Sorry this video took so long to upload! Christina and I were lucky enough to see this baby Joey come out at the Koala Sanctuary!

Last night in Sydney

An Edward Hopper moment, prior to a rock and roll production of Henry IV at the Sydney Opera House. I fear I have too much Falstaff in me.

Desert photos

Below are some photos from our exploration of Kata Tjuta, Ularu and the West MacDonnells.  I fell in love with these places, which reminded me of the landscape of the American southwest (southern Utah, Arizona and New Mexico) while also being quite different.  A magical place that I am eager to explore further some day.  (And to those of us who were quiet enough to observe the endangered black footed rock wallaby, yeah for us!)

We're gonna pop some swags . . .

Our friend the bus

Experiencing the Rare side of Alice Springs

We of the group find it funny that when we flew into Alice Springs, that it was raining one of the few times it ever rains a year. The last time it rained before we arrived was all the way back in January during one of there summer storms. After the first day we were kind of getting tired of rain from our  time spent in Cairns. So you would think the next day would be bright and sunny right? Wrong! We experienced a few more days of cloudy weather with spots of rain here and there. Why are we soo special to received this rain here in Alice Springs? We do not know.

Out on our four day long camping trip we traveled on Rock Bus tours with tour guides Fitzy (we are not sure if thats his real name), Princess (the stuffed kangaroo with her joey) and finally a camping expert Mark. We had a great time learning about the geography of the land and learning about the Aboriginal culture. Also we spent most of our time hiking and traveling the road in our Bus cause you have to drive at least an hour or so to get anywhere in Alice Springs. Throughout the trip Fitzy shared his "wisdom" and warned us of many terrifying things that can happen to us if we did not listen to what he had to say... Unfortunately for the majority of the girls did not catch his sarcasm and over emphisis on certain subjects. Some of the girls were soo scared at what might happen to them that they were more prone to die from worrying than from actually getting hurt.

Fitzy was a very well knowledged person and a great comedian. We all had fun camping out with him and Mark. Now, I would also like to share this important tip... Do not go out camping with just a swag! You are most likely going to get cold and damp from morning dew. Even though the swag is suposed to be waterproof. Just in case you dont know, swags are modified sleeping bags that are waterproof and come with a thin mattress and flap to cover your head. But it is highly recommended to bring an extra sleeping bag to put inside the swag.

Despite the troubles we had sleeping in swags, I believe that a few of us on this trip can say that camping out near Alice Springs was our favorite part of the trip. Unfortunately for one Christina she still hates it here...

First, a belated Mother's Day post

With apologies for the self indulgence, my mother requested that I post a picture of myself as a Mother's day present for her while we were skyping last week (and the fact that my mom skyped is an earth-shattering event). So here is what amounts to a panoramic view of me, at least, taken at Kata Tjuta:

Aboriginal Encounters

Hello all! I would just like to take note on how interesting and complicated the Idigenous Australians live their lives. These peoples just obtained citizenship within the last 50 years and they are still struggling to survive with the White Australian culture. Many people also believe that these Idigenous Australians are dangerous and cause nothing but trouble for the White Australians. But in fact the Idigenous peoples are good natured towards Whites, and are instead more aggressive towards one another. They are having an extremely hard time adjusting to white culture. These people have been alone on this continent for the past 50,000 years till white man came and changed their lifestyle. There are only a few standing Aboriginal tribes that still live traditionally. Many have changed lifestyles to coincide with ours. Unfortunately for many that lead to more problems than it solved. Many Aboriginals fight amongst themselves for various reasons such as alcohol, drugs, previous fights, payback ceremonies, stealing and anything else that cause trouble.

Here are a few encounters that I have experienced with the Indigenous Australians while on the trip.

First Encounter: Thursday May 9th, 2013

I had been on an adventurous tour of the city of Cairns and on my return trip I almost got trapped into a fight... I had been walking down one of the main streets when a white Australian girl pushed me out of her way. I wondered what she could be in such a rush where she would purposefully push people out of her way when it wasnt that crowded. She then proceeded onward toward an Aboriginal girl and a group of young adolescent Aboriginal males. As the white Australian girl closed in on the Aboriginal girl she stepped on her thongs (flip-flops), and pushed her into a puddle. The young adolescent males rushed to the girls aid. Then moved on to get into the face of the white Australian girl, and since I was right behind her the moved towards me thinking I was with her. Quickly, I signaled that I didnt want any trouble and I power walked my way not looking back to see what else that happened... As you can see from the above instance, some Aboriginals are still being treated poorly by some of the white Australians.

