The Ouseys in Victoria Page

We were all were all impressed with Darwin. It was very hot & humid, but we managed by skipping from one air conditioned spot to another. It was a thoroughly modern city, mainly due to the fact that the city was destroyed by a typhoon in the late 70s, then completely rebuilt.

We continue to enjoy the great food and entertainment provided and, of course, the company of our cruise buddies. A are currently sailing over the great Barrier reef & and will be in Cairns tomorrow, where we hope to get a closer look.

We had a good visit in Bali, though there was lots of rain. Better than 100 degrees & humid. A were there two days and did some touring and some shopping. Prices more reasonable than Australia. Very populated, one never seems to get out of the city. Lots of traffic and scooters everywhere, with narrow streets, it made for some exciting times.

A will be in Darwin tomorrow, and we will do a walk about.

Today is Georges birthday and we will celebrate it in one of the specialty restaurants, the Tuscan Grill. Birthday cake and all.

Happy Birthday George.

We are in Bali. Lots of rain but better than 100 F. Lots of shopping, of course.

We embarked on Friday and we are sailing or second day at sea. We get into Port Hedland tomorrow.  George & Janet are quite enjoying themselves. The first formal night was last night so it was a good time for some pictures. Pictures will have to wait as the internet has been down for 24 hrs & not good enough to send pictures when it is "working"

The big show with the Celebrity singers & dancers was quite spectacular last night. Also they have an Aussie naturalist that is doing a lecture series, he is so funny that his talks are very popular.

More after our Port visit & if this internet ever works.

Just returned from another nice dinner at the Pig & Whistle; it was so good last night that we had to do it again. The day at Hobbiton was very enjoyable. The guide was excellent, good clear voice, all 50 of us could hear he and she knew her Hobbit Lore. The village scenery and local area great. Lots of Hobbit burrows.
TTFN

We got our car and headed for the Peninsula. Fun driving narrow winding roads on the wrong side, the the locals insist it is the correct side. We stayed over night in a very nice 2 bedroom suite. The next day we crossed over to the east side of the peninsula. Beautiful mountain scenery, followed by many ocean lookouts. Spectacular. We stopped at the hot water beach whet you digg a hole in the sand and are treated to hot thermal spring water. Many people soaking in the hot sand. Unique.
Today we are in Rotorua in a quaint older hotel Very comfortable. A are about ready to head out to Hobbiton for part of the day.
Georges suit case arrived prior to our leaving Auckland.

From

Or flight via Phoenix & LAX, a went smoother than anticipated. Air New Zealand, is great. George & Janet arrived later in the day minus one suitcase. Fortunately it arrived two days later. That didn't stop us from enjoying Auckland. It is a great city and we already are regretting not giving ourselves more time here.
The surprise of the first day was running into friends from Victoria. Then to find out that they were visiting another couple that we know well. We arranged to all get together for coffee the next morning. It was great to see them.
Today we are off into countryside to visit Coromandel & then Rotorua & of course Hobbiton on the weekend.

TTFN

We depart today to Auckland, via Phoenix, and Los Angeles.  Going to be a long day.  We leave LAX at 9 tonight (Sunday) and get to Auckland 7:15 Tuesday morning.  Of course we cross the Int'l date line and lose Monday all together.