In about 15 minutes we will be off for our liveaboard. I think we have everything...I am bit nervous about sleeping on a boat, but I am sure I can take seasickness pills if it's a problem. I also hope that they have internet available on-board. Everything here seems to be connected...so I hope to give updates on board. If not, you will hear from me in 7 days.
I found out on board our snorkeling trip that there is a shark feeding one night on the trip. My husband had been keeping that to himself so that I didn't freak out...I don't think I will be doing that, but I am sure he will take the camera along with him.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Daintree rainforest
We are in the Daintree Rainforest outside of Cairns today. We head back in the early evening to Cairns to spend the night and leave tomorrow for our 7 day liveaboard for diving.
Yesterday we went out on a boat called the rum runner to do some snorkelling on the inner reef of the Great Barrier Reef. We were the only boat out snorkelling so the group of 45 of us had the whole area to ourselves. We didn't take the underwater case for the camera, but we wish we had. We saw some of the largest clams I've ever seen...about the size of a two year old.
Last night, we went for an early dinner so my husband could go out on a night walk through the rainforest. I just took it easy at our hotel. I am not that hot on having wild animals approach me when I cannot see them.
This morning, we went tree surfing. I have included the link to the website, but I haven't figured out yet how to upload a video. I will give it a try tonight when we are back in Cairns.
One of the crew for the tree surfing mentioned a great look-out point to try along Cape Tribulation. When the water is still, he had seen turtles, dolphins, and even the rare whale. We didn't have that kind of luck, but it was still amazing and beautiful. I managed to work up a sweat during the walk though, and will sign off now so I can go for a swim in our hotel pool before we take the 1.5 hour shuttle back to Cairns.
Yesterday we went out on a boat called the rum runner to do some snorkelling on the inner reef of the Great Barrier Reef. We were the only boat out snorkelling so the group of 45 of us had the whole area to ourselves. We didn't take the underwater case for the camera, but we wish we had. We saw some of the largest clams I've ever seen...about the size of a two year old.
Last night, we went for an early dinner so my husband could go out on a night walk through the rainforest. I just took it easy at our hotel. I am not that hot on having wild animals approach me when I cannot see them.
This morning, we went tree surfing. I have included the link to the website, but I haven't figured out yet how to upload a video. I will give it a try tonight when we are back in Cairns.
One of the crew for the tree surfing mentioned a great look-out point to try along Cape Tribulation. When the water is still, he had seen turtles, dolphins, and even the rare whale. We didn't have that kind of luck, but it was still amazing and beautiful. I managed to work up a sweat during the walk though, and will sign off now so I can go for a swim in our hotel pool before we take the 1.5 hour shuttle back to Cairns.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
G'day
Hi All,
My apologies for not getting up a blog sooner and my apologies in advance for this being on the short side. I have been writing almost everyday, though, in a little notebook I take everywhere with me and will get to posting those soon. So far we have been camping for two nights in Kakadu and Litchfield National parks and seen our share of wallabees and swam in three waterfall pools. We have also seen Aboriginal art and crocodiles in their natural environs. So stay tuned.
We are in Cairns today. The strangest thing happened today. Some guy walked off with my bag at the luggage carousel. When his suitcase was the only one left, it was obvious by how similar the bags looked, that he had made a mistake. Thank God for Quantas' policy of getting passenger's contact details. Unfortunately, the guy did not realise his mistake until getting to someone's house 2-3 hours away from the airport. I ended up getting my bad at 5 pm after an 10.30 am arrival. I was really worried that my diving gear would walk off, but all was intact. I am now going to put some obnoxious ribbon or tag on it.
Tomorrow we are off for two nights to the Daintree Rainforest to stay in a hotel at the Cape Tribulation beach. We plan to walk in the water and do some snorkelling on Day 2 after taking a tour through the rainforest on Day 1. We may also do a tree line adventure with a zip line from as much as 60 meters above the ground or we may just relax on the beach.
We've picked up a bit of a stomach bug that is working it's way out today so we are headed to get Chinese take away and eat it in our apartment style room while we wait do laundry.
Cairns is smaller than we expected, but very tropical looking...think Hawaii. It's a dramatic difference from Darwin...think a tropical Milwaukee, WI a bit like Crocodile Dundee. Well, more later...my time is running out at the internet cafe.
My apologies for not getting up a blog sooner and my apologies in advance for this being on the short side. I have been writing almost everyday, though, in a little notebook I take everywhere with me and will get to posting those soon. So far we have been camping for two nights in Kakadu and Litchfield National parks and seen our share of wallabees and swam in three waterfall pools. We have also seen Aboriginal art and crocodiles in their natural environs. So stay tuned.
