Zurueck in Australien

Wahnsinn, jetzt ist schon wieder einige Zeit ins Land gezogen und Jason und ich sind seit vier Wochen zurueck in Australien. Und wer geglaubt hat, dass wir die ganze Zeit an einem Ort bleiben wuerden, der hat sich gewaltig geschnitten.

Am 18.03. gings relative frueh aus den Federn, in ein kleines Cafe zum Fruehstueck und dann ab zur Haltestelle, um den Airbus (Shuttle Bus in Auckland) zum Flughafen zu nehmen. Der hatte erstmal prompt Verspaetung. Weiter gings am Flughafen... die gute Dame am Check In Schalter hatte Schwierigkeiten mein Visum in meinem Pass und vorallem meine Pass-Nr. im System zu finden. Letzte Ziffer ist eine “null” ... dachte ich zumindest immer... dieses Mal war’s ein “o”.... zum Glueck konnte sie mich finden. :) Nach dem Einchecken gings zum “Departure tax” bezahlen. Jeder der Neuseeland verlaesst muss $25 zahlen – egal ob Staatsbuerger oder nicht. Und dann gings auch schon langsam gen Gate... wir sassen da – und mit uns einige andere Leute und nichts geschah. Boarding time rueckte naeher und verstrich, wir sassen immer noch da und wunderten uns ein wenig bis wir auf eine wartende Menschenmenge auf der anderen Flurseite aufmerksam wurden und einer Durchsage, die unseren Flug nach Sydney betraf. Also alle Leute von unserer Seite aufgestanden, Treppe hoch, ueber den Flur und Treppe runter zum richtigen Gate.... mit dem Resultat, dass wir weitere 20 Minuten warten mussten. Wie durch ein Wunder sind wir aber wie geplant in Sydney gelandet... da frage ich mich natuerlich: was da denn schief gelaufen ist oder eher welche Verspaetung ist eingeplant?
In Sydney angekommen bin ich dann mit Jason zum Australian citizen/resident Schalter und habe meinen Einreisestempel erhalten. Keine Fragen. Alles kein Problem. Weiter gings zum Gepaeckband und dann zum Zoll – Einreisekarte abgegeben – gefragt worden, ob wir was zum Verzollen haetten (noe!) und dann durften wir ohne weitere Kontrolle durch den Zoll und damit waren wir dann also wieder voll und ganz in Australien. Per Shuttlebus gings zum Domestic terminal und da mussten wir dann nochmal einige Zeit warten bevor unsere Flug nach Dubbo ging.

Flugzeug: 36 Sitzer – Flug bei Dunkelheit.
Kein Kommentar.

(Da wusste ich noch nicht, dass ich bald in einer noch kleineren Maschine sitzen wuerde.)

Schliesslich und endlich sind wir dann in Dubbo angekommen und genossen eine entspannte Woche bei Jason’s Mutter und ihrem Partner. Soblad wir morgens wach waren gab Belle (Schaeferhund) Laut und fing an zu “heulen” bis wir mit ihr spazieren gingen. Jaja, so nen Hund haelt einen auf Trapp... und das war nicht einmal unserer...

Nach einer Woche packten wir zusammen, setzten uns mit Di und Kerry ins Auto und begaben uns auf eine 9stuendige Autofahrt gen Queensland. Crows Nest war unser Ziel. Der Wohnort von Kerry’s Sohn und dem Ort seines anstehenden 40. Geburtstag. 9 Stunden geradeaus.... trockene Felder... Kuehe.... Schafe... trockene Felder.... Baumwolle... trockene Felder.... geradeaus.... Zwischenstop am Truckstop in Goondiwindi (Weltstadt!).... trockene Felder... rote Erde.... geradeaus... gruene Baeume... geradeaus... Crows Nest. Raus aus Crows Nest, 5 km geradeaus, rechts abiegen, 1 km, dann links die Auffahrt hoch, ein Haus, riesiger “Garten”, Busch drum rum. Sonst nichts. Ruhig. Vogelgezwitscher.
9 Loch Golfkurs im “Garten”, aber das ist eine andere Geschichte.


