Limericks of our trip

Our limericks had us laughing and we hope you will too.

New Zealand Limericks 
A trip was dreamed of by chums
The planning was done by the mums
The world we did see,
And we can say with glee
We're not sitting home on our bums.

Our vistas have all been stupendous
The hiking and biking tremendous
We've not gotten lost
And our map we've not tossed
We're staying so money please send us.

Lady Jane and the rest of her camp
Ventured out in the bush for some tramps
The sand flies did bite
But to our delight
The glow worms shone like a lamp.

We’re here on the isle of the Kiwi

These folks don’t see tiny, they see wee

Where Beth is now Beeth

And west is called weest

Good grief how can this possibly be

New Zealand is tucked way down under

Our sense of direction’s asunder

They drive on the left

Our patience bereft

We try hard to not make a blunder

We can’t pass a souvenir shop

Cause John and Beth just have to stop

They handle the wares

The shopkeeper stares

And hopes for the cash they might drop

There once was a woman named Beeth

Whose ship got stuck on a reef.

She went for a swim on a lark

And was eaten by a shark.

Now the only thing left are her teeth!

There once was a sheep named Beeth

Who got grass stuck in her teeth,

She was feeling quite cross

Till she discovered wool floss

Now she sells floss made from fleece

There was a young lady from Perth

Who was puzzled by increasing girth

The doctor was called

And the mystery was solved 

When finally the young lady gave birth

There was a secular Jew from Wanaka

Who would not celebrate Hanukkah 

I would not be surprised

If he's not circumcised 

And he won't even wear a yamaka

There was a young man on a toura

Who drove the road to Rotorua

There was a opossum on a curve

But he did not swerve 

And now his car is covered in fur-a

We went on the bridge walk in Sydney

And the weather it was quite windy

Forrest said with delight

I've not seen a happier sight

Since I passed the stone from my kidney.

There was an old Doctor from Mound

Who went on a tour of the Sound

He could not float

So he went by boat

And wonderful beauty he found.

There once was a lady named Jane

Who wouldn't hike in the rain

So despite her youth 

She chipped off her tooth

And went to the dentist for pain.

Four old friends came from afar

To dine at the Waterfront Bar

They played in the quiz bowl

Their answers - abysmal!

No wonder their score was sub par.

Lady Jane went to Australia

The prime minister held her a gala

She caused quite a stir

When she claimed Queensland was hers

For Impersonating a Queen we'll jail ya!

She booked her ticket as Lady Jane

And was treated like a queen on the plane

The attendants did scurry

And said don't you worry

We know that you royals are a pain.

A trip was dreamed of by chums

The planning was done by the mums

The world we did see

And we can say with glee

We're not sitting home on our bums!

There once was a lady named Jane

Some jewelry she was to obtain

The opal was real

And Jane got a deal

He even threw in the chain

We planned on a trip to go sailing 

But the cyclone winds were wailing

We changed our plan

So we could play in the sand

Because we'd rather be safe than bailing!

We paddled Byron Bay in a kayak 

And struggled to keep us on track

Lady Jane was so brave

When we were hit by a wave

But she still ended up in the back

Beth and Jane, like Jonah, were cursed 

The weather they'd find was the worst 

For if with them you'd sail

You'd be caught in a gale

So please check the weather map first.

Forrest the guitar he played

But at home his guitar stayed

To keep his callouses tough

If he didn't play enough

Stops at guitar stores he made

Our car was surrounded by sheep

We didn’t see Little Bo Peep

The dogs moved the flock

Like a ship to the dock

The horn I did not have to beep

The glacier was high on the mountain

Green meltwater ran like a fountain

The number was soaring

Of waterfalls pouring

And really too many for countin’

Melbourne

April 5- Travelling Home! Good bye Australia!

April 4
We got up and got going. We had breakfast at Federation square which our hotel was nearby. We had to walk across the pedestrian foot bridge and through the Flinders street station, which is the hub of transportation for Melbourne. Federation Square also houses the visitor center. We decided to buy  a $10 pass to hop on and off a bus with a running commentary about the city in order to see the city in the most efficient way. Before hopping on we went to Hosier Lane, which is the most photographed street art lane in Melbourne. However they are everywhere. We saw them  creating the art walls also.

