Australia April 2015

AUSTRALIA APRIL 2015
   I feel purple today.  And I can do it because I am at a real computer and there are many choices. 
How can a whole country not know about eggs over easy? Or, medium for that matter.  I asked many places and friends, nope.  I tried to give a bit of show and tell, that did not work either, figured it was the wrong pan and I am sorely out of practice.  
   Darwin, thought I would see the highly touted lightning that takes place there, but alas, not.  So very hot and humid in Darwin, still. Hung out with friend that introduced me to the series of Fargo. I watched them all while he was at work. Good fun. 
   Took the Ghan from Darwin to Adelaide. Wanted to do this part since it got built.  Two nights in the chair, this was very comfortable. I had my food all set, reading material, big window, good seat mate, all good.  Stopped in Katherine and Alice Springs.  Walked to see a museum in Alice that I had not seen, lots of local history.  Hermannsburg, home of famous Aboriginal painter Albert Manatjira was the focus. Also very hot, but dry. 
   Adelaide was having a Fringe Festival while I was there, the night light parade was fabulous, the show I saw was not.  However, I will always remember it. Met a travel mate from the India, Bhutan, Nepal trip to hang out with.  Also got to go south  to visit other travel mates at the Goolwa area, mouth of the Murry River. Beautiful, many beaches and penguins. 
  On to Mildura for more visiting and new things to see.  I went to Lake Mungo where the Mungo Man and Woman came from, the fossils are about 42,000 years old. Their bones show a hard life. Did some sewing for my friend and off to Swan Hill where the Australian and US military had a secret amphibian repair depot during the 2nd World War. Best roast lamb dinner at the local RSL, so good my friend and I went twice. 
    Melbourne as good as ever.  And, the best Greek food ever! Fusion at it's best.  Saganaki with peppered fig sauce, so amazing, talk was impossible, and went back the next day for more. 
   Sydney, took the train overnight to get there in time for the biggest Gay Parade.  It was big in terms of people walking, not so many floats, which is what I like. Done it, not again.  
  Lucky me, I missed the extreme weather, several times.  I went to the AA convention in Newcastle on the East coast.  A hugh storm tore thru the park across from the venue. Trees downed like pick up sticks.  Another place I stayed had two very tall eucalyptus trees fall on the house and yard.  I seem to be ahead of the troubles.  Thinking of Africa and the Middle East. Got out of there before it got bad as well.
  Another travel buddy picked me up from Newcastle went to her place for a few days and then picked up our third mate and we went to the Blue Mountains for a few days.  The three sisters are the attraction there, rather like the 12 Apostles in the south, carved by wind and rain.  We rode on the steepest funicular in the world, it is a hoot.  Have to hang on both ways as we were at 64 degree angle. Also there is a glass bottom gondola over the deep valley and a cable way to the bottom of the gorge. Hotels that were the the honeymoon destination for Sydney folks, very plush with the view to the gorge. 
   On to the bush for another visit with a travel mate.  We were safe from the storm and hung out while I learned to set a new type of mouse trap.  Good food, beautiful environment good company.  One of the things we liked to do was watch her seedling grow, fascinating. 
   Back to Sydney to fly out.  Had me a tour of the Opera House and as show of tall buildings in the world done by a Lego expert, very cool that was.