Broome Hovercraft

This is the baby we'll have a ride on

Getting it all together

Today was a busy day.I picked up Sheldon's suit and the three dress shirts at the dry cleaners.No ironing of dress shirts yeah.Found a couple bottles of Deep Woods Off with 25% Deet. Along with the Malaria Pills we should be all set. I managed to put all our confirmed tours in a binder organized by date& time. I did bump up the time of the tours by 1/2 hour so I can get Sheldon to the places on time. He likes to be the last one to arrive anywhere and he thinks that organized times are for anyone but him. This totally annoys me as I like being early so I fooled him this time, I hope ha ha. I booked a Hovercraft tour in Broome. By the looks of the things we have booked, I think I might need a vacation to rest from the vacation. Oh well...only going this way once. Today I worked at the admission desk at the Ladies Winterlude. I managed to take in a lecture on Travel Tips.Sorry to say, I didn't hear anything I didn't already know. Now I'll try to post a picture of the Hovercraft. Til later mates

I Am So Impressed

I always knew the Nakile staff were awesome and now I am so impressed. I just checked my followers list and they have added Gil to the list. He will be able to follow us on this once of a lifetime trip. What a thoughtful thing to do. Thank you so much. I am sure this will ease his mind wondering what we are doing. Can hardly wait to tease him about learning to be a computer nerd ha ha

Getting there

I am slowly getting things organized. I have finally settled the delima about the voltage converter with my laptop.I contacted Acer support and after several e-mails they told me the currency converts auto. I'll save these e-mails just in case. I have a 3 year warranty and if they are incorrect guess who will replace my computer. Not me. Sunday I'll start the actual packing. I am slowly getting the extra's purchased that I need. Only 20 days left now.

A Wee bit lazy

We love formal nights on the cruise. It is our one time of the year to get really dressed up. We never used to like dressing up and that was one of the reason why we thought we would not like cruising. After our first cruise we found that if you didn't want to dress formal you didn't have to go to the main dining room on formal night, but you could go to the windjammer venue and have the same meal as in the dining room but you could be in casual dress.We have never opted for this however and have always taken our formal wear. On the 12 night cruises there were three formal nights. On this 17 night cruise I don't know how many formal nights there will be but we will go to them all. However, for anyone that knows me well, knows I hate to iron and will avoid it at all costs. Yesterday I took Sheldon's suit to the cleaners. To avoid the ironing, I took his three dress shirts along. I could just as easily have washed and ironed them but I decided not to. Now that chore is finished. Just have to pick them up next week and pack them. How nice is that!

One Happy Traveler

Today I am happy. United Airline posted on their web site that travelers going to the US can now have one carry on bag per person. That sure makes life a lot easier. We had our appointment with VON travel and we have decided that we will not need the Japanese Encephalitis vaccine as we will not be traveling to the inland area of Paupa New Guinea and the chances of contacting this disease is 1 in a million. We also do not need Yellow Fever as we are not coming from a country that has yellow fever. This saves us $2,160 so now I can buy a trinket or two. We've had 2 of our Twinrix shots and we only have one more to go. We do need Malaria pills that we have to start taking just before we leave. It's only 28 days to go. I had previously bought a voltage converter but it is too powerful and would blow my computer. Can't find the size I need in Yarmouth so hopefully Renee can get the size required in Halifax on the weekend. I need to take my camera battery charger to Sky Tech to see if it has a built in converter. After this is settled, I'm pretty well set to go. Time is going by fast now and can't come to soon.

Bring On The Sun

After today's snow, I am really looking forward to the warm weather . It's now 31 days and counting. Our ship will be docked at the Overseas Passenger Terminal which is located between the Harbor Bridge and the Opera House. Our hotel "The Marriott at Circular Quay" is also located within a block or so of the Opera House. We'll be in the thick of all the action and walking distance to the pubs.

A Few Thoughts

I have been thinking a lot about this trip down under. A few years ago when we were much younger our trips seemed to revolve around beaches and having fun. Fun is still important, but the last few trips we have done is about meeting people from other cultures and experiencing new things. We have met and kept in touch with a lot of wonderful people from all walks of life during our travels to Hawaii, Alaska and Europe.Mind you, I still love snorkeling and doing touristy things. Sheldon is a pretty cool traveler and is game for anything but he would never plan ahead and would just go with the flow. I like researching and planning and he laughs at that but I like to know about the places we will be visiting and any obstacles we might run into. Maybe I do go a bit overboard but to me it is fun. We probably won't do everything on our list but at least we have guidelines and options and a general plan. All is pretty well in place now and we have started on our inoculations. On Tuesday we have a consultation with VON Travel.Today I will start a "To do" of things I need to set aside and things I need to purchase. I am going to try and travel light as United Airlines charges for each checked in bag

Sydney

I wonder if anyone would notice if I start living on Sydney time for the next 5 weeks. I'd be working when no one else is but I would be prepared for when I get there with no jet lag ha ha. Good idea. 5 weeks from now we'll winging our way across the USA

Another Day Closer

It's only 35 days now and I'll be on my way.There is still much to prepare. Packing will be a big issue and I will soon be making my list of essentials items. The clothes are the easiest.It's the other things.

