Australia - "I'm a sailor, I sail"

I spent two wonderful days sailing the beautiful Whitsunday Islands. By day, the sailing is so enjoyable. By night, the boat turns into a floating torture chamber.

On Sunday night I booked a two -night sailing trip and a flight down the coast of Oz from Cairns. Since I was booking for a nearly immediate departure I perhaps skimmed some specifics, like oh say no air conditioning in the middle of the Tropics. You sign a waiver that indemnifies the sailing company if you get eaten by a shark or stung by a jelly. They really should have made me sign that I agree to be sweaty, smelly and sticky the whole time!

I was on 50 foot retired racing sailboat. Her name is Silent Night, although I suggested a rename to "Restless Night." During the day we sail though the turquise waters, stop for swimming and snorkeling, and my favorite activity - eating. ocean looked more like a giant swimming pool. We saw dolphins, loads of sea turtles and one huge creepy sea snake. The coral on this part of the GBR is so colorful I was in awe!

Not a bad view during morning tea!

There were 11 other passengers on the boat and a fun young group, with me being on older end of the spectrum. On the trip I learned that in the eyes of 17-year-old English blokes at 32 I am old enough to be a "cougar," that peanut butter and jelly belonging together on a sandwich is not a universally accepted truth, and that a rumor in the U.K. there exists that in the U.S. we don't use sarcasm in our interpersonal communications. I confirmed this rumor...in my most sarcastic tone.

I hate to complain even a smidge about the sailing adventure, but I'll do so anyway. The first night there was no breeze, so sleeping in the galley was simply not workable. With my towel, top sheet and pillow in hand I moved to a space on the deck. Twice I was awakended because it was pouring buckets, and another time I was awoken by a bug who decided up my nose would make a nice landing pad. The rest of the night I lied contorted too uncomfortable to sleep! There was a former marine on-board and he said sleeping at bootcamp was easier than on a hard, curved wet deck. This is my bed - between the winches and the edge of the boat...which I was certain I was going to roll off and into the mouth of a shark.

The view of the stars from was mesmorizing. Just incredible - tons of constellations like the Southern Cross and satellites orbiting. Even with the miserable sleep, still a great trip. Dangling my feet off the side of the boat, or napping on deck was wonderfully serene.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Whitsunday Islands, Queensland, Australia

Australia - Finding Nemo

I thought panoramas on land are gorgeous, but now I think God created His finest masterpiece under water! I did my first dive and two snorkles in the outter Great Barrier Reef. It must not be summer under water because school is definitely in session - thousands of fish swimming together. Literally.

(my pre-SCUBA concentration face)



This was my first SCUBA. There's something about an activity that in the on-boat lesson the instructor teaches you the hand signal for 'shark', and a separate sign for 'great white shark' that's a bit unnerving! It took me a couple minutes to trust my oxygen tank and then I loved the freedom of being able to stay under and go down 12 meters to socialize with the sealife.


I saw a huge variety of fish, scary stingy jellies, clams, sea cucumbers and coral. I even saw Nemo with his clown fish friends! The fish covered the full spectrum of colors and patterns.

I had this wow - I'm really diving the Great Barrier Reef moment today. It's a bucket list must!






- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Davidson St,Port Douglas,Australia

Australia - Crikey!

G'day mates!

I realize I said mate, but I'm actually anti early-adoption of foreign English words. I think I'd sounds totally ridiculous if I was all: had a great time with my mates. Right-o! There were a few bogens out last night. The road was chockers bc of a big car smash. Or back home if I asked the Starbucks barista for a 'flat white with trim milk' she'd look at me as if I had a a wallaby on my head! But I confess I have adopted sunnies (sunglasses) and brekky (breakfast) into my vernacular. They're just fun to say!

I'm now in sunny and very warm Port Douglas (north of Cairns, pronounced Cans). The ocean is a stunning mix of my favorite green and blue crayons. I will be doing my first dive from here off the Great Barrier Reef. (please no sharks please no sharks please please). Actually, in the summer you have to wear a 'stinger suit' so really it's box jellies I want to avoid.

I am spending the next two weeks on the western coast of Oz, and one night in the middle of absolutely nowhere in the Northern Territory Outback. My dad took me to see Crocodile Dundee. It was my first PG13 movie and the scene where Sue wears a thong into the croc-infested waters left a huge impression on me. Perhaps I will find Mick to take me on a walkabout too!





- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Davidson St,Port Douglas,Australia

New Zealand - Woman vs. Wild

But before I say who won that battle...

I'm staying at a farmhouse in the middle of nowhere in far north NZ. The farm has been passed down for five generations and is surrounded by rolling hills and cows in the dell. I literally woke up this morning to mooing - I opened my eyes and the cows had decided to chew their cud outside my room. The owner's husband is Stefano - a fantastic Italian chef who makes our meals to order from scratch. Last night was pizza, tonight was handcut pasta. I won't mention the platter of tri-berry pancakes he served me this morning for fear of sounding like this pig in our yard - whose cousin I munched for breakfast.





It's a warm and wonderful place and wish I was staying longer than two nights.

View during meals at the farm -






Today I hiked for five hours. Literally put one foot in front of the other for that length of time. I decided to hike to a cliff that's called the Duke's Nose. This is the Duke far in the distance - after 1.5 hours I came up on this view and was like holy crap - that's still really far!








About an hour in I was up to my ankles in swampy marsh - my cute silver addidas now a lovely shade of mud. I waded through creeks, jumped over rocks and hung on to branches for dear life. This is the trail - I felt like I was Kate in an episode of Lost!








I must have missed the week in Bluebirds when I was five years old when they taught about the importance of the buddy system! In all five hours I did not see one other person. It was peaceful; I used the time to think, pray and sing aloud with my iPod (the only non-peaceful part was when I started thinking about how it would be a good place for an axe murderer to hang out). After 2.5 hours I got to nearly the top - only to summit you have to rock climb up a very steep chain.








There was no turning back so up I went and when I made it to the top I had my own little Rocky moment! And the view made it worth it!








Now getting back down the chain was when the momentary panic set in and I considered sending my Dad an emergency beacon with my GPS coordinates! It was a strenuous and liberating day - I had no idea how tough I could be. So in this episode of Woman vs Wild, woman won.











- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Kahoe, Far North NZ