Made it to LA

Am now waiting for my flight to Houston....Brisbane was wet and rainy but good all the same

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Alice Springs

it is Friday afternoon and I am in a cyber cafe in Alice springs so will keep this short and sweet...has been awesome....monday went to the Didgeridoo class and the incredible sounds of the outback didgeridoo show that evening.....ate at the red ochre cafe...then tuesday went to the Desert Park and took a class with aboriginal women...bushtucker...beanies and basket making...and the park was great...we then drove to Erldunda...where we stayed at a bed and breakfast...(ie a cattle station in the desert) woke up the next day and drove out to ULURU...where we walked around the Rock..went in to the culutral center...and watched sunset on the Rock...then drove back to Erldunda...seeing dingos and kangaroos in the night.... yesterday we drove back to Alice Springs...and went to the Adelaide House...the alice springs house where the flying doctors were started....learned about the radios etc...and took a sunset camel ride...learned lots of course....today have been mailing books to myself...gone into some museums here in alice springs...and making use of the cyber cafe...tomorrow I fly to Brisbane....will be there 2 nights and a day and then I will fly home via los angeles....

Alice Springs

am off to the airport to fly to alice springs today...... tomorrow I will be headed for Uluru and then back to alice springs....I have arranged a place to stay half way in between at an old cattle station...so will get another view of history from that perspective..... am not sure how much internet access I will have the coming week....I am not expecting much...as I will be in the red centre....

Saturday

Today was busy and so informative....went to the central market....farmers market....and all kinds of international foods...smells and food and noise....excitement in the air...from there we went to the South Australian Museum.....to look at their 2 floors of Aboriginal Collections...the largest in Australia...it was beyond description.....I learned so much about the string games the children played...how the elders used them to help them remember and tell the stories...the dreaming stories...... and the things string was made of....fibers from plants....animals and human hair...... I learned much about food aabout adhesives....different tribes and their lifestyles...and the effects of european contact..... was an incredilbe exhibition..... also went to the Blue Sheep shop....then to Semaphore....a little town at port adelaide that in its hayday was the port for wool like galveston was for cotton..... with all its wool store houses now being converted into shops and apartments.... The weather was warmer today

Friday

today was another outing...much by road...in cold cold south australia....went down to Victor Habour....and Port Eliot and to the land where there was the highest concentration of Aboriginals....the Coorang..... to Goolwa  went there via mt. compass..... had fish and chips at the flying fish in horseshoe harbour and saw the wildlife at the Urimbirra Wildlife Experience....saw the Whale Center...though not time for Whales in the Harbour til next month...and saw where the Fairy Penguins come out at night...but was there during the day.... saw the mouth of the Murray River...and the Bridge that was built despite protest by the indigenous people about destruction of their sacred lands.....

thursday night

yesterday I went to the Migration Museum and to the Tandanya Cultural Center...today I went on a journey through the countryside.....saw where they film Mcleods Daughters.....went by Freeling....and then up to Mt. Lofty the highest point and a viewpoint to see all around adelaide.....there was also quite a bit of information about the importance of the area to the aboriginal....went out and bought a coat...so I can stay warm..... had a kangaroo grill tonight...with sweet potatoes and pumpkin (squash) was delicious.....

Thursday morning

I learned much about the relations between the government and aboriginals yesterday....they were not recognized as citizens or counted on the census until the 1970's...their lands were used for the atomic testing...without permission or warning first...... I saw an art exhibition of photos from the missions in the 1950's...photos of those from the "stolen generation" and I learned much of teh protest in the 70's and the legislation that resulted..... last night I watched the movie...storm boy...from the 1970's ....which starred for the first time...an aboriginal.... and also talked about environmental issues...was very informative for the times....I also watched Ten Canoes...made in 2006 about the aboriginals...all in their language with subtitles....was great.....I feel like my brain is on overload.....but that is good... today will go out and see more of the area around adelaide.... is very cold here.....brrrrrrrr

