G'Day Eh!

Day of Rest

2009-03-25T20:55:00.001-07:00

We stayed at a beautiful bed and breakfast in Cairns. Up to this point our trip had been very action packed so we decided to take a day and enjoy our rain forest surroundings.

This kookaburra was waiting on the deck when we came up for breakfast. Our hosts feed him bits of liver when he comes to visit.

Reading on the deck.

Watching hockey may not seem like a vacation activity, however I have missed the enitre season. Our host had satelite and invited me to watch the hockey Bruins/Capitals game that was on that day. It was great.

Tara and I went for a walk in the afternoon. We were trying to get up the rock that Tara is sitting on. The green stuff on the rock was pretty slippery and Tara slid down the rock rather quickly. This is where she landed.

All in all a very relaxing day.

The Great Barrier Reef

2009-03-25T20:01:00.000-07:00

From Sydney we were off to Cairns. On our first full day there we booked a trip to snorkel and scuba dive at The Great Barrier Reef. We got an early start to allow for a full day of exploring.

The trip out was about an hour long. Nancy and Barry decided to scuba at the first stop and Tara and I snorkled.

We spent 2 hours at our first stop. While we ate lunch we moved to another area reef for our afternoon stop.

Tara and I getting instructions on our dive.

Practising breathing through the mouth pieces on the back of the boat.

Going through all of the pre-dive tests with our guide.

This was the '80s fish because of all the neon colours on it.

We could see little nemo fish in lots of the coral like this.

Check out those suits.

More snorkeling after our scuba adventure.

If you ever get a chance to go to the reef do it, it was absolutely amazing.

Manly Beach

2009-03-25T19:36:00.000-07:00

On the Sunday of our Sydney stop it was time to head to the beach. We took the fairy across Sydney Harbour to Manly beach.

This was my very first time ever in the ocean. It was way saltier than I expected.

We had dinner at a place just back from the beach.

We had a beautiful view of the Opera House on the ride back to Circular Quay.

Our Hats

2009-03-01T22:31:00.001-08:00

With our adventure in the outback drawing closer we were on the look out for good Aussie hats to protect us from the sun. We found what we were looking for on the front steps of the Sydney Opera House. We all realized we could not look more like tourists at the moment of this picture. Nano and Bazza (I will explain later) in front of the Harbour Bridge. Both of their hats are made out of Kangaroo hide.

Tara and I same spot.

Blue Mountains Eco Tour

2009-03-01T21:57:00.000-08:00

We were lucky to have a private tour for all of these great sights. We called up the company the night before and were told they had decided not to run the tour bus for the next day. However, because there were 4 of us the guide would come and pick us up in his land rover and give us a private tour.

First stop was Grose Valley.

The tour involved a three hour hike into the Grand Canyon. Which had some really awesome rock cliffs, and overhangs.

The drought is still on in Australia so not much water flowing down the waterfalls.

Nancy's butt after stepping on a particulary slipperly spot.

Tara is standing on the end of a launch rap for para-gliders at Jameson Valley.

The Three Sisters rock formation is part of aboriginal teachings.

At the end of the day we were all exhausted and covered in red dust and sand but it was well worth it.

Gondola and Luge

2009-02-14T20:15:00.000-08:00

We took a ride on the Gondola one morning to reach the luge track that was at the top. The view on the ride up was pretty impressive.

There are two luge tracks at the top. The scienic track and the FAST track.

Barry and Nancy on their way up to luge on day 1. Yes, luging was so fun we did it twice. The second time was on the day we were departing. It was a bit of a rush to fit it in but we were on time to meet our shuttle to the airport with 2 minutes to spare.

Day 1 was racing. No matter what Nancy says I won. Since there are no photos of it you are just going to have to believe me. Day 2 was picture day.

SPEED FACES!

Canyoning Vids Contd

2009-02-14T19:52:00.000-08:00

Now for the jumps. These were so fun and a little nerve racking. Tara is up first in both videos.

6 meters

8 meters

Queenstown Canyoning!

2009-02-13T00:00:00.000-08:00

Canyoning was my favorite thing on the trip. It was challenging, the scenery was awesome, our guides were great, and we got to do some really fun stuff. I know Tara loved it too but I think scuba diving might have come out ahead on the favorite things list.

We had just done our first zip line before these pics and now we are rapelling into the canyon below.On this jump were suppose to assume the butt drop position. I didn't really get my feet out, so I just look like a dork.

We had to scramble over rocks and through rapids to move from spot to spot.

We had to hang out over the water and go down this rock face.
When we got to the bottom the other guide pused us out over the pool and we dropped in.

This is my landing from a different drop.

Tara's best impersonation of superman.

Swimming out. You can tell by the expressions on our faces that we didn't enjoy it at all.

