Australianisms

Vinegar for jellyfish stings
Arbor oxygenation via snorkels
Pokeys are one arm bandits
Cloud stripping happens over rainforest mountains as the trees pull the moisture out of the clouds settling  over  the tops of the mountains.
Don't clean snake bites. ..wrap arm and place in splint.  Medic will swab skin for accurate identification of venom.
Enthusiastic smiles everywhere
Beware of crocodiles on Caines beach.
Many species of trees and plant can desalinte water.
40  tons of sugar cane produce only one ton of sugar.
Cassowary numbers have dropped  from 2500 to 1500 in only two years.  As the numbers decrease there is more interbreeding resulting in a weaker bird and increased likelihood of extinction shortly.  Though they were in the area,  we never saw one..
Heart shaped plants used for male initiation rights...ouch
Sassparilla plant turns to soap when rubbed vigorously. ..Aboriginal demonstration
Aboriginal hunting. Rule..only kill the last animal out of the watering hole...that way the others will not associate the place with death and will continue to return ensuring future source of food for hunter.
Takes 4 to 5 days for a koala bear to digest a eucalyptus meal during which time they pretty much sleep to conserve energy.
Pesky flies,WA and AyersRock ...they LOVE the desert heat and are relentless in their quest for moisture from your eyes,  nose,  mouth...hitchhikers on your back.
Pink lakes
Hot  and cold water reversed.....hot on right cold on left
LOOK RIGHT, THEN LEFT!!!!!! when crossing streets
Flying foxes (huge bats...Cairns )
Way Out = Exit
Give Way = Yield ....other road signs  (kangaoo, emu, crossing)  lots of kangaroo roadkill
Feral cats decimating small desert animals to point of extinction...they are trying to control cats by trapping and killing them.

Last day in Sydney

State Library of New South Wales,  Sydney Botanical Garden,  Government House  and other sights.
Have enjoyed every minute of the journey.   Kudos to Hope, my faithful guide (if you  are as directionally challenged as I am, always travel with someone like her :) and beast of burden  (her ever present backpack did yeoman's duty).
We have sampled many Australian wines but agree that Coopers beer is mighty fine.

Train to Katoomba and the Blue Mountains

Caught the 6:21am train to Katoomba for a hop on hop off bus through the Blue Mountains.
2 hours by train each way...very nice train.
Skyrail and steepest RR in world afforded us some breathtaking views.
Lots of steps. ..my knee was singing to me by end of day.  Hope, no drama.  

Another walk  through a lovely rainforest...spotted 3 lyrebirds

Great day all around.
Had a bite to eat at the Beer Garden before boarding train back to Sydney

Sydney Harbour Bridge

Trip to Blue Mountains delayed a day because we thought it was going to rain.... it ended up being beautiful so we walked across the Bridge instead.  A climb to the top goes for $150 per person so we opted out of that idea.
Afternoon spent at Australian museum. ..more aboiut Indigenous people  and an exhibition on Aztecs.

Sydney Opera House

Had a terrific tour and lunch at the Opera House today.  Truly an amazing structure which initially was going to be built in 3 years and  cost  $7 million.  In actuality, it took 16 years to build and cost $102 million.  It was built on an Aboriginal site where fishing for cockles and mussels was done resulting in piles of shells on the site which was the inspiration for the shell like structure of the roof by the Danish architect, Jorn Utzon.  He resigned from the project before it was completed due to a change in the Government resulting in him not getting further payments due.  He never returned to Australia to see the finished product.  The roof is made up of white and tan tiles, the white ones are glazed and the tan ones have a matte finish to decrease glare...the entire roof is self cleaning.

The opera is currently pèforming in Melbourne and won't return to Sydney until after we've left.  Very unfortunate for us.

ESPECIALLY FOR GORDON, SAWYER, AND SOPHIA

This fabulous Lego structure  is two blocks from our hotel.  PRETTY GREAT, HUH!!!??

Hop-on Hop-off Ferry - Watsons Cove, SYDNEY HARBOR

Spent all day on the hop on hop off ferry.  SYDNEY HARBOR is the 2nd busiest harbor (reputably) in the world.  Not sure which is  1st. ..
Had lunch at Doyles seafood which is supposed (again reputably according to an Aussie on the ferry) to be the best seafood in Sydney.  Did finally discover Cooper beer :)
Did some shopping at Manly Harbor.
Home to Castlereagh and will have our usual glass (reputably  :) of  Margaret River chardonnay. ..long day.