AUSTRALIA 2012

                                AUSTRALIA-2012-NOT SO DOWN UNDER

A BIGGER THAN LIFE COUNTRY, and one of the highest standards of living in the world- so pack your wallet.  Rich in mineral deposits, especially coal, Australia is living a life of prosperity that many countries would relish. Australia is becoming on of the planet's a premier places to travel,  and in the northern state of Queensland, you will find quite the variety of biomes including: rainforests, coral reefs, over 20 species of eucalyptus forests, lots of empty beaches and friendly people. Politically, well, they have passed the innovative Carbon Tax which has just gone into place, but the new political party that is coming in next year is threatening to dismantle it--what a shame and a sorry comment on politics and the big picture, and the squandering of chance to be a world leader in C02 reduction.

JAY AND JUDITH ARE KIWI FRIENDS

THE DAINTREE NATURE CENTER-AMAZING

After completing the kokoda trek, I thought Australia would be a nice relaxing trip with my wife Myrna. She had jetted over the day after school was out, and it turns out there were so many exciting things to see in Australia we were toast after a few weeks. Our friends Jay and Judith Goldsack had been planning our visit for quite some time and we made the most every day
Here's a few places we visited: 

WE DID SEE A REAL CASSOWARY

DAINTREE NATIONAL PARK:  WOW, WOW, what a amazing national park. This rainforest is 100 million years old, and is an isolated spot of biodiversity in Australia. This pocket formed when Australia broke off Godwondon, making it older than the Amazon and just as spectacular, here the rainforest joins the mangroves right on the beach. Daintree Nature Center is something special. Actually, I have never seen a nature center quite as unique. In the middle was a 90 foot multi-level platform that intertwined thru the different rainforest layers all the way up to the canopy. Along the way there were things to read, touch and some cool outside classrooms. We were lucky and it was feeding time for the 6 foot amethystine python. Jay was the first to spot the unusual and brightly colored Cassowary bird, related to the Emu, and Ostrich- big up to 6 feet tall, these birds are really aggressive and have been known to attack humans when chicks are around.

GNARLY-DUDE DON'T GET TOO CLOSE

SCARFACE: NOT THE MOVIE---One of the highlights of Daintree, besides walking the informative boardwalks and the isolated pristine beaches, is the Crocodile boat ride. Myrna wanted to see one out in the wild, so we signed up for the $20 tour- and saw the Godfather of the crocodiles--Scarface, he was 90 years old and 15 feet long and has an attack radius of 18 feet---otherwise don't get to close. It was like seeing a prehistoric creature up close, he moved and we jumped!

4 WHEELING WITH THE GIRLS

ADVENTURE HERE WE COME: YAHOO, Judith set up this middle of nowhere HOMESTAY at a woking cattle station: Buckle your seat belts because here comes Marilyn pulling up in her beat up 1990s Toyota truck, a 50 year old something character--right out of the movies--the female equal of John Wayne, she took us for the wildest 4 wheel drive, straight up a mountain to her home, which she describes as being, "a little closer to heaven than earth". The girls were up front talking to Marilyn, as she drove occasionally pointing things out with one hand on the wheel. In the mean time, Jay and I were in the truck bed hanging on for dear-life! With a death grip on the roof rail, watching the road get narrow and narrower, and praying we didn't bounce off the side the side of the road. My heart was racing as we bounced from one side of the road to the other, and we had a spectacular view to Cook town and some Wallabys on the way up.

MYRNA AND JUDITH WITH SMOKEY THE COW

SURVEYING THE 40,000 ACRE HOMESTEAD

MOSSMAN GORGE: Boulders dripping off the sides of the river bank. Water ---freezing but there is a rock calling me in the middle of the river. Didn't have a bathing suit, what should I do, life's short. One dip sent a refreshing cold chill up my spine. How often to we get to contemplate the meaning of life in the middle of a rushing river
JABIRU WILDERNESS LODGE:

TENT CABINS AT JABIRU LODGE

GEORGE OUR ABORIGINAL GUIDE

  Meeting our first Aborigine, George, up close and personal was quite the experience--George said, " I listen to the forest it is where my home is, and i can wonder for days and be at peace". At the Jabiru lodge I can sense his longing to be outside, a great place to hang out and in tent camps. And in the middle of the night maybe a "Quoll" (a small squirrel like rodent) will run thru your tent in the middle of the night and give you a scare.