We are in Cairns today. The strangest thing happened today. Some guy walked off with my bag at the luggage carousel. When his suitcase was the only one left, it was obvious by how similar the bags looked, that he had made a mistake. Thank God for Quantas' policy of getting passenger's contact details. Unfortunately, the guy did not realise his mistake until getting to someone's house 2-3 hours away from the airport. I ended up getting my bad at 5 pm after an 10.30 am arrival. I was really worried that my diving gear would walk off, but all was intact. I am now going to put some obnoxious ribbon or tag on it.
Tomorrow we are off for two nights to the Daintree Rainforest to stay in a hotel at the Cape Tribulation beach. We plan to walk in the water and do some snorkelling on Day 2 after taking a tour through the rainforest on Day 1. We may also do a tree line adventure with a zip line from as much as 60 meters above the ground or we may just relax on the beach.
We've picked up a bit of a stomach bug that is working it's way out today so we are headed to get Chinese take away and eat it in our apartment style room while we wait do laundry.
Cairns is smaller than we expected, but very tropical looking...think Hawaii. It's a dramatic difference from Darwin...think a tropical Milwaukee, WI a bit like Crocodile Dundee. Well, more later...my time is running out at the internet cafe.
Friday, August 21, 2009
So many things
I am nearly packed. I am in the late night organizing phase right now where I try to sort my odds and ends into Ziploc bags. Am I the only one that does this? One bag for toiletries. Another for medicine. And a sandwich size bag for band-aids. Oh and there is the other small one with liquids for my carry on. We have a limit of 23 kilos for checked luggage and 7 kilos for a carry-on. I am not really worried about the carry-on except for the 20+ hours worth of reading material. I am already debating getting out my mother-of-all-luggage suitcase. I haven't used it since I moved all of my worldly possessions over here...just to give you an idea of how big it is.
We are taking most of our own diving equipment. A vest (bcd) and fins take up a lot of space. And there needs to be room free for souvenirs, of course. We'll see. I'd better get back to it.
UPDATE......
Yep, I had to go with the huge suitcase after all.
We are taking most of our own diving equipment. A vest (bcd) and fins take up a lot of space. And there needs to be room free for souvenirs, of course. We'll see. I'd better get back to it.
UPDATE......
Yep, I had to go with the huge suitcase after all.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Trying new things
This past weekend was a filled with new favorite things.
We went to visit friends on Saturday night to celebrate the wife's birthday. Our present to her was a chocolate liquer, Mozart Gold. It tasted like chocolate milk with rum...it was fantastic! It was probably also one of the things that triggered the biggest gallbladder attack I've experienced in a year, but...I recommend it highly.
I also received the Earth sandals I ordered on-line with the promise of working just as well for my back as my grandma styled MBT's, but with much more up-to-date styling. I ordered the Exer fit and the Cabo styles. I was able to wear both all day without back pain of any kind. The only issue I had is with needing to break them in. They gave me the worst blisters on the tops of my feet! I am still taking them with me. I'd rather wear band-aids on my feet than have a sore back.
Sunday night we went to see friends for dinner. They made us one of their favorite meals from home, Chinese fondue. That's not what they call it, of course, but that is the easiest way for me to describe it. We had a pan of boiling water with a divider in the middle. It was kept on a hot plate to keep the water boiling. One side had water and spring onions in it. The other had a spicier combination. We could choose from two dipping sauces - either a garlic and oil or a peanut butter based sauce. Then we took turns boiling pieces of fresh lamb or beef or fish balls (shredded fish shaped into a ball...dirty minds) or shrimp or tofu or bok choy or noodles. It was SO good! They really went all out for us. We ended the night by trying out Guitar Hero and the Wii dancing game. We're hooked - me on Guitar Hero and my husband on the dancing game. I know, we are nerds. That might just be our next big purchase.
Three new other things I tripped over on-line - two music artists: David Berkeley and Anjulie - and an author: Paul Theroux. Maybe you've already heard of them, but, if not, give them a try. Enjoy!
We went to visit friends on Saturday night to celebrate the wife's birthday. Our present to her was a chocolate liquer, Mozart Gold. It tasted like chocolate milk with rum...it was fantastic! It was probably also one of the things that triggered the biggest gallbladder attack I've experienced in a year, but...I recommend it highly.
I also received the Earth sandals I ordered on-line with the promise of working just as well for my back as my grandma styled MBT's, but with much more up-to-date styling. I ordered the Exer fit and the Cabo styles. I was able to wear both all day without back pain of any kind. The only issue I had is with needing to break them in. They gave me the worst blisters on the tops of my feet! I am still taking them with me. I'd rather wear band-aids on my feet than have a sore back.
