I have a new found appreciation for termites. That's right, that's what I said, Termites. I have learned that they actually help over here is Australia, so I like them being over here, where they are actually being used. They drill holes in the trees which provide shelter/homes for birds and their mounds are used for incubation for an animals eggs. It is all very cool. You learn something new everyday.

I have also learned something new: when you are traveling by yourself, you develop a certain limit that you can hold when around people. This includes all types of people, the smelly ones, the rude ones, the old ones, the young ones, the list goes on and on. However, on this tour around Australia (we have not even gotten to New Zealand) I have learned that I can, you can, reach a limit. However, I never do anything. I take it in stride and just grunt and bear it, oh but I am thinking.

So, I left off on the 20th of September. Well...let me just catch you up.

September 21:

I actually got to sleep in today, but wouldn't you know it, I woke up early anyways. I departed Alice Springs to go to Ayer's Rock. I went on a kinda tour. I was picked up just before 6 and taken in a large bus with many others to a site. We were greeted with champagne and canapes (not so good), everything was warm. But I decided to be nice and drink the offerings, eating was a different story. We stayed at this "summit" for about an hour to watch the sun set among the desert and huge rock, known as Uluru.

Now I am all for history, don't get me wrong. I love it, I have even been reading up on it lately. I know, it's weird. But anyways, I think it is important to know what you are looking at, going to see, the history of how, when, why, who...all those W questions. I knew nothing, I don't think anyone really knew what they were staring at, except a huge ass rock. Actually two of them. But this would not be the only time this would happen. You need to know what you are looking at to appreciate it.

Anyways, after sunset, we were escorted to our meal. I of course sat my self, until an Italian couple came to sit with me. They spoke no English, but that did not matter to me. Until, she did the "psst" number to me, so I could take a picture of her and her husband. No, "ummm", no excuse me in Italian, nada! But that was ok too. I took it in stride. Other than being able to communicate with someone, my night was not bad. We had a great pumpkin soup, which I ate as my appetizer and my main meal, because I asked for it. I did try the buffet of food, kangaroo too. It just was not doing it for me. Then dessert with port. And dinner was with red wine. My night was good. But it got even better with the night's sky. Ms McCall, you were right! The sky is just amazing. It would be bring tears to your eyes. It did to mine, perhaps it was the wine, but it really is just breath taking - seeing the Milky Way and stars that you can't see where we are in this world. It was...simply out of this world. I wish you all could be there with me.

After about 4 or 5 hours it was time to pack it up and go home, time to go to bed, since I had to wake up in a few hours to do the sunrise tour.

September 22:

Another tour at 5 in the morning. Great. We went to the base of the Uluru rock. The same rock I spent last night looking at and had no idea what I was looking at. So I actually asked the guide. He told me it was just a huge ass rock, that basically meant nothing to us. It is big, in a desert, surrounded by nothing. That is why American's, Chinese, Japanese and so on comes to see it. However, it does mean something to the Aboriginal people still here. It has stories of how they evolved. It tells their history, something we do not or have not listened to.

I find it amusing also, that during this sunrise tour, all these buses and cars line up. There are lines and rows of people gathered, on their chairs, all staring at the huge rock, waiting for the sun to rise. It was hilarious to see all these people, all lined up, BUT IN THE WRONG DIRECTION. The sun was going to rise behind them. I chuckled to myself. It was a funny site.

After the sunrise, we went to breakfast. I was excepting a huge layout, that is the picture I got from the description. I was wrong. It was ok, juice, coffee/tea, cereal and bread. Not for me, I ate like 4 crossiants. Then we had to meet for the actual tour.

The tour was good. We were led by aborigines. We had a translator too. We learned how the made fire, made glue and even how to throw a spear. We learned alittle about their history - very cool - it all revolved around snakes though, not so cool. The tour only took about two hours and then it was back to the bus and on to the airport. At 1 I was going to Cairns.

September 23:

Today was so cool! I woke up early, but it was worth it. I went to the Great Barrier Reef. I went on a boat under water to see the coral, the fish, everything. It was awesome. Then I ate a quick lunch and got snorkeling equipment on. I tried it out, to see if I could do it. I could. So I went to meet the snorkeling team at one to take a dip in the ocean. We took a boat out the drop off. We snorkelled around for about an hour seeing all these magnificent things. It was truly amazing. Then it was time to get back to the boat and come home. The reef is so cool. During my time on the reef snorkeling, all I could think about was Nemo, which oddly enough comes on, soon! haha.

On my way home I encountered some more people that drive me silly. But those are all things that should be saved for a rainy day. Besides, I am sure in a few years, I will not remember those silly people, so why bother writing about them!

I stay in Cairns for one more night and then I am off to New Zealand. I can't wait.

Also, I would like to defend myself on pictures. I know ya'll must be wanting them, but I figured, it's just not the same. You need to be here to appreciate everything you see, in all it's glory. As soon as I get my computer though, I will try to post some pictures up. keep in touch!