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 |   Theses are my thoughts and ramblings as I forge my way through this thing they call life. |
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These are my thoughts and ramblings as I forge my way through this thing they call Life. I blog with these groups:     "Blogging Circle of Friends "  [E] 
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 30 Day Blogging Challenge We're hoping on The Ghan for one of the world's great train journeys. Travel through the heart of Australia in luxury while enjoying the all-inclusive food and beverages, well-appointed cabins and the Off Train Excursions that allow you to get a feel for the places the train travels through. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g255093-d12951577-Reviews-The_Ghan... 30 day prompt, check out these links and discuss. You must discuss a minimum of 3 of the links. https://www.pinkroadhouse.com.au/oodnadatta-track/ https://www.australia.com/en-us/places/northern-territory.html https://alicespringsdesertpark.com.au/ https://www.flyingdoctor.org.au/ we'll be dining in https://journeybeyondrail.com.au/guest-information/food-beverage/queen-adelaide-... A map is always good: https://www.mapsofworld.com/australia/cities/ I love being in a train watching the scenery fly by. The Ghan Train allowed us to travel and wind away along the track between Adelaide, Alice Springs and Darwin. Seeing the grand expanse of Australia going by was amazing. It looked quite desolate, but I think that it is rather deceiving. The Desert Park in Alice Springs was highly enlightening and I learned a great deal about the desert's wildlife, plant life and the diversity that is there. There was much to learn. So many stories to hear. We were able to: "learn how Aboriginal people find food or medicines in the desert and how to identify some of the important plants and animals they use discover clever adaptations of plants and animals which allow them to live in a dry environment see endangered desert mammals and learn what is being done to save them stroll along a dry river bed and find out why the river red gums which line it are so important to animals learn how to identify desert birds and how they fit into the web-of-life catch a glimpse of the Centreâs history back through four and a half billion years." It was an amazing experience. I loved trying my hand at a new language and I am sure they are still laughing about my ineptitude, but it was great fun. Just hearing the history of the Pink Roadhouse had me laughing. But it was worth the stop just for the the famous OODNABURGER!!! https://www.pinkroadhouse.com.au/history/ Witnessing the sunrise and sunset over the red rocks of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park was breath taking. I can't believe we got to visit one of the greatest natural wonders of the world, Uluru. Not only is it a spectacular natural formation, but it is a deeply spiritual place. We could feel a powerful presence the moment we set eyes on it. At 348 metres high, Uluru is one of the worldâs largest monoliths, towering over the surrounding landscape and some 550 million years old. It is made of sandstone, Uluru is often referred to as the heart of the âRed Centreâ and is one of Australiaâs most recognisable landmarks. Seeing the colours change before my eyes, and getting to hear the stories of time was a priceless experience. The unhurried capital of Darwin was a fabulous surprise with its balmy nights, colourful characters and outdoor adventures. The Aboriginal culture was strong here. There was an array of languages spoken in the streets and vibrant Aboriginal art in many of the city's galleries and museums. The city's proximity to Asia means you'll also find strong Asian influences, especially in the energetic food scene and night markets. Blogging Circle of Friends Day 2818: August 4, 2020 Day 4 we catch a Ghan train in Adelaide. Have you ever ridden a train? What was it like? If you haven't ridden a train what do you think it would be like? I love trains. When I was nine the Ontario Northlander was put in and it stopped in each town on the line to give school kids a chance to check it out. I still have my memorial coin to mark the experience. It was not until two years later that I got to take the night train from our hometown of New Liskeard to Toronto, This one gave us a cabin to sleep in. When we got to Toronto we took another train to Guelph when my mother and I moved to southern Ontario. In the summer of 1980, when I graduated from grade 8, I got to take the train to Timmins on the Ontario Northlander to see my paternal grandmother. I took the train back to Toronto from New Liskeard after visiting my maternal set of grandparents. My mother met me at Union Station in Toronto. When I was a kid, I loved to explore the train tracks behind our house. There were iron ore pellets on the tracks. I was forever catching hell for putting them in my pockets and my mother would find them in the laundry. |
