The Land Down Under

"I've been traveling on a boat

in a plane

in a car, on a bike

with a bus, and a train." ~George Harrison

I don't remember how the idea got in my head in the first place. I must have been watching "Crocodile Dundee". Somehow the idea that I had to go to Australia got in my head and would not let go. I have wanted to go to Australia since I was nine years old. It took me 25 years to get there, but finally, my dream trip happened!

I traveled on Oz Experience (http://www.ozexperience.com/), a bus tour catering to backpackers. It is hop-on, hop-off - you can get off when and where you want. As I had one month exactly to do everything I had always wanted to do, I had my trip planned down to the last day. I booked all my buses online through Oz Experience. I also booked all my hostels, my tour of the Red Centre, and my inter-Australia flight from Cairns to Alice Springs before leaving Canada.

I was a bit worried about not getting my entry visa, but it was not problem at all. The visa can be obtained online. It takes maximum three days to get and it is in the Customs Officer's records when you arrive at Sydney airport.

I had one day in Sydney before my tour started, so I walked around the Rocks, an old area of Sydney near the Harbour Bridge. It took me some time to find the walkway to the Harbour Bridge, but I eventually found it. I took some amazing photos of the Sydney Opera House. I was so excited to be there! It was amazing.

The next day I learned to surf. It is really difficult - I could only get up on my knees. But that was good enough for me. It is really difficult to fight the waves and surfing takes a lot of upper body strength.

I traveled to Fraser Island - the deadliest place on earth! The island has the deadliest spiders and snakes in the world. It is also home to dingos, a wild dog that has been known to attack people. Did I mention I have arachnophobia? A spider fell out of a tree onto a girl in my group who was walking ahead of me. Let's just say, I am very glad it was not me the spider fell on!

The Great Barrier Reef is so amazing, I snorkeled it twice! The first time I went to the Southern Great Barrier Reef, out of Airlie Beach. It was really neat to see the coral. I was a bit scared, though, because the waves were really strong out in the ocean like that. The second time I went, it was out of Cairns. This was better. The water is clearer in the Northern Great Barrier Reef.

My tour took us to two different places. The first was Michaelmas Cay (http://www.cairnsattractions.com.au/michaelmas-cay.php). This was really cool. It is another world under the sea. Very peaceful. I saw lots of different types of colourful fish, and the coral is so pretty! Michaelmas Cay is a bird sanctuary, so when I put my head above water, it was like a scene from Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds". It was very noisy above water! The second place the tour took us to was again, out in the middle of the ocean. Again, I did not like swimming there, so I went for a little while, but probably could have stayed out longer. The fish and coral were amazing to see.

One of the highlights for me was hugging a koala. Years ago, my aunt went to Australia and got a photo of her holding a koala. I wanted to do that. I went to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Brisbane. To "hug a koala", the price was $17 AUS. Pretty steep considering you can also take photos yourself. This is to fund the sanctuary. But it was worth it! I have a photo of me hugging a koala!

Finally, I took a flight to Alice Springs to see the Red Centre. The flight was really expensive, but totally worth it. I camped near Uluru the first night. I slept in a "tent". The tents were more like small, minimalistic cabins. Others in my group slept out under the stars in swag bags.

Uluru is impressive. It is more than "just a big rock". As you walk around Uluru, you will see that the rock face has designs in it. Parts of the rock are sacred to the aboriginals and you are not allowed to take photos of these areas. If you are caught taking a photo, your camera is confiscated and you are fined $5500 AUS. The aboriginals are upset that a westerner decided that it would be a good idea to allow tourists to climb the rock. As the aboriginal chief put it: "White man's idea". If you think about it though, it would be the equivalent of someone foreign coming to our country and climbing on and defacing our churches or synagogues.

 I used a lot of different modes of transportation while in Oz. When I listen to George Harrison's song "Any Road", I think of my trip to Australia.

I am so glad that I had the opportunity to finally fulfill my dream of traveling to Australia! It was definitely a trip of a lifetime.

~Angie

The Weekend Market

Beetles (as food)

Bugs for Sale

Fried squid on a stick

Chicken, anyone?

The Weekend Market in Bangkok, Thailand, is an interesting experience. You can buy anything there. I eventually bought a dress, but a large variety of goods is yours for the taking if you are interested.

There are animals for pets, and to eat, whatever suits your fancy. The smell of food left in the sun (with flies all over it) was less than appetizing, in my opinion. There were bugs to eat, chicken, squid; pets included rabbits, dogs, snakes. You want it, it's there. There are buddha statues, ornaments, clothing, rugs, furniture. If you can't find what you are looking for at the Weekend Market, then you have a problem.

