Home Sweet Home

The flight from LA to Boise was a bit late arriving but uneventful.  And the amazing thing?  We made it through seven flights during our trip and never lost a suitcase!  The greeting at the airport was a wonderful sight.  Grama was there for an enthusiastic yell and run from Ryan, and Kyle's best friend Patrick was there to share the excitement.  We made our journey home as a tired bunch loaded down with lots of suitcases and memories.
The last three days have been a whirlwind.  Dinner after coming home from the airport was a bowl of Raisin Bran chased by a bowl of Lucky Charms for dessert.  And it was delicious!  Ryan got his much-missed Kraft Mac & Cheese for lunch the next day.  We've crammed in swimming at Grandpa's house plus a birthday party for Kyle.  We've unpacked all the luggage and done a ton of laundry.  And that was with trying to work around a 16-hour power outage caused by the huge windstorm last night.  Tomorrow I will drop off the boys at daycare on my way to work.  Fortunately we've almost adjusted to the time zone so hopefully we'll all be ready to start back to our normal lives in the morning.
Many thanks to all the folks at home for their support while we were away.  The Page Family Tour was a trip of a lifetime.

Auckland City

The rest of our journey to Auckland was 'scenic'.  We had a few laughs at where the GPS wanted to take us but between the road signs and a map we eventually made our way.  Once past a particularly windy spot where Ryan wasn't feeling well we stopped at a pullout for a rest.  A big-rig tow truck came up behind us for a stop as well so we visited for a while then continued on.  We had one more detour for some souvenirs then made our way through the city to the airport.  None of us were looking forward to the long flight ahead but we all wanted to be home.
The flight was miserably long but the boys did OK and were very well behaved.  The stop in LA to clear customs wasn't as bad as I was expecting but we still had to rush in order to get a quick bite to eat before boarding our flight to Boise.

Mangawhai Heads

From Marsden Point we continued south to Auckland.  We stopped at Mangawhai Heads for a lunch break on the beach.  It was our last chance for playing at the ocean but since we had to get on a plane before nightfall we kept the kids away from the waves.  We had a fun time anyway.

NZ Day 3, Marsden Point

On Thursday it was time to check out of the hotel and return to Auckland for our flight home.  We made a couple stops on our way.  The first was at Marsden Point, the only oil refinery in New Zealand.  We saw a model that took four people working full time a year to build.  It is very intricate and was used to assist in the construction process.  Lighting on the model was choreographed with a video that showed all the major parts of the refinery and how the process worked.  You can see the boys in the photo below for an idea of how big the model is.  There was another room with interactive displays about oil refining, plus another model depicting the pipeline from Marsden Point to Auckland.  It was a fun and educational stop.

A.H. Reed Kauri Park

After lunch in Kawakawa we headed back toward our hotel. We detoured through Whangarei for fuel and a stop at the A.H. Reed Kauri Park. There we saw another waterfall, plus many giant Kauri trees. Again the thick tree canopy sheltered us from yet another rainstorm. New Zealand is a beautiful country but very wet this time of year.

Hundertwasser Toilets

From the caves we continued on to Kawakawa, home of the world famous Hundertwasser Toilets. As one guidebook said, “…believe me you ain’t never seen a toilet block like this.”  The top photo is the women's sink.  The bottom is a toilet stall and hallway coming in.  I was glad the restrooms were empty so I could get a picture!

Kawiti Glowworm Caves

This morning we hit the open road. Literally… this sign means it’s an open speed limit up to 100 km/h. 

We headed north to Kawiti Glowworm Caves. We toured through the limestone caves filled with stalactites and stalagmites. Once deep inside the cave the guide turned off the light and we saw thousand of glowworms above us. There were several different caverns of glowworms, giving the appearance of the night sky. It was pretty awesome, with better graphics than the planetarium! Unfortunately you can’t take pictures inside the cave. Once we reached the other side we took a bushwalk back to the van. Fortunately the thick tree canopy sheltered us from the rain.

Whangaumu Bay

Our last stop of the day was Whangaumu Bay. The boys had lots of fun playing and running from the surf. We hung out until we were hungry for dinner and it was almost dusk.

Sandy Bay

Sandy Bay is a bit of a misnomer. The beach is far more rocky than sandy. But it was fun to wander around exploring tidal pools and throwing rocks into the surf. Plus up toward the car park was a sandy spot where the boys made tunnels and other sculptures in the sand.