on the road














Stop in Goondiwindi

Und am naechsten Tag gings dann mit den Vorbereitungen fuer John’s 40 los: Karotten Kuchen, Bananen Kuchen, Bananen-Annanas Kuchen, Hedgehog Slice, Mamorkuchen usw usf.
Und zwischendurch gings zum sogenannten “ Bush bashing” – ab in den alten Jeep und querfeldein in den Busch. Fuer alle Spinnenliebhaber ein Paradies – fuer alle wie mich: Kreisch! Ich habe noch NIE in meinem Leben so viele Spinnen und vor allem so grosse gesehen. Und meine Frage, ob die denn gefaehrlich waeren wurde auch irgendwie nie so eindeutig beantwortet. Gut. Also irgendwie missachten, weil die Australier (6 an der Zahl) so gar nicht unruhig waren geschweige denn beeindruckt von der Groesse der Spinnen.


Sieht jemand die Spinne?


Anja und der Brick










Brick im Busch

Naechster Tag, Freitag. Der Tag vor dem Partymarathon (Sa-So). Zwiebeln schaelen, schneiden, Kartoffeln schaelen, schneiden, Eier abkochen, Tomaten schneiden. Kartoffelauflauf vorbereiten (2 riesige, die am Ende 3 Stunden im Ofen gebraucht haben, aber ein voller Erfolg waren) usw usf. Essen fuer 50 Leute... und dann haettet ihr mal die Fleischmengen sehen sollen. Von Freitag Abend bis Sonntag Mittag war jede Mahlzeit ein leckeres Australisches BBQ. Danach konnte ich kein Fleisch, keinen Speck und keine Eier mehr sehen.










Zeltdach-Aufbau


Jason beim Grillen


Kartoffelauflauf

Freitag Abend/Nacht kamen die ersten Gaeste und Samstag wurde dann mit Golf spielen auf dem Hauseigenen Golfkurs, Bush bashing und grillen verbracht. Abends ein kleines Lagerfeuer und wenn Ihr Euch gerade fragt, wo die ganzen Leute geschlafen haben, dann lautete die Antwort: die haben alle gezeltet.
Sonntag war’s dann leider ein wenig windig und das Zeltdach (zum Schutz vor Sonne/Regen) hob ab und das Mittel-Metal-Stueck senkte sich unsanft auf meinen Kopf. Das wars dann Partymaessig fuer mich. Lag dann nen bissl flach.










Reste vom Feste

Ab Montag ging dann das etwas schoenere Leben los und das Resteverzehren und gefrieren... Fleisch, Fleisch, Fleisch. Ich denke, dass Nicole und John fuer den Rest des Jahres kein Fleisch mehr kaufen muessen. *grins*

Dienstag sind Jason und ich dann durchs Hinterland an die Sunshine Coast gefahren. Schoen. Wasser, Strand und “Underwater World” – immer einen Besuch wert. Abends gings dann zurueck, bzw. Nachmittags, um ja vor der Dunkelheit wieder zurueck zu sein. Hat leider nicht ganz geklappt und wir hatten das eine oder andere Kaenguru auf der Strasse. Zum Glueck haben wir keins gerammt.










Sunshine Coast

Mittwoch nochmal schoen das Hinterland erkundet und auf unbefestigten Strassen gefahren. Ein weiteres Mal Bush bashing zum Wasserfall (leider etwas verkuemmert) und natuerlich auf alle Faelle den Spinnen aus dem Weg gehen.


Hinterland


Hinterland

Abends gings dann in den Pub von Crows Nest. Als Fremder ist man ja immer eine Attraktion, egal wo man auf der Welt ist. War aber umso schoener, weil so richtig schoen Australisch!
Donnerstag – 9 Stunden Autofahrt.

Dann hatten wir noch einige Tage in Dubbo bevor es letzten Dienstag nach Sydney ging. Ab gings zum Flughafen und auf dem Rollfeld stand eine kleine Maschine. Nee, ist ja nicht unsere... also wir checken ein und die gute Dame am Schalter sagt: links und rechts vom Gang gibts nur jeweils 1 Sitz. Toll. War doch unsere Maschine. 18 Sitzer.
Irgendwelche Fragen?
Hoffe nicht.

