Rockhampton

8/2 - 10/2 - 2008

The rain forest behind Kerry's house

My parents used to work for the Salvation Army and I grew up in Iceland and Greenland. We moved to Iceland when I was 2½ years old and that was where we met Kerry, who came from Australia. She was a friend of my parents and the last time I met her was when I was about 7 years old...

Kym, Sandra, Marge, Wilma, Kerry's sister Joanne, my dad and I met in the the airport very early morning on the 8th (we had a lot of early mornings in Australia) to go to Rockhamptons to visit Kerry. My dad had seen her a few years ago, but to me she was just a vague momory about a lady who came for a quick visit and brought me chocolates...

 

Well - we were at the airport... lots of waiting time... nothing to do... Ahhhh! All airports have internet cafes!!!! :-)
Time for blogging and reading e-mails :)

Emmy and Kym in Brisbane Airport

Queensland and most other parts of Australia have been dry for years and most parts of Queensland has strict water restrictions, but this summer has been rainy! Very wet! And Rockhampton has been flooded. They had an awful storm the night before we arrived, but the 8th was a sunny and very very hot day.

Flooded Rockhampton

Kerry had planned 3 busy days for us. Lunch at a shopping centre, while she went to a funeral and then off to The Aboriginal Dreamtime Culture Centre. That was good! We learned a lot about Australia's and the Aboriginals' history and we learned to throw a boomerang. I was quite talented... If I ever give up dog dancing, boomerangs could be my sport :D

Our guide playing the didgeridoo

My very first attemt with a boomerang :)

Kerry didn't really have the style... But she tried! :)

Kerry lives in an amazing home! Right in the middle of the Australian rain forest on top of a mountain. The view was amazing and she had Kookaburras, wallabies and possums right outside her door. Oh and snakes!!!!! (we didn't see any possums or snakes though)

Kerry's home

A 'laughing' Kookaburra - well, this one was busy eating, so it wasn't laughing...

Wallaby - look, it has a joey in the pouch.

Black Cockatoo

Parrots

We had tea - BBQ - at the Western Hotel, where we went to watch the Bull Riding. I didn't like that. I felt sorry for the bulls and I don't think it is a nice sport, but I guess it is something you have to do when you go to Australia.

The bulls and horses in the pen waiting for the 'show' to begin

Action!

I woke up to the sound of a laughing Kookaburra on the 9th, ready for another busy day. Breakfast - pancakes and bacon - at the Shore Inn in Yeppoon followed by a walk around Yeppoon's shops and beach. Then on to Emu Park, where we saw The Singing Ship. It is a sculpture built to catch the wind and make music. WOW!

The singing ship

Waiting for lunch

Afternoon tea in Gracemere, where we visited Michael and his sister, who had show dogs. I think that was planned in honour of me and I loved it! It was so good to cuddle a dog again and I really liked their dogs, even though a bitch with puppies bit Marge :( and she had to see a doctor...

Chinese Crested - the mum of a beautiful litter....

Well, it was a hot day. It was only fair that he wanted to cool his feet a bit...

Home to shower and change clothes and then out for dinner...

Breakfast at McDonalds on the 10th and then on to Rocky Markets, where we bought presents to family and friends and just enjoyed the atmosphere.

We also went for a morning walk somewhere - not sure where - but it was a nice place - except a bird poohed on Sandra :D

Morning walk

Photo time!!!! It's not easy to work those new digital cameras....

Wilma, Marge, Sandra, Kym and I

The highlight of our stay in Rocky was the Cathedral Cave at the Capricorn Caves. WOW!!!!! It was so beautiful!!!!!
It was a cave used as a Cathedral... and well, it is hard to explain... It was as if you could feel God's presence... It may sound strange, but it was just very beautiful.

The entrance to the caves

The Cathedral Cave

The guide turned the light off and played some music...
It was very moving.

On our way through the Capricorn Caves and the rain forest around them

And we met a new friend in there :)

Time to say goodbye to Kerry and fly back to Brisbane.