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Christmas 2000 II
Christmas at the Solberg house

Crazy, Zainy Outback Adventure
Two weeks in Australia's desolate outback.  Five others and myself trekked through the desert for two weeks.  It was the six of us in the 4-wheel-drive truck with a trailer to keep our shit in.  Most of the first day was driving.  We covered 400 miles and saw an amazing 2 other cars and one gas station... that was it....  absolutely no other signs of civilization.

When it was time to turn in for the night, we literally pulled over in the middle of nowhere.  Drove in a ways from the dirt road over the sand and brush, stopped the vehicle, and declared it home for the next 10 hours or so.  Surely there should be some tents and gas stoves in that trailer.  Nope.  We collected some wood to build a fire, got out the pan, chopped up the kangaroo meat and vegies, and cooked our stir-fry on the open fire.  There were a few more problems that I soon realized when camping in the outback:  no toilets, sinks, or showers.  The toilet was either a bush or hole you dug.  The closest things to shower would be occasional water hole we came across (not too many of those in the desert).  After four days of baking in sun we were pretty ripe.  By way, when I say baking in the sun, I am speaking of over 110 degree heat (I think it actually got up to 115 one day).  That is a bit warm.  Through this all there was no A/C in the truck.  We would go on walks for hours often climbing parts of mountains.  The water that we did find was so dirty that it had a visibility of less than a foot, but we swam in it anyway.

Then came the rain.  It doesn't rain much out there, but when it does, the ground cannot handle it.  There are no bridges for water to go underneath the "road".  So runoff water washes out the road.  The "road" turned to mud after 10 minutes of rain.  We often had to stop the truck, get out, and walk through the streams that pass over the "road" to see how deep it is.  If it was too deep to cross than we were fucked because we couldn't go back the way we came (it would have been worse).

One night we were fortunate enough to stay at Williams Creek.  This is a quaint "town" of population 7 which was composed of a gas station and a pub (what else would you need?).  So we had nice evening socializing with the locals over a few quiet ales.... they proved to be very... er, uh.... interesting people.

We then made it out to some Aboriginal (Australia's version of native American Indians) community.  These are the last people in the world who have the right to hunt kangaroo and other endangered species.  They took us around to their sacred sights, and told us about their beliefs.  They were very friendly people, and it proved to be a very enlightening experience.

Every once in a while we would come across an actual tourist attraction.  We would stop and have a look while tourists would pull up in their air-conditioned coach busses with their clean clothes on and non-B.O. smell (prissy bastards).  They would actually take pictures of us next to our mud-caked truck.  I believe that was my first time that I was a tourist attraction... but there was the one time in Mexico that I won that "sexiest legs" competition, but we won't go into that now.

We then moved on to Uluru (white man's Ayer's Rock).  This is a major icon in Australia, and attracts many tourists.  Once again, we had tourists pull up in their coach busses and get out and look at the rock during sunset.  For some reason they seemed to keep their distance from us.  But the best part about Uluru was that they had a resort not too far from the rock.  So, of course we went over there, used their showers to scrape off seven days of grime, swam in their pools, and drank their beer (mmmmmmm.....beeeeer).

The Outback I

The Outback II

The Outback III

The Outback IV

The Outback V

more Wesley  (NEW: 15 november 2000) more zainy pictures from that wacky Wesley College

New Zealand: Queenstown  (NEW: 8 october 2000)
Queenstown is situated on the shores of beautiful Lake Wakatipu, surrounded by the majestic Remarkables mountains in the snow-rich Southern Alps of New Zealand's South Island, 310 metres (1020 feet) above sea level.  For more info on Queenstown see http://www.nz.com/Queenstown/.
Emily and I were stunned by the beauty of this tourist resort.  The population was only about 16,000, and we couldn't understand why more people didn't live there.  While in Queenstown, we made a visit to the local Britannic gardens.  We wondered to docks and took a ride on a stunt boat, where the driver sped over less than 4 inches of water and did 360 degree spins on a dime.