So und nun sind wir in Sydney und auf der Suche nach ner Wohnung/Haus und Arbeit. Gestaltet sich anders als geplant, aber es ist noch zu frueh ums ins Detail zu gehen. Werde spaeter mehr berichten.
Es fuehlt sich super gut an wieder in Sydney zu sein und als ich heute durch die CBD spaziert bin bin ich aus dem Staunen nicht mehr rausgekommen. So viel hat sich in dem einen Jahr veraendert und das macht es gleich nochmal spannender. Ist einfach ne super Stadt!
Mehr Fotos gibts demnaechst, wenn ich wieder einen anstaendigen Internetzugang habe.

Anja










Sonnenuntergang in Crows Nest


Rote Erde

NZ Photos

Latest photos.... click onto link below.

Die neusten Fotos - einfach auf den Link klicken!

http://www.flickr.com/gp/80037206@N00/394714


Jason and Anja

Goodbye und Auf Wiedersehen!

Mensch, wer haette gedacht, dass die Zeit am Ende dermassen rast und wir - ehe wir uns versehen - aus NZ ausreisen. Morgen ist es soweit: Wohnung geputzt, Strom das letzte Mal abgelesen, ein leckeres Abendessen bei Wencke und Christian genossen, Schluessel abgegeben, ein letztes Mal ueber den Viktoria Markt gelaufen und noch schnell eine Kette gekauft. Mit Faye zum Mittag getroffen, letzte Stromrechnung bezahlt und nun gehts gleich zur Bank Konto aufloesen. Und dann, ja dann wird die Sonne genossen und die Freiheit des "Arbeitsfreiem Leben". Haha... nicht fuer zu lang natuerlich!

Melden uns wieder - wenn wir in Oz (!!!) angekommen sind!

Anja

Up Close and Personal with the Lemurs

For the preceding months before Christmas Anja was very secretive and even sometimes even more confusing about my Xmas pressie. I could tell it involved an actual task and of course things like bungying and skydiving passed briefly through my mind but I knew she had no desire to see me scream like a girl. :)

Besides it didn't need to take an even like that to have that happen but the intrigue and my sheer confusion built till Christmas day. I even had applied for a Tuesday off in late January but could only tell the boss I needed the day off but not why! However when I opened my Christmas card and I spotted a great photo we took of a Meerkat at Taronga Zoo I knew something good was round the corner.

Unbeknowinlgy to me upon our arrival in Auckland back in June during one of our often brochure grabs at the Tourist info centre I had remarked that Auckland Zoo conducted behind the scenes tours and how cool that was. So Anja hid any brochures from the Zoo and any time for the next six months when I suggested we visit the Zoo she somehow took me off on another tangent.

My present was to be a Primate tour giving me the chance to feed some lemurs as well as cotton top tamarins in a small group. The sheer uniqueness of this present knocked me off my feet and I started to count the sleeps till my day on January 29th arrived that I would take this tour. It was a bonus that January 28th was Auckland anniversary day so we gave ourselves a four day weekend which was to be rounded off with my first visit to Auckland Zoo.

We arrived bright and early awaiting for the Zoo to open at 9.30am and with school back we only had the pram convoy to contend with on what weather wise was to be a truly spectacular day. Anja went and purchased her normal admission ticket and we entered together for me to be ushered to the information area. To our delight the only other person booked on the tour was an older lady from Aberdeen, Scotland (where my great grandparents hail from) so Anja was able to come along at no extra charge as well as the Aberdeen ladies husband and grandchildren.

So we gleefully walked hand in hand listen to the tour guide who was a lady with a fountain of knowledge and not too shy to offer it gave us a rundown of this zoo. We were fortunate to come across some staff getting the first glimpses of some baby meerkats making their first time out into the open and this was just the start of a magnificent day.







The Meerkat-Babies


We headed to the back of the lemur enclosure to see some of the zoo keepers areas and then we got our first plastic gloves for the day ready to feed these friendly creatures. Upon entering the enclosure it was obvious we were expected and they don't do the tour daily so as not to make the lemurs complacent. After being reminded not to walk on their tails we crouched down as they came to us and knew what we had!







Seemed like the Lemurs were quite hungry...








... no more food?








She has food.... he might, too!


Their paws were so cold and they were so trusting and it was truly a mid blowing experience and to share that with Anja was extra special. We were told to feed them the raisins one at a time and hide the rest in your other hand but they knew that trick! Luckily our tour guide took plenty of photos during these moments but in your mind it is easy to recount how lucky you were to be in this environment.







