Sunday 21 October 2012

Bali Bits

Last week at this time we were returning from Bali. What an exotic trip that was! After or relaxing time in. Lovina , on the black sands coast, we returned to Ubud for 2 nights, happy to soak up the ambiance of that funky town.  Our rooms were small but central, with gorgeously carved wooden doors and windows. We ate delicious meals and shopped for a few treasures to bring home

, bartering diligently for a few items. It was most interesting to gain some inkling about the consortium that existed, as well as the nearly instantaneous grapevine that carried information ahead of us as we wandered through the three floors of stalls. At first there seemed no organization at all, but random soon dawned on me as order, depending on what I chose to look at. A ripple of comments filtered ahead of me as I walked on and sellers began offering what I had inquired about at the last stalls. Organic! Another adventure in Ubud was our trek through the gorgeous green rice paddies that lay hidden from view in town. At the end of one charming street, cobbled with blocks inscribed by a thousand different visitors, we found a path into the fields. Enchanted by the emerald views, we followed the pathIt wound lazily through farmland and villas, past livestock and organic vegetables. We stopped to visit at one tiny cafe, where we met an amazing Balinese man. He had traveled for ten years as a cook on cruise ships, visiting over 80 countries and learning many languages. Proud of his gardens, he gave me a tour of all the herbs that he grew, then gave us samples of all to touch , crush, taste and smell. We lingered for much longer than planned, enjoying his fascinating tales as he practiced using English. Fresh fruit juices, organic lip balms, exotic Kopi Luwak coffees and a myriad of wonderful sensations made leaving less interesting. Charming, idyllic spot! Did time stand still or had we stepped back? Our last night in Bali was spent in a private villa with our own pool. Quite the indulgence! It was a sultry 31C, cooling to 28C at night. All living areas were outdoor, except the air conditioned bedroom, with it,s glamorous white canopied bed. I particularly enjoyed my private alfresco soaker tub, filled with rose petals and fragrant frangipani. We ordered room service for a late lunch after arrival and spent the rest of our day and evening in the pool or relaxing in our private poolside luxury, coping well. High walls wrapped us in dreamy comfort, but it was a very brief taste of how a privileged few live. We all sensed the fake insulation from the cacaphony of spice, color, texture and exotic wonders of the taste we'd had of Bali beyond. It was so hard to leave.

Saturday 13 October 2012

Enjoying the Altitude


It really wasn't a lot cooler or less humid in the small mountain village of Munduk, in central Bali, but the stunning views of cool green terraces made it seem fresher. We often looked down on to clouds below us, our perch was so high. That made for steep walks when the weather was fine. We learned quickly that mornings were cooler and clearer than steamy, wet afternoons. Our first day was such a slow start that we only made it down the road about 250 meters from our hotel before we ducked to another rooftop restaurant. A shower turned into a downpour that lasted 2 hours. There we were, caught on a sheltered rooftop perch, with spectacular views of the weather passing through the valleys below. Tasty bowls of soup and steamy rice dishes arrived at our table, but windy gusts kept us table-hopping, seeking shelter from wet spray. Finally, clear blinds were lowered for protection and we were able to eat our delicious meal in dry comfort. Considering the high quality of the fresh, tasty meals we were served, prices almost always amazed us, as three could eat like kings for under $5 each, easily. Since we were the only customers that afternoon, the service was very good! We found this to be true in most locations, unless we chose an upscale eatery.
By the time the rain stopped, we were quite content to make the short climb back up the road and read books. At least I was. Kees felt compelled to rent a motorbike and join the throngs of bikers weaving up hairpin turns through the valleys.
He took Gina with him for a few hours to ride down the valley, to Lovina. They found a fine little beach hotel there for the next leg of our adventure, right on a black sand beach, between 2 fishing villages. We eventually moved there by taxi, after our fourth night in charming Munduk, but I am getting ahead of myself.
Upon their return that day from Lovina, the two of them were wrapped in thin blue plastic, as another warm downpour had forced them to pop into a shop for $1.00 rain ponchos. Kees was so invigorated by the fun he'd had driving, despite the wet, that he convinced me to hop on the scooter for another adventure, while Gina went to change into dry things.
I had been curious about an extremely large tree that could be seen across the valley, several kilometers away. It towered above all others in the clove forest easily, so I knew it wasn't a clove tree. Off we shot, buzzing through the village and up toward the hills beyond. We had to stop for a liter or two of petrol, sold in recycled milk jugs at roadside shops. We were directed to the huge tree by the simple sweep of an old man's arm, up a road past breathtaking views of the villages below.

The massive Banyan tree had been blessed and protected by a small Hindu temple near its sprawling base, with fabric bunting wrapped around its monumental girth. Cave-like chambers under the exposed root system made for mysterious hiding places, where the air seemed to hum with energizing life. As I stood in timeless reverence at the heart of the tree, I felt calm and safe, knowing that I was protected by many tons of living, growing wood around me, reaching both far above and below. The tree is over 750 years old and surely has many stories to tell, if only we only knew how to listen.
I had to climb it. Handing over my sunnies, phone/camera and bag to Kees, I began the ascent. It was easy at first, well worn by thousands of climbers before me. But as I climbed higher, several meters above the blessed bunting, I found myself weaving my body through smaller places, forced by solid growth to the branches and root systems on the exterior of the tree. Finally, I had exhausted all safe options and had to listen to the message offered; time to enjoy the view. I respectfully swung and twisted my way to a perch about 35 meters up the tree , then turned and balanced, looking out over an emerald valley below. I'm not sure if it was the beauty of the view or the empowering energy given off by the tree that made me feel so euphoric. It was a moment like no other, to be placed with my most precious memories and treasured for a lifetime.



Sunday 7 October 2012

Bali: Awakening

Sleeping in late is a good thing and I had full intentions of doing that, but when a spectacular mountain view presents itself, moments before sunrise, what would you do? I felt compelled to rise and watch from our balcony. Despite some cloud cover over the peaks, there was much to see. It wasn't a gorgeous sunrise full of wondrous colors, but rather a gentle illumination of life below me. Like ants stirred to dazzling activity once their hill has been disturbed, light revealed the valley's energetic rush of workers. Veins of motorbikes and trucks flowed towards emerald rice paddies, terraced into the valleys below. Hundreds of workers, farmers and schoolchildren were on the move, following their regular routes through plantations of clove trees that perfumed valleys with cool spicy scent. Everywhere I looked there was action, as treetops swayed with clove pickers, high on their bamboo stilt ladders.

Saturday 6 October 2012

Day Five: Travel to Munduk

We were very pleased to successfully negotiate for the driver who had picked us up at the airport on arrival.  Having Dewa with us meant that we could pay him well and enjoy his happy laughter, pretty good English skills and great driving.  I felt a bit bad about dismissing the first driver we were offerred, but all of us knew that Dewa was our first choice. Enough said!

We set out early on our departure from Ubud, not clear on where to go, but trusting our driver to guide us to a few of the highlights along our way to Munduk.  He did this very well, and so much more!  Dewa made sure that we saw all that we had inquired about, even though much of it was in the opposite direction to where we needed to end up. As photos will show, we enjoyed Elephant Cave and Temples, jungle temples, a coffee plantation where we tasted the famed Kopi Luwat, Mount Batur, the volcanoe and twin lakes, and even a couple of spontaneous stops for shopping opps. By day's end we had zigged and zagged through the island, eaten well seen it all and still made it to our hotel in the mountainous jungle, along narrow roads that rimmed volcanic craters and down a 5 km hill of about a million hairpin turns. He was so good that we never felt a bit unsafe or got car sick.  I was happy with that! Upon arrival in Munduk, we discovered our hotel room to be considerably nicer than we had expected.  With canopied beds and two rooms, a great ensuite and good linens, we were satisfied.   But there was more!  We had the most amazing view over a whole valley of terraced rice paddies and forests of clove trees.  We are above most trees and at night you can hardly tell where the sparkling lights on the mountains stop and the stars begin. The rooftop restaurant has spectacular views all around, great food and prices right out of the sixties...fresh watermelon juice for $1 and all meals under $4.
Have I mentioned how much we are enjoying Bali?

Day Four in Ubud: Monkeys and Massages

No trip to Bali can be complete without ample massages, one of the cheapest pleasures available.  At about one tenth of the price in Canada, spa services are plentiful and very good, or so we had heard.  It was time to treat ourselves to the experience.
Our day began with another fresh fruit tray and banana crepes, delivered to our rooms. Any primate would love that.
Next, we strolled down the road to revisit the Monkey Forest, Gina's favourite place in Ubud. We followed new paths this time, ending up at a gate that led out to a rice paddy, near a wood carver's house.  Of course, we had to check that out. It was all very beautiful, as if time had forgotten that corner of Ubud.  We fell into a bit of a reverie, mesmerized by his enchanting wares, nearly forgetting that we had appointments to keep.  A purposeful stroll through the Monkey forest is nearly impossible, with monkey antics of all sorts that distracted us, but we made it out in good time and found our next destination, the Three Monkeys Cafe.  My pals, Linda and Allan, had recommended this place as one of their favourites, discovered on their visit here a few years ago.  We just had to check it out!
Following the theme of the day, Gina and I had fruit drinks and vegetarian dishes for our lunches.  Kees enjoyed his customary Nasi Goring, a dish that always makes him happy. Add Bintang, and he's just downright cheerful!
Next, a driver arrived, right on schedule, to take us to the Putri Spa.   It had  received many great reviews on Tripadvisor, so I felt confident that we were in for a treat.  Our indulgence of "the works" was about to begin.
Oh, what a wonderful day it was!  We all enjoyed warm foot baths, pedicures and manicures. Then came a full body massage for an hour, followed by an exfoliating sugar scrub and oil rub, gentle shower and flower bath.  Ahhhh...would I like ginger tea and coconut biscuits while I soaked?  Yes.please! A warm shower rinsed away any petals that clung to my very relaxed body, before I was led away to another room for a full facial.  I am not sure what happened then, as I dozed off somewhere between the cucumber scrub and the orange scented facial peel....awoke to Gina's gentle snores on the bed beside me. Next came a cream bath hair treatment and neck massage, leading into shoulders and scalp massage.....leading to total bliss. Nirvana. I think we all floated out of there five hours later and $42 dollars apiece lighter. Enlightenment has dawned.  We must book more Bali massage sessions, soon!
 Such a day would not be complete without sushi. There it was, at a small restaurant not 300 meters from the spa. We had some.  It was very good.
So was the refreshing walk home,  past some of the grand older hotels along the Campuahan River, with stunning views of jungled valleys and picturesque trails along rice paddies.  Such trails were tempting in the fading light, but out of our range that day. Some things are just not meant to be.....but may happen another time. I would love to return to Ubud another day, with a better idea of where to go and what to do, but this time we managed. Quite well, indeed!
It was more out of fondness for the ambiance than hunger that led us back to the Warung Labalaba for a chilled watermelon juice and a vegetarian snack that evening.  We enjoyed just relaxing and visiting, catching up on a bit of email and planning our next day's events. We had a very nice chat with the owner of the small  restaurant, whose father had made two of the stunning acrylic paintings that I had been admiring all week.  They are of  beautiful  parrots in the jungle, so common and yet so unique.  I am glad I asked her about them. I wish I could look at them every day, but they are not for sale, nor do I want to own them. They belong in her restaurant, as her favourites.  I am glad that I enjoyed them, too.
 So much has happened in a few short days that one needs time to reflect and appreciate it all. Time...time to rest.