| 30 Day Blogging Challenge I bet you were worried that you would never feel warm again. Take advantage and do your laundry and whatever because we're going to be roughing it on a train next. We're all staying at Hilton Sydney. https://www.google.com/travel/hotels/Sydney/entity/CgsImO_m76TC4eXkARAB?g2lb=250... There are a lot of great things to do and see in Sydney but you have one day so pick from the links what appeals to you and discuss what you discovered. Make us envious. Let your imagination get carried away. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g255060-Activities-Sydney_New_South_Wale... https://www.thecrazytourist.com/25-best-things-sydney-australia/ After days of nothing but snow and ice, seals, penguins and whales, I am all to happy to be surrounded by buildings and feel some heat on my skin. Even winter in Australia is lovely. Still we only have one day, so I need to make it count. I decided on a historical bent and took a walking tour through the Rocks. This is after I freshened up and warmed up - that included hand washing out a few items, then heading down to the pool and hot tub before taking a shower. The Rocks is the first site of European settlement in Australia, and is rich in history; it was particularly important first as a convict site and then as a working-class part of town. Itâs also home to Cadmanâs Cottage, the oldest residential house in Sydney. The Rocks is also well-known for its markets, cobblestoned laneways, and the stunning views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. There are also several excellent art galleries in this area, and great dining options. The walking tour started at 9:30 in the morning. It covered 2 kilometres at a leisurely pace, focusing on the neighborhood located under the Sydney Harbour Bridge. We got to wander around the areaâs cobbled stone streets, alleyways, and courtyards. We stopped at Cadman's Cottage, which was built in 1816; Campbell's Cove; and the Garrison Church, which is known as the Church of Holy Trinity. We also got to see the shoreline of Sydney Cove, as well as fabulous views of the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. Plenty of great opportunities to take photos. A tour to view: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3lbMDn-H8E http://www.visitsydneyaustralia.com.au/cadmans-cottage.html https://www.therocks.com/venues/campbells-cove http://www.visitsydneyaustralia.com.au/garrison-church.html Sydney Cove: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdXbjZsiQmE After the tour, I found a place to grab some lunch. The 7 Rocks Deli pulled me in for one of its tantalizing sandwiches and fries. Then I ambled over to Aslan Coffee Roasters to try their brew and send a few packages of beans solely from the Indonesian Archipelago home for some future indulgence. Afterwards I headed for Hyde Park, a to walk and feel the sun on my face. A change of pace. Open space and green. The city fading into the background. Having walked around The Rocks areas of town all morning it was nice to relax and find a spot to sit and meditate. I continued on to a lovely used bookshop with a cafe and wine bar over on Glebe Point Road. With another new bookshop right beside it, I found myself in a little corner of heaven as I settled in to search for at least one book treasure to take home. If I bought more than one, I'd have to send it home in the package I was set to mail that contained my Antarctic gear - I was not dragging that such around all over the world. Blogging Circle of Friends Day 2817: August 3, 2020 BCoF Let this quote inspire your entry: Sydney in general is eclectic. You can be on that brilliant blue ocean walk in the morning and then within 20 minutes you can be in a completely vast suburban sprawl or an Italian or Asian suburb, and it's that mix of people, it's that melting pot of people that give it its vital personality. Baz Luhrmann With this quote as my guide, I took in as much of Sydney as I was able. The Rocks area, Hyde park and its green space in the heart of the city center, then on to Glebe Point Road where the university students started to flow. I thoroughly loved watching the people - the tourists in the Rocks area to the city dwellers and students further away from the cove. Definitely a melting pot of people. By the time I dragged myself back to the hotel I had had a day immersed in the flavours of the city. When a group of my fellow adventures were off for a night on the town, I did a quick change and caught up with them at the bar before we headed out for a late bite to eat and some local brews. |
