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

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

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

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

This is just a test. I wanted to send this out so that everyone would realize that I was using travelblog.org for the trip to Australia. Feel free to pass this info on....... read more