Australia...

G'Day Mate! Blog capabilities are now back in order. :)

Our trip to Sydney was absolutely fantastic! Chris, Noah, and I couldn't have had a better vacation. We packed in about as much activity as we could with a 7 month old in tow and he did fabulously, especially on both 10-hour flights. Noah was a big hit with the airline stewardesses--they cooed incessantly over what a good baby he was and I think he enjoyed all the attention he received. For parents who haven't flown with small children yet, night flights are definitely the way to go!

Now that I've made two trips to Australia, one to Cairns (destination for exploring the Great Barrier Reef) and one to Sydney, I know I'll never be able to get enough vacation time there to satisfy my interests. The landscape on the eastern coastline is so wonderfully diverse, with rugged "outback" terrain, deserts, beaches, mountains, and rainforests all within close proximity of each other. You could be lying on Manly beach in the early morning, enjoying a mimosa and reading up on the life of sculptor Rayner Hoff, and that very afternoon be drinking your way through a bottle of Verdelho (from Hunter Valley, of course) as you stop for an early evening picnic while overlooking a beautiful sunset in the Blue Mountains.

For our very first day in Sydney (mind you, Chris and I just gotten off a red-eye flight), the three of us just spent several hours at a park near Sydney Harbour. It was so relaxing! We played with Noah on a hill under an olive tree, watching the sailboats glide in and around Port Jackson, the Harbour Bridge, and the iconic Sydney Opera House. The grass there was warm and inviting, and I couldn't resist ditching my shoes and running my toes through it after having spent four months in boots and a ski jacket in northern Japan. Nearby, wild cockatoos and lorikeets--birds I had previously seen only in pet stores and zoos--were wandering amongst the park's visitors, hoping for an afternoon handout. I could have stayed there all day, just watching and unwinding.

We also made day trips to both the Blue Mountains and Hunter Valley. During our trip into the mountains, it was raining and the lush green of the peaks were partially concealed by the rain clouds and rolling fog drifting up from below. Despite the gloom, the combination of light and shade created some beautiful shots for the camera. Our sky car guide commented that such rain would normally block all views from the lookout points, obstructing both the valley and the waterfalls. We were lucky—it was beautiful.

Having Noah with us prevented taking in as many “cellar door” visits in Hunter Valley as we’d have liked, but we managed to visit two separate wineries, collect three bottles of excellent vino, as well enjoy the botanical gardens located there. As it was Fall in Australia, much of the flowering plants had ceded producing blossoms, but I did find a Magnolia tree in which blooms were just beginning to open. I was excited…I had traveled halfway around the world from origins in Georgia to discover the same tree of my childhood (one stands in my parents’ front yard) also grew in southern Australia. I smelled the petals and their fragrance brought back many great memories of my youth…watching red cardinals partake of the seeds, climbing and hanging from its branches, and a memory I’m particularly fond of, pelting my sister with the pointy (and painful) cones they produce. ;) Between wineries, we also witnessed a herd of kangaroos grazing beside a small lake. I just had to take a picture. ‘Roos in the wild…imagine that. So, Christopher Robin really wasn’t making it all up…they really do exist! :)

We also managed to go to the Sydney Aquarium (apparently one of the best in the world, or so they say), as well as Featherdale Wildlife Park. If you ever visit Sydney, I would strongly suggest Featherdale over Toronga Zoo—while it is a large complex, you don’t have the opportunity to pet (or chase and taunt) anything at the latter. What fun is there in that?? :) All kidding aside, it was fantastic watching Noah interact with the animals—he smiled at the wallabies, grabbed for the kangaroos, stroked a koala, slept through the bird exhibits (so did I) and reptile house, and did a lot of head bobbing and weaving in the glass tunnel at the shark exhibit. That was really cool…. and the closest I ever want my baby to encounter a hungry, 15-foot tiger shark!!

Manly Beach was also an incredible spot to visit. Noah, Chris, and I rose early Friday morning, donned our swimwear (Noah was super cute in his, but peed his way through both the “waterproof” diaper AND “waterproof” swim shorts), and drove out to play in the sand and watch the surfers ride the waves. Residents of Manly Beach are clearly not hurting for money—I watched “glamour moms” strolling with their “glamour babies” and later drive away in their posh Mercedes. Walking along the sandy beach, I definitely felt like I was in Orange County, CA…I should probably mention that I’ve never actually been there, but based upon television’s all too accurate depictions of people and places, I’m pretty sure it makes for a good comparison. ;) It, at least, presents a good example of what living in Hawaii will be like in 9 months. I digress.

Noah was able to jump a few waves with Daddy’s assistance, rubbed his tiny toes in the sand, and attempted to shove handfuls of the stuff directly into his mouth. He loved it! We then walked the boardwalk up and down the beach, before heading back to Sydney for a final day of shopping and sightseeing.

Well, this is getting long and I’m running out of time as Noah has just finished his “ba-ba-ba”. Our trip to Sydney was a blast! We hope to one day return when Noah is a little older and can actually enjoy and remember all the sites, activities, and adventures!

Love,

Amanda