Kendra Lives!

No, folks, I was not lost forever on the continent below. I was waiting to make my grand return to blogging until after I had my Australia pictures organized and ready to share (which was nigh unto impossible from September 16-November 9, blackout dates due to EQUIP). But, alas, my internet provider is blocking access to Blogger (again), so I can't post pictures. Which is sad, because you can't see my pictures on my blog. But it's happy because it means I'm posting today instead of when the pictures are completely ready! When the pictures are set in order and captioned, I'll post the link so you can view them online at YorkPhoto.

 

Before updating the happy book, it would be good to finish out the highlights from the Australia trip . . .

 

Saturday, September 2

·     *Carol taking us to Cape Schanck, one of her favorite spots. Enjoying the rocky coastline, then fish 'n chips on the beach near the colorful bath houses at Dromana

·     *Listening to snippets of Carol's Egyptian music on the way home, bringing back memories of Israel

·     *Having fish again for dinner, thanks to Mr. Shaker!

·     *Riding to the video store with Daniel, talking, and picking out videos with him

 

Sunday, September 3

*Attending Heathmont Baptist, meeting more Shaker friends and alive believers

*Father's Day (yep!) celebration at Vivienne's, taking a walk with Amanda's cousins Anthea and Lauren

*Going to Amanda's Dynamite group at church, appreciating Malcolm and Christine's message on worship

*Nick singing "Cast Your Burden Unto Jesus" in evening church, because he lost a bet

*Jen insisting that we must try "fairy bread," an Australian children's favorite. It's white bread and butter with little round sprinkles on it

*Mike feeding Kayla airplane style

 

Monday, September 4

*Going to Healesville Wildlife Sanctuary with George (Amanda's cousin) and Kerollas (George's cousin). Comparing notes with George, who lived at Eagle Mountain for a couple of months, on who we know

*George being our self-appointed tour guide at Healesville and insisting that we "follow the water bottle"

*Seeing platypus, wombat, echidna, and kangaroos

*The Birds of Prey show

*Father's Day dinner (late) with Granddad, Shereen, and Shereen's boyfriend, Caleb. Pavlova for dessert!

 

Tuesday, September 5

*Shopping at Vic Market

*Going to South Bank, the district on the south bank of the Yarra River. It reminded me of the district south of the river in Cincinnati (but no purple people bridge)

*Driving to Brighton to photograph the colorful bath houses there

*Experiencing "Tim Tam Slams," a snack concocted by sipping hot chocolate through Tim Tam cookies, which makes them melt into a gooey chocolate mess

*Kayla playing songs off her MP3 player for Daniel and Carol

 

Wednesday, September 6

*Leaving for an overnight trip to the Great Ocean Road with Amanda and Kayla. It was a beautiful drive. 'Twas cloudy on the way down, but the sun broke through enough to make it thoroughly enjoyable, despite Shereen's dire view that it would be miserably rainy.

*Going to Macca's (the Aussie nickname for McDonald's)

*Seeing lighthouses that would have been around when yacht Coronet came to Australia nearly a hundred years ago

*Australian pizza-with egg-for dinner

*Going to the breakwater in the town where we stayed

*Discovering that Australians do not eat donuts or sweet breads for breakfast

*Staying up late talking in our cozy cabin

 

Thursday, September 7

*Finishing the Great Ocean Road drive. Again, the scenery was breathtaking. Cape Breton Island meets Zion and Bryce National Parks. Splendid ocean views, but red rocks instead of grey.

*Walking through "Mait's Rest" a section of rainforest along the way

*Seeing the Twelve Apostles, fascinating rock formations in the ocean just off the coast

*Conversing with Amanda in strange accents as we walked to the overlooks

*Meat pies for dinner

 

Friday, September 8

*Went grocery shopping

*Had Amy Holt, a friend we like from Amanda's church, over for dinner

*Went into the city to meet Amanda's college friends Christine, Rose, and Ana for dessert. Enjoyed stories like the one when Ana's twin brother and friends flushed all her Barbie clothes down the toilet on one of their birthdays

 

Saturday, September 9

*Experiencing Yum Cha for the first time ever. It's Chinese brunch, but the waiters bring carts of items to your table. You select the items that look good, the waiter marks a card at your table, and you're billed according to what you eat. It was fun and tasty!

*Going over to dinner at Shereen's house. Caleb and Shereen cooked, then we watched "The Castle," an Australian cultural icon we had heard discussed and quoted, even at church

*Discussing Tin Tin books

 

Sunday, September 10

*Going to church with Mr. Shaker. Nick preaching on John 1:1-18

*Lunch with Mrs. Shaker and enjoying hearing her command Daniel to put up fencing so his dog, Blake, wouldn't continue demolishing the clean laundry on the back porch

*Speaking for Dynamite on "Praying for the Nations," a subject I'm not an expert on, but do get excited about

*Church and Angel's Café (snack time) after church

 

Monday, September 11

*Riding into Melbourne again with Amanda.

*Navigating the tram system without Amanda (she had to work)

*Going to the zoo with Kayla. Seeing the cool animals again

*Finding several more articles on yacht Coronet's visit to Melbourne last century. Downloading them to Amanda's thumb drive to pass on to Uncle Tim

*Visiting the Botanic Gardens with Kayla

*A surprise (early) birthday dinner arranged by Carol. Wearing party hats together, even Mr. Shaker!

*A last-minute visit to the home of the Gendy cousins to meet Mr. and Mrs. and cousin Joseph. Laughing at Carol trying to insult Kerollas in Arabic by saying, "You have red bum," but actually saying, "I have a red bum."

 

Tuesday, September 12

*A LONG flight home, direct from Melbourne to LA. (Mental note to never ride window and center seats on a killer flight like that.) Watching lots of movies and not doing so well on my scheme to avoid jet lag

*Making our connection in LA, despite the lateness of our arrival from Melbourne

*Kayla actually making her connection in Detroit (after she left me), despite her flight leaving late from Indianapolis

*Being back in my own suite, in my own bed, in my own surroundings . . . and looking forward to my birthday and the new EQUIP class!