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In tribute to Jody's work with refugees

7/7/2014

While in Melbourne, Jody continued her work with international refugees. She attended and presented a paper at an international refugee conference. While wandering the streets of Melbourne I snapped this picture which pretty much says it all. Many thanks to Jody and all those wonderful people who work worldwide to increase the public's consciousness about the plight of the world's displaced peoples. This is so much on our mind as we see the unfortunate negative reaction to innocent children along the U.S. border. These children have done nothing to warrant such expressions of hate while trying to escape intolerable conditions in their home countries. How about a little Christianity people? Is that too much to ask?

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Healesville Wildlife Sanctuary

7/6/2014

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On a rainy Sunday, Jody and I traveled one hour outside Melbourne to the Healesville Sanctuary located in the historic Yarra valley wine region where we were thrilled to see kangaroos, koala bears, dingoes, wombats, and numerous other animals and birds indigenous to Australia. Healesville is world renowned for its work saving endangered animals from extinction and was one of the two major highlights of our trip to Melbourne.

Dingoe.

Birds.

Kangaroos.

My favorite, but don't know what he/she is?

Bats.

Duck.

Wallabies.

Royal Spoon Bills.

When we get home, this picture is getting printed and framed. I love it.

Koala Bears.

They are so funny. They eat a few leaves, get tuckered out, and sleep.

Emu.

Female Homo Sapien with hat and rain cover on.

I can't figure what this is, but it sure is funny looking.

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The highpoint of our July Fourth - Jody and I visit the Sydney Opera House.

7/4/2014

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The highpoint of our Sydney visit was a romantic evening of dinner at the SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE and a performance of Verdi's RIGOLETTO. The performance was simply world-class. What a great climax to our trip to Sydney.

They had heaters outside the Opera House so we were able to dine in comfort with a wide selection of dining venues along the water's edge. Jody was in heaven. The place was packed with people having fun. No surprise. TGIF!

The view wasn't too shabby either. Behind us is the bridge I biked over earlier in the day.

We even had gawkers!

We got inside early to watch the auditorium begin to fill for the performance.

Obviously, I never tire of this bridge view. So, we end a magical evening and time in Sydney. Next stop tomorrow - Melbourne.

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Jody and I celebrate July Fourth in Australia.

7/4/2014

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On the morning of July Fourth, Jody visited education professors in their home while I did a five-hour Sydney Bike Tour. The prefect beginning to a great day.

Starting out on my bike tour with Graeme Dodd of BIKE BUFFS - SYDNEY BIKE TOURS. See my review at TRIP ADVISOR, http://www.tripadvisor.co.nz/ShowUserReviews-g255060-d1933019-r214576623-Bike_Buffs_Sydney_Bicycle_Tours-Sydney_New_South_Wales.html#REVIEWS. You can see the bridge in the background that we ferried near the previous day. Graeme was great on this five+ hour bike tour of Sydney. On this day, I was his only customer so I got his undivided attention. What a great deal, only $95.00. Graeme is in his late 60's, so this was two old guys traveling through the city, swerving around pedestrians and cars, going up and down hills, and having a great workout in the process. Graeme also seems to know everyone in Sydney so I got to meet a lot of local people. I also got a hilarious description of his views of Melbourne residents, which is that they have a stick up their butt and think of Sydney residents as "convicts" (because of Botany Bay). Apparently, there is quite the rivalry between the two cities.

The view from where we started.

Now going over that same bridge.

Graeme took me to a wonderful privately-run garden where he introduced me to one of his mates. Sydney folk are VERY friendly!

Everywhere we went through the city I saw very well-maintained and clean infrastructure. If there was poverty, it was somewhere else because I didn't see it. Just a drop-dead gorgeous city.

Remember the carnival from the previous day? We stopped there and I met the local clown greeters. Graeme told me that the carnival is a cherished part of the city. That section of the city was major inconvenienced with structural improvements a number of years ago. A carnival was built both as a city attraction and was later allowed to remain and be maintained by the city to benefit the local residents. Just amazing! Lots of local families with their children enjoying the fun.

Besides the running narrated tour by Graeme, he likes to take pictures like this for his customers. Sorry, but I was in every shot he took. Skip through them fast if you get tired of looking at my mug.

As I've said elsewhere, I was jumping for joy to finally cycle again.

Graeme and I had a great lunch here.

We even took a ferry ride.

Gliding under the bridge. Sorry, a little blurry.

My bike buddy, Graeme. Makes me miss my other bike buddy, Florian, even more. I'm looking forward to biking with Florian again soon in Sarasota.

Needless to say, the Sydney Opera House.

But of course, a Charlie Chaplin mime down by the wharf.

One of Sydney's theater projects on the wharf. It's run by the Australian actress Cate Blanchett (Galadriel in Lord of the Rings, Duh!).

It was hard to take notes while biking, but this is a famous street known for its hanging birdcages.

Francis Greenway was an architect and a convict transported to Australia for check forgery (I told you Sydney people are jailbirds). In New South Wales he worked for the Governor, Lachlan Macquarie, as Australia's first government architect. He became widely known and admired for his work displayed in buildings such as St Matthew's Church in Windsor, New South Wales, St James' Church, Sydney and Hyde Park Barracks, Sydney. Read about him here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Greenway.

