February 14, 2013, Ryland, Kentucky, U.S.A.

We couldn't have better hosts...we love you, Barb and Brad!

Coming home on a 747

This is our 2^nd day back in America and I wanted to write some of my special thoughts about Australia.

The thing that has always impressed me during the 4 times that we have traveled to Australia is that I feel so good about being in Australia because they really like Americans.  Australians care about America; they know tons of stuff about America and they want to talk about America. I feel a real kinship with the Australian people because they want to know as much about us as we want to know about them

Traveling to Australia gives you a whole new perspective about America.  We are comfortable with the way things are done in America but when you spend time in Australia you can see that there is another way to do things…and the other way works…it works for Australia.  I find myself constantly reflecting on the way Australians do things and pressing that up against how it is done in the US.

I like the fact that the people are so genuine and friendly. While in Australia, I walked with Barb every day and there would always be lots of Australians who were walking and they always seem to be smiling  and saying hello…sometimes even ”G-day…How you goin” which is a pretty typical way that Australians say hello.

We are still trying to catch our breath from all the activities we were involved in.  We found that there is an abundance of things to do in Australia whether you want to experience all kinds of outdoor adventures, enjoy a laidback beach culture or just sample some great food and wine.

We are already planning our return trip.  We may not be going for two months but one thing we can always be assured of, we will love Australia no matter what amount of time we get to spend there.

This is my final blog.  I hope you have enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing.  Mike Hall

February 11, 2013, Mt. Tamborine, QLD, Australia

Adult Candy Store

Tamborine Mountains

Bradley and the Fan Tail Pigeon

Have you ever been to a candy store for “adults only”?  We went, we saw, we tasted…and it was different.  It was in reality a distillery that makes liqueurs and schnapps that the locals call “adult candy”.  It had over 80 varieties of liqueurs set in a European Village setting.  (No!  We did not taste them all.)  It was located in a huge park called Mt. Tamborine.  The park had stunning views of the rain forest and coast plus tons of things to do, lots of eateries and a big artist colony.

February 12, 3013

Today is our last day in Australia.  Tomorrow we fly out of Brisbane to L.A. at 11:30 AM.  It will be February 13^th when we take off and when we arrive home after a 26 hour day, it will still be February 13^th as we lose a day when we cross the International Date Line.  When we get home, I am going to conclude “the blog” with some reflections on the great country and people of Australia.

February 10, 2013, Burleigh Heads, QLD, Australia

The crowd at Breaka Burleigh

Surfers Paradise in background

Good looking spectators.

Oops!

Today we saw the finals of the “Breaka Burleigh Pro Surfboard Championships”.  The sun was out and the crowds were there to watch some of the world’s best surfers.  It was a perfect stage to watch really good surf boarders.  This was an event for men and women.  I wore my surfer shirt, surfer trunks and my “Rip Curl” hat hoping that people would think that here is a guy that knows surfing.  In other words, I dressed the part but that is as far as it goes.

February 9, 2013, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

The Wheel

Brisbane River and the Treasury Building

South Bank Park

We were in Brisbane for the day to antique shop, sight-see  lunch and ride The Wheel.  The Wheel is a giant observation Ferris wheel that gives a 360 degree view of Brisbane.  It is located in a huge downtown city park.  There were lots of activities going on in the park including a market on weekends, swimming, sun bathing, music and plenty of eating choices.  The Wheel was fun.  It is 60 meters high.  We were told that the one in London is 120 meters high.  The ride was scary when we got to the top so I can imagine that the London Wheel would be twice the thrill.

February 8, 2013, Chevron Island, Gold Coast, Australia

"Afternoon Tea"

"High Tea" or "Low Tea"?

Last Saturday we signed up for “High Tea” at an upscale hotel on Chevron Island, Australia.  The picture shows that at 3 PM we started with “Bubbly”…finished with coffee and in-between we had finger sandwiches, scones and small cakes.  (They call it “Bubbly” in Australia because only the Champagne region in France that produces Champagne is allowed to use the term “Champagne”.)  When I looked up “High Tea” on the internet, I found out what we had was technically called “Low Tea” which is served in the early afternoon.  “High Tea” is actually served between 5 PM and 7 PM and includes meat and a dessert.  What we had is also called “Afternoon Tea”.  Whatever…It was a treat and it was all good.  What I learned is that “High Tea” is a term often used in countries outside of England to indicate a snack between 4 PM and 6 PM…which, of course, includes tea or coffee.

