Farewell Dinner at The American Club

We had a wonderful dinner at The American Club on the 11th floor of a building overlooking the Botanical Gardens, the Opera House, and Sydney Harbour. What a dinner! Soup to nuts, and wonderful conversations with the Australian Fulbright and Odessey Travel Group. We wound up our trip with a wonderful bittersweet dinner. We were anxious to get back to our families, but sad to leave our new friends, and colleagues. It seemed like we had been in Australia for months.

Thank you Australian Fulbright Association for a wonderful ride Down Under!

Sydney Aquarium and Darling Harbour

Today was a free day for us to explore Sydney on our own, and visit sites for our project. I went to the Sydney Aquarium in Darling Harbour and spent hours looking at the Great Barrier Reef, seal, penguin, shark and fish exhibits. I explored Darling Harbour, and went to "Paddy's Market" to explore the market stalls, and purchase my last minute gifts. The birds in the park were beautiful, and even the pigeons were pretty with multicolored feathers and a tuft of feathers crowning their head. I purchased the last items for my presentations, and now I have to figure out how to pack everything up for the trip home! The Didgeredoo is ready to go!

Sydney Opera House

Today started with a private tour and lecture at the Royal Botanical Gardens, overlooking Sydney Haorbour, near the Opera House. We walked amongst gardens and plants from all over
the world, and again saw hundreds of fruit bats winging above our heads. Two of us were blessed with their presence! They were very noisy and active for daytime. Next we walked past the Opera House and took the "Captain Cook Cruiseline" for a grand tour around Sydney Harbour. We went past many historic homes, and had a wonderful buffet lunch during the cruise. Next came dinner at the hotel, and attended the Opera House performance of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet produced and directed by John Bell. This modern day version had amazing costumes, and lighting to complement the simple stage setting. What a magical day and performance!

Sydney and Darling Harbour

We arrived in Sydney and stayed at the Novotel in Darling Harbour by Chinatown. We were walking distance to many famous sites and eateries. We spent our first evening visiting a couple of famous pubs. (Purely for the historic value of the buildings!) We went to an area of Sydney called "The Rocks". This was an area in Sydney that housed the convicts and prisoners, who used to cut and chisel away at the granite for buildings. The first pub we went to was named "The Hero of Wellington". This pub had a secret tunnel in the basement that was used to "impress" (kidnap) drunk soldiers into the Navy. The tunnel was about a mile and a half in length and ended up in Sydney Harbour. The drunk soldiers would find themselves on a Navy vessel heading out of Botany Bay when they woke up! The barmaid in the establishment took us downstairs to see the tunnel and take pictures. This pub is reputed to be the most haunted pub in Sydney! Next we went to "Lord Nelson's Pub" This Inn and Home Brewery was built in 1831, and the building is now on the Sydney Historic Register. Great Food!!

The Flying Foxes in Cairns

During my wonderful stay in Cairns, I experienced the sounds and sites of the flying foxes (otherwise known as fruit bats!) These lovely creatures like to fly around at dusk and eat insects and mangos. There were about 60 of them flying in and out of a mango tree catching insects over my head as I walked into town. It looked like something out of a Dracula movie! I was mesmerized by these large, graceful creatures and spent hours watching them. On our final evening in Cairns we went to Ricardo's Sidewalk Cafe and ate pizza and gelato on the Esplanade by the Coral Sea. Cairns is an electric wonderland city of shops, eateries, and cane toad races! On to Sydney in the morning.

Rianforest Habitat and Mossman Gorge

This morning we went to The Rainforest Habitat Wet Tropics Rainforest to have breakfast with the birds. This was an hour road trip along along the Coral Sea coast past miles of sugar cane fields. We arrived to have a wonderful breakfast in the wildlife sanctuary amongst the birds. They didn't bother us while we ate, and they were all around us. What a sight! This area became a World Heritage area in 1970. Cairns is the only area in the world to have two World Heritage sites. The Rainforest and Great Barrier Reef. We then walked around the sanctuary and fed the adorable kangaroos and wallabies. I fed a mom and her Joey together - and the baby didn't know what to do with the food! He was still on his mom's milk. We saw a few Joeys peeking out of the mom's pouches. We continued our lecture and tour watching crocodiles, koalas, emus, many marsupials, and tons of birds. We then went to Mossman Gorge and hiked the rainforest - in the rain! Lovely. Our Guide on this trip was a former real live crocodile hunter, and told fascinating stories the entire trip! We have the afternoon off so I am blogging, checking my e-mail, and getting my pictures put on CD's at one hour photo. This evening we are going out for a meal on the boardwalk and just chill! Then packing and on to Sydney tomorrow to wrap up the last few days of our trip. I am still stressing about how I am going to get my didgeridoo home!

