Run out of room fast on these. Anyway, to finish the day in Auckland, we got to go on our own until dinner. Four of us decided to visit Sealife and aquarium in town (tongue in cheek on the in town part). Bus dropped us off ansmthe first thing we got to see was a replica of Scott's Antartic expedition with a video showing them getting stuck in the ice and the ship splintering as the ice crushed it in. They build a large hut right there on top of the ice and waited five months for a thaw to go for help. Actual food cans, clothing and other things like a printing press were exhibited. The video was saved from being dunked in the icy waters and actually showed ship cracking apart. Then came the ... read more

Last one for tonight. Almost 10:30 here in NZ. Anyway back to Sydney and the Opera House. On our private tour we heard all about how it was built on sight, how the original architect was fired when it took so much longer and so much more money (and I do mean tens and tens of millions). A local company was hired to finish it, and he went back to Denmark. They used his plans, but he never got back to see it. Got to go into the Opera section where they were setting up for Madame Butterfly. four of our group planned to go to that. It is beautifully appointed, but much smaller than most opera houses, so all sets are kept below the stage and hoisted up instead of from the sides. They had ... read more

Rose at 5:30 this morning for a sunrise walk on the 4 Mile beach, right behind the Temple Spa Hotel. After breakfast back on the coach for a trip to the Daintree Rain Forest, the oldest documented rain forest in the world. Passed field after field of sugar cane. Australia is a big exporter of sugar cane, no high fructose corn syrup here. Bet my daughter and family would love that. Went to a private tour, owner has been there over 25 years and they have 140 acres or more. Her place has both tropical and semi- tropical areas. Louise, our guide, said she wanted to see a cassowary, one of the oldest flightless birds. The one who found us was about 5 ft tall, a male, with a hollow hard crest on his head, a ... read more

After we left Uluru, we headed to Kata Tjuta, or the Olga Mts. about 70 kilometers away. Named the Olga Mts by Europeans, in the 90's the government returned it to it's aboriginal name and hyphenated it along with the Olgas. There is a major difference between Uluru and the KJ's, Uluru is sandstone which heaved up at a 90 Angle and extends 5 - 6 kilometers below the surface, and KJ is conglomerate which eroded into large rounded domes. Both of them developed millions of years ago when underwater mountains appeared as water levels went down leaving two alluvial fans. THe water rose again, and when it receded, it eroded the mountains. The conglomerate, being heavier, washed into the first fan. The smaller rocks and pebbles slipped into the second fan. As the mountains kept ... read more

Being off line so much is messing me up. Back to Alice Springs. Just going to give you the highlights. Lovely resort, cool pool despite 100 degree temps. Skipped first tour to do laundry, swim and shop downtown, which is ten minutes away by foot. Then off to an aboriginal school where I dropped off two-thirds of the school supplies I brought. My suitcase thanked me for it. We got to read to the kids and have lunch. Reminded me of the migrant workers when I was young, they never seemed to have enough clothes. Most of the kids, even in fourth grade can not read. No one at home can help them, sometimes when they come they bring a family member who sits in the back of the room all day just listening. Off to ... read more