New Zealand: skiing  (NEW: 8 october 2000)
After an exciting day of seeing Queenstown, we decided to partake in some of the Kiwi sport.  A seventy minute drive from Queenstown took us to Cardrona ski resort.  The skiing conditions were to our advantage... plenty of snow on the ground.  The only major obstacle that mother nature set for us were the low flying clouds over the mountain... if you have ever skied through a cloud, then you know what I mean.  We would be skiing down the slope with no problem, but once a cloud covered the mountain, there was nothing that you could do except ski in straight line and hope you don't fall off a cliff or crash into something... you cannot see anything but white in every direction.  If you stop, someone will ram you from behind.

New Zealand: Fox Glacier  (NEW: 8 october 2000)
This is a quaint little town situated on the middle of the west coast on the South Island.  The town gets it name from the glacier that is working its way down the mountain next to the town.  Yes, there is a glacier heading straight for this town (that's the bad news)... the good news is that it is only moving at a rate of a few inches a day.  The only reliable way to on to the massive hunk of ice was by helicopter.  Since no trip to the town of Fox Glacier would be complete without a stroll on the glacier, we hailed the next heli-taxi we saw and told him to take us to the nearest glacier.  Next time you are within a taxi ride from a glacier (even if does take a heli-taxi), I recommend that you take it.  The walk through the glacier was pretty magnificent... ice caves and streams everywhere.
More info on Fox Glacier can be found at http://webnz.com/tpac/nz/temp/FoxGlacier.html

New Zealand: skydiving  (NEW: 8 october 2000)
What would compel someone to jump out of a plane that is 12,000 feet above the ground?  Whatever it is, it got me.  It defies all logic... anatomically, we were not designed to leave the ground... and we have an instinctive fear of heights (to varying degrees).  But, on that spring day in Nelson, New Zealand I found my self getting on a plane under my own will with the intention of not landing with the plane, but jumping out of it.  But what is even more off-the-wall than me jumping out of a plane is that Emily did the same!  I wouldn't have believed unless I saw for myself.

New Zealand: 4 wheelers  (NEW: 8 october 2000)
After jumping from a plane in the morning we had to find something a bit more dangerous to do in order to keep our adrenaline high going throughout the day.  So we decided to sit on four-cylinder engine that was attached to four wheels and drive it straight up a mountain and though rivers and mud pits.  Some call 'em four-wheelers or farm bikes... I just call them pure fun.  In hindsight I could think of many more ways to die on those four-wheelers than from skydiving.  The tour guide took us up this mountain... it was a fairly structured ride and there was not too much room for horse-play... we got to see some beautiful views and majestic scenery... bla, bla, bla.  The end of the tour was the exciting part... they have this track rightfully called the 'fun track'.  Before they let us loose to frolic they gave us one rule that we had to follow at all costs:  the sheep have the right of way... anything else goes... and it did.  I did not have a spot on me not covered in mud.

New Zealand: Rotorua  (NEW: 8 october 2000)
Rotorua is part of the aptly named "Bay of Plenty" region, located in the heart of New Zealand's North Island. Just 320km (142 miles) south of Auckland (NZ's largest city), the district of Rotorua covers an area of 261,000 hectares and has a population of around 68,000 people, situated on the edge of beautiful Lake Rotorua.
Sliding tectonic plates create volcanoes, natural hot springs and bizarre smelling pools of bubbling mud, geysers that shoot from the ground with impressive regularity and a paintbox of different colored waters.
Our two day stay consisted mostly of sitting in hot pools of foul smelling water (the smell was from the sulfur).  We also saw some traditional Mauri ritual dancing, and we had a meal cooked cooked in a hot geyser by some Mauris... mmmmmm... broiled chicken.

New Zealand: Bay of Islands  (NEW: 8 october 2000)
The Bay of Islands is the finest maritime park in New Zealand. The 144 Islands and secluded bays has an abundance of marine life, including the big Marlin, Whales, Penguins, Dolphins, Gannets and many other species.  The highlights of this portion of our trip were swimming with dolphins and dancing 'the Egyptian' at the local pub (pictures of 'the Egyptian' were not allowed to be posted on the internet due to their distasteful nature).