Group shot at the bottom of the canyon.

Now for the really cool stuff. The next two videos are of Tara and I sliding over a waterfall.

Stay tuned for more videos.

Hiking in Queenstown

2009-02-10T16:41:00.000-08:00

It was hard to choose what pics to put up for this blog because there were so many good ones to choose from. We set out on a cool and rainy morning to go for a hike up one of Queenstowns many trails. The incline was tough and we could all feel the elevation effecting our breathing. After about 1.5 hours of hiking and not much of a view we were getting a little discouraged until we finally came to a clearing and this view.

We thought that was good until we went a bit farther and saw this.

The hike down was a lot easier and we found this great waterfall.

Mitai Maori Experience

2009-02-09T20:38:00.000-08:00

For dinner in Rotorua we went to a Maori Experience. The Maori people were the first to come to New Zealand and live. The Mitai family now runs a business to present the traditional Maori way of life as authentically as possible. Under the blankets is our dinner.

Chicken, lamb, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and stuffing it was so good.

These guys paddled by in a traditional boat.

The Chief

A demonstration of a Haka (war dance). It was scary. Check out the video.

Kerosene Creek

2009-02-09T14:47:00.001-08:00

After the thermals we set out to find a natural hot spring we had been told about. This is what we found.

The water temperature was 37 degrees. It was just like a hot tub.

It was such an amazing place. We were so glad to have gone there rather than to a commercialized place.

WAI-O-TAPU

2009-02-08T17:09:00.000-08:00

We're back! We had a great trip and now will try our best to get the blog updated to show you all the awesome places we have been. After caving it was off to Rotorua and Wai-o-tapu Thermal Wonderland. Streams beneath the earth are heated up by liquid hot magma which has been left over from volcanic activity. This heated water comes up through the earth all over the park. The smell is all part of the experience, a nice strong sulphur breeze.

The green water in this crater was so vibrant. The picture just does not do it justice.

The steam behind us is where some of the heated water comes to the surface. In spots around the park the water was bubbling and boiling.

The mud pool was my favourite part. Bubbling, exploding mud pools was so cool. Check out the video.

Update!

2009-01-25T03:24:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone! We are indeed having some exciting adventures on this trip. Unfortunately, we aren't able to post things yet. As soon as we are able to access a computer where we are not paying per minute for time we will amaze you all with pictures of our awesome experiences... in the meantime- imagine us having a splendid time and stew in jealousy. We are off to Cairns in the morning. Have a happy Australia Day everyone!

Waitomo Black Water Adventure

2009-01-17T11:42:00.000-08:00

Well the trip is officially under way. After waking up in Auckland, we drove towards Waitomo. On the way, we called 'Rap, Raft n Rock' cave rafting company to book ourselves for a tour. We rapalled into the cave 27 m. The view on the ride down was amazing.

We floated in tubes down the river in the dark. The walls and ceiling were glowing with glow worms. They looked like the stars.

Then it was time to crawl through some holes and REALLY tight spaces.

Tara and Barry went through a really tiny space that required them to go sideways the entire way. Our guide said he had only had one other person make it through before.

Barry started to lose his wetsut on the way through.

After about 3.5 hours in the cave it was time to climb out. Nancy went first and the white dots at the bottom are our rubber boots.

This is where we got in and out. Truly incredible.

Happy New Year!

2009-01-07T00:00:00.000-08:00

It was a pretty quite New Years in Canberra. We found out too late that Sydney was the place to be. No worries though we got ourselves some bubbly and enjoyed ringing in the New Year in a different country.

My parents called just before midnight.

Tara poured us a drink and then it was out to the balcony to watch the fireworks that were happening down town.

The picture isn't great. But the view was pretty good.

After we were into 2009 it was time to call Tara's parents and find out how things were back in 2008 and brag about living in the future.

Happy New Year and best wishes to everyone in 2009.

A Visitor From Ontario

2009-01-06T00:00:00.000-08:00

Between Christmas and New Years I got a call from my cousin Caroline. Despite all of the snow storms at home she had managed to fly out of Toronto and make her way to Australia to visit friends.

Jason, Marissa and Caroline where staying at the beach about 2 hours away from Canberra. They decided to come to the Capital and see us. Caroline met them a couple of years ago when they were living in Milton, ON. They were working and travelling in Canada for a year, much like I am doing now in Australia.

We had a really good visit. It was great to see Caroline and meet her friends.

Boxing Day

2009-01-05T18:18:00.000-08:00

Boxing Day was another busy one for Tara and I. After some very productive shopping, we were off to the lake for a barby.

