I spent a wonderful week in the Sunshine Coast with Rosemary. We had fun going to a lot of senior activities :) Then she took me to the Newton's in Brisbane. They were a family who volunteered to keep me for a few days while I was in Brisbane. I spoke at their church on Sunday morning. I also went to a "Bush Dance" at their church on Saturday night. Did you know that the Australians say "bush" when we would say "forest" or "wilderness?" I found out that a bush dance is an old fashioned square dance. We had a blast! I have a picture of the family I stayed with but I don't have access to download it on this computer. I'll try to do that later.
They dropped me off at the airport on Sunday. I had a 4:00 flight to Sydney. We were halfway to Sydney when the pilot came on and said there was a storm in Sydney and we would have to turn around and fly back to Brisbane. Once we landed, we were told that our flight had been cancelled and that they would put us up in hotels. But that wouldn't work for me as I had an early morning flight from Sydney to Hong Kong the next morning. When I got off the plane, everyone was gathered around the two agents at our gate. But nobody was talking to the agents at the gate next to us. So I went to them and explained my situation. They looked on the computer and gave me the LAST seat on the 7:00 flight. I then had to run downstairs, pick up my luggage, and run to re-check it in for the new flight. Thankfully it all went well and I made it to Sydney by 10:30 that night. My hotel was within walking distance. Early the next morning I was off to Hong Kong! Whew!
Hong Kong has been wonderful so far. I'm in a guesthouse right in the center of the city. I can go running in the morning along the harbor where I can see the tall buildings and the "Avenue of Stars." I only recognized Bruce Lee :) I can also go running in Kowloon park as long as I dodge the crowds who are doing tai chi. It's a whole new world here and I love it!
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Great Barrier Reef
I couldn't come to Australia without seeing the Great Barrier Reef. I needed to fly up to Brisbane for work. From there, during a few days that I had no appointments, I was able to take a Greyhound Bus (yep, they have those here too) for 12 hours up to a city called 1770 which is at the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef. I sat in the front of the bus so that I could see out the front as well as the side. I asked the bus driver to keep an eye out for kangaroos and other animals and birds and he took me seriously! He would point out wild horses, kangaroos, and all sorts of birds.
The bus dropped me off at a backpacker's hostel. Wow, I felt old among all of these 20-somethings. Did you known that Australia has set up a system where a backpacker can get a year long visa if they will travel around and help at least three months of that year in harvests throughout the country. But for $24 Australian dollars (which is even cheaper when translated to US dollars) a night, I could handle a bunk in a room with several other girls.
I had booked the next day on a boat called the Spirit of 1770. Their shuttle picked me up at 7:30 and by 8:00 about 200 of us were on a great boat for a 90 minute trip to a lagoon/island in the Great Barrier Reef called Lady Musgrave. The boat docked beside a huge pontoon from which we could go snorkeling all day long. But the first thing I did was take a small boat over to the island for an island tour. Lots of birds called Notties (I kept thinking she was saying naughty birds). I also saw sharks and turtles off the shore and through the glass bottom boat.
Once back on the pontoon, I immediately suited up in a full-body wetsuit because ... for the first time in my life ... I was about to go SCUBA DIVING! This boat has a 30 minute introductory dive that I could do without all the classes and certifications. I couldn't believe it! I had always wanted to go scuba diving just once to see what it was like ... and here was a wonderful and cheap way to do just that (about $55 US dollars for the dive). Our instructor taught the 4 of us how to use the regulator and how to clear our mask if water got in while we were at the bottom of the ocean. Then they put a belt of weights around each of us (wow, heavy!) and then the big backpack full of our tank and regulator and other stuff that I didn't even know the names for. We hopped in the water and our instructor slowly brought us down to the bottom, stopping
along the way to try to regulate the pressure in our ears. We were all finally at the bottom of the ocean in the Great Barrier Reef!! Somebody pinch me!! We were only about 7 meters down but hey, that's enough for me! We followed our instructor all over the place. Amazing coral and the most unique fish I've ever seen. I bought an underwater camera but don't have those back yet (old fashioned film camera). But here are a few shots of me getting ready to go down. When we returned to the boat, I continued to be amazed at the fish as I went snorkeling. Such a great trip!!
