Monday, May 5, 2008

Dunk Island (Day 2 Part 1)




Tuesday Morning we flew from Sydney to Cairns and then two vans were waiting for us at the airport to take us to another terminal.



This was one of the two planes we flew from Cairnes to Dunk Island. They were 13 seaters.

Dad being excited about the flight while we waited in the "terminal" to board the flight.
This is a picture of the "terminal". Tim and I excited to be on the plane!


Our luggage "secured" in the back.

View from the plane coming in for landing on Dunk Island
View of Dunk Island from the airplane. Description. Land, get off plane, check in. Just to the left of the airstrip is the chain of rooms and the club house. To the right of the airstrip on the point is where the dock was. We went skiing right out in front of the resort.




Sunday, May 4, 2008

Sydney Harbor Cruise (Day 1 Part 2)

The Sydney Opera House...
We all went on a dinner cruise around the Harbor. It turned out to be an Opera cruise...a few of us wanted to jump overboard...
Here is the bridge at night...
and the Sydney skyline...
Here as how we felt...it was a long day!

Australia: Flight and Bridge (Day 1 Part 1)

Saturday, a lot of members of my family flew from various parts of the US to meet up in LAX for our flight to Sydney. This plane awaited us at the gate. The 14 hour flight wasn't bad because the plane wasn't full and as we left at midnight it was easy to sleep for most of it.




On the flight over, Lisa passed out Grand Valley shirts to everyone so all 17 of us were sporting GVSU shirts as we walked off the plane to greet Allison. We got asked if we were a tour group more than once.. which only proved the point more when we loaded up our bus! As the driver is on the right side of the bus you board on the left....a fact that we noticed after we failed to find a door on the right hand side.



We landed in Syney at 7am, took the bus to our hotel and got ready to climb the bridge! Here is a picture... We climbed up to the flags crossed the top and back down the other side. ....in the rain.


A few of us celebrated our survival by going to a local bar. The bar tenders were a bit confused of who we were and what "GVSU" was...but appreciated the business either way!

Aubrey's Visit

Friday night Aubrey came to visit me and after picking her up (and almost missing my road...that was embarassing) we got out the margaritas in order to celebrate cinco de mayo! We are so close to Mexico we needed to celebrate all weekend with them. Matt brought home Mario Kart Wii which we all instantly got addicted to (note: do not drink and drive).

Saturday Aubrey and I went (after more mario kart) to some state park south of here which is known for their alligator population. I was a little skeptical at first as we got lost inside the park and went into the gift shop to ask for directions. (ie: where are the alligators). The nice old man walked over to the tank and reached in and got out a baby alligator and goes here is one. I thought this didn't count and Aubrey thought it was going to eat her. However he pointed us on our way (back where we passed before) to the alligator walk. There was a swamp/pond/lake with a path around it so we started walking. Aubrey was alligator spotting queen and spotted 7 or 8 of them altogether! I was convinced one was a rubber boot, she claimed it had eyes, so we started talking really loudly about if it was alive or not and a bunch of people came over and alas it went under! I guess it wasn't a rubber boot afterall. One alligator swam really close, it was going for Aubrey's chocolate bar...

Then we came back and went and layed out by the pool. It was 4-5 oclock and still hot so we went in the pool (my first). A tad chilly, but felt good. we came back and grilled and had some corn on the cob and coronas. We played...a lot.... more mario kart and even opened a new level! Aubrey improved from 12th place to 1st when she went with the off road bike...staying on the path is overrated...

Today we went down to the Kemah Boardwalk (after more mario kart). It was the 40th annual blessing of the shrimp boats so there was a parade of boats all decorated. It felt like the 4th of july. We went on the one ride that took you up and gave you a 360 degree view of the boardwalk, houston skyline, very ugly dirty brown ocean/bay/gulf water. It was cool (literally...ac inside). Then we went and had some seafood at Landrys and a margarita (my mexican neighbors should be very proud of our efforts). It was fun being by the water, however dirty it was, and seeing all the decorated shrimp boats. Aubrey and I even got thrown some beads! The only missing part was funnel cake...i tried very hard and just couldn't find it!

Coming back alone is always sad...but the neighbors 8 units away must have thought loud obnoxious blasting of the stereo and screaming would help....so they did for a few hours. I am calling it an early night - a lot of excitment for the weekend. I am looking forward to Matt coming home on Friday woooo finally done and softball on Tuesday. But for now Magic is curled up next to me and we are going to bed. Good night!

Skiing in Australia!!

I went skiing in Australia!!!

Above picture: "Stop taking pictures hit the gas and go I dont want to get eaten!!!"


Picture of the quality boat! It took Tim FOREVER to get up haha but so worth it!

Monday, April 14, 2008

Jessica Loves Texas

Jessica came to visit me this past weekend wooo! She landed late Friday and I was scared driving to the airport at night all alone and when I pulled up to arrivals I wasn't quite sure what to do and I got waved to sit in this line of cars and a cop comes up to me and tells me to pop my trunk. I drive a Jeep, they do not "pop" (okay well mine pops a lot, but not the trunk) so I told him that and asked if he would like me to go open it for him... "no just pop it". Okay then. Luckily Jessica was running fast to get in the car (reasons to be left unnamed for those who actually like Texas).

Saturday we went and got our nails done and drove around until we stumbled upon a lunch place, so we stopped at ate outside. I asked the waiter what something was and he told me he didn't know and I go what do you mean you don't know and he goes okay its duck liver. I told him he should have stuck with the didn't know idea. We didn't order that.

Then we plopped ourselves in front of the pool with our stack of wedding magazines and ripped out pages that Jessica liked...yup thats how it worked. It was good to be out in the sun and getting some...color.

I was making Jessica a nice home cooked meal when she decides to repay me by liting the kitchen on fire. That was...fun.

Then we jumped around on Matts bed...no we didn't Matt we didn't touch your stuff...especially not the man in the closet...

It was a good weekend I am sad to be all alone again but only two days until I go home!!!!

Tuesday, April 8, 2008