Australia words

Today I found some new words like Daks (pants), durry (outside bathroom), Plonk (cheap wine), cozzie( bathing suit). Wonder if I'll remember then when I get to OZ. doubt it but how about this... After having some Plonk I visited the durry to change my daks with a cozzie. sounds weird to me.

Expensive Day

Wow. Today was an expensive venture.Talked with VON travel regarding inoculations required for Northern Australia & Paupa New Guinea. We will need Yellow Fever & Japanese encephalitis. Yellow fever is one shot, Japanese encephalitis is 3 shots each and they charge per shot as well as a consultation visit each time total cost of this will be. then I talked with our doctors office about Twinrix and that's 3 shots each plus a fee for each visit here too. Total cost for protection will be $2,160.00. Hadn't expected this. Oh well, we'll never need them again and now I will be covered for South America and Africa. they only other shot we may need in the future is Malaria..

Snakes, Spiders & Crocs

Was reading the Virtual Traveler tonight.Australia has the most poisonous snakes & spiders in the world. Crocs are plentiful in Northern Territory.I'm terrified of snakes. If I don't make it home, I was a nice meal...and it was good knowing you

Sydney Opera House

Booked for February 23rd for a musical at 8 pm. I had planned a tour of the Opera house but an actual show will be so much better.

39 Days and Counting

It's cold outside but in 39 days I'll be in the air & on my way. I am so looking forward to this trip . I've researched so much that I can picture most of the places in my mind.Bring on the heat. Follow the map..we head out from Sydney and head north around the top and down the Western coast

Our Adventure Itiniary

Toddie & Sheldon’s Great Australian Adventure 2010
Thursday Feb 18/10- United Airlines - Departs Halifax 12:43 pm
Arrives Chicago 2.05 pm (Terminal 1)
Departs Chicago 3.00 pm (Terminal 1)
Arrives Los Angeles 5:30 pm
Departs Los Angeles 10:17 pm 2:17 am our time
Arrive Sydney Au 7:50 am Sat Feb 20/10

Saturday Feb 20/10 Marriot Sydney Harbor Circular Quay. Go to “Rocks Market. Open 10:- -5

Sunday Feb 21/10 Sydney Explorer bus hop on hop off-tours 27 locations within city ie Luna Park
Botanic Gardens, Mrs. Maguires’s Chair, China Town, Star City, Harbourside
Shopping, Darling Harbour, Sydney Acquarium, Rock’s, total Stops 27, tickets
Can be purchased at circular Quay, cost $39/per person for all day. Runs 8:30
Til 5:30

Monday Feb 22/10 Blue Mountains Day Tour-visit Feather dale wildlife Park…see koalas, Dingo’s etc
Stop at Sydney 2000 Olympic site
Blue mountains-National Park Waterfalls site, Three sisters at Echo Pint, visit
Scenic skyway and travel steepest railway, visit mountain villages Koomba and
Leura . Travel back to Sydney on river cruise under Harbor Bridge

Tuesday Feb 23/10/10 Matilda Rocket Harbour Express Cruise-All day harbour cruise with stops at
Sydney Opera House, Taronga Zoo, Shark Island, Wildlife world, Acquarium
Cost $45/per. Departs circular Quay 9:30 am-5:30

Wednesday Feb 24/10 Hunter Valley Wine tour- full day tour thru surfing kangaroo day tour-departing
7:40 am from 42/11 yarranabbe road, Darling Harbour, ph 0410 466 475

Friday Feb 26/10 Rhapsody of Seas -Aft balcony stateroom # 7078 cruise departs Sydney 6:30 pm

Saturday Feb 27/10 Cruising

Sunday Feb 28/10 Brisbane 7.00am-6.00 pm private guided tour with John Donaldson to Sunshine
Coast just north of Brisbane; visit Blackall Range, Glass House Mountains, the
Mary Valley & Noosa, Coolum Beach, town of Montville & Maleny (famous for
Arts & crafts). Follow coastal highway back to Brisbane for highlights of city.
8 ½ tour with pick up & return to ship.

Monday Mar 1/10 Cruising

Tuesday Mar 2/10 Airlie Beach, Queensland Tender Port7.00 am- 4:00 pm. Scenic Three Island
Cruise through the Whitsunday islands of the Great Barrier Reef, Hook Island
Semi sub ride, Daydream Island with its huge aquarium, white haven Island with
It’s Seven Mile stunning beach for snorkling

Wednesday Mar 3/10 Cairns 8:00 a.m-8:00 pm. Day tour Kuranda Sky rail Rainforest Cable for 1 ½
Hrs. visit Kuranda village… village in the rainforest before returning by rail thru
The mountains.. After departing ship take taxi to Sky rail Smithfield terminal (5
Min away). Booked on 10am Sky rail & 3:30 train. Take taxi back to ship terminal
If no taxi available on arrival call 131008