Snorkeling The Great Barrier Reef

Well I finally found my best day! Every day has been magical and special - but this just might be number one. We arrived at the harbor and took the Ocean Spirit Cruise ship for a two trip to MichaelmasCay on the Great Barrier Reef. They supplied us with flippers, a snorkel and mask, and a wet suit! Well that was a real laugh watching me put that on! The water was about 74* so it was suggested we put on a wet suit. They moored the boat off shore and brought us in to shore on a smaller boat. There were hundreds of birds eating the wildlife and shellfish on the sandbar-island.
It was beautiful, and deafening! I snorkeled around for about an hour, directly over the hundreds of different corals, fish and wildlife. The further out I ventured, I found more exotic fish and marine wildlife. Just around one huge 5 foot long clam shell I saw about 75 different fish. I just got my pictures back from the Kodak shop and my pictures came out great from my disposable underwater camera. The farther out I got - it became more difficult to take pictures in one spot - because the tide swept me out further. It was incredible. We then went on a glass bottomed type boat and were driven directly throughout the reef. We saw very exotic fish and some 6 foot sea green turtles, scarfing up their dinner. We had another great buffet for lunch with a great selection of seafood. It was cloudy all day with a few slight showers, but I still got some sun. The picture of the beached whale I saw (me) is attached.
That evening we walked a few blocks to the ocean esplanade and had Gelato for dessert.
Before I forget - Check out the other two blogs that my colleagues are doing. They have terrific pictures on them - and I am in some of them. Margo's is ozspotting.blogspot.com and Mark's is markheiden.blogspot.com. (I had given you Mark's Japan blog address by mistake in my previous blog.)Check them out - they are great. They brought laptop computers with them. G'Day!

Cairns - Great Barrier Reef - Coral Sea

We arrived in Cairns and went directly to the Kuranda Scenic Railway for a tour of the Kuranda area and the Barran Gorge. This scenic railway went past gorges and waterfalls with breathtaking views. We had lunch at the top of the Kuranda mountains in a town called Kuranda! I was able to videotape the Tjupaki Rainforest Aboriginal people doing their traditional dance outside of their cultural center, and I had my picture taken with them. This is very rare because it is their spiritual belief not to have images of themselves. They were painted in traditional ceremonial designs and had their spears, and other ceremonial instruments. It was a great moment! We then took the Skyway cable cars down the mountains for a long ride over the treetops of the rainforests. We saw many beautiful birds, and the electric blue Ulysses butterfly hovering over the tree tops. What a sight. We stopped at another aboriginal cultural center and we were able to purchase authentic aboriginal returning boomerangs that were wonderfully decorated. Our guides have been able to take us to these places that are authentic. I don't want a boomerang made in Indonesia! Dinner at the hotel - with 10 different types of desserts on this buffet. Early to bed for our barrier reef excursion tomorrow!

Australian-American Association Reception

In Darwin (Top End) we were invited out to dinner at a wonderful restaurant from the Australian-American Association. This organization provides a number of services foe American soldiers stationed in this area. The local airport is actually an army base. This area was affected during the Japanese invasion in WW11 and still maintains border controls in Northern Australia. We met some wonderful members who gave us a magical dinner, and great company. The Aussie humor here is great! Everyone in this country is so friendly. I can see why people want to stay when they visit here. On to Cairns tomorrow!

Darwin - Top End

We left Kakadu and stopped at an Aboriginal Hut Craft shop where I was able to purchase a Didgeridoo from an aboriginal artist. I was able to get my picture taken with him which is very rare. All the proceeds went to the Aboriginal people, and my Didgeridoo had the "Mimi Spirit" painted on it. That is their guardian angle spirit and also my grandmother's name. It was kismet! A spiritual moment! Don't ask me how I am going to get it home on the plane!!!
We went to Darwin and ate at the Skyway Casino-Resort for lunch located right on the ocean. We then checked in at our Saville Suites overlooking the bay and a gorgeous park. Tonight the Australian-American Association is hosting us for dinner.
Brilliant! The Fulbright Culinary Tour continues......

