Down Under

Well, with airlines closing up shops around me, I am a little nervous about taking my around the world trip. I could end up in a country where I don't know the language (there are some languages I don't know many common phrases) and get stuck if an airline decides to shut their doors. At least the gas prices are dropping, so that should ease that concern up somewhat. Then on top of that, Lufthansa is on strike, and I was flying them (or Air France) from Paris to Cairo...So, I have decided to just go to Australia for a week--where the beer flows and the men chunder. You know, what exactly is chunder and is this something I should experience while in Sydney??? it kind of sounds like it could be kinky fun and I am not one to pass up something like that.

I have my flights on Qantas booked and I have already applied for the visa to enter Australia. I have my hotel booked, also. I love where I am staying; it has a rooftop deck which overlooks the skyline one one side, the Sydney botanical gardens on the other. It is about a 20 minute walk to the Opera House and a 10 minute walk to the Oxford Street area of Darlinghurst (which is the largest gay district in the city and where Mardi Gras is held--one of the biggest gay/lesbian events in the world each year). I can't wait. I am looking at some day trips, possibly to Hobarts/Brisbane/Canberra (I would have to rent a car for that, though, which could be fun driving around in another country in and of itself). I am also looking at a trip out hiking in the Blue Mountains, enjoying wine and cheese in the valley and/or snorkeling at the Great Barrier Reef. I don't think I will be able to make it to Alice Springs or to see Ayers Rock, so I will definitely have to go back soon. There are just so many things I want to do and only a week to accomplish them. Well, my visa is good for one year with unlimited trips in and out of the country so I can go back if I can get the time off again. I still have quite a bit of vacation time left which I was holding for the around the world trip, but my mom wanted to plan a family reunion this year and my best friend is getting married, so my days off kept shrinking due to everyone elses demands, so it is probably best that there are so many obstacles to that trip. Besides, I am going to have a blast down under. I will post info on how it is; it is only a few weeks away now.