“It’s hard to imagine a bigger desert oasis than Las Vegas.” - Cinnamon Stomberger

Finally arrived in Las Vegas about 11pm Friday night. Flights all good until the last one out of Phoenix which was delayed over two hours because of thunderstorms in Las Vegas. Did make the flying over lightning pretty spectacular.

After a good sleep felt completely fine by Saturday morning. Spent the day meeting up with relatives and relatives of relatives, wandered the strip for a couple of hours looking at some fairly spectacular casinos and shopping areas, then back for a night show at our casino.

Everyone else left this morning so I went on a tour of a few casinos. There is some seriously extravagant opulence in this place. Went into some amazing places. Below are a few: the obligatory sign photo, inside the Wynn where there are amazing flowers and merry go rounds and things like parasol pools! Next down is the Venetian, this is all I side a casino with the sky painted on the roof. Caesars Palqce- again all inside. And the Bellagio with these incredible flowers. ( No Alleyne, I did not manage to steal you a gambling chip as requested sorry!)

Inside the Venetian

The 25 degree weather dictated a roof-top cocktail and swim by mid afternoon, then a trip to the top of the stratosphere tower to see some pretty amazing views of Las Vegas.

Last night I tried out a pokie machine- probably as brave as my gambling gets! Tried a titanic machine but it being my favourite movie didn't help. Lost $20 in about 3 minutes!

On the way back from dinner tonight I tried my luck on a "wolf" machine because it reminded me of the wolves off Game of Thrones. Put in $15, played for about 15 minutes and cashed out with $17. will use that tomorrow night!

Off to the Grand Canyon tomorrow on a tour. Pick up is at 6am so alarm is set for 5.30am and going to try and get to sleep a bit earlier tonight as it will be a very long day.

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In The Air Again

I'm not quite sure how I find myself sitting in a lounge at Auckland Airport about to depart overseas for the sixth time this year, visiting the fourth different country since January.

 

For someone who in 46 years had been to Australia three times and lived in Fiji for 18 months, all of a sudden in the last nine months the floodgates of travel have been opened!

 

Melbourne, Finland and Poland in January.

Melbourne, again, in February.

Brisbane in May.

Cairns in July.

 

And now, pretty much on a whim decided in the course of a weekend off to Las Vegas and San Francisco for 12 days.

 

There was a purpose to the Las Vegas part which is no longer, but no regrets about making the decision to go.

 

Nervous? Yes

Worried about doing it all completely by myself? Absolutely.

But, regrets about going? No.

 

"No single decision you ever made has led in a straight line to where you find yourself now. You peeked down some roads and took a few steps before turning back. You followed some roads that came to a dead end and others that got lost at too many intersections. Ultimately, all roads are connected to all other roads."

― Deepak Chopra, The Book of Secrets: Unlocking the Hidden Dimensions of Your Life

 

So I head off, hoping to meet up with a couple of relatives I haven't seen for a long time, meet new people and see a few more parts of the amazing world.

Will try to keep this as updated as possible!

 

 

 

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Don't Leave Home till You've Seen the Country...

 “Don’t leave town until you’ve seen the country” was the catch cry of the last domestic tourism campaign in the 1980s and nowhere in the world can this be more true than for New Zealand.

I've spent the last week on a journey around the East Cape with our Middle Years learners (10-15 year olds), a couple of other teachers, our teacher aides and some teachers in training.

We have fed stingrays at Tatapouri, walked historical wharves, and climbed to a lighthouse.
We stayed in public campgrounds, moved on each night and spent a lot of time together.
We saw seals and shags and some incredible scenery and secluded beaches.
We played on the sand and waded in the sea.

New Zealand is indeed a beautiful place. The East Cape can be like going back a little in time. It's uncommercialised, rough and remote. But it's also stunning, breath taking and incredible.

We spent four days on our journey from Te Karaka round the cape and back to Te Karaka. We learnt about looking out for each other, about patience and tolerance for each other, about being together in close quarters for extended periods of time. 

We confirmed that we work and learn with some pretty amazing adults. Adults who cared for kids, who cooked for kids, who were just there for kids all week. 

And that the students we work and learn with our pretty amazing young people with their own strengths and talents, some of which we don't always see in the everyday life of a classroom environment. We saw leadership and caring and initiative in people we don't always see those things from. We saw young people have courage to do  things they were scared of, and interact with their peers in a freedom they don't always have within the social confines of the school environment.




