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Author Topic: Trip of a Lifetime  (Read 22724 times)

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Offline bocker3

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Re: Trip of a Lifetime
« Reply #50 on: December 12, 2009, 02:24:04 pm »
Thanks for the pics RAB.  What a beautiful place -- and something tells me that Kooni gets to do whatever Kooni wants to do....   :D

It so nice to be able to track your travels online -- it's almost like being there.

Hugs,
Mike

Offline Andy Velez

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Re: Trip of a Lifetime
« Reply #51 on: December 12, 2009, 05:06:06 pm »
Great pictures and stories. I am so looking forward to the NEXT trip of a lifetime that is impossible to happen but then you swing out and make it happen. 

Yes, I am! Go, Rab!!!!
Andy Velez

Offline minismom

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Re: Trip of a Lifetime
« Reply #52 on: December 13, 2009, 08:08:33 am »
What amazing pictures! Jan, your home is beautiful - the gardens are exquisit.  Is that Jim or DF with Koonie?

Willy, the big guy is King Elrond.  He's quite the handsome devil, isn't he?

RAB, where to next?

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Offline fearless

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Re: Trip of a Lifetime
« Reply #53 on: December 13, 2009, 06:09:35 pm »
Thanks Rocky,

I cannot believe how green everything is in NZ.
As for Kooni, all I see is bacon and pork chops. Sorry, Jan.

Now I have to put up with them for 7 or 8 days. There's just no way I can top your NZ visit.
Be forgiving, be grateful, be optimistic

Offline anniebc

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Re: Trip of a Lifetime
« Reply #54 on: December 13, 2009, 09:24:45 pm »
Quote
As for Kooni, all I see is bacon and pork chops. Sorry, Jan.

What!!!...I'll have to get the guys to wash your mouth out with soap and water young man.

It was sad to see RAB and DF go but I'm happy they are going to warmer weather, although the weather wasn't too bad here, except maybe the day they left..(see photo) this is NZ in summer...taken at a BBQ at our sons place an hour or so after the guys left...how lucky are they heading off to 105 degrees..and no doubt sunning it up on the beach.. ;D

I certainly got the impression they both loved NZ and the enjoyed the places we visited, Milford Sound put on a good show for them, hundreds of Water Falls on the day we arrived.

My female Goat, Jenny, took a real fancy to DF, when he bend down to do something she started nibbling at his ear and didn't want to stop..I think she's in love.. ;)

They both saw things they never thought they would see..Alpacas being shorn and screaming their protests, Alpacas being sewn up with a needle and cotton from my sewing box, an oversized pig who refused to do as she was told, and didn't like being told off so as a pay back she peed in the lounge..and of course free chicken porn...not sure what they will miss the most.. :D

I miss them, and Jim and I really enjoyed having them here.

Hugs
Jan :-*


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Never knock on deaths door..ring the bell and run..he really hates that.

Offline RAB

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Re: Trip of a Lifetime
« Reply #55 on: December 13, 2009, 10:10:10 pm »
Hey Everyone:

No visit to Jan's house would be complete without a visit with the goats.  They are so friendly, kind of like dogs always following you around.  They are curious, mischievous, and friggin escape artists.   :D

If you don't give them the attention they want, they'll demand it of you.

Jan will have to come in and identify them by name, I got confused.  Except for Jody who got a wee bit too friendly with Damn Fool.  See below

RAB




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Offline RAB

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Re: Trip of a Lifetime
« Reply #56 on: December 13, 2009, 10:15:11 pm »
After sheering the Alpacas on Tuesday, we drove to Te Anau on Wednesday.

We then travelled on to Milford Sound.  Although the weather was lousy, that actually worked to our advantage, because the # of waterfalls increases to over 1000 when it rains so hard.

Literally every mountain has dozens and dozens of waterfalls cascading down their side.

The photos don't really bring it into perspective, but trust me it was one of the most amazing sights I have ever seen.



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Offline RAB

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Re: Trip of a Lifetime
« Reply #57 on: December 13, 2009, 10:18:10 pm »
After arriving at Milford Sound we boarded a tour boat that took us to the outlet into the Tasman Sea.

These photos were just silly shots of Jan, me, and Damn Fool hamming it up.



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Offline RAB

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Re: Trip of a Lifetime
« Reply #58 on: December 13, 2009, 10:20:43 pm »
Last one for awhile I promise.    ;)

These photos were also taken on the boat tour.



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Offline anniebc

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Re: Trip of a Lifetime
« Reply #59 on: December 13, 2009, 10:29:16 pm »
The goat nibbling DF's ear is Jenny, the one having a wee look under DF's shirt is Jody, well he was either checking out the shirt or chewing on the zipper..not quite sure which.. ;D...it's their way of getting attention.

