Having been in Australia for 4 months, I honestly forget that I have an accent. The people I see everyday don't comment on it, people at school and the regular stores I shop at. But being on this holiday, I've heard a few times: "I love your accent!" My usual response is "Well, I love yours," which is completely the truth.
As much as people love my accent, I love the Aussie accent. I love their slang, their sayings and their manners. Granted, sometimes I have to ask people to repeat themselves, but usually I can get it. I can't help but think how Diana and my family will do with the Aussie slang when they get here, but I look forward to seeing if they enjoy it as much as I do :)
What usually follows the "I love your accent" comment, is "Is that American or Canadian?" When I first got here, it actually bothered me a bit to be asked if I was American, due to the friendly rivalry we have with our neighbors to the south. However, it doesn't seem to bother me anymore. We all make mistakes and trying to guess where people are from, so I should cut them some slack when guessing my accent.
I have noticed something that does annoy me though, and my Great Ocean Road tour mates will laugh at this... The fact that people think because I'm Canadian I shouldn't be cold. What in the world? I understand why they're thinking it, but at some point common sense should kick in.
I've heard this comment a few times when I've said that I was feeling cold. "What? You're cold?! How can you be cold, you're Canadian?" Seriously, I know that we can survive cold temperatures, ok, really cold temperatures but it's because of the many layers we wear and the fact that our cars, homes, stores and offices are all heated. And just because we can survive in those temperatures doesn't mean we don't get cold. At -40C, anyone would be cold!
One of the people on our tour was from Italy and he made this same comment to me. Had he not been so arrogant perhaps I would have responded more kindly, but I just shared my thoughts on how silly this stereotype is, more or less :) The rest of us, had a laugh about it throughout our 3 day tour... Robin constantly saying, "You can't be cold, you're Canadian... And don't you live with bears?!" ha ha!
But, that's a story for another post...
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Thursday, April 19, 2012
The Great Ocean Road Part 3
Walking through Stingray Bay was a beautiful start to our day, walking along the Bass Strait, watching waves crash, strolling along the boardwalk - peaceful, gorgeous, spectacular.
Tom then dedicated a song to Loretta and I. It's called "Carol Brown" and in it, this guy sings about the women who broke his heart, including Loretta and Stephanie. Too funny! When have you ever heard those names used in a song before?!
We made a stop at an animal farm near Warrnambool, to see some Aussie animals first hand. I had a bit of a hard time seeing the animals like this and of course prefer to see animals in the wild. The animals seemed well cared for, but as we went around the park feeding them all the bags of bread we'd been given, I couldn't help but feel a bit of shame and guilt that as a tourist, I was taking part in this. I also realized, maybe I feel this way because I've been so fortunate in the Australian wildlife I've seen, actually in the wild. Like the koalas we spotted the day before at a caravan park on the Great Ocean Road or the many kangaroos I've seen at Burrendong Dam. And later that day, we saw almost 10 emus wandering in a natural area. I've seen a wombat and an echidna just being out on drives in the country. That to me, is spectacular... Seeing animals in their natural habitats. Don't get me wrong, I was right in there at the animal farm, snuggling the baby wallaby and getting my photo taken, but it was a bit of a weird experience for me and made me think about being a tourist and the impact we have.
On a lighter note, I did encounter a downfall of seeing animals in the wild. Tom was an amazing sport and kept saying on the bus, "Ok, we are going to see some emus here." (I said I hadn't seen one, and would like to on this trip) As I was following some emus, trying to get a good photo, I was so busy looking through my camera that I didn't look down to see the pile of emu poo that I walked through! I was bugged for quite awhile about that one, but that goes to show what a fun group of people we have on the tour! When you can razz someone, you've definitely made a connection and feel comfortable around one another.
Winding our way through to the Grampians, the landscape changed to pastures and paddocks full of trees. The Grampians soon came into view....
Someone told me before I left Canada to be kind to the Aussies when they showed u their "mountains", because they're not the Rocky Mountains. Of course the Grampians are not the Rockies. However, these tree blanketed rocks are beautiful in their own right. And as we pulled into Hall's Gap, the small town nestled in the valley of the Grampians, I couldn't help but be taken by the beauty around, reminding me of home in some way. Except of course, for the emus and kangaroos that roamed the paddocks and walking trails around town. So much like home and yet so totally different.
This time in the Grampians really brought most of our tour group even closer. We shared in a true Aussie barbie - kangaroo roast, burgers and snags. It was delicious and the games of "one word movie" charades that ensued provided for many many laughs!
Tom then dedicated a song to Loretta and I. It's called "Carol Brown" and in it, this guy sings about the women who broke his heart, including Loretta and Stephanie. Too funny! When have you ever heard those names used in a song before?!