Thursday Mar 4/10 Cruising

Friday Mar 5/10 Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea 7:00 am-6:00pm. See city sights 8:30 am
A private shore excursion beginning at 8 am with cruise critic group …drive into
City & visit stilt villages & harbour, National Museum & parliament House,
Bomana War Cemetery, local school for traditional dancing & singing and
Artifacts shop then back to dock

Saturday Mar 6/10 Cruising

Sunday Mar 7/10 Cruising

Monday Mar 8/10 Darwin 7:00 am-6:00 pm. Private tour with Darryl Window with pick up at
Pier at 800am and return at 5 pm. Visit to Litchfield Park to visit the giant
Termite Mounds, Wangi Falls, Florence Falls & Tolmer Falls. Great swimming at
The falls and at Buli Rock Hole.. Travel time to Litchfield is 2 hrs each way.
Depart Park at 3 pm. Total of 9 hrs for tour

Tuesday Mar 9/10 Cruising

Wednesday Mar 10/10 Cruising

Thursday Mar 11/10 Broome 9:30 am-9:00 pm. Will spend the morning looking around 3 pm until
5 pm visit Japanese Cemetery where over 140 pearlers are buried, stop for
Drinks at Matso’s Brewery, then on to see some Pearling Luggers then off to by
Some pearls. At 6:30 pm sunset camel ride on Cable Beach for an hour then
Back to ship

Friday Mar 12/10 Cruising

Saturday Mar 13/10 Exmouth 7:00 am-5:00 pm. Ships tour. 4WD booked to mountains thru gorges


Sunday Mar 14/10 Cruising

Monday Mar 15/10 Perth (Freemantle) 6:00 am -Pick up Avis Rental Car at 17 Queen St, Freemantle
Pick up time 10:30 am.
Mandurah – appx 1 hr south of Perth Sebel Mandurah Water view Studio room

Tuesday Mar 16/10 Driving south-Driving and Exploring for the day into Busselton, Dunsborough,
Yallingup, Margaret River and ending the day at Jill (Clark) Grist

Wednesday Mar 17/10 Spending time with Jill & Greg- Hope to visit in the area a bit

Thursday Mar 18/10 Day trip to Albany

Friday Mar 19/10 Day trip to Denmark

Saturday Mar 20/10 Parmelia Hilton Perth Hotel Drop off Rental Car before going to hotel @ 10:30
Tour down Swan River, explore Perth
Sunday Mar 21/10 Parmelia Hilton Perth Hotel Day trip by 4WD to visit the Pinnacles

Monday Mar 22/10 Depart Perth (domestic Airport Terminal 2) Qantas airlines 1:30 pm
Arrive Sydney (domestic airport Terminal 3) 8:40 pm
Stamford Plaza Sydney Airport full Bkfst buffet included

Tuesday Mar 23/10 United Airlines Departs Sydney 2:15 pm
Arrives Los Angeles 9:48 am
Departs Los Angeles 11:00 am
Arrives Chicago 4:54 pm Terminal 1

Departs Chicago 6:15 pm Terminal 1
Arrives Halifax 11:06 pm

Long drive Home
Vacations Over 

Waiting to Cruise

thinking of Crusing

Australian Weather

Sydney-86 degrees, Brisbane -75 degrees, Darwin-81 degrees, Perth-68 degrees, Port Moresby,Paupa New Guinea-83 degrees. These are at 10 pm tonight as they are 12 hours ahead of us.

Cruise Documents

Today we received our cruise documents and I have been doing the doc Dance. yahoo. Now it seems real. Only 41 days til we fly out to Sydney and 49 days until the cruise departs. Oh I am so excited now. I've been planning and researching for nearly 1 1/2 years and now I am in countdown mode. Today it is 82 and sunny in Brisbane.
I changed my counter tonight & typed a note in Microsoft Word & posted with no difficulty so I know I can do posts and take minimal time hooked up to the internet. this will be a great money saver as internet on the cruise is 55 cents/minute. Once February 1st comes I'll start putting clothes together. wow. my dream vacation is almost here!!!:)

This is just a test to see if I can insert a word document into my blog

Waiting for warm weather

Today I am really cold. I've started with an earache and a sore throat. The good thing is that by getting it now, I should be healthy by the time vacation starts in 41 days. Had a successful day today. I was able to add the counter and a clock. Yippee. I met with Jill today.She flew in from Australia to meet with John & Sara to go through and sort things in her Dad's house. It was a sad but nice reunion nevertheless. It's been 32 years since we last saw each other. An hour wasn't enough. Now I can hardly wait to see her again in March.It's 40 degrees in Perth now. I have the exact instructions on getting to her house.

Airline frustration

Called the airline tonight. Our flights schedule has changed. Not a big deal. Have dealt with this before. No problem. No carry on luggage allowed but you are allowed to take camera's,coat. medication, laptop & equipment,a small purse. So were do you put all this stuff & how do you carry it. I have more medication than will fit in a small purse. Do I shove extra underwear in my jeans pockets? Guess if United looses my luggage, I'll be really smelly or I'll be walking around naked. That would be a site ha ha

Spent 2 hours trying to figure out how to put a counter on my blog. It's not on here because I'm a tech virgin. I also frigged up the TV so can't watch that. Guess it's time for bed and hope the new day will be better