February 7, 2013, Currumbin Alley, QLD, Australia

"Surfer Dudes"...we are up

Barb, the "Surf Queen"

Mouth open technique

Everything starts early in the land “down under”.  Today I woke up at 5:30 AM and when I looked out the front window, 24 stand-up paddle boarders were coming back down the river on the return trip to their home base.  My daughter Barb and I walk at about 6:30 AM and always we will see “tons” of surf boarders at the beach before work or school.  After work, in the early afternoon, the beaches are crowded once again with surf boarders.  Yesterday, Barb and I joined the afternoon crowd for our 2^nd surf board lesson.  My instructor said that if I keep it up, “think how good you will be when you are 75”. At the time, I was sucking for air so hard I wondered if there will be a 75.

February 3, 2013, Springbrook Park, QLD, Australia

Rain forest

Natural Bridge

I've been told that 70% of the “Gold Coast” is park land.  We spent today in Springbrook Park, a World Heritage rain forest with spectacular waterfalls, mountain streams and breathtaking views.  World Heritage status is confirmed by the UN’s UNISCO organization for unique geology plus outstanding conservation practices.  Because of the excessive rainfall of the past week, we saw lots of water coming over the falls.  Deep in the valley there is a very unique rock bridge and a plunging waterfall that is famous and spectacular.  At night, the underside of the rock bridge is illuminated by thousands of glow-worms tiny green lights.  We did not wait around to see the green lights but we heard about the “light show”.  Bradley was particularly thrilled with today’s events as he got to stay home and he did not have to entertain his in-laws.

February 1, 2013, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Australia

Australia's largest flying bird: the eagle

Ann feeding the Lorikeets

Sheep Shearing

Mob of Kangaroos

We visited the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary located in the same town where Barb and Brad live.  It is a unique place; world renowned for its feeding of huge flocks of wild Rainbow Lorikeets.  Lots of great things to see: eagles and falcons flying; sheep shearing; mob of kangaroos at feeding time; feeding of the Lorikeets; and of course, Koala Bears.  Lots of kangaroos and one of the things we learned about them was startling.  Imagine being pregnant for the rest of your life!  Get this, once a female kangaroo mates, they are pregnant for the rest of their life.  They can give birth every 21 – 28 days.  It doesn't sound like much fun to me.

January 31, 2013, Currumbin Creek, QLD, Australia

Bradley throwing the crab trap.

Lunch!  Fishing off the dock in the background.

We arrived home two days ago and fortunate for us we missed the 90 MPH wind and driving rain that hit Queensland while we were in Perth.  Bradley took us Mud Crab fishing off the dock behind his condo.  The pictures will show you some of the action.  Bradley baited the trap with “chicken frames”.  In the U.S. we would call it “chicken carcass”.  (Different names pop up all the time in Australia.  As a matter of fact, Bradley says that when the U.S. broke away from England they messed up the English language.)  Bradley caught some really nice mud crabs.  He threw them in a pot of boiling water for 15 –17 minutes and they made a delicious lunch.  The claws on those Mud Crabs are something to be careful of as they can take off a finger…I saw them easily cut a nice size carrot in half.

January 28, 2013, Swan River, Australia

River Cruise was fun

Perth is on the Swan River

It is all about the grapes!

Australia has some serious issues going on at this time: there are major fires in Tasmania and New South Wales; there is rain, flooding and tornadoes in Northern Queensland.  But we are on the other side of the country in Western Australia that averages 8 hours of sunshine every day.  Today we are on the Swan River on a wine tour.  The major issues that much of Australia is going through are nowhere in evidence, except on TV.  It is a bright sunny day and we are in an air-conditioned river boat.  This is our last day in Western Australia and we are sad because we love this part of the country.  Perth is truly an isolated city, all by itself on the western coast of Australia, but it is so progressive and it has such a relaxed life style.  It has incredible natural beauty and a tempo that feels so good just to spend time in this community.  I am sad we have to leave tomorrow but what a great day in the wine country and on the river.  Note: this is a country where “Greenies” have a lot to say.  For instance, riding down the Swan River we noticed many fallen trees.  We learned that the law is clear: you are not allowed to touch those fallen trees unless they hinder navigation.  (I’ll have to give that issue some thought.)

January 27,2013, Rottnest, Australia

Getting ready for a high speed boat ride.

Fur Seals

Snorkeling in the Indian Ocean.

Quokka, member of kangaroo family...had an island named after him.

