Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Happy Australia Day!!


We celebrated Australia Day on January 26th.  This holiday commemorates the establishment of the first settlement at Port Jackson (in Sydney) in 1788.  It is a day filled with festivities around the city.  Many people have picnics in parks and beaches.  Then, there are fireworks held in different locations around the city that night.  

In addition to the Australia Day celebrations, we also had two birthday parties to attend during the day on Saturday.  We were having a great day until Sean went down to our car park and realized that his almost brand new bicycle had been stolen from where he had it locked up.  That put a damper on our mood, but we picked ourselves up and tried to get back into the spirit.  Luckily, we didn't let it stop us from heading down to Darling Harbour with friends to join in the festivities.  I'm so glad we did; it was a fun night out.

Darling Harbour was just a little crowded

The firework platform was set up in the middle of the harbour.  We stood on the bridge (where the red flags are in the distance) to watch the fireworks.

Showtime!

It was a spectacular display.  We would think it was the big finale and then after a moment the fireworks would start again.  Gorgeous!!
Thought I'd end the post with a photo I found on the camera.  Sean was teaching Carter how to use the remote to take a picture.  It makes me think about how much I love these little captured moments in time.

  

Saturday, January 26, 2013

The South Coast

It was time again for another vacation from our vacation.  For this trip, we chose to go down to an area they call the "South Coast".  It is not too far down the coastline from Sydney; the cottage we stayed in was only about a 2 1/2 hour drive away.  But, it was far enough to completely lose the busy feel of the city and immerse ourselves into the Australian countryside.  On our trip a shopkeeper commented "This is where the real Australia begins".  I'm not sure that I completely agree with that statement, yet I do have a sense of what she meant.  The South Coast does have a different feel from where we have been in Australia up to this point.  We often find people in Sydney as being very rushed, short with their encounters, and not coming off as being very sincere.  I suppose this is how it is in most big cities, but not what I envisioned of Australia.  The atmosphere feels much more relaxed and easygoing on the South Coast.  People were friendly and often struck up conversations with us.  There was natural beauty surrounding us everywhere we went.  We felt the burdens fall off of our shoulders and we could breathe a little easier for the week we were there.  

 Driving down the coast on the Grand Pacific Drive   

A closeup from the above photo of the highway we were getting ready to drive on; the highway is built on stilts following the cliffs.

Another interesting path; this is the drive up the hill to the cottage we stayed in.

Wisteria Cottage at Tapitallee Lodges

The view from the cottage; it is hard to see in the photo, but we could see all the way to the ocean (about 15 miles away).

The red pin is the location of Tapitallee Lodges


This is a photo of the wombat that walked past the cottage at dusk two nights in a row.

We got to the cabin on Sunday and took the rest of the day settling in and grabbing some groceries for the week.  On Monday the weather was a little cooler (around 70 degrees Fahrenheit or 21 degrees Celsius) and partly cloudy.  We decided to drive into Kangaroo Valley that day.  We found a small gravel road winding through the mountains that was a 2 way road, but at times felt as though it should have been a 1 way road.  We could only travel about 25 miles/hour (40 km/hour).  Luckily, we only met one car on the road that was about 10 miles long.  As scary as the road was, it was a very peaceful drive.  The kids were looking out for wildlife and there were 2 different times that Aubrey called out that she saw a kangaroo that no one else saw.  Both times Sean stopped the car and backed up.  And both times Aubrey had seen animals that had passed the rest of us by.  Aubrey earned the nickname of "kangaroo spotter".  

A photo of the first kangaroo Aubrey spotted.

After we watched a little bit more, we realized it was a mama kangaroo and her 2 joeys.

This is the second animal Aubrey saw, but it actually is a wallaby.  It is part of the kangaroo family, but it is smaller with a stockier body.

Fitzoy Falls overlooking Kangaroo Valley

Closeup of Kangaroo Valley from Fitzroy Falls Lookout

The red pin is the location of Fitzroy Falls with Kangaroo Valley to the south.

The Kangaroo Valley Pie Shop where we ate lunch

On Monday afternoon, we left Kangaroo Valley to drive towards the coast to check out some wineries.  There is a small wine area in the Shoalhaven region.  Sean and I love to check out local wineries. It is not just to taste and buy wines, but we usually enjoy the atmosphere.  Each winery has its own flair of what makes it unique.  We often meet interesting people, learn more about wine, and most times there is a beautiful view to boot.  During this trip we learned more about what kind of wines a temperate climate can produce.  In the Shoalhaven region, they seem to produce a great deal of a red wine called Chambourcin.  The wineries we stopped at often said it was a wine that you had to develop a taste for.  However, I don't think we drank enough of the wine to develop a taste for it.  Our favorite winery in the region was Silos Estate.  The tastings were done in an old fashioned wine cellar, the wines were very good, and they raised alpacas on the property. 


A Bigfoot machine at the Coolangatta winery.  We were not there at the right time to go out for a ride though.

