Climbing Mountains and Fording Streams

Hey all!

Amy again... Just wanted to keep you updated on the latest...

Though today wasn't nearly as exciting as receiving luggage yesterday, we certainly had quite a trip. We caught a 10 something train to a town called Katoomba just west of Sydney in the Blue Mountains. In Katoomba, which is basically like Poulsbo's downtown except on a Finn Hill, we got to see some awesome street shops and some of the locals. All unemployed of course... Ha! Kidding. Although it must be noted that Katoomba has (or once had) the highest unemployment rate in Australia. Anyways... We hiked our way into the Blue Mountains National Park and got some great photos of the Three Sisters, a series of three rock pinnacles basically hanging off these massive cliffs just inland of the big city. After hiking down the "Great Staircase" and back up, sweating like none other, and having a marvelous time, we conclude our day with take out from Chinatown and laundry. Sweet right!?

Tomorrow should be fun... we're spending the $100 that Qantas gave each of us for losing our luggage on something special... and we're going to be checking out Kings Cross - you know, the red light district - during the day of course! Ha! Really...

So there's a line to use the computer and I've run out of intresting things to report... I guess this is toodles for now!

As the Aussies say - Cheers!

Amy

Who Cares!? We've Got Baggage!!

Hey Guys!

Amy here... After three days of hiking through this amazing city... WE GOT OUR STUFF!!! That's pretty much the highlight. The rest of the trip sucks. HA HA! Kidding.

So... Last we wrote, we had just arrived in Sydney, and since then we've done as much as humanely possible without spending a single cent. Ok... maybe a little...

On Saturday, since the weather was absolutely amazing, we hopped a ferry and went up to this smaller beachy neighborhood called Manly in the North end of the harbor. The sun was out... the water was blue... the men were hott! Ha ha! Ok only a few of them... There were surfers and volleyball players, and shops galore. My kind of town! We also went for a scenic walk which was about 10K! (We really only walked for about 5K. We're so lazy...) We decided as we ate our lovely peanutbutter sandwiches that if we were to live here in Sydney, Manly would be the place. It's close enough to get the big city feel, but far enough away were you can just chill on the beach (White sand did I mention that!?) and not have a care in the world.

Today we went to Darling Harbor, in the western part of the city. Really touristy area but it was still pretty nice. We first went to the Australian National Maritime Museum... which we decided that our fathers would appreciate way more than we did... but whatevs. It was free and made worthwhile only after Karina participated in a survey (in which she lied about her age) and earned us vouchers for free coffee and cookies at the museum restaurant outside! Sweet. Although we were too cheap to pay the $15 to go aboard the replica of Capt. Cook's Endeavour... we got some sweet pics outside! Ok really... it wasn't that great... but a good way to kill time before we went to the SYDNEY AQUARIUM!!! Now, this might sound a bit nerdy... Ok really nerdy... we had a friggen BLAST!!! Took tons of pictures with the awesome fish, sharks and seals. Karina even got up close and personal with the "spotted wobbegong" (the technical name... I swear!). Although we skipped out on the giftshop, were things cost an arm and a leg, we thought of all you unfortunate people who couldn't be here with us to see Nemo, Dori, and all the other amazing little fishes...

After leaving the aquarium and feeding the seagulls (ask Karina about her shirt...) we stopped on the boardwalk to watch this crazy street perfomer with dreads, firey torches, and a 9 foot unicycle... or "suicycle" as he so aptly termed it. It was good fun, and Karina even got to be a part of the show... that giggle (or cackle if you prefer) I roused from her landed her in the 15 second spotlight. Oh lucky me...

Well our time on the computer is up but there's much more fun to come. As Mr. Pagaard would say "Thrills, Chills, and Peppermint Pills!"

Until Then...

-Amy

G'day from Sydney!

Hey everyone! Amy & I made it safe and sound to Sydney. The total traveling time totalled almost 28 hours...crazy! After saying goodbye to our Moms & Dads we took off from Seatte around 2pm, arriving in LAX around 5pm. Then we proceeded to enjoy almost an 8 hour layover as our flight to Sydney was delayed a full hour. To kill time we took a joy ride on a Westin Hotel Airport Shuttle and enjoyed a brief tour of Los Angeles. Bored we then sat around the airport forever. We boarded our flight to Sydney at 1am and took off in our Boeing 747 into the midnight sky. =] During the flight I immediately began talking to our seat partner, Pat. Amy, tired made me switch seats so that she could sleep while I chatted with Pat. Making friends immediately, I found out that she lived in Perth and by the end of the 15 hour flight she kindly invited us both to a personal tour of Perth once we arrive there on June 26th. So, already making good Aussie connections!

