Highlights  include:

Sydney Opera House
Tobruk Sheep Station 
Alice Springs and the Flying Doctor Service base 
Sunrise at Ayers Rock/Uluru 
Crocodile-spotting cruise through Kakadu wetlands 
Scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef 
Sailing in the Whitsunday Islands
Kuranda scenic rail and rainforest tour 
Hotair balloon ride

 April 3 – Arrival

Arrived Sydney with the screen reading 7984 miles from Vancouver. Personnel come on board to spray the plane before we exit. Lots of customs folks working so very quick. My greeter was there and we took 6 others. Room is a suite with kitchenette. Went out for a wander in the area which is Chintown. Lots of similar businesses here to North America. Found huge market and bought groceries.

Then went out to take the free tourist shuttle to the harbour. Very vibrant downtown. Clean. Harbour very alive. Lots of photos of opera house  and bridge. Wandered in large park called Royal Botanical Gardens. Mostly open space with gardens and trees. Walkway along seaboard. Government House in there. It is a castle-like building with gorgeous grounds.    

April 4 Sydney on own.

Up at 630 for tea and bagel with typing. Very nice to be able to have healthy breakfast in room and relax. The only problem with room is a/c is either too cold and if not on the room stinks of urine (Caribbean odour). Off to zoo and beach. Walked to Circular Quay, aprox 30 min. Helpful transit guy advised  buying day pass would be best. Took ferry over to wildlife centre. Excellent and informative, with animals in native habitat.   Huge croc. This wildflife centre is at Kings Wharfs so I will be able to explore that area at the end of my stay. Ferry back to Circ. Quay and waited for #333 bus to Bondi Beach. It is smaller than I thought. Smaller than Kennebunkport,  bigger than Mothers Beach. Cold water…good waves and lots of surfers. Very hot and sun really strong.  Took the bus back. It goes through several areas of Sydney including edge of residential area. Stopped at market city for souvenirs and noodles for dinner. Spent more time than wanted with tour operators reconfirming details of upcoming tours.

April 5 Sydney city tour

Another great breakfast of toasted bagel,  buttter, orange juice, tea and banana in front of tv. Windows open and great fresh air. Off to see the city with a guide. Photo stop at Seaforth, then at Arrabanoo lookout. Dog park at second lookout shows the only entrance to Sydney Harbour. Our driver Clayton is a Kiwi with a great sense of humour. 

FACTS:  Golden wattle tree has yellow flowers and that and eucalyptus are where the Australian teams got their colours. All ambulances carry antivenom. Manly Beach is first place where  swimming was allowed,  in 1901. The main job of Navy is scaring off foreign fishing boats. Average salary in NSW 68000/yr, minimum wage 17/hr. Top lifesavers earn up to $100000/yr. 79% of steel in bridge is from England. Built 1932. Captain Cook arrived 1760, city founded 1770. Gas price ranges 1.45 to 1.52/litre. Not many cyclists as transport, nor as exercise. Rent on apartment 2 bdrm 550/wk. Not much property tax so lots of investment properties. Car park in city can be $100/day, so business parks and employment areas have free parking so lots of moms work in them for the benefits ie free daycare and parking.

58 million kangaroos in Australia so most guns are owned by cattle station owners. Public parks have free push button BBQs  which operate for 30 min. Over 1000 golf coures in Sydney. Road fines very high here.. “no registration” is 2500$ fine. Cruise ship in port was the Radiance of the Seas. Horse statue with one leg up means rider was wounded in battle.  Both front legs up means he died in battle. Captain Cook lunch excellent and harbour cruise very enjoyable. Great weather for it. Took very busy freebus back to hotel. Streets are packed with holiday early starters.

April 6  Fly to Alice Springs, Tour

Sunbus pickup as planned. At arport 430. Qantas serves breakfast…hot cross bun, muesli with a tiny milk bottle, orange juice. FREE. note:stick to the tea!!! First time I have had coffee too weak to drink!

