THE TRIP - WEEK 2,3,4,5 (part 2) - AUSTRALIA
I know, its been a while since the last update. There are two reasons for that, I have been having too much fun and having too much fun!!
My hosts have been letting me experience the way of life here that seems to keep everyone very happy. Great food and drink everywhere, the ubiquitous BBQs with friends and relatives, playing in the pool, wonderful weather and, mainly for me, the quite fantastic scenery.
Yet again, I have had to edit down (yes I really have!) the number of photographs for this entry. These ones are to give you a flavor of what I’ve been up to, the rest will have to wait till I can bore you in person!
As is normal when you are in new surroundings, everyday things can seem very strange and demand examination you would never bother with at home. Silly little things like number plates on cars, why Vauxhalls are called Holden and “oh look, Iron Brew!”
As I’ve traveled around another thing that has struck me are the seemingly endless number of retailers and shopping centres. Again it is fun to spot the differences and the similarities.
I found this lying around in one but they wouldn’t let me buy it. Probably would not have fitted in my case anyway!
And this was not the Wombat I was hoping for!
We heard that there was a highland show on locally so off we went with the expectation of finding some burly Bruces hurling Gum Trees around to the sound of a lone piper. Er, no actually. This was much more than that. There were hundreds of pipers forming many a marching band, all in full regalia and making me very, what can I say?, nostalgic. Lots of ‘Food From Home’ stands (Graham was excited to buy Bassets Liquorice Allsorts!) and yes there was a Haggis and Neeps stand as well. Even McDuck was getting emotional at the sight of the highland dancers doing their stuff.
After failing to manage a foreign Geocache find in Thailand, I looked up one here and charged up the GPS. With success I’m happy to say. Not to sure what Graham and Kaye thought of the pastime but I was happy to be able to log a find on the other side of the globe. Hoping for more in NZ.
Next comes a round up of some of the sights and views I have experienced.
This is a really good viewing point called ‘Arthurs Seat’ and, yes as you can see, is named after the real one.
Spent a great day in Melbourne City centre. Nice place with a very friendly feel to it. Great views once again, particularly from the top of the Rialto Tower.
Got a bit giddy when I was told I was going to see my 1st Wombat of the trip but he was hiding! Saw the back of his head but it not worth the photo. I’m told I’ll be holding one next week!!!
Anyway, here is a selection of other native creatures we encountered.
On a day spent cooling things a bit in the pool, McDuck decides to dunk me and Graham ponders how he had managed it!
My 50th birthday saw me in Sydney for the day. One photograph here especially for my mum and brother, the cards made it till the 21st unopened as promised! Thank you.
First stop Bondi Beach for a birthday paddle, cant be bad eh?
Then in to the city to see the Opera House and the Harbor Bridge and as a complete surprise for my birthday, they brought in the QE2, how thoughtful!
Sydney Opera House was a surprise for me. I had always thought of it as one building but, as you can tell, it is actually made up of several separate buildings.
On the way south we came across this. Now, was it a large moth or a small bird?!
When the Bateman Bay town council put these poles up, did they think they were to light the street or act as a perfect pelican perch?
Just another pretty picture from our overnight stop in Bateman Bay.
Another trip out took us to a rather surreal walk through the forest where a local sculptor, William Ricketts, had spent many of his 95 years creating extremely good but slightly spooky creations which are attached to rocks and trees throughout the area.
The man made creations were good but I was impressed again by the way Mother Nature had created the massive trees hereabouts.
Finally (hurrah you cry!) a shot of my new friend Henry the nutty Labradoodle.
My hosts have been letting me experience the way of life here that seems to keep everyone very happy. Great food and drink everywhere, the ubiquitous BBQs with friends and relatives, playing in the pool, wonderful weather and, mainly for me, the quite fantastic scenery.
Yet again, I have had to edit down (yes I really have!) the number of photographs for this entry. These ones are to give you a flavor of what I’ve been up to, the rest will have to wait till I can bore you in person!
As is normal when you are in new surroundings, everyday things can seem very strange and demand examination you would never bother with at home. Silly little things like number plates on cars, why Vauxhalls are called Holden and “oh look, Iron Brew!”
As I’ve traveled around another thing that has struck me are the seemingly endless number of retailers and shopping centres. Again it is fun to spot the differences and the similarities.
I found this lying around in one but they wouldn’t let me buy it. Probably would not have fitted in my case anyway!
And this was not the Wombat I was hoping for!
We heard that there was a highland show on locally so off we went with the expectation of finding some burly Bruces hurling Gum Trees around to the sound of a lone piper. Er, no actually. This was much more than that. There were hundreds of pipers forming many a marching band, all in full regalia and making me very, what can I say?, nostalgic. Lots of ‘Food From Home’ stands (Graham was excited to buy Bassets Liquorice Allsorts!) and yes there was a Haggis and Neeps stand as well. Even McDuck was getting emotional at the sight of the highland dancers doing their stuff.
After failing to manage a foreign Geocache find in Thailand, I looked up one here and charged up the GPS. With success I’m happy to say. Not to sure what Graham and Kaye thought of the pastime but I was happy to be able to log a find on the other side of the globe. Hoping for more in NZ.
Next comes a round up of some of the sights and views I have experienced.
This is a really good viewing point called ‘Arthurs Seat’ and, yes as you can see, is named after the real one.
Spent a great day in Melbourne City centre. Nice place with a very friendly feel to it. Great views once again, particularly from the top of the Rialto Tower.
Got a bit giddy when I was told I was going to see my 1st Wombat of the trip but he was hiding! Saw the back of his head but it not worth the photo. I’m told I’ll be holding one next week!!!
Anyway, here is a selection of other native creatures we encountered.
On a day spent cooling things a bit in the pool, McDuck decides to dunk me and Graham ponders how he had managed it!
My 50th birthday saw me in Sydney for the day. One photograph here especially for my mum and brother, the cards made it till the 21st unopened as promised! Thank you.
First stop Bondi Beach for a birthday paddle, cant be bad eh?
Then in to the city to see the Opera House and the Harbor Bridge and as a complete surprise for my birthday, they brought in the QE2, how thoughtful!
Sydney Opera House was a surprise for me. I had always thought of it as one building but, as you can tell, it is actually made up of several separate buildings.
A landmark birthday I will never forget!
On the way south we came across this. Now, was it a large moth or a small bird?!
When the Bateman Bay town council put these poles up, did they think they were to light the street or act as a perfect pelican perch?
Just another pretty picture from our overnight stop in Bateman Bay.
Another trip out took us to a rather surreal walk through the forest where a local sculptor, William Ricketts, had spent many of his 95 years creating extremely good but slightly spooky creations which are attached to rocks and trees throughout the area.
The man made creations were good but I was impressed again by the way Mother Nature had created the massive trees hereabouts.
Finally (hurrah you cry!) a shot of my new friend Henry the nutty Labradoodle.
Sadly, only another week here, but it promises to be another good one!
posted by Hamish at 11:04 pm
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