NZ, Katrina, Noosa, etc.
Sep 3rd, 2005 by john
Well, it’s been a busy month! Colette’s parents were down here for most of August so we’ve been running around playing tour guides. We went to the Australia Zoo, the Eumundi Markets, Underwater World, a dinner cruise on the Brisbane River on a genuine paddle wheel (the Kookaburra Queen), wine tasting in the hinterland, and general over-eating! Mom did finally get to stick her toe in the Pacific Ocean, so her trip was complete.
We went to New Zealand’s north island for the last week of their vacation. Colette & I actually left the airport! How amazing! We rented a minivan (a Toyota Enima, uh, Emina) and did a circuit up to the top of the Coromandel Peninsula, back down to Rotorua, then over to Waitomo Caves and finally back up to Auckland. Just like everyone says, there’s a lot of sheep in New Zealand! Along with a bunch of cows, some chickens, big fat pigs, a few kiwis and miscellaneous birds (but nothing deadly – they’re all in Australia). Pictures will be coming soon.
Today we took the motorcycle up to Noosa for the annual Noosa Jazz Festival. It was a great spring day – sunny, mostly warm, good music. Life is good.
Unfortunately, life’s not so good for those in New Orleans and the surrounding areas. It’s pretty sad seeing what looks like a third-world country that’s been devastated, but in fact it’s the richest nation in the world. We’re a little stunned and shamed by the government response to the disaster. From over here it looks like things are taking way too long to get organized and for help to arrive.