Ubud: Day Two

This was our  day for exploring the market, sights  and shops around Ubud. Nothing can prepare you for that.
Despite our relatively early start, we found ourselves moist with perspiration soon after leaving the Jangkrik Homestay. We wandered down Hanoman Road, poking into a few shops, but only made it about half a kilometer before stopping for a lusciously cool watermelon juice, freshly blended with ice. Our will to spend was weak and enthusiasm for bartering was low, but at first we enjoyed the maze of market stalls on three levels, losing ourselves in what seemed to be endlessly repeating rows of sarongs, wooden penises, intricate carvings, silver jewelry, baskets and plastic footwear. More rows of spices, vegetables, mystery foods and colorful clothing, wooden puzzles, masks and dried fish all merged into the confusion of sellers who called out for our attention, pleading, "You come look, I give you good price!  Morning price!  You be first.  Where you from?" Such bombardment of the senses takes a certain kind of stamina, which we were low on. Meanwhile,  Gina happily hunted for small gifts to take home for friends. We soon  had to escape to the auto-misting coolness of a nearby restaurant, oddly named "OOPS".  We must have seemed somewhat frazzled, as gorgeous young waitresses, with gracious manners and beautiful, shy smiles made sure we were served refreshments promptly.  They moved us to cooler seats and were even kind enough to retrieve bags and purses from the table we left....we must have been zombies! In no rush to leave, we sampled light fare and more liquids before venturing again into the midday heat.  By this time my hands and feet felt like tight puffy sausages, with heat rash setting in.  Gina had the start of blisters on both feet, but Kees was happily sloshing along after quaffing a few Bintang, his new beer of choice. If he had any aches or discomforts, we never knew.
A few sights to see down the main street included the Lotus Gardens and an interesting temple, open to the public during the day and used for traditional Balinese dance performances at night.
We headed south to the Ubud Palace, which is now used as museum for traditional Balinese art.  It was a good choice, as entry included a cold drink and the cool buildings had smooth marble floors, perfect for wandering in bare feet.
The art was relatively inaccessible to me, as the intricacies of Hindu tales remain a mystery.  Gina caught on better than I did, gaining a solid appreciation for Barong, a kind of king of Balinese good spirits, who appears in many paintings. I enjoyed the fine wood carvings and beautiful gardens the most, as well as the demonstration of woodcuts and intricate writing on dried palm leaves. And the cold drink.
Heading out into the blazing late afternoon heat and traffic was not a pleasant trip.  We considered taking a taxi back to our rooms, but spotted a chance to make a break for the very appealing tanks of cool water in a shop across the road.  I had read somewhere about foot massages given by schools of tiny fish, which actually nibble gently on tired toes to remove only the dead skin cells on your feet.  Guess what-it's wonderful!! All three of us plunked down on comfy padded benches that surrounded a tank of wee anchovies, submerged our hooves, and PRESTO! Ten minutes of cool bubbles and our sore feet were happy again.  It took some courage to get over the tickles of a thousand little mouths, but the testimonial of the previous happy clients made our decision easy. Plus, it felt like a cool bath of bubbling Sprite. Plus it was only about $4.50! Check another one off the bucket list.

Our trek home was a bit cooler and much more energized. We felt pretty good about getting a bit of exercise, after all the delicious food we had been enjoying. In some of the shops, it was even pleasant chatting with the sellers who didn't seem as aggressive about pushing their wares.
After showers, fresh clothes and a chat with our new friend, David (who also had a room at the same homestay) we all headed off to find the Wayan Cafe, one that had been made famous by the movie, "Eat, Pray, Love."  Our plan was to meet fellow exchange teachers there for dinner.  It was also David's birthday, so we were happy to treat him to a meal.  We found Louanne, Keith and their son Konner settled into a low table surrounded by cushions.  Although it looked comfy, sitting on the floor to eat is not, really.  We managed, but with average food and stiff legs, we were relieved to dine quickly and head out. Streets were not well lit and notoriously uneven, so we made our way back to Hanoman Street with care. There was more celebrating going on at the temple, the last night of a three day Full Moon Celebration.  We listened to Balinese music and watched the crazy comedy for a while, not understanding much, but enjoying the colourful costumes and interesting dances, festive crowds and traditional clothing.
It had been quite a full day.  We tumbled into bed, dreaming of bright colours, cooler places and quiet nights. I  was very pleased to have a fan over our bed and fresh sheets to rest on.

Day Three: Payuk Bali Cooking School, Ubud

My day began way, way too early, with roosters crowing and my mouth feeling very dry. I felt too warm and cranky already! Breakfast, delivered to our balcony, was fresh tropical fruits and banana coconut crepes with coffee. That made me smile. Gina and I were soon met by a group of four other students and our guide Agung, who took us to the market for a lesson in shopping for spices and fresh produce. We learned that there were three kinds of ginger as well as turmeric, lemon grass, chilis, nutmeg, shallots, garlic and bay leaves used in our dishes that day, just to name a few of the spices we needed. I was very interested in learning more about the differences between a spiky jackfruit and the notoriously stinky "king of fruits", the durian. Although it is apparently not durian season, Agung found a small one for sale and encouraged me to barter for it. Much to our surprise, I managed to "steal" it from the vendor for 50,000 rupiah , about $5.00. Agung assured me that it was a very fair price, but perhaps they should have paid me to take the offensive thing off their hands. We then had the dubious experience of transporting the odiferous globe in the van with us...not my most popular move!
Next, we took to the hills for a close look at rice paddies and a lesson in how rice is farmed. Cool water cascaded through channels, past terraced fields that seemed to steam under the intense equatorial sun. It was a perfect spot to paddle hot feet and take a few stunning photos. We met our cooking instructor there, a jolly Balinese fellow named Ketut Budi. Down the road, short kilometers away, we were dropped at the driveway to Ketut's family home. A refreshing, moist towel and cool glass of spicy ginger-cinnamon iced tea were offered as we entered the traditional compound. The  ceremonial building was in front, bedrooms left, kitchen and cooking school to the north, temple to the south, all edged by emerald jungle. Yes, there were monkeys swinging through the trees!  Coconuts, jackfruit, papayas and several other fruits and blossoms also grew within easy reach, as cool sounds of a river tumbled by about fifty  meters below, through a very steep valley. Planted conveniently nearby were bushes and tubs of many herbs. Baskets of fresh vegetables sat in racks in the spotless open-air kitchen, where tables stood ready with chopping blocks and sharp knives all around.  I was eager to begin, but first came  lessons in creating floral offerings for the temples and a chance to try traditional methods of roasting our own  coffee beans over a wood fire. 
After a sweet snack of delicious banana fritters with honey, served with our freshly ground Bali coffee, the printed menus were explained and our food prep began in earnest. Clean aprons were passed out and hands were scrubbed. With six of us slicing, chopping, steaming, saute'ing, grinding, wrapping, skewering, frying,  bbqing and mixing the ingredients for seven delicious recipes, we finally produced quite a delectable feast to be proud of! The best part was having a team of support staff who cleaned up after us and kept the supplies coming, handing us bowls and trays of ingredients exactly when needed,  as only those who have rehearsed often can do. Even chilled bottles of water appeared when needed, which were much appreciated by all of us in the kitchen, despite the light breeze through the shaded space. 
Gina was happy to be offered many chances to take the lead, whether it was to demonstrate a chopping technique just taught, or to deep fry the tempeh in the hot coconut oil, that we had just learned how to extract from fresh coconut. As excellent teachers know, first comes the modelled lesson, then guided practice.  For three hours there were no breaks, from the time we began crushing and grinding fragrant spices to the moments we finished turning tuna kebabs over coconut husk coals. By the end of our humid morning, we were too weary to know or feel a difference between intense sun burning from above and charcoal singeing our knuckles from the bbq coals below.

At last, we were invited to wash hands again and remove our aprons.  We settled into the beautiful dining area, overlooking a steamy jungle.  Cool drinks were served by staff, who had lined our dishes up buffet-style and were ready to graciously serve us our first course.
Fragrantly spiced fresh cucumber turmeric soup was delicious!  It was followed by Gado-Gado ( Vegetable Salad with peanut sauce), Nasi Kuning ( Yellow Rice), Sate Lilit ( spiced fish skewers), Pesan Be Pasih (fresh tuna steamed in banana leaves), Ayam Bumbu Bali( Balinese fried chicken) and Kolak Pisang (Bananas braised in palm sugar sauce).

