HFDU - Family Fun

Originally sent: July 8, 2004

G'day everyone! I hope this edition of HFDU finds you all well & enjoying the summer back in America - or wherever you happen to be. I'm pretty sure that everyone on this email list is located in the northern hemisphere, so hopefully the weather is a bit warmer for everyone than it is for me here in Melbourne.

This email will sum up the time that I spent with my family over here. It was great to see them and get to spend time with them, just like back in the good ole' days. It was a bit strange at first, with my two worlds colliding, but my family actually transitioned very well into the Australian culture (although mom could never get over the fact that "lemonade" over here is Sprite!) & enjoyed all of the tourist activities. B & I picked them up at the airport on the Sunday morning & took dad & my sister "A" a few hours later to an Aussie Rules footy match. What a way to welcome them to Australia! I think the afternoon was enjoyed by all, even though it was cold & rainy. Dad got to experience meat pie at the game & A was glad to be back at the MCG.

I worked the next week while they saw the sights during the day, but we managed to sneak in fun dinners and activities at night. Dad got to eat kangaroo like he was so much looking forward to, B & I met them for dinner along the river, we made a trip to the Casino, & then they were off in the rental car on the Great Ocean Road for a couple of days. Since I had already been, we put mom behind the steering wheel to have a go at driving in Australia. I think she did pretty well, although my sister may have a different idea! No major incidents though & everyone made it home safely.

On the weekend, dad enjoyed grocery shopping with me & seeing all of the differences between American food & Aussie food in the store, & we made a trip to a giant liquor store so that Amy could stock up on Australian wine to take back home. I think she ended up with about a dozen bottles to bring home, which makes the suitcases quite heavy when you load them all up! A & I also went out with a few girls that weekend so A could see a bit of Melbourne nightlife.

On that Sunday, the Masons made a trip down to Phillip Island, about 2 hours away, to stay for the night and observe the infamous penguin parade. Phillip Island is home to the smallest breed of penguins in the world, the "little penguin" or what Melburnians call the "fairy penguin". We watched them make their daily waddle from the ocean to their homes in the sand hills at dusk, and they were absolutely adorable! Unfortunately we were not allowed to photograph them, but trust me when I say that they were definitely entertaining! B rode his motorcycle down to Phillip Island that afternoon & attended the penguin parade with us to spend a bit more time with the family. We also took a trip to the seal rocks & the Koala Conservation Center on Phillip Island. We got right up next to a male koala sleeping on the handrail & also saw a mom & little joey eating & playing. I think dad really enjoyed seeing the native Australian wildlife - & the fresh fish & chips that he ate for lunch :-)

When we got back to Melbourne, B treated us to a proper Greek dinner at a Greek tavern. I've developed a real liking for Greek food (except for octopus & whitebait) & I think the family really enjoyed it as well. Dad, A & I drove up to the Healesville Sanctuary the next day where they got to see a bit more of the native Australian wildlife, & we all got boomerang lessons (& did quite well I might add!). A & dad will be coming home with boomerangs so beware! The whole family drove up to the Dandenong Mountain Ranges & took a ride on the 100-year old Puffing Billy steam engine. It was FREEZING cold on the trip, but the scenery was beautiful. That night, several of my co-workers met us all for dinner before we headed off to northern Queensland the following morning.

I was instantly relieved of the cold weather in Melbourne when I got off the plane in Cairns, in northern, tropical Queensland. It was such a treat to be in warm, humid weather in the middle of the Melbourne winter! We stayed at a lovely resort just north of Cairns in a town called Palm Cove. Since I was only up there for a few days, I had to squeeze in everything possible during my time there. One day dad, A & I took a trip to the Daintree National Park & Cape Tribulation. I say this with complete honesty - it was one of the most beautiful (if not the most beautiful) places that I have ever been. The endless miles of tropical rainforest (with no scary animals mind you) colliding with the ocean and the Great Barrier Reef, were just breathtaking! I took lots of photos, but they just don't do the place justice - at all. We went on hikes through the rainforest, did a cruise down the Daintree river where we spotted crocodiles on the banks & a python coiled up in a tree, & visited a discovery center that taught us some amazing things about the rainforest.

My last big adventure on this trip was A & I's excursion out to Green Island & the Great Barrier Reef. I got a bit seasick on the 45 minute ride out to the island, but was fine after my feet hit solid ground. I did an introductory scuba dive along the reef, which basically means that they take you a little ways out from the island, give you a crash course on scuba diving (in about 15 minutes), & then throw you into the deep blue! It was a bit overwhelming at the beginning & I actually thought that I wouldn't be able to do it because I couldn't get used to the fact that I could breathe underwater, but once I calmed down & started seeing the fish life & the reef, I had an amazing time. It was great swimming right alongside the fish - some were huge, most were very colorful - and I got to play with several "Nemos" & feel their sea anemone home! I think I must have been smiling constantly while I was down there & snapping photos like crazy. Luckily it was just me & the instructor though, so he wasn't bothered by my excitement & curiosity. We also saw a moray eel poking out from his rock & I was just trying to make sure that my fins didn't end up in his mouth :-)

All in all, the Cairns trip was thoroughly enjoyable & gave me the opportunity to see another amazing, beautiful part of Australia. Having my family up there was a huge bonus, & we enjoyed just relaxing & hanging out together as a family of four again. They have been in Sydney all week enjoying the sights there, but finally fly home tomorrow after three weeks away. I think this will definitely be a memorable trip for us all!

My next exciting milestone is a visit from my best friend AP in just over a week! I'm ready for some good quality girl time & she's just the person to spend it with me :-) Until next time, I hope that you all are doing well & aren't completely bored by my emails. Thanks to those of you who have been emailing me, keeping me updated on your lives, & sending photos. It makes my life over here seem not so far away home.