Brisbane

We have arrived in Brisbane - getting to spend some time with our family here. They have two very cute kiddies so doing lots of rolling around on the floor. And delight of delights, there is "swing bat" in the garden which I haven't played since I was a kid.

We passed through Byron Bay on the way to Brisbane. Famous for its beautiful beach and laid back hippie life style - though we saw no hippies, just lots of trendy coffee bars. Great spot though. If I was a plumber, this might just be where I would settle.


We spent a weekend with Ally's uncle and aunt, Richard and Beth, at their house in Bodrum. They were wonderful and we had a fantastic time with lots of laughs and memories. Ally got to speak to her dad and gran on the phone which was very special. Here we are at the coast, just 10 minutes from where they live.


This dog at the beach was enjoying a dip in a rock pool. Not suprising since it was 27 degrees. Not bad for winter!


I can't get enough of the crashing waves in Australia. Soon as we settle, I'll be investing in a paddle ski.


Yes, that's BOEREWORS you see on the braai... um, I mean Barbie. Cooked to perfection by Richard and absolutely delicious!!! Good to see you can get "egte" South African food here - even if it was made by a fair dinkum Aussie butcher down the road.



Day out to Stradbroke Island

Glen, Ally's cousin, took us on an outing to Stradbroke to market the beauty of Brisbane's surrounding attractions. He did an excellent job. White beaches, warm sun and my first swim in Eastern Australia.





Isn't this Crested Dove beautiful!


BRISBANE FOREST PARK

We took a relaxing walk through the Brisbane Forest Park - a beautiful spot. There certainly is lots to do around Brisbane.


I was excited to see my first Australian Brush-turkey. These birds have fascinating breeding habits. Several females lay up to 50 eggs in a single mound of vegetation. The eggs are incubated by the heat given off by the rotting vegetation. The male maintains a constant temperature by digging holes in the mound and inserting his bill to check the heat, then adding and removing vegetable matter as required.

The eggs hatch after approximately seven weeks and the chicks burrow out of the mound. The hatchlings are fully feathered and are able to walk and fend for themselves immediately. Remarkably, they are even able to fly just a few hours after hatching. No parental guidance required. Now that's what I call low effort parenting!


Our walk took us for a scenic walk around this lake. Was tempted for a dip - it was pretty hot - but did not succumb.


BRISBANE RIVER FESTIVAL

This is one of the biggest events of the year in Brisbane - celebrated with a breathtaking fireworks display. We were very lucky to be invited to watch it from Kristin's balcony situated in a prime spot overlooking the Brisbane River. I know Kristin from my Volvo days (when she was working in Sweden.) She is now working in Brisbane so it was wonderful to meet up. Her other half, Patrick, is also a really great guy.

My photos of the fireworks were a bit of a disaster but this one came out ok. I think I need to take a course on fireworks - it's not too easy. As you can see, the boat from which many of the rockets were fired was directly in front of our balcony.

And here's Kristin (far right) and another great couple we met at the party.



BREAKFAST BARBIE BY THE BEACH

Spent some quality time with the family on Sunday morning at the makeshift beach on the Brisbane river. The kids were in their element an it was a great chance to take some photos of Declan. Full of beans and mischievous as a 3 year old can be, he's absolutely adorable.





And here is Declan with his beloved dad (Glenn)


Kayden, Declan's one year old brother, is also a real cutie. He is the most curious kid you have ever met and spends his whole day wobbling around, exploring one thing after another with apt concentration and complete fascination.


Glen making a sand castle, much to Declan's delight.



FAMILY GET TOGETHER AT RICHARD AND BETH'S

We had a great farewell barbi with the family before heading to Sydney. It's been wonderful to meet our Australian family and get to know them. We look forward to many more fun times with them. Glenn and Carleen have been wonderfully hospitable - putting us up and making us feel totally at home. And the kids are absolutely adorable - we really miss them already.

I am their Leader. Which way did they go?

I am their Leader. Which way did they go?

