Our last full day in Cairns we spent out at Kuranda.  Again, it was another small town with some fantastic markets.  We went through every gallery, shop, and vendors table, buying cloths, looking at opals, seeing what other things these people make and then sale.

Kuranda has a really neat place called “Batreach.”  It’s just a lady, and I guess her husband, that took in an injured bat a while back and rehabilitated it back to health.  Then another.  Then another.  Today, they have their own license and outdoor living areas set up to care for all kinds of bats, big and small.  The lady called them all by name, which the bats responded to, held them, brought them over for pictures, fed them, whatever.  She was totally at home with them, and they with her.  She told us all about several of them, including the ones that have been released already, but keep coming back for whatever reason, sleeping outside the cages, but still amongst the other bats. 

Also in Kuranda is a small “zoo” called the Koala Gardens, where we saw wallabies (Sabrina’s first time to feed and pet them), snakes, crocodile, and, of course, Koalas.  We all got to hold “Cheebi” the koala for photos. 

Posted by kisajaja at 8:16 AM MEST

Updated: Saturday, 19 July 2008 8:27 AM MEST

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The next morning was our trip to the Great Barrier Reef.  We went out to Green Island as part of a ½ day package we got because it seemed like plenty of time.  We got to the Island, got all of our gear assembled, and snorkled for about 30 minutes before it was our time to ride on the semi-submersible on a guided tour of the reef.   We spent roughly ½ hour seeing the reef and wildlife (fish, turtles, even a stingray, and TONS of corral and plant life).  After the semi-submersible, we raced back to our snorkling spot (after buying a disposable underwater camera) and snorkled for another ½ hour before it was time to leave. 

Posted by kisajaja at 8:09 AM MEST

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The next day we got up at the usual time (read:  early) and headed out for day full of waterfalls. 

Beautiful waterfalls.  Every one of them was fantastic. 

Also on this day, was something we didn’t intend.  Passing through the small town of Yungaburra, we saw a platform labelled, “Platypus viewing.”  There were a couple of people there, and it was next to a wood shop we wanted to look through, so we decided to stop and see what this was all about.  The young couple there said that the platypus was there and was coming up every minute or so, so we sat and watched.  Sure enough, we saw him up close and personal, several times, took several pictures, and thought it was great!  Platypus in the wild.  He was funny!

Later on, at one of the waterfalls, we saw a couple of people standing at the base.  They had been swimming in the splash pool when the lady realized that “something” was in the water with them.  Fearing that it was a small crocodile (indicating that LARGER crocodiles could also be about), they swam back to the rocks a short distance away.  Looking back into the water for a few minutes, they realized it was another Platypus.  This was miles away from our first platypus sighting of the day, but we looked around.  Less than a minute or two later, there her was.  A small, but unmistakable platypus swimming around in the waterfall splash pool.  Jacoby went wading into the water, just so he could say he went “swimming with the platypi.”  Not a bad idea, I suppose.  How many people can say they did that??!?  Roughly the same number of people that have seen two platypi in the same day from two different locations, both “in the wild” I would guess...

Posted by kisajaja at 7:52 AM MEST

Updated: Saturday, 19 July 2008 8:09 AM MEST

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Day two started early (they all did), as we loaded up the car and headed out to Port Douglas, Mossman, and Daintree.  Again, beautiful drive over a different part of the mountains on the way to the Port Douglas markets.  Once there, we shopped, looked around the town, and then headed off to Mossman which provided us with a fantastic nature walk across streams and gorges and through forests (rain forests, some).  After Mossman we headed to a tiny little town called Daintree.

Mossman was great, offering nature trails, forests, rain forests, and creeks to see.  It was a terrific way to loosen up after a lot of driving!

Daintree was fantastic!  To say it was quaint is an unqualified understatement, and it was great!  We ate lunch at one of the three restaurants in the small downtown area, which was a single street, about 1/8^th of a mile long.  There were a few houses in the town, and they were a little spread out, but the entire downtown area (three restaurants and a couple souvenir shops) took up less space than your average Walmart. 

