VAN VOORHIS FAMILY BLOG

It is expensive to go to the Great Barrier Reef…even from Australia.

But today, we went “the cheap way” ($600US) on a fast catamaran-style boat for me and 300 newfound Wallaby-loving friends.

A cruise company has license to “dock” a pontoon boat at the reef.
Of course, it is a pontoon boat about as much as “Riverboat” Casinos in Indiana are classic Mississippi River paddlewheels…

This “floating Six Flags” as I dubbed it was in an amazing place on the reef…absolutely the only structure you could see in any direction with coral all around.

It has a water slide, glass bottom boats, a “submersible,” diving, snorkling, a floating chopper pad, and a high powered vaccuum to suck every available dollar from the pocket from your Vineyard Vines swimming trunks (thanks Elizabeth T).

Unfortunately, this floating rust bucket full of all-to-friendly Aussie tourism was also a Tetanus shot waiting to happen. 3 of the 4 of us gave blood at one point or another. (Nothing like chumming the waters of the GBR with a little B negative. Visions of that Steve Irwin guy were unavoidable.)

It was a flat out beautiful day in the high 70s and we had a good time…especially the kids. The 1.5 hour ride each way was fantastic and despite my disappointment with the “service” at the Great Barrier Reef WalMart of Water Sports, it is hard to be disappointed with the Whitsunday Islands and the Reef itself.

I am just spoiled enough that I don’t stand in lines tho and so I am happy to be back at the “home of the $11 Heineken,” Hayman Island.

Tomorrow we are scheduled to go sea kayaking, which I am very much looking forward to… And Friday, we will shun the huddled masses of chubby people in wetsuits and charter a seaplane to take us back out to the Reef for snorkling and a some time on a private beach.

I admit that I am ready to come home…and I am making one more effort to find a direct flight back from Australia — bypassing another conversation with the travel agent from Hades and the undoubtedly English-abusing concierge in Tokoyo — both of which are sure to be Lost in Translation.

No regrets…but I am quite certain that if I got us back even one day earlier, my wife would love me all the more. All she talks about is school supplies.

More soon…and pics tonight if I am able.

Sam

Hey all – I know you’re looking forward to Sam’s postings, because he’s much more interesting (wittier, more cynical, sarcastic and bombastic) than I am in our post writing. We’ve decided that in sports terms I give the play by play and he does the color.

So – since we have no wireless connection in our rooms (despite this being the most expensive place we’ve stayed the entire trip) – I’m here in the “lanai” area of our wing where we’ve finally found an internet connection. The kids have gone to bed (hopefully) and after checking e-mails, Sam has gone up and left me to do the daily post.

Yes, we have survived yet another overnight plane flight and safely arrived in Australia. Never without a glitch though – we left Beijing on Saturday at noon from our hotel – made it through to Tokyo in time for our 8:45 flight in the evening. As we ran our boarding passes through, we were informed that we needed visas in order to enter Australia (yes, thanks to our magnificent travel agent). We had visas for Brazil, Tanzania, China and Kenya – but were not told about Australia. So….. after being the first in line – we ended up making the plane (full of Japanese children on some sort of field trip) late and ended up being the last ones boarded and getting approved for visas. Unfortunately this trip was only 7 + hours, so once we were up in the air and served dinner – we really only had a few hours to sleep before we were awakened and up for breakfast and disembarking – but, we survived.

It was reminicent of Sam & my trip to NZ a few years back when we arrived in Australia. We had to walk outside to the domestic terminal and the birds were chirping, the air was fresh and the trees were green – quite a contrast from the smog and crowds of Beijing. A welcome change. We took our small plane to the Hamilton Island airport where we met our waiting boat filled with quite a compilation of fellow guests. After getting our welcome glasses of bubbly, we met a nice “couple” from Scottsdale a physician and his partner and chatted with them – of course, Ethan had to make comments about the speedos we’ve seen (getting the elbow from Anna) – because once arriving at the resort, they too were among the speedo loving folk. Anna made fast friends with a 4 year old from Sydney, who now has been a new member of our family whenever she sees us.

