Australian Enchiladas

This was the day we hooked up with the Echidna Walkabout Tour for the day. They took us to an animal reserve out in the "bush," about an hour and a half outside Melbourne. It was very rainy and a bit cold, but completely worth it.

Our tour guide Martin was amazing, knowing everything you could possible want to know about Australian animals. 4 months out of the year he also does African Safari tours. So cool.












At our first stop we saw a wild emu wandering around with a baby. Apparently emu's are raised by the father, as the mother disappears shortly after birth. Not often you hear about that happening in nature.
















After the emu's, we wandered into a giant open field to see the wild kangaroos just enjoying the rain. We could get fairly close before they got scared and wandered away. So cool.



  
In the midst was also a giant male that we named Arnold. He's huge!

 












After kangaroo chasing, we went to one of the giant ponds and enjoyed some bird watching. Birds are everywhere, especially the cockatoos. We even listened to the kookaburras cackling in the trees. They sound a bit like baboons to me. Australia is filled with over 700 kinds of eucalyptus trees, so the area smells amazing. At one point our guide picked a few lemon leaves from a eucalyptus tree to use for tea. If you are a tea drinker, you would have loved it.

We then stopped for a "bush" picnic, complete with sandwiches, fresh fruit, and tim tam chocolate cookies. Yum. Martin then made tea using the fresh lemon leaves he'd picked earlier, mixing it into the boiled water the old fashioned way.


Then we did some koala hunting up in the You Yang Mountains, which apparently are all granite. Martin's wife went out early that day searching for the koalas, and marked their location with a pink ribbon. She'd then send Martin the coordinates, we'd find the ribbon, and then scan the top of the trees to find them. They were just so cute and cuddly looking that I couldn't get enough of taking their pictures.





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We took a few pictures from the top of the You Yang Mountains and enjoyed the view.

    













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On our way down, we stopped to see a random critter along the road. Ironically, this little guy is an echidna, or as our guide referred to him, an Australian Enchilada. Martin grabbed my camera and leaned out the window of the car to take some pictures for me. He got some great ones too.














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After that we headed back to the city where Brigid and I crashed for the night after a fun, but cold and wet day in the bush.

The Australia Trip

Because every trip I go on has to have some kind of fiasco, the flight and first day were the only random incidents of the week long trip. To start with, I couldn't print off my boarding passes. I tried everything. I could check in online, but that was it. Flights were through Qantas Airlines, - there is no Qantas ticket counter in Austin Texas - so I was a bit stressed as to how I was going to get on the plane.

Frazzled, I chatted with my travel companion Brigid, who said she'd make a call. As I was on my way to the airport, she called me back saying I had to check in through American Airlines. Because of the quirky way the booking was done, we couldn't print any passes online.

Crisis averted and my stress level dissipated.

Qantas Airlines was amazing. While we didn't fly first class, we did notice they had a completely separate entrance to the plane. The were stationed upstairs, while all of us commoners in coach remained down below. Nevertheless, the 16 hour flight from Los Angeles to Melbourne was as smooth as could be expected. The food was surprisingly decent, and the attendants very friendly. Nicest airline I've ever been on.

A car was sent to pick us up at the airport, and we proceeded to our luxury 5 star hotel.


The Sofitel Hotel is situated in the French district of Melbourne, in the midst of the expensive high end stores. Gucci, Armani, etc. surrounded us. And the view from the private lounge was incredible, along with the view from the room. We were often told this was the nicest hotel in town. Um . . .yes, I fully believe that.


 As our room wasn't ready for check in, we wandered through the town for some necessity shopping. It was on a little corner that the second strange incident occurred.

While Brigid used the public toilet, I sat on a lovely park bench to wait. An older woman sat at the other end. After a few moments, she turned to ask me if we were in Melbourne. I confirmed and wondered if she was crazy. She talked in circles, repeating herself over and over again. She was from Sydney, had come to Melbourne for a specific reason but couldn't remember. She'd fallen somehow and hit her head, but wasn't sure how it happened.

What do I do? This had never happened to me before.

After a few more tries, I coaxed her into pulling out her cell phone and calling a family member. She left a message, and once Brigid joined in the mix we offered to walk her to a police station around the corner.

Just as she was standing her daughter called.

They'd separated to do some shopping, and 5 minutes later the daughter came rushing up the street in a panic.

I was relieved the woman wasn't traveling alone. Turned out they were in town for a wedding, and staying at a hotel not far from our location.