Sunday night we went to see friends for dinner. They made us one of their favorite meals from home, Chinese fondue. That's not what they call it, of course, but that is the easiest way for me to describe it. We had a pan of boiling water with a divider in the middle. It was kept on a hot plate to keep the water boiling. One side had water and spring onions in it. The other had a spicier combination. We could choose from two dipping sauces - either a garlic and oil or a peanut butter based sauce. Then we took turns boiling pieces of fresh lamb or beef or fish balls (shredded fish shaped into a ball...dirty minds) or shrimp or tofu or bok choy or noodles. It was SO good! They really went all out for us. We ended the night by trying out Guitar Hero and the Wii dancing game. We're hooked - me on Guitar Hero and my husband on the dancing game. I know, we are nerds. That might just be our next big purchase.
Three new other things I tripped over on-line - two music artists: David Berkeley and Anjulie - and an author: Paul Theroux. Maybe you've already heard of them, but, if not, give them a try. Enjoy!
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Happy Weekend
Happy weekend, everybody! I haven't been very active on my blog so I thought I'd post an update. Nothing earth shattering has happened, but, like most people I imagine, I have felt busy.
Last Tuesday, I finally earned my deep diving SCUBA certification in a pond just outside Amsterdam. It has been in the making since March. It's great to get that under my belt before Australia because I will need it for diving on the Great Barrier Reef. The most complicated bit is learning how to release a balloon while you are diving that will buoy on the surface as a sign to other boats that you are below and a sign to your diving boat where to come get you. The first try wasn't great since I seem to be mechanically inept, but the second try was near perfect. It was nice to also hang out with our dive club who tried their hardest to explain inflating the balloon in the least sexual way possible, but still managed to laugh like school girls and make dirty comments in Dutch. They are all really great guys from literally all walks of life and it is little wonder why my husbands loves diving with them as much as twice a week.
We bought a new entertainment center for the living room. It was on sale for 50% off and we found out when putting in the dvd player that it was just shallow enough to not allow us to close the cupboard doors so we now need to buy a new, smaller dvd player. The drawers are also about half a centimeter too shallow so that we cannot put our dvds in the drawers so the binding (and title) side is up so they all have to be stacked, taking up much more room in the drawers. So much for 50% off. I've posted a picture. We are going to add floating shelves at the end farthest from the tv so we have a place for framed photos that keeps our already dark and narrow house from looking even darker and narrower.
We also bought a deck umbrella with an adjustable neck. The umbrella part cranks open and the neck part is adjustable to adjust the shade given depending on where the sun is at in the sky. This was one of my husband's entries on our buying wish list. We bought it and then realized that we forget the second box with the base so he is back at the DIY store as I write this trying to find one. Apparently, the store also didn't know it was a two box set and no other customer has come back to complain. I doubt that, but am not surprised by the inventive customer service tactic. It's a national phenomenon.
We are pretty much ready for our trip to Australia starting next Friday. My husband just needs to get an international driver's license today so he can drive the car we've rented for our Perth/Margaret River part of the trip. We've also started taking vitamin B because a colleague of his said it wards of insects and mosquitoes. Since hearing Bill Bryson's account of the shear number of insects, particularly in the Outback, I'll try anything to help keep them away from me. The insects are known to crawl into people's ears, nose and mouth. I've also bought insect nets for my bed as well as for my head to use on the excursions to the national parks. Our travel agent assures us they aren't needed, but the travel accounts I've heard and seen on tv say differently. My husband opted out for the nets. I bet he will be sorry.
I also have not been that impressed with our travel agent in the end. If someone can explain to me the way they make money, I would really appreciate it because what seemed like a great deal for us has ended up feeling like we are getting totally shafted and over charged. It's difficult for me to prove because they will not show us how much they have actually paid hotels and tour operators. I can only see what we are being charged and what information I can find on-line. We've also continually had to chase them up to get different details adjusted to our itinerary like a change in hotel or telling a dive operator that we will bring our own dive equipment for the most part so we don't need to pay for the dive operator to provide it. I am a self-proclaimed control freak and travel planning lover, but it has been nice for someone else to plan our Australia trip especially since I am juggling getting back to work full-time after being off for a sick leave. I can look past the mistakes. I just wish the agent was more up front and, thus, more ethical, about the price structure. My husband gets mad when I even mention it now and insists is a learning point. I am sure Australia will be great despite the seed of doubt this has planted in back of my mind.