Qantas has the ugliest uniforms but the smiles are friendly. Some unexplained delay boarding to Alice Springs, pop 30000. 1500km to either Darwin or Adelaide. Looks like dry prosperous Caribbean with vegetation like Kamloops. Alice Springs tour was kind of a mix as most things closed for Good Friday. Saw Anzac hill, reptile exhibit and info, Simpson Gap, telegraph office replica buildings. Were joined by a halfcaste man who actually lived the relocations etc as seen in the movie Australia. Very interesting to hear first hand accounts. Driver/guide Jonn chockfull of info. Beer and burger in bar at hotel, by the pool as sun set before a full moon. Lovely. Excellent weather. Did not feel like 38 degrees! Got food on both Qantas flights. Saw a small kangaroo, and a bird called a galah which has a pink belly. Very common, like pigeons elsewhere. Saw a wild dingo at telegraph station.

April 7 Uluru and BBQ

Had tea while organizing for day. The only criticism of hotel is that it is understaffed. Full hotel with nothing in town open and only one girl in bar which doubled as dining room since it was closed. TV did not work and a/c adjustment did nothing.

A common tree is the mulah. Boomerangs and digging sticks are made from them. Part of acacia family. This is cattle station county here. The average is 3000 sq km with 1500 to 2000 head.  Very flat, red soil . Normal rainfall 288 mm. In 2009 they got 70mm, in 2010 got 710. Baffel grass imported to stuff the saddles for the camels used as transport. Darkies who handled camels were called afghans. The camel’s hump is protein food storage. If depleted to a flat back,it can take a month to rebuild. Have very soft feet and that is their weak point.  Grass has taken over but is good food for cows. It also cretes very hot fires. The acacia or wattle trees need fire to open the seed pods. Followed the Intrepid safari bus for a while. In passing it, I noticed it was full and mostly my age group. AAT Kings changed or cancelled some tours in this area re lack of numbers. People were accepting but not thrilled. APT seems well regarded. Ghost eucalyptus trees have white bark which aboriginies used to make sunscreen since the white is like chalk. Stopped at camel farm with kangaroos and pet dingo and emus.

Rained as we arrived at hotel. It is in a campground with buildings not tents, but similar setup with common shower and toilet. Room was fine, with fridge, kettle and tea/coffee. Had bunks as well as bed. Took shuttle into shopping centre in compound to get lunch and breakfast. Bus out to park at Uluru goes to cultural centre first. Very informative  and thorough. Did short walk to water hole then longer walk at base of rock to see areas/undercuts where aboriginees camped . Sunset viewing area all set up with tables for each operator with nibblies and champagne.  Transferred from here to “authentic Australian BBQ.” Good food. Steak, prawns, kangaroo, chicken, salads and wine or beer incl. Star orientation under full moon.  zzz@9,  up at 3. Ready for tour by 515.

April 8 Uluru at Sunrise, fly to Darwin

Happy Easter. Coffee or tea and cookies at bus side before walking to viewing area of Uluru. Quite cool, could have used a fleece. Cloud over the perfect spot delayed colour change of rock at sunrise, but we saw it. Then went over to see the Olgas, which is another rock formation of 36 domes. Went for a 2km hike in Windy Valley at Kata Tjuta (Olgas). Very scenic and cool due to wind. Then to Dunes viewing area for photo opp, and back to hotel for airport shuttle. Mass confusion with a Qantas cancelled flight so I was glad to have lots of time. Ended up going via Cairns and Gove, which is like going from Thunder Bay to Sudbury via Toronto. Transfer and hotel all fine. Hotel A/C was very cold and not adjustable so I woke up a few times shivering.

April 9 start Intrepid Total Top End
http://www.adventurecenter.com/ca/intrepid/pise (Kakadu National Park)

Pickup at 715ish. Drove to Kakadu National Park. Stopped at the Bark Hut inn, an outback pub, for breakfast or coffee. Stopped at town of Jabiru for a picnic lunch. It is a town created for the employees of the nearby mine. Then drove to Jabiru campground to drop Mylene (our hostess) and gear before heading to Kangourlie for a scenic walk with rocks and paintings. Just what I expected. Then went to Coinda for the cruise on the Yellow River. Saw 6 crocs,  several egrets, a black necked stork called a jabiru. Very eery, like the bayous but fascinating. Back to permanent tented campground for dinner and night. Tents have electricity, wood floors, beds and a fan.