| 30 Day Blogging Challenge Zodiac Cruising - 30 day prompt Go where your cruise ship canât â hop aboard a small, sturdy inflatable boat and buzz between the icebergs and around the mountains. This is your chance to get an up-close look at some of the more cautious wildlife in the ocean, on land, and in the skies. Itâs common for leopard seals, penguins, and other curious animals to pop up alongside to say hello. Youâll never feel so small in your life as you gaze up at the massive glaciers and icebergs from sea level. To call it a humbling experience would be an understatement. Good to know: This activity is a big favorite of photographers. Zodiac cruising allows for more intimate viewing as well as an entirely different perspective. Antarctica is the site of some of the worldâs most cutting-edge research. There are dozens of scientific research centers here, and one of the most interesting things to do in Antarctica is to take a tour of one of these fascinating facilities. The Vernadsky Research Base on Galindez Island opens its doors to visitors all while studying everything from meteorology, ecology, biology, glaciology, seismology and physics. It was at this research station that the hole in the ozone layer was first discovered. Another cool and unexpected aspect of this research center is the Vernadsky Station Lounge, one of the southernmost bars in the world. Try the vodka, which has been distilled on site. Bottoms up! We're going to help examine green snow and check out the satellite studies of the visual evidence of climate change. https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-bar-at-vernadsky-research-base-antarctic... Good to know: The post office at the Vernadsky Station is one of the few places in all of Antarctica from where you can send a mail. Mailing a postcard will cost you around USD 2 while a letter (including stamps) is about USD 6*. We're still sleeping in our sleeping bags. I'm not sure if my body is screaming at me from cold stiffness or from the Kayak workout yesterday, but I need to keep moving to stretch and get the blood flowing. Although my 'snow grave' was quite comfortable it took me a long time to settle in to sleep. I couldn't get over the stars.... or how loud some of our group snores! Today we're touring around in a Zodiac - one of those inflatable boats that zip between the icebergs and mountains. You get a very impressive view. One that leaves me feeling humbled around all this natural expanse of wonder. Visiting the research station at Vernadsky was also interesting. A lot of various kinds of research goes on - studying everything from meteorology, ecology, biology, glaciology, seismology and physics. I made sure to send off several postcards and a letter. I'm curious how long it will take them to make their way home. I may have to buy some stamps and restart my stamp collection. Having a stamp from each of my travels would be a great way to collect something. https://www.stampworld.com/en/stamps/Australian-Antarctic/Postage%20stamps/2020-... After a day of exploring and taking the most amazing photographs, I am up for trying some of that bathtub Vodka. Blogging Circle of Friends Day 2816 Prompt: Let this quote inspire your entry: âI had a dream when I was 22 that someday i would go to the region of ice and snow and go on and on till I came to one of the poles of the earthââ Ernest Shackleton Have you ever dreamed about seeing one of the poles? Where's your ideal dream place? This entry needs to be minimum of 100 words if you're participating in the challenge.. I have a feeling I would be dreaming of wood fires, sparks flashing up into the starry night sky. But to dream of coming to a place of snow and ice that would go on and on,.. that would be nightmarish if there was no way back to the heat of the tropics. I have never shared the dream of going to either pole, though it would be an interesting experience. I believe the Northern Pole is more ice block, than land. And is the pole marked? Is it really a red and white marker? I highly doubt it. A little research found this from Wikipedia: "The Geographic South Pole is marked by a stake in the ice alongside a small sign; these are repositioned each year in a ceremony on New Year's Day to compensate for the movement of the ice. The sign records the respective dates that Roald Amundsen and Robert F. Scott reached the Pole, followed by a short quotation from each man, and gives the elevation as "9,301 FT.". A new marker stake is designed and fabricated each year by staff at the site. Ceremonial South Pole The Ceremonial South Pole is an area set aside for photo opportunities at the South Pole Station. It is located some meters from the Geographic South Pole, and consists of a metallic sphere on a short barber pole, surrounded by the flags of the original Antarctic Treaty signatory states." So there is a barber pole... ceremonially, of course. I believe I read somewhere that Shackleton's wife even had him buried in Antarctica because he had never felt comfortable in England. Antarctica was in his blood. Now that is a serious dream. Mine would land me in Paris... though I hear the weather there is hot and heavy at this time of year. Until tomorrow. |