We made a stop at an animal farm near Warrnambool, to see some Aussie animals first hand. I had a bit of a hard time seeing the animals like this and of course prefer to see animals in the wild. The animals seemed well cared for, but as we went around the park feeding them all the bags of bread we'd been given, I couldn't help but feel a bit of shame and guilt that as a tourist, I was taking part in this. I also realized, maybe I feel this way because I've been so fortunate in the Australian wildlife I've seen, actually in the wild. Like the koalas we spotted the day before at a caravan park on the Great Ocean Road or the many kangaroos I've seen at Burrendong Dam. And later that day, we saw almost 10 emus wandering in a natural area. I've seen a wombat and an echidna just being out on drives in the country. That to me, is spectacular... Seeing animals in their natural habitats. Don't get me wrong, I was right in there at the animal farm, snuggling the baby wallaby and getting my photo taken, but it was a bit of a weird experience for me and made me think about being a tourist and the impact we have.
On a lighter note, I did encounter a downfall of seeing animals in the wild. Tom was an amazing sport and kept saying on the bus, "Ok, we are going to see some emus here." (I said I hadn't seen one, and would like to on this trip) As I was following some emus, trying to get a good photo, I was so busy looking through my camera that I didn't look down to see the pile of emu poo that I walked through! I was bugged for quite awhile about that one, but that goes to show what a fun group of people we have on the tour! When you can razz someone, you've definitely made a connection and feel comfortable around one another.
Winding our way through to the Grampians, the landscape changed to pastures and paddocks full of trees. The Grampians soon came into view....
Someone told me before I left Canada to be kind to the Aussies when they showed u their "mountains", because they're not the Rocky Mountains. Of course the Grampians are not the Rockies. However, these tree blanketed rocks are beautiful in their own right. And as we pulled into Hall's Gap, the small town nestled in the valley of the Grampians, I couldn't help but be taken by the beauty around, reminding me of home in some way. Except of course, for the emus and kangaroos that roamed the paddocks and walking trails around town. So much like home and yet so totally different.
This time in the Grampians really brought most of our tour group even closer. We shared in a true Aussie barbie - kangaroo roast, burgers and snags. It was delicious and the games of "one word movie" charades that ensued provided for many many laughs!
Tours
Tours
The last day of our Great Ocean Road tour had us say goodbye to each other and an amazing few days together. Thank goodness for email and Facebook!
I headed to Hobart, Tasmania where I took an amazing, adrenaline filled, boat ride on the Tasman Penninsula.
As my trip comes to an end, I thought back to the last 12 days and reflected...
Half of my 12 day trip was spent on tour buses with tour groups. I met people from every continent except South America and Antarctica. I met locals, backpackers, holidayers, and retirees. I had tour guides by the names of Jon, Tom, Ben, Cane and Phil.
We visited Phillip Island, The Great Ocean Road, The Grampians, and Tasman Island. We stopped at wineries, conservation centers, Aboriginal cultural centers, viewpoints, beaches and villages.
I saw the last surviving colony of penguins in Australia and stood within arms reach of them. I saw the highest cliffs in the Southern Hemisphere. I sat in the middle of 6 meter waves, with winds gusting at 60 knots (about 110km/hr) at the point where the Southern Ocean meets the Tasman Sea.
We saw Fairy Penguins, Emus, Koalas, Kangaroos, Wallabies, Dolphins, Sheep, Cows, Cockatoos, Kookaburras, Cape Baron Geese, Pelicans, Black Faced Cormorants, albatrosses, Black Oyster Catchers and Australian and New Zealand Fur Seals...all in the wild.
These experiences, the things I saw and did, all of it was amazing. But I feel that if I wouldn't have shared it with the incredible people I met, it wouldn't have been the same. The laughs and jokes we shared will for we be a highlight of my trip to Australia.
Thank you for the experiences and thanks for the memories! Thank goodness for enjoyable tour groups and amazing tour leaders!
The last day of our Great Ocean Road tour had us say goodbye to each other and an amazing few days together. Thank goodness for email and Facebook!
I headed to Hobart, Tasmania where I took an amazing, adrenaline filled, boat ride on the Tasman Penninsula.
As my trip comes to an end, I thought back to the last 12 days and reflected...
Half of my 12 day trip was spent on tour buses with tour groups. I met people from every continent except South America and Antarctica. I met locals, backpackers, holidayers, and retirees. I had tour guides by the names of Jon, Tom, Ben, Cane and Phil.
We visited Phillip Island, The Great Ocean Road, The Grampians, and Tasman Island. We stopped at wineries, conservation centers, Aboriginal cultural centers, viewpoints, beaches and villages.
I saw the last surviving colony of penguins in Australia and stood within arms reach of them. I saw the highest cliffs in the Southern Hemisphere. I sat in the middle of 6 meter waves, with winds gusting at 60 knots (about 110km/hr) at the point where the Southern Ocean meets the Tasman Sea.
