The red planet
Google maps view of the area where we’re staying/playing
Monday, December 9
Arrived at Uluru (Ayer Rock) today. The flight from Sydney was 3.5 hours. It’s hard to keep in mind the size of this country/continent. It’s approximately equal to the continental US, but 95+% of the population is around the coast, and most of that is on the East side.
We rented a vehicle and drove around the rock itself, which again is deceiving to look at. It’s almost 350 meters (1100 feet) high, and over 2 miles long. The mind just doesn’t work on that scale normally; you just keep adjusting and adjusting as you get closer.
Driving up from a couple miles out, “Oh, that’s big.”
A mile away “Wow, I didn’t realize it was that big.”
From a few hundred yards “It just doesn’t seem to adjust to the stuff around it, it’s so huge.”
Parking under a hundred yards away “Holy moly, it just never seems to get closer”
Standing next to it (as close as you can get: no touchie) “I didn’t realize how big it was, those are huge caves and shards, not what I thought.”
Tuesday, December 10
Did a walking tour (Mara walk) at Uluru, then visited the Olgas nearby. And by nearby I mean a 40 minute drive on a two lane road surrounded by lots of nothing. Very barren, yet full of all types of life.
The weather has been both really good and not so good. Temperatures are low for this time of year, about 75 degrees; but there have been clouds and intermittent bits of rain. The clouds are really dramatic in the photos, and the rain creates rivulets on the rock formations, as well as mud with all the red dirt. There is green foliage, and even a bunch of frogs in the uncommonly deep puddles and basins around the rock.
Also on holiday are flys. Not as many as there could be, but more than you want in your mouth. We’re frequently wearing nets over our heads to keep them from being too friendly.
The thunder Down Under
Few things I’ve learned in my brief stay so far:
Uggs is an Aussie brand; their stores are all over Sydney
2nd level of a structure is actually the 3rd floor
Look RIGHT for traffic, damnit!
Australians will make up silly words to avoid saying easy ones. “McDonalds” becomes “Mackies” or “Mackers”, “Breakfast” is “Brekkie”, and “Mate” means “Idiot”.
I did what is inaccurately called a “walk” the other day. It made me reevaluate my expectations about a lot of stuff. I asked afterwards, and found out the Bush is where the eucalyptus trees and other foliage is all around, creating a canopy and very full ecosystem. The Outback, however, is red dirt and barren landscape with vegetation that rarely tops about two meters. Turns out I did about seven miles in the Bush. It’s surprisingly close to urban areas, yet remains quite remote.
I progressed through confusion, frustration, and dependence; coming out on the other side with a greater appreciation for adjusting expectations and working with what you have.
Below are some pics from the trip, from the train station all the way to the pool I lounged in at the turnaround point (look for the lizard next to the waterfall, we shared the view). Note the rocks across the “trail”, which you’re expected to climb over. It’s a “F#¢₭ the Differently Abled” way of creating hiking trails, to be sure.
Yesterday was a Big Eats day, with breakfast out, lunch out, dinner with a bunch of people and board games into the night. Learned some fun games! Today is the flight to Uluru, where we’ll spend a few days before returning to Sydney.
Catches thieves, just like flies
Yesterday was another day of wandering about Sydney and annoying the populace with my accent. I stopped by a few comic book stores, and met someone who was watching for shoplifters. He was just a friendly neighborhood guy.
It’s December, with Christmas approaching, so there was evidence of holiday cheer - even with all the snow covering the landscape.
“Make it look candid while I pose here.”
I was around the quaintly named Darling Harbour (it’s fancy because it has the “U”), but didn’t visit the Maritime museum or go in the water.
I also saw a sculpture that I wasn’t quite able to explain to myself. Everyone I tried talking to about the “big bunny on the motorbike” just looked at me oddly and walked away.
Hold on dear, I can’t brake when I drive with my coffee
I made a great discovery while walking about, 7-11 is alive and well in Sydney. I tried the cola - purely for scientific research to see if it was the same as the States.
Really enjoying the trip, and having awesome dinners and personal tours with my friends outside of my solo investigations.
Back in the saddle
It’s been quite a while since I’ve posted anything, as life has been more of a priority than documenting it. I’m still living the dream that everyone says they want to do but don’t seem to get around to. I’ve consumed more wine in the (almost) year I’ve been in Central CA than I think I drank in my life before moving. I’ve learned I like wine even more than I thought I did, almost as much as beer.
What’s the reason behind the resurrection? I’m in Australia. Boom.
Friends of mine that live there made the mistake of offering to host me. I told them “I’m retired, I’ll take you up on that.” They repeated their offer. I said, “Seriously, I’ll book. Don’t tease me.” They insisted they meant the invitation, so I showed them I wasn’t afraid and booked the plane tickets. Shows them for being so nice.
The long flight out, 14 hours, was as uncomfortable as it sounds. I tried to just think about the poor American pioneers walking across the country and making 6 - 20 miles a day. I was FLYING, getting served meals and watching magic pictures on the back of the chair in front of me. Still felt like a long time, though. Security wasn’t too awful, and I only felt mildly violated by the process. I was at the gate and fixing my French Tuck relatively quickly, and enjoying the lively community evolving there. We had the entire 14 hr flight to become very close.
On the plane, I was given a form for Customs. Paper form. Paper. No pen, just the form. How many people routinely travel with an ink pen nowadays? Luckily, there was a wailing baby several rows back to get everyone to focus on something other than missing pens.
The distance on the tracker from SFO to Sydney is too big to show. It wraps around the globe. I left Saturday night, and arrived Monday morning.
I was given a driving tour and then dinner with said friends, before collapsing into bed to pass out for the night.
I slept well (who wouldn’t?) and ate and experienced the amazing train system in Sydney. No reservations, no advanced tickets, no muss or fuss. Walk up to a terminal and have it scan your phone. Done. Get on the train. Scan on the way out, and it figures everything else out. Brilliant.
Sydney railway map
I walked and walked around, seeing the sights and watching people. I visited the Anzac Memorial in Hyde park, as well as the Australian Museum nearby. The crab and the fish are made from “ghost nets” which are floating free in the ocean and killing lots of wildlife. People pull them out and create art to promote awareness of the problem.
