In the rainforest

There was land right outside our window this morning as we opened our curtains.

In no time at all we were making one of those remarkable turns on a sixpence in the middle of the Brisbane river and thought it was time we went and gathered our things, because we were off early on a 4WD jaunt today.

The weather didn’t look too promising and in fact, as we left the ship,we felt the first drops of rain.

We were headed for Mount Tamborine and the Hinterland, an area of densely forested hills and a variety of experiences during the day which we very much looked forward to.

Our driver Darren had a lovely turn of phrase, was a true professional who knew his customers and who took every opportunity to inform and entertain.  No sooner had we taken the turning for the mountain than we were stopping to view first this Kookaburra sitting on a wire, but then gum trees, nut bushes and anything else he felt we should take a closer look at.

His ability to spot things was marvellous –”look to your right” said he, there’s a small wallaby there in the grass.

Is there?

Well, yes, there is!  Of course, we’d all been on the lookout for kangaroos and koalas and hadn’t seen a thing, but he seemed to have the eye for such creatures and time and again, we were happy to have them pointed out to us.

The ride up the mountain was bumpy and on an unfinished road, so rather fun.  But we never feared for our safety and loved Darren’s banter with his father, who was driving the vehicle behind ours.

When we reached the top of the mountain it was time for morning tea – with home baked scones still warm from the oven and oodles of jam and cream.  Yum!

A short way further and it was time to leave the vehicle and take Shank’s Pony through the trees on a pathway to the waterfall.  By this time it was pouring with rain and though Darren had said that we’d be sheltered from most of the rain by the canopy of trees, in fact he was wrong – it was raining just as heavily in the forest as it had been in the car park.

We didn’t mind, really.  Most of us had come prepared with raincoats and kagoules, umbrellas and suchlike and we didn’t mind getting wet.  Darren stopped from time to time to point out things of interest and we were a fairly jolly crowd throughout, although by the time we reached the falls we were absolutely soaked through.

He shared his knowledge readily – here pointing out a spider’s lair under what looked like a small tree stump.  As he lifted the top, he asked the young woman by my side if she’d like to see the spider.  For sure, yes, she would – though when he then asked for her finger, she soon changed her mind!

I could upload endless pictures of our bushwalk through the forest, of the waterfalls and the beautiful trees and ferns which lined our pathway.  But there’s just one picture which will stay in my memory

Wet feet.

Yes, they did come clean later, as did my shoes, but oh my goodness, it didn’t make for comfortable (or elegant) walking!

A short stop in Canungra offered some touristy shopping opportunities and having taken a brief look inside just one, we chose to take Darren’s recommendation and head for the Heritage Vineyard shop, where Michael was doing a spot of wine tasting.

Much more fun, especially when we reached the “Moonshine” stage!

From there it was on to lunch in the and a little more kangaroo spotting on the way.

These chaps were happy to stand watching and before long we were getting quite blase about “another kangaroo”.

Lunch was a fine Aussie barbecue, washed down with wine or beer and followed by a couple of opportunities.

Who wants to learn to crack a whip?

Throw a boomerang?

Several did, and most did very well indeed!

But more popular still was the next stop, “real” wine tasting at the O’Reilly vineyard down the road, which had suffered considerably in the floods a couple of years ago.  A beautiful Queenslander homestead set in a lovely valley, it was hard to imagine the place under water.

Having tasted and savoured, Darren headed for home…with one last stop up his sleeve.  Just down the road, he knew of one further place which would interest us; a place where we could see something we were unlikely to see anywhere else.

A colony of 15 – 20,000 fruit bats hanging in the trees!  Amazing and rather horrible all at the same time (and rather smelly as well!)

Leaving them there, we headed back to the ship.

In the rain.

Into the inky blue

You’ll be relieved to know, I’m sure, that the lifeboat drill was serious, comprehensive and reassuring.  It also provided a little entertainment to the people standing on the wharf, gazing up at a couple of hundred people standing out on deck wearing orange lifejackets in the late afternoon sunshine.  Only once before have we actually had to put on our lifejackets and make our way to the lifeboats but it was noticeable that, on this occasion, every one of us paid attention and followed instructions to the letter.

Having changed, we made our way onto the top deck a little later and with drinks in hand, chatted and waited for the off. 

As we did, we spotted another ship leaving, just passing under the bridge.

It was the Oceania Regatta,  I think a similarly sized ship to ours, just setting off for Auckland, possibly.  The two ships sounded horns as they passed.

As she sailed past the Opera House, we were getting ready to leave.

There were people everywhere; this little group on the roof of the building opposite.  How lucky to have a roof terrace overlooking such a panorama!

At precisely 8pm, as the sun sank behind the skyline, we cast off and were away.

We looked down at Doyles, where we’d sat just last evening with Jane and Allan – that seafood was delicious!

In no time at all, it was dark and reversing away from the quay we just couldn’t stop taking photographs!  With the light changing by the minute, the sound of camera shutters was all around us.

We looked up to see another group climbing the bridge. Rather them than me!

The city twinkled and we became quiet – I thought of my parents, who sailed from Sydney just like this and here we were doing the same.  Daddy would have been 86 today and I wished him a quiet “Happy Birthday” as a tear rolled down my cheek.  Silly, isn’t it?

But it would be a hard soul to not be overwhelmed by such a beautiful place.  Such a beautiful evening.  How lucky we are to be here, to do this, to share it all in such good company.

Anyway,  there were more photos to be taken, more gasps of delight as yet another perfect scene unfolded.  Turning past the Opera House, lit against the night sky, we gazed at the view hoping upon hope that our photos would come out ok.

So we took another one, just in case.

And another.  Because even though I believe the best photos are in my head, I do want the pictures in my camera too!