We saw Fairy Penguins, Emus, Koalas, Kangaroos, Wallabies, Dolphins, Sheep, Cows, Cockatoos, Kookaburras, Cape Baron Geese, Pelicans, Black Faced Cormorants, albatrosses, Black Oyster Catchers and Australian and New Zealand Fur Seals...all in the wild.
These experiences, the things I saw and did, all of it was amazing. But I feel that if I wouldn't have shared it with the incredible people I met, it wouldn't have been the same. The laughs and jokes we shared will for we be a highlight of my trip to Australia.
Thank you for the experiences and thanks for the memories! Thank goodness for enjoyable tour groups and amazing tour leaders!
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
The Great Ocean Road Part 2
We traveled along the Great Ocean Road and stopped in Apollo Bay for lunch.
The original houses in Apollo Bay were built with materials from shipwrecks that washed up on shore.
We then left the coast and headed slightly inland, where we went for a short hike through a temperate rain forest, in the Great Otway National Park. It is the home to the Otway Carnivorous Black Snail, the only carnivorous snail in the world. We didn't locate the snails but the Mountain Ash and the ferns were incredible!!
We worked our way back to the coast, to the Twelve Apostles. This was the whole reason I was on this tour!!
It is the most fragile coastline in Australia, a limestone and sandstone mixture. I wish I could explain to you how these "apostles", parts of the cliffs that have become detached from the coastline, were formed, but the minute I saw them, my ears turned off and I didn't hear what Tom was telling us; I was just too awestruck by the scenery!
It was later in the afternoon when we arrived, so facing East the pictures are a bit dark, but just being there was unbelievable!
We continued to Loch Arch Gorge and then to the London Bridge. This was the highlight of the whole trip for me! We arrived just before sunset and stayed until the sunset. Listening to the waves crash, watching the beautiful scene, freezing, but loving every minute of it.
The reason we stayed so long, was because we wanted to see the Fairy Penguins come into their burrows. We got to see the first raft of penguins come in and then went on our way, to first warm up and then get to our accommodation in Warrnambool for the evening.
So, this is the end of Day 1 on the Great Ocean Road
The original houses in Apollo Bay were built with materials from shipwrecks that washed up on shore.
We then left the coast and headed slightly inland, where we went for a short hike through a temperate rain forest, in the Great Otway National Park. It is the home to the Otway Carnivorous Black Snail, the only carnivorous snail in the world. We didn't locate the snails but the Mountain Ash and the ferns were incredible!!
We worked our way back to the coast, to the Twelve Apostles. This was the whole reason I was on this tour!!
It is the most fragile coastline in Australia, a limestone and sandstone mixture. I wish I could explain to you how these "apostles", parts of the cliffs that have become detached from the coastline, were formed, but the minute I saw them, my ears turned off and I didn't hear what Tom was telling us; I was just too awestruck by the scenery!
It was later in the afternoon when we arrived, so facing East the pictures are a bit dark, but just being there was unbelievable!
We continued to Loch Arch Gorge and then to the London Bridge. This was the highlight of the whole trip for me! We arrived just before sunset and stayed until the sunset. Listening to the waves crash, watching the beautiful scene, freezing, but loving every minute of it.
The reason we stayed so long, was because we wanted to see the Fairy Penguins come into their burrows. We got to see the first raft of penguins come in and then went on our way, to first warm up and then get to our accommodation in Warrnambool for the evening.
So, this is the end of Day 1 on the Great Ocean Road
The Great Ocean Road Part 1
On April 15, I set out on a 3 day guided tour of the Great Ocean Road and the Grampians. Our tour guide was Tom with Wildlife Tours and he led us 13, on an amazing tour!
The pictures speak volumes to the beauty this part of the world holds. So, I'll share some of the information Tom shared with us about the history of the area and the places we visited.
In the 1850s, there was a gold rush to Victoria, to Geelong (Aboriginal for Bird flying over white cliffs). People were flocking to Geelong from all over the world. Melbourne got jealous of everyone going to Geelong, so a sneaky cartographer made a map of Victoria, showing Melbourne closer to the gold fields in Ballarat. That changed history and sealed Melbourne's future as a growing city, later to be the capital of Victoria.
Proceeding on our tour, we stopped in Torquay, the Gateway to the Great Ocean Road. It is where the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach surfing competition is held each year. This year Mick Fanning won it, but Kelly Slater had an amazing ride and this is a clip of it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3G3Id3ucuE&feature=youtube_gdata_player
It is also the home of RipCurl. 2 guys in high school made themselves wetsuits for surfing, that fit well and weren't too heavy or awkward. Friends started asking for them and then strangers started asking... so began Rip Curl.
Now onto the road itself...
The Great Ocean Road took 13 years to build and was meant to give the soldiers work after the war because they were in a depression. 3000 soldiers were paid $1.05 per day and worked with a pick axe and a shovel. They were very in debt when the road was finished so set up a toll bridge to help with costs. The road is 250km long.