Despite the warm, steamy climate, we enjoyed sampling our dishes immensely.  Icy Bintang beer helped to cool the palate, although none of the spicy dishes were too fiery hot. As we were all from different countries, dinner conversation was pleasant and we all agreed that it had been a very enjoyable few hours, up to that point.  I had completely forgotten about the durian, but Agung and Ketut had not!  They produced the beastly fruit, sliced open and ready for sampling by all who dared.  Being an adventurous, good-natured lot, we each had a taste. Only Chris, a senior gent from Melbourne, took a fancy to it.  His lovely wife, Joanna, plugged her nose and gulped a bit down, but was no fonder of the soft, sticky fruit than I was. Nanda, a young doctor from Holland, was  polite but firmly against a second taste. Her husband Joost was the most visibly disgusted with the flavour as well as the smell!  Gina proclaimed it quite gross, with the vehemence of a true teen.. We nearly all agreed that it was ugly to look at, vile to smell and unpleasant on the palate.  
Despite our negative consensus regarding my durian, Balinese cooking class was an overwhelming success.  It was an exceptionally authentic  experience in a very beautiful setting. Ketut, Agung and all the staff were very helpful and professional. I am happy to check  both events off my bucket list and would recommend their Balinese cooking class to anyone who is interested.

Ups and Downs: Boyanup/ Yallingup/Dallyup

On a Thursday evening in September, four of us tossed in weekend bags and jumped in the van, heading for Busselton. We has arranged to stay with our British friends, Mike and Sue Miles. Sue and I were to participate in several Teacher Exchange activities, while our families carried on with sightseeing around Margaret River. It was a great plan. With blinding sunset light and a concern for possible kangaroos on the road, Kees drove west with gripping concentration. Nightfall is not a great time to travel through forest and farmland. We spotted one large bouncer several meters ahead of us, but he cleared the highway safely.
We took a break at a favorite sushi shop in Collie, about an hour from Williams, for takeout dinners. Driving on through inky darkness, we were relieved to arrive at our destination by 8 pm, happy to visit with Sue and Mike Miles for a while before settling into their comfy guest beds.
 Friday was a day to remember. Sue and I headed back up the highway 47 km to Boyanup, where the Primary School was expecting about 10 of us. We were introduced at the school assembly, which made all exchange teachers feel honored, indeed. Impressive performances and fantastic art work displays around the small school of 145 students kept us well entertained. We were toured around the school and beautiful grounds, with it's many examples of environmental stewardship, student projects and conservation strategies. Then we were treated to a delicious table of fresh home baking with our morning tea break, compliments of the Boyanup teachers. Next came our chance to teach a class or two about our respective countries. It was impressive to see the rapt attention and hear the many eager questions that students had for us. We felt like rock stars. They seemed to adore us. A short 20 km drive away was our next school to visit, Capel Primary. Friday was their "Clubs Day" , when students who earn good standing get to choose from a range of activities around the school. But first, as visitors, we were treated to a catered lunch of fresh fruits, sandwiches and desserts. Yum!
Next, we were invited to tour freely around the campus and observe any classrooms we liked, with one room assigned as ours to present to. Again, rapt attention and very interesting questions from eager learners followed our slide shows and speeches about our home countries. I noticed evidence of much cooperative teaching and learning at this school, with open concept classes of 48 students, led by 2 teachers, who share the planning and instruction. It was interesting to chat with lead teachers who train the staff on cooperative teaching strategies, following an American model and resources that I recognized from my teacher training some decades ago.
Club options included golf on the lush sports field, driver's ed using a golf cart, and fishing in the stream that bordered one side of the school grounds, just beyond a fringe of massive gum trees. Their principal admitted that he enjoyed taking groups down to the nearby beach on occasion, as there were more fish to be caught in the Indian Ocean. It was just minutes away.
What a great place this would be to work!
We left that school to convene for a special debriefing at the Capel Pub, where we enjoyed the intense spring sunshine and well-chilled beverages.
It was an important sharing of the day's observations, including a toast to Terry Syverson's birthday.
Never a dull moment was spent. Two more events were on our agenda. First, we doubled back to see the 4 pm milking at Kitchen's Dairy. Who knew that milking cows has become so technical? With a rotary milking station that read each microchipped cow, computerized testing and recording of data makes it possible for 2-3 people to milk up to 400 cows in about 2 hours! Automated testing adjusts feed levels for optimum milk protein and fat contents, while milking machines gather and chill product for collection by outside milk producers. All this happens in about 10 minutes per cow, which has walked into the rotary milking bay and backed out again, on it's own. All the farmers did was spray clean the udders and connect the pumps to the teats. Of course, they do many other things to get that 30 liters of milk per day from each cow, but the actual automated milking that occurs twice daily is very efficient.
We also observed newborn calves and learned about how they are trained to accept milk from automated stalls that read their microchips and monitor health. It is all quite an efficient family business operation, but one that requires long days and few holidays, due to the lack of willing new workers. With the huge draw of the mining industry, where workers can make impressive money, few are interested in dairy farming. It is a wonder how a few dedicated farming families can carry on providing this basic food for so many. Can it last? At a mere $1.00 per liter for milk in the grocery store, it is not priced high enough for struggling dairy farmers to profit.
I no longer take fresh milk for granted.

What next on our very full agenda, you might wonder? We returned home to Busselton, while the rest of the exchange teacher families went to farms where they had been billeted.
While Sue and I grabbed the bikes for a sunset spin down the beach, Kees and Mike whipped up a delicious Mexican meal, which we all enjoyed while swapping stories of our adventures.
It's particularly wonderful to have friends to share our time here with, especially other teaching exchangees who share an understanding of this challenging year-long experience. Sue and Mike also  make terrific hosts!
Saturday was a day to explore. We had breakfast outdoors on their pretty deck, then drove to Dunsborough, a beautiful coastal town about 30 km away. We checked out the shops, then picked up our picnic lunch at the Dunsborough Bakery and drove to a very picturesque spot called Meelup Beach, on the way to a lighthouse. I loved that beach! Crystal turquoise waters lapped gently over golden sand and a few rocky outcroppings, perfect for beach combing and climbing. Grassy parkland shaded by gum trees made it an ideal spot for lunch. I never wanted to leave!
Outvoted, I was led away two hours later, as our mission was to find caves to explore near Yallingup. We caught the last tickets and were led into the bowels of the earth, 11 stores underground. Ngingli Caves displayed fascinating limestone formations, including excellent examples of "shawls", which look like ribbons of fabric . Backlit, they can resemble limestone strips of bacon, created by groundwater seeping into the subterranean depths. Bands of color reflect mineral content and surface changes; grayish reddish bands carry soot from forest fires and whitish bands reflect years of heavy rainfall.
Density of the slow- growing stalactites astounds, as sample artifacts weighed heavy in hand. At a growth rate of only about 3 cm per century, the variety and size of formations were both truly awesome.
Still more on our agenda: return to Boyanup for a mix and mingle, then a hearty potluck dinner, served by the wonderful teachers and Parent Council of Boyanup Primary. Without a doubt, their hospitality and cheerful company made us all feel very welcome and appreciated. Coffee and more delicious homemade desserts were enjoyed as we visited with the colorful, interesting locals, who told many tales and invited us all back again soon.
With a fresh start on Sunday, we bade our fine friends goodbye and headed out seeking groceries for home, Farmer's markets and other points of interest. In Dallyup, we stopped at a small market seeking fresh fruit. I found apples and oranges. Gina found a duck. She was smitten with the wee fella, so as unlikely as it may sound, we bought a duckling. I have never seen her so happy!
Our plan was to visit the Peel Zoo, near Mandurah. It was a 2 hour loop out of our way, but well worth the drive. Gina managed to part with her new pet for a time, as we toured through a very interactive experience. There were snakes to hold and baby tazzy devils to touch, kangaroos to feed and birds to dance with. Upon inquiring about koalas, we were escorted into their enclosure and allowed to reach into the tree branches to touch the snoozers, who seemed not to notice us at all.
The most fun was chatting with cheeky cockatoos and friendly parrots within the aviary. We have great pictures and videos of our interactions with many of these friendly birds. With little coaxing, they rode on our shoulders and heads, all hungry for attention and snacks. After such close encounters, I have a much keener appreciation for those colourful birds that I catch glimpses of in the wild.

Home again, we unloaded the van and helped Gina joyously settle in with her new pet, delighted to have her own tiny pal to adore and care for.

On a very sad note: the wee duckling expired three nights later. Gina remains devastated, upset to this day. We hope time will help heal her broken heart.

Monday 1 October 2012

Day One in Ubud

Roosters should have snooze buttons, or at least the decency not to begin crowing at 3 am and every few minutes after that, until the sun actually comes up three hours later.
Our first day in Bali really began with the delivery of breakfsst to our rooms: fresh tropical fruit, coffee and coconut crepes. We ate alfresco on our small balcony, overlooking orchids, frangipani and ancient clay tiled roofs. Humidity had me melting most of the day, but we persevered through the steamy tropical heat.
Our first challenge was extracting rupeahs from an ATM, turning $100 Aus into $1,000,000 Indonesian. As " millionaires", we walked a few blocks to the famed Monkey Forest, where primates reined supreme. Mossy stone temples, streams and jungle vines mocked movie sets that try to recreate the authentic. Kees and Gina enjoyed visiting with the hairy beggars, but I preferred to keep a healthy distance from their bared fangs and grabby little paws. Despite my intentions, monkeys still grabbed at my legs and bag, but did no harm, as I kept moving on. There were ample chances for Kodak Moments during our 2 hour visit.
A 2km stroll down Monkey Forest Road followed as we searched for a vegetarian cafe. One diversion, through hibiscus and frangipani gardens of a lovely little hotel, yielded a photo op with a real fruit bat, which was just hanging in a tree. Amazing!
Temperatures and humidity felt very
high, but a brief stop for a scoop of mango gelato helped. Gina did a spot of shopping. Eventually, we found a suitable lunch place with free wifi. Cool watermelon juices for us and a large Bintang beer for Kees we're divinely welcomed. Clear Cafe had a zen-like vibe and an interesting menu, with a resident kitten as well. All was good!
Refreshed and recharged, we continued on our muggy way, hunting for any familiar landmark on a road full of foreign words and look-alike shops. Touts and pleas to enter into many shops were incessant, as were the calls, "Taxi? I give you good price!!
Another iced watermelon juice was required in transit.
We eventually made it back to Jangkrik, but we had to ask directions to get there. It's entrance seemed to be camouflaged by sarong and t-shirt shops!
An afternoon nap followed by a cool shower rounded out the day. We returned to Warung Labalaba Restaurant for a delicious dinner that we had  hardly earned, taking time to savour each bite. A nonstop stream of Balinese women passed by, on their way to Full Moon Celebrations, with remarkable towers of fruit offerings balanced on their heads. Traditional lace jackets and gorgeously colored sarong skirts completed their appearance. Men also wore sarongs, but usually of darker colors, with headwraps and jackets as well. We had been invite to visit the neighborhood temple by Made, the patriarch of Jangkrik Homestay. It required all of us wearing sarongs as well, which we were not prepared for at that time. Simply watching the steady parade of color down the street and hearing the joyously clanging instrumental was enough to us, after our long, hot day.  We were pleased to get back to our rooms to shower once again, then visit with David, a new friend from Amsterdam,  before   ending the day.