Progress (2006)

Blog

• Scanning old photos
• Consolidating the blog
• Dad memories
• Mum and Jo memories on blog 

Budgeting expenses 

• PSION spreadsheet, collecting expenses
• Relaxed me re money.

Photography

• South America love affair
• Bought my Canon 40D
• Camera lenses (18-52, 70-200, 300, 400)

Purchases

• Buying our Toyota in Melbourne
• Camera equipment

Sydney

We absolutely loved Sydney. A big part of that was the amazing hospitality shown to us by our friends, Doug and Claudia, who we stayed with. They spoiled us rotten with great experiences and sights - and the most amazing food ever. The cherry on the top was the location of their flat just 3 minutes from the famous and beautiful Bondi Beach.

Our first stop was for cocktails at Horizons Bar - with its awesome views of The Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge. Getting our first sights of these iconic landmarks from up above with the night lights was an experience we will not forget.



Bondi Beach was stunning. We also had a great walk along the neighbouring coast, enjoying its cliff faces and breaking waves. It reminded us quite a bit of the Atlantic Sea board in Cape Town although I am hoping the water is a tad warmer (we didn't get to sample it). We saw lots of beautiful flats overlooking the ocean that we wouldn't wouldn't mind living in. Need to win the lottery first!



One of the big highlights of our time in Sydney was a day out sailing on Doug's parents' yacht. They were a lovely, friendly couple and the scenery along the river estuaries was absolutely breathtaking. Three of my favourite moments were eating lunch in luxury on the boat while watching "tourists" pass by on the hard seated water ferry, putting my rowing skills to the test (I have a lot of practice to do!) and seeing a juvenile sea eagle diving for fish.



Our jovial skipper!



The Sea Food Market in Sydney is famous and deservedly so. Ice laden counter after counter of sea food of every description (all freshly caught that morning) at very reasonable prices. I have never seen so many different types of oysters or such enormous crabs, prawns and lobsters. We went wild and splashed out on prawns, oysters, scollops and two of the hugest mud crabs you have ever seen - trussed up with string, but still alive, with pleading, beady eyes. Doug and Claudio, who honestly are amongst the best gourmet chefs we have ever met, cooked up an absolute storm.




We ate unbelievably well the whole time we were in Sydney. Memorable meals included:

• Doug's famous fillet steak with peppercorn sauce, a recipe handed down from Claudia's mum whose ingredients are kept secret even under the pressure of immense begging and threats of torture. Undoubtedly the best steak we have ever had, including Barristers and Argentina - and steak being my favourite savoury food in the world, I was simply in heaven.

• Barramundi and Moreten Bay Bugs (both Australian delicassies) at a great Thai Restaurant

• A completely authentic Chineese Breakfast in China Town called Chumcha, . We were the only westerners in the large eating hall. The many waiters come round with trolley after trolley of weird and wonderful (and delicious) foods. The waiters look most upset if you say no to their particular delicassy so you end up trying everything and get totally stuffed. The pics below show us in China Town and Claudia taking a big mounthful of her egg custard dessert. Sorry Claudia, couldn't resist!!

Doug setting up the perfect shot. We met Doug and Claudia on the Navimag Ferry in Chile. They also travelled through South America for several months and enjoyed it as much as we did.

Of course, we went back to the city in the daylight to enjoy close up views of the Opera House.





We took a fun walk across the Harbour Bridge. We look forward to doing a climb across the top arches of the bridge one day - we saw tourists doing it and it look amazing.


The botanical gardens were also great. I particularly loved the flying foxes that roost in their thousands in the trees. At first, I thought they were hanging fruit. They really do look like little foxes with their rich tufts of red fur. They are rather cantankerous and spend much of their time taking swipes at each other while hanging upside down.



You can see why I thought they were fruit or pine cones at first! And this was one of the smaller roosts!


No post would be complete without a bird pic. Here is a rail we saw in the gardens - exciting because they are extremely secretive and don't like to show themselves.