We sat for lunch, perused the menu, and ordered.  Kimberly had a Crocodile Hamburger, I had the “native sampler” which included Crocodile wantons, Crumpled prawn (shrimp), Barramundi (fish) spring rolls, a Kangaroo kebob on a sugar cane skewer.  Sabrina ventured out and ordered Crocodile wontons.  Jacoby was on his own for “boring normal stuff.”

We asked the lady that owned/operated/cooked/served/and cleaned the restaurant how many families lived in Daintree.  Her response:  “I don’t know how many families, but they say it’s 96 people.  I don’t know where they got that number...I never seen ‘em all.  The school has 15 students total for all the grades.”  Let’s see...96 people, 15 school age children, I’d say around 30-35 families.  Pretty small...

Posted by kisajaja at 7:44 AM MEST

Updated: Saturday, 19 July 2008 8:35 AM MEST

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What a trip!  We arrived fairly late from our flight, which landed at around 10:00pm.  Luckily, we had no problem getting our luggage, getting our rental car, and finding our cabin, so we were knocked out by 11:00pm. 

Our cabin was a perfect little one-room place which was sort of strategically separated into four smaller “areas.”  We had a dining nook (two bar stools and some counter space), a kitchen (sink and small refrigerator), and three beds (one double, one single, and one hideaway, which lived under the single).  –And also a tiny bathroom.  It was plenty for us, and it was warm, dry, and comfortable.

For day one, we got an early start (a common theme), loaded up the car around 6:30ish, and drove into Mareeba for their markets.  It was a beautiful drive up and over a mountain range and across a bit of country.  We arrived at the Mareeba markets, visited every stall, and bought several gifts and souvenirs.  Afterwards, we headed back to Cairns.  We got back just before lunch time.

We decided to look around Cairns and get a “feel” for the place.  We went down to the waterfront area (downtown “tourist” boardwalk kind of area).  While there, we spent some time in the weekly vendor markets, then listened to some live music on the waterfront, then walked all of the streets in the downtown marketplace, stopping in most of them, and buying gifts and souvenirs from several of those...

We got lunch on the waterfront, which was significant, because we had more food choices than we are used to.  To highlight this, Kimberly ordered Fettuccini with Smoked Crocodile, which was actually really good!  - We all tried it.  I had Salt and Pepper Squid, and the kids had “normal boring stuff.”

This was a “get your feet wet” sort of day that was full of excitement!  First, it was warm!  It felt like an early summer day, which was a welcome switch from dreary Canberra.  Second, we had never been there before, so all of the excitement of new shops, new views (first time to the Coral Sea!), and new things to do all came into play.

Posted by kisajaja at 7:32 AM MEST

Updated: Saturday, 19 July 2008 7:43 AM MEST

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Mood:  happy

Good morning!  While it is still evening on July 3rd back home, it is, in fact, a bright, sun-shiny 4th of July in Australia. Happy Independence Day!

- Which they don't celebrate in Australia, obviously...

Actually I have the day off, as this is my second (and last) recovery day from my very successful knee surgery I had on Wednesday night.  I’ll start there.

I hurt my knee at Hapkido doing nothing in particular two weeks ago.  Last Wednesday, I had my MRI done, which showed a torn, twisted, and lodged meniscus.  After a few consults and a great deal of work by Tricare (Army health care), my surgery was scheduled for Wednesday.  I was told to show up at 12:30p, but to start fasting at 6:30a, in order not to get sick under the anaesthetic. 

Kimberly and I showed up at 12:30p, after dutifully not eating since 6:30a.  Then after about an hour of sitting in a hospital bed filling out papers (menus and such) that we were CERTAIN we didn’t need, and after explaining to several nurses that we were just there for out-patient surgery, I finally asked, “When is my surgery scheduled?”

“6:00p.”