We then went to Chinatown and Greektown walking up Collins street and visiting the Block Arcade and Royal Arcade. These are older buildings refurbished to include many stores and restaurants.

We  then walked through town  on the way to the Queen Victoria Market, and stopped off at a store called "Books for Cooks" this gentleman helped us find a local chef's cookbook for Mark and provided suggestions for fine dining. This market was HUGE! They sold fruits, vegetables and meats along with gadgets, vintage ware and crafts.

We caught the next bus and travelled by the University of Melbourne to HArbour town and Docklands which is on the wharf and full of restaurants and stores and condos. We got tea and treats and then took the bus by the stadiums( cricket , soccer and Rod Laver stadium where the Australian Open is held, and got off the bus on the Sculpural bridge that highlights the history of Australia. We walked along the South Wharf Promenade. We went back to the hotel before going out to a place to eat on the waterfront. Forrest had flounder and I had snapper which were wonderful!!

 It is our last night in Australia, and we can hardly believe that our vacation is coming to an end. It has been full of adventure, wonderful people and interesting cultures both in Australia and in New Zealand. We will travel on the 5 th and get home on the 5 th. Hard to believe it is time to go home, however I am sick of wearing the same clothes.

April 3
This was another travel day. Went to the last hotel we hadn't visited in the resort this morning. They had a beautiful art gallery there and we saw some Anangu paintings from contemporary artists that were  stunning! We went to the Ayers Rock airport and their security scanner was broken, so they checked all the bags by hand which took awhile! We arrived in Melbourne in the evening. They have " ambassadors" at the airport that help you figure out where to go etc. They are so helpful!!

Uluru and Kata Tjutas in the Red Centere

 April 3
This was virtually a travel day to get from Red center to Melbourne. We landed in town about 8:30 pm and went to our hotel.

Most Amazing facts and learning from our time in the Outback:
*Over a million feral camels are on the outback. They were brought to help build the communication system and then let go to wander the land, but they have had an impact on the desert by drinking a lot of its water. There are also millions of feral cats and the Park systems have set up traps to catch them.Both these animals were introduced into Australia.
* There is a lot of water hidden below the ground that the Anangu seek and follow. We found two gorges where there was deposit of water while we hiked around Uluru. Rainfall is variable but the park has notices about flooding, which has occurred in the desert.
* They manage fires and the outbreak of a fire in the Outback with concentrated patch burns.
* the Kata Tjutas and Uluru are made up of red sandstone with feldspar and gravel, granite and basalt- very red rocks.

The Aboriginal people speak Pitjantjatjara (pit jan jah jarra) and Yankunytjatjara (yan kun ja jarra). There are 17 consonants and 3 vowels.

The Tjukurpa
Understanding this law for how the Anangu live is most interesting. Tjukurpa is the foundation of the Anangu life and society. Tjukaritja, ancestral beings, created the world and from it the religion, law and moral systems. They pass these stories on generation to generation- it is an oral culture. Dreaming or Dreamtime is often used to describe the way the Anangu and other Indigenous Australians see their origins. The Anangu land is mapped through the events of Tjukurpa and full of meaning. Where you are born, live and where you die is highly significant. So, they refer to several parts of Uluru as grandmother or grandfather because they are part of the land and identify with the land. Their moral life and the expectations for how they live and behave are passed on through the stories they tell over time. Many of these stories are written around Uluru and cave drawings depict some of the teachings as well. The Tjukurpa is also passed on through songs, memorization and dot paintings. Designs are sacred and you can't photograph the people working on them or the artwork itself at Uluru. They consider them sacred.


April 2
Today we had breakfast before going out to Uluru to hike around he Rock. We were on the trail by 9:30. It was 10.8 kilometers around the base of the Rock and it was 1000 feet high. There were multiple places to see original Aboriginal cave drawings. The Anangu have an oral tradition and nothing is written down so many of the stories are drawn though the use of symbols in the art to tell about the journeys of the people. They also have a staring moral code and their stories always have a moral to hem as part of their culture. We also found two waterholes amongst the Rock hidden away in the rocks. The Anangu follow the water and their nomadic lifestyle is due to looking for fresh water. Uluru had certain parts that were designated as male or female spiritual sites and photography was not permitted. Their culture is very much segregated by gender.

