Monday, November 9, 2009

My Australian Journal Part 4

My Australian Journal Part 4

Monday Day 21 November 2nd
Today was a relaxed day. We woke up late and made our way to the Darling Harbour. We decided to take a harbour cruise. We got off the ship at Watsons Bay. It is a pretty tourist bay. It is the furthest point that you can before you exit Sydney Harbour. We had their famous fish and chips for lunch. Or rather mommy had their famous fish and chips and Katie, daddy, and I had chicken nuggets. After that we got back on the cruise and got off at Darling Harbour. Then we went home and packed up for the cruise. After that we went down to the harbour to eat dinner. Then we bought ice cream and enjoyed the night scene of the harbour. All in all, a good ending to our last day in Australia.

Tuesday Day 22 November 3rd
Today we got up early and got all our luggage down stairs and checked out of the hotel. We took a cab to the cruise ship and checked in and checked out our rooms. Then we unpacked and explored the ship.

Wednesday Day 23 November 4th
Today was a sea day. We explored the ship again. And went to the teens club. I played fuseball and watched movies as we got closer to new Zealand.

Thursday Day 24 November 5th
Today was our second sea day. Hung out on the ship and couldn’t wait till we were in New Zealand.

Friday Day 25 November 6th
Today we did scenic cruising around the fjorlands. It was really cool and pretty. It is getting really cold here. We were in the fjorlands until 6 in the evening.

Saturday Day 26 November 7th
Today we were at Port Chalmers. My family and I went on a scenic railway. We saw the teairi gorge. The tour took 4 hours. Then we got back on the ship and didn’t leave till after 5:30 when we were supposed leave at 5 pm.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Australian Journal Part 3

My Australian Journal Part 3

Thursday Day 17 October 29th
Today was a travel day again. We took a plane down to Sydney. I took about 3 hours. When we got to Sydney, we took a shuttle to our hotel. After the resort and the time share the hotel room seems cramped. It is a very nice room though. We unpacked and then went to sleep.

Friday Day 18 October 30th
My family and I went down to darling harbour to explore. While we explored the harbour we realized that it had the biggest imax screen in the world, it is 8 storeys high. Then we bought tickets for Dinosaur’s Alive and Under the Sea, both in 3D. Then we went to Sydney’s Aquarium and spent a few hours there. Then we had an afternoon snack and then went home.

Saturday Day 19 October 31st
We had breakfast at McDonalds and met up with a family friend. We did an on-off tour around Sydney. We got off at the Rocks and did a walking tour and explored the area. The Rocks were named that because eof all the sandstone rock, that is part of the landscape there. The Rocks are the original founding of Australia, it was where they sent all the criminals from England. They were sent to Australia after the American war of Independence because they couldn’t send them to America anymore, so they sent them to Australia. The first ship came around 1776. the walking tour guide took us around the Rocks explaining what life was like in the elate 1700’s and up to late 1800’s. we showed us what was left of the houses and how disgusting it was. He told us about the man who became the 4th governor of Australia even though he had had 3 different crew mutiny against him on his ships. His name was Captain Bligh. Then when he arrived, the soldiers actually put him in jail!!! Our tour guide was so intelligent because he had his own personal library of 6 and a half thousand books. Then we got on the bus again and went to the Opera house, which is nicknamed the clam shell. Then we got again and went home.

Sunday Day 20 November 1st
We met up with Mark (family friend) and went to the Vaucluse house, a historical house, the home of the Wentworths, a wealthy family during the 1800’s. After we had morning snack, we drove along the coast to a place called the Gap. It is the entrance to Sydney Harbour and the Australians manned for the wars, especially World War II. They had soldiers and artillery and naval ships there, because during the world war they were protecting themselves against the Japanese mostly, so by manning the Gap they could stop any incoming ship during the world wars. Then we enjoyed the spectacular views which could be seen from there. Then we drove to Bondi beach to see if there was a sand castle building contest but it was packed so we did not get to see. Then we explored the area in the car and then went for afternoon snack. Then he drove us home and we relaxed for the rest of the day.