The pictures speak volumes to the beauty this part of the world holds. So, I'll share some of the information Tom shared with us about the history of the area and the places we visited.
In the 1850s, there was a gold rush to Victoria, to Geelong (Aboriginal for Bird flying over white cliffs). People were flocking to Geelong from all over the world. Melbourne got jealous of everyone going to Geelong, so a sneaky cartographer made a map of Victoria, showing Melbourne closer to the gold fields in Ballarat. That changed history and sealed Melbourne's future as a growing city, later to be the capital of Victoria.
Proceeding on our tour, we stopped in Torquay, the Gateway to the Great Ocean Road. It is where the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach surfing competition is held each year. This year Mick Fanning won it, but Kelly Slater had an amazing ride and this is a clip of it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3G3Id3ucuE&feature=youtube_gdata_player
It is also the home of RipCurl. 2 guys in high school made themselves wetsuits for surfing, that fit well and weren't too heavy or awkward. Friends started asking for them and then strangers started asking... so began Rip Curl.
Now onto the road itself...
The Great Ocean Road took 13 years to build and was meant to give the soldiers work after the war because they were in a depression. 3000 soldiers were paid $1.05 per day and worked with a pick axe and a shovel. They were very in debt when the road was finished so set up a toll bridge to help with costs. The road is 250km long.
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Melbourne
Multicultural, urban, buzzing with energy, trendy, hip... Melbourne is all of these things and so much more.
I focused my visit mostly in the area of St Kilda. That's where I booked a room with Kyla, through her listing on airbnb. This has become an essential resource for me while finding accommodation (people offer rooms or floors or whole homes for rent). Kyla and her son, Arki, added so much to my visit! Anyways, back to St Kilda...
I made my way through the shops, restaurants and cafes on a daily basis. Sitting on the patios, watching people go by; everyone from drag queens, homeless people, dog walkers, business men and women, families and tourists. It was an eclectic mix and I enjoyed the diversity it showed. Rococo Restaurant became my favorite without a doubt - beautiful breakfasts, wonderful coffees, and amazing dinners. Their sangria was pretty incredible too :)
I also spent some time in the CBD (Central Business District) of Melbourne. It was busy!!! And for this small town Canadian/temporary country Aussie girl, it was some major culture shock! My first 3 stops were The Body Shop, a huge bookstore and Target. These, while there were shops like Tiffany and Co, Coach, Chanel, and David Jones on the same street. You can take the girl out of the country, but not the country out of the girl! Ha ha!! This trip is about food and wine, not about shopping :)
The flow of people is just non stop and while you're surrounded by historic buildings you've also got trams, skyscrapers and shopping malls everywhere you turn. My head was seriously spinning until I saw an information booth! That big yellow 'i' on the blue square was like a beacon in the sea of people.
Being that I worked in info centers for 3 summers, I take great comfort in asking for directions and suggestions in every place I visit. Jill, the lovely lady I chatted with, was so helpful! She gave me some maps and sent me on my way, much less stressed and confused than when I first met her :)
I then made my way to what's considered one of the best sushi restaurants in Melbourne. The line was out the door and there must have been 20 people in the line, non stop. It was delicious and so cheap!!
On the recommendation of my info centre lady, I walked over to catch a tourist shuttle bus that's free and takes you around the CBD, to see the major sites. Thanks to my arthritis, my feet were killing me, so a free 1.5 hour bus ride sounded perfect!
I got to see the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Lygon Street (the Italian area, also known now for being where the mafia hangs out), Carlton Gardens, the Arts Precinct, along with other highlights. I hopped off in the Docklands area where there is outlet shopping on the harbor and...Costco! I know that's sad to be so excited about Costco but I was - it reminded me of home!! I bought a new book, at half the cost of the book stores so that made the trip worth it. That, and the berry sundae I enjoyed in the good old Costco food court!
There were some neat shops but honestly, not there for the shopping... So, back onto a tram where I returned to the CBD and then made my way back to little St Kilda on the Beach, my home while I'm in Melbourne.
My dinner consisted of Warmed
Focaccia Bread, Bacanati with Tasmanian Salmon in an Olive Oil and Garlice Sauce and a glass of Red Sangria - YUM!! For dessert... a glass of Penfolds Club Tawny Port. Also, YUM! While drinking it, I thought of my dad and how he's the reason I've developed a love of wine, especially a nice glass of his homemade wine or port. Salut Dad!
Now, my time in Melbourne has come to an end and I am off on another adventure (a 3 day tour on the Great Ocean Road).
Melbourne has been incredible and I look forward to visiting again with Diana and maybe even Mom and Dad. I would still love to see an Aussie Rules Footy game and experience more of the wonderful restaurants the city has to offer.
Until next time....