Our room is nicely appointed and overlooking the lagoon. We’ve laid pretty low yesterday and today – although we did do the 5+ mile trek around the island this morning in 1 hour and 45 minutes – beating the suggested time of 2 1/2 hours. Sam was channeling his friend Glen, aka “the iron tourist” when setting the pace for the family up the rocky trail. I will say that I did get in a few beautiful pics on the fly. We spent the afternoon at the larger resort pool (supposedly one of the largest in the southern hemisphere) and sampled a few of the local brews. Dinner was in a tasty, but overpriced resort Italian restaraunt – where Sam has dared Anna & Ethan do dance on the dance floor to the cheesy house band on the last night – I think they might take him up on his offer, so I’ll come with camera in hand.

Tomorrow we head out for an all day boat tour which includes snorkeling, some sort of semi-submersible craft (which my claustrophobic mother would love) an on board kids pool and waterslide that goes into the ocean. (Hopefully lifeguards are included). We kayak later this week and on Friday take an amphibious water plane out to the edge of the great barrier reef. Should be fun.

I will admit that we’re beginning to yearn for the comforts of home. While we haven’t been living to shoddy on the road, there’s alot to be said for your own bed, kitchen, laundry room and the consistency of everyday life.

We truly look forward to seeing all our friends and boring you with our incessant chatter of our trip. Hopefully you won’t get sick of us. My parents have moved to Jacksonville since we’ve been gone away – so we look forward to time with them and introducing them to our new friends in PV. We also look forward to having some of our Ohio friends make the trek down to Florida in the fall (HINT< HINT).

We’ll try to upload some pics soon. Take care – we’ll try not to drown or injure ourselves in the next 6 days! Julie

I surely feel that we have done as much here in Beijing that we could fit in a 4 night stay without killing the kids (or us old folks). Today we started out around 7:30 and went to the Summer Palace. A beautiful place – amazing to think that this huge place with so much money put into it was enjoyed only by the emperor. The absolute power and the misuse of it is amazing.

The mass of humanity and the pollution that comes with it has been a bit overwhelming at times. We return to our hotel each day with red eyes and sweat drenched clothes. We truly appreciate our beautiful home and it’s location in PV when we’re in a city of high rises and so much dust and pollution that it seems to be in a perpetual fog. We are excited about returning to green grass, fresh air and our view of the lagoon behind our house every morning.

After the Summer Palace, we did a hutong tour. With the assistance of 2 bicycle rickshaws and tour guides on bikes, we rode through some of the oldest neighborhoods of Beijing. Such a different pace of life just a stones throw from the fast paced progressive lifestyle of modern Beijing. We watched vendors sellling eggs and rice from their bicycles riding through the streets, calling out their wares. People coming out of their houses and having eggs weighed on a scale – just doing the shopping for the day. It was very interesting to see how things co-exist.

We went to a “hot pot” restaraunt with our guide and driver and experienced yet another lunch with fabulous food and service. It basically was like fondue, with boiling broth – we cooked lamb, beef, chicken, shrimp – and the more “interesting” octopus balls and spinal cord of ox. Ethan & I both tried the octopus (ok, balls made of octopus meat for those of you trying to envision) and Sam tried everything – including the spinal cord. I wanted to be adventurous, but I just couldn’t bring myself to do it – it just looked too gross.

After a shower and a brief nap, the kids & I headed out for a little late afternoon shopping. This in itself was an adventure sport. First we went to the silk market and found a few things – then we went to the Pearl Market – and yes, bought a few pearls. After the saneness of those markets we headed downstairs to the real party – shoes, clothes, purses, etc… Lady, little girl, little boy – what do you want? Thankfully we had our trusty guide Steve with us to tell us what was a decent price and help us bargain. The most fun was buying Ethan a pair of yellow Vans – starting at a price of 280 HKD and working down to 80. This after being arm blocked numerous times from walking away from a young girl about 1/2 my size (I knew I could take her if necessary We found gifts for most of all our 15 cousins and now find the need to send yet another box home. The toy section was enought to make Ethan’s eyes roll back in his head with happiness. Thankfully I had the excuse of things not fitting in the luggage, so I got away without having to buy a huge remote control car for ET.

Tomorrow we can sleep in and then need to pack up again. We have a 3:30 flight to Tokyo, then an evening flight to Cairnes, Australia. Not really looking forward to another overnight flight, but hopefully this one won’t be difficult and Glen won’t get his wish of Sam injuring anyone en route.

We’ll post again when we get opportunity. Take care all. Julie