Gorgeous view of the Shoalhaven River from Two Figs Winery

Photo of the alpacas at Silos Estate

A photo taken on Monday afternoon when we reached the coast.  This is the north side of Seven mile beach.  It was just drizzling where we were, but they were having heavier rain to the south.

The weather cleared up for Tuesday.  The forecast called for upper 70's (Fahrenheit) and sunny skies.  We decided this was the day to check out Hyams Beach in Jervis Bay.  Per the Guinness Book of World Records, Hyams Beach has the whitest sand in the world.  The day was pure magic.  We got to the beach around 10:30 am.  There was a small coffeeshop/cafe a block away from the beach, so we grabbed some coffee and headed to the beach.  I usually think that sand is the downfall of being at the beach, but not at Hyams Beach.  It is so fine and white, it almost feels clean.  We laid around and played until lunchtime, went back to the local cafe for a scrumptious lunch, went driving for a little bit to check out more of the Jervis Bay area and miss the strongest sun of the day, and then headed back out on the beach at 2:00 pm for a few more hours.  The whole day felt perfect.  
  
Panoramic of the beach; Aubrey is there in the pink.

Carter burying Aubrey

He got his payback

The water was too good to be true
The red pin is Hyams Beach within Jervis Bay.  It was about a 40 minute drive south from where we were staying.

Wednesday was a little warmer with temperatures getting up into the mid-80's (Fahrenheit).  On this day we went to Jamberoo Action Park.  This is the largest water park in New South Wales.  It was a really nice water park, but it was super busy on the day we were there.  The lines were too long, so we didn't end up going on any of the big rides (like the one called The Funnel Web (after the deadly spider)).  It didn't matter to the kids though.  They had a blast.  
  
Banjo's Billabong (the kid area)

Aubrey giving the camera a little smirk before running off for more fun

Overlook of the wave pool with the mountains in the distance
The red pin is Jamberoo.  It took almost an hour to drive there from the cottage, but it was worth it.

After spending the majority of the last 2 days out in the sun, we decided to take it a little easier on Thursday.  We drove up to a couple of quaint towns we had seen on the drive down the coast, Berry and Gerringong.  We visited some local shops, had lunch with a view, and snuck in a few more wineries.  Sounds like the kids had a blast, huh?  They were actually okay because one of the shops was a candy shop and we spent a good chunk of the afternoon at a playground.  It is nice that they are growing up to where we do not have to constantly entertain them.  That is what they have iPods for;-). 

View at lunch at Gerringong Seavista Cafe
Cemetary in Gerringong; we walked by it because it is right next to the whale watching platform.  I've noticed that the dead in Australia seem to hold some prime real estate.
Red pin is the location of Gerringong.  It is a beautiful little town and would make a great weekend getaway.

Friday was a crazy hot day in New South Wales.  Sydney had its hottest day on record at 46.5 degrees Celsius (116 degrees Fahrenheit).  Since we were just a few hours outside of Sydney, the temps were similar where we were.  We went back to Hyams Beach for the morning hours, but then it got too hot to even be at the beach.  Sean and I spent a relaxing afternoon driving around more of the region we had not visited while the kids took a long nap in our air-conditioned car.


This area of New South Wales has a lot of dairy cattle.  It made me nostalgic since I grew up on a dairy farm.  Sean and I laughed when we had to stop the car on Friday afternoon so that they could herd the cows across the road to the milkbarn.  As I was watching those hundreds of cows cross the road, I couldn't help but be happy that I didn't have to help milk them.  I'm sure my brothers and sisters will know what I am talking about. 

When the kids woke up from their nap, we drove up the mountain overlook that we had heard was outstanding, but hadn't done yet.  Mount Camberwarra Lookout really was breathtaking.  The landscape shots are a little hazy due to the hot, balmy weather that day.  







The red pin is Cambewarra Lookout.  From that height, we could see all the way to Jervis Bay.

We got back to the cottage around 5:00 that evening.  Sean and the kids took showers and then we started to cook dinner.  Some really strong southerly winds started to blow outside.  They are a welcome relief, as it cooled everything off after a super hot day.  However, all of a sudden, the electricity went out in the cottage.  The owner came up and talked to us and was going to bring us up candles because he said the electricity could be out for quite awhile.  I wasn't very happy about it because I hadn't taken a shower after being at the beach earlier in the day.  Plus, the cottage gets really, really dark at night since there are no outside lights around it.  All week up to this point, I had been leaving a hallway light on at night so that the kids (and I) wouldn't get scared in the pitch blackness.  I know I am spoiled, but I really didn't want to face a night with no electricity.

Then, the final blow happened.  The government can tell what cell phones are within a certain distance of bushfires and they send out warning texts.  Sean and I got this ominous text on our phones.  