I focused my visit mostly in the area of St Kilda. That's where I booked a room with Kyla, through her listing on airbnb. This has become an essential resource for me while finding accommodation (people offer rooms or floors or whole homes for rent). Kyla and her son, Arki, added so much to my visit! Anyways, back to St Kilda...
I made my way through the shops, restaurants and cafes on a daily basis. Sitting on the patios, watching people go by; everyone from drag queens, homeless people, dog walkers, business men and women, families and tourists. It was an eclectic mix and I enjoyed the diversity it showed. Rococo Restaurant became my favorite without a doubt - beautiful breakfasts, wonderful coffees, and amazing dinners. Their sangria was pretty incredible too :)
I also spent some time in the CBD (Central Business District) of Melbourne. It was busy!!! And for this small town Canadian/temporary country Aussie girl, it was some major culture shock! My first 3 stops were The Body Shop, a huge bookstore and Target. These, while there were shops like Tiffany and Co, Coach, Chanel, and David Jones on the same street. You can take the girl out of the country, but not the country out of the girl! Ha ha!! This trip is about food and wine, not about shopping :)
The flow of people is just non stop and while you're surrounded by historic buildings you've also got trams, skyscrapers and shopping malls everywhere you turn. My head was seriously spinning until I saw an information booth! That big yellow 'i' on the blue square was like a beacon in the sea of people.
Being that I worked in info centers for 3 summers, I take great comfort in asking for directions and suggestions in every place I visit. Jill, the lovely lady I chatted with, was so helpful! She gave me some maps and sent me on my way, much less stressed and confused than when I first met her :)
I then made my way to what's considered one of the best sushi restaurants in Melbourne. The line was out the door and there must have been 20 people in the line, non stop. It was delicious and so cheap!!
On the recommendation of my info centre lady, I walked over to catch a tourist shuttle bus that's free and takes you around the CBD, to see the major sites. Thanks to my arthritis, my feet were killing me, so a free 1.5 hour bus ride sounded perfect!
I got to see the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Lygon Street (the Italian area, also known now for being where the mafia hangs out), Carlton Gardens, the Arts Precinct, along with other highlights. I hopped off in the Docklands area where there is outlet shopping on the harbor and...Costco! I know that's sad to be so excited about Costco but I was - it reminded me of home!! I bought a new book, at half the cost of the book stores so that made the trip worth it. That, and the berry sundae I enjoyed in the good old Costco food court!
There were some neat shops but honestly, not there for the shopping... So, back onto a tram where I returned to the CBD and then made my way back to little St Kilda on the Beach, my home while I'm in Melbourne.
My dinner consisted of Warmed
Focaccia Bread, Bacanati with Tasmanian Salmon in an Olive Oil and Garlice Sauce and a glass of Red Sangria - YUM!! For dessert... a glass of Penfolds Club Tawny Port. Also, YUM! While drinking it, I thought of my dad and how he's the reason I've developed a love of wine, especially a nice glass of his homemade wine or port. Salut Dad!
Now, my time in Melbourne has come to an end and I am off on another adventure (a 3 day tour on the Great Ocean Road).
Melbourne has been incredible and I look forward to visiting again with Diana and maybe even Mom and Dad. I would still love to see an Aussie Rules Footy game and experience more of the wonderful restaurants the city has to offer.
Until next time....
Phillip Island
On Thursday, I headed out on a guided tour of Phillip Island. John, from Go West, was our tour guide and Fatso, was our bus.
The tour began in Melbourne where John told us the history of the city and the first two European men to arrive here, Batman and Fawkner (one the son of a convict, the other a convict). That was 1835, but the men couldn't agree on a name. So in 1837, after speaking with the powers that be in the Westminster Abbey, it was named after Lord Melbourne.
John provided quite the mix of music throughout the day including our first song of the day: "Come to Australia".
From that point on, it was a mix of Men Without Hats, Don Spencer, The Proclaimers, James Reyne and so many more!!
Shortly after, we traveled through Gippsland and Koo Wee Rup.
Gippsland was once a huge swamp. It was later drained for passage, but the land was very damp and no matter what crops the farmers tried, nothing would grow....except asparagus. The area is now known for its asparagus and Koo Wee Rup is now the asparagus capital of Australia.
San Remo was our last stop before we crossed the bridge onto Phillip Island. We enjoyed some wonderful fish and chips while watching rays swimming near the shoreline and pelicans fishing.
Phillip Island is everything from cheesy (the chocolate factory) to educational to conservation based. We visited the Koala Conservation Centre where you walk among gum trees; always looking up for koalas and down for snakes. We were lucky enough to see one that was quite active, not normal considering that they are nocturnal, active at dawn and dusk and sleep 20 hours per day. Koalas down here, in Victoria, are 12-14kg. They are bigger and furrier due to the colder climate. The koalas in Queensland and NSW are only 5-6kg because the climate is warm year round.
