| Blogs > 1ClassyLady > U r responsible for ur life |
|
The journey to New Zealand and Australia (part 4) On Feb 8, 2015 morning, the bus took us to the airport in Queenstown and end of 7 nights in NZ, we fly to Sydney, the capital of New South Wales in Australia. We were in cold and quiet Queenstown, NZ to hot and crowded city of Sydney. When the bus picked-up us at 5 p.m., it was the peak of rush hours. Full of people, cars, noise, hot, humid, .... so much different in the same day. Aussies in Sydney wear professional suits on the streets. They just finished their working day at 5:30 p.m. We settled down at a hotel in Sydney. The hotel concierge told us if we signed up free "loyalty membership", we can get free WiFi. We, all 18 women, went out to have dinner. I ordered kangaroo as exotic food to me. There are only the tour leader and I ordered kangaroo. The meat over-cooked and the butter knife is too dull to cut, so I asked the waiter to change to steak knife. It tasted chewy as I shared some kangaroo piece with others. That was my first time had kangaroo. When we returned to hotel, most of us signed up "loyalty membership" and got free WiFi 24 hrs, no limitation. The signal is very strong even at outside of hotel. Wonderful WiFi, everyone was happy that we can connect with the world. I checked my email messages. The next morning, we headed to airport again. The destination is Cairns, Queensland state in Australia. When we arrived in Cairns, it was raining. The showers come and go. We needed ponchos. We had an Aussie BBQ lunch, then we couldn't wait to see the Koala at a souvenir store. So, we ate half lunch and ran to see the cute Koala. I think all 18 women purchased the photo with Koala. They only gave us one minute to hold that Koala and then "Next". Yes, I bought the photo I held a Koala and 2 T-shirts (one is Koala and one is Cassowary). Next we saw Aboriginal Australian boomerang and arrow throwing and blowing the Didgeridoos. We visited a small zoo area to see Kangaroo, wallabies (I couldn't tell them apart, but I know wallabies are smaller), crocodiles, koalas, Cassowary, and ugly "Tasmanian Devil", .., we saw Pamagirri Aboriginal dancers show, and rainforest (jungle) tour. It was raining hard, so we got free ponchos. Everything happened so fast in 4 hours. We returned to hotel for 2 nights stay. That Cairns hotel has weak WiFi, but at least no limitation of usage (no 30 minutes in 24 hrs limit). However, the view from our hotel room was the best (see photos). Cairns is in tropical area, full of fruits. The breakfast fruit juice is the best. They have sweet pineapple along with watermelon, cantaloupe, melon, apple, orange, banana, celery, carrot, beets,... It reminds me the season in July - August in Taiwan. The next morning we have "Ocean Spirit" cruise to Michaelmas Cay. Lunch onboard with large prawns. Again other women didn't eat prawn or only 1 or 2. I ate the most. I had 6 prawns. Yummy ! There was a free "snorkeling" lesson, lot of people joined in, but I can't swim, so I didn't snorkel. My roommate wore her swimming suit inside and joined that free snorkel lesson. Some women in our group paid extra fees for "scuba diving lesson", I didn't. I am afraid of using nose to breath under the water. I only joined submersible boat to see the fish under sea and boat ride to Michaelcam Cay seabird sanctuary. They served us with fruits, cakes, and drink in the late afternoon when all the activities were finished. People bought many photos that photographer took scuba divers under the sea photos, charged a lot because it was taken by undersea camera. There were two languages used on the boat (English and Japanese). Many Japanese on boat with us. We returned to hotel and took a shower. Then six of us went out to dinner. They ordered the pizza, I didn't eat any pizza, but I ordered a cocktail named "Shhh ....." (see photo) and they had gelato but I had sorbe for desert in Cairns. Photo #1 All 18 women and the Aboriginal Australian (boomerang guy) Photo #2 The view from hotel room on 7th floor Photo #3. Carol blow Didgeridoo with an Aboriginal guy in Cairns. Photo #4. Holding a koala in Cairns, Australia    Honesty is the best policy. |
|||
|
Carol tried very hard to blow that Didgeridoo but she just couldn't make a sound out of it. It looks easy but NOT really. I also tried but failed to make a sound. Honesty is the best policy.
| ||
|
goannoil: I added a photo #3 Carol blow Didgeridoo with an Aboriginal guy, so that other bloggers will know what is "Didgeridoo". Honesty is the best policy.
| ||
|
Thanks to let me know "Didgeridoo", goannaoil. I think that Aboriginal guy said the name of music instrument made from tree. He mentioned the name but I just don't know the word is "Didgeridoo". I will Google it. It is Okay to lose that sun blocker lotion. I can buy another one in USA. Honesty is the best policy.
| ||
|
Kayra: I know you are going to Perth, Westside of Australia. If ever you are coming to Cairns, please bring "poncho" and "insect repellent" in your carry bag, but NOT in the carry-on bag when going through airport. My sun blocker lotion has been confiscated at airport for "security" reason. Go figure !! Honesty is the best policy.
| ||
|
laogui: I got lots of "insect bites" in Cairns, Australia, NOT NZ. As you know, Cairns is a rainforest. Shower rain all the time, hot and humid. I wore shorts (photo shows) and insects bite my legs. Have you been to Cairns? Honesty is the best policy.
| ||
|
Yes, the prawns the delicious. Those women missed all the good food. BTW, since you are an Aussie, how many places I mentioned here (so far), you have been? Where didn't you go? Be honest. Honesty is the best policy.
|
