Bus pass Hey, Esther! I just thought buying a bus pass could be a really neat idea, since your area is well-connected by bus routes. If you ride the bus every day, you could generally travel the second half of the month for free. At least that's the way it works here in Vancouver. Furthermore, it encourages people to take the bus more often, and you save again and again. So it's something worth considering. Then you guys could perhaps explore Northern Beaches, such as Curl Curl and Dee Why. I've heard they're pretty cool.
Please keep blogging Hello from Vancouver, Canada! Here it's pouring rain but your first days in sunny Sydney make me smile. Looking forward to more of your entries. Best of luck to you guys!!!
Battle of Ikea "My friend had grabbed a leather sofa only to have to give it up to a man who threatened her with a wooden mallet."
Esther...check out this link to this article. I guess a lot of people find Ikea 'fantastic'.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/02/11/nikea11.xml
Heights! OOOps, i wasn't finished before i sent that. I would be right there freaking out with you - but WOW! what a view! It is great to see that you are having a wonderful time there. Enjoy!
You're not alone... Hey guys. Just to make Les feel better and encourage Es to give him a break, I did almost the same thing the first time I drove on the left side of the road. I had rented a car in the UK and was going down a narrow English lane when I bent the sideview mirror back on my car when I accidentially clipped another car's mirror. No damage at all, and I never did it again. I'm now quite skilled at driving on the other side of the road - just ask the people who drove with me in Thailand. :)
Clarification I did not "run" or "crash" into a car. I gently bent back the mirror by slightly clipping a parked car, which (though Esther neglected to mention this) was abandoned and up on cinder blocks. No harm, no foul. A piece of advice to anyone wanting to trying driving on the left side of the road - don't bring Esther with you on your first trip unless you are planning on only driving across the outback or the salt flats. Anything with more traffic will cause you to have hearing loss for at least two weeks.
Oh my gosh, Esther, I am still laughing because we are identical in our appreciation for spiders. So...here are some suggested coping skills prior to dialing 911. 1) Spiders eat mosquitoes and will prevent you and the family from getting bitten up...that is if there are mosquitoes there. 2) What if you name the spider, maybe Fluffy, or Mimi, something "cute". Maybe it'll seem more friendly, sort of like a house cat or something 3) keep the windows open and pray that a cat or something crawls in. Then somehow intro the cat to the spider, sort-of like a cat toy. That may work. 4) Invest in some strong smelling perfume, something that will "stink out" the spider. As you can tell, I really, really can relate and have in fact used all these tips - including namin the spiders that seem to continually hang out my my windows. Good Luck!!
backpacks Abraham loves the backpack, although haven't used it for long duration yet. Cannot imagine doing that walk with a stroller! Looks like so much fun though!
what a travel guide Esther, you're amazing! Your plate is full yet you find time to enter these amazing recaps of your journey! It's wonderful. By the time your finished, you'll have a book that certainly over rides and current travel guide - one that's certainly much more entertaining! I'll look to send a personal update via comcast soon. I'm thrilled to be part of this special group watching your life from the sidelines.
Lorikeets I'm enjoying your humorous travelogue, and am glad you are all having a good time.
There was a Lorikeet exhibit at the Philadelphia Zoo a couple of years ago. You could buy some food, walk into a large caged area, and the lorikeets would flock to you -- landing on your arms and shoulders to devour the sweet stuff you were carrying. You just hoped that they would not poop on your head in the process.
So what's the story with Australian beer? I understand that great quantities are consumed, and it keeps the marsupials hopping. Is it good, or just something to use to stay hydrated?
GJJ
Don't joke about rocket launchers, young lady Dear A's mom - I understand that you made a joke about airport security. Well, that won't do, I'll tell you that for nothing. You and your little terrist (pronounced in one syllable) in-training can just STAY down under. Especially if you vote Democrat. Say...I always wondered, does all the blood rush to your head since you're walking around on the upside down part of the planet?
flight so the car seat didn't fit, eh? but sounds like it went as well as could be expected or better. you must have been exhausted from trying to keep A quiet and contained. Can't imagine!
It took 5 years and a move to Aus Esther - wow, what a wild ride - and your daugher Abby is up and about, geez, she was just born the last I heard! Thx much for looping me in on your travels. Ironically, I'm back in the airline world at United. Unfortunately, I can't join you out there for a "holiday" but one never knows - stranger things have happened. My Ariel is 5 and just started Kindergarten. Go figure. Much love! Will be watching for your blog alerts.
Churchatbondibeach.com.doesnotwork.au Es,
Hate to tell you but the link you put in your last entry doesn't work...at least not for me. Do you want to email me your address and I'll ship you some hazelnut creamer? I'm sipping some in my coffee right now...mmmmm. :)
Stacie
Churches Hey... So you probably know this already, but that Bondi Beach church link doesn't work. I did go through and search a little online to see what I could find and there are some reformed churches in NSW, but I don't know how far they are from you. I'll send you their info if you want... I can also ask my mom over at MTW what missionaries they have in Sydney and where they go to church as that might be a good place to start as well. Just a thought...
Bondi Church at the Beach Your wild birds sound wonderful!!! I looked up your church link but it didn't come up. Google came up with the above named church and the following info
Modern, Relevent Church
PO BOX 7339 Bondi Beach NSW 2026. Tel: 91301 299. Church at the Beach meets 8.30am, 10.30am and 6pm every Sunday in the Reef Rooms, Swiss Grand Hotel Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach. The only review calls it a great place to be because of it's lively feel......
Can you substitute hazelnut coffee and plain creamer? Miss you all much but love hearing your adventures! Kiss A for us.
Church at Bondi I found this info on the Church at the Beach. The URL you listed didn't work. Use this one http://www.churchatthebeach.com
Church at the Beach meets 8.30am, 10.30am and 6pm every Sunday in the Reef Rooms, Swiss Grand Hotel Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach.
Modern, Relevent Church
PO BOX 7339 Bondi Beach NSW 2026. Tel: 91301 299
Looks like it is run by a husband and wife team, Mark and Joy Horan.
Welcome! Congratulations on your safe arrival and the first few days of figuring out the most basic stuff. These are the tasks that make expat experiences fascinating and exhausting. Trivial tasks that you take for granted at home eat up a lot of mental and physical energy in new countries. At least you have the lanugage on your side, or mostly on your side!
In terms of car seats, we recently read Freakeconomics which proves quite solidly that the thing that matters most about saving kids in car accidents is putting them in the back seat with some sort of restraint. Elaborate car seats once they are no longer infants actually make little difference. The key is to have the kid in the back with a basic restraint. Sounds like Australia has already figured this one out.
Pictures look great - what a beautiful day!
Thanks for sending these adventure tales - we love to live your experience vicariously.
Glad you made it! Hey guys! I love the pictures, that's so exciting! We are so glad you made it safely and look forward to hearing more about your adventures.
Rach
non-member comment
perhaps the best laugh i've had in a while. thank you :)