As RAb said the photo's don't do really do justice to the water falls they are thousands of feet high but it doesn't show up on the photo's.

I forced them into the "Jack and Rose" pose at the pointy end of the boat..it had to be done.. ;)

Hugs
Jan :-*

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Never knock on deaths door..ring the bell and run..he really hates that.

Offline fearless

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Re: Trip of a Lifetime
« Reply #60 on: December 14, 2009, 12:14:36 am »
Beautiful pictures. I understand why it is so green now.
Be forgiving, be grateful, be optimistic

Offline Jody

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Re: Trip of a Lifetime
« Reply #61 on: December 14, 2009, 08:45:17 pm »
What a great trip this has been for Rab, DF, Steve and komnaes and certainly Jan and Jim and family to all hook up to be together and see so many beautiful sights.  The waterfalls look fantastic, enough natural beauty down under for a lifetime...And I'm certainly glad my favorite goat on the other side of this big ball got in a nibble or three!!!

Have a great last round of the South Pacific guys and speak to you when you get home.

Jody :)
"Wake up to find out that you are the eyes of the world".
 "Try to discover that you are the song that the morning brings."

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Offline RAB

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Re: Trip of a Lifetime
« Reply #62 on: December 15, 2009, 02:05:58 am »
...And I'm certainly glad my favorite goat on the other side of this big ball got in a nibble or three!!!

Have a great last round of the South Pacific guys and speak to you when you get home.

Jody :)

Seems to me he takes after his namesake!   :P  Just sayin!

Today we did the "Bridge Climb"!  It was so cool.  The entire tour takes 3 1/2 hours, is pretty spendy, but worth every penny.



Tomorrow, Little Steve is taking us "Beaching".  Where he assures us the scenery will be um er, pretty darn impressive.  Oh and I hear there's water and stuff too.   ;)  

I'm so far behind on the pictures I've wanted to post I'm just about ready to bag it.  

Heck I haven't even posted anything from Hong Kong!

Tomorrow, I'm going to force DF to up load the rest of the pics onto the computer (I don't have anything since Queenstwon), so I can re-size them and put up a few.

RAB   ;D

Edit to add:  I'll share this one of Jan and her good friend on the "bad karaoke"  night (Te Anau).  I suspect she's now playing for the other team-- if you know what I mean  ;).  And she hadn't even had a drop of liquor before swishing around the dance floor like that.   :o

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« Last Edit: December 15, 2009, 02:11:43 am by RAB »

Offline anniebc

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Re: Trip of a Lifetime
« Reply #63 on: December 15, 2009, 04:22:26 am »
Air Kisses Dahlin'..just Air Kisses...I thought the other one of Karen and I in full vocal was the one you threatened to post.. ;D.

Doing the Brige Climb is no mean feat..well done you, I'm sure you will enjoy the beach, if it's the one I'm thinking about... ;)

Look forward to seeing more photo's.

Miss ya
Hugs
Jan :-*
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Never knock on deaths door..ring the bell and run..he really hates that.

Offline RAB

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Re: Trip of a Lifetime
« Reply #64 on: December 15, 2009, 04:11:31 pm »
Air Kisses Dahlin'..just Air Kisses...I thought the other one of Karen and I in full vocal was the one you threatened to post.. ;D.


Look forward to seeing more photo's.

Miss ya
Hugs
Jan :-*

Ask and you shall receive.   ;)


RAB   ;D

Edit to remove duplicate photo.

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Offline anniebc

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Re: Trip of a Lifetime
« Reply #65 on: December 15, 2009, 05:12:55 pm »
Oh very funny..I meant more photo's of Sydney and you know I did.. :D

It's quite sad really, I knew all the words to the song, it's jsut a pity I was so off key because it was really painful to listen to, I have to tell you all at this stage RAB was trying to get me out the door, and yes I was sober..no Baileys that night.. :D

Have you been to the beach yet?, just remember to make sure you have plenty of 35+ on, that Sydney sun will burn your little bum to a crisp.. ;).

Hugs
Jan :-*
« Last Edit: December 15, 2009, 05:19:20 pm by anniebc »
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Never knock on deaths door..ring the bell and run..he really hates that.

Offline fearless

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Re: Trip of a Lifetime
« Reply #66 on: December 16, 2009, 03:13:26 am »
I tried and tried Jan but they kept insisting that they don't get burnt.  ::) factor 15 was the most they would do. i may have looked silly, but i'm not sunburnt.

there were plenty of nice sites to take in but i think i may have walked them into the ground. i let rab give you all the gory details
Be forgiving, be grateful, be optimistic

Offline RAB

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Re: Trip of a Lifetime
« Reply #67 on: December 16, 2009, 02:41:16 pm »
I tried and tried Jan but they kept insisting that they don't get burnt.  ::) factor 15 was the most they would do. i may have looked silly, but i'm not sunburnt.