What?  I was already hungry.  Now I had to wait another 5 hours in a hospital room and I STILL couldn’t eat because I was less than 6 hours from the anaesthetic...I wasn’t too happy.

Anyway, finally at around 7:00, it was my turn “under the knife,” and Dr Miniter did a fantastic job.  He tried to save the meniscus, but couldn’t, so he removed it completely.  Now I’m recovering before I can get back to work and exercise.

With all being said and done, it all worked out okay, so no issues.  I have a follow up appointment on Wednesday and a few trips to the physio in my immediate future, but all is good.

Also this week, I got a “blast from the past.”  Mo Maxwell and her son, Jacob wrote to me!  For those that don’t know, Mo wrote to me a lot while I was in Iraq.  I swear it was at least daily.  She kept me talking about just about anything just to keep me from getting bored.  She was great!  Her son, Jacob, is also an Iraqi vet, but is now looking for a job in civil service.  I wish them both the best.  It was great to hear from them.

Tomorrow night we will host the Hamett family for dinner.  Jim is a class mate and was my roommate all the way through the Vietnam trip.  Kimberly is putting on Greek Night!  I’ve looked at the menu and it sounds fantastic.

Jacoby is out of school for a term break.  I’m not until next week-end, which is when we go on our Cairns trip, which we are REALLY looking forward to.  Should be good times and many pictures ahead!

Take care, and have a great week!

- Ryan

Posted by kisajaja at 2:18 AM MEST

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Mood:  happy

My first exposure to Aussie Rules Football was a game my dad found on TV when I was about eight.  He thought it was funny that they crowd had these huge colored pom-poms that they would wave up and down when their team scored.  These things were enormous and took a couple of people to lift, and then drop them.  He liked the way the ref signalled a goal.  He liked the fast pace game with seemingly no rules, what-so-ever.

Enjoy your week!

- Ryan

Posted by kisajaja at 8:42 AM MEST

Updated: Sunday, 22 June 2008 8:56 AM MEST

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Mood:  happy

Well, let's see.  We'll start with work.

This week at work we continued our Single Service module.  That means that during this week, we had several Brigadiers and Colonels come and talk to us about their jobs, the problems and frustrations, and their Command philosophies.  This is supposed to give us a greater understanding of what the REAL issues and solutions might be for the inner workings of the Australian Defence Force.  While interesting, it has been fairly difficult to keep up with the lectures.  While their military and our have a great deal in common, they have different names for everything, which means different acronyms.  Once I figure out what we are talking about, things go fairly smoothly.  Until then, though, I’m pretty much lost.

The work load has been much reduced, however.  We only have a few assignments during this module, and about half of it is group work, or school-based projects.  There isn’t a lot out outside reading or assignment preparation, so it’s nice to be “at home” while I’m at home.

Jacoby is doing really well at school, to hear him tell it.  I’m still cautiously optimistic about it all, because I never see him doing work, and no real feedback comes home.  If no news is good news, then things are going “swimmingly.”  We’ll see when the end-of-semester reports come out.

As for sport, he is doing well with Hockey and soccer.  He had both games, yesterday.  The hockey team won 11-0 in what really wasn’t too good a game.  The soccer team lost 4-1 under the same circumstances.  While Jacoby is contributing (somewhat) to both teams, he doesn’t appear to be a significant factor in either.  Oddly, he plays much better hockey, much more aggressively, when he’s playing with the older group of people in the MHL league than he does with his team.  Granted, it’s a slower game, in which he can keep up with the level of play a little better...

Sabrina and Kimberly are doing well.  The truth, however, is that they are both bored.  We have done just about all of the Canberra day-trips, and there isn’t much going on in the city for the non-drinking, non-clubbing crowd.  If there are no good movies that week, all that’s left is food, and even that is getting repetitive and bland. 