And we learnt what a beautiful part of the country we live in.

To Travel is to take a Journey into Yourself...Danny Kaye

 

So I've been back from Cairns for two weeks and meaning to write this every day........

 

Had a great time, achieved what I set out to and learnt a lot.

 

I can investigate a strange place all by myself

 

I can use some social courage and make myself meet and talk to other people

 

I am fitter than I was a couple of years ago and I can walk a lot longer than I used to, but I'm still not so great on the whole uphill stairs thing....an ongoing goal in progress!!

 

I don't need to wait until I'm with someone else to enjoy doing things in the world, I snorkelled, and I marvelled at nature, I learnt about different cultures, I enjoyed meals and shows and I did all of that by myself.

 

Staying in a hostel is infinitely better for all of the above than staying in a hotel

 

The Great Barrier Reef is incredible. If the other 7 natural wonders of the world are as outstanding maybe visiting all of them over the next few years will become my next goal!

 

 

Certainly, travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living. Mary Ritter Beard

 

 

 

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Tjapukai Aboriginal Park

Went to dinner and a show here last night. W as a great thing to do on my last night here.

Glass of wine on arrival, and then we were all painted up in face paint. (Photos on my camera so will have to wait for those!)

Issues some clapping sticks and had to join a long line and follow some men to the fire pit where we sang chants and danced around the fire, resulting in fire being made from sticks which was then thrown on a spear across the river making a big fire.

Some warriors then carried the fire back down the river on a canoe and we had to chant and follow them into dinner which was a really nice buffet.

 

Enjoyed dinner with a lovely man from Italy and a great couple from Tasmania who I'd met earlier on the bus.

 

After dinner was some dancing and story telling and then out to the fire for some photo opportunities.

 

A lovely way to spend my last night in Cairns.

 

Better get packing now. Have to be at the airport in a couple of hours.

 

 

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Crocodiles, Snakes and A Very Hot Day

 

There is a Malayan proverb that says : "Don't think there are no crocodiles because the water is calm."

How fascinating these primitive creatures are. I spent today at hartleys crocodile and wildlife adventures. Those crocodiles are amazing. you wouldn't even know they are in the water and the next minute they are jumping and jaw snapping at some proffered food.

 

 

 

 

The better. pictures are again on my camera, so will need to wait until I'm united with my computer? tu an awesome day.

 

 

 

Had salt and pepper crocodile for lunch. Kinda tasted like chicken really.

 

I've eaten lion, leopard, crocodile, python. I don't recommend lion. It tastes exactly like when a tomcat comes into your house and sprays. Snake and crocodile are great - a cross between lobster and chicken.

Wilbur Smith

 

The baby croc was quite cool to hold, really soft. Completely not what I expected.

 

The snake on the other hand.....! The lady took a photo and then said she didn't think it was great and maybe she should take another one. I assured her it would be fine and to get the damn thing off me straight away. You could really feel it's muscles and it's power and strength trying to squirm around on you!

 

Another great day. Although hot again. Hit over 26 today. It's supporting though how quickly you get used to the temperatures. I think I'm in for a rude surprise when I land in NZ tomorrow night!

Off to a dinner and show at the aboriginal centre tonight.

 

And then packing in the morning. Have to be at the airport by 10 am.

 

 

 

 

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Wonders of the World

Spent Wednesday out on the Great Barrier Reef. There's a reason it's called on of the natural wonders of the world. The coral was incredible, and the fishes just simply amazing.

 

Snorkelled in the 25 degree water, not even needing a wet suit. The underwater scenery was just amazing. I have photos on a USB but need a computer to load them.

 

Took advantage of a scenic helicopter tour on offer top see the reef from above. No wonder there were so many shipwrecks here. It must have been such a hazard for ships when it wasn't known about!

 

Beautiful 25-26 degrees most of the day out there.

 

 

Might have to put visitng the other wonders of the world on the to do list if they are all as amazing as this one!

 

 

Didn't do much last night. Had an early sleep, after doing some washing. Worn out from a long day in the sun.

 

Off to an crocodile park this morning. Those things really fascinated me the other day so thought I'd spend a day with them!

 

 

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