Kakadu National Park

We then took two flights via Alice Springs to arrive at Aurora Kakadu Resort located in the Kakadu region - which is an area in Northern Australia. This Aboriginal parkland is as big as Switzerland, and encompasses 8,000 square miles.
There are only 4 resorts in this large area. Our resort had Dingos outside my door, and as I was walking to dinner, a baby wallaby hopped by me eating the flower buds off the plants. I woke up to a barking owl! I thought it was a dog.
We are in the Yellow River Flood Plain region. The Yellow Waters Billabong connects to the South Alligator River. In 1979, The Nature Preserve National Park leased the land from the Aboriginal people, We hiked to Cales Crossing and saw 2 crocodiles swimming by.
We went to the Gagudgu Crocodile Hotel for lunch (It is shaped like a croc)in the Jabiru township. In the hour and 1/2 to get there we saw no other buildings - just
bush land!
We then hiked to the Ubirr Escarpment Plateau and saw a lot of Aboriginal rock art - and looked out over the Yellow River Billabong and flood plain. We saw wild rock wallabies.
The next day we hiked the Nourlangie Aboriginal sites and caves - and saw very historic rock art. I saw the largest spider ever hanging from the rocks. There were also termite mounds all over the place - some over 6 - 7 feet tall!
We went to the Malukala wetlands en route to the Warradjau Cultural Centre for more Aboriginal presentations.
Next we went to lunch at another resort called the Cooinda - Gagudju Lodge - and then went on a ride down the Yellow Waters Cruise. We saw many crocodiles within 10 feet (very scary) and they will rip you to pieces in seconds! We also saw Jubirus (black necked storks), King Fishers, Australian Darters, and Pied Comorants. Hundreds of birds all around us - stunning! We all arrived back in one piece. No croc injuries.

Uluru -Kat Tjuta National Park (Ayers Rock)

We flew from Melbourne to Ayers Rock Airport. We went to The Uluru-Kat Tjuta National Park which is Ayers Rock. (The big Red Rock where the Dingo ate the Baby)
We actually heard the true story of Lindy Chamberlain who did lose her baby on a camping trip in 1980, and she was originally accused of killing her baby. We were met by Martin Ludgate our tour guide for Uluru, Kakadu, and Darwin (Top End).
We went to Aboriginal Cultural Centers - and we were not able to photograph the Aboriginal people and their museums. It is against their beliefs to have their images photographed - It's bad luck. The Uluru park is jointly managed by the Aboriginal people and the Government National Park system. There are only 4 resorts at the park - they are located in the desert in the middle of no-where!
We went to see the traditional viewing of Uluru Rock at sunset with our guides providing us with HorDeurves and champagne. It was absolutely spectacular - You can see why it is reputed to be the most religious-spiritual place on earth.
That evening we went to the Pioneer Outback Barbecue and cooked our own kangaroo, crocodile, Emu and Barramundi fish, with a huge buffet and live music. Brill!!!!
We walked to our resort through the desert and saw the most beautiful sky full of stars I have ever witnessed. The Milky Way is spectacular in the Southern Hemisphere - along with The Southern Cross!
The next Day we Hiked around Uluru and heard the Aboriginal Stories associated with the Rock. We then went to the Rock formation called Kata Tjuta (The Olgas) and hiked the Walpa Gorge.
At night we went to a very special July 4th celebration with a special dinner in the desert overlooking Uluru and Kata Tjuta. We were serenaded by a Didgeridoo player and an astronomer gave us a demonstration on the constellations and planets, while telling Aboriginal myths. relating to the stars we saw. We even saw Jupiter up close through his telescope. This was the most decadent magical dinner I ever had. It was indescribable. Every day I keep saying it can't get any better than this!!!

Melbourne, Victoria

By far the most beautiful city I have ever seen! When we checked into our Novotel (which was located in the posh "French Shopping" part of town - across the street from "Tiffanys") we took a walk around the city at night, and walked past the river, Flinder's Street Station, and Federation Square. It felt odd walking safely around at night! The architecture of Melbourne is a pretty blend of Victorian and modern buildings. The next day we went to CERES Educational Sustainable Farm on 4 hectares (10 acres) of land right in the middle of Melbourne. We were able to eat lunch from foods they had grown there, For dinner we had a Fulbright Alumni Reception in China Town - at a restaurant called "Chairman Mao's" The owner and cook was a cook for Chairman Mao! I also forgot to blog the other day about how Jackie Chan had lived in the Australian Embassy for a year - his parents were the ambassador's cooks. The next morning we went to the famous Queen Victoria Market place with market stalls for any thing imaginable! The food section alone was a feast for the eyes! We spent the afternoon at the Melbourne Gaol (Jail) and saw where the legend of Ned Kelly ended (his execution) . Our tour guide told us some behind the scenes ghost stories. It was a very creepy place - even in the daytime! We then had a late lunch at an outdoor Greek Cafe along a quaint alleyway. That evening we went to an Aussie Rules Football Match (A Footie) This game is a cross between soccer, rugby, football, volleyball, and kickball!!! Eighteen players on each side. Huge Stadium! The North Melbourne Kangaroos played the Essington Bombers. I sat near Joclyn and Petie - two sisters 11 and 10 years old, who explained the game to me during the evening. Of course I had purchased my kangaroo hat and scarf and ended up sitting in the Bombers section. But the roos won. What a great sport! We walked the 12 blocks from the stadium to our hotel through the beautiful streets of Melbourne. Truly a memorable City!!!,,