Second Encounter: Friday May 17th, 2013

This second encounter is a mix of three or four other encounters, I have done this simply because of the same occurance happening repeatedly. That day I just ran into many different Aboriginals who were fighting amongst themselves in the streets of Alice Springs. Fortunately, they looked out for me and the others that were walking with me. By looked out, I mean they made sure they didnt touch us. I saw many different kinds of fights that went from verbal to physical violence. Hopefully these disputes will be settled soon. Another interesting fact that the group and I have learned is that Aboriginal people feel uncomfortable being inside buildings so they tend to crowd streets and just hang out outside.

Third Encounter: Saturday May 18th, 2013

In this third encounter I was eating by myself at a nearby KFC, and there were a few elder Aboriginal people hanging around. After I was done eating I was approached by one of these older Aboriginal. He did not speak but used hand motions to indicate that basically he wanted to eat whatever food I had leftover. Now I know that giving money away to people is against the law here, but I also did not know how that law would apply to food... But in any case I had no food leftover because I have a huge appetite. I felt really bad for the guy, but I did try to signal back to him and I showed him that I had no food left. I felt bad but I also did not want to get in trouble and I left after throwing my trash today. Aboriginal people are still being short-handed with wages and are the poorest people in Australia. Many find it difficult to find jobs in todays society because of a lot of misleading stereotypes.

Animal Observation

While walking through Alice Spring on this beautiful sunny day we came across a wild Charlie eating his lunch.  It is very rare to see these creatures in the wild.  We do believe that it is of the Mitchell family of all the Charlies here in Australia this one is the most rare.  We were even lucky enough to see him wearing the famous Charlie hat.  Observed at Monte's Lounge around 3:30pm.

Daintree Rainforest National Park: A Good Day for Fauna

We were granted a welcome break from the rain today, ironically by heading into the rainforest.  A drive up along the coast, boat cruise along the Daintree River, and some foot-based wandering in the forest and mangrove swamp brought us into contact with a number of must-photo species.  A selection below:

A "baby" estuarine crocodile, maybe two years old

 

Scarface, the dominant male in the area.  Given that this guy checks in at 4.5 meters in length, I think "dominant" may understate the case. Earlier this month the guide had seen him pushing a pig up river.

To learn about the incident of inter-species inappropriateness that happened next, you will have to ask Christina North 

Some of the scariest creatures we saw all day:

Boyd's Forest Dragon

A Mangrove Goanna.  These guys learn to associate picnickers with free lunch.

The mangrove forest where our goanna friend makes his home.  Sand and trees and wild roots.  How cool is that?

  

A Cassowary: rare, endangered, and funky (look on YouTube for videos of Cassowary attacks.)

Finally, from the photos below you should be able to compile an image of a python, which had been sitting in this same tree in the same position for several days digesting its latest big meal.  These guys may be the world champion couch potatoes, resting for days without moving while they digest their food.  As for lesson learned here: photographing straight up into the sky tends to produce washed-out images . . .

Two weeks into our trip, and I am still amazed at how similar Australia is to the US. When we first arrived in Sydney, I kept forgetting we were in Australia. There were plenty of reminders (Accents, etc.), but Sydney is remarkably similar to NYC. Being a big city, it is not hard to understand why, but it surprised me nonetheless. Traveling to Canberra did not change my views, as it is very much like Washington DC. Brisbane began to provide the foreign feeling I had been expecting, although it is still a big city and thus continued to have signature city themes. Now in Cairns, I feel like we are finally beginning to understand what Australia is really about. This city, though still highly aimed at tourists, seems to be have a more Australian atmosphere. The beaches and weather provide the typical outlook on Australia, and I noticed that there are many more Aboriginal peoples walking around here than in other cities we have visited. Visiting such a variety of places, from cities to islands, is beginning to give me a true view of Australia - one much different than the portrayal in the media!

I would like to focus on a specific comparison of Australia to the US - how we treat our Natives.

I would like to commend Australia for the strong emphasis they put on their Aboriginal peoples. The many guides that have taught us always describe how important these peoples are to their history, to nature, and to what Australia is today. Whenever I have heard Aborigines mentioned, it is always with great respect. The Aborigines today are recognized for their connection to the land, for all of their inventions, and for their intelligence and creativity. Their spiritual beliefs are known and people try hard to avoid interrupting them.

