Category Archives: Australia
More than one way to measure our trip
Back in January, as I stuffed my share of mini sunscreen tubes into my bag, it occurred to me that it might be fun to keep track of just how much of this goop we used along the way. We’re … Continue reading
Australia by the numbers
Days in the country: 25 Hours spent on airplanes: 4.5 (not counting getting there) Hours spent on a train: 25 Koalas spotted: 6 Snake disasters averted: 1 Platypus spotted: 1* World Heritage Sites visited: 3 (Sydney Opera House, Uluru, and … Continue reading
When they say “wet season,” they mean WET
Summer (December to March) in the Top End is wet. The very northern part of Australia lies in the tropics, and that means hot, humid weather, cyclones, mosquitoes, etc. Miami readers know. Except I think this place may be even … Continue reading
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Good beaches, ruined by jellyfish
See this beautiful beach? It’s Mindil Beach in Darwin, where the water just beckons you to jump in. But there’s no swimming allowed, at least not for six months out of the year, thanks to the very dangerous box jellyfish. … Continue reading
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Do the fly swat
The flies. They are awful. We’d heard the flies in the Outback would be bad, but we still weren’t ready for the onslaught. We constantly had to keep one arm free to swat flies from our faces, especially while eating. … Continue reading
The story of Uluru
The Aboriginal people of Australia believe that giant ancestral beings once roamed the earth, before there were any humans. These beings wandered over the flat continent, shaping the land as they went. Two of them, a pair of brothers, were … Continue reading
Bathroom visitors
This guy was hanging out around the men’s restroom at our camp in Yulara, just outside of the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. A little scary at first, although everyone looked past the giant lizards for the chance at a shower. … Continue reading
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Under the Southern Cross
When we signed on to The Rock tour, we were told very matter-of-factly that we’d be sleeping in swags. The woman on the phone didn’t offer an explanation, and we were too embarrassed to ask. So as soon as we … Continue reading
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The Rock Tour
No, this entry is not about us joining up to follow Aussie rockers AC/DC on their just-started homecoming tour. After deciding an organized tour might just be the best way for us to get to see Ayers Rock, one of … Continue reading
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Bush meat sampler
Our culinary goal in Alice Springs was to try as much bush meat as possible. Mission accomplished. On our first night there, we found Red Ochre Grill, which offers 20 percent off the check for diners who eat between 6 … Continue reading
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