The next day I took the train to Buderim where Rosemary, an ELIC alumna, picked me up. I'll be staying with her for an entire week. She's been great! We've gone for a drive in the hinterland which are the hills behind the coastline. We've eaten fish and chips (french fries) in Maloolooba. I went to her water aerobics class ... what a hoot ... I think I was the youngest
person to ever attend. :) Last night we went to the Outback Spectacular which was a dinner show with lots of horses. I learned a lot about Australia's history and enjoyed the great show. Here we are in our Australian cowboy hats called akubras.
Lest you think I'm not working at all, don't you worry, I am :) Today I spoke at 3 different services and also enjoyed being a part of an ESL ministry at the local church.
The bus dropped me off at a backpacker's hostel. Wow, I felt old among all of these 20-somethings. Did you known that Australia has set up a system where a backpacker can get a year long visa if they will travel around and help at least three months of that year in harvests throughout the country. But for $24 Australian dollars (which is even cheaper when translated to US dollars) a night, I could handle a bunk in a room with several other girls.
I had booked the next day on a boat called the Spirit of 1770. Their shuttle picked me up at 7:30 and by 8:00 about 200 of us were on a great boat for a 90 minute trip to a lagoon/island in the Great Barrier Reef called Lady Musgrave. The boat docked beside a huge pontoon from which we could go snorkeling all day long. But the first thing I did was take a small boat over to the island for an island tour. Lots of birds called Notties (I kept thinking she was saying naughty birds). I also saw sharks and turtles off the shore and through the glass bottom boat.
Once back on the pontoon, I immediately suited up in a full-body wetsuit because ... for the first time in my life ... I was about to go SCUBA DIVING! This boat has a 30 minute introductory dive that I could do without all the classes and certifications. I couldn't believe it! I had always wanted to go scuba diving just once to see what it was like ... and here was a wonderful and cheap way to do just that (about $55 US dollars for the dive). Our instructor taught the 4 of us how to use the regulator and how to clear our mask if water got in while we were at the bottom of the ocean. Then they put a belt of weights around each of us (wow, heavy!) and then the big backpack full of our tank and regulator and other stuff that I didn't even know the names for. We hopped in the water and our instructor slowly brought us down to the bottom, stopping
along the way to try to regulate the pressure in our ears. We were all finally at the bottom of the ocean in the Great Barrier Reef!! Somebody pinch me!! We were only about 7 meters down but hey, that's enough for me! We followed our instructor all over the place. Amazing coral and the most unique fish I've ever seen. I bought an underwater camera but don't have those back yet (old fashioned film camera). But here are a few shots of me getting ready to go down. When we returned to the boat, I continued to be amazed at the fish as I went snorkeling. Such a great trip!!The next day I took the train to Buderim where Rosemary, an ELIC alumna, picked me up. I'll be staying with her for an entire week. She's been great! We've gone for a drive in the hinterland which are the hills behind the coastline. We've eaten fish and chips (french fries) in Maloolooba. I went to her water aerobics class ... what a hoot ... I think I was the youngest
person to ever attend. :) Last night we went to the Outback Spectacular which was a dinner show with lots of horses. I learned a lot about Australia's history and enjoyed the great show. Here we are in our Australian cowboy hats called akubras.Lest you think I'm not working at all, don't you worry, I am :) Today I spoke at 3 different services and also enjoyed being a part of an ESL ministry at the local church.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
7th Continent!
Hello from Australia, my 7th continent. I love it so far! I was picked up by my hosts, Warwick and Jessica. They are the coordinators of the Perspectives here. They also are deeply involved in all things "overseas outreach" oriented in Australia and have helped me set up great interviews with folks here. God really does guide each day for me.