Unfortunately, the Aboriginal people did undergo very rough times before Australia got to this point; times when the white men felt they were superior. Just like in America, natives were pulled from families, forced to learn the white mans way, and ignore their culture. This created a lost generation, and many languages are forever gone. However, Australia is now trying to correct these tremendous errors in judgement. Many schools teach Aboriginal languages along side English, and Aboriginal culture is now encouraged rather than buried.

On this trip, I have heard countless words of respect to the Aboriginal way of life, and have also learned many of the Dreamings. I really enjoyed hearing about the native Australians, but I realized that  the natives are revered much more here than in America. I began to wonder if The Aboriginal population was very large here compared to the Native American population in America, but I learned that they make up less than 1%! I find it truly amazing that even though they make up such a small population today, the Aborigines are studied, their Dreamings are known, and their culture is respected.

Australia natives and American natives both had tremendous intelligence, invented many tools, discovered many uses of nature, respected and helped nature, practiced spiritual beliefs and ceremonies,  and provided crucial characteristics to the emergence of our countries. Both were disrespected and displaced by colonists and eventually citizens of the country, and both were eventually apologized to and given back rights.

The large difference is thus the amount of acknowledgment and respect that they are given. Though in America young kids are taught in history class about the Natives role in America and their beliefs, we are quick to forget. National Parks and historical sites often mention their role in the area, but, in general, the American population does not refer to natives the way that Australians do. Most of us do not know their creation stories, we do not understand the ins and out of their spiritual beliefs, we are not working so hard to retain their culture, and they are not brought up daily in words of respect.

When I see how much Australians know about their natives, it makes me sad to know that most Americans are not as educated, caring and respectful of the people who are so important to our past, our present, and our future.


Anyway - on a lighter note - here is a song that I enjoy and find pretty funny :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHWLSypLFNM

The Great Barrier Reef

Though the weather wasn't quite as nice as we would have hoped, and people got sea sick on the boat, our day over the Great Barrier Reef was well worth while to me. On Tuesday night we all went to reef teach and learned about the many different things we may come across out on the reef. Our instructor was hilarious and kept us awake even though it was later in the evening. Once we finally braved the trip the next day and made it to the spot where we could snorkel and scuba dive things just got better and better. I had never gone scuba diving before and I was nervous about how my ears might react to the pressure, but I was excited regardless. I convinced myself that it would be worth it; when would I ever get the opportunity to scuba dive on the Great Barrier Reef again? One of the 7 wonders and the largest living structure! This is the thought that kept me going when it first started. We got suited up and weights strapped on and of course, our breathing tanks, flippers and goggles! There were two of us to one professional and there were two groups that went at the same time. So we walked to the back of the boat and took a large step into the rough water. It was terrifying at first controlling my breathing and being tossed around by the waves but the instructor that I had was so nice and comforting I felt I could trust her and I did as she mimed. She kept me calm and I focused on my breathing and popping my ears as we went deeper on the reef. I was thankful to have her as my guide as she pointed out so many of the things we had learned about the night before! I saw nemo, a sea turtle and so many other fish and corals, including one she let me touch! It was such a rewarding experience and once I finally relaxed and stopped biting down on my mouthpiece like it was the end of the world I was able to have a truly enjoyable experience. The only picture I have to show for it is of the certificate that proves I did it, but it's going to be hard to forget all of the things I saw!

Photos from Moreton Island

Photos from Moreton Island

(Written 8 May in Cairns, where it's rainy)

I have a bit of a quandry. 

Fraser Island is nice; we've done something with it since 2008, and in some years before.  But in 2012, some of the students said that we should do a camping trip earlier in the course to help the students bond.  Sounds like a good idea -- we have camped on Fraser Island before, as well as Moreton Island. 

The only commercial group that camps on Fraser Island is Sunrover.  You can read reviews of Sunrover yourself; suffice it to say that once I found Bushwackers Eco Tours, I was much more satisfied.  But Bushwackers does not camp on Fraser, though I have pleaded wtih them many time.  They bring us to a resort on the island for the night, so it's pretty darned expensive.  Th folks at Bushwackers would always suggest that I consider camping on Moreton instead.  So, this year, I gave in.  We camped on Moreton. 

My quandry has to do with the future.  Assuming the fates allow me to continue to do this course, I have to decide which is better:  camping on Moreton or resort stay on Fraser.