St. James Church.

Graeme and me during a break downtown.

I asked Graeme where a great bookstore might be in Sydney and he arranged for us to stop at not one, but two bookstores across the street from each other. Inside one of the stores I saw this framed poster of the 1950's British film, "1984", that I really coveted and wished I could have brought home. Of course, it wasn't for sale. Quite rare.

We biked through Sydney's wealthiest section, sort of their "Georgetown in Washington, D.C." from Graeme's description. The iron work reminded me of new Orleans' architecture.

Near the end of our tour, Graeme pointed out the famous "Harry's Pies" shop. At this point, I could have used one as I was bushed after a taxing five+ hour bike ride. But, it was great fun.

Graeme was just a fun, personable scallywag of a guy. Now, back to the hotel where Jody was anxiously waiting worried that I would not be back in time for the high point of our trip that evening. I was. But, what was the high point, you ask?

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Manly Beach, Australia

7/3/2014

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After a great night's sleep (which I in particular needed) Jody and I were off again the next morning trekking downtown to the wharf for a 30 minute ferry ride to Manly Beach.

On the way to the wharf, we had to take this picture of "Hungry Jack's", the Australian name for "Burger King".

At the wharf we saw this incredibly long line. It was for a Game Of Thrones exhibit. The waiting time was up to SIX HOURS. Why? Because it was free. I really wanted to go, but had to forgo the opportunity. Too much to do, so little time.

Sydney likes to connect with its past as this colonial suits up at the ferry. Must be a great gig if you can get it.

Carnival Cruise Lines is EVERYWHERE!

Different views of the Opera House as we floated by on the ferry.

Sydney is far behind.

A 10 minute walk through the town where I bought my first "hoodie" due to the wind.

A pristine beach.

Jody wore my new hoodie for awhile as we took a long walk and hike along the seashore.

Scuba diving in the beautiful clear waters. COLD even with a wet suit as one female diver told us later.

There was lots of beach artwork along the way.

I can't believe these young people in this cold water just wearing bathing suits.

Jody and I decided to hike up to the top of the cliff on the right for the view.

Jody at the summit.

This picture and the next several show the fascinating metal artwork by local artists embedded in the rocks on our return trip to the wharf.

Kayaking too. We would have loved that.

What a beautiful sunset.

A great carnival view from the ferry. I did not know at the time that the next morning I would be visiting this site on my 5-hour bike tour.

Sunset at the Sydney Opera House.

Jody from the ferry with the Opera House barely visible in the background as we end our second day Sydney journey, have another great dining experience on Darling Harbor, and prepare for another action packed day on Friday.

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TRIP TO SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

7/2/2014

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On July 2, 2014, Jody and I flew out of Wellington for a seven day journey to Sydney and Melbourne, Australia. For Jody, this was a combination research and pleasure trip. For me, of course, all pleasure. And what a great time we had. First up was Sydney, a city so large that it could hold the entire population of both of New Zealand's islands, over 4 million. It was almost like New York. A true "harbor" city that is surrounded by different harbors linked by ferry transportation. Of course, also home to the world famous Sydney Opera House. Following are various sights of Sydney that we had the pleasure of experiencing.

Jody snapped a picture of me dressed for tourist action as we left the 1888 Hotel our first afternoon in Sydney.

Our first walk around Sydney upon arriving with a view of their own "sky tower" (almost every city seems to have one now).

Jody and I having a nice lunch on "Darling Harbor" near our hotel.

Got my "Aussie" hat, as well as this wonderful sweater that Jody bought me that I wear ALL THE TIME NOW.

Hello!

Darling Harbor where we just ate lunch as we cross the bridge into the downtown proper.

Our first view of the spectacular Sydney Opera House.

While I relaxed on a park bench (really tired after little sleep the night before and an early 6:00 am flight) Jody wondered around through Sydney's beautiful botanical gardens.

Can't hurt!

I know Jody wanted to go in here, but she ended passing up the opportunity.

Going back over the bridge to Darling Harbor from downtown.

The antics of these two were very entertaining.

So very cute.

After a brief rest in our hotel, we were back down to Darling Harbor for dinner. What a beautiful night.

Downtown Sydney from the bridge at Darling Harbor and the end of a long first day in Sydney.

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What We Do In The Shadows

7/1/2014

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On this day I went to see a hilarious horror movie spoof, WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS at the famous EMBASSY THEATER in Wellington. Made by local Wellington film makers, it spoofs the vampire/werewolf/zombie horror film genre with truly funny results. It also skewers the TWILIGHT series of movies also. I laughed myself silly. As it was filmed in and round Wellington Central, it was a hoot to see scenes filmed on the Wellington streets I walk every day. Truly funny, accomplished performers, as well as terrific, professional special effects. It's gaining international renown. I plan to screen this movie to friends in Sarasota once a video copy is available. The only caveat? You must enjoy horror movies to really appreciate the humor.

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Forward>>

In tribute to Jody's work with refugees

Healesville Wildlife Sanctuary

The highpoint of our July Fourth - Jody and I visit the Sydney Opera House.

Jody and I celebrate July Fourth in Australia.

Manly Beach, Australia

TRIP TO SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

What We Do In The Shadows

Dick Stammer

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