We also visited the Nobbies (rock formations at the end of Phillip Island, with amazing ocean views for 180 degrees) and then went on to the main event... The Penguin Parade!!
There actually used to be 10 colonies of penguins on Philip Island. There is now only 1 left. Humans have been the largest threat to them! In order to help combat that, all houses, electrical poles, non-native plants and much more, have been removed from the area surrounding the Nobbies and the Penguin Parade. It has been designated as a national park to help with the protection for the penguins and major bylaws and fines were put in place. The Penguin Parade receives no government funding or support so relies entirely on the people who visit.
We chose the Penguins Plus option which puts you into a smaller group and right on the direct path that the penguins take from the ocean to their burrows. You're in a small outdoor amphitheater type place with ropes and boardwalks around to protect the penguins. You also have to be fairly settled and quiet so that you don't startle the penguins.
It was truly a magical moment, when you see the raft of penguins (what they're called when they travel together) coming from the ocean. Then they arrive on the beach and all you can see, are their white bellies as they waddle quickly from the beach to their burrows.
Each of the penguins is about 33cm high and weighs just over 2 lbs. They used to be called Fairy Penguins, but are now just simply called Little Penguins. They are one of the 17 species of penguins that live in the Southern Hemisphere.
Photos and video were not allowed, to help further protect the penguins. So, check out this link and scroll down to the bottom to see a video clip of what I'm talking about.
http://www.penguins.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9&Itemid=54&mytabsmenu=1
The penguins were one of my top 5 things to experience this year, and with good reason. Such a cool experience and I would recommend it to anyone who ever makes it down this way.
The tour began in Melbourne where John told us the history of the city and the first two European men to arrive here, Batman and Fawkner (one the son of a convict, the other a convict). That was 1835, but the men couldn't agree on a name. So in 1837, after speaking with the powers that be in the Westminster Abbey, it was named after Lord Melbourne.
John provided quite the mix of music throughout the day including our first song of the day: "Come to Australia".
From that point on, it was a mix of Men Without Hats, Don Spencer, The Proclaimers, James Reyne and so many more!!
Shortly after, we traveled through Gippsland and Koo Wee Rup.
Gippsland was once a huge swamp. It was later drained for passage, but the land was very damp and no matter what crops the farmers tried, nothing would grow....except asparagus. The area is now known for its asparagus and Koo Wee Rup is now the asparagus capital of Australia.
San Remo was our last stop before we crossed the bridge onto Phillip Island. We enjoyed some wonderful fish and chips while watching rays swimming near the shoreline and pelicans fishing.
Phillip Island is everything from cheesy (the chocolate factory) to educational to conservation based. We visited the Koala Conservation Centre where you walk among gum trees; always looking up for koalas and down for snakes. We were lucky enough to see one that was quite active, not normal considering that they are nocturnal, active at dawn and dusk and sleep 20 hours per day. Koalas down here, in Victoria, are 12-14kg. They are bigger and furrier due to the colder climate. The koalas in Queensland and NSW are only 5-6kg because the climate is warm year round.
We also visited the Nobbies (rock formations at the end of Phillip Island, with amazing ocean views for 180 degrees) and then went on to the main event... The Penguin Parade!!
There actually used to be 10 colonies of penguins on Philip Island. There is now only 1 left. Humans have been the largest threat to them! In order to help combat that, all houses, electrical poles, non-native plants and much more, have been removed from the area surrounding the Nobbies and the Penguin Parade. It has been designated as a national park to help with the protection for the penguins and major bylaws and fines were put in place. The Penguin Parade receives no government funding or support so relies entirely on the people who visit.
We chose the Penguins Plus option which puts you into a smaller group and right on the direct path that the penguins take from the ocean to their burrows. You're in a small outdoor amphitheater type place with ropes and boardwalks around to protect the penguins. You also have to be fairly settled and quiet so that you don't startle the penguins.
It was truly a magical moment, when you see the raft of penguins (what they're called when they travel together) coming from the ocean. Then they arrive on the beach and all you can see, are their white bellies as they waddle quickly from the beach to their burrows.
Each of the penguins is about 33cm high and weighs just over 2 lbs. They used to be called Fairy Penguins, but are now just simply called Little Penguins. They are one of the 17 species of penguins that live in the Southern Hemisphere.
Photos and video were not allowed, to help further protect the penguins. So, check out this link and scroll down to the bottom to see a video clip of what I'm talking about.
http://www.penguins.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9&Itemid=54&mytabsmenu=1
The penguins were one of my top 5 things to experience this year, and with good reason. Such a cool experience and I would recommend it to anyone who ever makes it down this way.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Traveling Alone
Today has been a difficult day... A lonely day.
These days happen when you're traveling alone. Heck, these days happen when you live alone. But one of the differences is that when you're at home, you can call a friend and meet them for a coffee or go visit your family. You have options. Don't get me wrong, I know that here I am sitting in a cafe in Melbourne and that life cannot be that hard! But despite being in this amazing place and being grateful for these incredible experiences, I'm still lonely.