Saturday 25 August 2012

Counting the Days: August Ends

Blog entries are becoming less frequent as weeks become somewhat mundane. To school and back makes for dull writing, just recounting of daily routines. No need to highlight the unpleasant memory of a speeding ticket, flu season or an accidentally cracked mirror. Ho hum. Life goes on. It's hardly mentionable to describe trips into nearby towns for grocery runs, as thrilling as it may sound. Pretty canola field and rolling hills of barley shoots cannot inspire me to fill a page of superlative prose.
Laundry accumulates; we wash. Grass and weeds grow; we garden. Dust collects; we watch it accumulate.
As the famous Aussie fugitive Ned Kelly noted, when caught by authorities for the last time, "Such is life".
We anticipate more remarkable events as soon as next week, when I have arranged an observation visit to a school in Perth. Two weeks later, we'll be visiting two smaller schools in the country town of Boyanup. A major highlight of our year will be a two week vacation to Bali in early October. That will be in exactly 5 weeks from now.
Our future looks bright!

Friday 20 July 2012

Catch Up Part One: Expedition North

How can I begin to recall the details? It must suffice to try a brief recollection:
Friday, July 6:
Beautiful yellow parrot visits my bedroom in Williams, slowing packing. Must be someone's pet. Enthralls Gina and Alex for hours. Bake a chocolate cake for Phil.
Saturday, July 7:
Ice cake. Drive Alex and Gina to Freo for an afternoon of shopping and snacking. Head to Ballajura to stay with Chook and Phil. Prep veg while roast cooks. Enjoy dinner.
Sunday, July 8:
Walk Kippie around Emu Lake. Head to airport after shopping for candles and castor oil for Erin. Fly to Monkey Mia. Look for camels. Camp in Denham with Kees and Erin, after a visit with Syversons, an exchange family from Medicine Hat, Alberta. . Coincidence to meet them here!
July 9:
To Monkey Mia to see dolphins and enjoy camel rides with Henk. Drive to Eagle Bluffs. Gorgeous deserted beach with crystal clear water for as far as eye can see. Spot about 20 reef sharks lurking 2-3 meters off shore. I climb dunes for a better look, while Kees hikes back to get fishing gear from van. Valient effort, but no catch for dinner. Contemplate camping here even though we have no overnite free permit, as wine goes down well with sunset.No bluffing a warden who visits, so on to Nanga Bay, no bush camp for us. Nice spot. Meet a student and her family camping here for two weeks. Nice.
July 10: Torrential downpour all day as we buck a headwind to Carnarvon. Jump out at Hamelin Pools to view famous stromatolites, but high winds and rain drives us back, drenched. Arrive at Carnarvon in time for cooking evening meal. Luckily, all our gear is still dry as we pitch a tent and grab showers at caravan park. Kees and girls have fun at Op Shop, where the great green Clackerwhacker costume presents itself. At $3.00, it proves too much of a bargain for Kees to pass up. Groceries, then off we go to Coral Bay. Yay!
July 11:
All day to drive to Coral Bay. Enjoy the camp set up and sunset. So crowded at caravan park, but close to dive shop! Say hi to Syversons again and see their place at the resort. To bed early.
July 12: first inner reef snorkel is good, but chilly. See lots of plate corals, cabbage coral, brain corals. Two turtles! A zillion fish. Visibility murky due to much wind. Off to outer reef: albatross, many humpback whales! Chills set in, but Clackerwhacker costume saves the day for Kees, who later shares it with a shivering Gina. Breaching, waving flukes and large mammalian shenanigans keeps us entertained. There were may, at least 30-40 it seemed.
Then it happened.
Queasy seasickness is never a pretty thing. Although I had consumed Gravol earlier in the day, 3 meter swells bested me. Nay, they floored me; that is where I spent the remainder of the day, after repeatedly attempting to empty an already empty stomach. It was a huge disappointment to me to miss the actual shark whale dives , but there was no possibility for me to lift any part of my cramped and numb body off the wet deck. I spent the next unhappy 4 hours slipping in and out of consciousness, freezing cold and quite miserable. I am pleased to report that
everyone else on board managed one or two successful dives with an amazing young male whale shark. I know this because evidence was captured on video and posted on Facebook by my thoughtful husband. There were also many excited exclamatory chats overheard on the voyage homeward. It was not until we returned to the calmer waters of the inner reef that I was able to rouse my sorry shivering self off the salty deck and contemplate the magnitude of my lost opportunity. Without sounding too sorry for myself, it must be noted that during that day of adventure on the high seas, all except about 6 of the 28 people on board spent some of their day spewing over the port and starboard sides. We all have different tales to tell, but I think mine is the sorriest.
July 13 pack up to move on, but find a nicer site at People's Park in Coral Bay. Book in rather than drive north. Day of rest to let body catch up with intentions. Afternoon beach walk as I contemplate joining Kees for a swim. Try a snorkel using wetsuit, but still turn blue. Time for hot shower!!
Dinner out at Fin's, renowned for fresh seafood. Ruby snapper is very good.
July 14
Just another beach day. 26c in the shade, with sky such a bright blue that sunglasses barely dim the glare. Apply sunscreen. Laundry. Erin applies for work at shops. Meet the Miles family by chance, sunset beach walk and a drink at the Coral Bay Resort bar, where we discover it is Mike's birthday. Ben Ford, new friend from the whale shark trip and chef from resort, joins us and encourages Erin to apply at Coral Bay Resort. Potluck BBQ ensues at our nearly private outdoor camp kitchen. Chicken, noodles, squid, fresh mushrooms, candlelight. Good times!
July 15 Sunday is a day to relax. Walk the beach all the way to the jetty. Enjoy tidal pools and dunes. Great sunset. Prep for morning departure.
July 16 Monday drive to Exmouth by noon. Fill up on groceries, water and gas, then head 50 km northwest to Turquoise Bay for ebb tide at 3. Find water a bit warmer, with about 3 meters visibility. Not great, but enough to draw us out to see a small 1 meter reef shark, a blue spotted ray and good coral. Okay! Stop off at lighthouse on our way back to Exmouth. Spend night parked on driveway at rented holiday home of McDonalds and Syversons. BBQ and movies for all kids, who are a bit grumpy due to travel itinerary. Adults visit. Nice evening for us.
July 17 Tuesday
Drop teens to shop a bit while we visit Diane Lawler, another Canadian teacher who is traveling with her visiting sister and 2 teens. We missed Jim, who has gone fishing. Great hour of chat over a coffee, comparing travel experiences. Then onwards, beginning our long trek home.

Sunday 15 July 2012

Of Camel Myths and Camping

Riding camels in Monkey Mia was very relaxing.  I recall a similar experience long ago, when we were in Emily Gap, near Alice Springs.  It was not relaxing. In fact, we had been part of a camel race, which was highly unsettling for all concerned.  Those poor camels were not happy pets and they stank, but what did we know of camel whispering back then, I ask you? Nada, zippo, zilch. Now we know! Henk, the owner of seven well-groomed, beautiful beasts, took us for a guided glide more than a ride.  He walked backwards most of the way down the beach on Shark Bay, continuing with his nonstop commentary on all things bactrian. Not dromedarian, as I had originally assumed. As a self proclaimed camel whisperer from the tender young age of 6 years old, Henk was quite a colourful character and, by golly, he loved his camels!  Fed them carrot slices from his lips to theirs, he did. Caught that all on video. I'm not sure what kind of female companionship ol' Henk is used to these days, as you have to wonder who'd pucker up to him after that kind of daily stunt, but he sure has a great relationship with his camels. They were very clean, cuddly beasts and didn't have any bad odor to speak of, unlike my memories of the ones, say, at Edmonton's Valley Zoo. Nor did they spit.  Apparently, camels cannot. They froth and groan, grin widely with portruding bottom chompers, and are indeed fond of carrots. But spit?  Henk says it is not possible. Who could argue with a man with such clearly defined passions? At the end of the ride, we all agreed that it had been a most entertaining, informative experience. What's more, Gina's 16th birthday wish had come true; she got her camel ride down a remote Australian beach, with her pal.  Have I mentioned Alex? We have been enjoying a three week visit from one of Gina's schoolmates from Edmonton. Teens need other teens, a fact that we had failed to factor into our exchange arrangements.  Luckily, Alex Sokol's parents are broadminded and deep of pocket, so here she is. New to camping, she is now an expert at setting up and taking down at least one kind of tent. It has been a pleasure having her along
on our travels, willing to try all new experiences with Gina. Erin has also been quite wonderful to have along. All three girls have been very fine company, indeed.