April 10 Intrepid Total Top End

Up at 5 to listen to an incredible cacophony of birds. Heard some dingos and wild dogs during the night. Drove to the Ranger uranium mine. It is a huge open pit mine with healthy tailings pond beside. Lots of plants and fish in it. Then to aboriginal cultural centre for an excellent exhibit, approx 40 min to go through. Set out for Mary River and swimming hole but the bus stalled. Turns out we were out of fuel. Needed 2 jerry cans and then we drove to gas station for fillup and bbq lunch of buffalo burgers.  Then to swimming hole and drive to Katharine. Stayed at Best Western Pine Creek with bbq dinner poolside. Tried kangaroo and crococdile. The croc was a cross between pork and beef.  Apparently Intrepid Connections was previously part of APT and has recently been fully sold to TUI, so some changes and kinks are occurring. Our bus is on example. They have recently changed vehicle providers to canter/mercedes. We have a lady from Perth, a family of 4 from Hobart,Tasmania,  a couple from Bremerhaven, and me. Tristan the driver is an Aussie and our cook/hostess is from  France. One funny point in the day was when one of our group , during the wait for fuel, burst out: “it’s an adventure tour!” .

Another funny note: we stooped at flood point on road to Ubirr to see how much longer before it could be included in the itinerary  again. While we were looking, a couple of fishermen pulled up. Hopped out and put front axle into 4 wheel drive. Then put plastic bags over the lights on the roobar and drove thru. Just the same way we tie bags on bike seats!

April 11 Intrepid Total Top End

Continental breakfast in hotel, including real coffee!  First stop was the 2 hour cruise in Katherine Gorge. Wow. Rocky canyons. Then stopped at heli-masters where the Hobart family had a short scenic ride over the  canyon. I wrote all my postcards while we waited. Then lunch at an aboriginal art gallery with beautiful art, weaving and boomerangs and didgeridoos.  The drive back was through Katherine en route to Mt. Bundy cattle  station.The family is leaving here. We 3 ladies are going horsebsck riding. Stopped at termite mound for explanation. Speed limit 130 up here. Road trains are transports with 3 trailers, 20 wheels each and huge. I noticed the railway ties are concrete. Permanent tents at Mt Bundy with electricity, lights and fan, bed too. Had a great ride on Russell before dinner and finished the wine. Sat out under the stars for a while.

April 12 Intrepid Total Top End, ret to DRW  Early off to Litchfield National Park.  Florence Falls with  pocket rainforest and walk. Then lunch, then to Buley Falls for a swim. Fast current as it is a series of rockpools. Felt awesome and refreshing. A few raindrops fell en route to Darwin.

Went to the Desert Palms hotel with the lady from Perth. Is very decent, clean  with pool. Finally found an alarm clock! Had dinner and beers at Top Rock pub where Tristan was a DJ.  Good beer and nibblies, for $38AUD! Shuttle to airport, slept all the way to Brisbane.

 April 13

Hung out in tiny hub of airport till flight to Proserpine. Old coach for transfer as regular coach was chartered the previous  day and crashed. Arrived at Airlie Beach. Nomads hotel checkin is a zoo. One person working and about 20 people standing around for checkin or who knows what. I am the only tourist in Airlie Beach over 25 and the only one with no backpack. The hotel is a combo of campground, dorms, vans and rooms. Room ok, some tiny ants. Bathroom grungy but a/c works and bed is good. Did laundry, had shower then wandered. Bought beer for boat trip. $15 for a sixpack and got coffee and ricecakes and apple for breakfast. Had fish and chips in park overlooking beach under shelter from the rain. Bed at 730.

