Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Lakes Entrance, Victoria Australia


a house/boat along the Metong that is registered as a jetty to keep the coppers at bay...
our little buddy and neighbor
Happy Birthday Angie!
"Tando"
one of the original cottages on New Works.

Andrew and Kirdie, our hosts.
Brian, a female Blue Healer, our other host....
aerial shot of the island
the backyard at "Sea Shell"
looking South toward Tazmania


We arrived March 8 in Melbourne, Australia and drove three hours to the coast to stay with friends in Lakes Entrance. Lakes Entrance is located on the edge of Ninety Mile Beach where the Gippsland Lakes meet the Southern Ocean. Andrew and Kirdie live on New Works, a protected island accessible only by boat with only about 8 houses. Their house, "Sea Shell", was one of the original cottages built to house fisherman and workers. The framed picture above gives some idea of the layout of the island, their house is the third from the left. It was a great few days and warm welcome into Australia. On Angie's birthday (March 9) we took a cruise on "Tando", their beuatiful restored wooden salvage boat. The next night Andrew and I took Tando out to dock and saw a group of Kangaroo grazing at dusk. When they saw us get out and wade up toward them they all raised up on their back legs and turned....thanks Andrew.

After leaving Victoria we made our way up the coast toward Sydney, stopping at some incredible spots along the way. We are heading to Bangkok today (April 2) after leaving Bali. We have a lot to catch up on with the blog.....New South Wales, Jervis Bay, Sydney, and Bali...the internet has been tough to find the last two and a half weeks...its been nice!

Monday, March 16, 2009

The Wedding!!! March 5, 2009 5:00pm

On March 5th.....at 5 p.m.....We got married! The ceremony was held on the beach just outside the house we were staying in. Thanks so much to George Fujiwara for the beautiful place. We had a traditional Hawaiian ceremony that was both simple and lovely. Kahu, Butch Helemano presided over our ceremony.

In attendance was our new friend and neighbor, Andre, who was our ring bearer and witness. Thank you, Andre! And thanks so much to Stefanie and Anna Riedel for the great photos. It was lovely meeting you both.

March 5th was our last and most beautiful evening in Hawaii and certainly one we will never forget.


















Monday, March 9, 2009

Oahu continued...

Windward side of Oahu, looking east from Halona blow hole. photo by todd

Hanauma Bay, photo by todd.

shave ice= yum yum good, our rental surf wagon in the background...a modern day Woody.

resting turtle in front of the beach house, looking east toward Waimea. Snorkeling with them was amazing, a sacred and pre-historic experience. The first time swimming with them I had the sense that they were really checking me out. After satisfying their curiousity they let me swim with them. Our last day we saw the biggest one hanging out under a coral formation. His shell must have been 5 feet. photo by todd
turtle tracks

China Town, Honolulu

photo by angie

photo by angie

photo by angie

photo by angie

photo by angie

photo by angie

medicinal herb and acupuncture shop, photo by todd

medicinal herb and acupuncture shop, photo by todd

photo by todd

photo by todd

photo by todd

photo by todd

photo by todd

photo by todd

photo by todd

photo by todd