Auckland to Rotorua: July 25, 2011

Nau mai, Haere mai ki Aotearoa! Welcome to New Zealand! Kia hora! After a bit of a delay due to snow in the south island in Wellington, NZ we arrived in Auckland, NZ, the Land of the Long White Cloud. New Zealand is quite serious about their airport security and searched a number of bags in customs looking for whatever it is that threatens homeland security but also for food! It must all be claimed upfront. Meats, fresh fruits, breads are not allowed and dirty golf shoes that are not claimed could all get you a fine of $400.00! It’s the bacteria, etc. that could be in the food and the dirt on the shoes that could be carrying an environmental threat to this beautiful and pristine environment. Years ago they introduced possums to help rid the country of something else and now those possums number in the millions and the saying goes, “The only good possum is a dead possum!”. Being the inventive and creative people they are, the Kiwis have learned to use possum fur mixed with merino wool to create a soft, warm garment so those deceased little rodents don’t go to waste!

I love flying into this country with its rugged coastline and its lush green gently rolling hills and flowering plants, even in the winter! The North Island is not home to the glaciers and higher mountains but is the island with the bulk of the Maori population and history. It’s all beautif

ul with some of us commenting that it reminded us of Ireland or even Sussex County!

Richard, our coach driver and of Maori descent, took us to Rotorua, a trip of @3 hours and we were able to see more of the countryside as we left one of the only multi-lane highways on the island for a double lane road for most of the trip. Rotorua means “ 2 lakes” or “second lake”, with “roto” signifying “lake” and “rua” meaning “2” or “second” and is the spiritual home to the Maori. It was given this name by the Maori explorer, Ihenga around 1350 AD. Rotorua sits on one of the most active geothermal and volcanic regions in the world. This geothermal field contains 1,200 geothermal features including geysers, hot springs, bubbling mud pools and fumaroles, silica terraces and flats. The people population of New Zealand is @4 million. The sheep population is @40 million! So it was sheep we saw along with cows grazing on the hillsid

es as the sun set on our first night here and Richard told us a bit of New Zealand and Maori history. Rotorua is the center of Maori language and culture as well as an active geothermal area with the distinct smell of sulfur in the air. You can see steam rising out of bushes and in parks all around the area as we drove into town. Tomorrow we go to Whakarewarewa, a Maori village and geothermal park. "Whaka" is the shortened name for a very long one which is quite difficult to pronounce. If you just say every letter with “wh” sounding like “f”, you’ve got it! Go ahead. Try it! Let me know how this works out for you!

Here is the name in its entirety:

Tewhakarewarewatangaoteopetauaawahiao.

A couple of pictures from our hotel along Lake Rotorua:

Haere mai until tomorrow!

This is what they call a "frosty" morning here in Rotorua. There is ice on car windows and it is expected to be no warmer than @48 degrees F today. You can see your breath outside! Our hotel is right on the lake where there is a constant steam cloud floating up from the water... and, of course. the sulfur smell!

We are actually quite fortunate to be in the North Island as the South Island, specifically Christchurch and Wellington, have been hammered with snow, delaying flights, interrupting all sorts of services, and generally making life difficult while maintaining the top news story like a nor'easter might do.

I am having some trouble connecting in my room and therefore cannot upload photos right now but will do so ASAP. It really is beautiful and there ought to be some excellent photos after todya's excursions.

Time is up online for me so let's chat later!

Good morning as we prepare to leave for New Zealand. We will be landing in Auckland and going to Rotorua in the North Island. Not sure how much access I'll have once we arrive but I will do my best to keep posting. Otherwise, stay tuned and I will update once we get to Honolulu.

Hooroo, Australia!

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Another day in Paradise! This was a free day for us in Sydney to explore, shop, relax, climb bridges...you know...the usual! We slept in a bit today and then we went off in different directions. Some took the train to the Rocks, some went back to the Opera House, some walked to church and then to the Rocks, some went to the Sydney Harbor Bridge to take a walk - up the bridge!