Ivan (our minister), his wife Margaret and daughter Jenny (all on the right side of the table), hosted Hong, Tracy, Tara and Me for a delicious meal by the water. The food was so good and we had a really great time talking with them. Ivan had a great Aussie hat to keep the sun off. He let me wear it for the picture. I am hoping to get one just like it for our trip.

Lake Burly Griffin is in the background. There we lots of people kayaking. Tara and I thought about commandeering there boats but we decided to wait for another day.

After dinner Ivan took us up to Telstra Tower. It is a telecommunication tower that sits on the top of Black Mountain and offers some amazing views of the city.

The end of another great day in Oz.

A Happy "Chrissy" in Aus

2008-12-30T22:15:00.000-08:00

Although we were far away from home this Christmas Tara and I still had a great holiday. We were both able to talk to our families several times and felt like we were part of the celebrations. This is our house on Christmas Eve. We got sooo many cards, thank you to everybody!

We had a very busy couple of days. Christmas Eve service was at 11 so we didn't get home until late. Then it was up early Christmas morning to talk to our families, exchange presents, and get ready for our day on the farm all before 8:30 when our ride was coming to take us to church. The main service in Australia is Christmas morning. The church was packed, and we got to meet many of the visiting family members. After church it was off to the Birtles' (Grace and Terry) farm. Hong came too. She is doing her PhD in Canberra and wasn't able to go home to China for the holidays.

We had a delicious cold lunch. We didn't think there was any way we would be as full as a Turkey dinner but we were wrong. I was so stuffed. Australians are not immune to the charms of the Christmas Popper Crown. Hong thought we were nuts.

I finally got my hands on a piano to play some of my tried and true Christmas carols. I just know my brother is disappointed he missed out on hearing me play this year. I had a hard time remembering the notes but I did manage to get one song out.

What would a farm be without dogs. I was so glad to play with some puppies for the day.

Terry has three miniature ponies as well as lots of cattle. Tara is leading around Christmas it was his birthday. Tara did awesome until Christmas decided he liked the looks of the green grass.

It was too hot (30 degrees!) to go for a hike right after lunch so we waited until late afternoon. Grace and Terry have a huge place with no shortage of great views of the Australian country side.

Terry, Tara and I were gone for 2 1/2 hours. We just kept seeing one great view after another. At one look out we could see the city and parliament house more than 30 km away. And of course what would an Aussie Christmas be without kangaroos. We saw lots of them hoping across the hills.

A huge Thank you to Grace and Terry. They helped to make our Christmas one to remember. We really appreciate their kindness and generosity. We hope everyone at home had a Merry Christmas too.

To my Seeester- Merry Christmas!

2008-12-21T01:05:00.003-08:00

Kelly (my sister) is really upset that this year I am RUINING HER TRADITIONS by being in Australia over Christmas. One tradition shared by Kelly and me is a ridiculous dance that we made up to Carol of the Bells as children- consisting of spontaneous choreography that we have made our parents sit through many times over the years.
Kelly sent me a Christmas card that played Carol of the Bells and said that Stacy would have to learn the dance in her place. Well she did, and here is the result. This was supposed to just be a test run for the camera angle- but it was so fantastically terrible that we decided to post it.

This is really for Kelly, but I am sure that it is something that many of you will enjoy. Kelly- I now expect you to teach Derrick the dance, and send a video of your performance before Christmas- I have just started a new tradition, so don't ruin it!

PS- Feel free to leave a critique of our dance in the comments... but please be kind!

A Taste of Canadian Christmas!

2008-12-20T10:44:00.000-08:00

The Christmas lunch at church last week was the perfect opportunity to bust out some Christmas baking. I got all of mom's recipes- snowballs, macaroons, belgium cookies and gingersnaps.
Baking Canadian recipes in Australia presented some difficulites. They don't have shortening or molasses in grocery stores here. However we were able to research substitutions and the cookies all came out great! I also think we set a record for speed baking! We had a day of baking planned and then I started my job at subway. We ended up making all of the baking in less than 4 hours. You can see how much fun we had in the pictures below!

Deck The Halls

2008-12-18T18:29:00.000-08:00

The first weekend of December brought some really cool weather. The colder weather put us in the Christmas Spirit and we decided that our house needed some decorations.

After a trip to the dollar store to get some supplies we were ready to go.

Tara was the creative genius behind our decorative choices. It just wouldn't be Christmas without a tree. Evergreens are in short supply here in Canberra and for anyone who has tried to get a tree home on the roof of their car just imagine what we would have gone through to get a tree home on the bus. So left with no other choice (unlike my parents who made the very poor decision to get a fake tree * sigh) we got this lovely 2$ tree. It had to be unfolded from the plastic package when we got it home. I didn't have high hopes for it but it turned out awesome.

Since our initial decorations we have added all the wonderful cards we have received to the display. Thank you very much to everybody for thinking of us.