MYRNA NEXT TO A LARGE TERMITE MOUND

MUNGALLI DAIRY AND BIODYNAMICS- Our food supply must evolve to be more sustainable in the future. Nothing like learning new stuff when you travel. BIODYNAMIC gardening is growing in popularity

Australia, this type of cultivation incorporates the spirit or better yet the total ecology of the crop you grow--no additives, maintain the soil in its natural state, leave out the sugar---we went to this dairy called, Mugalie's. The yogurt, ice cream, cheeses, was nothing like I ever tasted, and no stomach ache afterwards;

JOSEPHINE WATERFALL: IF this was , there would have been 10,000 people here. Simply breathtaking, and just off the road, and with a  2 minute walk we were able to enter the dynamics of the rainforest. A captivating river runs thru it----and a rock water slide, that will give you great rush. Or sit on a boulder a become entranced by nature's magnificence.

HOW TO FIND GOOD COFFEE--BY JUDITH AND MYRNA: Well, first look at the barista, and if they have tattoos, nose rings and attitude ---guaranteed a good cup of coffee!

CAIRNS-GREAT BARRIER REEF---the largest structure on the planet Earth is created by tiny plantonic feeding organisms called coral. The reefs here are part of a protected underwater reserve (kind of like our Yosemite, but underwater) and is some 1,200 miles long and 1,000 feet deep in some places (only the top 100 feet is alive though--needs sun). Jay set up a little side adventure to Fitzroy island---A short catamaran ride out from Cairns-and perfectly situated with patches of coral surrounding it.

PONTOON OVER REEF

This island was the perfect launch point to visit the outer reef and snorkel or dive off a platoon in the middle of the ocean.

300 LB GREEN SEA TURTLE

MOOLOOLABA:

Who would of thought one could find another slice of paradise like Encinitas on the east coast of Australia. Great waves, and the perfect place for "supervision".

VIEW OUT JAY AND JUDITH'S PLACE

This is Jay and Judith's home base, and they have a great location above one of the incoming channels. Jay's favorite thing to do is take a walk to the beach, get a double expresso and supervise. You know --see what's going on... the waves breaking, trends in beachwear, important stuff. He seems to have it wired. Mooloolaba is a great place for biking, I felt like we were following the coastlines in Europe, little cities dotting the way--my favorite----Moofat--a perfect right wave off a pt., great walking and beach apts.

JAY CATCHING A TAYLOR FISH

FRAZIER ISLAND----The World's largest Sand Island--and World Heritage Site. Jay just purchased a 4 wheel drive Susuki, and it was time to try it out.---Yahoo!  First we took a ferry out and drove down the beach at low tide along the 60 mile stretch of coastline, when the the tide was too high--we dashed up a side road- and tried not to get stuck. Fishing was great if you like standing in crispy Dingos roam the island freely especially at night--you can see the tracts on the beach in the morning.
water, watching the sunset or rise, while reeling in great fighting fish like Taylors, or Breams. And the

SYDNEY:  Wow, i've been gone 6 weeks now and i'm getting a little tired of living out of a suitcase, but Sydney makes you want to explore even more. What a vibrant city, with a spectacular harbor--no wonder the criminals didn't mind being dropped off.

One day we climbed the Sydney bridge a great place to address your fear of heights, Myrna met the challenge head-on, I was really proud of her. And when they dress you up for the adventure you feel like an astronaut surveying the sites of the city.

THE OPERA HOUSE  Take the 1 hour tour and learn about how the Danish architect, Uzon designed this unique structure. Great history, he put his heart and soul into this exploding leaflike building only to be fired half way through due to budget problems, supposed to cost 7 million not 107 million dollars. His design is a testament to man's engineering wonders and perseverance.

MANLY BEACH AND BONDI BEACH: We had great time riding ferries around the bay, especially the one to the surfing mecca of Manly. We then hopped on a bus to Bondi beach, both areas have Hawaiian style surfing communities with some walks along the coastline that have you dangling over sea cliffs of sandstone.

THE ROCKS!! ROCKS! Almost torn down for development, this 1800's wharf scene was salvaged at the last minute and converted into collection of dazzling boutiques and cafes. We stayed at the Russel Hotel, full of character with creaky floors and a shared bathroom (a nice one), and a great little wine bar down below. And if its sweets you want, Australia seems to specialize in desserts. Stop in the Rock Shop Cafe for a great multilayered mudpie--cheesecake or a foot tall lemon meringue pie

PARTY TIME: one last party night out. I always say a sign of good trip is, some time in nature, a little adventure, and some rock and roll in city. So Myrna and I went out for one of those special nights at the Orient Hotel--an upscale Kraken bar.  They had a great band called the Wizard of Oz, they had the crowd whipped into a frenzy by the second set.

QUEEN ANN DESIGN RUSSEL HOTEL

The Australians know how party---mostly guys were there, they didn't care they were singing at the top of their voices to the songs, dancing--- heck at one point I was out there with them too. But as the night wound down and Myrna and I were dancing our last few songs, you had to wonder as you looked around the dance floor and saw the smiles and the carefree attitude-- these Aussies know how to embrace life! Maybe we Americans could learn from them about their zest for life, but I have a felling you may have to be a rugby nut first.