New Zealand: other I  (NEW: 8 october 2000)
Miscellaneous pictures of people and scenery throughout New Zealand.

New Zealand: other II  (NEW: 8 october 2000)
more NZ stuff

Olympics (NEW: 8 october 2000)
Sydney, Australia, host of the 2000 summer Olympic Games.  What an event this was!
Beach Volleyball:  The city constructed a temporary stadium on Sydney's famous Bondi Beach.  We saw the gold medal match where the 9th seeded US team beat the 1st seeded Brazil team in two games.
Baseball:  The MLB-void US team upset the Cuban powerhouse team.  The ample supply of BYO liquor made the game seem much more fun that it probably was.
Taekwando:  very exciting!  I didn't know what was going on, but it looked really cool.
Athletics (Track and Field):  We saw two sessions.  I was very excited to see the US get both the gold and silver in the pole vault.
The fun didn't stop with the sport.  In the closing ceremony the IOC (International Olympic Committee) declared these the best games ever.  That night went off... since this was a Sunday, the federal government declared the next day a public holiday, so that the city could party all night and didn't have to worry about work in the morning (This is just a theory).

more Olympics  (NEW: 8 october 2000)

Cairns
Emily and I spent over two weeks in Cairns.  Cairns is a very popular destination for travelers because it is a useful base for the northern part of the Great Barrier Reef and to Northern Queensland.  Beneath a range of rain-forested mountains that rise steeply from the cost, this tropical city lives for the sea.

Cairns holiday: balloon ride (NEW: 24 july 2000)  What better way to see as much of the area as possible.  We were up in the air in early enough to see the sun rise over the mountains.  Our pilot assured us that he know what he was doing, so I can assume that the trees that we brushed up against were on purpose.  I must also assume that he intentionally made the landing bumpy and drawn out in order to make it more exciting.  Afterwards, we were lucky enough to help them put the balloon away.

Cairns holiday: Rainforest Station (NEW: 24 july 2000)  The Rainforest Station turned out to be a tourist trap where people can pay money to see a bit of rainforest (even though the surrounding area is covered in rainforest),  mingle with some 'real' aboriginal tribesman (it is questionable whether or not they were from an actual tribe or just paid actors in body paint), and see some wildlife.  A bit of advise if you ever go see the aboriginal show:  don't sit in the first few rows... they randomly pick a few victims to go on stage and dance... it was a very traumatic experience for me!

Cairns holiday: Scuba (NEW: 24 july 2000)  The Great Barrier Reef is the largest reef system in the world and has been called the largest structure in the world.  It covers an area greater than Britain.  We spent three days, two nights out there, including 10 dives.  We went on a deep dive (30m or 100 ft), took some underwater pictures, and made a video on another dive.  We also had two night dives where we saw turtles sleeping and fish and mollusks that only come out at night.  After a quick dry-off after the night dive we joined the other divers and the crew at the on-board saloon for a few quiet ales before retiring to our 'spacious' rooms for a few hours of shut eye before we did it again at 6am.

Cairns holiday: Cape Tribulation (NEW: 24 july 2000)  "Where the Rainforest meets the Reef".  This World Heritage Park is a spectacular paradise of mist-shrouded mountains tumbling down to the Coral Sea.  One of the wettest corners on earth, the park has virgin tropical rain forest and coral reefs virtually side by side.  We stayed in this guesthouse that was literally in the middle of the rainforest, and a got a little closer to nature than we probably wanted to.  The only other signs of civilization within a few miles of us were a little food take-a-way stand and the pub which was packed with partying backpackers every night.  Emily and I took a nice short (about 12 miles) walk down to some water hole, and even though they predicted no rain for the day, we probably had at least a couple of inches fall on us during our stroll through the rainforest... I guess they call it a rainforest for a good reason.