Catch Up Part Two ( who am I kidding?): Bits about the trip home from Exmouth

Let's see...flat road and little of note except scrub brush and thousands of paprika colored termite mounds the size of small cars...blue sky forever...many hours of driving. Wait! A hill, with a viewpoint! Unusual cairn on top made of single castoff shoes, then another made of gnomes. Yup, gnomes of many faded shades, sitting atop an otherwise unremarkable rise. Many had cryptic messages scrawled hastily in felt pen, but none seemed particularly eloquent.
We drove on.
Billabong Roadhouse, the only stop for hundreds of kilometers, nabbed our attention briefly. Silly photo op. Tank full, we continued to Carnarvon, missed the Aboriginal Museum entirely, but enjoyed fresh produce at a privately owned produce shop of the highest order, called Morel's. Highlight! Divine papaya, crispy fresh beans, star fruit, sweet cherry tomatoes and a rather odd tray of black sapote fruit (aka chocolate pudding fruit) caught our fancy. After so much bleak,dry terrain, the fruit plantations around Carnarvon were the best treat! With some determination, we grabbed a spot at yet another overpriced caravan park and headed into town to the renowned Post Office Cafe for an early dinner. With none other than Lonely Planet's recommendation as "the best pizza in the world", we felt obliged to try. It was very good, I'll admit! I dunno about being THE best, but we enjoyed it. Not a single other thing to do in this town after 6 pm. Humph. Alex and Gina made a fine game of hurdles over a row of fence posts. Walked the streets for 20 minutes, but the appeal of hot showers soon took over.
Back to the Plantation Caravan Park for lukewarm showers ($70 bucks/night for this??) and a full moon. Gorgeous starry sky! One must focus on the bright bits. Let the dull bits fade...
From Carnarvon we continued south to Kalbarri, our longest stretch of driving. Glum travellers were not impressed by changing scenery, from dry scrub to slightly greener scrub, nor could we muster much enthusiasm within the troops for planning excursions. After a night's rest, Kees rented a small aluminum skiff and insisted that we all climb in. I had packed a light picnic lunch and off we putted, upstream on the Mighty Murdoch River. Fast it was not, nor was it deep, hence the handy oars provided. Several times our fearless captain suffered near mutinous objections as the poor li'l prop stirred sandbars to a pulp. He was happy to share the helm with Fearless Captain Gina, who also hit a few sandbars before the trip was over, but with judicious application of lumber and lumbar support, we beached and finally hiked up " Castle Rock". Great views! Snapped a few fabulously memorable photos as everyone clambered around rocky cliffs. A bit of exercise did us all a world of good!
Upon our return to Kalbarri, three teens chose kayaks for their next challenge, paddling them easily across the river's mouth to another beach, seeking whale-watching, but no luck there. Kees and I walked the opposite way, to view China Man Pools and crashing wave action oceanside. High winds and big spray! It was a refreshing break before our travels continued south, aiming for Geraldton that night.
That covers some bits. More to come after an iPhone recharge.

Saturday 14 July 2012

Dune Runes to First Dutch Explorer, Uncle Dirk

Geraldton holds memories of crashing surf on endless beaches, bordered by dunes of low scrub. Varied access points from residential areas all seemed to have weathered wooden fence posts joined by lengths of wrist-thick rope, festooned with rainbow remnants of aged cords, cables and rope bits found washed up on the shores. Any beachcomber's stroll would produce handfuls of rope lengths lost by fishing boats, which seemed to have become a spontaneous folk art/ecological display when attached to the rope cables that fenced the dune access trails. Mysterious myriad knots and color patterns, beaten to faded frays, seemed to hold important coded messages; echoes of mariner rhymes, if only one could solve them. I missed the photo op, but hold the vivid memory.
An excellent museum of maritime artifacts held our interest for half a day as imaginations engaged in real tales of treasure, shipwrecks and lost lives from 400 years earlier. A pewter replica of Dirk Hartog's famous plate, left as a marker of the first European to land on Australian shores in 1616, had to be purchased for posterity. Who knows if he really was an ancestor of the den Hartigh clan? It's very possible proof of the link, bearing further genealogical research. Heady stuff for a personal inquiry for Kees, not just dusty facts from history books. The search continues for him, with dreams to view the original plate, next time we are in Amsterdam.
We camped near the shores of a vivid pink lake, strange and yet not surprising, in this land down under, south of Jurian Bay. A rare non-toxic cytobacteria created the uncanny pepto bismal appearance. We hoped for much more than an average sunset and tepid showers, but the tiny Port Douglas Caravan Park held no other
appeal. Even the hungry wedge tailed eagle, hovering elegantly on updrafts as he scanned for prey, found little of interest and soon moved on.
Perhaps we were travel weary, but the thought of a side trip to the geological anomalies of The Pinnacles didn't sound promising. Acres of ochre formations, fingers of rock pointing skyward as if warning of impending aerial attack, were remarkable sights in an otherwise tedious landscape.
We took photos and pushed on.

Sunday 8 July 2012

Picasso to Pollock, Camels and Sharks

Finally, I am free! Two weeks of joyous adventures with family and friends started yesterday, July 7th. Actually, we enjoyed a weekend in Freo and Perth last weekend, showing Erin and Tom around a few sights. The highlight for me was enjoying time at the Picasso to Warhol exhibit at Perth's Art Museum, all too short, but wonderfully sweet. The Jackson Pollocks and Piet Mondrians were most delicious viewing, as were whimsical sculptures by Matisse and the classic cubism of Picasso. I liked his Reclining Liquor Bottle very much. Australian artists were also vibrant and interesting, needing much more time to be appreciated properly. Then there was the dynamic exhibit by Vancouver photographer, Jeff Wall. I do wish we lived in the city so we could enjoy more of the rich culture here. A year in Perth would have been quite wonderful, but that dream will have to wait.
We gathered Alex Sokol from the airport after her 30 hour journey from Edmonton, poor thing. She seemed fresh as a rose, as only a teen could, but rest was in her agenda for a while. Gina was absolutely delighted to have her pal arrive! Back we went to life in the country for a final week of school. Kees boomeranged to Perth again on Tuesday to help Erin see Thomas depart for Canada. Then they headed three days' drive north to secure a campsite for our arrival. Gina and I did our best to show Alex a few sights around Narrogin, Williams and Fremantle before flying north to meet Kees and Erin in Monkey Mia. Most of these events in Perth have been graciously facilitated by Chook and Phil Melvin, who host our stays in the city and support us in innumerable ways. We can never thank them enough! They are the most amazing couple who treat us like family, going out of their way to make sure we have all we need whenever we visit Perth. Hopefully, they will find their way to Canada at some point, so we might make a small dent in returning some of their amazing hospitality.
Now we are camping in Denham, poised for a day of camel riding near Monkey Mia tomorrow, then feeding the dolphins that arrive at the beach each day like clockwork , waiting for tasty handouts of fish. We have a dive trip planned later this week, north if here near Coral Bay, famous for the giant gentle whale sharks that we hope to see along Ningaloo Reef. We spent our first evening sharing a glass of wine with the Syversons, another exchange family from Alberta who are also stopping in Denham for a couple days. I find it quite delightful that we will most likely meet many exchange friends as we hop and skip along this very remote part of Australia's west coast. We have a prime camping spot tonight, overlooking pristine aqua coastline of Shark Bay, with two daughters and a friend resting in swags under clear starry skies as I type. It is all quite remarkable, really. I pinch myself for a reality check and then try to settle my whirring brain to rest. Impossible, but here I am.

Sunday 1 July 2012

Biding time until holidays

It felt like a long slog to complete progress reports this term, but not as complex and lengthy as in Canada. I'm so relieved that they are done!
Erin and Thomas arrived nearly two weeks ago, filling a worrisome void I have felt since we left home 6 months ago. I am delighted to see them here! Gina has been much happier and Kees has some renewed vigor for showing them around a bit. There isn't a lot to see nearby, but they have seemed content with enjoying home life, after 2 months on the road. Tom has impressed us with his cooking skills and Erin has rested well, slept late and enjoyed the ease of a simple routine, where tea and fruit is always at hand.

We enjoyed an evening of dinner and games at James and Manuela Lanahan's place last Friday. It was a spontaneously fun night of tasty tidbits and silliness. We played Taboo and pool, while some sang karaoke and I cycled in the exercise bike. Something for all! We really enjoyed their relaxed company and warm hospitality and look forward to reciprocating some fine day.
Saturday we left Gina at home to sleep in late, while we took Erin and Tom on a drive to Bunbury for a spot of shopping and a bit of fish and chips. Not the best weather or the most interesting drive, but we saw the ocean and managed a beach walk before the 2 hour drive back. It was a relatively uneventful diversion, but better than a day at home of laundry!
The week passed without much excitement. We joined PETA Hanley and her Boddinton pals for an evening of pizza at the Williams Pub on Tuesday. That was nice! Tom made pizza the next night, too. Yum. One needs ways to wear off carbs, really! Driving to work each day allows no room for burning calories at all. Dullsville, but it must be done.
Perhaps next term I can work a regular swim into the routine. Cycling club has been less appealing in the winter fog. We haven't been home most weekends, anyway, so I have missed a few Saturday rides lately.
Holiday adventures cannot come soon enough!