Adelaide

another cool morning...up bright and early...tried some wheat a bix for breakfast with some museli on top...rather tasty....:-) am about to drop the kids by school...and then will be off to the RAA like AAA at home to make prepartions for the trip to the alice and to uluru....and then to the migration museum and to the local Tandanya Cultural Centre.... is a sunny cool day....may have to purchase a coat.... going to the elementary school yesterday was great...I got the meet the students whose flat stanleys were sent to my classroom last year....that we took and had pictures of at nasa and moody gardens etc...before sendin them back...the class is a 4/5 class so the students are in the class two years....like at my school..... the trees here along the Murray river walk....I feel like I have stepped back into time and instead of laurakeets will be seeing dinosaurs...

made it adelaide

had a wonderful trip...despite having to fly domestic on an international flight...and go through customs...upteenth times.... have been to the beach driven through the city...attended a bit of school...visited the grocery store...washed clothes and cooking dinner now

Monday...Queens Birthday! Holiday!

today was another busy day....I started off at Darling Harbour...and went to the Aquarium...and saw the Platypus and the Dugong....was an incredible experience...also saw the sharks...and many animals of the coral reef........ also went to the sydney wildlife.... and saw the Koalas....and listened to the dreaming stories of the animals in the wildlife area..... then I went on the on a ferry ride around Sydney Harbour.... saw the sites from the water

Sunday

Today was inspirational....I began my explorations at the australia museum with their 12 noon indigenous peoples exhibition...story telling , dancing and didgeridoo playing....it really added to what I had learned yesterday...helped to fill in the gaps...I saw the dancing that was talked about yesterday that the boys do to show they have learned about the animals they are to later hunt...their movements and sounds and actions and reactions.... there was also a very extensive exhibit on the aboriginal peoples of Australia...complete with videos of elders speakers...hands on activities leading up to modern art and the final apology made in 2008 by the prime minister..... a replica of a mission ....as well as cave paintings and so much more.....after the australia museum I went on the Barracks Museums...where I learned in depth about the convicts that came to Australia...and the British.....how their penal colonies went not only from there to american but to australia...and so much more...was incredible.....then i tried lamb for dinner....

Sunday Morning

was up bright and early...the sounds of parrots....singing in the morning...or rather demanding food.... am about to leave for the city centre in Sydney...to Hyde Park...to experience Australia's oldest musuem...the Australia Museum...they are to have a cultural demonstration from 12-2 with dancers and didgeridoo...and then hopefully if the barracks museum is open I will head over there to learn about the convicts in Sydney and more of their contributions to the building of the city and country.... the weather is bright and sunny and cold...it is winter after all....

Saturday

Today was incredible.....went to the Miru Mittigar Cultural  Center today.....was there when they opened.... was led by an Aboriginal...who began by teaching me how to throw a boomarang...and I learned that they were not used to hunt...but are decoys...used to help to corral the kangaroos to move them where they could be hunted by the hunters..when you throw them and they do their circular flight...they waver back and forth...looking like a bird....was very cool..... then was taken on a Yarra walk....where I learned about the medicinal medicines....and into the center itself..where I was shown the different tools..explained how they were made...shown the maps of the over 200 differerent indigenous groups...and explained differences in men and women roles in the cultures...etc...as well as how tools were made..... also shown the digeridoo...how it is made...how it is played...and the clap sticks...and the significance of the cermonies and sounds....the paints and body designs for ceremony..... was incredible..... on the way back to Sydney I went then to the Ferndale wildlife park where I was able to pet the kangaroos wallabys and koalas....I saw womabats and tazmanian devils up close and personal...and also a huge variety of birds...was an incredible day.... ended the day with dinner at Mackers....Mc Donalds to us....:-) ....tomorrow I should be going to the Australian museum...the oldest in Australia

Friday...

