Australia

We arrived in Sydney, Australia on Tuesday, February 10 where we spent 2 wonderful days with our Czech cousin who lives there. Helene and her husband Luciano were great hosts. They drove us from one end of Sydney to the other, pointing out all the sights. What a treat! The famous Harbour Bridge (which Paul, Denise and Tina have climbed) is the widest long-span bridge in the world. Construction began in December 1928 and was completed on August 19, 1930. We took pictures in front of the famous Opera House and drove past the beautiful harbor of Woolloomooloo, where Russell Crowe and Nicole Kidman have condominiums, with their yachts docked in front.

Australia has a population of 21 million people, 25% of which are non-Australian. Its national symbol is the kangaroo. Did you know that there are 10 times more kangaroos than people and Australia is one of the few countries that eats its national symbol? Over-population of these kangaroos is causing a major problem here.

Politically there is a growing mood toward a republic. A strict non-discriminatory policy is in effect; there are no quotas but Australia is tough on border protection. Sydney has a population of 4.3 million; exceeded only by New York City. Cities here are very large; only 10% of Australians live outside the cities.

Australia has many excellent wine producing areas and its wines are exported around the world. The major areas are: Sydney – Hunter Valley; Melbourne – Yarra Valley; Adelaide – Barossa Valley and Fremantle/Perth – Swan River Valley. I have developed an attachment to a wine called Fruitwood from the McWilliams Winery!

In 1788 the first fleet of convicts arrived in New South Wales from England and convict labor was used to build roads, bridges, buildings and railroads. Some of these convicts turned out to be brilliant mathematicians and some designed architectural wonders. Today many Australians are very proud of the fact that they descended from these convicts.

Melbourne was somewhat disappointing; lots of buildings, construction, confusing layout. But Adelaide was delightful – we had to take a 45 minute train ride from where we were docked to the heart of the city which was all contained in one square mile. We visited the Aboriginal Cultural Art Center which was fascinating. I hope to bring a painting home. Back on board our ship an Aussie dinner was waiting for us, complete with shrimp on the barbie poolside accompanied by an Aussie outback band!

We have been at sea for 3 days now. Fremantle/Perth is our next stop and then we’re off to Indonesia.

Vanuatu, Noumea, New Caledonia

Since leaving Los Angeles we have traveled 7200 miles at 18-20 mph to Sydney, Australia. We stopped in the French republic of Vanuatu in the New Hebrides, discovered by Captain Cook in 1774. Population is 208,000. Languages spoken are French, English, Bislama and pigin English. Currency is the vatu (2 V=.01 US cent). 84 bits of and make up the archipelago. The main cities are Luganville and Port Vila. In 1947 James Michener wrote Tales of the South Pacific when he was stationed in Vanuatu during WW11. 40,000 U.S. servicemen were stationed here and relics of WW11 can still be seen, however most of these relics were dumped in the Pacific Ocean at an area called the “Million Dollar Pier.”
Vanuatu is a site for off-shore banking and is the only “emerging nation” to receive $65 million from the USA from the Millenium Fund.
After Vanuatu, we stopped in Noumea on the French island of New Caledonia which was also discovered by Captain Cook in 1774 and was claimed by the French in 1853. Languages spoken are French and Melanasian dialects. Currency is the Pacific franc (US $1= 90 PF).Noumea was one of the Allies’ most important bases during WW11 and also served as a French colonial penal colony from 1864-1904. It is now known as the “Paris of the Pacific” with many French restaurants and boutiques surrounded by beautiful beaches and islands.