Saturday 16 June 2012

First Winter Garden

It's raining and foggy here on a Saturday night, when I should be finishing off report cards.....but no!
There are many other more important distractions.
Perhaps it means we have settled in, as my little garden has sprouted a few pea shoots and lettuce leaves. I tried planting broccoli seedlings, but some black infestation is enjoying them immensely. I'm not normally very competitive when it comes to broccoli, but perhaps I'll stand up to the little critters, just to show them who I am.
It does seem odd to be advised to plant a winter garden. Fall is when all the snowy little lambs are born, and when farmers seed their crops. It's when we comb the resale shops for wool sweaters, amazingly rare in a state that produces so many sheep! Most everything is made from synthetic fibers, nasty in the heat as well as the cold, I say. Who knew we'd want woollies here? I love my sheepskin booties, I do! It's just that slate floors get cold in an uninsulated house and night temperatures are down to about 3C lately. We like our indoors to stay above that! A " reverse air con" unit works hard to warm up a 2 storey house, but as warm air rises, the main floor stays rather cool. We just wear layers, as good Canucks all know. It seems unheard of here. I have students who still wear their summer uniforms of shorts and tshirts, instead of pants and "jumpers" to school. With a morning reading of 7c on my classroom thermometer, I keep my layers on, thank you, until our heater kicks in.
The past week certainly kept us busy with odd weather. Perth had a tornado and two major storms. We had 125km/hr winds and rain, ending in a power failure that lasted only 4 hours here, but in the surrounding areas 160,000 homes went without power for up to several days. Some schools closed due to damage or lack of power, but ours remained open. Aside from several trees and branches down, there was little change in the pace around here. We plod on.
Last night was the wind up party
for the Williams Repertory Theatre at the Williams Pub. It was lovely! Every cast member was recognized with a small gift and thanked for his or her unique contribution to the production. We quite enjoyed feeling a part of the community, knowing everyone in the room. Wine was tasty and food was good, replenishing our waning energy after weeks of late rehearsals. We were the only people there not from this area, which made me realize just how unique our cultural immersion is in this small town. Gina noted that we'd be quite anonymous in a large city like Perth, had we lived there. Here it seems that everyone knows of us, which can be a bit unsettling. People notice when the campervan is gone from our driveway, when our lights are on, and even whether our laundry is hanging out or not. Their friendliness happily outweighs any loss of privacy to date. We get chatted to by locals wherever we go in this area who all seem to know something of us before we get there. Comfortable? Sort of....it's growing on us.


Sent from my iPhone

Sunday 10 June 2012

Dramatic Interludes

A new me has been seen in Williams this past weekend, similar in looks but wearing heavier make-up and projecting dialogue quite determinedly. My fling with live theatre has come and gone, without any talent scouts beating a path to my dressing room door. The good news is that, with the support of five other cast members, sound and light crew and an energetic catering staff, we managed to entertain about 400 people over two nights. No rotten produce was flung my way, nor were there any boos, hisses or loud catcalls apparent. It may have helped that the bar stayed open to serve our audience throughout the evenings, but who's to say that made a considerable difference? By all reports, our performances were a success. Now that the challenge of learning lines and rehearsals twice a week is over, I am going to miss it a bit, but I am glad to have it behind me. Polishing the performance as we developed our characters was finally rewarded with audience laughter and applause, mostly at the intended moments. The absolute highlight for me was not enjoyed during any public performances, however. That came much later, when Kees shared with me some video clips of what had actually transpired on stage. Seeing myself perform rather surprised me, as every move and nuance that had occurred was captured on film, undeniable proof of my goofy expressions and shameless reactions to other actors on stage. I look heavier than I'd like to, dammit! And older. But it was not all bad. My hair was glossier under bright lights than I ever knew it could be. I like the way my new black boots looked, so flippantly dancing with abandon. But what cheek I had! We laughed until the tears streamed down our faces, with a mixture relief and disbelief at what I had done. In public. Voluntarily. Okay, I admit to having some fun....but, really who was that??? And where has she been all these years?
I guess I haven't embarrassed my immediate family too much, as Kees and Gina both seem a wee bit pleased with the dramatic production, but it seemed as if Mother Nature herself wasn't wanting to be upstaged. I do wish that violent storm hadn't blown into town late Sunday afternoon, knocking out power for four hours and causing trees to come crashing down over several roads. Reports of winds up to 120km/hour were recorded in the area. It was most inconvenient, effectively postponing our planned cast party. Even if roads had become passable, the local pub had no way to cook and serve our dinner celebration. Nor could I get to work efficiently on progress reports online as I had intended, golly gee, without power. Resourceful as ever, Kees made us hot drinks on the propane stove in the camper van. We enjoyed our "emergency supplies" of munchies and spent a pleasant evening playing a rollicking game of Scrabble by candle light. Just the three of us. We made a very fine picture of cozy contentment, if Kees had cared to record it. Gina beat me by five points.
It was certainly a memorable weekend. I'm sure that we'll never have another one quite like it!

Saturday 2 June 2012

At Last, We Made it to Margaret River!

The initial pull to Western Australia was never living in the tiny town of Williams. Try as we might, there is just not enough to keep us interested there for long. Many eyebrows have been raised when I tell new acquaintances where I work, as Narrogin has a formidable reputation as having a high rate of dysfunctional inhabitants, to put it bluntly. I have met many lovely people there, but it is not the place for us. Gina often sees the unsettling undercurrents of troubled youth in her high school and I teach some of their younger siblings. There is a good reason that staff here are paid very well for the risks and challenges they face. I don't get those extra "danger pay" benefits that Bec does, nor do I get paid her bonus for working at a relatively remote school. Hence our delight with grabbing every option to remove ourselves to urban or coastal destinations. It's just a lot more rewarding!
This weekend we are finally exploring the famed Margaret River wine region , where prices are sky high for accommodations that are booked up weeks in advance. We have scored 2 nights at a caravan park in Prevelly, on the ocean known for world class surfing and recent bush fires that scorched the area severely last year. Our campsite was spared, but I wish the less than pristine shower block had been torched. Ok, enough grousing! The area is mostly bucolic! We enjoyed warm sunshine and a rich verdant countryside for most of the 3 hour drive here. We saw forests, fields, and rolling hills full of sheep, many with springy new white lambs. We visited a delicious chocolate factory, where free samples proved the quality so good that we needed to purchase a few decadent morsels, as well. Naturally! Next came a cheese factory, where we were easily distracted by more tasty samples and purchases. Onwards to the town itself, where we spent time mapping our plan of attack for vineyards tomorrow and an hour shopping for essentials like socks & underthings. By 3 pm we succumbed to a late alfresco lunch on the patio of Settlers Pub, enjoying local wines and bites of locally produced breads, cheese, olives and seafoods. So impressive was our planning that we managed to park deck chairs on Surfer's Point to witness scores of dudes in wetsuits enjoy riding impressive waves, while the lacklustre sunset happened behind an annoying bank of clouds. We shall just have to try again tomorrow!
Night falls quickly here. We skipped dinner, content without. It is mostly quiet in the park, so we settled in very early to bed, to read and write. We are very glad to have our own wireless network with us wherever we go. Kees makes sure of that!

Sunday 27 May 2012

To Falcon Beach and Back

May 25-27 has been spent enjoying friends and fun at a borrowed beach house, just south of Mandurah. Chook and Phil Melvin, Bec's aunt and uncle, joined us from Perth. It was a delight to pay them back for their awesome hospitality shared in Seabird, when they hosted us some months ago. We also invited two exchange couples, Canadians Diane and Jim Hastie, posted to Perth, and Mike and Sue from England, posted in Busselton. We all got along very well, ate too much, drank lots of Phil and Chook's Prosecco and generally strengthened our friendships. The home was a delightful old place with a ton of shabby chic charm, lovingly decorated by my colleague at ENPS. We all felt quite lucky indeed, as the weather was a fine 25c and each meal, prepared by guests in rotation, was more delicious than the last. Mushroom bacon egg-a-muffins by Diane and Jim were followed by hot and cold meat and cheese wraps by Chook and Phil. Dinner by Mike and Sue was a very good chicken curry with a most excellent eggplant pickle and naan. Gina and I whipped up an apple crisp that had a hint of cinnamon, orange and coconut, served hot with ice cream. So yum!
Sunday breakfast was our version of fruit and pancakes, with maple syrup . Everyone got along so well all weekend that exercise was a bit neglected. We biked some, shopped some, beachcombed some and strolled the estuary trails some, but mostly we visited. Saturday eve was an amazing adventure to visit friends of Diane's, who owned a swanky holiday home and boat on the canal. We arrived to be ushered out onto their gorgeous waterfront deck, where we immediately spotted a frisky pod of energetic dolphins. Robin kept the hot appetizers and wine coming as Don ferried us in small groups out on the canals for a closer encounter. Very exciting! We certainly had a fabulous evening with our delightful new friends. Our fun ended all too soon. We ek ends are so full of interest, while the weeks are long and full of unending schoolwork. Gina had a few days off with a cold this past week, with low motivation to attend school. Kees may have entertained himself a bit too much, as he seems to be retiring to sleep some days even before I get home for dinner. Not fun. He did have a good day of it last Thursday, when he organized a seminar in town to teach Facebook and Social Media skills. He could do a lot more of that, if motivated. Everyone enjoyed that.
Play rehearsals are heating up. Gina has done some set painting and Kees will work the sound effects for a production I am in on June 8 & 9. I hope I remember my lines!! It has been a challenge, but I think the play is nearly ready for an audience.

Wednesday 9 May 2012

Musings

I had a late rehearsal last Wednesday night for a repertory theatre production that I'm in. We practice every Monday and Wednesday night. I am enjoying the cameraderie of the cast and have managed to rope in Gina to do a bit of set painting and Kees to help as a sound tech. But I wonder, on a daily basis, why I am challenging myself to learn 20 pages of script and possibly embarrass myself right outta town. It is MUCH harder to memorize a script now than it seemed 35 years ago. Most days I can drill a few lines into my thick skull, but then I blank out when I add a few moves on stage... With less than a month to go until the play opens, I am doubting the wisdom of this endeavor! More practice is the thing for me.
I caught up again with the Numbutts Cycling Club on Saturday morning. We enjoyed a 30km bucolic ride over hill and dale, halfway to Quindanning, finally warmed by welcome rays after the fog cleared. It was a very chilly start at 8:30 am! We used to ride at 7:30, to miss the heat of the sun, but now it's fall here. Sunrise is at 7, barely warming up to a damp 5c this morning. It takes a good hour or more for the fog to burn off. By 10:30, it was a pleasant 20c. I had a chance to check out a new "op shop" in town of recycled things, where all the funds raised go to charities. It will be fun to return most of our stuff for resale when we leave here! Kees and Gina met me at the shop, then we headed over to the theater to paint sets. I had jelly legs and needed food, so managed to wobble 3km home to rest for the afternoon and study my lines. I'm thrilled that Gina and Kees have both volunteered to help with the play. Kees is the sound tech. Tomorrow, Gina will paint more sets and help prompt lines as the whole cast rehearses. This time it won't be their regular dinner theater, but simpler fare and of course, an open bar throughout the two one-act plays being performed. Soon! Eeeek!
Also heavy on my mind is the load of schoolwork mounting. Progress reports are looming next month and I must head in to the school for several hours tomorrow. I am finding it a somewhat stifling teaching situation overall, since so much focus here seems to be on a rigid, prescriptive style and loads of assessment. First term was about trying to adapt, but I'm not too keen on that anymore. I'm ready for teaching an inquiry project, but I'm being pushed to teach spelling drills and assign home reading worksheets. I haven't decided yet if I'll be a rebel or take the path of less resistance....ha! There's just never enough time to do everything needed in this job, so I may as well enjoy this great group of kids and do it my way. Those wiser than me tell me not to work so hard and be sure to put family first. Good advice.

