From: asanders@email.com
Date: Sun, 28 Mar 1999
Subject: Idiots and Islands in Oz
Dear All,
Oooo, it has been awhile. I think my emails are becoming less frequent now. I mean, how many times do you *really* want to hear tales of wander and self growth.
Sydney is an excellent city, full of flair and oddities. Just my style. One of my better moments was at the Chinese Garden in Darling Harbour. Liz and I were accosted by a flaming homosexual opera singer from China who does costuming for Mardi Gras in Sydney annually. He dressed us up as Chinese empresses as a tool to advertise his business. We ran around the garden staging operatic death scenes and photographing them. So strange. So funny. The things that keep us entertained. Good businessman for you -- it didn't take long to see costumes parading around the garden everywhere.
Had a few great nights out in the city, namely one with a friends brother and his friends who took paraded Liz and I around from trashy local joint to a "member" club (hmmm...) where I danced all night in rollerskates. Wish I spent more time in Sydney just for the night life.
Spent 4 days just outside Sydney in the Blue Mountains which was a definite highlight. Despite my feeling activitied out, I did some rock climbing and abseiling through rain forest canyons 140 million years old. It was just so gorgeous literally walking down into the canyons through three different ecosystems. On my walk back from the canyons, I had my head down just following the path back to our destination. Oops, walked right into a wedding and bumped into the bride. They were giving their vows in a small ceremony at a scenic point in the Blue Mtns.
Ah, and *finally* I can tell you all about Byron Bay, a commercially hippie town with a thousand too many crystal kissing, tree huggers who are all about global love, energy, and vibes. About 2 in 3 had dreadlocks. To boot, we stayed at a hilarious hippie commune called the Arts Factory (go figure) that accomodates ~350 people in a rain forest setting. We slept in teepees. Grass was burning 24/7. Everyone smiled and wished you "good morning". Everyone smiled and wished you "good afternoon". Everyone smiled and wished you "good evening". Everyone smiled. Everyone's eyes were barely open. Bongo drums played all day in the distance. Fire dancers did shows for us at night. Who thought it passed in 1968? Stayed there 6 days, about 3 too many.
Learned to surf in Byron. Ha!!! Who would have guessed? Both Liz and I went right up on our mammouth boards faster than anyone in our surf class. I'm pretty good if I may say so. At least I've found a hobby. At one point, Liz and caught the same wave and rode into shore *together*. Never did I picture this.
Up the coast to Hervey Bay and Fraser Island via Surfers Paradise and Noosa. Surfers was Ft. Laud meets Daytona Bch in their glory days with a touch of Miami flair. It's an American mecca. Loved it.
And the highlight of Australia -- Fraser Island. Spent 3 days on the world's largest sand island fully equipped with sand dunes, beautiful sunsets and sunrises, sand pinnacles, lakes (good for skinny dipping), fresh water creeks, rain forest woodlands, a coastal shipwreck, cliffs, and enormous stretches of beach. Met a group of people on the Greyhound bus that we encountered in Byron Bay and planned our Fraser trip with them. Rob, and English guy who's been living in Byron (everyone gets *stuck* there) for 2 yrs has been to Fraser multiple times and knew how to get around cheaply and freely.
We set up camp our first night and sat around the fire drinking wine and cooking pasta. The sun was setting - the sky illuminating brilliant shades of pastel. Earlier in the day, we were told that Fraser used to have wild Arabian horses, used as a vehicle to transport wood around the island. They were brought over to the mainland and tamed. A few were missed however in the transfer and if lucky though highly unlikely, we could possibly see them. Well luck be a lady tonight. In the distance along the beach, we saw 3 of the most beautiful brown horses running down the beach illuminated by only the moon. They came right to our campsite and grazed. What a moment. Fell asleep that night to the sound of howling dingos.
I am leaving Hervey Bay for Rockhampton and Great Keppel Island today for 3 days. I should be in Airlie Beach by the 1st of April.
Hope everyone is well.
Love,
Amy
xoxo
PS - Happy B-day Sanya!