Fiji - Day 2

On our second day in Fiji, we visited the Kula Ecopark.  All the animals in these pictures are indigenous to the Fiji Islands.

There are around 100 of this type of turtle that are endangered. (We can't remember the species name.)

We had a walk through the forest to view the flora and fauna.

This is one of the numerous colorful parrots at the park.

This small species of boa constrictor is the only type of snake on the island.

Of course, there are many types of Iguanas!

We had a group dinner on our last night. Wayne ran out to the terrace to take this shot. 

This is a small part of the group of travelers we spent 26 days with.  The best tour director ever is the lady on the left.







So, after flying on 11 planes, sleeping on 10 mattresses, and riding on more than 20 buses, we are home!  We had a wonderful time and are glad we went.  We left Fiji Saturday night at 11:50 pm and arrived in New Orleans Saturday night at 11:45 pm.  So, you could say we got home before we left Fiji!

Fiji

Our last stop! We were split into 3 groups, each with a local guide. This shows our guide helping us shop in the open air market. We were buying vegetables to bring to our hosted lunch.

We visited a local village.  We will be seeing the chief so women should wear attire that covers their knees.

This is the welcoming ceremony.  We chose one of our group (John) as our 'chief' to represent us. (His back is to the camera.)

We were served lunch in one of the village houses.  Lots of veges - YUM!

We visited a local school.  Our travel company donates to the school.  Wayne is with his two students in their classoom.

This is a view from our room.

Auckland

When we arrived in Auckland, we were bussed to a Maori Cultural Center for an information presentation and lunch.

This is one of the local tribal chiefs.

Wayne took a sailboat harbor tour. This is a picture of the city that he took from the boat.

We took a city tour by bus. This was taken at the top of a dormant volcano with the city in the background.

Queenstown

The bus ride from Christchurch to Queenstown was long and winding. I got carsick and just laid in bed all evening. Nice hubby brought me dinner after I woke up.

This is the view we had from our hotel. Just breathtaking in each direction.  There is also a view of our hotel from a boat on the lake. Wayne went on this excursion without me. I needed another day to feel better.

The excursion was to the Walter Peak Sheep Station where, among other things, they got to see a sheep sheered.

On Sunday, we went to Milford Sound - the area where Lord of the Rings was filmed. The is one of many scenery shots on the way there.

This is a Kea bird sitting on the tour bus. We saw them in two different areas.  They are very inquisitive and will tear up various pieces on cars, like the rubber around the windshield.

This is the boat we cruised on in Milford Sound.

Here is a shot Wayne took from the back of the boat. Awesome!

We saw a couple of areas with seals sunning on the rocks.

Of course, there were breathtaking waterfalls.













We are now in Fiji, so we haven't posted anything on our stay in Auckland yet.  We'll try to do that tomorrow.

Christchurch

As you can see, Wayne was able to get a sim card in Christchurch. He took a taxi to a shopping mall where the closest Telecom store was that had the card.  So, the $49 card ended up costing $89 with the two taxi rides!

On arrival in Christchurch, we went to the International Antarctic Centre where these penguins are housed.  All of them have been injured in some way and will live here forever.

The downtown area of Christchurch is small. We were able to walk from our hotel to the Avon River. There are two phone booths on a bridge. As you can see, we had to step in one for a photo.

The botanical gardens were a short walk from the river.  There were some gorgeous flowers there whose names I knew and many whose names I didn't know. The 'friends' enjoyed the flora also.

When we exited the gardens, we were in front of the Bridge of Remembrance.

After 9/11, the city of Christchurch sent firemen to aid New York. 
In 2002, New York firemen visited Christchurch, bringing some steel from the Trade Center site to honor all firefighters world wide. A local artist fashioned the steel into this monument.

This was taken on a bus tour of the outer area of Christchurch, at the Pacific Ocean in an area called Monks Bay.








Thursday night we stayed with a host couple.  We were nervous about this visit, but it turned out to be very enjoyable.

We are posting this from Queenstown. Our hotal is on Lake Wakatipu, with mountains all around us.  Every direction you look is like a postcard! We'll post again when we can.

Sydney Day 2

This morning (Monday), the bus brought us to The Rock section of Sydney.  Called 'The Rocks' because the first British ships that settled the area sent the prisoners to this side of the harbor to live and work.  It was, and is, nothing but rock.

This is the oldest building in Sydney built in 1816.  Structures were built before this time. However, during a bubonic epidemic, structures were burned to rid the city of disease carrying vermin.

We then took a harbor tour. (I still had my patch on!) This is the boat we were on.

This is taken from the tour boat.

Here's a view of these two magnificent structures from the boat.

This is the lighthouse at the entrance to Sydney Harbor known as the south head.

This is where the Queen of England entertains when she visits Sydney.

You can reserve a time, and pay a fee, to walk on the top of the Sydney Harbor Bridge.  They say it's very strenuous. (No. We didn't even attempt it!)

Again in The Rocks area, the transportation officials must think that visitors should be reminded to look left first, instead of our usual looking right!





We leave for New Zealand bright and early tomorrow morning. (Be on the bus at 6 a,m.) If Wayne can't get a sim card for his Ipad, we will be limited as to when we will be able to post. Just wanted to let y'all know. 

Sydney

We arrived in Sydney on Saturday evening and just had time for dinner at a harbor-side restaurant.  Sunday, we began the day with a city coach tour. Of course, the most famous Sydney picture has the Sydney Opera House. The next most famous is probably the Sydney Harbor Bridge.  Here we are with both as our background.

We then toured the opera house which is amazing.  This picture is at the entrance to the theatre where we watched local school children practice for an upcoming concert.

This is a great close-up shot of some of the structure's 'shells'.







We again had dinner in a harbor-side restaurant and then took a water taxi to the Sydney Aquarium.  (No worries! I put on a motion sickness patch.)

This is the first platypus we've ever seen!

This is a sea dragon.

Cairns - Day 3

Today we visited the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park which is around 38 acres.  It was started 25 years ago by 7 Aboriginals who performed on the street. We then went to the Skyrail Rain forest Cableway which is 4.7 miles long.  The Kuranda Village was close by which is where we had lunch; meat pies from Annabel's Pantry - the 2nd best meat pies in Australia (according to our program director, Pam).

These are pictures of Tjapukai tribesmen who performed for us.  We also had an opportunity to throw a boomerang and a spear.

This is a picture we took while riding on the cable car. Look at the scenery!

Our new friends rode the cable car with us.

Wayne just loves having his picture taken!

There was a station (stop) where we got off the cable car and walked to a view of a waterfall.

The friends enjoyed the walk, too!









P.S. Our friends are traveling with us from Melbourne to Baton Rouge and then will go to new friends, Rachel and Ariel.