There is pandemonium and confusion everywhere. It is loud. It smells. It takes a few hours to go through, because it is spread out over a really large area, with stalls in neat rows, yet it is a maze. It is very easy to get lost. My mom did not buy a pair of shorts that she wanted when she had the chance. We tried to find the stall again. No luck. We were lost.

If you are ever in Bangkok, definitely go to the Weekend Market if you have a chance. You will come home with stories to tell!

Angie

Democracy and Government in New Zealand and Canada

 I voted in the Advance Polls today for the Alberta Election. This got be thinking about the Parliament buildings in New Zealand. It also reminded me of the history behind women's right to vote.

The parliament buildings in Wellington, New Zealand were each constructed during a different period starting in the late 1800's and ending in the 1970's. The House of Representatives and part of the library were destroyed by fire as well. So each has a very different style.

The Parliament building is called the Beehive, because that is what it looks like. The House of Representatives was built again in 1912. The cool thing about both the House of Representatives and the Library is that the foundation was enhanced by concrete and rubber cushions to make it so that they are earthquake proof. I'm not sure how to explain this without visuals, but I will try since I was not allowed to take photos. A mote was dug out around the original foundation and new concrete was poured. Then holes were drilled into the old foundation and rubber springs (I forget the exact name of these special coils) were placed into the holes. So the old foundation and the entire building is resting on the new foundation and the springs. When an earthquake happens, the ground moves, but the building stays put. Really cool.

I think one of the coolest things about New Zealand is that it was the first country to allow women the right to vote. In 1893, New Zealand Parliament passed a law that allowed women to vote for the first time. Since then, New Zealand has had two female Prime Ministers.

I think it is important for women to vote. We did not always have that right. When I watch "Anne of Green Gables", there is one part in which Marilla, Rachel Linde, and the Barry's go to Charlottetown to meet the Prime Minister of Canada, who at that time would have been Sir Wilfred Laurier. Anne is left in Avonlea with Matthew. They talk about politics and she asks him which party he votes for. Anne says to Matthew that if she had the right to vote, she would vote the same as him.

This is a reminder to me that we did not always have the right to vote in Canada. Between 1914 and 1960, women were granted the right to vote  in various provinces across Canada. I am reminded, as a Calgarian, of Nellie McClung and the Group of Five, who fought for women's right to vote in Canada.

So, don't let history and those who fought for our rights and freedoms be a waste. Get out and vote. It's your right!

Angie

Mind The Gap

London Underground Sign

Shop on Portobello Road, Notting Hill

Sherlock Holmes Statue, just off Baker Street

Tower Bridge

On my first visit to London, in 1999, I was afraid to use the London Underground. It was very scary. All those confusing lines on the map were very intimidating.

When I returned ten years later, I had a very full day of going to Abbey Road, Baker Street, Notting Hill, Kensington, Kensington Palace, and finally Hyde Park. The only way to do this quickly was to use the Underground.

It is not as scary as it seemed. In fact, the London Underground is a brilliant system that is very easy to use. There are signs posted at the beginning of tunnels telling you what stations are on that particular line. Then, once on the platform, there are signs again indicating which stations are along the line. It is simple, really.

I love the Tube. It is one of my favourite things about London. It makes transportation easy for commuters and makes the whole city accessible.

As you descend to the platform, there are signs on the escalators reminding you to keep right. This is so that you do not slow down passengers who are in a hurry. When you get to the platform and a train is approaching, you are reminded to "Mind the Gap!"

Angie

Crocodile Country

While in Mission Beach, Australia, I was told to make sure I was on the side of the creek where my hostel was located because high tide would make the water as high as my chin - and there are crocodiles.

I went to Innisfail, Queensland. The town is bigger than Innisfail, Alberta & has a crocodile farm. I held a baby crocodile - it felt really nice. The lady who brought him out said he would make a good Gucci purse. That is what he felt like. Most of the crocodiles on the farm are there for the purpose of selling for their skin & meat.

I also held an American Alligator. He had rougher skin. And I held a snake! It was a little scary at first, especially when he started moving his head!

Very cool!

Angie

Welcome!

Welcome to my new blog!

I will be talking about my travel experiences here, both past and present. Places I have traveled to include: Western Europe, UK, Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada, Fiji and Thailand. I will be posting stories about my adventures both past and present, plus travel related tips.

Enjoy!

Angie