Canberra Christmas Tree Lighting

2008-12-13T03:10:00.000-08:00

Last week we went to the Christmas tree lighting in the city centre. It was really strange to see children running around in their shorts and summer dresses! It was a great family event- with children`s entertainers working the crowd and performing on stage.

It was also strange that there were no hot chocolate or apple cider booths- we got ice cream!

The christmas tree itself turned out to be fake. Dissapointing, since I am used to watching a living and huge tree being lit!

Back to my Roots... Literally!

2008-12-13T02:36:00.000-08:00

Well, the blond was becoming a bit too much up keep. Dark brown roots come through pretty quick! Although, I must say the blond was starting to look pretty great!

So, I decided to go back to my natural hair colour- and this looked to be pretty close. Everlasting brown. Looks pretty brown right?

Unfortunately, my hair came out kinda purple! So, it was back to the drugstore for another bottle of brown hairdye!

The second bottle turned out to be a little too dark. I didn't see any brown in it, looked more like black to me! But as it starts to fade a bit I think its getting closer to my natural shade-and I can't see any roots coming in. This is what my head looks like today!

My short time as a blond was fun, but I am glad to be back as a brunette. Now its just waiting for my hair to grow out!

Tongan Celebration

2008-11-29T21:45:00.000-08:00

On Friday night, Stacy and I went to a Tongan 'Aloha Night'. While Aloha is actually Hawaiian, the Tonga Islands are another string of islands, south of Samoa and close to Fiji. I had never heard of Tonga before we arrived here, but I am glad we have now! It was quite the party and an UNBELIEVABLE feast! They roasted a whole pig, and it was fantastic. There were heaps of salads and amazing seafood. The amount of food was also unbelievable, and they just kept it coming!

It was also an evening of dancing and singing. These kids are just teenagers, but their talent is unbelievable. After meeting a few Tongans, it is evident that they are born with music and rhythm in their souls. To hear them break effortlessly into 4 part harmony, or watch them feel the music and just start to move. It truly is incredible. The boys below are doing a traditional Tongan dance. Can you imagine the high school boys you know doing this?

While its not a traditional Tongan dance, the girls of the group did a very impressive Hula. The girl in the center is a born entertainer- with a Beyonce voice and a hip sway to match.

The girl below did a traditional solo Tongan dance wearing a traditional Tongan garment. It was very beautiful, and was much more subdued and intricate using mostly the hands and head to tell a story. As is also tradition, her skin is oiled so that people can show appreciation for the dance by sticking money on her skin. She was covered in bills and even a fifty when she finished.The woman below won for the best Aloha outfit. She acted as if she won an Oscar when they called her up. Stacy snapped this shot as she took to the dance floor after the youth were done. She saw the camera and posed- hamming it up! She was a hoot.

Mt Ainslie

2008-11-26T20:18:00.000-08:00

After almost a week of rain Monday was a sunny day so Tara and I decided we should get out for a hike and enjoy the sunshine. We headed to the Mt. Ainslie Nature Reserve for a steep climb to the top.

There were lots of cool Australian vegetation along the way. This tree was huge and cool. Thus warranting a picture with Tara in front.

Many of the trees we have seen around Canberra are loosing their bark or seem to have no bark at all like the tree below. We discovered a sign along the trail that explained this was a natural part of their growth cycle. Mystery solved.

In 2002 (I think) Bush fires swept through Canberra. You can see the evidence of the fires on many of the trees. The stump I am sitting on used to be a solid trunk attached to the blackened part of the tree behind me.

As we got closer to the top the view just kept getting better and the path a little steeper. Tara stopped to enjoy the view.

These steps are the final leg of the trail before the look out at the top.

Canberra was a planned city from the beginning. Part of the design was to create 3 different axis on which to build the city around. You can see 2 of them in the picture. The land axis starts from where we were at the top runs down Anzac Drive (the red street in the background) and finishes at New Parliament off in the distance. You can just see the big flag pole. The lake is man made and provides the basis for the water axis.

We had a picnic lunch at the top and enjoyed a much easier walk down. We came upon a BIG male kangaroo and a joey as we were walking. They really are awesome animals. We also spotted a wallaby (looks like a tiny kangaroo with black fur) but he was too quick to get a picture.

Yummy and Iron Fortified!!!

2008-11-23T16:02:00.000-08:00

I have suprised myself since we arrived in Australia. I thought that I was a pretty sub-par cook. But so far, my culinary adventures have been turning out quite well. Like last night's dinner! I have been on an iron supplement since we got to Australia, so I decided to try some really iron-rich meals and see if that helps me to feel any better. Below is my first attempt- Borlotti-Baked-Beef with spinach.

