It's true what they say. Aussies really do go the beach on Christmas day. We could get used to Christmas like this. We were fortunate to be spending the Christmas holiday in Moonee Beach, near Coffs Harbour, with Chris's sisters in-laws (the hosts with the most!) Jim and Pauline. What a fantastic spot and what fantastic hosts. As happens with many people on Christmas eve we had to make that last mad rush to the mall for the last minute gift shopping. And to have Phia's (Chris's neice) picture taken with Santa Claus in her new christmas dress. In Australia, shopping mall santas are housed in sand castles. Once the shopping was completed we headed back home to prepare for a delicious feast. We had our Christmas Dinner on Christmas Eve. Served outside on the patio, ... read more

Our last big excursion out of Cairns takes us to the Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation. This nature-inspired outing promises to be good! The day starts with a hiccup, however. Andra has left her camera on the shuttle that took us from Cairns to Port Douglas where we catch the tour. Not to worry....Chris has his...so we still get lots of pictures. We are a small tour lead by a Swiss-transplanted tour guide. As we enter the Daintree we are instructed to keep our eyes peeled for Cassowaries . Our first stop was a crocodile excursion. We pile in to a low-riding tin boat and head up the muddy Daintree River looking for Crocs. The guide goes on at length about the mangrove trees that line either side of the river as we keep our eyes ... read more

Welcome to Cairns! One of Australia's most 'touristy' destinations in the tropical north. Home of the Daintree Rainforest, The Great Barrier Reef, Crocodile country and eternal bad hair days. Cairns is HOT and STEAMY! Our first outing in Cairns took us to Kuranda...a little village up in the rainforest. The best way to get there is on the skyrail. Skyrail takes you over the rainforests canopy via cable car. From above you get a real appreciation for the lush and green foliage and great views of the rivers, waterfalls and birds along the way. Not to mention the view of the ocean. The skyrail provides stops along the way where you can get off for a stroll on the boardwalks that allow you to walk within the forest without causing any harm, visit informational centres that ... read more

Australia is known for its deadly critters, so we decided we better familiarize ourselves with the terrors that call this continental island home. Our first investigative journey took us to the Sydney Aquarium in Darling Harbour. We learned the monsters of the seas and rivers are not only deadly, they are often majestic and sometimes down right cute. We must have spent 45 minutes trying to capture the terrifying half duck, half beaver - Frankenstein of a mammal - known as the Platypus. Her Disney looks might charm you, but her poisonous claw will keep you on your toes. We also walked amongst sharks, stingrays, sea turtles and the elusive "Nemo". If you're ever in Sydney don't miss the aquarium it was definitely a highlight. After familiarizing ourselves with the sea we made our way to ... read more

The last post post from our Mexican adventure. Enjoy! Here's the link: http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Puerto-Vallarta/blog-28600.html ... read more