What we really need is a break, which we will get next month, when we’ll go to Cairns for about a week.  Kimberly’s got the trip all planned out, but continues to do research and small scheduling g changes to make sure we get the most out of being there.  If nothing else, it’s something for her to do. 

Now for me.  This has been a week of injury for me.  No, not the Chiropractor (who is doing really well, by the way).  At Hapkido on Wednesday night I hurt my knee doing absolutely nothing unusual.  I was laying on the mat (I was just thrown there), went to stand up, and my knee popped.  Down I went.  After a rough evening, I finally gave up and worked through the TRICARE process, which was much easier than I expected, and went to the hospital.  Finallyk, at around 2:00a, the doctor looks at my knee and says, “yep, it’s injured, but I can’t tell how much.”  Brilliant.  I had been there for the last five hours without his help...Anyway, he referred me to get an MRI to see the extent of the ligament damage, which he suspected to be minor.  I’d love to give you the news now, but the appointment isn’t until this Wednesday night.  Apparently it takes a week to get this stuff done in Australia.  I’m told I am lucky.  It can take much longer.  Anyway, I’ve been wearing a leg brace since Wednesday, but it’s becoming more trouble than it’s worth.   While my knee is swollen and soar, it does feel better than it did, so we’ll see.

Anyway, after I get the MRI, I will have a follow-on appointment with a specialist to read the results.  Originally, this appointment was the next day (Thursday), but that appointment was cancelled because the specialist wouldn’t have enough time to “read” the results.  Amazing.  24-hours isn’t enough to look at the picture.  Just a reminder, I was diagnosed with MS after about 10-minutes after an MRI.  So anyway, I won’t even know on Wednesday night what the damage is.

In the meantime, I can’t work out, or run, and my body is falling apart. I’m not even 40, yet!  J

All that being said, everything is fine.  Yesterday was consumed with Jacoby’s sports.  Today we are going to the market, and then to an Australian Football League game in Manuka.  Sydney is playing Melbourne.  It’s really our only chance to see a game in Canberra this year, so we are looking forward to it.  We’ve seen both styles or Rugby (League and Union), and now AFL.  Kimberly and Jacoby have seen live Cricket, so we are just about done with “Sports We Don’t Understand.”

Take care, have a good week!

- Ryan

Posted by kisajaja at 12:44 AM MEST

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Mood:  happy

A few weeks ago, we went to an open house at the Southern Cross Health Club.  We are members of the Southern Cross Club, and this is their gym, which is really nice, but it requires an additional membership fee.  I can go to school to work out for free, so, despite the great equipment, we haven't signed up.  Anyway, they were having a free open house, which included a foot analysis station, a Chiroprator doing spinal analysis, and some other health people doing blood pressure, diet lessons, etc.

I went through every station, to include the Chiropractor, who told/showed me that I was in bad need of an alignment.  After an office visit and a few x-rays (showing further compelling need), I went to my first 'adjustment,' today.

It is amazing how many snaps, crackles, and pops you can get out of your neck and spine in just five minutes. 

Before anyone panics, please let me explain a few things.  First, Kimberly has done A LOT of research that has shown that MS patients tend to do very well with Chiropractors.  Yes, the Chiropractor is aware that I have MS.  In fact, he is pretty sure that not all of my symptoms are, in fact, MS.  He is hopeful that he can correct some of them through the adjustment process, which is consistant with what Kimberly has found in her studies.  The fact is, even if it doesn't aleviate symptoms, I still need to get it done, as my posture isn't too good, and I want very much to avoid permanant damage.

So there I am, laying on the table.  The doctor telling me exactly what he intends to do, positions me on my side, folds one leg, positions my arms, and says, "Great, now I'm just going to press....here..." and pop, pop, pop, pop, pop.  I sounded like a drum roll...Two more positions, two more drum rolls.  The whole thing took five minutes.  This is NOT an exageration.

I got out of the room, down the short hallway and into the lobby, where Kimberly was waiting.  She asked me what made the quick hammering noises in the room.  Yep...That was me.

