So, Tuesday was a LONG day. Up at 5:00 am (and everyone knows how much I love mornings) to leave at 6:15. Only 1/2 of our group went to the island, the rest spent the day in town. Bus ride to the ferry at Cape Jervis was about an hour and a half, then a 45 minute ferry ride to Kangaroo Island. Much better ferry ride then the one to Green Island. This boat was quite a bit bigger and more steady. We got a box breakfast from the hotel since we left before they started serving. It was pretty nice, yogurt, boiled egg, fruit, juice and a roll). The rest of our folks were flying back from the Island, so we ended up on different busses and only saw them at lunch. We started with ... read more

One thing we noticed on the way into town from the airport yesterday was that they already have some Christmas ornaments up in the streets here in Adelaide. Okay, guys, can we at least wait until November 1st? Actually, it seems there is a Christmas parade here early in November, so they get ready early. Walking through the city yesterday we found Synagogue Place. And guess what, there's actually a synagogue there. But it was closed and we don't know if it's still in operation (Rabbi Kushner, do you know?). We managed to catch part of the recap of Game 3 of the World Series last night. From the 7th through 9th innings. Oy, did Tampa Bay throw away that game or what. We were on the road during Game 4, but we're hoping there's another ... read more

Had a Dreamtime/Outback lecture this morning, including the opportunity to buy aboriginal paintings from some of the local ladies, but neither of us saw anything that said "BUY ME!" so we didn't. Then we had a 2 hourish flight from Alice Springs to Adelaide. Checked into our hotel and now we're walking through the shopping district. Suffice it to say we are back in a big city and it's your typical urban garbage type stores... Borders, Toys R Us, etc. We did happen upon Synagogue Place and the Adelaide synagogue, but it was closed. Well, we only have 1/2 hours before the shops close, so we're going in search of dinner and trinkets. Oh, and I've gotten the game 1 and 2 scores, so we're waiting on game 3. And join me in welcoming Josia Ruby ... read more

Just got back from an Outback Barbeque and boy was it good! After our lunch break this afternoon we drove out to the old Telegraph Station. Alice Springs was a repeater station for the telegraph from Adelaide to Darwin back in colonial days. The Telegraph master was big man on campus apparently. We saw 3 kangaroos just hanging around the buildings of the station. Next we drove to the Anzac Memorial (Austrialian/New Zealand Army Corps) which is on a hill with great views of the city. Finally, we drove out to the the museum of the Royal Flying Doctor Service. The Flying Doctors are, as the name implies, a medical corp that cover most of the inland of Australia via plane. They handle emergencies, rescues, interhospital transfers and go out the clinics on aborignal lands and ... read more

Had a bad night sleeping thanks to my cold and not being able to breathe. Up at 6:00, breakfast and then left hotel at 8:15. We got to the airport and couldn't get in, the staff hadn't gotten there yet. But we didn't have too long to wait, and once again group check-in went quickly. And once again, H got tagged by security for random explosives check. Flight from Uluru to Alice Springs was only 45 minutes (as H put it, 10 minutes up, 20 minutes across, 15 minutes down) and uneventful. As soon as we landed, we went to a "camel farm." Well, it may have been a real camel farm once, but it's pretty scrawny these days. After that we drove into town for a lunch break, and I came here to blog. Well, ... read more

Dinner 2 nights ago in Cairns was not what you'd call nutrious. H had gone to the grocery store and we dined on smoked Ocean Trout, sundried tomato and feta corn thins (similar to rice cakes), Coco Puffs and Vanilla Almond cereal all bought at the grocery store, a couple of chocolate bars that we'd bought at the crocodile farm and a bag of lime and black pepper potato chips. I love exploring different potato chips when traveling. Haviva went down to the pool at the hotel, but said it was "too fucking cold." As usual when I travel, I've got a cold, and I've lost my voice. But it's okay, Haviva is pretty good at finishing my sentances. Up in the morning at 5:30 to have our bags out at 6:15. Breakfast at the hotel, ... read more

Okay, I've only got 3 minutes, so HI! Watched the sunset at Uluru/Ayers Rock last night. It didn't really change color as they say it does, but then again, maybe I just couldn't see it. Off to the airport for a flight to Alice Springs, don't expect another blog until Melbourne. Unless I kill our tour guide first. ... read more

Last night we went to Tjapukai Aboriginal Park. It's about a 15 minute drive out from our hotel and when you come in, they paint your face for free. I didn't do it, but Haviva got what I'm calling a starburst on her cheek. After a free drink, they took us back into the theater where we watched the performers put on their face and body paint, then they did creation myth dance complete with a guy in a cool bird costume that glowed in the dark. Next they took us outside and did a fire starting ritual including throwing a fire spear across the lake into a boat that came back across. We then had dinner, which was good, but not what I expected. In the Zulu Village in South Africa, the food was traditional, ... read more

This morning (Wednesday, October 22nd), we went to the Cairns Tropical Zoo. It's small compared to places like the Bronx Zoo, but I don't think the Bronx Zoo has a kangaroo feeding area. The zoo has a bunch of cool birds, macaws and kookaburras and emus and cassowaries. And they have these adorable tamarins, and some nepalese red pandas. Plus, they have dingos (Hi, Paula!), a wombat and a bunch of koalas. Even cute little baby ones! You can have your picture taken holding one, but sorry, not really my style, folks. After that, we went to a crocodile farm. They have an artifical wet lands set up where they have wild crocs and you ride in a boat and watch them get food. They are intimidating up close, let me tell you. After that, they ... read more

Okay, I'm trying this again... I'm having problems with the auto save, so this may look weird. Getting to Cairns was an adventure. Haviva arrived at LAX a little after noon, and we checked in at Qantas slightly after 2 pm (remember this, it will be important later) and got through security quickly. Tom Bradley International terminal at LAX is undergoing renovation and is huge and we walked it a bunch o' times waiting for our LAX-Sydney flight. We were supposed to take off at 10:30, but due to what I believe was an electrical problem we were 1 and 1/2 hours late taking off. The flight was long and boring with a few minor areas of turbulence. Since I never sleep on planes, it was REEEEAAALLLY long to me. But the entertainment system was good ... read more