April 14/15 Prosail Hammer

Up at 630 for breakfast and coffee in room before checkout and luggage storage at 7. Once again stupid setup. Loads of folks to check out as all boats leave early, but only one guy working. He also has to do storage area in separate building. It all works but is stressful. Walked over to marina along boardwalk, 15 min. Had coffee and banana bread at Gloria’s Cafe while waiting for  boat. Only 7 on board. A couple  from Dublin, girl from Switzerland who has been here five months working, another young couple from southern Germany and a young man from Germany who has been here seven months as a nanny and is going back to school. Skipper is Pete and crew are Simon and Johnny aka Ninja. After a short onboard safety briefing we were off. Out of the marina we were divided into two groups to hoist sails. Sailed to Whitehaven Beach. Had a nature walk to lookout then down to far side for incredible beach. Back on boat and lunch. Sailed again. Increasingly rough and we had turns steering. Stopped late afternoon and took hot nachos and beer to beach while dinner was made on boat. Excellent chicken, mashed potatoes and salad. Sat out till maybe 9 pm .  We were at Haymen Island.
http://www.prosail.com.au/vessels-style-view.php?view=11 (sailing)

April 15. up around 7 as my dive rendezvous was at 8. Could see the dive boat. It was only me with divemaster. Good dive but visibility  not great. The others snorkelled. Tea or coffee and cookies for a morning snack,  then sailed to Langford Beach for long walk before lunch aboard. Snorkelled. Fruit waiting for us as a way of rehydrating. Sailed back. Oh, we rocked. Up to 12 knots and heeled way up. Fantastic. I am sure the passengers on the Sun Princess ship we saw were not as happy with the sea conditions as we were!! Back to the zoo at hotel checkin about 4. Met at the bar at 7 for drinks with crew and whoever is left from the sailing trip. 

April 16

 Slept till almost 7. What a luxury. Wandered around feeling old (lots of backpackers around) and frustrated with wifi again. Typical zoo at front desk of Nomads. Bus arrived at 1135 to airport. Uneventful flights but had to collect bag and checkin for second flt in Brisbane which is illogical and stressful. Turned out the whole process was very quick and I had time for a lunch/dinner before the connection. In Australia you can take liquids through security onto flights. Arrived Cairns at 730. Glad to be out of Airlie Beach but loved the sailing trip.

I was met by private car and transferred approx 15 min to hotel. I left my water bottle in the car.  In bed by 9.

April 17 DIVE the REEF

 up at 630, coffee and ricecakes in room.  Walked 20 min along the esplanade- shore walk to marina.

Very rough ride to rendezvous with other boat for food,  then on to reef. Total 2 hrs at sea. Spent much time with a  couple from  Annecy in France. His English was not great so we muddled along in French. The accents were a problem. A young girl from Nottingham was very seasick.

I aborted the first dive. Not comfortable with everything and when I got to the bottom I could not breathe. Bit of panic I guess. Others enjoyed it. Decided not to snorkel either, although it was an option.

Great lunch then another dive. I buddied up with a fellow  from the Soo and had a good dive. The ride back was less rough. Overall it was ok but dives in the Turks and Caicos  have been better. Walked back through town to see it. Very nice, and not as full of backpackers. More variety of people, businesses, etc. Got groceries at IGA and reconfirmed next couple days. Asleep 830. I found being on a boat very tiring .

April 18 Kuranda Scenic Rail trip

Up at 630 for coffee and biscuit by pool.  Called bus company and they have my bottle, will bring tomorrow on transfer. Pickup for rail at 835.

First stop Tjabukai cultural centre. This was truly awesome. Live creation story followed by dance history and fire making demo. Then info on weapons and bush tucker (food). We all had chance to throw boomerang and spear. Hard! We all had to stand in a netted enclosure for safety . Then up the skyrail with two stops. First at Red Peak was boardwalk through rainforest. Second at Barons Falls which were awesome. Up at Kuranda I walked around in market. Went into butterfly centre shop but not display. Those, birds, and wildlife all in separate sections. If I had not done the Wildlife Centre in Sydney, I would have been eager to go into  all of them. Took the train back down. Not too scenic but very historic. One turn had a radius of 80 metres. Lots of tunnels. Gauge is 3’6″. Back to IGA for groceries, pack and bed by 8.

