It is rare for me to take off my ”title hat” and talk about something personal on my blog, but today I feel like bragging… Just a little. My daughter, Kristen, and her husband Lonnie have just set off the on their dream trip around the world. They both worked very hard the last two years and saved enough money to pay for the trip. In spite of the economy, they started off just before Christmas for their world adventure.
I am afraid for them. They were in Denver the day of the plane crash at the Denver Airport. They’re going to Thailand, which has been in chaos over the last month. Our only means of communication will be an occasional e-mail, and their blog. But, I am proud of them. I watch the blog with interest and amazement. Kristen’s words and pictures put me right there with her in Melbourne, Australia.
Kristen and Kangaroo in Australia
But a Here is an excerpt from the Kristen and Lonnie great adventure blog. Follow along, if you like.
“The night we dedicated to the Penguin march, which has surpassed the Sydney opera house as the OZ’s most popular tourist destination. Every evening the penguins leave the ocean for their seaside homes. So everyone gathers in a man made amphitheater to watch the funny critters scurry up the beach. This being the holiday season, there were 3800 people in attendance to watch nearly 2000 fat birds waddle up the beach. We arrived three hours early to get beach side seats. After the sun sets the birds leave the protection of the ocean. The first few birds scout out the beach then return with their frightened comrades. Imagine, after days out in the ocean you arrive home. As soon as you leave the water you are hit with stadium lights and 3800 fans staring down on you. It must be a daunting task for the world’s smallest penguins. None the less they persevere. They begin waddling towards shore in small numbers and then attack the beach in groups of 20-60 birds running as fast as their fat bellies and little legs will allow. Viewing my first wild penguin gave me a warm giggly feeling I haven’t had since Christmas ‘84. The audience giggles and points as the little doodles scurry in and out of the ocean. Trying to build up the courage to brave the spotlight and reach their little love dens. It was an absolute riot.
We are now making plans for seeing fireworks in Federation Square tonight for the new years. We will be some of the first on the planet to venture into 2009. Over 500,000 people are expected downtown. About 1/8 the population!”
Recent Comments