One Year Ago

One year ago tomorrow, September 20, 2008, I wrote about our trip to Australia. Now, one year later, I asked myself if what I wrote still held true. Absolutely. I would leave for another trip tomorrow if I could. Anyway, here's what I said then:

9222 miles is a long way. That is the distance from Detroit, Michigan to Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The hours it takes to traverse that kind of distance are daunting. Thirty-six hours is my conservative estimate, counting wait times in airports, not counting drive times to and from same. Those hours, by the way, are consecutive. No time-outs’ for hotels or real sleep: Just the dozing – called sleep – on airplanes and in waiting room seats. It is exhausting.

Was it worth it? Of course! How often in one life-time does a person get the opportunity to make that kind of journey?

So what were some high lights of the trip:

1) Deep sea fishing – four of us caught 31 fish (all legal): Then we ate them.

2) A drive to the “12 Apostles National Park,” along the Great Ocean Road.

3) Dinner and dancing with part of the largest Greek population outside Athens.

4) Being surrounded with Cockatoos and Parrots in the mountains outside Melbourne.

5) Seeing a Koala, Kangaroos, Wallabies, etc., in the wild.

6) Eating Kangaroo meat.

7) Getting to watch Australian Rules Football playoffs from a Sky-box, with a sit-down Filet Mignon meal served in the box.

Getting used to sitting where the driver is supposed to sit in a car, but doesn’t. That’s not true! I’ll probably never get used to right-hand drive and left-side traffic.

There is more, but even after three days I’m still dragging and lagging. Jet lag is a bummer.

Would I go again? Silly question! When do we leave? This is the back of our friends house. Wouldn't you go again?