I expected that it would be pretty good for us- Borlotti beans, red meat and spinach all chock-full of vitamins and iron- but I didn't expect that it would actually taste AWESOME! The spinach has horseradish in it- i thought it was a strange combination- but it was so good!!! As you can tell by Stacy's glassy-eyed expression, she really enjoyed it too. We both wolfed it down and have definitely added the recipe to the our favourites.

Yay to me and my not-so-shabby culinary skillz! I am definitely looking for more recipes to try out. Please send us your favourite yummy recipe so we can give it a try!

Our First Christmas Decorations!

2008-11-22T00:03:00.000-08:00

A surprise package arrived in the mail this week full of CHRISTMAS! More specifically some awesome Christmas art work created by my cousin Dylan and a card from Aunt Judy. Tara and I were so excited to get this unexpected delivery. We wasted no time putting up our new decorations in our house.

We both got a picture of our own. This one is Tara's.
This one is mine.

Dylan you did a great job, and we love the artwork. Thank you Dylan and Aunt Judy for getting our Christmas off to a great start.

The HAIR! And the explanation

2008-11-19T17:05:00.000-08:00

Some of you may know that I am sporting a new look. It's true! I am embracing my inner rockstar. Here is a picture of my crazy new 'do!

So now for the explanation. As many of you know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. However, being as busy as I was with school, I had little time to do anything more than wear a pink ribbon. October passed me by.

Some of the guys in our class, including some of the lecturers, have been supporting 'Movember' for Prostate Cancer and growing moustaches. Colby tried, and failed, to grow a respectable moustache- and told us all that he didn't expect anyone to sponsor it!

So, we hatched a plan. When we finished our last exam we all went to Colby's place and we both had our heads shaved (okay, so mine wasn't exactly "shaved" , but it was still alot of hair gone!). I collected money for Breast Cancer, and Colby collected for Prostate Cancer in lieu of his moustache. And then we let our roomates give us a haircut.

Clearly I was lucky I had Billy giving me my new look, as Jen took a huge strip off the back of Colby's head.
And here is a pic of me that night, with Billy and a couple of my other classmates. And, since I had always wondered what it would be like to go blond, and I only had about a centimeter of hair to damage by processing it, I thought I would take it one step further and bleach my hair as well. Its not my best look ever, but I am trying to work it for now. Its just hair, it will grow back, and I glad to have raised some money for the National Breast Cancer Foundation in Australia. If you are interested in supporting my little fundraising endevour you can make a direct donation to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation at http://www.cbcf.org/en-US/home.aspx. Just click "Donate Now".

It was a Happy Birthday for Me!

2008-11-17T15:28:00.000-08:00

My busy (CRAZY BUSY) school schedule has kept me from blogging about my birthday until now, but it turned out to be a good thing as my birthday seemed to be stretch into the following month (I must of learned a thing or two from Marilyn). I even have some more celebrating to do, I have a birthday lunch coming my way this week.

So, I thought I would use my first blog back to say THANK YOU! Thanks guys for the birthday wishes, cards and gifts!
I am posting the gifts from my family for them to see- being overseas means that I get to pick own gift and then let them know what they got.

Mom and Dad bought me these awesome sunglasses. I have been SO thankful to have them as the Australian sun starts to become more intense- and they are bound to become important as the scorching summer approaches.

Mom, Dad and Kelly also sent me a fruit basket. Yes, I thought it was kind of a strange gift for a 25th birthday- but it was great to get a gift that I didn't pick out, and the fruit got quickly devoured!

And this is the flowers after they bloomed.... BeeaUUTiful! From Gramma, I got this beeeauuutiful shirt. Again, its perfect for the impending heat here. Its light-weight and comfy and little nicer than a plain t-shirt- I love it! Thanks Gramma!!!

Stay tuned cuz we are back! To come soon- posts on Stacy's mad basketball skillz, my new hairdo, and more kangaroos!

First Exam Done!!!

2008-11-02T21:23:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone! Just got back from my first exam. It was the Cardiothoracic Interventions practical exam. I think it went pretty well. My 'patient' was a 25 yr old woman with Cystic Fibrosis and a partially collapsed lung and a chest tube in. Its pretty cool to think that pretty soon I could actually be in a hospital ward helping people like that. Anyways, I am off to study for my other 4 exams... wish me luck!

We are still here

2008-10-30T15:19:00.000-07:00

Hi Everybody,
I realize that it has been a really long time since we have blogged. It seems that in the last few weeks normal everyday life has taken over our Australian Adventure. Tara is studying for end of term exams which are beginning next week. I have had two new classes added to my schedule at work. I like them a lot and they are going well. So instead of having adventures we have been working on being responsible adults.