The Rocks is an area down by the harbor where the convicts landed when sent from England. The youngest of these law breakers was 9 years old and the oldest was 83. Hardened criminals along with bread thieves were treated the same with there being just 2 sentences - a 7 year term of imprisonment or a 14 year incarceration. The area became one of crime and rundown buildings and the city planned to knock down everything to build high rises. There was a major uproar by the citizens to preserve the history and the buildings by the harbor and, eventually, the town father's saw the light and acquiesced to the demand of its citizens and The Rocks was born! It is now full of boutiques, art shops, restaurants and cafes. You can walk along the harbor to the Opera House, take a boat ride, both fast ones and leisurely, enjoy the entertainment of contemporary musicians and that of some aborigines...or you can just people watch. It's all good!

I am so blessed to have friends here in Sydney through a variety of avenues. I had a friend who taught in Australia for a couple of years and, on her way back to the states, she went via Fiji. Graeme was on his way around the world and met my friend while he was in Fiji, as well. They exchanged addresses and when Graeme arrived in the New York area, he stayed with us for a few weeks, exploring our area, Philadelphia, and, his favorite, New York City. He then left for London but couldn't resist returning to us on his way back bringing another friend, Lorna, with him and, after another couple of weeks, we were all fast friends. That was in 1976! Graeme is one of those people with a sneaky sense of humor who can talk to anyone and does! Our laugh-fests were legendary! It was wonderful seeing him again and we plan on getting together in November when he comes back to N

ew York. We got so caught up in conversation that I did not get a new picture of Graeme nor did I get one with Mater! However, there will be pictures in November! Meanwhile, here is a picture of my friend, Graeme, from a previous post.

Katie was our tour manager when we came to Australia in 1999. She and her husband, Paul, did this work on school holidays and, typical of the Aussies we've met, they are both open and friendly and interesting. Katie was always so kind to the us on that first tour and was easy-going and full of stories and ideas to keep us all busy. We became friends on that trip and, when I came back in 2001, she and Paul had a son, Sam. We have kept in touch through the birth of their daughter, Holly, and so it was natural to see them this time, as well, getting to know their beautiful children a bit in the process.

It was so good to see them all, even if only for a few hours. The time apart did not lessen that connection and we had relaxed, natural conversation throughout dinner. Sam and Holly were the bonus at dinner, loving that I had Mater with me and, of course, photos were taken! Are they simply delicious young Aussies?! :)

This was just another reminder to be kind to the friends you have and be open to new friendships wherever you go. You just never know how each new person will enrich your life!

We leave Australia tomorrow for New Zealand. I, for one, will be sad to be leaving this captivating country with its life-loving people and will return again someday. One story goes that it is a traditional aboriginal way of saying good bye to wipe your hands under your armpits and then wipe the cheeks of the person to whom you are saying farewell... while this all sounds very exotic and exceptional, I will go with "Hooroo, Australia!"

Sydney: Saturday, July 23, 2011

We had an amazing day in Sydney today touring the city, including Bondi Beach, visiting the opal factory, taking a harbor cruise, touring the Opera House and having dinner at the Blackbird Cafe.

Sydney is full of interesting history with the British, the convicts, and the aborigines. we hopped in and out of the coach between rain showers this morning, some heavy at times and other times simply annoying. But we remained hopeful that it would clear up and it did!

The Opera House is the identifying face of Sydney Harbor. It sits out on a peninsula of land, Bennelong Point, surrounded on three sides by the harbor dominating the shape of the skyline despite its diminutive size compared to the taller buildings in the city. This icon was designed by Jorn Utzon and opened in 1973, after 16 years of construction and controversy with a 1,400 percent cost overrun. It is Australia's most popular tourist attraction with over 7 million visitors a year. It really is a breathtaking structure with its shell-like outline and glass curtain walls. The shell ribs add dimension and depth to the interior and each performance hall is created to be acoustically perfect. Simply grand!