They thanked us for helping and we parted ways. Crazy!
    After that, we toured St. Patrick's Cathedral, then returned to the hotel to dress for the Tramcar Restaurant Dinner. Even though we were delirious and exhausted, it was so worth it.


If ever in Melbourne, it's a must do. The 5 course meal was fantastic, along with the lovely drive through the city. By the time we returned to the hotel we were stuffed and desperate for sleep.

So ended the first day of my adventure in Oz.

Australian Adventure to Commence

This amazing Australia trip itinerary has come through at last, and my impending departure for it is speeding closer than I realize. Before the end of November I will be winging my way to the land down under. Yay!

I still don't quite believe this is really happening. I expected the itinerary for this trip to be somewhat mediocre, partly because I didn't want to get my hopes up. Turns out the itinerary is pretty first class. To start with, the hotel accommodations are 5 star. I've never set foot in a 5 star hotel, let alone stay in one. In the meantime, here are a few glimpses of the few things we'll be doing on our trip.

The Colonial Tramcar Restaurant - Enjoying a fine cuisine, 5 course dinner while you tour the streets of Melbourne. Yes, this a 3 hour driving tour through the city, and you eat a 5 course meal while seeing the sights. Um . . .  yes please. http://www.tramrestaurant.com.au/

Walk through natural bush land to meet wild koalas, then join wild mobs of kangaroos on the plains and in open forests.

Phillip Island Penguin Parade Day Tour - Phillip Island Winery tour complete with a selection of finest cheeses and gourmet produce. Views over Westernport Bay and Bass Strait, including Seal Rocks, home to Australia's largest population of fur seals. Just after dark the penguins parade ashore after spending the day fishing out to see. The penguins' familiar "huk huk" call is heard as the appear on the water's edge. The penguins stand in the shallows, sometimes retreat in to the sea, regain confidence, and again come to the beach. They usually regroup,, sometimes numbering over 100 birds, and make their way up the beach to the dunes. (I'm so excited about this!!)

Great Ocean Road Day Tour including Helicopter Rider over 12 Apostle. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Twelve_Apostles_(Victoria)

Just a quick teaser of what I'll be doing. Are you jealous?

Once in a Lifetime - What are the odds?

A few months ago I ran into an old college friend. She was looking for a travel buddy to go with her to Australia, and asked if I was interested. She's never been overseas before and knows I've done it a few times.

Australia? Of course I was interested! It's on my bucket list of places to see, but I certainly had no funds whatsoever to afford a trip there. The plane ticket alone would kill me financially. Just not in the cards for me. Then she told me it actually wouldn't really cost me anything.

Um . . . .  what?

On a whim, she entered a random travel sweepstakes competition DISH network was having over the summer. A few months later she got a call. She'd won. What are the odds of that actually happening? Turns out, it's an all expenses paid trip for two to Melbourne Australia for one week.

Obviously my answer was YES!!! What are the chances of me getting to tag along with a sweepstakes winner? I'm not stupid. No way could I turn this one down.

Of course, I'm a bit skeptical of free things. When it comes to traveling, I don't plan on anything until I have a plane ticket in hand. Otherwise, it's just fluff. Time went by and still there was no answer on dates or travel, or plane tickets. I had my doubts, and was fairly resigned that it was not going to happen. I was okay with that. A 14 hour flight to Australia, with only a week stay, is a very long flight for such a short amount of time. We'd barely get over the jetlag before we had to make the trip home. I was okay with not going.

About a week later I got an email. With my plane ticket. Um . . .  this trip might actually happen. And the ticket is for next month. Now I'm allowing myself to get excited. The waiting is not over. They apparently plan our entire itinerary, including hotel stay. They couldn't do that until they got the plane tickets. Now we wait to see what we're going to actually be doing.

I'm hoping for a non-bug infested hotel, and I fully expect the week to be on geriatric tour buses. There's absolutely nothing wrong with that. It'll be fun regardless, and I'm just along for the ride. For the first time ever, I don't have to plan a thing. I just have to show up.

But I do hope there are koala bears.

And kangaroos.

Tropical Flavors

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A few days ago was the annual National Talk Like a Pirate Day holiday. Every September 19th it's time to celebrate the swash buckling scaly-wags of the sea. Some friends of mine got together for an excuse to celebrate with some exotic cuisine and classic pirate movies. Our food theme was more of a tropical flavor, Caribbean type culinary feel, dashed with some random extras.

While there was really no rhyme or reason, the food was still fantastic.