Today was an incredible day...I went into Sydney and explored the "Rocks" went on a historical walking tour...followed by a visit to the Rocks Discovery Museum and then further explorations after learning the places of interest in the museum...I stopped to listen to a man playing a digeridoo and to take some pictures at sunset of the sydeny opera house.... learned the history of sydney from aboriginal days...to the days when they met Cook until the present....was incredible....

another day in australia....june 5th

Yesterday was incredible....I picked up at the airport and then driven around botany bay to see what Captain Cook saw when he arrived...and met the indigenous people for the first time.... I had a proper australian breakfast at a little cafe...in a pedestrian mall in a little town...very quaint...and such a nice introduction to the country....Eggs flipped, mushrooms, baked beans, sausage,bacon(canadian bacon) toast..grilled tomatoes..and some lettuce...with a nice cup of tea..... then we went to the botany bay national park...was incredible the views...the gum trees...the water overlooking the bay...cliffs...birds....gorgeous.... and went to the beach....looking at the waves rolling in, surfers awaiting that perfect wave...such contrast to the bay..... then dinner at the Teren Point Bowling Club....a ball and bowling on greeens....was great...tried the king prawns...then drove into the city to see it by night lights...the opera house was incredible...all lit up and decorated with lights...looking like a coral reef...the lights on the harbour bridge...driving through kings cross and redfern...looking at the city...seeing how it looked different at night... now this morning....I will be going back to the town...to see The Rocks...museums....is an incredible experience thus far.....

made it to australia

am using the free internet in the airport.... the flight was long they ended up diverting us through Brisbane because of the fog in Sydney....so about 3 hours late...but what was cool was that I was flying in premium economy because I had gotten a free upgrade because I had joined the qantas frequent flyer program so was much better than if I had not...... better food and more room.... am waiting for my ride now...already talked to them on the phone...made it through customs fast...after a long long wait at baggage...but that is normal... am tired but happy...is overcast a bit rainy here...:-)

Adventures in an airport

I have a gate assingment now....a destination..... Made it through customs with no long waits....exchanged some boring green money for some vibrant exciting money.... With clear and shiny places. Horses and women. And a feel much different than ours..... Tring to charge my iPod and then my phone....hoping for wifi access in Australia

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Travel....hurry up and wait

Seems to be the motto of long distance travel..... On the flight to los angeles I watched the movie Australia....on my iPod.....I had no idea how applicable it was to the theme of my journey.....until I started watching....
I have just finished eating buckwheat soba noodles and green tea icecream....not together of course....:-)

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Boarded the plane

Am now sitting on the plane to get me to los angeles.....a good thing ... Been catching up on my reading...Australia For Dummies....for any last minute tips on do's and don'ts while in australia .... Anticipation is building....

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Flights delayed

Airports and travel.... Never what you would expect....apparently rain in Dallas has caused flights coming into and leaving Dallas to be delayed and my aircraft is coming through Dallas... At the moment they are saying it will be only 30 minutes late....so far I am not worried as I allowed myself a several hour layover in LA ....it being an international flight...so waiting to see what happens next.....

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Sitting in the airport

Tried to sleep in this morning....to no avail....so I eventually rolled putvof bed , exercised and took my luggage...whose contents I was still debating over....out to the trunk of the car....got dressed for the many hours of travel.....comfortable clothes...layers....converse all statscwith pink cupcakes...my new Orleans hard rock cafe hoody...
For warmth....packed my mom into the car and drove through the sprinkling rain to arrive.....with suprisingly little traffic at hobby airport.....where I am now awaiting the 1st leg of my journey...aplane ride to los angeles .....
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adding a bit more technology to my blog spot

am trying out the email posting to the blogspot...to see if it is going to work...to give me more options on how to post....:-)

Preparations for the 1st Journey

I am packing preparing getting ready to leave for Australia...trying to figure out what to and what not to take...excitement...anticipation...ready to learn and share...explore and understand....tomorrow it all begins...I have already checked in online for my first leg of the journey that will take me to Los Angeles and then from there on to Sydney....
My bag is packed...camera batteries charged....pen and ink packed...just in case there is not the access to technology I am accustomed to enjoying.....
I am ready......I think