Yeah - Lemurs!!!








Hungry!!!!








That's it - I am full - I am done!


Sadly it was time to leave and bid our new friends good bye but once we were out of supplies I think the friendship was over...at least for them. Still though we continued to walk through the Zoo with our guide who was never short for a word and we arrived at the spider monkeys. One of the best things of these tours is that the keepers understand how you are and the spider monkey keeper held off feeding till we arrived. So the normal would be at a zoo to try to catch a glimpse of them but we had the fortune of the whole gang coming to us! We even caught glimpses of the babies and this view was another thing to make this day and my Christmas present even more special to me.










Spidermonkey Mum and Baby


We made it to the cotton top tamarins after fetching their truly disgusting feed of worms (still alive). Again on came the plastic gloves but no complaints there for this one. These guys are so small but also very attentive to anyone feeding them and again we found this quite a lot of fun.







Cotton Top Tamarin








These guys were quite hungry, too!








Yum, worms!








Bah!


The tour was meant to take about ninety minutes but after two and a half hours our guide had to go and we really found this to be a great experience. We even scored a CD of photos documenting the day and apart from the slight confusion upon trying to pick this up we spent the rest of the day seeing what Auckland Zoo had to offer.










One happy visitor!


They were enduring a slight upgrade but after making our way around this zoo it stacked up well against what we had seen already but after enduring our tour we knew it was time to go home and let soak in what was truly a remarkable day. Makes my task of thinking up something unique for Anja's birthday all that more challenging but well worth it!

Jason

Fußball in Neuseeland!

Well Anja and I have a thing for going to obscure sporting events in countries that we are in. Put that down to the fact that Jason is a very typical Australian male and loves his sport but he can at least justify sometimes the occassion. Early into Anja's stay in Australia we attended the Oceania championships for men's handball out in remote western Sydney and of course it was a slight difference to what she had seen back home. However whilst in Germany Anja's father Hans discovered that a Rugby Union game was on in Hanover so that was also an interesting experience for all parties!

So keeping to form Jason discovered that New Zealand were hosting the u/17 women's soccer world cup later this year so they were having a small tournament as a test involving Australia, USA, New Zealand and yes Germany! On the last day of the tournament USA was to play the also undefeated Germany and Australia and New Zealand faced off for the third place after not winning a game yet. Sadly Australia were well beaten by Germany during the week so Jason was spared that.

After reading the paper we realised it was in Northern Auckland so it involved a bit of a bus ride but also a new Westfield had been recently opened there so Anja could enjoy some retail therapy. It was at North Harbour Stadium but once we found out the tickets were only five dollars we discovered it was on an outer oval. Still this was good as the first game was the USA versus Germany and we could sit quite close on the sidelines. For this age group the game was quite physical and to our amusement the German girls were criticising the Americans not realising Anja understood every word!

The Germans started well and scored early and the pace was quite frantic. As I said the girls were quite physical and I think the NZ ref was out of her depth. At the main interval they held onto their slight one goal advantage but whatever the USA girls had at halftime worked very well. Within minutes somehow the USA was up 2-1 and it took a while before the Germans after repeated attacks slotted in the equaliser.
A draw would have been a fair result and the crowd that was increasing in numbers for the main game were being treated to an absorbing show of skill.Sadly the USA were awarded a free kick just outside the box and that was converted to allow them to win overall but both sides were applauded equally.

Then it was time to renew the trans tasman rivalry Anja has now seen up close and personal. You would have thought with this involving girls under the age of seventeen it would have been pretty amicable on the sideline. However the psyche of the average Kiwi shows a terrible dislike of their closest neighbour. Still we enjoyed the game and even more so when the Aussies were granted a penalty shot by the NZ ref and the crowed booed!
It was stopped but much to the distaste of this crowd it was re-taken and much to the delight of these two travellers it hit the back of the net! So Australia once again triumphed and we had another day of interesting sporting entertainment. I was soon to try to educated Anja on the subtlety's of the gentleman's game being cricket with a match between England and New Zealand but I will blog that unique experience later!