Think about this…would you ever willingly spend an entire day in a place called “rat nest”?  That is what we did today and we loved it.  Rottnest is a Dutch name for “rat nest”.  The first settlers arrived on the island in 1696 and saw an extremely small animal in the kangaroo family called an “Ouokka”.  They thought it looked much like a rat and that is how the island got its name.  But even with a name like that, it is a wonderful vacation spot.  We started the day with a ferry ride to the island.  The island is basically a nature preserve owned by the government and they have developed tons of activities for all ages.  When we arrived on the island we signed up for a 60 mph high speed boat ride that circumnavigated the island.  We followed the ride with lunch and finished the day by snorkeling the reefs around the island.  We had so much fun.  It is one of Western Australia’s “best kept secrets”.  It has spectacular white sandy beaches and tons of unique wild life.  We saw “fur seals”, sea lions, Osprey and of course, several “Quokkas”.  And to top it all, we got to swim in the Indian Ocean.

January 26, 2013, Australia Day, Perth, Australia

View of Perth from Kings Park.

Perth Harbor on Australia Day

Controversial keel of "Australia II", but still a winner.

In the end, it was all about the fireworks.

It has the feel of the 4^th of July but it is “Australia Day”…one huge celebration of national pride.  Parties everywhere with locals coming early to the harbor to get a good seat and a good view of the fireworks.  During the day, a huge Aborigines concert was held on the waterfront.  I am not able to show any pictures of the Aborigines because some of them believe that if their picture is taken, they will lose their soul…and I did not want to pull out my camera standing in the middle of 2000 Aborigines.  We took a day tour to Kings Park and the City of Fremantle.  Fremantle was fun…great harbor, great maritime museum, great fish and chips, first building in Western Australia and tons of Australians enjoying the holiday.  The maritime museum was special.  The “Australia II” sailboat was in residence; which won the America’s Cup by beating the Americans in 1983.  The race was held at Fremantle and most Australians can tell you all about the race.

January 25, 2013, Perth, Australia

Perth Bell Tower

Statue depicting different materials mined in Western Australia.

Symbol of Australia who is not capable of taking a backward step.

We arrived in Perth after a 4 hour plane ride from Sydney.  I have always wanted to come to Perth.  It is as far West in Australia as you can get.  It was voted as one of the most livable cities in the world.  People call it one of the most isolated cities in the world; closer to Southeast Asia than any other major city in Australia.  It is a town built mainly by convicts.   At any one time, in their early history, they would have 20,000 convicts from England building the harbor and public buildings.  We took a guide tour of the city in the late afternoon and we were impressed (as we always are with what Australia is doing)…with the spirit of ongoing development in the western region.  The coal mines and other mines of the region are creating a huge need for miners…and they are coming.  Miners can make at least $100,000 per year.  The spirit that Australians have for their country is exciting to witness.  We see it in so many ways.  To give you some idea of what I mean, the Symbols of Australia are the Kangaroo and Emu.  They were picked because neither animal can step backward.

January 21, 2013, Gold Coast, Australia

Stand Up Paddle Board

Barb and the Boogie Board

Market at Eumundi

Weekends in Australia are high energy with lots of activity because Barb is home and not working.  We try to fit in lots of different events:

1.       Saturday we drove to a popular outdoor market at Eumundi.  It was upscale shopping and not in the flea market category.

2.       Sunday we started with church.  Beachside Christian Church is unlike any church I have ever attended.  Everyone seemed dressed and ready for the beach.  The dress code was T shirts, shorts, flip flops…including the pastor.  Great service…very casual…God was there.

3.       Sunday afternoon we tried 2 new water sports.

·         Stand up paddle boards on the river.

·         Boogie Boarding on the ocean (see pictures).

4.        Each morning of the week we all exercise on our own followed by a group 2 mile high energy walk.  (Still trying to burn off the high impact calorie crunch from the cruise.)

January 16, 2013, Currumbin Rocks, Australia

Surf school with Bo.

Barb is up.

I'm up.  No style points.

Thank God it is over...but we are coming back.

My daughter Barb and I decided we wanted to take surf board lessons.  We scheduled a time for 5 PM and we met our instructor Bo.  He gave us lots of good instructions…none of which we followed very well.  He told me at 74, I was his oldest student, ever.  I told him I was looking for “adventure before dementia”.  I am going to post some of the best pictures.  Keep in mind that I am not showing the “wipe outs” that occurred with regularity.