| 30 Day Blogging Challenge 30 day Activities :Kayaking with the whales and watching penguins and sampling local cuisine. 30 day Camping in Antarctica isnât an activity for everyone â cozying up on the frozen ground in sub-zero temperatures isnât everyoneâs cup of tea. However, if youâre willing to sacrifice the luxuries of a comfy bed surrounded by four walls, youâre in for one of the coolest sleepovers youâll ever have. While every boat tour companyâs âcampgroundâ varies, one option could be Hovgaard Island on the west-facing side of the Antarctic Peninsula. Some outfitters provide tents while others opt for a more au natural experience of only a waterproof, cold weather sleeping bag (bivy sack) and thermal mat. Sleeping under the infinite number of Antarcticaâs twinkling stars is a surreal experience and knowing thereâs nothing between you and all of Antarcticaâs frozen glory is truly a magical feeling. I've chosen the au natural for us. https://www.2foodtrippers.com/antarctica-food/#:~:text=Oh%20Pemmican%2C%20the%20... Men need to increase their caloric intake to 4500 and women to 3900 to handle the temperatures. I'm assured we won't gain weight. https://www.adventurouskate.com/kayaking-antarctica/#:~:text=Kayaking%20in%20Ant... Oh, Lyn's a sly fox   your never cease to amaze me. Antarctica. Such a lovely place to escape to virtually, when the humidity is on the rise here (Southern Ontario, Canada). So it looks like our Island, Havgaard Island, is almost straight down from the South American tip. Looking at the map as a satellite shot makes me shiver. Just look at these views... https://www.petersmith.net.nz/photos/antarctica-8.php Makes me feel small with majestic views like that. So does looking at the starry sky and watching the light display dance fire across the immense sky. There is no light pollution to block it out. Impressive. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hovgaard_Island I hope everyone has packed warmly. Lots of socks and warm gloves. Thermal underwear. Looks like we'll be sleeping in 'snow graves' to keep us out of the wind. We are also going in the winter from what I can gather, good thing this is a virtual trip or we'd be there until Summer (October - February) We get about 5 hours of Nautical twilight. https://www.timeanddate.com/sun/@6697173 But here in this virtual world, where life is twisted to our own making, I can appreciate the place and the time. A chance to kayak would be fabulous... I would not want to be out on the water in the Nautical Twilight - my imagination would conjure too many deep sea beasts for my liking. Though I am sure my thoughts and dreams could be written out for future stories. I wonder who my adventure friends this trip will be? I look forward to sharing a meal of bannock and Pemmincan with them. I'd try the Hoosh as well. And chocolate, yes please!!! No soft melted chocolate in Antarctica. I picked up a good stash of Reid's chocolates on Wednesday. I'd be willing to share. I like the idea of eating more and burning the extra calories just being here. Blogging Circle of Friends - Day 2815 Are you familiar with any of these authors or books? or discuss one of these quotes: âAntarctica. You know, that giant continent at the bottom of the earth thatâs ruled by penguins and seals.â â C.B. Cook, Twinepathy âI want to visit the snow in Antarctica before global warming turns it into a tropical paradise.â â Steven Magee https://www.wayfairertravel.com/inspiration/books-about-antarctica/. Well, if anyone knows me at all, it's how I love to carry books around on an adventure. (In real time, I bought 11 books at the Edinburgh International Book Festival on the second day of a bus tour of Scotland and had to lug them around the next 14 days!). One of the things I enjoy about this adventure is the chance to research and check out various places around the world. I find I often get lost down the rabbit hole of websites and information. I have to keep reminding myself I have a blog to write. I started this blog at 4 am... it is now almost 7 pm! (I did do other things besides the research, but I have probably spend a good 4 hours, at least checking things out). Most of these books talk about the harshness of the land and its climate. They talk about early explorers and the challenges they faced. I hope we don't get ourselves trapped in the ice. When I look at the quotes and the idea of a 'tropical paradise'... I worry a little bit about how badly we treat our planet. But for right now I just want to enjoy the place and make sure that I leave the place as I found it, so that I don't contribute to its demise. Apparently it is very dry here, so you need to hydrate and wear sunscreen because the ozone it the thinnest at the poles. No chance of seeing Santa or getting eaten by polar bears, we get to enjoy the penguins and seals and make sure the whales don't tip us out of our Kayaks as we glide over the water as black as night. The peace and silence here is amazing. The sounds that do carry are unhindered by anything but walls of ice. Even as we paddle, we seem to let the world slip away and let ourselves be part of something bigger. |
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