Matapouri Bay

After lunch in our hotel room we headed along the Tutukaka coastline. It’s an area known for diving and game fishing. We stopped for a few minutes at Matapouri Beach.

Whangarei Falls

On the way to groceries this morning we stopped by Whangarei Falls, reportedly one of the most photographed falls in New Zealand. It’s a beautiful place tucked in right next to the highway. We made a short trek down to the base of the falls and hid under the trees during a rain storm. We spotted several eels in the waters above and below the falls.

Our first day in New Zealand

We’re staying at the Tutukaka Coast Motor Lodge, located on Ngunguru Bay about three hours north of Auckland. After a leisurely morning start we drove about 30 kilometers to Whangarei for groceries. The prices were fairly similar to Australia. In other words a lot more than the U.S., but the exchange rate is more favorable here so that helps. In general we’ve found the area surrounding our hotel to be very quiet. It’s the off-season and spring hasn’t sprung yet. That’s ok though. This way we don’t have to share the beach, or the roadside microwave, with many people. Say what?!!

A Day of Travel

Monday we hit the road early. The taxi picked us up at 6:45am, at which point the last few things were literally thrown into the suitcases. The driver detoured by a house where the entire front was a mural of Pamela Anderson’s face, created in a very realistic look with different colored tile-like bricks. At the airport we did the hurry-up-and-wait game. The check-in lady was not too friendly after looking at our 8 suitcases, 2 car seats, 1 fishing pole, plus carry-on bags. Fortunately we made it through several stops then boarded our plane for an uneventful flight to Auckland. From there we progressed through a very inquisitive customs check. One stop to verify our passports, a second stop where we played the twenty questions game, a third stop in a special area because the first guy forgot to mark one of the entry cards, a fourth stop for Ralphie the Dog to sniff all our bags for food, and a fifth stop to unload all the bags (again) onto a conveyor for a final x-ray. Whew, we made it through.


From there we loaded everything onto a minibus for a short drive to the rental car company where we unloaded and reloaded everything into our rental van. And how much luggage did I pack?!! Once we had wheels we started the next leg of our journey. We stopped for dinner and to pay for a toll, surprisingly at the same place. (A gas station with a toll kiosk and a Burger King.) We also made a short stop for a box of cereal and a carton of non-refrigerated milk so we could have breakfast in the morning. Good choice since by the time we made it to our hotel at 9:30pm the stores were long since closed. The boys were very patient all through the day and our hotel was a pleasant surprise of very comfortable beds. Fortunately due to time zone differences we didn’t feel as tired as the clock would reflect.

Goodbye Australia

Tonight will be our last night in Australia.  We've pretty much eaten all the food in the house so we went out for one last round of Fish & Chips just up the road.  Tonight we tried a barramundi fillet and crab stick in addition to gummy shark (flake), which is still our favorite.  I'll miss the fresh fish after we leave. 

In the morning we'll pack the last of our stuff and catch a taxi at 6:45.  Packing has been a chore as we're leaving with much more than we came with!  We'll arrive in Auckland, New Zealand shortly after 4pm then drive about 3 hours north to Tutukaka Coast Motor Lodge.  We'll be there for three nights then drive back to Auckland for a late flight out on Thursday.  (We leave at 9:30pm Thursday and arrive back in Boise at 8:05pm Thursday - crazy!)  I'm not sure what the internet situation will be at our hotel so we might wait to update the blog until our return.  Now on to New Zealand!

Happy Birthday Kyle!

We had plans to visit Amaz'n Things for Kyle's birthday but the forecasted rain and gale-force winds at Phillip Island changed our minds.  Instead Kyle chose a return visit to Scienceworks Museum.  We saw a Planetarium show, plus got a behind-the-scenes tour of the museum collection.  The boys had a great time again and played until they were tired, then we came home for cake and ice cream (American style).  We didn't have luck finding birthday candles at the grocery store so Kyle blew out his wish on a lighter.  Kyle received many emails and phone calls wishing him the best on his special day.  Happy Birthday Kyle!

