Well, this is it.  We’re packing up our gear and about to head out to the airport soon.  Our trip is about over… our summer Christmas is about to end.  Andrea and I both had a great time and hope you guys enjoyed following along with us on our trip.  It was fun updating our trip on Andrea’s fancy new web site. All we have left is to eat breakfast, pack, and head to the airport.  Then we’re on out … Read More

Here is our last photo gallery post from Australia.  We’ll probably post another one when we get back home.  It was just a mellow day of walking, shopping and eating.  Enjoy the photos!

Finally, on Day 15, we got to do one of the most important things: souvenir shopping! 😉 With high expectations on our trip, Christmas just outside our door step and usual gift shop addictions, we had to go out and spend some $$. After a really slow start in the day (we almost missed our free breakfast in the executive lounge!), we decided to check out Sydney’s Chinatown, just a few blocks from the hotel. Starting with lunch (just, a … Read More

Here’s the photos for Day 14.  Yesterday was all about a rain forest and butterflies.  So that’s what you’ll see.

I’m stealing the title for today’s post (Day 14) from a book of one of my most favorite authors: Bill Bryson. And a walk in the woods we went on yesterday! Leaving Cairns in the morning, we headed just about 15 minutes to the north, to catch the SkyRail Rainforest Cableway to a lofty ride over the rain forest tree tops. With 2 stations in the middle of the rain forest, visitors get to enjoy the walkways laid out through … Read More

We flew back into Sydney late last night via Virgin Blue and now staying at the Sydney Marriott. Having a bit of trouble with one of our bags.  I think it’ll make it back home, but it’s well past life support right now.  First one wheel buckled, then another.  Finally the pulling handle broke.  I’m ready to throw it in front of a train.  But it’ll make it back home.  We only have to get it to the airport, check … Read More

This is our last day in Cairns.  Andrea and I still have our sea legs and are rocking a bit.  Our destination for Day 14 is Kuranda where they have this SkyRail that goes over and through a rain forest just north of Cairns.  We’ll spend the morning and early afternoon there before heading to the airport this evening.  So tonight we’ll be back in Sydney for two more nights, then it’s back on a plane back home. Wow, I … Read More

Even on a boat, you need to be healthy. So we made sure to get our share of veggies. Cucumbers to be exact. Sea Cucumbers. What? They’re not a veggie? Hmmm … well, anyways, we had plenty of them. At the Flynn Reef, our “home”for the past 2 days! Welcome to our Day 12 & 13 experience: The Great Barrier Reef! After being on a transfer boat from Cairns Marina to Moore Reef (operator: Marine World) from approx. 1 1/2 … Read More

Here are the photos from our two days at Flynn Reef.  Hope you enjoy them.

We’re beat.  Two days of sun and salt water.  I can’t get the salty taste out of my mouth and I’ve showered and brushed my teeth twice.  Anyway, we had a really great time.  I did an “introductory dive” since I’m not certified.  Basically all I had to do was breathe and kick, and the dive instructir did everything else while holding on to me.  It felt like a slow ride at Disneyland and it was cool. Andrea, the “certified … Read More