SOME AUSTRALIAN FUN

                               A Variety of Fun Experiences

           While in the outback we decided to take a camel ride. The camel handler gave us some advice on what to expect when the camel got up and down. There wasn’t too much of a jolt as the camel got up, but going down we let out a whoop! We both were propelled forward, but we managed to stay in the saddle.  We were quite taken with the animals  peach-size eye balls that are covered with 3-inch long lashes.

         The camel gets up on his hind legs first, which tends to propel one a bit forward, then up go his front legs. When lying down   the camel puts his front legs down first! Then the hind legs go down with a plop.

         We learned a bit about camels also. The animals hump is full of fat, not water, as is commonly thought. A camel chews his cud giving him rather bad breath. They do not spit as their close relative, the llama, does. They can close their nostrils in a sand storm. A camel is gentle, patient and affectionate.

       A camel moves both right legs together, then the back legs, so he can pace but not trot. They have great endurance. Their feet have no hooves but two fig-size toenails and walk on flex pads on their feet that mold over stones and gravel. A camel is born football size and is  hump less, has an ostrich-like head and gangly legs that can fold up.

       You don’t bounce like on a horse; the ride is more swaying like on a boat. I wouldn’t want to ride a very long way or a long time on a camel, but it was fun for a short while. A camel’s dung can be used for a fire. It is an interesting camel.

            We couldn’t resist a sunrise balloon ride while in the outback. The day started with a wake-up call at 3:15 AM!  Leaving a paved road we bounced over a washboard dirt road for 8 kilometers to the balloon site. Because the basket was a large one, holding 12 passengers, the balloon was proportionally large. It took a good while for the big balloon to inflate. We all managed to get in the basket, some with more help than others.

            Then suddenly with a blast of air we were off the ground! As daylight appeared, we saw cattle browsing, and wild horses running down on the plain. To the right we saw mobs of kangaroos hopping along the plain. As it got lighter, we spotted other hot air balloons in the air.

            The ride lasted a little over an hour. We made a smooth landing and when all were out of the basket we helped deflate the balloon and pack it into its compact carrying case. We headed back to town to a closed tavern where we had the traditional champagne and then we were served a nice breakfast which we enjoyed very leisurely on the patio. We were much more comfortable than we would have been on camp stools in the field. (Done it that way also)

            Having taken other balloon rides, I convinced my travel buddy to take her first. I was happy she thoroughly enjoyed it and allayed all her apprehensions and fears.

        In a large shopping area in Sydney our shopping was greatly hampered because we kept stopping to watch some excellent street performers and mimes. A statue of liberty mine was exceptionally good.

       In Fitzroy park in Melbourne there is a wonderful fairy tree. Many years ago a large tree had to be cut down. A local lady requested the stump be left, as she wanted to do something to delight children. Between 1933-35 she carved little fairy figures all around the approximately four-foot tree stump. It must have taken hours to carve, but it is a really delightful addition to the park.

            Queen Victoria Market in Melbourne covers 17 acres and contains 1000 stalls selling everything imaginable. Originally, in 1837, the area was a cemetery. In 1877 part of the cemetery was converted to the market, requiring the relocation of only three graves. In 1917 Parliament authorized the relocation of 10,000 remains, razed the cemetery, and by 1922 the market was in its full glory. We finished shopping just as the market was closing up, and walked out to the tram stop.

         When the first tram arrived we asked the female conductor if it went to Spring Street. When the conductor asked if we were looking for the free city tram, we said we knew it stopped at 3PM. We just needed to get back to Spring Street. With a big smile she told us to just pretend we didn’t know that  and she would take us to Spring.  She alerted us at the right stop, ending with, “You ladies have a nice visit.”   

        That’s just one of the many nice things people did for us down under!

IINTERESTING RIDES

                                                 A Camel Ride

In the Australian outback the camel handler gave us some advice on what it would feel like when the camel got up and down. We decided to ride together in the double saddle.

A camel gets up on his hind legs first, which tends to propel one a bit forward, then up goes his front legs. There wasn’t too much of a jolt as the camel got up, but going down Jan let out a whoop! When lying down   the camel puts his front legs down first! Then the hind legs go down with a plop. We both were propelled forward, but we managed to stay in the saddle.

The ride is different than riding a horse. You don’t bounce like on a horse. I wouldn’t want to ride a camel very far, but it was fun and an interesting experience.

Australia is the largest producer of camels in the world, and exports them all over the globe.

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A Slow Slippery Ride

Due to recent rains in Belize it was questionable whether we would be able to make it to the ancient Mayan ruins Caracol. The rainy season started early that year and the archaeologists left the area two weeks early. The final decision would not be made until  morning. Since this was the main purpose of my staying over in Belize,  I whispered a silent prayer.

            At breakfast we learned the trip was a thumbs up! The road, and I use the term very loosely, through the jungle was like clay and very slippery. We did our share of slipping and sliding but stayed on the ‘road’ as there was nowhere else to go. No gutters to fall into!

            Our young driver told us, “Unlike the US, most of our young people do not drive.” This young man was good and he kept us from getting stuck, although at times we had pause to wonder.

            As we inched along, I tried to visualize what it must have been like to cut a path through the jungle during wartime. The jungle does not stay at bay long and grows back quickly--like overnight!.

            We heard several toucans while riding but never did see one. These beautiful birds were too high up in the tree canopy.     After almost three hours, in which we had traveled 18-20 miles, we sighted a ruin and then we were suddenly in a large clearing—the entrance to Caracol!