Posted 7:32 PM by MelanieandSteve
THE OZ ADVENTURE CONTINUES. Sometimes it's a bit "exxie", but it's always pretty "speckie."

Yes, some ozzies do talk like this. These words HAVE been used in conversation with us. Exxie - expensive. Speckie, spectacular. Brekkie, Breakfast. Etc... That's Australia!

SINCE INDIA . . . We spent another day on layovers in each of Kathmandu and Bangkok before arriving once again on familiar soils of Australia - now a second home-land. Airport Immigration was a bit curious why we keep coming back so they had us in for a long chat. In the end they wished us happy travels.

MELBOURNE: BREKKIES, DINNERS, BIRTHDAYS AND LAUGHS, CHANGING SEASONS: Back with Chester, our van, we stayed and played in Melbourne.

-BREKKIES: We made several Aussie friends during the last three months in Asia so in Melbourne, we met up with Lisa, Lucinda, Ian, and Ian's wife Pam for a really nice Brekkie and catch up.

-DINNERS: Trekking on Mount Ama Dablam in Nepal, we met the Blakes and Perrys from Melbourne, and they insisted we call them when we return to OZ. We did and the Blakes had us and the Perrys over for an unforgettable feast in their beautiful home.

-BIRTHDAYS AND LAUGHS: On our first full day down under, Mel celebrated her birthday with a morning in the city center shopping for a few of her own gifts - conveniences she'd missed while away in developing counties - like favorite candies and nuts. At night we headed out for a comedy show, MC'd by an American comic - but Aussies were still the brunt of many of his jokes.

-SEASONS CHANGE: Coming 'home' to OZ was nice, but what a difference three months away makes ... now it was COLD. Melbourne is a bit known for it's chilly climate anyway, but it wasn't this cold here in Feb when we left. Time to head NORTH, like the birds.

HEADING NORTH: NATIONAL PARKS AND GREAT PARKING SPOTS, CANBERRA X 2, WAGGA X 2, TROUBLE WITH THE LAW:

-NATIONAL PARKS AND GREAT PARKING SPOTS: Camping at waterfront parking in Lakes Entrance and a stream front/mountain view parking in Thredbo (near Australia's highest mountain), we continued up the map. We ventured through Snowy River National Park (remembering the movie "Man from Snowy River"), Snowy Mountains National park and Namadgi National park, making our way to Canberra once again. At the Snowy River, we saw a whole flock of 10 or more emus swimming across the river, and then later crossing the road, blocking our transit. Though we complain about the cold weather with season's changing, we can't complain about the VIBRANT FALL FOLIAGE we enjoyed throughout the parks, nor can we complain about the lack of any other vehicles.

-CANBERRA X 2: Canberra is a pleasant city,but most people agree it's sufficient to go there only once. But we wanted to visit the U.S. Embassy so we went there for our second time. Our Passports have actually been FILLED UP. No more room for stamps and visas etc... Logic said the Embassy could help us with this. Reality said we couldn't even enter our own Embassy - and we were directed to Sydney for our passport needs. No regrets, though, because the drive through the national parks was awesome and we took the opportunity to head to somewhat nearby Wagga Wagga to visit our friend Darryn, whom we trekked with in Nepal.

-WAGGA X 2- TROUBLE WITH THE LAW: Darryn took us to a great Mexican restaurant (good Mexican food is hard to find in OZ), and then we sacked out on his floor for the night. After goodbyes in the morning, we started toward Sydney. BUT NOT SO FAST: Pulled over for a random breath test, we got an expensive ticket for expired registration. (Time flew and we totally missed the date) The cop warned us that he thought re-registration would cost thousands, and worse, that our decrepit old van might not be re-registerable. STRANDED in Wagga, we thought. Kindly, Darryn took us back in. Good news, with just a phone call, we got six more months of life into that old van, and then we were off again.

SYDNEY: FRIENDS, BUSINESS, PLEASURE, BIZARRE INTERNET ACTIVITIES:

-FRIENDS: In Sydney, we had lots of fun meeting up with new friends we'd met in Asia. Matt invited us to stay with him, ironically on the very same street as Tahnee and Darren's home where we stayed just 3 months ago, so we knew the neighborhood. Matt's family, Sue, Pete, and Mick were wonderful hosts. At dinner on our last day, Steve kept the whole family guessing with a few of his best magic tricks. Mick, also from our Asia trip, joined us to hang out in the evenings. Melanie went out for brunch with Sally who she had became friends with on an airplane. And later in the week, we headed out for a Hari Krishna feast and a movie with another friend, Angela.

-BUSINESS: got a few things done in Sydney. Picked up our new registration sticker that was mailed to us. Did some banking etc... and Headed to the very security-conscious American consulate. Our passports are now DOUBLESTUFFED with pages and there are lots more blank spots just screaming out for potential new stamps of adventure.

-PLEASURE IN BONDI: Couldn't resist a few more days at our old fun spot, Bondi Beach. Great sunrises over the Ocean, beach days, dinners out. Bondi reminds Melanie of her old hometown of Pacific Beach California.

-BIZARRE INTERNET ACTIVITIES: Ever heard of a flashmob? It's a silly mob scene secretly organized to take place somewhere in a city. London started it. New York followed. Sydney does it too, now. Melanie joined Sydney's mailing list a year ago. We thought we'd attend one of their events this weekend. Matt joined us to photo-document. The covert operation entailed finding our agent in a blue cap at city center and saying the secret code: "I've been very bad, please give me my instructions." The rep gave us our orders - to head to the Queen Victoria statue, syncronize our watches, and at a precise moment, begin an animated pretend auction for the statue itself amid public crowds. We had to yell out bids, make gestures, wave our bidding papers around. Then, at the signal, we quit and walked away as if nothing had happened.

UP THE COAST: HUNTER VALLEY, AND BYRON:

-HUNTER VALLEY: On Pete and Sue's advice, we drove through the lush grape fields of the Hunter Valley full of wineries. We stopped at the most quaint and pretty one we could find for a taste. The servers were so friendly as well as the fellow tasters. Of course, the best tasting was the most "exxie."

-BYRON BAY: Scenic and active, Byron Bay seems like a perfect place to live. However, one local told us she didn't like having so many tourists. We're glad to be here during the off season. Our guide book called this the place to "come for a day, stay for a week." We almost did. We stayed 3 nights. We enjoyed beach days, rainforest hikes, sunsets at the lighthouse, live entertainment, friendly travellers, and a private surfing lesson. Also we hit the Eastern-most Point in Australia. Melanie passed the end of the designated walking-path during a sunrise jog, and hiked along the ocean rocks trying to get to the true Eastern-most point, the actual last rock. PUNISHED! An unexpected Eastern-Most Wave swallowed her to her knees. She had to jog back four and a half kilometers in slushy squishy tennis shoes. Two days later, the shoes were still laid out to dry. Good thing we only needed sandals in sunny Byron.

NOW WHAT?: Winter is approaching, so we are migrating North for warmer seas (hopefully for SCUBA and Surfing).

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS to:

H, Rude Dog, Jen F, Colin H, Bill F, Maryna C, Lucinda G, Scott K.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY, MOM(s).

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY Judy and Scott.