Jason

Sky Tower Conquered

Now normally we are very inquisitve people and when we arrive somewhere we jump at the chance to head to the best vantage spot. Upon arriving in Auckland we have had the imposing Sky Tower looking over us and we had vowed to go up once we had perfect weather. Well in September Anja's brother arrived and took the opportunity to scale the heights whilst we were both at work. Even with a discounted voucher from him we found no need or want to head skywards.

December arrived and time had passed since our June arrival and yet still no visit. My friend Shuan arrived and had the wettest week ever during his time here but still he made the journey to see over Auckland. Again we had a discount voucher from him and as December slowly was fading

Christmas Eve arrived and it was decided to head on up finally.

Jason with Rangitoto Island in the background.

Auckland Harbour

Auckland Domain with Auckland Museum

View to One Tree Hill

View over Auckland

We hoped to be sneaky and see the sunset but the sun wasn't shining that well but the timing of our visit was very fortunate. Being Christmas eve it was fairly quiet so once we made the descent we really enjoyed looking over the city we had made our temporary home. They have cameras there so you can zoom in on landmarks and this was even better understood as since we have lived here for a while we know a little bit about New Zealand's biggest city.

Scary glass floors

Alas I couldn't convince Anja that the glass floors were safe but still we both lapped in the scene whilst having a coffee in the cafe. At 328 metres Sky Tower is the tallest tower in the Southern Hemisphere so we can now say we have came and conquered and hey it was ok!!

Jason

Aucklands Harbour Bridge

That's where we live...

It's all about the fun :)))

Hundertwasser in New Zealand

Welcome to Kawakawa - a little place on the North Island of New Zealand but a very busy one as you find here the famous Hundertwasser Toilets.
Friedrich Hundertwasser was born in Austria in 1928 and came first to NZ in the early 70ties and settled in Kawakawa in 1975. Here he bought a farm. On his property he planted heaps of exotic trees. He died in February 2000 and is buried here in NZ.
Who would have thought that we find Hunterwasser's art in NZ? Kawakawa is a tiny town and it seems that tourists from all over the world stop by to have a look and use the famous toilets.

Willkommen in Kawakawa (sprich "Kauakaua") - einem kleinen Ort auf der Nordinsel Neuseelands und dem Zuhause der beruehmten Hundertwasser Toiletten. Friedrich Hundertwasser, geboren 1928 in Oesterreich kam in den 70gern nach Kawakawa und liess sich hier nieder. Seine Farm bepflanzte er mit vielen exotischen Baeumen. Hundertwasser starb im Februar 2000 und ist hier in Neuseeland begraben.
Wer haette gedacht, dass wir hier auf Hundertwasser's Kunst stossen wuerden... Kawakawa ist wirklich ein kleiner Ort und Touristen aus aller Welt kommen hierher, um die beruehmten Toiletten zu sehen... und um sie zu benutzen.

Anja

NY in NZ-An Unique Experience.

http://www.flickr.com/gp/80037206@N00/2Dsj25

It was decided to spend some time up north for New Years so we chose a small quiet spot of Pukenui. Rather it was one of the few places that seemed to have accomodation left as the summer holiday period here is quite popular as a lot of businesses close down over christmas here in New Zealand. Our chosen spot though was seventy kilometres south of Cape Reinga which is the most northern point of New Zealand. It was with great anticipation that the two of us awoke on Saturday the 29th of December to start our small holiday.

Early morning in Pukenui

We had organised a Suzuki Swift to be rented and after picking up the keys we hit highway one which goes all the way up from the south to the north of New Zealand. After the obligatory stop for a coffee and a very busy petrol station we soon realised there would be quite a bit of traffic on the road including the highway patrol. Whangarei would mark the furthest north we had travelled so upon arrival in this town a stop at the tourist info for some relief and a chance to pick up any brochures for our further ventures.

Anja and I took a drive to the lookout over this town which had bounty of boats sitting right in the middle in their harbour, fishing is a way of life in Northland which we were made aware of constantly. Next destination was a small town called Kawakawa which on first appearance looked rather boring but after Anja's fruitful research this was the home of some unique public toilets which she has dutifully blogged.

Jason at Shipwreck Bay

Originally we had decided to continue on State Highway one from here but after a small navigation blunder we ended up on State Highway ten but that worked well as we drove through to the popular Bay of Islands. One thing you soon realise in New Zealand when you drive is that they make roads very winding and also very tight. Many times I thought Anja would put her foot through the floor but that was understable as I really haven't driven that much lately. Just the small drive through Paihia reinforced our decision to stay further up we thought a good one as we looked foward to some solitude.

