Tazzy!!!

Sometimes, my knowledge of plate techtonics gets put aside and I imagine God forming each continent like a kindergartener plays with clay. I imagine him, every now and then, sitting back and saying "Now I outdid myself with that one...." That is how I feel about Tasmania. This little corner of the world has so many beautiful places, that I must say...He outdid himself.

Surferdude joined his Australian Scout troop in Tasmania as they set out to backpack the Tasman Coastal Trail. The trip is an eight-day excursion. He is still there and will not be back until Sunday night. Term 4 begins on Monday morning...so it should be interesting trying to get him back into tie and sport coat.

The remaining family, Big DogDaddy, Ponygirl and myself, explored the Hobart area. We shopped in the Salamanca markets, drove up snowy Mt. Wellington, took a three hour powerboat tour around Bruny Island, and explored Port Arthur with its history and Tasmanian devils. One exciting highlight was when we sat on the intersection of the Tasman Sea and the Southern Ocean. Antarctica was a mere two-thousand miles straight ahead. Bruny Island is an amazing place with salmon farms, sheep and an American-owned cherry orchard. Every single orchard was covered with screens to keep out the birds and the Tasmanians were laughing about how the American uses helicopters to hover over the orchards and blow off the excess rain from the fruit. Every single cherry is then sent to the US for sale. He must be doing something right...he had a huge farm! So, if you see any Tasmanian/Bruny Island cherries, you know where they come from.

Port Arthur was, basically, Australia's Alcatraz. If you re-offended or were too contrary in the Australian prison camps, you were sent to Port Arthur prison. Once again, the land was gorgeous. It's remoteness eliminated the need for much security. Like Alcatraz, unless you were a good swimmer, you were stuck. (We all know what happens when you swim willynilly in the Aussie oceans...you are never seen again....not any part of you .....ever.) The prison was self-supportive. All the convicts worked the kitchens, laundries, and hauled timber. Your job was determined by your behavior. They also required that everyone attend church together (guard and prisoner alike). Punishment was severe...either lashes with a cat-o-nine tails or solitary confinement. Some were rehabilitated, most were not.

Near Port Arthur, we stopped at a Tasmanian Devil rescue center. A horrendous, contagious facial cancer has been wiping out the tasmanian devil population. The only help for these animals is to remove healthy devils from the wild and put them in conservations centers. They will be kept out of the wild and, basically, live in these zoos for the rest of their lives. They are fascinating creatures and Ponygirl LOVED seeing them all piled up asleep.

Tasmanians are also friendly and kind people. They are considered, by mainland Australians, to be the "rednecks" of the country. Well, you know how that doesn't bother us at all. Living in North Carolina, we know rednecks. Every time we were in contact with them, especially in large groups, I never had anything but a great time and always felt safe and secure. Where else but a Toby Keith concert, could you leave your purse on the ground and dance for hours without a worry of it being taken??? If Tasmanians are "rednecks", then I know why we loved it!!!!

I hope you all get a chance to visit the Australian "Emerald Isle".


Things I like this week:

1. Bruny Island Fudge
2. Two-week school holidays... long enough but not too long.
3. Outdoor markets

Things I don't like this week:

1. Airline rules for no reason (You can only have 10 kilos per carry-on. I had 13. I put 3 kilos worth of stuff in Ponygirl's bag...how have I reduced the amount of weight being carried on the plane? Didn't I just redistribute it?)

2. My vacuumer being on vacation. I need Surferdude to come home. It's getting dusty.

3. My arthritic right foot and the two-days of ice-ing needed after trips. Boo!