AUSTRALIA

Fall 2004

Hello everyone

After spending almost two week travelling to Vancouver and visiting with relatives we are now in Sydney. Japan Airlines via Tokyo was smooth without any problems. Sydney is a beautiful city with many historical and modern buildings. It is exceptionally clean and the people are very friendly. We are staying in the downtown area and we are walking everywhere. We have taken the Monorail around the harbour area. Yesterday we took in the Opera "The Marriage of Figaro" at the Sydney Opera House. The building is quite spectacular! Tuesday we pick up our van camper only a few blocks from our hotel (Philip Street Travelodge). Our camper rate is $49.95/day with insurance and is almost 1/3 the price of some of the quotes we received on the Internet and Travel agents. With our sightseeing I have seen 16 new birds. Some quite brilliant and very different from ours. We are fine and so far jet lag has not been much of a problem. Bye for now Irene and Chris

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Sept 28, 2004 Hi Everyone The story goes that a man went to his travel agent to inquire about a driving trip to beautiful Australia - land of sunshine beaches and Kangaroos. "Very good choice" said the agent, "but they drive on the left". "Let me think about it" said the man, "I will call you tomorrow" The next day he called and cancelled the trip. He said "I tried this driving on the left and did not like it".

We picked up our camper - a Toyoto the size of a VW about a week ago - travelling north from Sydney. Driving on the left is one thing but why do they have the turn signal lever on the right and the one for the windshield wipers on the left? Every time you turn a corner you turn the wipers on. Should have a word with Toyota. We drove about 3 hours per day and usually stayed in National Parks overnight. A little bit of rain but mostly sunshine. Great changes in scenery from hilly country along rivers, lakes to rock formations. Good hiking, 90 new lifers (birds) for Irene so far. Parks do not allow pets of any kind, no picking of firewood off the ground . Firewood provided in some locations. Fees from $3 per person plus $3 for making a fire in primitive campsites. Met many friendly and helpful Aussies, some birders, but very few foreigners.

The only shortwave signals in English that we have been able to receive so far are from the USA. "Voice of America" and a few American christian stations - the same type that we get in Mexico. We can get German and Dutch but no CBC. CBC broadcasts in a dozen languages all over the world but does not seem to be heard in Australia. We are halfway up to Brisbane inland above a gorge and waterfall in a wooded park with mostly eucalyptus type trees. Irene did some laundry today. We have a clothesline strund between two trees and over the campter. Have seen different species of Wallabys and Kangaroos, and one wild dog called a Dingo. I don't think they call female dogs Dinga. Here is a list of our overnight stops Myall River Camp Crowdy Bay National Park Dorrigo Cathedral Rocks National Park Oxley River National Park For all of you heading south - we wish you a safe trip.

G'day mates Chris and Irene

AUSTRALIA – DOWN UNDER BUT ALSO DIFFERENT!!

Observations:

1. There is virtually no graffiti – North American culture has not extended to this art form.

2. Toilets have full or half flush handle settings.

3. Sunrises in the east and at noon it goes north and sets in the west. Very disconcerting for orientation.

4. Wombats, Kangaroos, Wallabys, Koalas. Which of them make good sausages? You are correct it is Kangaroo. In the supermarkets meat department there is a section beside the other meats for Kanga meat. Very popular are the so called Kanga Bangers for frying or barbies.

5. Water swirls counter-clockwise.

6. No pennies exist – the smallest currency is 5 cents. We could learn from that.

7. Way south on Phillips Island there is this unbelievable phenomenon. At precisely 5 minutes after sunset on the storm swept really cold beach and very rough sea all of a sudden in groups of 15 or 20 or more of Little Penguins appear in front of you out of the water and slowly waddle past amazed spectators into the low brush to their burrows. Unafraid of humans they will come within less than a meter of the people. This scene takes place every day of the year. The penguins go to the sea in the morning, not one seems to be left behind (except when nesting) – they swim out up to 20 km to hunt and return when it becomes too dark.

8. Wilson's Promontory is the most southern of mainland Australia. It protrudes out quite a distance out into the sea and at one time was the connection with what is Tasmania. High green mountains, beautiful scenery, yellow sand beaches and rugged coastline

Here are some of the posted signs that we saw:

Traffic signs:

1. If you drink and drive you're a bloody idiot!

2. Don't sleep and drive.

3. Long time dead – so what's the hurry!

4. Yawning? A micro sleep can kill!

5. Drowsy drivers die

Numerous designated rest stops are located along all highways.

Sheilas and Blokes do not pee crap or spew around the trees only in the compost Loo or your own tent.

Other important signs:

1. No pet allowed of any kind in National Parks – no exceptions. (Also applies to many private campgrounds.)

2. Sign in grocery stores – Under 18 drinking - $500, using someone else's ID - $500

We went on a few hikes and saw two large snakes over a meter long. One was the infamous Tiger Snake, which can be very aggressive. One lady, who experiences an attack, described it as like a bicycle tire rolling towards her at amazing speed.

Australia has some wonderful little towns with well under 5,000 people that were founded around 1900. All well kept with street made into pedestrian malls, sidewalk cafes, restaurants and stores etc. Very English with little North American influence. Australia is a wonderful place to live and visit and in our opinion will become more attractive in the world while we believe the Americas are going the other way. The people were very friendly and helpful. They were willing to give loads of information of where to travel and what to enjoy in their country.

Two months driving through Australia gives you only a small taste of that large country. One of the most spectacular roads in the world is the Great Ocean Road along the coast west of Melbourne. Unbelievable, colorful, rugged rock formations fighting against an onslaught of wild wave action of blue and green water. Blow holes, white ocean spray 10 to 20 meters high, the noise of wind, gulls, cormorants and other birds. It it a 2 day trip for most people and a must if you are near Melbourne. There is a ferry service that connects the highways that lets you bypass Melbourne about 50 km south you avoid the heavy traffic which to use out weighed the attraction of the large city.

Our last few days were again spent in Sydney where we stayed at the Philip Street Travelodge. Our room was equipped with a small kitchen and this made it very convenient. We again enjoyed to see the historical and grand buildings of the downtown area. The hotel was close to the Botanical Gardens, the Opera House, the Quay and Darling Harbour.

We enjoyed the use of a campervan as it allowed us the freedom to stay in town and as well the natural surroundings of State Parks. The weather varied from hot in the Brisbane area to cold and windy on the south coast. We had rain and storms for only a few days and the rest were sunny. The 2 months of travel went by very fast. If we visit again we would like to see Western Australia.

Irene and Chris