Last Tuesday, I finally earned my deep diving SCUBA certification in a pond just outside Amsterdam. It has been in the making since March. It's great to get that under my belt before Australia because I will need it for diving on the Great Barrier Reef. The most complicated bit is learning how to release a balloon while you are diving that will buoy on the surface as a sign to other boats that you are below and a sign to your diving boat where to come get you. The first try wasn't great since I seem to be mechanically inept, but the second try was near perfect. It was nice to also hang out with our dive club who tried their hardest to explain inflating the balloon in the least sexual way possible, but still managed to laugh like school girls and make dirty comments in Dutch. They are all really great guys from literally all walks of life and it is little wonder why my husbands loves diving with them as much as twice a week.
We bought a new entertainment center for the living room. It was on sale for 50% off and we found out when putting in the dvd player that it was just shallow enough to not allow us to close the cupboard doors so we now need to buy a new, smaller dvd player. The drawers are also about half a centimeter too shallow so that we cannot put our dvds in the drawers so the binding (and title) side is up so they all have to be stacked, taking up much more room in the drawers. So much for 50% off. I've posted a picture. We are going to add floating shelves at the end farthest from the tv so we have a place for framed photos that keeps our already dark and narrow house from looking even darker and narrower.
We also bought a deck umbrella with an adjustable neck. The umbrella part cranks open and the neck part is adjustable to adjust the shade given depending on where the sun is at in the sky. This was one of my husband's entries on our buying wish list. We bought it and then realized that we forget the second box with the base so he is back at the DIY store as I write this trying to find one. Apparently, the store also didn't know it was a two box set and no other customer has come back to complain. I doubt that, but am not surprised by the inventive customer service tactic. It's a national phenomenon.
We are pretty much ready for our trip to Australia starting next Friday. My husband just needs to get an international driver's license today so he can drive the car we've rented for our Perth/Margaret River part of the trip. We've also started taking vitamin B because a colleague of his said it wards of insects and mosquitoes. Since hearing Bill Bryson's account of the shear number of insects, particularly in the Outback, I'll try anything to help keep them away from me. The insects are known to crawl into people's ears, nose and mouth. I've also bought insect nets for my bed as well as for my head to use on the excursions to the national parks. Our travel agent assures us they aren't needed, but the travel accounts I've heard and seen on tv say differently. My husband opted out for the nets. I bet he will be sorry.
I also have not been that impressed with our travel agent in the end. If someone can explain to me the way they make money, I would really appreciate it because what seemed like a great deal for us has ended up feeling like we are getting totally shafted and over charged. It's difficult for me to prove because they will not show us how much they have actually paid hotels and tour operators. I can only see what we are being charged and what information I can find on-line. We've also continually had to chase them up to get different details adjusted to our itinerary like a change in hotel or telling a dive operator that we will bring our own dive equipment for the most part so we don't need to pay for the dive operator to provide it. I am a self-proclaimed control freak and travel planning lover, but it has been nice for someone else to plan our Australia trip especially since I am juggling getting back to work full-time after being off for a sick leave. I can look past the mistakes. I just wish the agent was more up front and, thus, more ethical, about the price structure. My husband gets mad when I even mention it now and insists is a learning point. I am sure Australia will be great despite the seed of doubt this has planted in back of my mind.
Monday, August 10, 2009
DIY
This weekend we did a little D.I.Y. and put up wallpaper in the stairway up to our top floor. And, when I say 'we', I mean the 'royal we', meaning that I had the idea, but before I could even get the first piece hung, I gave up. Not agreeing with my idea to take down the piece of wallpaper, sand the walls and then just paint it, my husband pregrudgingly took over wallpapering.
For the record, I would just like to state that whomever invented wallpaper is a masochist. And, secondly, wallpaper should be rated for the levels of experience required by the hanger. I dumbly bought a large patterned paper that required not only matching up each piece precisely, but straight walls and ceilings which 100+ year old Dutch houses do not have. I have included a picture so you can have a look.
After two rolls of wallpaper, it turned out really well, I must say. Needless to say, it will be the last wallpapering we do in this house.
For the record, I would just like to state that whomever invented wallpaper is a masochist. And, secondly, wallpaper should be rated for the levels of experience required by the hanger. I dumbly bought a large patterned paper that required not only matching up each piece precisely, but straight walls and ceilings which 100+ year old Dutch houses do not have. I have included a picture so you can have a look.
After two rolls of wallpaper, it turned out really well, I must say. Needless to say, it will be the last wallpapering we do in this house.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Swearing to Learn
So...I am learning to swear...in Dutch.
I got picked on by a group of twelve year olds today on the tram. No, this was not a dream and I am not joking. I was jeered, poked, and not so casually pushed by a group of five twelve year olds today on my way home from work...at six o'clock surrounded by a tram full of other adults.