Another nice beach

After a grocery stop in the nearest bigger town of Kaitaia at the Pak N Save where we got up close and personal we arrived shortly after at our home away from home. Pukenui Lodge Motel had some modest lodgings and we were sleeping in a very old building but once we saw the surrounds we where very happy with our decision. Looking out over the picturesque Houhora harbour we found some tables where over the next few nights we would enjoy our meals and have a few beers simply taking in the scenery.

Sydney... it's not that far away...

We made the pilgrimage to Cape Reinga in our brand new rental car along twenty kilometres of unsealed road and somehow didn't scratch it. Then a brave decision was made to go sand duning on the giant te Paki dunes and that was definitely a one off. Ninety Mile beach was a constant draw for us having the car and during our time we also made it to Shipwreck Bay and along the coast a bit. The local hotel across the road seemed to be always busy but the locals were very friendly and we knew we weren't in Auckland any more.

Jason at Cape Reinga

New Year's eve and the locals started letting off their fireworks at 10pm and the temperature dropped quite rapidly which made the occassion quite different. Still though we enjoyed a good show at midnight and we shared going into 2008 before anyone else we knew! New Years day was quite windy but again we headed out in the car and in the time we had it managed to clock up 1200 kilometres. Also we were able to indulge in some fish n' chips as the kiwis so love and Anja knew that this fish was as fresh as it could possibly be.

Start of 90 Mile Beach

Most days we would sit and marvel at how many people fished near our lodge and one day we saw them digging in the sand for Tua Tuas (Anja has also blogged this experience) The trip back south was on the second of January as the kiwis give themselves an extra public holiday which we gratefully accepted. There were traffic jams in some places on the way back but we still got back home not too late. It was a great feeling for these two travellers to shower and sleep in their own place unlike we could do before.

without words

We have loaded our photos from this experience onto Flickr and it was really a great time away for both of us for sure. The weather was pretty great and the whole feel of New Zealand is very relaxed once you leave Auckland. Our escapes have always been well worth it and definitely in Australia we know we need a car.

To say this new year was very different to last years spent in Sydney under the harbour bridge is an understatement. However both were enjoyed for their own uniqueness and we wouldn't want it any other way!

Jason

Tuatuas

Waehrend unseres Kurztrips nach Pukenui in Northland haben wir den einen oder anderen Abstecher zum 90 Mile Beach unternommen. Von unserer Unterkunft aus ging es auf den State Highway Nr. 1 und ehe wir uns versahen befanden wir uns auf einer der unzaehligen unbefestigten Strassen Neuseelands.



Die gings dann entlang - mal fuer 3km, mal fuer 20km nach Cape Reinga.
Und dann schauten wir uns noch einmal um und befanden uns auf dem 90 Mile Beach. Dieser ist in Wirklichkeit keine 90 Meilen lang sondern "nur" 55 und kann waehrend Ebbe als Highway genutzt werden. Dementsprechend sieht man viele Bustouren oder 4WD den Strand entlang sausen - dem Cape Reinga entgegen.

Waehrend wir den Strand entlang liefen - immer auf der Hut vor irgendwelchen Bussen, 4WD o.ae. - sahen wir viele Familien im Sand/Schlick graben...



Nach ungefaehr 5 Familien war ich dann doch zu neugierig und fragte einen netten freundlichen Herren nach was sie denn suchen wuerden.

Tuatuas - war die Antwort.

Muscheln die man an Sandstraenden bei Ebbe findet. Man tastet mit den Fuessen nach den Tuatuas und greift erst nach ihnen, wenn man eine ganze Gruppe ertastet hat.
Das Tageslimit pro Person liegt bei 150 Stueck.

Also versuchten auch wir unser Glueck.



Und so schauen die Tuatuas aus:



Man muss sie angeblich nur duensten und dann sollen sie wunderbar schmecken. Ich nehme das zumindest mal an, da so viele nach dieses Muscheln gesucht haben.

Also, wenn Ihr mal nach Neuseeland kommen solltet - probiert Euer Glueck im Tuatua-Suchen!

Anja