Ah-h-h "The Wonders of the Land Down Under-Australia!

Just thinking about the wonderful vacation we experienced a few years ago to that fabulous
land "down under"--exciting Australia--& wanted to share some of the top adventures there! We had saved our frequent flyer miles until we had enough to receive 2 round-trip free tickets to
the Queensland Area, (& we exchanged our "Resort Condo Int." for a 5-Star Hotel there in Brisbane, Australia. ) Such an exciting time of our lives--they treated us like royalty, and the
land & the "Aussies" are just so interesting & beautiful!! We flew on Delta Airlines to Los Angeles, then boarded Air New Zealand (they moved us free up to First Class-what a thrill!!), I
think the clerk just "liked our looks"(chuckle) & did that out of the goodness of her heart!! It was a very long flight, & we were up in the air for eons it seemed--showed movies, served meals
3 times, gave us all the "royalty treatment"! We stopped first in Auckland, New Zealand--such
an outstanding, truly beautiful land--so clean & green--nature at it's best!! We took a cruise
for a day out of Auckland Harbor--was fabulous, & they served us dinner on the cruise--met a
lady that makes "jewelry" & sells it to shops in Auckland,& other very interesting folks! The
Captain let us steer the ship for a bit--a big thrill too! Then the next day we flew on over to
Brisbane, Australia--such a busy, modern city, & our hotel was right on the beach, 80 stories
high, & had all the amenities you can imagine--a luxury hotel in every way--Wow--we just
wanted to "pinch ourselves to make sure it was real"--& was so exciting to finally be in the
great land "down under"! We did a great amount of sight-seeing, sunning on their fabulous
beaches, riding bikes. We even saw a" Wedding right on the beach" at sunset one evening, as we
were having dinner in this beautiful restaurant--The couple, 2 witnesses & the Minister, who
had just pronounced the pair as "Just Married"(Groom-very elderly,Bride-very young)--she
surely married him for his $$(chuckle, was not his looks-(chuckle). He was able to carry her a couple feet, (almost dropped her) & then she said let's run down to the ocean, so off she ran--pulled
off her shoes, jumped a small fence to the water, & he was barely making his way slowly down
to the water after her--they were both laughing & she was in the water,& he came to meet her,
kissing & hugging her, as their photographer snapped away for the Wedding photos!! It was delightful to see all this & we got a few photos for keepsakes too! Then, after the first week
in Aussie-land, we wanted to make our way up to the famous "Whit-Sunday Islands" to take a
boat(Catamaran) out to the best part of The Exciting Great Barrier Reef, and the hotel manager advised us to take an overnight bus up to the Whit-Sundays(much more reasonable
than flying there)--so we did, my husband was able to sleep, but I was wide awake, as they
showed a fabulous movie on the bus on the way up there! The bus did make an unscheduled
stop on the way,(said someone had reported him for "crossing over the white-line 3 times, &
he was being re-placed by another driver,which irritated him to no end,& he said,"I'm not drunk"!) So, with the new driver, we finally arrived at the Whit-Sunday Island's port(this is
where most of the "celebrities" go out to their private island retreats,etc, & was highly recommended for our tour there. We boarded the large catamaran (boat), & the Captain welcomed us on board, saying it was about a 2 hr. ride out to the best part of the reef, & we
could snorkle up to our heart's content--taking in all the beauty while swimming along with
all the beautiful fish, & taking in the wonders of the famous Great Barrier Reef--so off we
were, "sailing in the breeze, taking in the beauty of those famous islands--even saw some movie
star's in all their "finery" getting off their large yachts for vacationing in the Whit-Sundays!!
It was a grand and glorious time of our lives. My husband & I had been enjoying sunning on the top deck of the Catamaran for most of the trip, when I became thirsty & hungry, & decided to
go down below for refreshments (when I entered the lower deck, & opened the door--I couldn't
believe my eyes(about 150 folks were there with their baggies being "sea-sick")--I closed the
door quickly,& ran to the stalls for the snacks, & then so thankful we had taken our "dramamine" to avoid such an ordeal! The Captain on the speaker said, "All you folks down there that are not feeling well just now--rest assured that will stop as soon as the boat docks
in about 30 minutes or so, so take heart"!! The Captain gave instructions about the free
snorkling gear, how to use it,etc. & we were finally docked, & ready for the "real fun time at
The Reef!! We jumped into the water with gleeful yells, & the fish were absolutely beautiful,
and swimming right there with us, the reef was so beautiful & colorful--it would be impossible
to put into words the absolute variety of colors & plants, & live organisims surrounding us in
that fabulous place. All of a sudden--my legs,feet & arms, & chest begin stinging badly--like
I had been stung with fire-ants or something; so I asked the guide about it--He said that I
was allergic to all the tremendous "algae in the water, & suggested that I take the glass submarine next to us, that could go up very close to the reef in many different places, & I
would quit "stinging" as soon as I sponged off--That was very true, so off I went to ride the
beautiful "glass sub"--so fabulous, & the beauty is just beyond description! Each time the
sub would return to the small port, I would run around & get in line again to see more of the
reef (did that for 4 trips--magnificient)!! I do declare that this was one of the thrilling times
of our lives--to actually be right there at "The Reef"--experience it up close & personal! In
the meantime, my husband was playing with the "big fish", feeding them, and having the
"snorkling time of his life"!! He said, he was almost "scared at the size of one huge fish" that
bumped him, as he was swimming slowly along the great reef! Such a fabulous place, so if you
ever get the chance to go "down-under"--do not miss it! It is most rewarding, and worth the
long-long ride on the plane from the States! Finally, it was time to leave that beautiful spot at
The Reef, & return to the port in Whit-Sundays Islands--such grand sights, such beautiful
memories! We had dinner before leaving that beautiful area--such delicious seafood, such
beautiful people, such a grand experience. One regret about Aussie-land, we did not have enough
time to go to the "out-back", just saw a great film about it, as well as the huge, mysterious
Ayer's Rock--so beautiful at sunset as it changes colors rapidly! (We did take a tour to their
mountainous areas, & visited a "Kangaroo Farm"--but the kangaroos were in "mating time",
and the Manager would not let us go in--said we might be attacked by one of the "Roos"--so
we were content to watch them through the fencing(chuckle). Sure hope we can return someday, & see more of that fabulous, beautiful land down under! We never met a stranger
there--Aussies are very friendly, laid back, & smile all the time it seems! If you ever get a
chance to visit there--You will have the "time of your life"!!