Tuesday 8 May 2012

Current Amazements

I cannot think of Erin in Thailand and Cora in Kenya, without marveling at what a huge change has taken place in our family in recent times. Short years ago we were a family under one roof, sharing life routines of work, home and school. Now we are on three continents. My iPhone World Clock app currently shows time zones for my extended family in Nairobi, Bangkok, Vancouver, Calgary, Perth and the Bahamas, mon! Last week, it included Miami as well. Our world is surely shrinking, as our views change. Isn't it also incredible that we can have free video calls with family in all of these places, simply by tapping a small keyboard on an interactive screen? Quite wonderful!
Furthermore, as I step out onto our bedroom balcony, I am bathed in the brightest white moonlight ever known to humankind, as the moon orbits closer than ever to our planet. It is a view shared by family and friends from Edmonton to Bali, Holland to Mexico. Lunar light bathes the nightscape with enough intensity to read by, or to inspire random musings of sleepless nocturnal beings.
Sounds of creatures I cannot name softly resonate on cool, still air, otherwise undisturbed. Then nothing: the night amazes with perfectly crisp, clear silence. The more intently I listen, the less I hear. Good night. Very, very good.

Saturday 28 April 2012

Pause to ponder

It is delicious to sleep in late, if that is what 7:30 am is. Gina had a bad night, with spider visits and minor hysterics, so Kees did a clean sweep of her room and I sat up to keep her company into the wee hours. It's not nice when crawlies march across your covers at night, lurk behind doors and hide in your shower. Tiny buggers have been taking advantage of our ceiling corners: unacceptable. I don't take much notice, but Gina's memory and imagination are both clear and bright. Good that we have a guest room for her to use as an alternate. Perhaps the rare downpour we had last night caused more Arachne activity through the night. Regardless, today Gina will clean her bedroom thoroughly.
Our life in Australia has many challenges, as well as charms. I enjoy the stunning sunrises and sunsets regularly, punctuated by chortling of magpies, squeaking of rosellas, expressive caws of crows and maniacal laughter of kookaburras, to name just the common few. The parrots are also quite expressive, answered by our sometimes visitor, Graybeck. He's Matt's cranky little cockatiel who's ornate cage dominates our stairwell. He's good at waking us by 7 am with his peals and chortles. Most of his attitude is directed at his reflection, but he's just as likely to nip at your fingers if you extend them in an offer of friendship or transport. Gina and Kees don't mind him perching on their shoulders, but I find his claws creepy and his crap unwelcome. I'm most fond of dogs, but Graybeck is pretty to look at. I'll give him that.
Well, back to pondering life. I have much to think about, planning and preparing for a second term of teaching. Progress reporting will dominate this term, once NAPLAN testing is done. I'll head in to work in my classroom later today, after studying my script for the Williams Repertory Theater's upcoming plays. I regret adding this stress to my agenda, as retention of 20 pages of script is a hard slog. It's a tougher challenge than I thought it would be, a clear reminder that my brain needs more exercise . So does my body! It felt exhilarating to climb atop the Gloucester Tree last week, used as a forest fire lookout near . But riding in a car, sitting at a computer and teaching in a classroom are three activities that do not exercise my muscles enough. Swimming laps has not yet become a regular part of my week, nor has weekly rides with the local Numbutts cycling club. Once a month rides are very hard on me, as I push to keep up with the fitness levels of tough Aussie farmers. I'd be fine on a one or two hour ride, but yesterday's 3 hour ride left me rather drained of energy, with jelly legs and an appropriate numb posterior. I hope to get Kees or Gina out today to limber up a bit. Quite a full day planned! Sunshine and a pleasant 24c forecast beckons. Onwards!

Monday 9 April 2012

April Travels: two weeks of serious adventures

Kees and I plan differently. He likes to make sure all the "hardware" is ready, check engine, tires, gas and oil, get the sound system primed and hit the road. I'll pack details. I need maps, a change of clothes, sunscreen, a toothbrush, food for a couple of days. Kees? Not so much..... I like to check out what is written about an area, get a feel for a destination, maybe even make a reservation. Although it can make for a bit of friction, both styles have their strengths and blend into a wonderful holiday, with just enough strategy and luck to carry us to the next adventure.Yin and yang. Venus and Mars. Grump and giggle...Gina is so wise to pack her own bag, jump in and ride along until the dust settles, poor thing! Somehow, we manage.
Although a cold and flu bug hit me hard the week before Easter holidays,

I managed to remain vertical and help with some packing by Good Friday, departing by noon of April 7th. We trundled northeast to a large sheep farm where Jesse and Fleur Ford live, who are brother and sister-in-law of my exchange partner. The highway narrowed to a one lane road and threatened to become a gravel trail through outback before, to our relief, it widened again to decent hardtop. We had a bit of trouble finding the farm, only because our ears and Jesse's accent had not yet become accustomed to each other. Within hours of meeting, we figured things out much better.
There were some 4000 sheep and 25 rams to consider, thousands of acres of wheat and barley to be seeded, massive mysterious machinery to contemplate, yabbies to catch and eat, and a chicken coop to visit with scraps. The huge dark shearing shed, echoing busier times, needed a visit as well. Gina was invited to try driving the trusty rusty farm truck, but she shyly declined, shown up by a gaggle of very young farming cousins who zipped around on quad bikes, driving soon after learning to walk.
Sensory stimulation was certainly high, although not in any of the expected unpleasant ways. The country air was clear and fresh, rainwater sweet to drink, dirt roads clear and firm. It all felt so wholesome! Fresh eggs, Fleur's fancy basil pesto and herb dips with homemade breads, three friendly farm dogs who guarded their land and kept sheep in line, little Paisley toddling fearlessly ahead as we were introduced to the wonders of a working farm, impossibly brilliant stars overhead and a massive full moon..... Images that I hope won't fade from my mind too soon. Kees's photography skills will really help, as he whips up movies of our adventures so quickly! We thoroughly enjoyed meeting everyone, including Fleur's parents , Anne and Allan, over a delicious dinner in a charming old farmhouse, then had a solid sleep in our comfy van.
As promised, Allan returned the next morning with a fishing rod and bucket of tackle for us to borrow. That made Gina pretty eager to get to the coast!









We headed east to Wave Rock next, a very unusual formation with a beautiful walk nearby. It was well over 30C, but we managed with plenty of water and stops in the shade.
Next we headed due south to Esperance, through 400km of unremarkable scrub and crisp-dry land, which looked hardly suitable for livestock and wheat, but it was farmland. Not a roo in sight. It was after dark when we arrived in Esperance, in the middle of a long weekend, without reservations. We had an invite to use J. A.'s yard, as she was out of town, but her key wasn't where she said it would be! Campgrounds were all booked up, so we finally found the overflow site and crashed for the night. At least the local fish and chip shop was excellent!
Well rested, we had a lovely surprise the next morning when we could see the town in daylight. Breathtaking views! Aqua waters and snow white sands are characteristic of this area, tempting one to dive in, despite it being an area known to have many sharks. Fishing from the long town jetty is popular. Kees and Gina were happy here for days! They caught very little, enjoying every minute.
It was here that we crossed paths with my colleague, Lisa Nelson, as well as fellow exchangees, Sue and Mike Miles, at the Dome coffee shop. We finally did spend a night sharing J.A.'s place, after 2 nights at a gloriously gorgeous beachfront home of Lorraine and Allan Jones, but that's another story.

From Esperance we travelled east to Cape Le Grand National Park, Mesmerized by the amazingly perfect Lucky Bay, duke of Orleans Bay(Little Waldon Beach where we parked on granite rocks) , the hike to Thistle Cove, and the days spent points west of Esperance on the Great Ocean Drive, with cove after cove of achingly perfect beaches, all with crystal aqua water. I could write for a long while trying to describe spectacular Bremer Bay area, or the thunderous surf at our overnight stay at Cozy Corner Beach, but Kees and Gina's photos will speak volumes.  (Kees's photos on Facebook)
We had to move on, but could easily spend a lot more time enjoying the coastal magic of the southeastern edge of this continent.
Albany was a city we skipped through. Dinner at the Curry Leaf, their top rated Indian restaurant, was good. Rain pushed us on to points west, knowing that the rich experiences to be had in this area deserve more time. We loved a day around Denmark, found Rest Point and it's abundant bird life charming, and skipped most of the Walpole area completely, with the exception of 2 spots.

There was a pricy stop at a small Toffee Factory.... Then a large tree to climb (Gloucester Tree).
So many juicy details have been skipped over in an effort to keep up this chronicle that I wonder if I should bother. Brief notes don't suffice, as colorful memories will fade, but time is short for writing, stolen late at night or very early, before others rise. I must compromise quality for quick lists!

