It has been fun, I have enjoyed myself. Now it is time to pay the piper (better known as the credit card company), so I am back to work tomorrow night.

Take care and have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Happy Holidays,

Ann

written by  hallanniem on December 22, 2009 from Montrose, United States
from the travel blog: Great Australian Fun Filled Expedition (my GAFFE)
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Took the bus and went to the Vicotria markets and then to the high poin of Auckland.

Visited the MOTAT the museum of transportation and technology.

We have been cruising about today. We went by White Island and got an up close view of the vents from this active volcanic vent.
We also went cruising around the Mercury Islands.

have to pack

well a half a bottle of wine and I'm packed enough to go to dinner. Special dinner with the crew wearing Indonesian.

More pictures and some more time in the Crow's nest. WE are leaving the ship tomorrow.

Okay so it is raining a little. my coat leaks and it is a little chilly only abour 65 degree.
We still had a good time. Saw an amazing thing. ONe of the Koalas was very active, he (Merle) shook himself and cimbed higher, then he lept over 6 feet to another branch, and let out a mating call.

Went to a filled and empty billabong to see birds and other wildlife. BAck to the ship, and on into Melbourne CBD to find this internet spot and to do a little shoping. I have to be back at the ship in 2.5 hours.

koalas inthe wild

Our first formal night, and we spent some time going to programs and checking out hte ship and amenities. I did some shopping on board and found a few deals.

written by  hallanniem on December 7, 2009 from Mallacoota, Australia
from the travel blog: Great Australian Fun Filled Expedition (my GAFFE)
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Trina leaving port

leaving sydney

opera house

We took advantage of the spa special for first day. We each had a complimentary foot massage in addition to the spa treatment we booked for the day. AAAHHH!!

written by  hallanniem on December 6, 2009 from Sydney, Australia
from the travel blog: Great Australian Fun Filled Expedition (my GAFFE)
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Trina is on her way, she just won't be here until about 3 hours before boarding time.

went to the Opera House for a tour and I bought the last ticket for a drag revue show tonight. I am on my way ;there now. The tour was great, we got to see 4 venues, but Sleeping Beauty was showing at the same time in the dance theater.

Went over to the Sydney Aquarium. Way more than I expected. There were a couple of floating exhibits that you could walk down and under glass roofed. One was for the sea elephants and another was for the sharks and mantarays. it took about an hour to walk through it all. Crocodiles, penguins, sea turtles and live reefs.

Well i am off to my show and will be boardding the ship in the morning. Will be in touch soon.

written by  hallanniem on December 5, 2009 from Sydney, Australia
from the travel blog: Great Australian Fun Filled Expedition (my GAFFE)
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I went back to the condo and did laundry. and watched a special about disappearing bees.

Then it is off to Darling Harbour. Will try the Chinese gardens. and then the Sydney fish market. Well the Chinese gardens were closing early due to a special event.

I walked down the harbour to the Aquarium and bought a combined ticket for it and Wildlife world. Went through wildlife world. I took lots of pictures of deadly snakes for the boys to enjoy (and I wrote down the names for later reference) I will not post those pictures so that my mom can look at this.

Off to the fish market. I ;am looking foreward to some fresh prawns!! Well I got my fresh prawns. I ordered 6 prawns in garlic butter. I cannot figure out why they breaded them when they cooked them whole (heads and all) I got to stare at a plate full of black eyes. I am no straanger to fresh prawns so I dug in beheaded and peeled away. Just lost all of the flavor in the peeling.

When I went to pay for some juice and some raspberries, I realized that I did not get my change from buying the passes to the aquarium and Wildlife world . So b ack to the aquarium to retrieve my change. No problem.

Caught the ferry bck to Circle Quay and then the 303 bus back to the condo ( I had caught the 302 earlier and it droped me off right in front). but this driver told me that that was a closed bus stop and dropped my off 3 blocks past. I called the transit service to check on the status of the stop. It is a stop and I should have been able to get off there!! Lot of good it does me to be right, I still had to walk in circles to find the condo. OH well

It looks like Trina may be delayed. I hope she gets here before Sunday morning.

written by  hallanniem on December 4, 2009 from Sydney, Australia
from the travel blog: Great Australian Fun Filled Expedition (my GAFFE)
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