The weather is beautiful here right now. Sunny and 22 degrees almost everyday. Halloween is not a celebrated holiday here so Christmas is in full swing. Last week the local mall already had the Tree and Decorations up. Fake trees at Wal-Mart have been on sale since the first of October. I can't process the weather getting warmer and Christmas, its very strange (but I'm certainly not complaining.)

We will try to get some more posts up soon, and thanks for all the comments on our posts we love to get them.

Cheers.

Happy Thanksgiving

2008-10-12T02:57:00.000-07:00

Happy Thanksgiving to all our Family and Friends. We were a little sad not to be at home for the holiday but we did our best to do Thanksgiving - Australia style. The day started off well with a shout out at church. One lady turned around after the announcement that it was a holiday at home and asked "So it's Canada Day?" Australia doesn't really have a Thanksgiving equivalent so they were a little confused about what it is all about.

We got home from church and Tara started making some Apple Pie.

A golden brown turkey (read chicken) for dinner.

I realised at this moment that how to carve a turkey was not one of the lessons I had learned from my dad yet. I will have to pay more attention next time he does it. I got the job done but it certainly wasn't up to his standards.

Our delicious meal on the table complete with Lemon Lime and Bitters to drink. (My new favorite Australian beverage)

The pie turned out perfect.

Tara is excited because the custard is developing "skin" I don't get it ... apparently you do Nancy.

A delicious dessert, the perfect finish to what turned out to be a really good Thanksgiving. We miss everybody from home. We are thankful to have wonderful people thinking of us (and reading our blog) back in Canada. Hope you all had a good Thanksgiving.

More Kangaroos

2008-10-03T22:03:00.001-07:00

The kangaroos are out in force around our house. The novelty of seeing them definately has not worn off. We thought we should share a few more pictures.

There is a wooded area behind our house and a walking path which Tara and I can walk on to get to school and work. On Thursday morning we had our closest encounter yet with the kangaroos. It was truly amazing.

These pictures do not do justice to how awsome and how close we were to these guys. When we walk by they usually just turn and look, but they rarely run away.

If you click on the picture above for a larger view you should be able to see two Joeys in this kangaroos pouch.

I was able to get a video of actual hopping this time. The quality isn't great but you get the idea. And be sure to check out the size of the big guy hopping away at the end.

The Canadian Flag Pole

2008-09-27T05:01:00.000-07:00

As Tara mentioned in an earlier post we stumbled upon Floriade last weekend. We were really in search of the Captain Cook Memorial Water Jet and the Canadian Flag Pole. We have been able to see the water jet from all of the tourist places we have visited around the city. We thought it would be cool to see it up close. On the map I was looking at there was a spot marked as the Canadian Flag Pole near the water jet, so I wanted to investigate.

We have only been able to see the top of the jet on our other sight seeing adventures. I must admit I was expecting something a little more impressive than the square black block the water was shooting out of.

After seeing the water jet I was looking around for a Canadian Flag but there was none to be found. When they say Canadian Flag Pole that is what they really mean, only the pole is Canadian. I just assumed there would be a Canadian Flag on it, but I was wrong it was the Australian Flag at the top.

The pole was presented by the Government of Canada and the Canadian Timber Industry to Australia as a constant reminder of the ties which unite Australia and Canada. The pole, a single spar of Douglas Fir logged from a forest in British Columbia, is 128 feet in height although the first 10 feet are under ground. (I got that info from the plaque at the bottom.)

The flag pole is the third present we have found here in Canberra that Canada has given Australia. Does anybody know if they have given us any presents back?

To Gnome Me is to Love Me

2008-09-25T01:58:00.001-07:00

So, the extra added bonus of Floriade?? The GNOME CONTEST!! Stacy and I decided to make a contribution to the crowds of gnomes painted by Floriade-goers. We used our combined artistic skills (which are not much sadly) to create our Canadian gnome, and had tons of fun doing it!

Sparkles!!!! Just to add a some razzle-dazzle to the little-fella!

A maple leaf is pretty difficult to paint on a gnome's face- but I think we managed to at least get the idea across. Introducing... Bob McKenzie, our all-Canadian gnome!

Bob joins his friends in the '22 and over' category. (Does artist skill peak at 22 or something? What a strange age limit.)

Some examples of corporate entries. The convict-founders of Australia gnomes above and 'Where's Waldo' gnomes below.And these are my FAVOURITES! The fabulous entries of local pre-schoolers!

Floriade

2008-09-24T01:31:00.000-07:00

Saturday was a GORGEOUS day. Warm and sunny with a great breeze. Absoulutely perfect shorts weather. Stacy suggested that we head down to the lake for a stroll. We did take the stroll, but we stumbled upon Floriade on our way. It is advertised as "The Southern Hemisphere's Largest Flower Festival", but it was really much like the summer festivals at home. There were craft and jewellery vendors, food stands and buskers. There were also flower displays- this year's theme is "Movies that Shaped our Nation". They were nice, but nothing spectacular. Stacy and I toured the vendors and got ourselves some fudge (YUM!). We also painted a gnome for the gnome painting contest- but more on that in a later post. It turned out to be a nice little Saturday.