Anyway, I now go the Chiropractor three times per week for a couple weeks, then two times per week for a while, and then just once a week for "maintenance."  If all goes well, my posture will be much improved, my balance restored, and (just maybe), some of my symptoms will be reduced. I'm cautiously optimistic.

Enjoy your week!  Everything is fine, here...

- Ryan

Posted by kisajaja at 1:20 PM MEST

Updated: Monday, 16 June 2008 1:48 PM MEST

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Mood:  happy

First off, Happy Queen’s Birthday!  This Monday, 9 June, is celebrated as the Queen’s Birthday.  It’s a federal holiday, so, no work! –Except I have to work...more on that shortly...  In the meantime, this is the only weekend in Canberra (I think) that the public can purchase and use fireworks.  All of the other holidays the professionals come in, but this weekend:  rank amateurs!   Yeah, Canberra!  Last night, we all climbed half way up Mount Taylor and watched the fireworks go off.  It was pretty neat, but no pictures came out...

Jacoby asked what was going to happen when the Queen dies and they get a new one.  His question, "Does she have to take 6 June for her birthday?"  We laughed out loud...Then we learned that she probably would.  As it turns out, the Queen's birthday is actually in April.  It is celebrated on the second Monday in June by tradition.  Who knew?

Last week, we finished the Counterinsurgency elective, and Term 2.  We are starting Single Service and the third term on Tuesday.  For the last two weeks, we have been writing the Australian doctrine (LWD 3-0-4, or something like that).  It took a week to get all of the writing teams to get their chapters done, and then the last week to edit it all together.  All that’s left is to brief it to the Chief of the Army, who is coming on Thursday.  That means rehearsals until then, which is why I am working tomorrow.  All of the briefers are getting together for editing and rehearsals.  Then, we’ll do it again on Tuesday.  Then, a full dress rehearsal on Wednesday.  Finally, the actual briefing on Thursday.

Please allow me to say that the Counterinsurgency elective was incredible.  It was good enough to make up for the miserable excuse for academia that was Strategic Studies.  If they would allow us to skip Single Service and continue with COIN, I’d be there in a heart-beat.

So now, this week-end’s news.  On Saturday, we went to the Tradies Club for lunch, and then went to Jacoby’s soccer game.  They lost, but they played really well.  This morning (Sunday) we left for Kangaroo Valley, which is sort of up by Sydney.  It was supposed to be a neat little town with a fair-thing going on called ‘wildfire.’ 

We drove the basically two-hours-and-change, and stopped just short of Kangaroo Valley at a place called Fitzroy Falls.  I’d never heard of it, but Kimberly read something...We stopped, parked, and took a short walk and saw some of the most spectacular waterfalls I’ve ever seen in real life.  These things were huge.  Too big for the cameras, but we did the best we could.  The only issue was that the weather was extremely cloudy/foggy/drizzling, so none of the pictures are all that clear.  We decided to head off for Kangaroo Valley and hope that the afternoon sun would burn off some of the fog.

Kangaroo Valley was awesome!  It’s a really neat little town that had several bistro/cafes, pottery shops, wood shops, souvenirs, and more!  It had a little area set up as rental condos for visitors, but it was completely small town Australia with a GREAT deal of charm.  The 'wildfire' thing look like a bunch-o-nothin', so we didn't even stop in.  We ate lunch, shopped, and then headed back to the falls.

After walking the falls for the second time, we realized that it was just marginally better than the first time, so no real improvement, there.  Still, they are spectacular.

Then we drove home to be just in time for Jacoby to play hockey, immediately followed by about an hour of live music at the Irish Club, where we ate dinner. 

Not a bad two days.  It was Sabrina’s first longish drive around Australia, so she got to finally see life outside of Canberra.  More of that to come in the immediate future!

Have a good week!

- Ryan

Posted by kisajaja at 12:56 PM MEST

Updated: Sunday, 8 June 2008 1:12 PM MEST

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