MISSElaineous

July 15th, Owen’s Reserve Air travel in Australia is simpler. Going through security simply requires a boarding pass-no shoes off, no full body scans, not so even an ID required for domestic flights. After two days in Adelaide-a lovely modern city, we flew to Alice Springs, which I thought was the middle of no where. I was wrong. Jeanette, Steve, Kevin, Heather and I packed ourselves into 4WDs, drove out to Owen Spring’s Reserve. Not content with the rugged road through the reserve, Kevin and Steve pulled off the dirt track and bumped along a creek bed where we bumped along until they were satisfied that we truly were in the middle of no where. Alone in the outback, we set up our camping gear and built a roaring fire. I stared at my primitive nighttime ... read more

Flew Orlando to Los Angeles International (LAX) with a 12 hour layover enroute to Sydney. Caught a local bus through the city to Santa Monica Promenade where I wiled away the hours by shopping in the variety of designer shops and trendy boutiques; then strolling along Santa Monica Pier. The pier was eclectic, with things like the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company to The NY Trapeze School (yes, I considered enrolling so I could spend my days dangling on large pieces of ribbon). The weather was comfortably temperate and the people distinctive. There were a variety of international tourists, college students, and families roaming the streets and beach in their Toms, Vans, and other hip footwear. The right shoes was key. The people were generally approachable, with one traveler giving me bus fare change and a ... read more

The purpose of this travel blog is to experience Australia from July 11th, 2011-August 5th, 2011 from the perspective of a variety of literary figures past and and present. Australian social customs will be explored using the voice of Jane Austen, while foodies will be tantalized by Anthony Bourdain's descriptions of Australian fare. Eco tourism of course goes to Michael Pollen while T.S. Elliot will handle those ponderous, unaccountable occurrences that arise. Issues of the heart if travel romance ripens will be waxed lyrical by the Bronte sisters, while matters of religion lie with Hawthorne. Why use the style of successful writers before me? Aristotle's "Poetics" recommend a novice writer such as myself merely imitate other writers rather than strive for originality. Let's hope his advice is accurate as you read a potentially entertaining and informative ... read more

Mark Twain introduces the Robinsons After tourin' the Outback and Adelaide with the Noolans, I figure I'll stop a spell in Canberra to say howdy to Jan and David Robinson. I reckon if the Noolans be representing the typical, straightforward Australian Pete, than the Robinsons break just about every other Aussie stereotype. Now, I taught with these folks in Dhaka for two years-2007-2009- at an international school. Jan is a firecracker. Petite, bright and fresh, and brimming with life, this lady wore her students down to the bone with her curiosity and activity. On weekends she pull me along to the Australian Embassy for a sparklin' glass of Aussie champagne...or two glasses...or more. No Foster's beer for this lady, she'd lean against David, chirping about her weekly adventures while sipping her bubbly. David, a rector close ... read more

The Characters An Aesop's Fable with a Moral The expatriate community in Bangladesh was quite small, so naturally the circles of the Noolans-with the non-government organization Symbiosis- and myself-an international school teacher- often collided. This was in Dhaka in 2009. "I'm Jeanette, from Adelaide, Australia," Jeanette said to me, "I hear you are a Yank. "Excuse me?" I abhor labels. "I'm from the United States, yeah, but not a Yank." "To Australians all Americans are Yanks," she stated. "At least she didn't tell us what state she's from, assuming we know exactly where that is," pointed out Steve. This was my introduction to candid, direct Australian culture. The first part of my trip will ... read more