Wednesday 4 April 2012

Adaptations

As I rest with head on pillow to avoid nausea, I have time to think. Lately, adaptations have changed me in ways I never really suspected. After 3 months away from familiar routines, sounds, tastes and sights, I am finally forced by a cold and flu bug to pause and consider.
We are on the verge of a 2 week break between Terms 1 and 2, but I rue the lost chance to celebrate this, as well as Easter events, tomorrow with my students. Their accents and odd phrases have ceased to puzzle me, most of the time. Vowel sounds are still a challenge to decipher, but my pause to process seems shorter, or at least better masked. I feel as though I don't stare with a dumbfounded look of incomprehension for as long as I used to, whenever addressed. Perhaps I'm wrong on this point, but I like to think I'm decoding phrases a bit better.
Sounds of majestic magpies on our tin roof no longer unnerve me, but I do still dislike their scratchy claws on metal. Semi trucks booming past at all hours of the day and night no longer startle me out of a deep sleep, despite their deep house-shaking rumble. I've been known to take quick advantage of their high-beams, like a sudden camera flash, to locate a lost pillow that has slipped from bed to floor, plump it with zeal and fall right back asleep. Even the kookaburra's raucous laughter at 5 am no longer snaps me fully awake. I just note it and slumber on for another hour or so, never needing any electronic buzz to begin my day. That's nice.
I do miss water. Dry air requires more use of moisturizers; no problem there, although I may appear to be aging more rapidly than when living in the cryogenic North. But really, I cannot adapt to a tiny shallow bathtub that barely allows water to cover thighs and will only allow one shoulder at a time to dip under. Rain so far has been little more that a rare misty breeze, but that can easily change. So far, all riverbeds seem to hold just a trickle or less, livestock dugouts hold no swimming appeal and the outdoor unheated pools are not worth admission. I do like the indoor pool, though, and find the filtered rainwater from our tap deliciously sweet to drink. Adapting to fresh grapes off the vines and luscious figs from our tree has also been delightful! I always appreciate the spicy fresh scent that various gum trees perfume the air with, particularly around our schoolyard. Very uplifting! Starry nights amaze with brilliance and multitudes, made truly awesome when accompanied by clear white moonlight. Living in the dustbrown country, with the chance to gaze at sungolden hills 10 kilometers away, over dark emerald trees holding cheeky green parrots and pink gallahs has a peaceful beauty that is easy to love. Kees loves the views, tranquility and isolation. He has unhindered independence each day to read, snooze or troll the 'net. If ambition overwhelms him, he does a spot of housework, mows the lawn or drives the 2 kms into town to check the mailbox.
Gina misses her friends and has not found any here as kind and accepting. I ache for her. She is coping with help of the Internet and reruns of Scrubs. Having her pal coming to visit us in July is a huge event for her to anticipate, so that helps her to cope.
I miss family, especially Cora and Erin. We are so proud of them! Seeing them here for a visit will be the best!
It's very hard to console friends or parents who have lost family members recently. It's been very hard to be so very far from my beloved pooch pal as he underwent the necessary amputation of a limb. I needed to cuddle him as much as I imagine he needed me, but he is adapting.
I think we are adapting well. Melancholy aside, there are many more adventures to investigate. Now to shake this bug and get exploring points south!

Friday 30 March 2012

Mandurah, ball gowns and Crabfest

I am finding no time for regular blog updates! It's been weeks since I have tried to catch up. So much has happened, from joining a cycling club to a wonderful weekend in Mandurah at the Crabfest, where we bumped into exchangees from Alberta, saw fireworks from a cruie boat and had an unplanned photo shoot with TV celebs. Then there was Gina's ball gown saga as well as our unintentional initiation to "skimpies" at a bar, more cycling trips and a whole wonderful weekend on Rottnest Island. How to keep up?? Kees
Makes videos that cover it all supremely better than I can keep up with by blogging, but I plod on.
We are currently in Bunbury for our first real attempt at "camping", but sleeping in town in a lovely caravan park isn't really camping! We have showers nearby, electricity for the fridge and microwave, and a movie complex down the road, where we walked to last night to see The Hunger Games. A tennis court and pool god little appeal, but the beach across the road looks fab! It's time to shop today in the "big smoke", Bunbury, and perhaps investigate the Dolphin Discovery Center later today. I shall try to record a few more details later.

Monday 26 March 2012

Woolerama in early March

Time to update on the past two weeks.
It was the call of the wild Wagin Woolerama that attracted them. Two Brits, Sue and Mike Miles, drove from Busselton to stay with us and see the event, rumored to enthrall up to 20,000 visitors each year. As agricultural fairs go, this one is big for WA. Unfortunately, crowds and +39c are not my favorite things, nor are they Gina's. She had an invitation to a birthday luncheon so I stayed behind to take her to Narrogin while Kees, Sue and Mike braved the heat and headed to Wagin for the day.
They say a picture tells a thousand words so here is Kees's video of Woolorama.

Monday 5 March 2012

Weekends in Perth, Australind and Seabird

It was over a month ago that we arrived. Time passes very quickly when we spend weekends away and February- March we spent three away In a row. Two weeks ago we spent in Perth at Chook and Phil's, our home away from home away from home. Greeting us with warm hugs and a delicious homemade lasagne dinner. Chook and Phil's hospitality knows no bounds. We have luckily been g ranted keys to their home to stop in whenever we are in the big city. How kind! This trip was both Kees's birthday and my orientation meeting on Feb. 17th. The day of meetings was interminable and numbing for me, as a full 8 hours of listening to speakers is way too much information at once. Seeing many exchange teachers and having some time to chat was the best part of the day. Kees and Gina enjoyed their time at the zoo in Perth, then picked me up after my meetings. I had really enjoyed the company of Diane Lawler, an exchange teacher from Ontario, so I was happy to follow her home and enjoy a glass of wine before we all headed to Heathcote that evening for a BBQ. Kees and Diane's husband Jim hit it off well and Gina seemed content for a while, despite the absence of anyone within decades of her age. she would dearly love friends around, but we have not yet managed to find any teens on this trip. Bummer for her.
Saturday was spent hanging out with Chook and Phil. We had a fine evening out at an Indian restaurant, where we met with Bec's parents as well as an old friend of my mom's. Ray Morgan and his wife Jane fit in well with our irreverent group. Good food, good wine and many laughs were had by all. Well, Gina had tea. We finished the evening at Gail and Greg's for coffees. Everyone is so impressed with her ability to join in with such an ancient crowd as ours. We are proud of her, but would dearly love to help her find friends her age!!!!!
After a bit of shopping for groceries on Sunday at the Wanneroo Markets, we headed home to Williams. It was back to work for me!

Last weekend was our trip through Bunbury to Australind, where Beth and Len Deeley opened their home to about 30 exchange teachers for a BBQ and afternoon of story swapping. We found it all an enjoyable time, but again found no teens for Gina, although one American exchange family was there with 4 daughters 13 and younger. We were invited to stay overnight at Len and Beth's as it was a 2 hour drive back to Williams. We were happy to stay, as their tales of world travels and two former teacher exchanges kept us well entertained. As they live on a golf. course, we took the opportunity to walk out with them for both morning and evening strolls,when we finally saw kangaroos in the wild. We saw bird life As well, such as kookaburras and emus. On our way back to Williams on Sunday we stopped in atWellington Dam near Collie.Matt's mom, Marion had incited us to help celebrate a family birthday picnic. Matt's sisters, Laura and Trinity and their partners were there, as well as Laura's 2 children. Two year old Flynn sure liked Gina and I quite enjoyed holding a sweet 5 week old Bridie. Wellington Dam was not very picturesque, but it felt good to be out exploring the area and meeting new people in our new van. We shall have to return that way one day and go visit with dolphins in the shallows near Bunbury. That would be very cool!
This long weekend began with a hunt for a ball gown for Gina. We had seen a racy red vintage dress in an antique store in Narrogin, but it would need several hours of tailoring to make it fit, so we began our hunt in Fremantle. Unfortunately, after a 1.5 hour drive there, we found there is no late shopping Fridays, so we drove another hour to Perth. We found Jim and Diane at home and decided to accept their hospitality for the night. A dinner of vietnamese takeaway from around the corner was very tasty! In the morning we checked out 3 op shops nearby for dresses, but no luck. Six shops in Subiaco, a suburb of Perth were also unlucky. We found one possibility at a vintage shop in Northbridge, just a few km from downtown Perth, but after some thought, Gina and I decided that the red sizzler in Narrogin might work out best. With some clever stitching, her first choice will be a knockout.
Whew! Hot weather chased us into an air conditioned mall in Joonalup where
we had a bite of Thai food and an unsuccessful hunt for new school
shoes. (Gina had chosen a pair 5 weeks earlier that had already fallen apart.) onwards: grab groceries for a curried chicken meal and head to
Seabird!
We finally arrived by 4 pm and were delighted to find Phil and Chook, Gail and Greg and chilled champagne! Their huge sun deck and beautiful seaside home was more than we could have hoped for. A sumptuous mixed grill BBQ, evening walk and stunning sunset seemed to round off the day very nicely. As we were enjoying a stunning starry sky and yet another glass of wine, who should pull up our front but Diane and Jim! We had asked earlier if they'd like to join us, but they had plans for camping further north of Seabird. They had enjoyed the day, but had no luck finding any available campsites. With typical generosity, our new friends were given a warm welcome and joined us for the rest of the weekend. Seabird is one of two holiday homes that the Melvins rent, which sleep 12 and 14 people. We had room to spare, plenty of food and drink, a turquoise ocean rimmed with silky white sand not 300 meters away and perfect hot weather. Even Gina seemed to find it an entertaining weekend of rejuvenation and fine cameraderie. Kees spent his time visiting and working on building videos for online ads for Seabird, which thrilled our hosts. I enjoyed exercise by walking the roads and beaches. Jim loved taking off on a whim to go surf
fishing, impressing us with a few small filets of reef fish to take home. Kees, Phil and Gina joined me swimming in the refreshing ocean a few times. Four dogs were also fine company AND I got to cook up a fine big cauldron of chicken curry for dinner Sunday eve. It sure turned into a splendid weekend.
One just never knows what happy adventures might happen next!