For all you Barbie fans: They had a collector Barbie designed to represent the opera house, as well! There was actually a pretty big campaign advertising her with posters and doll displays. Here is a visual in case you want to get one!

Part of the history of the harbor area is that some of it is reclaimed land. They have placed markers in the walkway that runs along the water to delineate the borders of the land as it stood in 1788. Beyond that point is the reclaimed land.

The opal factory was our next stop. We skipped the introductory film and little chat with the staff and got right down to business! So much to choose from and so little...money! There were opals of every grade and type ranging from doublets and triplets to the coveted black and fire opals. There were necklaces, bracelets, rings, brooches, and free from opals for the choosing! All beautiful! Everyone managed to find an opal that suited them, some more than others, and we all walked away happy, if not a bit less financially secure! :)

We also went to Bondi Beach, the famous playground of surfers and bikinis. In fact, in 2007, the Guinness World Record confirmed that the largest swimsuit photo shoot was set at Bondi Beach with 1,010 women wearing bikinis! We did not see any though since it was raining off and on at this point and...oh, yeah...it was winter there! FYI: In Aborigine, "Bondi" means "water hitting rocks" of "place where the flight of nullas took place". Boy, was it ever hitting the rocks and living up to its name today!

We stopped at an outcropping during our tour that has, apparently, been a location for a number of desperate actions taken by despondent people. We were told that the man across the street has had a hand in talking many people down off of the rocks before it was too late. He is known for returning hope to the lives of these people and hence - the sign.

Our dinner was at the Blackbird Cafe in the harbor area. Delicious food and good friends - wonderful way to start our stay in Sydney!

The weather was off and on all day but finally cleared up and it looks like we are going to have a perfectly clear day here in Sydney for Sunday.

Friday, July 22, 2011

Amid sunshine and winds, we reluctantly left Tangalooma. It was an uneventful ferry ride to Brisbane where we arrived along with @100 PTP student ambassadors. Collecting luggage took a bit of time but then we were off to Lone Pine Koala sanctuary.

Of course, the big draw there was the chance to hold a koala so we went to them “straight away”! Koalas are very docile marsupials who tolerate being placed in the hands of countless visitors all wanting a photo for posterity. Me, too! We all lined up and smiled as our photo was taken by the staff and the rest of us took photos, as well. Holding a koala is not unlike holding a human baby. After being placed in your cupped hands, they sink comfortably into your chest with its arms up on your shoulders. They are furry with a unique eucalyptus scent and because of their size and weight, you might even tend to rock back and forth like you do when you hold a baby! While koalas are the main attraction, there are lots of other animals that live there, too. There are those large bats the size of cats, platypus, reptiles, wombats, cassowary, emus, dingoes, and, of course, kangaroos and wallabies. Since Australia has lots of birds native to the country, there were lorikeets, cockatoos, cockatiels, budgie birds, a number of different parrots and more. We went into the kangaroo enclosure where we were treated to free wandering emu, wallaby, and red and grey kangaroo. Since it was late morning/early afternoon the kangaroo were pretty lazy and very easily approachable. Most of us bought kangaroo food so had something to entice them to interact but so did every other visitor and some of the roos were in a virtual food coma! But they did take food from our hands, allow us to pet them, and sit while we took photos and photos and more photos! Some were jumping and hopping around giving us the true kangaroo experience!

Koalas were everywhere and easy to see as they, too, are passive and sleepy. Koalas eat only eucalyptus leaves and therefore smell like the plant. They eat and sleep, with very little wandering about and they cling to the trunks of the eucalyptus while their babies cling to them. So darn cute…just couldn’t get enough!