I wish that I had one of my family members or friends sitting with me, having a chat, talking about how cool St Kilda is (the suburb I'm staying in), being able to laugh with at the guy that just walked by wearing a t-shirt that says "I love to fart!" (This seriously just happened lol).
These past 3 months have been full of amazing moments but it would be even more amazing to have someone here to share them with.
My iPod crashed just when I was leaving Brissie for Melbourne, and I seriously panicked a bit because I worried I wouldn't be able to connect with my family and friends back home, while I was on this trip. I know I shouldn't be that dependent on a piece of technology but I freely admit that I am.
My days of traveling alone are done after this trip. I can finally accept that I am a social being and being around the people I love and care about, is a huge huge part of my life. Travel and adventure are part of my life too but it's time for me to start planning trips with friends and family, from now on, or booking group tours because my days of solo travel have become much more "me" time than I can handle.
On that note, I am so grateful and so excited that this will be my only solo trip. I've booked in with a small group from Dubbo who are doing a winery and footy tour the end of April. I've planned weekends away with my Aussie friends to Orange and to watch sporting events throughout May and June. I'll be visiting the farm in Coonambe. I also know that Diana will be arriving in less than 3 months and that starts a different part of this great Aussie adventure - being able to share this with one of my best friends and my whole family.
For now, I'll try to get over my loneliness and make the very best of this trip to Melbourne, because even though it's a bad day, I have to remember that it's still a day in Australia :)
These days happen when you're traveling alone. Heck, these days happen when you live alone. But one of the differences is that when you're at home, you can call a friend and meet them for a coffee or go visit your family. You have options. Don't get me wrong, I know that here I am sitting in a cafe in Melbourne and that life cannot be that hard! But despite being in this amazing place and being grateful for these incredible experiences, I'm still lonely.
I wish that I had one of my family members or friends sitting with me, having a chat, talking about how cool St Kilda is (the suburb I'm staying in), being able to laugh with at the guy that just walked by wearing a t-shirt that says "I love to fart!" (This seriously just happened lol).
These past 3 months have been full of amazing moments but it would be even more amazing to have someone here to share them with.
My iPod crashed just when I was leaving Brissie for Melbourne, and I seriously panicked a bit because I worried I wouldn't be able to connect with my family and friends back home, while I was on this trip. I know I shouldn't be that dependent on a piece of technology but I freely admit that I am.
My days of traveling alone are done after this trip. I can finally accept that I am a social being and being around the people I love and care about, is a huge huge part of my life. Travel and adventure are part of my life too but it's time for me to start planning trips with friends and family, from now on, or booking group tours because my days of solo travel have become much more "me" time than I can handle.
On that note, I am so grateful and so excited that this will be my only solo trip. I've booked in with a small group from Dubbo who are doing a winery and footy tour the end of April. I've planned weekends away with my Aussie friends to Orange and to watch sporting events throughout May and June. I'll be visiting the farm in Coonambe. I also know that Diana will be arriving in less than 3 months and that starts a different part of this great Aussie adventure - being able to share this with one of my best friends and my whole family.
For now, I'll try to get over my loneliness and make the very best of this trip to Melbourne, because even though it's a bad day, I have to remember that it's still a day in Australia :)
Monday, April 9, 2012
The Difference of a Year
No I haven't been here one year yet and I'm not wishing away this year or trying to rush this experience. However, one year ago today my life saw some amazing changes!!
One year ago, I made the choice to change my life, for the better.
That decision was one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make and probably ever will. I chose drastic change and uncertainty... I chose strength, life, family, and happiness.
Despite the rollercoaster ride it's been, I've never regretted that choice or looked back or thought "what if".
I keep coming back to two very important lessons that i actually teach my students each and everyday:
1.) every choice has a consequence/outcome - you are responsible for and in control of your choices and therefore the consequences or outcomes that follow
2.) our words have the power to hurt or to heal. Every time you say something, remember that!
I feel like I've actually done more than preach those lessons, I've now learned those lessons for myself and they shape the person I am each day.
I made the choice to change my life and the positive outcome was that I became a better, happier, stronger, more appreciative version of myself.
That's why I greet each day with gratitude, awareness and happiness.
Wherever you are today, I wish you many blessings and much happiness.
One year ago, I made the choice to change my life, for the better.
That decision was one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make and probably ever will. I chose drastic change and uncertainty... I chose strength, life, family, and happiness.
Despite the rollercoaster ride it's been, I've never regretted that choice or looked back or thought "what if".
I keep coming back to two very important lessons that i actually teach my students each and everyday:
1.) every choice has a consequence/outcome - you are responsible for and in control of your choices and therefore the consequences or outcomes that follow
2.) our words have the power to hurt or to heal. Every time you say something, remember that!