Kangaroooooos!

2008-09-20T03:40:00.000-07:00

One of the first questions people ask when they hear we are in Australia is "Have you seen any Kangaroos yet?" The answer... YES. I spotted the first one while we were on the train from Sydney to Canberra. A few days later we saw the ones below while we were out trying to find a house to live in.

This kangaroo tried to attack me and Tara beat it to death with that stick. OR Unfortunately for this 'Roo he got hit by a car and we saw him on the side of the road. Our first roadkill sighting.
We didn't see any for quite awhile but the weather has started warming up which means we and the kangaroos are out a lot more, therefore we have more opportunity to run into each other. We bumped into these ones on Campus at Tara's school.
They had Joey's in their pouches but we didn't think it wise to get any closer for a picture.
Walking home the same day we came across this group only 5 minutes from our house. They just watched us as we went by.I have been back past the same spot since and saw even more kangaroos in the same clearing. If you come and visit we can take you to see them. We wanted to get a video of them hopping but the slow creep was all we could get on this day.

The Cut!

2008-09-18T02:03:00.000-07:00

I have been growing out my hair for the last couple years. As many of you know, I have been growing it with the intention of donating it when it was long enough. I don't really enjoy long hair. It takes too long to do anything with it, and I have been working the frizzy ponytail for far too long. This morning I ran out of hot water in the shower because it took so long to wash and then condition my locks. And then it took me about an hour to blowdry and straighten my mane. Stacy and Billy had left me alone for the day, and I had had enough!

I grabbed my scissors and my ruler. I downloaded the donation instructions from the Pantene Beautiful Lengths website. I made sure my ponytails were long enough and I.....

CHOPPED MY HAIR OFF!!!!
Then I stuck my two ponytails in ziploc bags, threw on a hat, and went to a professional at the local mall to fix my hack-job home haircut.

It takes 6 ponytails to make one wig, and because my hair is so thick I will be sending two!

This is the post-professional haircut. Its a bit shorter then I intended, but I got a little crazy with the initial hack-job and left myself a little short patchy spot. I am pretty pleased with my new look, and even more pleased that I was able to donate my hair to this awesome cause. Please read more about it below, and consider making a donation yourself. Although you should probably consider enlisting some help with the cutting!

A real-hair wig allows a woman to look in the mirror and at least see a familiar face while she fights to regain a sense of normalcy in her life. The Canadian Cancer Society is pleased to distribute the Pantene Beautiful Lengths real-hair wigs. While this new program aims to assist as many cancer patients as possible, ultimately the number of free wigs that become available will depend entirely on the number of ponytail donations received.
Go to Make the Cut to find out how you can donate your hair. Creating a real-hair wig takes approximately three to four months, and each wig requires at least six ponytails to make.
As Pantene Beautiful Lengths wigs are created, they are distributed for free through the Canadian Cancer Society’s national network of community offices. Women facing cancer can find out about the availability of a Pantene Beautiful Lengths wig by calling the Canadian Cancer Society at 1 888-939-3333. The Society’s toll free line can also provide callers with access to many resources, including information about cancer and emotional support for those dealing with the disease.
The Canadian Cancer Society is a national community-based organization of volunteers whose mission is to eradicate cancer and to enhance the quality of life of people living with cancer. Visit the Society’s website at www.cancer.ca to learn more about its mission and activities.

Beyond Reasonable Drought

2008-09-15T00:00:00.000-07:00

Quite by accident, Stacy and I came upon the photo exhibit Beyond Reasonable Drought last week. It was set up in the old parliament building (as well as other locations around the city) and we arrived with enough time to check it out before our tour of parliament started. I am really glad that we stumbled on the collection.

Australia is in a drought. Its hard for us, as Canadians, to really understand the gravity of a country in this kind of crisis. This exhibit had some really remarkable photography that helped to introduce us to what effect it has on the country and the people living here. They were really powerful images.

The exhibit was also scattered with quotes on the walls. Some were recent, from politicians and activists. Some were from poets and artists. The quote in the picture above is this...

I love a sunburnt country,

A land of sweeping planes,

Of ragged mountains ranges,

Of drought and flooding rains,

I love her far horizons,

I love her jewel sea,

Her beauty and her terror-

The wide brown land for me.

-Dorthea MacKellar, 1906

No Loons or Canadian Geese?

2008-09-14T18:00:00.000-07:00

This is a post about birds.