I boarded the tram at the central train station and sat a row behind an Indian woman about my age. She noticed a male friend on the platform and, as the doors to the tram were shutting, she yelled to him something like, "I will send you an e-mail" or "Check your e-mail".
Once the doors shut and the tram was moving, a high pitched playback of the woman's words began repeating over and over accompanied by laughter from behind me. The sound persisted and I don't know what got in to me, but I turned around and stared down each of the five sets of eyes I found behind me, the source of the screeching and laughing. I managed to hide my surprise at their age. I had expected them to be teenagers and rough looking. They were quite the opposite - short, probably twelve, and rather well dressed.
The screeching didn't stop. I felt someone start to tap, rather jab me with a finger, on the back of my shoulder. After two or three times, I turned around and stared down the cute, terrified boy and said in my angriest voice, "Stop it. Stop it now." I couldn't remember the basic phrase in Dutch or any other words for that matter at the moment. I was so enraged to be touched and to be so disrespected. Before I could get the words out, he was pleading that it wasn't him. So I flashed a narrowed looked at all of them before turning around again.
The next stop was approaching so they began to get up and were now pushing my shoulder with an entire hand. One boy, now standing next to me, pointed at my shoes and gave a thumbs up with a face completely devoid of a smile. I was, of course, wearing my grandma MBT shoes. I had never seen such skillful sarcasm in an adolescent nor in most adults. I had my ipod headphones on so I am guessing they thought I was trying not to hear them, but I heard every word. With a blatantly obvious rub by one of the boy's bags and arm across my shoulder and arm, they exited the tram.
I got off at the next stop and tried to brush the whole thing off on my short walk home. My first thought was, "I need to find out how to say 'I know your parents are worthless, but the least you could do is shut up and sit down while in public.'"
I went home and explained what happened to my husband and he basically concluded that, while I don't need to be afraid in these situations, I shouldn't say anything until I can stand my ground in Dutch. So...I am learning to swear...in Dutch. Instead of exchanging pleasantries in Dutch, now my husband and I exchange swear words so I can practice.
I got picked on by a group of twelve year olds today on the tram. No, this was not a dream and I am not joking. I was jeered, poked, and not so casually pushed by a group of five twelve year olds today on my way home from work...at six o'clock surrounded by a tram full of other adults.
I boarded the tram at the central train station and sat a row behind an Indian woman about my age. She noticed a male friend on the platform and, as the doors to the tram were shutting, she yelled to him something like, "I will send you an e-mail" or "Check your e-mail".
Once the doors shut and the tram was moving, a high pitched playback of the woman's words began repeating over and over accompanied by laughter from behind me. The sound persisted and I don't know what got in to me, but I turned around and stared down each of the five sets of eyes I found behind me, the source of the screeching and laughing. I managed to hide my surprise at their age. I had expected them to be teenagers and rough looking. They were quite the opposite - short, probably twelve, and rather well dressed.
The screeching didn't stop. I felt someone start to tap, rather jab me with a finger, on the back of my shoulder. After two or three times, I turned around and stared down the cute, terrified boy and said in my angriest voice, "Stop it. Stop it now." I couldn't remember the basic phrase in Dutch or any other words for that matter at the moment. I was so enraged to be touched and to be so disrespected. Before I could get the words out, he was pleading that it wasn't him. So I flashed a narrowed looked at all of them before turning around again.
The next stop was approaching so they began to get up and were now pushing my shoulder with an entire hand. One boy, now standing next to me, pointed at my shoes and gave a thumbs up with a face completely devoid of a smile. I was, of course, wearing my grandma MBT shoes. I had never seen such skillful sarcasm in an adolescent nor in most adults. I had my ipod headphones on so I am guessing they thought I was trying not to hear them, but I heard every word. With a blatantly obvious rub by one of the boy's bags and arm across my shoulder and arm, they exited the tram.
I got off at the next stop and tried to brush the whole thing off on my short walk home. My first thought was, "I need to find out how to say 'I know your parents are worthless, but the least you could do is shut up and sit down while in public.'"
I went home and explained what happened to my husband and he basically concluded that, while I don't need to be afraid in these situations, I shouldn't say anything until I can stand my ground in Dutch. So...I am learning to swear...in Dutch. Instead of exchanging pleasantries in Dutch, now my husband and I exchange swear words so I can practice.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Etsy
I just wanted to share a website I tripped over on-line: Etsy (http://www.etsy.com/). The website is for the buying and selling of homemade and vintage products. One great thing is that it hosts artists from literally across the globe. Another feature is that you can search for artists local to you. Have a look...
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