April 19 Balloon and flight

up at 330 for pickup at 415. Onto the Atherton Tablelands for the flight. Balloons were prepared before we arrived and it was  still dark. I was in the first group and got the sunrise . What an incredible experience. Sights, noise and heat then silence. I was surprised at how much heat was thrown out of the burner ! Just awesome. We helped roll up and pack the balloon and equipment. Back to hotel. Checked out and walked into town for shopping and lunch. The airport pickup driver had my bottle. Arrived at airport and fire alarm going. A man had a heart attack. I was 90 min early so delays did not affect me. Arrived Cairns no problem, dozing most of flight. Arrived at hotel and found tiny 24 hr supermarket across street so bought noodles and fruit for dinner.

April 20 Tobruk sheep Station

Almost didn’t happen! Miscommunication had me at the wrong place for pickup. The bus came to get me and we went off. Two employees from AAT Kings, 2 United employees from Houston and a mother/daughters from England were our group. Our drover met us on horseback upon arrival. We had a short intro, a demo of a bull-roarer,  whip-cracking and boomerang-throwing, then a chance to try both. Most had good success. I could not crack the whip – too afraid of it, I guess. We all had to wear safety glasses! Then we went over to the fire for billy tea and damper. A billy is a water can for boiling water over a fire, and damper is the bread made in a dutch oven over the fire. These are traditional foods consumed by the drovers while out on the station. We had an explanation of the lifestyle too. The bread is very tasty. Made from self-rising flour, a bit of salt and some water. Served with butter and sweet syrup. Two groups of Oriental tourists arrived and we saw how the drover did the demos with them, using a bit more action/charades and the interpreter. We then had a sheep shearing demo, which was really interesting, and a terrific lunch. Salad, squash, potato, and a T-bone with gravy. Tea/coffee/water/juice and dessert. Back to the hotel approx 315 and I wandered along the wharf, then packed. Friends from Canberra arrived after 8 so went to a wharfside pub for dinner, then returned to hotel for drinks. Bed after 1.

April 21 fly home

Up at 6 and transfer to airport. Short check in but then long customs line for departing passengers. After security you are dumped into shopping. An hour delay leaving due to fog,  but we left. Good flight, Lots of dozing, movies and conversation with Aussie couple en route to Vancouver for a 3 week tour and cruise. Connections all worked and finally home.

Overall a terrific experience. I would visit again. The people everywhere were extrememly friendly and helpful, and the scenery was incredible.

http://safewithulli.wordpress.com/2012/03/05/when-selling-your-home-put-your-valuables-away/

Parents must submit all legal documents that refer to custody, the mobility of, or access to their children when applying for a passport for them. A copy of the divorce judgment or order must also be provided. Furthermore, both parents must sign the child’s passport application.

For more details click here

from Travelinfo.ca 02Mar2012

CONTIKI Holidays is relaunching its ‘Have You Done It?’ campaign following its success last year.  It will include new deals, contests and an interactive website and highlights experiences travellers can expect during a Contiki holiday.  

When travellers visit www.haveyoudoneit.com they will discover what the Contiki Experience is about through ContikiChecks.  Available are #CultureChecks, #FoodChecks and #MusicChecks which travellers can learn about either via the haveyoudoneit site or other Contiki social media platforms. The Checks feature authentic experiences that travellers can expect to encounter. They can also click through to the Contiki contest This Way to Amazing.

To help launch the 2012 edition of ‘Have You Done It?’, Contiki is offering the Friends With Benefits deal. Book a Contiki trip by March 23 departing before December 31, 2012 to save $150 per person, or $200 if they bring a friend. Plus, booking air with Contiki saves an additional $200! Valid on Europe tours 10 days or longer. Applies only to new bookings. For full terms and conditions visit: www.contiki.com

courtesy travelinfo.ca 21 FEB 2012

Contiki creates eye-opening experiences for young travellers around the globe. Travelling with us isn’t about ticking boxes, but about those moments in time that stay with you for life.

Contiki Holidays are for 18-35s. Contact Janet for more information.