On the first day here, I arrived in at 7:00am. They picked me up and Warwick dropped Jessica and I off near Chinatown in Sydney and then went to work. Jessica and I walked through Chinatown to Darling Harbour. Then we walked Queen Victoria Building where I found a great little jacket/dress. But the only purple one was on the dummy, so I started to undress it. Jessica said in a very non-confronting way, "Are you sure you want to undress the dummy?" But me in a very American way didn't catch the clue and just undressed it anyway. The dress fit. The salesperson scolded me but was happier when I actually bought the dress ... for $15. Worth the undressing and scolding! :)
Then we walked to the Rocks where the old convicts used to be housed. Then it was up the Harbor Bridge to see amazing views of the Opera House. Honestly, Sydney is a phenomenally beautiful city with so much water and greenery and nice walking everywhere!
Jessica and I hopped on the train up to the Blue Mountains where they live (about an hour outside of Sydney). Along the way, guess what I saw out the window ... yep ... a kangaroo!!! I'm in Australia now!! :) Their house has a second floor verandah that looks right into the trees (not the trunks of the trees, but the upper portions with all the leaves). Their tree tops are right out
of a zoo!! Sulfer Crested Cockatoos, Rainbow Lorikeets, and the King Parrot. Warwick and I actually got the King Parrot to eat out of our hands. As the King Parrot bent into my hand to grab the seed, I could feel the soft feathers of his neck with my fingertips. I was in awe as I thought, this is a wild bird eating out of my hand! I got a pic of Warwick and he tried to get a pic of me but a Cockatoo swooped in right then and off my little King Parrot flew. Here's a shot of Warwick with the same bird.
The next day Warwick and Jessica took me for a long drive through the Blue Mountains. Amazing views from every corner. Here is a picture of my hosts and just to their left are three jutting rocks that are called the Three Sisters. The background is all Blue Mountains. They are called Blue Mountains because all of the Eucalyptus trees emit a bluish oil into the air. Fascinating.
Did I happen to mention that Warwick and Jessica were complete strangers to me? I called Jessica from America to ask if I could visit any Perspectives courses and she invited me to stay with them. They really personify the family of God!
On the first day here, I arrived in at 7:00am. They picked me up and Warwick dropped Jessica and I off near Chinatown in Sydney and then went to work. Jessica and I walked through Chinatown to Darling Harbour. Then we walked Queen Victoria Building where I found a great little jacket/dress. But the only purple one was on the dummy, so I started to undress it. Jessica said in a very non-confronting way, "Are you sure you want to undress the dummy?" But me in a very American way didn't catch the clue and just undressed it anyway. The dress fit. The salesperson scolded me but was happier when I actually bought the dress ... for $15. Worth the undressing and scolding! :)
Then we walked to the Rocks where the old convicts used to be housed. Then it was up the Harbor Bridge to see amazing views of the Opera House. Honestly, Sydney is a phenomenally beautiful city with so much water and greenery and nice walking everywhere!
Jessica and I hopped on the train up to the Blue Mountains where they live (about an hour outside of Sydney). Along the way, guess what I saw out the window ... yep ... a kangaroo!!! I'm in Australia now!! :) Their house has a second floor verandah that looks right into the trees (not the trunks of the trees, but the upper portions with all the leaves). Their tree tops are right out
of a zoo!! Sulfer Crested Cockatoos, Rainbow Lorikeets, and the King Parrot. Warwick and I actually got the King Parrot to eat out of our hands. As the King Parrot bent into my hand to grab the seed, I could feel the soft feathers of his neck with my fingertips. I was in awe as I thought, this is a wild bird eating out of my hand! I got a pic of Warwick and he tried to get a pic of me but a Cockatoo swooped in right then and off my little King Parrot flew. Here's a shot of Warwick with the same bird.The next day Warwick and Jessica took me for a long drive through the Blue Mountains. Amazing views from every corner. Here is a picture of my hosts and just to their left are three jutting rocks that are called the Three Sisters. The background is all Blue Mountains. They are called Blue Mountains because all of the Eucalyptus trees emit a bluish oil into the air. Fascinating.
Did I happen to mention that Warwick and Jessica were complete strangers to me? I called Jessica from America to ask if I could visit any Perspectives courses and she invited me to stay with them. They really personify the family of God!
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