As seems to be my usual food assignment, I was in charge of dessert. What's a pirate theme without Rum? So I made some "rum cake" cupcakes. Though instead of rum, I substituted pineapple juice and almond extract. These turned out to be a hit. Not only were they extremely moist, but topped with a slice of pineapple, mandarin orange, and cherry, they just looked so pretty.

Of course people need chocolate, so I did classic brownies with a minty frosting. With some help from a little food dye, I turned the minty frosting into a tropical ocean blue. The taste wasn't too shabby either.

I've decided that after watching movies in beautiful tropical locations, I should see them first hand. I think a trip to the Caribbean is now going to be a must see destination.

Traveling and Marathons - I've Lost My Mind

I'm not much of a runner. Meaning that I don't run fast, I don't have great form, and I've been told I look like Goofy while running. My body is usually protesting the entire time that the whole process is just wrong and unnatural. I'm sure professional runners cringe when they see me slogging by at my slow pace and horrid form. Truth be told, I don't actually like running.

But I do it. A lot. Can anyone else relate to this situation?

The reason? I like how I feel when it's over. Funnily enough, the only reason I started running was because someone told me I was incapable of ever running a marathon. With my very stubborn nature that comment didn't bode well at all. So I spent 9 months training for a marathon just to prove them wrong. I'd never run beyond a mile before. No 5k, no 10k, not even a half marathon. Yet my first running event was going to be the full 26.2 mile distance. If you're going to do something you might as well go big, right?

So in 2006 I ran the Moab marathon in southern Utah. It took me 5+ hours, I waddled like a duck for a week afterward because every muscle in my body ached in places I didn't know existed, but I finished.

And I felt like I could conquer the world. Then I swore I'd never do one again. Eight months later I was coerced into doing a half marathon. Afterwards my running shoes were hung up permanently. Or so I thought.

Fast forward 5 years and I was starting to do some fun runs - 5k, and occasional 10k runs just to keep in shape, but also for the t-shirt. I'm all about the t-shirt. A few personal trials and upheavals later I needed to do something big - something epic and loud that would give me an invincible revitalization.

Every person needs to feel that innate inner power.






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I happened to see some advertisement about the London marathon. Huh. That could be really cool - running through the streets of London. I did more research and discovered there were marathons all over the world. Oooo, that could be the epic adventure I was looking for. Why not run a marathon in an amazing location overseas? Who does that, and what a great story to have?!

After more research I settled on the London marathon with Rome as my backup. It happened that I couldn't even get in to register for London, so the Rome marathon it became.

I spent 9 months training, wondering how on earth I ever did this before and why was I putting myself through that torture all over again. But I kept trucking along and in March of 2014 I ran the Rome marathon.

It was an adventure in and of itself, but I got an amazing medal, a great t-shirt, and even a back pack for participating in their 20th anniversary marathon through the city. For whatever reason I was not that sore afterwards. Other than the quarter sized blister on my toe, and some really sore quadriceps muscles, I felt fantastic. And how many people can say they ran the Rome marathon?

So now my weird obsession has begun. I've decided that I need to run 5 international marathons. Why 5? I have no idea. It just seemed like a good number. Heaven forbid I travel just to travel these days. Now I need to tack on a marathon. But then again, why not? It just adds to the adventure - and my insanity.

My future overseas marathon plans are as follows:

Scotland Loch Ness Marathon  - because it's Loch Ness

Athens Greece Marathon  - because it's Athens Greece

London Marathon - this is definitely a wild card as it's a lotto system to get into.

I'm in need of a 5th, and alternate London location. Any suggestions?

Sticky Toffee Pudding - Yes Please!

Sticky Toffee Pudding has changed my life.

Forever.

I had it for the first time a few months ago in London. Holy wow. I had no idea what to expect, but I knew I had to try it. It was so rich, warm, and seemed to melt in my mouth. Especially after getting caught in a very cold rainy downpour, it was heavenly.

Sticky Toffee Pudding is an English dessert that is steamed, consisting of a moist sponge cake with finely chopped dates. It's then covered in toffee sauce and served with vanilla ice cream. Could it get any better?

I found a recipe that seems authentically English. I'm kind of afraid to try it. If it turns out well, I'm in trouble. I'll make it a lot and eat it all without sharing. Not good at all. If it turns out poorly, then I'll be disappointed and wish I was back in England even more. It's a precarious line to balance.

I do know that I am changed. I know full well that I have a problem with sweets, but at least I go for the good stuff. I'm still dreaming of Sticky Toffee Pudding.