Neither am I little buddy.  Just an attractive shade of PINK

Quote
there were plenty of nice sites to take in but i think i may have walked them into the ground. i let rab give you all the gory details

Bronte, Tamarama, and Bondi were 3 very different but truly beautiful beaches.  The walking wasn't that bad and the scenery  (UHUM) certainly made it worth it.  :o 

Everyone:
The only thing Little Steve likes more than the ocean, is being in the ocean.  If that man could make a living by swimming, he'd do it in a heartbeat.  It's absolutely his passion.

It was such a great day.

RAB   ;D

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Offline minismom

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Re: Trip of a Lifetime
« Reply #68 on: December 17, 2009, 05:48:34 pm »
What beautiful beaches!  Glad to see you and DF are having such an amazing time.  Is that a swimming pool next to the ocean in the bottom picture?  Steve, didn't you almost get eaten by a shark when you were younger (or am I relying on Peanut's memory)?  LOL - maybe that's how you learned to swim so fast :P

Mum

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Offline fearless

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Re: Trip of a Lifetime
« Reply #69 on: December 17, 2009, 07:22:10 pm »
Must be your peanut memory, Mum. I have swum with sharks but never been nearly eaten.
And, yes, it is a pool. Most of the beaches have an ocean pool at one or both ends - from times gone by when swimming in the ocean was seen as too dangerous.

We actually swam in the pool at the first beach, Bronte. See my pic from a different angle and different day - only a few day earlier though. lovely

Will be catching up with the boys again for dinner tonight before sending them on their way back over to the good ol' USofA.

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« Last Edit: December 17, 2009, 07:38:34 pm by fearless »
Be forgiving, be grateful, be optimistic

Offline minismom

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Re: Trip of a Lifetime
« Reply #70 on: December 18, 2009, 05:59:41 am »
Oh, well, I'm getting old, what can I say.  And, it wasn't my peanut memory that was in question - it was Peanut's (aka Mim's) memory ::).  I was reading her RAB's posts and she thought you'd posted once that you'd almost been eaten by a shark. 

I wish they had those pools here.  I HATE the beach - sand, salt, critters, and waves.  Those pools look clean, critter-free, no sand, and still water.  Those I could do.

RAB and DF - here's to a safe and uneventful travel back home.  I look forward to hearing more stories and seeing more pictures of your great adventure. 

Mum
www.watoto.com
www.MotherBearProject.org
"Whichever way you throw me, i will stand"
"Don't worry about the world coming to an end today...it's already tomorrow in Australia"  Charles Schultz

Offline Jeff G

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Re: Trip of a Lifetime
« Reply #71 on: December 18, 2009, 03:59:43 pm »
Thanks for sharing your pics of the trip . My pics of New Zealand  from my trip there in 2000 are with my ex . I will one day go back to visit that country again if possible . It was the most beautiful place I ever traveled to .

We stayed a few days at Aurthur's Pass on a sheep ranch . At first I was not that excited to be there after spending New Years in Sydney . We stayed in New Zealand for almost 3 weeks and it turned out to be my trip of a lifetime . Thanks for the memories .   
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Offline RAB

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Re: Trip of a Lifetime
« Reply #72 on: December 18, 2009, 05:25:44 pm »
Last night Little Steve came by our hotel and guided us to his neighborhood on the train.  (Lord knows we'd never have found it on our own.)

He lives in a up and coming area near the university.  The streets are lined with lots of restaurants, shops, and what not.

We had dinner with Steve and his boyfriend then caught a taxi home.

The food was wonderful, the company was even better.

RAB ;D



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Offline RAB

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Re: Trip of a Lifetime
« Reply #73 on: December 18, 2009, 05:36:40 pm »
One thing about Sydney (besides how incredibly expensive it is) that I could do without are the darn

BATS!


They are everywhere, hanging from the trees during the day and at dusk they take to the skies in these massive swarms.   :o

We couldn't really get a good picture of them in flight, but here's what we did get.

RAB 
(Who found them quite unnerving!)



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Offline GSOgymrat

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Re: Trip of a Lifetime
« Reply #74 on: December 18, 2009, 06:41:51 pm »
Very cool pictures! I hate mosquitoes so I love bats.

Offline AlanBama

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Re: Trip of a Lifetime
« Reply #75 on: December 19, 2009, 02:32:57 pm »
Wonderful pics honey, and I am so glad you are having this fantastic trip!   What a wonderful way to spend the holidays....