The first thing that I noticed was different when we got to Canberra were the birds. Not the magpies, I didn't know about those horrors yet, but their rather colourful counterparts. These are bonifide tropical-type birds! On any given day, walking to school or to the shops, we will see mostly all of these birds. Its become pretty commonplace now, but i still think they are beautiful and blog-worthy This guy is called a Gala. When I first saw a bunch of them milling around on the ground they reminded me of the pigeons on Animaniacs because of their pink and grey colouring. They seem to be pretty chill birds- no squaking or swooping from these guys.

This is a King Parrot. Yup, a parrot! There are a couple that like to hang out in the tree just beside our front door. They are gorgeous, and a little more skittish then some of the other birds. Its tough to get close, but you definitely don't miss them in their bright reds and greens. They also fly overthings with a very small amount of clearance. This, in our magpie-paranoid state, can cause you to think you are being swooped when you are really just below the flight path of these colourful fellows.

I think I was most shocked to see flocks of Sulfur-crested Cockatoos on the side of the road. I mean, at home these things are only seen in expensive pet stores! These cockatoos win the award for most terrifying noise. Their squawk is SO loud and SO grating that I have sometimes mistaken it for a scream. It will certainly make you jump!

This is a little guy we don't see very often. The picture doesn't do it justice, because the Blue Wren's colourning is an almost flourescent, electric blue. He is probably only the size of a tennis ball. We have seen him a few times flitting around our back porch. But he is far too skittish to ever catch him for long!

How Many Politicians Can You Fit In A Phone Booth?

2008-09-12T18:15:00.000-07:00

Thursday afternoon we decided it was time to play tourist again and check out the Parliament buildings. Tara is standing in front of the current Parliament buildings which have been in use since 1988. This building is built on a hill that looks down towards the city.

These stairs are in the entrance way of the building. Although construction started in 1985 the building seems very modern. Building materials from all over the world as well as every State and Territory in Australia were used in the design.
The flagpole is the focal point of the building. It stands above the very centre of the building and can be seen from various points around the city. I am actually standing on the top of the building and could see out for miles. It was far more impressive than what we could capture in a picture.

Old Parliament House was used from 1927-1988 and was full of history. This building is near the bottom of the hill right in front of the current building.

Phone Booths like the one above were added to parliamentary work rooms when the telephone became common use. The members did not have their own offices so the booths were sound proofed so they could have privacy when they were on the phone. However because of the sound proofing 3 or 4 politicians at a time would cram themselves in here so they could have conversations without being overheard. How many politicians can you fit in a phone booth?

The chair at the head of the table in the Senate of Old Parliament House is made of solid Canadian Maple and was a gift from the Canadian Government to the Australian Government when they moved in, in 1927. As soon as our tour guides at both buildings found out we were Canadian they were excited to point out some Canadian content for us. It was a good day and we took a lot of pictures so more to come.

Belconnen Fresh Market

2008-09-12T03:28:00.000-07:00

We have started to do some of our shopping at the Belconnen Fresh Market. It is a great alternative to the grocery store. There is fresh produce, poultry, fish and meat to be had. I think Stacy's favourite part is the samples of fresh fruit allover- YUM!
There are also a couple of little cafes where you can sit and have a latte and a sandwich before you set out on your adventures in food! And there is a really cool kitchen gadget store - which I think is MY favourite part. Its only one busride away, so on Tuesday afternoon we loaded up our backpacks and reusable shopping bags and set out. An hour later we were on our way home, laden with backpacks full of meat and bags full of fresh produce. We had our fresh orange ruffie and green beans tonight- deeelicious!

Magpies.... AAAH!!!

2008-09-07T21:27:00.000-07:00

As we have told most of you, here in Canberra there are attacking birds called Magpies. When these birds feel that you are in there zone or you are threatening them they will swoop your head. I went for a hike last weekend and it would have been very enjoyable had I not been terrified of being swooped. The birds were everywhere. So far we haven't been swooped and we started feeling like maybe our fears were unwarranted. However, last night we were out with some locals who informed us that it was not a matter of IF we will be swooped but WHEN. There advice for when the inevitable occurs... cover your eyes and run away.

This lady is being swooped. They usually attack from behind and they really don't like bikers.

Her helmet should have looked more like this, because they will go for the highest point.

We will let you know when our first swooping occurs. Until then wish us luck.

Stacy

Greetings from Down Under!

2008-09-07T21:08:00.001-07:00

Hey everyone!
Welcome to our new 'blog'. We thought we would give you all a window to our life here in Australia. This is an easier way for us to throw up some pictures than trying to send them out by mass email. Hopefully having a blog will also encourage us to do a better job of taking some pictures and keeping you all updated. Please enjoy reading our posts and feel free to comment.
Cheers!