The case for Fraser is substantial.  One gets to see dingoes roaming the island.  There are serious sub-tropical rainforests in the center.  Some wonderful views, and a nice resort. 

But Moreton is very good as well.  Bushwacker campsites are very nice.  We get to see some smaller, sclerophyll forests (on a sand island!).  There is a large tidal flat area that, at low tide, abounds with many creatures.  Here are some:

Soldier crabs.  Moreton island, 2013.

Brahminy Kite.  Moreton Island, 2013.

Australian pelicans.  Moreton Isalnd, 2013.

Puffer fish.  Moreton Island, 2013.

Sandworms.  Moreton Island, 2013.

Sea cucumber?  Moreton Island, 2013.

Juvenile shovel-nosed shark.  Moreton Island, 2013.

So, there's a lot to see on Moreton.  It's also economical; it is camping and not resort stay; the travel time is less, and one can see more of the island in three days. 

So, I cannot decide what to do in 2014. 

Cooking with Vegemite, part two

Cooking with Vegemite, part two

(Written 5 May, 2013, in Brisbane.  The weather was nice.)

I have now cooked several meals with Vegemite, mostly variations on the first one -- some had other vegetables or other meats.  One that was especially good was a sausage, apple, and cabbage dish seasoned with curry powder.  I probably would have added honey or golden syrup had it been available, and replaced the curry powder with coriander and ginger, but it was pretty good as it was. 

But I have reached my first conclusion:  Vegemite is an outstanding ingredient for stir-fry of all types.  A tablespoon or so will replace soy sauce or other salty agents in the cooking, though the salt content of the Vegemite is not at all overwhelming when added.  I've added the Vegemite at the final stages of cooking, when the meat and vegetables are combined and I've added some water to steam the vegetables a bit.  The Vegemite does not like to dissolve, so it needs to be swished around a bit -- one could do this by putting the vegemite in a bowl with a little water and whisking; I tried something like this with a fork but only had partial success breaking it up.  The effect is to thicken the broth slightly, like adding butter to finish a dish.  I'd suggest treating it like a soup base or bouillon cube.  In this regard, it's a lot like Bovril.

The flavor is very nice:  a little nutty, reminiscent of a satay or other peanut sauce.  The intense saltiness is diluted to a very pleasant level.  In one case, I was tempted to add a little salt to brighten it up.  It worked well with both curry powder and Thai seasoning (garlic, basil, and chilies , but I expect that the flavor will complement any type of stir-fry.  If you would put soy sauce in it, Vegemite should work well, too. 

I am not sure what is next.  We will be in Cairns for a week, so I will be thinking about other things to do with it.  I might try coating chicken with it, then breading it and frying the result.  Just to check it out.  

The Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary was my favorite zoo to visit on the trip so far. It was great feeling like a kid again getting to hold animals and feeding them too. One of the first things I did was take a picture with a koala. Right before I went for the picture the koala decided to poop. Im glad the lady waited for him to finish before handing him to me. I was still scared it was going to poop some more after. Holding a koala felt like holding a big baby. It was so adorable. I also got a chance to hold a python which was so exciting. It felt weird when the snake was moving while I was holding it and it was very heavy as well. The best part of that day was getting to feed the kangaroos! It was so much fun. At first i was scared because ive never been that close to a kangaroo before. Once i started feeding them it was amazing. I was having so much fun and I didn't want my food to run out.  It was an amazing experience and I was glad i got the chance to do it! 

ANZAC Day

Christine, Jill, and I went to see the ANZAC day parade a little after it started. It was great to see the parade and Australians who were fighting for their country. There were so many people on the side and at restaurants sitting outside to watch the parade. We saw planes that would fly above the parade which I though was very cool. We walked all the way to the ANZAC memorial where they were setting up for the ceremony. We saw two horses. They were fake but sounded real and moved real. There were two people in each horse that would move it. It was very cool to watch. We also meet a professor from one of the universities who saw we were americans. She was very excited to see us studying abroad in Australia and offered us to meet her at circular quay to meet her students who are studying abroad in the university. It was great to be around so many Australians celebrating their country with them. Where ever we walk there was celebrations going on. We went over to the rocks where we got to see another part of sydney. It was beautiful. We went on the Sydney Harbor Bridge and got to see the Opera house. It was an amazing view of Sydney.  It was also unbelievable on how long the lines were to get into some of the bars. In one of the bars they had part of a marching band to celebrate  ANZAC day. I would have to say that this was a successful first free day!