See below for another new post today -- about Bali.

From Nov 14 until the end of the month, we spent just over 2 weeks in the Land Down Under.  We did not eat a vegemite sandwich and the man sure didn't plunder.

We spent 10 days in Sydney.  During those 10 days, we went to Darling and Sydney Harbors (quite a few times -- while the Opera House was photogenic, D Harbor was actually, we thought, a bit nicer), visited 2 aquariums (saw a platypus, a seal sanctuary, a dangerous animals show, and learned a lot about sharks), went to some museums (related to the prison systems and Aus's convict history), walked around the historic Rocks district, and visited a few zoos (the snakes and spiders were amazing -- see also the next sentence).  Jenn, to her wonder and pure elation, was able to see, pet, and spend some QT with several local koalas -- her new favorite animal.  She also hand-fed kangaroos and held a baby wallaby.  We also took a day tour of the Blue Mountains (hills actually, at least by CO standards; while the rainforest was scenic, the boomerang practice was, I thought, the best part), as well as a really fun tour of the Hunter Wine Valley (a wine tasting tour by bicycle).  Finally, we spent a day at the lovely Manly Beach.

After Sydney, we spent 4 relaxing days on Magnetic Island in North Queensland.  MI is a beautiful, largely undeveloped, and very low key island (most of it is a protected reserve).  The weather was fine, but the wind prevented us from too many watersports.  Nonetheless, we did go out to the Great Barrier Reef.  The dive trip was incredible -- an amazing underwater national park, and I even saw (several times and up close) a 6 foot white tipped reef shark.  We also took some scenic nature walks and even spotted a koala in the wild (sleeping, of course, as they do 20 hours a day).  We also saw a lot of beautiful birds.  Finally, our self-contained apt was right on the beach, and we were even able to put together a pretty good traditional T Day dinner (everything but the gravy and pumpkin pie).

Now, we are in Chirstchurch, NZ.  In 2 days, we head out in our camper van for a 9 day road trip around the S Island!!!  We'll look forward to posting about NZ soon, but we may be posting from Denver -- since we should be home around the middle/towards the end of this month.  Hard to believe!!!