We were not familiar enough with the area to know if the threat of the bushfire was very serious to our location.  But, we didn't like the idea of being in danger of getting caught unprepared.  It was only about 7:00 pm at this point, and we could be back to our safe apartment in Sydney by 10:00 pm.  So, we decided to pack up and head home ASAP.  In hindsight, I now know that the electricity was restored at 9:30 that night and the bushfire did not get very close to the cottage.   Oh well.  It was an abrupt end to our wonderful vacation, but it was only cut short by one night.  And, it did feel pretty good to snuggle into our own beds that night.  The trip still wins the distinction of being the best vacation we have taken as a family up to this point. 

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Summer Break

Ahhh.... the long days of summer.  I admit that I really yearned for winter back in December, but not now.  I normally really dislike January in the Northern Hemisphere.  I miss the excitement of the holidays and I'm left with months of cold before any prospect of spring.  Not only am I now enjoying a warm, sunny January, but I am also kind of glad to have the holidays over.  Our life here in Australia is awesome, but some days we really feel the distance.  That is part of the reason we try to stay busy.  When we stay busy, we feel like we are taking full advantage of our opportunity to be in this beautiful country.  As an added bonus, we also don't have as much time to dwell on what we are missing back in the Midwest.

We have already done quite a bit during the past 3 weeks and we have not even left Sydney yet.  We have been enjoying a bit of a "stay-cation".  We have a list of everything we want to see and do while in Sydney, so we are trying to get all the boxes ticked.  One of the first things we did back on the break was walk across the Sydney Harbour Bridge.  The views are amazing.  Both Sean and I are afraid of heights, so even this is a little scary for us.  Sean is still trying to decide if he could handle doing the climb over the top of the Sydney bridge in our time here.  I have already decided and there is NO WAY I am going up there.  I will stay down on the main section with guardrails almost completely covering me, thank you.  And I do not see this as a revocation of my previous resolution to be more adventurous.  It is just that everyone must know their own limits.   

Ready to walk over the bridge
Sydney Opera House from the bridge


 

Panoramic shot from the middle of the bridge


After we walked over the bridge, we enjoyed some street food at The Rocks Market and then continued onto the Royal Botanic Gardens.  We will have to come back another day to do the gardens properly as the kids were pretty tired by that point and the Botanic Gardens are massive.  So, we just hit a small section.  Located within the Botanic Gardens is the Government House.  This house was built for the Governor of New South Wales between the years of 1837 to 1843.  




The grounds of the Government House looking out on Sydney Harbour

A sneak peak of the Sydney Opera House from the grounds of the Botanic Gardens

The area of the Royal Botanic Gardens; the red pin is the Sydney Opera House

Panoramic view of the bridge from the Sydney Opera House


Later in the week we went to The Powerhouse Museum of Science and Design near Darling Harbour.  Carter went to this museum once with school and has been dying to go back again.  It was a very cool museum with something for everyone.  


Posing in front of one the first trains to run in Sydney


The Strasbourg clock model


Aubrey on a penny farthing bicycle

Sean was trying to pedal the bike fast enough to power the fire engine lights and siren.  Aubrey already had her ears covered in anticipation that the siren would be too loud for her.

Sean was very impressed that the museum had one of the few Apple I computers in the world.  It was sold in 1976.  People bought the fully assembled circuit board, and then had to add all the other parts (tape recorder, keyboard, case, etc.) to make it a functioning computer.  Isn't it amazing how far we have come in less than 40 years?


The museum even had a Wiggles Exhibit!

Aubrey began throwing tea parties in Dorothy the Dinosaur's house in the Wiggles Exhibit.



Even Dad got to join in!


When Sean had to go back to work at the beginning of January, the kids and I ventured up to the Manly Sea Life Sanctuary by Manly Wharf.  It is a nice little aquarium.  It didn't take us very long to go through it, but then we enjoyed a little time hanging out in Manly. 


Carter being silly inside the shark jaws

Aubrey, surprisingly, is always the first to be willing to touch things (for example, reptiles).  In this picture she is holding the shell of a shark egg.

The views from Manly Wharf are fantastic.

The kids and I had such a good time at Manly Wharf during the week, we decided to bring Dad along on the weekend and hang out at the beach for the day.  It was so relaxing.


Brunch at a cafe along the shore
Carter loved burying his sister in the sand.

Aubrey holding a non-stinging jellyfish (I think they are called comb jellies).  

Over the past week we have done a lot of activities with Aubrey's playgroup friends.  It was a lot of last hurrahs leading up to one of our playgroup friends moving out of the Sydney area.  We had a great week of the zoo, going to a movie and Macca's (Aussie slang for McDonalds), the beach, and picnicing at a park.  We are already learning the lessons of how transient it is living in a high expat area.  Friend groups are constantly changing and evolving as old people move out and new people move in.  It is a good reminder of why it is so important to live in the moment.

  
Aubrey and our friend Henry posing at Taronga Zoo

Part of the group that went to see a film at the cool movie theater on a steamy day that was 43 degrees Celsius.  (That is about 109 degrees Fahrenheit.)

So, that is the recap on the first half of our summer break.  We have had loads of fun.  And we still have another 2 1/2 weeks of freedom left!  We will have to see what adventures still await us......