When we arrived in Sydney, we quickly found that although we arrived safely, our bags did not and were no where to be found! =( bad news for us. So, we then spent a good hour trying to process our claim through Qantas. Fortunately the staff were friendly enough, giving us $100 AUS to spend. But, as it still stands we have no luggage, and very few belongings.

Oh well. The most a traveller can do is to be patient and wait. There's not much else we can do at this point. But fortuantely it's expected that we'll recieve our bags by the end of today.

Boarding the train, we checked into our hostel; a sparse but comfortable place. Then Amy and I proceeded to walk downtown to the Quay, the Rocks and of course, the Sydney Opera house. The whole afternoon was absolutely spectacular!

Within 10 seconds of getting off the train, we encountered a crazy man muttering to himself about koalas
the next hour later, we already were hit on my male, aussie construction workers.

a very promising start to a auspicious trip. =D

We walked around all day and then crashed into our bunks by 5pm, expecting to get up for dinner at 7pm. But alas, we slept through our alarms...in fact, we woke up this morning at around 6am...giving us a grand total of almost 14 hours of sleep! I guess we're now over jet lag. thank goodness.

anyway, time for me to get going. There's much to see in the land down under. and it's much better weather today...actual clear, beautiful blue sky!

more later.

Counting down the days...hours...

Guess what? Amy & I leave in 2 days...yes, 2 DAYS for Australia! Isn't that wild? I can hardly believe it myself, what with the chaos of graduation, family and organizing last minute time with friends. But really, it's here baby. Oh yeah. =] So, a last minute to do list of course must accompany such a pressing deadline (with much yet to be done!):

1) write graduation thank yous
2) pack for trip - EVERYTHING! Camping gear, clothing, electronics, etc.
3) forward blog link to email list
4) print off addresses for postcards
5) Write Senora Lopez a small recommendation
6) clean up after parties
7) Hang with John
8) Dinner with Dunbar
9) Comfort the parents
10) print off Driscoll essay w/ letter.
11) select Willamette courses -research it
12) go to the bank - cash/deposit $$$ - $500 in cash, in fifties
13) confirm flights
14) test underwater camera
15) dry out the tent w/ Amy
16) have Amy bring Italian CDs
17) fix swimsuit
18) library run! dropoff books
19) write down Willamette account info for mom
20) tell Amy about drinks for party

....

I'm sure there's more that's alluding me. Bah, I'll think of it eventually. Now an update on our trip itinerary.

Amy & I will be departing Seattle, June 18. We will arrive in Sydney June 20.

We will stay in Sydney from June 20-27th. Fly out of Sydney EARLY a.m.

Arrive to Perth around 9:05 a.m. June 27th; stay in a hostel overnight.

June 28, catch 9:30 a.m. Greyhound Bus @ Perth Terminal to Cervantes; arrive Cervantes at 1:30 p.m.

Check into Cervantes Lodge. Catch 3 p.m. departure for the Pinnacles "sunset tour".

Depart Cervantes for Monkey Mia

Depart Monkey Mia for Ningaloo Reef

Depart Ningaloo Reef for Karijini Nat'l Park

Karijini Nat'l Park to Broome

Catch Greyhound Bus from Broom to Katherine.

Board train from Katherine to Alice Springs (19 hour ride)

Tour Alice Springs & West McDonnel Ranges. Take Greyhound bus from Alice Springs to Ayers Rock.

Karina's 18th Birthday!!! (July 14th)

Fly out Cairns, July 16. Arrive 6:30 p.m. (confirm)

Travel up to Port Douglas --> do an introductory dive at the Great Barrier Reef; snorkel

Cape Tribulation?

Cairns --> Mission Beach?

Mission Beach --> Cardwell

The rest TBA...announce later, when I actually know what's going on. =]

I'll update you soon. promise.

until then...I have work to do! =D