali Barat National Park. We bought a picnic lunch of rice, chicken, green beans, and some peanut thing. It was delicious.
We have seen weavers makiing sarongs, and dyeing the yarns in a pattern, trekked through the rice field, sweated buckets. It's an unusual time for this region. It's been hotter here the last couple of days than usual. On the trek through the rice field, i finally had had it. I caught up with that guide, his name was Numan. Everyone is named the same thing here. First born boy or girl is Wayan, second is Made, third is Numan!Anyway my ace was red, I was not having a good time, I was sweating buckets and it looked like we were going to be walking another 45 minutes. I asked him to call someone to come and get me. So the best 10,000 rupiahs I have spent. I paid a young man to take me to the bridge where we were having lunch on the back of his scooter. Although when we were going down the hills and his breaks were screeching I was praying they were going to hold and work. It's time for dinner. I will finish up later.
I am in Indonesia now. Today we left Lovina and have arrived at this fabulous hotel called Strawberry Hill. The reason this is a fbulous hotel is because it has tv that works, internet i the room as well as the restaurant, a seperate shower as well as a bath tub, a balcony, soft shhets.
This is actually the first hotel we have stayed in here that has tv that works.
So i arrived in Ubud, Indonesia. The monkey forrest is there. Let me back up, I went to the emergency room in darwin, australia the day i left and they xrayed my wrist. it sounds like it's not healing exactly right but it is healing and the good thing is they took off the plaster cas and put on a removable hard plaastic splint. That means I have been able to go swimming, and snorkeli \ng and get in the waterfall. It has made this trip so much moe enjoyable. For the past 3 nights we have been in Lovina. Yesterday, we went snorkeling. The fish were so colorful, the water was so beautiful. Crystal clear turquoise, and when you look past the coral the dark blue was beautiful as well. There was one fish that reminded me of some wild colored tennis shoes. we saw purple tipped coral, electric bluefish, lightturquoise colored fish, needle nose long skinny fish, nemo-clown fish in tow colorations. I had forgotten how beautiful the fish are since it has been so long since I have been diving, snorkeling or to the ocean like this. The snorkeling guide on my boat was so thoughtful. Our first snorkel was from the beach and the second one was from the boat. I was not sure I was going to be able to get back in the boat from the ocean with only one useful hand. He had the boat driver pull the boat up very near the dead coral. So in effect iwas able to get back in the boat with a minimum of help.
We were snorkeling at Pulau Menjangan in Bali Barat National Park. We bought a picnic lunch of rice, chicken, green beans, and some peanut thing. It was delicious.
We have seen weavers makiing sarongs, and dyeing the yarns in a pattern, trekked through the rice field, sweated buckets. It's an unusual time for this region. It's been hotter here the last couple of days than usual. On the trek through the rice field, i finally had had it. I caught up with that guide, his name was Numan. Everyone is named the same thing here. First born boy or girl is Wayan, second is Made, third is Numan!Anyway my ace was red, I was not having a good time, I was sweating buckets and it looked like we were going to be walking another 45 minutes. I asked him to call someone to come and get me. So the best 10,000 rupiahs I have spent. I paid a young man to take me to the bridge where we were having lunch on the back of his scooter. Although when we were going down the hills and his breaks were screeching I was praying they were going to hold and work. It's time for dinner. I will finish up later.
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