Groovy Grape & CVA

    Hey all! We had a great time on the Groovy Grape with our new enthusiastic companion, Steve, (BRILLIANT!). We started off our journey through the Outback by driving over to Uluru a.k.a. "Ayer's Rock", the biggest attraction in the Outback. We spent two days here and on the second night we got to experience a once in a life time opportunity of a thunderstorm over Uluru. The next day we headed over to King's Canyon, where yet again we experienced another thunderstorm this time in the middle of our hike and we had to race back to the van. The next morning we took a drive to Coober Pedy, the opal capital of the world and a town where you felt you were always being watched.  Here, we spent the night in an underground house as 85% of the locals do to escape the heat. When we woke up the next morning, Steve drove us to a near by cave where we got a tour of how opal is mined and prepared for the consumers.  Before leaving Coober Pedy, we got the chance to see kangeroos for our first time in Australia at an orphanage near our cave house.  While we were at the orphanage, three of the guys purchased didgeradoos creating the first band in the group, "Here Come the Turtles". On our last day, we said our goodbyes to Steve and half the group as we parted ways to our seperate projects with CVA, (Conservation Volunteers of Australia).

   With CVA, one half of our group was sent to Leigh Creek in search for kangeroos while the other half went to Brookfield Park to look for wombat burrows.  The Leigh Creek group was up at 4:30 every morning to be out in the bush for primetime kangeroo sighting.  Work finished by 8 AM for this group, giving them much down time which prepared them for the Buddist Monistary.  The group in Brookfield, 5 hours away, was up by 7 every morning working until lunch time. After the five days of Volunteer work, we all made our way safely to the beautiful city of Adelaide.

   When the Brookfield group arrived here to Adelaide today at 3,  the Leigh Creek group that had gotten in the day before had an amazing Thanksgiving spread prepared.  Australian style of course, the dinner consisted of Kangeroo on the barbie along with all traditional Thanksgiving dishes (minus the Turkey).  Reunited, we had a great meal together and talked about our plans to come. 
 
   Below, we have connected the link to our flickr account where you can view some of the pictures that we have taken throughout the trip.  It has been pretty tough to upload pictures down here, so not all pictures are able to be viewed, sorry for the inconvenience.  Until next time, This is Gabe and Michael Signing off on behalf of the FANZ Carpe Diem walkabout group.
CHEERS!!!
http://www.flickr.com/groups/walkaboutcarpediem/

Sydney

G'day Mates!
     Unfortunately after spending a wonderful time at the Maori, it came to say goodbyes.  With tears and laughter, we departed Otoko Pa by taking a four hour bus ride to Wellington.  Once we arrived to Wellington, we as a group decided that we were going to save money and stay the night at the train station to catch an extremely early flight the following morning.  But little did we know that the train station kicks everybody out at midnight.  Thankfully, we were able to take shelter outside in a waiting area provided by the bus service.  After little to no sleep, we were off onto the next leg of our journey, Sydney. 

     After landing from our turbulent flight and sorting out a mess with our shuttle driver we arrived at our hostel in downtown Sydney.  After venturing around the city and getting accustomed to our new surrounding, we spent our well earned money on a nice group meal.  Eric fell in love with our appetizer, wedges dipped in sweet chili sauce and sour cream.  The next day our group went to Bondi Beach.  We spent a couple hours on the beach before a thunderstorm forced us to leave.  The next day, the group split up and toured the city doing whatever they wanted to do.  Many people walked to the Opera House while others went back to the beach.  Our last full day in Sydney the group split up again.  Some of the  boys decided to go golfing along the water front.  The others went to the aquarium and to another local hot spot, Manly Beach. 

     We now are in Alice Springs which is smack dab in the middle of the Australian outback.  We now await our next adventure, the groovy grape.


Until next time,
Walkabout

Yours truly,
Penrod & Gabe.

Rotorua and Maori Restoration Project

Howdy yall!
     We have had a very busy week since you last heard from us.  We started off in Rotorua relaxing before we took off for the Maori restoration project.  During that time we went zorbing.  For those of you that don't know what zorbing is, it's where individuals leap into a giant hampster ball spritzed with water and are pushed down a hill.  Silly boys, Ross and Penrod forced little Hannah "Blueberry" MacMillan into the giant bubble with their half naked bodies.  Hannah experienced a once in a lifetime opportunity...the triple banger!  Zorbing was our Halloween celebration.  We went in costume but received no candy. 

Next stop was Otoko Pa where we lived on the Marae with members of the tribe.  The Maori are the indigenous people of New Zealand.  The visit started by a greeting from the Maori people called a Hongi, in which you touch noses with each member and say "Kia Ora."  We were able to go on a tour of the land that belongs to Otoko Pa which was a beautiful landscape.  Other activites included painting, weeding, hunting, preparing meals, and cleaning around the Marea.  We also took a day long drive arriving at different Mareas in the surrounding area.  We spent a very relaxing and rejuvenating week learning about their history and culture.  The people were very welcoming and kind.  We came as strangers and left as family. 

Love from Walkabout!

Compliments of Penrod and Hannah