DENIS Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities announced that starting today, Wednesday, February 15, NEXUS members flying to the United States will be able to use NEXUS cards in designated security lines for pre-board screening at airports for faster service. This announcement follows the recent Action Plan on Perimeter Security and Economic Competitiveness announced by Prime Minister Harper and United States President Obama.

“This change will make air travel from Canada to the United States more convenient, while maintaining a high level of aviation security,” said Minister Lebel. “I encourage Canadians to apply for a NEXUS card to experience the travel benefits it provides.”

NEXUS members travelling to the United States will be able to use valid NEXUS cards for faster screening by the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) at Canada’s eight largest airports (Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver). Designated security screening lines currently in operation at select domestic and international checkpoints will be open to passengers flying to the United States.
NEXUS is a binational Canada-United States program for pre-approved, low-risk travellers entering Canada and the United States at designated air, land and marine ports of entry. When travelling by air, NEXUS speeds up border clearance by offering members expedited passage by using self-serve kiosks.

The designated security screening lines for NEXUS members travelling domestically and now to the United States are implemented by CATSA and Transport Canada in cooperation with the Canada Border Services Agency, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

To apply for NEXUS, visit www.nexus.gc.ca.

from Travelinfo.ca 15Feb2102

“This is a significant recognition for our company,” said Allen B. Graham, president of both Transat Canada and Air Transat. “We have earned this distinction in large part because of the engagement of all our employees in the area of corporate responsibility, and especially because of our team effort to protect the environment.”The ICI ON RECYCLE! recognition program, created by the Quebec government in 2003 and managed by RECYC-QUEBEC, aims to acknowledge the efforts of industries, commerces and institutions that have established exemplary waste-management measures. Air Transat has attained the program’s most stringent level (Level 3 – Performance), for having implemented measures to reduce, re-use, recycle and recover waste. This has allowed the company to achieve an overall recovery rate of over 80%.

from TravelPress, 09Jan2012

Starting April 30, Canadians will be required to present a valid passport to visit the Dominican Republic. Until then, Canadians entering the Dominican Republic by direct air travel are only required to be in possession of valid official photo identification (such as a driver’s license) and proof of citizenship (such as a birth certificate). Canadian tourists must also be in possession of a return airline ticket.

Go to www.voyage.gc.ca for more information on these advisories or call 1-800-267-6788 in Canada and United States.

courtesy of Travelinfo.ca

 Tourism is a viable industry for Cuba. Currently most  visitors to the island are from Latin America, Europe, and Canada.

Cuba’s average temperature is 77°F. Compared to most countries, Cuba experiences little variation, although July and August can be hot and humid. Hurricane season is from June-November. Spanish is the official language of Cuba. The official currency of Cuba is the Cuban peso.

The country-wide literacy rate is 99.8 percent ,according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organizations’ Institute for Statistics. This is the 2nd highest literacy rate in the world. The Cuban government spends ten percent of their central budget on education, making it free for all at every level, inclusive of all materials such as books and uniforms.

The main industries of Cuba are food production and industrial products and their main exports are sugar, nickel, seafood, citrus, tobacco products and rum.  Over half the population considers themselves Catholic. Santeria also plays a large role in the nation’s self-identity. Santeria was brought over to Cuba by Africans and the most common form of Santeria combines Catholicism with Yoruba beliefs.Cuba is the most populous island in the Caribbean and home to over 11 million residents. Due to the free education system, the cities are becoming filled with people pursuing higher education.

Cuba is the only country in the world that met the World Wildlife Fund criteria for sustainable development in 2006, making it one of the “greenest” nations due to its low environmental impact.

According to tour operator Camino Travel from Costa Rica, this increase is due to a new charge for scanning and X-ray baggage inspection and it applies to all those who leave the country by air, according to Costa Rican Law 7664 (Ley de Protección Fitosanitaria).  The departure tax is to be paid at the following airports:  Juan Santamaría International Airport (San Jose – SJO), Daniel Oduber International Airport (Liberia – LIR), and Tobías Bolaños Airport (local flights and flights to Nicaragua – SYQ)

from TravelInfo.ca