Farewell to Simplot Australia

Today I said my farewells to Simplot Australia, and Jarrod said goodbye to his fishing mate Hayden.  At work we had morning tea, which consisted of several different 'yummo' treats in honor of my last day.  Then at lunch we went to the Royal Victorian Aero Club, a restaurant at the Morrabbin Airport right next to the office.  It was sad to say goodbye to so many wonderful people we've met during our stay.  We will miss them, but at the same time we are glad the day is almost here to go home.  The trip has been absolutely fantastic and we have no regrets for coming but we are all homesick and ready to return to our family and friends and our regular lives.  This weekend we will have one more adventure in honor of Kyle's birthday tomorrow, then Monday morning the taxi van will take us to the airport for our flight to New Zealand.

More Fishing??

Yes, more fishing :-)  Jarrod is taking every opportunity he can to fish a couple more times before we leave... 

Last night my work hosted a Movie Night for the project team employees and their families.  We met at Waverley Cinemas and enjoyed dinner and popcorn and watched Toy Story 3.  We all had a great time, and those of us with normal sleep schedules came home and went to bed.  Not Jarrod.  He got us settled in then headed for the pier.  And last night he got revenge, at least in a small part.  As much bait as the crab have eaten from him it was nice to catch one of them and eat back!  This crab hit the dinner plate tonight.  And if you want to know what it takes to catch a crab with a fishing pole you'll have to ask Jarrod when we get back :-)

Proof it wasn't a Fish Tale!

We were able to conquer the cell phone and retrieve the fishing pictures.  Hooray!  Jarrod's enthusiasm for seeing the pictures was like sending him fishing all over again. 

First star of the show is the skate ray (two of these landed).  We showed this picture to my coworker Rob and his reaction was "Bloody Hell!" The gunwhale on this boat is well above the waterline, showing what a monster size this ray is:

Next up is the Swell Shark:

Whad'ya think of those teeth???  Peter was keeping a good hold of the shark so he didn't take a bite out of somebody.  (It doesn't help photo perspective that Peter is a very large man.  The shark is actually 30+ inches long with a weight over 20 pounds.)

Scienceworks

Today I used a vacation day and we went to Scienceworks Museum.  Unfortunately we didn't realize the public schools had a 'curriculm day', so it meant we weren't alone.  Even with the crowds though we had a great time.  We were there for 6 hours and still didn't have time to try every hands-on exhibit, which tells you there was a ton to pick from.  The favorite from both boys was the Lightning Room show.  We learned about electricity and other scientific facts, plus saw a machine that produced real lightning.  Kyle even got picked to help with one of the electromagnetic demonstrations.  Scienceworks is a must-see Melbourne attraction for anybody with young kids!

Chadstone Mall

Today we went to Chadstone Mall, the largest mall in the southern hemisphere.  It has over 530 stores and free parking for up to 9,500 cars.  We survived the visit without spending a ridiculous amount of money (only because we avoided Gucci and Armani and various other "luxury" brands).  And the best news is we even found the car to escape! 

Fish On!

Jarrod had an awesome day fishing yesterday.  He was invited to go out with Mark and Peter, co-owners of a well loved 5.45 meter Streaker fishing boat.  As mentioned in the last blog entry they left early in the morning.  (This weeds out the truly dedicated from the wussies.)  They launched from Sorrento and headed to, as we would say back home, "No Tellum Creek".  Jarrod's arms were feeling the strain by the time he got back but he had lots of great stories to tell, along with a horrible case of the Fishing Pox.  Unfortunately we haven't figured out yet how to get the pictures off his phone (he forgot the camera!) so we had to settle for taking pics of the fish he kept, along with a couple downloaded from the Internet for illustration.  In total Jarrod caught 5 squid, 1 swell shark and 2 skate rays.

The swell shark was about 30 inches long.  They have razor-sharp teeth like a Ginsu knife.  Swells are not rumored to taste very good so Jarrod threw him back.  Plus the boat runs a 'Thrill Before Kill' policy, meaning they would rather enjoy the fishing than the keeping unless the fish is going to make it to the dinner plate.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swellshark 

Skate rays are a sandy colored manta ray.  The largest one Jarrod caught was so big they could not lift it into the boat.  It took 25 minutes of intense, full blast effort to reel him in.  It probably weighed around 70 pounds and looked like this ray at the right:

The squid were the catch of the day.  Two were cut up to use as bait for gummy shark, plus one was given to the boat owner, and two came home.  We're going to eat them for dinner tonight along with a couple flatheads Peter gave us to try.  Even though it wouldn't seem like a squid could fight very hard it was unreal how much effort it took to reel them in.  Plus once they made it to the side of the boat the ink-squirting began.  The entire boat got sprayed, the fishermen got sprayed, and the fish bucket was still dripping with black ink.  Ugh.

