End of 2009 festivities...

Christmas time in Australia is a beautiful time of year - time to wear shorts, t-shirts & head to the beach. I am definitely not used to a warm Christmas!! We have a kids Christmas party in the office every year...it is a great day (but very tiring)!!

Giant blow up snowmen come in to the office....

The company end of year party is always a thrill!

Coast Walk - Royal National Park, Australia

The Hike

View from the headlands north of Garie Beach, looking south. The Coast Track is approximately 26km and can be walked in either direction - Northbound or Southbound.

Heading southbound from Bundeena you have approximately 6km of cliff top walking before reaching the Big Marley and Little Marley beaches. Another 4.5km or so and you will reach the Wattamolla Lagoon where there is sealed road access and family picnic areas. Wattamolla has a camp ground at Providential Point, which is the recommended camping site for northbound walkers - a paid permit is required to camp here.

Garie is approximately 6.5km south of Wattamolla, where there is once again sealed road access to the patrolled surf beach. Just past the headlands south of Garie is North Era, which is the recommended camp grounds for Southbound walkers - a paid permit is also required to camp here.

There is only 9km from Garie to Otford, and the end of the hike. If using public transport, simply follow the road for a couple of hundred meters and turn right down the very steep Beaumont Road (Google Map.) which will take you straight to Otford train station.

Bundeena to Marley = 6km
Marley to Wattamolla = 4.5km
Wattamolla to Garie = 6.5km
Garie to Otford = 9km

Kangaroo Island, South Australia: April 2009

Make a Smilebox postcard

New Zealand journey: Tripti & Mandi

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Concerts in Australia

Mandi at Jason Mraz concert....so in love with Jason!So, as many of my Chicago friends are aware...I have never been to a concert before :-)

So I am trying to get in as many as possible while I am still young! Hee Hee!! There are a few people that will definitely find this very humurous! Honestly, there have just been a lot of my favs that have recently made visits to Australia - Kings of Leon, The Fray, Jason Mraz...

Getting ready for Kings of Leon....

Jason Mraz on stage...

Lead singer of The Fray -- excellent concert! Scored these tickets as a gift...had a wonderful time.

Adventures on Kangaroo Island

Beautiful shots of wildlife & scenery on Kangaroo Island....

I made a visit to Kangaroo Island over Easter weekend. The island is just South of Adelaide in South Australia. It was beautiful....full of wildlife and extremely relaxing. The best part was that my phone no longer had a signal once we boarded the ferry to head over to the island.

Photo below: Mandi enjoying her honey ice cream & chocolate at the bee & honey farm...had a very sore tummy after this!

Photos below: Learning to master the art of sandboarding...after quite a few attempts

Cabin that a few stayed in the first night out -- only about 6 brave ones slept outside in the swags you see just on the ground. It was amazing to wake up to wallabies & kangaroos hopping right in front of you and the most unreal sunrise...will show a few photos further down on the page

One of the many beautiful views on the island
Late one afternoon, we hiked about an hour in on this very windy, rocky path...to discover this hidden beach & amazing view
Day One: This was the first beach we stopped at when we arrived to the island

1st Opera....& at the Sydney Opera House

I went to my first Opera on 4 March - Madama Butterfly at the Sydney Opera House. It was unbelievable. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I was very pleased with the performance