I feel like I've actually done more than preach those lessons, I've now learned those lessons for myself and they shape the person I am each day.
I made the choice to change my life and the positive outcome was that I became a better, happier, stronger, more appreciative version of myself.
That's why I greet each day with gratitude, awareness and happiness.
Wherever you are today, I wish you many blessings and much happiness.
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Easter Weekend
Sorry for the delay since my last blog. Life has been very busy with school and spending time with Aussie friends. Now I'm on holidays so I should be able to get caught up..
This weekend was the start of our first term break. 10 weeks of teaching and now 2 weeks of holidays. The Australians definitely have the right idea there!!
I flew to Brisbane on Good Friday, splurging to fly all the way from Dubbo. Last trip into Sydney, I drove to Bathurst (2.5hours), took the bus to Lithgow (1.5 hours) and road the train to Sydney (almost 3 hours). It was a long trip and coming back was worse. The views of the Blue Mountains were amazing but it was just too long for me. So, I booked flights the whole way and it was lovely!
I was greeted with hugs from family, as I arrived in Brisbane and have been enjoying family time ever since. It's been a wonderful weekend full of lazing by and in the pool (temps have been around 28), laughing and joking, incredible food and wonderful wine.
My cousin Michael and his girlfriend, Dawn, love to cook!! Lucky for us, they've been sharing this love with us all weekend! Friday night we had marinated prawns and fresh oysters as the starter. For the main, we had baked red snapper in a creamy sauce.
Saturday, we made homemade ravioli. Michael brought his pasta maker and taught me how to make and knead the dough. Dawn created a beautiful spinach, ricotta, Parmesan stuffing. We then rolled out the pasta and worked through the process of stuffing and sealing and setting the ravioli. Meanwhile, we had some fried calamari with salsa verde as a starter. They then created a beautiful butter, sage sauce for the pasta.
It was a long but enjoyable process to get the pasta made. Watching Dawn and Mikey in the kitchen is incredible... The love and care they pour into each dish, can be tasted in every delicious bite.
Sunday, has been the Easter feast! We began the day with champers and Italian Easter cake and then watched as Mikey and Dawn prepared more amazing dishes. Today, we enjoyed Herb and Lemon Preserve Stuffed Roast Chicken, Roman Style Lamb with Anchovy Gravy, Roast Potatoes (easily the best I've ever eaten!), and Minted Peas with Feta. Mouthwatering deliciousness in every bite!!
I didn't know I could be this passionate about food but our feast this weekend has restored my love of cooking and ignited some excitement about it, in me! Good food, good for you food!
So on that note, I wish everyone a beautiful Easter. I hope you're sharing time with family and/or friends and that you're enjoying some delicious food too.
This weekend was the start of our first term break. 10 weeks of teaching and now 2 weeks of holidays. The Australians definitely have the right idea there!!
I flew to Brisbane on Good Friday, splurging to fly all the way from Dubbo. Last trip into Sydney, I drove to Bathurst (2.5hours), took the bus to Lithgow (1.5 hours) and road the train to Sydney (almost 3 hours). It was a long trip and coming back was worse. The views of the Blue Mountains were amazing but it was just too long for me. So, I booked flights the whole way and it was lovely!
I was greeted with hugs from family, as I arrived in Brisbane and have been enjoying family time ever since. It's been a wonderful weekend full of lazing by and in the pool (temps have been around 28), laughing and joking, incredible food and wonderful wine.
My cousin Michael and his girlfriend, Dawn, love to cook!! Lucky for us, they've been sharing this love with us all weekend! Friday night we had marinated prawns and fresh oysters as the starter. For the main, we had baked red snapper in a creamy sauce.
Saturday, we made homemade ravioli. Michael brought his pasta maker and taught me how to make and knead the dough. Dawn created a beautiful spinach, ricotta, Parmesan stuffing. We then rolled out the pasta and worked through the process of stuffing and sealing and setting the ravioli. Meanwhile, we had some fried calamari with salsa verde as a starter. They then created a beautiful butter, sage sauce for the pasta.
It was a long but enjoyable process to get the pasta made. Watching Dawn and Mikey in the kitchen is incredible... The love and care they pour into each dish, can be tasted in every delicious bite.
Sunday, has been the Easter feast! We began the day with champers and Italian Easter cake and then watched as Mikey and Dawn prepared more amazing dishes. Today, we enjoyed Herb and Lemon Preserve Stuffed Roast Chicken, Roman Style Lamb with Anchovy Gravy, Roast Potatoes (easily the best I've ever eaten!), and Minted Peas with Feta. Mouthwatering deliciousness in every bite!!
I didn't know I could be this passionate about food but our feast this weekend has restored my love of cooking and ignited some excitement about it, in me! Good food, good for you food!
So on that note, I wish everyone a beautiful Easter. I hope you're sharing time with family and/or friends and that you're enjoying some delicious food too.
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