Great job Jarrod!

Lygon Street

Today Jarrod and I went different directions, starting around 5:15 this morning.  I'll write up my story first then get to Jarrod's in the next post.

This morning started out way too early.  The boys and I got up at 4:45 so we could drop Jarrod off for a fishing trip.  We were back in bed by 6, and thank goodness, because those extra couple hours of sleep were a nice bonus.  After errands early in the day we headed downtown to the Carlton Gardens.  The boys showed off their boomerang throwing skills, then we met up with Chad and Lori and their kids, and eventually Rob and Carol and their 8-year old son Remy.  Chad is my coworker from the U.S. here on a two year assignment, and Rob is one of the consultants on the project.  (It was Rob's brother that Jarrod went fishing with today.)  After lots of fun at the playground, including a footy lesson from Rob, we walked to Lygon Street, Melbourne's version of Little Italy.  We had a delicious dinner at Papa Gino's then continued on to a gelato shop for dessert.  The kids all played very well together.  So well in fact that Ryan fancies himself as wanting to marry both of Chad's daughters (ages 6 and 7).  I should have been thinking quicker and snapped a picture of him escorting the girls to dinner, one on each arm!

Adventurous Eating

First, a very special birthday wish goes out to Aunt Keri for her birthday on the 5th, and to Nana for her birthday on the 6th.  Hope you both had a great birthday!
And on to the adventurous eating part... for any fuzzy-wuzzy animal lovers, you may want to disregard the next paragraph!    
I let Jarrod go grocery shopping on his own this week.  He bought crocodile at the Springvale Market and kangaroo at the neighborhood grocery store.  Then last night he fired up the barbie and we had us a right fine meal.  The crocodile is most comparable to pork.  It was a bit gristly but tasted good.  The kangaroo was very similar to venison.  Yummy!

Playing with a new friend

Today the boys had company.  A boy Kyle's age lives on the same street as us.  I work with his mom and her partner, and after she recognized the Simplot car she realized we were staying just up the road.  Josh spent a few hours at our house, then Kyle and Ryan spent a couple hours at his house this afternoon.  It provided the boys a welcome opportunity to play with somebody their own age.  I found it funny though when I heard Josh ask Kyle if we spoke Chinese.  Kyle seemed a bit puzzled but responded that we didn't.  Josh then said that was cool, because he was really worried when his mum wanted him to come visit the kids from overseas that we would only speak Chinese.  Funny how kids perceive different things.  But anyway the boys all had a fun time, and Kyle got in some footy practice out in the street with an experienced player who could explain a 'proper' kick.  It was a fun day.

Heaps of Kangaroos!

On our way back to the house we stopped by Cardinia Reservoir, an area known for having several groups of wild kangaroos.  We arrived just before sunset and were treated to seeing well over 50 kangaroos in various "mobs".  We even saw a joey kangaroo poking out of his mum's pouch.  This brave guy on the left was grazing near the car park and let me take his picture and a bit of film before hopping away.  What a sight!

Healesville Sanctuary

We had quite a day yesterday.  Even though weather predictions were glum for Saturday they were horrible for Sunday, so we loaded up and pointed the car for Healesville Animal Sanctuary.  While spending time hoping the rain would peter out we took a scenic detour on a route recommended by a coworker.  After coming up a hill and around a blind corner we encountered a motorcyclist lying in the road.  There was another rider and one other person on the scene from the other direction.  We hit the skids and backed up to the edge of the hill to slow down oncoming traffic.  We ended up staying and assisting with traffic until the paramedics left the scene.  Fortunately it appeared the woman would be ok.  She had taken a nasty tumble down the road after losing it in a double switch-back but her safety gear from head to toe had done its job protecting her.

So after that experience we continued our journey to Healesville, which turned out to be the best zoo we had encountered yet.  There are native animals from all over Australia, plus a hospital used to care for wounded wildlife.  Most of the animals were up and moving around and we really enjoyed our visit. 

We were also able to see a Birds of Prey demonstration.  The blurry picture is a huge wedge-tailed eagle, taken moments before it flew within inches of our hair.  After watching the birds perform several neat feats we saw an Aboriginal man play a didgeridoo and throw a boomerang.  All in all it was a very special place.  And the rain was even gracious enough to only downpour while we were inside buildings!