31 May - 6 June - Singapore
...and then came Singapore! Hot, humid, incredibly neat and clean. It is difficult to imagine so many different cultures living here and everything being so well organized and neat.
We spent 5 days here and enjoyed the heat after Europe. The kids swam everyday and the parents went shopping.
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| Our Hotel in Singapore |
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| Little India |
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| Old and new |
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| On the road again |
Di loved the different types of Asian food that was available everywhere...well, Jodi and I sort of got to know the Micky D's and Burger Kings quite well, while Cameron did not miss going into the pizza and pasta joints.
Thank goodness the 5 days were over quite quickly, 'cos the credit cards would not have lasted.
6-20 June - Australia
We did not see Sydney, as we overnighted at an airport Holiday Inn and flew on to Brisbane the next day.
The thing that struck us here in Oz till now, was the similarities to South Africa.... Of course there are severe differences...but coming from Europe, with its rich history and culture, it was clear that the similarities had very much to do with the 'newness' of everything ie the general infrastructure, as well as the space.
The one thing that is VERY different to Namibia and SA…is that our ladies are WAY better looking than their Sheila’s!
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| Wheels in Oz - its a huge country |
In Brisbane we stayed with a mate of mine from many years ago. The last time I saw Barry (Theato), he was in handcuffs and being escorted to the Cape Town airport to be deported back to the UK...long story short ..."Hell hath no fury as a woman scorned..." or something along those lines, but you get my drift!
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| Barry Theato (Baz) |
Barry and his wife Megan put us up for nearly 10 days and the kids had real jol playing with their 2 kiddies, Daniel and Aimee. We did however, during this period, spend 4 days on Moreton Island at the Tangalooma Resort. Beautiful Island! The resort was a little bit disappointing in as such that it was a bit of a tourist factory, but Di and the kids did get to hand feed dolphins - wild ones in the sea! (as opposed to tame ones in a pool J)
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| Feeding Dolphins |
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| Snorkling with Jodi |
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| Bushtucker Tour |
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| Kayaking with Cameron |
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| There are fish in the sea |
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| Kookaburra |
Back at Baz and Megan's place we went and discovered a bit of Brisbane, which had recently been damaged by massive floods. The city has recovered well and generally has a nice feel to it.
Baz and I spent a few late nights and many stubby's and Sambuca’s later, catching up on old times. It was great seeing old Treacle again and that he is doing well and has a great family.
After the leaving the Theato's we travelled north along the Bruce(yup!) Highway and rented a great apartment at Kings Beach in Caloundra. Miles of white beaches, rocky outcrops and clear waters.
Di did some delicious home cooking and we settled down nicely to more of a routine again.
The kiddies caught up on schoolwork, went swimming everyday and generally mucked about exploring the area.
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| Crikey Mate |
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| Joey |
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| Looks Like Johan de Jager |
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| Cute and Cuddly |
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| Good Advice |
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| Swimming with a tiger - Dont try this at home |
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| Taz Devil |
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| Cameron the Crocodile- Really |
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| My favourite - a wombat |
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| WTF |
We met up with Uncle Gerald and his friend Bev, who specially came up from Melbourne to visit. Gerald’s Di’s moms’ brother (– sheesh that’s a load of apostrophe’s!!)… caught up, and spend some late evenings chatting.
We also went to see ‘Oupa’ Fritz(also Dianne’s family…must be a nest somewhere in Oz!?) and the kids met their cousin Mia.
Cameron and myself spent a day fishing in Currimundi and, lo’ and behold, we caught fish…in the river as well as the sea…so Hartu, as current and reigning fishing champ…eat my bait!!!!
Oh yeah, Crickey mate! We nearly forgot to mention Australia Zoo! Brought to fame by good ole’ Steve “ain’t she a beauty!!” Irwin, who tragically died while filming stingrays under water.
Being from Africa, we’re not partial to the concept of zoo’s in general. BUT the Australia Zoo is not to be missed. Well run, clean, humane(for my lack of the equivalent animal word) and very informative.
In the meantime we have been trying to get earlier flights back to SA…unfortunately Jodi’s eye is taking some strain. Here my mom has been an absolute gem! She helped with the insurances to get our flights sorted so that we can get back sooner.
It’s a bit of a bummer to have to leave earlier but some things are just more important!
If all goes well we should be back in SA by the beginning of July.
We will be off to Hervey Bay for our last few days in Australia. Derek and Karin, friends of ours that we met when he brought a group to Namibia, has generously given us the use of their holiday apartment in Hervey Bay…it’s just a pity we cannot stay longer. We’re starting to get into the Australian scene, albeit with all their rules and regulations.