As you leave Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, there is a pair of cockatoos that say “good bye” in a voice eerily similar to human beings! Every person that passed laughed and stopped to "talk" to the birds trying to get them to say other things...not all appropriate, I might add! :)

Update: Ken has had a number of “incidents” this trip! Remember his encounter with a fish at the reef resulting in his finger being bitten? Well, while sand surfing, Ken took the most dramatic spill and managed to get a bruise onhis arm the size of a small coconut…ok…a very small coconut…maybe a kiwi sized coconut… but he was still the only one with this honor! Then today at Lone Pine while holding the koala to have his photo taken, his

koala reached out and grabbed his lip scraping his cheek in the process! I'll let you be the judge but that’s three times, Ken! May I suggest you steer clear of the volcano on White Island?

As we head to Sydney, we are coming into the worst rain they have had for 61 years! The

surfers are pretty happy although some beaches have banned them from the water with waves over 12 ft. We are hopeful that this storm will break and give us some drier weather. Sunday looks like our best bet.

FYI: Our snack on the plane from Brisbane to Sydney was sea salt grissini with spiced pumpkin dip - quite delicious! And an apple. Apparently, pumpkins are pretty big in Australia, too! In Goomeria, Queensland there is the Annual Goomeri Pumpkin Festival, including the Great Australian Pumpkin roll! http://www.goomeripumpkinfestival.com.au/ and Check out www.sydneybiscuitcompany.com.au for more about this little snack! I forgot to mention that on our Qantas flights, passengers are given a bag to help them recycle. Of course, one might muse that the extra bag is just more garbage but hey…it’s the thought, really! I’m just sayin’…

Saw a guy in Brisbane airport with a Superman shirt on and had to introduce him to Mater. I explained that Liam just had a Superhero party and that his shirt would be perfect to join Mater in a photo. Luca was so excited to meet Liam's traveling tow truck and happily posed for a super picture with him, too. Yet another friendly and life-loving Aussie!

At our gate was an arriving flight filled with students who had gone on a trip to Sydney and Canberra. Their families were all waiting at the gate - anyone old enough to remember when we used to do that, too? A group of younger brothers and sisters were squealing with delight at the thought of their siblings returning from such an adventure so far away. Many had not been on a plane before this trip and would surely bring home exciting tales of their week away from home and supervision. The children formed a receiving line of sorts and there was much revelry as their brothers and sisters, sons and daughters deplaned welcomed by hugs and kisses and even awkward adolescent joy as they saw their families once again. After all, how could they act excited at their age just to see Mom and Dad and annoying little brothers and sisters? But their delight was impossible to hide and smiles sneaked onto their lips as they happily walked with their families to return to the comfort of home and their own pillows tonight. One little boy, probably about 18 months old, refused to let go of his sister as he buried his little head in her neck and had a shameless, blissful smile on his face as they walked away. If you are fortunate enough to have one, love your family a little bit more tonight.

I sat next to a young man on the flight to Sydney whose name was Darrel. He was 25 and an engineer of sorts traveling around the world for his company. He has been to NYC, Boston, and New Jersey, to name a few of the places he has seen! He is not opposed to a quick stop in Las Vegas, either, or of relocating if anyone wants to offer him a job! Then, Stewart sat between us and he also works for an insurance company as an engineer so they really had an interesting conversation. But, not before I told them the tale of Mater’s travels and they wanted their picture to be added to the collection!

I managed to get a few pictures up but now must go off for the day! Check back later, mates!

Cheerio!

Thursday, July 20, 2011

Sand tobogganing rocks! Paul, our driver to the desert, was a typical Ozzie with a nonstop sense of humor and the inborn ability to laugh at himself. He goes to the United States every 2 years, buys a truck, drives coast to coast for a few weeks and then returns home to Australia. He then brings the truck home, changes the steering wheel to the other side of the car and off he goes for another 2 years! He seems to have a particular fondness for Texas, as well! Now, none of this may be true...we really don't know for sure! But he was entertaining as he drove us to the sand dunes in the desert to try our hand at sand tobogganing.

