The Lingo

US- Are you in line? 

OZ(Aussie )- Are you queueing?

US- Line starts here.

OZ- Queue here.

US- How are you?/ How are you doing?

OZ- How are you going?

US- Garbage/ trash 

OZ- Rubbish

US- bathroom 

OZ- toilet

US- regular coffee

OZ- long black

US- parking lot

OZ- carpark

US- ketchup

OZ- tomato sauce 

US- bell pepper

OZ- capsicum 

US- bye

OZ- cheers

Sad About Sydney

I'm sad to be leaving. I've had a great time. I love exploring different places and different cultures. Though Aussies speak English, they have a lingo all their own. A few times I have had to say "excuse me?" as in "what the heck did you just say?" But overall it's been fun communicating across the gap. Other than the very high cost of living, I could see myself living here. 

I only saw a fraction of the place. Someday I will come back and visit Perth, Adelaide, Alice Springs, Tasmania, Brisbane, and Darwin. You just need more time here to do that. I met a girl from Europe who had seen most of the country by bus on her 3 month holiday. I was here 17 days. Perhaps this seems long by American standards, but countries like Germany get 6 weeks. I met several Germans, British, and other Europeans who were spending weeks at a stop vs my couple days per stop. Even my airport shuttle driver has traveled the world and was speaking of planning his next 6 weeks trip to NY and the East Coast. They save $20,000 and go. Something is wrong with our American standard. Our culture is about work, work, work- and time. That's the stereotype you hear about from other countries. Hurry, hurry. Time is money. You get 2 weeks off. Why do we seem to get the least? My job has great benefits, but for me to take 6 weeks at once would mean forgoing vacation one year in order to bank the time- or requesting leave without pay. I found this article in the subject: 

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/06/08/countries-most-vacation-days/2400193/

 I could go on and on. The point is that I will miss it down unda. 

There are some American things I have missed:

Mustard

Pepper Jack cheese

American style coffee

Half and half

All the ketchup I want instead of a teeny plastic cup of "tomato sauce."

That's a long ramble. Cheers!

Sunday in Sydney

It's my last full day down unda and only full day in Sydney. My goal for the day was to walk until I dropped and I did. This morning I had a tour of the Sydney Opera House. It's a beautiful building. I had a leisurely lunch outdoors there before hopping on the harbor boat ride to explore a couple of the nearby islands. By then it was pouring rain, but I still walked the historic neighborhood area and the newer shopping district along with the touristy harbor area. 

You can climb the arch of this bridge up to the flags, and I really wanted to until I arrived and was told it costs $250. I moved on. 

Interesting fact- The Sydney Opera House was originally scheduled to be completed in 3-5years for $7million, but took an additional 10 years and cost $102 million. 

Uluru

Uluru! After 8 flights and several stops, I am here. Sometimes called Ayers Rock, this is the one stop along my journey to which I was most looking forward. I came from the tropics to the desert outback. First impression- flies! They are everywhere. I have been lucky enough to arrive during their season. I was going to brave them, but I got about half a block into the resort before turning right back around to the shop and forking over 10 bucks for a fly net. Other than that, it is hot, dry, and gorgeous. 

It is also 1/2 hour time difference from Cairns. Talk about confusing. 

I hiked Kata Tjutu yesterday. Today I did a sunrise camel ride and then went to see Uluru up close and personal. 

My pictures don't do it justice. It's beautiful. I also had my first Vegemite today. It tastes like extremely concentrated soy sauce paste. They eat it for breakfast here, very thinly spread on toast. 

Internet and cell have been out since last night. We are way out there. It's quite inconvenient. There is nothing else out here but Ayers Rock Resort town and the airport. The guide said that you cannot even live here unless you are an employee. They are communicating here by walkie  talkie. Oh well, hopefully this publishes some time soon. I'm so happy and blessed to have been able to come here- and now I am ready to move on. The heat and the flies will beat you down.

I Think I Can

Yesterday was spent snorkeling at the Great Barrier Reef. I don't have any pics right now. It was pretty cool, yet intimidating. I have snorkeled before, but never so far out to sea- about an hour and a half motor boat ride- in a wet suit! Hopefully some of the pics I took with my underwater camera will develop.  

Today, I took a train ride up to the rainforest. Up there I visited an animal park, had an amphibious ride, and took a sky ride back down into town.

Tasmanian Devils!

Wombat

Cassowary 

"Cans" is really nice. I love the tropical climate and the lush greenery.  I have enjoyed it. Now, ready for the next stop. 

Batty!

It's dusk, and apparently that means HUGE  bats!

"Don't worry. They don't attack." They are loud! And the other birds flock under them. It is quite the show. My balcony door remains closed. 

Cairns

 . . . or "Cans" as the locals pronounce it. Flight #7 and I am here up north in Queensland. It is quite warm and tropical here. I have a very nice room with a balcony, and I have 3 nights here, so I can relax. 

Swimming lagoon near the water-

Because the water looks like this:

And has sharks and jellyfish.

Shopping was in order. My system and my wallet are tired of expensive, starchy foods.

Luckily, Woolworth's grocery is up the street! Later, night market.

Mel-bin

Melbourne is a hoppin' city! Lots of young people, lots to do, and extremely diverse.

I ventured out of the city to see some critters. 

We ended up a couple hours away at Phillips Island. At dusk, hundreds of penguins come ashore to feed their young. It was quite a sight, but no cameras allowed. Tour ended around midnight, shuttle pick up at 3:50am for flight to Cairns. 

Kiwis

 I love New Zealand! The people have been great! So nice, safe, diverse - and there's Starbucks. What more could you want?

I have found New Zealand very much culturally similar to the US. Probably more so than Australia. There's not all the crazy, colorful lingo and slang here. And the accent is easy to understand. It would be so easy to assimilate here. 

Less than 24 hours in Auckland is just not enough. I will have to come back. I had time to see my NZ friends, Linda and Graham. We met in Turkey in 2010. They are the sweetest. They actually live in Christchurch, but happen to be in town for a wedding. It just worked out that we planned to be here at the same time, because Christchurch was not a part of my tour. We walked the harbor area and took a ferry across to Davenport Island.

Headed to the airport for flight #6. Tonight I'll be in Melbourne. 

* Trivia- NZ was the 1st country to allow women to vote. 

*How do you tell an Aussie from a Kiwi? 

Get them to say "Fish & chips"

Aussies say  "feesh & cheeps."

Kiwis say  "fush & chups."

Cheers!

Friday

Last night's Hangi Feast was very enjoyable. Today started with a wonderful treatment at the Polynesian spa. This afternoon I had a tour of the glow worm caves- worms that glow on the dark like blue LED lights. It was awesome, but pics weren't allowed. After a lot of time on the road, I am in Auckland. This is definitely the big city. We got in late, so a bite to eat and chill. I will see my local friends tomorrow. 

The obligatory photo with warrior. . . 

. . . And dance demo

Auckland skyline