Port Douglas: “Could Be Worse…”

Early January is off-season in Port Douglas, and we soon learned why: we arrived to tropical rain like I hadn’t seen in years (possibly decades). Leaving the hotel for a walk without umbrellas was a mistake, as very quickly became clear: we were drenched to the skin ten minutes out. In the warm, tropical evening that… Continue reading Port Douglas: “Could Be Worse…”

Backyard Wildlife in Australia

One thing that amazed me in Australia was the variety of birds, especially parrots, that are common around where people live. And, of course, no Australian yard is complete without a child playing cricket! You might also like: Watching Cricket in Sydney

First Days in Australia

Leaving SF on Thanksgiving evening, we flew (via Auckland) to Sydney, rented a car at the airport, and drove to Brendan’s parents’ place near Newcastle, New South Wales. After two days to recover (and a first look around Newcastle), we went back to Sydney. I had never been there (except passing through the airport once),… Continue reading First Days in Australia