After entering the desert area, we reach a place called Lightning Ridge. It is really just a mound of sand that is filled with what looks like thousands of tiny rocks. In reality, they each represent a lightning strike! As the lightning hits the sand, it melts the silica in the sand to create these little lightning rocks. Amazing how much lightning hits in this area! You are not allowed to take any of these rocks, but Paul got out and picked one up to show us. He promised us he would put it back in the exact spot from which he took it...again, who knows!?

Back to sand tobogganing: For some, it goes like this: you hike up a pretty serious hill of sand...all sand...after all, it is a sand dune...have your picture taken by a young, smiling photographer (who is going to New York in a couple of weeks) has hiked up the hill and is not out of breath. She tells you that you are doing fine, just like she is paid to do! When finally at the top, it is a glorious view of the desert from where you've just come and to where you are now going, much more quickly and with very little effort! As instructed, you lie down on a piece of board, rough on one side to prevent you from sliding off and waxed on the other so you can reach speeds of up to 35 mph as you torpedo headlong down the gritty incline toward an uncertain landing. Hurtling oneself willy-nilly down a sand hill with no visible means of stopping that does not involve tumbling head over heels in fine grain sand that will end up EVERYWHERE must be on everyone's bucket list! The alternate scenario goes something like this: "Cool!", you say to yourself, "Let's go!", not noticing the angle and height of the sand as you race up the hill to the top with nary a bead of sweat and plenty of oxygen to spare. You passed the little photographer girl because you were going too fast to notice her or she says something like, "How many times is this for ya, hey?" You lie down on the board, race down the hill at breakneck speed and rush to repeat it all over again! The point isjust doing it! Such wild abandon and fleeting freedom! Beware: you MUST keep the front of the board up lest you find yourself with a mouthful of grit, which many of us did! So much fun! Some of us did it once, some did it 6 times but either way it was awesome! Now for some pictures of us in various stages of victory and defeat!

Anja went on a helicopter ride with a couple of us and it provided us with breathtaking views of the island and the surrounding water! The pilot took us around the island to the east side of the island showing us the desert where we had just been sand tobogganing along with indescribably turquoise and green water along the shore. The depth of the water dictated the colors and there was a rainbowof greens, turquoise, myriad shades of blues, indigo, jade...Mother Nature was working overtime here!

The winds died down today and we could really enjoy the perfect temperatures, sit on the beach, walk without jackets, and be glad we are not in temperatures too extreme in either way! Some went kayaking while others took the opportunity to relax or explore the island.

Later in the afternoon, Bissy came to visit. Bissy is an older dolphin who doesn't go out too far from the island anymore and is quite comfortable around people. She was swimming around in very shallow water giving all who saw her a very close encounter with her. She left all too soon and we spent some time on the beach looking out into the sea in the hopes that Bissy would return. It was not to be. This was one of those special times that will not be forgotten but neither can it be replicated in exactly the same way.

Brendan, however, wandered into the water and was so close to another dolphin that he was able to touch her! Naturally, we all wanted to have the same experience but it was Brendan's alone. Brendan is our group "didgeridude"!

Today as the winds died down the family of kookaburras returned to be fed. They wait patiently for very lean beef as meat with a high fat content is not digestible and may make them sick or result in their death. (Hmmmm....maybe humans should take note here!) Kookaburras are very noisy, round birds with a long sharp beak and their screams and calls could be heard all over the island. They are very family-oriented, mating for life, and warning other kookaburras to stay away if they interfere with an expected food source. Very cute birds full of personality and noise!

Some of us went to Karen and Ken's room before dinner and to see the sunset from their balcony. They have a knack for getting a room with a beautiful view!

We are off to the ferry leaving Tangalooma (so sad, really!) and headed to Brisbane and the koalas!!! then it's off to Sydney...let's hope the rains have stopped!