Stonehenge

My desire to see Stonehenge during my lifetime wavered when a trusted friend told me it was somewhat disappointing. Oh. I admit I felt somewhat deflated. As a result, I cut out that sightseeing trip on my excursion to  England. This last March I was there again. This time the people I was with did want to make the trek to see it.

What could I do but say yes? Might as well see it like everyone else. It was pretty interesting actually. Yes, it is just a bunch of giant stones standing in a circle. It didn't change my life, or alter my idea of who I was. But you could feel the history there. Not to mention it is beautifully situated in the middle of a grassy field, surrounded by sheep. I didn't expect that.

We were one of the last tour groups for the day, which meant we got to see it at sunset. Seeing anything at sunset automatically ups the spectacular points, but particularly here. It was freezing cold, but absolutely beautiful. And the camera shots didn't come out too badly if I do say so myself.

What NOT to do When You're Jetlagged

Anyone who's traveled overseas knows that jetlag is miserable. After being up for 24-30+ hours without any quality sleep, then dealing with the adrenaline and excitement/ stress of being in a new country, you tend to get a little . . . loopy at times. I've been to Europe 6 times now and have learned some valuable lessons on what NOT to do again. So take my advice and steer clear of these few tips if you can avoid them.

1. Don't plan to see any type of theater show where the lights are going to be dimmed on the first night of your trip. Even though you may feel awake and wired, when those lights go down and you sit still you'll nod off without even realizing it. And you miss out on parts of the show and in retrospect will have little memory of it. - Learned that tip in Prague.

2. Don't take two red eye flights in a row. I know it's often the cheapest option but it's not worth it on your body. Splurge for the extra price and a good night's rest. Or just plan to be extra miserable. - Trip to Paris. In my defense, it was my first trip overseas and I didn't know any better.

3. Don't lose track of your footwear on the plane rider over. It's a bit stressful and embarrassing to ask the people around you to search for your shoes. - My most recent trip to Italy.

4. Don't plan to drive for four hours on the other side of the road as soon as you arrive. It's disorienting enough with a clear head and a good night's rest. - Yup; picked that useful tidbit up in Ireland.

5. Don't sprint through airports to catch your connection. While it's not always avoidable, it's not fun to do especially when jetlagged. Tripping is kind of inevitable (especially when running in flip flops) not to mention the people watching you run past. - Happened on a connection through Germany.

6. Don't travel with a Dudley/ Debbie Downer. Everyone's ornery when they're tired, but especially when THAT tires. It's hard to refrain from screaming, ditching, smacking, hating, etc., your travel companion when they complain about everything. - Trip to England. He barely survived and I developed a twitch.

7. Don't arrive and go straight to sleep. You'll never get over the jetlag if you do that. Stick with their time zone and force yourself to stay awake until its bed time at your destination. You'll thank me for that. - Luckily I was given this tip so I never experienced what happens when you ignore it. I don't want to know.

Confessions of a Sherlock Holmes Junkie

I am a Sherlock Holmes nerd. I admit it. I'm a sucker for any kind of mystery story, but especially one including a fantastic detective named Sherlock. I've read all the stories multiple times and own the entire collection. It won't be too shocking to learn that when in London I had to stop at the infamous 221B Baker Street.

In case you weren't aware, there is a Sherlock Holmes Museum and souvenir shop complete with workers dressing up from that particular time period. Of course I was in heaven. Now this is a throwback to the actual stories, not the numerous TV shows. I was giddy walking through Sherlock's London "flat" (aka the museum) and seeing all the little bits and pieces from his many detective cases that I've read so many times. Totally worth waiting in line! And I might have done it twice . . . in 24 hours.

Plus I had to get a picture with a man in uniform from Scotland Yard. And he had an English accent. I'm a succor for those. There's no shame in admitting to this kind of nerdy-ness, especially since I know I'm not the only one out there. After traipsing through the flat and taking many pictures I obviously had to buy a souvenir from the ridiculously expensive shop next door. All I could afford was the 4 pound refrigerator magnet. At least it's something.

Now that you know I'm hooked on the books, I've also become hooked on a few of the film adaptations. Movie wise I love the Guy Richie films starring Robert Downey, Jr. and Jude Law. They are a fantastic duo that bring alive the characters in a very well written storyline true to the books. I'm itching for them to make a 3rd movie.

Then there is the BBC series entitled Sherlock, starring Martin Freeman and Benedict Cumberbatch. I can't get enough. It sucked me in from the first episode and I've re-watched the entire series so many times it's embarrassing. What can I say? I have a problem.