Cairns

The last stop of the trip was Cairns, famous for the Great Barrier Reef. While there we took a train ride up to the rain forest, walked the many shops on the strip near our hotel and took a guided snorkel tour of the Great Barrier Reef. All in all it was an awesome vacation.

waiting for our train to arrive

it took over an hour to get to the top. We stopped twice to get out and look around

side view of our 14 car train

  beautiful waterfalls seen from the train

hanging out in the hot and humid rain forest

 instead of riding the train back we took the sky rail and road over and through the trees

the gorgeous view from our boat ride out to the reef

some coral

  getting ready to snorkel

Sydney

The next stop on our trip was Sydney, Australia. It was a beautiful and very clean city. This is the one area I wish we had more time at. I didn't get to see and do everything I would have liked to. I guess I will just have to plan a trip back there one day. 

Here is the Darling Harbor and the Australian flag

 Joe and I eating lunch on the water

 On day 1 we took a guided bus tour around the city where we got to see most of the major site seeing destinations

This is the famous Sydney Opera House of course. We had gorgeous weather if you couldn't tell.

 Sitting in Mrs. MacQuarie's Chair in the Botanical Gardens

 Sydney Tower

 Visiting Bondi Beach

 even though she wasn't with us she was there in spirit

 Day 2 we took a trip up to the Blue Mountains 

  

this one they call the Sleeping Giant

The 3 sisters

Joe got really good at playing the didgeridoo during this trip. This is a really cool instrument made from a eucalyptus branch which was hallowed out by termites

 After the mountains we visited a wildlife center where we got to feed kangaroos, pet koala bears and get acquainted with other Australia animals

I was so excited for this part of the trip. I have always wanted to say that I petted a Koala. 

  

Joe petting a kangaroo

feeding the little kangaroos 

 getting up close and personal

 check out this one's balls! Joe brought back a set as a souvenir believe it or not 

 On the last night we finally found a fire station and the guys got to hang out with some of their brothers

Fiji

Joe and I celebrated everything in 2013 by going on a big vacation. Instead of buying birthday, anniversary Christmas, etc gifts we went to Fiji and Australia. We had such a good time that we have decided that every 5 years we want to do the same thing exploring somewhere new. 

Double decker plane that took us from LA to Fiji

 Fijian welcome at the airport

 we stayed at the Radisson Blue. This is the view of the pool

boys having a drink at the bar in the pool

girls laying out and enjoying a beverage

we went out on this boat for a day tour of a private island. We enjoyed all you can drink and eat, snorkeling and a Kava ceremony

 enjoying a mimosa and Fiji Bitters beer while on the boat

Kava ceremony taking place on the island

 Joe drinking the Kava

"Bula" is the word they use for hello, welcome, and pretty much everything. We heard the word constantly while we were there. This is the Bula Bus we took to the port where there were shops and restaurants. 

I will post pics from Sydney and Cairns separately at a later time as there are so many pics to go through. 

 

Wine Biscuits

Before Joe and I left for our big trip, Bella and I visited Great Grandma Bella and made wine biscuits.

Bella was so excited to make "baskets" as she originally called them. 

 She assisted in making the dough

grandma and I rolling out and shaping the biscuits

we gave Bella her own dough and she rolled and patted the heck out of it. 

She even made a snowman with it

ready for the oven

Little drummer girl

Thanks Nana and Papa for my drum set! Mom and dad thank you too