Cairns holiday: Safari (NEW: 24 july 2000)  An awesome trip.  A three day trip covering the rainforest, Tablelands, and the outback.  The first day we drove through the rainforest up to the Tablelands west of Cairns.  We canoed through dusk in a lake on the Tablelands.  We stayed at a hostel in some little village.  Day 2: Head to Millaa Millaa Falls then west across the Great Dividing Range into the outback.  We visited some isolated mining towns and then slept under the stars in swags.  Day 3: stop at a the Barbarrum Aboriginal Outstation to learn the art of didgeridoo playing.  BBQ lunch at a cattle station before taking a horse ride with the stockmen.

Cairns holiday: misc. (NEW: 24 july 2000)  some pictures from the Kuranda Skyrail and from out trip to Trinitiy Beach from Cairns.

 more wildlife (NEW: 15 may 2000) A trip to Featherdale Wildlife Park in Blacktown with Adela and her friend Greg.

 Easter Holiday  (NEW: 5 may 2000) Exciting vacation with my parents over the Easter break.  They came in on April 20.  We hung out in Sydney on the 21st, 22nd, 23rd (Easter), and 24th.  That included a trip to the zoo and a tour out to the Blue Mountains.  On the 24th we flew to Brisbane (1000 km, or 600 miles north of Sydney).  It rained the entire time.  From Brisbane we took the O'Reilly's and Mt Tamborine day tour... quoting the brochure:
 

Climb high above the surrounding coastal plain through the cool quiet rainforests of Lamington National Park Road.  Visit Mount Tamborine with its spectacular panoramic views of the Gold Coast and glistening waters of the blue Pacific Ocean.  Morning tea is included.  Stroll along Gallery walk,  Mt Tamborine and browse through the many unique craft shops.  From here we head toward the Green Mountains of O'Reilly's.  Feel the history of the area as we traverse old logging tracks and hear of the epic adventures of those early settlers.  Whilst enjoying the serenity of this mountain wilderness learn of the heroic rescue by Bernard O'Reilly of two survivors from the Stinson plane crash.  Feed the birds with our specially prepared wild bird seed .  Walk through the tree tops 16 metres above the forest floor, view the ancient Antarctic Beech trees together with a multitude of flora and fauna.  As we travel down the range visit the unique Alpaca farm, listen for the Bellbirds, Rosellas, and Farrots as they create a symphony of natural music.  Travel through CAnungra, the old sawmilling town now home of the Australian Army's Jungle WArfare Training Centre.  Arriving back onto the Gold Coast and Brisbane with a desire to return to the spectacular beauty of the Green Mountains.

Then we hired a car on the 26th and drove to the Gold Coast.  Dad had to quickly familiarize himself with driving on the left side of the road... but the drive went as well as could be expected.  We stopped at the Australian zoo along the way.  That is were Steve Irwin (the Crocodile Hunter) works... but he wasn't there the day that we went... of course they don't tell you that until after you pay the $15 entrance fee.  It was pretty cool, though.

We stayed at the Noosa Netanya in Noosa Heads on the Sunshine Coast.  We took a tour of Fraser Island on a 4 wheel-drive coach bus.  Fraser Island is the largest sand island in the world.  One of the few places you will see a rainforest on a sand bar.  The main road on the island is the beach... it is the only way to travel north/south along the island, and the highway is underwater at high-tide... so don't get stuck out there on high tide because your vehicle will never run again!

 Wesley College (NEW: 20 april 2000) The never boring life in a residential college.

 ab seiling (NEW: 1 april 2000)... what the Aussies call repelling.  Able to learn rope and SRO skills down at Stonewall Tops with the Sydney Uni Speleological Society

 Blue Mountains (NEW: 27 march 2000) very, very beautiful mountains that are about 50 km  west of Sydney.   (Me, Seamus, Sally, Tracy, Doug, and Wales)

more Mardi Gras

more Sydney

 even more Sydney  (NEW: 1 april 2000 with additions on 5 may 2000)  another set of pictures from Sydney including Maroubra and Coogee beaches and the adventurous walk from Maroubra to Coogee.  There are also some good pictures taken from the top of Centre Point... it is Sydney's version of Seattle's space needle.  This album also some pictures of St. Marys Cathedral.

last modified 8 january  2001                         send problems and queries to webmaster at:  jamessolberg@hotmail.com