After finishing he tour around the base we walked to the Cultural center where we saw many Aboriginal people working. The museum retold the stories of Uluru and the history of the people.

Then we prepared to go the Sounds of Silence dinner to witness the sunset over Uluru. We had sparkling wine, canapés while we listened to an Anangu play the digerideroo. We also saw some traditional dances of the people. We were then led to our dining area. We were served sweet potato soup followed by barramundi, lamb, chicken, kangaroo, lots of vegetables and bush plums sauces. In between the main meal and dessert there was a star talker who explained he Southern Hemisphere sky. We were then able to look through a telescope during dinner to see he moon and Saturn. We saw four moons of Saturn and the two galaxies around Saturn. The skies were entirely clear full of stars. Our dessert buffet included a quondong dessert which is like a berry treat. They constantly topped off our glasses with wine throughout the meal. Our dinner companions included a couple from Sussex, England, a young man from Sydney who worked in the army, a young couple from the U.K. Who were now living in Sydney, and a young couple from the Northern Territory who worked in the mines and taught school. Very fun evening!

Desert painting as an art form as seen in this cave express the Creation stories (Tjukurpa). They generally are depictions of Tjukurpa stories. The Anangu (central and western Australian Aboriginal people) have responsibilities for the protection and teaching of the different Tjukurpa and there are strict protocols for imparting the knowledge. There are also strict rules regarding photographing some of the rocks of Uluru, because they are considered sacred sites and part of the Tjukurpa stories. Most of the drawings in the caves of Uluru called Mala and Kuniya.

April 1
We got up early to take in the sunrise in the Kata Tjutas and Uluru. Getting off the bus we were offered teas to accompany the sunrise. It was beautiful! The lighting in the sky is somewhat surreal. We then went into the Kata Tjutas and hiked to the Valley of the Winds. The red boulders were stunning, steep and beautiful. The guide pointed out many bush trees and birds and explained how the Aboriginal people or Anangu people used the trees to cure warts, fever etc. We saw bush plum tomatoes, the tree whose leaves smelled like Vicks vapor rub and the witchery grub tree where the women dig the roots for the little grub and rip off its head to eat it raw or fry it. We didn't try it😬
The land around the Kata Tjuta is barren and full of brush. To avoid a huge bush fire the Anangu patch burn areas so that if here were a fire it would not burn everything. We also learned that in the outback there are over a million feral camels!! They were brought in originally to help transport materials  during the construction of the Australian telegraph system and then also used to move people, mail, and the military. They wouldn't kill old camels and just let them go. The release of these camels were released into the wild where they thrived. We also learned that there are over 10 million feral cats in the outback. They were an introduced species and they would just be forgotten or ran away.

We got back to the resort and decided to go out to the camel station and learn more about them. The resort has a shuttle running between hotels and the camel station and staff accommodations. We also toured the art gallery and museum on site. We ate at the newly opened Mange at restaurant that night. It took an hour to get our meal. Needless to say they were working out the kinks of operation.

Note: In the early 1900s the land around Uluru and the Kata Tjutas was declared an Aboriginal Reserve. In 1950 Ayers Rock National Park was established followed by Kata Tjutas in 1958. In 1971 the Office of Aboriginal Affairs cited concerns about pastoralism, mining, desecration of site and tourism pressures on their land. The Aboriginal Land Rights Act of 1976 does not include the national park and it had to do that to keep it designated as a national park. It wasn't until 1983 the the Aboriginal Land Rights Act returned the title to the traditional owners and was then leased back to the Australian Parks and Wildlife Service and run jointly. In 1985 the title deeds were finally given to the Anangu- an agreement good for 99 years.

March 31
Travel day! We all got out of Brisbane successfully! Jane and John got out also and made their way home.We landed in Uluru and were transported to Ayer Rock Resort where we stayed at the Outback Pioneer. There are five different places to stay and a shuttle runs around connecting all of them. You can eat at any one of them. We explored the area and took in a demonstration of Anangu dancing on the main lawn. We had dinner grilling our own kangaroo, crocodile tail and emu on an outside grill.