Love to both of you,

Alan

PS  how cool that you got to meet Steve....he's someone on the forums I would love to meet in person someday (along with another certain Australian we all know and love....)
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Offline RAB

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Re: Trip of a Lifetime
« Reply #76 on: December 19, 2009, 10:15:00 pm »
Thie first one is for Mini.

Obviously.

The other two I just found interesting, one will be my new mantra in life.  I'll leave it to you to decide which.   ;)

RAB

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Offline RAB

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Re: Trip of a Lifetime
« Reply #77 on: December 19, 2009, 10:17:23 pm »
Some more beach photos.

RAB

(Who promises to stop soon.)

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Offline RAB

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Re: Trip of a Lifetime
« Reply #78 on: December 19, 2009, 10:20:43 pm »
The Opera House is certainly one of Sydney's most recognized landmarks.  What I never knew is that it isn't just one building, but actually 3 seperate.

Don't let the photo mislead you, the place is huge. 

RAB


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Offline RAB

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Re: Trip of a Lifetime
« Reply #79 on: December 19, 2009, 10:27:41 pm »
Some random shots from around Sydney.

The first of Saint Mary's (actually don't hold me to that--I'm suddenly forgetting what the name is) Catholic Cathedral.  (Less that 2 minutes from our hotel.)

The second from a park closer to the Botanical Gardens.

The third. . . .crum is that Government House? 


RAB

(Who obviously wouldn't make a very good tour guide.)

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Offline Ann

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Re: Trip of a Lifetime
« Reply #80 on: December 20, 2009, 08:45:09 am »

RAB

(Who promises to stop soon.)


Don't you dare!

I know I haven't commented in this thread before now, but I've really been enjoying hearing about your trip and seeing the photos. I'm so happy that you and DF got to make this trip despite your setbacks earlier this year. Way to go!

Hugs,
Ann
xxx
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Offline minismom

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Re: Trip of a Lifetime
« Reply #81 on: December 20, 2009, 10:15:34 am »
What a cute picture, RAB, thanks for posting it for her.  That's actually how she got her name.  I had a friend that we called Mimi.  I had no idea what her "real" name was.  Anyway, when Mini was born and we announced her name, our friend shared that it was her actual name.  So, from then on, it was Mega-Mimi and Mini-Mimi.

When are you and DF scheduled to be home?  I agree with Ann, keep the pictures coming.

Mum

BTW, who is the serious hunk on the beach?
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Offline RAB

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Re: Trip of a Lifetime
« Reply #82 on: December 20, 2009, 03:01:45 pm »

When are you and DF scheduled to be home?  I agree with Ann, keep the pictures coming.

Mum

BTW, who is the serious hunk on the beach?

Sadly Mum this afternoon we board a flight back to Hong Kong.  (9 1/2 hours)

We're in HK for 12 hours before boarding a flight to SFO, we lay over there for 2 hours, then fly home.

As far as who the hunk is. . .well I could lie and say he became my new best friend, but alas that wouldn't be true.  BTW, while he's gorgeous, you should have seen some of the others.   :o :P

Don't you dare!

I know I haven't commented in this thread before now, but I've really been enjoying hearing about your trip and seeing the photos. I'm so happy that you and DF got to make this trip despite your setbacks earlier this year. Way to go!

Hugs,
Ann
xxx

Thanks Ann but remember I haven't posted a single photo from HK yet, and thats where the whole adventure began!  I finally got a handle on the most efficient way to resize the photos all at once instead of trying to do them one at a time.  (Stupid me.)

Everyone: 

Yesterday we went to Darling Harbor and last evening we went back to New Town for our final supper in Sydney.

RAB

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Offline RAB

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Re: Trip of a Lifetime
« Reply #83 on: December 20, 2009, 03:07:24 pm »
Pics from New Town (little Steve's neighborhood)

I just couldn't resist posting #3, that poor fool had no idea!  LOL

RAB

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Offline fearless

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Re: Trip of a Lifetime
« Reply #84 on: December 20, 2009, 06:10:07 pm »
Ciao and bon voyage buddy,
It's been wonderful to finally meet in person and to spend some time with you and DF.
Steve.

ps. isn't that me in the pic from Bondi Beach?
pps. RAB should have pointed out that those bats they were troubling him so much have a wing span of between 2 and 3 feet. they are enourmous

« Last Edit: December 20, 2009, 06:16:15 pm by fearless »
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Offline Basquo

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Re: Trip of a Lifetime
« Reply #85 on: December 20, 2009, 08:41:17 pm »
Pics from New Town (little Steve's neighborhood)

I just couldn't resist posting #3, that poor fool had no idea!  LOL

RAB

I see Sydney has a crack problem like the one I found in Mexico City.

 


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