AUSTRALIA
It is fall here in Australia and the temperatures are high 60’s. However when in direct sunlight, the sun is really intense and it feels a lot warmer. The Australians claim the reason for the intensity is a hole in the ozone layer, but I think the real reason is just that they are closer to the equator.
But I’m no expert. And who am I to question the opinions of the Australians when it comes to Australia.
Comparisons between the U.S. and Australia:
Population: Australia 26 million
U.S. 333 million
Land Mass: Australia 7.688 million km(squared)
U.S. 9.834 million km(squared)
States: Australia 6 states and 2 territories
U.S. 52 states
The United States also has territories but I’m not real clear exactly what they are or how many. Several Australians have told me that if you lay Australia over the top of the U.S., Australia would overlap the U.S. But I have learned that is not actually true. Maybe at one point Australia is actually wider than the U.S. but our land mass is larger.
Sorry Aussies!
POLITICS
So I know I may be putting my neck on the chopping block but I plan to be very careful here.
Australia is all about our politics!
Every time we get into an uber, that is what the uber driver wants to talk about. We have had several uber drivers tell us that they are more interested in our politics than their own. And their loyalties are split between our two parties, much like we are in the states.
I find that interesting because I wondered what other countries thought of us and I am relieved to find that they don’t just think we are a bunch of idiots, instead they are in the thick of it with us.
Now our travel companions (the Telles’) are very, very strong in their party and we have had some super intense debates with our uber drivers.
At one point, our uber driver told us his opinion and Debbie said “please pull over and let me out here” and he replied “feel free to jump out while I am driving”!
And that’s all I have to say about that 🙂
GOLD COAST
We checked out of our hotels in Sydney and hopped on a plane for the Gold Coast, Surfer’s Paradise. It is 845 km (525 miles) north of Sydney. The Gold Coast is mostly known for it’s beautiful beaches.
Our hotel is very nice and once again we are on a resort vacation. Not like Sydney at all. I do love resort vacations but I really enjoyed Sydney. I also wish we would have planned a trip to Melbourne. I hear that is something to see.
From our Hotel Balcony
ANNIVERSARY DINNER
We all went to dinner at Misono’s a Japanese Restaurant here in the hotel of the JW Marriott. It was Debbie and Dave’s 49th wedding anniversary. It was one of those hibachi grill dinners where they cook right at your table and it was super fun! We were sitting with another couple celebrating their 10th wedding anniversary.
Happy Anniversary Debbie and Dave!
HEALTH CHALLENGES
On this trip, we have all had our health challenges. Debbie got sick on the cruise with flu like symptoms and it lasted throughout Sydney and into our time at the Gold Coast. I got a little something and ended up in a clinic in Sydney (which cost me dearly, but the money conversion saved me). Kevin has had issues with his pericarditis which plagues him at unexpected times. And David has been sick with flu like symptoms the past 3 days. We are all trying to balance enjoying our vacation with social responsibility and taking care of our own health needs.
It is a tricky balance!
I think it is impossible to avoid sickness when on a cruise with thousands of people. And it’s not always a matter of social responsibility. I think people are most contagious before they even know just how sick they really are. And after months of planning and the money put out, who wants to stay in their room and sleep their vacation away?
But onto the fun stuff …………
GLOW WORMS
We took a tour to the rainforest at night to see glow worms. It was an interesting tour in that we each had flash lights that shined red and our hike was in darkness. We were instructed to stay close together, not lag behind and use our flash lights to see where we are stepping. We were told not to touch anything as there are poisonous plants and bugs about. All so we could see little tiny lights in the dirt that are glow worms.
When preparing for this vacation, my son who thought we were nuts to come to Australia, told me that there are huge spiders and other predators here that will want to eat me. That came to mind as we were hiking through the rainforest at night.
Super fun!!
NOT!!
Probably the dumbest tour I have ever taken. Of course the picture showed cute little glow in the dark worms hanging from trees in a rainforest which sounds really cool. But no! That’s not what we saw.
But we did see a very cool waterfall!
And that’s all I have to say about that!
SMALLER ADVENTURES
In addition to our Glow Worm excursion, we have hung out at the pool, played lots of cards, taken walks along the beach, spent an evening at the “Night Market” which is a vendor market (my favorite) along the beach (Friday and Saturday only) and gone to the Carrara’s Market, which is a huge vendor type market every weekend. Here are some pics of our smaller adventures.
More food pics
Hanging out by the pool. These bearded dragons are everywhere!
AND THAT’S ALL I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THAT!!
I hope everyone gets to feeling better soon. It looks and sounds like a great trip!
Totally didn’t realize that the seasons were opposite there.. but now that you mentioned it, I feel like I learned that at some point…just forgot. That’s crazy though!
Happy anniversary to Debbie and David!
Sorry to hear you all caught a bug… but glad all are feeling better.
The glow worm tour sounds horrible… but what really gets me is that you wanted to go after seeing a pic of them hanging from trees!? Omg, no way!! Things that hang from trees fall from trees! 😬 glad it had an amazing waterfall!
Toledo farmers market does a night market too!! Though probably not as cool as cool as the one in Australia.
Love the pics!!
Ha! You are right! I didn’t think of them falling from the trees LOL!
It has been a great trip! Thanks Phillip!
It’s interesting that the Australians are fixated on our politics. To me, that’s a good way to drive yourself crazy.
You are a good photographer Denise. I enjoy the photos.
I’m sorry you’ve all had to deal with some sort of illness. Hope you all feel better soon.
Thanks for the update!
I agree Katy! Politics is stressful and could drive you crazy! I don’t know how some do it!
Hope y’all are feeling better now. Love the photos – looks like a wonderful time. I see that you travelled up the coast. Do you remember seeing Byron Bay? There is a beautiful lighthouse there. My dad drove us there one weekend JUST to eat at the only mexican restaurant for hundreds of miles. Back then, there wasn’t much that was familiar to US American’s in the way of food. (1970-1974).
I have several friends that I’ve known most of my life that live in Queensland. They all align with my politics in the US and are quite interested in it all. My cousins live in Tasmania and I guess it’s getting really cold there, now.
Our trip up the coast was by airplane. I considered making it a drive. Kind of wish I would have. It sounds like you need to make another trip out here to visit friends right?
I’m glad to see you haven’t been eaten…. Yet! I’ll have to show Eva the pic of the bearded dragon, she has Dusty out every chance she gets now. I was hoping you would’ve seen a huntsman spider, those are the big ones. Anyway, all is good here. Oh your lawn has been mowed too by the way. Enjoy the rest of your trip and call when you get a chance. Toodles!
I sent Eva a picture of the bearded dragon JusTalk Kids. We have been communicating the whole month! Toodles? Is that Australian?
Love reading your posts and pictures are great as well! What a beautiful place! And not crowded!
Yes Nancy, that made it so nice to be there without the crowds.
Denise, I’m curious about what you saw on that nighttime tour….
The pictures from the Gold Coast are out of this world. It looks like paradise.
Hope you are both feeling better now that you are back home. Now it’s time to rest and restore. Traveling can be stressful.
We saw itty bitty specs of green lights LOL! The Gold Coast is gorgeous! So is Sydney! Traveling can be stressful and I am glad to be back!