07.30.08: We left Bali for Sydney on a redeye. It was way past Kailani’s bedtime, and she totally cried on the plane when she had to put on her seat belt for take-off and landing. Two other kids around the same age as her seated next to us took turns with her crying. But at least they all didn’t do it together. Thanks to earplugs and an eye cover, I got at least a couple hours sleep and didn’t feel as bad as I expected to be. We landed in Sydney around 7am. We have never seen soooo many surfboards at an airport luggage claim before. After the most rigorous entrance into a country by customs, we were allowed with a little bit of food that we were carrying and our Balinese wood carvings which we had to claim on the customs form. When we exited the building….burrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!! There was definitely a climate change!
While we were in Bali, for some random reason, I decided to check our friend Rory’s tour schedule on his band’s web site. As it turns out, their last show in Australia was the day before we arrived in Sydney and they were playing in the outskirts of Sydney. It ends up that he flew out the morning that we flew in. What a bummer that we ended up missing him for the SECOND time on our trip! (First time was when we were trying to get from the Italian Alps to Munich.) But, third try should be a charm. We WON’T miss him when we go to Hawaii in October!
We went to the apartment we were to stay at. Caitlin and Tutu (aka Grandma Karen) had already arrived from Hawaii the night before. When our taxi drove up, we saw Caitlin watching out the window for us. I can’t tell you how great it was to see my other “baby’s” face, as well as Tutu’s. Kailani was so happy to see her big sister. She didn’t forget her big sister one bit. Thanks to Tutu and Caitlin, for bringing lots of requested goodies for us! It was such a treat, even though all that organic food was sprayed with insecticide on the plane by Australia customs! After long hugs, we spent most of the morning settling in, letting Kai and Cait play together, catching up and then went to lunch. The next order of business for all of us was to get more cold weather clothes. The Riola family arrived with mainly shorts, t-shirts, tank tops and open-toed shoes. (Technically, I also had a pair of jeans, a sweatshirt for me and Sean, and a thin sweater for Kai. But still…) The Sanchez’s (aka Caitlin and Tutu) also underestimated the weather and could use a few more things. Talking with local taxi drivers, it was also usually cold for this time of year. Luckily, there was an outlet mall within walking distance. Walking there, it was way more westernized than Asia. But, we heard some strange sounding birds that made us definitely feel like we were somewhere that we’ve never been to. At the outlet mall, we actually ended up with a lot more than I thought we’d find. Although, it didn’t seem like we paid outlet prices. Later that evening, we got a visit from my cousin, Richard, who brought a box with our wetsuits and cool weather stuff that we shipped from Amsterdam last May, minus anything much for Kai since she would have outgrown it all. We can’t thank you enough, Richard and Libby, for storing that box of our junk at your house!!! It was also nice to see Richard and catch-up over sushi dinner.
The next morning, after a slow start and a trip to the market for breakfast stuff, we took the bus to Circular Quay then ferry to Manly for late lunch and to scope out the area and accommodations to see if that’s where we wanted to stay after going up north to the Cairns/Great Barrier Reef area. There is a surfing beach, the area is nice and taking the ferry to the city is convenient. So, we’ll probably be back next week. On the ferry, you pass right by the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. It was quite a stunning view, especially on the return trip when it was dark out and the city lights were lit.
On Saturday morning, we packed up and headed to the airport, this time for Cairns. Since its a few hours up north by flight, we’re hopeful it’ll be a bit warmer. Between the five of us, the addition of a box AND shopping, we had TONS of stuff. So, we stored a couple bags at the airport. (Not cheap! …but then, nothing at this country seems to be thus far.) Security at the Sydney domestic terminal seems to be the most lenient we’ve seen so far. They never asked for an ID anytime before boarding (usually, we have those passports out for several checks) and they actually allow liquids on their flights. Since I’m in the air as I type, all I can say is that, so far, everything else about the flight seems to be going smoothly. We keep telling Kailani how we’re flying to see Nemo. She’s only seen that movie about a thousand times. So hopefully, there won’t be a shortage of “Nemos” on the reef’!
While we were in Bali, for some random reason, I decided to check our friend Rory’s tour schedule on his band’s web site. As it turns out, their last show in Australia was the day before we arrived in Sydney and they were playing in the outskirts of Sydney. It ends up that he flew out the morning that we flew in. What a bummer that we ended up missing him for the SECOND time on our trip! (First time was when we were trying to get from the Italian Alps to Munich.) But, third try should be a charm. We WON’T miss him when we go to Hawaii in October!
We went to the apartment we were to stay at. Caitlin and Tutu (aka Grandma Karen) had already arrived from Hawaii the night before. When our taxi drove up, we saw Caitlin watching out the window for us. I can’t tell you how great it was to see my other “baby’s” face, as well as Tutu’s. Kailani was so happy to see her big sister. She didn’t forget her big sister one bit. Thanks to Tutu and Caitlin, for bringing lots of requested goodies for us! It was such a treat, even though all that organic food was sprayed with insecticide on the plane by Australia customs! After long hugs, we spent most of the morning settling in, letting Kai and Cait play together, catching up and then went to lunch. The next order of business for all of us was to get more cold weather clothes. The Riola family arrived with mainly shorts, t-shirts, tank tops and open-toed shoes. (Technically, I also had a pair of jeans, a sweatshirt for me and Sean, and a thin sweater for Kai. But still…) The Sanchez’s (aka Caitlin and Tutu) also underestimated the weather and could use a few more things. Talking with local taxi drivers, it was also usually cold for this time of year. Luckily, there was an outlet mall within walking distance. Walking there, it was way more westernized than Asia. But, we heard some strange sounding birds that made us definitely feel like we were somewhere that we’ve never been to. At the outlet mall, we actually ended up with a lot more than I thought we’d find. Although, it didn’t seem like we paid outlet prices. Later that evening, we got a visit from my cousin, Richard, who brought a box with our wetsuits and cool weather stuff that we shipped from Amsterdam last May, minus anything much for Kai since she would have outgrown it all. We can’t thank you enough, Richard and Libby, for storing that box of our junk at your house!!! It was also nice to see Richard and catch-up over sushi dinner.
The next morning, after a slow start and a trip to the market for breakfast stuff, we took the bus to Circular Quay then ferry to Manly for late lunch and to scope out the area and accommodations to see if that’s where we wanted to stay after going up north to the Cairns/Great Barrier Reef area. There is a surfing beach, the area is nice and taking the ferry to the city is convenient. So, we’ll probably be back next week. On the ferry, you pass right by the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. It was quite a stunning view, especially on the return trip when it was dark out and the city lights were lit.
On Saturday morning, we packed up and headed to the airport, this time for Cairns. Since its a few hours up north by flight, we’re hopeful it’ll be a bit warmer. Between the five of us, the addition of a box AND shopping, we had TONS of stuff. So, we stored a couple bags at the airport. (Not cheap! …but then, nothing at this country seems to be thus far.) Security at the Sydney domestic terminal seems to be the most lenient we’ve seen so far. They never asked for an ID anytime before boarding (usually, we have those passports out for several checks) and they actually allow liquids on their flights. Since I’m in the air as I type, all I can say is that, so far, everything else about the flight seems to be going smoothly. We keep telling Kailani how we’re flying to see Nemo. She’s only seen that movie about a thousand times. So hopefully, there won’t be a shortage of “Nemos” on the reef’!
1 comment:
Thanks for writing this.
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