And there we were, gone.

Off into the inky blue.

Must be time for dinner!

It wouldn’t happen in Hobart

Returning to our hotel last evening, we found a puddle in the bathroom, beginning a little saga which ended in a different bedroom shortly before midnight.  Disappointing service from which we’ll move swiftly along, merely noting that it wouldn’t have happened in our Hobart home!

So, sadly, we no longer had the view of the Opera House and of the wharf where our ship would arrive.  Still, we were out there first thing to check all was well and sure enough, there she was – moored right there where we’d hoped.

After breakfast, we enjoyed a stroll around The Rocks, marvelling at this little cottage which survives right there in the middle of the modern city.

We walked under the bridge and took a different route back, looking up just in time to see

a group of people just starting their bridge climb.  By the time we’d made our way back to Circular Quay and found ourselves a bench on which to sit and people watch, they were right up there at the top.

Meanwhile, it was time for us to go, collect our bags and gather with our shipmates to be herded on to a coach, to travel all the way across the road again.  Silly really, but we supposed it was necessary for everyone to identify bags and suchlike, and be there as a group rather than as 20-odd individuals.

By just gone 1pm, we were enjoying lunch on the Pool deck, watching people come and go and generally feeling relaxed.  Around 2, we made our way to our suite and unpacked.

I sit here at the desk with this view.  How lucky am I?

The champagne is on ice, lifeboat drill is in ten minutes time and we sail away just after sunset at 8pm.

Cheers!

We are here

We looked at one another and confirmed with a grin that, yes, we really are in Sydney.  The city is one of those iconic places and having last been here around 15 years ago, it was surprising how well we remembered it.  Our room wasn’t ready when we arrived so we lost no time in going straight out and down to Circular Quay and away.

The Costa Deliziocia was docked there in the Rocks, a huge and overwhelming presence.  Our ship will be there tomorrow and it’ll be interesting to compare!

The city was looking glorious in the sunshine, because we struck lucky in the weather stakes.  After weeks of non stop rain and cloudy skies, the sun put his hat on for us, for which we were thankful!  In the early afternoon, people were sitting out at the pavement cafes, taking their afternoon stroll or, in many cases, pounding the street in their best running shoes, in training for something or other. 

We turned the corner at Bennelong Point and agreed that yes, the Opera House still works its magic, doesn’t it?  No time to go inside this time (we saw Rigoletto here on our first visit, some twenty odd years ago: the first time we ever booked tickets on a long distance phone call, for us quite an adventure!)  As we walked past the sign, I did a double take and nudged Mark “Look, twins” – only now, uploading my photographs, do I see that they feature like a Where’s Wally cartoon!

We carried on around the pathway, skirting the Botanic Gardens and dodging the runners, still.  The sun was warm on our backs and we both wished we had thought to bring sunglasses, hats and so on.  Never mind, we’re here, and that’s the important thing!

Some construction work at the foot of the Fleet Steps sent us on a small detour and we were nearly at our destination. 

Mrs McQuarie’s Chair.  That first visit to Sydney all those years ago left such an impression on us, and this place in particular was etched in our memory.  I remember writing in my journal (yes, I kept one even then!) that Mrs McQuarie must have been of a similar mind to me; that even in those pre-bridge, pre-Opera House days, this must still have been a spectacular place to sit, for this is a magnificent harbour and the headland offers the most breathtaking views.

Once again, we looked at one another and sighed. Yes, we really are here.

Beautiful.

We spent quite some time there, just looking, taking photographs and counting our blessings.

Returning through the Botanic Gardens, we enjoyed a little more shade, a cooling breeze and the rustle and clatter of the bamboo.  We were in no hurry and yet, we were ready to cool off, to settle ourselves in the hotel and spend a quiet hour or so before going out again.

The city rises much higher than we remember and the busy streets and motorways crisscrossing the centre were quite a contrast to the peace of the garden.

After a shower and short sortout of our luggage, we wandered out into the Rocks, on our way to meet our friends.  Alan and Jane had booked a table at our favourite Doyles and we couldn’t wait to see them again. 

We walked alongside the Quay to the restaurant, fearing that we weren’t going to have much of a view from our table

But as we squealed at spotting them at the end of the quay, there was a shudder and the ship sailed.  Perfect timing!

We sat with the perfect Opera House backdrop, cocktails in hand followed by the most delicious hot seafood platter talking twenty to the dozen as we do.  So much to catch up on – or not, since Jane gets her news here on my blog!  But so good to be with them, to remember fun times and to giggle about Mumbai, the shoe shop and that tiny little taxi we shared; to look forward to some more good times to come during the next couple of weeks. 

Oh, and to redress the balance sheet following tiffin at the Taj!

Tasmania

We're here in Hobart, spending a few days with our dear friend Sandy and exploring this beautiful island for the first time.  The landscapes are looking lovely in the drizzle!  Since I haven't worked out how to upload photographs via Sandy's computer, however, you'll just have to believe me for now ;-)

We drove around the harbour when we arrived yesterday afternoon and saw three white ships moored there. One of them looked rather familiar - sure enough, there it was, "our" ship!  It's going to spend a couple of days in Melbourne before sailing on to Sydney and it was lovely to think we'll be joining it there.

Today we've been to the Salamanca market in Hobart and then out to the Hartzview vineyard, founded by Sandy's ancesters this afternoon.  Her rellies were some of the first settlers here and having lived here all her life, she knows everyone!  Hobart is in a beautiful setting and going up to the Signal Point at Mount Nelson this afternoon, we had a marvellous view over the estuary.  It was really easy to see how they would be able to trace a ship's progress from three or four days out from the port from that amazing vantage point - photos will follow!

Tonight, we're dining Greek- looking forward to that.